LGBTQ news and entertainment
Some news items you might have missed:
• George Michael made secret donations to Project Angel Food in Los Angeles totaling more than $650,000 after the death of his partner to HIV-related causes in 1993.
• The state of Florida will offer HIV prevention treatment PrEP for free statewide by the end of 2018. Continue reading “News Round-Up: January 16, 2018”
|
| Donald Trump (L), Steve Bannon (R) |
After telling the House Intelligence committee he would not answer questions about his time in the White House, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon got slapped with a subpoena in an effort to force his testimony.
From Politico:
Bannon appeared before the committee as part of its investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, speaking just weeks after a falling-out with Trump over comments he made in an explosive new book.
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) confirmed Tuesday that he issued a subpoena for Bannon.
“Of course I authorized the subpoena,” he told reporters. “That’s how the rules work.”
According to the person familiar with the interview, Bannon’s attorney told the committee he wouldn’t discuss anything about his time in the White House or during the transition after the 2016 election. During that period, Trump allegedly sought a pledge of loyalty from then-FBI Director James Comey and later fired him.
The source said Republicans lawmakers — including Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas) and former federal prosecutor Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) — were frustrated that Bannon was not more forthcoming. Bannon did not invoke executive privilege, the source said.
Bannon was quoted extensively in the explosive new book, Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, which was none too kind to the Trump administration.
Some feel Bannon’s performance today was an attempt to curry favor again with the Trumpster by demonstrating his loyalty.
In addition to the House subpoena, The New York Times reported today that Bannon was hit with a subpoena from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation last week calling him to testify before a grand jury.
That subpoena marks the first time Mr. Mueller has subpoenaed a member of the Trump inner circle in his investigation into Russian intervention in the 2016 presidential election.
Basically, from here on out, Bannon will be testifying under oath. #DangerWillRobinson
Sources say Bannon told by WH not to answer questions before House Intel Cmte about the White House and the transition. Did not assert executive privilege. Committee subpoenas him during the meeting to comply while in the hearing.— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 16, 2018
Why does Bannon’s subpoena matter? It means that he is no longer negotiating with Mueller. His testimony is compelled.Which means Trump is out of time. ⏱️
— Eric Garland (@ericgarland) January 16, 2018
Sarah Sanders doesn’t answer directly when asked if the WH told Bannon not to answer certain questions today; said “there’s a process” that occurs before any relevant testimony with Hill— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 16, 2018
Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey was not about to suffer fools lightly this morning as Donald Trump’s Secretary of Homeland Security, Kirstjen Nielsen, claimed that she couldn’t remember if Trump called Haiti and African countries “shitholes” in an Oval Office meeting last week.
After listening to earlier testimony bu Nielsen, Booker decided to use his time to address his thoughts saying, in part, “Your silence and your amnesia is complicity.”
Just an excerpt from Booker’s comments:
“I had tears of rage. And for you not to feel that hurt and that pain and to dismiss the questions of my colleagues, with tens of millions Americans hurting right now because they’re worried about what happened in the White House.”
Cory Booker: “I had tears of rage. And for you not to feel that hurt and that pain and to dismiss the questions of my colleagues, with tens of millions Americans hurting right now because they’re worried about what happened in the White House.” pic.twitter.com/QuRM2TL2xk— Greg Hogben (@MyDaughtersArmy) January 16, 2018
Watch Sen. Booker’s full comments below.
HIV/AIDS activist Peter Staley shared via Facebook last night that Dr. Mathilde Krim, who founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR), passed away at the age of 91.
My greatest AIDS hero died a few hours ago. Dr. Mathilde Krim, founder of amfAR, warrior against homophobia and AIDS-related stigma, dedicated defender of science and public health, and mother-figure and mentor to countless activists, will leave a deep hole in the continued fight against AIDS — a fight she dedicated her life to. She as 91.
Watch AmFAR’s 2011 tribute to her below.
And don’t let the stoic photo fool you. According to Staley, she clearly enjoyed life to its fullest.
I don’t know how she taught him how to do all this… but it’s amazing 🙂
#DogsRule
|
| Gov. Chris Christie |
Color me surprised by outoing New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
From NJ.com:
New Jersey has now banned “bump stocks,” controversial firearm accessories allegedly used by the shooter in last year’s Las Vegas massacre.
The devices can be affixed to semiautomatic rifles to allow them to fire bullets, mimicking automatic weapons.
But under the new law — which takes effect immediately — anyone who owns one has 90 days to surrender them to authorities. Retailers have 30 days.
Christie, a Republican, signed the law even though he has long opposed new gun-control measures in the state.
A new poll by Morning Consult/Politico shows 35% of those surveyed give Donald Trump an “F” for his efforts after his first year in office.
From The Washington Examiner:
Thirty-five percent of voters asked give Trump an “F” after his first year in office, while about half of that, 18 percent, gave him an “A,” according to a Morning Consult/Politico poll released Tuesday.
The Jan. 4-5 survey found that 17 percent said Trump was worthy of a “B,” 14 percent gave him a “C,” and 11 percent thought he earned a “D” grade.
The pollster also found Trump’s disapproval rating had jumped 14 percent from 37 percent in a Jan. 20-22 poll last year, to 51 percent last week at the conclusion of his first full year in office.
Meanwhile, the Gallup Daily Tracking poll shows Trump in his usual neighborhood of 38% job approval and disapproval at 57%.
According to Gallup, Trump’s average approval rating for his first year was 39%. That’s the lowest of any modern president.
The previous “lowest approval” average for a first year president was Bill Clinton, and he well outpaced Trump with a 49% average.
There could be serious bad news for Donald Trump come this November.
Republicans are apparently sharing in private that even they believe Democrats could retake the majority in the House of Representatives in this year’s mid-term elections.
A change of power in the House would require a flip of 24 seats from GOP to Democrat. In the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton won 23 of the districts that currently have Republican congressmen.
Additionally, over 30 GOP congressmen have announced they will not be running for reelection leaving those races without incumbents.
The average loss for a president’s party during midterm elections is about 32 seats, and folks are talking about possible 40+ losses for the Republicans.
With control of the House, Democrats gain not only control of the chamber for legislative purposes, but subpoena power and the ability to pass articles of impeachment.
#DonaldYouInDangerGirl
|
| Virginia state Senate chambers |
In Virginia today, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee voted along party lines 9-6 striking down Senate Bill 112, which would have added sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s hate crimes law.
Via The Washington Blade:
State Sens. R. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath County), John Edwards (D-Roanoke), Janet Howell (D-Fairfax County), J. Chapman Petersen (D-Fairfax City), L. Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) and Richard Saslaw (D-Fairfax County) voted for SB 112, which would have also added gender and disability to Virginia’s hate crimes law.
State Sens. A. Benton Chafin, (R-Russell County), Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover County), Thomas Norment (R-James City), Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg), Mark Peake (R-Lynchburg), Bryce Reeves (R-Spotsylvania County), William Stanley (R-Franklin County), Richard Stuart (R-Stafford County) and Glen Sturtevant (R-Richmond) voted against it.
The vote took place five days after the 2018 General Assembly began.
Republicans maintain slim majorities in the state Senate and the Virginia House of Delegates.
|
| Photo via Flickr (Eva Rinaldi) |
Sadness in the air as we get word that The Cranberries lead singer, Dolores O’Riordan, has passed away at the age of 46.
According to her publicist, the Irish musician “was in London for a short recording session.”
“No further details are available at this time.” It added: “Family members are devastated to hear the breaking news and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
The Cranberries had scheduled a tour last year, but after a few dates had to cancel due to O’Riodans’s health-related issues.
Just a month ago, however, she posted on Facebook that she had performed at a Billboard event and “really enjoyed it!”
O’Riordan’s incomparable voice and talent were instrumental to the massive international success enjoyed by The Cranberries throughout the 90s with hits like “Zombie,” “Linger,” and “Dreams.”
The Cranberries 1993 debut album Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? sold over 40 million albums worldwide.