Category: News

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News Round-Up: August 3, 2020

Sgt. Keith Wildhaber (image via Wildhaber)
Some news items you might have missed: • St. Louis Today: Openly gay St. Louis County police lieutenant Keith Wildhaber (above), who in February settled a workplace discrimination lawsuit against the police department for $10.25 million, said Friday that he is stepping down from command of its Diversity and Inclusion unit. In a Facebook post he wrote, “The dog whispers of a gay, white guy being unable to lead Diversity and Inclusion were loud and clear. Systemic racism is alive and well.” • Cosmopolitan: James Corden, currently the host of The Late Late Show, might be in talks to replace Ellen DeGeneres on her daytime talk show. The possible shake-up comes shortly after toxic work environment claims were made against Ellen’s longtime show. • Vimeo: Snowflake, a new film that depicts the fear of a nation when a dictatorial politician is suddenly thrust into the White House, will begin streaming on Vimeo on August 4. While most of the characters in the film are gay, Snowflake shows how their other identities – age, race, and their economic status – shape their individual views. Check out the trailer below.

• The Advocate: Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, who’s faced criticism for anti-transgender comments over the past year, signed a letter supporting Idaho’s law barring trans females from competing in women’s and girls’ interscholastic sports. The NCAA, which has already announced its opposition to the law, is considering potentially moving the March Madness men’s basketball tournament from Boise. • Deadline: Pose star Angelica Ross has inked a development & production deal with Pigeon, the production company behind OWN’s Iyanla: Fix My Life. The transgender actress and activist will work with Pigeon to develop and co-produce scripted and non-scripted content. • AFP Fact Check: Donald Trump went on a voter fraud Twitter rant after the Nevada legislature approved mail-in-voting for all registered voters. But AFP’s fact-checking showed actual voter fraud is minuscule to non-existent.

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NYC Party Boat Shut Down For Violating COVID-19 Safety Practices

The Liberty Belle (image via NY Sheriff’s Office)
Lord, these people just want the pandemic to last forever I guess. From the New York Times:

The Liberty Belle, a riverboat with four bars, three outdoor decks and space for 600 guests, has been touted by its operators as a “favorite venue” of New Yorkers who hold parties, fund-raisers and other trendy events on the water.

But now it has become yet another symbol of reckless socializing during the pandemic: The boat was used on Saturday to host a party with more than 170 guests, violating state and local social-distancing rules, according to the New York Sheriff’s Office.

It was unclear what kind of party was held on the Liberty Belle and how much organizers might have charged for admission. The authorities received a complaint about a party boat departing Pier 36 on Manhattan’s Lower East Side around 8:30 p.m., and deputies intercepted and boarded the boat when it returned around 11:30 p.m.

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Lame Gay Trump Supporter Vandalizes #BLM Display (Twice)

The founder of LGBTrump, a queer Facebook group that supports Donald Trump’s reelection, has been arrested twice in the past week for defacing the Black Lives Matter mural painted in front of Trump Tower in New York City. According to the New York Post, Mark-David Hutt of Rochester, New York, was arrested on July 25 for spreading red paint on the BLM display on Fifth Avenue shortly after 5 pm, and charged with criminal mischief. But the next morning, the 31-year-old was back at it trying to smear white paint on the BLM. Hutt was cuffed and arrested again by 10:10 am. The next day, Hutt took to the group’s Facebook page to boast of his lame efforts: “Saturday, I splashed Red. Sunday, I splashed White. & on Monday…,” Hutt wrote when he posted the latest in a string of videos of his vandalism. “Mayor Bill de Blasio has ruined NYC & has put a target on the back of NYPD’s finest. We need to STAND UP and take our country back. #BlueLivesMatter” Video of Hutt on his hands and knees pushing the white paint on the ground made it to Twitter. In the clip, you can see a police officer attempt to stop the Trump supporter, but Hutt just ignores the officer. Eventually, four officers gingerly stopped Hutt from finishing his vandalism.

The Washington Post reports at least 8 people have been arrested for vandalizing the BLM display since it was initially installed on July 9 by the city. Hutt was so proud of himself he made a screen capture of his arrest the banner for his Facebook page (above). On July 29, he posted a meme letting people know, “If you need a reason to unfriend me, I am pro Trump, pro military, pro law enforcement, pro gun, pro life, a Christian, and there is only two genders. P.S. All Lives Matter.” (source: NY Post)

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Self-Proclaimed White Supremacist & Trump Supporter Slaps, Punches Woman

Nicholas Arnold Schock (screen captures)
A self-proclaimed white supremacist went on a loud, curse-laden rant at a restaurant in Sarasota County, Florida, and then slapped and punched a female employee. From Law & Crime:

The man was identified as Nicholas Arnold Schock, 36. He was booked into the Sarasota County jail on a count each of battery, and disturbing the peace. It is unclear if he has an attorney at this time. Records viewed by Law&Crime show the Wachula-resident was arrested Friday in the city of Nokomis. He was held on a $620 bond.

In the video, the man identified as Schock demands “Call Donald Trump.” He goes on like that.

“I’m a white supremacist,” he said. “The Aryan nation will rule the world!” he yells at the camera. “People covered in tattoos are going to be my closest relatives, I promise you.”

“Hey, we’ve got children in here,” a bystander said.

“I don’t give a fuck,” the suspect said. “Call Donald Trump, please.”

A bystander in a light cyan shirt tries to lead him off.

“Do you know Donald Trump?” the suspect said. “If you don’t know Donald Trump, I’m not going nowhere. I will butt-fuck this bitch on the table right now.”

He ambled off, and a woman stepped in front of him with her arms spread. The woman apparently said something about there being kids there, but the suspect then slapped her in the face. Bystanders rushed the man and took him down. One of them cinched in a chokehold.

Here’s the video clip. Warning: graphic violence.

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Gun Nut Shoots At Employee When Asked To Wear Mask, Apprehended In Police Shootout

Adam Zaborowski (via screen capture)
On Friday, an unhinged gun nut pulled out a gun and fired at a cigar store employee in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The man was apparently enraged at being asked to wear a face mask in the store due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state currently requires face masks while in public. The man – Adam Zaborowski, 35, of Slatington, Pennsylvania – was apprehended on Sunday and has been charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, and reckless endangerment. From Philadelphia’s ABC News affiliate:

According to authorities, around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, an officer from the Slatington Borough Police Department and troopers from the Pennsylvania State Police Bethlehem barracks attempted to make a traffic stop at the intersection of East Washington and 2nd Streets in Slatington.

State police said the driver of the vehicle, identified as Zaborowski, exited his vehicle and began shooting at police, striking a Slatington Borough patrol vehicle.

Both the Slatington Borough officer and the state troopers returned fire and struck Zaborowski, police said. They then administered first aid to Zaborowski.

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News Round-Up: August 1, 2020

Reichen and Chip win Season 4 of The Amazing Race (screen capture)
Some news items you might have missed: • Instinct Magazine: My colleague at my ‘other home’ has done a terrific round-up of LGBTQ reality show winners over the years including Amazing Race Season 4 champs Reichen and Chip (above). Hit the link for winning LGBTQ moments from Survivor, Big Brother and more. • Global News: Shane Daum, 43, reports he was gay-bashed by a group of seven individuals while camping in British Columbia. During the incident, the men (who recognized him from his local grocery store) held his dog as they beat him unconscious. He was treated for a concussion, but law enforcement says they aren’t pressing charges because there are “no independent witnesses to identify any particular accused at the time.” • Out Music: With his work in television, film and theater, Tituss Burgess is quickly emerging as one of the entertainment industry’s most versatile and dynamic performers. Burgess recently dropped his first single, “Dance M.F.,” aimed squarely at the dance music culture and this year’s many unstoppable virtual pride celebrations. The track is a sultry sexy stomper with an attitude that is certain to bring comfort and escapism to our currently socially distanced souls. Burgess says the song “is a love letter to all the party people who in spite of the pandemic, are still committed to ‘live their best lives,’ party on down and celebrate Pride safely while in lockdown.”

• Variety: Facebook is unleashing hundreds of thousands of music videos in the U.S. starting this weekend — a direct challenge to YouTube, which has had a virtual lock on the internet music-video space for years. With the U.S. launch of music videos, which Facebook has been actively developing since at least last fall, the company has updated Artist Pages of musicians and singers with a new section to let users browse their official music videos. • Yahoo News: Now that Donald Trump’s big GOP donor buddy Louis DeJoy has been installed as Postmaster General, orders are going out to employees reducing hours and services. I’m sure it’s all part of a plan to hobble voting by mail which Trump has been demonizing for weeks now for alleged ‘election fraud’ potential. • The Hill: Some Republicans are urging GOP leaders to abandon the attacks on mail-in voting and to instead embrace it, warning that the president is effectively sabotaging his own party. The impact could be particularly pronounced in Florida, a battleground state where Republicans have traditionally outpaced Democrats among absentee voters. It’s also the preferred method of voting for many seniors, who broke for Trump in 2016. • InstaHunks: I thought I’d share another shot of Backyard Envy host Garrett Magee since he made such a splash yesterday in my post about the upcoming Season 2 premiere on Tuesday, August 4.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Garrett Magee (@garrettbmagee) on

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US Economy Contracts By 32.9% As 1.4 Million New Unemployment Claims Filed

Donald Trump

Donald Trump (image via Flickr/White House)
So. Much. Winning. Remember when Donald Trump predicted ‘only’ 60,000 deaths from COVID-19 and the economy would come roaring back in the summer when the virus magically disappeared? From CNN:

The US economy contracted at a 32.9% annual rate from April through June, its worst drop on record, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said Thursday.

Business ground to a halt during the pandemic lockdown in the spring of this year and America plunged into its first recession in 11 years, putting an end to the longest economic expansion in US history and wiping out five years of economic gains in just a few months.

A recession is commonly defined as two consecutive quarters of declining gross domestic product — the broadest measure of the economy. Between January and March, GDP declined by an annualized rate of 5%.

Additionally, the number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims rose for the second week in a row. Some 1.4 million people filed for initial jobless claims last week, up 12,000 from the prior week’s revised level, which was the first increase in 16 weeks, according to the Department of Labor. At this writing, 152,074 Americans have died from COVID-19. The U.S. has more than 50% more fatalities from the virus than Brazil which ranks second in the world with 91,263 deaths.

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News Round-Up: July 30, 2020

Phillip Evelyn II (via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Woofy Phillip Evelyn II (above) is giving you full-on Ninja-ness in this post. #Dang Follow him on the Gram of Insta here. • Pink News: A homophobe in South Dakota went on a profanity-heavy anti-gay rant while burning an LGBTQ Pride flag during a Facebook video. The local district attorney says he won’t be pursuing hate crime charges despite the video. • CBS News: President Barack Obama’s powerful eulogy at the funeral of the late civil rights leader, Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), was perfection. Obama said Americans should honor Lewis’ legacy by continuing to work for democracy and voting rights. “He, as much as anyone in our history, brought this country a little bit closer to our highest ideals.” Hit the play button to hear a president speak about someone other than themself (and in complete sentences).

• Courthouse News: Federal prosecutors have agreed to abandon the gag order against Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer and current felon, Michael Cohen. Cohen is now free to use social media, participate in interviews, and release his Trump tell-all book, which is due go on sale in September. • Fox News: File this under ‘metaphors you could never make up.’ Vice President Mike Pence’s campaign bus collided with a dump truck today while stumping in Western Pennsylvania. • Gay Star News: International pop star Elton John shared the 30th anniversary of his sobriety with his Instagram followers writing, “If I hadn’t finally taken the big step of asking for help 30 years ago, I’d be dead. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the people who have inspired and supported me along the way.”

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Seth Rogen To Pen Movie About Legendary Hollywood Hustler

L-R Scotty Bowers, Seth Rogen (images via Amazon, Instagram)
Searchlight Pictures will produce a feature film based on the documentary Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood. Seth Rogen (An American Pickle) and Evan Goldberg have been tapped to pen the script and Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name) will direct the film. From Deadline:

The film focuses on Scotty Bowers, a World War II Marine combat veteran who fought at the Battle of Iwo Jima and became a legendary bisexual male hustler and date-arranger for gay Hollywood movie stars from the 1940s until the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s.

The docu is based on Bowers’ book Full Service: My Adventures in Hollywood and the Secret Sex Lives of the Stars, a dishy tell-all that was so titled because Bowers arranged these liaisons from a gas station he ran in the shadow of the Hollywood studios.

Despite the prurient nature of his business, Bowers was beloved because he created a safe environment for gay members of the showbiz community to hook up in secret in what otherwise would have been a much more dangerous and possibly deadly pursuit.

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Herman Cain, Former Presidential Hopeful, Dies Of COVID-19

Herman Cain (image via Facebook)
Herman Cain,  former CEO of the Nebraska-based Godfather’s Pizza and former 2012 Republican presidential hopeful, has died from complications from COVID-19. He was 74.

From NBC News:

Last month, Cain had tested positive for COVID-19, just a little over a week after he had attended a Trump campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 20.

While there’s no way to pinpoint exactly where he contracted the virus, Cain posted a photo of himself with others at the event, which showed him without a mask on.

More than 150,000 people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19.

An unabashed social conservative, he opposed same-sex marriage and abortion rights. Cain had recently joined conservative news outlet Newsmax TV and was set to launch a weekly show before he died in an Atlanta-area hospital where he had been critically ill for several weeks.