Gay Man Details The Physical And Mental Anguish Of His Abusive Relationship
Conversations about abusive relationships among same-sex couples often go untold, but one survivor opened up to HuffPost Live to share his harrowing experience with an abusive boyfriend.

John Mio, a domestic violence survivor and advocate, found himself in an abusive relationship two years ago, unsure of how to escape. Like many similar stories, his relationship didn’t start off that way.

“It was love at first sight, how it usually is,” Mio explained to host Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani. “We got engaged, moved in together and [then] everything started going downhill from there.”

The abuse Mio endured is hard to imagine. It started as verbal and then got brutally physical.

“Things kept getting worse and worse, to the point where I had to eat my dinner off the floor,” he said. “I couldn’t speak because I’d get punched in the face.”

The violence didn’t stop there. The breaking point for Mio, he described, was when he was locked in a garage for nearly two weeks.

While he said he knew the abuse was “very wrong,” he “didn’t know how to get out” because he’d left his family and friends behind to pursue the relationship.

But Mio is now free from the abuse and is sharing his story in the hopes of helping others.

“I’m not saying I regret everything that happened because it’s made me a stronger person that I am today. It just shows that if I share my story, it’ll get out to people and maybe they can see whatever happens to you, you can make a difference,” he said.

Watch the full segment on same-sex domestic violence here.

Sign up here for Live Today, HuffPost Live’s new 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/2014/10/23/gay-abusive-relationship_n_6036284.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Bisexual X-Men director Bryan Singer and Queer as Folk's Michelle Clunie having baby together

Clunie: ‘We are very excited about co-parenting and starting our little 21st century, progressive, American family’

read more

gregh

www.gaystarnews.com/article/bisexual-x-men-director-bryan-singer-and-queer-folks-michelle-clunie-having-baby-together231

North Carolina Capital Adds Protection for Transgender City Employees

Earlier this week, the Raleigh City Council added “gender identity or expression” to their non-discrimination policy.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/north-carolina-capital-adds-protection-for-transgender-city-employees?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Being Gay In Prison May Be Worse Than You Ever Imagined

A class action lawsuit filed by 15 former and current gay, bi and trans (GBT) inmates of San Bernardino County Jail in California alleges gross mistreat and discrimination based on the prisoners’ sexual orientations.

Among the accusations are claims of being held in solitary for longer than is allowed — up to 22 hours a day in some cases — and being denied access to rehabilitation programs.

They all went through, or are currently in the ‘Alternative Lifestyle Tank’ at the West Valley Detention, where self-identifying GBT inmates are sent to keep them separated from the general prison population.

The lawsuit says that the, “inmates are not given equal access to opportunities to reduce their sentences, services, programs and facilities, and are often treated in an abusive and neglectful manner. In short, GBT inmates at WVDC serve longer sentences and endure substantially worse conditions of confinement simply because they are gay, bisexual or transgender.

Unlike the male, non-GBT general population, sentenced GBT inmates at WVDC are generally not allowed to participate in the inmate work program, and, to the extent they may occasionally have limited access, it is substantially less than that available to non-GBT inmates.”

They also claim that due to guards’ “unwarranted feat of AIDS,” they, “do not conduct the required safety checks for GBT cells,” and that GBT inmates are routinely subjected to abusive conduct and derogatory name calling.

The suit has been filed on behalf of all GBT inmates at the West Valley Detention Center. They are being represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and a local Californian law firm, and are seeking damages for their treatment.

“Gay, bisexual and transgender people housed at West Valley Detention Center are punished twice, first for the crimes the allegedly committed, and again, simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity,’ said attorney Brenden Hamme of the ACLU to CBS.

They’ve been told most frequently that it’s for their own safety, but jails are quite capable and are constitutionally mandated to not only provide for the safety of their charges but to also provide equal access to jail programs and facilities.”

If successful, the lawsuit could affect how GBT prisoners are treated throughout the California detention system.

h/t Gay Star News

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Tyrese Gibson Is Not Amused By Rumors Of Gay Sexual Favors Sparked By Comedian Spanky Hayes: VIDEO

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LGBT PSA

PHOTOS: Play Set in Gay Bar Celebrates Queer NYC History

The world premiere of Mickey Bolmer’s Back, which takes place on Halloween in 1989, raises a toast to Greenwich Village.

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Brandon Voss

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/theater/2014/10/23/photos-play-set-gay-bar-celebrates-queer-nyc-history

Arin Andrews And Katie Rain Hill, Transgender Teens, Discuss New Memoirs
Katie Rain Hill and Arin Andrews received international attention last year because of the unique nature of their relationship at the time: They are both transgender and dated while supporting each other through their transitions.

Now, Andrews and Hill have each published a memoir, Some Assembly Required and Rethinking Normal, respectively, about their experiences. The books are beautifully written and incredibly personal, with neither of them shying away from sexual content, which may be seen as somewhat controversial due to our society’s fascination with transitioning, trans bodies and the way trans people have sex.

Andrews and Hill spoke with HuffPost Live’s Alex Berg about writing about their bodies and sex and why they included those topics and events in their memoirs.

“I wanted to be the most authentic way I could explain it without getting too sexual because my grandma is going to read it, my aunt is going to read it, my little cousins are,” Andrews told The Huffington Post. “So I wanted to find a way to explain it that was still able to share my story without sexualizing it a lot and I think I found that way. It was just really important to share that because there’s issues that go into that with the trans community… it’s a very complex thing.”

Hill noted, “I thought, No one else is talking about it, so why not me? … Someone has to step up to the plate and address these things because these are questions everyone has… We might as well be straight up and honest with these people.” She added, “I know it’s going to help people because I have so many people who say to me, “Oh wow! That’s what it’s like.”

Check out the clip above or head here to watch the full segment.

For more information about Hill’s memoir, head here. For more info about Andrews’ memoir, head here.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/23/trans-couple-memoirs_n_6035238.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

Rep. Don Young Blames Suicide on Big Government, Compares Marriage Equality to “Two Bulls” Marrying

The longest-serving Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives allegedly told a group of high school students, “You can’t have marriage with two men. What do you get with two bulls?”
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/rep-don-young-blames-suicide-on-big-government-compares-marriage-equality-t?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

What’s The Best Way To Bring Up Safe Sex? Davey Wavey Has Suggestions.

They certainly aren’t the sexiest things to discuss as you’re about to get up close and personal with someone new, but condoms should find a way into your precoital banter somehow or another.

For many guys, simply asking, “Hey do you have a condom?” does the trick — it’s direct, lets him know you’re on board to get down, and sends the message that safe sex is a priority for you. If he responds, “Uhh…no, but it’s cool,” then you know you have a problem.

Or, of course, you could try out one of these colorful tactics from Davey Wavey. Our personal favorite is, “You know what my grandmother always told me? If you cap your schlong, you’ll never go wrong.”

Check out more safe sex suggestions from Davey:

Dan Tracer

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/7PVVSZNdbhY/whats-the-best-way-to-bring-up-safe-sex-davey-wavey-has-suggestions-20141023