HRC Stands with Kenyan LGBT Activists Who Suffer Violence and Discrimination in Their Country

Today, HRC commended President Obama for his comments about the need to respect human rights for all people.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/hrc-stands-with-kenyan-lgbt-activists-who-suffer-violence-and-discriminatio?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Pastor eviscerates homophobia in the church

Want to see a minister mightily preach against anti-gay bigotry? Listen to Pastor E. Dewey Smith.

A YouTube clip of a sermon by the House of Hope, Greater Travelers Rest Church minister has been getting picked up by gay media sites because the Atlanta preacher brings the hammer to church homophobia.

First he points to the African-American church, specifically when it preaches anti-gay bigotry but is silent about the LGBTI members leading the choir.

‘We don’t say nothing about the gay choir director because he’s good for business,’ Smith says. ‘As long as the choir sounds good, I ain’t saying nothing about his sexuality.’

The minister argues this tactic is no different from slave holders.

‘We have done what the slave masters did to us. Dehumanize us, degrade us, demonize us, but then use them for our advantage.’

Don’t worry. He’s just getting warmed up. Smith adds if people are going to quote Leviticus, they should pass up shrimp and wool suits.

‘We pick and chose the Scriptures we want to beat folk up with, rather than look at our own lives,’ the minister says

The pastor keeps the truth rolling. He insists sin is human condition, not the property of one group. However, for those insisting LGBTI folk are an abomination, Smith offers advice:

‘Go find every song written by a gay person in the last hundred years and don’t sing it church. Let’s see how many songs you can minister on that Sunday.’

Below is the clip. Listen to all of it. Send it to your homophobic relatives. They won’t be the same. Neither will you.

h/t: NewNowNext.

The post Pastor eviscerates homophobia in the church appeared first on Gay Star News.

James Withers

www.gaystarnews.com/article/pastor-eviscerates-homophobia-in-the-church/

Meet The ‘Ex-Gay’ Candidate Running For Missouri Governor -VIDEO

Missouri state Sen. Bob Dixon, a Republican who announced his candidacy for governor this week, lived for five years as a gay man in the 1980s before he claims a religious awakening turned him straight.

And Dixon’s experience with homosexuality led his mother, Jean Dixon, then also a state lawmaker, to rabidly oppose a production of “The Normal Heart” at the Missouri State University in 1999.

Dixon now opposes same-sex marriage, and says he’s unsure whether he would support a statewide ban on anti-LGBT discrimination. He’s been married to his wife, Amanda (above), for 23 years, and they have three children.

Dixon talked about his experience with homosexuality at a Springfield City Council meeting where he spoke on a bias-crimes ordinance in 1991, according to report from The Springfield News-Leader that was reprinted on a blog called busplunge:

Jean Dixon says her son’s guilt almost caused him to commit suicide. Her son says one night in early October 1988 he considered crashing his car off a road.

She says she fought “The Normal Heart,” a play about AIDS and homosexuality produced at Southwest Missouri State University in 1989, because she saw it as affirming the homosexual way of life, which she says is harmful to those who live it.

“I wasn’t just some hard-nosed so-called Christian out here ranting and raving,” says the former lawmaker who was outspoken about her strong Christian beliefes during her two years in office. “It had been a heartache I had to deal with, and it was a tough one.”

Asked is she would oppose the play again, she says, “You bet. I believe it was the right thing to do.”

The Riverfront Times reports that during his campaign kickoff Monday, Dixon made clear his anti-gay views:

From his porch on Monday, Dixon touted his support for family values, including “traditional marriage.”

“I believe its faith in the future and strong families that are essential to our state’s spiritual and economic health,” Dixon said “I also know that some of you here today have different opinions than I do on some issues. It’s true, I’m 100 percent pro-life, I’m strong supporter of the Second Amendment.” …

Here’s what Dixon said when asked if he would support statewide LGBT protections alongside openly gay Democratic Senator Jolie Justus:

“I think the wise thing to do about any legislation is to wait until I see it before me,” he said, adding, “I think it’s a sad day when we have to have laws to tell us to treat people with respect.”

A reporter interjected: “Clearly, when we don’t have those laws, people don’t get treated with respect.”

“That is a truth in American history,” Dixon said, “and I think that hearkens back to the core of my campaign — renewing America’s spirit that Ronald Reagan talked about, and that’s what we’re talking about today, renewing Missouri’s spirit and bringing people together rather than dividing people. I think we can do so much more that way, together, respecting people. And yes we do have to have laws, as witnessed by the revised criminal code. Senator Justus is a friend of mine, I have tremendous respect for her. I will reserve judgement for any legislation until it’s on my desk.”

Dixon, who’s served in the Legislature for 15 years, is one of six candidates who’ve announced campaigns for governor, five Republicans and one Democrat.

Watch Dixon’s campaign kickoff video and listen to his full announcement speech below.

The post Meet The ‘Ex-Gay’ Candidate Running For Missouri Governor -VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.

John Wright

Meet The ‘Ex-Gay’ Candidate Running For Missouri Governor -VIDEO

Kenya president dismisses US calls for gay rights

Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Barack Obama agree on many things. However, they are miles apart on LGBTI rights.

The leader of the United States is on a four-day trip to Africa. Today, 25 July, he held a joint press conference with Kenya’s chief executive. While the two politicians focused on areas of agreement, including fighting terrorism and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), there remains no common ground on gay equality.

After the two presidents made opening remarks, a reporter asked Obama to comment on Kenya’s policies toward its LGBTI citizens.

While noting some anti-LGBTI bias is based on religious teachings, Obama stressed the need for civil equality by making a connection with the US history of segregation.

‘…As an African-American in the United States, I am painfully aware of the history of what happens when people are treated differently, under the law,’ Obama said, according to a transcript released by the White House.

‘I’m unequivocal on this,’ he continued. ‘If somebody is a law-abiding citizen who is going about their business, and working in a job, an obeying the traffic signs — (laughter) — and doing all the other things that good citizens are supposed to do, and not harming anybody — the idea that they are going to be treated differently or abused because of who they love is wrong.  Full stop.’

Kenyatta countered his country does not have the same vision about its LGBTI citizens.

‘…There are some things that we must admit we don’t share — our culture, our societies don’t accept. It is very difficult for us to be able to impose on people that which they themselves do not accept,’ Kenyatta said, according to the transcript.

‘This is why I repeatedly say that for Kenyans today, the issue of gay rights is really a non-issue,’ he continued.  ‘We want to focus on other areas that are day-to-day living for our people:  The health issues that we have discussed with President Obama.  These are critical.  Issues of ensuring inclusivity of women, a huge section of society that is normally left out of the mainstream of economic development.  What we can do in terms of infrastructure; what we can do in terms of education; in terms of our roads; in terms of giving our people power, encouraging entrepreneurship.  These are the key focuses.’

Before Obama’s trip, Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto, criticized the president for supporting LGBTI rights.

A number of Kenyan politicians and religious leaders warned Obama not to bring up LGBTI issues while in Kenya, where gay sex is punishable by up to 14 years in prison and 90% of the country believe homosexuality is wrong.

Below is clip of the press conference from The Hill.

The post Kenya president dismisses US calls for gay rights appeared first on Gay Star News.

James Withers

www.gaystarnews.com/article/kenya-president-dismisses-us-calls-for-gay-rights/

Gay Iconography: ‘Unbreakable’ Tituss Burgess

When the Emmy nominations were announced last week, we were particularly excited to see one name among the honorees: Tituss Burgess from the Netflix comedy Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

As the wannabe Broadway star Titus Andromedon, Burgess steals nearly every scene he’s in. It should come as no surprise that he knocks his performance out of the park, as the character was created by Tina Fey with Burgess in mind after his memorable guest spot as D’Fwan on her previous series, 30 Rock. But Burgess has a lot more in common with Andromedon than D’Fwan. Both are singers and actors, but real-life Tituss found much more success than his small-screen counterpart.

Debuting on Broadway in 2005 as Eddie in Good Vibrations, Burgess has had roles in Jersey Boys, Guys and Dolls and The Little Mermaid. Known for his powerful high tenor voice, the openly-gay Burgess has also released studio albums like Here’s To You and Comfortable. The latter touched specifically on Burgess’ sexuality. He talked about the importance of the track to The Huffington Post in 2012:

We’re living in a time when people are no longer hiding their dislike for one another; in some cases, they’re proud of their hatred. My young sisters and brothers in the LGBT community…they need assistance. As for myself, I had an easier time. My mom wasn’t all peaches and cream about [my coming out], don’t get me wrong, but I was put through college and I certainly wasn’t kicked out of my home or anything. But I didn’t grow up with my father in my house; I didn’t have that type of structure…so I understand setbacks.

I receive emails [from young fans who tell me] they’re so shocked I’m able to speak so candidly about my sexuality and my Christianity, and how I’m reconcile the two. It’s funny, because they’re thinking I’m courageous and I think there is no other way for me to have been. These young people need visibility and they need to see grown-ups who have it together living their lives.

Get to know Burgess a little better with some of our favorite clips below.

In 2007, Tituss Burgess originated the role of Sebastian the Crab in the Broadway production of The Little Mermaid. The stage adaptation of the beloved 1989 Disney film featured actors wearing Heelys, footwear with wheels built in, to create the illusion of moving underwater.

To get a sense of just how powerful Burgess’ voice is, check out the clip above of the actor performing “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” from Dreamgirls at the eighth annual Broadway Backwards event, which raised more than $300,00 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center.

Burgess first made an impression as D’Fwan on 30 Rock. As the stylist of Angie Jordan (Sherri Shepherd), D’Fwan was a reality-TV caricature worthy of inclusion on any number of Bravo shows. His character even pulled a Bethenny Frankel, launching his signature beverage, D’Fwine. (“Please D’Fwink responsibly.”)

These days, Burgess is the best thing about Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (a series full of excellent performances, hilarious one-liners and lots of unexpected laughs). Just don’t confuse the flamboyant Titus Andromedon for nothing more than a stereotype. As Burgess described to Out Magazine: “Well, [his sexuality is] kind of the least of the things they play up. It’s more his entitlement, his delusional way of thinking, in terms of thinking he should be a star. It’s more about the random situations he finds himself in. Titus is such a peculiar entity, which you’ll see as the show goes on. This is not a show about… this is not Kimmy Has a Gay Best Friend. It’s Titus Full-Throttle 3-D. And his sexual orientation is not a thing.”

One of Kimmy Schmidt’s most memorable gags is Andromedon’s bid for pop-stardom. With nothing more than a rhyming dictionary and a song in his heart, Burgess’ character creates quite possibly the best song ever written about caviar, Myanmar and so, so much more.

Are you a fan of Burgess?

The post Gay Iconography: ‘Unbreakable’ Tituss Burgess appeared first on Towleroad.

Bobby Hankinson

Gay Iconography: ‘Unbreakable’ Tituss Burgess

WATCH: Obama Advocates for LGBT Equality in Kenya

The U.S. president cited to his own country’s history of institutionalized racism as a lesson in acceptance of other minority groups.

read more

Daniel Reynolds

www.advocate.com/world/2015/07/25/watch-obama-advocates-lgbt-equality-kenya

Obama, Kenyan President Face Off on Gay Rights at Nairobi Press Conference: WATCH

At a joint news conference with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi today, President Obama made good on his plan to discuss the issue of gay rights in Africa.

Politico reports:

Linking LGBT discrimination in Africa to the history of Jim Crow laws in America, Obama said ensuring gay rights must be a priority on a continent — and in a country — where bias against gays is accepted, and violence against gays is common. […]

“As an African-American in the United States, I am painfully aware of the history of what happens when people are treated differently under the law,” Obama said. “There were all sorts of rationalizations that were provided by the power structure for decades in the United States for segregation and Jim Crow and slavery, and they were wrong.”

He added, “When you start treating people differently not because of any harm they are doing to anybody, but because they are different, that’s the path whereby freedoms begin to erode.”

Kenyatta, however, dismissed gay rights as a “non-issue” in his country and said people are more concerned with other issues like public health, adding more women in the workplace, and education.

“It is very difficult for us to be able to impose on people that which they themselves do not accept,” Kenyatta said.

Politico notes Kenyatta’s remarks “were the ones that drew applause among the Kenyan audience.”

Homosexuality is punishable in Kenya by up to 14 years in prison.

The post Obama, Kenyan President Face Off on Gay Rights at Nairobi Press Conference: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

Kyler Geoffroy

Obama, Kenyan President Face Off on Gay Rights at Nairobi Press Conference: WATCH

Caitlyn Jenner Makes Surprise Appearance At Culture Club Concert

The crowd at a Culture Club concert in Los Angeles on Friday got an extra special surprise when Caitlyn Jenner made an appearance to introduce the band’s frontman, Boy George. 

Clad in a leather jacket, a form-fitting grey dress and some killer leather boots, the 65-year-old received a standing ovation when she took to the stage, Us Weekly reported. 

“Caitlyn Jenner in the house for her first Boy George concert!” the “I Am Cait” star said. “This is going to be a good group. Thank you so much. Enough about me. Thank you for being here tonight. This is so much fun for me and let’s hear it here at the Greek Theatre for Boy George!”

Jenner’s docuseries, “I Am Cait,” premieres Sunday night on E!. Featuring appearances from Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and more, the show captures both Jenner’s transition and her advocacy for the transgender community. 

Also on HuffPost:

— 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.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/25/caitlyn-jenner-culture-club_n_7871220.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

New York home defaced with anti-gay slur

The home of a New York gay couple was vandalized with the slur ‘Jenner fags.’

According to WNYT.com, the graffiti was noticed by Lyle Houston on Thursday morning (23 July). He called partner John Mcenerney after discovering the damage to their Wynantskill home. Wynantskill is located approximately 8 miles from Albany.

‘You would think my initial gut reaction would be like, “oh my God, I fear for my life.” I kind of feel more sorry for the person that they felt it was necessary to try to destroy somebody’s house,’ Mcenerney said to WNYT.

Both men report they are on good terms with neighbors. Neither is transgender; Mcenerney is confused why the spray-painting included the reference to Caitlyn Jenner.

Other damages include a a broken window pane on a side door and Houston’s Jeep window.

The two men say local police are investigating.

‘It’s kind of ridiculous that in this day and age we have to see stuff like this happen, but it does, even in Wynantskill,’  Mcenerney said to WNYT.

Below is a video of the WNYT report.

The post New York home defaced with anti-gay slur appeared first on Gay Star News.

James Withers

www.gaystarnews.com/article/new-york-home-defaced-with-anti-gay-slur/

Lesbian Couple At Center of Cake Baking Controversy Finally Break Their Silence

By now everyone on the planet has likely heard the story of Sweet Cakes, the Oregon bakery found guilty of discriminating against a lesbian couple and fined $135,000 because of the emotional and physical suffering they caused after denying the couple a wedding cake in January 2013.

In the ongoing culture war coverage of the case, however, one side of the story has been noticeably absent: the lesbian couple’s.

In an interview with Willamette Week, Rachel Cryer and Laurel Bowman finally break their silence on the story and detail the shame and embarrassment felt after being turned away from Sweet Cakes owners Melissa and Aaron Klein.

“People might feel more sympathy for us if somebody hit me rather than just denying me a cake,” admits Rachel. “But the hurt, whether it’s physical or emotional, is the same. We are treated like second-class citizens. That’s whether you want to deny me something or walk up and hit me just because I was born gay.

Rachel says she first discovered the Gresham bakery online in 2011 when she was looking for a wedding cake to celebrate her mother’s remarriage. She says she and her mother developed a “rapport” with Melissa and that the cake was “the most impressive thing about my mom’s wedding.”

Rachel also notes Melissa Klein knew she was in a relationship with another woman and had initially told her to come back if she needed another wedding cake (a claim the Kleins’ lawyer disputes) .

Laurel recalls:

Actually [Melissa Klein] said, “Have you thought about getting married?” and Rachel said, “Oh no, I’m never getting married.” And we just made the joke about it, and she said, “Well, if you decide to, come back.” And that was the last thing we really said about it.

Following the death of a close friend of Laurel’s in 2011, Rachel and Laurel stepped up to foster the friend’s two children and began to reconsider the idea of marriage after they decided they wanted to adopt the kids.

“I never wanted to have children, but when the children were placed with us, we had the option to help these kids that I already loved so much.” says Rachel “And they needed us so much, and they’d been through so much, I felt like they needed the stability of knowing that we were committed both to each other and to them.”

With marriage on the mind, Rachel (accompanied by her mother) returned to Sweet Cakes seeking a wedding cake of her own, but the warm reception they expected was nowhere to be found. Aaron Klein quoted a Bible verse calling homosexuality an “abomination” and told Rachel that Sweet Cakes would not serve them.

“I was just humiliated that this happened in front of my mom, whom I spent all these years trying to convince that we deserved equal accommodation, and we deserve rights, and we deserve to be able to get married,” says Rachel.

Rachel returned home distraught and Laurel reacted by reaching for her phone and filing what she thought was a Better Business Bureau complaint.

“It turned out to be an Oregon Department of Justice complaint,” explains Laurel. “I didn’t know you could do something like that on a phone. I just thought it was a comment.”

After finding out about the complaint, the Aaron Klein posted the document on his Facebook, complete with Rachel and Laurel’s phone number and address. That’s when the death threats and vitriol started pouring in.

“Our neighbors had dropped off notes on our doorstep saying they don’t agree with what we are doing to this good, decent Christian family,” explains Laurel. “Your own neighbors are against you, and they’ve known you for years.”

The two women were forced to contact the FBI and later took the children and left the home, fearing the publicity would hurt their adoption efforts. The couple hoped the situation would blow over but the abuse and media circus continued.

After consulting family members,  Rachel and Laurel decided to file a formal complaint with the Bureau of Labor and Industries to “defend ourselves and stop being bullied” and “show our children that you’re going to face a lot of adversity in life, but you have to stand up for yourself and you have to stand up for what you believe in.”

Since then, as you’re no doubt aware, the Kleins have become the poster couple for the right-wing’s crusade against both marriage equality and non-discrimination protections. They’ve teamed up with the anti-LGBT hate group Family Research Council and raised over $450,000 through crowdfunding sources.

The entire interview HERE is absolutely a must read, not only to better understand the story but also to get a sense of what these women went through. The anti-gay side has been hard at work “humanizing” the other side of this controversy. It’s time we did the same for the real victims.

The post Lesbian Couple At Center of Cake Baking Controversy Finally Break Their Silence appeared first on Towleroad.

Kyler Geoffroy

Lesbian Couple At Center of Cake Baking Controversy Finally Break Their Silence