Category: Uncategorized

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U.S. Officials Say North Korea Continues To Build Up Nuclear Production

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump

According to five U.S. officials, North Korea has been stepping up its production of enriched uranium for nuclear weapons, even though the country’s leader, Kim Jong Un told Donald Trump at the recent summit he would “work toward” denuclearization.

Taking Kim at his word, Trump cancelled the U.S. military training exercises on the Korean peninsula.

From NBC News:

U.S. intelligence agencies believe that North Korea has increased its production of fuel for nuclear weapons at multiple secret sites in recent months — and that Kim Jong Un may try to hide those facilities as he seeks more concessions in nuclear talks with the Trump administration, U.S. officials told NBC News.

The intelligence assessment, which has not previously been reported, seems to counter the sentiments expressed by President Donald Trump, who tweeted after his historic June 12 summit with Kim that “there was no longer a nuclear threat from North Korea.”

Analysts at the CIA and other intelligence agencies don’t see it that way, according to more than a dozen American officials who are familiar with their assessments and spoke on the condition of anonymity. They see a regime positioning itself to extract every concession it can from the Trump administration — while clinging to nuclear weapons it believes are essential to survival.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

There’s also evidence that North Korea has made substantial improvements to its nuclear research facilities.

But, remember, Trump says he trusts Kim Jong Un and the nuclear threat is “no longer.”

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Transgender Woman Wins The Crown Of Miss Universe Spain

Angela Ponce has won the crown of Miss Universe Spain and will compete at the Miss Universe pageant this fall
Angela Ponce, Miss Universe Spain 2018

As Pride Month comes to a close, Spain has crowned Angela Ponce as its representative for this year’s Miss Universe competition.

She is the first transgender woman to win the crown and will represent her country in the Miss Universe pageant come this fall.

Ponce has previously competed in the 2015 Miss World Spain competition representing Cadiz but failed to take home the crown that year.

At the time, she told the Daily Mail she felt like a winner anyway saying, “I have the regional crown on my head and I will keep fighting to make us seen, to make us heard and to demonstrate that I am already a queen with my own crown.”

“Society is not educated for diversity and that is what has made me go public,” she added. “Here I am and I’m not weird, I just have a different story.”

The Miss Universe competition has allowed transgender contestants to compete since 2012.

Watch Ponce’s winning moment below.

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Video: Dating While Asian

Model Kevin Kreider shares his experience of discrimination on dating apps because he's Asian

An actor and friend of mine shared this video on Facebook and it really struck me.

First of al,l because my friend and the man in the video, model Kevin Kreider, are both really good looking.

Kreider is straight, my friend is gay, but both encountered the same bias and discrimination in online dating – “No Asians.”

And this isn’t new. From early dating websites to hook up apps today, gay and straight, this is something folks see all the time.

No Asians. No Blacks. No fats. No femmes.

That’s what folks put in their online profiles.

Now, some might say, “Well, that’s their preference.”

But look at what you’re missing out on by putting that out there, up front. You’re missing a great guy whose hot like Kevin Kreider.

It’s important to note, as well, the sinister, negative effects these messages have over time on people.

“I remember growing up wanting to be white. I didn’t want to be Asian. But after all this, I realized I didn’t actually want to be white, I wanted to be treated like I was white.”

Imagine the toll that would take on your psyche over a lifetime.

As Kreider says, he began to abuse alcohol and drugs to cope with slow-growing depression over being constantly dismissed.

It’s a short video, but definitely worth a watch.

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Los Angeles: Mother Charged In Murder Of Her 10-Year-Old Son

Heather Barron, the mother of 10-year-old Anthony Avalos, was arrested Friday and charged in the murder of the boy, who authorities say was the victim of child abuse.
Anthony Avalos 

Heather Barron, the mother of 10-year-old Anthony Avalos, was arrested Friday and charged in the murder of the boy, who authorities say was the victim of child abuse.

Both the mother and boyfriend are accused of torturing the boy to death possibly in connection to his recently coming out saying “I like boys.”

From The LA Times:

Heather Barron, 28, was arrested Friday morning and charged with murder, child abuse resulting in death, and torture, said Nicole Nishida, a spokeswoman with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Barron’s boyfriend, Kareem Leiva, 32, was also arrested earlier this week. He was charged Friday with murder, torture and assault on a child causing death, the district attorney’s office said in a statement.

Barron appeared in a Lancaster courtroom Friday, but her arraignment was postponed to Monday. Leiva, who is being treated for a laceration to his neck, will be arraigned after he is medically cleared. If convicted as charged, Barron faces a possible maximum sentence of 22 years to life in prison, and Leiva faces 32 years to life.

Anthony was found with severe injuries at his family’s apartment in Lancaster on June 20 and died the following day. Investigators classified the death as suspicious, and county officials removed other children from the home as the investigation continued.

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday called for a comprehensive review of Anthony’s case history and shortcomings in the child welfare and law enforcement systems that may have contributed to his death.

Before he died, young Anthony had been beaten, starved, forced to eat food from garbage and locked in tiny spaces. Anthony has six siblings who were apparently subjected to the same horrors.

May Barron and Leiva rot in prison for the rest of their miserable lives.

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He Likes To Sing In The Shower

Porn star Dario Beck likes to sing in the shower
(image via Instagram)

Boy Culture discovered this bit of shower silliness and it seems perfect for a Saturday post.

The singer’s name is Dario Beck and it would seem his comfort in front of a camera (almost naked) probably comes from the fact that he’s a porn performer from Spain.

And yes, that is his real voice.

The clip’s a bit goofy, but I think it works in overall cheekiness.

A few more facts about the Spaniard:

• He’s a German/Spanish mix who speaks four languages: Spanish, German, Italian and English’

• Loves good coffee, and that’s all he has during the day until about 4PM

• Avid reader with over 4,000 books in his home library

• Served in the army

• Studied law, economics and art at university

But on to the music 🙂

(h/t Boy Culture)

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Out Music: Keiynan Lonsdale “Preach”

Keiynan Lonsdale in “Preach”

We were not ready for Keiynan Lonsdale’s new single, “Preach.”

The Australian Love, Simon star dropped “Preach” at midnight on June 29, and it is a wild, magical, musical gay ride.

The music video begins with Lonsdale in a dark, lonely bar but soon drops off a cliff into nature where the shirtless hottie shows off his flair for fashion and flashy dance moves.

Eventually, it’s revealed he has super-gay super powers – blasting balls of rainbow fire into the sky.

According to Lonsdale, the song and video are a meditative fantasy about transcending ourselves.

“I wrote ‘Preach’ over a year ago.. but I didn’t know what it actually meant, or its significance to my life, until several months later,” Lonsdale told TheFader. “Both the song and the video have become like my mirrors, so everything good & bad that comes with one’s own reflection has of course presented itself through this project haha.”

Check out the trippy video below.

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News Round-Up: June 29, 2018

Bremen Menelli

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk Bremen Menelli is a lean, mean, coffee-drinking machine. #HappyFriday!

• Did you know that song you line danced to in elementary school gym class, at weddings, graduations and Bar Mitzvahs is about a vibrator?

• Oreos goes for the good stuff for Pride Month:

• Sweden is set to have the first LGBT-certified sports stadium where all staff at the 7,200-capacity multi-use arena will be trained in LGBT issues in order to create a welcoming environment. Additionally, all toilets and dressing rooms will be adapted so that there are accessible options for all athletes and spectators, regardless of their gender identity, including gender neutral toilets where possible.

• The Flash star Keiynan Lonsdale got trolled on Twitter recently for wearing a dress to the MTV Awards earlier this month where he snagged the award for “Best Kiss” for his liplock with Nick Robinson in Love, Simon.

But Lonsdale handled the homophobe with style, and shared one of the benefits of his sartorial choices: “Allows the balls to breathe and therefore will chill ya out.”

• What to watch this weekend? The critics are raving about the new Hugh Grant BBC mini-series, A Very English Scandal. Starting today the 3-part series is available on Amazon, and according to the reviews, it’s fantastic.

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Out Music: Shea Diamond “American Pie”

Trans recording artist Shea Diamond uses her own personal story to empower herself as a woman and artist, encouraging others to live in their full truths as well. Check out her new single, ‘American Pie’ from her upcoming EP, Seen It All.

“’American Pie’ is my hope for a slice of the American Dream: I want love and I don’t need money!” says Shea. “I want things to change since we’ve been stuck thinking in an antique mindset and it’s time for something new. Who’s going to say what I want is not a need? We all can have a slice of American Pie.”

Unapologetic and disarmingly honest, Shea’s ability to live out loud coupled with a deep and rich talent is changing the musical landscape.

But don’t take my word for it:

“12 LGBTQ Artists To Discover During Pride Month” – Billboard

“Shea is a glorious talent, a legend in the making, a soldier who has fought hard to be where she is today” – OUT Magazine

“Shea Diamond cannot be denied”— Refinery 29

“Shea Diamond is already an icon” – PAPER Magazine

“Keisha Complexion” is a sultry celebration of self, sung in Diamond’s notably rich voice. – TIME Magazine

Take a listen to ‘American Pie’ below.

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Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds Wants To Change How Mormon Church Sees LGBTQ Youth

LGBTQ ally Dan Reynolds, of Imagine Dragons, wants the Mormon Church to rethink how it views LGBTQ youth
Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons

How much do we love Grammy Award-winning Imagine Dragons frontman, Dan Reynolds?

Raised Mormon, Reynolds has spent years fighting for greater LGBTQ acceptance within the church.

Growing up, the native Utahn had a middle school friend who was Mormon and gay, and he watched how the struggles of trying to resolve the two worlds wore on his friend. Reynolds also says he’s lost high school friends to suicide.

Determined to affect change, he and former Mormon rocker Tyler Glenn teamed up last year to create the annual music festival LoveLoud held in Salt Lake City which aims to raise money for LGBTQ charities and organizations like The Trevor Project and the Tegan and Sara Foundation.

This year the event takes place on July 28.

“I think the LoveLoud stage is the most important stage I will ever stand on,” the 30-year-old recently told Queerty. “The festival has helped facilitate vital conversation about what it means to truly love and accept our LGBTQ youth.”

New documentary 'Believer' follows Dan Reynolds mission to perpetuate change within the Mormon Church and how it treats LGBTQ youth

The new documentary, Believer, follows Reynolds as he launched the music festival last year and also explores how the Mormon Church treats its LGBTQ members.

“I hope people understand the importance of fully accepting and loving our LGBTQ youth,” says Reynolds about the film. “I hope people are able to watch and feel the harsh realities that our LGBTQ youth are facing in faith-based communities. I hope it perpetuates change.”

Watch the trailer for Believer below and check out info for LoveLoud Music Festival here.

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Pro Soccer Player Collin Martin Comes Out As Gay

Minnesota United’s Collin Martin

Minnesota United FC midfielder Collin Martin came out this morning in a tweet on his personal Twitter account.

“Tonight my team, @mnufc , is having their Pride night. It’s an important night for me — I’ll be announcing that I am an openly gay player in Major League Soccer. #soccerforall,” wrote the 23-year-old just hours before Minnesota United hosts their Pride Night playing FC Dallas.

Attached to his tweet was a more detailed statement which read:

“I have been out as a gay man for many years to my family and friends, and this includes my teammates. I have played Major League Soccer for 6 seasons: 4 seasons with DC United and 2 seasons with Minnesota United. Today, I’m proud that my entire team and the management of Minnesota United know that I am gay. I have received only kindness and acceptance from everyone in Major League Soccer and that has made the decision to come out publicly that much easier.
“As we celebrate Pride night, I want to thank my teammates for their unconditional support for who I am. In light of my experience as a professional athlete, I want to take this moment to encourage others who play sports professionally or otherwise to have confidence that sport will welcome them wholeheartedly. June is Pride month, and I am proud to be playing for Pride, and to be playing as an out gay man.”

Pro soccer player Collin Martin of Minnesota United came out just hours before his team held its annual Pride Night match
Pro soccer player Collin Martin comes out as gay

Martin is now the second openly gay professional soccer player in MLS history following Robbie Rogers, who came out in 2013.

That same year, Jason Collins came out as the first openly gay professional basketball player. And in 2014, Michael Sam was drafted by the St. Louis Rams becoming the first openly gay football player to be drafted by an NFL team.

Rogers, Collins and Sam have retired from their sports, which means Martin is currently the only openly gay active player in any major pro sports league in the United States.

Don Garber, MLS commissioner, said in a statement, “We admire Collin’s courage, and are proud of him and of the support from the soccer community.”

Visibility is the key to acceptance, so here’s opening more pro athletes step up and come out.

Congratulations, Collin, on living your authentic life! #BeTrue.

His team followed up Collin’s announcement with a tweet of support with the hashtag #SoccerForAll:

And his old team tweeted their support as well:

And Robbie Rogers also tweeted his support: