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News Round-Up: July 8, 2019

• InstaHunk Guto Oliveira went blond (again) because, you know what they say... #InstaBlondsHaveMoreFun

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk Guto Oliveira went blond (again) because, you know what they say… #InstaBlondsHaveMoreFun

• Washington Post: The Trump administration’s State Department has launched a panel focused on human rights and ‘natural law.’ Natural law is a term sometimes used in association with discrimination against marginalized populations. You know, like, the gays.

• Buzzfeed News: A 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Arizona on Thursday by a man who told police he did it because the boy’s rap music made him feel “unsafe.”

• Netflix: The streaming platform dropped the trailer for Season 4 of Queer Eye, which will be available on July 19. Try not to cry…

• Politico: Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a law Monday authorizing the release of state tax returns to a handful of congressional committees, opening a new avenue for Democrats to get their hands on some of President Donald Trump’s closely guarded finances.

• New York Times: Senator Elizabeth Warren raised $19.1 million for her presidential campaign in the past three months, ahead of her biggest opponent for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, Sen. Bernie Sanders ($18 million).

• Colombian pop star Maluma set his Instagram on fire when he posted this sexy selfie-dance video teasing his new track, “Instinto Natural,” and 44 million followers simultaneously drooled. Follow those ‘instincts,’ Maluma 😉

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Rep. Eric Swalwell Ends 2020 Presidential Campaign

Rep. Eric Swalwell has announced he will end his three-month campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Rep. Eric Swalwell has announced he will end his three-month campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

In an email to supporters, Swalwell writes, in part:

I ran for President to win and make a difference in our great country — a difference on issues of the future such as finding cures for our deadliest and most debilitating diseases, taking on the student loan debt crisis, and ending gun violence.

I promised my family, constituents, and supporters that I would always be honest about our chances.

After the first Democratic presidential debate, our polling and fundraising numbers weren’t what we had hoped for, and I no longer see a path forward to the nomination. My presidential campaign ends today, but this also is the start of a new passage for the issues on which our campaign ran.

And then there were…23?

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UK Leather Daddy Helps African Lesbian Refugee Start A New Life

Joe King, a former Mr. Leather Europe, is on a mission to help a young 22-year-old lesbian woman from Uganda who has suffered severe homophobia and poverty.
Shadia (L), Joe King (R)
Joe King, a former Mr. Leather Europe, is on a mission to help a young 22-year-old lesbian woman from Uganda who has suffered severe homophobia and poverty.

According to King, Shadia has lived “a very brutal and difficult life in Africa because of her sexuality.”

Rejected by her family for being lesbian, she traveled to Kenya with her two-year-old son. But life was no better there as she fell victim to rape and was forced to live in the streets, often eating bath soap to survive.

Shadia came to King’s attention through a friend at the Refugee Coalition of East Africa. The Coalition works to help LGBTQ people who find themselves the object of persecution.

The organization has arranged for Shadia, her son and her step-sister to relocate to Manchester.

King, who was honored as Mr. Leather Europe in 2016, told Gay Star News recently, “My heart went out for her. The poor girl has been through hell.”

Calling Shadia ‘inspirational’ and ‘thoughtful’ in the face of horrific adversity, King launched a GoFundMe campaign to help raise funds for Shadia’s new chapter in Manchester.

The young mother will be starting her life in a totally new country, with no friends, family or network to rely on.

Citing Pride season, King says he saw “an opportunity for the community to do something for someone and show what Pride is really about.”

King aims to show Shadia that she has a new family in the local LGBTQ community to help get her onto her feet as she begins a job search and takes her first steps in building a new life.

Perhaps an unlikely hero to an African refugee, the UK leatherman closes his appeal on GoFundMe writing, “Please help me support this amazing and inspirational woman and give what you can, no matter how small.”

Gay Star News reports he will meet Shadia at the airport in Manchester on Tuesday with a rainbow Pride flag.

As the current president of Manchester Leathermen, he plans to ask her to march with them in the Manchester Pride Parade this August.

“It makes you think,” he told GSN. “When we’re having parties and being ridiculous in the street, there’s another side to the community.”

“We’ve lost touch with what’s important sometimes,” he added.”We want to show her that she’s got a LGBTI family.”

Bravo, Joe!

Click over to the GoFundMe page for more information.

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Study Shows 48% In UK Would Feel Uncomfortable Kissing Someone HIV+

A survey from the UK shows 48% of respondents say they would be uncomfortable kissing someone who is living with HIV, even though 97% of those diagnosed in the UK are virally supressed thanks to modern antiretroviral medications.

The survey, commissioned by the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) and executed by YouGov, found high levels of stigma still abound when it comes to HIV.

Multiple studies have shown that people living with HIV and on effective treatment report viral levels as ‘undetectable’ which means the virus can’t be passed on to sexual partners.

The PARTNER study, published in 2016, followed 58,000 instances of sex without a condom where one partner was HIV positive and one was HIV negative.

The resulting research showed there were zero cases of HIV transmission where the HIV+ partner was on effective treatment reducing viral levels to ‘undetectable.’

The PARTNER 2 study, released in May 2019, found zero cases of HIV transmission among 782 serodiscordant couples having condomless sex when the HIV+ partner had undetectable levels of HIV.

Dr. Michael Brady, Medical Director for the Terrence Higgins Trust, says “We are now saying with confidence – and without doubt – that people living with HIV who are on effective treatment cannot pass the virus on to their sexual partners.”

But the survey found only 19% of British respondents are aware of that fact. A surprising 41% believe the virus can be passed on even with the virus suppressed in the patient.

Also from the survey:

• 38% would feel uncomfortable going on a date with someone living with HIV

• 64% say they would feel uncomfortable having sex with someone living with HIV

• People aged 35-44 were most comfortable with the proposition of kissing someone with HIV (43%) while older respondents (55+) were much less comfortable (25%)

A campaign by the THT, titled ‘Can’t Pass It On,’ aims to tackle outdated beliefs regarding HIV and the stigma/discrimination associated with the virus.

While noting that condoms are still the most effective way to avoid all sexually transmitted diseases, the campaign hopes to ensure that people know the facts about HIV and effective treatment.

For more info about the THT/YouGov survey, click here.

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Second Pride Flag Set On Fire At Harlem Gay Club

A Pride flag hanging at the front of a Harlem gay bar was set on fire early Monday morning. This is the second time a rainbow flag has been burned at the same club in just over a month.

NBC News reports the flag was discovered by staff members sometime between 12:20 a.m. and 12:45 a.m.

The previous attack, which New York City Police have been investigating as a possible anti-gay crime, occurred in the early morning hours of May 31.

Alexi Minko, owner of the Alibi Lounge, says he finds the timing of the two incidents suspect.

“I have to say that what I find odd was the timing of both events,” said Minko. “One was at the beginning of Pride, and one was right at the end. One has to wonder if there’s a kind of message they’re trying to send.”

Calling the repeat offense “surreal,” Minko added that he’s surprised the second flag-burning happened since police had released surveillance camera footage of the suspect in the first incident, alerting the public that cameras are trained on the nightclub’s entrance.

“Second time around, I’m really kind of in shock, I have to admit,” Minko said.

Speaking to local news station PIX11, the owner said that no matter the message, “What’s important is that we stand tall, we don’t get afraid.”

PIX11 reports that Alibi Lounge bills itself as the only black-owned LGBTQ bar in Manhattan.

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A Soccer Story In 4 Episodes

Megan Rapinoe (L) Donald Trump (R)

1. World champion soccer player Megan Rapinoe, in an interview with EightbyEight magazine last month, was asked if she’d attend a ceremony at the White House if the team were to win the World Cup.

“I’m not going to the f​—ing White House,” ​she said in the interview. “We’re not gonna be invited​. ​I doubt it.​”​

2. Donald Trump promptly blasted Rapinoe on (where else?) Twitter:

“Megan should WIN first before she TALKS!”

3. And then… 🙂

4. Trump then changed course regarding an invite to the team telling Voice of America, “We haven’t really thought about it.” (Scroll up to remember how he wrote “I am now inviting the TEAM.” #liar

And when asked if the women deserve to make the same money as their male counterparts, the Donald dodged.

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Nevada & Iowa Will Offer Tele-Caucus Option In 2020

Living in Nevada for 15 years, I’ve been quite vocal about my criticism of the caucus system.

This might help up involvement.

From the AP:

Democrats in the early presidential contest states of Iowa and Nevada will be able to cast their votes over the telephone instead of showing up at their states’ traditional neighborhood caucus meetings next February, according to plans unveiled by the state parties.

The tele-caucus systems, the result of a mandate from the Democratic National Committee, are aimed at opening the local-level political gatherings to more people, especially evening shift-workers and people with disabilities, whom critics of the caucuses have long said are blocked from the process.

The changes are expected to boost voter participation across the board, presenting a new opportunity for the Democratic Party’s 2020 candidates to drive up support in the crucial early voting states.

In the last presidential election cycle, my neighborhood’s caucus was held on a Saturday morning. If you didn’t attend, you didn’t get to weigh in with your choice for Democratic nominee.

If you had to work, too bad. If you had to take care of the kids’ weekend activities, too bad. No other options were available.

Plus, it was a bit of a mad house, and it took over two hours.

And, some campaign supporters can be pretty suppressive. The guy below was at my caucus representing Bernie Sanders in 2016.

He claimed he was there to make sure there weren’t ‘irregularities.’ Instead, he was something of a bully stepping in and interfereing a few times.

Gee, can you imagine why some folks don’t bother to be involved? I really wish we would just have a primary over several days like we do other elections.

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Trailer: Renée Zellweger In ‘JUDY’

The first trailer for the upcoming JUDY starring Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland.
(photo credit: David Hindley)

The first trailer for the upcoming JUDY starring Renée Zellweger as the iconic Hollywood star, Judy Garland.

“Everyone’s had their troubles…and I’ve had mine.”

Via press release:

Winter 1968 and showbiz legend Judy Garland arrives in Swinging London to perform a five-week sold-out run at The Talk of the Town. It is 30 years since she shot to global stardom in The Wizard of Oz, but if her voice has weakened, its dramatic intensity has only grown.

As she prepares for the show, battles with management, charms musicians and reminisces with friends and adoring fans, her wit and warmth shine through. Even her dreams of love seem undimmed as she embarks on a whirlwind romance with Mickey Deans, her soon-to-be fifth husband.

Featuring some of her best-known songs, the film celebrates the voice, the capacity for love, and the sheer pizzazz of “the world’s greatest entertainer.”

In theaters September 27.

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New Madonna Documentary: “The World Of Madame X”

Amazon Prime Video recently added a new short-form documentary, The World of Madame X, which chronicles the evolution of Madonna’s latest number one album, Madame X.

Amazon Prime Video recently added a new short-form documentary, The World of Madame X, which chronicles the evolution of Madonna’s latest number one album, Madame X.

The 23-minute film shares how the Queen of Pop was given the nickname ‘Madame X’ when she was 19-year-old and a new transplant to New York City.

Madge also explains how her new album, Madame X, which recently debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, came to fruition while living in Lisbon, Portugal.

Living in Lisbon, Madonna shares she was happy to be there for her son, who wanted to train for soccer.

But, she also says she became “lonely” as she didn’t really know anyone there, much like when she first moved to New York City. “I knew that I had to find my tribe, so to speak,” she adds.

Along the way, she developed a friendship with Dino d’Santiago, a Portuguese singer, who invited her to living-room music sessions, where local singers and instrumentalists gather in someone’s home to play music.

“What struck me most was this organic, authentic feeling of people being there because they just love music,” says the international pop star. “Money had nothing to do with it. Fame had nothing to do with it. Instagram followers had nothing to do with it. It was really about passion, and music, and art.”

After recording several of the living room jam sessions, Madonna felt she had to “take what I’m hearing, and turn it upside down.”

She sent clips to her longtime producer, Mirwais, writing, “I know this is crazy, but tell me if it inspires you. Let’s chop up the guitar sounds, and synch them to modern sounding drums.”

According to Madge, a week later he had sent back his musical interpretations of the clips, which she described as “amazing,” adding that the new tracks left her “super inspired.”

As she continued “meeting musicians from all these places,” she allowed their work to influence her. And that, as Madonna says, is “how these songs came to be.”

“I had landed in a magical world,” says Madonna in the new documentary-short.

You can check out a 3 minute clip from the documentary below, and find the full short film on Amazon Video here.

There are also two, brand-new Amazon Original remixes of tracks from Madonna’s new album from Robbie Rivera and Erick Morillo.

Madonna is currently prepping for a series of rare, intimate concerts that will be held exclusively in theaters. The best-selling female solo touring artist of all time, her tour begins September 12 in New York City. For more info about the upcoming concerts, click here.

More from the Amazon Video documentary via Instagram:

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Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein Arrested On Sex Trafficking Charges

Billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein was arrested for allegedly sex trafficking dozens of minors in New York and Florida between 2002 and 2005, and will appear in court in New York on Monday, according to three law enforcement sources.

From The Daily Beast:

Billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein was arrested for allegedly sex trafficking dozens of minors in New York and Florida between 2002 and 2005, and will appear in court in New York on Monday, according to three law enforcement sources.

Saturday’s arrest by the FBI-NYPD Crimes Against Children Task Force comes about 12 years after the 66-year-old financier essentially got a slap on the wrist for allegedly molesting dozens of underage girls in Florida.

The new indictment — which, according to two sources, will be unsealed Monday in Manhattan federal court — will reportedly allege that Epstein sexually exploited dozens of underage girls in a now-familiar scheme: paying them cash for “massages” and then molesting or sexually abusing them in his Upper East Side mansion or his palatial residence in Palm Beach.

Epstein will be charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors—which could put him away for a maximum of 45 years.

Several sources are pointing to Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, who as a U.S. attorney in Miami cut a deal to keep Epstein out of jail and seal all evidence against him.

From Vox:

The FBI had prepared a 53-page sex crimes indictment for Epstein in 2007 that could have sent him to prison for life, according to the Herald.

Instead, he cut a deal with Alexander Acosta, then the US attorney in Miami, which allowed him to serve just 13 months — not in federal or state prison, but in a private wing of a Palm Beach county jail.

He was granted work release to go to a “comfortable office” for 12 hours a day, six days a week, despite the fact that the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Department prohibited work release for sex offenders.