Harry Styles: Black, White, Gay, Straight, Transgender - I Love Every Single One Of You

(Harry Styles - photo: Kate Elizabeth via Flickr)

Former One Direction singer Harry Styles, now touring in support of his debut solo album which hit #1 in the US and UK, gave an impassioned speech on behalf of LGBT folks this weekend in Stockholm, Sweden.

“If you are black, if you are white, if you are gay, if you are straight, if you are transgender – whoever you are, whoever you want to be, I support you and I love every single one of you.”

During an interview on French television earlier this year, Harry was asked about LGBT+ equality being political, and his answer was totally on point.

“That doesn’t feel like politics to me,” he said. “Stuff like equality feels much more fundamental. I feel like everyone is equal. That doesn’t feel like politics to me.”

Watch Harry's pro-LGBT speech below:

my baby deserves the world after this speech. nothing more, nothing less. @Harry_Styles always treats people with kindness. pic.twitter.com/toaDPdpBlQ

— leah got n&h tickets (@onlyhstyles_) November 6, 2017

harry styles also known as the king of supporting lgbt+ community pic.twitter.com/tboUE69u3V

— sarah (@signoffhes) October 29, 2017

House LGBT Caucus Launches #WeAreWithYou Campaign

In observation of International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT), and the recent wave of anti-LGBT rights legislation introduced at state and federal level, the House Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is launching a video campaign to show support for the LGBT community.

Via press release:

Featuring over 25 members of the LGBT Congressional Equality Caucus, Rep. Maloney released a video titled “We’re With You,” which is aimed at showing solidarity and support for LGBT equality at a time when many federal, state and local leaders are advancing blatantly discriminatory policy proposals.

These proposals have far-reaching consequences beyond simply legalizing discrimination, including reinforcing feelings of isolation and desperation among already targeted populations. One suicide helpline for trans people has reported that call volume has doubled since the passage of HB 2 in North Carolina. The video aims to combat this trend and echoes this year’s IDAHOT theme of mental health and wellness.

“Discrimination has no place in the law, and these attempts to legalize hate are shameful. These laws tell LGBT people that who they are or who they love makes them less valuable as human beings – and that’s just wrong,” said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18), a Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.

“I started this campaign because, from North Carolina to Missouri, I want LGBT Americans to know that they are not alone. So I am asking my colleagues in Congress and folks across the country to join me and tell our LGBT brothers and sisters, ‘we’ve got your back, and we’re going to keep fighting for you until we win.’”

North Carolina: Mexican Restaurant Pescado's Burritos Makes Bathrooms Unisex For All

While the new, anti-LGBT law HB 2 in North Carolina instructs private business owners that they may have to "police" their bathrooms to make sure patrons who use them access the "biologically correct" space, Mexican restaurant Pescado's Burritos in Brevard, North Carolina, has chosen to address the issue by making both of their patron's bathrooms unisex.

We have UNISEX bathrooms because sometimes gender specific toilets put others into uncomfortable situations.

And since we have a lot of our friends, community members, and family members coming to see us, we want to provide a safe and comfortable place for everyone, including: Dads with daughters, Moms with sons, Parents with disabled children, Those in the LGBTQ community, Adults with aging parents who may be mentally or physically disabled.

THANK YOU for helping us to provide a safe environment for EVERYONE!

The two bathrooms are each "one person" non-gender specific, so no matter which a patron uses it's all good.

Of course, all around the world businesses have learned to do this. I don't know why more businesses don't do this.

The response on Facebook has been overwhelmingly positive. Bravo, Pescado's Burritos!

Salesforce CEO Tweets Thanks For Georgia Governor's Veto Of Anti-LGBT Legislation

The CEO of Salesforce, Marc Benioff, tweeted the below gorgeous clip in thanks for the veto of Georgia’s anti-LGBT bill.

Set to audio of Harvey Milk's famous "you gotta give 'em hope" speech, images of diversity across the country fill the screen.

Thanks to Benioff and Salesforce for recognizing the value of dignity for all Americans.

(h/t JMG)

McDonalds Taiwan Ad Features Son Coming Out To Dad

A new ad spot from McDonalds Taiwan has gotten a lot of attention for it's depiction of a young man coming out to his father.

The short video shows a young man passing his coffee cup to his dad. Written on the side of the cup - “I like boys.”

The stern father looks upset and leaves his son at the table. But soon, the father returns, picks up his son’s cup of coffee, and adds to the son's written comment so that it reads, "I accept that you like boys.”

As warm and fuzzy as it is, some folks on the religious right in Taiwan are not happy about the commercial.

From Business Insider:

The Facebook video has now been viewed more than 3.6 million times, with the original post gaining more than 92,000 likes, and 11,800 shares.

However, not all viewers support the ad’s heartwarming message.

The secretary general of the Alliance of Taiwan Religious Groups for the Protection of Family, Chang Shou-yi, has called for a McDonald’s boycot following the ad, reports Shanghaiist.

"Because McDonald's is frequented by many children, it is especially important to oppose the promotion of same-sex behavior," Chang said in a statement on the ad. The Alliance "rebukes and boycotts all enterprises that are polluting the next generation."

Despite the hate, social media response to the ad has been overwhelmingly positive, both in Shanghai and as it has crossed over to Western media outlets.

Taiwan is considered one of the most progressive countries in Asia. While same-sex marriage is not yet legal there, recent polling shows over 70% support marriage equality.

You Can Play & New York Giants Team Up For Pro-LGBT Inclusive Message

The New York Giants team up with You Can Play for this pro-LGBT inclusion message from the N

"The New York Giants believe that all athletes should be afforded equal opportunity, and judged only by their talent, character and work ethic."

From the You Can Play Foundation:

In addition to the video, You Can Play announced that the Giants will host a special You Can Play tailgate and game day event on December 20 when the Carolina Panthers visit New York. You Can Play has presented several times to Giants players, coaches and management on LGBT inclusion and creating a safe and inclusive locker room environment. The Giants Foundation also has provided a grant to support You Can Play’s work in fighting homophobia.

I'll be curious to see two things: how quickly other NFL teams follow; and how this affects the possibility of an NFL player coming out in the near future.

Good start though. Congrats to the NY Giants - currently in first place in their division I might add...

Commercial: Dove Men+Care Includes Gay Dads In New "First Fatherhood Moments" Campaign

I guess you add another name for the haters to attempt to boycott.

Dove Men+Care has announced a new Father's Day campaign - "First Fatherhood Moments" - that utilizes video clips of the first moment real dads' (including a gay couple) realize they will soon be fathers.

Via press release:

Becoming a dad is a transformative experience – we found that 82% of men globally believe that having a child changes the way they think about what it means to be a man – and our new film celebrates the emotional strength 13 real men openly express upon learning they’re going to be a dad for the first time.

Ian and Darryl Colvin: the gay new dads embrace one another as they set eyes on the newborn baby boy they never thought they’d have, for the first time.

Commercial: Tylenol "How We Family"

Tylenol has launched a new ad campaign featuring a gay, biracial and immigrant families titled #HowWeFamily.

The campaign over the next three months will include in-depth videos on ten families as well as a microsite, HowWeFamily.com.

Clip description: "When were you first considered a family? We believe that family is not about who you love, but how. For over 60 years, TYLENOL® has cared for all families."

Tony The Tiger Supports Gay Pride In Atlanta

Anti-gay forces are just now realizing that Kellogg's cereal was a sponsor of Atlanta Pride last month, where the company ran an ad in the festival's Pride Guide along with a very pro-LGBT/inclusive message:

"At Kellogg, we're an evolving culture that respects and accepts employees' sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression so that all employees can be authentic and fully engaged."

Now you know this sent the haters into a state of abject horror.

Anti-gay CNS News covers the story, complete with homophobic outrage:

Kellogg's was a sponsor of the Atlanta Gay Pride March and festival last month. Apparently, Tony the Tiger wants to make sure you and your kids "wear your stripes with pride," gay pride that is.

According to the American Family Association's (AFA) Facebook page, "[t]hey even put an ad in the 'Pride Guide.'"...

But wait, there's more. According to HRC's Buyers Guide, Kellogg's acquired a rating of 100, a perfect score, due to Kellogg's efforts to support the LGBT community. Worst of all, though, the "PRIDE" ad didn't even get the pun right. Tigers don't belong in "prides," let alone pride parades.

Folks all along the haters-sphere have started the usual calls for a boycott of Kelloggs, blah blah blah... which will end up like most of their boycotts - failing.

Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce Supports Marriage Equality

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, the largest group of businesses in Broward County,  has approved a resolution in support of same-sex marriage.

“Marriage equality makes great business sense for our state and our community,” Dan Lindblade, president and CEO of the Chamber, said in a statement. He termed it “reform.”

With a membership of over 1,400, the pro-business group had good reason to support the freedom to marry.

From Lindblade: “Simplification of benefits administration, a competitive edge on hiring top talent, growing an already diverse and strong tourism marketplace, and protecting the strong economic engine related to gay and gay-friendly businesses are just a few reasons.”

(source)

Madonna introduces Pussy Riot at Amnesty International concert in Brooklyn

Madonna introduced Russian protest-punk band Pussy Riot at Amnesty International’s Bringing Human Rights Home concert in Brooklyn, praising the band's courage and conviction for standing up for LGBT rights in Russia.

Madge spoke of her own experience performing in Russia: being told to "tone down" her show (she didn't), being sued for millions of dollars for her show being "pro-gay," seeing 87 audience members arrested during her concert for behavior that was "too gay."

And she spoke about members of Pussy Riot being imprisoned for staging a protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin inside a Moscow cathedral.

Watch the queen of pop's introduction below:

Pro-gay church sign goes viral

"Jesus had two dads and he turned out just fine!”

This is the message on the marquee for St. John’s Anglican Church in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The photo of the church went viral this week after being posted to Reddit, receiving an almost even split of upvotes and downvotes (16k to 14k, respectively).

Referring to Jesus' earthly father Joseph and divine father God, the church's rector Lynne Marchant said,

I don’t find it offensive in any way. We have people in our congregation who are homosexual. We are an all-inclusive church, a family. No one cares what your sexuality is. Come on in, we don’t see any difference.


(source)

President Obama congratulates Lambda Legal on its 40th anniversary

Founded in 1973, Lambda Legal is the oldest and largest national legal organization whose mission is to achieve full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

As a nonprofit organization, Lambda Legal does not charge plaintiffs for legal representation or advocacy, and they receive no government funding. The organization depends on contributions from supporters around the country.

Happy 40th Lambda Legal!

Two more Democratic congressmen publicly support marriage equality

Rep. Ron Kind of Wisconsin released a statement endorsing marriage equality via a post on Facebook, saying that history has shown that "discrimination never works:"

"My 18-year marriage to Tawni has taught me that we’re both stronger because we love and support each other. I support marriage equality because if two people want to make a lifetime commitment to love and care for one another, then the government shouldn't stand in the way.

"As the Supreme Court deliberates the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8, I'm reminded that throughout history, discrimination has never worked. I have never voted for discrimination, and I look forward to supporting legislation like the Respect for Marriage Act that will help committed same-sex couples gain the same rights as everyone else."

Rep. Pete Visclosky of Indiana announced his support for marriage equality via Facebook also:

“I support marriage equality for all couples and believe that every single American should be able to marry the person they love. I believe that it is unfair that, under current law, same-sex couples are legally prohibited from taking advantage of the federal laws that provide financial and legal benefits to married couples. I believe that we can no longer allow the states to discriminate against same-sex marriages. Rather, I believe that the federal government should ensure that all consenting adults, no matter who they are or who they love, have the exact same marriage rights."

Visclosky voted for DOMA in 1996. His spokesman says Visclosky now "regrets that vote."

Halebop Hockey

A new pro-gay ad from the Swedish mobile carrier Halebop  set in a locker room confrontation:

English translation:

Guy 1: "Miss you, Theo Ekenborg [name of a guy]"

Guy 1: "Who's that?"

Guy 2: "It's …"

Guy 2: "It's my boyfriend."

Guy 2: "We're celebrating our … one year anniversary"

Guy 1: "Congrats! One year, that's not easy"

In the end you hear another guy in the background saying "I know who it is. He's damn good looking"

Virginia Sen. Mark Warner supports marriage equality

"I support marriage equality because it is the fair and right thing to do. Like many Virginians and Americans, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and this is the inevitable extension of my efforts to promote equality and opportunity for everyone.

"I was proud to be the first Virginia governor to extend anti-discrimination protections to LGBT state workers. In 2010, I supported an end to the military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, and earlier this month I signed an amicus brief urging the repeal of DOMA. I believe we should continue working to expand equal rights and opportunities for all Americans." - Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), today announcing his support on his Facebook page.

UPDATE: According to BuzzFeed, Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Tim Johnson (D-SD) have also indicated today that they no longer support the Defense of Marriage Act.

(via JMG)