Category: Uncategorized

Posted on

Trump’s Army Secretary Pick Sponsors “License To Discriminate” Legislation

Mark Green

President Obama’s Army Secretary, Eric Fanning, was the first openly gay man to serve in that position.

President Trump, being everything anti-Obama, now logically picks for his Army Secretary Tennessee state Senator Mark Green – a man who is currently sponsoring anti-LGBT legislation in his state.

Because, of course.

From The Huffington Post:

Green is the sponsor of SB 127, a bill that would bar government entities from taking “discriminatory action against a business entity on the basis of the internal policies of the business entity.”

Tennessee does not currently have nondiscrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, although some municipalities do have stronger rules protecting LGBTQ government employees. Green’s bill, however, would bar local governments and public universities from looking at companies’ internal policies when doing business or giving out contracts ― because it would be considered discrimination against the business.

“You [wouldn’t be able to] have a provision in your contracting rule saying, ‘We’ll only contract with organizations that treat married same-sex couples equally. You couldn’t do that,” explained Chris Sanders, executive director of the Tennessee Equality Project. “Or you couldn’t say, ‘We’ll only subcontract with companies that have contraception as part of their health insurance.’ It’s not just LGBT [issues].”

Green’s bill has already passed the state Senate, and is under consideration in the state House.

Green is Trump’s second pick for Army Secretary, after Vincent Viola, a billionaire and owner of the Florida Panthers NHL team, pulled out of consideration saying he couldn’t separate himself from his businesses enough so as not to pose a conflict of interest.

Posted on

NCAA “Reluctantly” Lifts Boycott Of Championship Games In North Carolina After Fake Repeal Of HB2

The NCAA Board of Governors has “reluctantly” voted that North Carolina’s fake repeal of anti-LGBT law HB2 is enough to lift the boycott of any championship games in the state.

Via press release:

In August of 2016, the NCAA Board of Governors instructed the relocation of NCAA championships scheduled in North Carolina during the 2016-17 academic year because of the cumulative impact HB2 had on local communities’ ability to ensure a safe, healthy, discrimination-free atmosphere for all those watching and participating in our events.

Last week, the elected officials of North Carolina enacted compromise legislation that repealed HB2 and replaced it with a new law, HB142, that addressed a number of the concerns that led to the relocation of the NCAA championships. As with most compromises, this new law is far from perfect.

The NCAA did not lobby for any specific change in the law. The Board of Governors, however, was hopeful that the state would fully repeal HB2 in order to allow the host communities to ensure a safe, healthy, discrimination-free atmosphere for the championship sites. While the new law meets the minimal NCAA requirements, the board remains concerned that some may perceive North Carolina’s moratorium against affording opportunities for communities to extend basic civil rights as a signal that discriminatory behavior is permitted and acceptable, which is inconsistent with the NCAA Bylaws.

[snip]

In the end, a majority on the NCAA Board of Governors reluctantly voted to allow consideration of championship bids in North Carolina by our committees that are presently meeting. The NCAA championships previously awarded to North Carolina for 2017-18 will remain in the state. The board, however, directs that any site awarded a championship event in North Carolina or elsewhere be required to submit additional documentation demonstrating how student-athletes and fans will be protected from discrimination.

It’s worth noting that for some unfathomable reason (other than LGBT animus), the newly passed HB142 blocks cities/townships/local municipalities from passing any protections for LGBTQ people until 2020. For what good reason is this clause included in the legislation?

And even after that period passes, local governments will still be blocked from guaranteeing trans people are able to safely use bathrooms that align with their gender identity.

How this isn’t seen as the definition of LGBTQ discrimination escapes me.

The Human Rights Campaign and Equality NC respond:

“The NCAA’s decision to backtrack on their vow to protect LGBTQ players, employees and fans is deeply disappointing and puts people at risk,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “After drawing a line in the sand and calling for repeal of HB2, the NCAA simply let North Carolina lawmakers off the hook.”

“It is disappointing to see the NCAA backpedal after it stood strong against the deeply discriminatory HB2,” said Equality NC Executive Director Chris Sgro. “HB142 continues the same discriminatory scheme put forward by HB2 and does little to protect the NCAA’s players, employees, and fans. The NCAA’s decision has put a seal of approval on state-sanctioned discrimination.”

Posted on

News Round-Up: April 3, 2017

Some news items you may have missed:

• Brazilian fitness model Rodiney Santiago (above) says “Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.”

• Anti-LGBT radio host and all-around nut job Bryan Fischer says LGBTs “stole the rainbow from God.” #Seriously

• Former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory says “the good news is the Human Rights Campaign lost the battle” over the state’s anti-LGBT law, HB2.

• The upcoming merger of AOL and Yahoo will create a new company named “Oath.” Really? Oath?

• At least 10 high school athletes in La Vernia, Texas, have been arrested for “hazing” after allegedly sexually assaulting a younger student with the threaded end of a CO2 tank.

• Pop goddess and long-time LGBT ally Kylie Minogue was told to cut shots of same-sex couples kissing from her awesome 2010 music video for “All The Lovers.” Kylie refused to cut the kisses because she felt the video was an “homage to her gay audience who helped propel her initial success.”

Posted on

Dutch Gay Couple Violently Beaten For Holding Hands

This past Saturday, a gay Dutch couple was attacked by a group of six to eight young men who followed the couple on bicycles, shouting anti-gay slurs.

The attack escalated to brutal violence which ended with one of the men losing several teeth and a lacerated lip after he was beaten with bolt cutters.

Via RTL News:

The two were on their way home from a dance party at Luxor Live in Arnhem. “We’ll almost never show in public that we are in a relationship”, Jasper told the broadcaster. “But we had a few drinks, it was dark on the street and there were almost no people, so we held hands.”

When they reached the Nelson Mandela Bridge they were confronted by a group of six to eight young men. “I think they were Moroccans. They began to shout: disgusting, dirty, homo, such things. We shouted something back and walked on, but all of a sudden they came after us.” Jasper said to RTL.

Before they knew what was happening, the two men were pulled apart. “Suddenly I saw a guy pull bolt cutters out of his jacket and I heard Ronnie screaming: Jasper, Jasper, they knocked all my teeth out of my mouth’.” When Jasper reached his partner, Ronnie was covered n blood. “He was very upset. I immediately called 112. The ambulance took us to the hospital, where his lip was attached.”

The latest reports indicate that 4 have been arrested in connection with the attack: one 14-year-old, and three 16-year-olds.

Dutch politicians D66 leader Alexander Pechtold and party member Wouter Koolmees arrived at meetings Monday holding hands in a show of solidarity over the violent attack.

Dutch politicians Alexander Pechtold and Wouter Koolmees
Posted on

Senate Democrats Have The Votes To Filibuster SCOTUS Nominee Neil Gorsuch

Judge Neil Gorsuch accepting President Trump’s nomination to U.S. Supreme Court

Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware announced today he would vote against the confirmation of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court.

That makes Coons the 41st vote opposing Judge Gorsuch, meaning the only way Senate Republicans can confirm him would be to use the so-called “nuclear option.”

That would mean changing Senate rules to allow approval of judicial nominees with only a simple majority vote of 51. Currently, such appointments require 60 votes.

While the nuclear option would solve the Republicans’ problems for now, at some point in the future when Democrats regain control of the chamber, they would then have the same power to approval such nominations with a simple majority.

Last year, Senate Republicans refused to hold a vote or hearing on the nomination of Merrick Garland, who was tapped by President Obama in March after the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia.

At the time, Republicans said there shouldn’t be SCOTUS nominations in an election year. Democrats argued the President is elected for four years, not three. And it is part of a president’s responsibilities to nominate SCOTUS replacements.

A vote on the floor of the Senate is expected on Friday.

Posted on

Poll: Huge Support For Marriage Equality In Germany

A new poll conducted for German Sunday newspaper Bild am Sonntag, shows huge support – 75% – for marriage equality in Germany.

The survey indicated only 20% oppose legalizing same-sex marriage.

While Germany legalized civil partnerships in 2001, it remains one of the few nations in Western Europe without the freedom to marry someone of the same-sex.

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel opposes same-sex marriage having told the media, “For me, marriage is a man and a woman living together.”

Germany’s Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency published similar results from a poll in January found that 83% of Germans supported legal equality for same-sex marriage.

According to Berlin’s Dalia Research company,  Germany has the largest LGBT+ population in Europe.

Currently , there are 13 countries in Europe that recognize same-sex marriages – Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Britain.

(source)

Posted on

Why Did Trump Turn Down “First Pitch” For Washington Nationals?

MSNBC’s Joy Reid wonders aloud why President Trump turned down the Washington Nationals offer to throw the ceremonial first pitch.

According to a 2014 interview, Trump said he was “the best baseball player in New York” when he played back in high school.

Of course, that was the same time the New York Yankees won the World Series with folks like Roger Maris, Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle.

“Best player in New York?”

Says Reid, “Could it be, that Trump, clearly no Mariana Rivera, wants to avoid the potential boos and hisses that could greet him at the Nationals Park, given that a whopping 90% of DC voters chose Hillary Clinton over him? Trump may not be so popular with the players either. Close to 30% of the players on the rosters of MLB’s opening rosters were born outside the United States.”

Posted on

Federal Judge Rejects ‘Free Speech’ Defense In Lawsuit Alleging Trump Incited Violence Against Protesters

A federal judge in Kentucky has ruled a lawsuit against President Trump, brought by three protesters who were violently attacked at a Trump campaign rally, will go forward.

The judge said Trump’s claim of free speech was rejected in the lawsuit that accuses Trump of inciting violence.

From U.S. News & World Report:

Trump’s lawyers sought to dismiss the lawsuit by three protesters who say they were roughed up by his supporters at a March 1, 2016 rally in Louisville, Kentucky. They argued that Trump didn’t intend for his supporters to use force.

Two women and a man say they were shoved and punched by audience members at Trump’s command. Much of it was captured on video and widely broadcast during the campaign, showing Trump pointing at the protesters and repeating “get them out.”

Judge David J. Hale in Louisville ruled Friday that the suit against Trump, his campaign and three of his supporters can proceed. Hale found ample facts supporting allegations that the protesters’ injuries were a “direct and proximate result” of Trump’s actions, and noted that the Supreme Court has ruled out constitutional protections for speech that incites violence.

It is plausible that Trump’s direction to ‘get ’em out of here’ advocated the use of force,” the judge wrote. “It was an order, an instruction, a command.”

Plaintiffs Kashiya Nwanguma, Molly Shah and Henry Brousseau allege that they were physically attacked by several members of the audience, including Matthew Heimbach, Alvin Bamberger and an unnamed defendant they have yet to be able to identify.

Bamberger later apologized to the Korean War Veterans Association, whose uniform he wore at the rally. He wrote that he “physically pushed a young woman down the aisle toward the exit” after “Trump kept saying ‘get them out, get them out,” according to the lawsuit.

Heimbach, for his part, sought to dismiss the lawsuit’s discussion of his association with a white nationalist group and of statements he made about how Trump could advance the group’s interests. The judge declined, saying such information could be important context when determining punitive damages.

Posted on

Mark Cuban: Trump Got Played By Russians And Doesn’t Know It

Mark Cuban

In a series of tweets yesterday, Dallas Mavericks owner/Shark Tank star Mark Cuban shared his theory of the Trump/Russia connections.

His thinking is that Trump’s greed and lack of “big picture” vision allowed Russia to manipulate the Donald.