Category: News

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News Round-Up: December 5, 2020

‘Dashing in December’ star Juan Pablo Di Pace (image via Facebook)
Some news items you might have missed: • ET Canada: Juan Pablo Di Pace (starring in the holiday rom-com Dashing in December) says all gay roles don’t need to be played by gay actors. “We do what we do because we love experiencing other people’s stories and lives and what would be of the Meryl Streep’s of the world if we all had to do the thing that we are. Actors like playing and playing is inhabiting another human being.” • Pink News: Switzerland has taken a major step on the path to equality after its parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of a law to pass same-sex marriage. The council of states – the upper house of Switzerland’s legislature – voted by 22-15 to approve landmark legislation to make same-sex marriage a reality. • Kenneth-in-the-212: Make sure and check out Kenneth’s weekly round-up of the what’s what in LGBTQ publications like Colombian actor/model Diego Arnary on the cover of DNA Magazine.
Columbian actor/model Diego Arnary covers DNA Magazine
• Instinct Magazine: A TikTok user, who was kicked out of his house when his father found out he was gay, discovered his dad secretly had sex with men for pay. • Gay Star News: Jamaica has been told it is breaching international law and human rights by continuing to persecute LGBT+ people. • The Advocate: Out singer/songwriter Trey Pearson, who rose to fame in the Christian rock band Everyday Sunday, released his latest single, “We Don’t Want Your War,” in order to remind the world that, even as the pandemic rages, social injustice continues to take root.

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News Round-Up: December 4, 2020

U.S. flag and Pride flag

Some news items you might have missed: • Edge Media: A new report published by the Washington Post suggests that President-elect Joe Biden may have won the 2020 election because of higher LGBTQ voter turnout. • Pew Research: A new poll shows 60% of American adults say they will get vaccinated for the coronavirus, up from 51% in September. • CNBC: Sidney Powell, who has already been booted from the Trump legal team, asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit to order Georgia officials to “preserve all data on the Dominion System” and allow “Republican Electors to audit” that system in 10 counties. Finding it has no jurisdiction to hear the appeal, the 11th Circuit Court sent the Kraken lawsuit back to its cage in the District Court.

• Nevada Independent: A Carson City District Court judge rejected a legal request to award the state’s six electoral votes to Donald Trump. Judge James Russell ruled that he found the evidence offered by the Trump campaign to have “little to no value,” and failed to provide under any standard of proof that the campaign’s long list of alleged fraud and vote irregularities could be backed up under any evidentiary standard. • Detroit Free Press: Team Trump also lost in Michigan today as well. The court chastised the campaign for dragging its feet on the appeal, said the certification of Michigan’s election results by the Board of State Canvassers in the interim had made the lawsuit moot, and said that if the Trump campaign wanted to challenge the results it could have requested a recount, but it did not. • WXKY Radio: New York Young Republicans hoped to keep the New Jersey location of their annual fundraiser a secret but were outed by folks tweeting from the party. Jersey City chief prosecutor Jake Hudnut responded to a tweet by an attendee taunting New York Gov. Cuomo to “come and get me” by tweeting “Gov. Cuomo may not be able to ‘come and get’ you, but I can.”

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Trump Considering ‘Preemptive’ Pardons For As Many As 20 Allies

The list of possible “preemptive” pardons from Donald Trump is apparently even longer than originally thought. From Politico:

President Donald Trump is considering preemptively pardoning as many as 20 aides and associates before leaving office, frustrating Republicans who believe offering legal reprieves to his friends and family members could backfire.

Trump’s strategy, like much of his presidency, is nontraditional. He is eschewing the typical protocol of processing cases through the Justice Department. And he may argue that such preemptive pardons for his friends and family members are necessary to spare them from paying millions in legal fees to fight what he describes as witch hunts.

Those up for clemency include everyone from Trump’s personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, to several members of his family — all people who haven’t been charged with a crime.

The Donald is reportedly concerned that pardoning these folks ‘would look like an admission of guilt.’ Which, by the way, is what it would be.

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House Votes 228-164 To Decriminalize Marijuana

For the first time, the House of Representatives voted in favor of decriminalizing marijuana and providing for the regulation and taxation of cannabis. Five Republicans joined 222 Democrats and one independent to approve the bill. The five Republicans: Matt Gaetz, Brian Mast, Tom McClintock, Don Young, Denver Riggleman From the Washington Post:

The vote was 228-to-164 and marked the first time either chamber of Congress has voted on the issue of federally decriminalizing cannabis.

The measure is not expected to pass into law, and, due to political skittishness, it was only voted on after the November election and more than a year after it emerged from committee. But the House took a stand at a moment of increasing momentum, with voters last month opting to liberalize marijuana laws in five states — including three that President Trump won handily.

Currently, 15 states have some form of recreational cannabis legalization, while 36 states have approved marijuana for medical use.

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News Round-Up: December 3, 2020

A moment from Todrick Hall’s “Bells, Bows, Gifts, Trees”
Some news items you might have missed: • Edge Media: Will Columbia be 2021’s most popular LGBTQ travel destination? The South American country has been gaining traction as the next hot spot for queer travelers. • NewNowNext: Inspired by the legendary Black and Latino houses and vogue balls in 1980s New York City, the illuminating, fierce documentary Deep In Vogue introduces North Americans to Manchester’s “Northern Vogue” scene. The film will be available on December 8.

• The Hill: Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are offering to publicly take the COVID-19 vaccine to prove its safety and encourage Americans to be inoculated. • NowThis News:  This is the Trump campaign’s star witness before Michigan state legislators today whose unhinged voter fraud testimony broke the internet. “With friends like this, who needs enemies?”

• The Gaily Grind: Also at the Michigan hearing today, another of Rudy Giuliani’s witnesses said she thinks “all Chinese look alike” while making the argument for a voter ID requirement in Michigan. • Instinct Magazine: Sleigh what!? Todrick Hall has reworked his now-legendary track ‘Nails Hair Hips Heels’ for the holidays, serving up a brand new version titled “Bells Bows Gifts Trees” that is sure to help get us through a holiday season like we’ve never seen before.

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OnlyFans Performer Pleads Not Guilty To Posting Sex Video Without Consent

Fabricio Da Silva Claudino (image via Instagram)
An OnlyFans performer who was arrested for secretly recording a sexual interlude with his boyfriend and then uploading the clip to his account without permission has changed his plea from guilty to not guilty. Fabricio Da Silva Claudino, a former flight attendant for Emirates, reportedly filmed the video last year in July at their home in Marrickville, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. As Instinct previously reported, Claudino pleaded guilty this past June to 11 counts of recording and distributing without consent several explicit images and a video clip. At the time, the police report entered into evidence read, “The victim is clearly unaware of this activity being recorded and can be depicted in the recording as face down throughout.” “At one point the defendant positions the mobile phone towards a mirror where his face is depicted … at no stage, did the victim consent to the defendant taking this recording.” But the amateur porn performer changed his plea during a video hearing this week to not guilty.

Claudino admitted to recording the episode and distributing the images but says he did so with his ex-boyfriend’s consent.

He also told the court he only pleaded guilty because he was advised to do so by solicitor Brett Galloway.

“He said, ‘If you continue to plead not guilty your case will be adjourned to December 2020 or maybe longer to set a new hearing date because of the COVID-19 pandemic’,” said Claudino according to ABC News Australia.

The 32-year-old reportedly felt a guilty plea would speed his return to Brazil so he could care for his mother, who is currently facing cancer.

“I said, ‘I am the only financial support she has had since I was 18 — she is my priority at the moment,'” he said. “If this is the only way out of the situation, I agree to plead guilty.”

Claudino claims he turned to OnlyFans after his breakup (the relationship lasted about five months) as a means to earn the money to travel back home. Without a work visa, he was unable to secure legal employment.

Fabricio Da Silva Claudino (image via Instagram)

After finding new legal representation, Claudino was apparently informed: “a month’s worth of WhatsApp messages had been deleted from his mobile phone.”

His new lawyer, Alex Maroulis, told ABC News he is working to retrieve a text message chat about OnlyFans between his client and the ex-boyfriend.

Claudino says the missing text messages “would be in the period where the text messages have not been provided by [the alleged victim] or deliberately deleted by [the alleged victim].”

“With [the alleged victim’s] consent, I posted on the website ‘OnlyFans’ sexually explicit material of us and I did not show [his] face in any of the sexually explicit images that I posted on OnlyFans.”

Claudino also referenced a conversation he had with his ex in which he also obtained what he considered ‘verbal consent’ regarding sharing the video clip on OnlyFans.

“He said, ‘If you post any of our sex videos make sure my face does not appear — I will see how it goes for you and how much money you make, and I might join myself to make some money and get out of debt,'” says Claudino.

The alleged victim vehemently denies he gave consent regarding making the video or sharing it publicly.

The Australian ex-boyfriend told ABC News in February he discovered the videos while Claudino was visiting a friend in Melbourne. Apparently, distinctive body tattoos made it evident it was him in the clip.

Those tattoos, which he says he used to display proudly, now “feel like branding. I feel dirty … I lost my identity forever.”

Despite being granted bail in September, Claudino remains incarcerated. His next court appearance is scheduled for next week.

(source: ABC News Australia)  

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News Round-Up: December 2, 2020

Bremen Menelli (via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Bremen Menelli (above) proves that being fully clothed can be sexy, too. Follow him on Instagram here. • OUT: Noted lesbian-centric website AfterEllen, which has become a bastion for TERFs (trans-exclusionary radical feminists), has disappeared from the interwebs. • White House: In the final World AIDS Day proclamation of his presidency, Donald Trump made no mention of the disease’s impact on LGBTQ people who make up 69% of all HIV cases in the U.S. • Washington Blade: White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany falsely said Wednesday that Donald Trump was the first to adorn the White House with a red ribbon commemorating World AIDS Day, dodging a question from the Washington Blade on why he omitted any reference to LGBTQ people from his proclamation. Both former President Obama and former President George W. Bush hung red ribbons on the White House during their administrations to mark World AIDS Day.

• Washington Post: 69-year-old Craig Buescher was in good health and believed the virus wouldn’t be that bad if he came down with it. While he doesn’t know how he ultimately contracted the virus, it was, in fact, quite bad. Nine days in the hospital, as he struggled to breathe, convinced him that not only did he need to be more careful to avoid the virus, but also that he should persuade others to do the same. • Politico: Donald Trump’s own Attorney General, William Barr, has publicly affirmed that there was no evidence of large-scale fraud during this year’s election. “To date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have affected a different outcome in the election,” Barr said, according to the AP. • New York Times: Donald Trump has discussed with advisers whether to grant pre-emptive pardons to his children, to his son-in-law, and to his personal lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani, and talked with Mr. Giuliani about pardoning him as recently as last week. • Instinct Magazine: After fifteen years and over one hundred Real Housewives, the city that started it all has given the franchise their first out lesbian Housewife. Real Housewives of Orange County Braunwyn Windham-Burke has come out as a lesbian, proclaiming proudly “it feels so good to be living my truth.”

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Harry Styles Shades Candace Owens In Expert Fashion

Harry Styles (photo: Kate Elizabeth – CC License)
Popstar and LGBTQ ally Harry Styles threw expert shade Candace Owens’ way after she criticized his recent Vogue cover shoot. Last month, the 26-year-old One Direction singer posed for the venerable fashion magazine in a Gucci jacket layered over a dress.

 

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The oh-so-conservative Ms. Owens was not impressed by the dress. “There is no society that can survive without strong men,” Owens tweeted. “The East knows this. In the west, the steady feminization of our men at the same time that Marxism is being taught to our children is not a coincidence. It is an outright attack.” “Bring back manly men,” she hissed in closing. Today, Styles posted a photo of himself wearing a light blue suit complete with fluffy shirt sleeves while eating a banana. His caption was brilliant in its simplicity: “Bring back manly men.” The post has received over 6.5 million ‘Likes’ in less than a day.

 

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Owens reportedly commented on Styles’ post but it, to be honest, was too hard for me to scroll through all the love sent his way in the comments. Pretending to be oblivious to his sarcasm, she wrote, “Thank God you agree.” Unable to resist her ugly nature, though, she threw in another catty remark writing, “He looks great! He just doesn’t look masculine.” In his Vogue cover interview, Styles shared his view of exploring the possibilities of fashion and referenced pop music royalty as his inspirations. “The people that I looked up to in music—Prince and David Bowie and Elvis and Freddie Mercury and Elton John—they’re such showmen,” he told Vogue. “As a kid it was completely mind-blowing. Now I’ll put on something that feels really flamboyant, and I don’t feel crazy wearing it. I think if you get something that you feel amazing in, it’s like a superhero outfit. Clothes are there to have fun with and experiment with and play with.” Regarding the nasty tilt Owens clearly assigned to her conservative bent, it’s notable that Styles has been vocal about his support for all of his fans. At several concerts in the past, he’s carried rainbow flags and declared his love for every fan: “If you are black, if you are white, if you are gay, if you are straight, if you are transgender – whoever you are, whoever you want to be, I support you and I love every single one of you.”

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Anti-Gay Politician Busted Attending Sex Party During Lockdown

József Szájer (from official website)
A politician from Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ ruling party resigned from the European Parliament and apologized for breaking COVID lockdown restrictions in Belgium to attend what local news outlets have called “a full-blown orgy” attended by 25 people. News outlets say the Brussels orgy was attended by (cough, cough) mostly men. From Vice:

József Szájer, a longtime representative of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party, unexpectedly quit as a member of the European Parliament (MEP) on Sunday.

On Tuesday, it was reported in Belgium that police had broken up a sex party involving 25 people above a bar in the centre of Brussels, only several hundred metres from the Belgian capital’s main police station.

Like many countries, Belgium is in the midst of a second surge of the coronavirus pandemic. As such, restaurants and bars have been closed, a curfew is currently in place, and public gatherings are limited to four people. Apparently, a 25-person orgy violates every single one of these restrictions. Vice adds that Szájer reportedly attempted to elude police by climbing out a window. He then tried to claim diplomatic immunity. In a statement on his website, Szájer referred to the gathering “a house party.” He also acknowledged that while police say they found party drugs on the premises, he didn’t partake and offered to be drug tested. According to investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi, Szájer “personally re-wrote Hungary’s constitution” to outlaw same-sex marriage: “Hungary shall protect the institution of marriage as the union of a man and a woman.”

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News Round-Up: November 30, 2020

(image via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • New York Post: Proving that love is blind, and sometimes kooky, a bodybuilder from Kazakhstan (above) has tied the knot with his dearly beloved — a sex doll he dated for eight months before proposing a year ago. • Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin’s elections board confirmed Joe Biden’s victory in the state Monday verifying Biden’s win of about 20,700 votes a day after the completion of a partial recount that found dozens of more votes for Biden. • Media Matters: Conservative pundit Ben Shapiro complained on his daily webcast today that Hulu made the holiday romantic comedy, Happiest Season, featuring a lesbian couple. “Conservatives are going to have to get into the business of actually making entertainment because the left has decided that all entertainment is now to be ‘woke.’ All of it. Right?” No, Ben, there are dozens of holiday rom-coms made every year – only 4 this year are LGBTQ-themed. And that’s, like, a new record.

• Washington Post: Anthony S. Fauci and other experts urged Americans to take aggressive action as the December holidays loom to mitigate the surge overwhelming hospitals across the country. As the number of coronavirus-related deaths per day rose to its highest point since April, Fauci and others highlighted the importance of complying with mask mandates and physical distancing. • CNN: Dr. Scott Atlas, who doubted face masks, pushed ‘herd immunity’, and had no background in infectious diseases, has resigned from Donald Trump’s coronavirus task force. • NBC Out: Orange Is the New Black star and LGBTQ advocate Laverne Cox took to Instagram on Saturday to share that she and her friend were the victims of a transphobic attack that has left her “in shock.”

 

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