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Sir Elton John Graces Billboard Magazine Cover: “We Have So Much Work Left to Do”
Multi-award-winning artist Sir Elton John graced the cover of Billboard Magazine’s first-ever philanthropy issue, which also highlights the work of the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF).
HRC.org
Bernie Sanders Rejects Donation From Price-Gouging AIDS Drug CEO Martin Shkreli
It turns out Martin Shkreli, the smug epitome of capitalist greed who hiked the price of Daraprim, a drug used to treat life-threatening parasitic infections, by more than 5,000 percent, is something of a Bernie Sanders supporter.
The feeling is not mutual. A donation of $2,700 to the Sanders campaign from Shkreli — the maximum individual contribution — was promptly handed over to the Whitman-Walker health clinic in Washington.
“We are not keeping the money from this poster boy for drug company greed,” campaign spokesman Michael Briggs said.
Of course, Shkreli doesn’t agree with all of the candidates positions, and that’s what the donation was really about: send money, get Sanders’ attention, schedule meeting and tell him why he’s wrong about big pharma. Solving problems with cash — it’s a shock Sanders didn’t choose that as a campaign slogan.
One of Sanders’ core positions as a self-described socialist is finding creative ways to allow people access to the medications they need at a lower cost. He’s proposed requiring Medicare to negotiate lowering prices and allowing people to import cheaper meds from Canada. So, pretty much the anti-Shkreli approach.
“He’ll take my money, but he won’t engage with me for five minutes to understand this issue better,” Shkreli said in an interview. Call us crazy, but we imagine Sanders has a pretty firm grasp on his position.
Shkreli went on to essentially prove himself wrong by saying he could adapt in the market if Sanders got his way.
“Right now the rule of law in the United States is that drug companies can price their products wherever they see fit, not wherever he sees fit,” Shkreli said. “If the rule changes by congressional vote, then you know, I’ll adapt to the rules.”
No biggie — he’ll adapt.
We’re not sure the same strategy of “I’ll just adapt” will work out so well for the people in dire need of Shkreli’s exorbitantly overpriced medicine.
Shkreli did say he was a fan of some of Sanders’ positions, namely his call for free public college for everyone and improved access to mental health care.
Dan Tracer
4 Small-But-Awesome Gay Travel Tours You Should Know About This Fall and Winter
Iceland is cool, hot and cold!
In the current issue of ManAboutWorld we shine a spotlight on four smaller group gay travel tours operated by gay tour companies on four continents offering unique trips that just a handful of guests (relatively speaking) are able to experience each year, guaranteeing indelible memories, bragging rights and loads of Facebook likes. Note: The SCUBA trip has a special offer for ManAboutWorld & Towleroad readers.
Argentina: Hikes, Lakes & Wine
November 7-22
On this tour a small group of like-minded men will share the joy of discovery and camaraderie as they hike in the majestic mountains, explore the scenic wine country to sample outstanding wines and food, and visit Buenos Aires to eat in the very best steakhouses and explore the city and the gay venues with a gay guide in order to meet local gay men.
Gay dive
What a Dive! Caribbean Gay SCUBA
November 21-28
Experience the fun and freedom of an exciting Caribbean gay scuba vacation this Thanksgiving. Dive up to five times each day on Undersea Expeditions “Turkey on the Reef” scuba liveaboard in the Bay Islands. Meet 18 new dive buddies while traveling in style roundtrip from Roatán to Utila during Thanksgiving on board the 120’ Caribbean Pearl II. Meals, diving, and beverages are all-included for just $2,495 in comfortable double-occupancy cabins with private bath. Port fees and fuel surcharge waived for readers of ManAboutWorld & Towleroad (just mention “ManAboutWorld” when booking).
New Year in Thailand
December 30, 2015-January 13, 2016
Join Detours gay tours and make this a New Year you’ll never forget starting with a rooftop celebration high above the streets of Bangkok, followed by the incredible sights, sounds, tastes and beaches of Southern Thailand. This is a perfect opportunity to escape winter and let your hair down in paradise with a bunch of gay guys from all over the world. Detours offers gay tours with a less structured approach to group travel.
Hot & Cold in Iceland
February 13-18, 2016
Winter stretches for almost nine months in Iceland though the temps rarely dip below 32F creating perfect conditions for light snowfall and on clear nights, the Northern Lights. Each crisp day promises authentic encounters with nature, local traditions, unique cuisine, geological wonders and geothermal baths. This tour is scheduled to coincide with a major LGBT party called Pink Party. Pink Iceland offers gay tours and is gay owned.
For more tips and suggestions for tours, destinations, evens and more download ManAboutWorld’s latest issue.
This weekly travel column is brought to you by ManAboutWorld, an immersive digital gay travel magazine for iOS and Android devices from Ed Salvato, Billy Kolber, Kenny Porpora, and nearly 75 Global Correspondents. For more recommendations from ManAboutWorld’s global gay experts, download our App. There are FREE guides and a 10-issue-per-year subscription-based magazine
Images: Top: courtesty Pink Iceland gay tours; middle right courtesy of Underseas Expeditions
The post 4 Small-But-Awesome Gay Travel Tours You Should Know About This Fall and Winter appeared first on Towleroad.
Ed Salvato
4 Small-But-Awesome Gay Travel Tours You Should Know About This Fall and Winter
More Than 6 Million Americans Have Come Out on Facebook
Support for the LGBT population is on the rise and the number of people coming out on Facebook each day is on track to be three times what it was a year ago, according to a data report released by the social network Thursday.
More than 6 million people have come out on Facebook since its creation, claims the company, more than the entire population of Los Angeles. The social network defines coming out as changing one’s profile to express same-sex attraction or an alternative gender. This year alone, more than 800,000 Americans have changed their profiles in this manner, according to the social network.
Certain events prompted Facebook users to come out en masse, the report says. “On a typical day, one out of every 10 people who change their “interested in” status on Facebook do so to reflect a same-gender interest,” according to the report. “On the day of the Supreme Court ruling, this ratio was double, one out of every five people.”
The passage of marriage equality was also a big day for LGBT allies. According to the social network more than 26 million Americans changed their Facebook profiles to include a rainbow flag filter in the days surrounding the June court decision. For comparison, this number is greater than three times the population of New York City.
The Supreme Court decision also coincided with the largest single increase in support for the 300 most popular LGBT Facebook pages, including those of large organizations such as Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD or Equality Now, as well as many other LGBT-related pages — such as The Advocate Magazine’s.
Facebook released this data in honor of Spirit Day, which calls attention to anti-LGBT bullying, and National Coming Out Day, which also fell in October.
Click here to read the full report from Facebook.
Elizabeth Daley
www.advocate.com/world/2015/10/16/more-6-million-americans-have-come-out-facebook
This Oscar Campaign For Trans Actresses Is First-Ever In Hollywood History
Each week HuffPost Gay Voices and HuffPost Live will take a look back at some of the biggest queer news stories from the past week. Check back every Friday for your queer news round-up in this regular feature titled “QueerView.”
Oscar Campaign For Trans Actresses Is First-Ever In Hollywood History
Cathy Renna discusses the historical significance of a fully-funded Oscar campaign for a transgender actress.
Kroger’s Offering Trans Workers Full Benefits
Justin Nelson joins us to explore the news of Kroger’s decision to offer full benefits to trans workers.
What Canada’s Election Means For The Future Of LGBT Rights
Catherine Levesque explains what Canada’s election will mean for LGBT rights going forward.
Why Millions Are Taking The Purple Pledge Worldwide For #SpiritDay
Josh explains what Spirit Day is and how you can help raise awareness by celebrating.
Why Jason Holliday Is The LGBT Icon You Need To Get To Know
Stephen Winter joins us to discuss his film “Jason & Shirley,” which can help acquaint you with LGBT icon Jason Holliday.
Our #UnicornOfTheWeek: The ‘Still Bisexual’ Campaign
Josh reveals our Unicorn Of The Week.
— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
BBVA Compass Joins Business Coalition in Support of Houston Equal Rights Ordinance
Today, Texas’s fourth largest bank by deposit market share, BBVA Compass, announced its support for the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.
HRC.org
Selena Gomez admits to questioning her sexuality
“I think it’s healthy to gain a perspective on who you are deep down,” the 23-year-old singer tells PrideSource.
Jaclyn Hendricks
pagesix.com/2015/10/16/selena-gomez-admits-to-questioning-her-sexuality/
Hillary Clinton Shatters Rand Paul’s Homophobic Employment Policy With Single Tweet
During his recent speaking engagement at Drake University in Iowa, Republican presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul argued that it should be alright to fire an employee for being gay. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton isn’t having it. Check out her Twitter response below.
The feeling when a GOP candidate says it’s acceptable to be fired for being gay. t.co/cF9mw5k8fq pic.twitter.com/cYFvcW27mQ
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 14, 2015
Jeremy Kinser
Rachel Maddow Makes the Case for the Relevance of Lincoln Chafee: WATCH
Last night, Rachel Maddow revisited Tuesday’s Democratic presidential debate and the performance of former Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee.
For all the flack Chafee received for his at times blundering performance, Maddow argues that Chafee’s focus on the Iraq war was prescient given President Obama’s announcement yesterday that he would not withdraw troops from Afghanistan as previously planned. Chafee’s criticism of of Hillary Clinton’s vote in favor of the Iraq war also gave Clinton the chance “to talk about that vote and apologize for that vote in a way that honestly pretty much settles it,” as Maddow put it.
She went on,
“So Lincoln Chafee, of all people, jumping on that issue, reminding voters of that war and peace issue, testing whether or not that war issue will still be kryptonite for her politically the way it was in the past, giving her that chance, which she took, to try and put that issue to rest and to try and turn that to her advantage finally, well…thank you, Lincoln Chafee. Putting the war back into our national politics the way you did. Because, honestly without you, Lincoln Chafee, I’m not sure the war issue would be in our national politics right now. And it turns out we really need it to be in our national politics right now.”
Watch, below:
The post Rachel Maddow Makes the Case for the Relevance of Lincoln Chafee: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.
Sean Mandell
Rachel Maddow Makes the Case for the Relevance of Lincoln Chafee: WATCH
NFL Owner Donates $10K to Houston's Anti-LGBT Referendum
While the NFL has been making strides to be more inclusive and welcoming of gay players and LGBT fans over the past few years, Houston Texans owner Bob McNair is running the ball in the other direction. McNair gave $10,000 to the effort to repeal Houston’s LGBT-inclusive human rights ordinance this week, according to the Houston Chronicle.
As The Advocate has reported, opponents of the ordinance have focused primarily on the law’s inclusion of transgender people, claiming the law will allow sexual predators to lurk in bathrooms to attack women. The claim uses transgender people as a boogeyman; no such crimes have been reported over the decades that LGBT-inclusive human rights ordinances and laws have existed.
Most local businesses and celebrities have spoken out in favor of the ordinance, but McNair’s cash infusion comes just weeks before the city election to decide the law’s fate. Tony Perkins, leader of the Family Research Council, an anti-LGBT organization listed as a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center, trumpeted the donation in an email to supporters:
“A long-time conservative, the football mogul jumped into the fight with just a few weeks left until the city’s vote. Like so many locals, he’s strongly against forcing local businesses to swallow their beliefs and celebrate sexual immorality. No doubt McNair is also shaking his head at the thought of giving grown men the green light to share bathrooms, locker rooms, and public showers with young girls simply because they identify as another gender. With a $10,000 donation, he and Major League Baseball’s Lance Berkman helped put to rest the notion that high-profile Texans all line-up behind the ordinance.”
Berkman, a former star player for the Houston Astros, appears in a recent political ad opposing the ordinance. “I played professional baseball for 15 years, but my family is more important,” the six-time All-Star says in the spot. “My wife and I have four daughters. Proposition 1 would allow troubled men who claim to be women to enter women’s bathrooms, showers and locker rooms. It’s better to prevent this danger by closing women’s restrooms to men, rather than waiting for a crime to happen. Join me to stop the violation of privacy and discrimination against women.”
HERO supporters have warned that repealing the ordinance could have financial and public relations repercussions similar to the outcry after Indiana passed a “religious freedom” law intended to allow businesses to discriminated against LGBT people. Houston is set to host the 2017 Super Bowl, but supporters say repealing HERO could jeopardize the event.
Richard Carlbom, campaign manager for Houston Unites, pointed to the many supporters of the ordinance telling the Chronicle the “vast majority of Houston business interests taking a position on Proposition 1 support it. They know discrimination is bad for business and bad for the city’s image. Over time, companies, including sporting franchises, will stop wanting to come here.”
Watch Berkman’s anti-LGBT commercial below.
Bil Browning
www.advocate.com/2015/10/16/nfl-owner-donates-10k-houstons-anti-lgbt-referendum
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