Category: Uncategorized

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Former Australian Prime Minister (And Marriage EqualityFoe) Attends Sister’s Same-Sex Wedding

(image via Instagram)

Just weeks after Australia legalized same-sex marriage, former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott attended the wedding of his sister Christine Forster to girlfriend Virginia Flitcroft.

Abbott told the media as he traveled to Sydney for the ceremony, “I’m looking forward to having a new sister-in-law.”

Sweet sentiments, but a change in tone as Abbott had opposed marriage equality all the way up to the recent “vote-by-mail” survey of the entire country on the subject.

“However deeply affectionate or long lasting it may be, the relationship between two people of the same sex cannot be a marriage because a marriage, by definition, is between a man and a woman,” said Abbott during the nationwide debate. “Let’s celebrate all strong relationships, whether they are between a man and a woman or between people of the same sex—but let’s be careful about describing every lasting sexual bond as a ’marriage’.”

Abbott refused to allow a vote in Parliament on the issue while in power, but did say the question should be put to a national referendum.

The result of the survey? Sixty-two percent of Australians said yes to equal marriage, and Parliament overwhelmingly followed suit December. The first same-sex weddings began January 9.

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Trump Attacks Rep. Adam Schiff, Schiff Claps Back

Rep. Adam Schiff

After Donald Trump attacked Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff as “one of the biggest liars and leakers in Washington,” Schiff didn’t hesitate to clap back at the Trumpster.

Schiff, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, has been a leading critic of Trump and is pushing for a vote to release a Democratic counter-point to Republican Devin Nunes’ three and a half page memo that Trump has declared “totally vindicates” him.

Referencing the hours of unscheduled morning TV time the Donald reserves for himself, Schiff signaled he has no time for such foolishness.

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Donald Trump Makes Veiled Threat Before Super Bowl National Anthem

Just hours before Super Bowl LII, Donald Trump issued a statement recognizing the national event but made it clear he didn’t want to see players kneel during the National Anthem.

“As many Americans come together to watch the Super Bowl, Melania and I extend our greetings and appreciation for those who make occasions like this possible, particularly the brave men and women of our Armed Forces.

Though many of our Nation’s service members are unable to be home with family and friends to enjoy this evening’s American tradition, they are always in our thoughts and prayers. We owe these heroes the greatest respect for defending our liberty and our American way of life. Their sacrifice is stitched into each star and every stripe of our Star-Spangled Banner. We hold them in our hearts and thank them for our freedom as we proudly stand for the National Anthem.

We send our best wishes for an enjoyable Super Bowl Sunday. May God bless and protect our troops, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.”

Bolding is mine.

As everyone knows, NFL players kneeling during our National Anthem had not ever been about disrespecting our flag or anthem; it was to call attention to injustices against African-Americans.

During a speech in September last fall, Trump called players who kneel during the anthem “sons of bitches.”

See the statement below.

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Rose McGowan’s Bookstore Meltdown After Being Called Out By Transgender Woman

Rose McGowan

Rose McGowan, who has been central to the #MeToo movement for coming out about her experiences with Harvey Weinstein, recently made an appearance at a New York City Barnes & Noble promoting her book, Brave.

The book addresses the women’s issues she’s been a part of for several years, and along the way congratulates herself for being, well, “brave.”

But the bookstore appearance took a left turn when a transgender woman stood up asking McGowen to address comments she made on RuPaul’s podcast, What’s the Tee? with Michelle Visage.

The woman began:

I have a suggestion. Talk about what you said on RuPaul. Trans women are dying and you said that we, as trans women, are not like regular women. We get raped more often. We go through domestic violence more often. There was a trans woman killed here a few blocks [away]. I have been followed home —.

From there the situation went from zero to 60 in one second. McGowen flipped out cursing at the trans woman, yelling, “What have you done for women?”

“Don’t label me, sister. Don’t put your labels on me. Don’t you fucking do that. Do not put your labels on me. I don’t come from your planet. Leave me alone. I do not subscribe to your rules. I do not subscribe to your language. You will not put labels on me or anybody. Step the fuck back. What I do for the fucking world and you should be fucking grateful. Shut the fuck up. Get off my back. What have you done? I know what I’ve done, God damn it.”

And it kind of went downhill from there.

McGowan has now cancelled her book tour and attacked her own team for not protecting her.

You can watch the exchange below. There are four clips in the post, but 2 and 3 seem to repeat. I’d heard about the incident but you have to see it to believe it.

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Anthony Rapp’s First Interview Since Kevin Spacey Bombshell

Anthony Rapp

Out actor Anthony Rapp (Star Trek: Discovery) made his first TV interview appearance on The Talk this week since making his bombshell accusation that he was sexually assaulted by Kevin Spacey at the age of 14.

Addressing the controversy, Rapp said:

“I couldn’t really talk about this aspect of it in the story itself, because I could only tell my story, but I knew that there were more stories,” says Rapp about the impact of his story. “So I was just hopeful that coming forward, it would encourage other people to tell the truth.”

“I knew that it was a risky thing,” Rapp continues. “I knew that he was very popular, and certainly a respected actor, but at the same time, I knew that I was trying to protect people. And I was incredibly gratified by the enormous wave of support.”

Rapp also opened up on what it meant to him to be the first openly gay character in a Star Trek series and to share the first same-sex kiss in Trek history.

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The National Anthem At The Super Bowl

It’s Super Bowl Day!

One of my favorite moments of Super Bowl Day is a really triumphant National Anthem.

Today’s anthem will be sung by one of my favoritest artists today, Pink. She’s sent out word she has the flu, but she will do her best.

I know she will.

Here’s a few of what I think are the best Super Bowl National Anthems. All three are exactly who these artists really are.

Did I miss your favorite? Let me know in the comments.

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Newly Discovered Letter Shows Trump Adviser Carter Page Claimed He Served As An Advisor To The Kremlin In 2013

Former Trump Adviser Carter Page

A 2013 letter obtained by TIME shows that former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page boasted that he had served as an adviser to the Kremlin.

This is the same Carter Page who has had trouble keeping his story straight regarding Russian contacts since coming into the spotlight of the ongoing probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

The letter, dated Aug. 25, 2013, was sent by Page to an academic press during a dispute over edits to an unpublished manuscript he had submitted for publication, according to an editor who worked with Page.

“Over the past half year, I have had the privilege to serve as an informal advisor to the staff of the Kremlin in preparation for their Presidency of the G-20 Summit next month, where energy issues will be a prominent point on the agenda,” the letter reads.

Page is at the center of a controversial memo from Republican Congressman Devin Nunes, released this week. The Nunes memo claims that in Oct. 2016 the FBI improperly received court permission to spy on Page, whom Trump had named as an adviser to his campaign in March 2016. The Nunes memo says the FBI based its request for eavesdropping permission on information provided by former British spy Christopher Steele while Steele was working for Democrats.

House Democrats, the FBI and the Justice Department have all raised questions about what they say are omissions and misleading analysis in the Nunes memo. They argue the FBI presented multiple pieces of evidence, beyond the Steele dossier, in their request for a warrant against Page from the secretive FISA court. But President Donald Trump argued after declassifying the memo that it showed that “a lot of people should be ashamed of themselves.”

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The Day The Music Died

According to the lyrics of the Don McLean pop classic “American Pie,” February 3 is “the day the music died.”

I’m not that fatalistic, but it’s sure a good reason to revisit the piece.

“The day the music died” refers – of course – to Buddy Holly’s untimely death along with Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson on 3 February 1959, which McLean mourns as the end of the entire 50s era.

Folks have sought to find hidden meaning in the 8+ minute song since the day it was released. Check out this article which ponders exactly what McLean was getting to.

Take a listen to Don McLean’s performing the song live for the BBC back in 1972, as well as Madonna’s take on the piece recorded in 2000.

Madge’s version conjures images that sure seem downright prescient today.

(h/t The OUTFront)

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Vegas Golden Knights Announce Events For “Hockey Is For Everyone Month” Including LGBT Night

Pierre Edouard Bellemare of the Vegas Golden Knights

In celebration of Hockey Is For Everyone Month, the Vegas Golden Knights have announced a series of programs and events throughout the month of February, including an LGBT night on February 15.

The Golden Knights join the NHL in supporting an inclusive environment for all fans and players regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status.

Via press release:

Hockey Is For Everyone Month is a league-wide initiative to foster a safe and inclusive environment in the game of hockey regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation or socio-economic status.

Pierre-Edouard Bellemare will serve as the Golden Knights player ambassador throughout the month.

In support of Hockey Is For Everyone Month, the Golden Knights will host Hailey Dawson for a ceremonial puck drop at the Golden Knights vs. Philadelphia Flyers game at 5 p.m. PT on February 11. Dawson has a 3-D printed robotic hand that enables her to grab, throw and grasp, and she previously has thrown out multiple pitches at Major League Baseball games. Dawson had a special Vegas Golden Knights hand created by the UNLV School of Engineering to drop the puck.

On February 15, the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, or “The Center,” will attend the Golden Knights vs. Edmonton Oilers game at 7 p.m. PT, and a special PSA from Bellemare will be played in-arena. Pride t-shirts will be available for sale, and proceeds from the Vegas Golden Knights 51/49 raffle that night will benefit The Center.

Clients of Opportunity Village, who work with men and women of all levels of disabilities, will attend the Golden Knights vs. Calgary Flames game at 7:30 p.m. PT on February 21 and stand alongside the players on the bench for the national anthem. In addition, clients will attend the Golden Knights practice on February 17 and have the opportunity to skate on the ice afterward.

Players will also be able to use rainbow tape on their sticks for warm-ups February 21 to later be auctioned off, with all proceeds benefiting the You Can Play Project in support of LGBTQ athletes.

By the way, did I mention the Golden Knight have already broken the record for most wins (34 so far) by an NHL team in its inaugural season?