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Oregon: Anti-LGBT Bakers Appeal To State Supreme Court

Melissa and Aaron Klein of Sweet Cakes Bakery

You may recall back in February of 2013, Melissa and Aaron Klein as owners of Sweet Cakes bakery in Oregon refused to bake a cake for a lesbian couple.

The customers who were turned away, Rachel Bowman-Cryer and her wife, Laurel, filed a complaint with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries saying they had been the victims of discrimination based on sexual orientation which is clearly against the state’s public accommodation laws.

The Bureau of Labor and Industries agreed and fined the Sweet Cakes owners $135,000 for emotional damages suffered.

The Kleins took their case to the Oregon Court of Appeals and lost again as the appeals court agreed with the Bureau’s determination.

Now, the Kleins have asked the Oregon State Supreme Court to to overturn the lower court rulings.

The Kleins have paid the fine of $135,000 but it’s been held in a state escrow account until all appeal options have been exhausted.

While the Kleins have cried poor in the aftermath of their anti-LGBT bigotry being exposed, it’s quite noteworthy that a “Christian” crowdfunding campaign by fellow haters raised over $500,000 in support of the Kleins.

You can see the stories chronicling their windfall here and here.

So the couple has actually made money in this little escapade.

It’s time to leave it alone, Kleins. You broke the state’s public accommodation law, you make a butt load of money through the whole debacle.

Just – full stop.

(source)

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Exec Who Penned Homophobic/Racist Olympic Op-Ed Is Out At Fox News

John Moody (via screen capture)

John Moody, the Fox News Channel executive who penned a divisive op-ed decrying the diversity of the U.S. Olympic team has resigned.

In February, Moody wrote, in part,  “Unless it’s changed overnight, the motto of the Olympics, since 1894, has been ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger.’ It appears the U.S. Olympic Committee would like to change that to ‘Darker, Gayer, Different.’ If your goal is to win medals, that won’t work.”

“Complaining that every team isn’t a rainbow of political correctness defeats the purpose of sports, which is competition,” he continued. “At the Olympic level, not everyone is a winner. Not everyone gets a little plastic trophy to take home.”

Moody went on to assert that the diversity of the U.S. Olympic team, which fielded the most Asian-American and African-American athletes ever assembled for a U.S. Winter Olympic team as well as our first two openly gay Winter Olympians, was merely a publicity stunt.

Fox News removed the op-ed and issued a statement saying the essay “does not reflect the views or values” of Fox News.

LGBT advocacy groups – including the Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights – all immediately denounced the essay

From The Hollywood Reporter:

“The executive vice president of Fox News targeted some of our nation’s top athletes with vicious anti-LGBTQ and biased rhetoric at what should be the proudest moment of their lives,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD.

She continued: “These athletes are at the Olympics because they already won by qualifying to represent the United States on the world’s stage; and they did so despite facing discrimination from places like Fox News throughout their careers. Moody should not only apologize to the athletes and fans for this disgraceful post, but Fox News should open their site for diverse athletes to share their own personal stories and perspectives.”

Human Rights Campaign senior national press secretary Stephen Peters said the column is “the antithesis of what the Olympics are all about and an affront to the values of hard work and perseverance that Americans share.” He added, “The U.S.O.C. does not have quotas for its Olympic delegation, and to suggest that race, sexuality, or gender orientation are the reasons these incredible athletes made the cut is insulting, repugnant and dismissive of a lifetime of hard work.”

Catherine Sakimura, deputy director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, said the column’s “racist and homophobic sentiment demeans our U.S. Olympic athletes, who should be celebrated as they represent our country.”

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Georgia Strips Tax Breaks From Delta Airlines Over NRA Discounts

After Delta Airlines announced the company would end its discount with NRA members after the deadly gun massacre at a Florida high school, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle of Georgia threatened the airline with retaliation via tax legislation.

Casey made good on his threat as this week state lawmakers killed a proposed tax break that would have saved Delta Airlines millions.

The new tax bill passed in both chambers with the fuel exemption stripped out. The state Senate voted 44-10 with only Democrats opposing. The House approved the measure 135-24.

Republican Gov. Nathan Deal criticized the Delta kerfuffle but has signaled he would sign the tax measure.

Based in Atlanta, Delta Airlines is the state’s largest single employer with 33,000 employees in the state.

Now, that was a pretty strong position to take – basically a $38 million slap to Delta.

You have to wonder how many NRA members have actually used their Delta Airline discount…?

Well, Delta confirmed to USA Today that only 13 discounts had ever been used by NRA members.

So, Casey and company have threatened the state’s largest employer over 13 discounts?

I can’t imagine that makes for smart economic growth. And I’m not the only one.

Several governors around the country sent clear messages they would be happy to welcome Delta.

Check out just a few of the invitations the airline has received.

Gov. Ralph Northam of Virginia:

Gov Andrew Cuomo of New York:

Lt. Gov Kathy Hochul of New York:

Gov. Cyrus Habib of Washington state:

Congressman Tim Ryan of Ohio:

Mayor Randall Woodfin of Birmingham, Alabama:

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Mike Huckabee’s Tenure With Country Music Association Lasts One Day Due To LGBT Animus

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee

Just one day after joining the board of the Country Music Association, Mike Huckabee resigned as his multitude of hateful anti-LGBT comments came back to bite him in the butt.

From the Arkansas Times:

Huckabee’s critics included Jason Owen, who manages Little Big Town, Kacey Musgraves and Faith Hill. Owen, who is gay, married and a father, said “Huckabee speaks of the sort of things that would suggest my family is morally beneath his, and uses language that has a profoundly negative impact upon young people all across this country. Not to mention how harmful and damaging his deep involvement with the NRA is.” He said is companies would “no longer support the CMA Foundation”.

Huckabee has compared homosexuality with bestiality and regularly denounced same-sex marriage.

More from Variety:

Steve Schnur, a former CMA board member, said the town’s phones were lit up all night and into this morning after Wednesday’s announcement. “I got calls in shock from multiple CMA members, asking if I knew about it, some threatening to leave,” says Schnur, who is the worldwide executive of music for EA, the blockbuster video game producer that has moved most of its efforts to Nashville, and who sits on the Recording Academy’s Nashville board. “I’ve had numerous conversations since the second I woke up with chairmen of labels and major managers, all collectively agreeing that this move, which fortunately now has been resolved, really would have put Nashville back 20 years.

No doubt the former governor of Arkansas will use this incident to gin up some paid speeches somewhere…

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Donald Trump Doubles Down On Steel/Aluminum Tariffs

Donald Trump

Less than 24 hours after announcing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, Donald Trump triumphantly tweeted, “Trade wars are good, and easy to win.”

From The New York Times:

Mr. Trump appeared eager to defend his decision to levy sweeping tariffs on all imports of those metals, issuing a series of morning tweets explaining the need for tariffs. “Our steel industry is in bad shape. IF YOU DON’T HAVE STEEL, YOU DON’T HAVE A COUNTRY!” he said in one tweet.

Markets fell in response to Mr. Trump’s announcement on Thursday that he would impose tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum, effectively placing a tax on every foreign shipment of those metals into the United States. Mr. Trump, at a hastily arranged meeting with industry executives on Thursday, said he would formally sign the trade measures next week and promised they would be in effect “for a long period of time.”

On Friday, he wrote that the measures would help to reduce the trade deficit, which is the gap between what the United States exports to other countries and what it imports. Mr. Trump has long lambasted the trade deficit as a sign of United States weakness.

“When a country Taxes our products coming in at, say, 50%, and we Tax the same product coming into our country at ZERO, not fair or smart. We will soon be starting RECIPROCAL TAXES so that we will charge the same thing as they charge us. $800 Billion Trade Deficit-have no choice,” he wrote.

The stock market did not enjoy the tariff announcement.

CNBC reported:

Stocks fell on Thursday after President Donald Trump said the U.S. will implement tariffs on steel and aluminum imports next week. The Dow Jones industrial average closed 431 points lower after rising more than 150 points earlier in the day. The 30-stock index fell as much as 586 points.

The S&P 500 declined 1.4 percent — erasing its year-to-date gains — with industrials as the worst-performing sector. It also briefly broke below its 100-day moving average, a key technical level. The Nasdaq composite fell 1.3 percent and dipped below its 50-day moving average.

And speaking of the stock market, in related news longtime Trump confidant (and billionaire investor) Carl Icahn just happened to sell $31.3 million of stock in a company heavily dependent on steel just seven days before Trump’s announcement of 25% tariffs on foreign steel.

Now, if I were cynical (Who? Me?) my mind might wander into the insidious world of insider trading…?

Icahn sold off nearly 1 million shares of Manitowoc Company which is “a leading global manufacturer of cranes and lifting solutions” and, therefore, heavily dependent on steel to make its products.

Industries ranging from autos to oil to construction equipment all saw declines in their stock in the aftermath of the announcement.

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Out Music: Calum Scott “What I Miss Most”

U.K. singer and songwriter Calum Scott releases his new track, “What I Miss Most” today.

The track is from the breakout British artist’s debut album, Only Human, due out March 9.

According to press materials, the song unfolds as a triumphant homage to Calum’s hometown of Kingston upon Hull, located in Northern England.

Lyrically, the song dismisses the trappings of “steel and stones,” and the earthbound vessels of “skin and bone.” Instead, Scott’s memories are planted in adventures “under the sun, up on the waves, under three climbs” that took him away.

Sonically, the track takes full advantage of Scott’s obvious gifts trading off bare, sparse moments of exposed emotion to surging like an incoming tide as if to wash the scene clean.

The lead single for the album, “You Are The Reason,” has already surpassed 100 million streams worldwide while views of the official video topped 20 million in the first two weeks and are fast approaching 60 million.

Recorded with a dream team of producers whose resumes include projects with Adele, Ellie Goulding, Imagine Dragons, Taylor Swift and Britney Spears, Only Human showcases Calum’s soulful vocals and heartfelt lyrics.

Many of the tracks showcase Scott’s delicate approach to unrequited longing like the aching piano ballad, “Hotel Room.”

Or the deeply personal “Only You” celebrates a friend who helped the him during times when he was bullied and isolated from other kids during childhood.

“To me, Only Human means being okay with how you feel,” says Scott. “My hope is that these songs encourage people to embrace who they are, so that there’s a little less fear in the world and a lot more love.”

Watch Calum perform “What I Miss Most” below and check out more from the upcoming album Only Human by clicking here.

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Updated: Adam Rippon’s Gold Medal Appearance On ELLEN

Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon sat down with Ellen DeGeneres today to talk on a multitude of topics including his not winning the gold medal in his event.

Adam countered the question by saying just by appearing on ELLEN – which he’s wanted to do for at least 27 of his 28 years on the planet – he feels like he’s having a gold medal moment.

Ellen did inquire as to Adam’s current “celebrity crushes,” and Adam’s first response was Jake Gyllenhaal is a “solid choice.”

I think we can all agree there.

He added that he’s recently shifted from Harry Styles to singer Shawn Mendes who he’s been “sleeping on” (but not with).

Ellen’s advice was to possibly look in the “gay men” category and he might find more success there.

Adam’s take? “Love is a funny thing, isn’t it?”

In the second clip, Adam shares why he didn’t take a chance to talk with Vice President Mike Pence about his positions on so-called “conversion therapy.”

Mainly, Adam was busy getting ready for the Olympics. But he added that he feels that conversation is one that should be had by those who have been affected by Pence’s harmful policies.

He also announces his fund raising efforts in conjunction with GLAAD to help empower LGBTQ youth because, “I want people to be accepted exactly as they are.”

From his fundraising page:

This year, I attended the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang as an openly LGBTQ American athlete. I’m proud to have represented my country authentically as exactly who I am. I want others to be able to show up to life exactly as they are. This is why I’ve started a fundraiser for GLAAD – because they are fighting for a world where every LGBTQ young person can be accepted and loved exactly as they are.

I want to give back to GLAAD by raising money to support their LGBTQ youth programing. GLAAD’s research uncovered that 20% of young people ages 18-34 identify as LGBTQ, and because of this they’ve created several programs that empower LGBTQ youth to tell their stories, produce dynamic web content and events, and receive high-level advocacy and media training. GLAAD’s youth programs foster courage, confidence and acceptance.

Will you join me to advance equality and accelerate acceptance for LGBTQ youth? Donate now and help make a difference. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

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Baby Elephant Finds Love & Empathy With Other Orphan Elephants

Thanks to reporter Yashar Ali for pointing up this story.

Elephants are imminently watchable. Intelligent, empathetic and extremely communicative.

But many baby elephants can die from loneliness. They need the love of a herd to live.

Ndotto, born prematurely, was rescued by Sheldrick Wildlife when he was just 2 days old .

He became attached to his keepers and didn’t want to play with other orphans, until Mbegu, an older orphan, came along.

Watch this beautiful story below.

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Trump: “Take The Guns First, Go Through Due Process Second”

During a meeting with Democratic and Republican lawmakers, Donald Trump surprised many when he suggested taking people’s guns away – whether or not it was legal.

From HuffPost:

For years, the National Rifle Association has been warning gun-loving Americans of a president who will take away their firearms, no matter what the Second Amendment says.

On Wednesday, that conservative nightmare became a reality when the current Republican U.S. president, Donald Trump, proposed taking away people’s guns, even without the legal right to do so.

“Take the guns first. Go through due process second,” Trump said at a meeting with Democratic and Republican lawmakers at the White House. “I like taking the guns early.”

Trump said law enforcement officers should specifically have taken the firearms possessed by Nikolas Cruz, the suspected gunman in the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.

“I think they should have taken them away, whether they had the right or not,” he said.

Imagine if President Obama had said out loud, “Take the guns.”

So, umm, Trumpers – how do you feel about the Trumpeter wanting to “take guns first; do due diligence second?”

Trump surprisingly shamed lawmakers on the age of buying an assault weapon at 18 but not having legal rights to a hand gun until 21 years-old.

“You don’t address it… you know why? Because you’re afraid of the NRA, right?” Trump said today.