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Church of Scotland OK's Gay Clergy in Civil Partnerships
Delegates to the church’s General Assembly in Edinburgh approved the move by a wide margin.
Trudy Ring
www.advocate.com/politics/religion/2015/05/16/church-scotland-oks-gay-clergy-civil-partnerships
Obama Says All People Deserve To Live Free Of Discrimination For International Day Against Homophobia
President Barack Obama said that LGBT rights “are human rights” in a statement released Saturday to commemorate the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
“We take this opportunity to reaffirm that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights are human rights, to celebrate the dignity of every person, and to underscore that all people deserve to live free from fear, violence, and discrimination, regardless of who they are or whom they love,” Obama said in a statement. “We work toward this goal every day. Here at home, we are working to end bias-motivated violence, combat discrimination in the workplace, and address the specific needs of transgender persons. Overseas, I am proud of the steps that the United States has taken to prioritize the protection and promotion of LGBT rights in our diplomacy and global outreach.”
The White House also released a statement later that day condemning the homophobic comments recently made by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh. Jammeh reportedly said he would slit the throat of any gay person in his country and alleged the West could do nothing to stop him.
“The recent unconscionable comments by Gambian President Yahya Jammeh underscore why we must continue to seek a world in which no one lives in fear of violence or persecution because of who they are or whom they love. We condemn his comments, and note these threats come amid an alarming deterioration of the broader human rights situation in The Gambia,” National Security Advisor Susan Rice said in the statement. “We are deeply concerned about credible reports of torture, suspicious disappearances – including of two American citizens – and arbitrary detention at the government’s hands.”
Rice said the United States had already removed Gambia from a list of countries that could export goods to the U.S. duty-free and was considering what additional actions to take.
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Church of Scotland Votes to Allow Ordination of Gay Ministers in Civil Partnerships
The Church of Scotland will now permit ministers and deacons to enter into same-sex civil partnerships after a 309-183 vote of the church’s delegates earlier today.
BBC reports:
A further vote will be held this week on whether or not to extend ordination to ministers in same sex marriages.
Supporters said it was time for the church to be inclusive and recognise the “mixed economy” of modern Scotland.
Opponents warned that the move was contrary to God’s law, would prove divisive and lead to resignations.
A spokesman for the Church of Scotland said that the current stance meant that the Church had adopted a position which “maintains a traditional view of marriage between a man and woman, but allows individual congregations to ‘opt out’ if they wish to appoint a minister or a deacon in a same sex civil partnership.”
Kyler Geoffroy
10 Pop Divas Who Rocked It On Film (Or Tried)
These gay divas made the switch from the pop charts to film – with varying degrees of success.
Adam Sandel
www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/film/2015/05/16/10-pop-divas-who-rocked-it-film-or-tried
California's Rosali Cleaners Labels Gay Man 'Sodomite' After Losing Court Case
A California man is still fighting to be compensated by a local dry cleaner that he says has repeatedly used homophobic slurs and abusive language — quoted below — in its refusal to pay for his damaged throw pillow.
Byron Batista, 48, told The Huffington Post he went to North Hollywood’s Rosali Cleaners last January to have the pillows cleaned. When he returned to pick them up, Batista noticed one of them had been badly torn.
The owner, who called herself Rosali, refused to give the man a refund for the tear. As the two began arguing, the owner of the store allegedly began screaming obscenities and slurs at him.
“She started saying, ‘Fuck you, fuck you, fag,'” Batista said. “That’s when she took her middle finger and mimicked putting it up her butt.”
The cleaning service refused to refund the man, who said he took the matter to court not for the money — a measly $75, which he won — but because he didn’t want a homophobe to win.
Despite winning the case, Batista said he was shocked to learn Rosali Cleaners still held a grudge. A check provided to Batista shows the money made out to Byron “the buggerer” Batista. Batista immediately took the check back to the judge.
“The judge was just like, ‘Oh, this is sad,'” Batista said.
The cleaning service was ordered to make out a new money order to Batista. When he attempted to bring the money order to his bank, he was met with a similar problem. He said the woman had written in all caps next to his name: “SODOMITE.”
“I took it to the bank and the teller went, ‘Oh, my God!’” Batista said. “She sat down and wrote a letter to the judge saying they can’t accept money orders with foul language on them.”
Batista said he must now ask the judge again for help. In the meantime, he said he wants to get his story out to the public so no one has to deal with the bigoted cleaners. After one publication shared his story, negative Yelp reviews began pouring in.
Batista said the cleaning service specializes in leather.
“You’d think a place that cleans leather would expect to deal with some gay people,” he said. “I don’t want anybody spending their money there.”
Multiple phone calls by HuffPost to Rosali Cleaners went unanswered.
“I don’t mind being targeted,” Batista said. “I want the community to know that if they want leather cleaned, this is not the place to go.”
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— 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.
93 of 98 Texas House Republicans Shamefully Sign Anti-Gay Letter Pledging to Defy SCOTUS on Marriage
The day after an anti-gay marriage bill died in the Texas House, 93 of the chamber’s 98 Republicans signed a letter affirming the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.
The Texas Tribune reports:
The House Republican Caucus on Friday released a letter reaffirming its support of the state’s long-standing ban on gay marriage, calling marriage between a man and woman a “principle that is so dearly held by Texans far and wide.”
“This letter provides legislative support and a legal foundation for the Texas constitutional provision,” Kelly Carnal, executive director of the caucus, said in a statement.
The letter was signed by 93 of the 98 House Republicans. Those who did not sign were: Sarah Davis of West University Place, Jason Villalba of Dallas, Matt Schaefer of Tyler, Larry Gonzales of Round Rock and Speaker Joe Straus.
Schaefer, a tea partier, told the Tribune he didn’t sign the letter because he wanted action, not words, in opposition to same-sex marriage.
Even though his anti-gay marriage bill fell victim to Thursday night’s deadline, GOP Rep. Cecil Bell Jr. says he hopes to re-introduce it as an amendment to other legislation. From The Dallas Morning News:
“We missed an opportunity tonight, but the session is still intact, the session still moves on,” Bell told reporters. “No bill is dead, as long as there are other bills in front [further along in the process]. You just have to find something that’s germane. … We will continue to look for places that it fits [and] work to get this effort … done.”
Bell said that his bill easily would have passed if it had come up Thursday for a vote — and would have drawn some Democratic votes.
“I don’t believe that standing up for sovereignty is a partisan issue,” he said.
LGBT advocates are also warning that with two weeks left in the Texas legislative session, there is still a risk of anti-gay amendments. One could emerge Monday, when GOP Rep. Scott Sanford gets another chance to introduce a proposal that would give child welfare agencies a license to discriminate against LGBT people. However, Sanford’s amendment would need a two-thirds majority to pass. There are 98 Republicans and 52 Democrats in the House. If some Democrats vote for Sanford’s amendment or are absent, opposition from Republicans like Davis and Villalba — who declined to sign the anti-gay marriage letter — could be crucial.
While the vast majority of the record number of anti-LGBT proposals introduced in Texas this year are officially dead, the leader of the hate group Texas Values says his side is “#StillWinning”:
It’s interesting supporters of redefining marriage r counting down time to get to HB 4105, forgetting that TX Const still n effect. #txlege
— Jonathan Saenz (@jonathansaenzTX) May 15, 2015
Even if we don’t get a vote on HB 4105, nearly 2/3 of TX House members signed on in support of it, enforcing #1man1woman #StillWinning
— Jonathan Saenz (@jonathansaenzTX) May 15, 2015
Read the anti-gay marriage letter signed by 93 House Republicans, AFTER THE JUMP …
John Wright
www.towleroad.com/2015/05/93-texas-house-republicans-sign-anti-gay-marriage-letter.html
HRC Presents to UN Human Rights Council
An historic delegation from HRC traveled to Geneva to participate in the Universal Periodic Review, a United Nations process in which the human rights record of every country in the world is assessed by the UN Human Rights Council.
HRC.org
www.hrc.org/blog/entry/hrc-presents-to-un-human-rights-council?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed
Queen Latifah Really Doesn’t Care If You Don’t Like The Lesbian Scenes In “Bessie”
Noted private person Queen Latifah stars in HBO’s new biopic on legendary blues singer Bessie Smith, who history tells us was bisexual. Unlike the Queen, Bessie doesn’t skirt the issue of Smith’s sexuality — she enjoyed liaisons with both men and women as blues singers of that era were wont to do.
Queen La had previously played a lesbian in 1995’s Set It Off, for which both she and Jada Pinkett-Smith were robbed of Oscar nominations. And while she has been an ally for ages, Queen has been notoriously cagey about her own orientation despite persistent rumors. When asked about the movie’s sex scenes, however, she was made her feelings very queer clear.
“People feel a type of way when they see any sexuality on-screen. I think its almost human nature. People are so fascinated by it. It shouldn’t even be a discussion,” Latifah told BET’s Clay Kane. “But it is, because people are still curious, and people still wonder how they feel about things. At the end of the day I don’t really care if someone feels uncomfortable about it. It is what it is, and it’s life. So you either deal with it or not. It’s just part of who she is, and I had to tell the story honestly.”
Well all right then. You can catch Queen Latifah as the Empress of the Blues — along with Mo’Nique as Ma Rainey and Tika Sumpter as Bessie’s lover Lucille — in Bessie, debuting May 16 at 8 p.m. on HBO. Below, Queen Latifah and Mo’Nique’s sit-down with BET:
Les Fabian Brathwaite — t’aint nobody’s biz-ness…but I did.
Les Fabian Brathwaite
Bill Maher Unveils the King James Franco Bible to Help Entice Millennial Back Into Christianity: VIDEO
Earlier this week we reported on Pew’s new poll finding that the number of individuals identifying as Christians fell eight percent since 2007, with millennial and educated youth leading the exodus out of church.
Real Time host Bill Maher caught wind of the poll and devised a brilliant solution to revamp Christianity and bring back the youngins: the King James Franco Bible.
Watch Maher read some choice verses from the new Scripture, AFTER THE JUMP…
Previously, “James Franco Shaves Nipples, Flaunts a Tattooed Torso for ‘The Long Game’: PHOTOS” [tlrd]
Kyler Geoffroy
John Stamos Strips Down With A Smile And Steve Grand Likes To Share His Candy
This week, Tom Hardy revealed he likes to get tea bagged, Kit Harington tried to understand why people mocked him for complaining about being famous and Chris Salvatore taught his nana to use Grindr. Here’s what happened recently on Instagram:
John Stamos knows when to put on a happy face.
#TBT Put on a happy face. Literally. #Cabaret.
A photo posted by John Stamos (@johnstamos) on May 14, 2015 at 2:33pm PDT
Hey Steve Grand, wanna go halfsies on a Twizzler?
Just two bros sharing a #Twizzler #TwizzlerMagic #Grandband #rehearsal #boyskissing #AllAmericanBoy A photo posted by Steve Grand (@stevegrandmusic) on May 12, 2015 at 1:58pm PDT
There’s nothing to see here. It’s just Ricky Martin and Bill Clinton catching up, shooting the shit.
It’s always good to see you Mr. President. #NYC May 12, 2015 A photo posted by Ricky (@ricky_martin) on May 12, 2015 at 8:40am PDT
Blake Skjellerup reveals the secret to his world-class ass.
My technique is a little rusty, but the effect is the same. Want a boost in the caboose? Then try this exercise 10 jumps each side. Repeat 3 times. Going for equal height and length of jump. #LifeByBlake #TrainWithBlake #BoostInTheCaboose #fitspo A video posted by Blake Skjellerup (@blakeskjellerup) on May 11, 2015 at 1:44pm PDT
While guest starring on Law & Order: SVU, Frankie J. Alvarez posed equally sexy costar Danny Pino.
Latino power! With fellow Miamian, the incredible Danny Pino. Watch him chase me tomorrow, 9pm @nbcsvu #parentsnightmare #cubanos A photo posted by Frankie J. Alvarez (@sexytosomeppl) on May 12, 2015 at 2:54pm PDT
Luke Evans is ready to pump you up.
Shrug time!!!. #offtoSHCC tomorrow A photo posted by thereallukevans (@thereallukevans) on May 14, 2015 at 8:37am PDT
Joe Jonas dropped a truth bomb.
A photo posted by Jøe Jønas (@joejonas) on May 13, 2015 at 9:00pm PDT
Vin Diesel is, um, blessed and inspired and, oh yeah, wearing a tank top.
Zoning into character… Thanks for the love… A video posted by Vin Diesel (@vindiesel) on May 11, 2015 at 9:48pm PDT
Pee-wee Herman‘s secret word is “pizza!”
A photo posted by Pee-wee Herman (@peeweeherman) on May 13, 2015 at 9:11am PDT
Brad Goreski knows what to eat in bed.
Breakfast in bed? Not ready to leave #cannes yet. #diorcruise A photo posted by Brad Goreski (@mrbradgoreski) on May 13, 2015 at 3:57am PDT
Tyson Beckford found the perfect car.
Thing for Black cars! #rr #la #nycboy
A photo posted by Tyson C. Beckford (@tysoncbeckford) on May 12, 2015 at 6:29pm PDT
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin made a Jake Shears sandwich.
Thrilled to be hanging with these saucy ladies tonight on #WWHL dreams do come true y’all @bravoandy, #JaneFonda #LilyTomlin #bartending
A photo posted by @jakeshears on May 14, 2015 at 7:56pm PDT
Jeremy Kinser
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