LGBTQ news and entertainment
The Brazilian state of Rio De Janeiro has become the tenth in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage.
The other Brazilian states to allow it are São Paulo, Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Alagoas, Sergipe, Piauí, Ceará. The Federal District allows it as well.
Marriages conducted in any of these ten states are recognized nationwide.
Completely right up my alley – with interviews with Lindsay Wagner, Lynda Carter and a host of women’s rights icons.
Airs this weekend on PBS.
“Turns what could’ve just been a flat history of a comic book character into a brief study of female empowerment in the last century.” -– Wired.com
The Chippendales released these photos of Ian Ziering backstage with the iconic group during his first visit to the show in prepartion for his summer gig as the Chipps newest celebrity Guest Host.
I’m thinking he fits right in. Thoughts?
Via CBS News:
A law enforcement official told CBS News the two suspected bombers have been preliminarily identified. They are believed to be from Chechnya or Turkey. They have been in the United States a little over a year. The two men are not students. They are legal permanent residents of the U.S.
The sources said the two are brothers, 19 and 20.
One has been identified as Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev of Cambridge, Mass., known as the man in the white hat from the marathon surveillance footage, CBS News reports. The suspect who was killed has been identified as Tamerlan Tsarnaev, CBS News reports.
State Department records helped the FBI identify the suspects, CBS News’ Bob Orr reports.
Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis says he is “armed and dangerous.”
The Boston Globe is reporting:
One suspect in Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings has been captured, according to an official with knowledge of the investigation. Another remains on the loose in Watertown after a firefight with police. Authorities have established a 20-block perimeter as they search for him.
A scene of chaos descended on Cambridge and Watertown late Thursday night and early Friday morning, as police confirmed an MIT police officer was shot and killed, and an apparent carjacking led police on a wild chase into Watertown. Witnesses in Watertown said they heard explosions. Police officers were screaming about improvised explosive devices.
Authorities would not comment on whether the events were connected to Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings. At least one of the suspects in Watertown appeared to be a man in his 20s. FBI agents were on the scene in Watertown. The FBI source said early Friday it is “too early to speculate” on a relation to the Marathon bombing.
Via NBC News.
Law enforcement sources said the suspects have international links and have been in the country legally for about a year. The suspects approached the MIT officer and shot him in head, the sources said. The two then stole the MIT officer’s cruiser, robbed a nearby 7-11 and carjacked a Mercedes SUV, briefly kidnapping the driver, the sources said. At various points, the suspects threw explosives out the window of the moving car. The dead suspect had an improvised explosive device strapped to his chest and the law enforcement sources warned that the suspect on the run may as well.
(via JMG)
Just realized “Ollies To Go” is just around the corner from where I’m staying in NYC.
I discovered Ollie’s about 20 years ago when I lived here full time. Great chinese food: dumplings, cold sesame noodles, orange chicken, everything…
So excited it’s so close. I stopped and got some things to snack on tonight.
Yay, NYC!
Look at all the pretty people who braved the rain to show up and show support for marriage equality in Minnesota!
It’s been a really great day of news regarding the enormous amount of support the LGBT community sees in our allies.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
(via JMG)
Bishop Watterson, a Catholic High School in Clintonville, Ohio, has students and other supporters rallying around Carla Hale, a physical education teacher who was fired by the school after an anonymous parent informed them that her partner’s name had appeared in her mother’s obituary.
The Columbus Dispatch reports:
Hale, a physical-education teacher who taught at Watterson for 19 years, said she has filed a grievance under the terms of the contract, seeking her job back. Her attorney, Thomas Tootle, said they are exploring other legal options.
Hale, a practicing Methodist, said she also hopes the reaction to her dismissal spurs Catholic leaders to reconsider their stance on gay relationships.
Hale did not discuss her sexual orientation or her partner with students or teachers. No charges were filed saying she ever demonstrated anything but a professional manner in her work. A Change.org petition to reinstate her now has more than 10,000 signatures.
The Dispatch adds that Hale’s firing may violate city law:
Students have left testimonies in support of Hale.
Wrote Amanda Lux:
Wrote Lauren Bogenrief:
Representative Jim Costa (D-CA), who was one of seven House Democrats who have not taken a position on same-sex marriage, has stated he is in support of it in a message quietly posted on the HRC website:
The six House Democrats who have note yet taken a position are Cedric Richmond (LA), Kurt Schrader (OR), David Scott (GA), Terry Sewell (AL), Bennie Thompson (MS), and freshman Filemon Vela (TX).
(via Towleroad)
…as an ally of equality!
Brett Ratner has produced and directed a campaign in collaboration with GLAAD promoting allies of the LGBT community to “come out” and stand up for their friends..
They feature a number of well-known celebs and allies “coming out of the closet” for equality.
Jackie Chan, Tamala Jones, Giada De Laurentiis, DeRay Davis, Hudson Taylor, Jaime King, Jason Alexander, Kristen Johnston, Sarah Shahi, and Pauley Perrette are featured in the first set. I’ve posted four of them above.
According to GLAAD, “Comcast and NBCUniversal will serve as a leading media partner for the PSA campaign, contributing $1.5 million in national airtime on its Xfinity TV cable systems and bringing this important message to more than 20 million homes over the next year.”
Visit www.glaad.org/ally to join the Ally Network and take action for LGBT equality.