LGBTQ news and entertainment
JoeMyGod reports that the Eiffel Tower has been illuminated in rainbow colors as a sign of solidarity with Orlando’s LGBT victims.
Additionally, the American flag is being projected onto a giant glowing balloon hanging from the middle level.
LGBT ally, music icon, Grammy®, Emmy® and Tony®-winning singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper’s takes a “detour” on her celebrated musical journey with DETOUR, her 11th studio album, which finds the pink haired diva putting her signature spin on a dozen classic country songs.
DETOUR showcases Lauper’s unmistakable voice on country classics from the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s and features guest appearances from county music stars Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and Willie Nelson. Lauper recorded the album in Nashville alongside a band comprised of the city’s top session players.
DETOUR will be available May 6 on CD and digitally.
For the album, Lauper duets with several special guests, including country music royalty: Emmylou Harris (on the title track), Willie Nelson (“Night Life,” a song he wrote over 50 years ago), Vince Gill (Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty’s “You’re The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly”) and Alison Krauss (Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas.” Jewel also makes an appearance on DETOUR, showcasing her prodigious yodeling skills on “I Want To Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart,” which was the first country song by a woman to sell one million copies.
Lauper is launching a 35 city tour of the U.S. which will conclude in my hometown of Las Vegas (good choice, Cyndi!).
PEOPLE reports that a one-of-a-kind rainbow coat, designed by Broadway costume designer William Ivey Long and originally worn by Joan Rivers at a Las Vegas Pride event, has been donated to the Family Equality Council to be included in their upcoming auction.
“My mother loved, respected and celebrated families of all kinds,” Melissa, 48, said in a press release for the auction, which will take place May 9 at the Night at the Pier gala at Pier 60 in New York City.
“She would be thrilled to know that her coat, which celebrates diversity, is being sold to benefit loving families,” added Melissa.
“Joan Rivers was a celebrity pioneer in her unbridled support of the LGBT community,” said Ian Patrick, Deputy Director of Events at Family Equality Council. “We are honored to offer this precious piece of her legacy to support our work to secure a rightful place for LGBTQ-headed families in America.”
The coat, which Joan originally wore at the Las Vegas Pride Parade in 2012, is a glittery gold gown adorned with a ruffled-neckline, and opens up to reveal a sparkly rainbow lining.
It was designed by Broadway costume designer William Ivey Long at Joan’s request and will be available for bidding at the auction itself as well as online ahead of time.
Target has posted a statement on it’s corporate website underlining the department store’s commitment to inclusivity.
The statement is particularly “targeted” at LGBTs, and makes clear that transgender folks have nothing to worry about when looking for a rest room while shopping.
Recent debate around proposed laws in several states has reignited a national conversation around inclusivity. So earlier this week, we reiterated with our team members where Target stands and how our beliefs are brought to life in how we serve our guests.
Inclusivity is a core belief at Target. It’s something we celebrate. We stand for equality and equity, and strive to make our guests and team members feel accepted, respected and welcomed in our stores and workplaces every day.
We believe that everyone—every team member, every guest, and every community—deserves to be protected from discrimination, and treated equally. Consistent with this belief, Target supports the federal Equality Act, which provides protections to LGBT individuals, and opposes action that enables discrimination.
In our stores, we demonstrate our commitment to an inclusive experience in many ways. Most relevant for the conversations currently underway, we welcome transgender team members and guests to use the restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.
We regularly assess issues and consider many factors such as impact to our business, guests and team members. Given the specific questions these legislative proposals raised about how we manage our fitting rooms and restrooms, we felt it was important to state our position.
Everyone deserves to feel like they belong. And you’ll always be accepted, respected and welcomed at Target.
I want to add that I’m a regular at Target stores. Friends of mine have asked why I don’t go to Walmart or similar stores. In addition to the values I find there, public positions like these make it clear where I should spend my consumer dollars.
Thanks Target!
It still catches me a bit off-guard that the LGBT community is not just “included” in campaign promises, we ARE campaign promises.
What’s quite remarkable about this spot is that it includes glimpses of same-sex couples actually kissing. Nothing rapturous, of course, but clearly displays of affection.
Some have doubted Hillary’s support for LGBTs, but I’ve instinctively accepted that she does and will continue to support our tribe.
Even just a few years ago, this would have been unthinkable to see from a presidential candidate.
Just, wow.
From the clip description:
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans deserve to live their lives free from discrimination. Hillary knows the fight for LGBT equality will not be finished until every American can not only marry, but also live, work, pray, learn, and raise a family free from discrimination.
A well needed Bear hug! 👍🏻A photo posted by Ben Cohen (@bencohenstandup) on Nov 25, 2015 at 9:51am PST
In addition to being named “Ally of the Year” as part of their OUT100, President Obama becomes the first sitting President to be photographed for the cover of an LGBT publication.
From the editors of OUT Magazine:
The 44th President of the United States is our Ally of the Year—a president who came to office on a wave of euphoria, appeared to lose momentum halfway through, and has since rallied, helping us secure marriage equality, among other landmark initiatives that are transforming our place in America.
This is the first time a sitting president has been photographed for the cover of an LGBT title, a historic moment in itself, and a statement on how much his administration has done to advance a singularly volatile issue that tarnished the reputations of both President Clinton and President Bush. It might have tarnished this president, too, but for his late-hour conversion in 2012, which set the stage for the extraordinary succession of events that led to this year’s Supreme Court ruling, on June 26, making it unconstitutional to deny same-sex couples the right to wed.
Many things led up to that decision — “decades of our brothers and sisters fighting for recognition and equality” as the president notes — but once his administration decided to join that fight it created what people like to call a “transformative” moment. It helped tip the balance, and it put our elected leader on the right side of justice.
From the Q&A with the President:
On his administration’s key focus on LGBT equality:
“One of the reasons I got involved in politics was to help deliver on our promise that we’re all created equal, and that no one should be excluded from the American dream just because of who they are. That’s why, in the Senate, I supported repealing DOMA [the Defense of Marriage Act]. It’s why, when I ran for president the first time, I publicly asked for the support of the LGBT community, and promised that we could bring about real change for LGBT Americans.”
On the Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges decision:
“There had been a remarkable attitude shift—in hearts and minds—across America. The ruling reflected that. It reflected our values as a nation founded on the principle that we are all created equal. And, by the way, it was decades of our brothers and sisters fighting for recognition and equality—and too frequently risking their lives or facing rejection from family, friends, and co-workers—that got us to that moment. So I wasn’t surprised by the Supreme Court’s decision, but, like millions of Americans, I was proud and happy that it came down the way it did—and I was honored to stand in the Rose Garden and reiterate for every American that we are strongest, that we are most free, when all of us are treated equally. I was proud to say that love is love.”
On the controversy surrounding Kentucky clerk Kim Davis:
“I am a man of faith and believe deeply in religious freedom, but at the end of the day, nobody is above the rule of law—especially someone who voluntarily takes an oath to uphold that law. That’s something we’ve got to respect.”
On the first influential gay person in his life:
“I’m not sure who the first openly gay person I met was, but Dr. Lawrence Goldyn, one of my college professors, is a man who stands out to me. I took his class freshman year at Occidental. I was probably 18 years old—Lawrence was one of the younger professors—and we became good friends. He went out of his way to advice lesbian, gay, and transgender students at Occidental, and keep in mind, this was 1978. That took a lot of courage, a lot of confidence in who you are and what you stand for. I got to recognize Lawrence last year at our Pride Month reception at the White House, and thank him for influencing the way I think about so many of these issues.”
On the generational difference in the attitudes towards homosexuality:
“To Malia and Sasha and their friends, discrimination in any form against anyone doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t dawn on them that friends who are gay or friends’ parents who are same-sex couples should be treated differently than anyone else. That’s powerful.”
At a campaign stop at Keene State College in New Hampshire, Hillary Clinton was asked about how she sees her support for the LGBT community versus her competitors, and about her “evolution” on supporting same-sex marriage.
“Yes my views did evolve, and I think most people my age would say the same thing — there might be some exceptions.
“But largely because of my strong opposition to discrimination of any sort and my personal relationships with a lot of people over the years, I certainly concluded that marriage equality should be the law of the land, and I was thrilled when the Supreme Court made it the law of the land.”
Pointing out she was the first First Lady to march in a Gay Pride parade, she also spoke of her relationship with The Human Rights Campaign (“they count on me”), and also mentioned that passage of The Equality Act saying it would be her “highest priority.”
On #NationalComingOutDay, we remember that our work isn’t done until everyone can be who they are and is treated with dignity.— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 11, 2015
"You will surprise yourself with what you’re capable of and the incredible things you [do]." #NationalComingOutDay
https://t.co/Ks0VR4Xomt— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 11, 2015
Log Cabin Republicans share this “Super Friends” parody saluting GOP members of Congress they view as LGBT allies.
Singled out in the clip are Rep. Mike Coffman, Sen. Susan Collins, Rep. Carlos Curbelo, Rep. Charlie Dent, Rep. Bob Dold, Rep. Chris Gibson, Rep. Richard Hanna, Sen. Mark Kirk, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Sen. Rob Portman, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.