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MISC

HRC Commemorates the Life of Civil Rights Hero Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

HRC Commemorates the Life of Civil Rights Hero Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Today, HRC announced that hundreds of HRC volunteers will take part in nearly 30 community service events across the nation in a day of service and action honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“Today we honor a giant, whose enduring legacy of social justice and action continues to guide our path and the paths of all who fight for an America that is more fair, equal and just,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “As we reflect on Dr. King’s legacy, we reaffirm our commitment to advocating for all members of our community — especially the most vulnerable among us — and to honoring Dr. King’s vision every day in our work, values and actions.”

With the support and involvement of HRC members and supporters, volunteers nationwide will be giving back to their communities through a range of service projects and amplifying the work local organizations and leaders are doing for the most marginalized groups of the LGBTQ community. Efforts include organizing clothing and toiletries donation drives; assembling and distributing care packages of travel-size hygiene items, school supplies and winter accessories; and participating in beautification and small renovation projects.

HRC will partner with 27 service providers and local organizations across 26 cities and regions in living out the values of justice and equality that Dr. King so tirelessly championed. The full list includes: Transgender Community Coalition (Orange County, Long Beach and Palm Springs), AIDS Task Force of Greater Cleveland (Cleveland), Montrose Grace Place and Bering Open Gate (Houston), Zebra Coalition Youth Center (Orlando), Walgrove Avenue Elementary (Los Angeles), Bridge For Youth (Twin Cities), Covenant House Florida (South Florida), All Shades United (Las Vegas), The Family Place (Dallas, Ft. Worth), Morris Home (Philadelphia), Christ Church PDX and Rose City United Methodist Church  (Portland), Northwest Middle School (Salt Lake City), Wrenn House and Haven House Services (Durham), Comunidad Colectiva (Charlotte), Lighthouse Youth & Family Services (Cincinnati), SMYAL (Washington), Wanda Alston (Washington), and the Latin American Youth Center (Washington), Youth Care Orion Center (Seattle), Friendship Center (Orange County, Long Beach and Palm Springs), YMCA Linwood (Kansas City), San Diego Youth Services and San Diego Unified Schools (San Diego), Youth Oasis (New Orleans), Hetrick-Martin Institute (New York), Nance Elementary (St. Louis), and Nashville Cares (Nashville).

For more information about service projects around the country, visit hrc.org/MLKDayOfService.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-commemorates-the-life-of-civil-rights-hero-dr.-martin-luther-king-jr?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

MISC

The GLAAD Wrap: Trailers for ‘Now Apocalypse’ and ‘Billions,’ Critics’ Choice Award winners, and more!

The GLAAD Wrap: Trailers for ‘Now Apocalypse’ and ‘Billions,’ Critics’ Choice Award winners, and more!

Photo Credit: Showtime

Every week, the GLAAD Wrap brings you LGBTQ-related entertainment news highlights, fresh stuff to watch out for, and fun diversions to help you kick off the weekend!

1) Vice Sports released a new short documentary on Wednesday following NBA player Reggie Bullock and his activism following the murder of his transgender sister Mia in 2014. Bullock has worked with GLAAD and other organizations to raise his voice in support of LGBTQ and specifically trans people, and uses his platform as a well-known athlete to call attention to these issues. Watch the documentary below.

2) Spider-Man: Far From Home, which released its first trailer this week, features two trans cast members. The Advocate reports that trans actors Zack Barack and Tyler Luke Cunningham will play a friend of Peter Parker and a featured extra, respectively. Although the gender identity of their characters has not yet been defined, this casting news is a big step for inclusion by a major studio. In further film news, lesbian comedian and actress Wanda Sykes has been cast in the upcoming film Lexi, a new comedy film about what happens when you love your phone more than anything else. The movie also stars Rose Byrne, Justin Hartley, and Ron Funches among others.

3) A trailer has been released for the upcoming show Now Apocalypse, created by out filmmaker Gregg Araki. The show follows Ulysses, a queer millennial partying with his friends in Los Angeles while also having bizarre premonitions. The trailer shows Tyler Posey as a love interest for Ulysses who is very aware of the upcoming end of the world. Watch the trailer below, and catch the premiere of Now Apocalypse March 10 on Starz after American Gods.

4) Freeform has announced a midseason return for the final episodes of their GLAAD Media Award-winning show Shadowhunters. The second half of the third and final season will premiere on Monday, February 25, seeing the return of fan-favorite couple Magnus and Alec, as well as an ensemble which includes multiple other queer characters. A premiere date has also been announced for new CBS series The Red Line, which stars Noah Wyle as a man whose husband was shot by a police officer. The Red Line premieres on Sunday, April 28.

5) A trailer for the fourth season of Showtime’s Billions was released this week. The show features non-binary character Taylor Mason, played by non-binary actor Asia Kate Dillon, who will go up against their former mentor, Bobby Axelrod with their new finance company. Billions will premiere its fourth season on Sunday, May 17. You can also catch a glimpse of Dillon as The Adjudicator in the recently released trailer for the upcoming film John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. In other TV news, a premiere date has been announced for the fifth and final season of Jane the Virgin, which will premiere March 27 on the CW.

6) Further casting has been announced for Ryan Murphy’s upcoming Netflix show Ratched, starring out actress Sarah Paulson as a young Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The newly announced cast members include out actors Cynthia Nixon and Charlie Carver. Click here too see the full announcement.  In further Netflix news, a trailer has been released for the upcoming final episodes of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, which will be released on the streaming platform on January 25.

7) Out writer, producer and director Angela Robinson has signed a new two-year overall deal with Paramount TV, where she will be creating and developing new projects for the studio. Robinson wrote and directed the queer inclusive projects Professor Marston and the Wonder Women and D.E.B.S. Robinson currently serves as co-captain of Time’s Up Women of Color. We are excited to see what the prolific queer filmmaker will create at Paramount.

8) Out bi pop singer Lauren Jauregui released a new single and music video on Friday, “More Than This.” In other music news, lesbian rapper Young M.A. released a new music video for her song “Bake Freestyle,” where she raps over Clipse’s “Grindin.” Watch the video here.

9) On Sunday, the Critics’ Choice Awards for film and television were handed out with awards going to Lady Gaga in a tie with Glenn Close for Best Actress; Mahershala Ali in Best Supporting Actor for playing gay musician Don Shirley in Green Book; The Favourite in Best Acting Ensemble as well as Best Actress in a Comedy for Olivia Colman; and Crazy Rich Asians won Best Comedy. In the television categories, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story won Best Limited series, with Darren Criss winning Best Actor; and Best Supporting Actor in that category was awarded to out actor Ben Whishaw for playing queer character Norman Scott. BoJack Horseman, which features an asexual character in the main ensemble, won Best Animated Series. For the full list of winners, click here!

10) The line-up has been officially announced for PaleyFest LA, which features several panels with the creators and casts of impactful televisions shows. The line-up includes groundbreaking drama series Pose along with other LGBTQ-inclusive series such as Grace and Frankie, RuPaul’s Drag Race, 9-1-1, Jane the Virgin and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Star Trek: Discovery, and This is Us. Tickets are available here.

11) Trans in Trumpland, a documentary about the harmful impact of the current president on transgender Americans, is currently seeking funding for production. Helmed by trans Iranian-American filmmaker Tony Zosherafatain, the documentary focuses on a diverse group of transgender folks and shines a particular light on Miss Major, a trans woman who runs a safe haven for trans people in Arkansas. The documentary will also showcase Rebecca, a trans woman detained by ICE. To learn more and contribute to the project, click here.

January 18, 2019

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-wrap-trailers-now-apocalypse-and-billions-critics-choice-award-winners-and-more

MISC

Equality Virginia, HRC Hail Senate for Passing Non-Discrimination Protections, Call on House to Act

Equality Virginia, HRC Hail Senate for Passing Non-Discrimination Protections, Call on House to Act

Today, Equality Virginia and HRC commended the Virginia State Senate for passing legislation that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, while calling on the House of Delegates to prioritize these bills this session. The two bills that passed the Senate, SB 1009 and SB 998 would add these crucial, commensense protections for LGBTQ Virginians in housing and public employment, respectively. Earlier this week, several Republican members of the House of Delegates announced their support for these bills at a press conference, showing bipartisan support for these measures in both chambers. Over the past several elections, Equality Virginia and HRC have successfully elected pro-equality champions at every level of Virginia’s state government.

“For the fourth year in a row, the Virginia Senate has passed these crucial protections for LGBTQ Virginians with bipartisan support,” said James Parrish, Executive Director for Equality Virginia. “LGBTQ people should be able to work and live free from discrimination. Residents of the commonwealth overwhelmingly agree — supporting equality isn’t a Republican or Democratic value — it’s a Virginia value. It’s time for the House of Delegates to finally take up and pass these bills. It’s not controversial, it’s common sense.”

“These are basic non-discrimination protections that LGBTQ Virginians need and deserve, and that will make the commonwealth a more welcoming and inclusive place for all Virginians,” said Marty Rouse, HRC National Field Director. “Voters in Virginia — who continue to elect more and more pro-equality lawmakers — simply have no appetite for discrimination and want to be sure that their friends and neighbors are protected the same way they are. It’s essential for the future of Virginia that pro-equality legislators in the House act on these non-discrimination bills and ensure that these long-overdue protections are passed.”

In February of 2018, The Tarrance Group, a Republican polling firm that has done extensive work in Virginia and for national Republican candidates, conducted a poll of “base” Republican voters, specifically voters who have participated in at least two out of four of the last Republican primaries in the Commonwealth. They found:  

  • 55% of Republican voters believe it “should be against the law to discriminate in housing against someone who is gay or transgender.”
  • Only 35% opposed.  59% of Republican voters believe it should be against the law to discriminate in public employment against someone who is gay or transgender.” Only 32% opposed.  

Last week, Mason-Dixon, a pollster with a long track record of work in Virginia as well, asked about the same issues in a January 2019 statewide poll. While finding broad support amongst the greater electorate, the pollster again found Republican voters onboard. They found:  

  • 53% of Republicans said they would support “legislation at the General Assembly this year that would update Virginia’s nondiscrimination laws to protect gay and transgender people from discrimination in housing.” Only 38% opposed.  
  • 63% of Republicans said they would support “legislation at the General Assembly this year that would update Virginia’s nondiscrimination laws to protect gay and transgender people from discrimination in employment.” Only 30% opposed.

Equality Virginia is the leading advocacy organization in Virginia seeking equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. EV believes in a truly inclusive Commonwealth where all are equally valued, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, and a Virginia that is a safe, welcoming, and equal place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and their families to live, work, and play.

www.hrc.org/blog/equality-virginia-hrc-hail-senate-for-passing-non-discrimination-protection?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

MISC

Congratulations to Nikki and Denny from Florida!

Congratulations to Nikki and Denny from Florida!

Be with someone who makes you happy (in a way no one else can). For Nikki, that someone was Denny. She writes: “Denny and I started talking on Zoosk in May 2018. We tried to meet up several times, however it never quite worked out. Then finally on June 30th, we had our first date. It

The post Congratulations to Nikki and Denny from Florida! appeared first on Zoosk.

about.zoosk.com/en/blog/success-stories/congratulations-nikki-denny-florida/

MISC

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: January 18, 2019

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: January 18, 2019

HORRIFYING — NEW REPORT SHOWS TRUMP-PENCE SEPARATED THOUSANDS MORE CHILDREN FROM THEIR FAMILIES THAN PREVIOUSLY KNOWN: This administration’s cruelty toward undocumented children and families has been unconscionable. Prying away kids from their parents is barbaric and un-American. More from Politico.

The Trump-Pence administration separated thousands more families at the border than was previously reported. In other words, the cruelty & inhumanity of this policy has been compounded by the abject incompetence with which it was implemented. t.co/UrSyek6d5u

— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) January 17, 2019

TODAY — HRC HOSTS PRESS CALL AHEAD OF AZ SUPREME COURT HEARING ON LGBTQ NON-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS: The call, at 11 a.m. MT, will  feature U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton — the former Phoenix mayor — and LGBTQ advocates in Arizona where the state Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case challenging the city of Phoenix’s LGBTQ inclusive non-discrimination ordinance. The case, brought by anti-LGBTQ organization Alliance Defending Freedom, asserts that Brush & Nib Studio should be allowed to discriminate against customers wanting to purchase invitations for a same-sex wedding. Contact [email protected] for more information.

ICYMI — SENATOR CORY BOOKER (D-NJ) QUESTIONS ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINEE WILLIAM BARR ABOUT AN ARTICLE HE WROTE CONDEMNING LGBTQ-INCLUSIVE LAWS:

Must watch: Senator @CoryBooker questioned Attorney General nominee William Barr about a 1995 article he wrote condemning LGBTQ-inclusive laws.

Barr’s response was deeply disturbing. #StopBarr pic.twitter.com/IpqW2IQ2Bx

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) January 17, 2019

SOUTH DAKOTA ANTI-TRANSGENDER DISCRIMINATION CASE DISMISSED AFTER PLAINTIFF’S DEATH: Terri Bruce, a transgender man, alleged the state violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 because the state health insurance policy denied coverage of medically-necessary transition-related care. Bruce passed away last month, and his lawyers asked that the suit be dismissed. More from The Associated Press.

  • South Dakota bill attacks transgender students: The heinous measure would force transgender students to play on sports teams aligned with the gender on their birth certificate. More from Argus Leader.

CONSERVATIVE LT. GOV. OF LOUISIANA WARNS LAWMAKERS TO AVOID ANTI-LGBTQ LEGISLATION: When asked about anti-LGBTQ legislation during an event at the Baton Rouge Press Club,  Billy Nungesser said, “It’s something we should absolutely steer clear of for the greater good of Louisiana.” More from The Times-Picayune.

REP. MARK POCAN (D-WI) INTRODUCES ACT TO CLARIFY THAT WOMEN AND LGBTQ AMERICANS CAN BE PRESIDENT: The 21st Century President Act would change outdated legal definitions in the U.S. code to clarify that Presidents do not have to be men and their spouses do not have to be wives. More from the Office of Congressman Mark Pocan.

FOLLOWING PRESSURE FROM LGBTQ GROUPS, ANTI-EQUALITY SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT CANDIDATE WITHDRAWS: “The role of any school administrator, including the school board, is to treat all children with respect, dignity and to support all of the students they serve — including those who are LGBTQ,” said Ellen Kahn, director of HRC’s Foundation’s Children, Youth & Families Program. More from The Times-Picayune and The Associated Press.

ANTI-LGBTQ ADVOCATES PUSH FOR KANSAS LIBRARY TO REMOVE CHILDREN’S BOOKS THAT DISCUSS GENDER IDENTITY: More from The Associated Press.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

BISEXUAL MAN IN KYRGYZSTAN ATTACKED, FORCED TO FLEE COUNTRY: The man, identified only by the initials A.D., said his attackers carved the word “gay” into his stomach during one of the attacks. More from Pink News.

JUSTICE — ARREST MADE IN 2016 MURDERS OF BANGLADESHI LGBTQ ACTIVISTS: Asadullah, a member of an extremist group, was arrested for the murders of Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbub Rabbi Tonoy. Police believe that the murders were carried out by several members of this organization. More from Pink News.

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution honors the local legacy of Bayard Rustin in advance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day; NBC mourns beloved LGBTQ ally Carol Channing; The Associated Press interviews Black transgender soul singer Jackie Shane (@msjackieshane); KJZZ speaks to Lincy Sopall, a transgender woman from Honduras and fashion designer starting a new life in Arizona; Autostraddle remembers beloved LGBTQ poet Mary Oliver; Vice sits down with NBA’s Reggie Bullock to talk about his late transgender sister

“He can use his platform in the NBA to help make society more hospitable toward LGBT people.”

Detroit Pistons player @ReggieBullock35 attends NYC Pride to celebrate the life of his late trans sister, Mia Henderson. t.co/gIZloDrSpg

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) January 18, 2019

Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to #AM_Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-january-18-2019?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

MISC

What’s new in WeChat 7.0: The biggest upgrade in four years!

What’s new in WeChat 7.0: The biggest upgrade in four years!

WeChat v7.0 with a fresh new logo
WeChat is celebrated it’s 8th anniversary this month. Every day over one billion people log in to WeChat as it delivers seamless communications service and provides new ways to share and connect with friends.
 
Download the latest version, WeChat v7.0 for Android and iOS now and try out all these new features:
  1. Redesigned Look & Feel
  2. Time Capsule
  3. Chat Alerts
  4. Selfie Stickers
  5. “Wow” Feature in Top Stories

1. Redesigned Look & Feel

WeChat has been redesigned to be lighter and brighter so you can concentrate on the messages and features that are important to you. Aside from a lighter colored WeChat logo (above), we’ve redesigned the icons for all of WeChat’s features, changed to a simpler and lighter color palette, and adjusted the spacing for things like chat bubbles and menus to make WeChat easier to read.

2. Time Capsule

Sharing your life with your phone’s camera has never been so easy. Just go to “Me” and tap the camera icon in the upper-right corner to add to your Time Capsule. Use your camera to capture your pet’s tricks, an awesome basketball shot, or any of life’s little tidbits. After recording a video, you can decorate it with text, stickers, or even background music.
Once your Time Capsule video is completed, it can be viewed for 24 hours by your friends. Likewise, you can find your friends’ recent videos when you see a “blue circle“ next to their profile photos in chats. Double-tap their profile photo to view their Time Capsule videos.
As you collect these videos over time, you’ll be able to revisit old memories by going to “Me“ -> “My Posts“ -> and tapping “Time Capsule“ to see the old Time Capsule videos that you captured. These old posts are only visible to you.

3. Chat Alerts

This new feature ensures you know when you receive that important message from your friend, significant other, or business associate when time is of the essence. If there is a chat that is particularly urgent, you may configure a Chat Alert by tapping the “…” menu in the upper-right corner of the chat screen and enabling “Chat Alert“. For the next three hours, you will receive a special alert when you next receive a message in this chat. Your phone will vibrate and a fullscreen alert will notify you of your new important message.

Use Chat Alerts to make sure that urgent messages receive your special attention.

4. Selfie Stickers

In WeChat v6.7.4, we launched Selfie Stickers as a way to express your inner emotions in a fun and colorful way. Users responded by creating millions of their own, customized stickers. Due to popular demand, we’ve made it easier to find Selfie Stickers. Just tap the “Stickers“ button in the chat bar and tap the “Selfie Stickers“ tab in the stickers bar.

Create your own stickers and share a laugh with your friends as you chat away.

5. “Wow” Feature in Top Stories (available in select regions)

As part of the WeChat’s Official Accounts platform, Subscription Accounts allow media, brands, and individual authors to connect and share news, updates, and posts with a vast base of readers. When reading an article by a Subscription Account, you can now tap the 好看 (“Wow“) button (formerly “Like”) at the bottom of the article to express your appreciation. This will automatically result in the article being shared to your friends via the new “Wow” feature.
 
Within Top Stories, we’ve added a “Wow” tab that allows you to view each day’s articles shared by friends when they similarly tapped the 好看 (“Wow“) button. As Top Stories is only available in limited regions, you may have to enable the feature first by going to “Me“ –> “Settings” –> “General“ –> “Manage Discover“. After enabling, you will find on the Discover screen the “Top Stories“ entry, which you can tap and enter to see the new “Wow” tab.
“Wow” makes sharing news and articles easier and more social.

​WeChat v7.0 brings a whole new level of convenience and sharing to your phone. Download and try it now from the App Store or Google Play!

blog.wechat.com/2019/01/18/whats-new-in-wechat-7-0-the-biggest-upgrade-in-four-years/

MISC

Justin Bieber, Louis C.K., Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Michelle Obama, Gus Kenworthy, Les Moonves Vs CBS, and More: HOT LINKS

Justin Bieber, Louis C.K., Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Michelle Obama, Gus Kenworthy, Les Moonves Vs CBS, and More: HOT LINKS

A MAN IN FULL Les Moonves is fighting CBS for his $120M severance.

A NEW HOPE The next generation of voters are more liberal, more inclusive, and believe in government. And by 2020, almost half of them will be eligible to vote in the presidential election, which means their values and opinions will soon begin shaping national politics.

BROWNSHIRTS  Jilmar Ramos-Gomez was born in Grand Rapids, Mich. He served in the Marines and saw combat in Afghanistan. He’s a U.S. citizen. But last month, ICE took him into custody to face possible deportation.

BRIDES WAS BOOKED Justin Bieber & Hailey Baldwin’s wedding may make the cover of Vogue?!

WE WERE NEVER BEING BORING An observation about Toxic Masculinity.

Happy Birthday to The People’s Champ! #MuhammadAli pic.twitter.com/B5vX1yOtP1

— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) January 17, 2019

ENOUGH ALREADY Louis C.K. joked about masturbation and “retarded” kids at a San Jose California show.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE Gay adult star will be “laying low” after he was found guilty of filming a threesome on the London tube network.

THIS! Gus Kenworthy #FTW

To anyone who was offended by the @Gillette ad that simply implored men not to sexually assault or harass women: fuck you!

— Gus Kenworthy (@guskenworthy) January 16, 2019

 ICYMI Watch it now!

R. KELLY THREATENED DAVE CHAPPELLE OVER SKIT “Did people want us to round up a posse and go arrest R. Kelly?” saysChappelle’s Show co-creator, Neal Brennan.

TURNS OUT THEY DO SEE COLOR Study says 40 percent of gay and Bi men want race filters on dating apps.

BIRTHDAY GIRL Michelle Obama has a lot to celebrate.

Happy 55th birthday to our Forever First Lady, @MichelleObama! From her sense of humor to her powerful speeches, we’re beyond grateful to have such a phenomenal role model in this girl from the Southside. t.co/yU4tqqRvHV pic.twitter.com/SCn7JarCzF

— ESSENCE (@Essence) January 17, 2019

WE’RE NOT CLOSING THE BEACHES Divers spot the world’s largest ever recorded great white shark in Hawaii.

#TBT The Obamas

I knew it way back then and I’m absolutely convinced of it today — you’re one of a kind, @MichelleObama. Happy Birthday! pic.twitter.com/ejqm0uC9J4

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 17, 2019

PETTY PRESIDENTIAL Trump sends letter postponing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Belgium, Egypt and Afghanistan —  citing the government shutdown.

#TBT2  Never be boring.

ART OF THE DEAL New taxes. Medicare and free tuition for all. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is just getting started.

COVER BOY It’s summer in Brazil!

The post Justin Bieber, Louis C.K., Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Michelle Obama, Gus Kenworthy, Les Moonves Vs CBS, and More: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.



www.towleroad.com/2019/01/justin-bieber-louis-c-k-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-michelle-obama-gus-kenworthy-les-moonves-vs-cbs-and-more-hot-links/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+towleroad%2Ffeed+%28Towleroad+Gay+News+%29

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