BestApp.com, an in-depth guide for the latest mobile app reviews and technology trends, has announced the best hookup apps of 2021. The study prioritized platforms with robust safety and security tools as well as features for LGBTQ+ connections.
Each mobile application was rated based on security and privacy measures. Experts at BestApp.com evaluated 10 dating apps and recommended that consumers consider apps that offer free trials as well as Google Play and App Store reviews before choosing a platform.
“Not everyone has the same dating goals, so it’s important to find an app that fits your lifestyle and needs,” says Josephine Miller, Communications Manager at BestApp.com. “Our team developed this list of best hookup apps for people who want a more casual approach to dating.”
The top 3 picks from the leading online hookup apps are Tinder, OKCupid, and Down. The guide also includes a summary table for users to compare best features and average in-app purchases. To access the complete list of best hookup apps, please visit https://www.bestapp.com/best-hookup-apps/.
BestApp.com is a leading online destination for reviews and technology trends. The platform provides research-based studies and carefully curated lists, which allow users to compare and find the best apps on the market. BestApp.com is managed by a team of tech industry professionals that aim to help consumers find the tools they need to live a more convenient and productive life. To learn more, visit https://www.bestapp.com/.
365 Days star Michele Morrone was in the news recently as media and netizens speculated him of being gay after he posted a cosy pic with co-star Simone Susinna. The actor took to Instagram story and finally clarified that he is not gay and wrote “This morning, I woke up with my team calling me and saying, ‘Hey, there’s a lot of articles…saying that you came out,’ because of the picture I took with Simone.” He further said, “He became a very good friend of mine, we’re like brothers. We’re shooting a movie together.”
Michele Morrone’s Cosy Pic With Simone Susinna
(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user’s social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
Since the noughties queens are at the forefront of everyone’s minds again (Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie etc), let me remind you of which gal is not only the least problematic, but has also been a driving force in the fight against homophobia since way back when: Hilary Duff.
Back in the noughties, when people thought it was okay to say “that’s so gay” in a negative way, Hilary Duff took a stand by taking part in the Think Before You Speak campaign.
The campaign was created by Arnold Worldwide and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) as an effort to educate people on the fact that the term is offensive to LGBTQIA+ people.
In the iconic 2008 ad, Hilary Duff approaches two women in a clothing store after hearing one of them say that an outfit is “so gay.”
She then schools them on why it’s so offensive and sasses them in the process. It’s a truly divine moment that’s still shared on social media to this day:
It ended up winning the Ad Council’s Gold Bell award for “Best Public Service Advertising Campaign” as it bloody well should’ve and I’ll tell ya why.
The campaign was released at a time where “that’s so gay” was being tossed around frequently and as someone who was struggling with their sexual identity at the time, I can tell you that hearing it being spouted by people (including friends) was incredibly hurtful.
It made my gay little heart sing when I saw that Hilary Duff was actively taking a stand and putting her name and face to a cause that aims to eliminate the homophobic term.
I reported on the incident at the time and included Hilary Duff’s campaign vid because apparently people need some reminding as to why it’s so offensive and absolutely fucking unacceptable.
In a world filled with Jessika Powers, be a Hilary Duff.
Matty Galea is the Senior Entertainment Editor at Pedestrian who also dabbles in woo-woo stuff like astrology and crystals and has been penning horoscopes since the start of his career. He alsoTweets about pop culture and astrology and posts spicy content on Instagram.
Since the noughties queens are at the forefront of everyone’s minds again (Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie etc), let me remind you of which gal is not only the least problematic, but has also been a driving force in the fight against homophobia since way back when: Hilary Duff.
Back in the noughties, when people thought it was okay to say “that’s so gay” in a negative way, Hilary Duff took a stand by taking part in the Think Before You Speak campaign.
The campaign was created by Arnold Worldwide and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) as an effort to educate people on the fact that the term is offensive to LGBTQIA+ people.
In the iconic 2008 ad, Hilary Duff approaches two women in a clothing store after hearing one of them say that an outfit is “so gay.”
She then schools them on why it’s so offensive and sasses them in the process. It’s a truly divine moment that’s still shared on social media to this day:
It ended up winning the Ad Council’s Gold Bell award for “Best Public Service Advertising Campaign” as it bloody well should’ve and I’ll tell ya why.
The campaign was released at a time where “that’s so gay” was being tossed around frequently and as someone who was struggling with their sexual identity at the time, I can tell you that hearing it being spouted by people (including friends) was incredibly hurtful.
It made my gay little heart sing when I saw that Hilary Duff was actively taking a stand and putting her name and face to a cause that aims to eliminate the homophobic term.
I reported on the incident at the time and included Hilary Duff’s campaign vid because apparently people need some reminding as to why it’s so offensive and absolutely fucking unacceptable.
In a world filled with Jessika Powers, be a Hilary Duff.
Matty Galea is the Senior Entertainment Editor at Pedestrian who also dabbles in woo-woo stuff like astrology and crystals and has been penning horoscopes since the start of his career. He alsoTweets about pop culture and astrology and posts spicy content on Instagram.
SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Giants are adding some rainbow to their traditional colors of black, orange, cream and gold this Saturday, when the team hosts the Chicago Cubs for its Pride Day game.
“We are extremely proud to stand with the LGBTQ+ community as we kick off one of the best annual celebrations in San Francisco by paying honor to the countless achievements and contributions of all those who identify as LGBTQ+ and are allies of the LGBTQ+ community,” said Larry Baer, S.F. Giants president and CEO, in a tweet.
Courtesy of the SF Giants
Players will wear a custom cap and a patch on their right sleeves bearing the Pride-themed SF logo, with the six colors of the traditional Gilbert Baker flag, topped with an additional five colors that are part of the Progress Pride Flag, designed by Daniel Quasar. Together, the 11 colors signify inclusion: Black and brown recognize LGBTQ+ people of color, and light blue, pink and white recognize those who are transgender, as seen in the Trans Pride flag designed by Monica Helms.
As soon as the news got out, Giants’ vice president of external affairs Roscoe Mapps said his phone started buzzing.
“I started getting messages from a variety of people, some officials, some friends in the community, some leaders, and even some colleagues internally who were saying, ‘This is phenomenal. I feel seen. This is incredible,’ which is what we were hoping for, you know?” Mapps told the San Francisco Chronicle. “I started getting chills.”
Of course, the Giants are just one of four MLB teams in California. No word yet on Pride Night plans from the Angels; The Oakland A’s are giving away Pride Rally towels on their Pride Night, June 11. And that same night, the Dodgers pull out all the stops with what some call the biggest Pride Night in pro sports. The 2020 World Series champion team also modified its logo this season to include Pride colors, albeit not on the L.A. players’ uniforms.
So do the Dodgers see the Giants as trying to one-up them?
“In this area, the Dodgers, Giants and Major League Baseball are aligned,” Erik Braverman, Dodgers senior VP for marketing, communications and broadcasting, told the Los Angeles Blade. “We salute the Giants for what they are doing. While we will always be rivals on the field, when it comes to many issues off the field, we stand together for the greater good.”
Giants fans who purchase a special event ticket for $50 get a free SF Pride T-shirt along with their seat in either the “socially distant” or “fully vaccinated” sections.
Courtesy of the SF Giants
On hand for the game, which starts at 4:15 p.m. PDT, will be MLB’s most prominent voice for LGBTQ inclusion, Billy Bean, the VP and special assistant to the commissioner as well as the MLB ambassador for inclusion since 2014.
Of course not every gay baseball fan will be cheering on the Pride colors-adorned home team. Chicago’s most prominent gay sportswriter and standup comedian, Ken Schultz, declared to the Los Angeles Blade: “I will be almost as proud seeing the Giants take the field in Pride caps as I will be to see the Cubs beat them that evening.”
After the racial reckoning of 2020, the entertainment industry scrambled to diversify talent in front of, and behind, the camera. One of the shows that made the most changes was “The Simpsons“.
For context, virtually all of the non-white (non-yellow?) characters on “The Simpsons” were voiced by white voiceover actors. But in 2020, the producers of “The Simpsons” announced that they would “no longer have white actors voice non-white characters.” “The Simpsons” recast the voices for Dr. Julius Hibbert, Carl Carlson, and have plans to recast Apu. And of course, they recast the voice for virtually the sole Latino character on the show: Bumblebee Man.
We talked to the new voice of Bumblebee Man, voiceover actor Eric Lopez, about his career, diversity in animation, and keeping his last name.
*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
we are mitú (WAM):I didn’t realize that all characters of color on “The Simpsons” were being voiced by white actors. What was your opinion about white actors playing characters that weren’t white?
Eric Lopez (EL): Growing up, you see a lot of people representing “your kind” that’s not really in your demographic. As far as voiceover goes, I’ve never really had a problem with it, because [VO] is based on your range. It’s all about character. So if you can get that character across vocally, then I think it’s okay. As long as it’s not offensive, because it can be offensive. There’s certain roles that I’ve seen and I’m like ‘That’s a little offensive.’ You know “Family Guy” with the cleaning lady [Consuela], I’m like ugh.
“That’s how cartoons and animation are. You take someone and you make them a big character. And that’s what makes that character loveable.”
WAM: Did you ever find Bumblebee Man offensive? Did you ever think he was a stereotype?
EL: The first time I saw Bumblebee Man I wasn’t sure how to feel about it. Because I knew he was based off of a real Mexican celebrity, Chespirito. When I was growing up, there were hardly any Latinos [on TV]. And knowing what they were basing it off of, I’m like, well they’re kind of staying true to what [Chespirito] was.
[Bumblebee Man] is a caricature of the stuff that’s on TV, which is very big and outrageous and goofy. So I was a bit confused. Because you never know if someone is laughing with you or laughing at you. But I wasn’t really mad at it so much. Because that’s how cartoons and animation are. You take someone and you make them a big character. And that’s what makes that character loveable.
“[Lopez] is my dad’s name, you know? That’s how I was raised. When someone calls your name, there’s pride in that.”
WAM: Other Latino actors, like Oscar Isaac for example, change their last name in order to avoid being typecast. Did you ever worry that your last name would prevent you from getting certain voiceover parts?
EL: It’s funny you ask that, because I remember when I went to join the union, they ask you what you want your stage name to be. I remember sitting there for like a good five minutes, like, ‘This is the name. It’s going to be onscreen and in credits and stuff. And if I do get known, this is going to be the name that I’m known for.’ And I sat there and I thought about [changing it] and I was like, there’s no way. What am I going to choose?
That’s my dad’s name, you know? That’s how I was raised. When someone calls your name, there’s pride in that, you know? If I ever won an award in school, or when I was playing football in school…it felt good to hear your name called. And that’s why I was like, no I’m keeping this name. And I don’t care. If I’m good enough, I’ll be good with my own name.
The episode features the first appearance of Bumblebee Man, who is a caricature of “El Chapulín Colorado” (“The Red Grasshopper”), a character created and portrayed by Mexican television comedian Roberto Gómez Bolaños. pic.twitter.com/OgKkV8zjv2
— On This Day in Simpsons History (@dailysimpsons) November 4, 2019
“[We’re] getting more fleshed-out characters, not just tokens. As an actor, that’s what you want. You want depth, you don’t want shallow characters.”
WAM: How do you feel about the changes that the entertainment industry has made to be more inclusive?
EL: I know I’ve benefited a lot from it already. “The Simpsons” thing was just the icing on the cake. I was getting a lot of stuff already, because writers, creators, are trying to be more diverse. And they’re allowing people to write their stories now. So you’re getting more fleshed-out characters, not just tokens. As an actor, that’s what you want. You want depth, you don’t want shallow characters.
I was on “Glitch Techs” and my background, my history with my family, was basically what won me that role. The creator, Eric Robles, is a really great guy. He said that when he listened to my [audition], he felt that he could feel the love of family and it reminded him of his uncles when he was younger. And see, that’s what it is. It’s authenticity. When you’re casting characters like that, you need authenticity. Someone who has lived that history, that type of life.
“What could be bad about giving someone who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity, the opportunity? And allowing him or her to get out there and be seen or heard by the masses?”
WAM: How do you feel about the future of diverse casting in the voiceover world?
EL: As far as casting people based on diversity and based on their background, I don’t see a negative when it comes to that. What could be bad about giving someone who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity, the opportunity? And allowing him or her to get out there and be seen or heard by the masses? It opens people up.
I’ve been watching a lot of shows lately and I love that the stories are so good, such good human stories. You don’t care what color the person is, you just love the fact that they’re telling this person’s story. A good human story is always going to be better than one that’s just pandering.
Location: Boldrewood Campus Salary: £51,034 to £64,145 Full Time Permanent Closing Date: Wednesday 30 June 2021 Interview Date: To be confirmed Reference: 1383421DA
Move transport forward faster. And see your own career accelerate.
Lead the way in a world-renowned centre for education, research and enterprise.
Are you driven by an interest in human-machine interaction? Can you inspire others in human-factors-related research and learning? Then the University of Southampton’s Department of Civil, Maritime and Environmental Engineering is the ideal place to develop your career. We have brand new, world-class facilities and a vibrant 50-strong departmental academic community. Civil Engineering at Southampton was ranked #1 and #2 in the UK this year by the Guardian and the Times Good University Guides respectively. Meanwhile, the wider Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences was ranked top in research power in the UK for General Engineering in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF) in 2014.
Based in the Transportation Research Group, with strong links across all departments in the School of Engineering, you will help drive our human-factors-related research. You will have a particular focus on the design of autonomous air, land and sea systems and the rules governing human-and-machine command and control strategies during partial states of automation. You will also support delivery of current Human Factors modules and projects on undergraduate and masters taught programmes. In addition, you will lead on the development of new pathways – specifically a dedicated Human Factors in Transportation MSc and related short-course programmes.
To make the most of this exciting role, you will need a PhD (or equivalent professional qualifications and experience) in human factors, along with a track record of published research. You will be eligible for Fellowship of the HEA due to your past involvement in the development and delivery of teaching at the undergraduate and postgraduate level or supported to achieve this at Southampton. You’ll have a proven ability to develop innovative research proposals and attract research funding. Highly organised, with strong communication skills, you’ll be ready to manage and motivate others.
In return, we help you shape a role that’s uniquely tailored to your interests and lifestyle. As a university with an Athena SWAN silver award, we are recognised for our commitment to improving equality for all in science and engineering. Our comprehensive benefits package also includes a contributory pension scheme, generous holiday allowance, subsidised health and fitness facilities, a cycle-to-work scheme and a range of discounts.
Equality, diversity and Inclusion is central to the ethos in the School of Engineering. We particularly encourage women, Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME), LGBT and disabled applicants to apply for this position. In recognition of our continued commitment to improving equality for women in science, we were awarded an Athena SWAN bronze in 2013 and 2016. We give full consideration to applicants that wish to work flexibly including part-time and due consideration will be given to applicants who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy*, onsite childcare facilities
The University of Southampton is in the top 1% of world universities and in the top 10 of the UK’s research-intensive universities. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and being a globally responsible university and has recently been awarded the Platinum EcoAward. Our vision is to embed the principles of sustainability into all aspects of our individual and collective work, integrating sustainable development into our business planning, policy-making, and professional activities. This commits all of our staff and students to take responsibility for managing their activities to minimise harm to the environment, whether this through switching off non-essential electrical equipment or using the recycling facilities.
*subject to qualifying criteria
Application Procedure
You should submit your completed online application form at https://jobs.soton.ac.uk. The application deadline will be midnight on the closing date stated above. If you need any assistance, please call Annabelle Trimm (Recruitment Team) on +44 (0) 23 8059 4043 or email recruitment@soton.ac.uk Please quote reference 1383421DA on all correspondence.
You’ll find Dolly Parton costume contests, special menus and trivia. So dress up in your Dolly-best for a weekend of art, music, history, food and fun benefiting the Imagination Library of Knox County.
Please check directly with businesses for ticketed events as some may sell out.
Dolly Parton selfie station at Pour Taproom: South Made Marketing is hosting a Dolly-themed selfie station at Pour Taproom all weekend long. Use #DollyFest when you post photos.
Donation jars will be available and a portion of proceeds from ounces poured will be donated to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library fund.
Dolly Parton-themed shows at Sheer Inspiration Pole Fitness: Knoxville’s premiere pole fitness studio will host two Dolly-themed shows of captivating artists and characters performing twists, flips and more.
Friday’s show is sold out but tickets are still available for Saturday’s 2 p.m. show. The studio will host an open house 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday.
Old City Sports Bar: Find Dolly-themed cocktails, Dolly-esque photo opportunities and listen to her classics all weekend long.
Jacks: Check out special drinks from the Dolly menu, like the White Limozeen (white mocha raspberry latte), and shop Dolly-themed artwork, stickers, and books at the Gay Street location all weekend long.
Dolly Parton art contest and photos at Rala: Show opens Friday and prizes will be awarded at 7 p.m.
Tako Taco: Enjoy a Dolly Parton-themed drink special.
Merchants of Beer: Enjoy a Dolly Parton-themed drink special.
“Dolly Fest Discount Days” at Old City Med Spa: Enjoy discounts bigger than Dolly’s hair on skincare, facials, spray tans and more Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Friday
Dolly costume contest at Honeymouth: Grab your blonde wig and stuff your bra, because if you dress your Dolly-best this weekend, it just might pay off. Honeymouth will host a Dolly Parton costume contest and voting will take place on social media. The winner will receive $100 to Honeymouth and a goodie bag of local treats.
Tequila tasting at Corks Wine & Spirits: Corks Wine & Spirits is kicking DollyFest off with a tequila tasting 4-7 p.m. Friday.
Diamond in a Rhinestone World at Painting With A Twist: Sip, paint and relax with the queen herself. Well, sort of. Painting with a Twist on the 100 block of Gay Street will have a special Dolly painting class from 7-9 p.m.
Tickets are $38 per person and can be purchased on their website. You’re welcome to bring snacks and beer or wine if you’d like. Masks are required.
Dolly Parton trivia at Old City Sports Bar: How many No. 1 hits does the country music legend have?Show off your knowledge with trivia at Old City Sports Bar at 7 p.m. Friday.
Dolly Parton art at Urban Bar: Celebrate First Friday with a special Dolly Parton-themed art showing at Urban Bar. These works will be displayed through the entire month of June.
Biscuit on the Banjo at ACF Jewelry): Let’s hoot, let’s holler for two swell evenings underground with Dolly Parton’s banjo player, Gary Davis. This underground concert, located at 105B W. Jackson Ave., will start at 5 p.m. Friday. Tickets are limited and priced at $35.
The Donut Theory pop-up at Honeymouth: Enjoy the Donut Theory’s gluten-free donuts at Honeymouth from 5-8 p.m. Friday.
“LOVE DOLLY” art show at Red Gallery: Check out an art show tribute to Dolly Parton presented by Deana Fulton and Mark Burns. The show is 4-8 p.m. Friday and runs through June 29.
Saturday
Bargain Store Backwoods Barbie Revue at Pretentious Beer Co: Enjoy a musical tribute to Dolly Parton from an all-star cast of Knoxville’s music scene players: Haley Labelle, Lauryl Brisson, Jasmine Hoisington, Kelsi Walker, Jake Smith, and Grady Milligan. The Friday shows sold out, but the 8 p.m. Saturday show still has tickets.
Wine tasting at Corks Wine & Spirits: Did you know Dolly’s favorite drink is a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon? Corks Wine & Spirits will host a tasting from 4-7 p.m. Saturday.
Biscuit on the Banjo at ACF Jewelry: Let’s hoot, let’s holler for two swell evenings underground with Dolly Parton’s banjo player, Gary Davis. This underground concert starts at 5 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are limited and priced at $35.
GMCW Turns 40 Streaming begins Saturday, June 5 at 7 p.m. Available through June 20 Tickets: $25 gmcw.org
Discussion of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington quickly becomes emotional for its members both veteran and newbie(-ish). They’re the kind of strong feelings that only exist when one has sacrificed and invested in something.
“It’s an experience that touches our soul in a way that not that many LGBTQ+ people get to experience,” says tenor Javon Morris-Byam, a gay 28-year-old music teacher who joined three years ago. “We have music tying us together and in the end, we make a product that we can share with the public and that’s a humbling experience.”
Steve Herman, 79, is a founding member, though he doesn’t sing. One of a group of “non-singing members,” he joined in June 1981 and has helped over the decades painting scenery, designing ads, serving on the board and more. His partner at the time had joined the chorus as a singer.
A Gay Men’s Chorus performance in 1983. (Washington Blade archive photo by Leigh Mosley)
Now retired after 47 years in the federal government, he says the Chorus “has been a major centerpiece of my life.”
“This may sound corny, but I couldn’t imagine my life without the chorus,” Herman says.
The chorus is celebrating its 40th anniversary this weekend with a streaming concert simply dubbed “GMCW turns 40” that can be streamed starting Saturday, June 5 at 7 p.m. and can be viewed until June 20.
Selections will include “From Now On” (from “The Greatest Showman”), “Rise Up,” “Make Them Hear You” (from “Ragtime”), “Truly Brave” and a new song called “Harmony’s Never Too Late!” written for the occasion by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, composers of “Ragtime.” Video clips of past performances will also be included in a montage. Tickets are $25 at gmcw.org.
Thea Kano, the Chorus’s artistic director since 2014 (she was associate director for a decade prior), says “Make Them Hear You” has “kind of become our anthem over the last 10 years,” so contacting its composers for a commission made sense. They premiered it last summer virtually at the Chorus’s Summer Soiree, a COVID-induced postponement of its usual Spring Affair.
Thea Kano, center, joins members of the Chorus at the United States Supreme Court on the day of the Obergefell v. Hodges marriage equality decision in June of 2015.(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Kano, a straight ally, directs the Chorus with aid from Associate Conductor C. Paul Heins, Assistant Conductor Joshua Sommerville and accompanist Teddy Guerrant. Justin Fyala has been the Chorus’s executive director since 2016. Staff also includes Craig Cipollini (director of marketing), Kirk Sobell (director of patron services) and Alex Tang (accompanist).
Under the main Chorus umbrella are five ensembles: 17th Street Dance, a 14-member performance troupe started in 2016; Rock Creek Singers, a 32-voice chamber ensemble; GenOUT Youth Chorus, a teen choir of about 25; Potomac Fever, a 14-member harmony pop ensemble; and Seasons of Love, a 24-voice gospel choir.
GenOUT Youth Chorus. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Musically, the Chorus’s repertoire is eclectic.
“(We sing) everything from spiritual to glam rock to punk to traditional classical, and everything in between,” Morris-Byam says. “I love when the chorus is all together and able to produce a big powerful sound.”
Kano says working with Fyala is “a dream” and says under his leadership the Chorus is “in a very healthy financial place, which is wonderful and a very humble thing to be able to say right now particularly given that we’re in a pandemic — that’s not the case with a lot of arts organizations.”
The D.C. Chorus is a quasi-unofficial spin off of its San Francisco counterpart. During an early ’80s national tour, the San Francisco group performed at Washington’s Kennedy Center and had a profound effect on local audiences. Marsha Pearson, a straight woman who lived in Dupont Circle at the time and enjoyed hanging out with gay men, was one such person.
“I couldn’t believe we didn’t have one of these,” she told the Blade 10 years ago for a story on the Chorus’s 30th anniversary. “I thought, ‘We’re the nation’s capital, how come we don’t have this?’”
The Chorus performs at the popular gay nightclub Tracks in 1984. (Washington Blade photo by Doug Hinckle)
She hand wrote fliers — four to a sheet — had her sister photocopy them at her office, cut them up by hand and passed them out at Capital Pride in 1981. Accounts vary about how many showed up to the first practice at the long-defunct gay community center (no connection to the D.C. Center) on Church Street. Pearson remembers about 30. Others say it was more like 15-ish. It was June 28, 1981 and, by all accounts, an innocuous beginning.
Pearson never sang with the group — it was exclusively a men’s chorus. She asked if anybody had any conducting experience. The late Jim Richardson did and became the first director.
“I still remember the first chord,” Pearson told the Blade in 2011. “It was just a simple thing, you know, like do, mi, so, do, but I just got goosebumps. I was just elated that even one note came out, I was so excited. I got those same goosebumps at the anniversary concert last weekend. I put their CDs on and I get the same thing, especially on certain things they sing. You just can’t believe it sounds so great.”
Click here for more about the history of the group. A bio/history is also available at gmcw.org.
COVID has, of course, wreaked havoc on the operation. Thankfully, Kano says, no members have died from it, though a handful (she says fewer than 10 that she knows of), including Kano, have had it and recovered.
The Chorus continued its Sunday evening rehearsals via Zoom, which, because of the precision required for musical performance, was tougher to take online than, say, a business meeting. It never occurred to the Chorus leadership to take a hiatus.
“I look back now like, ‘Why didn’t we take some time off,’ but I think off the top of my head at the time it was like, “We sing and we’re a social justice organization and community is such a big part of who we are,’” Kano says. “And so for suddenly, with no notice, to have something that we love so much and are so passionate about …. to suddenly just turn the lights off, that wasn’t even an option.”
A GMCW rehearsal in 2007. (Washington Blade file photo by Henry Linser)
With the Chorus and dancers and GenOUT, there are about 200 current volunteer performers. It’s been slightly higher at times. Some were deterred by the thought of rehearsing via Zoom although some former members no longer in the D.C. area — even a few overseas — rejoined when virtual participation became possible.
The murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement last summer and beyond was a galvanizing event. The Chorus responded with its “Let Freedom Sing” concert, which Kano says celebrated the intersection of Black and LGBTQ people.
Featured soloists perform in ‘Let Freedom Sing.’ (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
“It was our way of saying we raise our voice in solidarity with those facing injustice,” Kano says.
But does that get messy at times? Surely not everyone in a choir of this size is on the same page politically, even in a progressive city like D.C., right?
As a nonprofit, the Chorus avoids anything ostensibly political. Kano says the issue did arise when they were invited to sing at a Virginia-based gun-reform event last year. They participated, but carefully.
“So anytime you mentioned guns, it becomes political,” Kano says. “It’s not about whether or not we support the Second Amendment. It’s us standing in solidarity with those who have been victims of gun violence.”
Kano says there’s “a very good chance had this been a non-pandemic year,” they would have been invited to sing at the Biden-Harris inauguration, which she says they “absolutely” would have agreed to.
“We did wonder, though, a few years ago what we would have said if 45 were to ask us,” she says. “We didn’t spend a lot of time on it because we knew that wasn’t gonna happen,” she says with a chuckle.
The holiday shows for the Chorus often involve elaborate costumes, as in this scene in 2017. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Herman says performing at big, pro-LGBTQ “statement”-type events is woven into the Chorus’s history and is understood.
“Every Christmas Eve, we’d sing for the patients at NIH,” he says. “We still do, only then it was primarily AIDS patients. We sang special concerts when the (AIDS) Quilt was first displayed and when there was a March on Washington. We did a lot of community work and outreach at a time when it was really needed.”
Morris-Byam says even today, with so much progress having been made, the Chorus still is needed. He, by the way, calls Kano “one of the most brilliant musicians I’ve ever met.”
“I believe the Chorus is a strong political statement in itself,” he says. “When we’re making a strong, joyful noise, it’s celebrating everything we are, what we can be, and everyone who has gotten us where we are.
The Chorus celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in a performance at Lincoln Theatre in 2019. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
There have been challenges over the years — finding new office space, patching together individual vocal parts for virtual performances — but no warring factions. Kano is, by most accounts, extremely well liked.
The future, Kano says, is bright. She hopes to resume in-person rehearsals in the fall. She spent a big chunk of early lockdown transcribing a Puccini “Gloria Mass” for tenor/bass chorus. She plans to program it with works by Cole Porter eventually.
Ultimately, Kano says, her goals for the Chorus are about making great art.
“Art comes first,” she says. “Because that’s how we deliver our mission. And if we put great art first, it’s going to attract great people. It’s going to both as members and as audience members and patrons, and therefore it’s going to attract great funding, and then all that goes right back into the arts we can further our expansion and our ability to get the mission out.”
Craig Cipollini leads the ‘Grease’ dance auditions in 2010. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
The LGBT Center of Greater Reading will celebrate Pride Month with the grand opening of its new Community Training & Technology Center.
Pride Month, a promotion of self-affirmation, dignity, equality and the increased visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, is observed through June.
The center, located inside the LGBT Center on North 13th Street, will build on existing services and help provide education, and developmental and technological services to the community.
“It will allow us to deepen collaborative initiatives with partner organizations to reach broader audiences,” Kai Miller, media contact for the center, said in a news release.
The new center will host bimonthly workshops on topics such as parenting an LGBT child, disabilities and the LGBT community, social justice and other topics.
A grand opening and introduction to the center will be held June 10. Other events and offerings throughout the month will focus on the history of the LGBT equal rights movement and critical points of interest to today’s LGBTQIA+ community members and their allies. A full list of upcoming workshops and other events can be found on the LGBT Center’s website.
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday slashed $900,000 in funding for programs that serve LGBTQ people in Central Florida, including a program that provides mental-health services to survivors and family members of victims of the Pulse nightclub mass shooting.
DeSantis’s vetoes — part of a long list of hometown projects the governor eliminated before approving a new $100 billion state budget — came a day after the Republican governor signed into law a controversial measure that bans transgender females from participating on girls’ and women’s high-school and college sports teams.
On Wednesday evening, a group of a few dozen people gathered outside Jacksonville City Hall at James Weldon Johnson Park, holding signs in protest to the governor signing the transgender athlete ban.
Photo from rally in James Weldon Johnson Park.
“It’s not fair, and it’s frustrating as a parent because sports are an integral part of childhood, and for them to not experience that part of childhood is very hurtful,” said Tiffany C, who attended the rally.
The Wednesday budget vetoes also came shortly before the fifth anniversary of the June 12, 2016, mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, that left 49 people dead.
“Timing matters. What message are LGBT people meant to receive from Gov. DeSantis other than that this is an insult to them?” said state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, an Orlando Democrat who is gay. “The Orlando community right now is bracing for the five-year remembrance, and for Gov. DeSantis to veto funding for Pulse survivors and families is just cruel.”
DeSantis in 2019 visited the Pulse nightclub site. Along with First Lady Casey DeSantis, the governor attended a third-anniversary remembrance ceremony and pledged his support to secure $1 million for a memorial, which he subsequently helped accomplish.
Smith told The News Service of Florida that he remembers having “high hopes” that DeSantis would be progressive on LGBTQ issues. But Smith said he’s been disappointed in the governor ever since.
Rep. Anna Eskamani, an Orlando Democrat who requested money for the vetoed projects, blasted DeSantis.
“The governor is a homophobe and a transphobe who doesn’t actually care about Floridians who are different from him,” said Eskamani, whose district includes the Pulse site.
But Christina Pushaw, a spokeswoman for DeSantis, said the budget includes an additional $212,274,073 in community-based mental health funding for next fiscal year, and services will continue to be provided.
“Governor DeSantis has been a champion on mental health since day one — and he absolutely supports every Floridian who has experienced such horrific trauma, which has a lifelong impact on survivors,” Pushaw said in an email. “To this end, the new budget ensures that Floridians in need — including LGBTQ Floridians — will continue to have access to vital support and the mental health resources they need to survive and thrive.”
The projects DeSantis vetoed included $150,000 for the Orlando United Assistance Center at LGBT+ Center Orlando. State budget documents show the program is a one-stop shop for Pulse survivors and family members, offering everything from mental-health counseling services to employment assistance.
The program is supported financially, in part, by Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, the city of Orlando and Heart of Florida United Way. Despite the broad local support, Smith said the program is at risk of closing.
“The Pulse memorial is a memorial. This is not. This is mental health for the survivors and family, which is a whole lot more important,” Smith said.
It is the second year that DeSantis vetoed the mental health funding.
Pulse nightclub survivor Brandon Wolf went on social media Wednesday after DeSantis’ veto and posted a picture of himself and the governor taken in 2019.
“Here’s @GovRonDeSantis in 2019, standing on hallowed ground, promising me that he would always support those of us impacted by the Pulse nightclub shooting. Today, he vetoed mental health services for us. I will never forget,” Wolf posted on Twitter.
DeSantis also vetoed $750,000 targeted to the Zebra Coalition to help renovate bridge housing for 35 homeless LGBTQ youths ages 13 to 24. The budget passed by lawmakers on April 30 included two appropriations for the Zebra Coalition, one for $700,000 and another for $50,000, with the latter directed to operating costs, according to Zebra Coalition Executive Director Heather Wilkie.
The Zebra Coalition is a group of 52 organizations in Central Florida that work to reduce and prevent homelessness among young LGBTQ people. Budget documents show the coalition provides bridge housing to 11 people, but it’s in “scattered sites.”
The coalition wants to renovate a building it’s leasing long term to provide bridge housing to 35 people, according to Wilkie.
Wilkie said the $750,000 amounted to about half of the budget.
“Now we are going to have to go back to square one and figure out how we are going to fund raise,” she said. “I’m not giving up on the dream, but I’m certainly disappointed.”
The LGBTQ projects were included in the health and human-services portion of the budget. In all, DeSantis veteod $10,364,565 in health and human-services projects, according to a News Service analysis. Lawmakers included more than $91.1 million for hometown projects in that part of the budget, a Senate document shows.
Virgin Radio has announced it is launching a station for the LGBT community (PA)
Virgin Radio has announced it is launching a station for the LGBT community (PA)
The line-up of presenters will include Tia Kofi, Matt Cain, Emma Goswell, Debbie Ryan, Phil Clifton, Shivani Dave, Vicki Blight and Stephen Sullivan.
The hosts will be joined in conversation by celebrity guest contributors, Virgin added.
The station will also partner with Pride marches around the country, as well as LGBT organisations.
Programming includes documentaries on being bisexual in 2021, how the LGBT community shapes dance music and a weekly magazine show from Cain titled The Sunday Roast.
Vicki Blight is among the presenters for the new LGBT station (Jonathan Brady/PA)
PA
Vicki Blight is among the presenters for the new LGBT station (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Virgin Radio Pride UK will largely play pop-dance and pop-R&B from the last 20 years, the broadcaster said.
Drag queen and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Kofi said: “I’m so excited to be part of the launch for this incredible new LGBTQ+ station.
“We have created something made by queer people for queer people and beyond, and it’s going to be amazing! Get ready for the ultimate Friday night pre-party with me, as well as some sensational content from across the LGBTQ+ community.”
You can listen to Virgin Radio Pride UK from June 7 on DAB in London, online or via the Virgin Radio app.
Download the Belfast Telegraph App
Get quick and easy access to the latest Northern Ireland news, sport, business and opinion with the Belfast Telegraph App.
He’s talking about a study by Dr Helen Smith at Lincoln University, which discovered that working class men in Yorkshire, during the 1950s were having sex with each other “in fields, behind pubs, at each others houses and, perhaps most significantly, at work.”
Each state is given a score out of 100 points that is calculated on the basis of 20 economic, legislative and cultural indicators of LGBTQ climate and inclusiveness in five categories: legal and nondiscrimination protections, youth and family support, political and religious attitudes, health access and safety, and work environment and employment. The categories assessed, for example, whether states had gender markers on birth certificates, the frequency of hate crimes, unemployment rates, anti-discrimination protections, and public health measures such as food security, wage gaps, mental wellness and access to gender-affirming medical care.
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday slashed $900,000 in funding for programs that serve LGBTQ people in Central Florida, including a program that provides mental-health services to survivors and family members of victims of the Pulse nightclub mass shooting.
DeSantis’s vetoes — part of a long list of hometown projects the governor eliminated before approving a new $100 billion state budget — came a day after the Republican governor signed into law a controversial measure that bans transgender females from participating on girls’ and women’s high-school and college sports teams.
The vetoes also came shortly before the fifth anniversary of the June 12, 2016, mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, that left 49 people dead.
“Timing matters. What message are LGBT people meant to receive from Gov. DeSantis other than that this is an insult to them?” said state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, an Orlando Democrat who is gay. “The Orlando community right now is bracing for the five-year remembrance, and for Gov. DeSantis to veto funding for Pulse survivors and families is just cruel.”
DeSantis in 2019 visited the Pulse nightclub site. Along with First Lady Casey DeSantis, the governor attended a third-anniversary remembrance ceremony and pledged his support to secure $1 million for a memorial, which he subsequently helped accomplish.
Smith told The News Service of Florida that he remembers having “high hopes” that DeSantis would be progressive on LGBTQ issues. But Smith said he’s been disappointed in the governor ever since.
Rep. Anna Eskamani, an Orlando Democrat who requested money for the vetoed projects, blasted DeSantis.
“The governor is a homophobe and a transphobe who doesn’t actually care about Floridians who are different from him,” said Eskamani, whose district includes the Pulse site.
But Christina Pushaw, a spokeswoman for DeSantis, said the budget includes an additional $212,274,073 in community-based mental health funding for next fiscal year, and services will continue to be provided.
“Governor DeSantis has been a champion on mental health since day one — and he absolutely supports every Floridian who has experienced such horrific trauma, which has a lifelong impact on survivors,” Pushaw said in an email. “To this end, the new budget ensures that Floridians in need — including LGBTQ Floridians — will continue to have access to vital support and the mental health resources they need to survive and thrive.”
The projects DeSantis vetoed included $150,000 for the Orlando United Assistance Center at LGBT+ Center Orlando. State budget documents show the program is a one-stop shop for Pulse survivors and family members, offering everything from mental-health counseling services to employment assistance.
The program is supported financially, in part, by Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, the city of Orlando and Heart of Florida United Way. Despite the broad local support, Smith said the program is at risk of closing.
“The Pulse memorial is a memorial. This is not. This is mental health for the survivors and family, which is a whole lot more important,” Smith said.
It is the second year that DeSantis vetoed the mental health funding.
Pulse nightclub survivor Brandon Wolf went on social media Wednesday after DeSantis’ veto and posted a picture of himself and the governor taken in 2019.
“Here’s @GovRonDeSantis in 2019, standing on hallowed ground, promising me that he would always support those of us impacted by the Pulse nightclub shooting. Today, he vetoed mental health services for us. I will never forget,” Wolf posted on Twitter.
DeSantis also vetoed $750,000 targeted to the Zebra Coalition to help renovate bridge housing for 35 homeless LGBTQ youths ages 13 to 24. The budget passed by lawmakers on April 30 included two appropriations for the Zebra Coalition, one for $700,000 and another for $50,000, with the latter directed to operating costs, according to Zebra Coalition Executive Director Heather Wilkie.
The Zebra Coalition is a group of 52 organizations in Central Florida that work to reduce and prevent homelessness among young LGBTQ people. Budget documents show the coalition provides bridge housing to 11 people, but it’s in “scattered sites.”
The coalition wants to renovate a building it’s leasing long term to provide bridge housing to 35 people, according to Wilkie.
Wilkie said the $750,000 amounted to about half of the budget.
“Now we are going to have to go back to square one and figure out how we are going to fund raise,” she said. “I’m not giving up on the dream, but I’m certainly disappointed.”
The LGBTQ projects were included in the health and human-services portion of the budget. In all, DeSantis veteod $10,364,565 in health and human-services projects, according to a News Service analysis. Lawmakers included more than $91.1 million for hometown projects in that part of the budget, a Senate document shows.
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BPIA2IIVSJGVREDHUB4TYJE5OY.jpg)
:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YZDYWFQJW5AVRLBB3SIVHSFFV4.jpg)