News Round-Up: December 12, 2015

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Nick Jonas doesn’t think of himself as a “gay icon” but feels more straight artists should embrace their LGBT fans more.

• The American Nazi Party really, really likes Donald Trump.

• Republican White House hopeful Dr. Ben Carson threatens to “leave” the GOP after rumors that Republican insiders were discussing the possibility of deal-making to decide the eventual nominee at the Republican National Convention.

• Soon you’ll be able to send mail directly to Cuba for the first time in 50 years.

• Activist hacking group Anonymous puts Donald Trump on notice.

• Lin Manuel Miranda’s mega-hit Broadway show, Hamilton, will launch two tours in the US in 2016.

Burt Reynolds On Charlie Sheen’s HIV Diagnosis: “He’s Getting What He Deserves”

“His father [Martin Sheen] is a very, very decent man and a dear friend of mine,” he said. “I feel bad for him but Charlie—I don’t feel bad for him.”

“He’s getting what he deserves. If you’re going to misbehave like that, they’re going to get you…He misbehaved badly. Very badly. But you know, when you’re that age, it’s tough. All those things are coming at you and it’s difficult.”

– Burt Reynolds appearing on UK talk show Loose Women, when asked about recent news of Charlie Sheen’s HIV+ status

Devastating Testimony This Week Against Accused Philly Gay Basher Kathryn Knott

Kathryn Knott

Bad news for accused Philadelphia gay basher Kathryn Knott in court this week as a second witness delivered devastating testimony at Knott’s trial for a Center City attack that left two gay men severely injured. One had to have his shattered jaw wired shut for months due to the attack.

Via Philly.com:

Michelle Moore, 21, testified that she and two girlfriends were waiting at a bus stop on Walnut Street, near 16th, on the night of Sept. 11, 2014, when “we heard a loud noise,” then ran toward the commotion.

They ran south on 16th Street. At the intersection of Chancellor Street, an alley just south of Walnut, they saw “a bunch of white kids all dressed nicely,” she said, involved in arguments, with some fighting and some looking on as bystanders.

She said she saw two people hitting two others and heard someone say “faggot.”

Asked by Assistant District Attorney Michael Barry if she saw a woman do anything, Moore testified that “a woman was punching a man on the ground. She had blonde hair.”

She said the woman “had a whitish, whitish-black dress.”

Knott, in videos shown from that night, had blonde hair and was in a white dress.

Knott’s accomplices in the attack, Kevin Harrigan and Philip Williams, pleaded guilty in October and were sentenced under plea deals to probation and community service.

United Nations Video On Costs Of LGBT Social Exclusion

From the United Nations:

Rates of poverty, homelessness, depression and suicide have been found to be far higher among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people than in the general population. But it’s not just LGBT people who pay the price. We all do. Every LGBT child thrown out of home and forced to miss out on education is a loss for society. Every LGBT worker denied their rights is a lost opportunity to build a fairer and more productive economy.

More info at United Nations/Free & Equal.

First Trailer For “X-Men: Apocalypse”

Clip description:

Following the critically acclaimed global smash hit X-Men: Days of Future Past, director Bryan Singer returns with X-MEN: APOCALYPSE.

Since the dawn of civilization, he was worshipped as a god. Apocalypse, the first and most powerful mutant from Marvel’s X-Men universe, amassed the powers of many other mutants, becoming immortal and invincible.

Upon awakening after thousands of years, he is disillusioned with the world as he finds it and recruits a team of powerful mutants, including a disheartened Magneto (Michael Fassbender), to cleanse mankind and create a new world order, over which he will reign.

As the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance, Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) with the help of Professor X (James McAvoy) must lead a team of young X-Men to stop their greatest nemesis and save mankind from complete destruction.

Opens May 27, 2016.

Canada’s Prime Minister Welcomes First Of Syrian Refugees

As Donald Trump continues to stoke fears regarding refugees from Syria here in the U.S., the Prime Minister of Canada welcomed the first of 25,000 displaced Syrians to his country.

From BBC News:

The first military plane carrying Syrian refugees to be resettled in Canada has arrived in the country.

Welcoming the 163 refugees, new Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country was “showing the world how to open our hearts.”

The newly elected Liberal government has pledged to take in 25,000 refugees by the end of February.

Daily Dance: Aurélie Dupont

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Aurélie Dupont amazing!!!!!!!Posted by Arnaud Dreyfus on Sunday, December 6, 2015