This new ad – created by the Movement Advancement Project, Freedom For All Americans, and Equality Ohio – is set to air on Fox News the evening that Donald Trump is expected to accept the nomination for president at the Republican national convention.
The spot features Alaina Kupec, a transgender woman from North Carolina, in a scenario that many trans people say takes place regularly in states that don’t have transgender protections in place.
As a voiceover explains the difficulties involved in the simple act of accessing a gender-aligned restroom, the scene unfolds showing Kupec being stopped at a restroom door by an restaurant employee and being directed to the men’s room. That exact scenario is currently legal in 32 states.
The spot is direct and effective. Here’s hoping the message is heard.
While anti-Trump Republicans may be stuck with the Donald, they may not have to accept the Trumpster’s choice of running mate if they are successful in passing a change in rules at this year’s GOP national convention.
A draft proposal obtained by BuzzFeed News outlines several changes to Rule 40 that would make it easier for delegates to reject whomever Trump picks as his running mate and present their own alternative. BuzzFeed News has learned that it will be presented at the Rules Committee meeting next week in Cleveland ahead of the convention.
Already, delegates are technically not bound to vote for the nominee’s choice for vice president. But in the past, vice presidential picks have largely been automatically ratified by the convention after being chosen by the nominee.
This year is different, as a vocal contingent of anti-Trump delegates to the convention are searching for ways to stop Trump from being nominated — or, failing that, to at least assert control over the party’s vice presidential nominee.
It’s been just a day since the rumor of registered Democrat, retired Lt. General Michael Flynn being vetted as Donald Trump’s running mate.
But ABC News’ “This Week” quickly booked an interview with the former Army vet. Oh, and he has a book to sell, too!
During the interview with ABC’s Martha Raddatz he let the world know that he believes in a woman’s right to choose (a pro-choice Republican vice-president – that will be popular).
Flynn dodged a question about same-sex marriage by saying, “What people do in their private lives, these are not big issues that our country is dealing with that will cause our country to collapse. I’m more concerned that our country could collapse because we are not dealing with education issues, immigration issues.”
Flynn is decidedly “not ready for prime-time” as he gave conflicting answers to some of Raddatz’s questions.
When asked about his reaction to the shootings of black men by police in Louisiana and Minnesota, he said he couldn’t speak to the issue because he didn’t have all the details.
But, when it came to the issue of Hillary Clinton not being charged with a crime over her emails – he hasn’t seen all the evidence in that investigation either – he said she was clearly guilty and should be charged.
So, he can speak to some issues without all the details but not others?
When asked about Hillary Clinton’s response to the shootings this week, he denounced her reaction as “totally irresponsible” saying she “blamed white people” – she didn’t.
But when asked about Trump’s comments about the Black Lives Matter being “trouble, a disgrace with hate,” Flynn replied that he couldn’t speak for Trump.
So, he can speak about Hillary’s comments but not Donald’s?
Throwing a curve ball into current prognostications on Donald Trump’s possible running mate as GOP White House contender, the Trumpster is reportedly looking at retired Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn according to several folks involved in the vetting process.
Flynn, 57, a registered Democrat but fierce critic of President Obama, previously ran the Defense Intelligence Agency.
The turn toward a military figure is being driven by Trump himself rather than by his advisers, the people said, and comes as the real estate mogul is telling his friends that national unrest may demand a “tough and steady” presence alongside him on the ticket.
In Flynn, they added, Trump believes he would have a partner whom he trusts, based on their close working relationship over the course of the campaign on policy. And he likes the image of a businessman and a general coming to Washington as outsiders.
As multiple people explained, Trump is eager to rally the party around him but sees the convention and other parts of the campaign as integral to that goal, with the vice-presidential nod potentially more important in terms of what it broadly symbolizes to voters.
“Trump-Flynn. I’ve heard him say that, kind of test out the sound of it,” one person said of how Trump is mulling the possibility. “I think it’s a brand he finds appealing.”
Flynn’s formal vetting by the Trump campaign was first reported by the New York Post. In an interview with the newspaper, Flynn did not deny that he was under consideration.
“All I would say is that I have been honored to serve my country for the past three decades and look forward to serving in other ways now that I am retired from the U.S. Army,” Flynn said. “I’ve been a soldier too long to refuse to entertain any request from a potential commander in chief.”
The question might be, though, would Republicans who are already wary of Trump’s Republican bona fides buy a registered Democrat as running mate?
Nick Jonas and James Franco star in the upcoming Goat, a drama that follows two brothers who pledge the same fraternity and face the experiences of brutal hazing and “hell week” which tests the limits of loyalty to each other.
The very nature of hyper-masculine fraternities makes queer undertones unavoidable in the trailer.
Official Synopsis:
Reeling from a terrifying assault over the summer, 19-year-old Brad Land (Ben Schnetzer) starts college determined to get his life back to normal.
His brother, Brett (Nick Jonas), is already established on campus and with a fraternity that allures Brad with its promise of protection, popularity, and life-long friendships.
Brad is desperate to belong but as he sets out to join the fraternity his brother exhibits reservations, a sentiment that threatens to divide them. As the pledging ritual moves into hell week, a rite that promises to usher these unproven boys into manhood, the stakes violently increase with a series of torturous and humiliating events.
What occurs in the name of ‘brotherhood’ tests both boys and their relationship in brutal ways.
I will mention I was a brother in my university’s Sigma Chi chapter back in the day. While the pledging/”hell week” period was tough, it was actually the period of time when becoming a brother felt like I was joining something meaningful because you had to take part in activities, and the ideals of the fraternity were so front and center.
But, to be honest, after I became a brother there really wasn’t much “there” there for me. I’m certain in part because they picked up on my being gay before I did. There was clear and present homophobia constantly.
That’s not to say my entire Sigma Chi experience was bullshit. Some of the guys were really good, good guys. And god knows, I enjoyed the partying at the time.
I’m sure some of my brothers from back then ended up coming out eventually. I’d love to know who and what their thoughts were on the experience.
Oh, and practically none of my chapter’s brothers looked like Nick Jonas. But then, neither did I.
Grammy Award-winning quartet Clean Bandit, known for combining classical technique with pop music, makes a run at Song of the Summer with new single, “Tears.”
The track features vocals from the UK’s 2015 X Factor winner Louisa Johnson, and hasn’t left iTunes’ UK Top 5 chart and the UK’s Top 10 Official Singles Chart for six consecutive weeks.
The music video for ‘Tears’ is directed by band member and creative force, Jack Patterson. Incorporating fire, water and slow motion, the video even features a cameo from the owl that played Hedwig in the Harry Potter movies!
From Patterson: “We always make our own videos, and this one has been an amazing experience. There are zero special effects and we did everything in front of the camera. As you’ll see, there’s a lot of water and fire and even a special guest cameo from the Harry Potter owl, Hedwig! The video conveys the fire you need to find within yourself in order to part from a person you love.”
The band’s violinist, openly gay Neil Amin-Smith, was in a high-profile relationship with Years & Years’ Olly Alexander that ended last year.
