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Corporations Ask UK Parliament To Legalize Same-Sex Marriage In Northern Ireland

Several major corporations have signed on to a letter urging the UK Parliament in London to introduce legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.

Marriage equality has been the law of the land in England, Scotland and Wales since 2014, and the Republic of Ireland voted for marriage equality via public referendum in 2015.

That leaves Northern Ireland as the only part of Western Europe to not allow LGBT couples to marry. The only legal recognition available for same-sex couples are civil unions thanks to UK-wide legislation passed in 2005.

According to Gay Star News, the Northern Ireland government has been practically non-functional for almost 600 days since rival parties stopped working together.

The list of over two dozen multinational businesses supporting the marriage equality letter to Parliament include Coca-Cola, IBM, Bank of Ireland, Deloitte, Citi Belfast and Pinsent Masons.

The argument for marriage equality isn’t just based on rights and equality, says John O’Doherty, Director of The Rainbow Project and member of the Love Equality consortium.

According to O’Doherty, “There is also an important economic argument for legalizing same-sex marriage.”

“Equality, diversity and inclusion contribute to a happy and productive workforce and can help in attracting global talent to Northern Ireland,” says O’Doherty. “However, without full legal recognition of same-sex marriages retaining and attracting talent can be difficult.”

Petre Sandru, Country Manager for Coca-Cola Ireland, agrees.

“As one of the world’s most inclusive brands, Coca-Cola celebrates diversity, inclusion and equality,” says Sandru. “At Coca-Cola, we know that creating an environment where everyone can reach their full potential, regardless of gender age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, ability or socio-economic background, is key to driving businesses forward.”

Corporate support has been shown to be a powerful component in the fight for equal rights.

In 2015, hundreds of major companies signed on to an amicus brief in support of marriage equality as the U.S. Supreme Court weighed the issue.

And in Australia, Coca-Cola, Quantas Airlines and more voiced their support for same-sex marriage as the country readied to vote in a mail-in referendum which eventually led to marriage equality becoming legal ‘down under’ in January of this year.

(h/t Gay Star News)

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Poll: Vast Majority Of Americans Support Roe v. Wade

Judge Brett Kavanaugh

 A new poll by Axios/SurveyMonkey shows the vast majority of Americans want Roe v. Wade to be left alone.

The results of the new survey come as the U.S. Senate is weighing the nomination of conservative Judge Brett Kavanaugh for the U.S. Supreme Court.

Legal eagles are concerned Kavanaugh could flip the high court to a solid conservative bent that might overturn the groundbreaking abortion ruling.

According to the survey, 71% of respondents say they would NOT like to see SCOTUS make abortions illegal, while 23% do support a change in the law.

Axios points out that even rural voters, who skew conservative, want Roe v. Wade to remain the law of the land.

Additionally, the poll found a plurality of Americans disapprove of the choice of Kavanaugh, 48% – 44%.

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Hollywood Reporter: Henry Cavill Will Not Return As “Superman”

Henry Cavill and his ‘super’ alter-ego (image via Instagram)

 Color me sad as the news arrives that Henry Cavill (and his awesomely furry chest) will not appear as “Superman” in any future Warner Bros. DC films.

Cavill has played “Superman” in three films, including Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017).

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warners had been after Cavill to make a cameo in the upcoming Shazam flick starring Zachary Levi. But negotiations appear to have fallen apart and as THR writes, “The door is now closing on other potential Superman appearances.”

Several theories are being bandied about as to the shift in “super-strategy.”

While one Warners source told THR that ‘scheduling conflicts’ cause the deal to disintegrate (Cavill recently signed to star in the new Netflix series, The Witcher),  another source claims the Witcher offer came after the Warners negotiations.

One studio insider suggested that Warners is merely going for the commonly attempted “reset button” on the DC universe of films after admitting “some parts of the previous movies didn’t work.”

I’ll tell you what DID work – THIS:

(screen capture)

THR also mentions that with so many DC films in the pipeline Warners isn’t likely to produce a stand-alone Superman film anytime in the near future.

Not only is the Jason Momoa Aquaman movie set to arrive this December, but Wonder Woman 1984 is due in theaters November 2019, and openly queer Ezra Miller is scheduled to start shooting a Flash movie in early 2019.

Additional reports say Warners is shifting focus to a Supergirl origin movie.

Comparing the Superman franchise to the James Bond films, a studio source said, “Superman is like James Bond, and after a certain run you have to look at new actors.”

Along that same line of thinking, THR mentions that Oscar winner Ben Affleck is not likely to return as “Batman.”

Cavill fans might be able to hold out some hope, though.

On Twitter this morning, Cavill’s manager tweeted a somewhat cryptic message which read, “Be peaceful, the cape is still in his closet. @wbpictures has been and continues to be our partners as they evolve the DC Universe. Anticipate a WB statement later today.”

No matter the outcome, we’ll always be better for Cavill bringing us his furry-goodness as “the Man of Steel.”

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News Round-Up: September 11, 2018

 Some news items you might have missed:

• The memory of 9/11 has been at the forefront of my mind all day. It was an attack on my home of many years; it was an attack on all Americans. #Remember

• A man in St.Petersburg, Florida, stabbed his friend in the neck after the two had sex.

• Game of Thrones star Kit Harington wondered to the press at the Toronto International Film Festival why we can’t have an openly gay actor play a Marvel super-hero?

• Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, tells the Washington Post’s Jonathan Capehart, “We’re going to get our country back.” Griffin says he’s never seen such grassroots energy as we approach the midterm elections.

• Remembering Father Mychal Judge, the openly gay priest who was the first official casualty of the horrific 9/11 terror attack.

• Keiynan Lonsdale, star of The Flash and Love, Simon, asked his 837,000 fans on Instagram “Why is it deemed wrong to not wear clothes?” as he posted a nude pic.

A post shared by 🌳🌊❤️💫🌸 Keiynan Lonsdale 🔑🎶👁🌈🌳 (@keiynanlonsdale) on Sep 9, 2018 at 6:10pm PDT

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Sir Paul McCartney On That ‘Self-Love’ Legend With John Lennon

Sir Paul McCartney recording his new album, Egypt Station at Abbey Road Studios
(image via Instagram)

GQ Magazine has a fascinating, insightful interview with pop/rock superstar Sir Paul McCartney in support of his latest album, Egypt Station.

The 76-year-old shares much in a frank and direct manner throughout the interview.

One passage that’s garnered a lot of attention was this little story about how ‘close’ he and John Lennon were as young band mates:

“What it was,” he explains after I have prompted him, “was over at John’s house, and it was just a group of us. And instead of just getting roaring drunk and partying—I don’t even know if we were staying over or anything—we were all just in these chairs, and the lights were out, and somebody started masturbating, so we all did.”

There would be about five of them: McCartney, Lennon, and maybe three of Lennon’s friends. As they each concentrated on their mission, anyone in the group was encouraged to shout out a name that would offer relevant inspiration.

“We were just, ‘Brigitte Bardot!’ ‘Whoo!'” McCartney says, “and then everyone would thrash a bit more.”

At least until one of them—the one you would perhaps expect—opted for disruption over stimulation.

“I think it was John sort of said, ‘Winston Churchill!'” McCartney remembers, and acts out the aghast, stymied reactions.

I ask whether this ritual took place often.

“I think it was a one-off,” McCartney replies. “Or maybe it was like a two-off. It wasn’t a big thing. But, you know, it was just the kind of thing you didn’t think much of. It was just a group. Yeah, it’s quite raunchy when you think about it. There’s so many things like that from when you’re a kid that you look back on and you’re, ‘Did we do that?’ But it was good harmless fun. It didn’t hurt anyone. Not even Brigitte Bardot.”

There’s also a quick tale of 17-year-old John Lennon losing his virginity as his band mates listened. Ah, the boys…

It’s a really great, in-depth read about a true music legend. Click over to GQ here to read the full article.

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With Two Classes To Go, Christian University Won’t Allow Gay Student To Complete Degree

Gary Campbell

Pennsylvania’s Clarks Summit University, a Christian school, has denied a student from finishing the last six hours of his bachelors’s degree because he is gay.

To be clear, the university kicked him to the curb not for having a boyfriend or engaging in a gay “sexual relationship” as the school’s student handbook prohibits.

No, after taking Gary Campbell’s money to take two classes online, the school contacted him after somehow learning he is gay and informed him he’s not welcome as a student since Clarks Summit only believes in “biblical sexuality.”

Campbell attended Clarks Summit University (then known as Baptist Bible College) from 2001 – 2003 earning 109 college credits.

He tells the Citizens Voice that, as a young man, he hoped attending the school would help him overcome his attraction to men.

“Long story short, it didn’t work out that way,” says Campbell. He dropped out and planned on finishing at a community college.

Instead, he enlisted in the Navy.

But, during his stint in the armed forces, he struggled with alcoholism and was discharged after an episode of driving while drunk on base.

Today, 19 months sober, Campbell decided finishing his college degree would be a top priority. He hopes to become a peer counselor to help others with problems with addiction.

After contacting the university this past spring, he was told he only needed two classes to complete his degree. Campbell worked to save his money to pay the tuition and fees, while friends and family chipped in $700 to aid in covering his return to academia.

But near the end of August, the school reached out to him to say they’d (somehow) discovered he is gay and that he would not be able to complete his studies at Clarks Summit University.

The school cites very stringent rules of conduct for their students including being required to attend chapel, being forbidden from any displays of public affection (that includes hand holding), and in fact, students are not allowed to be alone with members of the opposite sex.

Infractions of the rules dictated by the student handbook can lead to being expelled.

None of that behavior would come into play for Campbell, however, as he was enrolling in online classes.

Citizens Voice spoke to a civil rights attorney in Pennsylvania, Barry Dyller, who sees the situation as “complicated.”

Dyller explains that there’s no federal law that prohibits a religious-based school from excluding LGBTQ students. And to attempt to pass such legislation could encroach on First Amendment rights.

According to Citizens Voice, the school issued a statement offering to help any former or prospective student “who does not choose to agree with those faith standards” to find another school in order to finish a degree.

But after exploring other options, Campbell discovered other schools he contacted would only accept about half of the 109 credits he had earned from Baptist Bible College.

Campbell wrote to the university asking them to reconsider their decision.

From Citizens Voice:

“One of my top goals being in recovery was to finish my bachelor’s degree. Having a degree is much more to me than a certificate, it’s a culmination of hard work, sweat and tears, and I owe it to myself and to my recovery to accomplish this goal,” he wrote.

“I ask that you not view me only as a homosexual, but as a determined, compassionate, hard-working man who is of good moral character. My goal again is to assist my community and help those who are struggling in the grip of addiction.”

The university denied Campbell’s request.

You have to wonder: a guy is pulling his life together, he has aspirations of helping others with addictions, he just wants to take two classes online, and the university can’t find a way to work with this guy?

Is that what Jesus would want?

After media coverage of Campbell’s story, it appears there could be hope on the horizon.

The president of nearby Lackawanna College, Mark Volk, read about Campbell’s plight and says his school may be able to help.

“For us, it’s about giving people that opportunity, that chance to move forward in their lives and their careers,” Volk said. “When I read it, I thought maybe we could do something. … I sent a note to staff, and there is tremendous excitement about it.”

Lackawanna has worked with students in the past who found themselves just short of attaining their degree.

Volk believes his school may be able to accept most of Campbell’s college credits and apply them toward a Lackawanna College degree.

Clearly, the environment at Lackawanna College is very different from Campbell’s old school.

“We look at the whole person,” Volk said. “Maybe we can do something here to help him out.”

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Trump Begins 9/11 Anniversary Not With Inspiration But Russian Probe Twitter Rant

Donald Trump

As the world observes the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States, Donald Trump began the day not with uplifting prose for the nation he’s charged with leading, but by tweeting out yet another rant about the ongoing investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference in our 2016 election.

“We have found nothing to show collusion between President Trump & Russia, absolutely zero, but every day we get more documentation showing collusion between the FBI & DOJ, the Hillary campaign, foreign spies & Russians, incredible,” wrote the Trumpster.

Hours later, the current occupant of the White House tweeted this inspiring missive:

According to reports, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will attend a memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where United flight 93 went down after passengers stood up to the terrorists.

Vice President Mike Pence attended a ceremony with Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Paul Selva at the Pentagon where another plane crashed and killed 184 in the deadly attack.

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Ellen Celebrates Disowned Gay Valedictorian Seth Owen

Ellen DeGeneres surprises formerly homeless gay valedictorian Seth Owen
Seth Owen and Ellen DeGeneres (screen capture)

This past summer, I reported on the story of Seth Owen, a high school student who became homeless after his father did a deep dive into his cell phone and discovered Seth was gay.

The intrusion into Seth’s personal life began a series of events that led to a year of being subjected to so-called ‘conversion therapy,’ forced to attend a church that was virulently anti-gay, and eventually being thrown out of his home.

However, homelessness would not deter Seth.

Incredibly, while coach-surfing throughout his senior year of high school, he maintained a 4.16 GPA and graduated as co-valedictorian of his class.

Even as he celebrated his amazing achievement, Seth learned after he was accepted to prestigious Georgetown University that his parents reneged on any financial support leaving him far short of the funds to attend his first semester this fall.

One of Seth’s teachers who recognized his strength and burgeoning potential launched a GoFundMe campaign to help him cover the shortfall. Seth’s story and the campaign went viral exceeding all expectations by raising over $141,000.

Thanks to the LGBT media covering the story, Georgetown University took another look at Seth’s situation and granted him a full ride to the school.

This week Ellen DeGeneres welcomed Seth to her show to celebrate him and his amazing fortitude in the face of so many obstacles.

This week Ellen DeGeneres welcomed Seth to her show to celebrate him and his amazing fortitude in the face of so many obstacles.
Ellen DeGeneres welcomes Seth Owen to her show

Chatting on the show, Seth gave credit to Ellen for his becoming co-valedictorian saying many late nights he would look up her videos for uplift and inspiration. “There were so many times, so many times that you really pulled me through,” said Seth. “I really do appreciate that.”

He also shared the story of how his dad invaded his privacy searching through his phone which led to ‘ex-gay therapy’ treatment.

“The dangerous part about that is that, as a patient, I believed this healthcare professional was doing what was best for me,” Seth explained. “I didn’t see any progress, so it’s very depressing.”

But after his incredible journey to college, Seth gushes about his first two weeks at Georgetown saying, “I love it – It’s amazing. I would not want to be anywhere else but Georgetown.”

The 18-year-old also mentioned that the school’s staff has been very supportive.

“As a Jesuit university, we have residential ministers on our floors, and she told me that she was here to support me,” said Seth. “As someone who’s been through something like this with religion, it meant the world to me to hear from a spiritual advisor to say they have my back.”

Asked about the amazing GoFundMe campaign, Seth explained that after college he’ll use leftover funds to establish a scholarship program for LGBTQ youth who find themselves in a similar situation heading to university.

Following that news, Ellen stunned Seth announcing that she and Cheerios would be donating $25,000 to help begin Seth’s scholarship program.

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Omarosa: “Hillary Clinton Was Robbed And I Was Complicit”

Omarosa on ‘The View

Holy crap!

Former White House something-something Omarosa Manigault-Newman sat down on The View Monday and admitted to the world she regrets being “complicit” in the election of Donald Trump.

“At some point you have to stop a toxic relationship. I was in a toxic relationship with Donald Trump, and I regret that I was so complicit.

“You know, Hillary Clinton was robbed. And I was … a co-conspirator in that robbery. And I will regret that for the rest of my life that I was a co-conspirator along with the rest of the folks on this campaign that I helped this con man get into office.

“It’s very clear if you look at the report from the intelligence community that Russia assisted Donald Trump with getting elected.

“He might ignore it but I actually respect the intelligence community and their findings in that report. Have you seen that report? It’s airtight.”

I freely admit I’ve never been a fan of Omarosa.

BUT – girl, has the receipts! She’s got the recordings and she’s playing them, so I’m tending to believe her account so far.

She also recently revealed that several White House staffers would use the hashtag #tfa (meaning “25th Amendment” which could technically remove Trump from office) in emails and communications when referencing a particular crazy Trump moment.

Watch Omarosa on The View below.

For more context, here’s the entire segment. In fact, here’s all the segments.

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X-Factor’s Robbie Williams Gets Shade For Asking Trans Contestant’s Birth Name

Before Felix Shepard of Birmingham could launch into his take on Kodaline’s “All I Want,” he mentioned that he was trans, and it was his hope was to be “more than just a transgender guy” on the show.
X-Factor contestant Felix Shepard

X-Factor UK judge and pop star Robbie Williams got some heat on social media this weekend after asking a transgender contestant his birth name before his performance.

Before Felix Shepard of Birmingham could launch into his take on Kodaline’s “All I Want,” he mentioned that he was trans, and it was his hope was to be “more than just a transgender guy” on the show.

The crowd roared its approval 🙂

Williams took that as his cue to pose some personal questions of Shepard asking him what his birth name had been as well as inquiring, “When did you know you were Felix?”

Pop star Robbie Williams caught heat for asking a trans singer's 'dead name'
X-Factor judge and pop star Robbie Williams

For those who may not know, asking a transgender person their birth, or “dead name”, is considered “verbally violent” as it is seen as disregarding their gender identity.

From The Advocate: “’Deadnaming’ someone who is transgender is the practice of uttering or publishing the name that a trans person used prior to transition. Cisgender people often refer to this as a trans person’s ‘real’ name, as if the name a trans person either uses or have legally had changed is somehow less real than the one given them at birth, when they were assigned male or female. It is seen as a verbally violent offense that attempts to invalidate a person’s authentic gender identity.”

Fans on social media were not amused:

But in an interview with The Sun, Shepard explained that Williams had asked in private if he could pose the question. Shepard asserts Williams was nothing but respectful.

“I was in no way offended by Robbie’s question and he did ask me if it was okay beforehand but they didn’t show that on the episode,” says the 20-year-old singer. “He was extremely sensitive about it and said ‘do you mind me asking?’ It’s a shame viewers didn’t get to see that.”

“After my audition he even came backstage and shook my hand and said another well done,” Shepard added. “He was very much on a level with me. It’s just not a common every day thing to hear about on Saturday night TV and it’s not something people have pocket knowledge about; it isn’t always in daylight for people to see. I don’t take it personally; I just know people don’t have a great understanding of it.””

Fortunately, the vast majority of the response Shepard has experienced since his performance aired has been very positive.

“It has been overwhelming – the amount of people who’ve messaged me to show their love has been amazing,” said Shepard. “I’ve had messages from a few trans guys who’ve told their families that they’re trans and parents with kids that are going through it have contacted me. I stayed up until 5am replying to every single message.”

Watch Shepard’s audition below.