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California AG Seeks to Quash 'Death to Gays' Proposal
Attorney General Kamala Harris is seeking court action to keep the proposed ballot measure from going any further.
Trudy Ring
www.advocate.com/politics/2015/03/25/california-ag-seeks-quash-death-gays-proposal
What Fundamentalists Are Missing About Religious Freedom Bills
I grew up in southern Indiana right where the Ohio River makes a curly seam against Kentucky. I was a Southern Baptist boy, at first by tradition and then by choice. That’s what we Southern Hoosiers did in those days.
Those circumstances were the perfect yet unfortunate set up for a lot of heartache. As my teenage years progressed, I gradually discovered that I was the devil in disguise, so to speak, for everyone around me. I was a homosexual, the despised and mythical creature about whom the Sunday school teacher warned us. I’m being dramatic about it now, but back then the stakes were quite high.
Nothing seems to change in my home state. It seemed a bit of a miracle when the marriage ban was struck down, then perhaps a bit predictable when Indiana became the latest state to pass a religious freedom act. On Monday, the state became the latest to pass such legislation. Gov. Mike Pence has said he’ll sign it.
I’m no longer a Christian, but I very much remember the mindset of the fundamentalist. Modern American fundamentalism is a faith of mean-ness — of exclusion — of turning your fears into God’s will and your gossip into prayer requests. I remember it well.
The irony is they completely think they’re doing the right thing…what Jesus would do.
The Jesus Christ of my imagination gladly makes flowers and cakes for gay people. I mean, that seemed to be his M.O. in scripture, hanging out with and helping people regardless of what they believed. Alas, the Jesus Christ of my imagination is irrelevant. What matters now is the savior in the minds of those pressing for the protection of their so-called religious freedom.
It seems an easy realization, that this religious freedom comes at the cost of oppressing another. But in defense, they would very much say the same applies to them, and now we are in a Catch 22 of prejudice.
The answer (and I can’t believe I’m about to say this) is Jesus. The man who who loved all unconditionally. For those so concerned with the inevitable coming of gay marriage, is it not time to sincerely ask, “What would Jesus do?”
Where Did “Looking” Go Wrong?
It’s official. HBO’s Looking will not be returning for a third season. Despite a small but dedicated fan base, the series experienced a sharp decline in viewers during season two, so this news doesn’t come as a complete surprise.
While the series may be over, HBO has announced it will produce a TV special to tie up the story’s loose ends for loyal fans.
As one of the few series on television that was created by a gay man (Michael Lannan), written by a predominantly gay staff and that starred many out actors (Jonathan Groff, Murray Bartlett, Daniel Franzese, Russell Tovey), it’s a shame there wasn’t more support from LGBT viewers, who criticized the series even before it had premiered for not representing every facet of the queer community.
So if you watched the series, here’s another chance to weigh in on these pressing questions: Where did Looking go wrong? And do you think HBO can turn things around with its planned TV special?
Sound off in the comments section below.
Graham Gremore
feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/hjNlIseSZkk/where-did-looking-go-wrong-20150325
His Gay Dad and The Stonewall Riots Led This Man to a Calling and a $1 Million TED Prize: VIDEO
What are the things you’d like to say to an important person in your life before they, or you, die? Thank you? I love you? Forgive me? I forgive you?
Every year the $1 million TED Prize is awarded to a leader with a bold vision for sparking global change. This year’s winner was Dave Isay, a radio producer with a vision of capturing the world’s stories which was prompted by an experience he had after his father came out to him as gay, and told him the story of the Stonewall Riots.
This experience sparked an idea: StoryCorps. Isay opened a booth in New York’s Grand Central Station in which people could listen to each other’s stories, and record them for posterity. The idea became a mobile booth which traveled the country and helped StoryCorps grow into the largest collection of human voices ever recorded.
Says Isay in this incredibly moving TED Talk: “It takes some courage to have these conversations. StoryCorps speaks to our mortality. Participants know this recording will be heard long after they are gone.”
Also in the talk, Isay reveals the stories (and plays some of them) that have touched him over the past few years and the vision he has going forward. That vision includes an app which was launched at the TED conference which people can use to easily record interviews and submit them to StoryCorps.
Watch the TED talk, AFTER THE JUMP…
Andy Towle
WATCH: SXSW Attendee Says He Was Assaulted, Called Gay Slur
He says a bouncer at the W Hotel yelled a gay slur and assaulted him in front of friends.
Raffy Ermac
www.advocate.com/crime/2015/03/25/watch-sxsw-attendee-says-he-was-assaulted-called-gay-slur
Woman Sues Planet Fitness For Not Letting Her Be Transphobic
Planet Fitness is facing a lawsuit for not being discriminatory. Really.
Yvette Cormier, whose membership at a Planet Fitness in Midland, Michigan was canceled earlier this month when she made a stink about a transgender woman’s use of the women’s locker room, is suing the gym chain for more than $25,000 on counts of invasion of privacy, sexual harassment and breach of contract, to name a few.
Cormier’s displeasure with Planet Fitness made headlines after she complained to staff about the trans woman’s use of the locker room. The gym defended the woman’s right to use whichever locker room she identifies with, but Cormier didn’t let it rest: she proceeded to tell other gym-goers about the woman because she reportedly felt “unsafe.”
“If you have male parts you don’t need to be in the women’s locker room,” she told CNN. “I don’t care what you are; I don’t care if you’re gay lesbian, transgender or transvestite. I am uncomfortable with you as a male in my locker room, in my restroom.”
The gym, which touts itself as a “judgement free zone,” ultimately canceled Cormier’s membership citing “inappropriate and disruptive” behavior.
“Planet Fitness is committed to creating a non-intimidating, welcoming environment for our members,” the company said in a statement to The Huffington Post at the time. “Our gender identity non-discrimination policy states that members and guests may use all gym facilities based on their sincere self-reported gender identity.”
Cormier filed her lawsuit against Planet Fitness Monday in Midland County Circuit Court.
A press release from her attorneys with the Kallman Legal Group in Lansing claims that Planet Fitness creates a “hostile and offensive environment for women and children.”
“Ms. Cormier was wrongfully denied the benefits of her contract with Planet Fitness and wrongfully denied the use of the public accommodations at Defendant’s gym because she objected to Defendant’s unknown policy,” the press release states. “The policy allows men who self-identify as women to use the women’s facilities, including the women’s locker room and showers.”
After the initial incident, the anti-LGBT American Family Association spoke out in defense of Cormier’s reaction, saying, “Planet Fitness is making the needs of its female members subservient to the sexual identification of transgender individuals.”
HRC Hails Attorney General Harris’ Efforts to Stop ‘Sodomite Suppression Act’ from Advancing
Harris announced that she was seeking judicial authorization to not issue a title and summary for the so-called “Sodomite Suppression Act.”
HRC.org
Someone Sent The Antigay “Semen Latte” Pastor A Giant Bucket Of Poop. Yes, Poop.
Any time James David Manning opens his mouth, the shit just flies. Now it appears as though someone has given the homophobic pastor a taste of his own medicine.
“Somebody pooped in a plastic bucket then put a plastic lid on it and they put it in a box and they mailed it to me and said ‘This is what we sodomites enjoy!’” the pastor recently lamented in a Youtube video titled The Sodomites Sent Me A Bucket Of Poop.
“They put in a plastic container so it wouldn’t give off any odors as it was transferred through the mail,” Manning explained. “Shouldn’t that be a hate crime? Any lawyers out there know anything about what is a hate crime [and] what isn’t a hate crime? If they send me a bucket of poop?”
Manning, you may recall, is on a quest to become the next Fred Phelps. If he’s not damning “vile, demon-possessed sodomites” to hell, he’s debating whether or not Justin Bieber is secretly a transman or accusing Starbucks of lacing lattes with the semen of gay men.
“What a sicko group of people,” Manning continued. “And, by the way, you know, when I use the term ‘sodomite’ that includes lesbos, trans crossdressers, transgender dykes, bull daggers, all that! So don’t think I’m just talking about men!”
Thanks for clarifying, Mr. Manning. We weren’t totally sure how deep your hate ran, but now we know.
See Manning respond to receiving a bucket of poop in the video below. Enjoy!
Graham Gremore
Alabama Bill Seeks License to Discriminate in Adoption Services
The measure would let faith-based agencies, even those that receive public funds, turn away same-sex couples or others who offend the agency’s religious beliefs.
Trudy Ring
www.advocate.com/families/2015/03/25/alabama-bill-seeks-license-discriminate-adoption-services
Josh Groban Talks Gay Bear Fans And Rumors About His Sexuality
Along with a special hat tip to his gay fanbase, Josh Groban addressed longstanding speculation over his sexuality in a new PrideSource interview.
“Honestly, if I were gay, I would have had no problem saying it from day one,” the 34-year-old singer told PrideSource’s Chris Azzopardi. “I would have nothing to hide if that were the case. People have speculated, have wanted to speculate — whatever, fine. I’m not gay, but if I were, I don’t review it as a bad thing.”
Groban, who is dating “Two Broke Girls” star Kat Dennings, nonetheless recalled the time he first became aware of his many fans in a very specific subset of the queer community.
“I was at some kind of shop, and I was walking around with someone — it was probably my girlfriend,” he said. “And this guy comes up to me and goes, ‘Hey, I just want you to know, the bears love you.’ I’m like, ‘Excuse me? What?’ And I didn’t know what that meant! I’m like, ‘Are you a baseball team?'”
Praising the arts as “a community where I felt there was acceptance and friendship regardless of our own personal lives,” Groban nonetheless went on to express his longstanding admiration for RuPaul. (Jennings appeared on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” as a guest judge)
“I mean, RuPaul [is] incredible,” he said. “The influence she’s had on everybody is just amazing, and then you see the competition.”
Groban has previously denied rumors about his sexuality on Twitter in a tongue-in-cheek way:
Listen I ain’t gay but Tom Brady is straight up feelin’ my air kisses right now. This shit is bananas. #sports #football
— josh groban (@joshgroban) January 12, 2014
K I’m not gay but I would maybe pay 1.99 a minute for the candy crush voice.
— josh groban (@joshgroban) November 29, 2013
You can read the full PrideSource interview with Josh Groban here. Groban’s new album, “Stages,” is due out April 28.
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