Scenes from Gay Rugby's Superbowl in Nashville

www.advocate.com/sports/2016/6/09/scenes-gay-rugbys-superbowl-nashville

LGBT Groups Excluded from UN Conference on AIDS Hold Own Meeting in Protest: WATCH

LGBT groups barred from a United Nations conference devoted to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 held their own event on Wednesday, outside UN headquarters.

In April, a letter from Egypt on behalf of 51 countries in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation requested the United Nations to block 11 LGBT groups from attending the three-day conference.

Today, 200 activists from the excluded groups attended the parallel event and called it “The Impact of Civil Society Exclusion on Ending the AIDS Epidemic by 2030” forum. They protested against countries that have caved to “right-­wingers like Russia, Iran and the Gulf States [by] remaining silent.”

The AP reports:

Nearly two dozen civil society organizations from five continents that provide services for LGBT communities, intravenous drug users and others have been denied access to the three-day General Assembly meeting starting Wednesday at the request of Russia, Cameroon, Tanzania and 51 Muslim countries…

…In a letter to assembly President Mogens Lykketoft last month responding to the blacklisting of 11 organizations, U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said the groups appeared to have been chosen for their involvement with gay and transgender issues.

The letter asked that all groups that requested participation be allowed to attend and noted that transgender people are 49 times more likely to be living with HIV than the general population. Their exclusion from the meeting, she said, would only slow progress in combatting HIV/AIDS.

But the assembly’s decision was not reversed.

Amirah Sequeira, from the Health Global Access Project, a New York-based advocacy group expressed her anger and frustration on a Facebook post:  “22 NGOs serving key populations most at risk of HIV (sex workers, people who inject drugs, transgender people, prisoners, gay men and other men who have sex with men) were denied accreditation to attend. Civil society advocates argue that the latest version of the HLM Political Declaration falls significantly short by not including critical language on respecting, protecting and fulfilling the human rights of men who have sex with men, people who use drugs, sex workers, and transgender people; and to ending marginalization and criminalization of these groups.”

She posted a dramatic video of the protest:

www.facebook.com/healthgap/videos/10154256797281018/

Photos: Healthgap’s Facebook page

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Colgate Airs Mexico’s First Ad To Feature A Gay Couple: WATCH

Colgate has aired the first ad in Mexico to feature a gay couple.

The #SmileWithPride campaign comes just weeks before Pride celebrations in Mexico are due to start.

#COLGATE SE UNE AL #PRIDE2016 CON SU APUESTA DE PUBLICIDAD INCLUYENTE #SMILEWITHPRIDE EN MEMORIA DE #GINOLUCERO pic.twitter.com/7vKTCpRLC4

— Sebastian Rausch (@Seba_Argentina) June 8, 2016

Zocaldo reports:

“In the spot, a grandfather and his grandson decide to help their new neighbors, a gay couple, to move a chair [into their new home]. ‘Sometimes you just need a smile,’ says the commercial, while showing the two new neighbors hold hands and stand in their new home.”

RELATED: Mexican Supreme Court Rules Gay Adoption Ban Unconstitutional

Last month, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto called for the legalization of gay marriage nationwide. However, last week Mormon church leaders issued a directive that members in Mexico should oppose any efforts to legalize same-sex marriage.

@Colgate Awesome to see a commercial that just wants my husband and I to be happy @DavidJBaumann #SmileWithPride pic.twitter.com/w4QsZo2guA

— Lee Tyler Baumann (@LeeTylerBaumann) June 9, 2016

#SmileWithPride is a huge step in the right direction, props to @SonrisaColgate for making this #BeProud #Pride2016

— Agustín (@XSageNAX) June 8, 2016

El spot viral de Colgate #SmileWithPride #FelizMiercoles #LoveWins SonrisaColgate pic.twitter.com/HTXlCO5PuT

— Arturo Conache (@Arturoconache) June 9, 2016

Just saw @Colgate‘s #smilewithpride commercial and I love it! #pride #lovewins

— Ricky B. (@rickybaeza91) June 8, 2016

The post Colgate Airs Mexico’s First Ad To Feature A Gay Couple: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

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When Andy Warhol Went to Gay Pride

www.advocate.com/pride/2016/6/09/when-andy-warhol-went-gay-pride

A Cuban Love Story, Complete With Fidel

Playwright Odalys Nanin tells us why she felt compelled to revive her stage tale of lesbian love in Castro’s Cuba.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/6/09/cuban-love-story-complete-fidel

Bathroom Bills Don't Just Harm Trans People

Children, the differently abled, and those living paycheck to paycheck were also walloped by North Carolina’s HB 2.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/6/09/bathroom-bills-dont-just-harm-trans-people

Becky with the Good Hair, Paul Ryan, Transgender Service, Periodic Table, ‘Hamilton’, Elizabeth Warren: NEWS

CALIFORNIA. Bear spotted taking a dip in La Canada Flintridge.

LEMONADE. Designer Rachel Roy (rumored to be ‘Becky with the good hair’) reportedly left the CFDA Awards once she realized Beyoncé was there.

ELECTION 2016. How Hillary Clinton made history not just for women yesterday but also for LGBT people: “…what many do not realize is that Clinton was led to that milestone by Robby Mook, the first openly gay campaign manager of a major presidential campaign in U.S. history. And not only did Clinton nod to the LGBT community in her speech, she included two transgender women in her victory video, watched by millions before she came onstage.”

ELIZABETH WARREN. The Massachusetts Senator is prepared to endorse Hillary Clinton: “An endorsement of Clinton could come within a week or two, one of the sources said. Clinton has been appealing for Democratic Party unity. On Twitter over the weekend, Warren echoed that call and emphasized the importance of the party coming together to beat Trump.”

RIP. Cassandra Butts, whose nomination as a U.S. Ambassador was blocked by Senators Ted Cruz and Tom Cotton over “unrelated political disputes”, has died at 50: “Cassandra Q. Butts, 50, died of undiagnosed leukemia at her home in Washington, D.C., on May 25. She was a member of an informal group of Obama advisers sometimes called the ‘Sisterhood’ and served at one point as deputy White House counsel.”

TERROR. 4 were killed in a terrorist attack on a shopping center in Tel Aviv. 2 shooters, who were disguised as Orthodox Jews, have been arrested: “Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire near a popular open-air market in central Tel Aviv on Wednesday night, killing four Israelis and wounding at least five others before being detained, Israel police said.”

NBA. Charles Barkley doubles down on opposition to North Carolina hosting the All-Star Game because of HB 2: “Barkley made his remarks on the ‘Dan Patrick Show,’ after being asked, ‘Will you consider boycotting the All-Star Game?’ ‘Yes,’ Barkley responded. ‘I told my boss, I don’t want to act like I’m jumping on a sword, but I’ve talked to Adam Silver, we need to move the All-Star Game,’ he said, speaking of the NBA Commissioner.”

PAUL RYAN. Dramatic floor fights over LGBT rights amendments on spending bills leads Speaker of the House Ryan to “crack down” on “Democrats’ ability to win floor votes on hotly contested issues […]”: “Ryan is turning his back on a promise that he would safeguard lawmakers’ rights to take on a range of contentious issues when the House debated annual spending bills.”

HAMILTON. Incredible 360 degree video of the cast singing “Wait For It” (must watch on Chrome or Firefox only).

TRANS MILITARY. LGBT rights groups angry that Pentagon hasn’t rolled out new transgender service member policy: “Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook told reporters this week that Carter would make an announcement ‘soon.’ ‘There continues to be progress on that front, even in the last few days,’ he said at a briefing Monday.”

HB 2. UNC system President Margaret Spellings blasts the bill: “You all would be mistaken if you thought we were not concerned about the kind of chill this is having as it relates to the climate, the culture, the goodwill that we attempt to engender on university campuses as it relates to free expression, diversity and ability to recruit students and faculty of all types from all over the world.”

GAME OF THRONES. Season finale will be longest in show history–69 minutes long. 

SCIENCE. 4 new elements on the periodic table of elements have been given names.

HUMP DAY HOTTIE. Raj.

The post Becky with the Good Hair, Paul Ryan, Transgender Service, Periodic Table, ‘Hamilton’, Elizabeth Warren: NEWS appeared first on Towleroad.

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We Can't Let the National Enquirer Get Away With Transphobia

The tabloid’s latest cover of Richard Simmons is the last straw.

www.advocate.com/media/2016/6/08/we-cant-let-national-enquirer-get-away-transphobia