After fact-checking and crunching the numbers, the Washington Postreports that Donald Trump has averaged 12 lies a day since taking office.
Whether you want to call them outright lies, exaggerations or unfounded boasts, the current occupant of the Oval Office has some serious issues with the truth.
As of June 7, his 869th day in office, the president has made 10,796 false or misleading claims, according to the Fact Checker’s database that analyzes, categorizes and tracks every suspect statement the president has uttered.
The president crossed the 10,000 threshold on April 26, and he has been averaging about 16 fishy claims a day since then. From the start of his presidency, he has averaged about 12 such claims a day.
About one-fifth of these claims are about immigration, his signature issue — a percentage that has grown since the government shut down over funding for his promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. In fact, his most repeated claim — 172 times — is that his border wall is being built. Congress balked at funding the concrete barrier he envisioned, so he has tried to pitch bollard fencing and repairs of existing barriers as “a wall.”
.@realDonaldTrump has made 10,796 false or misleading claims over 869 days – and the pace is picking up.
Trump lies about EVERYTHING (from polls to firing Mueller) — and the dupes at Fox, in rightwing media and R’s take him at face value. https://t.co/wPKuEmxSyM
In a major victory for LGBTQ rights, Botswana’s highest court has struck down the African nation’s laws that made same-sex relations a criminal act.
The packed courtroom erupted in cheers as the unanimous ruling was announced.
“Human dignity is harmed when minority groups are marginalised,” said Justice Michael Leburu as he read the historic ruling. “Sexual orientation is not a fashion statement. It is an important attribute of one’s personality.”
“The state cannot be a sheriff in people’s bedrooms,” he added.
Even though Botswana is considered one of the most stable and democratic countries in Africa, homosexuality has been illegal under the nation’s penal code since 1965. Someone found guilty under the laws faced jail time of up to seven years.
More than half of the countries in Africa have some form of anti-homosexuality laws in place.
Today’s news stands in sharp contrast to last month’s disappointing ruling in Kenya where that country’s high court found its anti-homosexuality laws were not unconstitutional.
• InstaHunk Joel Green (above) shares his recipe for a successful Monday: “Dream. Plan. Do.”
• Donald Trump’s entire family tagged along on his recent state visit to the UK, and along the way sons Don Jr. and Eric went on an Irish pub crawl where they offered free rounds of drinks for the house but didn’t pony up when it was time to pay the bill.
• I know, I know – no one wants to see a hunky, kilted Scot proposing to his boyfriend in the middle of a Pride parade, but if you did, hit the play button below:
• New York Magazine has rounded up a ‘who’s who’ list of prominent drag queens, given them the photo shoot treatment and attempted to rank them.
• Scientists at the University of Toronto say being left-handed is one of three factors that could indicate a man is gay. Having an older brother is the second and having gay family members is the third.
• Taron Egerton, star of the musical biopic Rocketman, joined Elton John onstage for a duet of the pop star’s classic tune, “Your Song,” wearing a Pride t-shirt. #swoon
“‘Love Is Love’ has become a mantra in the LGBTQ community that stands up for the right to love and be loved, fully. This love song, and this album, represent that freedom for me,” Pearson told The Advocate.
“I wanted the music video to be a tribute to all LGBTQ sacred spaces. Gay bars and queer spaces have been a refuge for me over this last year, and it is where I have been able rebuild my life after losing so much when I came out. I’m overjoyed to be able to make a video about a gay love song that takes pride in these spaces that mean so much for our community.”
Speaking to Billboard, Pearson described the track as “an anthem celebrating the freedom to love each other, without fear, because all you need is love.”
With a solid pop hook, top shelf production and Pearson’s soaring vocals “Love Is Love” is a worthy solo debut effort.
Television viewers watching the Tony Awards last night were wrecked by a new video from Verizon that features real families who struggled with a family member coming out, but were eventually able to find better communication and understanding.
Verizon worked with PFLAG, the nation’s largest organization uniting families and allies with people who are LGBTQ, on the message that a bad “first call” doesn’t have to be the end of family relationships.
“It’s never too late for love to call back.”
Lee Hirsch, who helmed the award-winning 2011 documentary Bully, was brought on to direct the campaign.
Titled “Love Calls Back,” the video features four real-life LGBTQ people who got a bad reaction when they called loved ones to come out.
The spot begins with a young woman speaking to the camera: “Me and my mom were always BFFs until I called her and told her I, like, want to date a girl… and she lost it.”
The camera cuts to the mother, who shares, “It was a shock. It’s not what I wanted for my daughter.”
“She has to live her own life and do what she wants,” the mother continues. “I haven’t said that to her — but I think that would have made a big difference.”
The clip cuts to the mother calling her daughter to say, “You know when you first called me, I should have told you how much I loved you then.”
“Whoever you bring into this home will have my love also,” she adds.
Dear @verizon the #Pflag commercial was incredibly moving. If you’ve turned your back on your #LGBTQ family member, it’s not to late. Please reach out. Everyone needs their family. Love is love.
— Victoria Brownworth #PrideMonth (@VABVOX) June 10, 2019
Verizon has announced a series of initiatives for Pride Month that includes content shared across major media outlets like Yahoo News and HuffPost, as well as employee engagement at 19 Pride events across the country.
The communications giant is also donating $250,000 to PFLAG to help build programs that offer support to families and their LGBTQ loved ones.
Verizon and PFLAG created a similar spot last year for Pride, but in that sixty second spot, all goes well for those coming out:
A new a Reuters/Ipsos poll may be good news for Mayor Pete Buttigieg as the survey shows age may be a more disqualifying factor for presidential candidates than sexual orientation.
Overall, the poll found that 48% of adults in the United States said they were “much” or “somewhat” less likely to support someone for the White House if the person was older than 70, while 34% were less likely to vote for someone who is gay.
And 12% said they were more likely to vote for a gay candidate, compared with 11% who said they were more likely to support a candidate who is over 70.
The current Democratic field of candidates running for the 2020 presidential nomination includes two septuagenarians – former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
The poll also showed that minorities were more likely to be supportive of a gay candidate than whites, and millennials were more supportive than Baby Boomers. Additionally, urban dwellers were more supportive than those living in rural areas.
Aftabjit Singh arrested at DC Pride for pulling a gun
The mass stampede that brought an end to DC Pride this weekend was triggered by an altercation involving a straight couple, according to the Washington Blade.
When a concerned citizen flagged down police to point out a man with what looked to be a gun, officers approached Aftabjit Singh, 38, and “conducted a stop.”
The officers saw “what appeared to be the body and trigger of a silver handgun” in Singh’s bag. It turned out to be a BB gun.
Singh admitted to pulling the gun on another man who he claimed hit on his “significant other.” He was arrested and charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of a BB gun, Carrying a Dangerous Weapon (Outside Home or Place of Business), and Disorderly Conduct – Cause Unreasonable Fear.
His girlfriend, Melissa Duffy, 43, was also charged for assaulting a police officer after she became irate over her boyfriend being arrested.
When the crowd reacted to Singh pulling the gun, hundreds of Pride attendees went running. Police report at least seven were hospitalized for minor injuries.
Police didn’t confirm any gun shots fired, although several people reported they heard what sounded like ‘popping’ sounds. Tom Roussey, a reporter for the local ABC affiliate, tweeted that police believe the crashing sound of barricades being knocked down by frightened spectators was the cause of the sounds.
.@DCPoliceDept says officers found a gun inside Dupont Circle near this man. He is under arrest and will face a gun possession charge. They don’t believe he actually fired it. Their theory is the loud bangs were barricades crashing as the crowd ran away. pic.twitter.com/N6RFeQ4DDL
Panic at pride. Dozens of people started running from Dupont Circle. I’m trying to find out what happened. @ABC7Newspic.twitter.com/mHoDp4X1Gm
— Victoria Sanchez (@VictoriaSanchez) June 8, 2019
100 Americans are killed by guns every day so of course people are running for their lives. This isn’t how we should have to celebrate #DCPridepic.twitter.com/9X8RhrmNoE
#DCPride#CapitalPride#shooting Marching in the Gay Pride parade in Washington DC. As my girlfriend and I were walking past Dupont Circle, apparently someone started shooting. I did not hear the shots, but caught the moment of the stampede. People went quickly from smiling, pic.twitter.com/oPQdIrM3dG
I was a member of the theater community years before I realized I was also part of the LGBTQ community.
As a young kid, I found the theater to be a safe space. Wondering, pretending, working hard to acquire skills I would eventually take pride in – these were all things that helped me become the man I am today.
Hey hey – check that word ‘pride’
And it was in that community that I discovered an extended family that became even closer to me than my birth family.
I was fortunate to spend decades working professionally in the theater, and specifically on ‘the Broad Way.’
I think it’s awesome that the Tony Awards, theater’s biggest night, falls during Pride Month. My two worlds celebrating at the same time, and both with a sense of pride and community.
I’m looking forward to watching the telecast on CBS tonight for several reasons.
Having appeared in Broadway productions (Chicago the Musical, Follies, Hello, Dolly!) I can tell you when you’re working on a show that’s nominated – and especially when your show wins – there is a sense of pride in the work you’ve accomplished that always gave me a lump in my throat and my heart beat a bit faster.
Tonight, as theater hands out its highest honor, I’ll be cheering as so many of my friends and extended family are recognized for the incredible work they bring to the Great White Way.
And there are several LGBTQ-themed productions and out actors in the mix to take home Tonys tonight.
The Prom, a ground-breaking musical comedy about a midwestern high school student who is told she can’t bring her lesbian girlfriend to the prom received 7 nominations including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Director as well as Best Leading Actor/Musical for Brooks Ashmanskas and two Best Leading Actress/Musical noms for Beth Leavel and Caitlin Kinnunen.
The production already won the Drama Desk Award for “Best Musical” so you can bet it’s in the hunt for the top trophy.
Choir Boy, a coming-of-age story that follows a gay choir leader at a boarding school for black men by Moonlight’s Tarell Alvin McCraney, received 5 nominations including Best Play and Best Leading Actor/Play (Jeremy Pope).
Two acclaimed LGBTQ-themed revivals of plays – The Boys in the Band and Torch Song – were nominated for Best Revival of a Play. Even though Boys had an all-star cast, only Robin De Jesús scored a nomination for his performance.
The Cher Show, which chronicles the life and music of the one and only Cher, was shut out of the Best Musical category but received 3 nominations (Best Actress/Musical, Best Costumes/Musical and Best Lighting Design/Musical). Stephanie J. Block scored the Drama Desk Award for “Outstanding Actress in a Musical.”
Additionally, Judith Light will be honored with the Isabelle Stevenson Award, which is given “to an individual from the theatre community who has made a substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service or charitable organizations, regardless of whether such organizations relate to the theatre.”
Two-time Tony Award winner Judith Light
Already a two-time Tony Award winner for Other Desert Cities and The Assembled Parties, Light will receive the honorary award for her decades of work on behalf of the LGBTQ community and HIV/AIDS advocacy.
“The HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ communities are inspirations and demonstrations of how to be and live in the world; courageous, honorable, and uplifting,” said Light in a statement.
“They inspire me and it is my privilege to be of service to them,” she added. “I am humbled by this recognition from my theater family, whom I so respect, honor, and love.”
I stopped making predictions long ago, but it does seem the artsy Hadestown has found many fans in the race for “Best Musical,” although the show was not nominated in that category at the Drama Desk Awards.
And ok, I lied – I’ll make one prediction for Stephanie J. Block to take home a Tony for her impressive turn as ‘Star’ Cher in The Cher Show. (Three actresses play the Oscar winner at different stages of her life/career).
Block has a huge body of work the already includes two Tony nominations, her performance was easily one of the best on Broadway this season, and she’s very well liked by the theater community.
Note – The New York Times reports this interesting factoid about tonight’s proceedings:
“This year, for the first time, voters are receiving personalized electronic ballots based on their self-reported attendance, meaning that they cannot vote in categories in which they have not confirmed seeing all the nominees. As a result, the number of ballots cast, particularly in play categories, is likely to be smaller than in past years.”
So, keep that in mind when you enjoy the telecast.
The 73rd Annual Tony Awards will be broadcast on CBS beginning at 8pm EST hosted by The Late Late Show’s James Corden.
Homophobe Franklin Graham celebrated on his Facebook page the news that the Trump administration is rejecting requests from US embassies to fly the Pride flag during Pride Month.
“I want to thank President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for making the decision not to fly the gay flag over our embassies during June in recognition of gay pride month. That is the right decision.
“The only flag that should fly over our embassies is the flag of the United States of America.
“The gay pride flag is offensive to Christians and millions of people of other faiths, not only in this country but around the world. The U.S. flag represents our nation—everyone—regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation.”
What a dick.
You’re offensive to Jesus, you money grubbing fraud.
Because it has to be said again, corrupt MAGA loons like Jerry Falwell Jr and Franklin Graham use religion and faith as a hate for profit scam to get richer. A line in the Bible to them is either a pay day or a cover for their dirty deeds, period.
