Category: Uncategorized

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Trump Considers Plan B: Repeal Obamacare Now, Replace Later

Throughout the 2016 campaign and after his election, Donald Trump has told Americans that he would lead Congressional Republicans to “repeal and replace” Obamacare.

Many times, on camera, he said it would be simultaneous, or at least on the same day or week. Specifically, he told us that it wouldn’t be months apart.

But today, we get this from Trump:

Now, while he considers this option, let’s take a trip on the “way-back machine.”

Check the 1:50 mark:

According to CNN, just repealing the Affordable Care Act without no replacement would have a devastating effect.

That move would probably leave 18 million more people without coverage in the first year after its enactment and 32 million more by 2026, according to a Congressional Budget Office report that looked at an earlier GOP bill to repeal Obamacare.

It would also cause premiums on individual market policies to increase by up to 25% the first year and to nearly double by 2026.

All this would happen mainly because the individual mandate — which requires nearly all Americans to get coverage or pay a penalty — would be repealed. But some insurers would also likely pull out of the market, the CBO said. The remaining carriers would likely raise rates dramatically because the remaining enrollees would tend to be older and sicker.

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Morning Joe Hosts Allege White House Offered To “Spike” National Enquirer Story For Apology

In the aftermath of President Trump’s “bleeding badly from a face lift” tweet about MSNBC Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, she and fiancé Joe Scarborough both penned an op-ed for the Washington Post and spoke on the air this morning about an alleged offer from the White House.

According to the two MSNBC hosts, if the pair would call and apologize to Donald Trump for their less-than-glowing coverage over the past several months, Trump would call his good buddy who owns the National Enquirer and get a negative story about the hosts “spiked.”

NY Magazine reporter Gabriel Sherman says he has the inside scoop:

According to three sources familiar with the private conversations, what happened was this: After the inauguration, Morning Joe’s coverage of Trump turned sharply negative. “This presidency is fake and failed,” Brzezinski said on March 6, for example. Around this time, Scarborough and Brzezinski found out the Enquirer was preparing a story about their affair. While Scarborough and Brzezinski’s relationship had been gossiped about in media circles for some time, it was not yet public, and the tabloid was going to report that they had left their spouses to be together.

In mid-April, Scarborough texted with Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner about the pending Enquirer story. Kushner told Scarborough that he would need to personally apologize to Trump in exchange for getting Enquirer owner David Pecker to stop the story.

The editor of the National Enquirer denies any knowledge of conversations between the White House and the Morning Joe hosts.

Here’s the two hosts explaining on the air this morning:

Of course, Scarborough and Brzezinski knew exactly what they were doing in order to bait the Donald. He quickly dispatched this tweet upon watching the show this morning.

Legal expert Laurence Tribe chimed in on the alleged “blackmail:”

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New Olympic Channel Series, IDENTIFY, Follows 5 Transgender Athletes

In 2016, transgender athletes could compete without undergoing surgery, welcoming a new age to the Olympic family.

Produced for the Olympic Channel by VICE Media, Identify is a new series following the inspiring journeys of five transgender athletes and how sport helped them find their true identity.

You can watch all episodes to date here.

(h/t Boy Culture)

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Germany’s Parliament Approves Marriage Equality By Vote Of 393 – 226

Germany’s lower chamber of Parliament, the Bundstag, approved a measure by a vote of 393 to 226 to legalize same-sex marriage.

The vote came suddenly after Chancellor Angela Merkel softened her stance on the issue to allow a legislator’s to “vote their conscience” on this last day of the country’s legislative session.

Merkel herself voted against the measure, saying after the vote, “For me and the basic law, it’s about the marriage of a woman and a man. That’s why I voted against it. I hope that the vote today shows not only the mutual respect for different opinions but that this also leads to more peace and social cohesion as well.”

More from the New York Times:

“If the Constitution guarantees one thing, it is that anyone in this country can live as they wish,” Thomas Oppermann, the parliamentary leader of the Social Democrats, said in opening the floor debate. “If gay marriage is decided, then many will receive something, but nobody will have something taken away.”

“It’s very positive for the self-esteem of gays and lesbians; it’s very important for people coming out, knowing that they have this equality; and it sends a clear message to any homophobic refugees coming to Germany: We have equality here,” said Arnd Bächler, a counselor and addiction therapist at Berlin’s gay counseling center.

Approval of same-sex marriage in Germany could build momentum for similar legislation in other German-speaking countries, like Austria and Switzerland, said Katrin Hugendubel, advocacy director of ILGA-Europe, a gay and transgender rights group. She said the developments in Germany illustrated the difference that opposition parties could make.

The measure now goes to the upper house of Parliament, The Bundesrat, which has approved marriage equality before. The legislation will then be signed into law by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Polls show upwards of 80% of Germans support marriage equality.

Germany joins more than a dozen European countries that have approved same-sex marriage.

In 2001, Germany approved civil unions which conferred some but not all rights of marriage.

Conservatives in the country’s government have blocked the issue from coming to a vote in Parliament.

Congratulations Germany!

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Texas Supreme Court: No Inherent Right To Marriage Benefits For Same-Sex Couples

The Texas Supreme Court ruled today that just because the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 Obergefell decision made same-sex marriage legal across the country, that doesn’t mean a guarantee of equal spousal benefits.

Which is bullshit.

From the American-Statesman:

A unanimous Texas Supreme Court concluded Friday that there is no established right to government-provided spousal benefits in same-sex marriages.

The 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that established the right to same-sex marriage did not decide all marriage-related matters, leaving room for state courts to explore the decision’s “reach and ramifications,” the all-Republican Texas court said.

Supporters of gay marriage have vowed to appeal such a ruling to the federal courts, arguing that the U.S. Supreme Court clearly stated that all marriages must be treated equally.

“The Texas Supreme Court’s decision this morning is a warning shot to all LGBTQ Americans that the war on marriage equality is ever-evolving, and anti-LGBTQ activists will do anything possible to discriminate against our families,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, president and the advocacy group GLAAD.

There are 9 Republicans and zero Democrats on the Texas Supreme Court.

To be clear, there is no ambiguity regarding the SCOTUS ruling on marriage equality. Married same-sex couples are due the exact rights, privileges and benefits as opposite-sex married couples.

The SCOTUS Obergefell v. Hodges ruling clearly says the Constitution “entitles same-sex couples to civil marriage ‘on the same terms and conditions as opposite-sex couples.’”

This week alone the U.S. Supreme Court slapped the state of Arkansas for trying to deny same-sex parents’ right to have both their names on a child’s birth certificate. And, SCOTUS did so without even hearing arguments.

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News Round-Up: June 29, 2017

(image from Nashville Pride via Instagram)

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Pride Month 2017 is winding down, but it’s not over. World Pride this weekend in Madrid, Spain! #ColorMeJealous

• A new study shows 30% of lesbian couples still face rejection by wedding vendors. A huge majority of respondents said they’d be more likely to book a vendor that’s not only LGBT-friendly, but actively caters to the LGBTQ community. #MoneyTalks

• By a vote of 157-55, Serbian lawmakers have chosen 41-year-old out lesbian Ana Brnabic to become the nation’s first openly gay head of government.

• Former Fox News host Greta Van Susteren is now “former MSNBC host” as the political TV talker tweets she is “out at MSNBC.” In a world of liberal anti-Trump fury, her nascent show never caught on. Ari Melber, the network’s chief legal correspondent, will take over the 6PM time slot.

• Speaking to federal prosecutors at a Justice Department hate crimes summit in Washington, D.C. today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he will “aggressively” prosecute anti-transgender crimes. “We have and will continue to enforce hate crime laws aggressively and appropriately where transgendered individuals are victims,” the attorney general said. #ColorMeShocked

• For a little #TBT action and out music, let’s go back to this interview from my podcast with Tony Award winner Billy Porter regarding the release of his awesome album, Billy Porter Presents The Soul of Richard Rodgers.

Hit the play button below to hear several tracks from the collection as well as Billy’s inspiration for the project.

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Wyoming Towns Hold First Ever Pride Celebrations Nearly 20 Years After Matthew Shepard’s Death

Almost 20 years after the violent murder of Matthew Shepard, Wyoming towns Laramie and Casper both held their first Pride events just a week apart.

The first Casper Pride celebration was held from June 8-11 and included a free film festival, “Pride in the Park” festival, a drag revue (held at straight bar Backwards Distilling Co. as there are no gay bars within 50 miles of Casper), and yes, a Pride march on the same day as millions of Americans observed the Equality March in Washington, D.C.

Just a week later, 115 miles down the road, Laramie also held its first Pridefest on June 23-24.

Speaking to Wyoming Public Media, Pridefest organizer Robert West called the event a “momentous occasion.”

“There is still this perception Wyoming represents what happened 20 years ago with Matthew Shepard. And I think Laramie and Wyoming have a long ways to go to be fully inclusive and accepting of LGBT people, but it’s important that this Pridefest is happening in Laramie to show that there has been movement; there has been growth,” West said.

“While this is a great time to celebrate with our potluck in the park and our drag show and our dance night, those are great events and they’re definitely important, it’s also important to know where we come from. And to know that violence against queer bodies and LGBT people is a still a huge reality not only in Wyoming and America but across the world,” said West.

(h/t NewNowNext)

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Gay Couple PJ & Thomas Host HGTV’s “Down To The Studs”

HGTV recently aired the pilot episode of Down to the Studs, hosted by adorable married couple PJ & Thomas McKay, who have previously referred to themselves as “Property Lovers.”

The house-flipping couple, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, team up with Thomas’s sister Sydney and PJ’s friend Tania to renovate and restore homes to new glory.

Thomas and PJ are the first gay couple to host a show on HGTV, and along with solid, common-sense home renovation skills, it looks like they’ll be offering viewers healthy, everyday visibility for LGBTs.

The pilot episode aired last weekend as test run, and PJ and Thomas reached out to their Instagram followers to show their support for the fledgling series by sharing the hashtag #HGTVDowntotheStuds.

While there’s no word if the series will be picked up, PJ & Thomas have shared that the next airing of Down to the Studs Monday, July 17th at 1pmET on HGTV!

Stay tuned.

You can follow the boys on Instagram here, and on YouTube here.

A post shared by PJ McKay and Thomas McKay (@pjandthomas) on Jun 24, 2017 at 7:20am PDT
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Netflix Announces Two Hour “Sense8” Finale Movie

After cancelling fan-favorite sci-fi series, Sense8, in early June, an outpouring of support from around the world has moved the the streaming service to announce a 2-hour finale movie.

Variety reports:

In a video posted on social media, the characters from the series reunite and sing along to the song “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes. Midway through the video, the following words appear onscreen: “It’s happening. Two-hour finale episode. Tell your cluster.”

In addition, series co-creator Lana Wachowski posted a statement online that reads in part, “The passionate letters, the petitions, the collective voice that rose up like the fist of Sun to fight for this show was beyond what anyone was expecting.”

“It is my great pleasure as well as Netflix’s (believe me, they love the show as much as we do but the numbers have always been challenging) to announce that there will be another two-hour special released next year,” she continued. “After that…if this experience has taught me anything, you NEVER know.” You can read the full statement below.

The streaming service canceled the series after two seasons at the beginning of June, making it one of the few Netflix originals to get cancelled.

The series had been especially embraced by the LGBT community for not only it’s message of connectedness, but also the inclusiveness of the diverse casting and storyline which included both an openly gay couple and a lesbian/transgender couple.

A post shared by Sense8 (@sense8) on Jun 29, 2017 at 11:47am PDT

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Out Short Film: “No Place Like Home”

I encourage you to stop for just a few minutes and watch the captivating 7 minute short film, No Place Like Home by David Velduque, starring Marius Praniauskas.

The official synopsis:

No Place Like Home is the story of Niko, a guy who enjoys his life and his sexuality at it’s full potential.

Suddenly he will have to go back home to his country in eastern Europe to take care of his ill mother.

Nothing is what it seems and soon he will realize what is really going on.

A breathtaking roadtrip about the discrimination and violence against the LGTBIQ community around the world.

As World Pride begins in Madrid, Spain, it’s important to remember LGBTs around the world face terrible violence and discrimination.