Pride event in Glasgow admits ‘mistake’, will now allow drag queens

The Free Pride event in Glasgow that banned drag queens for being ‘offensive’ has now admitted their mistake and will now welcome any performers of any gender.

When it was revealed the ‘anti-commercialist’ alternative to the city’s main Pride event would be refusing to book any drag acts as it could be offensive to trans people, it received a huge response on social media.

Irish drag queen Panti Bliss called it ‘gob-smacking’ and ‘regressive’, while RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Michelle Visage called the decision ‘insane’.

But now they have backed down, and said they will be welcoming any drag act to perform at the event.

‘The original decision was made because many trans members of Free Pride have had negative experiences with drag acts veering towards racism, misogyny and transphobia; the lack of contact with the drag community contributed,’ they said.

‘We made a mistake, and we apologize.

‘Drag is an art form, a form of expression and performance, a community with a rich history. The most useful comments and advice that we have been sent from around the world have been from trans people of color and working class trans people who support drag and have let us know that, without it, they might not have had access to trans/queer culture at all. We are extremely grateful to those individuals who have contacted us to explain this.

‘Drag, like all forms of art and performance, can entertain us and challenge us. But it also has the capacity to perpetuate oppression such as misogyny, transphobia and racism. Free Pride is a safe and accessible space for all of us to join and celebrate.

‘We hope to learn from this in order to foster the kind of community we want to see. We believe there is a greater need for dialogue within, and indeed between the trans and drag communities. We look forward to creating spaces where these dialogues take place with mutual compassion and respect.’

The post Pride event in Glasgow admits ‘mistake’, will now allow drag queens appeared first on Gay Star News.

Joe Morgan

www.gaystarnews.com/article/pride-event-in-glasgow-admits-mistake-will-now-allow-drag-queens/

Watch Live: HRC Joins Press Conference on Federal LGBT Non-Discrimination Legislation

Today, July 23, HRC will join a press conference on Capitol Hill in support of comprehensive new federal non-discrimination legislation.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/watch-live-hrc-joins-press-conference-on-federal-lgbt-non-discrimination-le?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Swimwear Fashion Week Will Give You Butterflies

Designers presented runway shows of modern men’s swimwear overflowing with fashion sense at the Gran Canaria Moda Cálida Fashion Show. Whether your style is more dark, edgy and brooding, or something bright, vibrant and full of life, this year’s Swimwear Fashion Week teased some dashingly awesome swim looks. And of course, they were all modeled by dashing men.

One of the most important things when it comes to designing flattering men’s swimwear is the cut. The Knot Company’s Swimwear Fashion Week runway shows several perfectly-fitting trunks. But where some brands aim for a man’s cutesy look, these sharp-shoot for a masculine edge. The Knot Company brought apparel designed with unique hippocamp graphics, a bold army green trunk, and even a muscle top made from a leather material.

If a brooding glam-rock look isn’t your thing, Hipertrofico showed up to the Gran Canaria Moda Cálida show ready to give you butterflies — literally.

You can see more of the Gran Canaria Moda Cálida Fashion Show on The Underwear Expert.

Photo Credit: Adrian C. Martin

Underwear Expert

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/WqgWnfz4dCc/swimwear-fashion-week-will-give-you-butterflies-20150723

Op-ed: This Is How My Life Improved After Trashing My Hookup Apps

Imagine what you can do when you’re not consumed by Grindr and Tinder every waking moment.

read more

Jeffrey Hartinger

www.advocate.com/commentary/2015/07/23/op-ed-how-my-life-improved-after-trashing-my-hookup-apps

12 queens who should be on RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race 2

It’s back, bitches, and it’s about time: RuPaul’s Drag Race is bringing back its biggest and most loved queens for a second season of All Stars.

While we don’t know who’s in the cast quite yet, that hasn’t stopped us from gagging over the possibilities.

We’ve gathered a few of our favorites, and hopefully they have what it takes to snatch the All Star crown from Chad Michaels.

Let’s hope they don’t do it in teams again. But if they do need to form an alliance, we’ve figured out a few groupings they might just benefit from.

The Superstars

Alaska (Season 5)

Alaska has become one of the breakout stars of Drag Race. From her killer album Anus to making everyone say ‘hiiiieee’, she’s had an impact on not only the show but culture at large. With the fans, it’s her crown to lose. But will she fall at the final hurdle?

Her best moment? Lil Poundcake.

Adore Delano (Season 6)

One of the strongest singers ever to come into the competition, she sailed through challenges on the basis of her charisma and talent. While her look wasn’t the strongest, she said she was too punk to wash her tights, so who cares? Party!

Best moment? Her Anna Nicole in Snatch Game. That was eerily good.

The Haus of Edwards

Alyssa Edwards (Season 5)

Alyssa is a den mother to a house of fierce queens, but that’s not her only talent. Her ability to make the most banal things sound hilarious is a gift. While she didn’t get that far, she made a huge impression.

Her best moment? Alyssa’s Secret. It may not have won her the challenge, but it won her a web series.

Laganja Estranja (Season 6)

Now hear me out, okurrr?! Laganja and her death drops is a big part of Drag Race. She’s annoying but lovably so. And how often have you quoted her without realising it?

Her best moment? I FEEL VERY ATTACKED.

Shangela (Season 2, 3 and 4)

But Shangela is someone that needs to return. A fierce dancer and an even fiercer competitor, this would be her fourth season to make an appearance. Someone that defines Drag Race so much needs to be an All Star. But maybe they’re waiting until she gets sewing lessons?

Her best moment? *pops out of a box* ‘Hallelu ladies!’

The Miss Congenialities

Ben Dela Creme (Season 6)

If the first All Stars is any indication, it’s look set for the queens that won Miss Congeniality to win. One of the most endearing competitors, she made us laugh at her Maggie Smith and cry when she revealed she struggled with her mental health.

Best moment? Her Maggie Smith at Snatch Game. Trinity as Nicki Minaj: ‘Ru, can yo get people that speak English next time?’ Ben as Maggie: ‘Excuse me, we originated the language!’

Ivy Winters (Season 5)

Ivy is a circus performer that didn’t get to show all of her skills on the show. During the Battle of the Seasons tours, she’s quick changed, walked on stilts and ate fire. She needs to return for more gagging tricks.

Best moment? Walking out on stilts on the runway.

Katya (Season 7)

Katya struggled to make her voice heard in the competition, but came alive in the latter half. Her Divine inspired acting challenge was flawless and her Russian Hello Kitty doll was hilarious. Knowing now what she’s capable of? Bitches better beware.

Best moment? Her killer lip sync performance against Kennedy. Leg-splitting amazingness.

And the Off Beats

Porkchop (Season 1)

Porkchop was the first queen to sashay away in the first ever episode of Drag Race. While the show has taken an even more campy turn, she is a legend on the pageant circuit. She should return to give us more meat to chew on.

Best moment? ‘Hey Porkchop!’ – Ru at every reunion ever.

Jiggly Caliente (Season 4)

May we call you Jiggly? Screwed over by Phi Phi (‘you were my dog, man!’), Jiggly deserves another chance to shake her prosthetic legs on the runway.

Best moment? Baked potato apocalyptic realness.

Joslyn Fox (Season 6)

Joslyn should have really won Miss Congeniality, considering she was the most genial contestant ever. While her look was pretty much a few bikinis and that’s it, she was incredibly talented. Ooh, shiny penny!

Best moment? Her 1950s scream queen – ‘gasp!’

Willam (Season 4)

And Willam. While World of Wonder are probably living in fear should Willam ever turn back up on the set, it wouldn’t be an All Stars season without her.

The first queen to get disqualified, she might not be the greatest friends with Logo’s lawyers, but they should know Willam has done them huge favors. With her viral video hits, she’s undoubtedly brought a lot of fans to the show.

Dry and devastating, this is one queen that defines stardom.

Best moment? ‘What did Willam do?’

But what do you think? Who would you like to bring back for a second All Stars season? Let us know below.

The post 12 queens who should be on RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race 2 appeared first on Gay Star News.

Joe Morgan

www.gaystarnews.com/article/12-queens-who-should-be-on-rupauls-all-stars-drag-race-2/

Nigeria President ‘point blank’ shuts down gay marriage question at US Congress

Nigeria’s new president Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday (22 July) ‘point blank’ shot down a question about gay marriage while at US Congress.

Speaking at a joint session of the senate and house committees on foreign affairs during his four-day state visit, Buhari said gay sex would remain illegal in Nigeria and was ‘abhorrent’ to African culture.

The issue was not pushed any further.

‘The issue of gay marriage came up here yesterday. PMB was point blank. Sodomy is against the law in Nigeria, and abhorrent to our culture,’ tweeted Femi Adeisna, the president’s special adviser on media and publicity.

‘Talks shifted to another matter once PMB emphatically stated Nigeria’s stand on same sex marriage. The issue was not pushed.’

Buhari was praised by his countrymen on social media for ‘.’

Nigeria has one of the harshest anti-gay laws, which bans gay marriage and punishes any same-sex couple who hold a wedding with 14 years in jail and 10 for anyone else involved in the ceremony – even guests.

Last week, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the US would mount sustained pressure on the Nigeria to scrap the ‘jail the gays’ law.

‘As a policy, we will continue to press the government of Nigeria as well as other governments who have provided legislation that discriminate against the LGBT community,’ she said.

The post Nigeria President ‘point blank’ shuts down gay marriage question at US Congress appeared first on Gay Star News.

Darren Wee

www.gaystarnews.com/article/nigeria-president-point-blank-shuts-down-gay-marriage-question-at-us-congress/

Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Steve Carrell Have Made What Looks To Be The Next Great Gay Drama

It’s not as if Julianne Moore needs more great queer-themed films on her resume to make her one of the actresses most beloved by the LGBT communities in the history of cinema, but she’s gone and done it again. The titian-haired goddess has already given us searing turns in unforgettable gay-themed movies such as The Hours, Far From Heaven, A Single Man, The Kids Are All Right and earlier this year won a slew of best actress awards for her performance in Still Alice, a drama from out directors Wash Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer. With the impending release of Freeheld, a fact-based story about New Jersey police detective Laurel Hester (Moore) who is stricken with terminal lung cancer and tries to secure her pension for her partner (Ellen Page), an auto mechanic, before she dies. As an attorney who represents the couple, Steve Carrell looks to have found a role that combines his singular brand of comedy (The Office) with his capacity for drama (Foxcatcher earned him an Oscar nod earlier this year).

The film comes with a screenplay by Philadelphia‘s Ron Nyswaner, which he adapted from Cynthia Wade’s Oscar-winning 2007 documentary short, and is directed by Peter Sollett, who has shown tremendous promise with comedies Raising Victor Vargas and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. It’s scheduled for release in select theaters October 2.

Watch the gripping drama unfold in the trailer.

Jeremy Kinser

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/90gdqCkwjj4/julianne-moore-ellen-page-steve-carrell-have-made-what-looks-to-be-the-next-great-gay-drama-20150723

WATCH: Rick Santorum Regrets 'Man on Dog' Remark — Sort Of

It was a ‘flippant comment’ that he’s sorry he made, Santorum tells Rachel Maddow, but he stands by the point he was attempting to make.

read more

Trudy Ring

www.advocate.com/politics/election/2015/07/22/watch-rick-santorum-regrets-man-dog-remark-sort

Caitlyn Jenner reveals she contemplated suicide in new docuseries

Caitlyn Jenner came close to taking her life at the height of her of gender identity struggle.

The former Olympian made the revelation during the first episode of her new docuseries, I Am Cait, which premieres on Sunday (26 July) on E!.

‘I’ve been in some dark places,’ she said.

‘I have been in my house with a gun and said, “Let’s just end it right there, no more pain, no more suffering, that struggle, it’s real and I’ve been there.’

Several times during the episode, Jenner talks about the lack of support transgender receive from family and friends, as well as the high rates of murder and suicides. And she takes pains to point out that her experience is ‘not this way for everybody.’

‘People are dying over this issue,’ she says.

‘I feel a tremendous responsibility here, because I have a voice, and there are so many trans people out there who do not have a voice.’

At the hour’s end, Jenner attend a memorial for Kyler Prescott, a 14-year-old transgender boy from San Diego who ended his own life in May.

‘Even with the full support of the family, it’s still a hard journey,’ Prescott’s mother says of transgender youth.

‘What I want to do is just be able to create understanding, so the next person doesn’t have to be like me,’ Jenner replies.

Watch the preview of I Am Cait below:

The post Caitlyn Jenner reveals she contemplated suicide in new docuseries appeared first on Gay Star News.

Darren Wee

www.gaystarnews.com/article/caitlyn-jenner-reveals-she-contemplated-suicide-in-new-docuseries/

WATCH: Marriage Equality Will Lead to Man-Animal Love Affairs, Says Pat Robertson

The televangelist trots out his shopworn and outlandish arguments that marriage equality will lead to legalization of bestiality, polygamy, and pedophilia.

read more

Trudy Ring

www.advocate.com/marriage-equality/2015/07/22/watch-marriage-equality-will-lead-man-animal-love-affairs-says-pat-robe