Rocky Horror Picture Show, ‘This Is Us’, Rome Metro, SCOTUS, Barbra, Male Model Monday: NEWS

TELEVISION. Fox unveils teaser for Rocky Horror Picture Show remake.

SKIN. Milo Ventimiglia strips down in new trailer for his NBC series This Is Us, also starring Mandy Moore.

KEEPING UP WITH MIMI. Mariah Carey is getting a reality show all about her ‘world.’

POTUS. President Obama talks about why he has been fighting for transgender rights: “We’re talking about kids. Anybody who has been in school, in high school, who has been a parent should realize that kids who are sometimes in the minority, kids who have a different sexual orientation or are transgender are subject to a lot of bullying, potentially. They’re vulnerable.”

UK. City of Manchester to swear in first openly gay Lord Mayor: “Councillor Carl Austin-Behan will become the first ever openly gay person to hold the historic title when he is sworn in on Wednesday. The 44-year-old – a former Mr Gay UK – felt it was time for someone who represents Manchester’s celebrated lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to finally don the ceremonial robes. And it is all the more meaningful after a long battle to stop his sexuality blocking his ambitions. Just over 20 years ago he was kicked out of the Royal Air Force for being gay at a time when it was still illegal.”

ANCIENT ROME. Construction of a new metro line in the eternal city runs into Roman barracks and burial ground: “It’s exceptional, not only for its good state of conservation but because it is part of a neighbourhood which already included four barracks.”

MUSIC. Barbra Streisand announces new 9 city tour: “Streisand will perform her hits from each decade plus songs from her new album, ‘ENCORE: Movie Partners Sing Broadway,’ celebrating a career of unparalleled creative achievement. Every ticket purchased online includes a CD of Streisand’s new album, which will be released later this year.”

SCOTUS. The Supreme Court won’t review 4th Circuit ruling that has huge implications for transgender rights: “The justices declined to take up a student debt-collection case that asked the court to overrule a 1997 precedent, Auer v. Robbins, that said the judicial branch should defer to a federal agency’s interpretation of its own regulations. That case is the main one a 4th Circuit Court of Appeals panel relied on when it upheld the right of a transgender boy to use the boys’ bathrooms at a Virginia high school. There is no federal regulation specifically on the point, but the Education Department has issued guidance indicating that such treatment is required by the sex-discrimination prohibition in Title IX on schools receiving federal funds.”

ANIMALS. Rare Sumatran rhino born in captivity at a sanctuary in Indonesia.

WATCH: Critically endangered Sumatran rhino born at sanctuary in Indonesia; fewer than 100 are left in the world.t.co/QQMVSeA52k

— NBC Nightly News (@NBCNightlyNews) May 16, 2016

CUBA. The island nation saw its largest annual LGBT pride parade over the weekend.

MALE MODEL MONDAY. Meet Scott Neslage. 

The post Rocky Horror Picture Show, ‘This Is Us’, Rome Metro, SCOTUS, Barbra, Male Model Monday: NEWS appeared first on Towleroad.

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European Union Criticizes Anti-LGBT Laws in North Carolina, Tennessee and Mississippi

In a statement released last week, the European Union (EU) blasted anti-LGBT laws in North Carolina, Tennessee and Mississippi.

The statement reads:

“The recently adopted laws including in the states of Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee, which discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in the United States contravene the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which the US is a State party, and which states that the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection.

As a consequence, cultural, traditional or religious values cannot be invoked to justify any form of discrimination, including discrimination against LGBTI persons. These laws should be reconsidered as soon as possible.

The European Union reaffirms its commitment to the equality and dignity of all human beings irrespective of their sexual orientation and gender identity. We will continue to work to end all forms of discrimination and to counter attempts to embed or enhance discrimination wherever it occurs around the world.”

On March 23, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signed into law HB2 – an outrageous and unprecedented anti-LGBT law that eliminated existing municipal non-discrimination protections for LGBT people and living wage ordinances and prevents such protections from being passed by cities in the future. The legislation also forces transgender students in public schools to use restrooms and other facilities inconsistent with their gender identity, putting $4.5 billion in federal education funding alone at risk, and compelling the same type of discrimination against transgender people to take place in publicly-owned buildings, including in public universities, convention centers, and airports. Further, it gutted the existing ability of people who have been discriminated against – including on the basis of race, religion, and sex – to sue in state court, undermining critical discrimination protections for all.

On April 5, 2016, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed into law H.B. 1523, “The Religious Liberty Accommodations Act.” More than 75 major national corporations and businesses have spoken out against the horrific measure, that would allow individuals, religious organizations and private associations to use religion to discriminate against LGBT Mississippians in some of the most important aspects of their lives, including at work, at schools, and in their communities.

On April 28, Gov. Bill Haslam signed into law a mean-spirited anti-LGBT bill. The “Counseling Discrimination Bill,” SB 1556, allows licensed counselors in private practice to use personal or religious beliefs as an excuse to terminate care or refer away LGBT clients, as long as they refer the client to another counselor.

The EU is not the only international body speaking out against these anti-LGBT laws. Last month, the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office warned its LGBT citizens of the risks of traveling to North Carolina and Mississippi.

www.hrc.org/blog/european-union-criticizes-anti-lgbt-laws-in-north-carolina-tennessee-and-mi?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

'Hacktivist' Group Targets North Carolina Websites in Protest of HB 2

The collective known as Anonymous says it shut down several North Carolina government websites; however, some are back up and working.

www.advocate.com/technology/2016/5/16/hacktivist-group-targets-north-carolina-websites-protest-hb-2

If You Don’t Get The Gay Obsession With “Eurovision,” Watch This Video

Logo TV broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest this past weekend, bringing the singing competition to the U.S. for the first time since it began 60 years ago. Although American audiences are late to the party, for decades the show has brought in in hefty viewer numbers (180 million at the last count) from around the world, who eagerly revel in the camptastic spectacle of Eastern European chanteuses belting out torch songs while surrounded by scantily-clad dancers.

For viewers who do not understand the Eurovision craze, 2016 hosts Måns Zelmerlöw and comedian Petra Mede performed the surprisingly delightful “Love Love Peace Peace,” an instructional demo that breaks down the essence of the competition’s spirit, as well as every trick and cliché performers can use to win. Hint: shirtless guys are always a good idea. (Drag queen Conchita Wurst won in 2014 and she performed all by herself, so it’s a case-by-case basis.)

Related: Russian Eurovision Hunk Sergey Lazarev Has A Dirty Little Secret

The cast of characters on the stage for “Love Love Peace Peace” were not just for effect — they were actual contestants from years past, in all their sometimes-silly splendor. Although it should be noted the 2016 winner, Jamala from Ukraine, took first place with a rather angry and very loud song, “1944,” scolding the former Soviet Union for invading her country after World War II (and, of course, giving a nod to their subsequent 2014 “annexation” of the formerly Ukranian region of Crimea). But enough about politics. Eurovision was created specifically to join people through a love of music. So let’s all join together to enjoy the Swedish contestant Frans, and his catchy tune “If I Were Sorry.” Maybe if he would have won if he had sung while running in a giant hamster wheel.

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/-1FkGeHKTBg/dont-get-gay-obsession-eurovision-watch-video-20160516

Bob The Drag Queen’s Inevitable Single “Purse First” Just Dropped

Ah, the finishing lap of another season of RuPaul‘s Drag Race and all the self-promotion that comes with it.

With the winner being presented to the world tonight at 9/8c on Logo, it’s the perfect time for a half-assed single to hit the interwebs.

But this time, we’re happy to report it’s a full-ass delivery with Bob the Drag Queen’s “Purse First.”

From the get-go, Bob was in this game to play, so it’s no real shock that he’d be the queen to be exiting season 8 with a catch phrase.

It’s even less of a surprise that it’s his entry point into the post Drag Race world.

Bob, you’re a queen of the people no matter how things turn out at the finale.

Watch the first verse (and subsequent verses) of BtDQ’s vogue-heavy “Purse First” below:

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/1GN0R0uC0S0/bob-drag-queens-inevitable-single-purse-first-just-dropped-20160516

These Guys Tried Getting Photoshopped with Their Ideal Bodies: WATCH

Concern about body image is undoubtedly something many LGBT people are familiar with. And given that we often surround ourselves and are surrounded by aspirational images of what we might think of as ‘ideal’ bodies, it can be hard to not allow those images to impact how we view our own bodies.

The Try Guys decided to try and imitate their favorite sexy men’s photoshoots (from Bieber to Ronaldo) and allowed themselves to get photoshopped to more closely resemble their physical ‘ideal.’

RELATED: The Men of BuzzFeed Try Drag For The First Time; Tucking, Shaving And Throwing Shade Ensues – WATCH

Watch as the guys open up about how they see their bodies, and see how they react to seeing their bodies photoshopped, below.

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Bob the Drag Queen Slays with ‘Purse First’ Music Video – WATCH

Bob the Drag Queen has just released the music video for her track “Purse First” and it delivers the goods.

Bob is facing off against Kim Chi and Naomi Smalls in the season finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race tonight. Bob has widely been seen as the favorite going into the final episode.

RELATED: ‘The Realness’ Tops and Bottoms: Power Ranking ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ 08×09 — RECAP

The video features appearances from Todrick Hall and fellow queens Derrick Barry, Manila Luzon, and Laila McQueen.

Something tells me you’ll be seeing a lot of queens entering the club purse first henceforth.

Watch, below.

The post Bob the Drag Queen Slays with ‘Purse First’ Music Video – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

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The Angry, Confused, Bigoted Responses To Transgender Student Inclusion

Republican governors and attorneys general are ready to fight for discrimination against transgender students.

The post The Angry, Confused, Bigoted Responses To Transgender Student Inclusion appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2016/05/16/3778560/republican-governors-transgender-guidance/

HRC Releases 2015 Global Equality Report in Advance of IDAHOT

Today, HRC Global launched the third edition of its annual Equality Rising: 2015 Global Equality Report to commemorate International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT). The groundbreaking report provides a broad overview of the tremendous work done around the world for LGBTQ equality in 2015.

Equality Rising highlights the rising visibility of the LGBTQ community, unprecedented legal and political victories and evolving societal and institutional norms that benefit LGBTQ people. It also explores the ferocious backlash, as opponents respond to this swift and substantial progress on LGBTQ rights. The publication concludes with an emphasis that momentum towards equality is building across the world as courageous and resilient advocates fearlessly face challenges.

IDAHOT is celebrated annually in more than 120 countries each year, including in at least 30 countries where same-sex acts are criminalized. While the date marks when the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from a list of mental disorders in 1990, IDAHOT was created in 2004 to draw the attention of policymakers, political leaders, the public and the media about the violence and discrimination LGBTQ people face. IDAHOT also recognizes significant advances in LGBTQ equality in celebrations that raise the visibility of the LGBTQ community.

Millions of people around the world commemorate IDAHOT and many authorities, including  city councils, national governments, regional institutions and United Nations agencies, have officially recognized the holiday.

Equality Rising and IDAHOT remind us that there is still a lot of work to do. At least 75 countries criminalize same-sex relationships and same-sex conduct may be punishable by death in up to 10 countries. HRC Global stands in solidarity with advocates everywhere against homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and all forms of hate facing the LGBTQ community across the globe. Read more about the work of HRC Global here.

Click here to read Equality Rising 2013 and Equality Rising 2014.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-releases-2015-global-equality-report-in-advance-of-idahot?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed