Category: News

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Musicians Drown Out Street Preacher’s Hate Speech

I do love it when hateful, homophobic street preachers get drowned out by LGBTQ activists and allies. But last Friday, these two musicians took it to another level. It seems this bearded, blond homophobe was trying to inform the public passing through Union Square Park in New York City that “the homosexual community has the highest suicide rate of any group.” Two student musicians, Julian Roel and Augie Bello, were also in the park and were not having the hate. So they began to play their saxophones and made their way over to the street preacher. Pretty soon the scene turned into something of a circus as one of the musicians, Augie Bello, got on his bicycle and began circling the preacher while playing his sax with one hand. Filmmaker Nicolas Heller encountered the scene and whipped out his phone to film the wild scene. Heller posted the video to his Instagram with the caption, “This strapping young gent (who clearly gets laid regularly) is preaching that the LGBTQ community is going to burn in hell, so @augie_bello and @roel.julian offer some foreground instrumentals. (Guest appearance by @arnold_daniel).” Bello also shared the video on his Instagram account writing, “Today @Joel.julian and I were hanging and we stumbled upon some homophobic guy with a mic so we played over him. Shoutout to @newyorknico for capturing this moment.”

Queerty reached out to Bello who shared some more details about the encounter. “What the video doesn’t show is what he said before we took out our saxophones,” said Bello. “He was saying all gays will burn in hell and that they will be in a ring of fire. So I looked at Julian and he looked at me and we instantly had the exact same thought, to drown out the hate with our saxophones.” He added that he and Roel were amazed that the video went viral, but “it makes us extremely happy to see how much support there is for the LGBTQ+ community.” (h/t Queerty)

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Boos & Chants Of ‘Lock Him Up’ Greet Donald Trump At World Series

Donald Trump attends game 5 of the World Series (screen capture)
Donald Trump attended the 5th game of the World Series in Washington, D.C. but as Peter Baker of the New York Times writes, “For Trump, there was no joy in Mudville.”

In his first appearance at a Major League Baseball game since taking office, Mr. Trump was not invited to throw the first pitch when he showed up Sunday night at Game 5 between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros. Instead, when he was shown on the stadium’s large screen, the crowd booed robustly and began chanting, “Lock him up!” In the upper decks, fans held up a giant “Impeach Trump!” banner.

Mr. Trump entered the stadium to no fanfare around 8 p.m., just minutes before the opening pitch. Fans who happened to see him booed. He was not introduced to the crowd until after the third inning when he was shown on the screen during the portion of the game when the crowd is asked to cheer for military veterans.

Juxtaposing his introduction with that of the popular veterans did nothing to prevent the crowd from expressing its view of the president. Mr. Trump, who rarely exposes himself to hostile crowds, stood, smiled gamely and clapped as the fans booed loudly.

Needless to say, the Donald left before the game was over.

More from the Twitterverse:

p.s. Trump brought no good luck with him as the Nationals lost to the Houston Astros 7-1. Astros are now one game away from winning the World Series for the second time in three years.

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LGBTQ Member Of Congress Resigns Amid Accusations Of Affairs

Rep. Katie Hill (D-Santa Clarita)
Rep. Katie Hill (D-Santa Clarita) of California, the only openly bisexual member of the House of Representatives, recently came under investigation due to “allegations she had an improper relationship with a congressional staffer.” Hill was accused of having a sexual relationship with her legislative director, Graham Kelly, and a female campaign staff member. Hill denies any relationship with Kelly, but in a letter to constituents on Wednesday admitted to becoming involved with the campaign staff member during “during the final tumultuous years of my abusive marriage.” Hill has been in divorce proceedings with her husband of nine years, Kenneth Heslep. “I know that even a consensual relationship with a subordinate is inappropriate, but I still allowed it to happen despite my better judgment,” Hill wrote to her constituents. “For that, I apologize.” “It is with a broken heart that today I announce my resignation from Congress,” Hill wrote in a letter shared on Twitter. “This is the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but I believe it is the best thing for my constituents, my community, and our country.” “This is what needs to happen so that the good people who supported me will no longer be subjected to the pain inflicted by my abusive husband and the brutality of hateful political operatives who seem to happily provide a platform to a monster who is driving a smear campaign built around cyber exploitation,” she added.

It was just last weekend when conservative website RedState reported that Hill and her husband had, until recently, been involved in a sexual relationship with a staffer in her 20s who worked on Hill’s campaign. RedState posted explicit images purporting to be of Hill and the staffer. Hill subsequently told The Hill, a political news outlet, that the U.S. Capitol Police were investigating how the photo was obtained and published by RedState.

“Intimate photos of me and another individual were published by Republican operatives on the internet without my consent,” Hill said at the time.

That was followed by RedState releasing text messages that appeared to be between Hill’s husband, Heslep, and the campaign staffer. In response to the #MeToo movement and high-profile sexual harassment accusations involving members of Congress, the House adopted rules last year that prohibited members from having sexual relationships with congressional staffers. Those rules do not, however, address any relationships that occurred prior to members taking office. Hill has been viewed as a ‘rising star’ in the Democratic Party having flipped her district to blue when she won her election in 2018. She is the vice-chair of the House Oversight Committee, and she is among a group of freshman Democrats who were nicknamed the “Big Six” after being selected for high-profile leadership posts. (source: Politico)

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Reports Say Trump Was Golfing When ISIS Raid Occurred, Photo Staged Later

President Obama in the Situation Room during bin Laden kill, Trump with his team (photos via public domain)
So, now this has become a “thing.” I’m certain Donald Trump is living for the photo above. He’s always wanted to look ‘tough.’ The interesting thing is it’s marked on the White House Flickr account as “President Trump Watches as U.S. Special Operations Forces Close in on ISIS Leader.” The raid was reported to have taken place at 3:30pm Washington time. But Pete Souza, a White House photographer under Presidents Reagan and Obama notes the camera’s IPTC data indicates the photo was taken at 17:05:24. That would be 5:05pm – over an hour and a half AFTER the raid occurred. Plus, White House reports show Trump was at his golf course at 3:30pm, not in the Situation Room…? So, was this photo staged after the fact? If so, why?

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Trump: Killing ISIS Leader Is Bigger Than Killing Osama Bin Laden

(image via Flickr/WhiteHouse – public domain)
From the New York Times:

President Trump announced on Sunday that a commando raid in Syria this weekend had targeted and resulted in the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State, claiming a significant victory even as American forces are pulling out of the area.

“Last night, the United States brought the world’s No. 1 terrorist leader to justice,” Mr. Trump said in an unusual nationally televised address from the White House. “Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead.”

Mr. Trump said Mr. al-Baghdadi was chased to the end of a tunnel, “whimpering and crying and screaming all the way” as he was pursued by American military dogs. Accompanied by three children, Mr. al-Baghdadi then detonated a suicide vest, blowing up himself and the children, Mr. Trump said.

Mr. Trump, who is under threat of impeachment for abuse of power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate his domestic political rivals, appeared eager to claim credit for the raid, engaging in a lengthy question-and-answer session with reporters after his statement as he personally walked them through the details, promoted his own role and compared himself favorably to past presidents.

Mr. Trump even seemed to suggest that killing Mr. al-Baghdadi was a bigger deal than killing Bin Laden.

I’m not sure why Trump continually feels the need to compare himself to President Obama. As the Times points out, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was definitely a bad guy. No doubt. But he never entered the psyche of the American public to the degree that Osama bin Laden, who committed terrorism on American soil, did. Plus, Trump’s appearing to ‘take credit’ here is unseemly especially when he was overly-critical of Obama regarding the takedown of bin Laden. Trump tweeted multiple times that Obama shouldn’t be ‘congratulated’ for the death of bin Laden because “all he did was say O.K.” Now that he’s in the Oval Office, does Trump believe that’s all HE did? “Say ok?” There’s always a tweet…

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First Time In 7 Years – Budget Deficit Surges Past $1 Trillion

Trump walks past reporters with no comment

Donald Trump promised economic growth would cover his tax cuts legislation
So. Much. Winning. From CNBC:

The U.S. government’s red ink for fiscal 2019 swelled past the $1 trillion mark in August, the first time that level has been eclipsed in seven years, the Treasury Department reported Thursday.

The total shortfall rose to nearly $1.07 trillion, thanks to a difference between revenue and expenses of more than $214.1 billion in August. The government last saw that large of a fiscal deficit in 2012, when the gap was nearly $1.1 trillion.

During his presidential campaign, President Donald Trump promised economic growth that would easily take care of the tax cuts and new spending he planned. His 2017 tax break for corporations and individuals has helped contribute to a deficit that has grown from $584.6 billion in 2016.

The national debt now stands at $22.5 trillion, up 13% since Trump took office.

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Jury Awards Cop Nearly $20 Million After He Was Told “Tone Down The Gayness If You Want Promotion”

Sgt. Keith Wildhaber (image via Wildhaber)
I reported earlier this week on the discrimination lawsuit brought by St. Louis County police officer Sgt. Keith Wildhaber who says he was told to “tone down the gayness” if he ever wanted to be promoted to lieutenant. At the end of a weeklong trial, the jury deliberated only three hours before awarding the 22-year-veteran nearly $20 million, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Here’s the breakdown of the damages per the jury: • $1.9 million in actual damages • $10 million in punitive damages • $999,000 for actual damages for retaliation allegations • $7 million in punitive damages for retaliation allegations The jury foreman told reporters, “We wanted to send a message. If you discriminate you are going to pay a big price…You can’t defend the indefensible.” Several jurors shared with the press that an array of photos presented in court Friday became key evidence in coming to their decision. Earlier in the week, Donna Woodland, a widow of a former county police officer, testified that Capt. Guy Means called Wildhaber “fruity” while attending a police charity event in 2015. According to Woodland, Means added that Wildhaber would never be promoted because he was “way too out there with his gayness and had to tone it down.” Means later testified he didn’t remember attending the event and didn’t know Woodland saying he wouldn’t be able “to pick her out of the jury box if she was sitting there.” On Friday, Woodland returned with an array of photo booth pics from the event showing Means posing with her, including one instance where he was giving her a big hug. Hardly the kind of pose you do with someone you “don’t know.” In the opening of the trial, Wildhaber told the jury he was “sickened” when a former member of the St. Louis County Police Board of Commissioners, John Saracino, told him in 2014 to “tone down the gayness” if he wanted a promotion. Wildhaber’s lawsuit alleged he had been passed over for promotion 23 times despite high scores on promotions tests. On the opening day of the lawsuit, lawyers representing Wildhaber characterized Chief Jon Belmar as “having a penchant for promoting masculine men that dominates all promotional decisions and said that he will retaliate against anyone who questions them, as Wildhaber did by filing his lawsuit.” After filing his lawsuit, Wildhaber said he faced retaliation by being transferred to the Jennings precinct which nearly tripled his daily commute to work. And he was moved from afternoon shifts and put on midnights. Wildhaber told the court, “It’s what’s known as a ‘geography lesson’ in the department.” Chief Belmar later testified that Wildhaber’s lawsuit was a factor in denying the sergeant any promotions, which Wildhaber’s lawyers called “the best sound bite” for the case. According to the Post-Dispatch, a spokesperson for county officials said they “will be exploring all of our legal options this weekend and we are going to do what’s best for the county.” I fully expect the jury’s decision to be appealed and the amount of the damages to be reduced. But, a win is a win. As I previously reported, Missouri has no laws prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ people in the workplace. (source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

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News Round-Up: October 25, 2019

Brett Miles & Alex Abramov
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Woofy Brett Miles and Alex Abramov (above) have their Halloween costumes down. They’re dressing up as….Fire Island gays! #TheyConvincedMe • NewNowNext: Megan Mullally will miss two episodes of the final season of Will & Grace giving more fuel to the rumors of a feud with Debra Messing. • Washington Examiner: A reporter at the conservative newspaper got a call from White House counselor Kellyanne Conway. It didn’t go well.

• KIT212: Kenneth’s weekly gay rag roundup finds the gays gearing up for Halloween • Variety: Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci will play a gay couple on a road trip in Supernova, a romantic, modern love story that “follows two people who are bound together by their love for each other but being pushed apart by the situation they find themselves in.” • New Music: 3-time Grammy Award-winning vocal group Pentatonix drops this lovely cover of the Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” from their new Best of Pentatonix Christmas album. While a Beach Boys song may not immediately ring Christmas bells in your head, ever since the tune was used in the closing credits of the uber-romantic Love Actually (2003), folks consider it a holiday-appropriate tune. I find the new version refreshing & sweet. Hit play below.

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Have ‘Faith’ – Dolly Parton & Galantis Make Musical Magic

Dolly Parton with Galantis (photo: Erik Melvin)
Country music icon Dolly Parton has teamed up with internationally acclaimed Swedish electronic dance music duo Galantis (Christian Karlsson & Linus Eklöw) for the rousing and spirited new track, “Faith,” featuring Dutch singer Mr. Probz. The track will be featured on the upcoming Galantis album, Church. Now, you might wonder how a country music giant would find herself collaborating with EDM artists? “I was on the phone with a Christian (referring to Karlsson), talking about a song called ‘Faith’ and an album called ‘Church,’” says Parton. “I knew I was in the right place.” The track, featuring Galantis’ top-shelf production, has been a work in progress for some time. Galantis tells Rolling Stone they had been wanting to build a song off of John Hiatt’s 1987 song, “Have a Little Faith in Me.”

“When you don’t know who you are I will find you so easily Don’t you worry – whenever you need me Have a little faith in me”

Calling Parton one of their ‘dream collaborators,’ Karlsson and Eklöw immediately flew to Nashville for the collaboration when the country diva agreed to work on the track. “I ‘Dolly-ized’ it a bit and wrote some more spiritual things inside [the lyrics],” Parton told Rolling Stone. The 73-year-old music legend apparently enjoyed the experience so much she’s open to writing/recording more EDM. “I always know inside myself what’s right and what’s wrong to do, and this felt really right,” Parton says. “I’m open to doing more with them and continue with this — if this does well.” The music video depicts Parton as the rhinestone-clad driver of a bus that breaks down. The country songstress offers her sunny side of cheer, Mr. Probz drops his spot-on vocals and pretty soon the passengers are dancing in the street to the gospel-tinged groove. “Faith” is now available on all major streaming/download sites.

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Obama: “There’s Nothing Weak About Being Honorable”

President Barack Obama speaks at tribute to Rep. Elijah Cummings (screen capture)
Seeing President Obama speak at the memorial tribute for recently deceased Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) was a stark reminder of the power of eloquence and dignity. “There’s nothing weak about being honorable. You’re not a sucker to have integrity and to treat others with respect.” (sigh) Watch the clip below. Rest in power, Elijah Cummings.