Rome Mayor Officiates City’s First Same-Sex Civil Union: WATCH

Rome Mayor Virginia Raggi officiated the city’s first same-sex civil union on Saturday.

Luca de Sario and Francisco Raffaele Villarusso had moved to Spain and considered entering into the union there. However, they moved back to Italy after a law allowing for same-sex unions came into force three months ago.

#UnioniCivili, Francisco Raffaele Villarusso e Luca De Sario primi ‘sposi gay’ di Roma t.co/XSvvUOub7k pic.twitter.com/fIhsjdlg8h

— Dr.Apocalypse (@DrApocalypse) September 17, 2016

RELATED: Half of European Union Doctors Think Homosexuality is a ‘Pathological Disease’

Euronews reports:

While recognised as a step forward, the Civil Union bill has also come under fire for a controversial adoption clause.

Reports have also emerged in the Italian press of difficulties if the couple decides to combine their surnames, rather than choosing one family name. This is said to cause tax and identity problems that don’t exist for heterosexual couples.

Double-barrelling a name after a civil union is considered a ‘name-change’, meaning the couple’s tax code is changed. Further still, under Italian law, a ‘name-change’ is considered an ‘identity change’ meaning all identity documents and insurance will have to be changed and new social security cards applied for, La Repubblica reports.

In May, Italy became the last European Union country to legislate for same-sex civil unions after lawmakers passed a bill that would have forced Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to resign had the vote failed.

auguri Luca de Sario e Francisco !!!!!!! presto anche noi !!! <3 <3 t.co/xHenfsSNFM

— Matteo Laureti (@matteolaureti) September 17, 2016

Watch a Euronews report on de Sario and Villarusso’s civil union below.

The post Rome Mayor Officiates City’s First Same-Sex Civil Union: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

Rome Mayor Officiates City’s First Same-Sex Civil Union: WATCH

Four Back To School Tips for LGBTQ Parents/Guardians

Post submitted by Welcoming Schools Project Coordinator Charles Girard

The beginning of a new school year can create stressors for all parents, guardians and other caregivers. However, being an LGBTQ person with a child going to school can be especially difficult and HRC is here to help. HRC Foundation’s Welcoming Schools has developed a list of strategies that LGBTQ families and educators can use to create a more LGBTQ-inclusive school and classroom this year. Here are four back to school tips for LGBTQ parents/guardians:

1. Provide your child’s school with LGBTQ-inclusive resources

Welcoming Schools has incredible resources, such as age-appropriate books that showcase diverse families and ready-to-use lesson plans that embrace family diversity. Providing the school with these materials will help your school to better address the diversity of family structures and to help educators know how to answer questions like “Why does Janelle have two dads?” or “What does ‘gay’ mean?”

2. Get involved in the school community

Does your school have a parent/guardian group? Are there opportunities to volunteer in the classroom or to attend a field trip? Not all families have the time or resources to volunteer at school, but if you do, you will have the opportunity to meet the school community and to have them meet you.

If you have less time, simply keeping an open dialogue with your child’s teacher can provide you with a connection to school and help your child thrive.

3. Speak up for your family and child

Does the school’s media center lack books about LGBTQ families? Does a form ask for the names of your child’s “mother and father” instead of their “legal caregiver(s)”?

If you can, speak up and provide feedback to the school to make it more LGBTQ-inclusive.  It is not only beneficial to your family, but to all members of the school community because a responsibility of educators is to teach students to navigate difference in order  to become better citizens of the school, the community, and the world.

4. Seek support from other families

Seeking support from other families is essential. Not only will you and your child develop friendships with families that are the same and/or different than your family, but an established network can help you as a group to make changes that  will help the school be more inclusive, such as developing an enumerated bullying prevention policy or encouraging the school to hold professional development on family diversity or gender  

For even more ways to support your child this school year, read the rest of our tips.

HRC Welcoming Schools is a comprehensive approach to creating respectful and supportive elementary schools with resources and professional development to embrace family diversity, create LGBTQ-inclusive schools, prevent bias-based bullying and gender stereotyping, and support transgender and gender-expansive students.

www.hrc.org/blog/four-back-to-school-tips-for-lgbtq-parents-guardians?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

GLAAD celebrates third annual #BiWeek

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-celebrates-third-annual-biweek

NYPD Issues Emergency Alert to Phones Seeking Man for Questioning in Chelsea Bombing

The NYPD has issued an emergency alert to mobile phones in the New York City area seeking a person in connection with the bombing in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan on Saturday night. 28-year-old Ahmad Khan Rahami is being sought for questioning.

Emergency alert issued on phones in New York City: pic.twitter.com/0Ehwxq0nPf

— Gio Benitez (@GioBenitez) September 19, 2016

Also, five people were taken into custody and questioned last night in connection with the bombing, the AP reports:

Agents stopped “a vehicle of interest in the investigation” at 8:45 p.m. Sunday, according to FBI spokeswoman Kelly Langmesser

She wouldn’t provide further details, but a government official and a law enforcement official who were briefed on the investigation said five people in the car were being questioned at an FBI building in lower Manhattan.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the ongoing investigation.

Developing…

The post NYPD Issues Emergency Alert to Phones Seeking Man for Questioning in Chelsea Bombing appeared first on Towleroad.

NYPD Issues Emergency Alert to Phones Seeking Man for Questioning in Chelsea Bombing

2016 Emmy Award Winners: FULL LIST

Here is the full list of nominees and winners of the 68th Annual Emmy awards. Dominant this year was the FX series The People vs. OJ Simpson, and Amazon’s Transparent.

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Louie Anderson-“Baskets” – WINNER
Andre Braugher, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”
Keegan-Michael Key, “Key & Peele”
Ty Burrell, “Modern Family”
Tituss Burgess, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”
Tony Hale, “Veep”
Matt Walsh, “Veep”

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series
“Catastrophe”: “Episode 1”
“Master of None”: “Parents” – WINNER
“Silicon Valley”: “Founder Friendly”
“Silicon Valley”: “The Uptick”
“Veep”: “Morning After”
“Veep”: “Mother”

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Niecy Nash, “Getting On”
Allison Janney, “Mom”
Kate McKinnon, “Saturday Night Live” – WINNER
Judith Light, “Transparent”
Gaby Hoffmann, “Transparent”
Anna Chlumsky, “Veep”

Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
”Master of None”: “Parents”
“Silicon Valley”: “Founder Friendly”
“Silicon Valley”: “Daily Active Users”
“Transparent”: “Man on the Land,” (Jill Soloway) – WINNER
“Veep”: “Morning After”
“Veep”: “Kissing Your Sisters”
“Veep”: “Mother”

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Ellie Kemper, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”
Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, “Veep” – WINNER
Laurie Metcalf, “Getting On”
Tracee Ellis Ross, “black-ish”
Amy Schumer, “Inside Amy Schumer“
Lily Tomlin, “Grace & Frankie”

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson, “black-ish”
Aziz Ansari, “Master of None”
Will Forte, “Last Man on Earth”
William H. Macy, “Shameless”
Thomas Middleditch, “Silicon Valley”
Jeffrey Tambor, “Transparent” – WINNER

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program
“The Amazing Race”
“American Ninja Warrior”
“Dancing with the Stars”
“Project Runway”
“Top Chef”
“The Voice” – WINNER

Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special
“Fargo”: “Palindrome”
“Fargo”: “Loplop”
“The Night Manager”: “The Night Manager”
“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”: “From the Ashes of Tragedy”
“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”: “The Race Card”
“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”: “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia” – WINNER

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series Or A Movie
Melissa Leo, “All the Way”
Regina King, “American Crime” – WINNER
Sarah Paulson, “American Horror Story: Hotel”
Kathy Bates, “American Horror Story: Hotel”
Jean Smart, “Fargo”
Olivia Colman, “The Night Manager”

Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or Dramatic Special
“All The Way” (HBO): Jay Roach
“Fargo,” “Before The Law” (FX Networks): Noah Hawley
“The Night Manager” (AMC): Susanne Bier – WINNER
“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” “From The Ashes Of Tragedy” (FX Networks): Ryan Murphy
“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story,” “The Race Card” (FX Networks): John Singleton
“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” “Manna From Heaven” (FX Networks): Anthony Hemingway

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series Or A Movie
Jesse Plemons, “Fargo”
Bokeem Woodbine, “Fargo”
Hugh Laurie, “The Night Manager”
Sterling K. Brown, “The People v O.J.: American Crime Story” – WINNER
David Schwimmer, “The People v O.J.: American Crime Story”
John Travolta, “The People v O.J.: American Crime Story”

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie
Kirsten Dunst, “Fargo”
Felicity Huffman, “American Crime”
Audra McDonald, “Last Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill”
Sarah Paulson, “The People v O.J.: American Crime Story” – WINNER
Lili Taylor, “American Crime”
Kerry Washington, “Confirmation”

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie
Bryan Cranston, “All the Way”
Benedict Cumberbatch, “Sherlock”
Idris Elba, “Luther”
Cuba Gooding Jr., “The People v O.J.: American Crime Story”
Tom Hiddleston, “The Night Manager”
Courtney B. Vance, “The People v O.J.: American Crime Story” – WINNER

Outstanding Television Movie
“A Very Murray Christmas”
“All the Way”
“Confirmation”
“Luther”
“Sherlock” – WINNER

Outstanding Limited Series
“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” – WINNER
“Fargo”
“Night Manager”
“Roots”
“American Crime”

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special
“Amy Schumer: Live At The Apollo” (HBO)
“John Mulaney: The Comeback Kid” (Netflix)
“Patton Oswalt: Talking For Clapping” (Netflix) – WINNER
“Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted” (HBO)
“Triumph’s Election Special 2016” (Hulu)

Outstanding Variety Series
“Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee”
“Jimmy Kimmel Live”
“Last Week Tonight” – WINNER
“The Late Late Show”
“Real Time with Bill Maher“
“The Tonight Show”

Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special
“58th Grammy Awards” (CBS): Louis J. Horvitz
“Adele Live In New York City” (NBC): Beth McCarthy-Miller
“Amy Schumer: Live At The Apollo” (HBO): Chris Rock
“Grease: Live” (Fox): Thomas Kail, Alex Rudzinski – WINNER
“Lemonade” (HBO): Kahlil Joseph, Beyoncé Knowles Carter
“The Kennedy Center Honors” (CBS): Glenn Weiss

Outstanding Variety Sketch Series
“Documentary Now!”
“Drunk History”
“Inside Amy Schumer“
“Key & Peele” – WINNER
“Portlandia”
“Saturday Night Live”

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series
“Downton Abbey,” “Episode 8” (PBS): Julian Fellowes
“Game Of Thrones,” “Battle Of The Bastards” (HBO): David Benioff, D.B. Weiss – WINNER
“Mr. Robot,” “eps1.0_hellofriend.mov (Pilot)” (USA): Sam Esmail
“The Americans,” “Persona Non Grata” (FX Networks): Joel Fields, Joe Weisberg
“The Good Wife,” “End” (CBS): Robert King, Michelle King
“UnREAL,” “Return”: Lifetime Marti Noxon, Sarah Gertrude Shapiro

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Maura Tierney, “The Affair”
Maggie Smith, “Downton Abbey” – WINNER
Lena Headey, “Game of Thrones”
Emilia Clarke, “Game of Thrones”
Maisie Williams, “Game of Thrones”
Constance Zimmer, “UnReal”

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series
“Downton Abbey”: “Episode 9”
“Game of Thrones:” “The Door”
“Game Of Thrones”: “Battle Of The Bastards” – WINNER
“Homeland”: “The Tradition Of Hospitality”
“Ray Donovan”: “Exsuscito”
“The Knick”: “This Is All We Are”

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Banks, “Better Call Saul”
Ben Mendelsohn, “Bloodline” – WINNER
Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones”
Kit Harington,”Game of Thrones”
Michael Kelly, “House of Cards”
Jon Voight, “Ray Donovan”

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Kyle Chandler, “Bloodline”
Rami Malek, “Mr Robot” – WINNER
Bob Odenkirk, “Better Call Saul”
Liev Schreiber, “Ray Donovan”
Kevin Spacey, “House of Cards”
Matthew Rhys, “The Americans”

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Claire Danes, “Homeland”
Viola Davis, “How to Get Away With Murder”
Taraji P. Henson, “Empire”
Tatiana Maslany, “Orphan Black” – WINNER
Keri Russell, “The Americans”
Robin Wright, “House of Cards”

Outstanding Comedy Series
“Black-Ish”
“Master of None”
“Silicon Valley”
“Modern Family”
“Transparent”
“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”
“Veep” – WINNER

Outstanding Drama Series
“The Americans”
“Better Call Saul”
“Downton Abbey”
“Game of Thrones” – WINNER
“Homeland”
“Mr. Robot“

The post 2016 Emmy Award Winners: FULL LIST appeared first on Towleroad.

2016 Emmy Award Winners: FULL LIST

Sitting Judges Still Don't Believe Bisexuality Exists

Bi Week, starting today, tries to make the bisexual experience more visible to the mainstream. The following story illustrates how far we have to go. 

www.advocate.com/bisexuality/2016/9/19/sitting-judges-still-dont-believe-bisexuality-exists

Gay Gotham: Art and Underground Culture in New York

www.advocate.com/photography/2016/9/19/gay-gotham-art-and-underground-culture-new-york

What People's Obsession With Hillary's 'Health' Says About Them

How little we’ve evolved from the Salem witch trials over 300 years ago.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/9/19/what-peoples-obsession-hillarys-health-says-about-them