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News Round-Up: September 18, 2018

Medical student Marco proves that you can be very sexy even fully clothed.

Some news items you might have missed:

• Just to prove folks can be oh-so-sexy fully clothed, check out all of what med student Marco has going on underneath. Oh, yeah, and there’s that easy-on-the-eyes face. #woof

• The security guards who ejected fans waving rainbow flags at a concert by pop phenom Dua Lipa concert last week have been arrested for their actions.

• Out Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon is donating a pair of skates and the competition outfit he wore when he helped Team USA win a bronze medal at the 2018 games to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.

• Britain’s High Court has overturned pharmaceutical company Gilead Science’s patent extension on Truvada. This ruling could mean affordable, generic versions of the drug could be available in the UK by April 2019.

• Roseanne Barr says the upcoming Roseanne spinoff, The Connors, will kill off her character by having her die of opioid overdose as a ‘screw you’ to Trump supporters. However, in the recent season of the rebooted Roseanne, writers had laid the groundwork for her character to struggle with prescription pain killer addiction.

• Digital series After Forever won “Best Short Film Ensemble” at the L.A. Indie Film Festival this weekend.

• A Sesame Street writer admits he always considered and wrote the longtime characters Bert & Ernie as a “loving couple.”

The folks at Sesame Street did respond to the recent revelation by tweeting a statement about the “best friends” which read, in part, “Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics (as most Sesame Street Muppets do), they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation.”

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Kavanaugh Defender: Instead Of Rape, Maybe It Was Just ‘Rough Horseplay?’

Republicans need to all get in one room and come up with a singular defense for their Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, when trying to tamp down the recent allegations that he sexually assaulted a teenage girl back in his high school days.

Kavanaugh has already issued statements like “I have never done anything like what the accuser describes” and telling an aide to Sen. Orrin Hatch that he wasn’t even “at the party in question.”

Then today, Carrie Severino, spokesperson of the Judicial Crisis Network, defended the judge on CNN.

JCN is the campaign group for Republican judicial nominations that handles promoting nominees to the public.

In a new take, Severino tried to make the case that what Kavanaugh’s accuser describes could have been a simple case of “rough horse play” as opposed to attempted rape.

Now, if Kavanaugh has “never done anything like” what Dr. Christine Blasey Ford has alleged, how could it be described as “rough horseplay?”

Or – how could the teenage Kavanaugh have engaged in “rough horseplay” if he wasn’t at the party in question?

I’m not the only one who thought this sounded rather odd…

(h/t JoeMyGod)

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Big Night At The 2018 Emmy Awards For LGBTs

It was a great night for LGBT-themed entertainment last night at the 2018 Primetime Emmy Awards as RuPaul's Drag Race and the FX series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story took home top honors in their categories.
RuPaul accepts the Emmy Award for “Best Reality Competition Series”

It was a great night for LGBT-themed entertainment last night at the 2018 Primetime Emmy Awards as RuPaul’s Drag Race and the FX series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story took home top honors in their categories.

Making Emmy Award history, RuPaul’s Drag Race won for “Best Reality Competition Series” and RuPaul took home his own Emmy for “Best Host of a Reality Competition Series.” This is the first time one series has won both awards in the reality category in the same year.

Accepting the honor for the series, RuPaul thanked all those who have supported and contributed to the success of the show, as well as, “all of the dreamers out there.”

The ‘Supermodel of the World’ closed his thanks by reminding folks, “If you can’t love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else.”

In the “Best Limited Series” category, The Assassination of Gianni Versace garnered three Emmys last night, adding to the two won last week at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

In addition to the “Best Limited Series” trophy, Darren Criss, who turned in a star turn as gay serial killer Andrew Cunanan, won for “Best Actor in a Limited Series.”

And uber-gay creator and producer of the show, Ryan Murphy, won the award for Directing for the Gianni Versace episode, “The Man Who Would Be Vogue.”

In accepting the award for “Best Limited Series,” he dedicated the moment to the LGBTQ community.

Here’s the full list of 2018 Emmy Award winners:

Drama Series

Game of Thrones (HBO)

Comedy Series

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)

Limited Series

The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (FX)

Lead actress in a drama series

Claire Foy in The Crown

Lead actor in a drama series

Matthew Rhys in The Americans

Lead actress in a limited series or movie

Regina King in Seven Seconds

Lead actor in a limited series or movie

Darren Criss in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

Lead actress in a comedy series

Rachel Brosnahan in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Lead actor in a comedy series

Bill Hader in Barry

Supporting actor in a drama series

Peter Dinklage in Game of Thrones

Supporting actress in a drama series

Thandie Newton in Westworld

Supporting actor in a comedy series

Henry Winkler in Barry

Supporting actress in a comedy series

Alex Borstein in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Supporting actor in a limited series or movie

Jeff Daniels in Godless

Supporting actress in a limited series or movie

Merritt Wever in Godless

Reality-competition program

RuPaul’s Drag Race

Variety talk series

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Variety sketch series

Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Directing for a comedy series

Amy Sherman-Palladino for: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (‘Pilot’)

Directing for a drama series

Stephen Daldry for: The Crown (‘Paterfamilias’)

Directing for a limited series, TV movie or dramatic special

Ryan Murphy for: The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (‘The Man Who Would Be Vogue’)

Writing for a comedy series

Amy Sherman-Palladino, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (“Pilot”)

Writing for a drama series

Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg for: The Americans (‘Start’)

Writing for a limited series, TV movie or dramatic special

William Bridges and Charlie Brooker for: USS Callister: Black Mirror

Writing for a variety series

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO)

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Stormy Daniels Goes There About Trump’s Junk In New Memoir

Porn star Stormy Daniels disses Donald Trump’s bedroom abilities in her new memoir, Full Disclosure.

 The Guardian received an advance copy and shares this anecdote about the Trumpster’s now infamous Lake Tahoe tryst with Daniels.

Trump’s bodyguard invites Daniels to dinner, which turns out to be an invitation to Trump’s penthouse, she writes, in a description of alleged events that Daniels has disclosed previously but which in the book are rendered with new and lurid detail. She describes Trump’s penis as “smaller than average” but “not freakishly small.”

“He knows he has an unusual penis,” Daniels writes. “It has a huge mushroom head. Like a toadstool…

“I lay there, annoyed that I was getting fucked by a guy with Yeti pubes and a dick like the mushroom character in Mario Kart…”

“It may have been the least impressive sex I’d ever had, but clearly, he didn’t share that opinion.”

Daniels also writes that when she would see the reality show host on television during the years since the encounter, the memory of her sexual encounter with Trump did not grow fonder.

In fact, she describes her internal monologue as, “‘I had sex with that,’ I’d say to myself. Eech.”

“Mario Kart” and “Toad” instantly began trending on Twitter after The Guardian’s piece hit the internet.

Trump has denied the sexual encounter ever occurred although his former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels $130,000 in ‘hush money’ just weeks before the 2016 presidential election.

Cohen has since pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges.

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Trailer: ‘Mary Poppins Returns’

(Click to enlarge image)

The official trailer for the upcoming Mary Poppins Returns is here, and it’s everything we wanted it to be.

Starring Emily Blunt in the title role, the film also boasts a stellar cast including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Angela Lansbury, Julie Walters and Dick Van Dyke.

Rob Marshall, who helmed the Disney take on Into the Woods, is on point as director.

The new film features new original songs with music by award-winning composer Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman.

Mary Poppins Returns lands in theaters December 19.

Watch the magic below.

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SCOTUS Nominee Brett Kavanaugh & His Accuser Will Testify Regarding Sexual Assault Claim

udge Brett Kavanaugh, Donald Trump's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, will both testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the allegations of sexual assault dating back to when the two were in high school.
Judge Brett Kavanaugh

And its official: Judge Brett Kavanaugh, Donald Trump’s nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, will both testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the allegations of sexual assault dating back to when the two were in high school.

From The New York Times:

The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, under mounting pressure from senators of his own party, will call President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, and the woman who has accused him of sexual assault before the committee on Monday for extraordinary public hearings just weeks before the midterm elections.

Senator John Kennedy, Republican of Louisiana, told reporters Monday afternoon that the chairman, Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, told senators there would be an “opportunity” for senators to hear from Judge Kavanaugh and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, in a public setting where senators would be able to ask questions. Both have said they are willing to testify.

A Senate Republican aide confirmed that it would be on Monday, effectively delaying a planned committee vote on Judge Kavanaugh’s nomination, which had been scheduled for this Thursday.

According to reports, Ford has already taken and passed a polygraph test.

I would love to know if Kavanaugh, who has thoroughly denounced the allegations, would be willing to do the same?

Here, via CNN, is the letter Ford sent to Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California earlier this summer.

These are the allegations.

Dear Senator Feinstein;

I am writing with information relevant in evaluating the current nominee to the Supreme Court.

As a constituent, I expect that you will maintain this as confidential until we have further opportunity to speak.

Brett Kavanaugh physically and sexually assaulted me during high school in the early 1980’s. He conducted these acts with the assistance of REDACTED.

Both were one to two years older than me and students at a local private school.

The assault occurred in a suburban Maryland area home at a gathering that included me and four others.

Kavanaugh physically pushed me into a bedroom as I was headed for a bathroom up a short stair well from the living room. They locked the door and played loud music precluding any successful attempt to yell for help.

Kavanaugh was on top of me while laughing with REDACTED, who periodically jumped onto Kavanaugh. They both laughed as Kavanaugh tried to disrobe me in their highly inebriated state. With Kavanaugh’s hand over my mouth I feared he may inadvertently kill me.

From across the room a very drunken REDACTED said mixed words to Kavanaugh ranging from “go for it” to “stop.”

At one point when REDACTED jumped onto the bed the weight on me was substantial. The pile toppled, and the two scrapped with each other. After a few attempts to get away, I was able to take this opportune moment to get up and run across to a hallway bathroom. I locked the bathroom door behind me. Both loudly stumbled down the stair well at which point other persons at the house were talking with them. I exited the bathroom, ran outside of the house and went home.

I have not knowingly seen Kavanaugh since the assault. I did see REDACTED once at the REDACTED where he was extremely uncomfortable seeing me.

I have received medical treatment regarding the assault. On July 6 I notified my local government representative to ask them how to proceed with sharing this information . It is upsetting to discuss sexual assault and its repercussions, yet I felt guilty and compelled as a citizen about the idea of not saying anything.

I am available to speak further should you wish to discuss. I am currently REDACTED and will be in REDACTED.

In confidence, REDACTED.

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Oklahoma State Chair For Trump Campaign Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Child Sex Trafficking

Former Oklahoma state Sen. Shortey was sentenced today to 15 years in prison plus 10 years of supervision upon release from prison.
Ralph Shortey

You may recall the sad tale of former Oklahoma state Sen. Ralph Shortey, who was found in a room at a Motel 6 with a 17-year-old boy on March 9, 2017.

Police found through text messages that Shortey had offered the teen cash in exchange for “sexual stuff.” When police entered the hotel room it reeked of marijuana, according to police reports.

In November of last year, Shortey, who was the Oklahoma state chair for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, agreed to a guilty plea of child sex trafficking.

Text messages were found on Shortey’s phone between him and the underage teen that showed the boy needed money. Shortey apparently replied “I don’t really have any legitimate things I need help right now. Would you be interested in ‘sexual’ stuff?”

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped three other charges of child pornography that had been filed against him.

Had he faced all of the charges brought against him in court he could have spent close to the rest of his life in prison.

Shortey was sentenced today to 15 years in prison plus 10 years of supervision upon release from prison.

Shortey was infamous for introducing strange legislation like banning human fetuses in food products (that happens?) and, of course, voting for every piece of anti-LGBTQ legislation put before him.

He had been married to his high school sweetheart since 2002. She filed for divorce, and it was granted this past April.

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Sen. Chuck Grassley: Kavanaugh’s Accuser Deserves To Be Heard

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)

Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, has announced the accuser of Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, “deserves to be heard.”

Via press release:

Anyone who comes forward as Dr. Ford has deserves to be heard, so I will continue working on a way to hear her out in an appropriate, precedented and respectful manner. The standard procedure for updates to any nominee’s background investigation file is to conduct separate follow-up calls with relevant parties.

In this case, that would entail phone calls with at least Judge Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford. Consistent with that practice, I asked Senator Feinstein’s office yesterday to join me in scheduling these follow-ups. Thus far, they have refused. But as a necessary step in evaluating these claims, I’ll continue working to set them up.

Unfortunately, committee Republicans have only known this person’s identity from news reports for less than 24 hours and known about her allegations for less than a week. Senator Feinstein, on the other hand, has had this information for many weeks and deprived her colleagues of the information necessary to do our jobs.

The Minority withheld even the anonymous allegations for six weeks, only to later decide that they were serious enough to investigate on the eve of the committee vote, after the vetting process had been completed. It’s deeply disturbing that the existence of these allegations were leaked in a way that seemed to preclude Dr. Ford’s confidentiality.

Over my nearly four decades in the Senate I have worked diligently to protect whistleblowers and get to the bottom of any issue. Dr. Ford’s attorney could have approached my office, while keeping her client confidential and anonymous, so that these allegations could be thoroughly investigated. Nevertheless, we are working diligently to get to the bottom of these claims.

As previously reported here, Kavanaugh has been accused of sexual misconduct in high school by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, a noted college professor.

In addition to coming forward over the weekend, Ford has apparently submitted to and passed a lie detector test regarding the assault.

Several LGBTI organizations, including the LGBT Bar Association of New York and the National Center for Transgender Equality, called for an investigation into allegations. They also asked that the Senate Judiciary committee hit pause on consideration of Kavanaugh until an investigation has been completed.

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President Of Cuba Announces Support For Marriage Equality

The president of Cuba has announced his support for same-sex marriage in regard to the upcoming referendum on a new constitution which would include new language allowing marriage equality

American LGBTs saw the power of the presidency in action when President Obama announced his ‘evolution’ and support for marriage equality in May 2012.

His statement made an enormous impact on the fight for marriage equality. And three years later, same-sex marriage came to all of the United States.

Now, Cuba is preparing for a nationwide referendum on changing the language in its constitution from defining marriage as a “voluntary union of a man and a woman,” to recognizing marriage as “between two people.”

And the president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, has publicly announced his support.

According to the BBC, Díaz-Canel said in an interview with Telesur he favors recognizing “marriage between people without any restrictions.”

He added that embracing marriage equality is “part of eliminating any type of discrimination in society.”

The Cuban president acknowledges that Cuba has “been going through a massive thought evolution and many taboos have been broken.”

Much of the credit for Cuba’s ‘evolution’ on marriage is due, in great part, to the efforts of Mariela Castro, daughter of former President Raúl Castro.

Ms. Castro, who leads the Cuban National Centre for Sex Education, has spent years speaking out on behalf of LGBTQ rights. And those efforts are clearly paying off today.

Cuba bears a long, hideous history regarding the treatment of LGBTs.

In 1959, after the rise of Fidel Castro, 25,000 gay men were rounded up and sent to labor camps.

And during the height of the AIDS pandemic, those with HIV were quarantined in government-run sanitariums. That practice ended in 1993.

But even with the country’s “thought evolution,” it comes as no surprise that there are still hills to climb before the vote in the form of Cuba’s religious leaders.

Cuba’s Catholic Church, Assembly of God Pentecostal Church, the Evangelical League and Methodist Church all vigorously oppose the idea of marriage equality.

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Hillary Clinton: I Hoped My Fears About Trump Were ‘Overblown’ – They Were Not

Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton has adapted the afterword from the upcoming paperback edition of her book, What Happened, as an essay for The Atlantic.

The former Secretary of State sounds a clarion call about the current assaults on American democracy in the era of Donald Trump.

Clinton begins thusly:

“It’s been nearly two years since Donald Trump won enough Electoral College votes to become president of the United States. On the day after, in my concession speech, I said, “We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead.” I hoped that my fears for our future were overblown.

“They were not.

“In the roughly 21 months since he took the oath of office, Trump has sunk far below the already-low bar he set for himself in his ugly campaign.

“Exhibit A is the unspeakable cruelty that his administration has inflicted on undocumented families arriving at the border, including separating children, some as young as eight months, from their parents. According to The New York Times, the administration continues to detain 12,800 children right now, despite all the outcry and court orders.

“Then there’s the president’s monstrous neglect of Puerto Rico: After Hurricane Maria ravaged the island, his administration barely responded. Some 3,000 Americans died. Now Trump flatly denies those deaths were caused by the storm.

“And, of course, despite the recent indictments of several Russian military intelligence officers for hacking the Democratic National Committee in 2016, he continues to dismiss a serious attack on our country by a foreign power as a “hoax.”

“Trump and his cronies do so many despicable things that it can be hard to keep track. I think that may be the point—to confound us, so it’s harder to keep our eye on the ball. The ball, of course, is protecting American democracy. As citizens, that’s our most important charge. And right now, our democracy is in crisis.”

Clinton goes on to encourage folks to vote, vote, vote this fall and more.

I know there are folks who say Hillary should step out of the public square for good. I, for one, disagree.

Definitely worth your read.