U.K. Man Gets 14 Years After Bashing Gay Roommate's Skull

A 21-year-old British man has been convicted of attempted murder after he hit his gay flatmate in the head with a hammer at least twice. Amazingly, the victim survived.

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Thom Senzee

www.advocate.com/world/2014/09/08/uk-man-gets-14-years-after-bashing-gay-roommates-skull

Gambian Lawmakers Pass Anti-LGBT Bill

A Gambian lawmaker revealed today that the National Assembly passed a bill targeting the LGBT community.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/gambia-passes-anti-lgbt-law?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

People Still Die of AIDS Every Day So Here’s How You And I Can Make A Difference

NEWS FLASH: People Still Die of AIDS

Many people think HIV is not that big of a deal anymore. You just take a pill or two a day and you’ll be fine. This can be true for the most part if all the stars align, you are diagnosed early and you have access and adherence to treatment. However, the CDC estimates that about 15,000 people a year in the U.S. still die of AIDS every year. Many are diagnosed in later stages of AIDS or are part of the under-served, underprivileged communities. That is the real reason I am doing the Braking AIDS® Ride. The three-day, 300 miles ride benefits Housing Works whose mission is to end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through relentless advocacy and the provision of lifesaving services.

I have been HIV positive for 25 years, since I was 20, so basically my entire adult life. Statistically I should be dead. I sat by my partner’s bedside as he died from AIDS in 1996. I’ve been to more memorial services than I can count. Yet I survived virtually physically unscathed. For this reason I feel compelled and even obligated to give back to those who are not so lucky. Can you imagine trying to survive in New York city without secure housing and trying to deal with a life threatening illness on top of that?

The Mack Pack

I am not a cyclist. I am not an experienced fundraiser. But I have passion, dedication and tenacity. Because of lifesaving organizations like Housing Works I also have my health. In the early ’90s I depended on non-profit organizations for medication and help with the basics when I had no money at all.  Now it’s my time to repay what was given to me so generously. I only committed to the ride seven weeks ago and pledged to raise $50,000 dollars. I’m 70 percent to my goal with two days left to fundraise. I hope you can help me reach my goal. Every dollar counts and literally changes someone’s life, so you can donate here.

As part of my fundraising campaign I have incorporated two fun incentives. The first is a raffle, which ends tomorrow. If you donate $100 dollars or more, you will be entered into a raffle to win the red Martone bike in the photo worth $1,500 dollars. If you donate $200 dollars you get two entries and so on. Right now you have about a one in 120 chance of winning the bike.

The second incentive is if you donate $250 dollars or more I will tag your name, website or social media handle on my chest and post a nearly naked selfie on all my social media platforms and thank you personally for your generous donation. That will reach 107,000 followers on Twitter, over 250,000 combined followers on Facebook and 20,000 followers on Instagram. For $1000 or more I’ll write it on my ass.

I challenge you to the “no bucket challenge,”  where you just donate to charity because it helps others and it feels good and because you are one of the lucky ones. I would be honored to have your support.

I am also part of an amazing team called #TheMackPack and we have a few members who have not met their $3,500 dollar minimum. You can see our kick ass team roster here. They would love your help.

Jeremy Kinser

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/ur6Y4_J-1jQ/people-still-die-of-aids-every-day-so-heres-how-you-and-i-can-make-a-difference-20140908

What To Watch This Week on TV: 'Runway' Gets Wet, 'Anarchy' Reigns – VIDEO

Bobby Hankinson

www.towleroad.com/2014/09/what-to-watch-this-week-on-tv-runway-gets-wet-anarchy-reigns-video.html

V CONGRESO LGBT, GUATEMALA 2014

WATCH: How Long Will Supreme Court Wait to Take Marriage Case?

Three marriage equality cases are currently awaiting review by the U.S. Supreme Court. But there are several more making a beeline for the nation’s highest court.

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Matt Baume

election2008.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2014/09/08/watch-how-long-will-supreme-court-wait-take-marriage-case

Gambia Passes Anti-Gay Bill Imposing Life Imprisonment For Some Same-Sex Acts
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — A Gambian lawmaker says the National Assembly has passed a bill imposing life imprisonment for some homosexual acts.

Minority leader Samba Jallow said Monday the bill brings life sentences for “aggravated homosexuality.” A draft bill seen by The Associated Press contains language identical to a controversial anti-gay bill signed into law in Uganda earlier this year. It defines “aggravated homosexuality” to apply to “serial offenders” and people living with HIV/AIDS.

National Assembly Speaker Abdoulie Bojang confirmed the bill amending the criminal code was passed last month but would not say whether there had been changes to the draft.

Amnesty International says the bill, if signed by President Yahya Jammeh, would add to “the climate of fear” facing Gambia’s sexual minorities, who can already be jailed for up to 14 years.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/08/gambia-anti-gay-bill-_n_5787092.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Alejandra Leos and the National Crisis of Anti-Trans Violence

​As a summer marred by attacks on trans women of color comes to an end, the violence continues.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/alejandra-leos-and-the-national-crisis-of-anti-trans-violence?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Joan Rivers Gets The Touching (And Hilariously Offensive) Sendoff She Deserves

Joan Rivers’ funeral was held yesterday in New York City, and as was to be expected, it was a spectacle the likes of which Joan would most certainly have approved.

Fans gathered outside Rivers’ fabulously decadent apartment, and her daughter Melissa was so moved by their presence that she came out to thank them personally. Here she is on what must have been a very difficult day:

Celebrities were high in number at the Upper East Side synagogue where the service was held — who else but Joan could get Howard Stern, Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Sawyer, Whoopi Goldberg, Donald Trump and Steve Forbes all in the same room? To say nothing of Barbara Walters, Hugh Jackman, Barry Diller, Rosie O’Donnell, John Waters and Margret Cho.

Here are photos of the memorial program — note that Audra McDonald and Hugh Jackman performed songs:

Cho wrote about the experience on her website, which will give you a sense of what it was like in the incredibly high-security memorial. Long story short — lots of tears, but not without a few good laughs.

She wrote in a post called Putting the fun back in funeral:

We all wept – like professional mourners…In the morose silence Howard Stern said, “Joan Rivers had a dry pussy.”

At first, the words just hung there, as no one knew exactly what to do. Of course I started laughing hysterically, and everyone else, remembering who we were there to honor, followed suit. Howard Stern actually choked back tears as he continued – “Joan’s pussy was so dry it was like a sponge – so that when she got in the bathtub – whooooosh – all the water would get absorbed in there! Joan said that if Whitney Houston had as dry a pussy as Joan’s, she would still be alive today…”

It was so wrong but so right at the same time. So Joan. So great. RIP my friend.

Dan Tracer

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/AQp-VWld5ew/joan-rivers-gets-the-touching-and-hilariously-offensive-sendoff-she-deserves-20140908