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#TBT: The Private Art of Boscoe Holder
Holder’s male nudes were rarely displayed — some claimed they were hidden. But Geoffrey Holder’s older bother was a multitalent and bisexual.
Christopher Harrity
www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/art/2015/02/26/tbt-private-art-boscoe-holder
Eric Moutsos, Utah Officer Who Resigned After Objecting To Gay Pride Parade Assignment, Speaks Out
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A former Salt Lake City police officer who was put on leave and later resigned after he objected to riding in the motorcycle brigade at the front of last year’s gay pride parade is speaking out against what he believes was a violation of his religious liberties.
Eric Moutsos, 33, said Wednesday that he was unfairly branded a bigot despite simply asking to swap roles and work a different part of the parade in June 2014. Moutsos, a Mormon, said he felt uncomfortable doing what he considered celebratory circles with other motorcycles leading the parade because of his religious views. But he said he never refused to work the parade. “It looks like we and I are in support of this parade,” Moutsos said he told superiors about being in the motor brigade. “I said I would feel the same way if this was an abortion parade. I would feel the same way if it was a marijuana parade.”
In an interview with The Associated Press, Moutsos said he’s coming out with his story now to be a voice in a national debate about how to safeguard religious beliefs while protecting LGBT rights.
Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Burbank said he stands behind his decision to put Moutsos on leave, saying he will not tolerate officers allowing personal biases to interfere with their work.
“It has nothing to do with religious freedom, that has to do with the hatred of those individuals and what the parade stands for, which is about unity and coming together,” Burbanks said. “How can I then send that officer out to a family fight that involves a gay couple or a lesbian walking down the street?”
Moutsos said he felt compelled to come forward with his story after months of silence after he listened to leaders with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announce a campaign last month calling for new laws that protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people from discrimination while also protecting people who assert their religious beliefs.
Moutsos issued a six-page statement through his attorney Monday that didn’t have his name. But he decided to reveal his identity in an interview he gave to the Deseret News and KSL-TV that came out Tuesday night.
“It is unquestionably my duty as a police officer to protect everyone’s right to hold a parade or other event, but is it also my duty to celebrate everyone’s parade?” Moutsos wrote in the statement.
Several state legislatures, including Utah, are considering anti-LGBT discrimination laws alongside measures to safeguard religious liberties. Moutsos hasn’t been invited to talk to lawmakers, but he said he would testify if asked.
“We can 100-percent disagree and still 100-percent love,” Moutsos said. “I hate that we’re labeled in this way that is so divisive.”
Moutsos’ life changed dramatically in the days leading up to last summer’s gay pride parade. He had been talking with his bosses about resolving his objections while still helping out during the parade when he was informed that he was being put on leave for discrimination — a move that shocked him.
The story became public after police issued a news release saying an unnamed officer had been put on leave for refusing the gay pride parade assignment. The department said it does not tolerate bias and bigotry, and it does not allow personal beliefs to enter into whether an officer will accept an assignment.
Burbank said it is inappropriate for Moutsos to come out now with his story. Moutsos forfeited his right to defend himself during a police internal investigation when he resigned before they ever talked with him, Burbank said.
Moutsos, a married father of four, said he has gay friends and family and has no problem with 95 percent of their life choices. He said he is offended by the notion that he would treat gays and lesbians differently as an officer.
Moutsos has since found work with another police agency in the state. But he said the last six months were difficult and depressing for him and his family.
His attorney, Bret Rawson, said they have not made a decision about a possible lawsuit over the handling of the situation.
Moutsos acknowledged that he could have been more diplomatic in his conversations with superiors. But he doesn’t regret asserting his beliefs.
“I used to be quite the hellion back in my day, and I found what I believe is God kind of later in my life,” Moutsos said. “Now, I have such a strong, deep faith in Him . . . He and I love people, but I do not advocate certain things in people’s lives. In this parade, there were messages that I don’t advocate.”
Former Baseball Player Jason Burch Comes Out, Regrets Waiting This Long
“Looking back, I wish I had told the whole world that I’m gay from day one.
That feeling of being relied upon, that people must turn to you as a closer to make things right, to have that role – and to have people have that feeling about me in that role – as a gay man, I think that would have been a powerful message.
If we are talking about changing people’s opinions, I do think that would have been a powerful message. But I wasn’t really thinking about that at the time.”
– Former professional baseball player Jason Burch to OutSports on his choice to remain in the closet until now
Dan Tracer
9 Out Of 10 HIV Transmissions Occurring From People Not Receiving Care: VIDEO
The tide of HIV transmission rates has been stemmed over the decades, but it hasn’t stopped with estimated tens of thousands of new transmissions every year. A new CDC analysis is showing that of those transmissions, 91.5% of them are coming from people who have HIV and are not receiving treatment or care, including those who are not aware that they are infected. Said Jonathan Mermin, MD of the CDC:
We could prevent the vast majority of new infections tomorrow by improving the health of people living with HIV today.
Improving health includes:
[I]n addition to antiretroviral therapy, HIV care should include risk reduction counseling on how to protect their partners, screening and treatment for other sexually transmitted infections, and treatment for mental health and substance use disorders.
All ya gotta do is TUG: Take PrEP; Use a condom; Get tested. End HIV.
Watch a video from the CDC on how we can prevent the vast majority of new HIV infections, AFTER THE JUMP…
Christian Walters
Toronto Police: Trans Woman of Color's Death Was Not Homicide
Police have determined that Sumaya Dalmar’s death was not a murder, but investigators still released a statement after inquiries from trans residents.
Mitch Kellaway
Depression's Peculiar Grip on Black LGBTQs
Remember Raymond Chase, Aiyisha Hassan, and Joseph Jefferson? All three were so depressed that they committed suicide.
Raymond was a 19-year-old, openly gay student majoring in culinary arts at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. On Sept. 29, 2010, he hanged himself in his dorm room.
Just a few days later, on Oct. 4, 2010, Aiyisha, 19, also took her own life. According to an Oct. 23, 2010, ChicagoNow blog post by Lenox Magee:
“She was having a lot of trouble with a lot of different things, but mainly her sexual identity and just trying to express that,” says 21-year-old Lauren Morris, a fourth-year student at Howard, who lived in the same building as Hassan from 2008-2009. Hassan was a former biology student at D.C.’s Howard University.
Joseph, 26, a New York City resident and graduate of Harvey Milk High, was a gay youth activist. He was HIV-positive, and it has been reported that he was especially prone to depression and experienced a variety of financial setbacks — as well as his father’s disapproval of his sexuality. On Oct. 23, 2010, the day Joseph killed himself by hanging, he posted the following on his Facebook page:
I could not bear the burden of living as a gay man of color in a world grown cold and hateful towards those of us who live and love differently than the so-called “social mainstream.”
The most salient characteristic that these young people had in common was their race. They were Black.
I’m writing this multi-part series to shine a bright light on depression’s disproportionate impact on Black LGBTQ persons. As one who’s suffered from this illness throughout periods of his life, I can attest to its near-crippling effects.
But before I share my personal experiences and why and how depression can be more prevalent among Black LGBTQ individuals, let’s define the illness. There are several types of depression, but I’ll discuss the two considered to be the most prevalent: major depressive disorder (MDD) and persistent depressive disorder (PDD).
Let’s talk MDD. According to WebMD:
You might have this type if you feel depressed most of the time for most days of the week.
Some other symptoms you might have are:
- Loss of interest or pleasure in your activities
- Weight loss or gain
- Trouble getting to sleep or feeling sleepy during the day
- Feelings of being “sped up” or “slowed down”
- Being tired and without energy
- Feeling worthless or guilty
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
- Thoughts of suicide
Now on to PDD. WebMD states:
If you have depression that lasts for 2 years or longer, it’s called persistent depressive disorder. It used to be known as dysthymia.
You may have symptoms such as:
- Change in your appetite (not eating enough or overeating)
- Sleep too much or too little
- Lack of energy, or fatigue
- Low self-esteem
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
- Feel hopeless
Are LGBTQ individuals more prone to mental-health issues — including depression — than the general population? A United Kingdom study published last September in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that at least for lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals, this is indeed so. According to a Care2 post by Steve Williams:
This research, which is the largest of its kind to assess sexual minority groups in this manner, confirmed what smaller studies have repeatedly shown: that LGB people are far more likely to suffer from certain mental health problems like depression and anxiety, as well as being more prone to substance abuse.
So just why might LGB individuals be more prone to depression? Williams explains that it’s not our sexual orientation itself but how society treats us as a result of our sexual orientation:
[E]arly and sustained periods of stress can make people more likely to develop a range of adult mental health problems, including anxiety and depression. Stigma and discrimination surrounding LGBT identity is certainly one factor here.
Next up: the beginnings of my experience with this beast named depression (which can be both insidious and in-your-face), and an exploration of its peculiar grip on Black LGBTQs.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Wyatt O’Brian Evans’ website is wyattevans.com.
Anti-LGBT Bill Stripping Local Non-Discrimination Ordinances Advances in West Virginia
On the heels of a successful attack on fairness and equality in Arkansas, anti-equality forces are trying to quickly push through a similar bill abolishing local liberty in West Virginia
HRC.org
Madonna Almost Dies On Stage After Major Wardrobe Malfunction
Holy shit. Someone just got fired.
While performing before a live audience at the Brit Awards in London this evening, Madonna was violently yanked down a flight of stairs by one of her backup dancers. She crashed to the ground several feet below and struggled to regain her composure.
The Living for Love hit maker was wearing a black Armani cape. The plan was for the backup dancer to pull the cape off to reveal a sparkly red getup underneath. But before doing so, Madonna was supposed to untie the strap around her neck.
Evidently the strap was too tight because when the backup grabbed the cape, he accidentally pulled Madonna down with it.
But, just like the lyrics in her song, the Queen “carried on.” Ever the pro, she got up off the ground, took a deep breath, and kept on singing. (Though she was likely dying of embarrassment inside.)
Shortly afterward, she posted the following message to her Instagram page:
A photo posted by Madonna (@madonna) on Feb 25, 2015 at 2:50pm PST
Long live the Queen!
Related stories:
Madonna Couldn’t Care Less About You Ageist Haters
Madonna Steals The Grammys With Rousing Performance Of “Living For Love”
A Look Back At Madonna’s Greatest Live TV Performances
Graham Gremore
Kentucky Senate Panel Approves Discriminatory Transgender Bathroom Bill
What is with the anti-trans crowd’s obsession with bathrooms? Do they think trans kids are all Eric Cartman, sticking a bow on their head and faking it to get some nefarious need met?
This past Monday the Kentucky Senate Education Committee revisited and approved Senate Bill 76 in an 8-1 vote in an attempt to force transgender students to use the bathroom at their school that matches their biological sex rather than their gender identification. In a particularly shady move, the committee kept its agenda for Monday in perpetual “Pending” status and no mention of the bill was ever made to the public until it was brought up at the meeting.
Opponents called the bill “mean-spirited” and contended that it may violate federal law governing the equal treatment of male and female students. Proponents claim that transgender rights are being elevated above student rights and that they don’t feel comfortable with trans students using the “wrong” bathroom.
The Republican-led Senate is expected to approve the bill and pass it on to the Democratic-controlled House.
Christian Walters
Apple's Latest Upgrade Includes LGBT Emojis
Thanks, Tim Cook.
Neal Broverman
www.advocate.com/business/technology/2015/02/25/apples-latest-upgrade-includes-lgbt-emojis
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