Activist and Author Sean Strub Continues to Fight for People Living with HIV While Serving As Mayor of His Small Town


It’s been been more than 30 years since activist and author Sean Strub was diagnosed with HIV, and every year since that moment he’s been making a major impact in the fight for justice for people with HIV. The activist-turned-politician founded Poz magazine and the Sero Project, and authored Body Counts: A Memoir of Politics, Sex, AIDS, and Survival. In 1990 Strub became the first openly HIV positive person to run for the U.S. Congress. Though he's now mayor of a small rural town, Strub continues to run Sero's anti-HIV criminalization efforts. His biography recounts a remarkable life that has intersected with some of the country's most interesting literati and artists, including Tennessee Williams, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, and Gore Vidal. READ MORE


LGBT Rights Advance at the Local Level After Stalling in Congress
At the U.S. Capitol and in most statehouses nationwide, supporters of LGBT rights are unable to make major gains these days. Instead, they’re notching victories in seemingly unlikely venues, such as Morgantown, West Virginia, and Birmingham, Alabama. They are among scores of cities and towns in Republican-governed states that have acted on their own, passing resolutions and ordinances pledging nondiscrimination protections for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people in the absence of comparable statewide laws. Skeptics say the local laws, in some cases, are mostly symbolic and not zealously enforced. Yet LGBT activists view them as a heartening barometer of nationwide support at a time when President Donald Trump’s administration has taken multiple steps that jeopardize LGBT rights — including weakening protections for transgender students and seeking to ban transgender people from military service. READ MORE



New Editor of UK’s Gay Times Fired for Anti-Semitic, Sexist, Racist Tweets
The newly appointed editor of Britain’s prominent Gay Times magazine was fired Thursday after a series of anti-Semitic, homophobic and racist tweets emerged. Josh Rivers’s offending tweets exposed by BuzzFeed UK date back to 2010 and also disparage Africans, Asians, and overweight and homeless people. “We sincerely apologize for the offense that has been caused, particularly to those members of our wider community to whom such inappropriate and unacceptable commentary was the focus,” the publication said in a statement. “Gay Times does not tolerate such views and will continue to strive to honor and promote inclusivity.” Rivers, who was only appointed editor of the magazine last month, apologized for his “hateful” and “abhorrent” remarks on Twitter, saying they came from a place of “deep self-loathing that I’ve worked hard to overcome.” READ MORE


And People Wonder Why There Are So Many Shootings in Texas!
If you wonder why there are so many shooting in Texas here's one reason why. Cabelas, one of the largest hunting, fishing and outdoor sporting goods stores in Texas is giving away guns on Black Friday. People are already camping out in Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth at Cabelas to be the first in line on Friday, November 24th. The store will open at 5 a.m. Friday, and the first 600 people age 18 and over in line will receive “mystery envelopes” containing vouchers for gifts. READ MORE


Can You Handle 12 Months of Steve Grand? 


Steve Grand's limited edition 2018 Provincetown Photo Calendars are now available. There are 2 Calendars, each with a unique set of photos. Anticipated shipping date: Dec 11. Photos from both calendars were taken by the very talented Zack Zerbe this past summer while Grand was living and performing in Ptown. Autographed and Personalized Options available! READ MORE


Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Formally Apologize for Canada's Past Discrimination Against Gay Citizens
While Canada has developed into becoming one of the world's leading countries in LGBT rights over the past few decades, the Canadian government is continuing its progress in LGBT equality by preparing to issue a formal apology for past homophobic discrimination against gay citizens. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will deliver a historic formal apology for the federal government's persecution of LGBT people in the past. The apology, for those criminally charged or fired from their government job on the basis of their homosexuality, is scheduled to be presented on November 28. The government is also anticipated to apologize to and clear the criminal records of anyone convicted of engaging in homosexual activity before same-sex sexual activity was decriminalized in 1969 by then–Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, who famously stated "There's no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nations". An expulsion of LGBT people from the government took place up until the 1980s. READ MORE


Chicago P.D. Star Jason Beghe's Anger Issues Led to Sophia Bush's Exit
Sophia Bush‘s mysterious departure from Chicago P.D. last spring was reportedly due in part to the behavior of costar Jason Beghe. According to Variety, NBC investigated Beghe last year after receiving multiple complaints about the actor’s volatile behavior on set. He was subsequently reprimanded and assigned a coach to help him deal with his anger management issues. Variety says Beghe’s “behavior played into [Bush]’s decision to leave” the series. READ MORE


New Research Shows a Majority of Republicans Have a Negative View of Higher Education
Conservative media often depict colleges and universities as places where students are brainwashed and radicalized. According to Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle, colleges are “literally corrupting people’s minds” and “turning them into jihadists.” Meanwhile, Fox News contributor Bernie Goldberg equated "liberals on college campuses" to the Nazi "Brown Shirts." Then-Fox News host Bill O'Reilly blamed Black Lives Matter for "the rise of fascism on American college campuses." Media Matters has reported extensively on conservative media’s portrayals of higher education. Here are four ways that conservatives demonize American colleges and universities, and several instances where conservative media misrepresented or sensationalized the words or actions of administrators, professors, and students, helping to convince audiences that higher education is bad for America. READ MORE


Manchester United Becomes First UK Football Club to Partner with LGBT+ Charity Stonewall


The new initiative will see the Premiere League club work alongside Stonewall to tackle homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in the sport while also exploring ways to encourage equality and inclusiveness. Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive of Stonewall, said: "Manchester United’s support means we can reach millions of football fans both here and around the world, to encourage them to do their part in making all people feel welcome in sport. It’s crucial for organisations like Manchester United to show they not only welcome LGBT people, but are active in leading the change. At the moment, many LGBT people want to take part in sport, either as players or fans, but the behavior of a minority can make them feel unsafe, unwelcome or unable to be themselves. There’s so much work left to do to ensure that all LGBT people feel able to participate in sport, and we hope to see other clubs take Manchester United’s lead and join the Rainbow Laces campaign to make this a reality.” READ MORE


How a Tiny Mississippi Town Led the Way on LGBT Rights
A few weeks ago, Masthead member Amy told us about Magnolia, Mississippi, a community that challenges the stereotype of intolerance often associated with small, rural towns in the South. Earlier this year, Magnolia passed a citywide nondiscrimination law, protecting LGBTQ rights, while the state moves in the other direction. With Amy’s help, I tracked down and interviewed some of the people involved. The story they told illustrates how the differences that divide us nationally can seem a lot smaller when we face them close up. READ MORE


Pride Winnipeg Will Be Hosts to Fierte Canada, Celebrating Canada Pride 2020, and the 2020 North American OutGames
Pride Winnipeg will be hosts to Fierte Canada, celebrating Canada Pride 2020, and the 2020 North American OutGames. Pride Winnipeg was selected by the delegation of Canadian Pride organizers at the 2017 Fierte Canada Pride Conference which was recently held in Halifax, Nova Scotia. “With Winnipeg hosting both the 2020 North America OutGames and Fierté Canada-Canada Pride 2020 we will be the central place to advocate and celebrate LGBTTQ human rights and freedoms in 2020 on the continent” says Jonathan Niemczak, President of Pride Winnipeg Festival and the Chair of the 2020 North America OutGames and Fierté Canada. READ MORE


5 DIY Men’s Grooming Products for Bottoms
We all know our bottoms are just as important as our tops, so this week we’re sharing our favorite men’s grooming products for the parts of your body from the neck down. These DIY men’s grooming products will not only save you from looking older, they’ll help you save money for when you’re actually older. In small quantities, these organic products can be expensive. Our trick is to buy them in bulk from Amazon and choose the slowest shipping option, which is often free. Many of the same ingredients are used in the various recipes, so that’s a cost saver. READ MORE


Justin Tranter, RuPaul, & Friends Call for More LGBTQ Visibility in The Music Business (WATCH VIDEO)
Pop-songwriting powerhouse Justin Tranter’s inspiration behind this video project was to highlight the meaning of the close relationship between music and the LGBTQ community. The project gives an extended look into how music can be especially powerful for trans people during this crucial time in history. “If we don’t support the LGBTQ youth, if we don’t make them feel safe, we aren’t going to get all of this beautiful music…we can’t lose those to come,” he warns. Directed by Steve Pyne and Mia Roe.




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