Category: News

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News Round-Up: July 29, 2020

Men’s saunas may make a comeback in San Francisco
Some news items you might have missed: • Gay Star News: San Francisco may finally see gay bathhouses return thanks to the city relaxing rules it brought in at the height of the AIDS crisis. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the city’s governing council, voted unanimously on Tuesday to remove the restrictions on saunas in hopes that the businesses will now ‘reopen as part of the city’s COVID-19 economic recovery’. • Meidas Touch: A Democratic super PAC is launching an anti-President Trump ad that uses former President Reagan’s comments in a 1980 presidential debate when he was challenging then-President Carter. The ad is set to air exclusively on Fox News over the course of the next week and features Reagan’s famous debate moment when he asked the country if it was “better off” than it was four years ago.

• Queerty: Actresses Indya Moore and Angelica Ross, of FX’s Pose, have criticized the Emmy Nominations, just one day after their announcement. The two transgender actresses attacked the Television Academy for ignoring the trans performers on the show, and lashed out at the show’s network, FX, for a lack of promotion. • KIT212: Kenneth helps us all over Hump Day with his latest installment of ‘Wrestle Wednesday’ (below). • Boy Culture: When the man who wrote Encyclopedia Madonnica 20: Madonna from A to Z, literally THE BOOK on Madonna, calls the international superstar out over COID-19 batshittery, you know it’s serious. • The Gaily Grind: Four plainclothes NYC police officers were caught on video jumping out of an unmarked grey Kia minivan in broad daylight, snatching an 18-year-old transgender protester off the street, wrestling her to the ground, and throwing her into the vehicle before speeding away from the intersection.

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Madonna Posts COVID-19 Conspiracy Theory, Gets Deleted

Madonna (image via Instagram)
Madonna raised eyebrows on Tuesday night when she posted a video of coronavirus conspiracy theory proponent, Dr. Stella Immanuel, who claims hydroxychloroquine can ‘cure’ COVID-19. “The truth will set us all Free! But some people don’t want to hear the truth,” Madge captioned the Instagram post. “Especially the people in power who stand to make money from this long drawn out search for a vaccine Which has been proven and available for months. They would rather let fear control them and let the rich get richer and the poor and sick get sicker.” Madonna closed the post writing, “This woman is my hero … Thank you Stella Immanuel.” Instagram blurred the video and labeled it “False Information.” The social media platform provided viewers with a link to a page debunking the claims and clarifying that there is currently no coronavirus vaccine. Instagram then deleted the post hours later. Raki Wane, a spokesperson for the social media platform, said in a statement the post was removed “for making false claims about cures and prevention methods for Covid-19.” The video shows Dr. Immanuel, a primary care physician in Houston, Texas, appearing on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday with a group called America’s Frontline Doctors. In addition to claiming hydroxychloroquine is a COVID-19 ‘cure,’ Immanuel announced face masks aren’t necessary to stop the spread of the disease. More about Immanuel from The Daily Beast:

Immanuel, a pediatrician and a religious minister, has a history of making bizarre claims about medical topics and other issues. She has often claimed that gynecological problems like cysts and endometriosis are in fact caused by people having sex in their dreams with demons and witches. 

She alleges alien DNA is currently used in medical treatments, and that scientists are cooking up a vaccine to prevent people from being religious.

The doctor is also hideously homophobic having posted numerous times on her Facebook page demonizing LGBTQ people writing, “practicing and celebrating [homosexuality] will take you to hell.” Immanuel thanked The Daily Beast in a tweet for properly summarizing her views:

Madonna has revealed some interesting thoughts during the COVID-19 pandemic. In one post on Instagram, she’s shared that she ‘took a test’ and ‘found out she has the anti-bodies.’ “So tomorrow, I’m just going to go for a long drive in a car,” says Madonna. “And I’m gonna roll down the window, and I’m gonna breathe in, I’m gonna breathe in the COVID-19 air.” In another post, later deleted, she shared a video showing her in a bathtub filled with rose petals. In the clip, she said, “That’s the thing about Covid-19: It doesn’t care about how rich you are, how famous you are, how funny you are, how smart you are, where you live, how old you are, what amazing stories you can tell. It’s the great equalizer, and what’s terrible about it is what’s great about it. What’s terrible about it is it’s made us all equal in many ways.” In any case, Twitter wasn’t having Madonna’s trip down in the underbrush of insanity:

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News Round-Up: July 28, 2020

Dr. Stella Immanuel (screen capture)
Some news items you might have missed: • The Gaily Grind: It turns out Dr. Stella Immanuel (above), who shot to fame this week praising hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus “cure,” is a homophobic preacher who alleges alien DNA is currently used in medical treatments and gay marriage means that “very soon people are going to be seeking to marry children.” • Page Six: International pop star Elton John is apparently being sued by his ex-wife for dishing on their ill-fated 1980s marriage in his memoir and bio-pic. • ABC News: An ethics watchdog group has accused President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign of obscuring nearly $170 million worth of campaign spending through so-called “pass-through” vendors linked to campaign leadership instead of disclosing the true recipients of the funds. • AP News: U.S. officials say Russian intelligence operatives are using a trio of English-language websites to spread disinformation about the coronavirus pandemic and cause confusion ahead of the presidential election in November. • DisneyPlus: In this ‘Mup Close & Personal’ moment, Emmy Award-winner RuPaul stops by the new Muppets Now and discusses ‘fashion icon’ status with the venerable Miss Piggy. The new series begins streaming July 31.

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News Round-Up: July 27, 2020

Some news items you might have missed: • Instinct Magazine: Actors Max Parker and Kris Mochrie, who play brothers Luke and Lee Posner on the hit British soap Emmerdale, are dating. Oh, the scandal of it all! The couple posted the photo above with the caption, “London lads lazily lounging.” Continue reading “News Round-Up: July 27, 2020”

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Vermont Woman Rants ‘Black People Get Everything Free’

At a pro-police rally over the weekend in Vermont, a woman became unhinged when confronted by a group of Black Lives Matter counter-protesters at the Montpelier event. “Black lives don’t matter at all to me! White lives matter!” she screamed at the camera. “You’ve had everything, free f*cking everything. Blacks have been coddled for years. Free college, free everything!” “Free everything and it’s still not enough and never will be!” she added. One of the Black Lives Matter protesters asked, “So you’re saying you’re a white supremacist? That’s what I’m hearing.” “Black lives don’t f*cking matter to me,” was the white woman’s reply. So much for the ‘All Lives Matter’ argument. For the record, Black Americans don’t get ‘free college.’ And you might want to ask George Floyd about being ‘coddled.’ Oh, right…we can’t. He’s dead.

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New Documentary ‘Steelers’ Dives Into The World Of Gay Rugby

(all images via the official Steelers documentary website)
A feature-length documentary about the world’s first gay rugby club – Steelers: World’s First Gay Rugby Club – had its world premiere at the New Zealand International Film Festival this past weekend. In 1995, a group of six men met in a Kings Cross London pub and began the world’s first gay rugby club. Today, there is a global community of thousands making up more than 60 gay clubs around the world. As the club prepares to compete against 60 other gay rugby clubs in the 2018 Bingham Cup in Amsterdam – the World Cup of gay rugby – the film focuses on the stories of three members of the club.
(from Steelers: The World’s First Gay Rugby Club)
Nic Evans, the Steelers’ gay female coach and former international player for Wales, who is struggling to overcome misogyny in the vastly male-dominated sport. Birmingham rugby fanatic Simon Jones, who shares his battle with depression. Jones had recently come out to a childhood friend he’d developed feelings for, and the friend apparently didn’t take the news well. Andrew McDowell, a monster on the field who also has another life as a drag queen. “I will be tough and brutal and kick your ass on the pitch,” says McDowell in the film’s trailer. “When I’m off the pitch I will be as flagrant and flamboyant as I want.”

The film is written, directed, and narrated by Australian journalist Eammon Ashton-Atkinson who is a member of the club. He was scheduled to play in the 2018 tournament but suffered concussion weeks before the event. He decided to travel with his team anyway and shot the film over three weeks. “I’m a reporter so I tell stories for a living, but I’ve never told one this personal,” says Ashton-Atkinson. “It’s the kind of story that I would have loved to have seen in my darker days. My wish is for this film to give hope to others who may need it, not just those struggling with their sexuality, but anyone doubting themselves.” Ashton-Atkinson’s own story is included in the film as well going back to the bullying he experienced as a child including being outed at school when a classmate secretly recorded them being intimate and then shared the video at school. “I hated sport growing up as a kid,” shares the veteran journalist. “But my Dad encouraged me to play rugby and without that, I never would have joined the Steelers, met my husband, and found a place where I felt like I belonged.”

L-R Ashton-Atkinson with his husband, John (via official website)
Like many gay men who have felt as though they didn’t ‘fit in,’ Ashton-Atkinson says, “When I joined the club and I was surrounded by so many people who were just like me, I finally felt happy in my own skin.” And speaking of fitting in, the filmmaker was thrilled when New Zealand’s premier rugby team, the All Blacks, shared a link about the film’s world premiere this weekend. It was especially meaningful considering the press anti-LGBTQ rugby player Israel Folau has received regarding his homophobic “Hell Awaits” remarks on social media over the past year. The filmmakers shared with me today that Steelers will have its U.S. debut at Southern Florida’s OUTshine Film Festival in August 2020. Until then, the film will continue with online and in-person screenings via the New Zealand Film Festival through August 2 and hope to release the film worldwide in 2021.

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COVID-19: MLB Holds Emergency Meeting After 12+ Miami Marlins Test Positive

(screen capture)
Major League Baseball is holding an emergency meeting today to discuss plans for the rest of the truncated 2020 season after the Miami Marlins’ home opener was postponed after 13 members of the organization tested positive for COVID-19. From WPVI:

More than a dozen members of the Miami Marlins, including 11 players and two coaches, have tested positive for COVID-19 while in Philadelphia, ESPN’s Jeff Pasan reported Monday morning.

That’s up from the four players who had tested positive as of Sunday.

The team wrapped a series against the Phillies on Sunday, and were set to fly home to Miami on Monday.

However, their flight home has been canceled, Action News has learned.

Major League Baseball announced the postponement of both Miami’s home opener against the Orioles and the Phillies home game against the Yankees on Monday.

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Podcast: LGBTQs In Film, Gender Reveal Party Redux, Mexico City Bans Conversion Therapy

The Randy Report podcast

The Randy Report podcast delivers the week's top stories in a quick, convenient podcast - 'the 60 Minutes of gay news - only shorter' In this week’s podcast: • The family of a gay Sheriff’s Deputy who died of COVID-19 has been denied benefits by insurance giant AIG • Mexico City makes so-called ‘conversion therapy’ illegal • GLAAD’s new report shows gay representation on film hits a new high – but the rest of the news isn’t so good • Hallmark Channel announces its 2020 holiday lineup will include LGBTQ characters, actors and plotlines • A twist on ‘gender reveal parties’ rewrites history in a good way • Indie artist Abby K’s gorgeous new single “Mom’s Old Room” is dedicated to all the human butterflies in the world. “May they have the courage to transform and live their true beauty” All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report.

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Indiana Racist Teen Proud Of His Confederate Flag & Noose

Just to let you know this stuff really IS out there. Via The Gaily Grind:

The man, who was later identified as 19-year-old Colton Allen of Bedford, Indiana, posted the video after someone left a note on his windshield saying, “f*ck you.”

After showing off the note, Allen goes around his pickup truck with an unidentified cameraman to show why someone might be compelled to leave the hostile note.

The video, originally posted on Snapchat by Allen’s friend, Brady Headrick, went viral after it was shared on social media by former NBA player Rex Chapman on July 12.

The cameraman asks “What are they are hating on, Mr. Colton?”

He replied, “I honestly don’t understand why they’re so upset,” grabbing the noose and characterizing it as his “dog’s leash.”

Near the end of the video, the cameraman suggests the noose is “just hanging” in the event the driver needs to “pull somebody out.”

“It’s not like it can be a noose or anything. That’s racist,” the cameraman said, to which Allen agreed.

There’s a lot more about Allen, who graduated from Bedford North Lawrence High School in 2020, over at Heavy.com. Before he made his Facebook profile more private, his Facebook page included several memes and posts about his right-wing views and his support of President Donald Trump.

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Insurance Company Denies Benefits To Family Of Sheriff’s Deputy After COVID-19 Death

L-R Deputy Shannon Bennett his fiancé, Jonathan Frey
The family of Shannon Bennett, the gay Broward Sheriff’s deputy who died from COVID-19 in April, has been denied insurance benefits covering his death. A 12-year veteran deputy, Bennett became the first South Florida first responder to be killed by COVID-19. Insurance giant AIG denied the family’s claim for accidental death in the line of duty last month.  According to Local10News, Bennett’s family received a letter from AIG saying the company had reviewed the claim and determined Bennett’s death didn’t occur in the line of duty. AIG’s position, according to the letter, is that Bennett’s “death was caused in whole or in part by, or resulted in whole or in part from sickness or disease, which is specifically excluded under this policy.” Shannon’s brother, Darren Bennett told Local 10 News, “Essentially, while my family is grappling with trying to get our bearings back, this type of letter comes in and, of course, it floors us.” The Broward County Sherriff’s Office sent an appeal on behalf of the family as the BSO believes Bennett, who was 39-years-old, contracted COVID-19 while on duty. That appeal was denied a couple of weeks later.  AIG acknowledged that Bennett did likely contract the virus while in the line of duty, but held firm on the decision not to deny his benefits. Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony released a statement which read in part:

“One of the most difficult tragedies to endure in this profession is a line of duty death. We are committed to helping the Bennett family. We pay thousands of dollars each year for this insurance, and I’m extremely disappointed that AIG is denying this claim. We will exhaust all appeals.”

Bennett was engaged and planned to marry his fiancé, Jonathan Frey, in December. The fight over Bennett’s insurance benefits is just the latest chapter in a series of ugliness surrounding his death.  NBC News reports that Dale Engle,  the South Florida police chief who came under fire in April for a homophobic rant referencing Bennett, has tendered his resignation after officers brought the incident up to the Florida police union. According to several deputies in attendance, Engle ordered his employees to line up in formation in a department parking lot and began to berate officers who raised concerns about coronavirus protocol.  During the rant, Engle referenced Bennett’s death telling the officers Bennett died because he was “a homosexual who attended homosexual events.”  He was placed on administrative leave, and this week Engle resigned over the incident. Good.