Connecticut Suit Targets Trans Female Student Athletes

A lawsuit filed by an anti-LGBTQ group claims trans girls have an advantage over cisgender girls — not so, say advocates for trans athletes.

www.advocate.com/transgender/2020/2/13/connecticut-suit-targets-trans-female-student-athletes

This Miami gay man kissed his date goodnight. Then the pair got shot.

Miami police are searching for several suspects accused of shooting a pair of gay men while the pair kissed in a car. The victim says they were targeted for being gay.

Clive Khouri told ABC News that he and his date kissed in his car on Tuesday night when several men drove by on ATV vehicles. The trio then opened fire on the gay couple, hitting both men as well as a passer-by. The woman who happened on the scene, a neighbor named Shankeka Jefferson, also happens to be queer.

Related: Gay rapper among those shot and wounded in drive-by Florida shooting

“When I tried to speed off to come around this corner, they kept trying to shoot, shoot, shoot,” Khouri said. “Some of the guys probably saw us kissing in the car.” Khouri also added that he believes he and his friend were targets of a hate crime.

As the three men sped off on their ATVs, Khouri rushed into his mother’s nearby house for help. The bullets just grazed his head, and despite the bloody wounds, he was not seriously injured. Jefferson, likewise, sustained flesh wounds to the head from grazed bullets. She has since returned home after hospital treatment. Khouri’s date, on the other hand, was struck in the head and remains in critical condition.

Miami police continue to hunt for the shooters. Police say there could be up to three suspects involved in the attack.

www.queerty.com/miami-gay-man-kissed-date-goodnight-pair-got-shot-20200213?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Twitter Hilariously Reacts to ‘Killer Asteroid’ Reports: ‘Celebrate Valentine’s Day Like It Might Be Your Last’

According to NASA, a “potentially hazardous asteroid” will pass relatively close to the Earth on Saturday.

If it were to strike our planet (it won’t), the asteroid would trigger a nuclear winter and mass extinction event, according to the International Business Times.

“According to the data collected by NASA, the approaching asteroid is larger than the tallest man-made structure in the world,” IBT reported. “NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) has identified the incoming asteroid as 163373 (2002 PZ39). As indicated in CNEOS’ database, this asteroid is currently traveling toward Earth at a speed of almost 34,000 miles per hour.

“[The] near-Earth intersection will happen on Feb. 15 at 6:05 a.m. EST. During this time, the asteroid will pass over the planet from a distance of 0.03860 astronomical units or around 3.6 million miles away.”

While many criticized articles about the asteroid as “clickbait,” others found an opportunity for dark humor.

The post Twitter Hilariously Reacts to ‘Killer Asteroid’ Reports: ‘Celebrate Valentine’s Day Like It Might Be Your Last’ appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Twitter Hilariously Reacts to ‘Killer Asteroid’ Reports: ‘Celebrate Valentine’s Day Like It Might Be Your Last’

How not to invite someone over for a hookup via Grindr

As we approach Valentine’s Day, now seems as good a time as any to remind everyone to be kind and respectful to others online.

A Twitter user has prompted many comments after sharing a Grindr message he received. The man messaging him was inviting him over for sex. However, it was how the invitation was worded that has prompted raised eyebrows.

Danny Whitehead (@danielswhi) is based in Scunthorpe in England. On Sunday, the 35-year-old was hanging out with a friend in a hotel. They both received messages from the same guy on Grindr.

When Danny received a message, he responded, “Oh you were chatting to my friend I was staying with!! He showed me your photos!”

The message he received in return said, “Yeah I saw you on his Instagram page. You’re not really my type, I don’t like fat guys, but you’re nearby. I’m at the premier inn. Fancy a fuck?”

Danny was taken aback by the bluntness of the message. He went on to post, “It did get to me a bit. Ever since I was a kid I’ve had issues with my weight, but then last year I got on a health kick and lost 5 and a half stone [77lbs].

“So to have someone call me that brought back all my insecurities for a time… but I’m good now!”

Related: Man travels from London to Helsinki for Grindr hookup

He says he didn’t reply to the message and instead blocked the person.

“What the hell is wrong with people?” wondered fellow Twitter user @leewelshman.

“This screams “I really don’t like myself” on his part,” offered @JDEdge. “Don’t feel devalued or somehow inferior because this person, whom likely has a warped sense of decency, sent you a shitty message on a hookup app. You’re fab, stay fab.”

“I’ve been Grindr free now for 2 months. Thank you for reminding me EXACTLY why I need to stay clear from that hell hole of an app. Honestly, it’s not worth your time man, Grindr is where all the ultra muscle masculine inside homophobic gays live. The app is like a drug,” said @KyngLeo98.

“That’s just wrong on so many levels… also clearly he has poor taste with his choice of hotel, so f**k him! Actually don’t that’s what he wants,” said @UrbanMaleUK.

Danny told Queerty he only joined Grindr last June. Before this he’d been in a long-term relationship with someone since the age of 17.

“This message was the first where someone has said something nasty, most people have been very complimentary – along with the odd random picture of genitalia that makes me laugh. I actually enjoy the app mainly, as it entertains me with some of the stuff people say.”

Related: His super hot doctor just hit him up on Grindr… now what?!

Providing more background on the exchange, he said, “On Sunday my friend was working away in Nottingham and had a hotel, so I went over and we spent the night watching TV and drinking decaf tea (wild, I know!) and this guy started messaging him.

“He was really good looking and was trying to get my mate over to his room, and my mate said ‘No.’

“On Tuesday I woke up after night shift and the guy had messaged me asking if I had been at the hotel on Sunday because he recognized me from my mate’s Instagram. He sent a couple of photos of his face to which I replied [with the message in the Twitter image].

Talking about his weight loss and experiences on apps, Danny went on to say that as recently as August 2018, he weighed 18 stone [252 lbs]: “And for someone who is 5 foot 8, that’s way too much.

“I joined an inclusive rugby team in Hull near where I live, and that along with a proper diet helped my lose 5 and a half stone pretty quickly, and I’ve managed to keep that off mostly.

“When I was still that big, I wasn’t on the apps so I can’t say if my online experience would have changed. However, I know my confidence has grown massively since then and I am I big believer that personality and confidence are sexier than a great body.”

www.queerty.com/not-invite-someone-hookup-via-grindr-20200213?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Trevor Noah Reacts to New Charges Against Jussie Smollett: ‘Black Pinocchio’ Needs ‘White-Lady Nickname’

Daily Show host Trevor Noah made light of the latest developments in the Jussie Smollett case on Wednesday night, referring to the former Empire actor as “black Pinochhio” and saying he needs a “white-lady nickname.”

Smollett was indicted Tuesday on six new counts of disorderly conduct for allegedly lying to police about being the victim of a racist and anti-gay hate crime last January.

“Yes, Jussie Smollett is back in the headlines, this time for being indicted for reporting a fake hate crime,” Noah said. “And it really sounds bad, until you remember that his plan all along was to get a recurring [Empire] storyline that doesn’t go away. This is what he wanted!

“And look, I know what Jussie did was wrong, but at the same time I kind of feel bad for him, because he gets into trouble now for calling in fake crimes, but those Permit Patties who made those bullshit calls to 911, they live their lives,” Noah added. “They just do their thing. Maybe that should be Jussie’s punishment: he should be forced to get a white-lady nickname. Everywhere he goes, people will be like, ‘Well, well, well, there goes Subway Smollett!’” 

In related news, the Chicago Tribune reports that Smollett’s attorneys are likely to seek dismissal of the new charges on grounds they amount to “double jeopardy.”

Watch the clip from The Daily Show below.

The post Trevor Noah Reacts to New Charges Against Jussie Smollett: ‘Black Pinocchio’ Needs ‘White-Lady Nickname’ appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Trevor Noah Reacts to New Charges Against Jussie Smollett: ‘Black Pinocchio’ Needs ‘White-Lady Nickname’

HRC Releases Coming Out Resource for Black LGBTQ People

Today, HRC released Coming Out: Living Authentically as Black LGBTQ People, a resource for members of the Black LGBTQ community. The launch of this valuable resource comes during Black History Month, a time when we recognize and celebrate the long history of Black leadership in the LGBTQ movement, including the ways in which Black LGBTQ and allied trailblazers have been and remain at the center of the fight for equality.

“For those of us who identify as Black and LGBTQ, coming out can present a variety of challenges, and this important resource serves as a guide as we navigate our very personal journeys to living authentically,” said HRC President Alphonso David. “Although we come from a wide range of cultural, regional and ethnic backgrounds, we often share similar experiences — and barriers — in coming out. But, as demonstrated time and time again by Black leaders who have always been at the front of the struggle for LGBTQ equality, we know how important it is to live as our true selves, and have our full stories told and contributions recognized.”

This HRC Foundation resource details the unique experiences of Black people when considering coming out, including grappling with faith traditions and teachings that may condemn or reject LGBTQ identities. The resource also details the ways in which Black culture and history are also inextricably tied to queer identities throughout history. The resource also discusses the ways in which Black LGBTQ people must contend with the realities of systemic racism and anti-Blackness that influence all facets of their daily lives — including their LGBTQ identities.

“For my transgender son and for each of us, coming out and living our full identities is a process that can’t be measured,” said HRC Foundation Board of Directors Co-Chair Jodie Patterson. “But as leaders of our families, parents need to be equipped with information, understanding and a language that fits the current time. For years I stumbled, trying to grasp fundamental facts about my own transgender son. I thought being black and trans was a super wicked problem. Now I understand it to be powerful. This is the exact guide I would write — years later with all the love and experience I’ve earned.”

The release of this guide comes just before the HRC Foundation’s seventh annual Time to THRIVE Conference kicks off on February 14 in Washington, D.C. Time to THRIVE is the HRC Foundation’s premier gathering for educators, counselors and other youth-serving professionals, bringing together these experts to discuss best practices for working with and caring for LGBTQ youth and their families in schools, community centers, health care settings and beyond. The Conference also features HRC’s Youth Ambassadors, who represent the HRC Foundation by using their voices and experiences to raise awareness about the most pressing concerns facing LGBTQ youth and HRC’s programs that promote well-being for LGBTQ youth.

“When I was coming out, I didn’t have a guide to tell me that there was more than one way to be Black and queer,” said HRC Youth Ambassador Nakiya Lynch. “It’s important that Black LGBTQ youth know that they can be who they are without sacrificing either identity, and still be valid. I’m so glad they can have guidance that’s actually applicable to their experience!”

After coming out, some LGBTQ people report that they are able to better communicate with their family and friends, leading to stronger relationships and greater mutual understanding. While many Black LGBTQ people have similarities in their coming out journeys, no two coming out experiences are identical. This guide serves as a place to begin exploring the process.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-releases-coming-out-resource-for-black-lgbtq-people?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Man sues employer over Kylie Minogue impersonator causing “psychological injury”

A man in Australia is suing his former employer for AUS$800,000 (approx. $540,000), saying he was cajoled into taking part in a stage show at a work event that caused him to be humiliated.

He says the incident caused him “nervous shock and psychological injury.”

According to The Age, Ian Richard Billington, 47, is a former business manager for Sussan, a women’s fashion label. The event, in August 2015, was an awards ceremony during the company’s national conference in Creswick, Victoria.

Related: Tourism Australia recruits Kylie Minogue for lavish, new commercial

Entertainment was provided by a Kylie Minogue impersonator. According to court papers, the impersonator twice called on Mr Billington to join her on stage. Billington says he made it clear he didn’t wish to do so but was pressurized by the crowd, with many cheering him on and others pushing and pulling him toward the stage.

In court papers, he says he was “asked deeply personal and humiliating questions by the impersonator.” This included asking about his marital status, and about the “presence of his wife (the applicant being in a homosexual relationship)”.

He was then asked “whether he liked to wear leather hotpants” and sent backstage where a dancer dressed him up in clothing that he said was belittling. He was then sent back on stage to dance with the Kylie impersonator.

Related: Kylie Minogue dances with DEATH in new video — and it paradoxically gives us LIFE

He says that since that time, he has suffered panic attacks, agoraphobia, memory and concentration impairment, and sleep disturbance, among other issues.

“As a result of the said injuries the plaintiff has since only been able to work over the phone with limited face-to-face contact working a maximum of 18 hours a week.”

Billington’s lawsuit says his injuries came about from his employer, Sussan, failing in its obligations to provide a safe working environment.

Sussan has defended itself, saying Billington got on the stage of his own volition and, to the extent that he may have been compelled, it was not reasonably foreseeable he would suffer a psychiatric illness.

The case is due to be heard March, 5.

www.queerty.com/man-sues-employer-kylie-minogue-impersonator-causing-psychological-injury-20200213?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Bloomberg Blasts Trump as ‘Carnival Barking Clown’ Who Blew Inheritance on ‘Stupid Deals’

Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg is fighting fire with fire in his campaign to unseat President Donald Trump.

Bloomberg used the president’s favorite social media platform, Twitter, to blast Trump on Thursday, minutes after the president again attacked the former New York City mayor.

“We know many of the same people in NY. Behind your back they laugh at you & call you a carnival barking clown,” Bloomberg wrote in response to Trump. “They know you inherited a fortune & squandered it with stupid deals and incompetence. I have the record & the resources to defeat you. And I will.”

The response came shortly after Trump called Bloomberg a “loser” and a “mass of dead energy.”

“Mini Mike Bloomberg is a LOSER who has money but can’t debate and has zero presence, you will see. He reminds me of a tiny version of Jeb “Low Energy” Bush, but Jeb has more political skill and has treated the Black community much better than Mini!” Trump wrote. “Mini Mike is a 5’4” mass of dead energy who does not want to be on the debate stage with these professional politicians. No boxes please. He hates Crazy Bernie and will, with enough money, possibly stop him. Bernie’s people will go nuts!”

Fittingly, Trump’s attack came shortly after after Bloomberg called the president “the world’s biggest schoolyard bully with no respect for civility, decency and the facts” at a rally in Tennessee on Wednesday.

“I’m not afraid of Trump, and Trump is afraid of me,” Bloomberg said.

Following Trump’s tweet on Thursday morning, some observers agreed.

“Trump is VERY worried about Bloomberg. Just as he was freaked out about Biden, when he tried to enlist the Ukraine president in undermining his candidacy,” wrote Jim Roberts, editor-in-chief of Cheddar.

More reactions below.

The post Bloomberg Blasts Trump as ‘Carnival Barking Clown’ Who Blew Inheritance on ‘Stupid Deals’ appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Bloomberg Blasts Trump as ‘Carnival Barking Clown’ Who Blew Inheritance on ‘Stupid Deals’

Adam Lambert to open the 31st Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York

www.glaad.org/blog/adam-lambert-open-31st-annual-glaad-media-awards-new-york

Iowa Bill Could Bar Teachers from Mentioning that Pete Buttigieg is Gay: WATCH

No, we’re not kidding.

An Iowa House panel advanced a measure this week that would prohibit school districts from allowing “instruction of any kind” related to sexual orientation or gender identity, without first notifying parents and giving them an opportunity to opt out their children.

One of the 13 Republican co-sponsors of House File 2201 acknowledged that, as written, the proposal could bar a teacher in a government class from mentioning Democratic presidential frontrunner Pete Buttigieg‘s sexuality. Coincidentally, Buttigieg won the Iowa Democratic caucus last week.

The bill applies to “any program, curriculum, material, test, survey, questionnaire, activity, announcement, promotion or instruction of any kind” related to sexual orientation or gender identity.

Iowa already allows parents to opt their children out of instruction in human growth and development, but HF 2201 would apply to all courses.

“It assumes children can turn gay by suggestion,” said Lorilei Baker, an Urbandale mental health professional, according to NBC Channel 13.

GOP Rep. Randy Salmon, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, told the Des Moines Register it is needed because, “Not all students, parents or families agree with the viewpoint held by many schools regarding sexual orientation or gender identity issues. And they should be allowed to opt out of instruction that contains that.”

Emily Piper of the Iowa Association of School Boards, which opposes the bill, raised the example of Buttigieg’s candidacy.

“What if we’re having a discussion on current events and there’s a presidential candidate who is gay? Can we not have that conversation in the government class?” Piper said.

According to Channel 13, Salmon said merely discussing Buttigieg’s candidacy in class “wouldn’t trigger notifying parents, but discussing his sexual orientation might.”

Salmon acknowledged that the language in the bill needs to be refined, according to the Register. “She told reporters that her intention is not to have a simple mention of a historical figure in history class to necessarily require notification.”

Salmon was one of two Republicans who voted Monday to advance the measure to the full House Education Committee. Democratic Rep. Art Staed cast the lone dissenting vote.

“We have a system for that with local school boards,” Staed said. “To say that there’s no parent input right now, I think, is ridiculous. I just retired from teaching two years ago. I can tell you, parent input is always part of the process of everything that we do.”

Earlier this year, an Arizona Republican lawmaker introduced a bill that would have banned any discussion of homosexuality in schools. But she later withdrew the measure in response to national outrage.

According to One Iowa, HF 2201 is among at least 13 anti-LGBT bills introduced in the current legislative session.

The post Iowa Bill Could Bar Teachers from Mentioning that Pete Buttigieg is Gay: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Iowa Bill Could Bar Teachers from Mentioning that Pete Buttigieg is Gay: WATCH