Activism

NBC News reports: Can you feel the love tonight? Vladimir Putin has called Elton John — and this time it’s for real. Weeks after a pair of pranksters fooled the singer into thinking that he was talking to the Russian leader about gay rights in the country, Putin put in a brief personal call on Thursday. “He told Elton, I …

The ritual calls for waving the chicken over your head three times and then slitting its throat as a promise to repent for sinning. Or something. Gothamist was on the scene: The stench of death, of hot entrails, feces, and blood, pulled at the nostrils of the hundreds crowded along on a closed-off half-block of President Street in Crown Heights …

From the Human Rights Campaign: Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will speak to the organization on the morning of Saturday, October 3rd. Approximately 800 grassroots leaders from across the country – including the HRC Board of Directors, HRC Board of Governors, HRC staff, and volunteer leaders and supporters from the organization’s over 1.5 million members and supporters in …

There will be a briefing on bisexuality today at the White House. Via press release: GLAAD today announced its participation in the second annual Bisexual Awareness Week 2015 (BiWeek) in conjunction with BiNet USA, America’s oldest advocacy organization for bisexual, pansexual, fluid, queer-identified and unlabeled people. BiWeek takes place from September 20th – 26th with the 23rd as official ‘Celebrate …

Clip recap: “Who’s at risk if trans people have equal access to restroom facilities? In Houston and across the country, Mike Huckabee and friends love to claim that nondiscrimination bills mean that ‘men could use the women’s bathroom,’ which simply isn’t true. Here’s how to push back against the transphobic lie that men are sneaking into women’s rooms — and …

Harlem Against Violence, Homophobia, And Transphobia will hold a candlelight vigil tomorrow at 6:30PM outside the hate church of infamous Pastor James David Manning, whose latest message endorses the murders of gay men by ISIS.  Manning’s billboard violates Manhattan zoning laws but he continues to crow on YouTube that the city has so far failed to force its removal. The …

“Pranks are funny. Homophobia, however is never funny. I love Russia and my offer to talk to President Putin about LGBT rights still stands. I will always stand up for those that are being degraded and discriminated against. If this unfortunate incident has helped push this vital issue back into the spotlight, then I am happy to be pranked on …

Oh, this WILL be fun. Via Yahoo News: Here’s a way to add some color to your chips and salsa platter: Doritos is producing rainbow-colored chips in partnership with nonprofit It Gets Better. Doritos Rainbows are a limited-edition version of its Cool Ranch-flavored tortilla chips to show the chipmaker’s support of the LGBT community. The chips come in shades of …

The Human Rights Campaign is hanging a massive message to Pope Francis outside their DC headquarters, which is within view of the cathedral where he will attend mass on Wednesday. Via press release: “Many of us in the LGBT community have been heartened by Pope Francis’ compassionate words and willingness to take steps to more fully embrace people of faith …

Every year my pal Mark King attends the AIDS Conference and sends us informative and entertaining recaps of the goings-on. In today’s report, King interviews the “Berlin Patient” – the first man considered have been cured of HIV. King also visits with some of the noted activists in attendance and reports on the #TransLivesMatter activists that took over the stage …

SameSame reports: Although a public vote on marriage equality will be unnecessary, costly and divisive, new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has today confirmed he’s sticking to the Liberal party room’s plan to put it to the people after the next election. Whether or not there’ll be a change to the Marriage Act will “be determined by a vote of the …

Elton John yesterday claimed that Russian president Vladimir Putin telephoned him after Elton called for a sit-down over Russia’s anti-gay policies. Elton wrote on Instagram: “Thank-you to President Vladimir Putin for reaching out and speaking via telephone with me today. I look to forward to meeting with you face-to-face to discuss LGBT equality in Russia.” Buzzfeed has more: The post …

Yesterday dozens of activists demonstrated outside the federal courthouse in downtown Brooklyn in protest against the raid on Rentboy.com headquarters. The New York Daily News reports: Chanting “Keep your laws off my body,” gay activists marched Thursday outside Brooklyn Federal Court demanding that prosecutors drop prostitution charges against seven employees of the Rentboy.com website. About 70 protesters — men and …

From the Facebook event page: LGBT and Civil Liberties Advocates Denounce Arrests of Rentboy.com Staff, Call for Dropping Charges and Decriminalization of Sex Work. RALLY: Thurs., Sept. 3rd, Noon, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn LGBT activists, civil rights organizations, the HookUp Collaborative and supporters will hold a demonstration this Thursday, Sept. 3rd, at Noon at …