The Funny Papers ... But First RIP Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick Boseman died over the weekend, following a three-year battle with colon cancer. He was an amazing actor—Marshall, Get On Up, 42 and, of course, The Black Panther, among many others—many of which he filmed while he was ill.

A smart, compassionate, talented, beautiful man, taken too soon.

Lalo Alcarez, Bill Day, Darrin Bell, Luc Descheemaeker, Marc Murphy, Drew Sheneman, David Horsey, Mike Luckovich, Nick Anderson, Kevin Siers, JD Crowe, Jack Ohman, Hajo,  Michael deAdder, Clay Bennett

Tim Hardaway: From Homophobe to Ally

There’s an old saying that "When you know better, you do better.” When you know more about arithmetic, you’re better mathematician ... when you know more about cooking, you’re better in the kitchen ...when you know more about LGBT people, you’re a better person.

And that leads us to Tim Hardaway.

Hardaway is a former professional basketball player, and he’s been a finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame three times. Three times the committee evaluated his career ... which includes five NBA all-star appearances, five All-NBA selections and a gold medal with Team USA in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and three times the committee found Hardaway's resume lacking because, while he’s had an illustrious career, he’s never had an NBA championship.

And he’s also said some things ... about gay people.

Ten years ago, during an interview, Hardaway responded to a question about former NBA center John Amaechi's decision to come out as a gay man, and Tim Hardaway said:

"Well, you know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don’t like gay people, and I don't like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world or in the United States. So, yeah, I don't like it."

I hate. I hate. Those are the kinds of words that follow you around for a lifetime, especially when said without an ounce of remorse or shame. And Hardaway now says those words will haunt him until the day he dies:

"When I said what I said ... I still cringe at it when I think about it, and still hurts me deep inside that I said something like that because I gave people an opportunity to hurt people. That wasn't right ... each and every day when I talk to kids today and they bring it up to me or somebody brings it up to me, I say that was a very big mistake on my part. It hurts me to this day, what I said, and you know what? It's going to hurt me for the rest of my life, because I'm not that type of person. I feel bad about it and I'm always going to feel bad about it."

After the NBA leadership heard Hardaway’s comments, they banned him from its 2007 All-Star festivities, even though he was serving as an ambassador of the league. And, even given everything he’s done in basketball, it’s those words ... I hate ... that people remember most about Tim Hardaway.

But, like I said, when you know better, you do better ... and when Tim Hardaway heard himself brag about hating people, not caring about hating people, and realizing that his vocalized hate might have spurred others on to hate the LGBT community as well, he did better.

In the years since that interview, Tim Hardaway has become an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights, including working with The Trevor Project, a nonprofit that focuses on suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth. He was also the first signer of a petition to legalize same-sex marriage in the state of Florida. In 2011, he attended a rally in El Paso, Texas—where he had been a college star at UTEP—to support that city's mayor, John Cook, who was facing an attempted recall vote—which later failed—after allowing domestic partnership rights for gay and unmarried couples.

And then, in April 2013, when Jason Collins came out as gay and then became the first openly gay, active player in one of the four major American sports, it was Tim Hardaway who called to offer support.

Jason Collins:

"I have to say, I get asked what was the most surprising [phone call] after making my announcement, and, yes, getting the call from the President [Barack Obama] ... and all of that was surprising. But getting a call from Tim Hardaway is right up there, because I didn't know he had changed as a human being, as far as being what happened with his comments when Jon came out, and now becoming an ally. It shows the power of the coming out story. It shows the power of John Amaechi's story. Tim obviously said what he said and was met with a lot of criticism and was forced to look at himself in the mirror and has changed a lot. ... I'm glad I answered the call and heard his words."

Hardaway's change was noticed by Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy—a progressive voice in the NBA who publicly decried the election of President _____ citing his concern for minorities and women—who hired Hardaway to his staff as an assistant coach in 2014.

"I think what Tim had was a genuine change of heart. ... He had those feelings, he was forced to think about it, he changed his mind, he changed his heart, and there's been nothing like that since. As a matter of fact, he's gone out of his way to be supportive of the LGBTQ community. But the way he handled it to me speaks better of his character."

It is unclear whether or not Tim Hardaway’s change of heart will affect his chances of getting into the Basketball Hall of Fame, but Jason Collins hopes the upcoming decision will focus on Hardaway's distinguished career:

"With regards to the Hall of Fame, coming from an athlete, it's about basketball, and first and foremost it's about your contributions to the game and he was one heck of a basketball player."

This year's Hall of Fame winners will be announced before the NCAA championship game on April 3, and so maybe, this year, after learning, and knowing better, after doing better, Tim Hardaway might get some good news:

"You're on pins and needles. You don't know what the process is, who is voting, how they vote. You're just on pins and needles and you hope and you wish you get in. That's all you can do. I can't change nobody's mind. I can't do anything more than I have done. ... The only thing I can do is be Tim Hardaway, and be as positive as I can be, as I normally am, and let the cards fall where they fall."

And seriously, if you base it on his talents as an athlete, it should be, to use a basketball analogy—and look at me going all sports on your asses—a slam dunk.

And if you do choose to factor in a man’s private life, his private deeds, and his public actions, it should also be a no brainer.

Tim Hardaway knows better, and he’s doing better.

Chicago Trubune

NBA and the NFL Stand Up For Trans Rights

Apparently Texas doesn’t read the papers, because that state’s legislature is all set to pass their own anti-trans Bathroom Bill and are woefully unaware the damage the same bill did in North Carolina—to businesses and tourism and to the GOP—last year.

In an effort to appear less bigoted and transphobic, the Texas bathroom bill, sponsored by a Republican ... because, of course ... Senator Lois Kolkhorst, would allow organizations like the NFL and NCAA to set their own bathroom policies at their venues in Texas, but the law would prohibit cities from passing local laws to safeguard transgender rights. But, you do see what she did? She’s trying to appease the sports organizations while at the same time passing a hate bill.

Now, some groups, such as Dallas' convention and visitors bureau, have labeled the bill “discriminatory" and said it perpetuates the idea that Texas does not value the rights of its LGBT community ... which, seriously, it doesn’t; and LGBT advocates say even that proposing this kind of discriminatory legislation encourages attacks against the transgender community, a community already at risk for bullying, discrimination and even violence.

So what do sports organizations do ... well, both the NFL and the NBA have come out strongly against the Bathroom Bill and are warning Texas against passing hate into law ...

In a statement, NBA spokesman Mike Bass:

"We consider a wide range of factors when making decisions about host locations for league-wide events like the All-Star Game—foremost among them is ensuring the environment where those who participate and attend are treated fairly and equally."

And this is nothing new for the NBA; they came through on a promise to move the NBA All-Star Game from Charlotte to New Orleans after lawmakers in North Carolina passed an anti-transgender bathroom bill into law.

And shortly after the Super Bowl in Houston, the NFL warned the state of Texas that this proposed Bathroom Bill could impact future decisions about the location of major sporting events.

League spokesman Brian McCarthy:

“The NFL embraces inclusiveness. We want all fans to feel welcomed at our events and NFL policies prohibit discrimination based on age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other improper standard. If a proposal that is discriminatory or inconsistent with our values were to become law [in Texas], that would certainly be a factor considered when thinking about awarding future events.”

 Now, to be fair, since this year’s Super Bowl was held in Texas, the NFL does not have another one planned for Texas in the near future, but with both the NFL and the NBA coming on strong, several other sports leagues, including the Atlantic Coast Conference, the NBA and the NCAA—who have pulled events from North Carolina after its Hate Bill was passed—might come on board to fight hate in Texas, too.

Naturally, conservatives in Texas instantly came for the NFL, saying they had no business getting involved in the issue. Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, who was largely mum on the bathroom bill—but, let’s be queer, is no LGBT ally—has now become very outspoken; he has even suggested passing a law .... passing a law ... to require  NFL players to stand during the national anthem if the league decided to boycott Texas.

Seriously.

And both Senator Kolkhorst and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the bathroom bill's loudest supporters, have shrugged off these warnings, noting that the bill would let organizations like the NBA and NFL choose their own bathroom policies during major events. 

I guess they don’t get it; the NFL, the NBA, other sports associations and businesses, will not be coming to Texas if discrimination becomes law. And just because you allow these groups to create their own bathroom rules doesn’t mean that Texas isn’t virulently anti-gay and anti-Trans.

Discrimination anywhere is unacceptable and intolerant and so good on the NBA and the NFL for standing up for trans rights.

Dallas News

The NBA Takes Its Ball and Goes Away From North Carolina

Well, after weeks and weeks of threatening to take the 2017 NBA All-Star Game out of Charlotte, North Carolina over their anti-LGBTQ, and-trans HB2 — AKA The Bathroom Bill — the NBA has come through on its promise.

The game is out.

Last Thursday the National Basketball Association canceled the game after it became clear that state officials, including homophobic, transphobic Governor Pat McCrory, would make no moves to change their hateful law. Rumor has it that the game will now be held at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans though there are other cities vying to be the venue.

The 2017 event’s departure from Charlotte deprives the state of an estimated $100 million in economic impact and comes after the law prompted PayPal and Deutsche Bank to cancel plans to add hundreds of jobs. In addition, lawyers for companies like General Electric, Microsoft and United Airlines wrote that the law “is already damaging their ability to recruit and retain a diverse workforce and is imposing a substantial disincentive to investment and commerce in the State, directly impacting their bottom line.” In fact, some 68 businesses signed an amicus brief urging a federal judge to block the provision on bathroom access.

Add to that the entertainers — Bruce Springsteen, Maroon 5, Demi Lovato, Pearl Jam, Cirque du Soleil, Ringo Starr — who have refused to perform in the state, or those that do perform but do so as a way to raise awareness for the anti-HB2 movement.

It all was a big deal, and a big win for Charlotte, where the 2014 All-Star game was held, but after LGBTQ advocates, former NBA star Charles Barkley, and other athletes, along with NBA officials, called for a boycott if the law was allowed to stand, there was just one choice.

And now, Pat McCrory, who basically, gleefully, signed hate into law minutes after the North Carolina state legislators approved the bill, might just be headed for the door himself. But, Pat McCrory is gonna stand firm, and bitch and moan and kvetch about the “liberal” media — shades of the Mama Grizzly Bear™, you know — blame it all on “total P.C. B.S.” when really, what this boils down to is understanding and acceptance … and using your brain:

“It’s an insult to our city. It’s an insult to our state. And I think it sets a dangerous precedent of the corporate sports and entertainment elite basically asking for a quid pro quo on legislation or else they’ll deny their service.”

Actually, you, Governor, and your state, have insulted any number of gay and lesbian North Carolinians, and trans North Carolinians, with your backwards, backwoods hate-filled legislation causing the NBA, big business and mega-watt performers to stay away from the state.

See, governor, it’s like this: when you pass hate into law and refuse to see it, or even understand that its hate, what choice to people have but to, quite literally, take their ball and go away?

LGBTQ Nation: NBA Quits NC

LGBTQ Nation: McCrory

Random Musings

Well, that didn’t take long … just a one day after endorsing Donald [t]Rump, House Speaker Paul Ryan disavowed the GOP nominee’s accusations of bias against Gonzalo Curiel, the judge in the Trump U case, because of his “Mexican heritage”:

“It’s reasoning I don’t relate to. I completely disagree with the thinking behind that.”

He may have added, “I mean, if the judge was gay that’s another story,” though I cannot verify that at this point.

In addition, even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McTurtle, er, McConnell said Trump should be doing more to unite Republicans. But McTurtle, who would never say anything bad about a Republican, added that he was unfamiliar with Trump’s comments about the judge.

Really, McTurtle? Pick up a paper every now and again you moron!

And speaking of [T]Rump, after calling a reporter a sleazebag — and let’s not discuss how unpresidential that is — last week, the Love Gloves the media used on [t]Rump are off.

As evidenced by that CNN news scroll from last week when they blatantly called the GOP gasbag a liar.

Loving it!

There are as many reasons people think being gay is bad and sick and dirty and perverted and against God, as there are reason for justifying why people hate The Gays, but this one is just about the craziest one yet. And the fact that it comes from Texas wingnut Congressman Louie Gohmert comes as no surprise.

In a speech on the House floor last week, Gohmert went down to the subbasement of stupid by arguing that continued discrimination of LGBT people is necessary to, ahem, save the future of mankind! His theory? Glad you asked …

Say a meteor is hurtling toward Earth and we are all in danger of extinction. Wouldn’t we try and find a way to save ourselves like by, maybe, building a rocketship to take everyone to Mars so we can start over and colonize the Red Planet?

Well, Gohmert figures we’d need about 40 people to go to Mars to start over — though how he came up with forty he isn’t saying — but, as Gohmert says, if we can’t discriminate against LGBT people, then what happens if all the people on the spaceship are gay?

You know, because gay women cannot give birth to children and gay men cannot get women pregnant, and we all know that heterosexual people, whilst repopulating Mars would never ever give birth to a person who was born gay.

To me, the only way to insure the safety of mankind, should a meteor come crashing though our atmosphere, is to aim it at Louie’s house and rid the planet of stupid.

Javier Raya, a twenty-five year old Olympic figure skater from Spain, has come out as gay in a new-fashioned way … by posting a picture to Instagram of him kissing his boyfriend Andrew Nicholson:

And then adding:

“Many of you know, others can imagine by the pictures and others will be surprised, but I have to say that right now I feel like the luckiest person in the world! Thank you!”

The photo was posted three weeks ago, but did not get much attention outside of the Spanish media but coming on the heels of that other Spanish athlete, Olympic water polo player Victor Gutierrez, coming out as gay last week, suddenly Javier is news and out and proud.

And the recipient of the HOMO HQ Coming Out Toaster Oven and a copy of The Gay Agenda.

Welcome out, Javier!

Well, it looks like it’s on North Carolina … because last week Renee Ellmers, a  Republican Congresswoman, a [t]Rump supporter, and lover of the state’s anti-trans HB2 law has become the GOP’s first incumbent to lose in a primary this year.

Yup, Ellmers, who backed North Carolina’s constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, who supported bills to prevent military chaplains from officiating same-sex marriages and who endorsed efforts to defend the Defense of Marriage Act, lost her seat to fellow GOP Congressman George Holding.

You’re on the right path, North Carolina; send all the haters packing.

In celebration of LGBT Pride month, the NBA has unveiled a new collection of rainbow t-shirts and all the proceeds will go to GLSEN-- Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

GLSEN executive director Eliza Byard:

“Professional sports showing up for LGBT people is one of the biggest cultural developments of the last decade, and really the last five years. The NBA has been showing up for LGBT youth and for GLSEN for a number of years. Having this be a league-wide initiative, knowing any LGBT fan in the country can choose to celebrate their team and themselves with one of those shirts, that’s a whole new thing.”

Good on the NBA for recognizing that even The Gays, well, some of the gays because I don’t follow the volleyball, love them some sports.

Or men in sports, maybe?

So, I watched a new show the other night, based on a comic book, or so I was told. It’s called Preacher, and it stars the scorchingly hot Dominic Cooper, top, as a priest who gets infected by an alien something or other and can now make people do things for him … or something.

The first episode was ultra-violent and when I see a way to do film a scene showing a man rip his own heart out of his chest without the actual visuals and still make it scary and violent, well, sorry Dominic, even your hotness won’t lure me back; but we’ll always have episode one.

I also watched Saint Laurent, about fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and it stared French actor, and scorchingly hot and hotter, Gaspard Ulliel, bottom left. I am now officially obsessed and it’s not just because of Gaspard’s very impressive nude scene in the film. Really … it’s not!

We also watched Hunters, about a US terrorism unit tracking down extra-terrestrial terrorists. It started off good, and there was some gore — though not the literally ripping your heart out of your chest variety — and stars beefy Aussie actor Mark Coles Smith, bottom right, who might be a mole in the terrorism unit … meaning he’s one of them.

Good hot stuff, I say.

Remember when Lindsey Graham went after Donald [t] Rump and said he was the worst possible choice for president? And then, once [t]Rump sent all his opponents packing Miss Lindsey tentatively leaned out towards [t]Rump to kiss his ass, er, ring? Well, now Miss Lindsey ain’t playing any more and says she will not vote for The [t]Rump and is publicly encouraging Republicans to unendorse the Bigot:

“If anybody was looking for an off-ramp, this is probably it.”

And add Illinois Senator Mark Kirk to that list because now he says he will not endorse the GOP nominee either:

“It is absolutely essential that we are guided by a commander-in-chief with a responsible and proper temperament, discretion and judgment. Our president must be fit to command the most powerful military the world has ever seen, including an arsenal of thousands of nuclear weapons.”

Infighting is fun.

Sidenote: is it me, or did Mark Kirk steal some of his objections about [t]Rump from Hillary’s foreign policy speech? Maybe that's who he's voting for? Just sayin’.

Up there to Canada, they are looking to make their national anthem gender neutral: 

“Bill C-210, which passed 219 to 79, proposes to switch just two words in the lyrics of ‘O Canada’ — changing “in all thy sons command” to “in all of us command” in one verse. The simple substitution is meant to do away with the exclusively male phrasing in part of the song, but it’s also causing an uproar among some conservative members of Canada’s government.”

You know, because conservatives think in terms of men only.

And I’m the gay one? Hee hee … one.

After Rajon Rondo Calls Him A Faggot, NBA Referee Bill Kennedy Comes Out

And we have another basketball player who doesn’t like the call against him and goes on a homophobic slur tirade.

The incident happened during the third quarter of game between the Sacramento kings and the Boston Celtics when, after a technical foul shot, Kings player Rajon Rondo walked toward referee Bill Kennedy [photo at top]. He didn’t seem to say anything, but he stared down the ref who then ejected Rondo from the game. This is how Rondo responded:

“You’re a mother**king faggot! You’re a f**king faggot, Billy."

All because of a call he didn’t like.

And, as happens, the story broke, and Rajon Rondo took to Twitter to discuss it … twice:

If anyone thinks any of these Tweets is an apology, you’re wrong. Laming your words on emotion, is not an ‘I’m sorry,’ and whenever someone says, ‘I did not mean to offend,’ that is not an apology either. An apology goes like this: “I’m sorry for what I said. I’m sorry.” And then you shut up.

Now, not that it makes the situation any better or any worse, but it has been known in the NBA that Bill Kennedy is, in fact, a gay man, though he’d never publicly come out.

Until now …

"I am proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man. I am following in the footsteps of others who have self-identified in the hopes that will send a message to young men and women in sports that you must allow no one to make you feel ashamed of who you are." — Bill Kennedy

And, that’s how it’s done. Out of the Hate Speech from Rondo, comes something good from Kennedy, using the moment to tell other gay people mostly younger LGBTQ people, that it’s okay to be okay, to accept yourself and be proud of yourself, and that the words of someone like Rajon Rondo, and his non-apology-apology, shouldn’t hurt.

Well, it kinda hurt Rondo, who was suspended for one game for his homophobic outburst.

And that's probably why he offered up a third apology:

"Yesterday, I said that my words toward Bill Kennedy were unacceptable and did not reflect my feelings toward the LGBT community. Some have interpreted my comments as a non-apology. I want to be clear, from the bottom of my heart that I am truly sorry for what I said to Bill. There is not place on or off the court for language that disrespects anyone's sexual orientation. That is not who I am or what I believe and I will strive every day to be a better person."

Hopefully this will be the last time Rondo utters those words, though, since they fell so easily from his mouth, and since he seemed not to understand how hateful and hurtful they were, I won’t be holding my breath.

But, we here at HOMO HQ will be sending a Coming Out Toaster Oven and a copy of The Gay agenda to Bill Kennedy, who took an ugly situation and made something positive out if it.

Welcome out, Bill, welcome out.

Outsports

NCRM

Sebastien De La Cruz Stands Up To Racists

There are few things in the world that piss me off, but racism, unbridled, in-your-face, I-don’t-have-two-active-brain-cells-to-rub-together racism just makes my blood boil. I cannot grasp the notion at looking at someone of a different color and hating them on sight; I cannot fathom the idea of hearing someone with a strange accent, and then deciding they are un-American. I don’t get seeing a young boy, dressed in a costume that represents his heritage, and then taking to the internet and telling him to leave the country.

But that’s what happened……

The story begins with Darius Rucker, the country singer who was once a member of Hootie and the Blowfish. Ricker was scheduled to sing the Star Spangled Banner before last Tuesday’s NBA Finals game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat, but due to travel problems he was unable to make the game, so eleven year old Sebastien De La Cruz, who had appeared on “America’s Got Talent,” was asked by the Heat to be a last minute replacement.

And he was amazing. Listen:

Pretty damn good, especially considering he was given very little notice that he’d be singing in front of millions of people on live TV, but you know, Sebastien had to go and wear that damned Mariachi costume; you know, like a Mexican, and so not American. He’d scarcely finished his last note before the bigots set down their Pabst Blue Ribbons and took to Twitter using hashtags like #gohome, and #yournotamerican:

This just sickens me. Go home? GO HOME?

Now, Sebastian has his supporters, of course, and they too took the internet, defending him on Twitter and Facebook, causing some of the racist bigoted illiterate uneducated asshats to close their Twitter accounts to  which I say, Good, and keep ‘em closed.

But, after all that, it was Sebastian who was his own best defender, taking to YouTube to talk to those bigots who hide behind their computers. He never called anyone a name—proving he’s a better man than I—and he never used a swear word—proving he’s a better man than I … again—and never made a threat. He never even raised his voice:

But he made those bigots on Twitter seem like the un-American ones, and while this is the ‘land of the free’ and those people have a right to their hate speech, Sebastien focused on the ‘home of the brave’ and stood up, for himself, and for every other person who has ever been targeted that way.

And, for the record, not that it makes a difference, Sebastien de la Cruz was born in Texas; his father served in the Navy.

He’s an American, asshats. An American who got the last word when, last night, at the request of the San Antonio Spurs, he was introduced by the Mayor of San Antonio, he performed the National Anthem again.

Snap.

via The New Civil Rights Movement

Jason Collins Comes Out: He's America's First Openly Gay, and Still Playing, Professional Athlete

Well, we all thought it was going to be a football player, but NBA star, and free agent, Jason Collins has come out as America’s first openly gay and still-playing male professional sports athlete.

Jason Collins:

I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay.

I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, "I'm different." If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand.

My journey of self-discovery and self-acknowledgement began in my hometown of Los Angeles and has taken me through two state high school championships, the NCAA Final Four and the Elite Eight, and nine playoffs in 12 NBA seasons. I’ve played for six pro teams and have appeared in two NBA Finals. Ever heard of a parlor game called Three Degrees of Jason Collins? If you're in the league, and I haven't been your teammate, I surely have been one of your teammates' teammates. Or one of your teammates' teammates' teammates.

Now I'm a free agent, literally and figuratively. I've reached that enviable state in life in which I can do pretty much what I want. And what I want is to continue to play basketball. I still love the game, and I still have something to offer. My coaches and teammates recognize that. At the same time, I want to be genuine and authentic and truthful.

Welcome out Jason, and congratulations on being the first. You’re going to blaze a trail for other gay athletes to follow, and you’ve done so with eloquence and a positive outlook.

Naturally, as we like to do here at HOMO HQ, we’ll be sending you a copy of The Gay Agenda, and the obligatory Coming Out Toaster Oven.

Welcome out, Jason, welcome out!

via Sports Illustrated