Suggestions from an LGBTQ Young Person: How School Counselors can Support LGBTQ Youth

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GLAAD joins in remembering LGBTQ community advocate and leader Robby Browne

GLAAD joins with the community in mourning the loss of community advocate, leader, and former GLAAD Board member Robby Browne, who passed away over the weekend. Throughout his life, Robby was known for his unforgettable charm and dedication to helping others, and we will continue to celebrate and honor the profound impact he left on the LGBTQ community. More info about Robby can be found below.

Philanthropist and LGBTQ advocate Robby Browne died on Saturday after contracting COVID-19. Watch @donlemon‘s tribute to his friend: “He always wore a smile.” pic.twitter.com/5O15bg2BvW

— GLAAD (@glaad) April 13, 2020

Robby Browne is remembered as one of New York City’s most visible, vocal, and beloved gay community leaders, in addition to his long career of high-profile real estate deals in the city. He passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2020 after battling cancer and contracting coronavirus. Browne was a force in philanthropy for New York’s LGBTQ organizations, raising and donating millions to support LGBTQ organizations and issues. His friends and family remember his playful spirit, sharp humor, and unique ability to connect others. These unforgettable qualities were on full display at his iconic house parties on the Upper West Side and in the Hamptons, where Browne continuously brought people from all walks of life together in inclusive and celebratory ways.

Browne was one of the most renowned residential agents in New York real estate. He spent 18 years at the Corcoran Group where he closed high-profile deals with a client list that included Hilary Swank, Uma Thurman, Rosie O’Donnell and Jon Bon Jovi. He earned accolades including Corcoran’s deal of the year, broker of the year, and top sales team of the year awards on multiple occasions. He sold $218 million worth of real estate in 2018, placing 25^th on Real Trends’ broker ranking last year. In 2007, the year he turned 60, he accepted Corcoran’s Broker of the Year Award dressed in drag and dancing to the Village People’s “YMCA,” to honor the friends he lost in the AIDS crisis, including his brother Roscoe, who was also gay.

Browne leveraged his significant success in business to support many LGBTQ organizations and causes. He was proud of who he was and deeply cared for others, so Browne dedicated much of his life to fighting for a world where everyone could have the opportunity to be proud of themselves. More than 30 years ago, he started the annual Toys Party in his living room with homemade eggnog. The event, which he co-hosted since its beginning, has grown into a 2,500 person highly anticipated LGBTQ holiday fundraiser. Through the event, Browne has donated tens of thousands of toys to children in need and raised millions of dollars for SAGE, an organization dedicated to supporting LGBTQ elderly people. He launched the event during the AIDS crisis as a way to bring gay men together during the holidays outside of bars. Browne once wrote about why he started the event: “I knew that so many of us had love in our hearts and wanted to have a family in the traditional way but were dealt different cards in that we were gay. I remember so well the joy in people’s eyes greeting me as the host and showing me what toy they had gotten and what it meant to them.” He appeared on the TODAY Show multiple times over the years to feature some of the donated toys. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Whoopi Goldberg, Don Lemon, and Mariska Hargitay are among the notables who attended and spoke at the Toys Party over the years. The event captured Robbie’s spirit and his trademark charm as it welcomed thousands of diverse LGBTQ New Yorkers who wished each other happy holidays, laughed, and connected, all while raising attention and donations for significant causes. Browne has participated on the Board of Directors of GLAAD and was an active contributor to Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), ACT UP, Hetrick-Martin Institute, and God’s Love We Deliver. He also participated in mentorship programs that paired New Yorkers with low-income young people. 

During times when the closet was the norm, Browne refused to be anything but out, loud, and unabashedly proud. In 1994, Browne helped friend and Olympic diver Greg Louganis publicly come out during the opening ceremonies of the Gay Games IV in New York. That year, Browne also went on to medal in his own diving division during the Gay Games. A kiss between him and his friend Louganis became one of the first gay kisses to air on mainstream news.

Brown had a magnetic charm, energy, and a zest for life that inspired everyone he met. He was a mainstay at Studio 54 and he hosted countless house parties on his terrace overlooking Central Park, welcoming all types of friends. He kept an open-door policy for his parties and created spaces where everyone would feel accepted and included. He’d often don drag at his celebrations to break the ice and bring smiles and laughs to his guests. He loved to host parties and gatherings where diversity and fun were front and center, and where pretentiousness was absent. Browne welcomed everyone as part of his family and network, from people just starting out to notables including Secretary Hillary Clinton and First Lady Nancy Reagan. The origin stories of his hundreds of friendships are almost as dynamic as the people themselves. Browne found joy in bringing people of all backgrounds and viewpoints together and was a dedicated social connector who skillfully and perpetually thought of how to best uplift his friends.

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Browne attended Princeton University and Harvard Business School. Before real estate, he owned Browne-Ladd Tours, a successful travel company that brought students to Europe. In 1984, Browne was on the organizing committee for the Los Angeles Olympics.

Below are several tributes in honor of Browne’s legacy:

 

 

 

 

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He lived every single moment.. never met a stranger… everyone loved him… he loved them back… he was an icon in NY real estate… did more for the gay community and hiv/aids than just about anyone… he smiled till the end… fought cancer hard… he was my friend. I’m going to miss you @nycrobbybrowne. Rest in peace.

A post shared by Don Lemon (@donlemoncnn) on Apr 11, 2020 at 8:53pm PDT

 

 

 

 

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Today is a difficult, heartbreaking day for our Corcoran family as we learn of the passing of our very own Robby Browne. To know Robby was to love him. He was a light that shined brightly — not only at Corcoran but across our industry, and to all who had the opportunity to meet him. As we grieve this immeasurable loss, our thoughts and love are with his family, friends, and all of those close to Robby Browne.

A post shared by The Corcoran Group (@thecorcorangroup) on Apr 11, 2020 at 8:22pm PDT

 

 

 

 

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We’re saddened to learn of Robby Browne’s passing this Saturday due to complications with coronavirus. He was such a kind and fun-spirited gentleman, who dedicated much of his time and energy to a number of LGBTQ+ organizations and was a generous supporter of HMI over the years. He will be missed dearly. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. RIP

A post shared by Hetrick-Martin Institute HMI (@hetrickmartin) on Apr 12, 2020 at 9:37am PDT

 

 

 

 

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In life, we are blessed with very few people who have the ability to inspire us to do more, give more, love more, laugh more, live more and care more. Robby was generous beyond words, remarkably successfully, loyal for life, completely outrageous, kind as could be, a class act, completely authentic and a defiant victim to death. He just wanted to live and love and be with masses of people he cherished as his friends and family. The world lost a great human yesterday. Myself, and countless others, lost a friend and a mentor. God bless you Robby. I hope you’re walking in an endless field of daffodils right now, reunited with your family, feeling no pain and in complete peace You will be missed.

A post shared by Rob Smith (@robgarrettsmith) on Apr 12, 2020 at 7:06am PDT

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-joins-community-mourning-loss-robby-browne

His mom found his poppers. What happened next was, well, kinda awkward.

Having your mom stumble upon your sex supplies is probably every young gay man’s worst nightmare. And, believe it or not, it happens a lot more often than you might expect.

A young man named Jeb recently shared a video of the time his mom cleaned his room and found his poppers.

In the video, he walks in on her holding his poppers in one hand and her phone in other other and looking very, very confused.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

“I picked ’em up after I tidied your bedroom up,” she replies. “I can’t see no label, so I thought, ‘What’s this then?’”

Jed’s mom then explains that at first she thought they were smelling salts. So she took a whiff and, well, let’s just say it wasn’t quite what she was expecting.

The whole thing reminds us of a similar incident that happened a few months ago, when a guy’s mom found his poppers in his car.

“What is it?” she asked. “Is this drugs?”

When her son assured her that it was not drugs (or, um, semen), his mom decided to do a sniff test and see.

“Don’t do that!” her son exclaimed.

Related: See how this mom responds when her son says he can’t wait to get “wrecked” by a hot 6’4 guy

www.queerty.com/mom-found-poppers-happened-next-well-kinda-awkward-20200413?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Pedro Almodóvar Unloads on Madonna Over That ‘Truth or Dare’ Scene with Antonio Banderas: ‘She Treated Us All Like Simpletons’

Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar is writing a series of essays during the coronavirus pandemic “documenting his experiences and the memories that have come up as a result” and a particularly juicy one appeared in Indiewire on Friday in which he spilled the tea over a famous scene that appears in Madonna’s 1991 documentary Truth or Dare in which the musical icon flirts with actor Antonio Banderas.

Writes Almodóvar: “I went out with her the days she spent in Madrid. I organized a big flamenco party for her with La Polaca and her husband, El Polaco, in the Palace Hotel, with Loles León, Bibiana Fernández, Rossy de Palma, but she had already made it very clear to me that, aside from myself, she was only interested in meeting one other guest, Antonio Banderas. I promised her that Antonio would be there, but I didn’t tell her that I couldn’t invite him without his then-wife, Ana Leza, a huge fan of the singer. Madonna decided how we had to be seated (there were a number of roundtables for my friends and her dancers). Naturally, she sat at the main table, with me on her right and Antonio on her left. And she sent Ana Leza to the table furthest away in that great salon.”

According to Almodovar, “Madonna did not pay attention to anybody else” and “Ana dared to get close to our table and told the divine blonde sarcastically, ‘I see you like my husband, it doesn’t surprise me, all women like him, but I don’t mind because I am very modern.’ To which Madonna replied: ‘Get lost.’”

The director added: “I don’t mind if this seems like a settling of scores, if it had been the other way round (me filming Madonna and her team and making a film with all that material which I would then premiere around the world) I would have taken such a hit in the form of a lawsuit I’d still be recovering from it. Madonna treated us like simpletons and I had to say it one day. She didn’t ask for permission to use our images, and she even dubbed me, because my English mustn’t have been that good.”

Head over to Indiewire for more of the story.

The post Pedro Almodóvar Unloads on Madonna Over That ‘Truth or Dare’ Scene with Antonio Banderas: ‘She Treated Us All Like Simpletons’ appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Pedro Almodóvar Unloads on Madonna Over That ‘Truth or Dare’ Scene with Antonio Banderas: ‘She Treated Us All Like Simpletons’

#AM_Equality: April 13, 2020

HRC AND GLSEN TO HOST VIRTUAL GRADUATION CEREMONY TO HONOR THE LGBTQ+ HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE CLASS OF 2020 AMID COVID-19: The event will include many traditional elements of a graduation ceremony, including an official welcome from the HRC President Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) and GLSEN Executive Director Dr. Eliza Byard (@EByard), a commencement address, valedictorians for exceptional, dynamic LGBTQ+ students and music. It will also highlight the HRC Foundation’s Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) Program, the only national project that partners with HBCUs on establishing an LGBTQ+ inclusive campus climate and leadership convening. Following the event, HRC Youth Ambassador Nhandi Craig (@darnimgay), also known as dj young 1 (@_DJYoung1LA_), will perform to honor the graduates. Those interested can register for the event here. Read more from HRC. 

HISTORIC — VIRGINIA VALUES ACT SIGNED INTO LAW, MAKING VA. THE FIRST SOUTHERN STATE TO ENACT COMPREHENSIVE PROTECTIONS FOR LGBTQ PEOPLE: “When this law goes into effect on July 1, LGBTQ people in Virginia — and people of color, people of faith, immigrants, women and more — are at last protected from discrimination at work and in their communities,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “No one should be discriminated against simply because of who they are or whom they love. Right now, as the country and the world deals with an unprecedented pandemic, it is more important than ever to ensure that leaders are looking out for all of us. We have arrived at this moment today because of years and years of tireless work from advocates across the commonwealth, and the Virginia voters that filled the halls of the General Assembly with pro-equality champions who fulfilled their promises to their constituents.” More from HRC, The Hill and The Advocate. 

BILLY PORTER (@theebillyporter), NATE BERKUS (@NateBerkus), JEREMIAH BRENT (@JeremiahBrent) AND MELISSA KING (@ChefMelissaKing) SHARE A MESSAGE OF SUPPORT THROUGH HRCARES, A VIRTUAL CARE PACKAGE: “During these unprecedented and challenging times, our strength and resilience lies within our community and with each other,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “More than ever, it is important to send a message of support to uplift the LGBTQ community and our allies who are directly — and all too often disproportionately — impacted by COVID-19. Through HRCares, HRC hopes to provide a moment of joy and comfort to our LGBTQ family in the form of a Virtual Care Package. We are grateful to Billy Porter, Nate Berkus, Jeremiah Brent and Melissa King for offering messages of love and support during this difficult time.” Read more from HRC. 

MUST-WATCH MONDAY — ON FRIDAY, HRC MARKED NATIONAL YOUTH HIV & AIDS AWARENESS DAY WITH NEW VIDEO: According to the CDC, 13 to 24-year-olds are at a greater risk for HIV. And those who are Black or Latinx have the highest risk. Learn more from HRC. 

According to @CDCgov, 13 to 24-year-olds are at a greater risk for #HIV. And those who are Black or Latinx have the highest risk. Get the facts this National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day. #NYHAAD pic.twitter.com/0y3U64fMLN

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 10, 2020

HRC PRESIDENT ALPHONSO DAVID SPEAKS WITH THE LOS ANGELES BLADE’S KAREN OCAMB ON HOW LGBTQ ADVOCACY IS CHANGING DURING COVID-19: Ocamb spoke with David on HRC’s Los Angeles Gala, originally scheduled for March 28 but cancelled due to COVID-19, the historic turnout of LGBTQ voters in the primaries and how HRC is pivoting to protect the LGBTQ community during COVID-19, especially while also continuing its electoral work. “Please support your fellow LGBTQ members of our community,” David said during the interview. “We will get through this crisis. We’ve gone through crises before, and we are resilient, and we will get through this crisis together.” Read the full piece from Ocamb (@KarenOcamb) at the LA Blade. 

TOMORROW — HRC AND ARIANNA’S CENTER TO HOST GLOBAL TRANSGENDER LEADERS FOR A CHAT ON THE IMPACT COVID-19 IS HAVING ON TRANS COMMUNITIES: More from HRC. 

On Tuesday, April 14, @HRC and Arianna’s Center will host global trans leaders for a chat on the impact #COVID19 is having on trans communities, including:
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����Ivana Fred
����Felicia Garza
����@AriannaLint
����@ABIGAILPEREIRAO
����@TamaraAdriant.co/tXcXs9ivzy pic.twitter.com/m0hhUNhUy4

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 10, 2020

LATEST STUDY FROM MEDIA MATTERS FOR AMERICA HIGHLIGHTS THE LACK OF ADEQUATE COVERAGE FOR VIOLENCE AGAINST TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NON-CONFORMING PEOPLE: Read the full report from Media Matters. 

IN THE STATES 

NYC RABBI SHARON KLEINBAUM (@Skleinbaum) ON THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COVID-19 AND THE AIDS CRISIS: Read more from the Associated Press. 

GET CULTURED – Entertainment, arts and sports news!

HULU’S “LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE” FEATURES A GROUNDBREAKING BLACK QUEER LOVE STORY: Read more from The Advocate (warning — spoilers at link). 

NETFLIX RELEASES NEW TRAILER FOR LGBTQ ROM-COM THE HALF OF IT: More from The Cut. 

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

THE LGBTQ ASIAN COMMUNITY AROUND THE WORLD IS FIGHTING BACK AGAINST RACIST ATTACKS FUELED BY COVID-19: More from Bay Area Reporter. 

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!

The Things reveals 15 fun facts about married couple Ellen Page (@EllenPage) and Emma Portner

Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to #AM_Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!

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Police chief suspended after linking gay cop’s COVID-19 death to his sexuality

Last week, we shared the tragic news of the COVID-19 death of Florida police officer Shannon Bennett. Deputy Bennett, 39, who was gay and due to marry his fiancé, Jonathan Frey, later this year, was a widely respected and much-loved officer with the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

Despite having no underlying health conditions, he came down with a fever and headaches and then experienced shortness of breath.

Related: Gay police officer who proposed to his fiance in December died suddenly of coronavirus 

A couple of days after going to hospital, he died on April 3. Bennett is believed to be the first Florida police officer to die from the disease. Many of his colleagues took to social media to praise him and express their devastation at his passing.

It appears one of his colleagues may have been less sympathetic.

In the wake of Bennett’s death, police officers in nearby Davie (a small town also in Broward County), brought up the issue of safety protocols and protective equipment with their Police Chief, Dale Engle.

Engle’s reaction? He allegedly marched them outside to the back parking lot, had them line up, and then began to berate them over their concerns, saying there was a “backstory” to Bennett’s death not being talked about.

Mike Tucker, Florida chief of staff for cop union the Fraternal Order of Police chief, wrote a letter last Tuesday to the Davie Town Administrator, Richard J Lemack, complaining about Engle’s comments. He says that during the briefing, Engle had linked Bennett’s death to the fact he was a, “‘homosexual who attended homosexual sexual events’.”

Tucker says Engle’s rant continued for some time.

“This obviously was shocking to the members that were present, who are right now looking for reassurance. . . who were looking for guidance,” said Tucker.

On Saturday night, Lemack issued a statement, saying Engle had been placed on leave pending an investigation.

“As of April 11, 2020, Police Chief Dale Engle was placed on Administrative leave pending further review of allegations brought forward by the Fraternal Order of Police. The allegations will be investigated in accordance with the Town’s Equal Employment Opportunity compliance policy by outside counsel. The Town will have no further comment until the investigation is completed to protect the integrity of all involved.”

Bennett’s partner, Frey, told Local10, “The Chief’s alleged comments are completely false, homophobic, and slanderous. I look forward to the fair and impartial investigation initiated by the Town Manager, and I hope that appropriate action will be taken at its conclusion.”

The National Fraternal Order of Police said in a tweet: “If these allegations are true, the disgusting insinuation made by Chief Engle is not becoming of the badge he wears. He should be stripped of his rank for making such divisive comments that do not reflect the inclusive values of America’s law enforcement.”

Engle has not commented on the allegations.

Related: Antigay minister Tony Spell claims “True Christians don’t mind dying” of COVID-19

Bennett had been an officer for 12 years. Following the Pulse shooting in Orlando in 2016, he had made a point of parking his police car outside LGBTQ venues in Wilton Manors so that patrons might feel a little safer.

Before his death, he was Deerfield Beech Elementary School resource officer and was reportedly a much-loved figure at the school.

www.queerty.com/police-chief-suspended-linking-gay-cops-covid-19-death-sexuality-20200413?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29