Caitlyn Jenner reveals she contemplated suicide in new docuseries

Caitlyn Jenner came close to taking her life at the height of her of gender identity struggle.

The former Olympian made the revelation during the first episode of her new docuseries, I Am Cait, which premieres on Sunday (26 July) on E!.

‘I’ve been in some dark places,’ she said.

‘I have been in my house with a gun and said, “Let’s just end it right there, no more pain, no more suffering, that struggle, it’s real and I’ve been there.’

Several times during the episode, Jenner talks about the lack of support transgender receive from family and friends, as well as the high rates of murder and suicides. And she takes pains to point out that her experience is ‘not this way for everybody.’

‘People are dying over this issue,’ she says.

‘I feel a tremendous responsibility here, because I have a voice, and there are so many trans people out there who do not have a voice.’

At the hour’s end, Jenner attend a memorial for Kyler Prescott, a 14-year-old transgender boy from San Diego who ended his own life in May.

‘Even with the full support of the family, it’s still a hard journey,’ Prescott’s mother says of transgender youth.

‘What I want to do is just be able to create understanding, so the next person doesn’t have to be like me,’ Jenner replies.

Watch the preview of I Am Cait below:

The post Caitlyn Jenner reveals she contemplated suicide in new docuseries appeared first on Gay Star News.

Darren Wee

www.gaystarnews.com/article/caitlyn-jenner-reveals-she-contemplated-suicide-in-new-docuseries/

WATCH: Marriage Equality Will Lead to Man-Animal Love Affairs, Says Pat Robertson

The televangelist trots out his shopworn and outlandish arguments that marriage equality will lead to legalization of bestiality, polygamy, and pedophilia.

read more

Trudy Ring

www.advocate.com/marriage-equality/2015/07/22/watch-marriage-equality-will-lead-man-animal-love-affairs-says-pat-robe

Congressman Trolls Bill To Point Out Republican Hypocrisy

WASHINGTON — A Democratic congressman is using a Republican-sponsored bill that would withhold federal law enforcement funding to so-called sanctuary cities to draw attention to GOP hypocrisy.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) on Wednesday added an amendment that calls for applying the same funding restrictions to states and municipalities refusing to abide by the Supreme Court ruling that legalizes gay marriage.

“Some state and local officials are showing an unwillingness to comply with a clear directive from the Supreme Court of the United States,” Pocan said in a statement. “Officials have an obligation to uphold rights for all Americans enshrined in the Constitution and we need to everything we can to make sure they adhere to the law of the land.”

Both Senate and House Republicans have called for eliminating Department of Justice funding to sanctuary cities, which have said they will not comply with federal immigration officials in tracking and reporting undocumented immigrants. The bills were introduced after a fatal shooting earlier this month in San Francisco, a sanctuary city. Charged in the killing is an undocumented man who had previously been deported five times.

Pocan said he believes that if Congress can restrict funding to state and local authorities based on immigration policies, it can do the same for localities that fail to respect gay marriage, which the Supreme Court has deemed a constitutionally protected right.

Earlier this month, Pocan wrote a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch asking federal officials to pursue all possible steps to punish states and municipalities holding out against gay marriage.

Though Pocan’s amendment is unlikely to get a vote when the House bill is considered later this week, he plans to introduce the measure in other bills as well, according to his office.

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Ted Olson & David Boies Support Comprehensive Federal LGBT Non-Discrimination Legislation

Acclaimed bipartisan legal duo announce support on eve of the introduction of the Equality Act in Congress
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/ted-olson-david-boies-support-comprehensive-federal-lgbt-non-discrimination?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

News: Ikea, Orange County, ‘Empire’, Hump Day Hotness

> Some LGBT advocates not on board with the ‘Equality Act’ due to be introduced tomorrow.

> Prince George turns 2. 

> How strangers harass lesbians on the street.

> Two children killed by Ikea ‘Malm’ dressers.

> At least 9 Alabama counties still not issuing marriage licenses to anyone so they don’t have to issue them to same-sex couples.

> Santa Ana, California (in Orange County) to consider permanently flying the rainbow pride flag at City Hall.

> Free Pride Glasgow reverses ban on drag queens: “We made a mistake, and we apologise.”

> The unseen and often crippling costs of being transgender and transitioning.

> First look: Empire season 2. 

> Russian nuclear bombers flew within 40 miles of the California coast on 4th of July, broadcast message to American pilots on the emergency aircraft channel: “Good morning American pilots, we are here to greet you on your Fourth of July Independence Day,” 

> Charleston church shooter to face federal hate crimes charges. AG Loretta Lynch: “Hate crimes are the original domestic terrorism.”

> Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj get into a Twitter feud over the VMAs. Katy Perry apparently wants in on the fight. And Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran make fun of it.

> Sam Smith spent a little too much time in the sun.

> Hump Day Hotness: Parker Hurley.

> Caitlyn Jenner shows off her considerable shoe collection.

> Dashcam footage of Sandra Bland’s arrest released. Questions arise over whether the footage was edited.

> Jake Gyllenhaal gets slapped in the face.

> 59% of voters less likely to support a political candidate that opposes anti-discrimination protections for LGBT Americans.

The post News: Ikea, Orange County, ‘Empire’, Hump Day Hotness appeared first on Towleroad.

Sean Mandell

News: Ikea, Orange County, ‘Empire’, Hump Day Hotness

There's No Federal Law Stopping Businesses From Discriminating Against Female Customers. Now There's A Bill To Fix That.

WASHINGTON — The landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 barred places of public accommodation — like movie theaters and restaurants — from discriminating against people on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin. Lunch counters, for example, would no longer be able to turn away someone because she happened to be black. 

But sex wasn’t included in the protected categories. And it still isn’t. In other words, it remains legal in some places for a business to refuse to serve a woman solely on the basis of gender. 

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) are introducing legislation Thursday that would amend the Civil Rights Act to make it more inclusive. Most notably, it would add sexual orientation and gender identity protections, meaning LGBT people would be protected from discrimination in credit, education, employment, housing, federal financial assistance, jury service and public accommodations — just like everyone else.

The legislation also would close other longstanding gaps, including the exclusion of sex from the areas of public accommodations, state and local government services and federal funding, according to a preview provided to The Huffington Post.

Emily Martin, vice president and general counsel at the National Women’s Law Center, said that when the Civil Rights Act was drafted, the focus was on segregation in public places. 

“As a result, the protection against sex discrimination in public places like stores and hotels and restaurants has been piecemeal,” Martin explained. “Lots of states prohibit sex discrimination in those places, but they all define it differently and some states don’t do it at all. This would be a really important step forward that would have real significance for women.”

This change would mean that a car dealership couldn’t charge a woman more than a man, simply because she’s a woman. Or a salon couldn’t charge men and women different prices for the exact same haircut. 

The Equality Act also would widen the definition of what constitutes a public accommodation. Right now, the list reflects what was popular in 1964, specifying that places like a “lunch counter” or a “soda fountain” can’t discriminate. The new bill would broaden the categories and cover nearly every entity that provides goods, services or programs.  

Merkley and Cicilline, joined by a handful of other Democratic lawmakers and civil rights leaders, will officially introduce the legislation Thursday in a press conference in the Lyndon B. Johnson Room of the Capitol, paying homage to the president who signed the Civil Rights Act into law. 

— 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.

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Florida victim is 10th trans woman murdered in US so far in 2015

Last weekend, 25-year-old India Clarke posted a selfie on her Facebook page with the message: ‘Happy Saturday’ followed by four smiley faces.

Just three days later, Clarke was found dead in a neighborhood park in Tampa, Florida.

She is the 10th transgender woman to be murdered in the US this year.

Relatives tell WTSP that Clarke was studying cosmetology and began using the name India two years ago and identifying as a woman.

‘No, it did not matter to me. I didn’t care what he was,’ Clarke’s tearful mother, Thelma, said using male pronouns for her child. ‘I still love them — and he knew that. I can say he knew his mother loved him regardless.’

She described her child as ‘a good-hearted person. Very loving person.’

Clarke, who was was last seen by her family on Sunday, suffered blunt force trauma.

The mom said Clarke’s last words heading out the door were, “Mom, I love you, dad, I love you.” And we both said “we love you too.” I hope they find out who did this.’

a reward of up to $3,000 is being offered by Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay for information leading to the arrest of a suspect. Crime Stoppers can be reached at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477) or online at www.crimestopperstb.com.

The post Florida victim is 10th trans woman murdered in US so far in 2015 appeared first on Gay Star News.

Greg Hernandez

www.gaystarnews.com/article/florida-victim-is-10th-trans-woman-murdered-in-us-so-far-in-2015/