Curfew hits Bangkok’s iconic gay tourist clubs hard

BANGKOK — Popular gay tourists hubs in Bangkok  have remained quiet and near empty following  Thailand’s recent military coup and the nightly curfew, reports GayAsiaNews.com. Silom, the  Thai capital’s bustling business district which is where most local and international gay men and women hang around at the night only clubs and bars now has a…

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SPARTA statement on HHS policy change

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) ruled today that “sex reassignment surgery” and other transition-related medical care should no longer be automatically excluded from coverage. “As HHS appropriately points out, excluding coverage for transition-related surgery is unreasonable as viewed by the standards of the medical profession today – incomplete, unfair, and…

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Defense Secretary Hagel: trans service policy ‘should be continually reviewed’

What a weekend it was for the LGBT community this past Mother’s Day weekend. Michael Sam became the first openly gay football player drafted by an NFL team, drag performer Conchita Wurst won the annual Eurovision Song contest and the Arkansas State Supreme Court ruled for marriage equality. But in a development that truly made…

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HRC praises Hagel for comments on transgender service regulations

WASHINGTON – Over the weekend on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, in response to a question about military health regulations which effectively bar military service by transgender persons, said he believes that regulations should be reviewed. Hagel said: I do think it continually should be reviewed. I’m open to that….

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SD Pride Military Contingent’s first annual fundraiser: May 29

The San Diego Pride Military Contingent Committee is hosting its first annual fundraiser Thursday May 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Harvey Milk’s American Diner, 535 University Ave. in San Diego. There will be happy hour drinks, delicious food, raffles and an opportunity to meet veterans, service members, community activists, friends and family. Come out and show…

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Infamous anti-gay preacher, Fred Phelps, dead at 84

Fred Phelps, the founder and face of the virulently homophobic Topeka, Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church, has died from natural causes, reports CNN.com. According to church spokesman Steven Drain, Phelps, widely regarded as “the most hated man in America,” died of natural causes. He was 84. Phelps founded Westboro Baptist Church in 1955 and became famous…

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Empowered Products debuts TV commercial with authentic portrayal of marriage equality and military service homecoming (VIDEO)

http://youtu.be/yaK5i-DLBPE LAS VEGAS — Empowered Products, Inc., an emerging leader in the high-growth sexual wellness sector through its award-winning PINK(R) and Gun Oil(R) brands, has aired its first-ever television commercial. The 60-second spot aired on the Bravo and E! networks in seven major U.S. markets. Empowered Products stated that it believes its commercial is the…

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