LGBTQ news and entertainment
Gay power couple Tom Daley and Dustin Lance Black announced via Instagram today they are expecting their first child.
Along with the pic of an ultrasound, Black shared, “A very happy #ValentinesDay from ours to yours.”
A spokesperson for the couple, who married in England last May, confirmed the baby will arrive later this year, “Tom and Dustin are thrilled to share that they are expecting their first child in 2018.”
Just goes to prove the old adage, “Practice makes perfect.”
Nine days after the Rob Porter/White House domestic abuse debacle, Donald Trump finally told the world he opposes domestic violence.
The only comment he made regarding the scandal was to defend the domestic abuser the day after the news broke.
“I am totally opposed to domestic violence and everybody here knows that. I am totally opposed to domestic violence of any kind. Everyone knows that. And it almost wouldn’t even have to be said. So, now you hear it, but you all know.”
Watch the statment below.
President Trump: “I am totally opposed to domestic violence and everybody here knows that. I am totally opposed to domestic violence of any kind. Everyone knows that. And it almost wouldn’t even have to be said. So, now you hear it, but you all know.” pic.twitter.com/8jE8iF74hf— CSPAN (@cspan) February 14, 2018
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| Mitt Romney |
The Associated Press is reporting Mitt Romney will announce his plans to run for the Utah Senate seat currently held by Sen. Orrin Hatch.
Hatch has previously announced he will not seek reelection.
The 70-year-old Romney, once a harsh critic of President Donald Trump, will release an online video Thursday announcing his Senate bid. His first public appearance as a Senate candidate will come Friday night at a county Republican dinner in Provo.
Those with knowledge of his plans spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly.
Despite a drama-filled history with Trump, Romney is not expected to address the combative president directly in the announcement video. Those close to him say he plans a hyper-local focus on Utah issues throughout the Senate campaign.
His announcement video will suggest that Washington has much to learn from Utah.
Romney, a former Massachusetts governor and one of the most famous Mormons, is widely liked and respected in Utah, which is heavily Mormon.
Romney is considered a shoe-in for the Senate seat.
Mitt Romney set to announce bid to become a Senator who will bravely stand up to the president, before voting for everything he wants in complete obedient lockstep.— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) February 14, 2018
#MittRomney is going to be another talk tough republican while getting press coverage, but will have Cheetos ass dust all over his face from kissing it! Politico tells Hillary to get over losing, while praising Romney as a good move. FUCK YOU POLITICO. MALE EGOTISTICAL PRICKS!— Robert Myers (@RobMyers1968) February 14, 2018
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| Mick Mulvaney |
NBC News has video footage of Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney telling the House Budget Committee today that Donald Trump’s proposed military parade could cost up to $30 million.
Defense Secretary James Mattis said the Pentagon is currently “putting together some options” on the parade.
I’m of a mind that $30 million could help a lot of sick and/or homeless veterans. But hey, that’s just me.
NEW: OMB Director Mulvaney says President Trump’s military parade would likely cost between $10 million and $30 million. pic.twitter.com/DnHTHjjMTG— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 14, 2018
They’ll blow $30m to make Trump feel like some Banana Republic strongman.But they just said, in their budget, we have to cut food assistance (SNAP) for over 23,000 service members.
Our troops and their families can’t eat a parade.
https://t.co/65TJqwlZ6q— VoteVets (@votevets) February 14, 2018
A quarter of active duty service members and 1.5M vets get SNAP benefits. *Half* the children going to on-base schools are eligible for free/reduced lunches. But, sure, throw a $30M parade to “honor” them. https://t.co/N0Ia7dFleP https://t.co/lZMWDZ6Dxo https://t.co/Wjfxxt19HZ— ana marie cox (@anamariecox) February 14, 2018
Dude sits there with an ash cross on his forehead saying a military parade might cost as much as $30 million just days after laying out a budget that will send poor people boxes of canned beans. Not a real follower-of-Christ move, if you ask me. https://t.co/vz4sbRqRX1— Rex Huppke (@RexHuppke) February 14, 2018
The Trump administration wants to spend between $10 million and $30 million on a military parade. The entire budget for the Office of Government Ethics is about $16 million. https://t.co/s14VWy3k7j— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) February 14, 2018
How about we use that $10-$30 million to care for homeless veterans? https://t.co/VkDOmSNZdj— Peter Daou (@peterdaou) February 14, 2018
Out US figure skater Adam Rippon, who won a bronze medal for his contribution to the team figure skating event on Sunday, told reporters at a press conference Tuesday that he didn’t want his “Olympic experience to be about Mike Pence.”
“I have no problem talking about what I’ve said because I stand by it, but I think right now the Olympics are about Olympic competition and the athletes involved. I don’t want it to distract from them, and I don’t want my Olympic experience to be about Mike Pence. I want it to be about my amazing skating and being America’s sweetheart.”
You’ll recall the whole Rippon debacle began when Rippon was asked by USA Today about the vice president leading the US delegation for the opening of the Olympics.
Rippon’s response: “You mean Mike Pence, the same Mike Pence that funded gay conversion therapy? I’m not buying it.”
Rippon was referencing a 2000 statement on Pence’s congressional campaign website which said, “Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior.”
I’m loving Adam’s clarity about who he is and the ease with which he lives his authentic self.
What a great role model for young people.
#TeamUSA #TeamUSGay
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| Donald Trump’s personal lawyer and porn accountant, Michael Cohen |
Michael D. Cohen, President Trump’s longtime personal lawyer and go-to “fix-it” guy, said on Tuesday that he personally paid $130,000 out of his own pocket to porn star Stormy Daniels who had claimed to have had an affair with Mr. Trump.
What a mensch. He pays his buddy/client’s prostitution bill just to be nice.
From The New York Times:
In the most detailed explanation of the 2016 payment made to the actress, Stephanie Clifford, Mr. Cohen, who worked as a counsel to the Trump Organization for more than a decade, said he was not reimbursed for the payment.
“Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly,” Mr. Cohen said in a statement to The New York Times. “The payment to Ms. Clifford was lawful, and was not a campaign contribution or a campaign expenditure by anyone.”
He declined to answer several follow-up questions, including whether Mr. Trump had been aware that Mr. Cohen made the payment, why he made the payment or whether he had made similar payments to other people over the years.
Mr. Cohen has previously said that Mr. Trump has denied an affair with Ms. Clifford, whose stage name is Stormy Daniels. She has said the affair took place soon after Mr. Trump’s wife, Melania, gave birth to the couple’s son, Barron.
Note that there was no reason given as to why Cohen wrote the $130,000 check.
Why would a candidate’s lawyers pay $130,000 to a porn star, if she was lying about an affair with the candidate?— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) February 14, 2018
Trump’s lawyer is now saying he paid Stormy Daniels $130,000 out of his own pocket.That could be the worst lie I have ever heard in my life.
No one pays $130,000 to keep quiet about someone else having sex.
— Devin Duke (@sirDukeDevin) February 14, 2018
It’s totally normal to use money to silence a porn actress who slept with your friend running for president— who pays you regularly in legal fees (aa your attorney), fees which can fluctuate up and down depending on…whatever.— Mike Signorile (@MSignorile) February 14, 2018
Cohen says Trump campaign was not “a party to the transaction.” But that’s not the law. If $130k hush money payment to Stormy Daniels was made “in cooperation, consultation or concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, a candidate’s campaign,” it violated fed election law. https://t.co/ytfPHiwv5T— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) February 14, 2018
I feel like such a fool. My lawyer makes ME pay HIM! https://t.co/UoIBGtW6DI— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) February 14, 2018
Iconic fashion house Burberry shared on Instagram yesterday:
“Today we reveal #TheRainbowcheck and announce that #Burberry is supporting three LGBTQ+ charities, @AlbertKennedyTrust, @ILGAWorld and @TrevorProject, dedicated to broadening support for this community around the world. The rainbow, a symbol of inclusiveness and joy, is celebrated throughout the February 2018 collection.”
Chief Creative Officer Christopher Bailey added:
“My final collection here at Burberry is dedicated to and in support of – some of the best and brightest organisations supporting LGBTQ+ youth around the world. There has never been a more important time to say that in our diversity lies our strength and our creativity.”
The autumn/winter 2018 collection will use the colors of the LGBTQ+ rainbow in the new rainbow pattern shown above. The collection will be presented on February 17 at London Fashion Week.
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| This guy wants to make sure SNAP recipients eat healthy |
Stop the presses – we’ve now found the worst idea of the day.
Just now coming to light as part of Donald Trump’s proposed budget is a proposal to cut food stamp recipient’s funds in half and replace that with boxes of canned meats and fruits as well as shelf-stable milk.
The administration says it will help ensure that people only eat healthy food like the guy at the top of this post.
Wait – it gets worse.
From Politico:
White House OMB Director Mick Mulvaney on Monday hailed the idea as one that kept up with the modern era, calling it a “Blue Apron-type program” — a nod to the high-end meal kit delivery company that had one of the worst stock debuts in 2017 and has struggled to hold onto customers. Mulvaney said the administration’s plan would not only save the government money, but also provide people with more nutritious food than they have now.
The proposal, buried in the White House’s fiscal 2019 budget, would replace about half of the money most families receive via the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, with what the Department of Agriculture is calling “America’s Harvest Box.” That package would be made up of “100 percent U.S. grown and produced food” and would include items like shelf-stable milk, peanut butter, canned fruits and meats, and cereal.
But America’s Harvest Box, which USDA contends would save over $129 billion over 10 years, is not very comparable to startup meal-delivery companies like Blue Apron. For one, the Trump administration’s proposal doesn’t include fresh items, like produce or meat, which are the core of Blue Apron and its competitors. Such products perish quickly and are incredibly expensive to ship.
A few obvious problems here. USDA spokesman Tim Murtaugh says that it would be left to states to decide how to deliver the “Harvest Boxes.” In other words, the government would pass the cost of delivering these boxes – many to rural areas – to the states. I’ll bet states are going to love that extra budgetary line item.
Also, the federal government has no logistical mechanism set up to do any of this. So, the federal bureaucracy conservatives hate would have to expand even more.
And, the impact on the grocery store industry – where food stamps purchases make up 7.5% of all sales – would be huge. According to reports, Walmart alone nabs 20% of food stamp sales.
You could guess that perhaps the administration is simply trying to make accepting food stamps as unattractive an option as possible.
Proposing that we cut food stamps and ship a box of government canned goods to poor families to save money right after they pass a $1.5 trillion tax cut for corporations and the wealthy is so vulgar and obvious I don’t know what to say.— Jon Lovett (@jonlovett) February 13, 2018
1. What if you don’t receive your box one month?
2. What if you’re homeless?
3. What if you don’t have a place to receive mail?
4. What if you move frequently?
5. What if you have allergies?
6. What if the box gets wet, or animals get into it?— Annie Lowrey (@AnnieLowrey) February 13, 2018
7. What if your kid is a fussy eater?
8. What if you’re a fussy eater?
9. What about the end of the month?
10. Will the value be the same?
11. What about the stores in your town?
12. What about fresh fruits and veggies?
13. What if you don’t have electricity or gas to cook?— Annie Lowrey (@AnnieLowrey) February 13, 2018
I grew up on food stamps, if not for the fresh fruit & veg you could get (when available) I might not have done ok as a kid. This is punishing people for being poor. Poverty is not a moral failing, stop hurting people for not having money. https://t.co/amU004F8rO— Tanya moved to Wakanda (@cypheroftyr) February 13, 2018
Some news items you might have missed:
• It’s a “light and shadow” kind of day here in Las Vegas. And so, I give you the handsome Ignacio Pérez Rey photographed by the incomparable Joan Crisol.
• A recently unearthed quote from Academy Award winner Marlon Brando confirms he had homosexual experiences.
• Underwear designer Andrew Christian has found a way to deal with all those pics of beleagured porn boy Topher DiMaggio on his website after “suspending” Topher as a “trophy boy.” The answer? They simply cut off his head.
• The 30-year-old man who set off a bomb in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan ( a popular gay neighborhood) in September of 2016 has been sentenced to two life sentences plus 30 years for his actions.
• This popular Miami first grade teacher was fired for marrying her wife. The Catholic school she taught for had a “moral turpitude” clause in her contract they say she broke. Florida, as you may know, has no protections for LGBTs in the workplace.
• Pop diva Toni Braxton has a brand new single “Long As I Live” out now, and is one of several tracks Toni co-wrote and produced for her upcoming new album, Sex and Cigarettes, due out March 23. Check out the new single below.