MTV transforms dads into queens in new heartwarming makeover series, “Drag My Dad”

Bob the Drag Queen is hosting the ultimate makeover show that presents a whole new approach to family bonding, MTV’s “Drag My Dad.” Each episode centers on a young adult who is at a crucial point in their life and struggling to connect with their dad. From bold contours to runway walks, Bob and his team of experts jump in to offer families a hilarious and tear-jerking experience, teaching these dads what it’s like to take a walk in someone else’s size 14 heels! The new digital original series airs every Monday on MTV Facebook.

In yesterday’s premiere episode on Facebook, Amanda gave her dad Bret the makeover of a lifetime. After Amanda’s mother and father divorced, her relationship with her dad has never been the same. Amanda hopes glamming up her dad will help bring out the happy-go-lucky, fun guy he once was, and remind him that it is okay to laugh even if life doesn’t turn out as you expect.

DDFL: Keep pets safe and calm during July 4 festivities

The Fourth of July is coming up. The holiday and the days leading up to it are sure to be full of picnics, fun and fireworks! While many of us find the sights and sounds exciting, fireworks and other elements of our celebrations may frighten cats and dogs, causing them to panic and escape the confines of a yard or even the house.

To help protect pets during the festivities, here are some tips for pet owners: 

• Keep your pet indoors during fireworks celebrations in a quiet, isolated room with covered windows, such as a bathroom, or a basement where there are no windows. Turn on a fan, radio or TV to muffle the sound of fireworks. These devices provide familiar indoor sounds and may help soothe your pet if he must be alone on this noisy holiday.
• Don’t bring your pet to a fireworks display.
• If you know from experience that your pet will suffer from severe anxiety caused by the loud noise of fireworks, consider talking with your veterinarian in advance about giving your pet a mild tranquilizer.
• If your pet behaves nervously by pacing, whining or crying, try playing with her as a distraction or doing something she enjoys.
• Make sure your pet always wears an appropriately fitted collar and an I.D. tag with your current phone number and address. Your pet should also be wearing a current license/rabies tag.
• You may want to talk with your veterinarian about providing your pet with a microchip identification implant in case your pet loses his collar and tags. And if your pet already has a microchip, make sure the contact information is up to date.
• More tips for helping your pets cope with fireworks can be found by clicking here.
• If you find a lost pet, take it to your nearest animal shelter. You can also place a “found” ad in your local paper, on websites like Finding Rover, Next Door, Facebook or Craigslist and post notices around your neighborhood.
• If your pet does go missing, check the website of the shelter closest to you, then check our Lost & Found page to look for your lost pet. Additionally, follow these tips to give your pet the best chance of returning home quickly and safely.

LGBTQ Elected Officials Increased by 24.9% in Past Year; New Report Shows 698 LGBTQ Elected Officials Serve Nationwide

There are 698 known openly LGBTQ elected officials in the United States – a 24.9 percent increase in the past year – according to LGBTQ Victory Institute’s 2019 Out for America report, which was released today. The increase is attributable to the growing number of LGBTQ people running for office, an increase in those willing to run openly, and incumbent elected officials who are deciding to come out. The report also shows LGBTQ elected officials continue to become more diverse – with LGBTQ people of color, bisexual and transgender people, and cisgender women elected officials increasing at a faster rate than white people and gay men.

While the growth in LGBTQ elected officials was strong, America must elect 22,688 more LGBTQ people to public office to achieve equitable representation in government.

Among the report’s key findings:

• 698 known LGBTQ elected officials are currently serving in the U.S., just 0.13 percent of all elected officials nationwide;
• LGBTQ elected officials of color increased by 36 percent compared to 21.1 percent among white LGBTQ elected officials; and
• Bisexual elected officials increased by 126 percent and transgender elected officials by 53.8 percent.

The report also found a 22.5 percent increase in LGBTQ state legislators over the past year and a 34.9 percent increase over the past two years.

“While LGBTQ elected officials are increasing in number and becoming more diverse, LGBTQ people – and especially LGBTQ people of color, bisexual and transgender people – remain severely underrepresented at every level of government,” said Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Institute. “This must be a call-to-action for our community. LGBTQ candidates face obstacles and inequities that many who run for office do not face, yet voters are ready to elect us if we run. It is our responsibility to encourage leaders in our community to run for office and be our voice in the halls of power.”

The Out for America report is an annual analysis of LGBTQ elected representation in government based on Victory Institute’s LGBTQ elected officials database – the largest and most comprehensive listing available. The interactive Out for America map displays all known LGBTQ elected officials and is available at outforamerica.org.

GQ Celebrates Pride: Rapper Kevin Abstract Kicks Off a Week of LGBTQ+ Coverage 50 Years to the Date of the Stonewall Riots

GQ today begins its Pride Week coverage, with its first ever Pride digital cover, starring rapper Kevin Abstract of music group Brockhampton. The week culminates on June 29, World Pride Day, and leads straight into NYC Pride, on June 30. Coming off the brand’s second consecutive GLAAD nomination, this year’s hub is part of an ongoing effort to amplify marginalized voices.

Highlights of the Upcoming Pride Coverage:

Kevin Abstract

The rapper and Brockhampton frontman stars in the first ever GQ Pride digital cover with a Q&A by critically acclaimed playwright Jeremy O. Harris. Highlights include informal therapy sessions led by Shia LaBeouf, and addressing the Brockhampton #MeToo moment that led to losing a member.

Allyship Roundtable

Thoughtful interviews with LGBTQ leaders, activists, and celebrities on what allyship means in 2019. Participants include Adam Rippon, Wilson Cruz, Margaret Cho, Nina West, Nico Santos, Alaska Thunderfuck, Hayley Kiyoko, Chella Man, Jenna Wortham, Daya, Jacob Tobia, Ali Krieger, and Billy Porter

The Commodification of Pride Style

GQ unpacks who Pride is really for this year: the LGBTQ community, or the big brands trying to make it about them.

Sasha Velour

The winner of season 9 of RuPaul’s Drag Race explores drag kings, an oft-overlooked group in the drag community..

Steven Canals Profile

The creator of Pose discusses what the show means to the LGBTQ community.

Sam Ratelle Q&A

Billy Porter’s stylist breaks down the star’s iconic looks.

Ocean Vuong Q&A

The poet and TS Eliot Prize-winner speaks in depth about his new novel, writing gay sex scenes, and being basic.

MUNA Profile

The queer-identifying musical trio talk about addressing sexuality and gender in music, and touring with Harry Styles.

FIRE: University's censorship of a Lady Gaga sign a 'Shallow' move

By Daniel Burnett

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, a national civil liberties and free speech organization, intervened on behalf of University of Central Arkansas librarians who were censored by their university for displaying a pro-LGBTQ library sign featuring a quote from Lady Gaga. FIRE's letter to President Houston Davis explains how the First Amendment doesn't allow such censorship at a public university, and calls on him to rescind his censorship of the Lady Gaga library sign. 

"We see President Houston Davis' poker face and are calling his bluff," said Adam Steinbaugh, author of FIRE's letter. "Librarians at UCA are entitled to expressive rights — and FIRE will defend them." 

Censoring the librarians’ sign amounts to viewpoint discrimination prohibited by the First Amendment and principles of academic freedom in several ways: 

• As a public institution, the University of Central Arkansas is bound by the First Amendment.
• The expression is by librarians or the library, not the university as an institution.
• The expression takes place in a designated public forum.
 
Librarians at UCA are faculty members entitled to the full spectrum of expressive and academic freedom. That’s especially true in Arkansas, where the legislature recently passed — and the governor signed — a law discouraging its public universities from censoring campus expression, including by faculty members, that others might find inappropriate. 

The Arkansas Times reported last week that President Davis communicated with Republican Sen. Jason Rapert and university trustees before ordering the sign's removal.
FIRE urges President Davis to quickly restore the sign as Pride Month draws to a close. I am happy to connect you with a FIRE representative to speak on this further.

P.S. FIRE has set up a form where you and your readers can write directly to President Davis to tell him to respect expressive rights. Help FIRE fight back against censorship.

Hot Chip - Spell

 

Last Friday, Hot Chip released A Bath Full Of Ecstasy, their brilliant seventh album and the group’s definitive release, crystallizing the sound they’ve become celebrated for – bridging euphoria and melancholy with colorful melodies, idiosyncratic vocalizations and pounding electronic pop rhythms.

Ahead of their show at Glastonbury this weekend – where they headline the Park Stage on Saturday – the band have shared a video for album track “Spell."

Having originally started life as a track for Katy Perry (Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard contributed to her 2017 album Witness), “Spell” showcases some of the more experimental vocal production found on A Bath Full of Ecstasy. Taylor’s vocals are manipulated to be playful and free, without obfuscating the words; harking to Prince’s gender-bending infectious lust.

Nice To See StevieB: Tasty Tasty Murder

By StevieB

I was always that guy who brought that green box to the BBQ. There is always one; you host a cookout and spend a lot of time shaping and flavoring burgers to grill, and someone shows up with a Garden Burger box and asks you to place the frozen, grey pucks on the corner of the grill. Yep. I was the guy who smeared his sense of personal superiority on the plant-based food item like mustard. Side eyeing the cow murderers. All while clouds of dust came from my mouth as I chewed on the cardboardish facsimile of a real burger patty.

I was thinking about this as I was line at Brother’s BBQ Sunday afternoon. I was deciding whether I had to start the charade that I was buying a full rack of ribs for my large, and hungry family. Instead I made a stand; I ordered my full rack, proud to be free from the meat-binge closet. Oh, how time changes you.

That being said, I still have the "Meat is Murder" bumper sticker boy living inside of me. He will always be there. I have to say, I am happy eating at my local vegan restaurant and maintaining a plant based diet. My freezer is filled those green boxes of Garden Burgers frosting away. And yet, there are a few times when the carnivorous cow or pig hating murderer comes out. I guess the saying of "Everything in Moderation" is true.

Editors note: full rack eaten in record time.

Take the 2019 LGBTQ Military & Veteran Community Survey

By Jennifer L. Dane, M.A. (she/her), Director, Education & Programs, Modern Military Association of America

We’re excited to announce that our ground-breaking 2019 Modern Military Annual Survey is now live.

Your voice matters, and we want to hear from you!

Our Modern Military Annual Survey will be a crucially important tool in ensuring your voice is heard as we advocate for our community in the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. As a member of the LGBTQ military and veteran community, your insight will ensure that we’re able to better serve our modern military families through education, advocacy and support.

Not only will sharing your experiences make a real difference, but as a thank you for taking the time to participate, your name will also be entered into a drawing for a brand new Facebook Portal.

So get started now.

World of Wonder Premieres New Documentary ‘Stonewall Outloud’

Last night, Emmy-winning media company World of Wonder, the creative minds behind RuPaul’s Drag Race, Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, and Out of Iraq, premiered their newest documentary Stonewall Outloud at Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. The event was attended by project producers and directors Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato (World of Wonder co-founders); stars featured in the documentary including Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, Daniel Franzese, Amber Whittington, Isis King, Alexis G. Zall and Laith Ashley, plus special guests Alec Mapa, Billie Lee, Rebecca Black, Chester Lockhart and more. After the star-studded reception and screening, producers and directors spoke to a crowd of 300.

Narrated by RuPaul, Stonewall Outloud is directed and produced by World of Wonder in association with YouTube Originals and Storycorps. In the powerful documentary, contemporary voices in the LGBTQ community lip-synch over recordings of individuals who were actually present at the Stonewall riots, bringing their voices to life for the next generation. Stonewall Outloud premieres to the public June 28th on the World of Wonder YouTube Channel, WOWPresents, and has a one-week theatrical run June 21 – 27, 2019 in Santa Monica.

World Pride and the State of Human Rights of LGBTIQ People Around the World

On Sunday, 30 June 2019, 50 years after the spontaneous riots in protest against police raids and shaming of LGBTIQ people at the Stonewall Inn gave rise to the contemporary LGBTIQ and Pride movement, New York will host the World Pride. World Pride is designed to shine a spotlight on LGBTIQ issues globally, including in countries where Pride events cannot take place for security, legislation or capacity reasons. 

OutRight will take part in the World Pride march celebrating progress in the recognition of LGBTIQ equality globally, while also drawing attention to the horrific conditions LGBTIQ people around the world continue to face:

• 68 countries, and several territories, still criminalize same-sex relations, in a handful of which the death penalty can be applied;
• In 55 countries LGBTIQ organizations cannot legally register;
• In 30 countries no LGBTIQ organizations exist at all, whether registered or unregistered;
• LGBTIQ people are subjected to harmful and ineffective “conversion therapies”, recognized to be tantamount to torture by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, around the world;
• Only 9 countries have explicit anti-discrimination protection on grounds of sex characteristics, and only 3 ban non-consensual normalizing surgeries on intersex children;
• Over the last year alone persecutions of perceived LGBTIQ people, predominantly gay and bisexual men, continued with impunity in Chechnya; Brunei passed a final phase of Sharia law envisaging death by stoning for honor crimes including same-sex relations; the US administration announced plans to challenge the existence of trans people by defining gender as a binary, immutable condition based in biology; Kenya's High Court Refused to decriminalize same-sex relations claiming it may, indirectly, open the door to same-sex marriage, to name a few.

In addition to existing conditions which make LGBTIQ people not only second class citizens, but even criminals in a large part of the world, a backlash against gender and LGBTIQ people’s equality has been growing even in countries which have previously been champions of human rights. The so-called anti-gender movement has grown in strength and number, spanning across hateful civil society, religious groups and, increasingly, state actors, aiming to challenge the existence of and exclude LGBTIQ people from human rights protections, halt gender equality efforts, restrict sexual and reproductive health and rights, and preserve a social order based on outdated, harmful gender roles.
Jessica Stern, Executive Director of OutRight Action International commented:

“50 years after the symbolic first Pride at the Stonewall riots, Pride continues to serve as a symbol of the global movement for LGBTIQ equality. In New York, the anger and determination which sparked the first riots have been replaced by celebration. Yet, in far too many places around the world, where violence and murder of LGBTIQ people remains a daily reality, Pride, in the vast variety of forms it takes, continues to be an expression of protest and defiance, an affirmation of our existence, and a message to authorities that they can not get away with denying us our basic rights.

Amid deserved celebration for progress in New York, the recent decriminalization of same-sex relations in Bhutan and Botswana, or legalization of same-sex marriage in Ecuador and Taiwan, to name a few, let us also march in the same spirit of protest that the first marches embodied. For even in countries with long histories of Pride, in countries which have been heralded as champions of LGBTIQ equality, a backlash has been growing. Although trans women were at the forefront of the Stonewall Riots, trans rights have lagged behind, and now, 50 years later, are coming under even more attack. Evidently, we have quite the battle ahead before LGBTIQ people everywhere can live free to be who they are, love whom they choose, free from fear of violence, hate and persecution.”

The Fabulous Billy Porter Releases New Single 'Love Yourself'

Tony and Grammy Award-Winner Billy Porter releases his new single “Love Yourself” out now on The Butler Music Company Inc. The track was written and produced by transgender artist/producer D. Smith and Executive-Produced by Bill Butler and Carmen Cacciatore.

Said Porter, “I’m thrilled to be spreading the message of self-love to my community whose humanity and worth have been up for legislation for way too long. On this 50th anniversary of Stonewall I’m proud to unite with my LGBTQ brothers & sisters to remind the world that we’re here and we ain’t goin’ nowhere. Love always wins!”

Said songwriter/producer D. Smith, “Billy's talent and his platform are the perfect vessels for such an urgent message. As a proud African-American transgender woman and music producer, I just knew he would be the right messenger for this song and I was right, he killed it! It was an amazing experience working with Billy in the studio and I am thrilled to have written and produced the track for him. My LGBTQIA+ friends and family need to hear this. The world needs to hear it as well.”

During World Pride programming this year, Porter will serve as co-host of ABC’s telecast of the Pride March in New York City, and will serve as one of the Grand Marshals alongside his POSE co-stars. In addition, Porter will serve as Master of Ceremonies for CFDA and Susanne Bartsch’s Love Ball III, taking place on June 25th at Gotham Hall in New York City.

One Colorado: LGBTQ Perspectives on the Economy, Housing, Mental Health, and Substance Use

By Cara Cheevers, MSW, Policy Director, One Colorado

We've partnered with the Colorado Health Foundation to release Economy, Housing, Mental Health and Substance Use: Perspectives of LGBT Coloradans. The brief explores the experiences, beliefs, and values of LGBTQ Coloradans compared to non-LGBTQ Coloradans on issues related to the economy, housing, mental health, and substance use, and the results tell an important story.

• Despite the growth in Colorado's economy, LGBTQ Coloradans aren't benefiting from that growth like non-LGBTQ Coloradans.

• LGBTQ Coloradans are more likely to struggle to find a place to live that they can afford. 

• LGBTQ Coloradans are more likely to experiences challenges in accessing mental, behavioral, and recovery health services that they need.

This affirms what you've told us and what's documented in our most recent health report Closing the Gap: The Turning Point for LGBTQ Health. We know that despite the incredible progress we've made to advance the rights and protections of LGBTQ Coloradans in this state, we have so much more work to do. We can't do it with you.

You can contribute to the momentum we've built by donating today. For every $30 donated, we are able to print and distribute five copies of Closing the Gap. Can you join us helping to close the gap between legal and lived equality by donating $30, $60, or $90 today?

Föllakzoid unveil 'IIII" from forthcoming album 'I'

Föllakzoid grows via depuration, aiming with each record to fill longer spaces of time with fewer and fewer elements. The creative perspective of the band has always been about unlearning the narrative and musical knowledge that shape the physical and digital formats and conceptions available, both visually and musically in order to make a time-space metric structure that dissolves both the author and the narrative paradigms. Today they've unveiled the last quarter - "IIII" - of their forthcoming, four-part record 'I' which sees its release on Sacred Bones August 1.

Föllakzoid's journey began 10 years ago as a trance experience between childhood friends Domingae and Diego from Santiago, Chile. Heavily informed by the heritage of the ancient music of the Andes, the band has learned to integrate their origins with contemporary sounds and technologies of our times, creating a rich yet minimal electronic-organic atmosphere.

Unlike past Föllakzoid records that were done in single takes with the full band, this record took three months to construct out of more than 60 separate stems - guitars, bass, drums, synthesizers, and vocals, all recorded in isolation. Producer Atom TM, who was not present for recording, was then asked to re-organize the four sequences of stems without any length, structural restrictions or guidelines. Those sequences ultimately became the four long tracks that appear on 'I'.

The result of this was a set of songs where neither the band's, nor the producer's, structural vision primarily shaped the metric or tonal space shifts, but where both were still subliminally present in each of the parts that form the structure and the frequency modulations that guide them.

Cocktails: This Summer Serve Up a Delicious Hibiscus Margarita

Chef and Food Blogger, Leigh Ann Chatagnier shares a delicious summer cocktail recipe for Hibiscus Margaritas.
 Hibiscus Margarita: Serves Two

Says Leigh Ann, "Have you ever made anything with dried hibiscus flowers? More than likely you have had a hibiscus tea or at least seen it, but I am here you tell you that you need to make a cocktail with it too! This margarita is the perfect balance of sweet, floral, and tart and is super refreshing! It is going to make your summer celebrations complete, not to mention it’s an absolute gorgeous color thanks to those little dried flowers!

Whether or not you are planning on hosting a party, or are just going to be hanging at home with your family, I am pretty sure this cocktail need to be on your summer menu!"

Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Dried Hibiscus Flowers (Usually spice shops carry them and so does World Market or you can order online!)

1/2 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Sugar or Agave
2 Oz. Tequila
1/2 Cup Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice
1/4 Cup Kosher or Maldon Salt for Rimming Glasses

Directions:
In a small saucepan make hibiscus simple syrup by combining dried hibiscus flowers, water, and sugar and bring to a boil stirring until sugar has dissolved.

Turn off heat and let steep for 5 minutes.

Strain the syrup, removing the dried hibiscus flowers and let chill completely.

Take a lime wedge and go around the edge of two glasses.

Pour salt onto a plate or into a bowl and dip the limed rimmed glasses into the salt.

Fill the two glasses with crushed ice and add lime juice, tequila, and hibiscus syrup to a cocktail shaker and shake well to combine and then pour over the ice into two glasses.

Garnish and serve immediately. 

Ariana and the Rose celebrates Pride with anthemic “True Love”

 

Ariana and the Rose is known for creating “vibrant, club-ready” bops (Consequence of Sound) that feel like a throwback to classic '80s synth pop while also being undeniably current. And in time for Pride Month, today she drops “True Love," her most irresistibly jubilant song yet, honoring the universal power of love regardless of sexual orientation, skin color, or age.

The video premieres today, pulling together six real-life couples from different walks of life who give glimpses into their respective relationships to share what “true love” means to them.

Of the video, Ariana said “each of these couples are so different and it was amazing to see their dynamic come out as we filmed them. It was so full of joy and the shoot really felt like a celebration. Love is contagious and my hope is that the video inspires someone who go tell the people they love how muc

“True Love” has already been making appearances in Ariana’s live setlist, including earlier this month at Sacramento Pride and also at her immersive, inclusive nightlife “light + space” parties in NYC where the song has gotten audiences singing along with its infectious chorus. It will appear on the first installment of Ariana and the Rose’s upcoming two-part ‘Constellations’ EP (part one out July 26th; part two set for a 2020 release).

The four-track EP will also include the provocative first single “You Were Never My Boyfriend” (“you’ll be in love with this anthem for those what-the-hell-was-that type relationships we’ve all been in” – New Now Next), and an unexpectedly dark, ruminating cover of *NSYNC’s iconic “Bye Bye Bye.”