Category: News

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Homocon Brandon Straka Arrested For Capitol Attack

Homocon Brandon Straka arrested for taking part in violent Capitol invasion
Brandon Straka (via website)
Homocon Brandon Straka arrested for taking part in the violent invasion of the U.S. Capitol on January 6. From The Daily Beast:

Brandon Straka, 43, has been charged with several crimes, including impeding a law enforcement officer during civil disorder and engaging in disorderly conduct with the intent to disturb a hearing before Congress, for his role in the Jan. 6 siege.

The ex-New York City hairstylist and self-described “former liberal” is best known for starting the “WalkAway Campaign,” which urged liberal voters to leave the Democratic Party. Earlier this month, Straka announced Facebook had removed the campaign’s page, which had over half a million followers.

Straka apparently made it very easy to gather evidence about his participation in the Capitol attack. Like many of his wacky, violent pals he tweeted videos and statements throughout the incident documenting his involvement. He also made headlines last June when he refused to wear a face mask on an American Airlines flight. He was eventually removed from the plane and banned from any future flights on American. I recently reported on another gay Trump supporter, Kristopher Dreww, who also fears being arrested for taking part in the attack on the Capitol.

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Rudy Giuliani Sued By Voting Machines Manufacturer For Election Lies

Rudy Giuliani sued by voting machines manufacturer for election lies
Rudy Giuliani at Trump press conference (screen capture)
From the New York Times:

Dominion Voting Systems filed a defamation lawsuit on Monday against Rudolph W. Giuliani, the lawyer for Donald J. Trump and former mayor of New York City who played a key role in the former president’s months long effort to subvert the 2020 election.

The 107-page lawsuit, filed in the Federal District Court in Washington, accuses Mr. Giuliani of carrying out “a viral disinformation campaign about Dominion” made up of “demonstrably false” allegations, in part to enrich himself through legal fees and his podcast.

The suit seeks damages of more than $1.3 billion and is based on more than 50 statements Mr. Giuliani made at legislative hearings, on Twitter, on his podcast and in the conservative news media, where he spun a fictitious narrative of a plot by one of the biggest voting machine manufacturers in the country to flip votes to President Biden.

Giuliani told the Times he’s not intimidated and is considering his own counter-suit. The former New York City mayor has received a lot of pushback to his efforts to overturn the election results. The chairman of the New York State Senate’s judiciary committee formally requested that the state court system revoke Giuliani’s law license. By the end of Trump’s time in office, even the Donald had turned on Giuliani as reports indicate he instructed aides to not to pay Giuliani’s $20K-a-day legal fees. Earlier this month, Dominion filed a similar lawsuit against Giuliani’s colleague on Trump’s conspiracy pushing legal team, Sidney Powell.

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Trump Considered Firing Acting AG, Using Justice Dept To Overturn Georgia Election Results

Donald Trump

Donald Trump
Donald Trump (photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr – CC License)
According to a new report, Jeffrey Clark, the acting head of the civil division at the end of the Trump administration, supported Donald Trump’s plans of undermining the 2020 presidential election and using the Department of Justice to pressure Georgia officials to change the state’s election results. From the New York Times:

The department’s senior leaders were shocked when Mr. Clark’s machinations came to light. They have spent recent weeks debating how he came to betray Mr. Rosen, his biggest champion at the department, and what blend of ambition and conviction led him to reject the results of the election and embrace Mr. Trump’s claims, despite all evidence to the contrary, including inside the department itself.

The plot devised by Mr. Clark and Mr. Trump would have ousted Mr. Rosen and used the Justice Department to pressure lawmakers in Georgia to overturn the state’s election results. But Mr. Trump ultimately decided against firing Mr. Rosen after top department leaders pledged to resign en masse.

Senior Justice department officials, including Rosen, former Attorney General William Barr and former acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall repeatedly refused to file a case with the Supreme Court case since there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud. The Times goes on to quote colleagues of Clark who were stunned to find out about the plan. “The story kind of shocked me because this is not the Jeff that I know,” said Theodore H. Frank, a friend and former co-worker. A Justice Department watchdog is now apparently investigating the matter. Read the full report at the New York Times.

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UPDATE: Biden Repeals Transgender Military Ban

Transgender troops

Joe Biden plans to reverse the ban on transgender military service members UPDATE: President Joe Biden has signed an executive order repealing Donald Trump’s ban on transgender Americans serving in the U.S. military.

“President Biden believes that gender identity should not be a bar to military service, and that America’s strength is found in its diversity,” read a statement from the White House.

“Allowing all qualified Americans to serve their country in uniform is better for the military and better for the country because an inclusive force is a more effective force,”

“Simply put, it’s the right thing to do and is in our national interest.”

In addition to reversing Trump’s ban on transgender service members, Biden’s executive order requires corrections to the record of any soldier affected by the ban. A Gallup poll conducted in June 2019 showed 71% of Americans support allowing transgender Americans to openly serve in the military.

CBS News reports that the Biden administration is expected to repeal the ban on transgender military servicemembers as soon as Monday.

The senior Defense official told CBS News the repeal will be through executive order signed by President Joe Biden.

The announcement is expected to take place at a ceremony with newly-confirmed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who will order the Pentagon to go back to the policy enacted in 2016 by former Defense Secretary Ash Carter that allowed transgender Americans to serve openly.

Biden mentioned his plan to reverse the trans ban often on the campaign trail. “I truly believe, Senator, that as I said in my opening statement, that if you’re fit and you’re qualified to serve and you can maintain the standards, you should be allowed to serve,” Secretary Austin said during his Senate confirmation hearing. “And, you can expect that I will support that throughout.” Donald Trump instituted the transgender military ban in July 2017 as part of a deal with a group of House Republicans. The GOPers threatened to block funding of Trump’s Mexico wall if he didn’t prohibit the U.S. military from paying for or supplying healthcare for trans service members. Trump took the request further and banned any new transgender applicants from serving. Over 20 retired generals and admirals denounced the policy saying the ban was “a troubling move backward.”

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Rep. Cawthorn Had Nothing When Asked For ‘Concrete Evidence’ Of Voter Fraud

CNN anchor Pamela Brown and Rep. Madison Cawthorn

CNN anchor Pamela Brown and Rep. Madison Cawthorn
CNN anchor Pamela Brown and Rep. Madison Cawthorn (screen capture)
Hours after riling up Trump supporters at the now-infamous January 6 rally that led to the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, freshman Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) joined fellow House Republicans in contesting election results during the certification of the Electoral College. Cawthorn was a bit flummoxed during an appearance on CNN last night when he tried to explain his rationale for questioning the results. “The things that I was not objecting to the election on behalf of was things like Dominion voting machines changing ballots, or these U-Haul trucks pulling up filled with ballots for Joe Biden as president,” said Cawthorn. “The thing I was objecting for is things like, like I said in the state of Wisconsin, particularly in the town of Madison … there was an appointed official in that town who actually went against the will of the state legislature and created ballot drop boxes, which is basically ballot harvesting that was happening in the parks.” CNN anchor Pamela Brown pointed out that the Wisconsin issue Cawthorn brought up had been litigated in court and rejected by Trump-appointed judges. And that’s where Cawthorn found himself tossing word salads right and left. “Indeed, I believe specifically, and this is the one that I debated on behalf of on the House floor, in Wisconsin that was never heard because they dismissed it because of standing,” he added. “Now I don’t believe that is a concrete enough of a way to dismiss it.” Well, you have to have standing in order to bring a legal argument to court. That’s pretty much established…

Brown followed up asking Cawthorn for examples of ‘concrete evidence’ he’d seen of voter fraud. The 25-year-old found himself unable to cite any evidence that led him to believe there was widespread fraud. “Like I said, that’s not the reason I contested the election,” he told Brown. “So you wanted to throw out millions of votes without actually seeing any concrete evidence of fraud?” Brown asked. “Cause that’s what you were doing when you were contesting the election.” Pause, pause, pause… “I disagree with you on that point,” and again asserted his only goal had been to “hold up the Constitution.” Brown then shifted to Cawthorn’s own state of North Carolina which had also amended election laws due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But for some reason he appeared to be unaware that his own state legislators had done the same thing Wisconsin elected official had done. “I’m actually not aware of the laws that were changed inside of North Carolina,” Cawthorn replied. “I believe we had a very safe and very secure election here.” In Texas we have a saying, “All hat, no cattle.” You can watch the full exchange above or a few clips below.

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News Round-Up: January 23, 2021

Backstage at CHICAGO with Broadway legend Chita Rivera who turns 88 today
Some news items you might have missed: • Happy Birthday: Sending the biggest birthday wishes to Broadway legend Chita Rivera (above) who turns 88 years young today. I was thrilled to work with the singular sensation during one of my many chapters with CHICAGO the Musical. #HappyBirthdayToYouuuuuuuuuuuuu • BosGuy: It’s Furry Friday every week on the veteran LGBTQ blogger’s site and we’re always so much the better for it. Hit the link 🙂 • Instinct Magazine: President Biden’s new Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin III, announced during his confirmation hearing that he is definitely in favor of Biden’s plan to reverse the woeful ban on transgender military service members. “I support the president’s plan to overturn the ban.”
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (screen capture)
• The Advocate: President Biden’s nominee for secretary of State, Antony Blinken, says he will appoint an envoy for LGBTQ+ rights and allow U.S. embassies around the world display the LGBTQ+ Pride flag without restrictions. • Washington Post: Federal law enforcement officials are privately debating whether they should decline to charge some of the individuals who stormed the U.S. Capitol out of concern that hundreds of such cases could swamp the courts. Some federal officials have argued internally that those people who are known only to have committed unlawful entry — and were not engaged in violent, threatening or destructive behavior — should not be charged. • Edge Media: Watch this mom take credit for her OnlyFans star son’s ‘biggest asset.’ “Of course I’m proud. I’m your #1 fan. I’m always upbeat, you know that. I made that dick, I want a percentage.”

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Lloyd Austin Confirmed As 1st African American Defense Secretary

General Lloyd Austin

General Lloyd Austin
Retired 4-star General Lloyd Austin (image – public domain)
Retired four-star Army General Lloyd J. Austin III became the first Black defense secretary in the history of the nation following an overwhelming confirmation vote of 93 to 2 in the Senate. Austin was sworn in as Defense Secretary shortly after the Senate approved his nomination. Congress had to first grant him a waiver from a law restricting those who are retired from military service fewer than seven years from leading the Pentagon. From the New York Times:

Mr. Austin, 67, was the only African-American to have led the United States Central Command, the military’s marquee combat command, with responsibility for Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria.

His most immediate agenda will include issues that have vexed administrations for a generation, and some newly on the rise. It includes an increasingly muscular China, an aggressive Russia, the protracted conflict in Afghanistan and a vague and looming threat of Iran made evident at the end of the Trump administration.

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News Round-Up: January 22, 2021

Haaz Sleiman and Michael Cassidy in 'Breaking Fast'

Haaz Sleiman and Michael Cassidy in 'Breaking Fast'
Haaz Sleiman and Michael Cassidy in ‘Breaking Fast’
Some news items you might have missed: • Pink News: First lady Dr Jill Biden is visiting an LGBTQ health center and HIV/AIDS clinic on her third day in the White House “to highlight and promote support services for cancer patients and caregivers, and hear about the impact of COVID on access to health care, including cancer screenings and prevention efforts.” • Queer Cinema: The gay-themed romantic comedy Breaking Fast, starring Haaz Sleiman and Michael Cassidy (lead image), gets released today on VOD and digital outlets. The acclaimed film offers rare visibility for gay Muslims. Set against the twinkling lights of West Hollywood, Breaking Fast is a romantic comedy that follows Mo, a practicing Muslim still reeling from heartbreak. When an All­-American guy named Kal offers to join him in his nightly Iftars­­ –the traditional meal eaten by Muslims during Ramadan­­– meal after meal, the two start to discover they have more in common than meets the eye.

• Boston Herald: Mark Sahady, 46, of Malden, and Suzanne Ianni, 59, – organizer’s of Boston’s so-called ‘Straight Pride’ event – were arrested for taking part in the violent invasion of the U.S. Capitol building on January 6. Because of course. • Kenneth-in-the-212: Check out Kenneth’s weekly round-up of the what’s what in LGBTQ publications like Michigan’s BTL featuring Brian Michael Smith (below). Transman Brian Michael Smith covers Michigan's BTL • The Nation: Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) has misled the public about training for the Paralympics, just as he misrepresented his education and business history. After saying he “had an opportunity” for the Paralympics with hopes of breaking the 100-meter dash, journalists took a deep dive and couldn’t find any evidence he’d ever competed anywhere. • Instinct Magazine: YouTube star Jojo Siwa (Dance Moms, Nickelodeon) came out via a photo on Twitter.

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Article Of Impeachment Will Be Delivered To Senate On Monday

The article of impeachment passed in the House will be delivered to the Senate on Monday
Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York (D)
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Friday that the Senate will receive on Monday the article of impeachment against Donald Trump for inciting the riot on the U.S. Capitol, clearing the way for the start of Trump’s second impeachment trial. From the Washington Post:

“It will be a full trial; it will be a fair trial,” Schumer said during remarks on the Senate floor. Shortly after his comments, Pelosi released a statement confirming the timing.

The House impeached Trump on a single article of “incitement of insurrection” for his role in the Jan. 6 takeover of the Capitol by a violent pro-Trump mob.

“Make no mistake, there will be a trial, and when that trial ends, senators will have to decide if they believe Donald John Trump incited the insurrection against the United States,” Schumer said.

Read the full article here. In similar remarks, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told reporter, “Just because he’s now gone — thank God — you don’t get to say to a president, ‘Do whatever you want in the last months of your administration. You’re going to get a “get out of jail” card free because people think we should make nice-nice and forget that people died here on January 6.'”

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Biden Beats Trump With Higher Inaugural TV Ratings

L-R Donald Trump, Joe Biden (screen capture, campaign photo)
First Donald Trump lost the popular vote to Joe Biden, then the Electoral College, now – gasp – the TV ratings. From the New York Times:

President Biden’s inaugural address on Wednesday attracted about a million and a half more viewers than tuned in for Donald J. Trump’s inaugural speech four years ago, according to preliminary data from Nielsen.

Nearly 40 million people watched Mr. Biden’s address on the major cable news stations and the three big broadcast networks. In 2017, 38.3 million viewers watched his predecessor’s first speech as president, the Nielsen data shows.

CNN was the ratings leader, drawing roughly 10 million viewers from roughly 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., when Mr. Biden took center stage. Only 2.7 million watched Mr. Biden’s address on Fox News, the lowest of the major networks and a sharp reversal from four years ago, when nearly 12 million viewers tuned in to Mr. Trump’s preferred cable news network.

Of course, we’ve also seen reports that Trump was irked that Hollywood turned out bigly for the Biden inaugural with such stars as Lady Gaga, JLo, Garth Brooks, Katy Perry, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, Demi Lovato, Tom Hanks and more. Every time a star showed up during either the swearing in ceremony or the Inaugural Concert last evening, my hubby Michael would remind me of Trump’s ‘galaxy of stars’ – Scott Baio, reality contestant Jackie Evancho and Lee Greenwood.