The Problem With Saying Bert and Ernie Are Not Gay
The repeated denials from Sesame Street and others tap into a history of stigma.
www.advocate.com/commentary/2018/9/19/problem-saying-bert-and-ernie-are-not-gay
Category Archives: MISC
How Tennessee Williams inadvertently created one of the world’s gayest hot spots
How Tennessee Williams inadvertently created one of the world’s gayest hot spots
Trump, Heller and Tarkanian Bring Toxic Anti-LGBTQ Agenda to Nevada
Trump, Heller and Tarkanian Bring Toxic Anti-LGBTQ Agenda to Nevada
HRC responded to President Donald Trump, who is scheduled to raise money and campaign for anti-LGBTQ Senator Dean Heller and Congressional candidate Danny Tarkanian. Trump, Heller and Tarkanian all have long records of undermining LGBTQ equality.
“The choice in this election could not be more clear for Nevada voters,” said HRC Nevada State Director Briana Escamilla. “Heller and Tarkanian have pushed anti-LGBTQ policies that are dangerous and politically toxic. By continuing to align themselves with the Trump-Pence administration, they are showing they act as a rubber stamp for the politics of prejudice of this White House. The more than 600,000 Equality Voters in Nevada will not stand for their discriminatory agenda. That’s why HRC is on the ground mobilizing members and supporters across the state to reject the politics of hate, and elect pro-equality champions Jacky Rosen and Susie Lee in November.”
While in office Senator Heller has opposed marriage equality and voted against the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” He also voted against the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr Hate Crimes Prevention Act to provide federal protections from hate crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
HRC has endorsed Rep. Jacky Rosen (NV-03) for Senate, a champion for LGBTQ equality. Since joining Congress, Rosen has been an outspoken critic of the Trump-Pence Administration’s assault on the LGBTQ community, from revoking discrimination protections for transgender children in public schools, to attempting to erase the LGBTQ community in the U.S. census. She is a co-sponsor of the Equality Act and the Global Respect Act, legislation that would strengthen U.S. foreign policy related to anti-LGBTQ discrimination abroad.
Danny Tarkanian supports a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people, and has vowed to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which provides federal protections for LGBTQ people by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex orientation and gender identity.
In Nevada, HRC has identified more than 600,000 “Equality Voters” — voters who support LGBTQ-inclusive policies. HRC has prioritized investments and organizing in Nevada in the 2018 cycle, and has staff and resources on the ground in the state as part of the largest grassroots expansion in the organization’s 38-year history.
| Paid for by Human Rights Campaign PAC (www.hrc.org), not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s campaign committee.nbsp; |
‘Wasn’t That Long Ago…’ Gay Man’s Memory of the AIDS Crisis Goes Viral on Twitter
‘Wasn’t That Long Ago…’ Gay Man’s Memory of the AIDS Crisis Goes Viral on Twitter
A powerful series of tweets recalling the AIDS crisis is going viral on Twitter.
The thread was written by Tucker Shaw, the editor of Cook’s Country magazine, and may trigger some devastating memories for those who lived through it.
He was talking about AIDS, in a scholarly way. About how it had galvanized the gay community. How it had spurred change. Paved the way to make things better, in the long run.
— Tucker Shaw (@tucker_shaw) September 18, 2018
Maybe he’s right. I don’t know. It’s not the first time I’ve heard the theory. He spoke with clarity and with confidence. Youthful, full of conviction. But.
— Tucker Shaw (@tucker_shaw) September 18, 2018
Some nights, you’d sneak in to that hospital downtown after visiting hours, just to see who was around. It wasn’t hard.
— Tucker Shaw (@tucker_shaw) September 18, 2018
You’d get kicked out, but you’d sneak back in. Kicked out again. Back in again. Sometimes you’d recognize a friend. Sometimes you wouldn’t.
— Tucker Shaw (@tucker_shaw) September 18, 2018
Together, you’d keep a list of names in a notebook you bought for thirty cents in Chinatown so you could remember who was still here and who wasn’t, because it was so easy to forget.
— Tucker Shaw (@tucker_shaw) September 18, 2018
When he finally had to go too, you got rid of the notebook. No more names.
— Tucker Shaw (@tucker_shaw) September 18, 2018
When he’d been gone long enough and it was time to get rid of his stuff, they’d say so. It’s time. And you’d do it, you’d give away the shirts, sweaters, jackets. Everything.
— Tucker Shaw (@tucker_shaw) September 18, 2018
You’d move to a new neighborhood. You’d unpack the first night, take a shower, make the bed because it’d be bedtime. You’d think of the shoes. For the first time, you’d put them on. Look at those shoes. What great shoes.
— Tucker Shaw (@tucker_shaw) September 18, 2018
You’d sit for a while, maybe an hour, maybe more. Then you’d unlace the shoes, set them by the trash on the curb. You’d go back upstairs in your socks. The phone is ringing. More news.
— Tucker Shaw (@tucker_shaw) September 18, 2018
The long run. Wasn’t that long ago.
— Tucker Shaw (@tucker_shaw) September 18, 2018
Here’s Shaw’s full remembrance:
I overheard a young man on the train on the way home today, talking to another young man. Holding hands. In college, I guessed. About that age anyway. Much younger than I am. He was talking about AIDS, in a scholarly way. About how it had galvanized the gay community. How it had spurred change. Paved the way to make things better, in the long run.
The long run.
Maybe he’s right. I don’t know. It’s not the first time I’ve heard the theory. He spoke with clarity and with confidence. Youthful, full of conviction. But. Remember how terrible it was, not that long ago, during the worst times. How many beautiful friends died. One after the other. Brutally. Restlessly. Brittle and damp. In cold rooms with hot lights. Remember? Some nights, you’d sneak in to that hospital downtown after visiting hours, just to see who was around. It wasn’t hard. You’d bring a boom box. Fresh gossip. Trashy magazines and cheap paperbacks. Hash brownies. Anything. Nothing. You’d get kicked out, but you’d sneak back in. Kicked out again. Back in again. Sometimes you’d recognize a friend. Sometimes you wouldn’t.
Other nights, you’d go out to dance and drink. A different distraction. You’d see a face in the dark, in the back of the bar. Is it you? Old friend! No. Not him. Just a ghost. At work, you’d find an umbrella, one you’d borrowed a few rainstorms ago from a coworker. I should return it, you’d think. No. No need. He’s gone. It’s yours now. Season after season. Year after year.
One day you’d get lucky and meet someone lovely. You’d feel happy, optimistic. You’d make plans. Together, you’d keep a list of names in a notebook you bought for thirty cents in Chinatown so you could remember who was still here and who wasn’t, because it was so easy to forget. But there were so many names to write down. Too many names. Names you didn’t want to write down. When he finally had to go too, you got rid of the notebook. No more names.
Your friends would come over with takeout and wine and you’d see how hard they tried not to ask when he was coming home because they knew he wasn’t coming home. No one came home. You’d turn 24. When he’d been gone long enough and it was time to get rid of his stuff, they’d say so. It’s time. And you’d do it, you’d give away the shirts, sweaters, jackets. Everything. Except those shoes. You remember the ones. He loved those shoes, you’d say. We loved those shoes. I’ll keep those shoes under the bed.
You’d move to a new neighborhood. You’d unpack the first night, take a shower, make the bed because it’d be bedtime. You’d think of the shoes. For the first time, you’d put them on. Look at those shoes. What great shoes. Air. You’d need air. You’d walk outside in the shoes, just to the stoop. You’d sit. A breeze. A neighbor steps past. “Great shoes,” she’d say. But the shoes are too big for you. You’d sit for a while, maybe an hour, maybe more. Then you’d unlace the shoes, set them by the trash on the curb. You’d go back upstairs in your socks. The phone is ringing. More news.
The long run. Wasn’t that long ago.
The post ‘Wasn’t That Long Ago…’ Gay Man’s Memory of the AIDS Crisis Goes Viral on Twitter appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.
‘Wasn’t That Long Ago…’ Gay Man’s Memory of the AIDS Crisis Goes Viral on Twitter
Wilfred Labiosa: A un año de Irma y María, Puerto Rico continúa en la lucha
Wilfred Labiosa: A un año de Irma y María, Puerto Rico continúa en la lucha
Para el puertorriqueño Wilfred Labiosa, los esfuerzos de recuperación para ayudar a su pueblo continúan desafiando a los activistas y líderes comunitarios, casi a un año después de los devastadores huracanes Irma y María.
Labiosa es el director ejecutivo de Waves Ahead, entidad dedicada a ayudar a personas LGBTQ y comunidades marginadas de Puerto Rico, y miembro fundador de #ReconstruyeQ, una coalición de organizaciones LGBTQ y aliadas que lideran los esfuerzos de recuperación y restauración para la comunidad LGBTQ de la isla.
A principios de este año, HRC se unió al proyecto #ReconstruyeQ junto a más de cincuenta voluntarios de Estados Unidos y el Reino Unido, para brindar apoyo práctico a la comunidad LGBTQ de la isla que aún enfrenta las devastadoras consecuencias de las tormentas tropicales.
Puerto Rico sigue luchando para superar el sinnúmero de problemas desatados por las fatales tormentas, que incluyen cortes de energía eléctrica generalizados y la falta de agua potable. Un estudio reciente realizado por la Universidad George Washington estima que el número de fallecidos por las tormentas y sus secuelas es de 2,975.
HRC conversó con Labiosa sobre los últimos acontecimientos en la región.
A medida que se acerca el primer aniversario de Irma y María, ¿cuál es el sentimiento entre las comunidades de la isla?
Somos personas de gran resiliencia, hemos notado esto ahora más que nunca. Aunque hay mucha ansiedad durante la temporada de huracanes, estamos listos para actuar y ayudarnos mutuamente. Hay mucho por hacer, pero sabemos que podemos hacerlo juntos.
¿Han sido suficientes los esfuerzos de recuperación después de los eventos devastadores?
No. Aunque hemos recibido algo de apoyo, no ha sido suficiente. El gobierno puertorriqueño ha recibido fondos para reconstruir carreteras, pero todavía estamos esperando que tomen medidas. Hay muchas esquinas sin postes de luz y muchas empresas que cerraron porque no pudieron recuperarse.
Cuéntanos sobre la importancia del proyecto #ReconstruyeQ.
#ReconstruyeQ es la única esperanza para muchos que luchan por la ayuda de instituciones públicas que agudizan los problemas legales y carecen de una comprensión general sobre las necesidades específicas de la comunidad LGBTQ. Junto a organizaciones sin fines de lucro y miembros de la comunidad, estamos comprometidos no solo a reconstruir hogares, sino también a ayudar a quienes lo necesitan con apoyo emocional y servicios de salud mental.
¿Qué desafíos específicos experimentan las personas LGBTQ después de los huracanes?
He escuchado tantas historias de personas LGBTQ que solicitan ayuda de instituciones públicas y que se las niega por ser quiénes son o por cómo se ven. Nuestra comunidad necesita respeto. No hay registros oficiales de víctimas LGBTQ de las tormentas porque el gobierno no reconoce la importancia de recopilar datos de personas LGBTQ dentro de nuestra sociedad.
¿Alguna lección que te gustaría compartir?
Cuando nos unimos como comunidad puertorriqueña y LGBTQ, podemos hacer mucho más. ¡Necesitamos unirnos y usar nuestro voto para traer cambios!
A medida que las tormentas tropicales continúan llegando a EE. UU., HRC se solidariza con los afectados por Florence en las Carolinas y en toda la región. HRC se enorgullece de ser parte de #ReconstruyeQ y ayudar a los miembros de la comunidad LGBTQ de Puerto Rico a reconstruir sus hogares y sus vidas.
Congratulations to Ashley and Jose from Round Rock, Texas!
Congratulations to Ashley and Jose from Round Rock, Texas!
Date someone who is a home and adventure all at once. Ashley sure did. She writes: “I joined Zoosk in 2013 because I moved to a new city and needed some activity buddies. After two months, I met JJ. He was this goofy airman who coincidentally lived three buildings away from me. At first, we were
The post Congratulations to Ashley and Jose from Round Rock, Texas! appeared first on Zoosk.
about.zoosk.com/en/blog/success-stories/congratulations-ashley-jose-round-rock-texas/
Lesbian Couple Attacked in England in Possible Hate Crime
Lesbian Couple Attacked in England in Possible Hate Crime
Lauren Heeks and Jade Vernalis say they believe the attack by three men was motivated by homophobia.
www.advocate.com/crime/2018/9/18/lesbian-couple-attacked-england-possible-hate-crime
Why Your Images On POF Might Not Be Attracting Matches to Your Dating Profile
Why Your Images On POF Might Not Be Attracting Matches to Your Dating Profile
The age old question that so many singles and POF users ask me is, “Why aren’t the images on my dating profile getting any attention?” As a POF employee, there are a couple insider tips that I can share with you today, that will hopefully shine a light on why you may not be getting […]
The post Why Your Images On POF Might Not Be Attracting Matches to Your Dating Profile appeared first on PlentyOfFish Blog.
Why Your Images On POF Might Not Be Attracting Matches to Your Dating Profile
In effort to curb sexual racism, Grindr goes Kindr
In effort to curb sexual racism, Grindr goes Kindr
After taking heat for allowing bigoted language, the noted gay social app now takes steps to create a “kindr” environment.
Yusaku Maezawa, Roseanne’s Opioid Death, Wilbur Ross, Julie Chen, Captain Marvel, iPhone Xs Max, Al Gore, Ronan Farrow: HOT LINKS
Yusaku Maezawa, Roseanne’s Opioid Death, Wilbur Ross, Julie Chen, Captain Marvel, iPhone Xs Max, Al Gore, Ronan Farrow: HOT LINKS
AL GORE. “This experiment with Trumpism is not going well.”
THE APPRENTICE TAPES. Tom Arnold says Ronan Farrow has them.
RACHEL MADDOW. Highest-rated week ever: “MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow got a nice anniversary present from viewers: the highest weekly ratings in her show’s history. When The Rachel Maddow Show launched on September 8, 2008, Maddow was a relative unknown, joining a prime time lineup dominated by Keith Olbermann. Ten years later, Maddow is the network’s top-rated prime time host, and last week she drew her largest weekly audience ever, with an average of 3.43 million viewers.”
AUTHORITARIAN. Trump declassifies documents in Russia probe.
BRETT KAVANAUGH. Hearing for SCOTUS nominee and woman accusing him of sexual assault is set for Monday. “The hearing with Judge Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, a research psychologist in Northern California, sets up a potentially explosive public showdown that carries unmistakable echoes of the 1991 testimony of Anita Hill, who accused the future Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment in an episode that riveted the nation and ushered a slew of women into public office. It will play out against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement, which has energized Democratic women across the United States, in an institution, the Senate, that is more than three-quarters male.”
PERJURY. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross lied under oath about adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census to help the Department of Justice enforce the Voting Rights Act: ‘Contradicting that sworn testimony, new evidence shows that Ross received a memo several months earlier informing him that the Justice Department wanted to avoid monkeying around with the census because of “the whole Comey matter.” Disclosed for the first time on Monday night, the unsealed September 2017 memo shows Ross’ deputy Earl Comstock describing his conversations with the Justice Department’s director for the executive office on immigration review.’
RUSSIA PROBE. Michael Flynn ready to be sentenced, says Robert Mueller. “After months of delays, Judge Emmet Sullivan is now likely to move swiftly to schedule Flynn’s sentencing date, which the parties requested for Nov. 28 or the following week. Sullivan has said it would occur within about 60 days of the two sides agreeing they are ready to proceed with a presentencing report and court date for Flynn, the former intelligence officer who spent three decades in the military before entering the political ring.”
CASTING. Lee Pace joins Hong Kong drama series Flying Tiger. “The series follows an elite Hong Kong police officer who is tasked with infiltrating a dangerous criminal organization. The exact details of Pace’s role are being kept under wraps, but it is known he will be playing an American villain on the show. The show is produced by Shaw Brothers Studio and airs on Youku.”
INTERNAL RNC POLL. GOP voters are complacent over midterms: “A private survey conducted for the Republican National Committee and obtained by Bloomberg Businessweek contains alarming news for Republicans hoping to hold on to control of Congress in November: Most Trump supporters don’t believe there’s a threat that Democrats will win back the House. President Trump’s boasts that a “red wave” could increase Republican majorities appear to have lulled GOP voters into complacency, raising the question of whether they’ll turn up at the polls.”
FLORIDA. Rick Scott booed out of event by protesters: ‘Protesters jammed the sidewalk and spilled into the street around Mojo’s Real Cuban, forcing Scott to enter the restaurant through the back door and leave the same way after just 10 minutes as members of the crowd shouted “coward.”
.@FLGovScott avoided protesters and came in the back. Crowd inside restaurant chanting “Rick Scott” to drown out protesters outside. Music inside restaurant also super loud. pic.twitter.com/hIKOiedEFp
— Zac Anderson (@zacjanderson) September 17, 2018
NORTH KOREA. Kim Jong Un says summit with Trump stabilized region: ‘Kim thanked South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in for bringing about the Singapore meeting in June as the two leaders began their third round of talks in Pyongyang. “Thanks to that, the political situation in the region has stabilized and I expect more advanced results,” Kim told Moon, referring to the Singapore gathering, at the start of their talks.
OPIOID OVERDOSE. How Roseanne will die.
DEPARTURES. Julie Chen leaving The Talk after nine seasons following sexual assault allegations against her husband, former CBS chief Les Moonves. ‘Chen is expected to remain on “Big Brother,” at least until the show’s season finale on Sept. 26.
SNL. And the host and musical guest for SNL’s Season 44 premiere are…
MOON SHOT OF THE DAY. Elon Musk tweets photos of new moon vehicle, announces first civilian passenger: “Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa signed with SpaceX to fly around the moon on the company’s next generation rocket, CEO Elon Musk announced on Monday. Maezawa will attempt to be the first to return to the moon in nearly half a century, launching aboard a Big Falcon Rocket (BFR), which SpaceX is developing. BFR is the flagship for Musk’s vision of creating a permanent, self-sustaining human presence on Mars, and testing on the behemoth rocket is expected to begin next year.”
The first private passenger to fly around the Moon aboard BFR is fashion innovator and globally recognized art curator Yusaku Maezawa.
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) September 18, 2018
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 17, 2018
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 17, 2018
Hanging out with @yousuck2020 before the @SpaceX moon mission announcement pic.twitter.com/RTOwutzMtG
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 18, 2018
UNBOXING OF THE DAY. Marques Brownlee unboxes the iPhone Xs Max.
TRAILER OF THE DAY. Captain Marvel.
TV TRAILER OF THE DAY. Chef’s Table Season 5.
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE DAY. Lana Del Rey “Venice Bitch”.
TOO HOT FOR TUESDAY. Luis Miguel.
The post Yusaku Maezawa, Roseanne’s Opioid Death, Wilbur Ross, Julie Chen, Captain Marvel, iPhone Xs Max, Al Gore, Ronan Farrow: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.
