Author: Randy Slovacek

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Police On Latest Killing Of Black Man: Officer Meant To Fire Taser, Not Gun

An 18-year-old man in Jamaica is in critical condition after being ambushed in a fake dating app hookup where he was robbed, had his penis partially severed and set on fire.

Stock photo of a crime scene In the aftermath of a Black man being fatally shot on Sunday during a traffic stop in a Minneapolis suburb, the police chief told reporters the officer meant to fire a Taser – not her handgun. I kid you not. From APNews:

Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon described the shooting death Sunday of 20-year-old Daunte Wright as “an accidental discharge.” It happened as police were trying to arrest Wright on an outstanding warrant.

The shooting sparked violent protests in a metropolitan area already on edge because of the trial of the first of four police officers charged in George Floyd’s death.

“I’ll Tase you! I’ll Tase you! Taser! Taser! Taser!” the officer is heard shouting on her body cam footage released at a news conference. She draws her weapon after the man breaks free from police outside his car and gets back behind the wheel.

After firing a single shot from her handgun, the car speeds away, and the officer is heard saying, “Holy (expletive)! I shot him.”

Read the full article.

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Monday Music: Carly Simon ‘Let The River Run’

Grammy, Oscar, Golden Globe winner Carly Simon

Grammy, Oscar, Golden Globe winner Carly Simon
Pop music legend Carly Simon (photo: Heidi Wild Photography via Facebook)
Happy Monday, folks! First featured in the 1988 film Working Girl, “Let the River Run” was written and recorded by pop music legend Carly Simon. The song scored an Academy Award for Best Original Song as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. The song also earned Simon the Grammy Award for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television.

Let the river run, Let all the dreamers wake the nation Come, the New Jerusalem Silver cities rise, The morning lights the streets that lead them And sirens call them on with a song

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InstaHunk Round-Up: Weekend Edition

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNgpH5ypIFg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Checking in with the hunks of Insta… Dr. Marco (above) is getting in his zone before taking his final licensing exam. #NiceZone Paleontologist Francesc Gascó took a moment to flex his furry goodness after working all day. https://www.instagram.com/p/CNhgQQAB7hQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Curtis Fitzgerald, Doctor of Dental Medicine, threw down some serious Salsa moves: https://www.instagram.com/p/CNg58T8gf3S/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link The Rock finished the week strong by working out “hard” – and he really means “HARD.” https://www.instagram.com/p/CNeHUiIlrrC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Artist Indar Isaiah Smith got all cheesy for the camera: https://www.instagram.com/p/CNbUdlrD872/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Doctor Yazan remembered one of his favorite hikes “with great views.” We agree on the view… https://www.instagram.com/p/CNVsgNeB9ZE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Former Army Captain Roberto Portales crushed his “competition:” https://www.instagram.com/p/CNbOhdZB68f/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Jim Newman sees “beautiful” things in Sao Paulo – and we do too 🙂 https://www.instagram.com/p/CNc-wPOl8b3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Olympian Tom Daley was asked to recreate a celebrity look, and he chose Harry Styles’s green boa and leather. How’d he do? https://www.instagram.com/p/CNeqXZiHwor/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Billy Reilich says this is going to be his “mood” for the next couple of months: https://www.instagram.com/p/CNdOCcQLXbx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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Poland: Mayor Laments Anti-LGBTQ Resolution Has Become Costly Embarrassment

Poland lawmakers continue to work on a bill that would ban Pride events in the European country

A sticker promoting ‘LGBT free’ zones in Poland
In 2019, the town council of Krasnik, Poland, voted to declare itself an “LGBT free zone” in a bid to appease conservative voters. Now, Mayor Wojciech Wilk says the decision has become a costly embarrassment and turned “our town into a synonym for homophobia.” From the New York Times:

A French town last year severed a partnership with Krasnik in protest. And Norway, from which the mayor had hoped to get nearly $10 million starting this year to finance development projects, said in September that it would not give grants to any Polish town that declares itself “free of L.G.B.T.”

“We have become Europe’s laughingstock, and it’s the citizens not the local politicians who’ve suffered most,” lamented Mr. Wilk, who is now lobbying councilors to repeal the resolution that put the town’s 32,000 residents in the middle of a raucous debate over traditional and modern values.

The mayor goes on to say that unless he can get the “free of LGBT ideology” resolution revoked, his ability to access foreign funds to help pay for electric buses and youth programs is greatly reduced. The youth programs in particular weigh heavily in the town where young people are leaving. Read the full article. I’ve been reporting on the anti-LGBTQ attitudes in Poland for some time now. Last July, the European Union, of which Poland is a member, announced funding to any Polish town that violates Europe’s commitment to tolerance and equality would be cut.

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News Round-Up: April 11, 2021

Sebastian Lletget (image via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • Pink News: Major League Soccer has launched an investigation into LA Galaxy’s Sebastian Lletget (above) over a homophobic slur in a video he posted to Instagram. • Washington Blade: President Biden called for ramping up funds in the first year of his administration to beat the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States. In his initial budget request to Congress, he signaled he would continue the PrEP-centric initiative that began in the previous administration. • Metrosource: The new hardcover book, On Fire: The Firefighters of France, is a curated collection of the best portraits and smoking shots from the wildly popular French firefighter calendars, personally selected by creator Fred Goudon. https://www.instagram.com/p/CL2IgpiM8g5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link • AP News: After promoting doubt about the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine made using the previously experimental messenger RNA, or mRNA, process, a top Chinese health official publicly admitted Chinese COVID-19 vaccines aren’t very effective saying they “don’t have very high protection rates.” • Wichita Eagle: Kansas Senate Republicans ousted Sen. Gene Suellentrop as majority leader Friday after he was charged with leading police on a drunken 90 mile an hour, wrong-way chase down Interstate 70. • HIVPlus Mag: A potential HIV vaccine is showing very promising results in Phase I human trials. The vaccine works by stimulating the production of rare immune cells that generate HIV-resistant antibodies. Such a result was found in 97 percent of human participants administered the potential vaccine.

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Out Music: Brandyn Killz “Losin’ It”

Out artist and producer Brandyn Killz
Brandyn Killz (promo photo)
Out artist and producer Brandyn Killz recently dropped an upbeat new single written for a friend struggling with addiction titled, “Losin’ It.” The track is an infectious dance anthem for anyone faced with a challenge. “Losin’ It” is a fighter’s anthem,” shared Brandyn in a recent interview with SonicSmoothie. “It’s one of those songs you can use to encourage a friend or give yourself a boost. It’s an instant invite to dance your troubles away with me. Describing his music as “electro-soulpop,” Brandyn views music as a form of release and escape; a place where he can be whoever he wants to be, and where he can invite his listeners to do the same, even if only for a moment.

A blend of pop and modern electro with echoes of 70s and 80s classics, the San Diego-based artist’s analog-meets-digital approach to music (fueled by 10 years of music production experience) results in catchy tunes that are “all electronic & dangerously pop.” Intent on inducing feelings of empowerment and independence, Brandyn’s songs are about finding a positive headspace while dealing with complex emotions. Check out “Losin’ It” below and follow him on social media here. https://www.instagram.com/p/CNGd1N8BjrU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CMvoZpBhiMH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CMaRj7FBhwP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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Video: Police Draw Guns, Pepper-Spray Army Officer In Traffic Stop

Police officer Joe Gutierrez of Windsor, Virginia

Police officer Joe Gutierrez of Windsor, Virginia
Police officer Joe Gutierrez (body cam image: Windsor Police via AP)
A U.S. Army officer, 2nd Lt. Caron Nazario, has filed a lawsuit against two Virginia police officers saying they violated his constitutional rights when they approached him with guns drawn and pepper-sprayed him during a traffic stop in December. The incident, which has gone viral today due to released body cam footage, shows the two officers approaching Nazario’s vehicle shouting conflicting orders of “keep your hands out the window” and “open the car door and get out.” According to police reports, the traffic stop began when Windsor officer Daniel Crocker said he was pulling the vehicle over due to no rear license plate. However, once Nazario pulled into the gas station the new car tags were visible. As you can see in the footage, Nazario asked over and over again why the officers were escalating the situation. As the officers approached the SUV with their guns drawn shouting at him to get out of the vehicle, Nazario answered, “I’m honestly afraid to get out.” “Yeah, you should be!” yelled one of the officers.
(screen capture from body cam footage via Windsor Police)
More from The Hill:

According to the AP, Windsor police officer Daniel Crocker radioed the station saying he was attempting to pull over a vehicle with tinted windows that appeared to not have a rear license plate.

Crocker reportedly labeled it a “high-risk traffic stop,” as he claimed the driver was “eluding police.”

However, Nazario denied that he was trying to escape the officer, instead saying at the time that he was driving home from his duty station and wanted to stop in a well-lit area “for officer safety and out of respect for the officers.”

Another officer, Joe Gutierrez, responded to Crocker’s call for help and joined him in the traffic stop.

After one of the officers attempted to open the car door, Gutierrez then stepped back and pepper-sprayed Nazario multiple times.

At one point, Gutierrez can be heard telling Nazario he was “fixin’ to ride the lightning,” a reference to the electric chair and a line from the movie “The Green Mile,” in which a Black man is facing execution.

According to the Associated Press, Gutierrez acknowledged that Nazario’s decision to drive to a lighted area happens to him “a lot, and 80% of the time, it’s a minority.” The AP reached out to the Windsor Police Department for comment but received no response. Both officers reportedly still work for the department. In subsequent footage, another officer told Nazario he understood he might be nervous due to “the whole BLM movement.”

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Nearly 40% Of Marines Are Refusing COVID Vaccine

Vials of COVID-19 vaccine

Vials of COVID-19 vaccine New data released Friday shows almost 40% of U.S. Marines are taking a pass on coronavirus vaccines. From CNN:

As of Thursday, approximately 75,500 Marines have received vaccines, including fully vaccinated and partially vaccinated service men and women. About 48,000 Marines have chosen not to receive vaccines, for a declination rate of 38.9%.

The military cannot make the vaccines mandatory now because they have only emergency use authorizations from the Food and Drug Administration, meaning service members who are required to receive a series of other vaccinations have the option of declining shots to protect against Covid-19.

Officials say most of the vaccine hesitancy stems from concerns about the speed at which the vaccines were developed and fears over long-term effects.

According to the Pentagon, there are some 2.2 million service members operating around the globe. Read the full report here. Some folks feel the hesitancy may come from military service members tending to lean right politically and conservatives have been vocal about not wanting to take the shot – even though their savior Donald Trump will tell you he created it with his own two hands.

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News Round-Up: April 9, 2021

The cast of the hit movie Magic Mike

The cast of the hit movie Magic Mike
The cast of the original Magic Mike movie
Some news items you might have missed: • Socialite Life: The producers behind the Magic Mike films and live shows have announced an HBO Max series that will feature a group of men who have ‘lost their magic.’ The series will follow along as they transform into real-life Magic Mikes. Souls will be bared, bodies will evolve and “spectacular routines” will be learned.

• Out: Demi Lovato and the cast of GLEE reunited for a moving video tribute to their late friend and castmate, Naya Rivera, at the GLAAD Media Awards last night.

• The Hill: The House Ethics Committee announced it is opening an investigation into embattled GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz (Fla.) on Friday following allegations of illegal drug use and sharing nude photos of young women with his colleagues on the House floor. • Kenneth-in-the-212: Don’t miss Kenneth’s round-up of the latest in LGBTQ publications like the latest issue of Rage Magazine (below). The cover of the latest issue of Rage Magazine • New York Times: President Biden has ordered a 180-day study that will explore adding seats to the Supreme Court or setting term limits for justices. • Twitter: When a photo showcasing the beefy butt of Law & Order: Organized Crime star Chris Meloni went viral (for obvious reasons), Meloni proved he’s a champ by owning up to his ass-ets.

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Review: MOFFIE Scores Amid Testosterone, Tension & Toxic Masculinity

Kai Luke Brummer in 'Moffie'
Kai Luke Brummer in 'Moffie'
Kai Luke Brummer in ‘Moffie’ (images via official website)

Set in South Africa in the early 1980s, Moffie follows Nicholas (Kai Luke Brummer), who dutifully leaves home to serve a mandatory stretch of military service as required of all white men over 16-year-old at the time.

The title of the film comes from the Afrikaans derogatory term for gay men.

Nicholas is shipped off to boot camp where life is brutal, bleak, and harsh. As he and his fellow grunts prepare to defend the Apartheid regime from a conflict at the Angolian border, Nicholas contends with survival in an environment that reeks of toxic racism, homophobia and machismo.

All while quietly coming to terms with his burgeoning homosexuality.

Kai Luke Brummer in 'Moffie'
Kai Luke Brummer in ‘Moffie’

As we’ve seen in previous military movies, the new recruits’ basic training is humiliating and violent on both physical and psychological levels.

Drill Sergeant Brand (Hilton Pelser) takes the hyper-masculine environment to levels reminiscent of R. Lee Ermey in Full Metal Jacket.

The direction by Oliver Hermanus is taut and sensitive as he artfully plays elements of the film against each other.

During a barracks game of ‘spin the bottle’ where those chosen by fate must fight for the entertainment of the other soldiers, Hermanus offers a classical fugue as sonic soundscape in contrast with the bare-knuckle brawling.

A scene from 'Moffie'
A scene from ‘Moffie’

Throughout the film, Hermanus deftly balances scenes of war and brutal machismo with momentary touches of intimacy and humanity. The screenplay (by Hermanus and Jack Sidey) displays an economy of dialogue allowing the actors to express achingly tender moments of sensitivity.

In one episode where the soldiers are forced to dig (and then sleep) in trenches during a nighttime downpour, Nicholas’s fellow grunt Dylan Stassen (Ryan de Villiers) convinces him to huddle together under a blanket to keep warm. While the moment leads to a mere brush of Stassen’s hand on Nicholas’s face, the sexual tension is palpable.

Brummer is especially impressive in his first major screen role offering a compelling and continually nuanced performance.

Matthew Vey and Kai Luke Brummer in ‘Moffie’

Additionally, the riveting score by Braam du Toit and gorgeous cinematography by Jamie Ramsay become almost full-fledged characters in the film’s storytelling.

I’ll warn readers that the beginning of the film can be difficult to watch as Hermanus sets the tone and emotional scale of harsh journey ahead. Ultimately, the film – built on testosterone, tension, and trauma – resolves with a surprisingly delicate touch.

The BAFTA nominated film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2019 and was released in South Africa two weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic closed cinemas there.

Moffie is available in select theaters and digital streaming sites in the U.S. today.