Bisexual Adults Face Heightened Risk for Health Issues Including Cancer, STDs and Depression
HRC Joins Call to Close Knowledge and Care Gap
HRC.org
Category Archives: NEWS
Insurance Company Slut Shames Man, Denies Him Coverage Because He’s On Truvada
Insurance Company Slut Shames Man, Denies Him Coverage Because He’s On Truvada
A Boston man claims he was slut-shamed by an insurance provider when he was denied coverage after revealing he takes Truvada as a preventative measure.
The man, who is identified only as John Doe, just filed an official complaint against Mutual of Omaha with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, alleging the company discriminated against for being gay.
Related: San Francisco Politician Comes Out Of The Truvada Closet To Combat PrEP Stigma
“I was shocked,” the man, speaking anonymously because his complaint contains private medical information, told the Associated Press. “I really was. I thought maybe they misunderstood me. I’m HIV-negative. I’m not HIV-positive. I was taking Truvada as a prophylactic.”
But when he tried explaining this, the company still said no. Days later, he received a letter that said, “We do not offer coverage to anyone who takes the medication Truvada, regardless of whether it is prescribed to treat HIV infection, or is used for pre-exposure prophylaxis.”
Related: PHOTOS: Truvada Takers Given #PrEPHeroes Treatment In Edgy, Sex-Positive Campaign
“It’s really based on the stereotypes and the fears that are out there, that somehow gay male sexuality is inherently risky and unhealthy,” Bennett Klein, director of GLAAD’s AIDS Law Project, told the AP. “We have a lot of bias about gay male sexuality in our society.”
Dr. Kenneth Mayer, a professor at Harvard Medical School and director of HIV Prevention Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, added, “The last thing we want to do is discourage people from using this preventive mediation. The goal is to eradicate the number of new HIV infections.”
“I lived through the Holocaust of people dying from AIDS,” the man said. “I was doing my little part to stop that.”
So far, Mutual of Omaha is not commenting on the matter. Jim Nolan, a company spokesman, told the AP, “We have not seen the complaint and it’s our practice not to comment on potential litigation.”
Related: Gay Men Who Take Truvada Daily Remain Free Of HIV, According To New Study
Graham Gremore
Bearded Buddies Respond to Kim Davis with #KissesForKim Campaign: WATCH
Bearded Buddies Respond to Kim Davis with #KissesForKim Campaign: WATCH
Two bearded buddies have launched a #KissesForKim campaign in response to Rowan County, Kentucky clerk Kim Davis.
Write the duo, who also make web videos under the name Comedians in Public: “Fight intolerance with a little love! Grab your bestie, a buddy or stranger, give them a smooch and take a pic. Gay, straight, bi, trans, WHOMEVER! Show some love! Tweet, Instagram, whatever and #KissesForKim.”
Watch:
The post Bearded Buddies Respond to Kim Davis with #KissesForKim Campaign: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.
Andy Towle
Bearded Buddies Respond to Kim Davis with #KissesForKim Campaign: WATCH
Texas Judge Recognizes Lesbian Common Law Marriage
Texas Judge Recognizes Lesbian Common Law Marriage
When Sonemaly Phrasavath and Stella Powell met in 2004, they had no idea their relationship would make history in the Lone Star state. The couple were married in Texas in 2008, long before the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of marriage equality, which forced the state to recognize same-sex marriages.
And this week a probate judge in Travis County, Texas, issued a historic ruling of his own, recognizing the first common law marriage between two women, and removing interloper and state attorney general Ken Paxton from the case, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Powell died of colon cancer in 2014, forcing Phrasavath to battle with her wife’s family over her estate and begin a fight for her marriage to be recognized as valid in Texas.
Citing Texas law concerning common law marriages and armed with the Supreme Court ruling, Phrasavath finally settled her case with the family on September 10.
The case was presented to Judge Guy Herman for his approval, and he did so on Tuesday.
Phrasavath won the right to have her longtime relationship recognized by the state, over the objections of the attorney general. Paxton had argued that the ruling could lead to “confusion by potentially leading to the reopening of past probate cases long finalized, in the process creating new conflicts between families and surviving domestic partners,” according to spokeswoman Cynthia Meyer.
University of Texas professor and family law expert John Sampson disagreed. He argued that once probate cases are closed, they don’t get reponed very often. “”If it’s a final, unappealed decision in any context … the litigants are bound and the litigants can’t reopen it,” he told the Houston Chronicle.
Brian Thompson, Phrasavath’s attorney, pointed out that Paxton’s history of opposing LGBT rights should shed light on his decision to oppose the settlement and subsequent recognition of gay and lesbian common law marriages.
“The state of Texas, and in particular Ken Paxton, would have absolutely no interest in this case if it were one of the thousands of cases in Texas, thousands of heirship proceedings, except for the fact that it’s a same-sex couple, and that’s discrimination,” he said. “This is just part of his continuing disregard for the most fundamental concepts of American jurisprudence.”
Paxton, a former Republican state legislator, was indicted by a grand jury in August on multiple securities fraud charges and failing to register with the state’s securities board after allegations he misled investors. The most serious charges, two first degree felonies, can result in a sentence of five to 99 years in prison for each count.
As a freshman legislator in 2003, Paxton voted to amend the state securities law to make it a felony to act as an investment advisor without registering with the state – the same law he is accused of violating.
His office reportedly is now mulling options to appeal the judge’s ruling.
Bil Browning
www.advocate.com/marriage-equality/2015/9/17/texas-judge-recognizes-lesbian-common-law-marriage
No One Thinks To Call It Rape When You're A Sex Worker
No One Thinks To Call It Rape When You're A Sex Worker
I wouldn’t say that I was raped that night, but that’s not because I can’t be. And just in that sad assertion — that someone could hypothetically rape me — I’m in disagreement with an editorial published in this weekend’s Chicago Sun-Times, in which writer Mary Mitchell essentially argued that sex workers cannot be raped. She talks about a case in which a sex worker was held at gun point and forced to have sex; calling it rape, she says, “mak[es] a mockery of rape victims.”
I’ve written before that the experience of being a sex worker is relatively benign compared to what some might imagine, and that it is often “what some might imagine” that is so impacting. The way sex workers are gaslighted and shamed is much more traumatic than the simple and lucrative task of having average sex with average men.
— 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.
Elton John reacts to Vladimir Putin phone prank
Elton John reacts to Vladimir Putin phone prank
Elton John has reacted after getting pranked into thinking he was talking to Vladimir Putin in an effort to help Russia’s LGBTI population living under homophobic laws.
TV pranksters Vladimir Krasnov and Alexei Stolyarov has taken responsibility to the cruel joke, saying they rang the gay superstar pretending to be the Russian president.
Reacting today, he described the joke as an ‘unfortunate incident’, but said he was happy to be pranked if it did some good in raising awareness.
‘Pranks are funny. Homophobia, however is never funny. I love Russia and my offer to talk to President Putin about LGBT rights still stands.
‘I will always stand up for those that are being degraded and discriminated against.
‘If this unfortunate incident has helped push this vital issue back into the spotlight, then I am happy to be pranked on this occasion.’
It comes after the pranksters revealed extracts of the phone conversation, with Sir Elton saying he would be ‘very happy’ to perform at a Pride event in Moscow.
They also spoke about his wish to talk face to face about the issues facing the LGBTI community in Russia.
Sir Elton had posted a picture of Putin on his Instagram, thanking him for calling him to discuss gay rights. But this was later refuted by the Kremlin who denied any call took place.
The post Elton John reacts to Vladimir Putin phone prank appeared first on Gay Star News.
Joe Morgan
www.gaystarnews.com/article/elton-john-reacts-to-vladimir-putin-phone-prank/
Gay Man Shuts Down Younger Sister’s Homophobic Bully With One Fantastic Facebook Post
Gay Man Shuts Down Younger Sister’s Homophobic Bully With One Fantastic Facebook Post
Joseph Flinders, a radio producer in the U.K., has proved that the pen is mightier than the sword. Buzzfeed is reporting that when Flinders discovered his 11-year-old sister Lola had been told by a schoolmate that it was “disgusting” she had a gay brother, he posted an open letter on Facebook addressing the situation.
Upon learning about the homophobic bully, Flinders explained to Lola, “Not everybody gets an upbringing like we’ve had. We know it’s not disgusting, because what does it matter? It’s not a choice you can make. But some people’s parents don’t think in the same way as the rest of us.” Although Flinders made an attempt at expressing compassion in order to pacify his visibly upset sister, his protective big brother instincts kicked in as he became upset that Lola was shaken by the words of another boy at her school.
“I explained to her I wasn’t mad he said it, because it’s not the first person to have said something like that, but I was upset that she was upset and that she didn’t need to be because I’m a big boy.”
Flinders’ anger when he began to post his thoughts on the social media network soon turned to pity as he realized the bully’s homophobic viewpoint was the unfortunate result of his upbringing. “You’re not born homophobic,” the 21-year-old from Manchester told Buzzfeed. He added, “Lola was such a clean slate so when I told her I was gay it was no issue because it’s not an issue until you’re taught it’s one.”
Along with the Facebook status update, Flinders also included a photo of the siblings at Manchester Pride. Joseph and Lola were clearly brought up in a loving, accepting and non-judgmental environment. Their parents should be very proud.
The full post reads as follows:
“An open letter to the odious little toad who gave my baby sister a hard time for having a gay big brother. I just wanted to give an example of what a decent upbringing looks like. This is a photo I took of us at the gay pride parade, which she asked to attend with me. I think that’s pretty cool of an eleven year old, don’t you?
I’ve never known such an accepting, compassionate, loving child and I don’t want your hate-filled existence making her any less than she is.
I’m not confrontational but this is a nerve I wouldn’t touch if I were you. Thankfully, you’re a dying breed and I imagine this is the last generation that’ll have to endure narrow-minded tools.
I think she’s pretty great and she’s prouder than ever to tell people her brother is gay. So enjoy spreading hate to nobody that gives a toss.”
According to Buzzfeed, one of the replies Joseph Flinders received on his post simply stated, “Marry me.” Something tells us the proposals are going to keep on coming for a while.
Read Flinders’ full response below.
Jeremy Kinser
Hillary Clinton Mocks Donald Trump on ‘The Tonight Show’ with Jimmy Fallon: WATCH
Hillary Clinton Mocks Donald Trump on ‘The Tonight Show’ with Jimmy Fallon: WATCH
Hillary Clinton appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in some counter programming to last night’s GOP presidential debate and spent some time impersonating Donald Trump in response to accusations that she uses a teleprompter too often.
She also took some jabs at The Donald’s hair, allowing Fallon to pull on hers.
Watch:
Before the interview began, Hillary received a mock phone call from” Trump”:
Clinton added that she enjoys watching Trump’s campaign:
“I find it amazing. I know how hard this job is. I know what you have to do to try to figure out how to do it well. I obviously watched my husband, worked with President Obama. So I’m sitting there thinking – imagine all of a sudden you’re in the Kremlin and somebody comes rushing in and goes, ‘oh my gosh, did you hear what President Trump said today?’ It might actually cause everybody else to just calm down because they wouldn’t want to get it to be too excitable.”
Fallon also calls Clinton a “tough mother” and asks if she’s tough enough to be president.
Clinton also responded to the email controversy:
“They’re boring…the most significant one that has come to light. I was asked if I could get gefilte fish into Israel in order for it to be used in time for Passover.”
Clinton also talked about social media taking selfies with Kim Kardashian.
“She’s a pro about the selfie deal…I’ve had a lot of people take selfies with me. [After giving a speech and hitting the rope line] it used to be they’d say, ‘I want to ask you about what our nuclear force posture might be. Now they say, ‘can we take a selfie?’ And I say, ‘ of course we can.’ It’s a huge part of the culture.
They did a rapid fire interview about parenting, her defining issue, how she plans to make college affordable, where she sees herself in five years:
The post Hillary Clinton Mocks Donald Trump on ‘The Tonight Show’ with Jimmy Fallon: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.
Andy Towle
Hillary Clinton Mocks Donald Trump on ‘The Tonight Show’ with Jimmy Fallon: WATCH
Live a life of wanderlust with these 11 LGBTI travel bloggers
Live a life of wanderlust with these 11 LGBTI travel bloggers
Travelling the world is a beautiful thing. Travelling the world vicariously through others while you pluck up the courage to take the plunge yourself is priceless.
These bloggers leave no stone unturned in showing you the wonderful things out there for the LGBTI traveller as well as giving advice, sharing knowledge and overall showing you that you can do it to.
In no particular order, here are the travellers we insist you follow, now:
Hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, married couple of ten years Auston and David now call Madrid, Spain their base camp. From Iceland to South America, this hot couple has scoured the planet to unlock the secrets of LGBTI travel and be the best Two Bad Tourists they could be.
We joined Two Bad Tourists on their #mygaypride summer campaign, taking on European prides from Barcelona to Cologne to share what it means to be proud at pride across the continent.
Tel Aviv Gay Guide: How to Make the Most of Your Visit #gaytravel @TelAvivNonstop t.co/R6cr0WldFW pic.twitter.com/h90QZah70n
— TwoBadTourists (@twobadtourists) September 16, 2015
Packing skinny jeans and skinny ties on his travels, Texan Adam has written for the likes of Yahoo Travel and frequents at the notorious super club Berghain in Berlin, where he currently calls home.
Get ready for some crazy stories and some honest blogging people; he likes to cry on planes and will tell you exactly the reason why!
CONFESSION: I like to cry on airplanes.
Read: t.co/E0pWBqtmdH pic.twitter.com/pn4MgIzvMH
— Adam (@travelsofadam) September 15, 2015
A photo posted by Adam (@travelsofadam) on
The dynamic duo to end all dynamic duos – plus the gorgeous Lisa Malling.
These lesbian vloggers bring you the best of the best when it comes to LGBTI travel on video, having over 3 seasons of vlogging goodness with another two being filmed as we speak.
Leaving Los Angeles in search of adventure and clean(er) air, Bly and Lauren flew transatlantic to explore Europe, picking up passengers along the way in the form of Lauren’s beautiful swedish girlfriend and musician Lisa Halling.
These girls can fly from NYC to London on different flights without phones or any means of contact and still find each other; they are meant to be.
#whiteparty ready for #benidormpride2015 #mygaypride #visitbenidorm #buttonandblystravelshow #gaystarnews
A photo posted by ButtonandBly (@buttonandbly) on
Brit backpacker Ed Rex travelled the world for four whole years, across six continents and 35 countries! You can only imagine the things he has seen…
Ed chronicles the ‘Adventures of a deaf and handsome luxury backpacker travelling the unexpected’ – and that’s exactly what it is!
I got to spend my time with David of @twobadtourists at my first ever pride at @benidormpride! #BenidormPride2015 pic.twitter.com/02cjsz4WNi
— Ed Rex (@rexyedventures) September 12, 2015
Loving the #Benidorm views from #HotelMadeiraCentro before having a wonderful dinner. You must try their steak! #VisitBenidorm #BenidormPride2015 #view #visitbenidorm @visitbenidorm
A photo posted by Ed Rex (@rexyedventures) on
Cheeky chappy and all-round soul of the party Jaime is one of those guys that will party until an hour before he needs to leave for a flight – that’s right, one of those.
If you want to see a life lived to it’s fullest and on the edge, follow Jaime as he discovers a world beyond Houston, Texas on his second around the world adventure.
‘Take a chance, take a risk, make a change and break away…’
*He loves him some Kelly Clarkson!
Nude beach in #Sitges! Officially the 3rd nude beach I go #nude. This is also the craziest… t.co/xeIYxhPfui pic.twitter.com/de3paNKmHg
— Breakaway Backpacker (@BAbackpacker) September 7, 2015
Award winning travel blogger, writer and photographer Matt Long from Washington DC describes himself as a ‘former cubicle-dweller’ with a passion for travel.
Landlopers takes it following to the corners of the globe from Asia to Oceania, and even to Africa where in most parts LGBTI rights are extremely limited.
Aerial Views From the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car in Hong Kong [PHOTO] t.co/hp9woxNKyP #travel #Lp #HongKong
— Matt Long (@LandLopers) September 16, 2015
Former LGBTQ activist turned lesbian blogger and wanderluster, Meg Ten Eyck, has been a travelling on-and-off all her life before finally buying a one-way ticket to South Korea in 2013; she never looked back.
From guides to having mind-blowing hostel sex to finding (unlikely) faith in Cologne Cathedral, Meg keeps open-minded and doesn’t shy away from what it means to be a true traveller, teaching us the strategies needed to keep on the road.
Tips and tricks for getting it on in a hostel t.co/lmJHRL2q03 pic.twitter.com/geGJ5WnjB3
— Meg Ten Eyck (@DopesontheRoad) August 24, 2015
The moment you doubt if you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.
A photo posted by Meg Ten Eyck (@dopesontheroad) on
Who wouldn’t want to follow two handsome men across the world? Trust us, we’d go to the ends of the earth for a beautiful man!
Stefan, an ex-lawyer of greek origin, and Sebastien, a self proclaimed IT geek from France, met and became friends in London before jacking in their jobs in 2014 to take on their dreams of wanderlust and explore the culinary world.
Two greedy gay boys exploring the world – says it all really!
@MaxDerOptimist Thailand was another favourite:
t.co/cFYDqyfBsx— Nomadic Boys (@nomadicboys) September 14, 2015
Thanks @bluemarlinkomodo for an awesome few days diving in paradise! Scuba diving by the islands around #Labuanbajo near #Flores #Indonesia has been absolutely incredible and some of the best we’ve ever experienced. We played with sharks on pretty much every dive, then became blasé towards them as we encountered turtles, fighting moray eels and schools of fish dancing around us, and much much more. Even spied a manta. If you’re coming to Indonesia for diving, word on the grapevine is that Flores is The Place for it. And we were not disappointed!
A photo posted by Nomadic Boys (@nomadicboys) on
Having already travelled 50 countries over 5 continents, these new boys on the block started travel blogging recently to hear the voices of gay rights and equality everywhere in search of a peaceful and beautiful world for everyone.
Karlis, originally from Berlin, lives in Amsterdam with partner Daan; they have travelled across Vietnam, Hong Kong and Japan and are currently on a 3-week camping expedition across Iceland.
We like these boys, so give them some love:
#icelandicmountainguides on #glacier #hike! It was amazing! #gaytravel #iceland #gay #travelblog @karlisworld pic.twitter.com/7dzQNvVGeN
— Karl & Daan (@karlisworld) September 4, 2015
No photoshop: #auroraborealis or #northernlights or #polarlight: we saw them out of our hot tub close to #dalvík in northern #iceland
——————————————– my #traveltip for a successful northern light hunt: as soon as the sky is without clouds at night, stay awake and look up as soon as it is dark
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#karlisworld #lgbtqtravelers #gaytravel #gaytravelblogger #gay #travelgay #gaycouple #instagay #naturelovers #neverstopexploring #worlderlust #nature_perfection #lights #travelblog #travelgram #instago #instagood #instadaily #picoftheday #photooftheday #wow #followme on our #trip #aroundtheworld 09-2015
A photo posted by Karl & Daan (@karlisworld) on
Irish born and London living, the Gastro Gays travel the world in search of culinary beauty, photographic brilliance with a few drinks thrown in along the way for good measure!
[New Post] A recipe for you all that harks of home @mrTaytoIreland Chicken Fillet Roll… t.co/IButiDfjPl pic.twitter.com/Q5jj4Zo6QM
— GastroGays (@GastroGays) August 31, 2015
” class=”wp-smiley” style=”height: 1em; max-height: 1em;” />” class=”wp-smiley” style=”height: 1em; max-height: 1em;” />
” class=”wp-smiley” style=”height: 1em; max-height: 1em;” />
Well-dressed (really!) Filipino DJ Yabis has travelled to over 150 destinations in Europe since 2009 – woah!
With Germany as his headquarters, DJ hops from country hops throughout Europe with his husband in tow, heading to the likes of Croatia and Israel to name a few.
If you’re looking for a guide on how to start your Euro trip, including how to budget, where to start, where to end and what to do then DJ is your man.
Ooooops
pic.twitter.com/Qdp6miAEaV
— DJ Yabis (@DreamEuroTrip) September 16, 2015
View of #ZlatniRat from the highest point on Brač Island, #VidovaGora
A photo posted by DJ Yabis (@dreameurotrip) on
Oh, and there’s us to by the way!
The post Live a life of wanderlust with these 11 LGBTI travel bloggers appeared first on Gay Star News.
Dan Beeson
www.gaystarnews.com/article/live-a-life-of-wanderlust-with-these-11-lgbti-travel-bloggers/
Seeking Sex And Love While Growing Up Gay And Disabled
Seeking Sex And Love While Growing Up Gay And Disabled
Growing up gay isn’t always easy, but there are plenty of advantages that even the queeniest able-bodied gay in the reddest state can easily take for granted.
As Ryan O’Connell recently wrote in a personal essay titled I Wouldn’t Fuck Me: My Life as a Gay and Disabled Man, growing up disabled and gay can be a real nightmare.
Ryan has cerebral palsy — a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture, and despite learning to adapt, his surgery scars and limp are things he’ll never be able to part from.
These differences caused understandable insecurities for Ryan as a kid, and add into the mix a teenage exposure to gay culture that seemed solely interested in the ideal Adonis figure, and sex/intimacy remains a real challenge.
He writes:
Having a nice body meant everything. I spent all of my 20s in three major metropolitan cities filled with hot people, which didn’t exactly help my odds. Maybe in Kentucky I could’ve gotten laid, but in a place like New York, a city that attracts the best-looking people in America, I was a gay Grendel.
…
Of course, I didn’t strike out all the time. I had my fair share of drunken hook-ups and dated a few guys here and there, but I always stopped things before they got too serious. I stayed celibate partially because no one great wanted to fuck me, but also because I suffered from serious intimacy issues. It was a vicious cycle. I craved physical affection, but the second a guy touched me, I freaked out and felt unworthy.The gay disabled guy does NOT get to have amazing sex, I’d think. The gay disabled guy does NOT get to have a relationship.
…
I think gay guys will always be shallow and want to fuck someone with a gym body, but if we can give more face time to normal-looking gay guys and explore diverse portrayals of gay life, I’ll be happy. Because honey? I don’t want to ever turn on my TV again and see someone like Jonathan Groff pretending to be shy about taking off his shirt. That shit just ain’t right.
Dan Tracer
