Category Archives: Health and Wellness

Gender Neutral Bathrooms coming to Airports

Picture it: Kansas City, 2023. A grandmother enters a restroom at the Kansas City International Airport (KCI), but stops abruptly when she sees a man inside, using a sink. She looks confused. The man glances at her over his shoulder.

“I’m just trying to figure out which way the ladies’ room is,” the woman tells him with a nervous laugh.

The man explains: There is no dedicated men’s or ladies’ room here. This is a unisex bathroom. Choose any stall with a green light over the door. A red light means a stall is occupied.

The woman raises her eyebrows and pauses, but says, “okay,” and walks toward the stalls.

“And then we can meet back here and wash our hands together,” the man says. They laugh.

This is the new all-gender washroom experience in KCI’s airport terminal, which opened in February 2023.

In July 2023, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport announced the opening of its own first multi-user all-gender bathroom, explaining in a statement that the change “helps create a better flow for travelers and reduces waiting and congestion.”

Read more at FROMMERS!

 

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Wendy Sitti YouTube Channel is a Must!

SHE IS  thee Chicago Socialite and a woman of the world! 

Laughter is best medicine and  Wendy Sitti knows how to serve it up!

It’s true: laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress.

Wonderful, witty, wild and  wacky, EVERYONE loves  Wendy! With her infectious laugh and her wacky ways she will have you forget your troubles in a few short minutes.

Wing it with Wendy!  Wendy Sitti now  has a channel and  a  show!   “I will have episodes of  DIY Do it Yourself Shows, of various domestication from cooking, gardening, home improvement, travel to unique places and landmarks, in Drag Queen style. We will also have guest appearances by celebrities and film episodes from exotic places around the world to also my home!”

Truly entertaining! –  BestGayChicago.com

We hope this channel will entertain you and teach you a new trick or two! At press time,  3  episodes are out now!

 

“I was born in Warsaw, Poland.  The apple of my parents eye! I was raised on a farm and later went to work in my dads sausage factory.  That is where I met Stanley in high school and where we went to prom.   He was nice but I knew I needed something bigger, it must of been from being around all of that sausage.  I wanted to go to America.” Wendy tells us.

“After saving enough money, I flew to Chicago and realized I had no place to stay.   I called my cousin Rich and moved in with him.”

“I know America is the land of opportunity and I was excited to make it big.  I dyed my hair black to fit in and have a different look.   But then some woman, Mrs. Richfield told me I was moving in on her scene.   I went back to my natural color and started doing all kinds of odd jobs.  Cleaning rooms at a hotel on Halsted called Steamworks, to cleaning the rooms at the Elysium Hotel in Mykonos.   I kind of became a big thing and I’m not talking about my boobs!”

  “I enjoy fashion, drinking, socializing and hanging out with nice people.  If you want your event to Pop, like my cherry then invite me!”

SUBSCRIBE!

also  Wendy on Instagram

and  her  website

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Gay and Lesbian Community and Covid 19

As the worldwide spread of COVID-19 has spiraled into a pandemic, national health organizations are warning that some members of the LGBTQ community may be “particularly vulnerable” to the effects of the virus.

While LGBTQ individuals have not been found to be more susceptible to contracting COVID-19, some health habits within the community,including significantly higher rates of smoking than the general population, have raised concern among health professionals.

Over 100 different national organizations,including Whitman-Walker Health and SAGE, have signed a letter created by the LGBT Cancer Network to bring attention to several factors that could mean the LGBTQ community is at a greater risk of complications from COVID-19, including:

  • LGBTQ people smoke at rates 50% higher than the general population, which could be detrimental if a respiratory illness like COVID-19 is contracted.
  • Higher rates of HIV and cancer in the LGBTQ community means that a greater number of people may have compromised immune systems, which leaves them more vulnerable to COVID-19 infections.
  • Health care discrimination in America, including denial of care, unwelcoming attitudes and lack of understanding from staff and providers means LGBTQ people may be more reluctant to seek medical care.  (SOURCE   USA  TODAY).

POZ.COM   has  also updated  information  about HIV and the Covid 19 virus. Go to poz.com/tag/coronavirus for continuing coverage of COVID-19.

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Best Way to Pad Train Your Dog

When I first moved to Chicago, to a second floor apartment, I knew  I did not want to be running up and down those stairs, 10 times a day,  to take the dog out.  Especially in the winter, which is when our Yorkie puppy arrived.

A friend told me about PooPeePads. They are way more economical then the pads you find in the local stores. 300  pads   for  about  $30! You can’t beat it!

People always ask, “Was it easy to train your dog to use the pads?”

Pretty much, YES.  We taught her that when she used the pads, she got a treat.   Now,  even if she does not have to go, she will squeeze a drop!  just to get a treat!

There is a simple  straight forward  video  HERE. 

But we found  treat rewards really  won her over!

We LOVE PooPeePads!

 

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Gay Radio in California

This week brought the launch of Qchella Media Corporation and the new K-GAY 106.5 FM, The Pride of the Valley, which debuted its new music format.

K-GAY, as part of Qchella Media, is a new local radio station streamed worldwide on TuneIn Radio. The station serves the LGBTQ+ community with entertainment and information, including an on-demand podcasting platform bringing a wide variety of LGBTQ+ content to their audience in Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley and worldwide.

Besides their unique and diverse programming, what sets Qchella Media Corporation apart is that they are also a non-profit media organization, where every dollar raised through advertising and their members’ support is devoted to the content, allowing their team to
meet the needs of their diverse communities in the Coachella Valley.

Source Palm Springs Life. Read More!

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HOOKED by Max Emerson

Max Emerson is widely known for his popular Instagram account, which has garnered more than 770,000 followers worldwide. But now the social media influencer has gone behind the camera for his feature-film directorial debut, Hooked.

Written and directed by Emerson, Hooked​ tells the story of Jack (Conor Donally), a homeless queer teen who struggles in the dangerous world of sex work while seeking a better life with his boyfriend, Tom

Max  has crowdsourced funds  to get the film made. Half of the proceeds from the film will go to benefit not-for-profit organizations whose missions align with the cause.

“When I was younger, I had a lot of issues with some of the things I had seen in the gay community,” the 28-year-old told Billboard. I feel like it’s kind of eating itself alive in a lot of ways. So a lot of the things I wrote were in a response to that.”

For the last couple years I’ve been doing the Instagram super-shameless comedy stuff to kind of build up a following so that I’d have a means of producing these things that mean more to me.”

 

Max has over 18 million views on YouTube!  Last month, he discussed  Hooked  and  Sobriety.

Max is currently based in Los Angeles, but spends more than half of his time in other cities around the world. Lucky him!

The movie  is excellent! 

Well written and well acted!  HOOKED is available on DVD/VOD today!  Please check it out on Itunes or any other pay-per-view VOD platform.

Watch trailer HERE

 

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5 Ways to Get Over Hair Loss for Good!

When men lose their hair, many also lose their confidence. Whether you are in the early, or latter, stages of hair loss it can take some time to adjust to your changing looks. But that doesn’t mean you are no longer in control of your appearance. Losing your hair also presents the perfect chance to try something new. In some ways you are wiping the slate clean and starring again, which is an opportunity most people never have.

Whether you want to buy some new clothes, grow your beard or receive SMP treatment, it’s entirely up to you. Read through our 5 ways to get over hair loss for good for some helpful tips.

Skin care

You may not have control over your hair, but there is nothing stopping you taking care of your skin. Make it your mantra to keep your skin in great condition and you’ll soon see the benefits. A facial will leave you looking and feeling refreshed. Rejuvenate how you feel by adding a glow to your skin. Moisturizing daily works wonders by allowing the skin to breathe and relax. When you look more vibrant, everyone around you soon takes more notice.

Grow a beard

The hair on your face can define you just as easily as the hair on your head. The resurgence of beards doesn’t look like it will be stopping anytime soon. There has never been a better time to grow out a beard or facial hair. If you lose your hair and grow a beard you are instantly reinventing your appearance. It creates a new focal point and diverts attention away from your hair loss.

Update Your Wardrobe

What you wear says more about you than the hair growing out of your head. Your clothes present your personality to the world, allowing you to define who you are. Investing in new clothing is the perfect way to get over hair loss. There are few things better than buying something new and showing it off to everyone else. It makes you feel good about yourself and enables you to be whoever you want to be, any day of the week.

Make the Cut

Turn yourself into one of those handsome bald guys and shave your hair off completely. You’d be surprised how attractive you become to others when you take the plunge and shave your head. It refocuses how people see you, with your eyes standing out more. Your jawline and facial hair also become more prominent. The great thing is, if you’re not happy with it, the hair will always grow back in the end.

Get SMP

Have you ever asked yourself “What would I look like with a shaved head?” Hairline micropigmentation gives you the chance to find out. It allows you to restore your full hairline to exactly match your hair color. We’ll even show you a virtual hairline so you can see what it looks like before committing. Hair SMP is best way to regain your confidence without spending a fortune. Our Skalp® hair loss clinics are home to the most experienced practitioners in the world. It’s safe, fast and the most effective hair loss solution on the market today.

The best way to find out more is to arrange a free consultation with one of our helpful head tattoo practitioners at Skalp USA hair clinic here.

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AT&T Live Proud to Support LGBT Homelessness

AT&T Launches Live Proud Holidays Sweepstakes to Support True Colors Fund’s Effort to End LGBT Youth Homelessness

AT&T* is supporting the work to end LGBT youth homelessness with True Colors Fund this holiday season. AT&T invites the LGBT community and allies to take part in our Live ProudSM Holiday Campaign Nov. 1 through Dec. 31.

You can participate in this campaign to raise awareness of the LGBT youth homelessness crisis in two different ways: by participating in the AT&T Live Proud Holiday Sweeps and by sharing the campaign video.

AT&T is encouraging the LGBT community and allies to participate in this campaign by doing the following:

  • From Nov. 1-26, participants can join our Live Proud Holiday Sweeps by tagging 3 friends on our AT&T Instagram post with #ProudHolidaySweeps for a chance to win a trip to NYC to attend the 7th Annual True Colors Fund Home for the Holidays benefit concert presented by AT&T on Dec. 9.  The winner and 3 friends will also get to meet concert host, legendary singer and longtime LGBT advocate Cyndi Lauper.
  • Share the campaign video featuring Cyndi Lauper and True Colors Fund “True Fellows.” Our goal is to reach 100,000 views.

 

AT&T is also contributing $100,000 to True Colors Fund’s events and programs in 2017 to help expand the work to end LGBT homelessness.

November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month.  Today 40% of America’s 1.6 million homeless youth are LGBT. The campaign video reveals important facts about LGBT youth and homelessness, and presents the work that the organization and its youth leaders are engaged in to help bring an end to this problem. Our goal is to reach 100,000 views.

Will you help us spread awareness about LGBT youth homelessness by sharing this important campaign?

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BALLS A Documentary by Charlie David

Balls is a one hour documentary that covers every angle and topic we could brainstorm to do with testicles.  From sex and sports to health concerns like sperm count, torsion and bringing attention to Movember we’ve left no jock-strap unexplored.

During Movember, we’re sharing our BALLS documentary series for free on YouTube!  Please consider writing an article, posting these videos and sharing on your social.

Subscribe to my YouTube channel to explore all things balls related in this special men’s health series.

Please share with your friends, post on your social and encourage your buddies to check their balls – or lend a helping hand – it could save a life!

November is men’s health month.  Share this link with promocode FreeBalls for 50% off your rental of the unblurred, unbleepedBalls documentary on Vimeo.

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Andrea Gibson on Gender Identity

Andrea Gibson is not gentle with their truths. It is this raw fearlessness that has led them to the forefront of the spoken word movement– the first winner of the Women’s World Poetry Slam –Gibson has headlined prestigious performance venues coast to coast with powerful readings on war, class, gender, bullying, white privilege, sexuality, love, and spirituality. After 7 full length albums and 2 publications Andrea is working on their 3rd published book and 8th studio album.

Their work has been featured on the BBC, Air America, C-SPAN, Free Speech TV and in 2010 was read by a state representative in lieu of morning prayer at the Utah State Legislature.

Your Life” from Andrea’s upcoming album HEY GALAXY (out January 12th 2018)

Pre-Order the new record at www.andreagibson.com

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HIV Vaccine Moves Forward

Johnson & Johnson have announced plans to bring a HIV vaccine to large scale efficacy testing in humans, making it the first to ever reach this stage of testing.

The vaccine has been designed to treat all strains of HIV, has has already proven to be 100% effective at achieving immunity against the virus after a trial of 350 volunteers.

“Today we are thrilled to announce for the first time, that we are going into large scale efficacy testing of the HIV vaccine in humans,” announced Paul Stoffels, Chief Scientific Officer, Johnson & Johnson.

“As a scientist and a physician, I can tell you that this vaccine holds the promise of groundbreaking development.”

The Gates Foundation and the National Institute of Health will now help test the vaccine on a larger sample of humans.

ALSO

CDC says,  There is No Chance of HIV Transmission if Positive Partner’s Viral Load is Undetectable

The statement, which came as part of a press release from the CDC on National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day:

Scientific advances have shown that antiretroviral therapy (ART) preserves the health of people living with HIV. We also have strong evidence of the prevention effectiveness of ART. When ART results in viral suppression, defined as less than 200 copies/ml or undetectable levels, it prevents sexual HIV transmission. Across three different studies, including thousands of couples and many thousand acts of sex without a condom or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), no HIV transmissions to an HIV-negative partner were observed when the HIV-positive person was virally suppressed. This means that people who take ART daily as prescribed and achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load have effectively no risk of sexually transmitting the virus to an HIV-negative partner.

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Best Hairline Tattoo in the World!

USE YOUR HEAD WITH SKALP®

Hair loss is a difficult subject to broach for many people. It is a topic that can cause embarrassment and social awkwardness, creating undue pressure and stress. Hair loss is as old as mankind itself but still far too many people are left to deal with this unfair stigma in silence.

While the scientific search for a permanent cure for baldness continues, recent advances in medical technology has seen an exciting new treatment become available that was never before possible. This simple technique has changed the lives of thousands of men and women in both the UK and America.

The Skalp™ Micropigmentation solution has revolutionised the hair restoration industry, offering people the chance to regain their hairline and, just as importantly, their confidence. This breakthrough procedure avoids the need to undergo invasive surgery and its adaptability allows it to be applied to men, no matter their age, colour or stage of hair-loss.

Skalp™ lead the way in breaking down outdated taboos and fears associated with hair loss. You may have read about their amazing technique in Men’s Health, or seen their exclusive features on ITV and Channel 4’s Bodyshockers in the UK.

What makes their micropigmentation treatment so effective is the ability to offer such consistent coverage. A front, side or rear hairline can be simulated to give the look of a full head of hair. It can also be used to complement a recent hair transplant operation, or help to camouflage any scarring, alopecia or birthmarks.

How it works couldn’t be easier. Using a micro needle application, Skalp’s fully qualified and highly skilled practitioners are able to create a permanent medical hairline tattoo, which in most cases only takes 2-3 sessions to complete. In order to create the most realistic finish to match the existing texture of your hair follicles, 3-4 pigment shades are used to ensure the best accuracy possible.

Best of all, it doesn’t matter if you are in the early or latter stages of hair loss because the Skalp™ Micropigmentation treatment can perfectly restore a full or partial hairline.

There are six stages involved, with each one carefully implemented to guarantee you get the most out of the application. Skalp offer a free consultation as the first step so you can find out everything you need about the process, while their staff talk through the best options available to you. If you decide to proceed, you will then see an invaluable and free virtual hairline mock-up of how it will look once finished.

The treatment process itself is spread across 2-3 sessions, with each one lasting up to 4 hours, depending on the depth of micropigmentation required. Once perfection has been reached the service doesn’t stop there. Their aftercare support provides detailed advice to help customers keep their scalp in the best condition.

With clinics located in the UK and US in New York, Skalp™ is an accessible procedure open to a vast majority of the country. Rather than just take my word for it, get in touch and discover how it can change your life.

 

For more information call Toll-free 1-855-752-5787 or email usa@skalp.com

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GOOGLE to do Stonewall project

GOOGLE  to spend  $1  Million  on 50th Anniversary  Stonewall project!

NY POST   reported – Google pledged $1 million on Sunday to help record the stories of anyone and everyone involved in the Stonewall riots, a landmark moment in the battle for gay rights.

The Web giant’s “digital experience” will be an oral history featuring interviews with New Yorkers who were on the front lines in Greenwich Village in the summer of 1969.

The project is aimed for completion by June 28, 2019, the 50th anniversary of the riots.

The impromptu uprising outside the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street against police harassment is remembered as a watershed moment in the push for LGBTQ equality.

“I remember the Stonewall riot — whatever you want to call it — I remember the debate, I remember the time, and it’s hard to go back there. I can tell you, you don’t want to go back there either.” said Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Alphabet, Google’s parent company.

Artist and Stonewall veteran Tommy Lanigan-Schmidt said he’ll tell his story, in honor of activists who have since died.

“What sticks in my mind most is all the people who aren’t here to talk about it,” he told reporters at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center on West 13th Street. “Most of the people — I knew because I was one of the street kids — didn’t live to be 22 years old. I’m lucky to be alive.”

He added, “If the smell of lighter fluid is in the air, I think of Stonewall.”

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NEW Skin Care for Men

“Fortunately I’d studied Science (Chemistry) at Melbourne University, so I had a strong grounding in biochemistry. My idea for the range excited one of Australia’s best-known developmental chemists and together, over a period of two years, we perfected the product range.

Lqd is designed for men who care about how they look and feel. Our range is about looking after your skin and keeping it well hydrated, so that you not only look the best you can right now, but you can slow down the aging process as well.”

Developed in Australia under one of the worlds harshest climates comes a range of skin care products created exclusively by men for mankind, with a philosophy based around helping men look the best they can.

Utilizing the latest breakthroughs in skin care science, Lqd has developed a no-nonsense, uniquely masculine collection of award winning products that deliver exactly what they promise, without the marketing hype.

100% satisfaction guarantee

We value the fact you are choosing to spend your hard earned dollars with us and we never take that for granted. That’s why we are always aiming to exceed your expectations in everything we do. We know if you are happy, you won’t just continue to buy from us, but you will tell your friends about us as well. In fact, that’s how we’ve grown to where we are now.

That’s why we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our products. If for any reason you aren’t 100% satisfied with your purchase, we will give you your money back, it’s that simple. Try them for yourself, we are confident you’ll never look back! For more on our story so far, check out the video below.

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Trial pack of products  is  $45

Larger sized  gift  pack    $230

Anti Aging pack  $200

They make a great shaving  “gel”   for  $40

Great assortment – something  for  every  man!   SHOP  NOW   LQD.com

We give this our  5  crowns!          

 

 

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March for Equality 2017

Supporters of LGBT rights marched and rallied in the nation’s capital and dozens of other U.S. cities on Sunday, celebrating gains but angry over threats posed by the administration of President Donald Trump.

The centerpiece event, the Equality March in Washington, was endorsed by virtually every major national advocacy group working on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.

Activists have been embittered by the Trump administration’s rollback of federal guidance advising school districts to let transgender students use the bathrooms and locker rooms of their choice.

They also complain that Trump, who campaigned as a potential ally of gays and lesbians, has stocked his administration with foes of LGBT rights, including Vice President Mike Pence, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price.

Throngs of marchers, many thousands strong, paraded past the White House and toward the Capitol, trailing behind a giant rainbow flag near the head of the procession.

Two 15-year-old marchers, Jessica Dodge and Shekinah Aho, held hands and wore shirts that said, “Make America Gay Again.”

The Los Angeles pride parade was renamed the ResistMarch, and tens of thousands turned out in Hollywood, some carrying rainbow flags or signs reading “Love Trumps Hate.” Speakers included Mayor Eric Garcetti, U.S. Reps. Adam Schiff, Maxine Waters and Nancy Pelosi, and RuPaul, the host of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

Waters led the crowd in a chant of “Impeach 45.”

“We’re going to take our country back from him,” she said. “I know that you have the strength. I know that you have the courage. And I know that each of you understand you have the power.”

Back in Washington, the activist leaders on hand included Sarah Kate Ellis, president of GLAAD, which monitors media coverage of the LGBT community.

She noted that Trump, breaking from the practice of Barack Obama, has declined to issue a proclamation in honor of Pride Month, and that the Trump administration has deleted questions about sexual orientation from planned federal surveys.

“If you look at their prioritization, we’re really low on it,” she said. “There absolutely is a resistance aspect to this march.”

READ  MORE   HERE

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PULSE in Orlando…1 year Later

From the Washington Post

For the first time since the massacre last June, when Orlando’s Pulse nightclub went from patrons’ safe haven to nightmare in a matter of seconds, owner Barbara Poma turned on the building’s outside lights Sunday — reminding mourners what it looked like before everything closed down.

Hues of pink and purple splashed across the bar’s black exterior and blue-green spotlights illuminated palm trees. The club’s logo — a large “P” — was projected on the wall.

It had been a year since the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history stole 49 lives there and scarred countless others; a year since Pulse, a safe space for Orlando’s gay community, fundamentally changed. 

From CBS  News

Church bells throughout Orlando will ring 49 times at noon Monday, a year after the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Gov. Rick Scott ordered U.S. flags around Florida to be flown at half-staff, a giant rainbow flag will be unveiled at the Orange County government building, and three separate services at the Pulse nightclub will be held as well as a large evening gathering in the heart of downtown Orlando to honor the 49 patrons massacred at the gay nightclub.

The first service, closed to the public, was held for survivors, local officials and club employees, overlapping with the exact time gunman Omar Mateen began firing shots — a little after 2 a.m. on June 12, 2016 — during “Latin Night” at Pulse, reports CBS Orlando affiliate WKMG-TV.

“Just after 1 a.m. the angels walked through the parking lot and surrounded the nightclub,” the station says. “The same people dressed in wide, white angel wings protected family and friends in the days after the shooting last year so they could mourn in private. … Soft music played and the angels held candles, their backs facing the club as family gathered behind them.”

#PulseRemembered

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Say No To Male Circumcision

We keep this site non-pornographic. So I hope that can see this post as educational.

Most of the world is intact (not circumcised).

In the US, I believe, it has always been about the $$$.  Doctors  brainwashed American mothers and fathers, that it HAD TO BE DONE. And most times, insurance companies paid for it. But who really pays?   THE MAN.

Circumcision removes valuable specialized erogenous tissue. Foreskin feels REALLY good. Without the foreskin, the glans becomes dried, toughened, and less sensitive. The normal slack skin gives a man and his partner an exquisite plush frictionless rolling/gliding sensation.

Luckily we can undo some of the damage with non-surgical foreskin restoration.

It’s great to undo the damage of circumcision and the benefits of foreskin restoration are awesome, but for some the real healing comes from working to end child circumcision. Activists working to protect the right of all boys, girls, and intersex children to remain intact and free of non-therapeutic forced genital cutting are called intactivists. You can help. There is lots of information  HERE.  And there are numerous resources  HERE  I  encourage you to check out.

If you know someone having a baby, PLEASE,  if it’s a boy, encourage  them  NOT  TO CIRCUMCISE. Let the boy decide later. It’s  his body!

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Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party

I have an expression I use ….

Christian with  a  “K”

(as in Khristian).
To me, it means  Christians who really are not Christian. They are  “married  to Christ”  act  holier  than  thou….you know the type?! They hate gays, they don’t drink, they don’t have fun in life. Because GOD is their life. GOD controls them. Hey, I am not against religion.  But the extremists, the one’s that want to  take away our rights, the on’e that hate on gay people – I have NO USE  FOR!

In Stephen Cone’s “Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party”, a 40-something mom of two nearly-grown kids, confesses to her daughter, “Something happened to me and I’m not sure what I’m becoming.” Every single one of the 20 characters has a similar moment at one point or another during the course of Henry’s party, which takes place over an afternoon and evening. Stephen Cone is a humanist; he can’t help but perceive that every person, even those we might write off as “types,” has complexity.

This may sound like “Henry Gamble” is a dreary psychological drama, but it’s not. It’s a rambunctious, often hilarious, and carefully-constructed story about a teenage boy starting to question his sexuality in the midst of his Evangelical Christian world. Instead of keeping the focus tightly on Henry, Cone widens the scope, giving each character a unique arc. There are times when the film plays like a French farce, or a suburban version of Jean Renoir’s “Rules of the Game,” with different couples running in and out of different rooms, having whispered melodramas before leaping back into the pool. Underneath the exuberance, the film roils with turmoil.

A lot of low-budget films have a similar setup to “Henry Gamble”: they take place in one location and focus on interpersonal relationships. But “Henry Gamble” is huge in comparison. It’s about people in the process of “becoming.”

 

Get a sneak peak HERE,  Watch on Netflix,   Stream it Amazon hereHenry Gamble’s Birthday Party OR Buy the DVD here Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party

 

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I’m A Gay Catfish – And Just Want to be Loved

Vlogger Davey Wavey put out a call for a gay “catfish” several months ago. For those unfamiliar with the term, which originated in a 2010 documentary by Nev Schulman about people who use other people’s photos to establish fake identities in order to carry on online relationships with strangers. In the documentary, and subsequent MTV series, producers seek out the catfish and out them in the company of their targets.

Wavey has posted a video of an interview with a man who confesses to being a catfish.

Writes Wavey to Towleroad: “I found him by reaching out to guys who catfish through a Facebook post.  Rather than vilify these guys, my intent was to explore their motivation and logic.  Overwhelmingly, many of these men told me that they feel invisible. And if they don’t catfish, they’d have no interaction with other gay men. Rather than be angry or outraged at these men for wasting our time or playing games, it may be more productive to question the role that each of us plays in making these men feel invisible.

The catfish said that he made a fake profile using the photo of a guy he’d been following on Instagram with a “gorgeous” body and face. His motivation was to get attention from men who would normally see him as invisible because he is overweight.

WATCH  THE  VIDEO

READ  the rest  at  TOWLEROAD

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TRUMP will NOT Protect Federal LGBT workers

LGBT NEWS FLASH

President Trump has flip-flopped once again on his promise to protect LGBT workers who work for federal contractors from workplace discrimination.  – I am so tired  of this  shit talker –  when  can we impeach him???

Trump signed an order on Monday revoking protections signed into law by President Obama in 2014. Obama signed an executive order banning LGBT discrimination among federal contractors; he concurrently signed an order requiring contracted businesses prove they’re complying with federal laws and executive orders. President Trump rescinded the latter order, making it much more difficult to know whether a business has committed to ending LGBT bias in hiring, firing, and promotions.

Lambda Legal condemned Trump’s actions, saying, “This administration has made it extremely difficult to enforce these federal laws as applied to federal contractors.” “It’s sending a message to these companies,” said Camilla Taylor, senior counsel at Lambda Legal, “…that the federal government simply doesn’t care whether or not they violate the law.”

Read  more  at  ADVOCATE

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Mitchell Gold Takes Aim at North Carolina

GAY NEWS

Mitchell Gold Takes Aim at

North Carolina’s HB2 in Statement

Faith in America calls on North Carolina legislators to leave religious beliefs on LGBT people at the door

Mitchell Gold today released a statement opposing North Carolina’s Legislators and NC clergy and churches that offer despair and exclusion to NC LGBTQ youth. HB2 must be repealed and North Carolina’s youth must be embraced:

I’m writing today as Co-Founder and CEO of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Home Furnishings, and Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Faith in America to express my support for a FULL repeal of HB2 immediately.  As leaders in our state, it would immediately signal that NC is open for business to everyone, and more importantly send a lifesaving message to the vulnerable LGBT teens in North Carolina that you care about their lives.
 
Today in North Carolina, you can still be fired, denied housing, or refused service simply for being gay or transgender.  It’s bad for the economic sustainability of North Carolina.  We have close to 1 million SF of manufacturing and warehouse facilities and over 600 employees in western North Carolina where we proudly make all our upholstered products. We can’t afford to have barriers in place when it comes to attracting and retaining the top talent we need to succeed.  Especially for senior level talent, competitors in other states already have these protections in place, giving them a distinct advantage in recruitment and attraction.  Recent decisions by the NFL, NCAA, and NBA to move or not award big events to places lacking equal protections has made this issue even more salient when it comes to North Carolina’s reputation and economic sustainability.  
 
The principles of non-discrimination are rooted in core conservative values of fairness, equality, and opportunity.  Everybody should have the chance to earn a living and provide for themselves and their families.  Nobody should have to live in fear that they can be legally fired for reasons that have nothing to do with their job performance.
 
I want to state clearly that the issue of risk associated with transgender people using the restroom of their choice is an irresponsible and reckless witch-hunt.  If you are concerned about safety for a problem that has not existed (and believe me, transgender people have been using the restroom of their choice for years), then implement stronger harassment or peeping Tom laws. But don’t underestimate the immense harm you are causing to vulnerable transgender people. Put yourself in their shoes! Have compassion for a transgender teen who suffers mental anguish from the pressures of their everyday life.
 
Finally, those who would like to be able to discriminate do so with a foundation in religious beliefs that LGBT people are sinners and consequently immoral and not deserving of full equality.  These kinds of outdated religious teachings are extremely harmful to the over 1.5 million LGBT teenagers in America.   LGBT teens are 4-6 times more likely to suffer immense mental anguish, attempt or commit suicide, or abuse drugs and alcohol than their straight peers.  In conservative or anti-LGBT religious homes and churches, this number jumps to 8 times.  You can bet that is the statistic in North Carolina. Equal rights legislation says to these precious individuals that the state recognizes their worth. I know from personal experience such leadership saves lives.
 
As you might be faced with opposition to full repeal, please look carefully into who and why they are opposed to treating LGBT people with dignity. We know from history that using religious teachings to cause harm or marginalize others was mistaken.  Please don’t allow yourself to fall prey to their pressure.
  
Thank you for your commitment to a North Carolina that respects, protects, and celebrates all who live, work, and play in this great state.

Sincerely,

Mitchell Gold

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Gay News – LGBT HATE BUS FreeSpeechBus

Anti-LGBTIQ Hate Bus

 Tours The United States

The so-called FreeSpeechBus, is currently spreading its hateful message through the streets of New York City. The organizers behind the bus include the International Organization for the Family, labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the notoriously anti-LGBTIQ group National Organization for Marriage. The bright orange bus is covered in the message, “It’s Biology: Boys are boys…and always will be. Girls are girls…and always will be. You can’t change sex. Respect all.”

Jessica Stern of OutRight Action International commented,

Free speech is a constitutional right, but language has consequences. Trans youth already have an extremely high risk for violence, discrimination, and suicide. Broadcasting a message that erases and denies the reality that transgender and intersex children and youth exist is irresponsible, factually misleading, disrespectful, and dangerous. This vehicle is part of the reason trans youth are driven to suicide.

A group of individuals and organizations advocating for the human rights of LGBTIQ people have banded together calling attention to the bus’s harmful message. They are asking New York City’s political and civil society leaders to join them in speaking out against the harmful, untrue and discriminatory message it promotes and the violence against trans individuals it will likely encourage.

Gillian Kane, Senior Policy Advisor at Ipas, an international women’s reproductive health and rights organization, a member of the coalition, stated,

We call on politicians everywhere that the bus is traveling to take a stand for diversity and respect for all people—including intersex, transgender, and gender non-conforming people— and to speak out against the hate and transphobia propagated by this bus.

A similarly styled bus received strong pushback in Spain earlier this year and was recently banned in Madrid on the premise that it was discriminatory and could incite hate crimes. After the bus was banned, it received high-profile attention from the likes of Chelsea Clinton who Tweeted, “Please don’t bring these buses to the U.S. (or anywhere).”

Kimberly Zieselman, JD Executive Director of “interACT: advocates for intersex youth, commented,

This isn’t biology–this is hatred rooted in an entirely false understanding of the human body. Being a girl or a boy isn’t about biology, it is about gender. The reality is that biological sex is on a spectrum, and no amount of argument will prove otherwise. Approximately 2% of children are born intersex, meaning they transcend typical notions of what the “FreeSpeechBus” says is “boy” and girl.” This bus attempts to erase the lived realities of the incredibly brave young people I work with every day who do not fit into this binary. In the same way that gender is not limited to strict male and female categories, neither is our biological sex.

Haven Herrin, Executive Director of Soulforce, an LGBTQI social justice organization that challenges Christian Supremacy through spiritual healing, radical analysis, and strategic direct action, added their perspective commenting,

Religion that denies the sacred being of trans and intersex children is no religion at all – it’s a gross abuse of power. We need to send the message to trans and intersex youth that they are cherished just as they are and that they don’t have to conform to pressure from hateful ideologies.

The bus will also be stopping in New Haven, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.

 

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