The Struggle for Gays in India: VIDEO

Voice of America is doing a mini-series of reports on LGBT life around the world. In their latest segment, they look at the situation for gays in India, which is improving but still quite difficult, even after the 2009 Supreme Court ruling decriminalizing gay sex.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi Play a Bickering Gay Couple in 'Vicious' New British Sitcom: VIDEO

British actors Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi star in a new sitcom from British network ITV premiering this month. The sitcom is called Vicious and the actors play a bickering gay couple who have been together for 48 years, according to the Hollywood Reporter:

“It's strictly coincidence that this issue is happening in the world,” says Gary Janetti, the U.S. writer who created Vicious. “But I think whenever the issue of gay marriage comes up the first couples that get married are these people that have been together 50 years, and you see these two women and these two men in their 80s. And I defy anybody not to be moved by that.”

Gary Reich, the managing director of Brown Eyed Boy, which is producing the show together with fellow Shine Group shingle Kudos Film, admits the timing of Vicious is particularly prescient. During the taping of the second episode in the six-part first season earlier this year, the British Parliament -- located directly across the Thames river from ITV's studios -- were voting to give same sex couples in Britain equal status under the law.

The show is no niche special either. It's being aired in primetime. It has not been sold for distribution in the U.S. yet.

Watch the trailer for the show, AFTER THE JUMP...

Harrison Ford Wishes There Was Less Resistance to Marriage Equality

Since Harrison Ford plays Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey, the man who brought Jackie Robinson on as the first African-American player in major league baseball, in a new film, Metro asked Ford how he felt about Robinson's struggle and the current one for marriage equality:

Do you see any parallels between Jackie Robinson’s struggle for racial acceptance and the current battle for marriage equality?

I think there’s a metaphor you can reach for, according to your own interests and your own understanding and your own issues. ... Certainly the marriage issue conveniently falls into that category.

It’s remarkable how quickly opinions on it have been changing over the last few years.

Yeah, things do change quickly at a tipping point, as it builds and it builds and it builds until there’s a moment where the balance of opinion, the weight of experience and the understanding comes to a point where the scales tip in the other direction. We’re getting there, we’re getting there. You know, you would hope that it would have happened with less resistance. You would have hoped that everyone would get the point at the same time, but life’s not like that.

More of the interview at Metro...

(h/t HuffPost)

The OXD Mirror New Music for 4.12.13

BY OCCUPY THE DISCO / TADEU MAGALHÃES

The OXD Mirror is a 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, house and dance music with the world.

We are now on Spotify!  Subscribe to our 'As Featured on Towleroad' Playlist to listen to tracks posted from past weeks.

 

Shine 2009: 'Eurozone'

When I first heard Shine 2009's track 'New Rules' a few years ago, I instantly fell in love with their revamped 90's aesthetic. It seems as though they've figured out a way to mix broken beats from 90's with balearic, echoed synths to create some of the most innovative pop music out there. They soon followed with their debut album, Realism, which is still a personal favorite from 2011, and included a track that featured vocals by Paula Abdul called 'So Free.' After a two year hiatus, the Finnish duo is back with a new single, 'Eurozone.' Although it stays true to the sound Shine 2009 created, it does add new elements that make it fresh, including opera-like backing vocals and prominent guitar riffs. The track is part of their sophomore album Our Nation, scheduled for release later in 2013.

 

Drop Out Orchestra: 'Day Vague'

Drop Out Orchestra are true masters of nu-disco. Adding to an already extensive catalogue, the mysterious Swedish duo recently released an excellent 6-track EP on the label File Under Disco called The Power of Music. The opening track is killer: 'Day Vague' borrows most of the iconic elements from classic disco, including a funky bass, prominent percussion and beautiful strings. With a violin like that, who needs vocals?

 

Man Tear: 'Outside Amore'

After bringing attention to  artists like LCD Soundsystem, Hercules And Love Affair, The Rapture, The Juan Maclean, Surahn and others, NYC's DFA Records has become a go-to label for what is up-and-coming in the dance and cutting-edge pop music world. Their newest bet is Man Tear, a project started by Swedish producers Axel Boman and Petter Nordkvist. For their debut single, 'Outside Amore,' Man Tear reached out to the award winning film director Johan Jonason to provide vocals, which were laid over an hypnotic bass line and squeaky, fun tambourines. The result is an elaborate disco track that will hopefully make a big imprint on the music scene.

CONTINUED, AFTER THE JUMP... 

Digitaria: 'Shine (Morgan Geist Remix)'

Sharing the same hometown (and even some friends) as me, Brazilian duo Digitaria is one of the many talented acts on the prolific label Hot Creations. During my late teens and early twenties, I had the chance to see Daniel Albinati and Daniela Caldellas perform live as Digitaria several times in our hometown, Belo Horizonte. They have recently picked up momentum outside of Brazil with the release of tracks like 'Crazy Life,' 'Masochist,' and the brand new 'Shine.' The single includes a remix by legendary NYC producer Morgan Geist, formerly of Metro Area, and is quite lovely. As Digitaria begins to team up with big names, I'm excited to see what comes next for the duo.

 

Close feat. Scuba & Charlene Soraia: 'Beam Me Up'

I've recently came across a label named Aus and quickly became obsessed with their catalogue of releases. British producer Will Saul, the talented (and handsome) man behind the company, is soon unveiling an album under his newest moniker, Close, appropriately named Getting Closer. With a due date set in June, Close has already shared the first single, 'Beam Me Up,' a collaboration with producer Scuba which features vocals by Charlene Soraia. This is a strong track which combines Soraia's angelic voice with a minimal, yet throbbing take on introspective deep house. The single will also include remixes by George FitzGerald (who has recently re-worked Jessie Ware's 'No To Love') and NYC's Hercules And Love Affair.

This week's post was written and curated by Tadeu Magalhães.

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.

Anti-Gay Catholic Blowhard Bill Donohue: Marriage is 'Not About Love': VIDEO

Catholic League President Bill Donohue talks to Current TV's Jon Fugelsang about marriage equality:

"This idea of two men getting married is the most bizarre idea in human history...Christians have an obligation, particularly Catholics to follow natural law. The whole purpose of marriage is to have a family. It's not about making people happy. It's not about love."

After Donohue cites Leviticus, Fugelsang asks if he follows it: "What do you mean follow Leviticus? Do I sleep with a man? No I don't. I never have. I have no interest in doing so."

Also on the table: Bill Maher and the priest sex abuse scandal.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

(via jmg)

Do-It-Yourself Rainbow Crosswalks Popping Up All Over Sydney in Response to Shameful Crossing Removal

Yesterday I reported on the shameful action by NSW Roads and Maritime Services in Sydney, which stealthily removed a much beloved rainbow crosswalk in the middle of the night.

Now, rainbow crosswalks have begun springing up all over Sydney in response to the removal in a kind of chalk and paint revellion.

The do-it-yourself demonstration even has its own Facebook page.