Category: News

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Infrastructure Road Trip: Kentucky

(image via White House)
As President Biden continues to negotiate for an impactful infrastructure bill, the White House has released this short video visiting folks in Kentucky, the home state of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Citizens of the state chat on the condition of the roads, bridges, and water supply as well as needing dependable broadband service to support creating jobs and small businesses. From the YouTube page: “After decades of neglect, our infrastructure is crumbling – and American families and workers are paying the price. Join us on an infrastructure road trip this week and meet just some of the rural Americans whose lives would be changed by the American Jobs Plan.”

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News Round-Up: June 14, 2021

France has lifted its ban on blood donations by gay and/or bisexual men which has been in place since the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

A young man donates blood (image via Depositphotos) Some news items you might have missed: • The Advocate: Sexually active gay men who have had the same sexual partner for the previous three months will now be able to donate blood, platelets, and plasma in the U.K. after new eligibility criteria go into force on World Blood Donor Day. • OUT: The Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League suspended defensive lineman Chris Larsen after learning of his potential involvement in a hate crime that left the victim with a broken nose, cheekbone and orbital bone shattered, a splint required for his hip bone and a concussion. • Pride.com: American Idol alum David Archuleta has come out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in a new post on Instagram. “I like to keep to myself but also thought this was important to share because I know so many other people from religious upbringings feel the same way,” the 30-year-old wrote. https://www.instagram.com/p/CQB0FNtlLrs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link • Wall Street Journal: A new Covid-19 vaccine from Novavax was found to be 90.4% effective at preventing symptomatic disease in adults in a large clinical trial involving nearly 30,000 participants. Those results could move the shot a step closer to global use. • The Daily Beast: Number crunchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) in Seattle studied COVID-19 stats from all over the world, charted the trends and concluded that as many as 9.7 million people could die by late September. If the trend line continues, COVID-19 could kill 20 million by 2023, according to IHME’s model. • Politico: Out Democrat Matt Putorti is launching a campaign against Trump cultist Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), aiming to knock out one of the Republican Party’s rising stars and a newly minted member of House leadership. Putorti is a 37-year-old attorney from Upstate New York focused on LGBTQ+ equality, reducing gun violence, and immigration.

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Pride Month Greeting From Vice President Kamala Harris

Vice President Kamala Harris shared a video greeting for Pride Month

Pride Month greeting from Vice President Kamala Harris
Vice President Kamala Harris
A Pride Month greeting from Vice President Kamala Harris was shared today on Twitter. In the video, Harris recalls officiating the wedding of Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, whose lawsuit paved the way for the historic Supreme Court ruling that made marriage equality the law of the land. “LGBTQ Americans proudly serve in our military and at every level of government,” says Harris before adding, “We know there is work to be done to achieve full equality.” In the video clip, Harris tells LGBTQ Americans “I want you to know: We see you. We hear you. President Joe Biden and I will not rest until everyone has equal protection under the law. Happy Pride!” Over the weekend, Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff made a surprise appearance at the DC Pride Walk. Harris’s participation made her the first sitting veep to walk in a Pride parade. Earlier today I shared a Pride message from President Biden and the First Lady as well.

Of course, a Pride Month greeting from Vice President Mike Pence would have never happened during the previous administration.

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Anti-Masker Pulls Gun, Shoots Cashier Dead When Asked To Wear Face Mask

An anti-masker in Georgia became irate when asked to wear a face mask in a grocery store to the point he pulled a gun and shot the cashier dead.

An anti-masker in Georgia became irate when asked to wear a face mask in a grocery store to the point he pulled a gun and shot the cashier dead. An anti-mask nut who got into an argument with a cashier at a grocery store in DeKalb County, Georgia, pulled out a gun and shot the cashier dead. Via 11Alive:

A spokesperson said a DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office reserve unit deputy was injured during the shooting at the Big Bear Supermarket near South DeKalb Mall off Candler Road.

“Although details are not complete, authorities say that the male suspect was involved in a dispute with a young woman before he began firing at her inside the store,” the spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said.

DeKalb County Sheriff Melody Maddox said the dispute, which was with a cashier, started over wearing a mask inside the store. An 11Alive reporter said there is a sign on the door that says masks are required for service.

Maddox later confirmed additional details in a press conference held Monday afternoon.

“The subject pulled out a weapon and shot cashier at the location,” Maddox said. “The individual is deceased.”

The deputy who intervened shot the suspect, who was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The deputy also sustained two bullet wounds and was taken to Atlanta Medical Center.

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Asked To Wear Face Mask Properly, Iowa Man Commits Assault & Gets 10 Years In Prison

Shane Wayne Michael (mug shot)

Shane Wayne Michael (mug shot)
Shane Wayne Michael (mug shot)
Back in November, Shane Wayne Michael, 42, apparently became irate when he was asked to adjust his face mask to properly cover his nose and mouth at a eyewear store in Des Moines, Iowa. Michael followed the victim out of the business and assaulted him. From the Des Moines Register:

The victim told police that, as he walked to his car, Michael cornered him, began to assault him and took him to the ground. While on the ground, Michael began gouging the victim’s eye and kneed him in the genitals, according to the report, so the victim bit Michael to get him off of him.

The victim also said that Michael coughed in his face, spit on him and said “‘If I have it, you have it,'” according to the report.

Three witnesses identified Michael as the aggressor in the fight, according to the complaint. The victim suffered a swollen left eye, according to the complaint and court records.

In February, Michael was reportedly offered a plea deal which would have resulted in two years probation. Michael refused the offer saying he had merely defended himself. Instead, he chose to take his chances with a jury. Because he was found guilty of assault causing bodily injury, the conviction comes with a mandatory 10 year prison sentence. Just throwing this out there but… Michael COULD have just responded “sure” when asked to adjust his mask and none of this would have happened. Or – he could have chosen to ignore the request altogether. But Michael chose to become the aggressor. And there you have it.

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President’s Statement On 5th Anniversary Of Pulse Nightclub Shooting

President Joe Biden issued a statement today marking the 5th anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting on June 12, 2016, that left 49 dead.
President Joe Biden (screen capture)
President Joe Biden issued a statement today marking the 5th anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting on June 12, 2016, that left 49 dead. He included a call to action asking Congress to pass commonsense gun regulations like universal background checks. A recent Morning Consult poll showed 84% of Americans, including 77% of Republicans, support requiring all gun purchasers to go through a background check. Here is the full statement via WhiteHouse.gov:

“Five years ago today in Orlando in the middle of Pride Month, our nation suffered the deadliest attack affecting the LGBTQ+ community in American history, and at the time, the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman.

“Within minutes, the Pulse nightclub that had long been a place of acceptance and joy turned into a place of unspeakable pain and loss. Forty-nine people were there celebrating Latin night were murdered, even more injured, and countless others scarred forever – the victims were family members, partners and friends, veterans and students, young, Black, Asian and Latino – our fellow Americans.

“A few days later, I traveled with President Obama to pay respects to them and their families, to thank the brave first responders and the community who found strength and compassion in each other, and to pledge that what happened would not be forgotten.

“Over the years, I have stayed in touch with families of the victims and with the survivors who have turned their pain into purpose, and who remind us that we must do more than remember victims of gun violence and all of the survivors, family members, and friends left behind; we must act.

“In the coming days, I will sign a bill designating Pulse Nightclub as a national memorial, enshrining in law what has been true since that terrible day five years ago: Pulse Nightclub is hallowed ground.

“But there is more we must do to address the public health epidemic of gun violence in all of its forms – mass shootings and daily acts of gun violence that don’t make national headlines.

“It is long past time we close the loopholes that allow gun buyers to bypass background checks in this country, and the Senate should start by passing the three House-passed bills which would do exactly that. It is long past time we ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines, establish extreme risk protection orders, also known as “red flag” laws, and eliminate gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability.

“We must also acknowledge gun violence’s particular impact on LGBTQ+ communities across our nation. We must drive out hate and inequities that contribute to the epidemic of violence and murder against transgender women – especially transgender women of color. We must create a world in which our LGBTQ+ young people are loved, accepted, and feel safe in living their truth. And the Senate must swiftly pass the Equality Act, legislation that will ensure LGBTQ+ Americans finally have equal protection under law.

“In the memory of all of those lost at the Pulse nightclub five years ago, let us continue the work to be a nation at our best – one that recognizes and protects the dignity and safety of every American.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQBv1_is2sI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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On The 5th Anniversary Of The Pulse Nightclub Massacre

The 49 victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting
In the five years since the deadly Pulse Nightclub shooting massacre, there have been a LOT of prayers and thoughts sent out for those affected by gun violence. Unfortunately, that’s close to all we’ve gotten. In a country that polls show support commonsense gun legislation (background checks, no guns for those on the ‘no-fly’ list) to the tune of almost 90 percent, politicians are still afraid of the 3 million-member National Rifle Association. Five years ago today, 49 innocent people lost their lives in what was, at the time, the deadliest shooting massacre in the history of the country. Additionally, 53 more were injured. On that night, a gay nightclub, one of our safe spaces, became a war zone and an emergency room. One of the most chilling reports to emerge during the aftermath of the attack came from CNN which noted that first responders and investigators had to force themselves to tune out the cacophony of ringing phones coming from the 49 bodies. Clearly, their loved ones were trying to see if they were alright. “All those people, their phones kept ringing,” said the reporter. I remember that grim detail hitting me like a dagger. But on October 1, 2017, my town of Las Vegas became the target of the new ‘deadliest’ gun massacre in U.S. history. I was home watching TV with my husband and suddenly my phone began ringing and pinging, over and over. People from all over the country were checking in on me. I suddenly remembered that CNN report from Pulse Nightclub. And I felt an even deeper visceral chill. As I reported earlier this week, Congress has approved designating the site of Pulse Nightclub a national monument and President Biden will sign that action into law when he returns from abroad. Since the Pulse shooting, there have been more mass shootings and more unnecessary deaths. And still we wait for any meaningful gun legislation. There will be a streaming remembrance ceremony today at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT. You can watch below via YouTube.

DNC Chair Jaime Harrison, DNC Secretary Jason Rae and DNC LGBTQ Caucus Chair Earl Fowlkes released the following statement:

“Five years ago, our nation wept as 49 lives were taken in a senseless act of violence. We lost siblings and children, cousins and friends. But we turned our mourning into a vibrant movement for reform. Gun safety is an LGBTQ issue, plain and simple. President Biden and Democrats know we must honor those lost at Pulse with action and pass gun safety legislation to finally put an end to mass shootings across our nation.

“We must also finally address the growing epidemic of violence that leaves countless transgender and gender non-conforming people afraid of losing their lives. In 2021, we have already lost 28 transgender and gender non-conforming people, almost entirely transgender women of color, putting us on track for the deadliest year on record. President Biden is committed to ending the violence, achieving equality and protecting the LGBTQ community. Today, we renew our commitment to making possible a world where LGBTQ people, including LGBTQ people of color, are valued, loved and safe.”

We remember: Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old Amanda L. Alvear, 25 years old Oscar A. Aracena Montero, 26 years old Rodolfo Ayala Ayala, 33 years old Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old Angel Candelario-Padro, 28 years old Juan Chavez Martinez, 25 years old Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old Cory James Connell, 21 years old Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old Simón Adrian Carrillo Fernández, 31 years old Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old Peter Ommy Gonzalez Cruz, 22 years old Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old Frank Hernandez, 27 years old Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old Javier Jorge Reyes, 40 years old Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25 years old Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old Brenda Marquez McCool, 49 years old Gilberto R. Silva Menendez, 25 years old Kimberly Jean Morris, 37 years old Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old Luis Omar Ocasio Capo, 20 years old Geraldo A. Ortiz Jimenez, 25 years old Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old Jean Carlos Nieves Rodríguez, 27 years old Xavier Emmanuel Serrano-Rosado, 35 years old Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old Yilmary Rodríguez Solivan, 24 years old Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old Jonathan A. Camuy Vega, 24 years old Juan Pablo Rivera Velázquez, 37 years old Luis Sergio Vielma, 22 years old Franky Jimmy DeJesus Velázquez, 50 years old Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old

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News Round-Up: June 11, 2021

(screen capture via dash camera footage)
Some news items you might have missed: • USA Today: An Arkansas woman says she had no safe place to pull over in July 2020 when a state trooper tried to stop her for speeding, so she turned on her hazard lights and slowed down. Moments later, the officer rammed her vehicle, causing it to flip over and injuring the woman, who was pregnant at the time, according to a lawsuit filed in May. • Washington Post: Donald Trump’s Justice Department secretly subpoenaed Apple for the data of two Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee, as well as the data of their current and former staffers and family members, in an aggressive push by the Trump administration to determine who was leaking classified information to the news media, according to a committee official. • CNN: Darnella Frazier was honored by the Pulitzer Prize Board today “for courageously recording the murder of George Floyd, a video that spurred protests against police brutality around the world, highlighting the crucial role of citizens in journalists’ quest for truth and justice.”

• New York Times: During a recent visit to Argentina by the prime minister of Spain, President Alberto Fernández tried to connect with his guest by paying (xenophobic) homage to Argentina’s European immigrant heritage. “Mexicans emerged from Indigenous people, Brazilians emerged from the jungle but we Argentines arrived on boats. On boats from Europe.” #SwingAndMiss • Raw Story: A Proud Boy charged with taking part in the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol building January 6 requested pre-trial release from jail claiming ‘chronic back pain.’ But according to prosecutors, his back pain didn’t stop him from wielding an axe handle against Capitol Police officers. • Twitter: Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) is calling out corporations who are flaunting their support for Pride Month while they also donate to the campaigns of anti-LGBTQ politicians.

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Out Music: Michaela Jaé “Something To Say”

Michaela Jaé (aka MJ Rodriguez of POSE fame)
Michaela Jaé (aka MJ Rodriguez of POSE fame)
Singer, actress and activist Michaela Jaé (aka MJ Rodriguez of POSE fame) released her anthemic debut single “Something to Say” last week to much acclaim. The track is an R&B pop bop that sees Michaela calling people to step into their truth and let their voices be heard. The Imagen Award winner wrote “Something to Say” with PWP (comprised of the legendary Verdine White of Earth, Wind, and Fire, multi-Grammy winning Neal Pogue and John Paris as well as Nick Ferraro and Duncan Hood) and the song is a poignant celebration of equality and love. Paper praised the track writing, “She’s at the height of her powers here, channelling the generosity and warmth of spirit of so many iconic disco divas. Conveying an easy confidence, it’s a welcome antidote to the many hackneyed Pride Month singles being released into the ether.” With a fun and funky vibe and disco-tinged touches throughout, “Something to Say” is absolutely perfect for your pride month playlist. Folks shouldn’t be surprised by Rodriguez’s potent vocal chops here. Regular viewers of POSE recall Rodriguez’s stirring performance of “Home” with cast member Billy Porter in Season One of the acclaimed series.

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News Round-Up: June 10, 2021

Caden Wyatt with his dad, John, and his mom, Janell (image via John Wyatt)
Some news items you might have missed: • Buzzfeed: Just over a year since he first came out, Caden Wyatt, 15, (above) told the most people he ever has that he’s gay — and he did it with his dad by his side. For the first time in their lives, and likely one of the first times in their Oklahoma neighborhood, the Wyatts hung a flag outside their house to ring in Pride Month. • PEOPLE: Queer Eye star Karamo Brown says filming the current season of the “make better” show in Texas was the ‘first time’ he experienced ‘blatant’ hatred. • Instagram: Cheyenne Jackson is thankful he learned how to get ripped AF with his hotel room workouts. He looked pretty fit before, but I’m not complaining… https://www.instagram.com/p/CP3ZISeD74e/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link • Buzzfeed II: Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen) explained to Kelly Clarkson why it took him five years to start dating Noah Galvin (The Real O’Neals) and it’s really sweet. “I didn’t see the light for a long time, and then I realized, you know, that he was the guy.” • Instinct Magazine: Caitlyn Jenner compared herself with Donald Trump in an uneasy appearance on The View on Thursday. When pressed by Joy Behar if she was one of those Republicans who believe Trump won the election, she hedged her answer. “I’m not going to get into that, that election is over with,” but she proceeded to draw a parallel between herself and Trump. “He was a disrupter when he was president. I want to do the same thing.”

• Christian Post: Pastor Lewis Clemons of Columbus, Georgia, could have settled a civil case against him for zero dollars if he agreed to acknowledge and record a public apology for allegedly sexually abusing and raping his former congregant, Lequita Jackson. He refused and went to trial. On Wednesday, a jury in the Superior Court of Muscogee County ruled in favor of Jackson and imposed a $500,000 verdict against him. • USA Today: Austin Swink was preparing to go on his first mission trip with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he decided to reveal the news that he was gay to his dad, Vaughn Swink. “I got this feeling that I just needed to get it off my chest before I left, because it was weighing on me for so long, not saying anything,” Swink said. He decided to video record his coming out to his dad, and posted the reaction online.