'Kimmy Schmidt' Star Tituss Burgess Says Race Controversy Is 'Ridiculous'
Tituss Burgess vehemently disagrees with those who see representations of Asian-Americans and Native-Americans on “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” as disrespectful.

“I just think that is so completely unbelievably ridiculous, and I think people are watching it and pulling it apart for all the wrong reasons,” Burgess told HuffPost Live in a Thursday conversation in an appearance to promote the Netflix series, in which he stars.

Viewers who watch from start to finish will see “all of these storylines come back around and make a delicious point,” he said, invoking how Kimmy’s love interest, Dong (played by Korean-American actor Ki Hong Lee) flips expected stereotypes.

“Kimmy doesn’t choose the white man, she chooses Dong,” he said, defying “the bizarre stereotype that white women don’t like Asian men.”

The fact that people have yet to catch onto this meta-narrative is something Burgess can’t help but laugh off.

“I just find it hilarious that people are trying to arrest us for doing the opposite of what everyone thinks we’re doing,” he concluded.

Watch more from Tituss Burgess’ HuffPost Live conversation here.

Sign up here for Live Today, HuffPost Live’s morning email that will let you know the newsmakers, celebrities and politicians joining us that day and give you the best clips from the day before!

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/19/tituss-burgess-unbreakabl_n_6905292.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

CNN Films Spotlights Heartwarming Story of Transgender Youth

This week, CNN Films released a digital short about Ryland, a 6-year-old transgender boy and his parents.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/cnn-films-spotlights-heartwarming-story-of-transgender-youth?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Here’s How The Male Standard Of Beauty Changes Around The World

What makes a man physically attractive?

Depending on where you live in the world, your answer to that question might vary greatly.

In the U.S., the current standard seems to be moving towards the “lumbersexual” — masculine, muscular, bearded and white.

In Brazil, “Germanic features” with tan skin are considered an ideal beauty combination, and cosmetic surgery for men is becoming a normal thing to hear about.

In Turkey, there’s a trend of body hair removal for men — we remember when smooth was the standard in the U.S.

Below, Buzzfeed wrangles up a bunch of male models to explore the differences in current international beauty standards, including their assessment of what the future holds:

Dan Tracer

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/LPfBCbfnnf8/heres-how-the-male-standard-of-beauty-changes-around-the-world-20150319

WATCH: Jon Stewart On Aaron Schock's Luxe Spending Habits

Wednesday night’s episode of The Daily Show proves that nothing, especially Aaron Schock’s excessive spending habits, gets past Jon Stewart.

read more

Raffy Ermac

www.advocate.com/politics/2015/03/19/watch-jon-stewart-aaron-schocks-luxe-spending-habits

Anti-Conversion Therapy Bills Advance in Oregon, Iowa and Colorado

On Tuesday, state legislatures in Oregon and Iowa advanced bills to protect young people from harmful conversation therapy, and last week the Colorado House passed similar legislation.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/anti-conversion-therapy-bills-advance-in-oregon-iowa-and-colorado?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Texas Will Fight To The Death To Keep Gays From Caring For Their Sick Spouses, Because Freedom

Oh Texas, your thick-headed reluctance to join the rest of the evolving world has put your sad delusions of liberty on display for everyone to see right through. Not the first time.

State Attorney General Ken Paxton, seen here giving his best attempt at ‘raising the roof,’ has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Labor over the newly defined definition of marriage in the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

The new rules would allow gay workers to care for their sick spouses if the two were married in a state that allows same-sex unions. Can you imagine?!

And taking a cue from fellow losers-of-history in Alabama, Paxton is advising state agencies to follow state law, not the federal rule.

“This lawsuit is about defending the sovereignty of our state, and we will continue to protect Texas from the unlawful overreach of the federal government. The newly revised definition of ‘spouse’ under the FMLA is in direct violation of state and federal laws and U.S. Constitution,” General Paxton said. “Texans have clearly defined the institution of marriage in our state, and attempts by the Obama Administration to disregard the will of our citizens through the use of new federal rules is unconstitutional and an affront to the foundations of federalism.”

It’s truly a wonder to see officials continue to fight this tooth and nail. And it’ll be something else entirely to see them all backtrack come June.

Dan Tracer

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/wEp4J_UixpI/texas-will-fight-to-the-death-to-keep-gays-from-caring-for-their-sick-spouses-because-freedom-20150319

The Avengers Are Ready for Action in New 'Age of Ultron' TV Spot: WATCH

Anthony Costello

www.towleroad.com/2015/03/watch-60-second-tv-spot-for-avengers-age-of-ultron-features-new-footage.html

WATCH: Meet the Navy Veteran Kicked Out for Being Trans

Landon Wilson, the transgender former Navy cryptologist who was discharged for being trans, took his story to CBS News.

read more

Sunnivie Brydum

www.advocate.com/transgender-military-ban/2015/03/19/watch-meet-navy-veteran-kicked-out-being-trans

Anti-LGBT Legislation in Nevada Threatens Jobs, Economy and Minorities

Today, HRC sounded the alarm on anti-LGBT legislation in Nevada – SB272 in the Senate and AB277 in the Assembly – that threatens jobs, the state economy, and undermines the state’s civil rights laws.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/anti-lgbt-legislation-in-nevada-threatens-jobs-economy-and-minorities?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Dolce & Gabanna Boycott Will End Culture And Science And Cause Black Magic, Glenn Beck Says

Glenn Beck is totally pissed, you guys. He cannot believe the gall of Sir Elton John, who recently called for a boycott of Dolce & Gabbana after the fashion queens voiced their opposition to same-sex couples having children and IVF babies.

“We are on the path of putting Galileo back in the tower!” he warned audiences of his TV show yesterday, before launching into yet another one of his tirades about liberals who are on a not-so-secret mission to destroy anyone who challenges their beliefs. Like, for instance, Dolce & Gabbana.

“Is this the kind of freedom that we’re at?” Beck asked. “The party of progress is making progress indeed. Back to the Dark Ages! Back to the days when differing scientific views were labeled heresy and black magic!”

To be clear: No one is saying Dolce & Gabbana isn’t free to express their views. Or accusing them of practicing black magic, for the matter. But sometimes words have consequences.

“As the march toward conformity continues,” Beck continued, “America gets farther and farther away from the place where those who will change the world with art and science and music, those who will bring on the next Renaissance just might find themselves locked up in a tower and sadly never paint the next Mona Lisa.”

Hmmm. Last we checked, Dolce & Gabbana were Italian fashion designers and Sir Elton John was English. If America is being led “farther and farther away” from non-conformity, we’re going to go out on a limb and say it has very little to do with these guys.

Watch Glenn Beck’s tirade below. Or don’t.

Related stories:

Madonna Says IVF Babies Are Not Synthetic, Bitch Slaps Dolce & Gabanna

A Gay Dad’s Open Letter To Dolce & Gabbana Is Full Of Insightful Shade

Dolce & Gabbana Invoke Deadly Paris Attack As Celebrities Speak Out Against Them

Graham Gremore

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/4xMx7KYGE3s/dolce-gabanna-boycott-will-end-culture-and-science-and-cause-black-magic-glenn-beck-says-20150319