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Pop-up LGBT gym offers alternative to ‘toxic, hyper masculine’ gym culture – PinkNews

Kim Martel
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Pop-up LGBT gym offers alternative to ‘toxic, hyper masculine’ gym culture – PinkNews

A gym near Boston is offering a pop-up session catering exclusively to the LGBT+ community, who often don’t feel comfortable exercising in regular gyms.

CORE gym in Brookline offers specific Queer Gym sessions with the aim of empowering its clients physically and mentally. It’s one of several LGBT+ workout spaces that’s opened in recent years.

One of Queer Gym’s physical trainers, Justice Williams, told NPR: “[Gyms] are hyper-masculine, they’re toxic, they’re about an aesthetic. Being part of the LGBT community, I’ve observed and noticed that people don’t feel comfortable in gyms today.”

He explained that, while gyms are an awkward experience for many people, that experience is amplified when your body or mannerisms don’t conform to people’s interpretation of how you should be. And trans people can feel particularly vulnerable.

Morris, a non-binary trans person, joined Queer Gym because people often stare at them in other gyms. “My body looks a little bit different than a lot of the other peoples’ who are in the gym,” they said.

(Pexels)

“When you’re working out, you just want to focus on your workout. But when you know that other people are staring at you and then sometimes talking about you, it can be distracting.

“It can be demoralising, you know, when you’re supposed to be pumping yourself up in the gym.”

Eddie Maisonet, who is also trans, came to Queer Gym sessions after he noticed people staring at the scars from his top surgery.

“Here, we’re looking at each other, but we’re so supportive,” he said. “It’s people trying to take pointers or make sure you’re not hurting yourself as opposed to feeling like a spectacle.”

Williams says the ultimate goal is to arm LGBT+ people with the confidence to navigate all gyms, but until then he’ll be running Queer Gym around for as long as necessary.

Some gyms are offering self-defence classes specific to LGBT+ people as the rate of hate crimes continues to rise.

Martial arts like Krav Maga and jiu-jitsu are reportedly being tailored to members of the LGBT+ community, who face a heightened risk of physical attacks out in public.

Gym Aims To Empower LGBTQ+ Community Physically And Mentally – NPR

Kim Martel
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Gym Aims To Empower LGBTQ+ Community Physically And Mentally – NPR

Justice Williams demonstrates how to lift a kettlebell. Robin Lubbock/WBUR hide caption

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Robin Lubbock/WBUR

Justice Williams demonstrates how to lift a kettlebell.

Robin Lubbock/WBUR

On a recent Sunday in a tiny gym just outside of Boston, physical trainer Justice Williams teaches Leo Morris a stretch called the Brettzel.

“Yasss,” Williams shouts. “There you go. Elbows down.”

“Jesus,” Morris says, exhausted.

“Yass,” Williams shouts again. “And hold. Very nice.”

Morris, who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, is among about 10 people working out who identify as gay, trans and/or queer.

This is “Queer Gym.” It’s one of a few workout spaces explicitly for LGBTQ folks that’s cropped up in North America in recent years.

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Williams, who started this pop-up gym, says it’s a place where people can work out if they’re in the LGBTQ+ community and don’t feel comfortable in regular gyms. He says going to a gym can be an awkward experience for many people, but that vulnerability is amplified when your body or mannerisms don’t conform to people’s interpretation of how you should be.

“[Gyms] are hyper-masculine, they’re toxic, they’re about an aesthetic,” Williams says. “Being part of the LGBT community, I’ve observed and noticed that people don’t feel comfortable in gyms today.”

Morris, who Williams is teaching how to Brettzel stretch, recently had top surgery — which is an operation to remove breast tissue to reflect a person’s gender expression.

“My body looks a little bit different than a lot of the other peoples’ who are in the gym,” they say.

Justice Williams talks Eddie Maisonet through a crawl to side kick. Robin Lubbock/WBUR hide caption

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Robin Lubbock/WBUR

Justice Williams talks Eddie Maisonet through a crawl to side kick.

Robin Lubbock/WBUR

And Morris says that causes some people to stare.

“When you’re working out, you just want to focus on your workout. But when you know that other people are staring at you and then sometimes talking about you, it can be distracting,” Morris says. “It can be demoralizing, you know, when you’re supposed to be pumping yourself up in the gym.”

Eddie Maisonet, who is trans, says he wears sleeveless shirts when he works out and has also noticed people staring at the scars from his top surgery. But Maisonet says at Queer Gym, the visibility is only positive.

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“Here, we’re looking at each other, but we’re so supportive,” he says. “It’s people trying to take pointers or make sure you’re not hurting yourself as opposed to feeling like a spectacle.”

Maisonet says other physical trainers he’s worked with didn’t know how to work with trans people. But Williams does.

“If I tell Justice, ‘yo, this hurts’, he’ll give me a modification or tell me to take a break,” Maisonet says. “So, I feel listened to and I feel a lot stronger, and that kind of confidence — there’s not many places in my life where I can get that.”

Justice Williams with gym goers and kettlebells at CORE in Brookline, Mass. Robin Lubbock/WBUR hide caption

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Robin Lubbock/WBUR

Justice Williams with gym goers and kettlebells at CORE in Brookline, Mass.

Robin Lubbock/WBUR

Creating confidence is why Williams says he became a personal trainer. Williams is trans, too. Ten years ago Williams needed to lose weight before taking testosterone, and couldn’t find a personal trainer who understood his journey.

“And that forced me to learn on my own so that I could teach the proper way to work out, to be in my body, to polish my armor,” Williams says.

And today, Williams’ armor couldn’t be shinier. Now, he’s hoping to offer that protection to whoever comes to Queer Gym, a place he says honors queer people’s existence. He says the ultimate goal is to arm people in his community with the confidence to navigate all gyms.

But until then, Williams says he’ll try to keep Queer Gym around for as long as necessary.

The 15 most gay-friendly places on the planet – Lonely Planet Travel News

News Editor
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The 15 most gay-friendly places on the planet – Lonely Planet Travel News

As more and more nations grant equality to same-sex couples, here’s a list of the most progressive, inclusive and accepting destinations that open their arms to the LGBTQ traveller.

A young girl clutching rainbow flags sits on an adult's shoulders watching a Pride parade.
A proud family celebrate Pride in Copenhagen © Jack_lisbon / Getty Images

1. Copenhagen, Denmark

Denmark may be the home of Lego and at the forefront of New Nordic Cuisine, but importantly it made history in 1989 by becoming the first nation in the world to recognize registered same-sex partnerships. And at Denmark’s heart is the relaxed beauty of its compact cobblestoned capital, Copenhagen.

Copenhagen is home to Europe’s oldest openly gay bar, Centralhjørnet, which celebrated its 100th birthday in 2017; as well as the hip and super-cool district of Vesterbro, which also happens to be the city’s red-light district. One of the most tolerant and open communities in Europe, Copenhagen’s functional yet edgy fashion scene, brilliant array of cocktail bars, excellent range of gay-friendly boutique accommodation and packed calendar of events make it one of the most accepting places on Earth.

Don’t forget to pay a visit to City Hall Tower. One, it’s amongst the tallest buildings in Copenhagen and provides some of the best views around. But right next door is the ‘Rainbow Square,’ named in 2014 in recognition of the quest for equal rights.

Banners of material in every colour of the rainbow are being waved across a street; in the background are a crowd of onlookers standing in front of a church.
Thousands join Auckland’s Pride celebrations every year © Susan Blick / Getty Images

2. New Zealand

The Land of the Long White Cloud has long been lauded for its inclusive and progressive behaviour toward the LGBTQ community. In 1998 New Zealand was the first nation to adopt the label of ‘Gay/Lesbian Friendly’ when referring to businesses and accommodation – an initiative now recognized globally. The country offers a brilliant network of gay- and lesbian-friendly homestays which run the length and breadth of the country from the top of the semi-tropical North Island to the depths of the glacial South.

Since passing same-sex marriage laws in 2013, New Zealand has actively promoted same-sex marriage tourism to the likes of other Pacific nations where equality laws are less progressive. If you’re wondering when the best time to visit New Zealand might be, Winter Pride is a perennial favorite; it includes a gay ski festival and takes place in picturesque Queenstown in late August or early September.

A huge fireworks display over the Toronto skyline, dominated by the enormous CN Tower.
Hoping for an explosive getaway? Look no further than the bright lights of Toronto, Canada © Joannis S Duran / Getty Images

3. Toronto, Canada

Toronto continues to be a beacon for the LGBTQ traveller in North America, and Canada is hands down the most advanced and progressive nation in the Americas for the gay community. Toronto’s The Village, located in Church-Wellesley, is the cultural hub of the city, bursting with galleries, theaters and gay-friendly businesses. Home to a huge Pride event that includes a Dyke March, plus a well-established LGBTQ community centre, gay sub-culture has blossomed and thrived in The Village for decades and will no doubt continue to do so for many more. If you’re visiting in the fall, the Village’s fabulous Halloween on Church block party is one of the events of the year.

Lounge chairs and palm trees around a swimming pool in Palm Springs.
Soak up some rays in Palm Springs © Trinette Reed / Getty Images

4. Palm Springs, USA

Located approximately 100 miles east of Los Angeles, Palm Springs is a sun-seeker’s paradise where the sun shines almost all year round and where the city has embraced everything gay. Palm Springs provides the LGBTQ traveller with an amazing array of outdoor activities, excellent shopping and dining, and the world’s best poolside lounging. Palm Springs also offers the largest volume of male- and female-only accommodation anywhere in the world (many of these places are clothing-optional). Pack the SPF and make the most of the sun, boys and girls! One tip for the girls: check out The Dinah, the world’s largest lesbian event, held annually in Palm Springs.

Three bearded Pridegoers, two of whom are in elaborate red costumes, take a selfie.
There’s a vibrant LGBTQ community in Sitges, Spain © Digoarpi / Getty Images

5. Sitges, Spain

The coastal city of Sitges is approximately 35km southwest of Barcelona and is the shining light of Spain’s gay scene and indeed one of Europe’s biggest destinations for LGBTQ travelers. Its stretch of sandy, often clothing-optional beaches make it a favorite for the boys, but its eclectic calendar of events ensures that there’s something for the entire community. You can also make Sitges your jumping off point for a broader tour of Europe’s best LGBTQ destinations – which include Mykonos, Gran Canaria and Ibiza, all of which are key stops on many same-sex-exclusive Mediterranean cruises.

The torsos of two men clutching foam figures, one of them red and the other green.
Diversity gets the green light in Berlin © Carsten Koall / Getty Images

6. Berlin, Germany

Every fetish you could ever dream up can be catered for in Berlin. Germany’s wild side is on display here and Berlin proudly boasts a vibrant and inclusive gay history that dates back to the golden age of the 1920s. The districts of Schöneberg (which hosts Pride), Kreuzberg and Prenzlauerberg provide a diverse range of clubs, bars and restaurants for sampling. With no ‘closing time’ in Berlin, the party never ends! For the more adventurous, get your fetish on at Easter Leather Fetish Week, or don some leather at Folsom Europe.

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Trans dance shows in Paradise Club at midday near the swimming pool. ©umut rosa/Shutterstock

7. Skiathos & Mykonos, Greece

Ever since Jackie Onassis started visiting the Greek island of Mykonos in the 1970s, gay men have been flocking to the island of whitewashed houses and flower-filled courtyards, seeking out glamour and the famous Mediterranean sun. Now thanks to campy hits like Mama Mia!, the link between the Greek islands and queer culture has been forged for a whole new generation. The Elysium Hotel, an exclusively gay boutique hotel, is the perfect playground for hedonists heading to Mykonos town. For a less wild holiday, the sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and pine forested hills of Skiathos offer a relaxed and authentic experience for the LGBTQIA+ traveller.

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Drag queen outside The Stonewall Inn, Greenwich Village, New York City. ©Lottie Davies/Lonely Planet

8. New York City, USA

When it comes to LGBTQIA+ history in the United States, you can’t get very far without mentioning the Stonewall Inn. The riots that occurred here in the late ’60s in Greenwich Village are synonymous with the birth of the modern gay-rights movement. The incredibly inclusive communities of the West Village, Chelsea,  Meatpacking District and Hell’s Kitchen provide a fabulous array of gay-friendly accommodation options. Littered with significant LGBTQIA+ landmarks such as Christopher St, the Harvey Milk School, the Lesbian Herstory Archives and, hello, Broadway and the Theater District, New York is a gay traveller’s mecca. If you’re considering getting hitched while in the Big Apple, go to the Clerk of the City of New York.

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Lesbians on motorbikes ©Petur Asgeirsson/Shutterstock

9. Reykjavik, Iceland

The world’s northernmost capital, Reykjavik has been described as one of the friendliest places and most inclusive on Earth. Its Pride march is one of Europe’s oldest LGBTQIA+ parades, and the Bears on Ice event is another calendar highlight. Iceland also has some of the world’s most progressive laws. In 2006, same-sex couples were granted equal rights with their heterosexual counterparts without limitation. Wander behind waterfalls, descend into dormant volcanoes, or while away a day in one of the many geothermal lagoons – this is an adventurer’s paradise. To attend the Bears on Ice event, you’ll need to register.

A boat silhouetted against a striking sunset.
Harbourside serenity in Central America’s most gay-friendly destination, Montevideo in Uruguay © ElOjoTorpe / Getty Images


10. Montevideo, Uruguay

Uruguay, the smallest of the South American nations, is also the most progressive. In 2013, Uruguay was the second Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage, and homosexuality has been decriminalised since 1934. The relaxed attitude present in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo provides a brilliant juxtaposition to the hustle and bustle of the likes of Buenos Aires. Although progressive in protecting the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, excessive PDA (public displays of affection) are not advised.

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June 17, 2018: A rainbow shaped float holds a group of young girls dancing during the 2018 Pride Parade through the streets of downtown Portland. ©Diego G Diaz/Shutterstock

11. Portland, Oregon

Portland already has a big come-as-you-are vibe for folks of all stripes, so it’s no surprise that it’s also a LGBTQIA+ haven. From legendary drag performers like Darcelle‘s own bar to newcomers like the drag brunch at the Botanist in the Pearl District, there’s plenty of camp to go around. But there’s no shortage of gay bars to choose from, whether you’re looking for neon-spangled Portland dives like The Florida Room, a welcoming social scene at Crush, classic cruising at Scandals, bears and leather at Eagle, or straight up nudity and cannabis at Hawks – it’s an understatement to say there’s a little something for everyone.

Portland Pride is epic every June, with days of revelry by the Willamette River that spill over into the rest of the city. But if that doesn’t line up with your travel schedule, no worries. There’s plenty of queer-friendly events year round, like the beloved dance nights thrown by Judy on Duty and the DJs at Holocene, plus hip hop and house parties like Werk and Cake at Killingsworth Dynasty. Even Portland institutions that aren’t overtly LGBTQIA+, like the Portland Timbers soccer club, are an integral part of the city’s lesbian scene. This is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, too, with an endless array of activist groups and community support networks that cement Rose City’s rich reputation for gay culture.

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August 4, 2018: Man with a rainbow coloured mowhawk at Brighton’s Gay Pride Parade. ©Cristiano Paradiso/Shutterstock

12. Brighton, UK

Statistics show that Brighton isn’t just one of the UK’s most gay-friendly cities, it’s got one of the most concentrated LGBTQIA+ populations in the country. Since the 19th century, Brighton has been a respite for gay couples, thanks to the city’s prominence as a garrison for troops during the Napoleonic Wars on through World War I. Gay bars and other queer-owned businesses began to flourish more openly during the 1930s, not unlike Weimar-era Berlin and other cities with a long history of gay culture. After World War II, Brighton became a haven for LGBTQIA+ folks seeking community, much the same as San Francisco in the United States. Today you can partake in that rich, rainbow-hued heritage at numerous destinations throughout the city, including Doctor Brighton’s bar, the Legends hotel, and Poison Ivy karaoke hall. Head to Bar Revenge for fun near the Brighton Pier, the Bulldog for old school vibes, and The Marlborough for the lesbian and thespian scenes.

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Capetown’s Pride Parade often incorporates symbols of South Africa like the lion into its colorful imagery © Shutterstock / Lois GoBe

13. South Africa

South Africa legalized same-sex marriage in 2006, sixteen years after the first Johannesburg pride parade and thirteen years after Cape Town got in on the fun. Today, the country is more LGBTQIA+ friendly than ever, whether you’re wandering the streets of Cape Town’s De Waterkant gayborhood or hitting up discos like Ratz in Johannesburg’s Melville district. Sauna culture is alive and well at The Rec Room in J’burg, while the drag shows at Capetown’s Beefcakes club are impeccable – right down to the birdcages atop the bar. Jamala Madikwe is a popular gay-owned safari lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve, or you can stay at Holden Manz, a vineyard and guesthouse in Franschoek Valley that is also owned by members of the LGBT community. 

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Taiwan is still easing into a new era of greater LGBTQIA+ equality, but it’s off to a promising start for tourists ©Q Wang/Shutterstock

14. Taiwan

Taiwan is one of the most LGBTQIA+ countries in Asia – in fact, as of 2019 it’s the first country on the continent to legalize gay marriage (though that legislation is not without some caveats). But Taiwan has embraced gay culture in other ways, from exhibits put on at the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei to vast pride parades to the GOL Summit, a filmmaking conference focused on LGBTQIA+ narratives. While these shifts are still fairly recent, and not without controversy, gay and lesbian travelers can kick back and relax at Taiwanese destinations like dance club and karaoke bar G*Star, lesbian bar Taboo (both in Taipei) or Mediterranean restaurant Katsikafe in Kaohsiung, or Brit-pub fusion Kudos in Taichung. Don’t miss Gin Gin, an ecclectic shop in Taipei’s Zhongzheng neighborhood, or the coffee shop H*ours Cafe. For fashion, Love Boat is perfect if your style trends masculine. Bears tend to gather, natch, at Bear Junkies, while G’s Gay Hotel is a haven for gay men.

500px Photo ID: 114087897 - Sydney Opera House at Night
The Sydney Opera House may be the city’s iconic signature, but there’s more here than meets the eye. ©Palle Nielsen/500px

15. Sydney, Australia

Sydney has long been the capital of gay Australia, and there’s no shortage of festivals to plan a vacation around, from Mardi Gras in the Darlinghurst gayborhood to Australia’s longest-running pride festival, Chill Out. But any time you pay a visit to the Harbor City is sure to be a good time, with tons of gay-friendly businesses lining thoroughfares like Oxford Street and districts like Newtown and Marrickville. The Oxford Hotel and Slyfox are a hotel and bar that are very welcoming, particularly for lesbians. Meanwhile, everyone’s invited to the Colombian Hotel and clubs like Tokyo Sing Song, the Bearded Tit, and underground parties like Canned Fruit .

Where to celebrate Pride around the world

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This article was first published in 2014 and last updated in June 2021.

Planet Fitness’s CEO supports anti-LGBT politicians. What happened to ‘judgement-free’? – LGBTQ Nation

Kim Martel
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Planet Fitness’s CEO supports anti-LGBT politicians. What happened to ‘judgement-free’? – LGBTQ Nation

The CEO of Planet Fitness donated to the Donald Trump’s presidential campaign as well as to the campaign of a conversion therapy supporter.

CEO Chris Rondeau donated a total of $1200 to Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The money was donated in two installments, once in the heat of the primary season and once just before Trump became the official nominee of the party.

Related: LGBTQ people are fleeing Equinox & SoulCycle after realizing their membership fees benefit Trump

He also donated to the campaign of Andy Sanborn for U.S. Representative from New Hampshire, Out reports. Sanborn, a Republican, was named one of the most conservative members of the state legislature when he was a member, and he also voted against a bill that banned conversion therapy for minors.

Planet Fitness markets itself as “a judgment-free zone.” They have kicked out transphobic members at least twice for harassing transgender people. One of the transphobes sued Planet Fitness after they lost their membership for repeatedly complaining about another customer who was transgender.

But the donations to the Trump campaign belie that image. The Trump administration has repeatedly attacked transgender rights and LGBTQ equality more generally.

Trump himself has a reputation for judging women based on their looks, something that Planet Fitness’s “No gymtimidation” ads decry. Trump is, in the words of Planet Fitness’s posters, a “lunk” (someone who, among other things, judges others at the gym) who would set off the “lunk alarm.”

Earlier this year, fitness brands SoulCycle and Equinox faced an LGBTQ boycott when owner Stephen Ross was caught hosting a $100,000 to $250,000/person fundraiser for the Trump campaign.

Planet Fitness did not respond to a request for comment by publication.

‘Queer Gym’: Strengthening LGBTQ+ Bodies And Spirits – WBUR

Kim Martel
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‘Queer Gym’: Strengthening LGBTQ+ Bodies And Spirits – WBUR

On a Sunday in a tiny gym in Brookline, personal trainer Justice Williams is teaching Leo Morris a stretch called the Brettzel (which looks like whatever you’re imagining).

“Yass,” Williams shouts. “There you go. Elbows down.”

“Jesus,” Morris says with exasperation.

“Yass,” Williams shouts again. “And hold. Very nice.”

Personal trainer Justice Williams gives some words of encouragement to a patron at CORE in Brookline, Mass, where he holds 'Queer Gym' sessions for LGBTQ+ people. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Personal trainer Justice Williams gives some words of encouragement to a patron at CORE in Brookline, Mass, where he holds ‘Queer Gym’ sessions for LGBTQ+ people. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Morris, who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, is among about 10 people working out who identify as gay, trans and/or queer.

This is “Queer Gym.” Williams, who started it, says it’s a place where people can work out if they’re in the LGBTQ+ community and don’t feel comfortable in regular gyms. He says going to a gym can be an awkward experience for many people, but that vulnerability is amplified when your body or mannerisms don’t conform to people’s interpretation of how you should be.

“[Gyms] are hyper-masculine, they’re toxic, they’re about an aesthetic,” Williams says. “Being part of the LGBT community, I’ve observed and noticed that people don’t feel comfortable in gyms today.”

Justice Williams demonstrates how to lift a kettlebell. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Justice Williams demonstrates how to lift a kettlebell. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

Morris, who Williams is teaching the Brettzel stretch to, recently had top surgery — which is an operation to remove breast tissue to reflect a person’s gender expression. And Morris says that causes people to stare.

“When you’re working out, you just want to focus on your workout. But when you know that other people are staring at you and then sometimes talking about you, it can be distracting,” Morris says. “It can be demoralizing, you know, when you’re supposed to be pumping yourself up in the gym.”

Among those working out on this day: two straight women who say they don’t have to worry about being ogled here like they would in a regular gym.

Eddie Maisonet, who is trans, says he wears sleeveless shirts when he works out and has also noticed people staring at the scars from his top surgery. But Maisonet says at Queer Gym, no one stares and the visibility is only positive.

Trainer Justice Williams works on deadlifts with gym-goer Eddie Maisonet. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Trainer Justice Williams works on deadlifts with gym-goer Eddie Maisonet. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

“Here, we’re looking at each other, but we’re so supportive,” he says. “It’s people trying to take pointers or make sure you’re not hurting yourself as opposed to feeling like a spectacle.”

Maisonet says other physical trainers he’s worked with didn’t know how to work with trans people. But Williams does.

“If I tell Justice, ‘yo, this hurts’, he’ll give me a modification or tell me to take a break,” Maisonet says. “So, I feel listened to and I feel a lot stronger, and that kind of confidence — there’s not many places in my life where I can get that.”

Creating confidence is why Williams says he became a personal trainer. Williams is trans, too. And 10 years ago, he couldn’t find a personal trainer who understood his journey when he needed to lose weight before starting gender-affirming hormone therapy.

Trainer Justice Williams with gym goers and kettlebells at CORE in Brookline, Mass. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)
Trainer Justice Williams with gym goers and kettlebells at CORE in Brookline, Mass. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

“I decided to go to a gym and I had a very negative experience with a trainer there,” Williams says. “And that forced me to learn on my own, so that I could teach myself the proper way to workout, to be in my body, to polish my armor.”

And today, Williams’ armor couldn’t be shinier. Now, he’s hoping to offer that protection to whoever comes to Queer Gym.

“Each movement that I do with my clients — the people that I work with — we celebrate being in our skin and that’s what I want to create, that type of energy, loving ourselves regardless.”

Queer Gym trainer Justice Williams

For Queer Gym, Williams rents the space at CORE, a gym in Brookline, every other Sunday. He says too few spaces exist that are explicitly for LGBTQ people and this space honors their existence.

“To move in our bodies and to be in our skin should be a celebration,” Williams says. “Each movement that I do with my clients — the people that I work with — we celebrate being in our skin and that’s what I want to create, that type of energy, loving ourselves regardless.”

He says the ultimate goal is to arm people with the confidence to navigate all gyms. But until then, Williams says he’ll try to maintain and expand Queer Gym for as long as necessary.

9 Queer Fashion Designers Leaving Their Mark on the Industry – Out Magazine – Out Magazine

Kim Martel
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9 Queer Fashion Designers Leaving Their Mark on the Industry – Out Magazine – Out Magazine

It was partially on recommendation from an executive at Barneys New York that Jameel Mohammed found his way into jewelry. Though he was designing apparel at the time, a necklace he’d once made caught the person’s eye, and with a little encouragement, Mohammed switched focus. But KHIRY, his brand, was conceptualized during the same year as the Ferguson protests in the aftermath of Mike Brown’s death and the formulation of the Black Lives Matter movement, which means it’s always been more than mere accoutrements. “I thought to myself, if I have this access to stores and media, then I have to look for something to say,” Mohammed says. “So I decided that I wanted to use what I was going to do to advocate for Black people.” Mohammed now does just that, sourcing Black culture and history as inspiration points, and designing for people who understand his worldview. This ideology runs through his high-end custom fashion jewelry business, which features 18-karat gold and diamond charms, as well as through to his fashion jewelry collection, which he plans to expand soon. 

Follow Khiry on Instagram.

Queer style kicks off New York Fashion Week with inclusive show – NBC News

Kim Martel
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Queer style kicks off New York Fashion Week with inclusive show – NBC News

In celebration of gender-fluid fashion and inclusion of all kinds, the queer-style digital magazine dapperQ threw a runway party at the start of New York Fashion Week, filling the Beaux-Arts Court of the Brooklyn Museum with invited guests and nearly 2,000 members of the public.

It was the sixth annual Queer Runway Show at the museum for dapperQ, which uses the rallying cry of “ungendering fashion.” Marking its 10th year in business, the site enlisted 10 brands Thursday night to dress an array of models of all colors, ages and sizes, large and small, on the gender binary and off.

A model presents a creation from The Tomboy X collection during the dapperQ fashion show at the Brooklyn Museum on Sept. 5, 2019, in New York.Jeenah Moom / AP

One model used a wheelchair and another a single crutch. Professional trans models strutted and camped alongside YouTube and Instagram influencers. Zach Barack, the openly trans actor who appeared in the recent blockbuster “Spider-Man: Far from Home,” was among the walkers.

And the joyous crowd ate it up, tossing beach balls into the air surrounded by European paintings on the walls as upbeat music filled the space. Models showed off underwear sets from sponsor TomboyX and colorful caftans, sharply tailored suits, shorts outfits and eveningwear from other brands, including Sharpe Suiting, Landeros New York, Halz, Stuzo and the Australia-based Shane Ave.

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Attendee Suhaly Bautista-Carolina called it an important evening for the LGBTQ community and the fashion industry as a whole.

“It celebrates the queer community within fashion week,” Bautista-Carolina said. “Fashion week is such a celebratory moment in New York and to be included in this moment is just a very beautiful and important thing.”

A makeup artist works on a model backstage at the dapperQ fashion show at the Brooklyn Museum on Sept. 5, 2019, in New York. Jeenah Moom / AP

The models had a blast as well, earning cheers from the jubilant crowd. B. Hawkes Snipes, who played a runway contestant on the FX series “Pose,” warmed up the room from the runway at the start of the show wearing a flowing bright red gown.

Hester Sunshine of the revived “Project Runway” looked on from the front row.

“It’s really cool that this is happening,” said Sunshine, who came in second on the show’s first season. “The LGBTQ community has been such a big part of fashion since the beginning so it’s really nice to be recognized as its own presence.”

A model presents a creation from The Cilium collection during the dapperQ fashion show at the Brooklyn Museum on Sept. 5, 2019, in New York.Jeenah Moom / AP

Barack said he has “never really done fashion stuff” but appreciated the chance to help celebrate “queer bodies and all the intersections that they lie in and all the places they sit. I’m really excited to be a part of it.”

Acceptance “can’t happen fast enough,” Barack said. “All bodies deserve a place on the runway.”

Anita dolce Vita, the publisher of dapperQ and the executive producer of the show, said “queer fashion to me and in our community is fashion for everyone,” no matter your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender presentation.

Related

The show “really breaks down and dismantles the binaries that we often see on traditional New York Fashion Week runways,” she added.

With more transfemmes on the covers of magazines and a growing popularity for “androgyny” in fashion, progress has been made in the mainstream industry, dolce Vita said, but the way queer fashion is interpreted remains filtered “very much through the lens of hetero-normativity,” with white, tall and skinny among the defaults.

“Clothing should be for all people,” she said. “We don’t want just gay men who are designing for what their vision of a perfect woman is. We want queer style.”

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CrossFit, the Gay Fitness Hell That Destroyed My Body Before I Healed My Mind – NewNowNext

Kim Martel
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CrossFit, the Gay Fitness Hell That Destroyed My Body Before I Healed My Mind – NewNowNext

by
9/5/2019

I am an unmarried gay man who lives in a constant state of trying to fix myself. I don’t mean in any deep or meaningful way—I live in Los Angeles!—rather, I’m always trying to get better looking. Of course, this is all in the service of meeting someone who might finally put an end to the endless marketing campaign that is being a single gay man in L.A.

One of my more successful, if ill-fated, attempts at beautification occurred during a two-year stint of near-constant drug use, when I joined a CrossFit studio. CrossFit, if you’re living under a treadmill, combines a variety of exercise approaches, few of which I can define: plyometrics, calisthenics, Olympic weightlifting, and “strongman,” to name a few. Each class is led by a god-like instructor, who mixes together a bunch of inadvisable movements to be performed by a group of people lacking any basic sense of self-preservation. At the end of every class, you’re scored, more or less, on how quickly you’ve done the routines, which typically involve throwing a 100- or 200-pound barbell in the air and catching it in one way or another—you know, the kind of thing you ought to be doing as fast as possible.

The place I joined was a West Hollywood outfit I’ll call Endure. The overwhelming vibe at Endure was one of intense gay masculinity: lots of beards, muscles, and tattoos—think sexually fluid prison yard. I, in contrast, am a Jew with a spray tan. The prospect of even loosely resembling these people, however, was tantalizing. (It should be said that about a third of the clientele was female, but gyms are a place where I am particularly oblivious to anyone who doesn’t fill me with longing.)

Endure pulsed with the prospect of romance. For the first half of every class we’d pair up to share a barbell, on which we’d practice various “skills,” like squats, or “cleans”—a classic CrossFit move in which you haul a barbell up from the floor and rest it on your shoulders, over and over, until you die. The moments leading up to these partnerings, when we’d stand around listening to the instructor, were always a careful dance: I had to place myself close enough to the father of my children (whoever he might be that day) that when the time came to break off I could present myself to him as simply the most inevitable suitor. Sometimes he’d say he was already sharing a barbell with someone else, and I’d marvel at the chutzpah it would take to have asked for such an arrangement ahead of time.

The most maddening of my crushes was a tall blond adonis named Jonathan. He was everything I look for in an infatuation: physically flawless, intermittently friendly, and overall uninterested. We once partnered up for a workout, which he blazed through and I attacked with an energy level bordering on the funereal. At one point he barked at me, “This is CrossFit, not art class!” Derision being the key to my heart, I took this as a clear sign that he was in love with me. I later strolled up to him while he was pacing the room holding a giant kettlebell above his head and said, “Remember, Jonathan, you have nothing to prove.” He kept walking, giving no indication he’d heard me. The boy drove me absolutely wild.

The torment of being surrounded by eligible bachelors was second only to the agony of the workouts. You always knew things were going to be particularly awful at Endure when the workout had a first name. If they told you to do a “Cindy,” you were in for 20 minutes of pull-ups, push-ups, and squats, supposedly without stopping. If you were doing a “Mary,” you did everything in a Cindy, but upside down and on one leg. If you were doing a “Grace”—oh Christ, who cares? Who were these women? What had they done to deserve being associated with any of this nonsense? I hoped one day they’d name a CrossFit routine after me: the “Ben,” which would be four push-ups, six crunches, and a sandwich. I’d be everyone’s favorite workout.

There was also an aversion to irony at Endure that prevented me from ever quite feeling at home: I quit once in the middle of a particularly awful workout, prompting the instructor, Cliff, a sweet boy from Oklahoma who looked like an Aryan superhero, to ask how he should record my score. Feeling in that moment vastly, innately inferior to Cliff, I lightly suggested he “just put a swastika.” When I looked back at the board, I found that Cliff had indeed drawn a small orange swastika next to my name. I rushed to erase it, warning Cliff that he could have really gotten himself in trouble.

“No way, really?” he asked, with an innocence that made my heart flutter.

“Yeah,” the girl behind the counter assured him, nodding sagely. “Especially in Los Angeles.”

This remains my favorite thing to have ever happened to me.

Before long, I started noticing definite improvements to my body. I was turning into a trapezoid between my neck and my shoulders—fantastic! And I was developing that phenomenal hip-adjacent V that signifies a true preoccupation with one’s looks. In only a few short months, I’d gone from a West Hollywood 5 to easily a West Hollywood 7, which is a heterosexual 8, which is a Fresno 9.

Around town I started getting noticed by people who’d previously never given me a second glance. Did I fall in love? No. But someone from a kickball team I was on once called me “CrossFit,” and for a moment, despite my being at the time drunk, stoned, and hopped up on amphetamines, I felt like I didn’t need to change anything about myself.

This was shortly after I’d nearly dislocated my shoulder doing a CrossFit movement called, for some reason, a “snatch,” which is when you hold a barbell with your arms wide apart and hoist it above your head. It is a plainly reckless maneuver, but really, who needs a shoulder? Get enough beautiful people suddenly giving you the time of day and you quickly discover what really matters in life.

But it was my knee that finally took me out. I don’t quite know what happened, but I was finding it difficult to walk more than a few feet at a time, which gave me a pretty geriatric aura. When I stood still, however, I really was quite something to behold. I wasn’t getting out much, unfortunately, as there was something about the motion of stepping on the gas pedal that was sending shooting pains up my leg. But anyone who came to visit me would remark, from my bedside, that I looked magnificent.

The end of my association with Endure happened to coincide with the beginning of my sobriety. It was at a sober convention, in fact, that I entered a fundraising raffle and won a free gym membership, which I took as a sign that it was time to tone it down a bit. Now I go to Gold’s, where I am free to languidly roam the premises, occasionally picking up an object or two.

Several months ago Jonathan spotted me in a movie theater lobby. I’d been recently painted at the tanning salon, had done eight bench presses that afternoon, and was wearing my good shirt. Perhaps that was why he called out my name and gave me a hug—a bewildering gesture, and one that might have invited later interaction. I might have said, “What are you doing after the movie?” or “Want to get coffee this week?” or even the transparently coy, “We should hang out sometime.” I said none of these things, instead opting for a quip about how CrossFit had destroyed me. When in doubt, I say play up your physical weakness.

Maybe when I next run into him I’ll be a little more daring. I’ve come to wonder if the thing standing between me and Jonathan—between me and any of them, really—has much at all to do with exercise. Some people I’ve met in my new drug-free existence have given me the idea that self-cultivation can also take place outside of a gym. I have my doubts, but it could be an idea worth exploring.

At any rate, there’s a new man in my life. The folks at Gold’s recently sold me on a personal-training package by showing me a photo of my trainer. Now every week I work out with an aspiring Instagram model I pay $50 an hour to flirt with me. He’s also got all sorts of loony ideas about having the confidence to go for the things you want in life.

He might just fix me.

A Los Angeles-based writer/comic, Kawaller’s essays have appeared in The Advocate and Salon, and he creates video content for Los Angeles Magazine and Wehoville.

@benkawaller

Gay Travel Chicago | LGBTQ Neighborhoods, Events & Nightlife – Choose Chicago

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Gay Travel Chicago | LGBTQ Neighborhoods, Events & Nightlife – Choose Chicago

Gay Travel Chicago | LGBTQ Neighborhoods, Events & Nightlife | Choose Chicago

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Gay Travel: More than one LGBTQ+ person murdered every day in Brazil – Buzz.travel | eTurboNews | Travel News

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Gay Travel: More than one LGBTQ+ person murdered every day in Brazil – Buzz.travel | eTurboNews | Travel News

GayCities travel website is warning LGBTQ+ tourists to exercise extra caution if traveling to Brazil. According to the website, there is an extremely high rate of violence against LGBTQ+ people in the country. There has been more than one murder every day in Brazil because of sexual identity – 445 people were murdered in 2017 because of their LGBTQ+ orientation. The following year, more than 160 transgender people were murdered.

The most high-profile killing of an LGBTQ+ person in Brazil was Marielle Franco, a city councilwoman in Rio de Janeiro and a lesbian feminist and human rights advocate. Marielle was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in 2018 after calling attention to the death of Matheus Melo Castro, a black man who was gunned down by police at a security checkpoint.

Brazil’s President, Jair Bolsonaro, has done little to address the extreme rates of violence the country’s LGBTQ+ community suffers every day. Instead he is actually fueling this hate. Prior to taking office in January, Bolsonaro claimed he would rather have a dead son than a gay one adding he would beat a same-sex couple if he saw them kissing. The President warned his country to do what it takes to ensure Brazil doesn’t become a “gay tourism paradise.”

Brazil is just the number one country LGBTQ+ people should be wary of traveling. Also right up there is Egypt, Tanzania. In Egypt, more than 57 people were arrested in an anti-LGBTQ+ crackdown in 2017. In Tanzania, its capital of Dar Es Salaam launched a surveillance squad last year to identify and apprehend people suspected to be LGBTQ+.

Meet the Crossfitters Helping Make the Sport LGBTQ Inclusive – Advocate.com

Kim Martel
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Meet the Crossfitters Helping Make the Sport LGBTQ Inclusive – Advocate.com

Growing up, Reshad Asgarali, a 28-year-old digital marketer from Miami, Florida, did whatever he could to avoid sports and exercise. “I just felt like my more feminine qualities and mannerisms would make me a clear target to get picked on more so than I already was,” he said. But over time, avoiding exercise became a “lifestyle” that contributed to extreme weight gain.

Remarkably, Asgarali lost over 100 pounds through a healthy diet and exercising alone in his room. Even after this transformation, he was still too intimidated to set foot in a traditional gym setting. Eventually, he gained the courage to give CrossFit Dynamix a try. “There I was, this anxious gay guy lifting heavy weights, getting better each week, alongside some of the strongest people I’d ever met,” he said. “These same people would cheer for me, push me, and encourage me, regardless of my sexual orientation.”

Though CrossFit is often stereotyped as a “very macho sport,” Asgarali added, he said most people would be surprised by how accepting the community is. “At the end of the day the welcoming CrossFit community is something that can’t be found anywhere else,” he said. “That’s what kept me coming back.”

6 Best LGBT Dating Apps in 2019, According to Queer Folks – Prevention.com

Kim Martel
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6 Best LGBT Dating Apps in 2019, According to Queer Folks – Prevention.com

I met my current boyfriend at the gym, but I’d have to award Grindr the assist. We locked eyes while he was squatting at the rack and both looked away coyishly. I told myself I’d build up the courage, walk over to him, and introduce myself when I finished my set, but by the time I was done, he was nowhere to be found.

Still, I knew not all hope was lost. I hopped on Grindr, thinking he may still be in the area, and there he was. Luckily, he actually had a photo of his face and not his torso, which as any queer man can tell you, is rare. On most gay/bi social networking apps that cater primarily to hook-ups as opposed to dates, it’s customary to post a headless body photo to protect anonymity.

I messaged him asking if he was the guy I saw at the gym today. He said yes, and admitted he was looking at me too. So I asked him out on a date for drinks. Roughly a year later, he’s my little man.

If it wasn’t for Grindr I’m not sure if I would have ever met Ryan, since that wasn’t my usual gym. In fact, it’s one I never go to; I just happened to be in the area for a random meeting.

But Grindr is just one of many dating apps for queer people, and queer folks don’t necessarily need an app that’s specifically marketed as gay or bisexual. Apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble all have options to choose the same-gender. So we reached out to a bunch of LGBTQ folks of all genders and non-straight sexual orientations to discuss which apps they prefer and why.

1. Grindr

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Alright, since I started with Grindr, let’s finish up talking about it before I move onto the next apps. Grindr, in case you live under a rock, was the first gay geolocation app, meaning that it lets you know how close you are to others (e.g., 715 feet). While it’s usually used for more quick and casual “liaisons”—you can and plenty of people still do use it to ask out men on dates. Still, it’s not uncommon to have shared nudes before you’ve actually met in real life.

“I only use Grindr. I guess I have narrowed it down to using that [app] because it’s my favorite. It’s a one stop-shop for anything I’d look for in a dating app: hookups, dates, [and] even friends.” —Matthew, 27

“I don’t have enough bandwidth to use multiple apps. It’s exhausting managing them all, and while Grindr annoys me to no end with all the racists and flakes, it seems to have the highest number of users and is still the easiest to use.” —Dave, 43

“Ol’ faithful, or Grindr as it’s usually called, has always been a reliable and surefire way to meet others specifically interested in trans women. Grindr is exclusively for LGBTQ people, and hosts a space to be queer, meet queers, and perhaps offer a glimpse of queers nearby that maybe weren’t so visible before. In addition, Grindr also supports a sex-positive community, which plays an essential role in the progression of ending stigma around sexuality exploration and liberation.” —Amarilla, “a lady never reveals her age”

2. Tinder

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Tinder’s got that swipe life, where you go through multiple profiles, each with a mini-bio and a few pictures, and if the two of you “match,” meaning you both swipe right — indicating you’d like to connect — then you get the option to start a conversation.

“My favorite dating app as a queer person is Tinder. It simply has the most people on it, and I am a bisexual who likes to cast a wide net. I appreciate that they expanded gender options to include gender non-conforming folks, and I like that I can choose when, where, and if I swipe on cisgender, heterosexual men. It’s casual yet not void of the possibility of meeting someone for real. But honestly, I meet people the most by sliding in their DMS on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.” —Sophie, 30

“I’ve only used Grindr and Tinder. I enjoy Tinder’s layout for describing myself a lot more that Grindr. But Grindr is a lot more flexible about finding people around in your area. But unless you pay for Grindr Extra, there’s not much you can do when you reach the end. So it can become boring pretty quickly, so I definitely prefer Tinder.” —Ryan, 25

3. Scruff

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Scruff is likely the second most popular gay male dating/hookup app, and it came on the scene shortly after Grindr, in 2010. While similar to Grindr, Scruff caters to a more masculine and harrier crowd, as the name suggests. So if you identify as an otter, cub, bear, or wolf, you may have better luck using Scruff rather than Grindr.

Head, Gadget, Electronic device, Mobile phone, Communication Device, Portable communications device, Mobile device, Technology, Display device, Smartphone,

Scruff is the second most popular gay male dating/hookup app.

Scruff

“Though I am definitely not much of a hairy man I weirdly — or not weirdly at all — get plenty of attention off of it. I enjoy the app due to the features they offer, from sharing private albums and satisfying my stalker needs of knowing who’s looked at my profile. Oh yeah, the boys are hot too.” —Mark, 32

“Scruff has become a much friendlier environment to meet people, and I’ve developed some genuine relationships both on and off screen. The community is definitely more diverse than its counterpart (Grindr) and more accepting.” —Jonathan, 26

4. Hinge

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Initially, Hinge marketed themselves in opposition to Tinder, positioning themselves as the dating app as opposed to the hookup app. Like Tinder, you swipe on profiles, but Hinge, at least initially, required a Facebook account and would only provide match options of friends of Facebook friends (up to three degrees). That, however, changed in June of 2018. Still, Hinge requires you to fill out your profile fully with various information about yourself from your religion, wanting kids, drug use, fun activities, etc. This gives you more information about the person than Tinder does.

“I like Hinge because you can see all the likes you receive, and I hate the mindless swiping [on apps like Tinder.] Even though you swipe with Hinge, you still spend more time on each profile since it’s a vertical layout and there’s a lot more to read. I also like that you can send a ‘like’ on something with a comment to make it more personal and has prompts for questions. It also definitely has had the hottest and best girls of all the apps.” —Hayley, 28

5. Bumble

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Bumble was created by Tinder co-founder Whitney Wolfe Heard after she left Tinder due to sexual discrimination and harassment. It’s been described as a “feminist Tinder.” In hetero relationships, only female users can make the first contact with their matched male users; in same-sex matches, either person can send a message first.

“There are the most number of queer women on Bumble from what’s I’ve found. So ultimately, of all the dating apps I’ve used (which for Abby includes Coffee Meets Bagel, Tinder, and The League), I’ve met the most women through Bumble.” —Abby, 28

6. Chappy

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“Chappy is about kindness, inclusivity, and accountability.” (That’s not me saying that, that’s part of the “Chappy pledge.”) Chappy, which is actually owned by the dating app Bumble, does it all — giving you options if you’re looking for something long-term, a more casual affair, both, or just friends. “With features like account verification, mandatory face pics, Instagram integration, and user code of conduct, it’s one giant leap for kind men,” Chappy boasts.

“The newcomer on the block is Chappy. The verdict is still out on whether this will turn into another hookup app (as Tinder has in my opinion) or truly take form as a quality dating platform for the gay community, but for now, I definitely like using it.” —Jonathan, 26 (again)

After speaking with these young single queers, it’s become clear that it’s a matter of preference—no dating app stands out above the rest. Additionally, these are only a few of the apps that are potentially effective for queer folks. I was surprised Jack’d, Coffee Meets Bagel, OkCupid, and Hornet didn’t come up in folks’ responses. So you may just have to try out a few to see which app suits you and your needs best.

Good luck out there. God only knows navigating queer dating culture in 2019 is more challenging that walking through a minefield, but maybe, just maybe, you can find your future partner on one of these apps.

Stay updated on the latest science-backed health, fitness, and nutrition news by signing up for the Prevention.com newsletter here. For added fun, follow us on Instagram.

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How safe is Germany for LGBTQ travelers? – DW (English)

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How safe is Germany for LGBTQ travelers? – DW (English)

In the spring, editors of the Berlin gay travel guide Spartacus sounded the alarm. In the the latest Gay Travel Index (GTI) ranking Germany had fallen sharply from third place to 23rd. The reason, Leander Milbrecht of Spartacus told DW, was the “increase in reported crimes against and assaults on lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) persons.”

He pointed out that in 2018 in Berlin alone the police counted 225 crimes against queer people, 54 more than in 2017. “Queer” is the term used to describe people who deviate from heteronormativity.

The Berlin gay anti-violence project Maneo registered 382 attacks on queer people in 2018, 58 more than in the previous year. Milbrecht asserts that, according to figures from the government, similar tendencies can be observed throughout Germany. Additionally, experts assume a high number of unreported cases of people who do not report this type of attack.

Leander Milbrecht from the editorial team of Spartacus Berli

Leander Milbrecht from the editorial team of “Spartacus” Berlin

The editorial team of Spartacus, a renowned provider of travel guides for gay men, compiles the GTI for 197 countries and regions each year using a range of criteria: Are there any threats of persecution, the death penalty or violent attacks? Is there state-sanctioned discrimination, such as travel restrictions for HIV-positive people or are Pride parades banned? And what about civil rights? This also includes marriage equality, which became legal in Germany in 2017. 

In the eyes of the international community, Germany has been seen a liberal and tolerant country. And Berlin as a desirable destination for persecuted lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders and queers fleeing their homelands. Could all this have changed so dramatically? Should a travel warning be issued, especially now that the Christopher Street Day (CSD) parades are being celebrated everywhere in Germany’s cities with many LGBTQ tourists attending?

Read more: Pride, film history — what 2019 means for the LGBT community

Right wing threat 

Jan Noll, editor-in-chief of the queer Berlin city magazine “Siegessäule” (Victory Column), urged caution in an interview with DW. “I wouldn’t say that homophobic attacks in Germany have taken on an extent that would discourage queer people from travelling here,” he said.

Jan Noll, editor-in-chief of the queer Berlin magazine Siegessäule

Jan Noll, editor-in-chief of the queer Berlin magazine “Siegessäule”, also regards the Gay Travel Index critically

Noll, like other experts, assumes that the increase in the numbers is also due to the increased willingness of victims to report the attacks.

David Staeglich-Büge, a board member at the Berlin CSD, which is celebrated with a parade this weekend, sees it similarly. He would be happy of course if Germany occupied top spot in the safety category, he told DW.

But for Berlin nothing has changed: “The sense of security within the Berlin community is still very strong”. Nevertheless, there is “increasing uncertainty” within the community, said Staeglich.

For him, however, it derives more from the political sphere: “The threat from the right is seen to be greater than the threat from hate crime,” he said. According to the organizers, all of this has no effect on this year’s Berlin CSD celebrations, the largest and most international in Germany.

  • Bernd Gaiser, founder of Christopher Street Day (picture-alliance/TSP/M. Wolff )

    Berlin Pride through the years

    Groundbreaker

    Bernd Gaiser, a longtime rights activist, founded Berlin Pride in 1979. Gaiser told Die Zeit newspaper in 2018 that his community realized, “that only when we, as gay men and lesbians, go out in public and confront society … can we force them to change their attitudes towards us.” About 500 people attended that first celebration.

  • Two men dressed up in front of Brandenburg Gate

    Berlin Pride through the years

    Fight for your rights

    Each year, Berlin Pride has a different theme decided upon by a public forum. In 1998, for the first time, the party got political. “We demand equal rights,” was the theme. Same-sex couples were not even allowed legally recognized civil partnerships in Germany until 2001.

  • Berlin celebrates Christopher Street Day

    Berlin Pride through the years

    Christopher Street Day

    In many German cities, Pride is also known as Christopher Street Day or CSD. Christopher Street is the New York location of the Stonewall Inn. In the early hours of July 28, 1969, police led a brutal raid inside the famous gay bar. The ensuing violent demonstrations of gay and lesbian New Yorkers against the excessive force used by police became known as the Stonewall Riots.

  • Wolfgang Thierse attends Christoper Street Day in Berlin (picture-alliance/dpa)

    Berlin Pride through the years

    Mainstream support

    In February 2001, same-sex couples were granted legal civil unions, largely due to the efforts of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), who were in power at the time and able to pass the law over the protests of the center-right Christian Democrats (CDU). SPD Bundestag President Wolfgang Thierse (left) attended Berlin Pride that year in a sign of solidarity.

  • Brandenburg state Police Commissioner Marco Klingberg and others march (picture-alliance/dpa/J. Carstensen)

    Berlin Pride through the years

    Activists in all forms

    In 2014, as the fight to legalize gay marriage was heating up, Brandenburg state Police Commissioner risked disciplinary action by marching in the Pride Parade in his uniform without permission. Over the years, CSD Berlin has become of the biggest pride celebrations in the world.

  • Revellers march along Straße des 17. Juni

    Berlin Pride through the years

    Marriage legalization

    The 2017 parade would be the last before gay marriage was legalized in Germany, which came in October of that year after Chancellor Angela Merkel manuevered a way to let it happen without herself having to promote it and alienate her more conservative voter base. However, the LGBT community in Germany still faces regular discrimination, such as in adoption law.

  • Miss CSD 2018 greets her adoring fans

    Berlin Pride through the years

    Miss CSD

    From 500 attendants in 1979, Berlin Pride now averages about 500,000 participants a year. The celebration is no longer just for the LGBT community, but for allies as well.

  • A costumed reveller holds a sign asking people to avoid plastic waste

    Berlin Pride through the years

    Always political

    Pride is often political, and the causes championed each year at Christopher Street Day are not only LGBT rights but human rights and problems that affect all people. Here, a participant holds up an environmental awareness sign: “Avoid plastic waste!”

    Author: Elizabeth Schumacher


No impact on CSD

On the contrary: The 50th anniversary year of the New York Stonewall uprising of gay men against arbitrary police action is expected to see even more participants from all over the world than usual in the German capital. Obviously, they are not discouraged by reports of increasing violence against the LGBTQ community.

Nevertheless, the fact that Germany has not reacted to the rise in the number of reported attacks with an action plan has, in the view of “Spartacus,” had a further negative effect on the ranking in the GTI. “French President Emmanuel Macron reacted to a similar increase,” said Leander Milbrecht. In Germany, on the other hand, only states like Berlin have adopted action plans. At the federal level, no comparable initiative has yet been planned.

“Spartacus” sees the third big minus point for Germany as a travel destination in the lack of modern legislation for transgenders and queers. The law on the third option, which came into force in December 2018 and allows the gender specification “divers” in addition to male and female for the first time, has been sharply criticized by the LGBTQ community. According to Jan Noll, the editor-in-chief of the “Siegessäule” (Victory Column) magazine, it is still “sometimes incredibly difficult especially for trans* people to change their marital status”.

Read more: Can companies be an ally in the fight for LGBTI equality?

Germany| Berlin Pride Week | Berlin's district mayor hoists the rainbow flag in Friedrichshain

CSD also marked in Berlin’s neighborhoods: here the district mayor hoists the rainbow flag in Friedrichshain

Inequality in the eyes of the law

The reason, according to Noll, is sloppiness in the wording of the law. From the point of view of the LGBTQ community, the result is a statutory discrimination against transgender people. Because whether the law applies only to inter-sexual persons or also to trans* persons, is currently regulated differently by authorities in Germany.

Whether this legal uncertainty was pivotal for a travel ranking is, however, a matter of opinion. Even experts from the LGBTQ community such as Jan Noll have criticized Spartacus: “The criteria to which Spartacus refers here are political criteria that do not manifest themselves on the street. These are not criteria upon which travel plans are tied.”

And most people don’t. The German National Tourist Board considers international “LGBTQ tourism” to be an important market sector. According to its estimates, which were made available to DW, three percent of all journeys to Germany, a total of 1.2 million a year, are attributed to this sector. And in Berlin it is even estimated to account for every 6th hotel booking.

Enough incentive then to quickly regain a place at the top of the GTI’s travel ranking, if possible first place. Three countries currently share this position: Canada, Sweden and Portugal.

Every evening at 1830 UTC, DW’s editors send out a selection of the day’s hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.

3 New Orleans health providers named leaders in LGBT care – NOLA.com

Kim Martel
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3 New Orleans health providers named leaders in LGBT care – NOLA.com

Three New Orleans healthcare providers have been recognized as “LGBT Healthcare Equality Leaders” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation for their commitment to provide inclusive environments for their LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender) patients and employees.

A total of seven Ochsner locations — including Ochsner Baptist, the Ochsner Medical Centers on Jefferson Highway, Kenner, North Shore and its West Bank Campus — as well as the New Orleans Veterans Administration Hospital and the Crescent Care Community Health Center were recognized in the HRC Foundation’s annual Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) released March 27.

The index scores facilities on their policies and practices aimed at creating more inclusive environments for LGBT patients, visitors and employees. This year, 626 healthcare facilities around the U.S. participated in the survey. Providers can elect to participate and are graded in the areas of LGBT patient-centered care, LGBT patient services and support, employee benefits and policies, and LGBT patient and community engagement. To earn a healthcare equality leader designation, the facility has to score a 100 in each of these categories.

The HEI was created to address health disparities and inequalities LGBT patients can sometimes experience in healthcare settings. About 52 percent of transgender patients and 9 percent of lesbian, gay and bisexual respondents said they believed they would be refused medical services because of their LGBT status, according to the index.

The survey showed remarkable progress among participating facilities, including a 63 percent increase (70,000 hours) across the board in LGBT care training across all 626 hospitals surveyed over the past year.

The release of the 2018 HEI coincided with the deadline for public comments on a proposed “conscience” regulation at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The proposal would protect health care providers who refuse to perform, accommodate, or assist with certain health care services based on religious or moral grounds.

If approved, it would allow a provider to file a complaint under the Federal Health Care Provider Conscience Protection Statute, if they feel they have been discriminated against for objecting or refusing to participate in medical procedures — such as abortion, sterilization or sex reassignment surgeries — that go against the provider’s religious or moral beliefs.

This was the second year in a row the VA Southeast Louisiana Healthcare System was recognized by the HRC Foundation for their care for LGBT patients. They provide mental health services, pre and post-surgery care for transgender patients, and offer a transgender support group that meets every Friday, which is coordinated by a licensed clinical worker, among their services for this patient population.

The clinical worker, Danielle Rosenfelv started the group about five years ago. At the time, the participants were mostly transgender women older than 50.

“Now we serve just as many trans men and people as young as early as in their 20s,” she said. “We have a large population of transgender veterans, and there is a commitment by the VA to serve all of those who have served.”

In 2013, the VA issued a directive to standardize care for LGBT veterans, including creating non-discrimination policies for veterans and their families, creating guidelines for access to care for transgender and intersex veterans and increasing information and training to providers on topics related to LGBT health.

It’s estimated that over 134,000 American veterans are transgender, and over 15,000 transgender people serve in the military today, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality.  

Ochsner has focused on standardizing training for all employees and establishing non-discrimination policies throughout the system, explained Dr. Brandy Panunti, an endocrinologist at Ochsner who works with transgender patients.

This includes establishing the correct coding when a provider needs to order gender-specific exams (i.e. pelvic exams) so a transgender patient isn’t denied coverage because the needed exam does not match the gender listed on their documents.

“How people identify may not be reflected in their legal documents or on their insurance,” Panunti said.

In a 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, transgender people reported experiencing denial of care because staff were not trained to “code” gender-specific exams.

“Overall, the health system is a slow one, and we have a lot of catching up to do,” said Panunti.

Of the hospitals that did not participate in the Healthcare Equality Index but were scored based on research over the past year, 63 percent have patient non-discrimination policies including both sexual orientation and gender identity, and 53 percent have LGBT-inclusive employment non-discrimination policies. About 93 percent had equal visitation policies.

This is the third year in a row that CrescentCare received the Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality designation. The federally qualified health center began in 1983 as the NO/AIDS Task Force, a non-profit dedicated to fighting the AIDS epidemic in New Orleans.

“Dignity for patients and employees has always been at the heart of CrescentCare’s mission, going back to our foundation as NO/AIDS Task Force,” said Augustin Correro, a spokesperson for CrescentCare.

“The steps toward inclusion and affirmation are such simple ones to take but are immensely meaningful to so many people. As an organization that wouldn’t exist without the dedication of the LGBT community, we promise to continue showing our dedication every day,” he said.

The full Healthcare Equality Index can be seen here.

Correction: This story originally said that nine Ochsner locations received the healthcare equality leader designation. The correct number is seven.

Maria Clark writes about health, doctors, patients and healthcare in Louisiana for NOLA.com | The Times Picayune and NOLA Mundo. Reach her at mclark@nola.com or 504.258.5306. Or follow her on Twitter at @MariaPClark1.

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From Cleveland to New Orleans, these are the 16 best US cities for gay dating – Business Insider

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From Cleveland to New Orleans, these are the 16 best US cities for gay dating – Business Insider
  • America is full of thriving LGBTQ communities.
  • New Orleans, Austin, and Tampa have been named some of the best cities for gay dating, according to a new survey.
  • Here are 16 of the best places for gay dating, based on factors including the number of single people in the gay community, bars per 100,000 people, and the cost of a single drink.
  • Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Same-sex marriage may be the law of the land, but before wedding bells chime, there’s the dating scene.

For all LGBT singles out there, it’s easier than ever to navigate a city’s gay community. According to a ranking compiled by gay-rights advocate Evan Goldstein (founder and CEO of medical practice Bespoke Surgical), some of the best cities for members of the LGBT community to make romantic connections include New Orleans, Austin, and Tampa.

The data was compiled by focusing on factors such as the percentage of single people; the size of the LGBT community; the Municipal Equality Index (MEI), which rates cities based on their equality in relation to the gay community and is compiled by civil rights organization the Human Rights Campaign; bars per 100,000 people; and the cost of a single drink. The total possible city score was 50.

Acceptance of LGBT relationships continue to be on the rise, according to the Pew Research Center. In 2004, only 31% of Americans were in favor of same-sex marriage; as of 2019, 61% are in favor.

These days, cities and towns across America boast thriving LGBT communities. Here are 16 of those cities with the best dating scene.

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