Ahead of Anniversary of Oral Arguments in Historic Marriage Case, HRC Urges Senators to #DoYourJob

Tomorrow, we mark one year since oral arguments in Obergefell v. Hodges were heard at the Supreme Court of the United States. The historic case eventually brought marriage equality to all 50 states, showing the power and influence the Supreme Court has on the rights and freedoms of all Americans.

That’s why the battle over the current Supreme Court vacancy is so crucial.

President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to fill the open seat, however, Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans have thus far failed to fulfill their constitutional obligation and hold confirmation hearings for Judge Garland.

HRC has joined dozens of progressive advocacy organizations around the country, reminding Republican Senators that justice delayed is justice denied. By refusing to consider President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, these Senators are standing in the way of democracy. Judge Merrick Garland deserves fair consideration, which means a timely committee hearing and a confirmation vote by the full Senate.

The decisions made by the Supreme Court establish important legal precedents that impact the daily lives of all Americans — and have in a number of crucial cases determined the rights of LGBT Americans. This year alone, the Court is expected to rule on many crucial issues–including affirmative action, immigration, religious exemptions and access to reproductive care–and the American people deserve a Court with a full bench.

Take action now with HRC and tell Mitch McConnell to stop playing politics and fulfill his constitutional obligation – urge him to hold confirmation hearings immediately for Judge Garland’s nomination to the Supreme Court. 

www.hrc.org/blog/ahead-of-anniversary-of-oral-arguments-in-historic-marriage-case-hrc-urges?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

PHOTOS: The Grizzlies Host the Bingham Cup

www.advocate.com/sports/2016/4/27/photos-grizzlies-host-bingham-cup

Watch live via Periscope as GSN’s artist paints Alan Turing for Digital Pride

He was the code breaker who helped the Allies beat the Nazis during World War II and the father of modern computing.

But Alan Turing was also the tortured soul who had to hide his homosexuality from a country that persecuted him for it, eventually leading to his death.

Who better to celebrate with a new portrait during the first Digital Pride than Alan Turing?

And where better to create the painting than in the LGBT Foundation building in his home city of Manchester.

It’s been commissioned by DIY experts Wickes and will be created using their materials.

You can watch this new artwork, by Gay Star News creative director Scott Nunn, take shape here via Twitter’s Periscope:

LIVE on #Periscope: Live painting with Wickes and the LGBT Foundation #DigitalPride t.co/8QgktaRBfA

— Digital Pride (@digi_pride) April 27, 2016

And wonder if even this far-sighted genius could have imagined his own innovations in computing could one day help LGBTI people like him unite and allow us to celebrate his legacy in this way.

The post Watch live via Periscope as GSN’s artist paints Alan Turing for Digital Pride appeared first on Gay Star News.

www.gaystarnews.com/article/live-periscope-alan-turing-painting/

Twins Aaron & Austin Rhodes Reveal How They Came Out To Each Other In High School

Twins Austin and Aaron Rhodes grew to YouTube fame when they decided to film their emotional coming out to their dad, posting a video that has since been viewed over 22 million times.

Now they’ve posted a new video sharing how they came out to each other as high school seniors, and it’s pretty damn cute.

Related: When You And Your Sibling Are Both Gay, Things Can Get Interesting

Aaron was the first to bring it up. He’d fallen hard for another guy, and decided to share the news with his brother:

“I’m seeing somebody and it may or may not be a girl … so obviously I’m gay and I’m dating a guy,” he recalls saying in the video below.

After he was finished telling Austin about his new boyfriend, Austin said, “I like guys too.”

Aaron looks back on it now and says, “‘It was one of those moments – and I’ll never forget it – where we just finally caught up with each other. … It ended up with two little gay best friends who happen to be brothers.”

Watch below: 

h/t GayStarNews

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/koj1IaB-cXo/twins-aaron-austin-rhodes-reveal-how-they-came-out-to-each-other-in-high-school-20160427

45 Rabbis and All 8 Bishops of the Methodist Church Call for Repeal of NC’s HB 2

Religious groups are starting to make their voices heard on North Carolina’s discriminatory anti-LGBT law with 45 rabbis and all eight bishops of the Methodist Church calling for repeal, WRAL reports:

Forty-five rabbis signed a letter expressing “deep dismay” with House Bill 2, and all eight bishops of the United Methodist Church in North Carolina issued a similar letter in recent days.

“HB2 targets one of the most vulnerable groups in our society and eviscerates their ability to participate actively in community,” Rabbi Lucy Dinner of Temple Beth Or in Raleigh said at a Tuesday afternoon news conference, shortly before rabbis held a Passover prayer service with lawmakers at the Legislative Building.

Said Dinner: “We are here to implore the North Carolina legislature and governor, let all people go – and not just to the bathroom. If only it was just about bathrooms, that would be bad enough. HB2 discriminates in so many more ways.”

The call from the rabbis followed a letter from the Methodist bishops on Monday:

The Methodist bishops’ letter, entitled “A More Excellent Way,” came out Monday – the first day of the 2016 legislative session – saying Methodists “are called to live the hospitable welcome of God in a world with increasing boundaries, borders, fences and walls.” The letter noted the “hurried passage of House Bill 2 and its resultant harm to North Carolina” in urging lawmakers to rescind the measure.

“We dare not add to the increasing levels of fear, suspicion and divisiveness in our state and in our nation. Our calling to welcome, to forgive and to love both God and neighbor is our powerful gift to the world,” Bishop Larry Goodpaster, Bishop Hope Morgan Ward and retired bishops Ray Chamberlain, Charlene Kammerer, Lawrence McCleskey, C.P. Minnick Jr., Thomas Stockton and William Willimon wrote in the letter.

Presbyterian leaders came out against the legislation shortly after it passed.

Catholic leaders have either criticized Charlotte’s LGBT ordinance (which prompted the anti-LGBT legislation) or refused to take a position on the law.

Watch WRAL’s report:

The post 45 Rabbis and All 8 Bishops of the Methodist Church Call for Repeal of NC’s HB 2 appeared first on Towleroad.

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California Isn't Having North Carolina's State-Sanctioned Bigotry

The world’s eighth-largest economy looks ready to divest itself from the Tar Heel State.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/4/27/california-isnt-having-north-carolinas-state-sanctioned-bigotry

The Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie trailer has hit the internet, and it’s hilarious

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie has a new trailer – and it’s all kinds of amazing.

The video pads out the plot of the upcoming film – a spin off of the BBC series – with ageing fashionistas Eddy and Patsy accidentally pushing Kate Moss into the Thames at a party.

When it’s revealed they’ve killed the supermodel, the pair go on the run to the South of France.

The clip also features cameos from fashion designer Stella McCartney, Mad Men star Jon Hamm and Spice Girl Emma Bunton – and Patsy in full on drag king mode. Watch below.

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie hits cinemas 22 July 2016.

The post The Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie trailer has hit the internet, and it’s hilarious appeared first on Gay Star News.

www.gaystarnews.com/article/trailer-absolutely-fabulous-movie-hits-internet/

WATCH: Gay of Thrones is back with S6E1 recap, ‘The Read Woman’

If you’re a big fan of Game of Thrones but you haven’t been catching its recaps by sassy celebrity hairstylist, Jonathan Van Ness, on Funny or Die’s ‘Gay of Thrones,’ gurrrrl, you are definitely missing out.

*spoilers*

In this week’s recap of the first episode of season 6, titled ‘The Red Woman,’ Jonathan and his co-host, Gilli, talk about how’s everyone been doin’ since the cliffhanger at the end of season 5.

So, Jon Snow is still dead — very dead — and making ‘blood angels’ on the snow.

Jonathan gives Cersei Lannister — formerly called ‘blonde Cher’ — a new name, ‘Vintage Mia Farrow,’ for sporting her short hair.

‘She is madder than a wet hen. Because she sees Brother D coming home from Arryn’s, no groceries, no dry cleaning, and dead daughter,’ said Jonathan.

‘She looked exactly like how the world felt like when we found out Prince died,’ Gilli added.

In Dorne, Ellaria Sand and her daughters, whom Jonathan calls Kris K, Kim and Khloe, betrayed Doran Martell, the ruling prince, and killed his son.

‘Then Kim and Khloe go to kill their cousin, and Khloe’s like, “I got this.” And in classic Kardashian style, Kim steals the moment,’ said Gilli.

And on to our beloved Mother of Dragons:

‘Poor Christiana, she’s at Coachella weekend 3. Everyone is sup dehydrated. Not a coconut in sight,’ Jonathan describes.

Watch the rest of the hilarity here:

The post WATCH: Gay of Thrones is back with S6E1 recap, ‘The Read Woman’ appeared first on Gay Star News.

www.gaystarnews.com/article/watch-gay-thrones-back-s6e1-recap-read-woman/