The Outs, Episode 2: VIDEO

Here's episode 2 of the new web series The Outs, about (gay) life in NYC. Although, if you missed it, you may want to start with Episode 1.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

The OXD Mirror: New Music for 5.25.12

BY OCCUPY THE DISCO / RU BHATT

Welcome to The OXD Mirror, a new weekly music column brought to you by the boys of OCCUPY THE DISCO (OXD), a New York City based movement created by three music lovers, Ru Bhatt, Josh Appelbaum, and Tadeu Magalhães who want to share their love for disco and house music with the world.  

OXD curates and recommends music events to the gay community—in an effort to move the focus of the nightlife scene beyond the promoter and venue and to the music itself. We aim to educate, entertain, engage and empower the gay audience to reclaim their ability to question and experience the unknown. Our Towleroad column will serve to showcase tunes that are definitely off-the-beaten-path but rightfully deserve the attention of the gay ear. It's music that will make you dance, dream, and most importantly, love.

Lemonade - 'Ice Water' 

The Brooklyn-based/San Francisco-formed synth pop group known as Lemonade, first caught our ears in 2010 with their catchy summer anthem, 'Lifted,' but have left us parched for more until now. With their appropriately titled album track, 'Ice Water,' the band quenches our thirst for a poolside sunshine-filled pop tune with a song that is practically drenched in summer. The lead singer, Callan Clendenin, yearns for his lover's cool hands to calm him as they glide along airy synths and punctuated rhythms. Upon listening we're immediately assaulted with images of speedo-clad tomfoolery with our friends among the beaches and dunes of Fire Island. Stream the whole album, Diver, above.

 

Ladyhawke - 'Sunday Drive (Scissor Sisters Remix)'

‘Sunday Drive’ is the second single off of Ladyhawke's new album, Anxiety, and has been given a trippy rework by the beloved Babydaddy of the Scissor Sisters. The remix echoes synths and piano arrangements from 'Invisible Light,' a combination that will surely get you in the mood to dance.

MORE TUNES, AFTER THE JUMP...

Sam Sparro - 'Happiness (The Magician Remix)'

After a four year wait since his self-titled debut, Sam Sparro is back and releasing his latest effort to legions of eager fans. The 'Black and Gold' singer's lead track, 'Happiness' is an anthem in its own right, with lyrics that are expectedly optimistic and utterly empowering. The chorus achieves epic proportions when the remix production is handed over to the ever popular master producer Magician, thereby bringing the track to a whole new, feel-good, level.

 

Perseus - 'Love in Zanzibar'

Perseus manages to adhere to his very particular tropical-flavored house music style that blends steel drums melodies, and lazy beats with sample vocals by well known R&B artists like Mary J. Blige who is featured on ‘Love in Zanzibar.’ Perseus perfectly blends all these elements to create a languid, lounge-like, tropical disco vibe as Blige's soulful vocals beg: "who can love you better?"

 

Niki & The Dove - 'Mother Protect (Goldroom Remix)'

The Swedish electropop duo known as Niki & The Dove are ready to make a big impact this year with their debut album, Instinct. The lead single, 'Mother Protect,' has been given the Goldroom treatment which results in turning the originally dark song into a veritable disco house anthem which appropiately complements the already haunting chorus.

 

Little Boots - 'Every Night I Say A Prayer (Tensnake Remix)'

When Little Boots announced she was going team up with producer Andy Butler (from NY nu-house act Hercules And Love Affair) on her latest track, ‘Every Night I Say a Prayer,' we knew it was a collaboration that should not be missed. As if that wasn't enough,  Tensnake added another layer with his remix which brings the house entrenched original track to more of a dance oriented vibe reminiscent of the 80s.

This week's post was written and curated by Ru Bhatt.

For more information on OXD, check out our website and accompanying blog at www.occupythedisco.com, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter: @OccupyTheDisco.

 

Ontario Poised to Pass Bill Mandating 'Gay-Straight Alliances' be Allowed in All Schools, Including Catholic Ones

An amendment to an anti-bullying bill under consideration in Ontario, Canada would require all schools, including Catholic ones, to accept the name "gay-straight alliance" for anti-homophobia clubs, the Toronto Star reports:

The change of heart on the minority Liberal government’s Accepting Schools Act — which had allowed school principals a veto on names for any student club — was announced Friday afternoon by Education Minister Laurel Broten (pictured).

“We believe it’s up to the students,” she told reporters, saying it’s “important for students to have the freedom.”

The move, which has the support of the NDP, comes as an amendment to the government’s anti-bullying bill — which Broten hopes to pass before the legislature rises for its summer break June 7.

Conservatives and right-wing religious groups argue that the new rule would give LGBT students "special status" and The Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association urged the school system to call clubs aimed at stopping bullying "Respecting Differences" clubs, in an advisory paper that did not mention the word gay once, the Star adds.

But proponents argue that allowing a principal, for example, to refuse to allow an anti-homophobia club to be called a “gay-straight alliance” is in itself a form of oppression that is inappropriate under the spirit of the bill. Broten has said gay students have been more prone to bullying, which is why they get specific mention in the bill.

“If we can’t name it, we can’t address it and we must address it,” she said.

The amendment was applauded by a group called the Ontario Gay-Straight Alliance Coalition as a step forward for human rights in the province.

More at CBC...

NOTE: Apologies, the earlier post suggested that the law would apply to all of Canada.

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1133

STEPHANIE DECKER: Hero mom who saved her kids from a tornado visits Ellen.

ADAM LAMBERT: On Jay-Z's support for marriage equality.

THE SUN: A new video from NASA.

THEY DO: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert hosted its first onstage wedding on May 15.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

News: Fleet Week, Phillip Phillips, Eurovision, IML Chicago

L.A.'s Abbey Bar bans bachelorette parties: "Every Friday and Saturday night, we’re flooded with requests from straight girls in penis hats who want to ogle our go-gos, dance with the gays and celebrate their pending nuptials. They are completely unaware that the people around them are legally prohibited from getting married."

LGBT sailors urged to come out for Fleet Week: "For the first Fleet Week since Don't Ask, Don't Tell was repealed, New York's gay nightlife scene is encouraging men and women in uniform to come out. Bars and hotels have set up Fleet Week-themed specials and planned a host of parties to attract gay servicemembers for their first open Fleet Week in the celebration's 25-year history."

Here's one way to get a treat.

American Idol winner Phillip Phillips prepares for kidney surgery.

First photos from Madonna's MDNA tour.

European Union denounces violence at Ukrainian Pride parade: "In statement on Thursday, EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton voiced her deep concerns over the violence unleashed by a group of ultra-conservative youths during the 'Kyiv Pride.'"

First video of Britney Spears at X-Factor auditions.

SpaceX rocket docks with ISS.

Elton John hospitalized for respiratory infection: "Elton checked into Cedars-Sinai Hospital in L.A. at 6 AM Wednesday.  John underwent a battery of tests, after which the doctors recommended that he NOT perform for 7 days.  He was told he needed 'complete rest and antibiotic treatment to prevent damage.'"

Homophobia rampant in Eurovision Song Contest host country Azerbaijan: "part from a cruising area in the city center, there are no official meeting places, events or organizations. Some prominent homosexuals are open about their sexual orientation, but most gay and lesbians remain firmly in the closet."

Police charge suspect with murder of Etan Patz in 1979.

Hotel workers union UNITE HERE may picket Intermational Mr. Leather competition in Chicago: "The Hyatt Regency Chicago, site of the recent competitions, has been at the center of a bitter a contract fight with workers represented by the union UNITE HERE since 2009. The workers, union spokeswoman Annemarie Strassel said, want one room per day subtracted from their quota to compensate for the fact that they have to get down on their hands and knees to clean floors, rather than using a long-handled mop. They also want better job security."

Marlon Teixeira smolders.

Brazil Senate panel advances civil union bill: "The country’s human rights committee yesterday approved a measure to change the law regarding civil unions – the new bill classes a ‘union’ as a contract between two people in a ‘continuous and long-lasting’ relationship, established with the aim of starting a family, regardless of gender."

Bushmeat: Concerns over the next HIV.

Welsh gay couple wins £1million Euromillions jackpot: “It’s an overwhelming feeling. Ian and I already feel lucky as we have a nice lifestyle and we’ve had the chance to travel the world together.”

Manitoba moves to protect trans people: "Changes to Manitoba’s Human Rights Code would ensure Manitobans are further protected from discrimination based on gender identity and disadvantaged social status, while improving the process by which complaints are addressed, Justice Minister Andrew Swan announced today, after introducing the amendments. 'Manitoba’s human rights legislation was ahead of its time 25 years ago when protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation was added to the code,' said Swan.  'These changes will build on that legacy and ensure the commission has the tools it needs to effectively address current and emerging challenges.'"

Anti-Gay Bishop Harry Jackson Wants to Know if Obama Wants to 'Wipe Biblical Marriage from the Earth': VIDEO

Anti-gay activist and NOM ally Bishop Harry Jackson is leading a coalition of 176 religious people opposed to Obama's endorsement of marriage equality:

“We want to know whether he is going to use the bully pulpit of the presidential office to absolutely erase the image of biblical marriage from the face of the earth...“Voters need to know whether they have a friend or an assent, an enemy to an institution that God has ordained. Some of us have taken his statements as a declaration of political war against the venerable institution of marriage.”

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...