Retired NFLer Troy Aikman Suggests He Has “Chosen” Not To Be Gay

Retired NFL quarterback Troy Aikman has been running from gay rumors since the mid-’90s when American sports columnist Skip Bayless wrote a book Hell-Bent: The Crazy Truth About the “Win or Else” Dallas Cowboys in which he alleged the former 6’4, 220-lb. Dallas Cowboys quarterback is attracted to men.

In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Aikman finally addressed the rumors that have followed him nearly 20 years head on. And, like a true quarterback, he did so by going on the attack:

I’m upset about it because it was made up and there was nothing accurate about anything that was insinuated. And he did it, as he does everything, just for attention. I am probably more upset because I probably should have responded to it at the time it was going on. The advice to me was “Hey, just don’t address it. It’s not worth it. It doesn’t make any sense. It’s ridiculous. All it’s going to do is have people continue to talk about his book.” So I didn’t. But I probably could have responded differently and maybe that would have changed things. Maybe it wouldn’t have. But it is ridiculous, and, yeah, it bothers me. If that is a lifestyle people choose, so be it. It doesn’t affect me one way or another. But it is not my lifestyle.

A “lifestyle” people “choose”?

It sounds like Aikman’s attitudes about gay people are stuck in 1989, the same year he was drafted to play for the NFL. Seriously, who talks like that anymore?

In an opinion piece published by OutSports, Cyd Zeigler writes: “Aikman says that is simply a lifestyle choice, like what neighborhood to live in or what car to drive or where to take your vacation.”

He continues: “I don’t know who or what Aikman is attracted to, but since he’s told us that the gender of the people you date is simply a choice, we have to take him at his word: He’s made a conscious decision to not date men. He might be inclined to, but instead, he’s chosen to date women.”

So is Aikman gay or not? The question remains unanswered.

Related stories:

College Athletes Are Leading The Way For The First Pro Star To Come Out

Jason Collins Is Standing On The Shoulders Of 8 Out Pro Team Sports Athletes

Graham Gremore

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Mormon Church Moves to Excommunicate Critic for Supporting Marriage Equality and the Ordination of Women

Kyler Geoffroy

www.towleroad.com/2015/01/mormon-church-moves-to-excommunicate-critic-for-supporting-marriage-equality-and-the-ordination-of-w.html

Dallas Airport’s Antigay Attacker Fined Less Than $500

The police have not pursued hate-crime charges in the incident, which involved antigay slurs and assault.

read more

Daniel Reynolds

www.advocate.com/crime/2015/01/15/dallas-airport-s-antigay-attacker-fined-less-500

'Looking' Star Raúl Castillo Reveals What It's Like To Shoot Gay Sex Scenes With Jonathan Groff
“Looking” star Raúl Castillo shed some insight into the hit HBO series’ steamy sex scenes in an appearance on HuffPost Live this week.

Castillo, who is straight, says he based his character, Richie, on a “morally centered, assertive” gay Latino actor he’d once co-starred with in a short film years before he landed his “Looking” role.

As far as shooting the show’s man-on-man love scenes, Castillo said, “You can’t take those situations too seriously, and certainly Jonathan and I don’t. I think you have to have a good sense of humor.”

He went on to note, “Luckily, we work in an environment where people are respectful and create a sort of ‘safe space’ for us to work in, and then we can just have fun. It could be terribly awkward, but it really isn’t.”

www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/15/raul-castillo-gay-looking_n_6481002.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

PHOTOS: A Look Back At Marlboro’s Smokin’ Hot Cowboys

For decades the smoking hot Marlboro men symbolized rugged masculinity. They inspired countless fantasies among adolescent gay boys and we definitely used to have big crushes on these lonesome cowboys when we were kids. That is, until we learned they were trying to kill us.

Now, one of the original Marlboro men has died, USA Today reports. Darrell Winfield passed away at his home in Riverton, WY on Monday. According to his obituary, 85-year-old Winfield was born on July 30, 1929, in Oklahoma, and later moved to Wyoming in the 1960s, where he was discovered by the Leo Burnett Advertising Agency while working on a ranch. He went on to pose for several ad campaigns for Marlboro cigarettes.

The Los Angeles Times reports that at least four former Marlboro men have died of lung cancer in recent years. The cause of Winfield’s death has not been released. In typical Philip Morris use-once-and-destroy fashion, a spokesperson for the cigarette manufacturer said it has “no comment” on Winfield’s death.

Scroll down for photos of sexy Marlboro Men over the years. And remember, smoking kills.

Related stories:

PHOTOS: Take A Trip To Brokeback Mountain With These Rugged Aussie Cowboys

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Why Is Everyone Fascinated With Gay Cowboys?

Graham Gremore

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Kentucky Bill Says Students Who See a Trans Classmate in the Bathroom Can Sue School for $2500

Andy Towle

www.towleroad.com/2015/01/2500.html

2015 Oscar Nominations: Imitation Game, Meryl Streep, Still Alice & More

Read the full list of nominations for this year’s Academy Awards, to be hosted by Neil Patrick Harris.

read more

Jerry Portwood

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/film/2015/01/15/2015-oscar-nominations-imitation-game-meryl-streep-still-alice-mo

The Golden Globes Isn't the Only Victory for the Trans Community This Year
This week, actor Jeffrey Tambor dedicated his big Golden Globe win for his role in the television show Transparent to the trans community. In his acceptance speech, he thanked the large, and largely underrepresented community, for their patience. Although he didn’t clarify what he meant by that, I assume he said this to help secure sensitive and accurate representation in the media — representation, which, in the wake of the death of transgender teenager Leelah Alcorn, could potentially save lives.

In recent years, there have been several small and not so small victories for the trans community. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was one of them and it’s worth examining now as it deserves national acclaim, too. The ACA forbids discrimination of sexual orientation and gender identity in health care — the first time a federal law has ever done so.

Across the country, young trans and gender non-conforming individuals are faced with a lack a sensitivity or awareness every day; one only has to look down a school hallway or in a restaurant, where bathrooms are offered to two types of people — men and women. This example alone makes the ACA more inclusive than most public facilities or businesses in the United States.

But the ACA isn’t just inclusive. The meat of the law is meant to produce better health outcomes for all young adults, including trans Millennials. In the past, transgender and gender non-conforming individuals frequently faced refusal of care, harassment and violence from service providers, and a general lack of knowledge when it comes to trans health. Because of this, LGBTQ adults of all ages are nearly twice as likely to delay seeking medical attention than their heterosexual adults. Because of the ACA, more access is available to trans millennials who need medical care.

This includes mental health services. In a national survey on trans health and health care, over 41 percent of trans individuals, reported attempting suicide. Under the ACA, mental health services are one of the ten Essential Health Benefits covered on most plans. Leelah Alcorn was unfortunately unable to access the help she needed, but the ACA will hopefully save the lives of trans young adults still struggling to become who they are.

On top of being good for your health, the ACA’s friendly on the wallet. In the new health insurance marketplaces, most adults can get a plan for $100 or less a month. LGBTQ millennials may also be eligible for an “advanceable” tax credit that can lower the cost of buying insurance up front, meaning they won’t have to reach into their own wallets to reap the benefits of a healthier life.

Jeffrey Tambor made a great point this last Sunday — representation matters. That’s also why the ACA matters, and will continue to matter, for trans young adults looking for an affordable path to a healthier life.

For more information, visit our friends at Out2Enroll – they have great literature and resources for young LGBTQ adults. For more about Young Invincibles and the work we do for all millennials, including trans young adults, visit YoungInvincibles.org!

www.huffingtonpost.com/julian-aldana/the-golden-globes-isnt-th_b_6470792.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

YouTube Stars Come Out to Dad in Emotional Video

YouTube sensations Austin and Aaron Rhodes posted an emotional coming out video yesterday.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/youtube-stars-come-out-to-dad-in-emotional-video?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Married Uber Driver Tried To Sexually Assault Male Passenger

“Sit in the front,” Uber driver Adnan Nafasat (pictured) told the male passenger in the early morning hours of July 31.

But Nafasat was hardly being a gentleman, prosecutors told a Cook County court on Wednesday.

The 46-year-old driver allegedly told the 21-year-old passenger the back seat was dirty in an effort to lure the young man closer so he could violently sexually assault him.

According to Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer Cooper, once the passenger was in the front seat, Nafasat, a married father of three, grabbed the young man’s crotch and put his tongue and fingers in his mouth.

The passenger begged Nafasat to stop then asked to be taken home, to which he replied he “was not going home” and that “nobody knew where he was.”

At a traffic light, Nafasat then grabbed the passenger by the throat and started choking him, nearly knocking him unconscious. After breaking free from his attacker’s grip, the passenger tried to jump from the vehicle, but Nafasat was driving too fast.

Nafasat then allegedly drove the young man to an unfamiliar neighborhood, where he parked the car, unzipped his trousers, and tried to force him to perform oral sex on him.

The young man pushed away and, again, begged to be taken home. This time, Nafasat complied.

Upon arriving home, the passenger contacted police. Nafasat was taken into custody, where he admitted to groping the male customer and exposing himself.

On Wednesday, Judge James Brown ordered Nafasat be held in lieu of $150,000 bail on charges of criminal sexual assault, unlawful restraint and kidnapping.

Uber spokeswoman Jennifer Mullin told press, “Our thoughts are with the victim of this horrible incident. We immediately removed the driver from our platform upon learning of the allegations and have been assisting authorities with the investigation.”

Related stories:

Adorable, Cuddly Gay Couple Kicked To The Curb By Uber Driver For Being Adorable And Cuddly

Uber Driver Fired For Refusing To Let Gay People In His Car

Halifax Taxi Driver Sacrifices Fare To Keep 2 Husbands Desecrating Back Of His Cab With a Kiss

Graham Gremore

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