Post Date Etiquette: The Follow Up, The Next Date, and The Debrief

We’re all familiar with those awful, ancient dating “rules”. The same ones we’ve been conditioned into thinking are the norm; “Always play hard to get!”, “If he doesn’t call in 3 days, it’s over, he’s not interested!”. When you’re knee deep in swoon-city you shouldn’t have to stress about those trivial mandates. Let’s assume you’ve […]

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Post Date Etiquette: The Follow Up, The Next Date, and The Debrief

HRC Foundation Youth Ambassador Spotlight: Sean Bender-Prouty

Post submitted by Sula Malina, HRC Foundation Children, Youth & Families Program Coordinator

The 2017 HRC Youth Ambassadors are a group of 16 inspiring young people, ages 15 to 22, from across the country who show courage in sharing their stories, and demonstrating a commitment to speaking out about issues facing all LGBTQ youth. As Youth Ambassadors, they represent HRC Foundation, using their voices to help raise awareness about HRC’s youth-focused programs.

HRC recently sat down with Sean Bender-Prouty (they/them/theirs), a Youth Ambassador from Arlington, Virginia, to learn more about their story. Bender-Prouty, 14, is the first openly-LGBTQ  person to attend their school and sits on the Youth Council of Gender Spectrum, an organization working to create inclusive environments for all youth.

To increase youth representation in the media, Bender-Prouty started their own magazine for LGBTQ teenagers. They have become an advocate for change both in schools and in mental health care systems, working to spread the message that we all deserve love and acceptance.

What inspired you to become an HRC Youth Ambassador?

When I came out, the LGBTQ+ community was my safe haven. It was where I could go to learn, to vent, to share and to be supported. I want to give back to the community and help the LGBTQ+ youth who will come after me. Working with HRC seemed like a perfect way to do this.

What’s been one highlight of your experience as an HRC Youth Ambassador?

I was able to speak on a panel about non-binary identities at the 2018 Time to THRIVE Conference. It was an amazing experience. I had never imagined I would be talking to hundreds of people about my identity and how to support non-binary people. (Watch the 2018 Time to THRIVE panel on non-binary identities here.)

What part of HRC’s work do you connect with the most?

The Welcoming Schools project is a very important one to me because it’s wonderful to see HRC reaching out to help students who need support. From a young age, students should be taught tolerance–not hate–and HRC is making sure that happens.

What’s your message to LGBTQ youth?

You are not alone. The community is here for you. Reach out and get help when you need it. Don’t be afraid to seek mental health care. Unfortunately, many LGBTQ+ youth and adults struggle with their mental health and are afraid to reach out. Find LGBTQ-friendly practices. We are working to make the mental health system more inclusive, but it’s a long journey. Until that happens, find people or hotlines who accept you and are willing to help you and support you. We will become your family if yours is not supportive. Just reach out.

LGBTQ youth face alarming disparities in mental health and access to LGBTQ-competent care. Studies have shown that, compared to their non-LGBTQ peers, LGBTQ youth report much higher rates of depression, anxiety, alcohol and drug use, and lowered self-esteem. Learn more at hrc.im/YouthReport.

To learn more about HRC Foundation’s work with LGBTQ youth, visit our Children, Youth and Families program, our Campus and Young Adult program and our Youth Ambassador resource page.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-foundation-youth-ambassador-spotlight-sean-bender-prouty?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Alden Ehrenreich, Project Runway, Julian Castro, Ariana Grande, Asteroid, Bill O’Reilly, China, Meghan Markle: HOT LINKS

RIP. Novelist Tom Wolfe dies at 88, Superman actress Margot Kidder dies at 69.

$500 MILLION. China gives $500 million loan to Trump-backed real estate project in Indonesia in possible violation of emoluments clause.

ADAM SCHIFF. Trump violating emoluments clause by making deal with China to save sanctioned telecom company. “I certainly view this as a violation of the emoluments clause, yes. And many others as well, both foreign, in terms of the business effort to expand the Trump Organization.”

President Xi of China, and I, are working together to give massive Chinese phone company, ZTE, a way to get back into business, fast. Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 13, 2018

Rep. Adam Schiff on President Trump’s attempt at a deal with Chinese company ZTE: “I certainly view this as a violation of the Emoluments Clause, yes” t.co/AvakVRNzYd pic.twitter.com/eMAfNLjzFv

— New Day (@NewDay) May 15, 2018

POLL NUMBERS. Trump suddenly believes in them: “Can you believe that with all of the made up, unsourced stories I get from the Fake News Media, together with the $10,000,000 Russian Witch Hunt (there is no Collusion), I now have my best Poll Numbers in a year. Much of the Media may be corrupt, but the People truly get it!

Can you believe that with all of the made up, unsourced stories I get from the Fake News Media, together with the $10,000,000 Russian Witch Hunt (there is no Collusion), I now have my best Poll Numbers in a year. Much of the Media may be corrupt, but the People truly get it!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 15, 2018

BACK TO BRAVO. Project Runway is returning to its roots.

$1 MILLION. Mystery gift to Trump’s campaign traced to conservative judicial activists: “The $1 million inaugural gift came from a Northern Virginia company called BH Group, LLC. Unlike other generous corporate inaugural donors, like Bank of America and Dow Chemical, though, BH Group was a cipher, and likely was set up solely to prevent disclosure of the actual donor’s name. Almost nothing is known about the company, including who runs it or its reason for being beyond writing a seven-figure check on Dec. 22, 2016, almost a month before Trump was sworn in.”

2018. Dems ready to run on health care: ‘They’ve got a unified message blaming Republicans for “sabotaging” the health law, leading to a cascade of sky-high insurance premiums that will come just before the November midterm elections. They’re rolling out ads featuring people helped by the law. And Tuesday, they’re starting a campaign to amplify each state’s premium increases — and tie those to GOP decisions.

JULIAN CASTRO. A 2020 run?

WATCH: @JulianCastro is considering a run for president in 2020 & tells us he will “make a decision by the end of the year.” pic.twitter.com/TpXmpOyBri

— Washington Journal (@cspanwj) May 15, 2018

BILL O’REILLY. He’s coming back? “A year after O’Reilly’s abrupt exit from Fox News, where he was the top-rated host in cable news, the controversial anchor — who was forced out after the disclosure of sexual-harassment allegations and settlements paid to alleged victims — is in advanced discussions with Newsmax about developing a new show, we’re told. Newsmax is also chasing other former Fox News talent — Greta Van Susteren and Eric Bolling have been approached to join as hosts of hourlong shows in prime time. Bolling already has a deal with CRTV for a digital show.”

CAMEROON. Police arrest 25 men for suspected homosexuality: “Police arrested seven people in the cabaret, including a dancer, a waiter and the security guard. They then raided a gay movie theater in the  Emombo I Crossroads area and arrested 18 people there. After that, all 25 people were taken to the central police headquarters, where they were questioned all night. One police officer inadvertently revealed the extent of the interrogations in a conversation with a representative of LGBT rights attorney Jathan Ndongo.”

PEACE CORPS. Gay men fired after testing positive for HIV. “Despite effective treatment — within a month, medication had slashed the amount of HIV in his blood to an undetectable level — the Peace Corps notified Tin that because of his new HIV diagnosis, his assignment in Cambodia had been terminated.

FLAUNTING IT. Ricky Martin and Jwan Yosef hit the gym.

DENVER. Longtime gay bar Denver Wrangler closing its doors. “The bar will close on June 25, according to an announcement on the bar’s website. A farewell beer bust, Wrangler’s long-running event that supports local charities, will be held on June 24. A Pride beer bust is scheduled for June 17.

SPACE ROCK. Asteroid the size of a city block to whiz by Earth today: “Asteroids this size approach about this close about once every decade or so, on average,” Paul Chodas, manager of the Center for Near Earth Object Studies at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. “So it’s a fairly rare event, a special opportunity, a chance to observe it scientifically.”

THE MEGHAN EFFECT. Meghan Markle expected to boost British economy to the tune of $1.4 billion.

NINTENDO LABO PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY. Ariana Grande featuring Jimmy Fallon and The Roots.

INTERVIEW CRASHER OF THE DAY. Harrison Ford.

PERSONAL BALL PIT OF THE DAY. A dog’s heaven.

TOO HOT FOR TUESDAY. Quinn Hopkins.

The post Alden Ehrenreich, Project Runway, Julian Castro, Ariana Grande, Asteroid, Bill O’Reilly, China, Meghan Markle: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad.

Alden Ehrenreich, Project Runway, Julian Castro, Ariana Grande, Asteroid, Bill O’Reilly, China, Meghan Markle: HOT LINKS

VICTORY! Maryland Enacts Legislation Protecting LGBTQ Youth from Abusive “Conversion Therapy”

Today, HRC, along with FreeState Justice, a legal advocacy organization that seeks to improve the lives of LGBTQ Marylanders, and WISE claimed victory as Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed into law SB 1028 — critical legislation protecting LGBTQ youth from the dangerous and debunked practice of so-called “conversion therapy.” With Governor Hogan’s signature, Maryland joins the growing number of states and municipalities adopting critical protections for LGBTQ youth.

“No child should ever be subjected to the abusive practice of so-called ‘conversion therapy,’” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “This dangerous and ​inhumane form of child abuse has no basis in science and is ​uniformly rejected by every major mental health and child welfare ​organization. Today, Maryland is a better place for countless young people thanks to the many advocates, allies, parents, and survivors who spoke out against this practice and urged their elected officials — Republicans and Democrats alike — to adopt these crucial protections.”

FreeState Justice Executive Director Mark Procopio said, “In signing this legislation, Governor Hogan joined the General Assembly in choosing to not only protect LGBTQ youth from harm, but to send an affirmation to children across Maryland who may be struggling with their sexual orientation or gender identity. They are perfect as they are.”

SB1028 was introduced in the Maryland State Senate by Senator Richard Madaleno and in the House of Delegates by Delegate Bonnie Cullison and passed the legislature with bipartisan support.

There is no credible evidence that conversion therapy can change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. To the contrary, research has clearly shown that these practices pose devastating health risks for LGBTQ young people such as depression, decreased self-esteem, substance abuse, homelessness, and even suicidal behavior. The harmful practice is condemned by every major medical and mental health organization, including the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, and American Medical Association.

Connecticut, California, Nevada, New Jersey, the District of Columbia, Oregon, Illinois, Vermont, New York, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Washington all have laws or regulations protecting youth from this abusive practice. A growing number of municipalities have also enacted similar protections, including cities and counties in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, Florida, New York, Arizona, and Wisconsin. In addition, lawmakers in New Hampshire and Hawaii recently passed similar protections which currently await their governors’ signatures.

According to a recent report by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, an estimated 20,000 LGBTQ minors in states without protections will be subjected to conversion therapy by a licensed healthcare professional if state officials fail to act.

HRC has partnered with the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and state equality groups across the nation to pass state legislation ending conversion therapy. More information on the lies and dangers of efforts to change sexual orientation or gender identity can be found here.

www.hrc.org/blog/maryland-enacts-legislation-protecting-lgbtq-youth-from-conversion-therapy?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: May 15, 2018

BREAKING — HRC AND UCONN RELEASE GROUNDBREAKING SURVEY OF 12,000 LGBTQ TEENS NATIONWIDE: At press conference this morning, the HRC Foundation in partnership with the University of Connecticut released the largest-of-its-kind survey ever of more than 12,000 LGBTQ teenagers across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., revealing the persistent challenges so many of them face going about their daily lives at home, at school and in their communities. Said HRC President Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin),“These harrowing statistics show the devastating toll rejection by family and peers, bullying and harassment, and apathy on the part of too many adults is having on America’s young people. When this administration rescinds guidance protecting transgender students, or when lawmakers attempt to grant a license to discriminate to schools, colleges, and universities, it further erodes the fragile landscape for young people across the nation. Now more than ever, it is crucial for each of us to do all we can to protect LGBTQ youth and ensure they feel valued, equal, and loved.” Read Amy Ellis Nutt’s (@amyellisnutt) piece on the survey in The Washington Post.

Findings from the report include:

• Seventy-seven percent of LGBTQ teenagers surveyed report feeling depressed or down over the past week;
• More than 70 percent report feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness in the past week.

The good news — 91 percent of youth report feeling pride in being an LGBTQ person, and 93 percent are proud to be a part of the community. And three out of five LGBTQ students say they have access to a LGBTQ student club, which has been shown to have a positive impact on the perceptions LGBTQ youth have of their school experiences and can provide support to those who may face hostile environments at home or in their communities. Read the full report here.

… AND TOMORROW IN THE MOTOR CITY: HRC President Chad Griffin will join leaders at the Ruth Ellis Center in Detroit for an event underscoring the urgency of supporting LGBTQ youth and the unique challenges facing LGBTQ youth of color, who reported the highest levels of rejection and isolation in HRC’s survey. Media interested in attending must email [email protected].

HEY, PENNSYLVANIA, OREGON, IDAHO AND NEBRASKA VOTERS — CAST YOUR BALLOT FOR PRO-EQUALITY CANDIDATES IN TODAY’S PRIMARY: HRC has endorsed candidates up and down the ballot across the country, including Oregon Governor Kate Brown, the nation’s first openly bisexual governor, as well as pro-equality champion Senator Bob Casey, running for re-election in Pennsylvania.

��️ Pennsylvania: Tomorrow’s a big deal – it’s primary election day!
Make sure you exercise your most important right and go vote. Find your polling place at t.co/zIf9eIdiGf

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 14, 2018

MASTERPIECE WATCH BEGINS: The Hill breaks down five cases to watch at the Supreme Court of the United States, including Masterpiece Cakeshop v. the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, a case involving a Denver-area baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, citing religious beliefs. The ruling in this case, expected in coming weeks, will either protect the fundamental equality of LGBTQ people, or set a dangerous precedent giving business a license to discriminate. HRC organized two major amicus briefs in the case featuring the nation’s leading bakers, and chefs, as well as top businesses that oppose discrimination against LGBTQ people — the central issue in the case. More from The Hill.

• Recent polling from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) found that 60 percent of Americans oppose allowing businesses to deny service to LGBTQ customers. More from U.S. News and World Report.

TUESDAY TWEET: New York Times reporters Alexander Burns (@alexburnsNYT), Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) and Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) report on the ever-growing influence of Mike Pence — over Trump, over individuals in the GOP and over the Republican Party itself. Read their full piece here, and check out HRC’s recent  report and site exposing the very real dangers of  “The Real Mike Pence.”

What we’ve been saying all along about @mike_pence:

��Cloaking himself in secret, while amassing enormous power.
��Putting his loyalists in key posts.
��Establishing a shadow campaign to run in 2020.

We’re here to expose the #RealMikePence. t.co/wEL2XCNcy5 t.co/FY5fvcBwaM

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 14, 2018

US ARMY CHAPLAIN FIGHTS TO PROTECT HIS HUSBAND FROM DEPORTATION: “I will not stop. I am determined. I am persistent. and I am an advocate for humanity,” said U.S. Army Chaplain Tim Brown of Sanford, North Carolina, whose husband Sergio is facing deportation to Honduras. More from ABC 11.

U.S. Army chaplain Tim Brown is fighting to protect his husband, Sergio, from deportation. Sergio went in for a routine check in on April 18 and was told his waiver was still valid, and then he was arrested on May 10th. t.co/08OmvhDLbV

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 14, 2018

PROTECTING THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY — WITH HELP FROM SURVEYS AND STORIES: The Movement Advancement Project (MAP) recently released a report exposing the effort to limit municipalities from passing local laws that often protect LGBTQ people. And authors Alison Ash Fogarty and Lily Zheng recently published a book featuring interviews with 25 transgender and gender nonconforming people discussing the importance of workplaces that embrace people of all genders. Read more from The Seattle Lesbian and INTO.

HRC HONORS JOURNALIST HELEN ZIA:

This #APAHM we honor journalist Helen Zia, who covered the now-infamous murder of Vincent Chin, fatally beaten in a 1982 hate crime in Detroit. She and her partner Lia, were among the first same-sex couples married in the state of California. t.co/5ZFaGYDIrx pic.twitter.com/aSIht8U6XC

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 14, 2018

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

HORRIFYING — POLICE ASSAULT WOMEN ATTENDING AN LGBTQ GATHERING IN BEIJING: More from The Guardian.

PRO-EQUALITY EPISCOPALIAN BISHOP MICHAEL CURRY TO DELIVER SERMON AT BRITISH ROYAL WEDDING: Bishop Curry has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ equality. Read more from Washington Post.

LGBTQ COMMUNITY HOLDS PARADE IN HAVANA: The Saturday parade came in advance of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. More from NBC Out.

MALTA RETAINS NO. 1 SPOT IN RAINBOW INDEX: It holds the top spot in the equality classification of European countries, released by the LGBTI advocacy organization ILGA-Europe. Read more from Malta Today.

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

The Salt Lake Tribune reports on the second annual Queer Prom held in Utah; NewNowNext takes a look at the LGBTQ history of Eurovision; Washington Post profiles the work of Colombia’s indigenous transgender women in a piece by Kenneth Dickerman (@dickerman_k ‏) and featuring the photography of Lena Mucha (@Lena_Mucha);

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-may-15-2018?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Vermont Gov. Signs Gender-Neutral Restroom Bill

All single-user public restrooms in the state must now be marked gender-neutral, a boon to transgender people and others.

www.advocate.com/politics/2018/5/14/vermont-gov-signs-gender-neutral-restroom-bill

‘Patient Zero’: Correcting the Record on a Media-Made Gay Villain

Writer Richard McKay on the legacy of Gaëtan Dugas, the man still connected to false narratives on gay men and HIV.

www.advocate.com/hiv-aids/2018/5/14/patient-zero-correcting-record-media-made-gay-villain

Drag Race Queens Will Save the World in Animated Drag Tots

Biance Del Rio, Detox, Latrice Royale and more will voice baby drag queens for the animated series. And, of course, RuPaul is involved! 

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2018/5/13/drag-race-queens-will-save-world-animated-drag-tots

Amy Schumer Pays a Mother’s Day Visit to SNL’s ‘Weekend Update’ – WATCH

SNL’s Weekend Update covered Trump’s “pretty good week,” securing the release of the American prisoners in North Korea.

“Sure, this is a decent week for Trump,” said Michael Che. “The same way a decent date with R. Kelly is to go home dry.”

Trump has also been fairly quiet on Twitter this week, which Che said scared him:

“Personally, I don’t like when Trump is this quiet. It’s like when I’m babysitting my nephew and he’s quiet for too long and I’m like, oh no, he’s eating out of that litter box again.”

WU also covered revelations that Michael Cohen was paid millions of dollars by corporations like AT&T seeking influence in the Trump administration.

Said Che: “AT&T could not be reached for comment because, they use AT&T.”

Colin Jost reported that Trump attacked the Russia investigation, insisting that obstruction of justice is a “made-up, phone crime.”

Said Jost: “Oh, the one that you’re accused of? That one’s made up? It’s funny how when it comes to immigration, Trump is like, ‘the law is the law’ but when it comes to himself, he’s like, ‘laws aren’t real. They’re just stories we make up to scare poor people.”

And the segment touched on Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal.

Said Che: “President Trump announced  he would be withdrawing the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal. And look, I’m not going to pretend I know anything about the Iran deal. But Trump is. And, you know, the only part of that deal Trump has read is the signature at the bottom that said ‘Barack Obama.’ That is all he needed; Trump has undone so much of Obama’s work that Obama’s gonna start fading away in pictures like Back to the Future.”

Rudy Giuliani, Jeff Sessions, and Melania Trump’s “Be Best” campaign were also the target of Che’s and Jost’s jibes.

Watch:

Millennial film critic Bailey Gismert returned to talk about the summer blockbusters Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Avengers: Infinity War:

And Michael Che’s stepmom (Amy Schumer) stopped in to check on him, informing their audience that he once wrote a touching poem about horseshoe crabs and has a set of juicy buns:

Weekend Update also closed with the honorary degree being awarded to Vin Diesel, Best Buy’s new logo, a legless woman arrested in Florida, the black Yale student arrested for napping, Starbucks’ new bathroom policy, and a harassed moose:

The post Amy Schumer Pays a Mother’s Day Visit to SNL’s ‘Weekend Update’ – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

www.towleroad.com/2018/05/amy-schumer-weekend-update/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+towleroad%2Ffeed+%28Towleroad+Gay+News+%29

Ding Dong I’m Gay: WEB SERIES

Ding Dong I’m Gay is a new Australian comedic web series that follows Cameron, an overachieving people-pleaser who reluctantly takes on the role of hopeless fairy godmother when his newly out cousin Toby arrives on his Sydney doorstep looking for somewhere to live.

Cameron sets out to teach Toby a thing or two about gay life.

The show’s creator and writer Tim Spencer stars as Cameron. The lighthearted series also features Remy Brand, Alex Lee, Sarah Bishop, and Rupert Raineri. Check out the first three episodes below.

In Episode 1, Cameron’s cousin Toby unexpectedly arrives on his doorstep in Sydney:

In Episode 2, Toby and Cameron discuss Instagays.

In Episode 3, Cameron and Toby tackle dress codes.

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Ding Dong I’m Gay: WEB SERIES