Jason Collins attending closing Olympic ceremony

The US delegation attending the closing ceremony of the Rio Olympics will include two gay men,  Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning and former NBA player Jason Collins.

The White House made the announcement yesterday, 12 August. The delegates will meet with US athletes, attend sporting events and the ceremony ending the Summer Games.

Collins and Fanning expressed their gratitude on social media.

 

 

 

Beyond honored & excited to be on the Presidential delegation for the #ClosingCeremony at #RioOlympics. #GoTeamUSA https://t.co/FVK5rE1yNJ

— Jason Collins (@jasoncollins98) August 12, 2016

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Woohoo! Thrilled to join US #Olympics Closing Ceremony Delegation in Rio to rep @POTUS, #ArmyOlympians & #TeamUSAhttps://t.co/WyyZePPEKa

— Eric Fanning (@SECARMY) August 12, 2016

This isn’t the first time the Obama White House has sent LGBTI individuals to represent the US at Olympic Games.  At Sochi, in 2012, Brian Boitano, a former Olympic figure skating champion. US hockey player Caitlin Cahow, and tennis legend Billie Jean King went to the final festivities.

Joining Collins and Fanning in Brazil will be Liliana Ayalde, U.S. Ambassador to Brazil; White House advisor Bess Evans; Olympic champion Jackie Joyner-Kersee; the EPA’s Gina McCarthy (who will lead the delegation), and Lauren Kelly, social secretary to the First Lady.

h/t: NewNowNext

 

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Jason Collins attending closing Olympic ceremony

The US delegation attending the closing ceremony of the Rio Olympics will include two gay men,  Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning and former NBA player Jason Collins.

The White House made the announcement yesterday, 12 August. The delegates will meet with US athletes, attend sporting events and the ceremony ending the Summer Games.

Collins and Fanning expressed their gratitude on social media.

 

 

 

Beyond honored & excited to be on the Presidential delegation for the #ClosingCeremony at #RioOlympics. #GoTeamUSA https://t.co/FVK5rE1yNJ

— Jason Collins (@jasoncollins98) August 12, 2016

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Woohoo! Thrilled to join US #Olympics Closing Ceremony Delegation in Rio to rep @POTUS, #ArmyOlympians & #TeamUSAhttps://t.co/WyyZePPEKa

— Eric Fanning (@SECARMY) August 12, 2016

This isn’t the first time the Obama White House has sent LGBTI individuals to represent the US at Olympic Games.  At Sochi, in 2012, Brian Boitano, a former Olympic figure skating champion. US hockey player Caitlin Cahow, and tennis legend Billie Jean King went to the final festivities.

Joining Collins and Fanning in Brazil will be Liliana Ayalde, U.S. Ambassador to Brazil; White House advisor Bess Evans; Olympic champion Jackie Joyner-Kersee; the EPA’s Gina McCarthy (who will lead the delegation), and Lauren Kelly, social secretary to the First Lady.

h/t: NewNowNext

 

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Trans man and musician Aiza Seguerra takes senior government job in Philippines

Aiza Seguerra has been announced as the next chairperson for the National Youth Commission in the Philippines, contrasting with recent homophobic language from its president Rodrigo Duterte, as of Friday.

Seguerra rose to fame as a child star in Little Miss Philippines: a program on variety show Eat Bulaga, in the Philippines.

After placing second he became a musician. He drew national attention when he came out in 2007 as a lesbian, and later that same year as a trans man.

He has since become a major advocate for LGBTI and workers’ rights in his country, which is relatively more friendly to LGBTI people than the countries surrounding it.

The announcement that he would be chairperson for the NYC came on Friday, when it was tweeted by state broadcaster PTV.

As head of the organization he will be charged with protecting the ‘physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being’ of Filipino children.

‘We have all witnessed Mr. Seguerra’s growth as a firebrand change-maker, with him and his wife Liza Diño actively engaging in vital issues including the plight of our Lumad [indigenous] brothers and sisters,’ a spokesperson for Kabataan, a youth representative party, said.

‘Together, let us address the most pressing issues faced by the youth sector, including soaring tuition rates in our schools, high youth unemployment, and contractualization.’

Aiza Seguerra married his wife Liza Diño in December 2014. They have a son, from Diño’s previous marriage.

Filipino president Rodrigo Dutertes – who’s campaign for president Seguerra supported – has meanwhile courted controversy with a comment he made about the US ambassador.

Dutertes mocked ambassador Philip Goldberg, calling him the ‘gay son of a whore’ in front of his troops. However, Goldberg had not said publically whether he is gay; it’s assumed ‘gay’ was meant as an insult.

He has since said he will not apologize. ‘I will not apologize for anything. He did not apologize to me when we saw each other. Why should I apologize to him?’ he said.

Goldberg had condemned Dutertes for making light of the gang rape of a woman in Davao City in 1989, in which he’d been mayor for twenty years. Dutertes said it was only a tragedy because he hadn’t got there first.

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Trans man and musician Aiza Seguerra takes senior government job in Philippines

Aiza Seguerra has been announced as the next chairperson for the National Youth Commission in the Philippines, contrasting with recent homophobic language from its president Rodrigo Duterte, as of Friday.

Seguerra rose to fame as a child star in Little Miss Philippines: a program on variety show Eat Bulaga, in the Philippines.

After placing second he became a musician. He drew national attention when he came out in 2007 as a lesbian, and later that same year as a trans man.

He has since become a major advocate for LGBTI and workers’ rights in his country, which is relatively more friendly to LGBTI people than the countries surrounding it.

The announcement that he would be chairperson for the NYC came on Friday, when it was tweeted by state broadcaster PTV.

As head of the organization he will be charged with protecting the ‘physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being’ of Filipino children.

‘We have all witnessed Mr. Seguerra’s growth as a firebrand change-maker, with him and his wife Liza Diño actively engaging in vital issues including the plight of our Lumad [indigenous] brothers and sisters,’ a spokesperson for Kabataan, a youth representative party, said.

‘Together, let us address the most pressing issues faced by the youth sector, including soaring tuition rates in our schools, high youth unemployment, and contractualization.’

Aiza Seguerra married his wife Liza Diño in December 2014. They have a son, from Diño’s previous marriage.

Filipino president Rodrigo Dutertes – who’s campaign for president Seguerra supported – has meanwhile courted controversy with a comment he made about the US ambassador.

Dutertes mocked ambassador Philip Goldberg, calling him the ‘gay son of a whore’ in front of his troops. However, Goldberg had not said publically whether he is gay; it’s assumed ‘gay’ was meant as an insult.

He has since said he will not apologize. ‘I will not apologize for anything. He did not apologize to me when we saw each other. Why should I apologize to him?’ he said.

Goldberg had condemned Dutertes for making light of the gang rape of a woman in Davao City in 1989, in which he’d been mayor for twenty years. Dutertes said it was only a tragedy because he hadn’t got there first.

The post Trans man and musician Aiza Seguerra takes senior government job in Philippines appeared first on Gay Star News.

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Trans man and musician Aiza Seguerra takes senior government job in Philippines

Aiza Seguerra has been announced as the next chairperson for the National Youth Commission in the Philippines, contrasting with recent homophobic language from its president Rodrigo Duterte, as of Friday.

Seguerra rose to fame as a child star in Little Miss Philippines: a program on variety show Eat Bulaga, in the Philippines.

After placing second he became a musician. He drew national attention when he came out in 2007 as a lesbian, and later that same year as a trans man.

He has since become a major advocate for LGBTI and workers’ rights in his country, which is relatively more friendly to LGBTI people than the countries surrounding it.

The announcement that he would be chairperson for the NYC came on Friday, when it was tweeted by state broadcaster PTV.

As head of the organization he will be charged with protecting the ‘physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being’ of Filipino children.

‘We have all witnessed Mr. Seguerra’s growth as a firebrand change-maker, with him and his wife Liza Diño actively engaging in vital issues including the plight of our Lumad [indigenous] brothers and sisters,’ a spokesperson for Kabataan, a youth representative party, said.

‘Together, let us address the most pressing issues faced by the youth sector, including soaring tuition rates in our schools, high youth unemployment, and contractualization.’

Aiza Seguerra married his wife Liza Diño in December 2014. They have a son, from Diño’s previous marriage.

Filipino president Rodrigo Dutertes – who’s campaign for president Seguerra supported – has meanwhile courted controversy with a comment he made about the US ambassador.

Dutertes mocked ambassador Philip Goldberg, calling him the ‘gay son of a whore’ in front of his troops. However, Goldberg had not said publically whether he is gay; it’s assumed ‘gay’ was meant as an insult.

He has since said he will not apologize. ‘I will not apologize for anything. He did not apologize to me when we saw each other. Why should I apologize to him?’ he said.

Goldberg had condemned Dutertes for making light of the gang rape of a woman in Davao City in 1989, in which he’d been mayor for twenty years. Dutertes said it was only a tragedy because he hadn’t got there first.

The post Trans man and musician Aiza Seguerra takes senior government job in Philippines appeared first on Gay Star News.

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Trans man and musician Aiza Seguerra takes senior government job in Philippines

Aiza Seguerra has been announced as the next chairperson for the National Youth Commission in the Philippines, contrasting with recent homophobic language from its president Rodrigo Duterte, as of Friday.

Seguerra rose to fame as a child star in Little Miss Philippines: a program on variety show Eat Bulaga, in the Philippines.

After placing second he became a musician. He drew national attention when he came out in 2007 as a lesbian, and later that same year as a trans man.

He has since become a major advocate for LGBTI and workers’ rights in his country, which is relatively more friendly to LGBTI people than the countries surrounding it.

The announcement that he would be chairperson for the NYC came on Friday, when it was tweeted by state broadcaster PTV.

As head of the organization he will be charged with protecting the ‘physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being’ of Filipino children.

‘We have all witnessed Mr. Seguerra’s growth as a firebrand change-maker, with him and his wife Liza Diño actively engaging in vital issues including the plight of our Lumad [indigenous] brothers and sisters,’ a spokesperson for Kabataan, a youth representative party, said.

‘Together, let us address the most pressing issues faced by the youth sector, including soaring tuition rates in our schools, high youth unemployment, and contractualization.’

Aiza Seguerra married his wife Liza Diño in December 2014. They have a son, from Diño’s previous marriage.

Filipino president Rodrigo Dutertes – who’s campaign for president Seguerra supported – has meanwhile courted controversy with a comment he made about the US ambassador.

Dutertes mocked ambassador Philip Goldberg, calling him the ‘gay son of a whore’ in front of his troops. However, Goldberg had not said publically whether he is gay; it’s assumed ‘gay’ was meant as an insult.

He has since said he will not apologize. ‘I will not apologize for anything. He did not apologize to me when we saw each other. Why should I apologize to him?’ he said.

Goldberg had condemned Dutertes for making light of the gang rape of a woman in Davao City in 1989, in which he’d been mayor for twenty years. Dutertes said it was only a tragedy because he hadn’t got there first.

The post Trans man and musician Aiza Seguerra takes senior government job in Philippines appeared first on Gay Star News.

http://ift.tt/2bq8DCm

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Trans man and musician Aiza Seguerra takes senior government job in Philippines

Aiza Seguerra has been announced as the next chairperson for the National Youth Commission in the Philippines, contrasting with recent homophobic language from its president Rodrigo Duterte, as of Friday.

Seguerra rose to fame as a child star in Little Miss Philippines: a program on variety show Eat Bulaga, in the Philippines.

After placing second he became a musician. He drew national attention when he came out in 2007 as a lesbian, and later that same year as a trans man.

He has since become a major advocate for LGBTI and workers’ rights in his country, which is relatively more friendly to LGBTI people than the countries surrounding it.

The announcement that he would be chairperson for the NYC came on Friday, when it was tweeted by state broadcaster PTV.

As head of the organization he will be charged with protecting the ‘physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being’ of Filipino children.

‘We have all witnessed Mr. Seguerra’s growth as a firebrand change-maker, with him and his wife Liza Diño actively engaging in vital issues including the plight of our Lumad [indigenous] brothers and sisters,’ a spokesperson for Kabataan, a youth representative party, said.

‘Together, let us address the most pressing issues faced by the youth sector, including soaring tuition rates in our schools, high youth unemployment, and contractualization.’

Aiza Seguerra married his wife Liza Diño in December 2014. They have a son, from Diño’s previous marriage.

Filipino president Rodrigo Dutertes – who’s campaign for president Seguerra supported – has meanwhile courted controversy with a comment he made about the US ambassador.

Dutertes mocked ambassador Philip Goldberg, calling him the ‘gay son of a whore’ in front of his troops. However, Goldberg had not said publically whether he is gay; it’s assumed ‘gay’ was meant as an insult.

He has since said he will not apologize. ‘I will not apologize for anything. He did not apologize to me when we saw each other. Why should I apologize to him?’ he said.

Goldberg had condemned Dutertes for making light of the gang rape of a woman in Davao City in 1989, in which he’d been mayor for twenty years. Dutertes said it was only a tragedy because he hadn’t got there first.

The post Trans man and musician Aiza Seguerra takes senior government job in Philippines appeared first on Gay Star News.

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RuPaul lets loose on loving Hillary Clinton and American politics

Drag queen and fairy godmother RuPaul has got his wits about him in a recent interview, gabbing on about the state of diversity in Hollywood and Hillary Clinton.

In the interview with Vulture, RuPaul was asked what he thought about the Democrats.

‘I fucking love them. I have always loved them.

‘And let me just say this: If you’re a politician — not just in Washington but in business and industry, you have to be a politician — there are a lot of things that you have to do that you’re not proud of.

‘There are a lot of compromises you have to make because it means that you can get this other thing over here.

‘If you think that you can go to fucking Washington and be rainbows and butterflies the whole time, you’re living in a fucking fantasy world.

‘So now, having said that, think about what a female has to do with that: All of those compromises, all of that shit, double it by ten. And you get to understand who this woman is and how powerful, persuasive, brilliant, and resilient she is.

‘Any female executive, anybody who has been put to the side — women, blacks, gays — for them to succeed in a white-male-dominated culture is an act of brilliance. Of resilience, of grit, of everything you can imagine.

‘So, what do I think of Hillary? I think she’s fucking awesome.’

If that wasn’t enough, he shares his striking view on Clinton’s often critized record on fundraising and ties to finance bigwigs.

‘Is she in bed with Wall Street? Goddammit, I should hope so!

‘You’ve got to dance with the devil. So which of the horrible people do you want?

‘That’s more of the question.’

The rest of the interview covers RuPaul’s recent Emmy nomination (for Outstanding Host for a Reality Program).

The legendary host quips: ‘It’s an image thing… What I’m trying to say is that people put on this face because it makes them look good, but underneath lurking in the subconscious is this other face that you’re thinking, “Ooh, that’s fucking gross!” And most people act from that subconscious, gross place.

‘Will I attend? Yes, because I have to.’

A lady who loves to mince, but doesn’t mince her words.

The post RuPaul lets loose on loving Hillary Clinton and American politics appeared first on Gay Star News.

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RuPaul lets loose on loving Hillary Clinton and American politics

Drag queen and fairy godmother RuPaul has got his wits about him in a recent interview, gabbing on about the state of diversity in Hollywood and Hillary Clinton.

In the interview with Vulture, RuPaul was asked what he thought about the Democrats.

‘I fucking love them. I have always loved them.

‘And let me just say this: If you’re a politician — not just in Washington but in business and industry, you have to be a politician — there are a lot of things that you have to do that you’re not proud of.

‘There are a lot of compromises you have to make because it means that you can get this other thing over here.

‘If you think that you can go to fucking Washington and be rainbows and butterflies the whole time, you’re living in a fucking fantasy world.

‘So now, having said that, think about what a female has to do with that: All of those compromises, all of that shit, double it by ten. And you get to understand who this woman is and how powerful, persuasive, brilliant, and resilient she is.

‘Any female executive, anybody who has been put to the side — women, blacks, gays — for them to succeed in a white-male-dominated culture is an act of brilliance. Of resilience, of grit, of everything you can imagine.

‘So, what do I think of Hillary? I think she’s fucking awesome.’

If that wasn’t enough, he shares his striking view on Clinton’s often critized record on fundraising and ties to finance bigwigs.

‘Is she in bed with Wall Street? Goddammit, I should hope so!

‘You’ve got to dance with the devil. So which of the horrible people do you want?

‘That’s more of the question.’

The rest of the interview covers RuPaul’s recent Emmy nomination (for Outstanding Host for a Reality Program).

The legendary host quips: ‘It’s an image thing… What I’m trying to say is that people put on this face because it makes them look good, but underneath lurking in the subconscious is this other face that you’re thinking, “Ooh, that’s fucking gross!” And most people act from that subconscious, gross place.

‘Will I attend? Yes, because I have to.’

A lady who loves to mince, but doesn’t mince her words.

The post RuPaul lets loose on loving Hillary Clinton and American politics appeared first on Gay Star News.

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via IFTTT

RuPaul lets loose on loving Hillary Clinton and American politics

Drag queen and fairy godmother RuPaul has got his wits about him in a recent interview, gabbing on about the state of diversity in Hollywood and Hillary Clinton.

In the interview with Vulture, RuPaul was asked what he thought about the Democrats.

‘I fucking love them. I have always loved them.

‘And let me just say this: If you’re a politician — not just in Washington but in business and industry, you have to be a politician — there are a lot of things that you have to do that you’re not proud of.

‘There are a lot of compromises you have to make because it means that you can get this other thing over here.

‘If you think that you can go to fucking Washington and be rainbows and butterflies the whole time, you’re living in a fucking fantasy world.

‘So now, having said that, think about what a female has to do with that: All of those compromises, all of that shit, double it by ten. And you get to understand who this woman is and how powerful, persuasive, brilliant, and resilient she is.

‘Any female executive, anybody who has been put to the side — women, blacks, gays — for them to succeed in a white-male-dominated culture is an act of brilliance. Of resilience, of grit, of everything you can imagine.

‘So, what do I think of Hillary? I think she’s fucking awesome.’

If that wasn’t enough, he shares his striking view on Clinton’s often critized record on fundraising and ties to finance bigwigs.

‘Is she in bed with Wall Street? Goddammit, I should hope so!

‘You’ve got to dance with the devil. So which of the horrible people do you want?

‘That’s more of the question.’

The rest of the interview covers RuPaul’s recent Emmy nomination (for Outstanding Host for a Reality Program).

The legendary host quips: ‘It’s an image thing… What I’m trying to say is that people put on this face because it makes them look good, but underneath lurking in the subconscious is this other face that you’re thinking, “Ooh, that’s fucking gross!” And most people act from that subconscious, gross place.

‘Will I attend? Yes, because I have to.’

A lady who loves to mince, but doesn’t mince her words.

The post RuPaul lets loose on loving Hillary Clinton and American politics appeared first on Gay Star News.

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