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03/03/2015

Conservative Radio Host: Discriminating Against Gays Helps Protect Them From Getting Stoned To Death - VIDEO

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Anti-gay activist Dana Loesch, the editor-in-chief of Andrew Breitbart's BigJournalism.com, has said that failure to protect the “right” of Christians to discriminate against people in public accommodations will lead to gay people being stoned to death on the streets, reports Right Wing Watch.

Appearing on a CPAC panel on religious liberty last weekend along with Republican Rep. Randy Neugebauer and Tony Perkins, the leader of listed hate group the Family Research Council, Loesch made the bizarre connection between the right to discriminate and the potential murder of gay people, saying:

"You don't have to be a Christian to be affected by loss of religious liberty, because if one liberty is taken, more liberties will be taken.

“If I'm not speaking up [while] you're losing rights then what will happen to me when the day comes, if someone comes to me? What if you're stoned for walking out in the street for being gay? I mean, come on, that's where the conversation needs to go.”

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Continue reading "Conservative Radio Host: Discriminating Against Gays Helps Protect Them From Getting Stoned To Death - VIDEO"

Posted Mar. 3,2015 at 11:51 AM EST by in CPAC, Discrimination, Religion, Tony Perkins, Video | Permalink | Comments (4)


State Legislators Mark Texas Independence Day By Introducing Omnibus LGBT Civil Rights Bill

SB856 graphic (final)

On Texas Independence day, five Democratic state senators introduced an omnibus civil rights bill that is the first of its kind in the state's history. 

Senate Bill 856 would prohibit anti-LGBT discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and state contracting. Texas claimed its independence on March 2, 1836. 

“I chose today—Texas Independence Day—to file this important legislation,” Senator (Jose) Rodríguez said in a release, “because Texas values—such as hard work, opportunity, and the Golden Rule—are the reason why Texas remains strong 179 years later. That is why we must act definitively to ensure everyone in the Lone Star State is treated fairly and equally.”

More from Equality Texas' release: 

One of our most strongly held beliefs here in Texas is taking care of our own and treating our neighbors as ourselves. This kind of Texas spirit is visible in every town and city in the state, in family-owned businesses and large public employers. 

And yet, we realize there are places across Texas where this spirit does not flourish. Texans like Isabel and Victoria in Lewisville (Denton County) can be denied housing for themselves and their sons Juan and Oscar because the two women are in a same-gender relationship. Casanova from Austin and Dylan from Houston were harassed on the job after coming out as transgender but were given no recourse by their employers; Dylan would end up being laid off. Darla from Austin has been and can again be discriminated against while attempting to secure employment because she is a lesbian. John David and his partner Jerry from Tyler can be asked to leave a public accommodation—such as a restaurant or concert venue—because they are gay. Antonia, a transgender woman of color was fired from her job because of her transition.

Further, discrimination is bad for business. Fair treatment for workers, families, and people who visit our state—including gay and transgender people—is a crucial factor in the ongoing strength of the Texas brand.

In the past, separate legislation has been filed in Texas to ban anti-LGBT discrimination in all four areas — but the effort has never been combined into a single bill. The other authors of SB 856 are Sens. Rodney Elllis, Sylvia Garcia, Kirk Watson and John Whitmire. 

“Discrimination of any form has no place in Texas. Not in our schools, our government, or our services. I am proud to co-author this legislation and proud to stand strong for the fair treatment of all Texans especially our friends in the LGBT community who for too long have been the target of discrimination,” Whitmire said. 

“I’m proud to coauthor legislation to prevent fellow Texans from being discriminated against due to who they love,” Ellis added. “All hardworking Texans, including our LGBT neighbors, should have the chance to earn a living, provide for their families, and live like everyone else without fear of getting fired or evicted solely because of who they are. ”

“All Texans should enjoy equal protection under the law. This important legislation would ensure that our LGBT brothers and sisters can express who they are without fear of discrimination. It would also send a message to the rest of the world that Texas welcomes anyone that wants to contribute to our great state, regardless of sexual orientation,” Garcia said.

The 20-page bill has little chance of passing in the Republican-dominated Legislature. But its introduction is important symbolically in the face of a slew of anti-LGBT legislative attacks. It could also signal a future shift to protect all LGBT civil rights with a single piece of legislation, rather than doing it piecemeal. 

Read the full text of the bill, AFTER THE JUMP ... 

Continue reading "State Legislators Mark Texas Independence Day By Introducing Omnibus LGBT Civil Rights Bill"

Posted Mar. 3,2015 at 11:02 AM EST by in Austin, Discrimination, Gay Rights, LGBT Rights, News, Texas, Transgender | Permalink | Comments (2)


NEW MUSIC: Brightly, Screaming Females, Black Honey, Bernard + Edith, Loyle Carner And Eurovision News

Brightly Oh Infinity

New Music is brought to you weekly by Deadly Music!, which covers mostly indie/alternative music as well as electronica, ambient/modern classical, pop and anything really, really good.

Most tracks are available on a Soundcloud playlist, some of them on a Spotify playlist....both of which are embedded at the end of this post.

You can sign up for weekly updates from Deadly Music! at the end of this post.

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Brightly: “Keep Me Close”

Brightly is an indie pop act from Melbourne, Australia.

Taken from forthcoming album Oh, Infinity, “Keep Me Close” is a beautiful acoustic love song which was written by band member Charlie Gleeson “about homophobia, love, and my boyfriend…after a year of some pretty horrific homophobic attacks throughout the world.”

 

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Screaming Females: Rose Mountain

Screaming-females-456-280211New Jersey indie rock trio Screaming Females return with their sixth studio album Rose Mountain, released last week on Don Giovanni.

Lead track “Hopeless” opens with an unnerving piano intro leading to a pared back alt rock sound before launching into 30 seconds of glorious shouty grunge rock.

The video was shot over the course of several freezing winter nights and the blood splatters on the pick guard are apparently 100 percent real as singer/guitarist Marissa Paternoster played until her fingers split open. As you do…

 

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Listen to new tracks by Black Honey, Bernard + Edith and Loyle Carner, along with a couple of Eurovision entries, AFTER THE JUMP...

Continue reading "NEW MUSIC: Brightly, Screaming Females, Black Honey, Bernard + Edith, Loyle Carner And Eurovision News"

Posted Mar. 3,2015 at 10:33 AM EST by in Music, Music Recommendations, Music Video | Permalink | Comments (0)


'The Fosters' Features Same-Sex Kiss Between Two 13-Year-Olds, Possibly Youngest In US TV History: VIDEO

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Last night's episode of ABC Family's The Fosters saw a same-sex kiss between thirteen-year-old boys Jude and Connor, which may be the youngest same-sex kiss ever to be seen on US television. Executive Producer and show creator Peter Paige (whom you may recall from Queer As Folk) tweeted about the kiss, the history it made and how the moment shared between Jude and Connor (or #Jonnor as their social media fans know them) captures the "exquisite torture" of falling for someone in Jr. High and not being sure if that love is unrequited or not:

#Jonnor fans were not shy in sharing their elation over the kiss. 

The tension between Jude and Connor had been building for sometime on the show, as BuzzFeed notes. Jude is one of five children that live with a lesbian couple that have built a family composed of five biological, adopted and foster children. Jude and Connor first grew close when Connor wore nail polish to school to show solidarity with Jude who had been bullied for painting his nails. 

Nails

Things got a little more intense when the two went on a camping trip, sharing a tent and doing something that was vaguely referred to by Jude as "something that was wrong...I guess." Then, the pair upped the cuteness factor by interlocking pinkies whilst watching a movie (flanked by girls, sadly).

Pinkies

But all of this became too much for poor love-stricken Jude who finally confronted Connor about what happened that night in the tent in the woods and everything that had been building since:

“You kissed me! Remember? In the tent? And then at the movie theatre you held my hand. And now all day you’ve been…I just… I don’t get this. I don’t get you.”

And then, Connor took matters into his own hands and the kiss happened. Watch for yourself, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Continue reading "'The Fosters' Features Same-Sex Kiss Between Two 13-Year-Olds, Possibly Youngest In US TV History: VIDEO"

Posted Mar. 3,2015 at 10:05 AM EST by in Kiss, News, Peter Paige, Television | Permalink | Comments (14)


Russell Tovey Apologizes for Saying He's Glad He Never Became 'Really Effeminate' or a 'Tapdancing Freak'

Tovey

Looking actor Russell Tovey apologized earlier today on Twitter for heavily-criticized remarks he made in an interview with The Guardian earlier this week.

Tovey talked about growing up on stage and the role his father played in his coming out process:

"I was so envious of everyone who went to Sylvia Young Theatre School. I wanted to go but my dad flat-out refused. He thought I’d become some tapdancing freak without qualifications. And he was right in a way. I’m glad I didn’t go. That might have changed…I feel like I could have been really effeminate, if I hadn’t gone to the school I went to. Where I felt like I had to toughen up. If I’d have been able to relax, prance around, sing in the street, I might be a different person now. I thank my dad for that, for not allowing me to go down that path. Because it’s probably given me the unique quality that people think I have.”

Tovey's remarks set off a firestorm on social media by people who saw them as 'femmephobic'.

Tovey took to Twitter overnight and apologized, saying his remarks were misunderstood:

"I surrender. You got me. I'm sat baffled and saddened that a mis- fired inarticulate quote of mine, has branded me worst gay ever...If you feel I have personally let you down, I'm sorry, that was never my intention...I'm proud to be who I am and proud for others We're in this together, I want you to know whatever you think I meant, I didn't...I'm gonna ride this out, and one day we will all look back on this moment with a half smile of fascination and amusement...Until that day I'm gonna carry on being me #lowersflag x"

Posted Mar. 3,2015 at 9:39 AM EST by in Looking, News, Russell Tovey | Permalink | Comments (39)


Watch Jon Stewart Cripple WWE Wrestler Seth Rollins With a Kick to the Groin: VIDEO

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A war of words between WWE wrestler Seth Rollins and Daily Show host Jon Stewart has been building over recent weeks and finally came to blows on WWE'S Monday Night Raw last night.

Follow taunts earlier in February from Rollins...

“I am the most talented performer in the entire world. I can do whatever I want, whenever I want and there’s nobody or nothing that can stop me. Hell, if I wanted, I could become president. I’m not even old enough to run for office. Or you know, I could take over as host of “The Daily Show” for Jon Stewart and make that thing actually watchable.”

And a response from Stewart followed by Rollins' crashing of the Daily Show, the two finally met in the arena last night and Stewart showed Rollins who was the bigger man.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

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Continue reading "Watch Jon Stewart Cripple WWE Wrestler Seth Rollins With a Kick to the Groin: VIDEO"

Posted Mar. 3,2015 at 9:19 AM EST by in Jon Stewart, Seth Rollins, Wrestling | Permalink | Comments (5)


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