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Curt Schilling Got Canned. Now Where's Our Apology?
The former Red Sox pitcher and ESPN commentator should take his own advice about the harms of online harassment, says this communications professional.
www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/4/28/curt-schilling-got-canned-now-wheres-our-apology
REVIEW: St Ermin’s Hotel, London
Sitting just across the street from New Scotland Yard’s gleaming office block, the Victorian grandeur of St Ermin’s Hotel’s red brick exterior hints at what to expect once you step inside.
Setting foot into the lobby feels like entering a palace, from the chandelier hanging overhead to the staircase leading up to a mezzanine level conjuring up images of a classic Disney film.
You’d feel underdressed, if it wasn’t for the welcoming staff and mix of clientele: casually dressed tourists meet suited business professionals along the hallways, and everyone shares a smile, no matter your outfit.
We were lucky enough to be upgraded to a junior suite, complete with a marble bathroom, two large TVs (one with an entertainment system to boost) and a sofa two people can more than comfortably spread out on.
The king size bed struck just the right level of softness – the kind that makes you never want to leave – and, with its canopy and enough pillows to build a small fort, made me and my guest feel like queens. Or at least like princesses, considering the real Queen lives but a stone’s throw away in Buckingham Palace.
And if that didn’t seal the deal, the RoyalTEA afternoon tea we got to enjoy certainly did.
Afternoon tea, if you never had it before (like yours truly) is like a smorgasbord of classic British desserts along with your choice of tea, with every single item looking equally inviting.
Ours included dressed Cornish lobster on brioche rolls, Scottish shortbread with a pistachio, lemon and lime curd dome and freshly baked scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam – and a refreshingly tart welcome drink, made from Champagne and raspberry liquor.
Full from attempting to try everything, there’s nothing better than a leisurely stroll. Whether you choose to go for a walk in nearby St James’s Park and pop by Buckingham Palace or hit the area around the Palace of Westminster, St Ermin’s is in a prime position for a spot of sightseeing.
We decided to head to Westminster and, subsequently, across the Thames to wander along the South Bank – few places are better than this stretch of riverside, bustling with life on a sunny day, to get a taste of London.
For dinner, we headed to the Caxton Grill, St Ermin’s own restaurant, where 27-year-old Masterchef finalist and culinary star Adam Handling has taken over the reins, serving seasonal ingredients with a twist.
The atmosphere is relaxed and warm, with friendly, prompt service always the right kind of attentive – letting the food speak for itself.
Rightly so: the menu packs a punch when it comes to an enticing combination of tradition and innovation.
My guest’s starter featured soft, buttery pork, while my main – creamy, cooked-to-perfection courgette and basil risotto – rekindled my faith in chefs taking their vegetarian options seriously, but the whole menu left us impressed.
Dessert came in the form of light apple mouse and sorbet, lifted by the addition of elderflower, tonka and coconut and some fluffy sponge cake.
My photography doesn’t do it justice, but it looked inviting and struck that pleasant balance between sweet and sharp. The only gripe about dinner came in the form of coriander; while it wasn’t listed on the menu, it featured in the apple mousse, dividing opinions between my guest and me.
A slightly unusual thing I loved was the third floor terrace – it may not be particularly spacious, but it’s home to the hotel’s 300,000 resident Buckfast bees.
From three custom-built hives, they swarm out to forage in some of London’s nicest parks, with the honey they produce used in the hotel’s kitchens.
And let’s be honest, very few things can beat stumbling out into Central London, still a bit bleary eyed but relaxed and content after a good night’s sleep and a nice breakfast spread, to turn the corner and see Big Ben against the backdrop of a sunny day.
For more information, visit www.sterminshotel.co.uk.
The post REVIEW: St Ermin’s Hotel, London appeared first on Gay Star News.
Nick Jonas On Canceling His NC Shows And Why “It’s Always A Good Time Hanging At Gay Clubs”
Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato joined the growing number of pop stars protesting North Carolina’s anti-LGBT House Bill 2 by canceling their upcoming Future Now tour dates in the state.
“One of our goals for the tour has always been to create an atmosphere where every single attendee feels equal, included, and accepted for who they are,” the pair said in a joint statement. “North Carolina’s discriminatory HB2 law is extremely disappointing, and it takes away some of the LGBT community’s most basic rights and protections. But we will not allow this to stop us from continuing to make progress for equality and acceptance.”
Queerty spoke with Nick Jonas about the announcement, as well as his upcoming sophomore album Last Year Was Complicated, his champagne problems, and whether he’s a just another “gay cock tease.”
Queerty: I want to start with a very serious and topical question: Do you have any nice gay friends you’d like to fix me up with?
Nick Jonas: [Laughs] Uh…possibly…
Maybe a gym buddy or someone who works out as much as you do…
Got it. I’ll keep my eyes peeled.
Do random journalist not usually ask you to play matchmaker?
Not usually. But it’s a good change!
Yesterday you and Demi announced that you’ve canceled the North Carolina dates on your tour this summer. How did you come to that decision?
You know, it’s a tough situation overall, and I think for Demi and I it was just about doing our best to try and make a decision that made a firm statement, but also took into consideration the fact that this would be very disappointing for our fans that were looking forward to the show. But sometimes you have to make these tough choices in order to hopefully see a change. We can only kind of humble ourselves and try to do our part, but hopefully we’ll see some good out of this very unfortunate situation.
It’s crazy how HB2 has kind of politicized the summer concert season.
Yeah, it has, truly.
Some acts have canceled their shows and others, like Cyndi Lauper, have decided to effectively turn their shows into fundraisers. What made you decide that canceling was the way to go for you?
After we talked about it with the whole team and spoke a lot together, for us it was about making the biggest impact possible. We felt that that would come from the cancelation of the show. Again, it was very tough to make that call, but you gotta do that sometimes and be ok with the frustration and hope that there’s real change.
Your upcoming album is called Last Year Was Complicated. What was so complicated about last year?
I think the break-up that I had over the summer last year was a pretty big piece of the puzzle. And also on top of that, you know, transitioning from being in a band, traveling with my brothers for years to being solo and learning how to tread those waters was just a learning experience for sure. I had to kind of figure all that out but also, you know, just be honest in my storytelling, in the writing of the record. Just lay out all that happened.
What would you say was the toughest part of that transition to a solo career?
The toughest piece for me was probably just being patient. Learning how to realize that building a career takes time and that the small moments of success are great but they don’t define the whole career. Or the moments of disappointment. So it’s about understanding that and trying to be as patient as possible.
Scene from starring role in Careful What You Wish For
So…this is a break-up album?
To a certain degree. There’s a lot on the record about the end of that relationship and the transition to just being single and kinda learning how to live as a solo person on both levels — career-wise, but also relationally.
When you’re writing, how do you decide what to reveal in the songs and what to keep just between you and your ex?
Well, nothing is off limits when it comes to writing. That’s been my MO for the most part, and I’ve stayed true to that. I’ve written about things that I think are incredibly uncomfortable to talk about. Just being able to have that outlet to pour my stories and life into is really key for me.
You have significantly more writing credits on this album than on your last one. Is that about a shift in focus for you?
I just really wanted to take ownership of this project, and make sure that I was really sharing my heart, because I think it was one of those years that was important to speak about for many reasons. And I’m glad I did. I’m really proud of the last record, but I definitely feel like I had more ownership of this one.
So the Songwriters Hall of Fame is giving you the Hal David Starlight Award in June. What’s that feel like at this early stage in your solo career?
It feels amazing. It’s kinda hard to believe, and I hope I can keep growing. But to be recognized this early on in my career is really amazing and I’m just grateful. It’s all kind of surreal, but songwriting has been a big part of my life and one of the things that I’m really proud of in my career.
On the flip side of that, some of your biggest hits, like your current single “Close,” were written by others. Obviously you have a lot of experience as an actor, so I was wondering if you bring some of the same skills to inhabiting a song that you bring to inhabiting a character on a TV show.
Yeah, I think that there are a lot of similarities. The way I approach the storytelling overall — songs that I’ve written or I didn’t write — I think I carry some of that with me. And also, you know, on a show like Kingdom, I was shooting for a lot of the time I was making the record as well, so living in the sort of darkness of that show brings a nice element of drama to the creation of the music as well.
Performing at a gay London club
In the past, you and Demi have made surprise appearances at gay clubs around New York to celebrate the release of your albums. Should we start keeping an eye out for you?
[Laughs] Sure! It’s always a good time going and hanging out at the gay clubs. When Demi and I went in New York we had a lot of fun, so it could happen.
JustJared photo shoot
James Franco recently said he’s a bit of a “gay cock tease.” Do you think some people could apply that label to you?
No, I don’t think so. I’ve been pretty clear with my heart and my nature of just wanting to be as supportive of my gay fans as they’ve been of me. So there’s definitely not any cock teasing going on. [Laughs] If anything I hope I can be a real ally for the LGBT community and I’m thrilled to be in a spot where I feel like there’s a lot of mutual love and respect.
Joining strippers at NYC club on college night
So one of the songs from the new album is “Champagne Problems.” What are some of your champagne problems?
Huh. Champagne problems… With that song in particular, the whole point of it was the fact that we — my ex and I — when we were splitting up we had this bottle of champagne that we were saving for our anniversary that we didn’t make it to. So I’d say that is probably the biggest champagne problem I had for the past year. But on top of that, I don’t know, when you have a really fun night and you wake up and you regret that fun night because you’re hungover, that’s a champagne problem.
Can you fix champagne problems on a beer budget?
Yeah! For sure!
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Nick Jonas Abs Attend Gay Clubs College Night, Interact With Crowd
Nick Jonas Drops Pants, Grabs Crotch, Breaks Hearts
Pre-order Last Year Was Complicated on iTunes.
Republican Caitlyn Jenner Films ‘I Can Take a Pee’ Stunt at Trump Hotel: WATCH
Noted Republican Caitlyn Jenner posted a video of herself trying to look very daring by using what appears to be a single-person bathroom at a Trump hotel in New York. The stunt is likely in response to remarks Trump made last week that Jenner would be allowed to use the bathroom at one of his properties.
Says Jenner as she walks down Central Park West, feigning surprise that she has just come upon the hotel:
“Oh my god, a trans woman in New York. I have to take a pee. Oh my God, a Trump International hotel! I love this! Okay, last week Donald Trump said I can take a pee anywhere in a Trump facility, so I’m gonna go take a pee in the ladies room.”
Watch:
After she exits the bathroom, Jenner adds:
“Thank you, Donald, really appreciate it. And by the way, Ted, nobody got molested.”
The remark appears aimed at uber-transphobe Ted Cruz, who last week released this ad suggesting trans people are sexual predators:
Jenner has said she still plans to vote for the anti-LGBT GOP in 2016 despite a slate of candidates who have been vocal and expressive about their opposition to LGBT issues in recent months on the campaign trail. In January she suggested that it would “be great” if she could be Ted Cruz’s trans ambassador.
Last month, Jenner acknowledged during an E! press event that she had spoken positively about Cruz, but never formally endorsed him. “I never said that I endorsed Ted Cruz,” she said at the time. “I said I like him. He is a constitutionalist and I think we have to get our country back to something like that.”
She also said she was “#willingtolisten” to Hillary Clinton.
The Facebook comments on her video, not surprisingly, are brutal.
Writes Ryan Marquez:
Look at Cait go, literally haha. #flushdiscrimination However, she still needs to learn that Republicans will do nothing for the LGBT community. Hopefully her friends get through to her someday.
Writes Edgar Cachu:
OH god. Nobody stopped you because you’re a famous rich person. Had you been a common folk trans woman, story could’ve been completely different.
Writes Christine Shanus:
Seriously? I supported you but this dilutional thinking that republicans somehow aren’t doing everything they can to get rid of your community is insane
Writes Marshall Mills:
This is the last straw, Caitlyn Jenner. You’re clearly delusional. not only do you somehow support trump, but you are an embarrassment for the trans community at this point. First of all, the washroom you went into looks like a single stall, so not a big deal, secondly, if you had been any other trans person, it would have been a totally different story. When will you wake up and realize that the only reason you get special treatment is because you’re a celebrity? Stop painting a fake picture of what it’s like and start actually doing some real work to change the perception of others. right now, you’re failing. This is not a joke. I’m done standing up for you.
The post Republican Caitlyn Jenner Films ‘I Can Take a Pee’ Stunt at Trump Hotel: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.
PHOTOS: Celebrate Black Pride
www.advocate.com/current-issue/2016/4/28/photos-celebrate-black-pride
Lebanon rock band banned in Jordan because the lead singer is gay and they believe in equality
A Lebanese rock band was told they could never perform in Jordan again because the lead singer is gay and they believe in religious and sexual freedom.
Mashrou’ Leila was scheduled to perform in a Roman amphitheater in Amman on Friday (29 April).
The band said the official explanation was that their ‘performance would have been at odds with what the ministry of tourism viewed as the “authenticity of the site”.’
‘Informally, the story is much more problematic. We have been unofficially informed that the reason behind this sudden change of heart, few days before the concert day, is the intervention of some authorities,’ the band said.
‘Our understanding is that said authorities have pressured certain political figures and triggered a chain of events that ultimately ended with our authorization being withdrawn.
‘We also have been unofficially informed that we will never be allowed to play again anywhere in Jordan due to our political and religious beliefs and endorsement of gender equality and sexual freedom.’
Amman governor Khalid Abu Zeid told the Associated Press the group had been banned because its songs ‘contradicted’ religious beliefs.
Hamed Sinno, the lead singer, is openly gay and has spoken out frequently on LGBTI issues in the Middle East.
The band has pleaded with the Jordanian government to ‘reconsider its stance’.
Many fans of the band spoke out against the decision.
Even if the concert didn’t happen, they proved how strong their lyrics are and what they can do.#بدنا_ليلي_في_عمان pic.twitter.com/8K3kJ4H43J
— Sarah™ (@SarahIBSais) 26 April 2016
Some days ago I tweeted how proud I was that Jordan is finally moving forward. I take that back. #بدنا_ليلي_في_عمان
— Farah (@farahalnaber) 26 April 2016
Dear #Jordan, Banning a band for not liking their views is no different than burning books in the dark ages. #LeilaInAmman
— Zeyad Salem (@Zeyadsalem) 26 April 2016
The post Lebanon rock band banned in Jordan because the lead singer is gay and they believe in equality appeared first on Gay Star News.
This bearded man puts on a dress and has the perfect attitude to the trans bathroom bills
When the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, the US took an incredible step forward. But with these bathroom bills targeting the trans community, it is two steps back in the name of equality.
But not everybody agrees with these horrific discriminatory laws like in North Carolina, the ‘religious freedom law’ in Mississippi and the law that will actually jail trans people for peeing in public bathrooms in Oxford, Alabama.
Jeremiah Traeger, who lives in Boulder, Colorado, took to Facebook to show how ridiculous the politicians who want to attack trans people who just want to pee.
He said: ‘This is me, an actual man in a dress (right now). I’m not a trans man or a trans woman, that is something different. I am a man. Not cause of what’s between my legs. Because I know myself. There’s a difference.
‘The argument seems to be that someone like me, a cis male, could more easily infiltrate a bathroom looking like this and assault a kid. Ok then, walk me through the steps. I think I’m missing something:
‘1. Wear a dress.
‘2. Walk into a women’s bathroom.
‘Then what? Don’t women’s restrooms have stalls? Wouldn’t I be a perv if I looked in them REGARDLESS of me being a man? If I was a pedo wouldn’t it be EASIER for me to stay in the men’s room? Isn’t assault ALREADY ILLEGAL?
‘I don’t understand how letting me into a certain bathroom makes it any easier. I’ve never seen anyone’s genitals in my bathroom visits, I doubt it’s any different in women’s bathrooms. If I’m doing something pervy or illegal, it’s going to be OBVIOUS and WRONG, regardless of how I was born. My genitalia and my clothing are a NON-FACTOR. If someone is peeping under the stalls, THE DRESS DOES NOTHING!
‘Here’s the difference: tonight I can take off the dress, put on some pants, and be myself tomorrow. I can use the bathroom of my identity without fear of assault. I have it super easy. For a trans woman she may have to live a lie every day if she doesn’t want to take that risk. They have to choose between dysphoria, depression, and anxiety or having an elevated risk of being murdered.
‘I am informed about this issue, and to me it’s settled and obvious. It’s not about safety and it never was. It’s about control and irrational fear. I care more about people and their safety than what’s between their legs.’
The post This bearded man puts on a dress and has the perfect attitude to the trans bathroom bills appeared first on Gay Star News.
www.gaystarnews.com/article/bearded-man-puts-dress-perfect-attitude-trans-bathroom-bills/
Judge Calls Dennis Hastert 'Serial Child Molester' in Sentencing Him to 15 Months (Video)
First transgender swimmer to compete in 1st Division intercollegiate games shares inspiring story
Harvard University’s Schuyler Bailar, joined our favourite daytime host, Ellen DeGeneres, at The Ellen Show to share about his journey from being a top female competitive swimmer in the nation to the first transgender athlete to compete in NCAA Division 1.
The 19-year-old collegiate swimmer from Virginia told Ellen that he has always known that he’s transgender, just that he didn’t have the right words to describe his experience when he’s younger.
‘I think it’s something I’ve always known, but I didn’t always have the vocabulary to explain it,’ Bailar explained.
It was only during the gap year he took after graduating from high school when he started discovering his true identity.
‘I don’t think that I hated my body because of how it looks,’ he said. ‘I didn’t like it because it didn’t represent the gender that I feel.’
On the surface, Bailar was a successful student athlete in competitive swimming. But he revealed to Ellen that he was actually struggling with an eating disorder.
However, by overcoming the eating disorder and coming to terms with his gender identity, Bailar was finally able to break free and be more comfortable with himself.
Talking about his swimming coaches and teammates, Bailar expressed gratitude for their full acceptance and support.
And even though he is no longer one of the top swimmers in his new team with the other boys, Bailar shared his newfound joy in the sports and also the glory of diving in as his true self.
‘I’m not winning anything like I used to and that’s definitely humbling. But it kind of has helped me develop something I was working on before, which is to love swimming just for swimming.
‘I think that there’s a lot of other kinds of glory in that.’
Watch the inspiring segment on Bailar’s remarkable journey here:
You can also know more about Bailar and his experiences with transition on his Instagram:
The post First transgender swimmer to compete in 1st Division intercollegiate games shares inspiring story appeared first on Gay Star News.
Caitlyn Jenner makes statement by peeing inside ladies room at Trump Tower
The reality series I Am Cait has wrapped up its second season but star Caitlyn Jenner still has the cameras on her.
Jenner, 66, posted a video on social media Wednesday (27 April) in which she put to the test Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump’s recent remark that Jenner and other trans people could use the restroom of the gender of which they identify at any of the Trump-owned properties.
‘Last week Donald Trump said I could take a pee anywhere in a Trump facility,’ Jenner said as she walked up to Trump International Hotel And Tower in New York City.
‘So, I am going to go take a pee in the ladies room.’
A camera follows Jenner as she walks into the building and asks for directions to the ladies room. She is directed without incident and enters the room with a ‘W’ on the door.
As she emerges she says to the camera: ‘Thank you Donald, I really appreciate it. And by the way Ted (Cruz), nobody got molested.’
Trump had said there is no need to have transgender-specific toilets because ‘that would be discriminatory’ and ‘unbelievably expensive for businesses and for the country.’
Cruz, the US Senator from Texas trying to thwart Trump’s presidential run, had his campaign quickly create a television ad taking Trump to task essentially for not being transphobic.
Trump had been speaking in the context of North Carolina’s HB2 which bans transgender people from using the bathroom of their gender identification.
States the Cruz ad: ‘Should a grown man pretending to be a woman be allowed to use the women’s restroom? The same restroom used by your daughter? And your wife? Donald Trump thinks so. It’s not appropriate and it’s not safe. It’s PC nonsense that’s destroying America. Donald Trump won’t take on the PC police. He’s one of them.’
The post Caitlyn Jenner makes statement by peeing inside ladies room at Trump Tower appeared first on Gay Star News.
www.gaystarnews.com/article/caitlyn-jenner-makes-trans-bathroom-statement-peeing-inside-trump-tower/
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