Lesbian Couple Grateful to Be 1st to Legally Wed in Northern Ireland

The women were planning a civil union ceremony if marriage had not passed. 

www.advocate.com/world/2020/2/07/lesbian-couple-grateful-be-1st-legally-wed-northern-ireland

More and more gay people are making their partners take lie detector tests because of Grindr

With cheating on the rise, more and more gay people are asking their partners to take lie detector tests. At least, according to Andrew Goldstein, a.k.a. “the Polygraph Examiner.”

Goldstein has specialized in confirming and/or debunking cases of infidelity for over a decade. He has administered thousands of polygraph tests since 2008.

According to Goldstein’s website:

Polygraph tests are the most accurate way to establish trust when anyone has been accused of cheating in their relationship. Polygraphs help establish a baseline of trust even when there was prior cheating admitted to in the past. For accuracy, Goldstein uses the same polygraph testing equipment that is used in murder cases. He only conducts polygraph examinations in accordance with procedures and protocols recognized by the American Polygraph Association and the American Association of Police Polygraphists.

About seven years ago, Goldstein started noticing an uptick in LGBTQ clientele. Speaking to qnotes, he remembers the first time a man came to his office and asked him to perform a lie detector test on his husband.

“What do you think your wife has done,” Goldstein recalls asking the man. To which, he replied, “No, it’s my husband.”

After that, Goldstein altered his preliminary questioning to be more inclusive of same-sex couples. As soon as he did, he saw a flood of LGBTQ clients wanting to know the truth about their significant others.

“I’ve noticed a lot more individuals being forthcoming about their being in a same-sex relationship or marriage,” Goldstein reflects. “Which I feel is a result of the LGBTQ community growing and becoming stronger as well as society as whole becoming more accepting.”

Goldstein also credits the rise of gay hookup apps for the surge in new clients, as cheating has become easier than ever.

“Most of the time when an individual confesses to one instance of infidelity, their spouse wants to know other information such as how many occurrences there have been,” he explains.

Sometimes unexpected revelations are made. Often during a session, Goldstein will witness a spouse confess to cheating after their partner has just been busted for infidelity.

“Let’s say I have a couple by the name of John and Mike where John is accusing Mike of cheating,” Goldstein explains. “So, I test Mike and he confesses to cheating one time. Then all of a sudden Mike says I want to know what John has done, and it turns out that John has also been cheating.”

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Goldstein says he’s about to get bombarded with new clients.

“During all holidays I see an increase in calls,” he explains, “but particularly around Valentine’s Day my phone calls increase tremendously.”

“I receive calls from every race, religion, creed, color and sexual orientation. We all have the same problems.”

Related: Is it OK to sleep with your cheating ex’s brother…. if he’s hot?

h/t: qnotes

www.queerty.com/gay-people-making-partners-take-lie-detector-tests-grindr-20200207?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Queer Artists Take Center Stage at WeHo Photo Competition

www.advocate.com/art/2020/2/07/queer-artists-take-center-stage-weho-photo-competition

WATCH: The trailer for Sasha Velour’s new series just landed

Attention Sasha Velour fans. The first look at the Drag Race winner’s new series has arrived.

Entitled Nightgowns, the new series, produced for the streaming service Quibi, follows Sasha and her team as they prepare a new drag revue to hit the stage. The show will highlight the creative process for Sasha and her fellow queens from conception until the curtain rises.

Related: WATCH: AOC channels Lady Gaga to praise Sasha Velour

Nightgowns will run eight episodes, with each clocking in at under 10 minutes. “I’m always trying to shift it to other people, let’s look at the whole community,” Velour told GayTimes. “The phenomenon is really the community, it’s not these exceptional individuals. The phenomenon is also this amazing history of drag.”

Sasha Velour will produce the show, alongside production house The Documentary Group. Veteran video director Sophie Muller, who has helmed videos for the likes of No Doubt, Lana Del Rey, Garbage, Gwen Stefani, Pink and Maroon 5 will direct.

Nightgowns arrives on Quibi this April.

www.queerty.com/watch-trailer-sasha-velours-new-series-just-landed-20200207?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Megan Rapinoe, Gus Kenworthy, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, RuPaul, Gayle King, Lil Nas X, Pussycat Dolls, Donald Trump, Iowa Caucus: HOT LINKS

AYFKM: Trump Thinks Pelosi Broke The Law When She Ripped His Speech. “Well, I thought it was a terrible thing when she ripped up the speech. First of all, it’s an official document. You’re not allowed. It’s illegal what she did. She broke the law,” he said.

STILL NO WINNER: Iowa Democratic Party extends deadline for campaigns to ask for recanvass or recount. This means that the results from Iowa will not be finalized until at least a full week after Iowans across the state caucused on February 3.

FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS: Five things to watch in New Hampshire primary debate

KEEP IT COMING: Exclusive photos of Giuliani in Spain show Lev Parnas has lots more to share

HE’S STILL GUILTY, THOUGH: Appeals court tosses Democrats’ emoluments lawsuit against Trump

‘FACE YOUR FIERCE’: Abercrombie tries to redeem its body-shaming past with inclusive ad campaign. Anchored on a range of ideas including the increasingly trendy “body positivity” movement, as well as “self-empowerment,” “gender equality” and “LGBTQ+ equality,” the new campaign has ditched the days of rock hard abs and glowing tans for more realistic body types. … The campaign includes numerous LGBTQ faces: Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy, World Cup-winning soccer player Megan Rapinoe, footballer Ryan Russell, plus-size model Michael McCauley (below), British rugby player Keegan Hirst, ballet dancer Harper Watters, comedian Andy Lalwani, and trans activists Laith Ashley and Leyna Bloom.

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There’s no one way to be Fierce. It’s an honor to be part of a campaign that includes so many people who are Fierce in different ways. Together, we form a special kind of family. I’m so excited to partner with @abercrombie for the launch of their Fierce Family of fragrances. #FACEYOURFIERCE #AbercrombiePartner

A post shared by Megan Rapinoe (@mrapinoe) on Feb 6, 2020 at 2:20pm PST

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Very honored to partner with @abercrombie for the launch of their new Fierce Family of fragrances! #AbercrombiePartner #FACEYOURFIERCE

A post shared by gus kenworthy (@guskenworthy) on Feb 6, 2020 at 1:45pm PST

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I’m Fierce AF! I’m so excited to partner with @abercrombie for the launch of their Fierce Family of fragrances! When I started modeling a little over a year ago I never would have believed you if you’d said I’d become an Abercrombie and Fitch model! Ok, secretly I would have because i dream big! This partnership represents why I do what I do. Brands are finally waking up to what their customers ACTUALLY want and I’m honored to be at the front of this movement working with Abercrombie as we lead the industry for change. People want to see REAL people in the clothes they’re buying and I think most people can relate to guys like me. This isn’t a fashion statement. Beefy dudes are here to stay! I’m so proud to be a part of this amazing Fierce family and the new ANF. Together we form a special kind of family. So much more to come!!! #FACEYOURFIERCE #AbercrombiePartner #AbercrombieModel #ImanAbercrombieAndFitchModelNow!

A post shared by America’s Favorite Teddy Bear (@michaelrobertmccauley) on Feb 6, 2020 at 6:42am PST

TRUE BELIEBER: Justin Bieber Reveals He Made a Deal With God to Get Sober

‘WE’RE THINKING OF YOU’: Katy Perry Sends a Message of Support to China Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

TOO SOON?: Gayle King is being criticized for asking Kobe Bryant’s friend about the rape case

WTF: A Judge Ruled That The Woman Suing The Church Of Scientology Must Participate In “Religious Arbitration”

ON THE RAG: A look at what’s making news in the gay magazines.

LATE-NIGHT CLIP OF THE DAY: RuPaul Plays Dirty Charades with Jimmy Fallon

TEASER OF THE DAY: RuPaul Reveals Her Beauty Secrets to Kate McKinnon in SNL preview

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE DAY: Lil Nas X Becomes a Rabid Vampire in ‘The Matrix’-Inspired ‘Rodeo’ Video Featuring Nas

SONG OF THE DAY: Pussycat Dolls’ Comeback Single ‘React’ Is Here 

TRAILER OF THE DAY: Abigail

FURRY FRIDAY: Giacomino

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The Munich-Nymphenburg Botanical Garden is one of my favorite places that I discovered since coming to Germany. Not only is it a refuge for nearly 20,000 species of plants, the facitily is also used for scientific research. #gaygeek #peludo #hairymuscle #hairychest #plantlover #flauntyourleaves #boyswithplants #plantstagram Thanks @koullis for the photo

A post shared by giacomino (@nature.giacomo) on Sep 10, 2019 at 2:20am PDT

The post Megan Rapinoe, Gus Kenworthy, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, RuPaul, Gayle King, Lil Nas X, Pussycat Dolls, Donald Trump, Iowa Caucus: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Megan Rapinoe, Gus Kenworthy, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, RuPaul, Gayle King, Lil Nas X, Pussycat Dolls, Donald Trump, Iowa Caucus: HOT LINKS

Ohio’s LGBTQ Laws Rated in HRC’s Annual State Equality Index

HRC Foundation and the Equality Federation Institute released their 5th annual State Equality Index (SEI), a comprehensive report detailing statewide laws and policies that affect LGBTQ people and their families, and assessing how well states are protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination. Ohio falls into the category, “High Priority to Achieve Basic Equality”

“As LGBTQ people continue to face an onslaught of attacks from the federal administration in Washington, the Human Rights Campaign’s 2019 State Equality Index (SEI) documents how states were instrumental in advancing equality through pro-LGBTQ legislation, policies and proposals,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “In the absence of federal non-discrimination protections for the LGBTQ community, states must put policies in place to ensure equality for their residents, workers and visitors. In 2020 and beyond, the Human Rights Campaign will continue to work with our partners to defeat anti-LGBTQ legislation in the states and secure new protections for our community, both at the state and federal level. Already, we see the promise of even more protections passing state legislatures in 2020, including action taken in Virginia advancing the Virginia Values Act.”

Due to the lack of explicit, comprehensive civil rights protections for LGBTQ people at the federal level, the rights of millions of LGBTQ people and their families vary depending on which state they live in. In 30 states, LGBTQ people remain at risk of being fired, evicted or denied services because of who they are. These top-rated states and Washington, D.C., have robust LGBTQ non-discrimination laws covering employment, housing and public accommodations.

The SEI’s assessment of statewide LGBTQ-related legislation and policies in the areas of parenting laws and policies, religious refusal and relationship recognition laws, non-discrimination laws and policies, hate crime and criminal justice laws, youth-related laws and policies and health and safety laws and policies has placed each state in one of four distinct categories:

• Seventeen states and the District of Columbia are in the highest-rated category, “Working Toward Innovative Equality”: California, Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; District of Columbia; Illinois; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Minnesota; Nevada; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York; Oregon; Rhode Island; Vermont; and Washington
• Three states are in the category “Solidifying Equality”: Hawaii; Iowa; and New Hampshire
• Two states are in the category “Building Equality”: Utah and Wisconsin
• Twenty-Eight states are in the lowest-rated category “High Priority to Achieve Basic Equality”: Alabama; Alaska; Arizona; Arkansas; Florida; Georgia; Idaho; Indiana; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Michigan; Mississippi; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Pennsylvania; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Texas; Virginia; West Virginia; and Wyoming

“The State Equality Index highlights how far we have come in the fight for LGBTQ equality in each state. For years, we’ve been working with our member organizations to pave the way for nationwide protections by winning state and municipal laws that make discrimination illegal. We’re keeping that momentum going. We have big plans for a future where we can thrive in all the places we call home,” said Rebecca Isaacs, Executive Director of the Equality Federation. “This year, we will work with members on a host of issues, including non-discrimination legislation in places like Virginia and Ohio. Together, we are impacting the lives of millions of LGBTQ Americans. We can, and we will win this fight.”

Last year, the pro-equality majority in the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act, a bill to establish comprehensive federal protections for LGBTQ people. But as HRC and other civil rights organizations work toward establishing these critical federal protections, accelerating progress at the state level is critical.

This SEI report comes as 38 state legislatures and the District of Columbia have opened their sessions — and with several good bills introduced, including the Virginia Values Act, a bill that would modernize Virginia’s existing human rights laws and provide non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people in public employment and housing. In New Jersey, the governor has signed a bill to ban anti-LGBTQ “panic defenses.”

Unfortunately, we have also seen the introduction and passage of bad legislation, including a Tennessee bill that would allow child welfare organizations — including taxpayer-funded adoption and foster care agencies — to turn away qualified Tennesseans seeking to care for a child in need, including LGBTQ couples, interfaith couples, single parents, married couples in which one prospective parent has previously been divorced or other parents to whom the agency has a religious objection. In South Dakota, the state House of Representatives passed a bill that effectively bars instructors who teach grades K-7 in the state’s public schools from instructing students on gender identity or gender expression.

Advancing LGBTQ non-discrimination protections at the state and federal level is supported by a wide swath of Americans. A recent PRRI survey found that 71 percent of Americans support LGBTQ non-discrimination laws like the Equality Act. A map of this patchwork of laws can be found here.

HRC’s full State Equality Index report, including detailed scorecards for every states, and a preview of the 2020 state legislative session is available online at www.hrc.org/sei.

www.hrc.org/blog/ohios-lgbtq-laws-rated-in-hrcs-annual-state-equality-index?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed