Angie's List CEO Resigns to Return to Politics, Save Indiana's Image
Angie’s List CEO Bill Oesterle says he’s dedicated his career to two things: Indiana and Angie’s List. But in the wake of the state’s controversial ‘religious freedom’ law, he says ‘I can’t do both.’
Sunnivie Brydum
www.advocate.com/indiana/2015/04/16/angies-list-ceo-resigns-return-politics-save-indianas-image
Martin O'Malley Goes After Hillary Clinton For Leading By 'Polls,' Not 'Principles'
WASHINGTON — Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) went after Hillary Clinton Thursday, accusing her of changing policy positions based on polls rather than her convictions. It’s the first time the prospective Democratic presidential candidate has attacked Clinton since she announced her presidential bid Sunday.
“I’m glad Secretary Clinton’s come around to the right positions on these issues,” said O’Malley, referring to same-sex marriage and immigration. O’Malley spoke to reporters at Harvard University, where he gave a speech on the economy.
“I believe that we are best as a party when we lead with our principles and not according to the polls,” O’Malley added. “And every election is about the future. And leadership is about making the right decision, and the best decision before sometimes it becomes entirely popular.”
On Thursday, the Clinton campaign told The Huffington Post that Clinton supports “state policies to provide driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants.”
That position tripped up Clinton in the 2008 campaign. Clinton — then the U.S. senator from New York — was asked during a debate whether she backed the efforts of her home-state governor to pass a bill authorizing those licenses. She first argued they “made sense,” but then said she opposed such legislation. Two weeks later, Clinton reaffirmed that she did not support licenses for undocumented immigrants. But the damage was done, and she was hit for being too calculating in her responses.
Clinton also made news on same-sex marriage this week, another area where she’s been criticized for being unclear. On Wednesday, she told the Washington Blade that she would like to see the Supreme Court affirm a constitutional right to marriage equality.
Last year, in an interview with NPR, however, she left many with the impression that she wouldn’t support such a ruling and said a state-by-state approach is best.
“So, for me, marriage had always been a matter left to the states,” Clinton said. “And in many of the conversations that I and my colleagues and supporters had, I fully endorse the efforts by activists who work state by state, and in fact that is what is working.”
As governor, O’Malley championed issues like marriage equality, death penalty repeal and gun control, and he’s been touting his progressive credentials ahead of a potential presidential bid.
“I believe marriage is a human right, not a state right,” O’Malley said Thursday. “I’m glad she’s come around to that position as well. I believe that we do our country a disservice when we make it harder for new American immigrants to be able to abide by the rules of the road and obtain drivers licenses. And I’m glad she’s come around to that position now too.”
O’Malley took a dig at Clinton on Twitter Wednesday afternoon, after her comments about marriage equality, although he didn’t mention her by name.
The dignity of every person tells us that the right to marry is not a state right, it is a human right. VIDEO: t.co/23tYQBrOpD
— Martin O’Malley (@GovernorOMalley) April 15, 2015
The Clinton campaign declined to comment on O’Malley’s remarks.
— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Senate Takes Stand for Same-Sex Couples
Some couples are losing out on Social Security and Veterans’ benefits because they live in a state that doesn’t recognize their union; a Senate vote, while not binding, marks an attempt to right that wrong.
Trudy Ring
www.advocate.com/politics/2015/04/16/senate-takes-stand-same-sex-couples
Taylor Schilling and Carrie Brownstein: Friends?
I know what it’s like to be outed. I was outed by the newspaper of record, The New York Times, specifically by Bob Morris in the Style section. When I wrote a letter to Max Frankel, the editor at the time, he asked if I wanted a retraction. “No,” I replied firmly. That would have been like a double outing. It all happened back in 1993, and you can Google my name with Bob Morris’ to decide for yourself. In truth, I was only out to myself back then, so I was rather mortified.
That said, where are lesbians going to get their gossip these days? The L Chat — “Lezzie Gossip for the Elizabeth and Bertha in all of us,” as the website states. Many allegedly closeted people are named and have threads devoted to them, and out lesbians like Ellen Page and Ellen DeGeneres have threads devoted to them as well. Admittedly bisexual Portlandia star and Sleater-Kinney musician Carrie Brownstein also has her own thread. (By the way, Ms. Brownstein was outed by the Times as well).
Earlier this year another thread appeared, one devoted to the alleged relationship between Ms. Brownstein and the Orange Is the New Black stunner Taylor Schilling. Is it fair? No. It’s just a gossip site, even though The Star reported the same. Until Ms. Schilling comes out, if she happens to be gay, bisexual or fluid, I do believe she has the right to not talk about her personal life on TV shows or in the media. She owes us nothing.
That said, where is all this speculation coming from? There are pictures of the two of them hanging out together all over the world, from photos at a museum event, with Ms. Schilling holding the back of Ms. Brownstein’s chair, to the recent ones of Ms. Schilling following Ms. Brownstein and her band around Great Britain and Ireland and back to Portland, where Ms. Brownstein lives. Also, it is a known fact that Ms. Brownstein dated the singer St. Vincent before that went bust. Many L Chatters assume Ms. Schilling was the catalyst. L Chatters will boo me if I stated that maybe the two are just get-along-really-well gal pals, but I must ask: Are photographs and public sightings of the two together hard proof?
Outing has certainly been perfected since the days I was outed. Social media is obviously to blame. But we’re losing perspective of human rights. They didn’t protect me or Ms. Brownstein, but they should protect Ms. Schilling and everyone else.
In the end we all have friends we love to share company with. Ms. Brownstein is a talented writer, musician and actress. Maybe she’s a barrel of laughs, as could be Ms. Schilling. And maybe the two just mesh together as pals. And that’s where I’ll stop. Whatever their relationship is, may they find peace in this suspicious and rather nosy world of ours. We do not know them.
— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Hetero Guys Swap Stories About Having Their Prostates Probed
A heterosexual Reddit user by the name of Nevermorec is seeking advice about the ins-and-outs (pun intended) of anal penetration. In a thread titled Guys, and Gals of Reddit, what about Pegging/ Prostate Stimulation?, Nevermorec politely writes:
Ok, I’m a straight male, but there’s gotta be something to this. A million Gay men can’t be wrong, right? I kinda tried it, but I feel maybe my gf at the time just didn’t know what she was doing. Is it really a “certain spot” or are you supposed to feel good the moment anything is in your ass? How does this work? I don’t wanna cum on my prostate exam and not know why, so reddit, educate on the prostate stimulation phenomenon, please. Thank you.
User salamandrine is quick to correct Nevermorec on a few points: “Firstly, gay men aren’t gay because they like anal sex, but because they like men,” he writes. “Secondly, prostate stimulation is about stimulating the prostate (duh)…Pegging, on the other hand, consists of being penetrated with a dildo…Thirdly, you don’t cum in a prostate exam.”
Prostate stimulation advocate nofocusing offers his perspective, writing: “I’m straight and love prostate stimulation. My most powerful orgasms come that way. I have to be in the mood for it though, and it’s not that it instantly feels good, but it leads up and helps to deliver an incredible orgasm.”
CantStopStaring seconds nofocusing’s opinion, writing: “Wife sucked me off last night and buried her finger in my ass until she found the prostate; she massaged it rhythmically while alternating vigorous and gentle sucking techniques. I saw rainbows, heard oceans, and came like the fountain at the end of Ocean’s Eleven…It’s not gay — it just feels REALLY FUCKING GOOD.”
Self-proclaimed “straight male” kaeroku says: “Can confirm, prostrate and sphincter nerves are arousing once you get past the ‘ick’ factor of playing back there…Lube is recommended.”
Calebmke opines: “Straight male, highly suggest you try it. My best/strongest orgasms were all from anal play.”
“I don’t jerk off without anal stimulation anymore,” WelcomeIntoClap adds. “Well, I didn’t until a few weeks ago when my prostate just stopped responding to anal, no idea what that’s about.”
But it’s PsychotronicStooge who seems to have the most ecstatic response: “My GF knows just the right spot and when she hits it I EXPLODE!”
After all that encouragement from his bros, will Nevermorec make the plunge with his girlfriend? We’ll keep you posted.
Related stories:
Straight Guy Opens Up About All The Stuff He Likes Done To His Butt
This Bi-Curious Man Is Thinking About Losing His Anal Virginity, But He Has Some Concerns
Straight Men Whisper Their Secret Gay Desires
Graham Gremore
France Defends Its Openly Gay Ambassador to the Vatican
In January the French government nominated Laurent Stefani, an openly gay man, to serve as France’s ambassador to the Vatican. Before being considered for the position Stefani acted as chief of protocol to François Hollande. He had also previously served in a senior role within France’s Vatican embassy, though not as its official ambassador.
Stefani’s nomination was swiftly confirmed by the French cabinet on January 5th, but his official appointment has been held up by a slow to respond Vatican. Typically this confirmation process takes about a month or so to complete. In the three months since Stefani’s appointment, the Vatican has yet to acknowledge France’s decision, a move that many are interpreting as an implicit rejection of the ambassador’s credentials. It’s believed that the Vatican is stonewalling Stefani because of his sexuality.
“France has chosen its ambassador to the Vatican,” affirmed Stephane Le Foll, a governmental spokesperson. “This choice was Stefanini and that remains the French proposal.”
Stefani’s the second openly gay ambassador the French government has attempted to appoint as its representation to the Vatican. In 2007 the Vatican rejected Jean-Loup Kuhn-Delforge (pictured right) another gay would-be ambassador, in a similar fashion by flat out refusing to recognize his appointment. After months of radio silence the French cabinet was forced to put forth a straight alternate who was later accepted by the Vatican. The French government has not announced whether it intends to select an alternate this time around.
Charles Pulliam-Moore
www.towleroad.com/2015/04/vatican-rejects-frances-openly-gay-ambassador.html
LGBT Figures Tim Cook, Laverne Cox Among 2015 Time 100 Honorees
Some LGBT icons and past Advocate cover stars were honored in Time‘s 100 Most Influential People list.
Raffy Ermac
White Party Headliner Natalie La Rose: Rapper Flo Rida Pushes Me to Perfection
With her debut single “Somebody” having recently cracked the Billboard Top 10, things are looking up for singer Natalie La Rose. However, the multi-talented performer recalls many times she thought about giving up on her dreams. 
“There were definitely times when I couldn’t get bookings,” stated La Rose, “The struggle was real then!”
With a song in the Top 20, and an EP featuring “Somebody” in the works for early May, La Rose is now in demand, especially on the summer Pride circuit it seems. She proved a hit at Miami Pride and is scheduled for Jeffrey Sanker’s White Party, April 24-27, in Palm Springs. However, that wasn’t always the case, she shared during a telephone interview.
“Sometimes I was just staying home for days,” she described, flashing back on times when gigs were few-and-far-between, “I didn’t want to go out and spend money.”
Five years ago, La Rose came to the United States from her native Amsterdam to pursue a career in music. While aspiring to solo success, she lived the life of Los Angeles auditions, taking occasional modeling jobs, shooting periodic commercials and accepting an international tour dancing for Latin superstars Marc Anthony and Cheyenne.
On occasion, La Rose acknowledged, the opportunities dried up. During those times — long before “Somebody” featuring R&B hit-maker Jeremih was on the horizon — her confidence waned.
“Every now and then, my parents would be like, ‘You know, Nat, you can always come home,'” shared the 26-year-old Dutch beauty, “And I would always say, ‘No, I’ve got to go through this tough time, so I know how it is. I can only come out stronger.'”
“It took a lot of effort — and money too — to be able to stay and work in the United States as a foreigner,” La Rose continued, “For me, it was like, ‘I’ve got this far. Now I’ve got to really stay and fight to make it happen.'”
The turning point for the singer was meeting Flo Rida. Identifying the “G.D.F.R.” rapper as a performer on the same trajectory she wanted for herself – “He’s making global hits,” La Rose told me, “And that’s what I want to do” — the then-unknown singer introduced herself at a party and insisted they work together.
“Flo was… It was one of my missions,” she confessed, “I’ve always been on a mission.”
It was a ballsy move for the young performer, but “it definitely paid off!” Soon after, La Rose was touring with Flo Rida, getting an insider’s perspective on the life of a global superstar.
“It’s really not easy,” she said of the behind-the-scenes machinations of touring, recording and “living the life,” all of which “Somebody” is now letting her taste first-hand. “It’s very busy, a lot of responsibilities and pressure. I’ve gotten the chance to see it up close.”
More importantly, though, Flo Rida became La Rose’ strongest advocate and mentor. It hasn’t been an easy process, the young singer said. Before she fully understood the rapper’s insistence on perfection, she occasionally found herself questioning (again!) whether she could make it in the industry.
“I’d be in the booth, in the studio, and I would sing something. He’s be like, ‘No, it’s not good. Do it right!'” La Rose shared. “I would be very, very frustrated. I’d think, ‘Maybe I can’t do this? Maybe I’m not good for this song, because he’s not satisfied.'”
In the end, though, the results proved differently. “Somebody” has topped charts around the world, paving a path for future success.
“I guess I needed it, that toughness,” stated La Rose, “The best results came from it!”
With her EP now ready for the masses, and a bona fide hit under her belt, La Rose admits she “gets” her mentor much better now. When he pushes back, she rolls with the punches.
“It’s funny, because yesterday we were in the studio together again, creating a new song, and the same thing happened,” she concluded with a laugh. “He was like, ‘No, it doesn’t sound good. Do it right!’ I’m used to it now, so I just try to get it right!”
— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
Jonathan Groff Remembers Being So Repressed He Kept His Boyfriend A Secret From His Broadway Costars
Even though I was performing eight times a week in a show about the importance of self-expression and the danger of sexual repression, I kept my relationship with my ‘roommate’ a secret. [At age 21] I was still very scared and insecure about being gay. I did the stupidest things. And I went to great lengths to keep my cast and crew from asking me about my ‘roommate.’ For example, I never had him come to the theater, and I never invited him out after the show. Opening night was tricky because he was there, but I worked it out, so all the pictures that night were group shots, and I’m not even standing next to him. When the Tony Awards came around, he attended, but I didn’t bring him as my date. He sat at the back of Radio City [Music Hall].”
— Jonathan Groff in his acceptance speech for receiving the Point Horizon Award for being a young LGBT trailblazer on Monday in New York, during which he remembered his closeted days while starring in Spring Awakening
H/t: Gold Derby
Jeremy Kinser
McKinney, Texas Gay Man's Front Door Vandalized With Homophobic Slur, Image: VIDEO
Shown above is the front door of Eric Arthur, a McKinney, Texas, resident who — as you can see — was the victim of an anti-gay hate crime this week.
Arthur, who’s openly gay and has lived in McKinney — a conservative distant suburb of Dallas — for the last five years, says he hasn’t had any problems until now.
Police believe it was an isolated incident, and there have been no arrests. WFAA-TV reports:
On Tuesday morning a neighbor alerted him to something on his front door.
“Open the door and immediately feel my stomach in my chest,” Arthur said. …
“[I’m] vulnerable, scared, confused… I think every emotion I could possibly feel at the time, it was happening,” Arthur said.
Arthur’s neighbor, who has a gay son, told WFAA: “That is just totally uncalled for… for something so idiotic to take place.”
According to WFAA, the hate crime was one of several incidents of vandalism in the neighborhood of late, including “trampled garden lighting, sprinklers, and smashed potted plants in the front yard.”
“If they feel it’s OK to do that to your property, what’s keeping them from taking it a step further?” Arthur said.
In all likelihood this is the work of a mischievous teen. But based on the perpetrator’s apparent fascination with male genitalia, we’d suggest their issues may run deeper than prejudice.
Watch WFAA-TV’s report, AFTER THE JUMP …(warning:autoplay)
John Wright
www.towleroad.com/2015/04/anti-gay-graffiti-vandal-obsessed-with-male-genitalia-video.html
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