Category: News

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Iowa Man Gets 16 Years In Prison For Burning Pride Flag

Adolfo Martinez (screen capture)

Adolfo Martinez (mugshot via Story County)
Adolfo Martinez, of Ames, Iowa, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for ripping down a church’s pride flag and burning it outside of a strip club. A jury in Story County found Martinez guilty last month of a hate crime, third-degree harassment, reckless use of fire as a habitual offender. The Des Moines Register reports Iowa sentencing guidelines called for “a maximum of five years in prison for the hate crime and arson charge and a maximum of a year and month for the other two charges.” Martinez’s status as a habitual offender allowed for him to be sentenced to a longer prison term. According to Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds, this case was the first incidence of a hate crime going before a jury in Story County. On June 11, Martinez was reportedly “making threats and acting out” at a gentlemen’s club named Dangerous Curves located at 111 Fifth Street. The police were called but Martinez had been ejected from the premises by the time they arrived. Martinez reportedly came back that night and told a bar employee he was going to burn the bar down. He added that he planned on burning a Pride flag hanging in front of the Ames United Church of Christ nearby. He returned with the flag in hand, poured lighter fluid on it and set the banner on fire in front of the nightclub according to the police report. He was arrested later that day. Ames Police Cmdr. Jason Tuttle told the Ames Tribune that the 30-year-old confessed to tearing the flag down and burning it while in custody.
Adolfo Martinez (screen capture)
Adolfo Martinez (screen capture)
In a stunning interview with local TV station KCCI, Martinez admitted he was guilty of the charges and acknowledged his actions stemmed from his hostility to the LGBTQ community. He added that it was “an honor and a blessing” to stand up for “the word of the Lord.” “I’m guilty, I’m guilty as charged,” he proudly announced. “I’ll say it on camera as well. Live! Let it be known. I’m guilty as charged plain and simple. Knowingly, willingly, and intentionally did I do that. Yep. It’s my honor.” “It is a judgment and it is written to execute vengeance on the heathen and punishments upon the people… and it is my honor to do so. That was an honor to do that. It’s a blessing from the Lord to be able to stand for his word firmly against all odds, plain and simple.” The TV interview was played at his trial as evidence. (source: Des Moines Register)

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Christianity Today Calls For Trump To Be Removed From Office

Mainstream evangelical publication Christianity Today has called for Donald Trump to be removed from the presidency. In a stunning op-ed, editor in chief Mark Galli says the Trumpster is “morally lost.”

But the facts in this instance are unambiguous: The president of the United States attempted to use his political power to coerce a foreign leader to harass and discredit one of the president’s political opponents. That is not only a violation of the Constitution; more importantly, it is profoundly immoral.

The reason many are not shocked about this is that this president has dumbed down the idea of morality in his administration. He has hired and fired a number of people who are now convicted criminals. He himself has admitted to immoral actions in business and his relationship with women, about which he remains proud. His Twitter feed alone—with its habitual string of mischaracterizations, lies, and slanders—is a near-perfect example of a human being who is morally lost and confused.

[snip]

To the many evangelicals who continue to support Mr. Trump in spite of his blackened moral record, we might say this: Remember who you are and whom you serve. Consider how your justification of Mr. Trump influences your witness to your Lord and Savior. Consider what an unbelieving world will say if you continue to brush off Mr. Trump’s immoral words and behavior in the cause of political expediency.

Trump responded, predictably, on Twitter calling the magazine “progressive” and “doing poorly:”

Franklin Graham, whose father Billy Graham founded Christianity Today in 1956, denounced the op-ed and defended his buddy Trump in a post on Facebook:

Yes, my father Billy Graham founded Christianity Today; but no, he would not agree with their opinion piece. In fact, he would be very disappointed. I have not previously shared who my father voted for in the past election, but because of this article, I feel it is necessary to share it now.

My father knew Donald Trump, he believed in Donald Trump, and he voted for Donald Trump. He believed that Donald J. Trump was the man for this hour in history for our nation.

[snip]

Is President Trump guilty of sin? Of course he is, as were all past presidents and as each one of us are, including myself. Therefore, let’s pray for the President as he continues to lead the affairs of our nation.

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Pentagon Ordered To Release Trans Military Ban Documents

A federal judge has ordered the Department of Defense to turn over 35,000 documents the Trump administration used in drafting its transgender military ban. Via Stripes.com:

U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman ruled the Pentagon must turn over drafts, communications and documents used by Defense Department officials in shaping and justifying its 48-page policy released in February 2018 that effectively ended open service for transgender men and women.

That policy, which faces several legal challenges, went into effect in April, barring the military enlistment of nearly any person with a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, the medical condition associated with individuals who do not identify with their birth sex. Lawyers with Lamda Legal, representing transgender plaintiffs in the case of Karnoski v. Trump in U.S. district court in Seattle, sought the documents as evidence in their case, which seeks to overturn the partial ban on transgender military service on the basis that the policy was rooted in illegal discrimination.

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News Round-Up: December 19, 2019

Tyler James (via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Hottie Tyler James has folks’ safety in mind when he asks, “Anyone need their driveway shoveled?” Is that a euphemism…? • The Hill: The latest Iowa State University–Civiqs poll finds Mayor Pete Buttigieg currently leading the race in Iowa at 24 percent, followed by Sanders at 21 percent, Warren at 18 percent and former Vice President Joe Biden at 15 percent. No other candidate is polling above 4 percent in the survey. • Buzzfeed News: High school students in Missouri responded to Pride flags being handed out by flying the Confederate flag. After the racist flag was removed, the school decided there would be no disciplinary action taken hoping instead to “teach our students to respect each other and to respect different viewpoints on a variety of social issues.” Note – LGBTQ pride is pride; the Confederate flag stands for a war fought to keep slavery. • DListed: The highest-paid YouTuber is an eight-year-old named Ryan Kaji who has earned $26 million this year reviewing toys. • NBC News: Until Wednesday afternoon, the fictional country from the popular 2018 Marvel superhero movie “Black Panther” was listed as a free trade agreement partner of the United States by the USDA’s tariff tracker. • Des Moines Register: An Ames man was sentenced Wednesday to about 16 years in prison after he set fire to a church LGBTQ flag in June. Adolfo Martinez, 30, of Ames, last month was found guilty of a hate crime — a class “D” felony — third-degree harassment and reckless use of fire. • NY Post: While Donald Trump was hunkered down in the White House monitoring impeachment proceedings Wednesday, his predecessor in the Oval Office was hitting the links in Hawaii. Barack Obama — a native of Honolulu — was photographed on the course at the Mid-Pacific Country Club in Lanikai, O’ahu, playing a round of golf under sunny skies and temperatures in the 70s.

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Terrorists Sentenced After Attempting To Blow Up Gay Brother On Plane

L-R Khaled and Mahmoud Khayat (images via Twitter)
Brothers Khaled (52) and Mahmoud (34) Khayat were sentenced to lengthy prison sentences after planning to hide a bomb in their unsuspecting gay brother’s luggage on an international flight. The brothers schemed to blow up an Etihad Airways flight from Sydney, Australia, to Abu Dhabi in July 2017. According to the Newcastle Herald, they built a gas bomb in one of the men’s garage using plans transmitted with an encrypted app by their older brother, Tarek, who is a senior member of ISIS. They then hid the bomb inside a meat grinder which was placed in the luggage of their brother Amer, pretending it was a gift for family members. The court was told during the trial the attack was intended to support groups fighting the Syrian regime. “Neither offender was particularly close to Amer, although each said he loved him as a brother and spoke to him when he saw him,” said Justice Christine Adamson on Tuesday. “They disapproved of him because he drank, went clubbing, gambled and was gay which they regarded as bringing shame on the family.” The plan was foiled when a Sydney Airport attendant noticed Amer’s luggage was overweight. Khaled removed the bomb for fear of being discovered. The two brothers were found guilty in the NSW Supreme Court earlier this year of conspiring to prepare or plan a terrorist act. Adamson noted that, had the scheme gone as planned, “no one in the aircraft carrying the bomb and no one exposed to the poisonous gas would have survived.” ”The scale of the intended impact adds significantly to the gravity of the offence,” she added. Adamson sentenced Khaled to 40 years in prison and Mahmoud to 36 years with non-parole periods of 30 and 27 years respectively. The two men maintain they are innocent and plan to appeal their cases. Meanwhile, Amer spent two years in a Lebanese prison before being found not guilty of involvement in the plot by a military court in September. Tarek was found guilty in a Lebanese court and sentenced to hard labor for life for his participation in the plot. Last week, Amer said that despite his ordeal he still loves his brothers because they are his “blood.” (source: Newcastle Herald)

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WH Spokesperson Defends Trump Attack On Deceased Congressman

During an appearance on CBS This Morning, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham attempted to defend Donald Trump’s grotesque insinuation that deceased Rep. John Dingell might be “looking up” from hell. The comment occurred during a rally in Michigan, where Dingell represented his district for more than 50 years – making him the longest-serving congressman in U.S. history. Trump was ranting about the congressman’s widow, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), who voted in favor of his impeachment last night. When asked about the remark by host Gayle King, Grisham said she “didn’t hear him say that” but characterized the comment as “riffing” and “counterpunching.”

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In Impeachment Rant, Trump Suggests Rep. John Dingell Is In Hell

At a campaign rally in Michigan, Donald Trump responded to the news of his impeachment by ranting about the vote of Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan). Dingell took office succeeding the late Rep. John Dingell, the longest-serving congressman in U.S. history. Recalling her thanks for the state funeral he truly deserved, Trump seems to think she owed him her allegiance in the vote tonight. Speaking of the departed Dingell, he spoke of the congressman looking down – “or looking up” – from where he is tonight. Truly disgraceful behavior. There is no bottom. His widow, Rep. Debbie Dingell, responded to the grotesque comment along with others.

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Donald Trump Impeached For Abuse Of Power, Obstruction Of Congress

From the New York Times:

The House of Representatives on Wednesday impeached President Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, making him the third president in history to be charged with committing high crimes and misdemeanors and face removal by the Senate.

On a day of constitutional consequence and raging partisan tension, the votes on the two articles of impeachment fell largely along party lines, after a bitter debate that reflected the deep polarization gripping American politics in the Trump era.

All but two Democrats supported the article on abuse of power, which accused Mr. Trump of corruptly using the levers of government to solicit election assistance from Ukraine in the form of investigations to discredit his Democratic political rivals. Republicans were united in opposition. It passed 230 to 197, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi gaveling the vote to a close from the House rostrum.

On the second charge, obstruction of Congress, a third Democrat joined Republicans in opposition. The vote was 229 to 198.

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Podcast: Dangers On Grindr, ‘Special’ renewed, Plus Tips For The Holidays With The Family

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: • Two Dallas men plead guilty to using Grindr to commit hate crimes against gay men • The first LGBTQ-welcoming senior housing opens in New York City • An Elder at an anti-LGBTQ Missouri church has been charged with soliciting sexual favors from college guys • The acclaimed Netflix series “Special” is renewed for Season 2 • Plus, tips for introducing your significant other to your family during the holidays All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report