Two men, aged 27 and 29, were publicly caned 77 times each in Indonesia on Thursday after being reported to the authorities for having consensual sex.
The public flogging, held in a public park in Indonesia’s Aceh province, was attended by dozens of people. Public whippings usually attract hundreds of viewers but the crowd was kept small due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
In 2015, Aceh became the only province in Indonesia to adopt religious-based Shariah law. Today marked the third time caning has been used as punishment for homosexuality.
According to the Associated Press, the two men were whipped with a rattan cane by a team of five ‘enforcers’ wearing hoods and robes. The enforcers rotated every 40 strokes in delivering the punishment while the men winced in pain.
Neighbors of the men became suspicious of their relationship and broke into their home in November as the two were reportedly having sex.
A Shariah court ordered the men to receive 80 strokes each but the punishment was reduced as a concession for time spent in prison.
Warning: graphic footage some may find disturbing.
Shariah law allows caning as punishment for ‘moral offenses’ which include drinking, gambling, adultery, men who miss Friday prayers, women who wear suggestive clothing, and those who engage in gay sex. The maximum penalty is 100 lashes.
In addition to the two men, four others received 17 lashes for having extra-marital affairs and 40 strokes for drinking alcohol.
Indonesia has long been a difficult country for LGBTQ people. While Aceh is the only region where homosexuality is explicitly outlawed, authorities have continued to crackdown on the LGBTQ community in recent years.
In July 2018, the first public caning of gay men took place in Aceh before a crowd of over 1,000 residents. The mob cheered and shouted insults at the two men aged 20 and 23 as they received 85 lashes each.
And in November 2018, police conducted a beach raid in an effort to ‘provide safety and maintain public order.’ Three transgender women were arrested and hosed down with a fire truck in public to underscore the humiliation.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (screen capture) Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is furious the Republican leadership of the House has assigned freshman QAnon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to the Among other things, Greene has claimed that the killing of 20 children and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School was a hoax. Greene has had herself recorded as she chased and berated 17-year-old survivor of the Parkland shooting, David Hogg, and then celebrated her behavior by posting it on social media. She’s also publicly endorsed violence against elected officials. From the Washington Post:
Top Democrats in Congress on Thursday blasted congressional Republicans for assigning to the House education committee Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) — who has identified with the QAnon cult and called deadly school shootings “false-flag” operations.
On Wednesday morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) condemned the Republican leadership for giving her the committee assignment.
“What I am concerned about is the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives who is willing to overlook, ignore those statements,” she said. “Assigning her to the education committee when she has mocked the killing of little children at Sandy Hook Elementary school. When she has mocked the killing of teenagers in high school at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
“What could they be thinking — or is thinking too generous a word about what they might be doing. It’s absolutely appalling.”
Read the full report at the Washington Post. In related news, Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA) has announced that he will introduce a resolution to expel Greene after recent news reports revealed that Greene had previously called for violence against Democrats on social media. A two-thirds majority is required to expel a member from the House, meaning Gomez’s resolution is almost certain to fail in a chamber where Democrats hold a razor-thin majority.
Reporter: “What do you mean when you say ‘the enemy is within?'”
Speaker Pelosi: “It means we have members of Congress who want to bring guns on the floor and have threatened violence on other members of Congress.” pic.twitter.com/N0NunhOgu4 — Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) January 28, 2021
“Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy must explain how someone with this background represents the Republican party on education issues. He is sending a clear message to students, parents, and educators about the views of the Republican party.”https://t.co/5HuzljwZfW
We stand with Parkland survivors against vile harassment and lies from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. @davidhogg111, thank you for being an upstander against violence and demanding Congress take action to prevent school shootings. @mtgreenee@RepMTG#EndGunViolencehttps://t.co/UUaXZngc6X
“Her very presence in office represents a direct threat against the elected officials and staff who serve our government,” @RepJimmyGomez said in a statement calling for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene @mtgreenee‘s ouster from Congress.https://t.co/diPSiNVKgc via @matthewchoi2018
The nominations for the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards were announced this morning. The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community and the issues that affect their lives. Below is the full list of nominees: Outstanding Film – Wide ReleaseThe Craft: Legacy (Sony Pictures) Happiest Season (Hulu) Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix) The Old Guard (Netflix) The Prom (Netflix) Outstanding Film – Limited ReleaseAmmonite (NEON) And Then We Danced (Music Box Films) The Boys in the Band (Netflix) The Half of It (Netflix) I Carry You With Me (Sony Pictures Classics) Kajillionaire (Focus Features) The Life Ahead (Netflix) Lingua Franca (ARRAY/Netflix) Monsoon (Strand Releasing) The True Adventures of Wolfboy (Vertical Entertainment) Outstanding DocumentaryCircus of Books (Netflix) Disclosure (Netflix) Equal (HBO Max) For They Know Not What They Do (First Run Features) Howard (Disney+) Mucho Mucho Amor (Netflix) Scream, Queen: My Nightmare on Elm Street (Virgil FIlms/Shudder) Visible: Out on Television (Apple TV+) We Are The Radical Monarchs (PBS POV) Welcome to Chechnya (HBO) Outstanding Comedy SeriesBig Mouth (Netflix) Dead to Me (Netflix) Everything’s Gonna Be Okay (Freeform) Harley Quinn (HBO Max) Love, Victor (Hulu) Saved by the Bell (Peacock) Schitt’s Creek (Pop) Sex Education (Netflix) Superstore (NBC) Twenties (BET) Outstanding Drama Series9-1-1: Lone Star (FOX) Killing Eve (BBC America) P-Valley (Starz) Ratched (Netflix) Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All Access) Supergirl (The CW) The Umbrella Academy (Netflix) Vida (Starz) The Wilds (Amazon) Wynonna Earp (Syfy) Outstanding TV MovieAlice Júnior (Netflix) Bad Education (HBO) The Christmas House (Hallmark Channel) The Christmas Setup (Lifetime) Dashing in December (Paramount Network) La Leyenda Negra (HBO Latino/HBO Max) The Thing About Harry (Freeform) Uncle Frank (Amazon Studios) Unpregnant (HBO Max) Your Name Engraved Herein (Netflix) Outstanding Limited or Anthology SeriesDispatches from Elsewhere (AMC) The Haunting of Bly Manor (Netflix) Hollywood (Netflix) I May Destroy You (HBO) Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu) Outstanding Reality ProgramDeaf U (Netflix) Legendary (HBO Max) Queer Eye (Netflix) RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1) We’re Here (HBO) Outstanding Children’s Programming “Challenge of the Senior Junior Woodchucks!” DuckTales (Disney XD) “Dogbot” Clifford The Big Red Dog (PBS) “Nancy Plays Dress Up” Fancy Nancy (Disney Junior) The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo (HBO Max) Summer Camp Island (HBO Max) Outstanding Kids & Family ProgrammingCraig of the Creek (Cartoon Network) Diary of a Future President (Disney+) First Day (Hulu) Kipo and The Age of the Wonderbeasts (Dreamworks Animation/Netflix) The Loud House (Nickelodeon) “Mary Anne Saves the Day” The Baby-Sitters Club (Netflix) “Obsidian” Adventure Time: Distant Lands (HBO Max) The Owl House (Disney Channel) She-Ra & The Princesses of Power (Dreamworks Animation/Netflix) Steven Universe (Cartoon Network) Outstanding Music Artist Adam Lambert, Velvet (More Is More/Empire) Brandy Clark, Your Life Is a Record (Warner Records) Halsey, Manic (Capitol) Kehlani, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t (Atlantic) Lady Gaga, Chromatica (Streamline/Interscope) Miley Cyrus, Plastic Hearts (RCA) Pabllo Vittar, 111 (BMT/Sony Music Brasil) Peppermint, A Girl Like Me: Letters to My Lovers (Producer Entertainment Group) Ricky Martin, Pausa (Sony Latin) Sam Smith, Love Goes (Capitol) Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist Arca, KiCk i (XL) Chika, Industry Games (Warner Records) FLETCHER, The (S)ex Tapes (Capitol) Keiynan Lonsdale, Rainbow Boy (Keiynan Lonsdale) Kidd Kenn, Child’s Play (Island Records) Orville Peck, Show Pony (Columbia/Sub Pop) Phoebe Bridgers, Punisher (Dead Oceans) Rina Sawayama, Sawayama (Dirty Hit/Avex Trax) Trixie Mattel, Barbara (Producer Entertainment Group/ATO Records) Victoria Monét, Jaguar (Tribe Records) Outstanding Video GameAssassin’s Creed Valhalla (Ubisoft) Borderlands 3: Guns, Love, and Tentacles (2K Games) Bugsnax (Young Horses) Hades (Supergiant Games) If Found… (Annapurna Interactive) Ikenfell (Humble Games) Immortals Fenyx Rising (Ubisoft) The Last of Us Part II (Sony Interactive Entertainment) Tell Me Why (Xbox Game Studios) World of Warcraft: Shadowlands (Blizzard Entertainment) Outstanding Comic BookEmpyre, Lords of Empyre: Emperor Hulkling, Empyre: Aftermath Avengers, by Al Ewing, Dan Slott, Chip Zdarsky, Anthony Oliveira, Valerio Schiti, Manuel Garcia, Cam Smith, Marte Gracia, Triona Farrell, Joe Caramagna, Ariana Maher, Travis Lanham (Marvel Comics) Far Sector, by N.K. Jemisin, Jamal Campbell, Deron Bennett (DC Comics) Guardians of the Galaxy, by Al Ewing, Juann Cabal, Nina Vakueva, Chris Sprouse, Belén Ortega, Marcio Takara, Karl Story, Federico Blee, Guru-eFX, Cory Petit (Marvel Comics) Juliet Takes a Breath, by Gabby Rivera, Celia Moscote, James Fenner, DC Hopkins (Boom! Studios) Lois Lane, by Greg Rucka, Mike Perkins, Gabe Eltaeb, Andy Troy, Simon Bowland (DC Comics) The Magic Fish, by Trung Le Nguyen (Random House Graphic) Suicide Squad, by Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, Daniel Sampere, Juan Albarran, Adriano Lucas, Wes Abbott (DC Comics) Wynd, by James Tynion IV, Michael Dialynas, Aditya Bidikar (Boom! Studios) X-Factor, by Leah Williams, David Baldeon, Carlos Gomez, Israel Silva, Joe Caramagna (Marvel Comics) You Brought Me the Ocean, by Alex Sanchez, Julie Maroh, Deron Bennett (DC Comics) Outstanding Variety or Talk Show Episode “Andy Cohen Calls for Change So He Can Donate His Plasma” Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (Bravo) “Black Trans Lives Matter” Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (TBS) “Emily’s Coming Out Story” Red Table Talk: The Estefans (Facebook Watch) “Laverne Cox – Exploring Trans Representation with ‘Disclosure’” The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central) “Lilly Responds to Comments About Her Sexuality” A Little Late With Lilly Singh (NBC) Outstanding TV Journalism Segment “Black Trans Activists on Being the ‘Blueprint for the Struggle for Black Freedom’” MSNBC Live with Hallie Jackson (MSNBC) “Dwyane Wade One-On-One: Basketball Legend Opens Up About Supporting Transgender Daughter” Good Morning America (ABC) “Faith, Foster Care and LGBTQ Rights Collide in Supreme Court” ABC News Prime (ABC News Live) “One-on-One with Transportation Secretary Nominee Pete Buttigieg” State of the Union (CNN) “Trans and Non-Binary People Face Voting Barriers Ahead of 2020 Election” (CBSN) Outstanding TV Journalism – Long-Form “ABC News Joe Biden Town Hall” (ABC) “The Deciders” (CBS) “Pride and Protest: Being Black and Queer in America in 2020” (NBC News NOW) “Pride on ABC News Live: The Landmark Decision” (ABC News Live) “Prideland” (PBS) Outstanding Print Article “20 LGBTQ+ People Working to Save Lives on the Frontline” by Diane Anderson-Minshall, David Artavia, Tracy Gilchrist, Desiree Guerrero, Jeffrey Masters, Donald Padgett, and Daniel Reynolds (TheAdvocate) “The AIDS Quilt Marches Home” by Jason Sheeler (People) “As Homeless Shelters Brace for Funding Cuts, LGBTQ Youths Take Desperate Measures to Get By” by Samantha Schmidt (TheWashington Post) “Delaware’s Sarah McBride Makes History as the Nation’s First Openly Transgender State Senator” by Meg Ryan (Delaware Today) “How a March for Black Trans Lives Became a Huge Event” by Anushka Patil (The New York Times) “It’s Time for a New Tipping Point for Transgender Folks in Hollywood” by Tre’vell Anderson (Out) “LGBTQ Americans Are Getting Coronavirus, Losing Jobs. Anti-Gay Bias is Making it Worse for Them.” by Petruce Jean-Charles (USA Today) “Lutheran High School Athletic Trainer, Coach Says She Was Fired for Being Gay” by Arika Herron (The Indianapolis Star) “States Won’t Collect LGBTQ Data on COVID-19 — and Advocates Aren’t Happy” by Chris Johnson (Washington Blade) “Why Billy Porter is a National Treasure” by Tre’vell Anderson (Essence) Outstanding Magazine Overall CoverageThe Advocate Billboard People Plus VarietyOutstanding Online Journalism Article “The Battle Over Title IX and Who Gets to be a Woman in Sports: Inside the Raging National Debate” by Katie Barnes (espnW.com) “Gay Men Speak Out After Being Turned Away from Donating Blood During Coronavirus Pandemic: ‘We are Turning Away Perfectly Healthy Donors’” by Tony Morrison and Joel Lyons (GoodMorningAmerica.com) “Here’s how Reggie Greer Takes on LGBTQ Outreach for Joe Biden in this ‘Very Personal’ Election” by John Gallagher (LGBTQNation.com) “No Medicine, No Food: Coronavirus Restrictions Amplify Health Risks to LGBT+ People with HIV” by Nita Bhalla and Oscar Lopez (Openlynews.com) “An Oral History of Fashion’s Response to the AIDS Epidemic” [series] by Phillip Picardi (VOGUE.com) “Queer Spaces Project” [series] by Nico Lang, Samantha Allen, Marke B., Matt Baume, Steven Blum, Alexander Cheves, Devlyn Camp, Michael Cuby, James Factora, KC Hoard, Sophie Hurwitz, Michelle Kim, and Daniel Villareal (them.us) “Trans Athletes’ Fight for Inclusion in World Rugby” [series] by Dawn Ennis, Alex Reimer, Karleigh Webb, and Cyd Zeigler (Outsports.com) “Trans Freedom Fighters” [series] by Sam Levin (TheGuardian.com) “Trans, Imprisoned — and Trapped” by Kate Sosin (NBCNews.com) “‘You Don’t Belong Here’: In Poland’s ‘LGBT-Free Zones’ Existing is an Act of Defiance” by Ivana Kottasová and Rob Picheta (CNN.com) Outstanding Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia “A Closer Look: Transgender in Kashmir” by Robert Leslie (Business Insider) “I’m an Immigrant Fighting for Queer Rights and Racial Justice” by Abigail E. Disney, Catherine King, Maria Nunez, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Patty Quillin, Julie Parker Benello, Susan Sherrerd, and Lynda Weinman (Refinery29) “Stop Killing Us: Black Transgender Women’s Lived Experiences” by Talibah Newman Ometu, Thomas Blount, Juliana Schatz Preston, and Mariah Dupont (Complex World) “They Will See You: LGBTQ+ Visibility in Advertising” by Brent Miller, Otto Bell, and Jordan Shavarebi (Great Big Story) “Why LGBTQ Rights Hinge on the Definition of ‘Sex’” by Laura Bult, Ranjani Chakraborty, Melissa Hirsch, and Sidnee King (Vox) Outstanding Blog Gays With Kids JoeMyGod Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents The Reckoning TransGriot Special RecognitionAfter Forever (Amazon) Deadline’s New Hollywood Podcast Happiest Season Soundtrack (Facet/Warner Records) Noah’s Arc: The ‘Rona Chronicles (Patrik Ian-Polk Entertainment) Out (Pixar/Disney+) Razor Tongue (YouTube) “The Son” Little America (Apple TV+)
NOMINEES FOR THE 32ND ANNUAL GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS SPANISH-LANGUAGE CATEGORIES
Outstanding Spanish-Language Scripted Television SeriesAna (Amazon/Comedy Central/Pantaya) Élite (Netflix) #Luimelia (Atresplayer Premium) Someone Has to Die (Netflix) Veneno (HBO Max) Outstanding Spanish-Language TV Journalism “Decisión de la Corte Suprema Para Comunidad LGBTQ” Un Nuevo Día (Telemundo) “La Hermana de Aleyda Ortiz Narra Cómo Salió del Clóset y Cómo se lo Comunicó a su Familia” Despierta América (Univision) “Proyecto ser Humano: La Terapia del Engaño” Camilo (CNN en Español) “Refugio para Pacientes de COVID-19 y Comunidad LGBTI en México” Un Nuevo Día (Telemundo) “Sanación Milagrosa” Despierta América (Univision) Outstanding Spanish-Language Online Journalism Article “El Brutal Asesinato de una Mujer Transgénero Conmociona a Puerto Rico y Renueva una Conversación Sobre la Transfobia” por Harmeet Kaur y Rafy Rivera (CNNEspañol.com) “Desapareció en México, Solo se Hallaron sus Restos: La Historia de la Doctora María Elizabeth Montaño y su Importancia para la Comunidad Trans” por Albinson Linares y Marina E. Franco (Telemundo.com) “Entrevistas para el mes del Orgullo LGBT+” por Paula Velasco, Aurora Villaseñor, y Sofía Viramontes (Gatopardo.com) “Elliot Page y el Dilema Social del Género” por Marcos Billy Guzmán (ElNuevoDía.com) “La Historia de un Amor Moderno” por María Torres Clausell (Quién.com) Outstanding Spanish-Language Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia “Abril Zamora: Sin Filtros” (Elle España) “Ciudad de México Prohibe las ‘Terapias’ Contra la Homosexualidad” por Elías Camhaji, Jonás Cortés, y Rodrigo Floriano (El País) “La Liga Deportiva de la Diversidad” por Lucía Anaya (VICE en Español) “Mujeres LGBT+ en México: Ari Vera” (Homosensual) “Soy Trans: El Camino a un Nuevo Despertar” por Sarah Moreno, Esther Piccolino, y José Sepúlveda (El Nuevo Herald) Special Recognition (Spanish-Language) Jesse & Joy, “Love (Es Nuestro Idioma)”
Donald Trump (screen capture) The folks at Trump Plaza in West Palm Beach are done with being associated with the Trump name. From the Palm Beach Post:
The Trump name has been dumped from a signature West Palm Beach condominium in the wake of the Jan. 6 siege on the U.S. Capitol.
Last week, the board of the Trump Plaza condominium voted unanimously to change the legal name of the twin-tower complex. As a result, former President Donald Trump no longer will have a condo bearing his name across the water from his island enclave on Palm Beach.
The 32-story, twin-tower complex decided to cut its last link with Trump following his actions in inciting the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The condo’s Jan. 19 vote cleared the way for residents to cast a ballot to choose a new name for the luxury condo, where units sell from $1 million to more than $4 million.
“The Trump brand is damaged, so rebranding the complex is a wise move,” said Burt Minkoff, a real estate agent with Douglas Elliman on Palm Beach.
It’s not just Florida, either. Data shows buildings in Manhattan bearing the Trump name have seen their value drop by half. “The Trump name is probably pretty radioactive right now,” realtor Mark Cohen told Business Insider.
Oscar/Emmy Award winner Cloris Leachman (image: public domain) Eight-time Emmy Award winner (22 nominations) and the recipient of an Oscar for The Last Picture Show, Cloris Leachman is dead at 94. From the New York Times:
Cloris Leachman, who won an Academy Award for her portrayal of a neglected housewife in the stark drama “The Last Picture Show” but who was probably best known for getting laughs, notably in three Mel Brooks movies and on television comedies like “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Malcolm in the Middle,” died on Wednesday at her home in Encinitas, Calif. She was 94.
The death was confirmed by her son Morgan Englund, who did not give a cause.
Ms. Leachman entered the spotlight as a Miss America contestant in 1946 and was still in the public eye more than 74 years later, portraying offbeat grandmothers on television and film and competing with celebrities less than half her age on “Dancing With the Stars.” In between, she won admiring reviews for her stage, film and television work, as well as Emmy Awards for performances in both dramas and comedies.
She was nominated four times and won twice for her performance on the hit CBS sitcom “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” as Phyllis Lindstrom, the scatterbrained landlady of Mary Richards, the plucky TV news producer played by Ms. Moore. She went on to play the same role from 1975 to 1977 on the spinoff series “Phyllis,” for which she received another Emmy nomination and won a Golden Globe.
A picture from the last time I saw you. Always beautiful. Nothing I could say would top the enormity of my love for you. Until we meet again darling. #clorisleachmanrippic.twitter.com/9etOZo13Kb
Such sad news—Cloris was insanely talented. She could make you laugh or cry at the drop of a hat. Always such a pleasure to have on set. Every time I hear a horse whinny I will forever think of Cloris’ unforgettable Frau Blücher. She is irreplaceable, and will be greatly missed.
A one-of-a-kind actor, she could do everything! She made anything she appeared in much better & her versatility was astonishing. Thank you for a lifetime of unforgettable performances. #ripClorisLeachmanpic.twitter.com/NjCHaD3ojY
Cloris Leachman. Everything she did seemed like the role she was born to play. Her Oscar-winning dramatic chops. Her wild comedy swings. Her relatable roles. Her freakish roles. She was in complete control of her craft and seemed to never think twice about it. A legend.
Melissa Carone (screen capture) Oh, wait – she’s not done yet! Via Deadline Detroit:
Mellissa Carone, who rose to memedom last month during a Michigan legislative hearing on election fraud, hopes to parlay her infamy into a state House seat.
The former contractor for Dominion Voting Systems confirmed Friday that she’s running for Michigan’s 46th house district in Oakland County on a platform of election integrity after claiming, without evidence, that she witnessed rampant fraud at TCF Center in Detroit in November.
“My ultimate goal is to get our ballots hand-counted and clean out Lansing just like draining the swamp in D.C. because that’s what we need,” she said.
After her statements at that infamous legislative hearing, Dominion sent her a cease-and-desist notice about her misinformation campaign. Lawyers for Dominion also noted that Carone is NOT a technology or elections expert. She was reportedly hired through a staffing agency “for one day to clean glass on machines and complete other menial tasks.”
Melissa Carone, the key witness brought in by Rudy Giuliani to testify at a Michigan election hearing, says she is running for a seat in the state house. Carone explained, "Look, it's either gonna be me or someone qualified and sober." pic.twitter.com/zzHK8UV8Xj
I cannot believe Rudy’s little drunk chihuahua attack dog, Mellissa Carone is running for office. Just watch her newest campaign video. Yikes! What an idiot. pic.twitter.com/VXmXMfbvTI
Mellissa Carone announced her plan to run for office in a district that probably won’t exist after redistricting, but told @dmoyeweirdnews that the district’s future existence has been "verified by numerous people.” https://t.co/aRdfv7toa9
After nearly 4 decades, gay bathhouses are now able to apply for permits to open in San Francisco. In the mid-1980s, the city’s health department put in place tight regulations in order to try and curb the burgeoning AIDS epidemic. At the time, the restrictions prohibited private locked rooms and required employees monitoring any possibly ‘dangerous’ behaviors. Basically, those rules amounted to a ban on bathhouses in the city. Currently, there’s one bathhouse operating in the area – Steamworks in Berkeley. That venue is currently closed due to the ongoing pandemic restrictions. There is one private sex club, Eros, located in the Castro district, which has operated along the 1980s era rules. According to the Bay Area Reporter, District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman has been working for a year to overturn the restrictions. He found out last week the city’s health officials had updated the regulations for adult sex venues. “It is symbolically significant right now,” Mandelman told the Reporter. “Whether it is significant on the ground depends on if entrepreneurs with the vision and financial capacities and the savvy to open can and operate one of these.” Mandelman sent a copy of the revised rules in advance of them being published. Titled, “Minimum Standards for Operation of Sex Clubs, Commercial Sex Venues and Parties,” the 3-page document lists sexual activities that could open the door to exposure to HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. Those activities, including anal and vaginal intercourse without a condom and fisting without a latex glove, must be posted at entrances of the venues in English, Spanish, Chinese and Tagalog. Patrons, 18 years or older, will also be required to sign in writing they understand the posted regulations. Additionally, there can be no consumption of alcohol nor any sex-for-pay on the premises. The venues must also provide hot and cold running water, soap, towels, plus free lube and condoms. No word on if/when a business owner will apply for a permit especially in the middle of the COVID-19 health threat. Also, it remains to be seen how much of a market there may be for such businesses. Back in the day, gay bathhouses were popular for men looking for other like-minded men for sex. But with dating apps like Grindr and Scruff, we’ll have to see how popular a new bathhouse might be today when you can basically ‘order in’ for free. Mandelman, though, is hopeful a new bathhouse operator will step up. He told the Reporter, “It is a good development and sets the stage for bathhouses to be part of our economic recovery.” (source: Bay Area Reporter)
Washington D.C. (photo: Maria Oswalt/Unsplash)NBC News reports House and Senate Democrats introduced legislation Wednesday that would give Washington DC statehood. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat who represents the District of Columbia, reintroduced the bill in the House and says she has 200+ co-sponsors in the chamber. The bill passed in the House last summer. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) introduced the legislation in the Senate. But don’t look for the bill to pass in the upper chamber where the Democrats have the barest of majorities. Currently, the Senate is divided 50-50 with Vice President Kamala Harris able to cast tie-breaking votes. But the Senate Dems would need to overcome a filibuster which requires 60 votes. Finding 10 Republicans to vote with them could be a steep climb. Republicans have long opposed statehood for D.C. (and Puerto Rico as well) because the new states would create two new Senate seats and at least one House seat. That congressional representation would most likely end up Democratic. So, the Senate Republicans will block the effort and deny the more than 700,000+ residents of the District full representation and local self-government. It’s worth noting that the District’s population is greater than that of Vermont or Wyoming. Puerto Rico has a population of over 3 million.
DC statehood re-introduced today after passing in the House over the summer.
Wyoming has 578,000 people, is 92% white and has 2 senators
DC has 705,000 people, is 46% Black and has 0 senators Dems introduced bill today to make DC 51st state — Ari Berman (@AriBerman) January 27, 2021
For far too long, Virginia’s neighbors in D.C. have been denied their civil rights and subject to taxation without proper representation. Statehood is common sense—pleased to join @MarkWarner and @SenatorCarper to make it happen. https://t.co/dlL0w7vbm4
Pete Buttigieg during his Senate confirmation hearing The Senate Commerce Committee today approved the nomination of Pete Buttigieg for Transportation Secretary by a vote of 21-3. The three no votes were Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Rick Scott (R-FL). The nomination now goes to a vote by the full Senate. As I wrote last week, his 2.5 hour confirmation hearing went VERY well. It’s a pretty sure bet Pete will be on Transportation duty very soon. If confirmed, Buttigieg will be the first openly gay man confirmed by the Senate to a Cabinet post. He’ll also be the youngest person to lead the Transportation Department.
Thank you to the members of the @SenateCommerce Committee for their vote of confidence in me today. I look forward to working with @SenatorWicker, @SenatorCantwell, and the rest of the committee as we get to work on infrastructure and building our economy back better.
Transportation Secretary nominee Pete Buttigieg introduces his husband, Chasten, during his opening statement at confirmation hearing: "I want to thank him for his many sacrifices and his support in making it possible for me to pursue public service." https://t.co/nwOs3y6Mqwpic.twitter.com/ZN1qVGy5BN
QAnon/GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (screen capture) A review of hundreds of Facebook posts by freshman Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) reveals repeated support for executing prominent Democratic politicians in 2018 and 2019 before being elected to Congress. From CNN:
In one post, from January 2019, Greene liked a comment that said “a bullet to the head would be quicker” to remove House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In other posts, Greene liked comments about executing FBI agents who, in her eyes, were part of the “deep state” working against Trump.
In one Facebook post from April 2018, Greene wrote conspiratorially about the Iran Deal, one of former President Barack Obama’s signature foreign policy achievements. A commenter asked Greene, “Now do we get to hang them ?? Meaning H & O ???,” referring to Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Greene replied, “Stage is being set. Players are being put in place. We must be patient. This must be done perfectly or liberal judges would let them off.”
There’s much more at the link. I encourage you to read the full article. When asked about the comments, Greene posted a statement to her Twitter account that read, in part, “Over the years I’ve had teams of people manage my pages. Many posts have been liked. Many posts have been shared. Some did not represent my views.” Oh, I see…it’s not her fault. She’s not to be held responsible for what occurs on her own social media accounts. It’s ‘other people’ to blame.
Fake News CNN is writing yet another hit piece on me focused on my time before running for political office.
CNN also found footage of Greene harassing David Hogg, one of the survivors of the deadly Parkland shooting. Greene reportedly spread a conspiracy theory that Hogg was a “bought and paid little pawn” in calling for commonsense gun control measures. She also called the mass shooting a ‘false flag’ event. This is from before her time in Congress, but is this what she did with her time? Follow and harass a high school student? This video was recorded just weeks after the shooting incident.
.@mtgreenee, is this you harassing @davidhogg111 weeks after the Parkland shooting, that my daughter was killed in & he was in? Calling him a coward for ignoring your insanity. I will answer all of your questions in person. Get ready to record again.pic.twitter.com/aQjL74x7kh
Parkland survivors are calling for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to resign for calling the shooting a "false flag" to push gun control https://t.co/eJZ4Zu7f1y
Mandelman sent a copy of the revised rules in advance of them being published. Titled, “Minimum Standards for Operation of Sex Clubs, Commercial Sex Venues and Parties,” the 3-page document lists sexual activities that could open the door to exposure to HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. Those activities, including anal and vaginal intercourse without a condom and fisting without a latex glove, must be posted at entrances of the venues in English, Spanish, Chinese and Tagalog. Patrons, 18 years or older, will also be required to sign in writing they understand the posted regulations. Additionally, there can be no consumption of alcohol nor any sex-for-pay on the premises. The venues must also provide hot and cold running water, soap, towels, plus free lube and condoms. No word on if/when a business owner will apply for a permit especially in the middle of the COVID-19 health threat. Also, it remains to be seen how much of a market there may be for such businesses. Back in the day, gay bathhouses were popular for men looking for other like-minded men for sex. But with dating apps like Grindr and Scruff, we’ll have to see how popular a new bathhouse might be today when you can basically ‘order in’ for free. Mandelman, though, is hopeful a new bathhouse operator will step up. He told the 
