A member of Dogspotting Society caught this wonderful dog and his big stick on camera.
(h/t theOUTfront.com)
Daily Dog: ‘Branch Manager’
Pride Music: Superfruit “Future Friends”
Superfruit, the out pop duo who have kept the summer of 2017 bopping with creative and colorful music videos from their two-part debut album Future Friends, offered this music video for the title track in September 2017 and it’s a knockout.
Playing opponents in a boxing ring, Mitch Grassi and Scott Hoying show skill (and skin) as they sing, “So if it all ends, I promise that one day we could be future friends.”
Grassi and Hoying are also members of the uber-popular Grammy Award-winning a cappella quartet Pentatonix. Noting the different musical sensibilities between the two group, Grassi told OUT, “With Superfruit, it’s a little more gay-friendly and a lot more open, more sexual, more liberated.”
I’m a big fan not only of the duo’s music but also their unapologetically g-g-g-gay aesthetic 🙂
Since 2013, Superfruit has amassed over 335 million views on YouTube.
I’ve previously featured Superfruit’s music videos for “Imaginary Parties,” “Vacation,” “Worth It,” “Heartthrob,” and “Bad 4 Us.”
Future Friends – Part One is available on all digital download sites.
Check out the new video below.
Extremist-Right Christian Group Launches New Crowd-Funding Campaign For Homophobic Rugby Player
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| Homophobic rugby player Israel Folau |
Yesterday, I reported on homophobic Australian rugby player Israel Folau, whose hateful, anti-LGBTQ social media posts resulted in his being stripped of his multi-million dollar contract with Rugby Australia.
Looking to sue the sports organization, Folau launched a crowd-funding campaign via GoFundMe hoping to raise AUS$3 million.
But GoFundMe shut down the campaign citing terms of service violations and writing in a statement that, “We do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination or exclusion.”
Enter the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL), a Christian extremist political lobbying group, who have now set up a new fundraiser on its website with the same goal of $3 million on Folau’s behalf, kicking in the first $100,000 themselves.
As of this writing, ACL has banked over $1.5 million in just a day.
“There is an outpouring of support for Israel Folau from the Australian community, who see Israel’s case as their case,” said ACL managing director, Martyn Iles. “They feel the pinch of political correctness, and the erosion of their basic freedoms.”
“Folau’s supporters will only be emboldened in their commitment by what has happened,” adds Iles. “They were concerned about their freedoms, and GoFundMe has yet again reminded them that their concerns are real.”
“Israel’s case is our case if we want to live free and embrace our beliefs without fear of being marginalized or discriminated against.”
According to ACL, the new funds will be deposited in a trust for Folau to use only for legal expenses.
As I previously reported, TheAustralian.com says the 30-year-old rugby player is nowhere near the poor house as he owns seven homes located in and around Sydney reported to be worth over $5 million, and drives a $500,000 Lamborghini.
Why does he need his fans to pay his legal fees?
#suckers
How To Drive Away The Haters In One Sexy Kiss
When attending Pride events, eventually we come across the protesters – you know, the haters with their icky signs telling us all how we’re going to Hell.
Although now that Gay Hell exists in Michigan, who knows? Maybe we’ll take a road trip.
Anyway, most of the time I think we all just ignore them. Who knows what kind of crackpot they might turnout to be?
But other times, they can make you want to break out in a robust chorus of Taylor Swift’s, “You Need To Calm Down.”
In a video posted to Twitter, one proud gay decided he’d fight fire with lust.
There the hater stood with his “God Hates Pride” sign, complete with sayings like “When PRIDE cometh, then cometh SHAME;” “A man’s PRIDE shall bring him low;” and “The PRIDE of thine heart DECEIVED thee
Bible in hand while wearing a t-shirt with sleeves covered with large letters spelling, “REPENTANCE, the protester stood there, making his sad contribution to the day.
And then, up walks a hottie in tank top and gym shorts who begins making out with a furry, shirtless, gay wearing a rainbow bandana.
The passionate kiss works its magic quickly as the protester can’t get out of there fast enough.
Our heroes are left there to enjoy Pride (and the kiss) in peace.
#LoveIsLoveIsLove
Watch the quick clip below via Twitter.
Happy Pride, bitches #GodIsGay 🌈☺️💕 pic.twitter.com/9SK2dDNoGM— Bi Nguyen (@nguyenhbi) June 23, 2019
One More Day Until World Pride Opening Ceremony In NYC
Just a day away from the Opening Ceremony of WorldPride in New York City, Wednesday, June 26, 2019.
The event will be formatted as a benefit concert at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Proceeds from the ticket sales to this historic concert event will support Ali Forney Center, Immigration Equality, and SAGE – three leading organizations in the LGBTQIA+ movement based in New York City.
Whoopi Goldberg will host the ceremony, featuring a growing medley of acclaimed speakers and performers.
Cyndi Lauper, iconic performer for the LQBTQIA+ community and New Yorkers alike, leads the initial release of the talent line-up.
Chaka Khan, one of the world’s most gifted and celebrated musicians, will also perform at the WorldPride Opening Ceremony.
Ciara, a Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter, producer, model and actress has sold more than 23 million records and 16 million singles worldwide, including chart-topping hits “Goodies,” “Ride,” “Oh,” “1, 2 Step,” “Body Party,” and “I Bet.”
Billy Porter is a Tony and Grammy Award-winning actor, singer, director, composer, and playwright from Pittsburgh, PA. He currently stars as ‘Pray Tell’, in in the FX series “Pose,” for which he has received both a Golden Globe and Critics Choice nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series.
Todrick Hall is a multi-talented singer, rapper, actor, director, choreographer, and YouTube personality who rose to prominence on American Idol.
The Ali Forney Center is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive agency dedicated to LGBTQ homeless youths—assisting nearly 1,800 young people per year through a 24-hour Drop-In Center, which provides over 65,000 meals annually, medical and mental health services through an on-site clinic, and a scattered-site housing program.
SAGE is the world’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older people. Founded in 1978, and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is an organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources to LGBT older people and their caregivers.
Immigration Equality is the nation’s leading LGBTQ immigrant rights organization, representing and advocating for people from around the world fleeing violence, abuse and persecution because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status.
The powers that be have added even more talent to make June 26th an unforgettable evening at the Barclays Center!
Catch Alyssa Edwards, Alaska Thunderfuck, Shangela, Yvie Oddly, and Bob the Drag Queen this Wednesday at our benefit concert supporting Immigration Equality, SAGE, and Ali Forney Center.
Have you purchased your tickets to the WorldPride Opening Ceremony yet? Click here for info.
Gus Kenworthy Gets ‘Nailed’ By Michael Henry
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| Michael Henry and Gus Kenworthy |
Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy sat for an “interview via manicure” with comedian Michael Henry in this episode of Henry’s new series, Nailed.
To pass the time during the manicure, Henry inquires about a whole host of subjects in Kenworthy’s life like being an outdoorsy person, if he has openly farted in public, how he’d feel about someone rifling through his rubbish, being haunted by Henry’s pervy ghost, if he enjoys slapping folks in the face, Spam, if he would choose erections over solid food for a week, being an Alpha, and more.
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| Gus Kenworthy |
Henry’s quirky humor lands as always, and Kenworthy shows a talent for taking part in the witty repartee.
Check it out below.
Iran: Trump White House Is ‘Mentally Retarded’
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| Donald Trump |
“Idiotic and outrageous” is how Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani characterized Donald Trump’s sanctions against Supreme Leader Aytollah Ali Khanenei.
Rouhani also described the White House as “afflicted by mental retardation.”
From USA Today:
Rouhani noted that Western banking restrictions are unlikely to affect Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, saying the 80-year-old leader of the Islamic Revolution isn’t getting rich off of Western bank accounts. Imposing sanctions on Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif doesn’t equate with Trump’s stated willingness to negotiate without preconditions, Rouhani added.
“You sanction the foreign minister simultaneously with a request for talks” he would lead, Rouhani said. “The White House is afflicted by mental retardation and does not know what to do.”
The sanctions, issued less than a week after Iran shot down a U.S. drone, will block transactions involving any property or other assets Iran’s leaders hold in the USA, the White House said.
not going to end well.. #IranNuclearDeal #Sanctions #StraitOfHormuz #Oil – #Iran‘s President Hassan Rouhani Tuesday called the White House “mentally retarded”, dismissing latest round of sanctions as pointless, declaring Iran is never to be intimidated. pic.twitter.com/QXKQMOmLfY— TraderStef (@TraderStef) June 25, 2019
My Favorite Thing Today: Lavender
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| Lavender (image via Twitter/rufusgifford) |
Former U.S. Ambassador and Congressional candidate Rufus Gifford shared this performance by a young woman named Lavender at his local Pride event in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
Lavender performs “Part of Your World” from the Disney classic, The Little Mermaid.
From Gifford’s social media:
A young woman comes on stage in Fitchburg. Introduces herself as Lavender.
She tells us that she’s blind and autistic and wants to sing a song in honor of LGBT pride month.
And then she blows us all away and brings us to tears…
Wait… you are not prepared.
A young woman comes on stage today in Fitchburg. Introduces herself as Lavender. Tells us that she blind and autistic and wants to sing a song in honor of LGBT Pride.She sings one of my favorite songs and brings us tears. pic.twitter.com/cYWJNxJDNY
— Rufus Gifford (@rufusgifford) June 23, 2019
We’ve seen special moments at Pride events across the country – marriage proposals at Pride events, straight ‘country boy’ allies in Oklahoma show up for us, and more.
What I love about this video, and the story behind it, is how Pride events, large and small, can remind us of our better selves; that we celebrate the fabulousness of how different we all are and that diversity makes us better people.
Lavender not only delivers a powerful performance, but a powerful Pride message with the lyrics of “Part of Your World.”
Lavender has been singing in her local church group for years, thanks to her dads, Wil Darcangelo and Jamie Cormier.
Darcangelo founded a youth music group called the Tribe Music Mentorship Project that offers kids and young people, many from challenging backgrounds, opportunities to create music, books, art and more.
What I do know is even if Lavender weren’t blind, or autistic, she would be just as awesome for wanting to share her considerable gifts with the LGBTQ crowd.
With so much coming at us from many directions these days, let’s celebrate Lavender and the message she sends.
I’m honored she’s ‘part of our world.’
Warren Proposal Could Mean Tax Refunds For Married Same-Sex Couples
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| Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) |
Massachusetts Senator and presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren has proposed a plan to allow married same-sex couples to possibly recoup some of the taxes they paid before the federal government recognized marriage equality.
Warren recently re-introduced her proposal, titled ‘The Refund Equality Act,’ in the U.S. Senate.
Originally introduced by Warren in 2017, the goal of the legislation would be to allow same-sex couples to file amended tax returns in order to collect funds they paid when they were legally married but not allowed to file as married couples.
Current law allows Americans to file amended returns reaching back as far as three years, but Warren’s proposal would give same-sex married couples the right to re-file returns for the entire period the couple has been married.
In a statement, Warren said, “The federal government forced legally married same-sex couples in Massachusetts to file as individuals and pay more in taxes for almost a decade.”
It wasn’t until marriage equality became law that gay & lesbian couples could jointly file tax returns—so they paid more in taxes. Our government owes them more than $50M for the years our discriminatory tax code left them out. We must right these wrongs. https://t.co/OZQcfVilSs— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) June 23, 2019
In 2004, Warren’s state of Massachusetts became the first in the nation to recognize same-sex marriage.
But it wasn’t until the 2013 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. v. Windsor, that the federal government (including the Internal Revenue Service) allowed LGBTQ married couples to access some of the tax advantages of being married.
For instance, I married my husband in 2003 in Toronto, Canada. While it was a beautiful, emotional day in my life, once we returned to the U.S. it was (in legal terms) largely ceremonial as it wasn’t recognized at home.
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| Michael and I getting married in Toronto in 2003 |
Living in California at the time, other than my using the actual term ‘husband’ to refer to my guy, it didn’t count for much in terms of legal standing until the state Supreme Court ordered same-sex marriages recognized in 2008.
Proposition 8 interfered with that, but after a long back and forth, we were allowed to keep our legal status. But, that’s another story…
But, as our marriage wasn’t recognized by the federal government, we continued to file our tax returns as “Single.”
Until – the Windsor decision.
Our accountant did take advantage of the new filing status, and I can tell you it made a BIG difference in our taxes.
CNBC reports that “married couples have access to higher standard deductions: $24,400 for joint filers in 2019, compared to $12,200 for singles.”
Additionally, couples who file jointly enjoy wider income tax brackets compared to singles.
That’s not to say every couple would benefit financially from refiling their returns.
Known as the “marriage penalty,” two spouses who have similar incomes might end up in a higher tax bracket.
But in the case of married couples where one spouse makes more/less than the other, the joint tax bill could be lower.
The Joint Committee on Taxation reported last week that perhaps $57 million could be reclaimed under Warren’s legislation.
Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) has introduced the companion bill in the House as well.
Monday Man Crush
Interestingly, most of my life I’ve usually been one to notice dark, swarthy men (Italian, Latino, etc…).
But InstaHunk Steve_in_LA is such a hottie.
And his bestie there is pretty handsome, too.