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Mormon Church Reverses – Announces Children Of LGBTQs Can Be Baptized

The Mormon Church, aka the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has announced a reversal of its 2015 policy and will allow the children of LGBTQ parents to be baptized.

The Mormon Church, aka the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has announced a reversal of its 2015 policy and will allow the children of LGBTQ parents to be baptized.

Beginning immediately, LGBTQ parents will be able to request a blessing for their child or children.

At the age of eight, a Church member will contact the parents and propose that the child have a baptism.

“Effective immediately, children of parents who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender may be baptized without [governing] First Presidency approval,” the church posted on its website, “if the custodial parents give permission for the baptism and understand both the doctrine that a baptized child will be taught and the covenants he or she will be expected to make.”

The announcement for the new policy was made at the Church’s 189th Annual General Conference in Salt Lake City today by President Dallin Oaks.

While certainly good news, the Church’s position on same-sex marriage will remain unchanged with gay Mormons being expected to remain celibate.

The church’s doctrine will remain that having same-sex attraction is not a sin, but acting on it is.

However, the Mormon church will no longer label same-sex couples “apostates.” An apostasy is the abandonment of a religious or political belief or principle.

The church added that the shift in policy positions come, in part, as an effort “to reduce the hate and contention so common today.”

This all comes on the heels of the Governor of Utah signing a new, tougher hate crimes law to help, in part, address anti-LGBTQ violence.

The Trevor Project’s Sam Brinton, Head of Advocacy & Government Affairs, issued this statement in support of the change in policy:

”The Trevor Project welcomes any faith group’s public commitment to treat the LGBTQ community fairly and equally, and this statement by the LDS Church to change course is a move in the right direction that will make a real difference in the lives of LGBTQ Mormons. We hear from LGBTQ young people in crisis every day who struggle to reconcile being part of both the LGBTQ and faith communities, and decisions to end policies of exclusion can help LGBTQ youth feel seen, loved, and less alone.”

The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people.

And Zeke Stokes, Chief Programs Officer for GLAAD, tweeted this:

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Mayor Pete Buttigieg Rejects ‘Socialist’ Labels For Popular Solutions

Today, the 37-year-old (he would be the youngest person running for the White House) shared a video via social media teasing an upcoming announcement on April 14, which will probably be his official entry into the 2020 presidential race.

On January 23, openly gay Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, announced he had formed an exploratory committee to consider running for president of the United States.

Today, the 37-year-old (he would be the youngest person running for the White House) shared a video via social media teasing an upcoming announcement on April 14, which will probably be his official entry into the 2020 presidential race.

Since his January announcement, Mayor Pete has been out making appearances, sharing who he is, and sharing his vision for America.

His team announced taking in an impressive $7 million in the first quarter of 2019 – no bad for a small town mayor most Americans hadn’t heard of.

In January, a poll of Democratic Iowa caucus goers showed he had 0% support. Zero.

In the latest iteration of that same poll, Mayor Pete had surged to third place with double-digit support (11%) behind former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

During an appearance on Good Morning America today, Buttigieg showed he has no problem standing up to and pointing out Donald Trump’s many misleading statements.

In response to the Donald’s claims that Medicare-for-all and the proposed “Green New Deal” are ‘socialist’ ideas,

Buttigieg called the language, “A tactic that takes us back to the darkest days of the ’50s when you could use the word ‘socialist’ to kill somebody’s career, or to kill an idea, but that trick has been tried so many times that I think it’s losing all meaning.”

He also highlighted the conservative origins of the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare, as an example of a proposal on which the GOP flip-flopped on positions.

“The Affordable Care Act was a conservative idea that Democrats borrowed and they called that ‘socialist,’ so it’s kind of like the boy who cried wolf,” he continued. “It’s lost all power I think, especially for my generation of voters. Folks just want to know whether an idea is a good idea or not; and slapping a label on it, especially in a careless way that doesn’t make any sense, I don’t think it moves the debate.”

The young mayor then listed several issues that large majorities of Americans support – universal background checks for firearms, comprehensive immigration reform, paid family leave – but Congress can’t seem to address.

It was another strong appearance that explains why in a short time he’s surpassed several big name politicians in the polls, even tying with Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Mayor Pete also took a moment backstage at GMA to show off his language skills (he speaks 7 languages):

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News Round-Up: April 3, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• Here’s a t-shirt (modeled by InstaHunk Ramses Principe) that I can totally relate to 😉

• The governor of Utah has signed into law the state’s new, tougher hate crimes law with stricter punishments for those who commit crimes specifically due to bias. Yes – Utah!

• Even though Netflix cancelled the terrific One Day at a Time reboot, the streaming giant may be standing in the show’s way of finding a new home.

• Starting out at a bus stop as young boys, James Corden and Tony Award winner Ben Platt tell the story of a life-long friendship using 9 different sets and 12 carefully curated songs all captured in one take.

• Investigators on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team say the four page letter by Attorney General William Barr didn’t adequately portray the findings of their investigation.

• Stoning gays to death officially became the law of the land in Brunei today. Even Ellen DeGeneres has joined the boycott of hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei.

• Donald Trump’s choices for ambassadorships has been, interesting, to say the least. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates — a wealthy real estate developer with no diplomatic experience. Ambassador to Morocco? A well-heeled car dealer. For Iceland? While well-traveled, the nominee had never even been to the Nordic country.

• The brilliant satirist, Randy Rainbow, offers his parody of the Disney classic, “Cruella DeVille,” with a nod to our current clueless Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

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‘This Is Us’ Explores The Millions Of Questions AFTER Coming Out

On last night’s season finale of NBC’s acclaimed hit series This Is Us, young Tess (played by Eris Baker) confided in her Uncle Kevin (Justin Hartley) that she’s struggling with a million questions about finding her authentic self since coming out recently.
Justin Hartley and Eris Baker on ‘This Is Us’

Remember when you thought coming out WAS the tough part?

On last night’s season finale of NBC’s acclaimed hit series This Is Us, young Tess (played by Eris Baker) confided in her Uncle Kevin (Justin Hartley) that she’s struggling with a million questions about finding her authentic self since coming out recently.

“I thought coming out to you guys would be the hardest part,” says Tess. “But, instead, I just have a million more questions about myself.”

“What clothes make me feel like the real me? What books should I be reading? What movies should I be seeing? When will I finally decide to tell my friends?”

Wise (hunky) uncle Kevin, while admitting he never went through the exact same thing, takes a breath before sharing with Tess that most of us don’t figure ourselves out all at once.

Boy, is that true.

“I think it happens over a long period of time – piece by piece,” says Kevin as he goes on to list personal revelations he’s experienced along the way.

“We go through this life, slowly but surely, collecting little pieces of ourselves that we can’t really live without until, eventually we have enough of them to where we feel whole,” says the uncle who has certainly had his own personal learning curve as an adult.

“You, my niece, have so many years ahead of you to find all of your pieces.”

Watch the two actors handle this complicated, real life moment with finesse below.

In case you missed Tess’s touching coming out to her parents (played by Sterling K. Brown and Susan Kelechi Watson), hit the play button below.

I think a LOT of people will understand/remember the anxious, emotional, caught-in-the-throat moment.

This is art reflecting life.

This is us.

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Biden Tweets Video Message Vowing To Change His ‘Personal Space’ Habits

In a video to his supporters, former Vice President acknowledged how 'social norms are changing,' and promised he will change how he approaches people and their personal space.
Former Vice President Joe Biden

In a video to his supporters, former Vice President acknowledged how ‘social norms are changing,’ and promised he will change how he approaches people and their personal space.

The video message was accompanied by this caption: “Social norms are changing. I understand that, and I’ve heard what these women are saying. Politics to me has always been about making connections, but I will be more mindful about respecting personal space in the future. That’s my responsibility and I will meet it.”

In the video, Biden underscores that he’s tried to make a human connection with people throughout his career – by taking someone’s hands, rubbing their shoulders, telling them they ‘can do this.’

I think this strikes just the right tone and message Biden has needed to bring to this issue.

The announcement comes after a former Nevada politician accused Biden of making her uncomfortable some years ago when he put his hands on her shoulders and kissed her head right before a campaign event.

As I’ve expressed here before, I think intention is important in how we view these allegations.

There’s a difference between someone sticking their tongue down your throat, and someone putting their hands on your shoulders intended as a gesture of support.

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TMZ: Britney Spears Checks Into Mental Health Facility

Britney Spears (image via FB)

TMZ is reporting that pop star Britney Spears has been admitted to a mental health facility.

The gossip site shares that Spears has been anxious and distraught over her dad’s illness, which is apparently becoming more complicated and not improving.

Jamie Spears ruptured his colon last year and has undergone two surgeries to address continuing complications.

Spears announced in early January that her Las Vegas residency at Park MGM was being postponed in order for her to focus on her father.

I don’t even know where to start with this, because this is so tough for me to say. I will not be performing my new show Domination. I’ve been looking forward to this show and seeing all of you this year, so doing this breaks my heart. However, it’s important to always put your family first… and that’s the decision I had to make. A couple of months ago, my father was hospitalized and almost died. We’re all so grateful that he came out of it alive, but he still has a long road ahead of him. I had to make the difficult decision to put my full focus and energy on my family at this time. I hope you all can understand. More information on ticket refunds is available on britneyspears.com. I appreciate your prayers and support for my family during this time. Thank you, and love you all… always.
A post shared by Britney Spears (@britneyspears) on Jan 4, 2019 at 9:01am PST

This morning, Spears posted to her Instagram account an image with the phrase, “Fall in love with taking care of yourself, mind, body, spirit.”

The caption for the post read, “We all need to take a little time for a little ‘me time.'”

According to TMZ, Spears checked herself into a mental health facility “about a week ago where she will live for 30 days.”

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Teacher Fired For Reporting Homophobic/Racist Flyers At School

During the last week of March, homophobic and racist flyers began to appear throughout the hallways of McCormick Junior High School in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Even worse, the teacher who reported the flyers was FIRED for bringing attention to them. “It’s great to be straight. It’s not OK to be gay. Black lives matter only because if it weren’t for them who would pick our cotton. Join the kkk.”
(image via Twitter)

During the last week of March, homophobic and racist flyers began to appear throughout the hallways of McCormick Junior High School in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

According to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, the flyers read, “It’s great to be straight. It’s not OK to be gay. Black lives matter only because if it weren’t for them who would pick our cotton.”

“Join the kkk,” concluded the message, which seemed to be signed by “the confederate kid club.”

#hideous

When the flyers were brought to the attention of Kaycee Cook, a substitute teacher and co-sponsor of the school’s gay/straight alliance, she contacted Wyoming Equality. The advocacy group works to protect LGBTQ people in the state.

The executive director for Wyoming Equality, Sara Burlingame, told the press that she had heard about the flyers from several members of the community.

“This is unacceptable,” she said in a statement to Queerty. “It does not reflect the values of Cheyenne. We’re not going tolerate this. And we’re going to show up and support our LGBT youth and our black youth with unwavering pride and support.”

Even the mayor of Cheyenne, Marian Orr, got wind of the flyers and tweeted her support to Cheyenne youth writing, “Tonight, my heart is the heaviest it’s been since taking office. This is not right. To the youth in our community: You are loved. You are valued. We need you to take us forward. You are Cheyenne.”

When the Wyoming Tribune Eagle contacted Principal Jeff Conine about the flyers, he seemed to downplay the issue saying there were only two flyers found and that they were removed before the school day began.

But others, including Kaycee Cook, told the Eagle that the flyers were “all over the school.”

In fact, anti-LGBTQ bullying has been reported for weeks at the school with little done to tamp down the hate.

Some students say they stopped going to the school’s GSA meetings because a group of boys began verbally harassing and bullying the members of the group.

One student who preferred to remain anonymous said the boys openly called themselves racists and homophobes.

There are even reports of teachers calling same-sex students holding hands “disgusting.”

Cook says she’s taken the issue to supervisors for weeks without any results.

Here’s where it really gets messed up, though.

On March 27, Cook received an email from Principal Conine firing her.

(image via Wyoming News)

“I am notifying you that due to incidents that have occurred at McCormick you are no longer welcome as a guest or a substitute teacher in our building,” read the email.

Cook told the press she believes Conine’s actions were in retaliation for contacting Wyoming Equality.

The Laramie County School District 1 issued a statement about the debacle, which read:

“In the midst of an investigation regarding inappropriate flyers that were posted at McCormick Junior High yesterday, (LCSD1) is offering support to our LGBTQ and black students who were reportedly targeted through the incident.”

When contacted by the Eagle, Principal Conine told reporters he wasn’t prepared to make a statement about the email.

Since last week, at least one of the student’s responsible for the hateful flyers has been identified. LCSD1 Superintendent Boyd Brown told Wyoming News that the student would be “disciplined in line with district policy.”

Additionally, it looks like Cook’s dismissal will be reversed and she should be reinstated at the school soon.

What a debacle.

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Pete Buttigieg: It’s Hard To See Donald Trump’s Actions As Somebody Who Believes In God

Democratic White House hopeful Mayor Pete Buttigieg tells USA Today he's not sure if Donald Trump is a Christian.
Mayor Pete Buttigieg

Democratic White House hopeful Mayor Pete Buttigieg tells USA Today he’s not sure if Donald Trump is a Christian.

Does Buttigieg think Trump is a Christian? “I’m reluctant to comment on another person’s faith, but I would say it is hard to look at this president’s actions and believe that they’re the actions of somebody who believes in God,” he said.

“I just don’t understand how you can be as worshipful of your own self as he is and be prepared to humble yourself before God. I’ve never seen him humble himself before anyone. And the exaltation of yourself, especially a self that’s about wealth and power, could not be more at odds with at least my understanding of the teachings of the Christian faith.”

While Buttigieg is a gay man, married in the Episcopal Church he attends, he urges those who support LBGTQ rights to “beckon people onto the right side of history (rather) than … drag people there. If someone feels harassed and put upon by us, at the very moment we’re demanding tolerance and acceptance, one consequence is that we can leave them with nowhere to go but the religious right.”

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Chicago Elects First Black Female & First Openly LGBTQ Mayor

Lori Lightfoot (courtesy of Lightfoot campaign)

In a historic race, Lori Lightfoot has been elected mayor of Chicago, Illinois.

The achievement makes the 56-year-old the first openly LGBTQ person – and the first Black female – to serve as mayor of Chicago.

Lightfoot will be the only current Black lesbian mayor in the United States.

View this post on Instagram

Sweeping all 50 wards of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot on Tuesday became the first LGBTQ person elected mayor of that major American city. . "Out there tonight, a lot of little girls and boys are watching. They're watching us, and they're seeing the beginning of something, well, a little bit different," Lightfoot, 56, who is also the first black woman elected mayor in the country’s third-largest city, told a jubilant crowd at a downtown hotel. "They're seeing a city reborn." . Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, CEO of Victory Fund, a nonpartisan organization that promotes LGBTQ candidates, hailed Lightfoot’s groundbreaking victory. . “A Black lesbian taking power in the nation’s third-largest city is a historic moment for so many communities that are too often ignored in American politics," Parker, who is a lesbian, said in a statement shared with NBC News. . “Lori will certainly remain focused on the issues facing Chicago,” Parker continued, “but as the highest-ranking LGBTQ person ever elected mayor of an American city — a title she takes from me — she is also now a key leader in the movement to build LGBTQ political power nationwide.”A post shared by NBC OUT (@nbcout) on Apr 3, 2019 at 4:09pm PDT

Chicago is now the largest city ever to elect a queer person to mayor. That distinction was previously held by former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, who served from 2010-2016.

Parker, who current serves as executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, praised Lightfoot in a statement.

“A Black lesbian taking power in the nation’s third-largest city is a historic moment for so many communities that are too often ignored in American politics,” said Parker. “Chicago’s enormous influence on the national dialogue provides a platform for Lori to promote more inclusive solutions to the challenges facing our cities and nation – and to be a credible messenger as well.”

“Lori will certainly remain focused on the issues facing Chicago,” Parker added. “But as the highest-ranking LGBTQ person ever elected mayor of an American city – a title she takes from me – she is also now a key leader in the movement to build LGBTQ political power nationwide.”

Lightfoot, who had served as president of the Chicago Police Board, is a former federal prosecutor.

She campaigned on ridding the city of government corruption as well as helping lower/middle income families she believes have been left behind or ignored

Lightfoot will succeed Mayor Rahm Emanuel on May 20.

But wait – there’s more!

With 62 percent of the vote, Satya Rhodes Conway bested longtime Mayor Paul Soglin becoming the first openly gay (and second female) Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin.

And in Kansas City, Missouri, city councilwoman Jolie Justus was the top vote-getter among 11 candidates in that mayoral race earning her a one of two spots in the June 18 general election. 

Justus, who is openly lesbian, is a former two-term state senator. She garnered 23 percent of the vote while second place went to Councilman Quinton Lucas, who earned 18 percent.
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Texas Senate Approves ‘License To Discriminate’ By Vote Of 19-12

By a vote of 19-12, the Texas state Senate has approved legislation that would allow licensed professionals to refuse to serve anyone - including LGBTQ people - based on “sincerely held religious beliefs.”

By a vote of 19-12, the Texas state Senate has approved legislation that would allow licensed professionals to refuse to serve anyone – including LGBTQ people – based on “sincerely held religious beliefs.”

The vote went down Democrat, Sen. Eddie Lucio, voted for the bill, and one Republican, Sen. Kel Seliger, voted against.

According to The Texas Tribune, the bill has become a top legislative priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R).

The bill’s sponsor, State Sen. Charles Perry (R), says Senate Bill 17 would allow professionals who are licensed by the state – like lawyers, social workers, barbers, pharmacists, physicians or plumbers – to cite their beliefs as a valid defense should they be brought up on charges by their respective credentialing boards due to professional behavior or speech.

The legislation does include a requirement that medical professionals would have to treat patients who are at risk of death or serious injury. And licensed law enforcement officers would not be covered by the law.

Opponents of the bill say “sincerely held religious beliefs” is a vague concept that could ultimately excuse any unprofessional behavior.

Equality Texas, an LGBTQ advocacy group, called SB 17 this legislative session’s “number one threat to the LGBTQ community.”

Samantha Smoot, Equality Texas’ executive director, said in a statement, “Dan Patrick has doubled down on his attack on the LGBTQ community, moving out of bathrooms and into every single licensed profession in Texas.”

“SB 17 would create a religious litmus test, and open the doors to discrimination and to real harm to LGBTQ Texans. Dan Patrick has launched a whole new war against LGBTQ people,” she added.

Perry pushed back against the ‘discrimination’ label during the debate saying, “It’s not licensing discrimination at any level.”

Sen. Jose Menendez, a San Antonio Democrat, attempted to put that to a test with an amendment to the bill that would specifically prohibit professionals from refusing service based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Perry allowed the amendment to go to a vote which failed 12–19, which pretty much sums up the motivations behind the bill.

So much for “not licensing discrimination at any level.”

Sen. Borris Miles, a Democrat from Houston, announced in no uncertain terms, “You know that saying, ‘You can put lipstick on a pig? Sen. Perry, this is a discrimination bill.”

Major businesses like Google, Facebook and Amazon have all announced their opposition to the bill.

The Human Rights Campaign issued a statement today after the vote.

“Today’s vote on SB 17 marks a dark moment for Texas: the passage of one of the most broadly discriminatory bills under consideration across the country,” said Rebecca Marques, HRC Texas state director. “This bill would allow state-sanctioned discrimination against many Texans, but would particularly impact the LGBTQ community.

“Before the session began, Texas’ elected officials promised to focus on key issues important to all Texans and not to revisit the fights of the previous session,” she continued. “Instead, it’s legislative deja vu, as Dan Patrick is pushing a discriminatory anti-LGBTQ agenda yet again. We implore the House of Representatives to not take up this harmful bill.”

The legislation will head to the state House after one more vote in the Senate which is primarily a procedural step.

The HRC notes that there are “at least” 19 bills in this legislative session that threaten LGBTQ Texans.

(h/t Texas Tribune, HRC)