• Max Emerson and his boyfriend Andres Camilo have posed for a sexy, sultry photo shoot by Daniel Jaems for the Obsession series (above). More at Attitude.
• The Trump administration has ordered three Russian diplomatic facilities in the U.S. closed (NYC, SF, DC) “in the spirit of parity invoked by the Russians” after Russia demanded the U.S. reduce our presence in their country by hundreds of personnel.
• “Dreamers” are uneasy as President Donald Trump weighs whether to pull the plug on DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program), a program that protects undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.
• Check out the fun, new music video for Youngr’s acclaimed single “Monsters.” The artist describes the track as “a song for all the day dreamers and doodlers. I wrote this about my childhood at school. I used to draw my maths teacher as a monster whilst counting down the seconds until I could run home and play my drum kit! So if anyone out there is fed up with school or work, put this track on and turn it up.”
And speaking of Independence Day, let’s watch out Olympic free-skier Gus Kenworthy accept the Human Rights Campaign’s Visibility Award at the 2017 Utah HRC Gala.
Gus celebrates his own independence from the closet in this authentic and touching speech.
In 2016, transgender athletes could compete without undergoing surgery, welcoming a new age to the Olympic family.
Produced for the Olympic Channel by VICE Media, Identify is a new series following the inspiring journeys of five transgender athletes and how sport helped them find their true identity.
In a recent radio interview, 74 year-old tennis legend Margaret Court told a Christian radio station that “tennis is full of lesbians” and transgender children are influenced by the Devil and are part of a mind control plot as seen in Nazi Germany.
Having now set the stage, I now yield the floor to the great Martina Navratilova.
Dear Margaret Court Arena, Sporting venues named for athletes, or any place, really, named for whoever, are so named for one reason. That reason is their whole body of work. In other words, it is not just for what this person did on the field, on the court, in politics, arts or science, for instance, but also for who they are as human beings.
When you were named after Margaret Court, it seemed like the right thing to do. After all, Rod Laver already had the big stadium and Court is one of the all-time greats. I had long ago forgiven Court for her headline-grabbing comments in 1990 when she said I was a bad role model because I was a lesbian.
What I did not know about until now were the unabashed racist statements she made in the ’70s about apartheid in South Africa. Saying that South Africa dealt with the “situation” (meaning people of colour) much better than anywhere else in the world, particularly the US: what exactly did she mean by that?
Fast forward to today and Court’s announcement of her boycott of Qantas because of its chief executive’s support of same-sex marriage, which basically means support for the LGBT community in general. That was bad enough. Now she is doubling down with her ridiculous comments about older women luring young girls on the tour to parties to turn them into lesbians. It’s a good thing she didn’t name anyone as I am pretty sure she would be sued for defamation.
It is now clear exactly who Court is: an amazing tennis player, and a racist and a homophobe. Her vitriol is not just an opinion. She is actively trying to keep LGBT people from getting equal rights (note to Court: we are human beings, too). She is demonising trans kids and trans adults everywhere.
And now, linking LGBT to Nazis, communists, the devil? This is not OK. This is in fact sick and it is dangerous. Kids will suffer more because of this continuous bashing and stigmatising of our LGBT community.
How much blood will be on Margaret’s hands because kids will continue to get beaten for being different? This is not OK. Too many will die by suicide because of this kind of intolerance, this kind of bashing and yes, this kind of bullying. This is not OK.
We celebrate free speech, but that doesn’t mean it is free of consequences – not punishment, but consequences. We should not be celebrating this kind of behaviour, this kind of philosophy. The platform people like Margaret Court use needs to be made smaller, not bigger.
Which is why I think it’s time to change your name. And I think the Evonne Goolagong Arena has a great ring to it. Now there is a person we can all celebrate. On every level. Yours, Martina Navratilova.
• Memorial Day weekend means we head into the dog days of summer. I’m not complaining 😉
• During a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told lawmakers she had no problem with private schools receiving publicly-funded vouchers denying admission to students from LGBTQ families.
• In high school, Wyatt Pertuset was homecoming king, prom king, student body president and an out football player. Check out his terrific coming out story over at OutSports.
• Check out hottie Rob Gronkowski get soaking wet washing his car, serve sushi from his bare bod and literally flip out in a pillow fight in the new “On My Mind” video from dance music DJ/producer 3LAU. I like the song, btw.
Australian gay rodeo cowboy, Josh Goyne, saw a video he recorded in February go viral as he told viewers he intends to stand up to homophobia
Goyne says in the video:
Today I was attacked for being an openly gay cowboy. They think they’re gonna silence me but there’s no chance in hell. They think they’re gonna stop me from riding in this weekend’s rodeo. Not a chance in hell. I will proudly stand up to any homophobe and say right to their face that I’m a proud openly gay cowboy.It doesn’t make you any less of a person – nor be it, a cowboy.
Rural Australia has a terrible problem with homophobia and it needs to stop.
The fact that I am getting death threats just from going to a rodeo is disgusting and these people are the scum of the Earth. I have zero respect for them and I hope they get their comeuppance.
People think that homophobia doesn’t exist in the rode circuit but it certainly does. I face it daily, and it’s really sad that it still happens in the 21 century.
Today I was asked if I thought it was good that gays died of AIDS, and he also said he wished it was 1850 so he could go and shoot me for being a fag. Kudos to you mate. You’re a real prick and I hope everything that comes to you is karma.
The gay cowboy will never be silenced. I will forever be an openly gay cowboy. I will happily give a voice to those too scared to speak up and be who they are and I will always be out and proud.”
Goyne says the reaction to the video has been “99.9% brilliant,” adding that straight cowboys have offered to stand with him at rodeos if he encounters trouble.
It was this past fall and I was three months into a relationship with my boyfriend, Michael Pavano. Mike and I had uploaded a video to YouTube on his channel called “The Laughing Challenge,” where he described me as his boyfriend.
The video was a blast to do, but I worried that someone from the wrestling world would stumble across it and learn my secret. I decided to let it be posted anyway.
Weeks later, I received a text that made my stomach drop.
It was from my best friend in the wrestling business, and someone I specifically made sure to keep my secret from. The text read: “Bro, why didn’t you tell me?” I knew exactly what he meant but I played dumb. “What do you mean?” I replied. He response was that he saw “the video.”
Much to my great relief, he told me he didn’t care and that I was one of his best friends in the business.
He also said that some of the other wrestlers had watched it too and tipped him off about it. I was relieved that he was cool with everything but a bit nervous because other wrestlers knew. It was after this that I came to the conclusion that I had a decision to make.
With my closest friend in my profession being cool with my orientation and having the continued love and support from by parents and best friends, I finally felt comfortable letting the world know. On Jan. 8 this year, I sent a message on Facebook:
I’m not going to make this a long winded post but I think it’s time. Just wanted to let everyone know im Bisexual. I look forward to changing perceptions and breaking stereotypes as I continue on my journey. I have zero patience for negativity so if this bothers you please delete me. Thanks!
After hitting send, I immediately turned off my phone. I didn’t want to think about what people would write. After about 30 minutes I told Mike to check his phone. I hadn’t told him I was planning on coming out, so I wanted it to be a surprise.
He had the biggest smile on his face, our friends in the room cheered, and I made the decision to turn on my phone. The response was overwhelming positive — 986 likes and more than 200 comments, all positive; only a very few people unfriended me. I couldn’t help but cry as I let loose all of the years of stress, anxiety and fear of judgment. It was the best decision I had ever made.
As is the case most of the time, coming out has been an uplifting experience for Bowens.
Congrats to Anthony! Check him out with his adorable bf below via Instagram:
Speaking to Gay Star News, rugby Keegan Hirst says since he came out in 2015, he’s counseled several closeted athletes from different sports who would like to come out but don’t feel ready.
Have you spoken to any closeted gay sportsmen?
I’ve had conversations with guys, and I’ve given advice. I’ve said how I found it. There’s been a few guys from a few different sports.
Do you think there is more pressure on people to stay closeted in sports?
I think it is. It’s a lot more focused on football players, probably because there’s a lot more money involved. While it shouldn’t matter who you date, it does. There’s also a big following in football. There’s a big call for people to come out, but it’s a personal thing. We’ve got to make it a good environment for someone to come out before it can actually happen.
What advice have you given to sportsmen in the closet?
You’ve just got to be in the right frame of mind. It doesn’t matter if you’re a sporstman or Joe Bloggs who works 9 to 5. You’ve got to be comfortable in your own skin. And have a good people around you. Do it when you’re ready to do it.
The woofy 29-year-old will soon make his debut for Wakefield Trinity, when he’ll become the first openly gay English rugby player since Gareth Thomas to play Super League.
• Gay print magazines Frontiers and Next shut down as the publications’ parent company experiences financial difficulties.
• Former aide to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie testified in court that not only did Christie know about “BridgeGate,” but he laughed as it was happening.
• GOP White House hopeful Donald “good for the gays” Trump has pledged to sign the anti-LGBTQ ‘First Amendment Defense Act.’
• The California state legislature has passed a law that prohibits state agencies from forcing their employees to travel to states that discriminate against folks based on sexual orientation or gender identity. North Carolina, we’re looking at you.
• Taco trucks in Houston are helping register new voters. Let’s get a truck on every corner!
• Arnold Schwarzenegger’s dad used to beat him as a child thinking the former body-builder was gay due to posters of his idols on his bedroom walls.
• Brian Anderson, retired legend in the hyper-masculine sport of pro-skateboarding, comes out – “Everything got better.”
