Category Archives: Gay News
Broadway Cares – Christmas Carols for a Cure
Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away, Hamilton, Waitress and A Bronx Tale.
The Christmas season is in full show tune swing now that the 19th volume of Broadway’s Carols for a Cure has arrived. The latest compilation from the beloved series continues Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ tradition of pairing the casts from award-winning Broadway musicals with seasonal songs that are both classic and new. Once again, the result is pure magic and is sure to help make the 2017 holiday season shine brighter than ever before.
“These are all new, original recordings, creatively arranged and performed by the incredibly talented performers and musicians from the 2017 Broadway season,” explains producer Lynn Pinto who, once again, collaborates with engineer Andros Rodriguez on the album. Pinto allows each company a great deal of freedom in choosing the material and the style of the arrangement. She adds, “We record the musicians and singers in layers, utilizing isolation booths for a higher quality recording. It gives the album a unique sound from most cast albums and allows us to showcase some of the best voices and instrumentalists in the world.”
The first Broadway’s Carols for a Cure album debuted in 1999, making this year’s album the 19th in the annual series. Fans of Broadway will be overjoyed to hear recordings from Tony Award winning casts of Dear Evan Hansen, Hamilton, Come From Away and many more:
WICKED God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Highlights are copious but include Billy Porter and the cast of Kinky Boots singing an all-new, rockin’ version of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and the cast of A Bronx Tale performing “I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day” in a New Yawker-style that will have listeners humming for days.Additionally, Meghan Toohey (Sara Barielles’ long-time guitarist) serves up a lovely 1960s-style original song, “Wonder What You Got For Me,” featuring the talented Anastacia McCleskey and the rest of the company and band from Waitress; and Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, the composer/lyricist team behind Anastasia perform their original carol, “All Those Christmas Cliches,” along with their award-winning cast.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is a nonprofit organization that helps individuals with serious illnesses including AIDS receive the health care and support they need. In addition, they provide financial support in the form of grants to AIDS and family service organizations throughout the country.
“The 19th volume of Broadway’s Carols for a Cure is the best yet,” promises Lynn Pinto. “It exudes such warmth, like a cozy blanket on a snowy Winter’s day.”
The 2-CD set is in the web store at BroadwayCares.org or by calling Broadway Cares at 212-840-0770.
Tom of Finland Red Wine
Tom of Finland Wines (tomoffinlandwines.com), a new label created in tribute to the legacy and artwork of Tom of Finland (Touko Laaksonen, Finnish, 1920-1991), popularly known as Tom of Finland, is pleased to announce its inaugural release – the 2015 OUTstanding RED. Following a successful launch in Finland in 2016, Tom of Finland Wines is making its US debut, with the wine available exclusively direct-to-consumer on the website for $24 per bottle.
Tom of Finland Wines is made in partnership with the Tom of Finland Foundation, a non-profit started in 1984 by TOM and Durk Dehner. Though the Foundation’s original purpose was to preserve TOM’s vast catalog of work, today the Foundation has greatly expanded its efforts and exists to educate the public as to the cultural merits of erotic art and the promotion of healthier, more tolerant attitudes towards sexuality through experiential workshops, residencies and exhibitions.
Terry Miller, Official Tom of Finland “TOM’s Man” and spokesman for Tom of Finland Wines comments on the project: “Tom is about pleasure and enjoying life. A part of enjoying life involves indulging your sensual side and appreciating the finer things… self-expression, openness and freedom – that’s why wine is the perfect manifestation in honor of the legendary artist. As for the wine, OUTstanding RED is remarkably smooth, delicious and sexy. Tom of Finland’s work is the most recognizable and important gay iconography in the world, and it both warms and excites me to see it presented front and center on the bottle of OUTstanding RED.”
Tom of Finland Wines will host an official launch party for media, trade, and consumers on December 14th in at The Oasis in San Francisco. Guests can expect a meet-and-greet and photo opportunity with Terry Miller, and of course, plenty of OUTstanding RED. Additional details to be published at a later date. Learn more about Tom of Finland wines on the new website www.tomoffinlandwines.com, on Facebook at ‘Tom of Finland Wines’, on Instagram at @tomoffinlandwines, and on Twitter at @tofwines.
About Tom of Finland Wines:
Tom of Finland Wines is the first time Tom of Finland enters into the world of wine. Tom of Finland Wines first introduced the OUTstanding RED California red-blend in the artist’s native home of Finland in 2016. Now available in the U.S. market, Tom of Finland Wines offers a high-quality wine crafted with detail, passion and a desire to satisfy even the most discerning wine drinker – a true tribute to TOM and his significant contribution to contemporary art and popular culture. Learn more and purchase the wine at www.tomoffinlandwines.com
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?
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.
Lesbian Couple Conquering Social Media
We recently discovered these lesbian vloggers, who have been creating YouTube content for some time now! They recently relocated to Chicago. They create new vlogs as frequently as possible, plus unscripted comedy, challenges, travel and entrepreneurship videos, and LGBT advice content. Vegetarians and devoted moms to their kitten, Mumford.
Well it looks like you moved here from Iowa? How long have you been here in Chicago?
Yeah! We moved to the city in July and have loved every minute of it so far!
What brought you here?
Besides the appeal of a vibrant city with so much energy and activity, we were attracted to the opportunities to advance our career goals. There’s such a great LGBTQ+ community here that we love and we do a lot of traveling, so it’s a great centrally located hub with a big airport! There are, of course, it’s other perks: deep dish pizza, the amazing Chicago sports teams, and tons of vegan restaurants for us to try out!
How long have you been together?
We have been together for 5 and a half years! It’s been such a crazy ride, but we’ve loved exploring the world and starting a business together. It’s so special that we get to share our relationship online to help so many other people and document the things we do together.
How long have you been doing videos?
We started making videos in March of 2015. At that time we wanted to start a channel as a way to have a creative outlet and a place to practice our cinematography and editing skills, because of our interest in film. As we started to pick up a following, we realized that we really had an opportunity to share some of the difficult experiences we’ve been through with coming out, self acceptance, etc with our audience. We began to share our stories online and have since been able to help literally thousands of people who send us messages and use our channel as a resource for similar struggles. Our videos have led us across the world to countries in Europe and the Caribbean to create travels films, vlogs and attend conventions for YouTube creators. We would love to see one of these conventions come to Chicago someday!
Besides vlogging, do you both do other work in Chicago?
We both have small part time jobs within the city, but what we spend the most of our time doing and what we love the most is our work on YouTube and other social platforms. Being in Chicago has already afforded us some opportunities to attend events and get involved locally using our videos. We’re looking forward to continuing to grow that more and more!
Check them out here!
Also check their podcast “Between The Sheets” that comes out every Wednesday on iTunes and soundcloud!
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
National Coming Out Day October 11th
In anticipation of National Coming Out Day (NCOD) on Oct. 11, you might be interested in checking out some of the awesome stories collected and curated by Coming Out, a 501c3 non-profit that shares LGBTQ coming out stories.
Always expanding their reach, they are working on a NCOD social campaign in collaboration with a few different groups:
- LGBTQ Filipino-Americans (Filipino-American History Month takes place the entire month of October):
- Angela AC Dumlao (queer, non-binary), activist recently featured in NBC Asia America’s A to Z List; EJ Samson (gay male), Assistant Vice President at L’Oréal; Matthew Ortile (gay male), Global Publishing Lead at BuzzFeed, among others
- LGBTQ influencers and artists:
- James Whiteside (ABT Ballet); Levi Foster (photographer); Alex Berg (journalist)
- NYC Commissioner on Human Rights Malalis’ Office
In previous campaigns, they have worked with familiar LGBTQ faces like Dan Donigan (Milk from Ru Paul’s Drag Race Season 6), Matteo Lane (comedian) and Barrett Pall (model, blogger), Max Emerson (model, actor) and others. Their stories are already live on the site.
SUBMIT YOUR personal stories!
They are constantly working to expand the diversity of their content to be as inclusive as possible. The site is open-source, so anyone is able to submit a written or video story on the Coming Out website.
also – check out –
Facebook: ComingOutDotSpace
Instagram: @ComingOut_Space
Twitter: @ComingOut_Space
YouTube: Coming Out
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.
Andrew Christian Model Contest SIR JET
He made the first cut, now he is in the video round! PLEASE VOTE ASAP.
Sir JET #Singer, #vlogger, #model, and #gender-nonconformist Sir JET aka Joel Evan Tye!
The mysterious and alluring gender-bending Sir JET aka Joel Evan Tye is a popstar like no other. With his super-hero body and love for skin tight costumes and anime, he is what has been referred to as “Nick Lachey meets Ziggy Stardust.” The online article “The Boy Who Talked Like a Girl,” is the story of JET’s childhood struggle with gender anxiety that lead him to become an agoraphobic mute for almost a decade to only rediscover his voice again at age 20 and become the man you see today.
Stop by the “Submissions” page and cast a vote for our friend. Singer, model “Sir Jet” Joel Evan Tye.
https://2017modelsearchvideo.hscampaigns.com/#submissions
SPECIAL THANKS to EGOIST STORE on Halsted in Chicago!
EGOIST is a boutique specializing in men’s designer underwear, swimwear, athletic wear and casual wear in Lakeview, Chicago located in the heart of Boystown. Great selection of shirts, shorts, tanks and tees. Solid color or print, classic or enhancing, cotton or microfiber, brief or trunk….they got you covered!
See also
Sir Jet on Facebook
Sir Jet on YouTube
Sir Jet on Instagram
Grace Jones Documentary
“Listen to me! I’m human, man! I’m human,” Grace Jones says in the trailer for Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami, a documentary that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
We’ll just see about that, won’t we? Shot over the course of a decade, Bloodlight and Bami was directed by Sophie Fiennes and documents the extraordinary Jones’s life onstage and off.
“You get all different sides with this documentary – totally natural, no makeup, just improv, no rehearsals and no special lighting until we did the performances, which I was totally involved with,” Jones recently told Now Toronto. “It’s really the first time that I unmask, I guess you could say.”
Jones also said she gave Fiennes complete creative control, aside from “a couple of ideas in the editing.”
“I never watched any of the footage,” said Jones. “I just had total trust in her, which is how I usually work when I collaborate.”
“Grace had fiercely controlled her public image, but made the bold decision to unmask,” Fiennes says. “She never sought to control my shooting process, and I didn’t second-guess the narrative of the film as I was shooting. I just gathered evidence. The film is a deliberately present-tense experience; for me this is the thrill-ride of verité cinema.”
Bloodlight And Bami juxtaposes Jones’ avant-garde stage persona with the true off-screen identity we seldom see. “The performer out there takes the risk—it’s a lonely place,” Jones says in the trailer. “But it’s a fascinating lonely place.”
“She is gypsy, artist and partying hedonist, warm and funny but also a fierce and tenacious businesswoman,” the film’s press notes promise of its subject. “This is a Grace we have not seen before.” GET A PEAK!
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
Chance Perez Kisses Michael Conor Boy Band
Be still my heart! Loving the new show BOY BAND.
In the first few weeks, I found the show kind of insulting to gay people. I sent them a note stating, Yes you have boys in bands, Yes, they have girl fans. But I am sure they have some boy fans too. American Idol and X factor do the same thing. They alienate the gay fans. Just says FANS. Don’t make it heterosexual.
Recently I noticed they have stopped doing that.
I love both Chance and Michael. And when Chance appeared to kiss Michael on the cheek recently, I thought WOW!~ Could he or they be gay? I hope so. That would be great if they came out.
It’s funny, on YouTube, NBC has the clip, with the KISS DELETED. I shot this video, from my TV screen.
19 year old CHANCE PEREZ
17 year old MICHAEL CONOR
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Follow Boy Band:
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/boybandabc
Instagram – http://www.instagram.com/boybandabc
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/boybandabc
#BoyBand
http://abc.go.com/shows/boy-band
About Boy Band:
“Boy Band” is a new series where talented singers battle it out to become a member of the next great music sensation. And for the first time ever, viewers at home will vote for their favorite five band members, live, creating a group America can truly call its own.
Lady Bunny on Donald Trump
She’s back! Roasting Donald Trump! WATCH
Unhappy parody lyrics by Lady Bunny & Beryl Mendelbaum
Video by Mikhail Torich / http://torich.nyc
www.LadyBunny.net.
twitter @ladybunny77 instagram official_lady_bunny
Costumes by Garo Sparo
DJ Austin’s Oil Can Harry’s July 6th
Seattle/Tacoma Pride performance July 8th
DJ Disco Sundays The Monster NYC 6-10 July 9th
Perform Trans-Jester! Fire Island Ice Palace July 14th w/ Daniel Nardicio
DJ Hamptons annual benefit Tea Dance 4-8 July 15th
DJ Disco Sundays The Monster 6-10 NYC July 16th
Perform July 22nd The Lodge, Maryland
DJ Disco Sundays The Monster July 23rd 6-10
DJ Disco Sundays The Monster July 30th 6-10
Vancouver Gay Pride August 6th
Fire Island perform August 11th and DJ August 12th
August 26th Gay Naturists at Poconos Valley Resort (I won’t be nude)
August 31 Klub Kids tour Dublin
September 1 Klub Kids tour Cardiff
September 2 Klub Kids tour Manchester
September 3 Klub Kids tour London
September 5 Klub Kids tour Birmingham
September 5th DJ gig in Lisbon
September 8th Klub Kids Amsterdam
September 9th Klub Kids tour Glasgow
September 10th Klub Kids tour Newcastle
September 17th Virgin Islands Drag Brunch
September 22 North Carolina Outer Banks Pride
September 24 Bushwig Festival in Brooklyn (unconfirmed)
September 26th Trans-Jester! in Perth, Australia
September 28th Trans-Jester! in Sydney, Australia
September 29th-30th Trans-Jester! at Melbourne’s Fringe Festival
Apple Gay Pride Watch
Apple launched a special Pride Edition Apple Watch band Thursday, with a part of its sales to go to LGBT support groups. The nylon band will come in two sizes — 38mm and 42mm, and cost $49 each.
“Apple is proud to support LGBTQ advocacy organizations working to bring about positive change, including GLSEN, PFLAG and The Trevor Project in the U.S. and ILGA internationally. A portion of the proceeds from Pride Edition band sales will benefit their important efforts,” the company said on its product page.
The company’s endeavor coincides with the back end of Pride Month, which is generally considered to be in June, to honor the 1969 Stonewall Riots. The company says its latest band is made up of 500 threads woven together to form a rainbow pattern to denote the official symbol of the LGBT movement. Read more here.
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.”
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.
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! 
New York Lawyer Raises Money for Chechnya Men
For months now, we had heard many awful news reports coming out of Chechnya, the semi-autonomous state in southwest Russia, where authorities carried out a brutal, months-long campaign of kidnapping, imprisoning, torturing and killing LGBTQ people. But over the past month, we’ve learned of Lithuania, France and Germany issuing visas to queer Chechen refugees escaping the violence, and now of Fred Erick, a New York attorney who raised $256,278 to help queer men flee Chechnya.
Erick, a 33-year-old lawyer whose Jewish family fled Ukraine in 1987 to escape anti-Semitic persecution, hated hearing about the violence in Chechnya. He said, ” I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It was frustrating and scary — it makes you angry because you can’t do anything.”
So he started a now-completed Facebook fundraiser entitled Helping Gay Men Flee Chechnya to aid Rainbow Railroad, a Canadian organization that has helped 37 men flee Chechnya by working closely with the Russian LGBT Network, a non-governmental organization who has helped Chechens escape the region.
“After the Holocaust everyone asked, ‘How did the world standby and do nothing?’” Erick’s fundraising page said. “Well, here is your chance to do something. Or will our grandkids ask the same question of us?”
Erick says that 6,000 people donated and 7,300 thousand shared the campaign’s page including gay Star Trek actor George Takei which helped boost the campaign’s notoriety. Erick has encouraged others to start their own fundraisers as well to help Chechen refugees.
There has been little news of Chechnya’s anti-LGBTQ purges since May 26, 2017 (the start of Ramadan, the date that Chechen officials reportedly wanted to exterminate all LGBTQ residents by). Russia denied the reports of violence, Chechen officials obstructed the official investigation into it and worlds leaders (including the U.S.) stayed mostly silent during the purge.
read more at UNICORN BOOTY
Gay New York-Fire Island – INVASION OF THE PINES
Mascara, Mirth & Mayhem is a collection of photographs taken by renowned photographer Susan Kravitz over the past thirty years at the annual LGBTQ event known as the Invasion of the Pines.
The Invasion of the Pines occurs every July 4th and involves participants from the Fire Island communities of Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines. It began in 1976, when a member of the Cherry Grove community had been refused service in a Pines’ restaurant because he had been dressed in drag. In protest, a small group of Cherry Grove residents cross-dressed and took a water taxi to the Pines on Independence Day of that year, to stand up against this “height of insult” by “invading” their neighboring community. Four decades later, the Invasion has evolved into a uniquely raucous event that joyfully celebrates human rights and freedom of expression by thousands of people, straight and gay.
Kravitz’s photographs capture the rebelliousness, the high camp, and the joy of the Invasion. They are provocative, introspective, sad and funny, and tinged with sexual innuendo. Yet they also reflect another journey, one that gives insight into the LGBTQ movement itself.
From the fearful, AIDS-ridden years of the 1980s and 1990s, to the joyous years of this decade when LGBTQ people are out and proud (and, if they choose, legally married), these Invasion photographs celebrate a day to be free, to be whoever you want to be, and to be gay.
“My photographs are as much about the times I which they were taken as they are about the people who populate them. Ultimately, they are about human rights and freedom of expression seen through the lens of the Invasion.” said Kravitz of her eighty-eight color and black and white photographs.
Susan Kravitz is a social documentarian of daily life. Over the past thirty years she has exhibited her photographs in galleries and museums in the United States and abroad, including China, South Korea, Russia, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and the Czech Republic. Her Cherry Grove photographs were recently featured on the New York Times Lens blog (A Gay Haven on Fire Island) and in the International New York Times, Paris edition.
The book comes out next week! 148 pages, available in softcover or hardcover.
Book is available now on http://www.
CAZWELL Loose Wrists GAY MUSIC
NYC-based rapper Cazwell is back with “Loose Wrists”, the first single from his new music label Snow Cone, and hopes to “make America femme again.”
Cazwell performs much of the clip with his dancers in a set of pastel lace rompers designed by Hoza Rodriguz that have already gone viral on social media.
“We have a president that wants to take us off of the census and a vice president that believes shock therapy will cure gayness. At the end of last year, I vowed to be as gay as possible with my music and videos. We have to be more visible than ever and I hope I inspire that.”
WATCH AND SHARE
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
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.”
LIVE PROUD 2017 AT&T and GLAAD
Happy Pride! As we celebrate LGBT Pride Month and Pride season, we at AT&T have launched our fifth-annual Live Proud campaign that celebrates self-expression and being bold (announcement release).
This year, from June 1 to July 31, friends, allies and members of the LGBT community are invited to participate in exciting sweepstakes and share affirming messages of freedom, confidence and unity to declare definitively that We Are Bold.
Participants can join the campaign in the following ways:
- Fans can post what We Are Bold means to them on their social channels, using either #ATTLiveProud or #WeAreBold on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, and AT&T will make a $1 donation to GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, for each post up to $50,000, the fundraising goal.
- When consumers click on a “Support GLAAD and Shop AT&T” offer at att.com/liveproud, AT&T will donate $5 to GLAAD toward the fundraising goal.
- Fans can also take part in the AT&T Live Proud Sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to New York City for themselves and a guest to attend a live taping of Bravo’s “Watch What Happens L!ve with Andy Cohen.” To enter the sweepstakes, visit att.com/liveproud.
- Select national Pride festivals will also feature Live Proud activation experiences where guests can participate in the campaign by having their #WeAreBold portrait captured and learn about AT&T’s long-standing commitment to the community. Visit att.com/liveproud to learn which Pride events you can find AT&T at this summer.
There’s also a “We Are Bold” video that features these employees (check it out here). Fans can follow the images throughout the campaign with the hashtags #ATTLiveProud and #WeAreBold.
