Tag: coming out

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‘Came Out’ Is Now Available As A ‘Major Life Event’ Option On Facebook

Just in time for National Coming Out Day, Facebook has added a profile option that allows folks to share and celebrate their personal coming out stories.

“Came out” is now available as a life event on Facebook users profiles.

“For the LGBTQ community, Facebook is a way for you to come out, celebrate your pride and find support,” Tudor Havriliuc, a vice president at Facebook, told NBC News.

“Visibility is so important because it changes hearts and minds about being LGBTQ when friends and family see us living our true lives.”

“We’re excited to give more people the opportunity to ‘come out’ on Facebook,” Havriliuc added. “For National Coming Out Day, we hope people will share their coming out story and use the hashtag #ComingOutToShare to follow along with the wider community.”

To add “Came Out” as a life event on Facebook, users head over to the About link on their page.

On the left side, at the bottom of the list is “Life Events.” Click that and then choose “Family & Relationships” in the drop-down menu (or just “Relationships” if you;’re using your smart phone). There, you’ll find “Came Out” in the list of life events.

In addition to the date, the option allows users to add details, comments and photos to mark the occasion.

Facebook has experimented with LGBTQ-specific functions for several years.

In 2017, the social media giant added a rainbow “Pride” reaction for Pride month to the usual like, love, laugh, wow, sad and mad buttons.

According to MSN.com, some people used the feature to troll opponents of LGBT rights by using the Pride reaction in all their Facebook responses, and so the feature didn’t return.

In 2018, Facebook added rainbow filters, stickers and effects for users to add to photos and posts.

“Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is you-er than you.” – Dr. Seuss.

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Tweet Of The Day

Who doesn’t love a good reveal?

High school student Shankar Lal wanted to come out to his fellow students at his graduation ceremony at Hillcrest High School in New York this past June, and that’s exactly what he did in one smooth move.

“I decided that I wanted to come out at graduation a month before it actually happened,” the recent grad shared with BuzzFeed News. “I remember shopping at Target and seeing all the pride gear. I thought to myself, Wouldn’t it be crazy if I just whipped out a pride flag at graduation?”

And he did. Watch below. #awesome

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Broadway Actor Hernando Umana Comes Out As HIV+ To Address Stigma

In an effort to address the stigma related to being HIV positive, Broadway actor Hernando Umana (Kinky Boots, national tour of School of Rock) has come out about his HIV status in a candid and moving Instagram post.
Hernando Umana (image via Instagram)

In an effort to address the stigma related to being HIV positive, Broadway actor Hernando Umana (Kinky Boots, national tour of School of Rock) has come out about his HIV status in a candid and moving Instagram post.

The 30-year-old actor begins by taking a literary breath and prefaces the posts saying, “This is by far the most important, scary, liberating post of my life.”

Umana shares that he was surprised by his HIV diagnosis ten years ago because he’d “only slept with 3 people” in his life.

He admits the first thought that came to him was “How long do I have to live?” He immediately flips on that thinking and calls it ‘uneducated,’ but acknowledges that many gay men had been indoctrinated into the school of thought that in this day and age if you get HIV it’s “because of wrongdoings and they deservingly die from it.”

“Well I’m here to shut that shit down,” he quickly added. “There is NOTHING wrong with me and I am healthier than I’ve ever been.”

One point of Umana’s post is to encourage people to talk about HIV and ask questions.

He also wants folks to know there shouldn’t be any shame in asking questions and learning how to talk about HIV status.

Umana also has some straight-forward advice: “Take your PrEP. Use condoms. Be SAFE. Let’s end this stigma forever and eventually end HIV forever!”

He concludes with this empowering statement: “I, Hernando Umana, am a proud gay man LIVING with HIV. Fuck that feels good to say.”

The post has received tons of support not only from the general public but Broadway producer Daryl Roth (“Just live your life with dignity, dear friend”) and out Olympic silver medalist Gus Kenworthy (“This is so important! Thank you for being courageous and for educating and inspiring others!”).

 Gay Star News points out the post was re-shared by the AIDS Memorial Instagram account.

The founder of the account, Stuart, spoke with Gay Star News about why he felt the post was important.

‘Hernando’s post just underlines the stigma still out there! It’s ludicrous to think such an announcement in this day and age is still a big deal. But it is.

‘We all know stigma kills. We know that people don’t take their medication because of stigma. That people feel shamed, not worthy and fear rejection. The fact the it took Hernando 10 years to disclose his status just makes you think: how far have we really come?

‘OK, it’s a chronic condition but our attitudes need to catch up fast because people are dying due to stigma.’

Read the full post below. And to underscore just how healthy Mr. Umana is take a look at what living with HIV can be.

Thanks to Hernando Umana for coming out and pointing up how folks can thrive living with HIV in such a poignant way.

::takes deep breath:: This is by far the most important, scary, liberating post of my life. Here we go- 10 years ago, at a young young age of 20, I was diagnosed with HIV. I’ll never forget the moment they told me. It wasn’t possible- I had only slept with 3 people in my life! This can’t be true. The first words out of my mouth were “how long do I have to live?” That’s how uneducated I was about it. It had been drilled in my head that gay people get HIV because of wrong doings and they deservingly die from it. Well I’m here to shut that shit down. There is NOTHING wrong with me and I am healthier than I’ve ever been. In the last 10 years I’ve met countless of HIV positive men. Some of these men are so affected by the stigma that they don’t tell a soul about their status, even go as far as not taking their medication. In our extremely privileged community the stigma is more dangerous than the disease. We still have a lot of fighting to do for the people who don’t have the privilege of cost affective medication. So I stand on the shoulders of people like @staleypr who risked his life for us. I stand on the shoulders of the millions of people who had to suffer and die from this disease. I stand on the shoulders of the gay men who were forced out of the closet in such a scary time. These men and woman fought and died to get to where we’re at now- To take a pill at night and never have to worry about dying. To get the disease to a point where it is IMPOSSIBLE to transmit (undetectable).How can I be ashamed of this? I honor their legacy by telling my story. So let’s talk about it. Let’s ask questions. Take your prep. Use condoms. Be SAFE. Let’s end this stigma forever and eventually end HIV forever! To those who have questions- don’t feel dumb asking anything about it. It’s not your fault there’s such a lack of education out there. To those who are afraid to talk about their status- you’ve got at least one guy right here 🙂 you are LOVED. You are BEAUTIFUL and there is nothing wrong with you. I, Hernando Umana, am a proud gay man LIVING with HIV. Fuck that feels good to say. #actup #fightthestigma #endthestigma #hiv #broadway #bcefa #mytruth
A post shared by hernandoumana (@hernandoumana) on Aug 20, 2018 at 9:37am PDT

A post shared by hernandoumana (@hernandoumana) on May 10, 2018 at 9:40pm PDT

(h/t Gay Star News)

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Heartthrob Garrett Clayton Comes Out In Instagram Post

Garrett Clayton (image via Instagram)

 For years now, actor/hottie Garrett Clayton has earned the attention of the public for his work in The Teen Beach Movie, King Cobra, and Hairspray Live.

Among those projects, the handsome actor portrayed a 1960s high school heartthrob and gay porn star Brent Corrigan.

With the release of his new film coming up, titled Reach, the 27-year-old shared his thoughts on taking on the project specifically mentioning suicide, school shootings and their effect on him.

And along the way, Clayton came out and named his current boyfriend.

Clayton wrote:

With the release of my new movie REACH coming up, I thought it was important to explain why I took on this project in the first place. REACH deals with some very serious and timely topics that have affected me personally, and have likely influenced many of your lives as well. (I also prefer to share things that are particularly important for me here on my IG) instead of in some random magazine or online article – because you are the ones that have been rooting for me and following me on my professional and personal journey in life.

When I read the script for REACH, I immediately knew it was a film I had to be a part of. I have personally dealt with suicide within my own family, intense bullying in high school, and – on top of it all – myself and the man I’ve been in a relationship with for a long time (@hrhblakeknight) have both experienced shootings within our hometown school systems, and have witnessed the heartache that takes place in affected communities after such tragic events. These topics – not always easy to discuss- are all close to my heart, and, knowing how serious they are, I wanted to share this with you all. This film has come from the perspectives of people who care deeply about these issues, and if watching it helps even one person… then it was all worth it.

With the release of my new movie REACH coming up, I thought it was important to explain why I took on this project in the first place. REACH deals with some very serious and timely topics that have affected me personally, and have likely influenced many of your lives as well. (I also prefer to share things that are particularly important for me here on my IG) instead of in some random magazine or online article – because you are the ones that have been rooting for me and following me on my professional and personal journey in life. When I read the script for REACH, I immediately knew it was a film I had to be a part of. I have personally dealt with suicide within my own family, intense bullying in high school, and – on top of it all – myself and the man I’ve been in a relationship with for a long time (@hrhblakeknight) have both experienced shootings within our hometown school systems, and have witnessed the heartache that takes place in affected communities after such tragic events. These topics – not always easy to discuss- are all close to my heart, and, knowing how serious they are, I wanted to share this with you all. This film has come from the perspectives of people who care deeply about these issues, and if watching it helps even one person… then it was all worth it. ♥️
A post shared by Garrett Clayton (@garrettclayton1) on Aug 20, 2018 at 10:01am PDT

Boyfriend Blake Knight followed up Clayton’s post with one of his own:

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Air Force Football Player Receives Standing Ovation Coming Out To Teammates

Air Force football player Bradley Kim

Air Force football player Bradley Kim took a big step out of the closet this week and says its as much for other young people as it is for himself.

“The biggest reason I want to share this is to be able to reach people who are in similar situations struggling with the same things I have struggled with,” he told Outsports this week. “I want to be that example for kids that you can be gay, you can pursue your dreams, and you can have an athletic career.

“My dreams got me to a D1 football program. I want to be there for people who don’t feel like they have anyone there for them, because I was that kid growing up in high school.”

And so it was that on Friday morning, Kim shared his coming out on Instagram, beginning with a Bible verse and that “God made me this way for a reason:”

While he had quietly told a few teammates over the past year, before sharing with the world, the Air Force Falcons safety came out to the other defensive backs on the team.

The reaction? A standing ovation. According to Outsports, the entire team, including head coach Troy Calhoun, had a reaction of full-fledged support.

“They tell me they appreciate the fact that I felt confident enough, and they meant enough, for me to tell them,” he said.

It was that unwavering support that steeled Kim as he posted his message on Instagram.

‘’I’ve spent too many years worrying what other people will think and letting it affect what I do in my daily life. And I’m kind of done with that. It doesn’t affect my ability to play football. It doesn’t affect my ability to serve my country. No one cares here. We all go through the same thing, we all go through basic training. What we go through going through the Academy goes way deeper than worrying about what someone will think.”

(h/t Outsports)

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Podcast: Pop-Star and Pro-Soccer Player Come Out, Plus How Trump’s SCOTUS Pick Could Affect Marriage Equality

In this week’s podcast:

• The governor of Maine becomes the first in the nation to veto an ‘ex-gay therapy’ ban

• An Ohio congressman is accused of turning a blind-eye to sex abuse

• Starbucks expands healthcare for transgender employees

• New Jersey adopts new trans rights

• Ohio lawmakers want teachers to snitch on trans students

• How Trump’s new Supreme Court could affect marriage equality

• Pro soccer player Collin Martin comes out

• And Panic! At the Disco’s‘ Brendon Urie comes out

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report podcast.

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Brendon Urie Of ‘Panic At The Disco’ Comes Out, Donates $1 Million To LGBTQ Youth

Brendon Urie of ‘Panic! at the Disco’
(image via Flickr/Tarah – CC license)

In a new interview, Panic! At The Disco’s Brendon Urie casually comes out as pansexual.

At the same time, he’s announced his newly launched Highest Hopes Foundation, which aids non-profit organizations that advocate support for human rights.

GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) is the first recipient of the foundation receiving a generous $1 million donation to aid in the formation of gay/straight alliance clubs in high schools.

“Launching the Highest Hopes Foundation with GLSEN as our first cause feels natural to the DNA of P!ATD, I am beyond excited to see what we can do together,” says Urie.

“Some of the most inspiring leaders out there right now have come from GSAs. Working firsthand with GLSEN, student leaders everywhere, and all my fans, I want to make sure that every one of our future leaders out there has the support they need to form their own GSA and begin their work to make a better world.”

A post shared by Brendon Urie (@brendonurie) on Feb 2, 2016 at 4:37pm PST

A longtime LGBTQ ally, back in 2012 Urie got attention for tweeting, “Everyone’s a bit gay.”

Then in 2013, PrideSource asked if he still believed that everyone has some gay in them and he was clear: “I find myself being attracted to dudes all the time. I’m like, ‘Wow, that’s a beautiful man.’ There’s no shame in it; that’s how I feel. To stifle that would probably bring on stress and probably make somebody homophobic.”

He went on to say in the same interview that he would classify himself as straight but admitted to experimenting with homosexuality and bisexuality.

Speaking to PAPER Magazine today, Urie seems a bit more forthright about his view of sexuality:

“I’m married to a woman and I’m very much in love with her but I’m not opposed to a man because to me, I like a person. Yeah I guess you could qualify me as pansexual because I really don’t care. If a person is great, then a person is great. I just like good people, if your heart’s in the right place. I’m definitely attracted to men. It’s just people that I am attracted to.”

“I guess this is me coming out as pansexual,” he added.

Urie also admits that what he calls his “stage gay” behavior has made some folks uncomfortable in the past. In early concert tours, it seems he’d sidle upside his band’s guitar player and kiss him on the neck or mouth.

“I was like, I just want to kiss you bro,” says Urie. “I would hang out with friends and after five or six beers we’re just kind of like smooching on each other. People just get hammered and fool around.”

Following a recent ten-week stint on Broadway in the hit musical, Kinky Boots, Brendon rejoined his Panic! at the Disco bandmates for their latest release, Pray For The Wicked, which dropped June 22. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200.

Panic! at the Disco will also donate $1 to the Highest Hopes Foundation for every ticket purchased to the North American leg of their Pray for the Wicked tour.

The band heads out on the road this month with lesbian pop singer Hayley Kiyoko as the opening act.

A post shared by Brendon Urie (@brendonurie) on Jul 5, 2018 at 12:01am PDT

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Fans Greet Newly-Out Pro Soccer Player With Standing Ovation

Collin Martin of Minnesota United

Last week, Instinct reported that professional soccer player Collin Martin, of Minnesota United FC, came out as gay.

“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 Martin just hours before Minnesota United hosts their Pride Night playing FC Dallas.

Unfortunately, Martin didn’t get to play that night even though he had been on the field regularly for months.

Martin speculated that manager Adrian Heath might have been concerned Martin’s coming out could have been a distraction for the 23-year-old. “Maybe he thought I had a lot going on today,” he said. “Obviously, I want to play, but most importantly I just wanted us to win.”

But on Wednesday night, July 4, as Martin took to the field as an openly gay man for the very first time, he was greeted with a standing ovation as his name was announced. Fans in the stands were seen waving rainbow colored Minnesota United scarves.

It was a good night for Minnesota as Martin’s team triumphed over Toronto with a score of 4-3.

According to reports, after the game the entire Minnesota United crew of players and coaches congratulated Martin with high-fives and hugs.

Speaking to The Athletic, Martin offered a word of advice to closeted athletes considering coming out.

“Be proud of who you are,” he said. “Just know that after a couple more of us come out, it won’t even be a big deal at all.”

In coming out, Martin became only the second openly gay player in Major League Soccer after Robbie Rogers in 2013.

He is the only openly gay professional athlete currently playing in any of the five major pro sports (football, basketball, baseball, hockey and soccer) in the U.S.

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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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Mother’s Boyfriend Charged With Murder Of 10-Year-Old Boy

Anthony Avalos was found unresponsive after suffering major injuries. He died the next day. His mother's boyfriend has been charged with his muder. Authorities believe homophobia was a factor in Anthony's death.
Anthony Avalos

On June 20, 10-year-old Anthony Avalos was found unresponsive at his family’s home having suffered severe head injuries and cigarette burns covered his body.

He died on the Thursday 21st.

According to reports, the boy had recently come out as gay saying “I like boys.” Authorities believe homophobia played a part in his death.

The boyfriend of the boy’s mother, who’s a member of a violent gang in Southern California, has now been arrested and charged with the murder of the 10-year-old.

From NBC News:

Anthony Avalos was taken to a hospital on June 20 after his mother, Heather Barron, called 911 to report that he had been injured in a fall, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He was not breathing and unresponsive when emergency workers found him in his Lancaster home, and he died the next day.

Anthony Avalos’ death bears a striking resemblance to a 2013 case in neighboring Palmdale, less than 10 minutes from Lancaster. Eight-year-old Gabriel Fernandez died in May 2013 after being routinely beaten and starved by his mother and her boyfriend. Prosecutors said Gabriel was systematically abused because his mother’s boyfriend thought the boy was gay.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Sheriff Jim McDonnell said Barron’s boyfriend, Kareem Leiva, 32, had been arrested on murder charges and was being held on $2 million bail.