A gay man in Russia has defied the country’s draconian anti-gay laws by performing a cover of Hozier’s “Take Me To Church” at a talent competition in small south western city Kursk, reports BreakingNews.

The song addresses the violence and bigotry suffered by LGBT citizens in Russia.

According to a post on Reddit, the man – identified only as Pedrinho – pointed towards his boyfriend when as he sang the line “I was born sick but I love it.”

Reddit member Boxersaurus wrote:

“My friend, a Brazilian medical student here in Russia was born in an extremely Catholic family, his father is a Pastor, born into a church family, this song really speaks to him. He came out when he was 12 years old, and until now, his family never truly accepted him.

“Even when he turned 19 years old, he was still not sure and got into bouts of depression, his family never supporting him. This is really him trying to sing out his pain. He’s not just gay and proud, he’s just human. Wanting to tell the world that he’s ok, and he’s surviving.

“And, that he finally found someone he can sing his song of life to, my best friend who ended up dating him, who is Malaysian and was brought up in an extremely Buddhist family. In his case, only his mother knew about his sexuality and it pained his mother so much, she fell sick.

“According to Hozier, this song is about what it is to be a human, what it is to love someone as a human being, and organizations that would undermine that, and undermine the more natural parts of being a person.

“If you feel offended or disgusted by the image of two people kissing, if that’s what it is, but you’re more disgusted by that than the actual violence…I think you should take a look at your values, maybe.”

Watch a video of Pedrinho’s performance and the original video for the song, AFTER THE JUMP…

 Rep. Tammy Duckworth has announced her campaign to unseat Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL).

 George Takei pens op-ed on why he’s boycotting Indiana over the state’s new “religious freedom” law. “Taken too far, such laws carry with them the corrosive effect of intolerance, and they harken back to the days where people like Brad and I could not marry, not because of our gender, but because of our race. I was born in a time where such laws against the mixing of races were viewed as the natural extension of God’s will, and I know how powerfully oppressive and insidious they can be. Some fifty years ago, it was not so uncommon for interracial couples to be shunned and turned out. We live in a pluralistic and civil society, where our social contract demands we sometimes relinquish individual liberties in the name of a more just and open society. This means that while we are all entitled to our religious beliefs, the extent and impact of those beliefs, and what we may impose because of them, stops at the tips of our noses. This also means we must learn to respect and, yes, even love our neighbors, despite our differences.”

 First teaser for The Walking Dead spin-off Fear the Walking Dead. 

 Oops: “Indiana’s anti-gay ‘religious freedom’ act opens the door for the First Church of Cannabis”

 Via MyFoxDC.com: “Authorities say one person is dead and two people have been hospitalized following a shooting near a gate to the National Security Agency in Fort Meade. FOX 5 has learned that around 9 a.m. Monday, a vehicle tried to bypass a secured entrance to the NSA complex. Shots were fired and one person inside of the vehicle was killed at the scene. FOX News has reported that there were two occupants of the vehicle and that both were men dressed as women. Aerial video shows a woman’s wig on the ground outside of a black SUV at the scene.”

 Is Mariah Carey dating Brett Ratner?

 Catching up with Nicky Siano, the music pioneer who helped spawn the 1970s disco scene with his club the Gallery and a stint at spinning at Studio 54. 

 16-year-old actor Gavin MacIntosh blasts YouTube for placing an age restriction on a video showing his kiss with another boy on The Fosters.  

 The Daily Beast looks at gay refugees fleeing from ISIS.

 NBA and WNBA issue inclusive statement in the wake of Indiana’s new law. “The game of basketball is grounded in long established principles of inclusion and mutual respect. We will continue to ensure that all fans, players and employees feel welcome at all NBA and WNBA events in Indiana and elsewhere.”

 Via NPR: A father’s journey to accepting his gay daughter. 

 BarbWire pundit says Presbyterian Church “surrendered to Satan” by backing marriage equality. “The Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (PCUSA) is now dead. After a long, tedious struggle to remain faithful to the scriptures and great Christian reformers like John Knox, the leadership of the PCUSA denomination (the liberal branch of Presbyterian churches) has thrown in the towel and surrendered to the loud and obnoxious voices of militant lesbians and “gays”. A PCUSA church near you will soon be conducting same-sex “marriages.” The moral high ground in this conflict has been surrendered to Satan.”

 Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley says the presidency “is not some crown to be passed between two families.”

 VICE looks at how life can be hard for LGBT little people. “When you’re a little person, you feel like you’re alone in a world that wasn’t made for you,” said gay dwarf drag performer Damian Fatale. “When you add homosexuality on top of that, that feeling of being different from everybody else becomes even stronger. I feel like homosexuality simply isn’t relevant to the rest of the little people community, and that they don’t comprehend the idea of a gay little person or understand what it means to be a part of the LGBTQ community.”

 Andrew Sullivan says he “couldn’t imagine blogging the next election.”

 Meet the 5 Indiana Republican state Representatives who voted against the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. 

 Male model Monday: Hugo Mayhew.

 CNN’s LZ Granderson on why Indiana’s “religious freedom” law is a preview for 2016. “Once again, our democracy is vexed by a woefully inadequate two-party system. Socially liberal, fiscally conservative independent voters may want to consider the full depth of a candidate’s policies before making a decision, but ultimately it may come down to a single-question: to discriminate against LGBT people or not.”

 Obama will travel to Kenya in July. 

 Via The Onion: “Indiana Governor Insists New Law Has Nothing To Do With Thing It Explicitly Intended To Do”

 Bruce Jenner’s son Burt slams Jamie Foxx’s transphobic joke. “I think he is just copying Kevin Hart because Kevin Hart is taking all of his movie opportunities.”

At a press conference Monday, Indiana’s GOP leaders attempted to calm the growing backlash against the state over its new “religious freedom” law, CNN reports:

Republicans David Long (above left) and Brian Bosma (above right), the state legislature’s senate president pro tempore and house speaker, respectively, insisted Monday that the law would not and was not intended to allow discrimination against anyone.

“It is not the intent of the law to discriminate against anyone and it will not be allowed to discriminate against anyone,” Long said. “To the extent that we need to clarify through legislative action that this law does not and will not be allowed to discriminate against anyone, we plan to do just that.”

The pair came out repeatedly hammering home that the law was not intended to and would not allow businesses to deny services to gay and lesbian individuals in Indiana, which Indiana’s Republican Gov. Mike Pence repeatedly refused to say several times during an interview Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.”

Bosma said that legislators “didn’t see that [backlash] coming,” which is more than a little disingenuous (read: total bullshit) considering the warnings and protests from business leaders and the general public in the lead up to the bill’s passage in the House earlier this month. The picture showing Gov. Mike Pence surrounded by anti-gay activists at the signing of the bill also should have indicated to these lawmakers that the bill was bad news for the state.

Watch the press conference, AFTER THE JUMP…

Indiana Democratic leaders, meanwhile, are rightfully skepitcal of any “clairfication” attempts by Republicans and are calling on nothing short of a total repeal of the law.

Senate Democratic Leader Tim Lanane issued the following statement:

“Governor Mike Pence won’t say it, but we will: discrimination is wrong and should be illegal in our state. Republican leadership has utterly failed in the handling of this situation and our reputation as a welcoming state has been badly tarnished. Businesses are heading for the exits and everyday Hoosiers are fearful their neighbors will be subject to state-sanctioned discrimination. To quell these concerns we must send a strong signal. We do not condone discrimination: we do not tolerate discrimination: we won’t legislate discrimination. We need to take clear, actionable steps to repair the image of our state. To that end, Senate Democrats are ready to pursue a full repeal of this ‘license to discriminate’ and have drafted legislation to achieve just that. There’s no compromise when it comes to discrimination. This is a second chance and it’s precious. We owe it to every Hoosier to get this right. We can’t afford to forfeit a single job or drive out a single talented individual. We have a responsibility to every Hoosier. Nothing short of repealing this hateful act and setting out clear protections will accomplish this aim.”

House Democratic Leader Scott Pelatht added it was “time [Republicans] admitted that they made a horrible mistake” and said the state would need not “a Band-Aid” or “a rush job,” but significant action to show the state is welcome to all.

Watch the Democratic leaders press conference today, AFTER THE JUMP…

In related news, Freedom Indiana has announced its own legislative solution to protecting all LGBT Hoosiers from discrimination. Under the Fairness for All Hoosiers Act, Indiana would:

• Update the state laws against discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations to provide protections for LGBT Hoosiers.
• Clarify that the recently enacted RFRA cannot be used to allow discrimination prohibited under state or local laws.