Author: Randy Slovacek

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Vice Cops Fired For False Arrest Of Stormy Daniels

Stormy Daniels (screen capture)
Two U.S. vice cops were fired on Friday for the wrongful arrest of porn star Stormy Daniels during a strip club appearance in 2018. Not only were Officers Steven Rosser and Whitney Lancaster dismissed from duties, but Daniels (who has claimed an affair with Donald Trump) was also awarded $450,000 in damages in September 2019. More from RawStory:

Daniels had charged in a lawsuit that she was arrested for political reasons related to her claim before the 2016 election that Trump had sought to buy her silence over an affair a decade earlier, to avoid it affecting his prospects in the presidential contest.

The charges said that, while topless at the club, she pushed the faces of customers into her breasts.

The charges against her were quickly dropped following her detention. But she sued the city for false arrest and false imprisonment and the case was settled in September 2019 for $450,000.

In dismissing the officers, Columbus Director of Public Safety Ned Pettus noted that the actions taken against Daniels “deviated significantly from actions taken at every other strip club investigated by you.” According to Pettus, normal procedures would have been to file charges against an offender after a club visit and issue a summons for the person’s appearance in court, rather than arresting them on the spot and taking them into custody as they did with Daniels.

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Billie Eilish Parody: Sean Patrick Murray & Travis Wall ‘Bad Gay’

Sean Patrick Murray in ‘Bad Gay’
Sean Patrick Murray, co-creator of the Netflix series Westside, wants you to know he’s a ‘bad gay.’ Murray teamed up with Emmy Award-winning choreographer Travis Wall for this parody of the Billie Eilish hit, “Bad Guy.” In his take on the pop-bop, Murray wants to share that he’s “the bad type” of gay. You know, the ‘best friends with your mom type’ and ‘hates to stand at bars type.’ Fun video for a Saturday morning. Check it out below along with the parody lyrics:

Lyrics: Nice shirt and pants is that Jcrew I know just what you want to do Stay in, postmate cookies but you can’t seem to stay awake Barry’s Bootcamp at 6 am Too bad I hit the snooze again V Shape, Six Pack just won’t happen Hold please, my Samsung broke So you’re a fun gay Stay out way past one gay Never having kids gay Friends with Antoni gay Well Im the bad type Best friends with your mom type Never been to Spotlight Hate to stand at bars type I’m a bad gay DUH I like it when you take my whole family nosebleeds, Hollywood Bowl Lyft Pool to save just 3 bucks home You’re my gay Romeo Don’t want to join your dodgeball team Too much high school PTSD Won’t wear a jockstrap and jersey (Unless you’re Gus Kenworthy) So you’re a fun gay Stay out way past one gay Never having kids gay Friends with Antoni gay Well I’m the bad type Best friends with your mom type Never been to Spotlight Hate to stand at bars type I’m a bad gay DUH I’ll never call you Dad I know that you get mad when we’re alone You said you’re scared of me? I mean, I don’t see what you see, But let’s get just your mom on the phone I’m a bad gay I’m a bad gay

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Trump’s Twitter Meltdown As His Legal Team Begins Impeachment Defense

Donald Trump

As Donald Trump’s legal team began to present their defense case in the ongoing impeachment trial today, the Donald took to Twitter to encourage his followers to watch the proceedings – but on his favorite state network, Fox News. While there, he also threw out some elementary school insults at House impeachment lead manager Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for good measure. Remember when some members of the media assured us he would, at some point, grow into a more ‘presidential’ bearing? I think we got the answer to that a long time ago.

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News Round-Up: January 24, 2020

Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Ramses Principe (above) waxes grateful about the journey thus far. Always a good idea, no? Follow the hunky fitness expert on Instagram here. • Washington Blade: A woman falsely accused a circuit party that caters to queer people of color of being “an organized sex party” setting off a string of investigations. • ABC News: Two-thirds of Americans in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll say the U.S. Senate should call new witnesses at Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. • Talking Points Memo: Sen. Elizabeth Warren has pledged to release all impeachment-related documents that the White House has barred should she become president.

• KIT212: Kenneth rounds up the what’s what in local gay rags across the country. Check the latest from Gloss Magazine (below) here.
The latest issue of Gloss Magazine (via Kenneth-in-the-212)
• The Gaily Grind: A Republican ‘family values’ candidate was busted for joining a dating website for married men looking to cheat. • CNN: Bernie Sanders is facing a backlash from some Democrats after his campaign trumpeted an endorsement from comedian Joe Rogan, a popular podcast and YouTube talk show host with a history of making racist, homophobic and transphobic comments. Sanders’ national press secretary issued a statement that read, in part: “Sharing a big tent requires including those who do not share every one of our beliefs, while always making clear that we will never compromise our values. The truth is that by standing together in solidarity, we share the values of love and respect that will move us in the direction of a more humane, more equal world.”

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Eminem’s #DollyChallenge Features Nude Grindr Pic?

By now, I’m sure you’ve probably seen folks taking part in the Dolly Parton challenge where you post four photos of yourself. The idea is to include one appropriate for four social apps: Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram and Tinder. Dolly began the craze by posting her own on Facebook with the caption, “Get you a woman who can do it all!” For business networking site LinkedIn, Dolly went with a buttoned-up school teacher pic. For family-friendly Facebook, it’s Christmas sweater Dolly. For style-driven Instagram, country Dolly posing in bell-bottom jeans with a guitar in hand. And for the dating app Tinder, Dolly featured her Playboy bunny pic. So, Grammy Award-winning rapper Eminem just posted his version on Twitter asking, “Did I do this right?”

The 47-year-old used a tasteful ‘shirt & tie’ pic for the Linkedin pic; for Facebook he featured a brooding, bearded photo; the Instagram image shows him dressed as Santa behind (?) a wooden reindeer; and for the final photo, he posed naked with a stick of dynamite covering his crotch but instead of ‘Tinder’ he used the name of the gay dating app Grindr. Now, you have to wonder: is he playing at something here? Did he get it wrong? Did he think ‘playing gay’ would be more humorous? Being provocative is old hat for Eminem. His latest album, Music to Be Murdered By, definitely leans on some shock value. In one track (“Darkness”), he raps from the perspective of the Las Vegas gunman who committed the largest mass shooting in the U.S. in 2017. In “Unaccommodating,” he tosses off a line about the bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in 2017. (image via Twitter/Eminem)

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Judge Apologizes For Calling Gays ‘Savages’ Who ‘Deserve’ AIDS

Judge Dan Hazard
Dan Hazard, a Maumee Municipal Court judge in Ohio, has apologized to the LGBTQ community after letters he wrote while in college calling gays “savages” who “pretty much deserve” to die of AIDS came to light this week. Toledo’s local CBS News affiliate WTOL first reported the letters which appeared in the student newspaper at Ohio State University in 1992 and 1993. The first letter to the editor, published December 2, 1992, he referenced gay people as ‘citizens’ (note the scare quotes) seeking equal treatment under the law. “There has been a recent outcry on the behalf of these ‘citizens’ for equal treatment under the law,” wrote Hazard as a sophomore at OSU. “Equal treatment for people that many still think of as savages … These people think they deserve equal treatment under the law. I challenge anyone to name any civilized nation that looks at queers as ‘normal’ human beings. There just aren’t any.” He also decried calls by the LGBTQ community for funding HIV research. He wrote, “I suggest we cut all AIDS research funding (not AIDS education) because 95% of those inflicted with the deadly disease pretty much deserve it anyway (the homosexual community).” About five months later, after the Gay Rights March on Washington on April 25, 1993, he penned a second letter to the editor that appeared in the April 30 edition of the student newspaper. In that missive, he gave thanks “to the homosexual community for opening (his) eyes.” Noting that many gays had left the campus for the Washington event, he could “now see what this campus would be like with the removal of gays from our society.” Addressing the “heterophobes polluting this campus,” he asked, “Is the homosexual lifestyle a safe one?” He went on to quote statistics from the anti-LGBTQ Family Research Council which stated the average life span of homosexuals from diseases other than AIDS was 41, something he said was “good news.” Hazard also implored gays to “please keep your AIDS to yourselves” and added, “You have killed many innocent children.” When contacted by WTOL for comment, Hazard issued a direct apology. Calling his own words “reprehensible” and “deplorable,” he says they don’t represent who he is today. Here’s his full statement:

“The letter posted here was reprehensible and deplorable.  I wrote this and another of the same tone as a teenage college student 27 years ago and by no means hold those beliefs today.  I have zero excuse and could not attempt to justify it then or now. It was hurtful to anyone that saw it in 1993 or today. I am sorry that it will hurt even more people today including my gay and transgendered family and friends whom I love dearly. Throughout my career, I have befriended and represented many gay clients.  I have done so zealously without reservation. One of the first weddings I officiated after taking the bench was of a same sex couple.  I did so with respect and dignity. Every day I treat every litigant and attorney with that same respect no matter their background, experience or gender identity and will continue to do so. I am glad that this allows me to clarify my views that have drastically changed over time.  Respect is owed not only in the courtroom, but in all of society.”

I wanted to note that it caught this writer’s ear while watching the WTOL report that news anchor Andrew Kinsey referred to Hazard’s remarks saying “some call homophobic.”

Hazard had called gays “savages” who “deserved” to get AIDS and die. I think that’s straight-up homophobic language. What do you think, readers? Is the apology acceptable given the 27 years since Hazard made the comments? And that he offers such a strenuous mea culpa? Or was the language so strident it’s difficult to believe he did a 180-degree turn from those noxious attitudes? Let us know what you think in the comment section. (Source: WTOL)

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Trump Unveils New Space Force Logo (Something Seems Familiar Though)

Donald Trump proudly announced the new logo for the Space Force, the newest branch of the U.S. military. Clearly, the graphic designer boldly went where someone else had gone before:

Folks immediately noticed something familiar about the design.

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ABC News: Recording Captures Trump Ordering Ukraine Ambassador Fired ‘Take Her Out’

Donald Trump (via White House/public domain)
ABC News reports it has reviewed a recording that appears to capture Donald Trump telling associates he wanted the then-U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch fired. According to reports, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman – former associates of Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani – were also heard taking part in the conversation. From ABC News:

The recording appears to contradict statements by President Trump and support the narrative that has been offered by Parnas during broadcast interviews in recent days. Sources familiar with the recording said the recording was made during an intimate April 30, 2018, dinner at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Trump has said repeatedly he does not know Parnas, a Soviet-born American who has emerged as a wild card in Trump’s impeachment trial, especially in the days since Trump was impeached.

“Get rid of her!” is what the voice that appears to be President Trump’s is heard saying. “Get her out tomorrow. I don’t care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. Okay? Do it.”

Trump supporters have maintained until now that no evidence exists that directly ties Trump to the current allegations that led to his impeachment. Parnas and Fruman are currently under federal indictment in New York in a campaign finance case, but Parnas has been cooperating with authorities by releasing text messages and communications between himself and Trump’s team.

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Christian School Sued For Breach Of Contract After Outing Teen

The family of a 15-year-old in Louisville, Kentucky, is suing the teen’s former private school for expelling her after seeing a photo showing her celebrating her birthday with a rainbow sweater and rainbow birthday cake. The parents of Kayla Kenney are suing private Christian school Whitefield Academy for “breach of contract, emotional distress, and defamation.” Georgia Connally, the attorney who filed the lawsuit in Jefferson County Circuit Court, told local news station WDRB, “They made an assumption about a child’s sexual identity based on a birthday cake and a sweatshirt.” Connally shares that, while Kayla identifies as LGBTQ, she wasn’t openly gay at the time of the expulsion. But, Connally notes the lawsuit isn’t about LGBTQ discrimination. “This lawsuit is about whether or not (the school) followed their own rules when they chose to expel Kayla, and they didn’t,” she said. “They skipped a whole bunch of (disciplinary) steps and went straight to plan Z, in my book, which is expelling a 15-year-old based on a photo.” The letter sent to Kayla’s parents informing them of the expulsion read, in part,  “The administration has been made aware of a recent picture posted on social which demonstrates a posture of morality and cultural acceptance contrary to that of Whitefield Academy’s beliefs.” The school went on to state, “We made it clear that any promotion, celebration or any other actions and attitudes that are counter to Whitefield’s philosophy would not be tolerated.” Kayla reportedly filed an appeal asking to meet with the school administrators, but they declined the request. Once the story attracted national attention, the school issued a statement to the press saying Kayla had previous student violations that were part of the decision to expel her from school. “Inaccurate media reports are circling stating that the student in question was expelled from our school solely for a social media post,” the statement read. “In fact, she has unfortunately violated our student code of conduct numerous times over the past two years. In the fall, we met with the student to give her a final chance to begin to adhere to our code of conduct. Unfortunately, she did not live up to the agreement, and therefore, has been expelled.” Connally takes issue with the school addressing the conflict with the media which, by her reading, not only outed the teen but constitutes breach of contract. “The school went to the media to defend themselves,” explained Connally. “They have a privacy policy, a confidentiality policy, that’s also in the contract, and they didn’t follow it. And that put a child in harm’s way.” The lawyer notes that while the school is a private, religious entity, “There’s no religious exception for defamation, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress.” “If those things were done, then they’re just as liable as a public entity would be,” she added. Whitefield Academy has not responded to calls or emails about the lawsuit. Here’s the initial report about the expulsion from the local CBS News affiliate:

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News Round-Up: January 23, 2020

(image via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: When you look like Brazilian tourism expert Kiko Riaze (above), I’ll FIND something in my house that needs to be painted. Follow Riaze on Instagram here. • HuffPost: L.A. Law star Harry Hamlin said he’s proud of his role in the groundbreaking 1982 gay flick Making Love but believes the film was ahead of its time. “It was like 10 years too early and it completely ended my career. That was the last studio picture I ever did. The door shut with a resounding smash.” • The Advocate: A month after the Hallmark Channel’s dust-up with LGBTQ people over removing an ad for Zola wedding planning that featured a lesbian wedding, the company’s president and CEO, Bill Abbott, has stepped down. • Out Music: The Pet Shop Boys new album Hotspot drops tomorrow, January 24, and in advance of that release we get to step behind the velvet rope for their new single “Monkey Business.“ Set in a sexy nightclub and featuring a wild bunch of characters who eventually end up in a champagne fight, the tribe bust their best moves on a dance floor straight out of Saturday Night Fever.

• New York Times: Despite their fiery history on the debate stage, Sen. Kamala Harris of California is considering endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden for the Democratic nominee for president. Great – then he can pick her for veep duties and they’ll win. • BroadwayWorld: In a tribute to longtime GRAMMY executive producer Ken Ehrlich, and to acknowledge the importance of music education in schools to the Recording Academy, GRAMMY Museum® and Ehrlich, artists associated with Ehrlich’s 40-year career will gather to perform “I Sing The Body Electric” from the film Fame. The performance will feature current nominees Camila Cabello, Gary Clark Jr. and John Legend joined by Debbie Allen, Joshua Bell, Common, Misty Copeland, Lang Lang, Cyndi Lauper, Ben Platt, and The War And Treaty. • People: Did Prince Charles diss Vice President Mike Pence as he made his way down an assembly line of world leaders at the World Holocaust Forum?