#AM_Equality Tipsheet: January 28, 2020

HRC TO HONOR WRITER, ACTOR AND PRODUCER DAN LEVY (@danjlevy) AT THE 2020 LOS ANGELES DINNER: “Through his advocacy, his creative leadership, and his hilarious, authentic portrayal as David Rose on Schitt’s Creek, Dan Levy is moving LGBTQ visibility forward by inspiring us to embrace all of who we are, ” said HRC President Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid). Read more from HRC, People, The Hollywood Reporter and Entertainment Weekly. 

I hope to find the words to properly articulate my gratitude by the time we sit down to dinner. For now, I will simply say thank you, @HRC. This means so much. x t.co/N0dI8smrhG

— dan levy (@danjlevy) January 27, 2020

HRC PRESIDENT ALPHONSO DAVID ATTENDS SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL FOR DISCUSSION ABOUT ACCLAIMED NEW DOCUMENTARY “WELCOME TO CHECHNYA”: He joined filmmaker David France (@welcomechechnya), Color of Change President Rashad Robinson (@rashadrobinson), and people featured in the film to talk about the deadly “cleansing” campaign and what activists are doing to stop it. Read more from HRC, The Wrap and Indie Wire. 

At @sundancefest with @ByDavidFrance, @rashadrobinson & a powerful panel of activists to discuss the searing film @welcomechechnya, which details the anti-LGBTQ atrocities in Chechnya & the efforts of activists risking everything to save LGBTQ lives. pic.twitter.com/3jVZQRsMil

— Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) January 27, 2020

30 MAJOR VIRGINIA EMPLOYERS SEND LETTER TO VIRGINIA LAWMAKERS CALLING FOR COMPREHENSIVE LGBTQ NON-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS & PASSAGE OF “VIRGINIA VALUES ACT”: “These protections are good for business, good for tourism, good for the economy, and most importantly, vital for the 250,000+ LGBTQ adults living in Virginia,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “It’s heartening to see so many Virginia businesses publicly support these protections and push for equality for all.” Read more from HRC. 

TUESDAY TWEET — LATE NIGHT’S  LILLY SINGH (@Lilly) ON COMING OUT AS BISEXUAL IN THE PAST YEAR & IMPORTANCE OF LGBTQ REPRESENTATION: Watch here. 

No one’s bringin’ @Lilly down! ��❤️��️‍�� #LateWithLilly pic.twitter.com/tmkcrG7bDX

— A Little Late With Lilly Singh (@latewithlilly) January 22, 2020

APPLETON, WISCONSIN PROTECTS LGBTQ YOUTH FROM SO-CALLED “CONVERSION THERAPY”: More from Associated Press. 

GET CULTURED – Entertainment, arts and sports news!

AWARD-WINNING PRODUCER RICHIE JACKSON (@Richie_Jackson) TALKS ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK WITH HRC FOUNDATION BOARD CO-CHAIR JODIE PATTERSON (@jodie_GeorgiaNY): “Gay Like Me: A Father Writes to His Son” is being released today. More from HRC. 

S.N.L. STAR BOWEN YANG OPENS UP ABOUT SURVIVING SO-CALLED “CONVERSION THERAPY”: More from The New York Times. 

Thank you to Bowen Yang for speaking so openly about his experience enduring so-called “conversion therapy.” LGBTQ youth do not need to be “cured,” and this debunked practice should be prohibited in all communities. t.co/ZYkvFn0Xvd

— Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) January 27, 2020

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

LAWYERS FOR SAME-SEX COUPLE IN CAYMAN ISLANDS TO TAKE FIGHT FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY TO UK PRIVY COUNCIL: More from Cayman Compass.

NEW POLL SHOWS THAT TWO-THIRDS OF CZECH CITIZENS SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALITY: Read more from PinkNews. 

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

The New York Jewish Week reviews two memoirs from Abby Stein (@AbbyChavaStein), a transgender woman, and Mimi Lemay (@mimislemay), mother of transgender son Jacob
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-28-2020?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Queer guy gets revenge on school bully… by having sex with his dad

A comedy sketch is racking up hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube. Queer comic Nathan Pearson performed the routine at New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre on January, 16, as part of the ‘Characters Welcome’ solo monologue showcase. It was posted to YouTube on Friday.

In the routine, he plays the role of ‘David’: someone who comes across an old high school bully in the home of one of his sexual conquests. It turns out he’s just had sex with the father of his old tormentor.

Related: YouTuber confronts childhood bully to surprisingly positive results

He takes delight in informing his old school chum exactly what he and pa have been doing with one another. Pearson’s facial expressions are nothing short of genius, and it’s worth watching to the end for the punchline.

It uses plenty of not-safe-for-work-language, so watch with discretion!

The fantasy revenge has prompted a huge response, with some sharing their own tales of running into former school bullies.

On Instagram, @vscott333 commented on Pearson’s page, “LOVE THIS!! My high school bully was a girl. She recently was in the front row of one of my drag shows. I threw her a little shade during my performance. At first she was smiling. Then her face changed… lol. and she had no idea who I was.”

Related: Awesome dad’s pitch-perfect note to his gay son’s bully goes viral

On YouTube, another viewer, @TheOnionQueen, said, “This is so inspirational. New life goal is to find the parents of all the kids that used to bully me for being queer and top them!”

One other said this had actually happened to him.

“I did f**k my bully’s dad. He was also my college professor,” said Judd Palmer. “It’s not like I knew who he was to begin with it was after two weeks he wanted me to meet his son and it turned out to be the homophobic prick that was my high school bully.”

Pearson told Queerty he was surprised at the sketch’s popularity and “how it’s resonating with people!” He said he’d been inspired by his own experiences of being bullied in high school and college.

Follow Pearson for more content on his Instagram.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nathan Pearson (@nathankpearson) on Jan 18, 2020 at 2:00pm PST

www.queerty.com/queer-guy-gets-revenge-school-bully-sex-dad-20200128?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Hate Cancel Culture? Blame Algorithms

“Cancel culture” has become so pervasive that even former President Barack Obama has weighed in on the phenomenon, describing it as an overly judgmental approach to activism that does little to bring about change.

For the uninitiated, here’s a quick primer on the phenomenon: An individual or an organization says, supports or promotes something that other people find offensive. They swarm, piling on the criticism via social media channels. Then that person or company is largely shunned, or “canceled.”

It happened to Chick-fil-A when its ties to organizations such as Focus on the Family invited backlash from LGBTQ activists; it happened to YouTube influencer James Charles, who was accused of betraying his former mentor and lost millions of followers; and it happened to Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross after people learned he had held a fundraiser for President Trump.

Outrage can spread so quickly on social media that companies or individuals who don’t adequately respond to a mishap – intentional or not – can face swift backlash. You can send a thoughtless tweet before boarding a flight and, upon landing, realize you’ve become the target of global ire.

A lot of attention has been given to repercussions of cancel culture on celebrities, from JK Rowling, to Kevin Hart to Lena Dunham.

Less talked about is the way algorithms actually perpetuate cancel culture.

Algorithms love outrage

My own research has shown how content that sparks an intense emotional response – positive or negative – is more likely to go viral.

Out of millions of tweets, posts, videos and articles, social media users can be exposed to only a handful. So platforms write algorithms that curate news feeds to maximize engagement; social media companies, after all, want you to spend as much time on their platforms as possible.

Outrage is the perfect negative emotion to attract attention and engagement – and algorithms are primed to pounce. One person tweeting her outrage would normally fall largely on deaf ears. But if that one person is able to attract enough initial engagement, algorithms will extend that individual’s reach by promoting it to like-minded individuals. A snowball effect occurs, creating a feedback loop that amplifies the outrage.

Often, this outrage can lack context or be misleading. But that can work in its favor. In fact, I’ve found that misleading content on social media tends to lead to even more engagement than verified information.

So you can write an immature tweet as a teenager, someone can dig it up, express outrage, conveniently leave out that it’s from seven or eight years ago, and the algorithms will nonetheless amplify the reaction.

All of a sudden, you’re canceled.

Hart goes down

We saw this dynamic recently play out with actor Kevin Hart.

Once it was announced that Hart would be the host for the 2019 Academy Awards, Twitter users plumbed a series of homophobic tweets from 2009 to 2011 and started sharing them. Few were aware Hart had tweeted about homosexuality. The outrage was swift.

Hart’s unapologetic response on Instagram inflamed the online anger.

Algorithms anticipate what users want based on detailed information about their preferences. All of a sudden, those most likely to be upset by Hart’s homophobic remarks were having tweets about them splashed across their feeds.

Within a day of Hart’s Instagram post, the actor announced he would withdraw from hosting.

Cancel culture is just one outgrowth of social media algorithms.

More broadly, people have criticized how algorithms such as YouTube’s actively promote divisive posts in order to suck people into spending more time online.

In 2018, a British Parliament committee report on fake news criticized Facebook’s “relentless targeting of hyper-partisan views, which play to the fears and prejudices of people.”

Algorithms encourage second acts

Paradoxically, the same algorithmic forces that buttress cancel culture can actually rehabilitate canceled entertainers.

A few months after the Hart controversy, Netflix decided to produce two shows featuring the comedian.

Why would Netflix expose itself to criticism by elevating a supposedly canceled celebrity?

Because it knew that there would be an audience for Hart’s comedy – that, in certain circles, the fact that he had been canceled made him that much more appealing.

Like social media platforms, Netflix also deploys algorithms. Because Netflix has a massive library of content, it deploys algorithms that take into account users’ prior viewing choices and preferences to recommend specific shows and movies.

Maybe these users are die-hard Hart fans. Or maybe they’re inclined see Hart as a victim of political correctness. Either way, Netflix has granular data about which users would be predisposed to watching a show about Hart, despite the fact that he had been nominally canceled.

On Netflix’s end, there’s little risk. Netflix probably knows, on some level, which of its subscribers are likely to be offended by Hart. So it simply won’t promote Hart’s show to those people. At the same time, partnering with controversial brands and individuals can be good for business.

Together, the phenomenon of cancel culture is an illustration of the weird ways algorithms and social media can upend, distort and rehabilitate the lives and careers of celebrities.

[ Expertise in your inbox. Sign up for The Conversation’s newsletter and get a digest of academic takes on today’s news, every day. ]

Anjana Susarla, Associate Professor of Information Systems, Michigan State University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The post Hate Cancel Culture? Blame Algorithms appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Hate Cancel Culture? Blame Algorithms

HRC Endorses U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath for Reelection

HRC announced the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath for re-election.

Rep. Lucy McBath has spoken out against the Trump-Pence administration’s discriminatory trans military ban and supports the Equality Act — crucial bipartisan legislation that would finally provide clear, comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people nationwide. McBath’s commitment to gun reform is unmatched and aligns with HRC’s own goal to reduce gun violence. Over the next year, HRC will devote significant resources to turning out the 1.2 million Equality Voters across the state of Georgia to ensure pro-equality leaders like Rep. McBath remain in, or are elected to office. McBath also spoke at HRC’s Atlanta Dinner in 2019.

“Congresswoman McBath has been a steadfast ally of the LGBTQ community and a leading voice on combating gun violence during her first term in Congress,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “In 2018, voters sent a clear message by rejecting the politics of fear and division and sending bold pro-equality champions like Lucy McBath to Washington. Now, it’s time to make sure those leaders have the support they need to continue to work on behalf of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community. The Human Rights Campaign is proud to endorse Congresswoman McBath’s bid for reelection and we look forward to continuing to fight alongside her for full equality.”

“I am proud to earn the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign,” said Rep. Lucy McBath. “I will always fight for what is right and work tirelessly to ensure that everyone is treated fairly. I stand in stark contrast to my extremist opponent, Karen Handel, who scoffed at the idea of supporting equality for all.”

In 2017, HRC released a video of Karen Handel openly admitting she did not believe LGBTQ families were as legitimate as other families. During her failed gubernatorial bid, Handel also advocated against allowing same-sex couples to adopt children. Handel’s anti-LGBTQ record and attacks on a woman’s right to choose are completely disqualifying.

 

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-endorses-u.s.-rep.-lucy-mcbath-for-reelection?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Ken Starr’s Unironic Lamentation About the ‘Age of Impeachment’ is Much Better with a Laugh Track: WATCH

On Monday, Trump (and Clinton) impeachment lawyer Ken Starr said this, without irony: “The Senate is being called to sit as the high court of impeachment all too frequently. Indeed, we are living in what I think can aptly be described as the ‘Age of Impeachment.’ … How did we get here, with presidential impeachment invoked frequently?”

Ken Starr: “The Senate is being called to sit as the high court of impeachment all too frequently. Indeed, we are living in what can aptly be described as the age of impeachment.”

To be clear, Ken Starr said this. Ken Starr. KEN STARR. pic.twitter.com/YrYD1xWIkX

— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) January 27, 2020

Wrote Vox: “He led Republican efforts in the House to investigate Clinton, and published his findings in what became known as the Starr Report, a document that was far more showy than Mueller’s work, and one that made an express recommendation, finding Clinton’s conduct ‘may constitute grounds for impeachment.’ … Starr made the case impeachment has become a tit-for-tat exercise. ‘Instead of a once in a century phenomenon, which it had been, presidential impeachment has become a weapon to be wielded against one’s political opponent,’ he said. Which of course, ignores his own role in making it a spectacle, and the differences between past impeachments and the current one.”

Vox’s Aaron Rupar appropriately added a laugh track.

Ken Starr unironically lamenting that impeachments are happening “all too frequently” is so much better with a laugh track pic.twitter.com/qmuHjQNe0G

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 27, 2020

The post Ken Starr’s Unironic Lamentation About the ‘Age of Impeachment’ is Much Better with a Laugh Track: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Ken Starr’s Unironic Lamentation About the ‘Age of Impeachment’ is Much Better with a Laugh Track: WATCH

Why My Friend Silvio Horta’s Life and Death Matter

Andy Maher pens a remembrance of his late friend Silvio Horta, the creator of Ugly Betty.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2020/1/28/why-my-friend-silvio-hortas-life-and-death-matter

L.A. LGBT Center Forced to End Free STI & HIV Testing Due to Fund Cut

The center is urging Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Health to restore the vital resources.

www.advocate.com/news/2020/1/27/la-lgbt-center-forced-end-free-sti-hiv-testing-due-fund-cut

Vote now: The 2020 Queerties are officially open

The Queerties are back! It’s time to celebrate the LGBTQ community’s brightest stars and innovators, and this year we’re ushering in a whole new decade of excellence.

Voting for the 2020 Queerties is officially open.

From lesbian teen comedies to psychedelic dance horror, body-positive music superstars to binary-busting activists, queer representation in media is at an all-time high.

Now you can help your favorites take home the top prize in each of their categories, casting your ballot for the best in entertainment, social media and more.

Last year’s Queerties saw a record-breaking 900,000+ votes cast and with the addition of new acting categories plus the overall caliber of nominees this year, 2020 will be another one for the books.

Voting runs now through February 21, and remember — you can vote once per day in each category. The winners will be announced live at a special reception in Los Angeles on February 25 and on Queerty the following morning. Use hashtag #Queerties to share your votes and help your favorites.

What are you waiting for? VOTE HERE.

www.queerty.com/vote-now-2020-queerties-officially-open-20200127?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Business Leaders Call for Nondiscrimination Protections for LGBTQ Virginians

Written by HRC, Freedom for All Americans and Equality Virginia

More than 30 major Virginia employers sent a letter to Virginia lawmakers calling for comprehensive LGBTQ nondiscrimiation protections, saying employees, their families, and customers deserve equal opportunities at work and in their daily lives. 

The letter, addressed to House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn and Senate Majority Leader Richard Saslaw, notes that “everyone deserves the opportunity to work hard, earn a living, own or rent a home, access credit, and contribute to their community.”  It also underscores the economic case for such protections: “Because many LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ workers prefer to live and work in communities with nondiscrimination protections, such a law will give Virginia’s employees tangible advantages in recruitment and retention.”

The letter was released by the Virginia Values Coalition, a group of statewide and national organizations and individuals pushing for passage of the Virginia Values Act. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) and Del. Mark Sickles, would modernize Virginia’s existing human rights laws and prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ Virginians. 

“Businesses throughout the Commonwealth are standing together to oppose discrimnination and support laws that protect LGBTQ Virginians,” said Vee Lamneck, Equality Virginia, Executive Director. “We’re calling on lawmakers to ensure all hard-working Virginians and their families are protected from discrimination.”

“Business leaders know that a welcoming Virginia is crucial to their economic competitiveness – and central to their core values of inclusion and respect for everyone, said Freedom for All Americans CEO and National Campaign Director Kasey Suffredini. “Nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ Virginians and visitors will make it easier for businesses to recruit talented workers, to expand investments in the state, and to attract tourism business. These business leaders support nondiscrimination because they know that everyone wins when their customers, their employees, and their employees’ families feel welcome, included, and treated with dignity.”

“Virginians and businesses agree – it is past time for LGBTQ people in the commonwealth to have comprehensive non-discrimination protections,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “These protections are good for business, good for tourism, good for the economy, and most importantly, vital for the 250,000+ LGBTQ adults living in Virginia. It’s heartening to see so many Virginia businesses publicly support these protections and push for equality for all.”

www.hrc.org/blog/business-leaders-call-for-nondiscrimination-protections-for-lgbtq-virginian?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

‘Drag Race’ Alumni Slam New Season for ‘Erasing’ Trans Queens & Women

Detox, Carmen Carrera, Aja, and more spoke out about the absence of trans contestants in season 12.

www.advocate.com/television/2020/1/27/drag-race-alumni-slam-new-season-erasing-trans-queens-women