Award-winning MileHighGayGuy.com is seeking advertising sales reps. The
position requires someone who is self-motivated, detail-oriented and
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In advance of this afternoon’s introduction of the historic Equality Act in Congress, today three major American companies announced their support for comprehensive federal non-discrimination legislation that would establish full, federal equality for all LGBT Americans. Each of the leading corporations – which include Apple, The Dow Chemical Company, and Levi Strauss & Co., – released the following statements making clear that they believe all LGBT Americans should have the protections from discrimination in federal law that they deserve.
STATEMENT BY APPLE – “At Apple we believe in equal treatment for everyone, regardless of where they come from, what they look like, how they worship or who they love. We fully support the expansion of legal protections as a matter of basic human dignity.”
STATEMENT BY THE DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY – “Dow applauds the introduction of the Equality Act and continues to support a comprehensive federal framework that ensures fairness and opportunity for everyone. Full inclusion of our LGBT colleagues and citizens is quite simply the right thing to do – for business and for society.”
STATEMENT BY LEVI STRAUSS & CO. – “Levi Strauss & Co. is proud to support the Equality Act. We have a long history of supporting LGBT equality, and the time has come in this country for full, federal equality for the LGBT community. Ensuring fairness in our workplaces and communities is both the right thing to do and simply good business.”
Each of the three major companies scored a perfect 100 on HRC’s annual Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a nationally recognized benchmark of LGBT inclusion in the workplace, and were recognized on HRC’s list of Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality in 2015.
“These remarkable companies have proven once again their tremendous leadership on behalf of LGBT Americans,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “Time and again, these leaders of Corporate America have asked 'what more can we do?,' and each time they’ve stepped up to the plate and delivered. As the fight for full, federal equality enters a new chapter, I am tremendously thankful that we have these champions standing shoulder to shoulder with us.”
Earlier this year, over 120 prominent leaders in the tech industry called on “legislatures to add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes to their civil rights laws and to explicitly forbid discrimination or denial of services to anyone.”
Yesterday, Ted Olson and David Boies, the bipartisan legal team that represented the plaintiffs in the Hollingsworth v. Perry case that challenged California’s Proposition 8, and was ultimately heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, came out in support of a comprehensive federal LGBT non-discrimination law.
The results of a new Democracy Corps survey from Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research released yesterday indicates that support for non-discrimination legislation unites the country. Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of likely Republican voters support protecting LGBT people from workplace discrimination, as do 90 percent of Democrats. Similarly, this legislation draws impressive majorities of support among college (84 percent) and non-college voters (73 percent), younger (85 percent) and older voters (75 percent), as well as observant Christians (70 percent).
In March, polling conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) revealed that nearly two-thirds of LGBT Americans (63 percent) have faced discrimination in their lives, with LGBT people reporting workplace discrimination as the most frequently experienced form of discrimination.
The 2015 Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival may be over, but DIRECTV's free service Outfest Online will continue to offer selections from the festival through the end of the year - no satellite or cable subscription required! Featuring a special collection of more than 60 LGBT shorts, documentaries and feature length films from Outfest past and present, Outfest Online is available for streaming on computers now and through 2015, with new content being continually added throughout the year.
Download the app on Google Play or iTunes, or visit www.outfestonline.com today and be a part of the festival anytime and from anywhere in the United States.
Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, endorsed the Equality Act, a landmark federal non-discrimination bill that would ensure all LGBT Americans have the protections from discrimination in federal law they deserve. Its strong endorsement accompanies several other statements of support for federal LGBT non-discrimination protections, including a civil rights icon, major leaders in Corporate America, prominent Republican and Democratic members of the legal community, as well as new polling demonstrating overwhelming bipartisan support among the American public.
Introduced one month after the historic Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges that ushered in nationwide marriage equality, the Equality Act would guarantee explicit, permanent protections for LGBT people in many of the most important aspects of their lives. HRC President Chad Griffin joined individuals who have been victims of discrimination and several prominent members of Congress at a press conference today on Capitol Hill to introduce the legislation.
"The time has come for full federal equality -- nothing more, nothing less," said HRC President Chad Griffin. "While America is now a marriage equality nation, the tragic reality is that millions of LGBT Americans face persistent discrimination in their lives each and every day. In most states in this country, a couple who gets married at 10 AM is at risk of being fired from their jobs by noon and evicted from their home by 2 PM, simply for posting their wedding photos online. Congress must pass the Equality Act to ensure that LGBT people and their families are just as safe at work or at school as they are in their marriages. This bill will guarantee all LGBT Americans have the clear, permanent, and explicit protections from discrimination that they deserve.”
The Equality Act, which was introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley, Tammy Baldwin, Cory Booker, and Representative David Cicilline, has more than 140 cosponsors in the House, including Representative John Lewis, and at least 39 in the Senate. The legislation establishes explicit, permanent protections against discrimination based on an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity in matters of employment, housing, access to public places, federal funding, credit, education and jury service. In addition, it would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in federal funding and access to public places.
Earlier this week, HRC released new polling that shows support for federal non-discrimination protections exceeds even marriage equality. Likely voters support workplace non-discrimination protections by a massive 78 percent to 16 percent margin. This includes support from 90 percent of likely Democratic voters, nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of likely Republican voters, and 70 percent of observant Christians. Moreover, nearly 60 percent of voters are less likely to support a candidate who doesn’t support such protections for LGBT people, including 61 percent of Independent voters and 58 percent of Catholic voters.
“We thank Senator Merkley, Senator Baldwin, Senator Booker and Representative Cicilline for their leadership on this bill and for their tremendous commitment to LGBT equality,” said Griffin. “Everyone should have a fair chance to earn a living, provide for their families, and live their lives without fear of discrimination. This polling makes crystal clear that the American people agree, and that many are willing to vote opponents of equality out of office because fairness and equality for all is so important,” said Griffin.
Earlier today, Apple Inc.,The Dow Chemical Company, and Levi Strauss & Co., announced their support of comprehensive federal non-discrimination legislation that would establish full, federal equality for all LGBT Americans. Each of those statements are available here.
Julian Bond, chairman emeritus of the NAACP and president emeritus of the Southern Poverty Law Center, announced his support for a bill like the Equality Act earlier this month, writing in a column, “It’s time to add concrete protections for LGBT people to existing civil rights law, ensuring that sexual orientation and gender identity enjoy similar treatment as religion, national origin, and race; and guaranteeing nondiscrimination protections in employment, housing, public spaces and services, education, federal funding, and other areas.”
The acclaimed bipartisan legal team David Boies and Ted Olson, who was a Solicitor General of the United States under former President George W. Bush, announced their own support for comprehensive, federal LGBT non-discrimination legislation. “The introduction of the Equality Act marks a historic moment for our country. The patchwork of protections in this country has provided a crazy quilt of laws, threatening the livelihood of many of the same couples who fought so long and so hard to have their marriages recognized. That’s why we support the idea of a comprehensive approach to non-discrimination protections that would embrace LGBT people as other groups who are protected by our civil rights laws. We urge Republicans and Democrats to once again come together to support this important legislation that provides the same protections to LGBT people as other Americans.”
HRC polling in March showed that nearly two-thirds of LGBT Americans have experienced discrimination in their personal lives, and that nearly half have experienced discrimination in the workplace. That same polling also showed strong, bipartisan support for a federal non-discrimination bill.
Today, HRC launched a robust #31Reasons social media campaign, which will elevate stories of discrimination from across the country, and will highlight the fact that 31 states lack explicit, fully-inclusive non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. HRC also unveiled a new landing page for the legislation, HRC.org/EqualityForward, to help inform its more than 1.5 million members and supporters about what the bill does and why it should become law.
Prior to the Supreme Court’s ruling in June, HRC and the named plaintiff in last month’s Supreme Court case, Jim Obergefell, traveled across the country to highlight the need for a federal non-discrimination bill. This included stops inIndianapolis, St Louis, Phoenix and Charlotte – all cities in states that lack explicit and fully-inclusive LGBT non-discrimination laws. The tour also stopped in San Francisco, and following the Supreme Court ruling late last month, it concluded with stops in Austin and Dallas.
Last year, HRC released the report Beyond Marriage Equality, that highlighted how, historically, expansive legislation to address inequities is not unusual. The report details the history of such legislation, and highlights seven core areas where LGBT Americans lack consistent, permanent federal non-discrimination protections.
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Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) hailed the historic ruling by the European Court on Human Rights that all signatories to the European Convention of Human Rights - including countries like Turkey and Russia, where discrimination and violence against LGBT people has recently made headlines - should recognize same-sex partnerships. This ruling, which could impact 47 countries, and 800 million people, is a major step in granting greater rights and equality to LGBT people across Europe, and around the world.
The case, Oliary and Others v. Italy, was brought by plaintiffs urging Italy to recognize their legal partnerships that had been granted outside of Italy. While arguing that same-sex partnership recognition is a right, this ruling allows signatory countries to chose which form of recognition they wish confer. HRC calls on all country signatories to embrace full marriage equality.
“This ruling makes clear that same-sex partnerships deserve to be recognized, protected, and celebrated, and we urge all signatories to do so,” said Jean Freedberg, Deputy Director of HRC Global. “From the victorious national referendum in Ireland in May to the historic ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court last month, the momentum for equality reaches around the globe.”
Italy is the only country in Western Europe with no legal form of recognition for same-sex couples. As partnership recognition continues to be debated in parliament, this ruling increases the pressure on opponents of LGBT equality. However, not all rulings of the European Court on Human Rights are strictly implemented, and experts caution that immediate consequences of this ruling might be limited.
But Freedberg added, “By calling same-sex partnership recognition a right, the court has made clear to LGBT people across Europe that their unions matter and that their love is equal and should be treated as such.”
The situation for LGBT people around the world varies widely. As some countries embrace equality, in others, LGBT people continue to suffer from discrimination, persecution, and violence:
• In a growing number of countries, governments have sought to silence equality advocates and organizations with so-called “anti-propaganda” laws and legislation.
Set amidst the remote and rugged oceanside of Southern Brazil, Seashore is an exploration of friendship, sexuality and personal identity for two teenage boys, with an erotic subtext that culminates in tender and mysterious ways.
Two Brazilian high school students, Martin (Mateus Almada) and Tomaz (Mauricio Barcellos) reconnect in a windswept coastal town where Martin's grandfather recently passed away. Despite group outings and flirtations from local teenage girls, Martin and Tomaz gradually realize that their true interest lies in each other. In an abandoned seaside house, secrets are shared, old family wounds are re-opened, and together they grapple with the meanings of friendship and love, and sexual tension in a suddenly adult world.
Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, released the results of a new Democracy Corps survey from Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, demonstrating that 59% of likely 2016 voters are less likely to support a candidate who opposes non-discrimination protections for LGBT people. These results come just before a new federal LGBT non-discrimination bill is expected to be introduced in Congress.
“Opposing LGBT non-discrimination protections is costly and will grow costlier by the day,” said JoDee Winterhof, HRC Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs. “The overwhelming majority of voters who believe that LGBT people should be protected from discrimination in the workplace – a value that reaches across party lines – also makes clear that the time to pass explicit, comprehensive LGBT non-discrimination protections is long overdue.”
In March, polling conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner for HRC revealed that nearly two-thirds of LGBT Americans (63 percent) have faced discrimination in their lives, with LGBT people reporting workplace discrimination the most frequently experienced form of discrimination.
• Voters reject discrimination. By an impressive 78 percent to 16 percent, voters support protecting LGBT people from discrimination in employment. These results are very consistent with past surveys; in 2011, voters supported this proposal by a 79 to 18 percent margin.
• Support for non-discrimination unites the country. Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of likely Republican voters support protecting LGBT people from workplace discrimination, as do 90 percent of Democrats. Similarly, this legislation draws impressive majorities of support among college (84 percent) and non-college voters (73 percent), younger (85 percent) and older (75 percent), as well as observant Christians (70 percent).
• Voters will also consider this issue when voting next year. Nearly six-in-ten (59 percent) voters are less likely to support a candidate for president who opposes protecting LGBT people in the workplace. Just 27 percent are more likely and 9 percent say it would make no difference. In addition, 61 percent of Independent voters say they are less likely to support a candidate who opposes these protections, as do 58 percent of Catholic voters, and 54 percent of blue collar voters.
This could be a key issue among white millennial voters. Arguably, the most interesting group in this debate is white millennial voters (defined here as voters born between 1980 and 1997). These younger voters supported Obama in 2008, but voted Republican in 2010, 2012 and 2014, reflecting their frustration with the slow pace of change. However, they are committed to equality. A near-unanimous 86 percent support employment protections for LGBT people. Moreover, 65 percent are less likely to support a candidate who opposes these protections.
Alongside their own productions, The Young Professionals have become experts in remixes. Given the number of alternative versions produced by the Tel Aviv duet in the past months, TYP will digitally release "Remixes & Covers" on July 31st via Casablanca Records This fresh and summery compilation includes 12 of their remixes in the tracklisting. Many of them, like the one for Tove Lo on "Talking Body" ended up # 1 of the Hype Machine. Others like the one made for Borns, Imagine Dragons or the alternate version of their new single "All Of It But Me" are exclusive.
4 covers performed by the band come added to this cocktail. The first is none other than their famous resumption of Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games”. This version surprised by the quality and originality of its reinterpretation. It should be the same for the other two covers: 400 Lux (as initially performed by Lorde) and SOS (ABBA, of course!).
Ending years of fan speculation, and hot off the heels of the franchise’s well-deserved, first Emmy nomination last week, Logo today announced “RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race” will return for a second season, packed with more eleganza and double-lashed side eye than Drag Race has ever seen. A bevy of the most talked about queens in “RuPaul’s Drag Race” herstory will return to battle it out in unforgettable, wigtastic challenges as they try to sashay their way into the “Drag Race Hall of Fame” alongside Chad Michaels, who took home the first season’s All Stars crown. The second season of “RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race” is slated to premiere following the eighth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Cast details and premiere dates will be announced at a future time.
"They arrive as drag artists. They leave as international stars,” said Executive Producer, RuPaul. “The chance to bring back the best of the best for a new season of ‘All Stars’ is a dream come true for me and their legions of fans around the world."
“On the heels of Drag Race’s seventh season, one of the most buzzworthy and highly-watched seasons to date, our fans have spoken and they want more drama, more queens and more Ru,” said Pamela Post, Head of Original Programming, Logo. “From revisiting old favorites in RuVealed and All Stars, to meeting the new stars of season eight, the Drag Race party on Logo will be bigger and better than ever before.”
Can’t wait for season eight? Don’t sweat it! Fans won’t have to wait long for all new Ru. "RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 4 RuVealed" premieres with a special, 90-minute episode on Friday, July 31, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, featuring a never-before-seen look into the unforgettable fourth season of the franchise with fresh reads and enough shade to get fans through the summer heat. Each week, relive this cherished season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” with added, behind-the-scenes commentary and insider trivia from RuPaul on your favorite queens including Latrice Royale, Jiggly Caliente, Chad Michaels and season champion, Sharon Needles.
Award-winning MileHighGayGuy.com is seeking advertising sales reps. The
position requires someone who is self-motivated, detail-oriented and
who, preferably, is familiar with the GLBT community. This is a contract
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Roadside Attractions will release STONEWALL, a drama about the 1969 Stonewall riots that started America's LGBT rights movement, on September 25, 2015. Written by Jon Robin Baitz and directed by Roland Emmerich, both out gay men, the film stars Jeremy Irvine and newcomer Jonny Beauchamp, with Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Ron Perlman.
Emmerich, who also produced the film, says, "I was always interested and passionate about telling this important story, but I feel it has never been more timely than right now." Less than 50 years ago, in 1969, being gay was considered a mental illness; gay people could not be employed by the government; it was illegal for gay people to congregate, and police brutality against gays went unchecked. Today, thanks to the events set in motion by the Stonewall riots, the gay rights movement continues to make incredible strides towards equality. In the past several weeks alone, the Boy Scouts of America has moved to lift its ban on gay leaders, the Pentagon will allow transgender people to serve openly in the military, and SCOTUS has declared that same-sex marriage is legal nationwide in all 50 states.
"It was the first time gay people said 'Enough!'" explains Emmerich. "They didn't do it with leaflets or meetings, they took beer bottles and threw them at cops. Many pivotal political moments have been born by violence. If you look at the civil rights movement, at Selma and other events of that kind, it's always the same thing. Stonewall was the first time gay people stood up and they did it in their own way. Something that really affected me when I read about Stonewall was that when the riot police showed up in their long line, these kids formed their own long line and sang a raunchy song. That, for me, was a gay riot, a gay rebellion."
"What struck me was that there was a story in there, which I felt had an important message - it's the people who had the least to lose who did the fighting, not the politically active people. It was the kids that went to this club that consisted of hustlers and Scare Queens, and all kinds of people that you think would never resist the police, and they did it." And the events they set in motion would have a profound impact on the future.
Good Chemistry, Denver’s gay-friendly dispensary, is guided by four core principles: SCIENCE – Good Chemistry believes that Cannabis has significant therapeutic benefits and work to support and expand its study. ACCESS - Good Chemistry believes that many barriers exist which fundamentally restrict access to safe reliable medical grade cannabis and search for meaningful ways to remove them.
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