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Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court Criminalizes LGBTQ Discrimination

Brazil’s high court has ruled that homophobia and transphobia will now be included in the South American country’s laws banning racism.
Brazil outlaws discrimination against LGBTQs

Brazil’s high court has ruled that acts that discriminate against LGBTQ people will now be included in the South American country’s laws prohibiting racism.

In an 8-3 vote, Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court agreed to criminalize discrimination against LGBTQ people.

Passed in 1989, the country’s statutes outlawing racism allow prison sentences of up to five years.

USA Todayreports that Justice Carmen Lucia noted in her ruling that “the LGBT community is treated differently in Brazil’s ‘discriminatory society,’ and as a result face a higher rate of violence.”

Although Brazil legalized same-sex marriage in 2013, violence against LGBTQ individuals is common.

Grupo de Bahia, an organization that tracks LGBT hate crimes, reported in January 2018 that there were 387 murders in Brazil during 2017. All of those were directly related to homophobia or transphobia. In 2018, the number of LGBTQ people murdered rose to 420.

Activists say the increase in violence correlates to some degree with the election of virulently homophobic President Jair Bolsonaro, who took office in January this year.

Bolsonaro has made no secret the disdain he holds for LGBTQ people.

His record as a lawmaker includes a long history of anti-LGBTQ votes, and he promised to erase pro-LGBTQ and pro-women movements during the 2018 campaign.

In a 2011 interview, he told Playboy Brazilhe would prefer to have a dead son than a gay son

And the new president has also downplayed “gay tourism” in his country.

“If you want to come here and have sex with a woman, go for your life,” he told Crusoe Magazine in April. He added that Brazil “cannot be a country for gay tourism because we have families here.”

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Trump’s Own Polling Shows Him Trailing Joe Biden In Critical Swing States

ABC News has obtained data from Donald Trump's own internal campaign polling that shows him trailing former Vice President Joe Biden in critical battleground states.
Donald Trump

ABC News has obtained data from Donald Trump’s own internal campaign polling that shows him trailing former Vice President Joe Biden in critical battleground states.

According to the numbers:

Biden leads Trump by 16 points in Pennsylvania, 10 points in Wisconsin, and 7 points in Florida.

In deep red state Texas, Trump leads Biden but by only 2 points.

Until Trump’s narrow wins in both Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, the two states had voted for the Democratic presidential candidate for decades. Trump cannot afford to lose either of those states as well as Florida.

Earlier this week, Trump denied that such polling exists.

ABC News reports it did not obtain any data on early matchups against other candidates.

The New York Times was first to report the existence of the internal polls.

The Trump campaign told ABC News the data is real but pushed back saying the numbers were old. The campaign apparently claimed that since that polling they’ve seen “huge swings” in Trump’s favor.

In related news, a new poll by EPIC-MRA of Lansing out today shows Biden leading Trump by 11 points 52%-41%.

Michigan was another traditionally blue state that went for Trump in 2016, but by less than 1 percentage point.

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Documentary: “5B” Chronicles First Hospital Ward Dedicated To Treating AIDS Patients In 1980s

The new documentary, 5B, tells the inspirational story of the trailblazing nurses and caregivers who showed up at one of the darkest times in our community’s history.

Pride Month is not only about celebrating the LGBTQ community today, but also remembering how we got here.

The new documentary, 5B, tells the inspirational story of the trailblazing nurses and caregivers who showed up at one of the darkest times in our community’s history.

Through first-person testimony, archival clips, and photos, co-directors Paul Haggis and Dan Krauss chronicle the story of San Francisco General Hospital’s ward 5B – the first in the nation dedicated to patients with AIDS.

It was a time when fear ran rampant as friends, partners and family members passed away in a matter of weeks upon diagnosis. But 5B celebrates the hospital ward, which operated from 1983 to 2003, and its nurses who led the way in offering a more humane way to treat those afflicted.

The documentary shares not only the somber, emotional toll the disease took on the LGBTQ community at the height of the epidemic, but also the inspiring, heroic actions of hospital staffers who stepped up and over bigotry and fear.

As the tagline reads,”When people were consumed by fear, a few heroes showed the world the power of human touch.”

In the trailer below, one of the nurses explains, “You had to get out of the mode that you were here for curing people; you were here to care for people.”

“We decided if we can’t save these folks, we’re going to touch them,” says another.

The Los Angeles Times calls the “superbly told” 5B a “stirring portrait” that is “moving, powerful and essential.”

More from the critics:

“An uplifting film about profound human decency and generosity of spirit.” – The Hollywood Reporter

“Grips the heart exactly where it needs too.” – Variety

5B is in theaters now. Click here for ticket information.

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Pride Music: Billy Porter “Love Yourself”

Tony and Grammy Award-Winner Billy Porter releases his new gospel-tinged single “Love Yourself” right on time for Pride Month.
Billy Porter

Tony and Grammy Award-Winner Billy Porter releases his new gospel-tinged single “Love Yourself” right on time for Pride Month.

“I’m thrilled to be spreading the message of self-love to my community whose humanity and worth have been up for legislation for way too long,” says Porter about the release. “On this 50th anniversary of Stonewall I’m proud to unite with my LGBTQ brothers & sisters to remind the world that we’re here and we ain’t goin’ nowhere. Love always wins!”

During World Pride programming this year, Porter will serve as co-host of ABC’s telecast of the Pride March in New York City, and will serve as one of the Grand Marshals alongside his POSE co-stars.

In addition, Porter will serve as Master of Ceremonies for CFDA and Susanne Bartsch’s Love Ball III, taking place on June 25th at Gotham Hall in New York City.

This is what we need on this fab Friday. Hit play and bounce.

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Trump: White House Counsel Don McGahn Lied To Mueller

In a newly-released segment from ABC News, Donald Trump says he was never going to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller during the two-year investigation.
Donald Trump

In a newly-released segment from ABC News, Donald Trump says he was never going to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller during the two-year investigation.

When George Stephanopolous notes Trump’s own White House counsel Don McGahn testified under oath that Trump said in private that he wanted Mueller gone, Trump shuts George down saying McGahn lied.

Via Politico:

President Donald Trump is challenging his former White House counsel’s testimony to Robert Mueller, asserting that he never even so much as suggested firing the special counsel. In an interview with ABC News, the president suggested that Don McGahn told Mueller of Trump’s supposed directive that he be fired in order to save face.

“The story on that very simply, No. 1, I was never going to fire Mueller. I never suggested firing Mueller,” Trump said. Pressed on why McGahn would have told Mueller’s team during his more than 30 hours of voluntary interviews of the multiple times the president sought to have the special counsel removed, Trump pushed back.

“I don’t care what he says, it doesn’t matter,” he argued. “That was to show everyone what a good counsel he was.”

Note how Trump cuts George off – “…Excuse me…”

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News Round-Up: June 13, 2019

I attended the opening night of the hit two-man play Potted Potter at Ballys Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas last night. The show, which parodies all 7 books of the Harry Potter series in 70 minutes, has been running for years in the UK. The original stars opened the show here and I was thrilled to take my uber-handsome god son, Josh, to the performance.
Opening night of ‘Potted Potter’ in Las Vegas

Some news items you might have missed:

• I attended the opening night of the hit two-man play Potted Potter at Ballys Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas last night. The show, which parodies all 7 books of the Harry Potter series in 70 minutes, has been running for years in the UK. The original stars opened the show here and I was thrilled to take my uber-handsome god son, Josh, to the performance.

• During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, John Cena talked about getting ‘accidental boners’ during wrestling matches.

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) somehow ‘straight-washed’ his proclamation observing the 3rd anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting. DeSantis blamed the missing mention of the LGBTQ community on staffers. It was later added to the proclamation.

• A mother in South Carolina was arrested after walking into an elementary school and confronting her son’s bullies.

• The Australian man accused of killing 51 worshippers at two mosques in New Zealand in March pleaded not guilty to all charges in a court on Friday.

• The 20 Democratic presidential candidates who qualified for the first Dem debates have been announced:

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Tennessee: Detective Calls On Police To Arrest & Kill “LGBT Freaks”

A Sheriff’s Office detective who is also a pastor at the All Scripture Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, has drawn heavy criticism for a sermon he gave on June 2 where he called on police to “enforce a bible passage” that calls for killing LGBTQ people.

During a sermon titled, “Sodomite Reprobates,” Grayson Fritts said “The purpose of this sermon is, our government, like the police, should enforce Leviticus 20:13,” reports local CBS News affiliate WVLT.

In the King James Bible, Leviticus 20:13 reads, “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”

Fritts said that “God has instilled the power of civil government to send the police in 2019 out to the LGBT FREAKS and arrest them.”

The detective said “riot teams” should round up gays at Pride events, take them to jail and put them on trial.

“We got a bunch of them we’re gonna get convicted because they’ve got their pride junk on and they’re professing what they are, they’re a filthy animal,” said Fritts.

If convicted, Fritts’ prescription is to put the LGBTQs to death.

On Wednesday evening, WVLT reporter Robert Grant attended a service where Fritts delivered another sermon at his church. According to Grant, Fritts concluded his sermon with the message, “Put homos to death.”

WVLT news anchor Amanda Hara posted on her Facebook page a photo of a message left after Fritts’s sermon that read, “Dear Pastor Fritts, I don’t know what happened to you, but I am so sorry. Love, Thy Neighbor.”

Interestingly, the Sheriff’s office reports the detective put in a request to take part in the Knox County Voluntary Workforce Reduction Buy Out program days being delivering the controversial sermon.

Timing is everything, no?

Sheriff Tom Spangler issued a statement saying Fritts is “currently on paid sick leave until the effective date of the workforce reduction which will be July 19, 2019.”

“I want to be very clear that it is my responsibility to ensure equal protection to ALL citizens of Knox County, Tennessee under the law, my oath and the United States Constitution without discrimination or hesitation,” Spangler added. “Rest assured that I have and will continue to do so.”

Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs told reporters he found Fritts’s remarks to be “extremely vile and reprehensible” and condemned the calls for violence.

WVLT reports the Knox County District Attorney’s office is now investigating the matter, as well as past closed cases handled by Fritts where his anti-gay bias may have played a role in his investigations.

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Quisling Of The Day: Guess Who?

One of my favorite bloggers, kenneth in the (212), has posted a text message chat between what appears to be 'totally-not-gay' former Rep. Aaron Schock and a supporter.

One of my favorite bloggers, kenneth in the (212), has posted a text message chat between what appears to be ‘totally-not-gay’ former Rep. Aaron Schock and a supporter.

I haven’t personally verified the identities of the two people chatting in exchange, so, feel free to believe or not believe.

In the screen captures, Schock complains of how “mean and nasty” the gays have been to him in leaking his nude pics.

He also says he “hadn’t come to terms” with his sexuality when he cast anti-LGBTQ votes while in Congress, and was in the process of coming out to his family when video of him canoodling at Coachella surfaced.

In addition, the person says the ‘hatred’ aimed at him is based on his being a Republican.

In his post, Kenneth offers this spot-on counter-point to the whining:

Note to Aaron Schock: The perspective of queer people has always been consistent and clear: Even those who “preach tolerance, acceptance and compassion” don’t take kindly to having lawmakers vote to rob them of their rights, particularly when it is believed that said lawmaker was being hypocritical in his beliefs. If you think your coming out has been difficult, imagine someone’s parents finding out he/she is gay when they were booted from the U.S. military under “don’t ask, don’t tell,” which you voted to keep in place. Talk about humiliating. Whether you think you were “out” when you voted against LGBTQ rights is irrelevant as you are a gay man who surely knew what you were doing was shitty. If you truly don’t stand by your past votes, then why not denounce them?

The “hate” has always been about your anti-gay policies, not your party. But if you think the two are related, that’s perhaps something you need to grapple with. HRC didn’t give you a zero rating because of your stance on taxes and regulations.

According to Kenneth, the man who posted the screen caps verified its authenticity.

No word from Mr. Schock yet.

Click over to kenneth in the (212) for the full text exchange.

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Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead – Sarah Huckabee Sanders Announces White House Departure

Donald Trump tweeted today that White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders will depart the White House at the end of June and return to her home state of Arkansas.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Donald Trump tweeted today that White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders will depart the White House at the end of June and return to her home state of Arkansas.

Sanders has defended Trump’s obvious lies since 2016. Out of frustration, she basically ended the practice of holding White House press briefings.

The reaction from the Twitterverse was exactly what you’d expect:

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Pride Music: Tom Goss “Son Of A Preacher Man”

Back in 2016, out singer/songwriter took a look at the Dusty Springfield classic, “Son of a Preacher Man,” as part of his ‘Music Videos That Tell Our Stories’ series.

As we celebrate Pride Month, it’s interesting to see how out artists find our stories in classic songs.

In exploring the tune, Tom found a new, deeply personal context for the 1968 hit.

Tom explains:

“Ultimately, we wanted to show two boys falling in love. We worked hard to show young love authentically, as innocent and pure as it truly is. When two gay kids fall in love, it’s often unknown by the participants themselves. They are in love, they know they want to be around each other, and they know they are attracted to each other, but they don’t know how to put a label on it. All the messaging tells the kids that homosexuality is wrong, and is something to be hated, so they don’t perceive that label to apply to themselves. That’s what happens in this story.

“These two boys fall in love and they don’t really know it until they kiss. That moment of realization also happens to be the preacher’s moment of realization. His suspicions are confirmed, his son is gay, and the fallout is swift.

“We show the turmoil that families have as a result of this judgmental Christian messaging and how it goes beyond the church, following them home and into all aspects of their life. Coming to the realization of who you are and who you love in the context of that hate speech can be so demoralizing, to the point that you could consider taking your own life.”