This is a big victory for LGBTQ rights in Mexico...

https://www.advocate.com/world/2021/8/30...ory-mexico

Quote:Legislators in the northeastern Mexican state of Yucatán have enacted marriage equality for same-sex couples and also cracked down on “conversion therapy.”

Quote:Yucatán's actions follow a steady drumbeat of LGBTQ+ advances in Mexico. Currently, 22 out of 32 Mexican states allow same-sex marriage, including areas popular with American tourists like Sinaloa, Mexico City, Baja California, and Quintana Roo. The nation passed antidiscrimination protections for gay and bisexual Mexicans back in 2003.

Although now downgraded to a tropical storm, live video of Ida making landfall was insane...

https://youtu.be/99S7tMwoHtQ?t=1316

The Association for LGBTQ Equality in Israel praised the decision as a 'historic move'


Recovered Israeli Covid-19 patients donate blood samples for plasma extraction at Sheba Medical Centre Hospital near Tel Aviv

Israel on Thursday announced the removal of decades-old restrictions facing gay and bisexual men seeking to donate blood, following similar moves by Britain and the United States.

"The prohibition on gay men donating blood was a relic of a stereotype that belongs in the past," Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, himself a gay man, said in a statement.

"Any blood donor seeking to save lives will receive the same treatment, regardless of his gender or sexual orientation," he added.

Many countries across the world impose deferrals or outright bans on blood donations by men who have had sexual relations with other men in the wake of the emergence of HIV and Aids in the 1980s.

But from 1 October, the forms to be filled prior to donating blood will be changed, an Israeli health ministry statement said.

"The clause prohibiting receiving blood from a man who had sexual relations with another man (even a permanent partner) will be cancelled," it said.

Questionnaires will instead include a new clause prohibiting donations from people who "had high-risk sexual relations with a new partner or multiple partners" in the past three months.

Men who have sex with men can currently only donate blood in Israel if over a year has passed since their last sexual encounter. Another option is to have plasma from their blood frozen for four months to ensure the lack of "transmittable diseases", according to Magen David Adom, Israel's national medical first responders which also serves as the country's blood service organisation.

The Association for LGBTQ Equality in Israel praised the decision as a “historic move”.

"The blood of hundreds of thousands of citizens is not second class," the association said in a statement.

A recent health ministry report said that in 2020 there were 361 HIV-positive people in Israel, 5 percent fewer than the previous year.

Israel's policy change follows Britain's decision in June to allow more gay and bisexual men to donate life-saving blood, and a similar move by the United States last year.

Lil Nas X says he's found 'the one' after accusations he's pretending to be gay

Lil Nas X admitted that his current relationship has made him feel more at ease in himself than ever before as he thinks he's found 'the one'

Lil Nas X has revealed that he’s found ‘the one’ after social media trolls accused him of pretending to be gay.

The 22-year-old music star believes that his latest boyfriend could be the person he spends the rest of his life with just months after revealing his sexuality.

Lifting the lid on his love story with the mysterious man, Lil Nas X admitted that his current relationship has made him feel more at ease in himself than ever before.

“I’ve had some good boyfriends and some bad ones,” he told Variety.

“A lot of them were emotionally unavailable or had a lot of insecurity and whatnot.

“I’ve found someone special now,” the Montero (Call Me By Your Name) singer added.


Lil Nas has said that he's found 'the one'

“I think this is the one. I can’t explain it — it’s just a feeling.”

It comes after the star furiously hit back at claims that he's pretending to be gay as a publicity stunt.

A Twitter user posed the question that the star was faking his sexuality just to hit the charts, but the Industry Baby singer immediately shut it down.

"What if Lil Nas X is pretending and acting all gay in his songs and music videos just for the numbers and charts?" they asked. "Show business."


The singer remained tight-lipped on his new man

The musician swiftly responded: "No i just like d**k. nothing deep to it lol."

His song Montero (Call Me By Your Name) is currently number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.

Lil Nas received backlash for the music video - in which he pole danced his way to hell in order to give Satan a lap dance.


Trolls have accused the star of pretending to be gay

A while later, many complained about him kissing a man during one of his BET Awards performance.

Lil Nas responded to the backlash by coming back with an even wilder video for Industry Baby.

Image via TikTok (@alphahouseboys)

Gaybaiting is nothing new, but it appears a group of straight TikTokers may be pushing the concept to new heights.

Insider reports Several “creators” (we guess that’s what they’re called…) who are reportedly part of the “Alpha House Boys” group are being called out for operating dual TikTok accounts. They’re accused of claiming to be straight on their main accounts, and gay on their secondary ones.

It should be noted that one of the accused users has denied the accusations, saying he does indeed identify as gay.

Barrett Pall is a self-described gay life coach who regularly posts about homophobia and gay issues on his own TikTok account. Pall kicked off the accusations, posting a video to his account with screenshots of the fellow TikTokers’ dual gay/straight accounts.

@barrettpall

 

Joshua Bassett (Instagram)

2 min read
Although he never felt like he needed to ‘come out’ the High School Musical: The Musical star Joshua Bassett has revealed he experienced homophobia for the first time ever after he came out publicly.

Speaking with Attitude, Bassett said he is now feeling “liberated” after coming out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community earlier this year.

“This was the first time where I was subjected to a lot of homophobia,” Bassett explained to Attitude.

“You know, I seem ‘straight’ to everyone I meet, pretty much, and I have had to see that [homophobia] first-hand.”

“Seeing that put things into perspective, of how far along we aren’t yet; I thought we were a lot further on than we are,” he said.

The 20 year old actor/singer said he is feeling optimistic and inspired.

“People can hate me forever and say the nastiest thing possible, but it will not change a thing, because you need to stand tall and face those people as an advocate for all the people without a voice,” explained.

“Ultimately, all that garbage melts away from one story, let alone thousands of people telling me I’ve changed their life – which is wild, but a crazy honor.”

Bassett first opened up about his identity in May, after an interview where he openly shared his admiration for Harry Styles went viral.

“What I admire about Harry Styles is that he is a very classy man, and he’s also very well rounded and he kind of does it all, acting, singing, fashion,” during an interview with Clever News. “I think that he’s just a nice guy who doesn’t say too much but when he talks, it matters.”

Well, he's certainly a young man! Enjoy this interesting article on Robin's journey.

Batman's not surprised and who would be?

   

John is the fourth confirmed contestant

The latest Strictly Come Dancing 2021 star has been revealed, with Great British Bake Off’s John Whaite set to take to the ballroom in the upcoming series.

He will take part in the show as part of the first ever all-male pairing.

The news was announced on BBC Radio 2 on Thursday morning, with guest presenter Matt Lucas making the announcement on the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show.

‘I am so excited! I’m very, very nervous. I’m actually shaking inside,’ he said.

‘I was born to be on that dancefloor. I’m going to have to be taken off kicking and screaming every week.’

John is known for winning the Bake Off in 2012, as well as appearing as a chef on shows such as Lorraine.


John was named Bake Off champion in 2012

Taking about making Strictly history, he said: ‘It’s an honour. When they asked me if I’d be interested, I bit their hand off.

‘I thought to represent the LGBTQ+ community is one thing. But to see two men dancing together, it’s not neccessarily about sexuality. It’s just about intimacy and respect, and I think that’s going to be a great thing in our culture where men are conditioned not to open up and not to be emotional. I think it might help to combat that. I’m excited on so many levels.’

The baker also revealed that he had yet to discover which professional dancer he would be partnered with.

Steven and Stephen are now engaged. (Instagram/ stevenromo)

A popular local news anchor has come out as gay and revealed his engagement to a weatherman in a moving Instagram post.

Steven Romo, a news anchor for the ABC News station KTRK Channel 13 in Houston, Texas, took to Instagram to share some “personal news” on 16 July.

Sharing a photo of himself with FOX Weather meteorologist Steven Morgan, he wrote: “I grew up with secrets. My family fought together to hide that we lived in a house full of garbage with a horde of dogs.

“But what they didn’t know, and was arguably even more difficult, was that I had a secret to carry all on my own: I was gay and trying with all my heart not to be.”

Romo said that while he heard from people at church that being gay was wrong, with hindsight he would see that it “saved” him.

“It made me strong,” he said.

“Strong enough to eventually stand next to the best human I’ve ever met and ask him to marry me.”