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Equinox & SoulCycle Face Backlash Over CEO’s Pricey Trump Fundraiser

(stock image via Depositphotos)

The owner of Equinox Fitness Clubs has announced he is hosting a big-ticket fundraiser for President Trump’s reelection campaign this weekend and folks are not having it.

Stephen Ross, reported to be worth $7 billion, owns a majority stake in Equinox gyms as well as SoulCycle, Blink Fitness, PURE Yoga, and the Time Warner Center.

The billionaire, a longtime friend of Trump’s, will host a fundraiser in Southhampton for Trump where tickets range up to a whopping $250,000 for “lunch, a photo and a private roundtable with the president,” reports the Washington Post.

Stephen Ross (image via YouTube)

The fundraiser is quite the change-up from Trump’s stance in 2016 when he criticized his opponents for accepting massive campaign donations due to the implied access and influence donors may expect.

Equinox has long been a favorite of LGBT gym bunnies, but now that tide may turn.

Instagram users are now circulating a message encouraging people to boycott the trendy fitness venues.

Additionally, LGBT activist, actor, and Equinox member Wilson Cruz (Star Trek: Discovery, My So Called Life) has launched a petition on Change.org urging Equinox to end its support of Donald Trump.

In an open letter to Equinox on the petition page, Cruz says Trump’s anti-LGBTQ policies are incongruent with the spirit and base of the Equinox community.

“We don’t understand how this company, which owes its success to its LGBTQ membership especially in its largest markets in California, New York, Miami, Chicago and other big cities around the world thinks its appropriate to be tied to this fundraiser,” wrote Cruz.

We should add, as others have noticed, Cruz takes his workouts very seriously as his Instagram account will attest.

After the Instagram account for Equinox was innundated with negative comments about the Southhampton event, the company posted a statement which read, in part, “We want to let you know that Equinox and SoulCycle have nothing to do with the event and do not support it.”

“As is consistent with our policies, no company profits are used to fund politicians,” the statement continued. “In fact, we are committed to all our members and the communities we live in.”

Calling Ross a ‘passive investor,’ the statement concluded with, “We believe in tolerance and equality, and will always stay true to those values.”

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NJ Mayor Calls LGBT Curriculum “An Affront To Almighty God”

Republican Mayor Alfonso Cirulli of Barnegat Township, New Jersey, is angry over a new law that will introduce LGBT curriculum to schools and has launched a campaign urging residents to join him in his outrage.

The legislation, Senate Bill 1569, was signed into law in January by Gov. Phil Murphy. The law requires middle and high schools to include lessons on the contributions of LGBT people as well as people with disabilities.

Cirulli, a former assistant principal, told a meeting of the Barnegat Township Committee, “The government has no right to teach our kids morality,” according to the Asbury Park Press.

The 60-year-old mayor, who wants the new law reversed, declared the LGBTQ movement is “an affront to Almighty God.”

Mayor Alfonso Cirulli (image via Barnegat Township website)

Cirulli’s position is that teaching teens about the achievements and contributions of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people amounts to “indoctrination” and violates the religious rights of parents.

He also denounced the legalization of same-sex marriage as well.

The Park Press reports the mayor’s comments were met primarily with silence by those in attendance, although some citizens were quick to denounce his statements.

Peggy A. Houle, currently running for a three-year term on the Township Committee, told the mayor, “You are misusing and abusing your power.”

Briget Nunn, a town resident and mental health clinician who often works with LGBTQ youth, told the committee during the public comments period, “I understand that everyone is entitled to their belief and their religious ideas, … but what I have a problem with is when you bring them into a public forum.”

“As public officials … you have to be careful about what message you’re sending to these kids I’m counseling, who are already in your schools feeling like they’re isolated, alone and not getting the support they need,” she added. “The idea is to teach compassion, tolerance, and understanding.”

Radio station 1010 WINS reports resident Marianne Clemente told the mayor, “You think your speaking dais is a pulpit. You are not supposed to bring religion into this. At other times I have heard you mention Jesus in your speeches, and that is totally inappropriate. We have a separation of church and state. Damn it, adhere to it.”

Jon Oliveira, director of communications for pro-LGBTQ organization Garden State Equality, called Cirulli’s comments “deeply troubling.”

“You cannot opt-out of LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum just like you cannot opt-out of science or black history simply because of ill-informed or close-minded beliefs,” said Oliveira in an email. “LGBTQ history is a part of American history, and to hide or misrepresent who, how, and why we are here today means students would otherwise be learning fiction.”

It comes as no surprise that Cirulli’s Facebook page is filled with a litany of pro-Trump, anti-Hillary Clinton propaganda.

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Tom Brady Says “It Was Hard” When His Son Didn’t Want To Play Sports Like Him

Tom Brady (image via Facebook)

New England Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady recently told Men’s Health Magazine that it was “hard” for him when he discovered one of his sons didn’t want to play sports or do all the things Brady likes to do.

“Jack loves sports. He wants to try hard, and he never wants to disappoint his dad. That was me. I’d wake up early on weekends to do stuff with my dad. That’s why I didn’t party a lot. If Dad wanted to golf, I wanted to be there with him. And if I ever missed those things, it would crush me.

“When Benny came along, I thought he would be just like Jack. So I was like, ‘C’mon, let’s do this.’ And he was like, ‘Nope.’ And I was like, ‘What? No, do this!’ And Gisele kept saying to me, ‘Would you effing understand that your son is different?’ It was hard for me. I was like, ‘What do you mean? He’s a boy; he should just do all these things that I do.’ The reality is that Benny just likes different things. And it’s great because now I just have to go do what he wants to do. When we do that, we have the best time. He’s like, ‘OMG, Dad, you’re so funny.’ He loves joking, and I joke back.”

A post shared by Tom Brady (@tombrady) on May 31, 2019 at 12:07pm PDT

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Fox News’ Tucker Carlson: White Supremacy Is “Actually Not A Real Problem”

Fox News host Tucker Carlson told his TV audience last night that white supremacy is “actually not a real problem in America.”

“This is a hoax, just like the Russia hoax,” he added. “It’s a conspiracy theory used to divide the country and keep a hold on power.”

Saying “the whole thing is a lie,” Carlson downplayed the threat by saying, “The combined membership of every white supremacist organization in this country would be able to fit inside a college football stadium.”

As CNN reports, the point is that men like the suspect in the El Paso shooting aren’t “members” of an “organization.”

The suspect made clear in the manifesto he left behind that he wanted to kill as many Mexicans as possible.

But Tucker Carlson says white supremacy is not a real problem in America.

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Montana Man Fractures Teen’s Skull For Not Removing Hat During National Anthem

A 39-year-old Montana man was arrested for a violent assault on a 13-year-old boy fracturing the teen's skull.
Curt James Brockway (mug shot)

A 39-year-old Montana man was arrested for a violent assault on a 13-year-old boy fracturing the teen’s skull.

Curt James Brockway reportedly told authorities “he had every right” to pick the boy up and slam him to the ground because, in his opinion, the teen had disrespected the national anthem by not removing his hat.

USA Today reports the boy had to be airlifted to a hospital due to the attack. His parent’s told the press he bled from his ears for nearly six hours.

Prosecutors asked Brockway’s bond be set at $100,000, but the judge allowed him to be released on his own recognizance.

Brockway is apparently registered as a violent offender with a police record going back to 2010.

Watch the report from local news station KPAX below:

(h/t JoeMyGod)

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Profile: 60 Minutes Australia Talks To Olivia Newton-John

I have to share this beautiful profile of international pop star Olivia Newton-John from 60 Minutes Australia.

As regular readers know, my husband Michael is an entertainment publicist and has represented Olivia for some 20 years. He was the driving force in making this interview happen.

When I went through my own cancer journey in 2009, Olivia was my own private guardian angel, checking in on me often and always there with the perfect perspective.

The Australian news magazine devoted its entire hour-long program to chatting with Olivia, her husband John Easterling and daughter Chloe Lattanzi, on the progress and impact of the pop star’s third bout with cancer.

Knowing Olivia, I love that the segment captures exactly who she is – a lovely human being and a great artist who continues to inspire us all.

From the clip description: “One of the most remarkable interviews of the year: how the devotion of a loving family, and an unconventional treatment, is helping Olivia face up to the greatest challenge of her life, including a rare and raw insight from her daughter, Chloe Lattanzi. Powerful, emotional, and a reminder of the important things in life, it’s Olivia Newton-John as you’ve never seen her before.”

After the show aired, longtime friend Hugh Jackman, recorded and posted this message to Olivia from the stage of his current concert tour in mid-performance.

Just one more example of what Olivia means to, not only Australia, but the world.

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Mike Pence: “Spend More Time On Your Knees Than On The Internet”

Vice President Mike Pence

The gay blogosphere is giggling over some advice Vice President Mike Pence gave conservative legal group Alliance Defending Freedom today.

Via the Washington Times – bolding is mine:

Vice President Mike Pence said Tuesday he was surprised by media criticism of his wife’s decision to teach art at a school with devout Christian beliefs, and said he’s gotten lots of practice in forgiving his critics.

He was speaking to the Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian religious liberty organization, and ADF CEO Michael Farris asked him for advice on how to handle attacks on his faith and beliefs.

Mr. Pence said that as a politician he faces a lot of attacks, and had several pieces of advice. “No. 1 is, spend more time on your knees than on the internet,” he said. He also added: “Forgiveness is a great gift.”

Very, very good advice, Mr. Pence.

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Univision To Premiere Its First Series To Feature Gay Couple As Lead Characters

Univision announces the premiere of “El Corazón Nunca Se Equivoca” (The Heart Is Never Wrong), the first Spanish-language U.S. broadcast television series featuring a same-sex couple as the leading characters.

Univision announces the premiere of “El Corazón Nunca Se Equivoca” (The Heart Is Never Wrong), the first Spanish-language U.S. broadcast television series featuring a same-sex couple as the leading characters.

The coming of age series is a spinoff of Juan Osorio’s popular telenovela “Mi Marido Tiene Más Familia” (My Husband Has More Family) and follows the fan-favorite love story of Aristoteles and Cuauhtémoc (Temo), better known as their couple name “Aristemo.” 

Loyal fans flooded social media in support of the spinoff, with the #Aristemo trending worldwide on Twitter and Instagram. 
Many viewers express that the young couple has inspired them to embrace their identity with a sense of confidence, happiness, and encouragement.

In “El Corazón Nunca Se Equivoca,” the storyline centers around the young couple as they move to Mexico City to attend college. 

Aristótles, played byEmilio Osorio, is ready to begin his music career and his communication studies, while balancing his influencer status and his personal relationship. 
Temo, played by Joaquin Bondoni, wants to be a politician despite the prejudice that he might encounter. 
Their love will be put to the test as they create new friendships and overcome the challenges of being gay in Mexican society.

Praised for their positive LGBTQ+ portrayal, the duo has received a GLAAD Media award and an E! Online’s “TV’s Top Couple” award.

The new series will premiere on Tuesday, August 13, at 9 p.m. ET/PT 8 p.m. CT.

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Disney Channel Star Joshua Rush Comes Out

Joshua Rush, who played the gay teen ‘Cyrus Goodman’ on the Disney Channel series Andi Mack, just came out as bisexual on his Twitter account Tuesday.
Actor Joshua Rush (image via Instagram)

Joshua Rush, who played the gay teen ‘Cyrus Goodman’ on the Disney Channel series Andi Mack, just came out as bisexual on his Twitter account Tuesday.

Rush gained national attention when his Andi Mack character came out in 2017 becoming the first openly gay Disney Channel character.

In last month’s series finale, his character was revealed to be part of the first gay couple on a Disney series.

Now that the series has wrapped, Rush appears to have had one more ‘coming out’ to do.

On Twitter, the 17-year-old wrote, “First to respond to this tweet is bi.” He quickly followed that with his own response, “First! I win! It’s me. I’m bi.”

He added there were “a few things” he wanted to share with his fans.

The actor told his fans he thought it ‘ironic’ that his TV character’s coming out could send a message of empowerment to young LGBTQs, but until today he hadn’t found the courage to come out himself.

In fact, he says it’s his fans reaction to Cyrus’s journey that inspired him today.

Sharing that he had a close friend come out to him in fifth grade, Rush admitted he “suffered with some level” of his own “internalized homophobia” while playing a gay character on TV.

His solution at the time? “I stuffed the existential crisis of talking about my sexual orientation into a box in my mind for years,” he wrote, adding, “Today, I release it into the world.”

Noting that sexual orientation doesn’t make up “all” of his identity, Rush pointed to bi erasure and the challenges that trans women of color face every day as more pressing issues than his sexual identity.

He asked folks to donate to GLAAD (which promotes positive messaging for LGBTQs in the media) because his Disney Channel series “wouldn’t have existed in the form that it did without them.”

He also gave a shoutout to The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention to LGBTQ young people, before closing the thread with, “Thank you to you for giving me the courage to know who I am and tell you this today. Happy 20biteen!”

While he hadn’t come out yet, it was just a few weeks ago that Rush shared a photo on Instagram after attending his first Pride event.

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Hannity Wants Armed Guards Surrounding Schools & Shopping Malls

Fox News pundit Sean Hannity says the answer to gun violence is to have retired police, secret service or military service members surround schools and shopping malls.
Fox News pundit Sean Hannity

Fox News pundit Sean Hannity says the answer to gun violence is to have retired police, secret service or military service members surround schools and shopping malls.

“I’d like to see the perimeter of every school in America surrounded, secured by retired police — which you are — retired Secret Service — which you are — military, and I want guys to donate 15 hours,” Hannity told guest Dan Bongino last night. “I think we could cover every school, every hour, every day. Add a metal detector, and I think we’re going to have safer schools.

“Have one armed guard on every floor of every school, all over every mall, the perimeter, and inside every hall of every mall,” he explained. “Now, that gives us an instant response opportunity that we normally wouldn’t have.”