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Anti-Vax ER Nurse Dies Of COVID-19

A Louisiana nurse who railed against vaccinations for the coronavirus died on Saturday from COVID-19 complications

A Louisiana nurse who railed against vaccinations for the coronavirus died on Saturday from COVID-19 complications A Louisiana nurse who had railed against vaccinations on her social media has reportedly died from COVID-19 complications. From The Acadiana Advocate:

Olivia Guidry, a registered nurse in the emergency department, died Saturday after battling the virus for days in the hospital’s intensive care unit. Friends, who had been pleading for prayers for the young woman, expressed grief as the news of her death spread Saturday afternoon.

Guidry was diagnosed with COVID in early July, according to a social media post from her sister, Brittany Smith. She spiked a high fever and had a seizure, Smith wrote. She was placed in a medically induced coma on Thursday.

Louisiana has a vaccination rate of about 36%, below the national vaccination rate of nearly 50%.

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‘Black Widow’ Breaks Pandemic-Era Box Office Records

Scarlett Johansen as Black Widow

Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow
Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow
Whoa – the latest from the Marvel Cinematic Universe – “Black Widow” – totally crushed pandemic-era box office records. From Variety:

The superhero adventure raked in a mighty $39.5 million from 4,160 theaters on Friday, the biggest single-day gross since the onset of COVID-19.

Through the weekend, “Black Widow” is poised to generated a huge $87.8 million, which would best the benchmark previously set by “F9” and its $70 million debut.

The final opening weekend number for the Cate Shortland-directed movie could shoot even higher with positive word-of-mouth. As the first Marvel film to open in theaters since the start of the pandemic, “Black Widow” is already receiving a warm welcome from MCU fans.

From USA Today:

Black Widow explores the story of Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) in a prequel to the events of Avengers: Infinity War and follows the title character as she navigates the consequences of her past and her journey toward a heroic future.

The film stars Johansson alongside Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Rachel Weisz as Melina Vostokoff, and David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov (Red Guardian).

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InstaHunk Round-Up: Weekend Edition

Max Emerson heads to Fire Island

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRIQWhnskOY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Checking in on some of my favorite InstaHunks… First up, Joe Manganiello (above) wished his adorbs doggo Bubbles happy birthday. Bremen Menelli showed off some pretty mad soccer skills – hit the play button: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CRH1w5RBFCf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Comedian Raneir Pollard served up bombastic red, white and blue birthday wishes to the U.S. of A. https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ9ZE04Bpp9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Daniel Newman and Nick Topel had a rainbow bowling kind of Miami experience: https://www.instagram.com/p/CRI9GYAlxsx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Joel Green is getting all fancy with his elevator selfies: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CRMM9rpltax/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Shea Scott got his workout in before the heat arrived: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ_oLybN6oe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Las Vegas-based model Chaun Williams found his own way to beat the heat: https://www.instagram.com/p/CRHRM1qMqwB/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Moe Bear swears he’s wearing pants: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQbksPFtaSn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link HawaiiMuscleBear is heading to Fire Island: https://www.instagram.com/p/CRHFv8DtA2z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link And look at that – Max Emerson has his own special ferry to Fire Island: https://www.instagram.com/p/CREkE6IlSkE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Bonus Max: The things you find on Fire Island… https://www.instagram.com/p/CRMv44rliKC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Yeti had an endorphin rush: https://www.instagram.com/p/CRH0fm5M_X7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Bruno Baba polled his followers on his current situation: https://www.instagram.com/p/CRKNhMXh42o/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Artist Okkar Min Maung headed to dreamland: https://www.instagram.com/p/CRF-BJEMyJV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link And how about one more from dog daddy Joe Manganiello and Bubbles (who clearly has the best seat in the house): https://www.instagram.com/p/CRHB8e3subI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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Gay Teacher Sues City Alleging Police Intimidation & Harassment

View of a police officer's hand on holstered gun

View of a police officer's hand on holstered gun
(image via Depositphotos)
A California teacher has filed a lawsuit against the city of Ceres, Ceres’s police department, officer Lorenzo Beltran, and several unnamed individuals in federal court. According to the teacher, David Cole, a school resource officer visited his home and harassed him after Cole had reported incidents of anti-gay bullying at his school. From the Modesto Bee:

David Cole made the accusations against school resource officer Lorenzo Beltran in a federal complaint, and last week told The Bee he struggles to feel safe after the incident two years ago. Cole added he has lost 75 pounds while dealing with insomnia and gastrointestinal issues from the distress.

The lawsuit claims Beltran and a plainclothes officer entered Cole’s gated community when school was closed for a holiday in February 2019 and ordered Cole to exit his home. Outside, Beltran allegedly questioned Cole about his reports of anti-gay student bullying, repeatedly gestured toward his gun and pressured the teacher to quit his job or go to the closed school with them.

Cole begged Beltran to leave, but the officer allegedly refused. The now 54-year-old teacher eventually ran into his home when his partner of 30 years opened the door after listening to the exchange, the lawsuit claims.

Ceres Unified School District paid Cole a $50,000 settlement in 2020 after firing him in 2019. The city maintains Beltran only visited Cole as a ‘welfare check’ at the request of the school saying Cole had missed scheduled meetings. Cole says he and his partner are now very concerned about their personal well-being when outside their home. “Now we’re scared to even be who we are,” Cole said. “That complete turnaround in my life to go from starting Rainbow Generation, the first queer club in the Central Valley at a school, to being terrified and not wanting the police to know it’s me or know that I’m gay. That’s where I’m at: just terrified of being outside in Ceres and at home.” Read the full details of the court case here.

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CNN’s Jim Acosta Compares Trump To Karens – ‘I Want To Talk To The Manager Of Twitter’

CNN’s Jim Acosta began a segment today showing clips of ‘the former guy,’ Donald Trump, hugging the American flag at past appearances at CPAC. “Now, the same man who gripped the Stars and Stripes won’t let go of something else: the idea that he’s still president,” said Acosta. Mediaite has the transcript:

“A couple of weeks ago I compared Trumps’ comeback tour to the circus, full of sideshow acts and clowns. I later got an email from an expert on the circus industry. This person pointed out that comparison actually was not fair.

“Because unlike the chaos of Trump world, a circus is carefully composed and organized. That’s a great point. Comparing Trump to a clown is most definitely an insult to clowns. He’s more like one of those mask-hating customers at the grocery store.

“You’ve seen them. A Karen, or whatever the name would be in Trump’s case. You can almost hear him saying, ‘I want to talk to the manager about the election, I want to talk to the manager of Twitter or Facebook.’”

This is truly spot-on. Watch below – the report includes video of Trump’s press events which are carefully staged to pretend to be ‘presidential’ instead of being held in front of a golf club.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

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Gay Twitter Responds To FDA Warning On Poppers

(image via FDA)
The Food and Drug Administration recently issued warnings about the use of alkl nitrate inhalants (aka poppers) noting there’s been an increase of hospitalizations and even death associated with their use. “These products are marketed as nail polish removers but are being ingested or inhaled for recreational use,” the statement reads. “’Poppers’ are sold online or at adult novelty stores and packaged in small bottles, ranging from 10 to 40 mL. They appear similar to energy shots, with brand names including Jungle Juice, Extreme Formula, HardWare, Quick Silver and Super RUSH.” How or why the FDA is suddenly aware of poppers that the gay community has used since the 1960s is a question many folks in the Twtterverse had, in addition to having quite the laugh about the warning itself.

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Confederate Statue Removed In Charlottesville, Virginia

Statue of Robert E. Lee removed from its pedestal in Charlottesville, VA

Statue of Robert E. Lee removed from its pedestal in Charlottesville, VA
Statue of Robert E. Lee removed from its pedestal in Charlottesville, VA (screen capture)
Nearly four years after violence broke out at the infamous “Unite the Right” rally in 2017, the Robert E. Lee monument that helped spark the white supremacist event in Charlottesville, Virginia, was removed from its stone pedestal today. Spectators by the dozens lined the blocks surrounding the park. The Associated Press reports a cheer went up as the statue came down. Additionally, a statue of Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was removed. Sources say the statues will be stored in a secure location until the City Council decides what to do with them. You’ll recall Heather Heyer, a peaceful counter-protester, was killed in the violence. At the time, Donald Trump garnered criticism by insisting there was “blame on both sides.”

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News Round-Up: July 9, 2021

(screen capture via NBC News)
Some news items you might have missed: • NBC News: Hospitalized unvaccinated patients are “shocked” that Covid-19 truly exists and that it can make people very sick and even kill them. “A comment they make all the time is that they wish that they knew they were going to end up in the hospital this sick and they would have made a different choice and got the vaccine.” • NJ.com: José Tobias Carranza Serrano, 18, confessed to assaulting and robbing a 37-year-old intellectually disabled man on June 23 because he believed the man to be gay. The assault has left the victim still clinging to life where he is still intubated. In his confession, Serrano reportedly showed no remorse. • ABC News: The Michigan elections bureau has determined that organizers of a ballot drive to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ people failed to collect  the roughly 340,000 needed. But Fair and Equal Michigan, which spent $2.9 million on the effort, says the Bureau of Elections threw out thousands of signatures that are valid. The group plans to file a lawsuit.

• Washington Blade: A federal judge today blocked a new law in Tennessee that required businesses and other entities that allow transgender people to use the public restroom that matches their gender to post a government-prescribed warning sign. • Washington Post: President Biden on Friday fired Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul, a holdover from the Trump administration who had alienated crucial Democratic constituencies with policies designed to clamp down benefits and an uncompromising anti-union stance. • Next Shark: Out Filipino American influencer Bretman Rock (People’s Choice Awards Beauty Influencer of the Year in 2019) graced the cover of Teen Vogue’s July issue. The social media star has over 17 million followers on Instagram, 12.1 million followers on TikTok and 8.71 million subscribers on YouTube. https://www.instagram.com/p/CRCVsqRlSHQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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Boston Pride Organization Dissolved Amid Turmoil

(image via Instagram/BostonPride)
Facing tons of turmoil over the past few months with calls of being “racist” and “trans-exclusionary,” the entire board of directors for Boston Pride has resigned. Last month, the president of the organization, Linda DeMarco, stepped down. But that, apparently, was not enough.

Longtime Boston-based LGBTQ blogger BosGuy has this:

Activists were not satisfied by that response saying it was too little too late and that the all white Boston Pride board didn’t represent the LGBTQ+ community and needed to resign now. And a boycott Boston Pride event was scheduled on Saturday, June 12th in conjunction with the second annual Trans Resistance March and Vigil. 

In response to the mounting pressure, the Boston Pride Board issued a statement today at 4:30 p.m. that the entire Board would resign and Boston Pride will shutdown.

The sudden dissolution of Boston Pride puts into question if there will be a 50th anniversary Boston Pride celebration later this fall. Earlier this year Boston Pride had indicated in-person celebrations might be scheduled in October.

From the Boston Pride Board of Directors:

It is clear to us that our community needs and wants change without the involvement of Boston Pride. We have heard the concerns of the QTBIPOC community and others. We care too much to stand in the way. Therefore, Boston Pride is dissolving. There will be no further events or programming planned, and the board is taking steps to close down the organization.

We know many people care about Pride in Boston, and we encourage them to continue the work. By making the decision to close down, we hope new leaders will emerge from the community to lead the Pride movement in Boston.

This decision was made with a heavy heart, out of love and hope for a better future.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRHum6Ds6Ro/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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Out Music: Bobby Newberry ‘Ride’

Bobby Newberry and company in 'RIDE'

Bobby Newberry and company in 'RIDE'
Bobby Newberry and company in ‘RIDE’ (image via Instagram)
The latest single and music video from singer/choreographer Bobby Newberry is titled, “Ride”, a feel-good summer jam about taking chances and chasing dreams. “Sometimes it’s not about the destination but the ride you take to get there,” says Newberry. Adopting a metaphor of falling in love, the singer shares, “There’s nothing better than crushing on someone, getting the butterflies, feeling the magic and imagining the possibilities.” The music video is a high-energy showcase for Newberry (who also handled choreography duties) as he twirls, bumps and grinds alongside an all-male cast of dancers. “The dancing is so clean,” explains the artist. “Much of it was done on the grass and it looks so amazing on film. What you can’t see, however, and what we didn’t know, is that Echo Park is home to hundreds of geese and ducks! We were literally dancing in bird droppings.” Newberry also appears in his first intimate acting scene in the video. The love interest is played by his friend Joey Gentile, and Newberry admits he needed two shots of tequila to loosen up for it. “It was my first time doing a scene like that! Luckily, it was the last scene we filmed that day.”
Bobby Newberry and Joey Gentile (photo: Micky Kurz)
His first major break in the music industry was as a choreographer for Eminem. He would go on to work with a string of the world’s top artists including Nicki Minaj, The Pussycat dolls, Missy Elliot, and Lil’ Wayne. His choreography work has been seen on TV in Dancing With The Stars, X-Factor and many other shows. In 2014, Bobby Newberry released his first single and music video, “Dirrty Up (featuring Jessie and The Toy Boys).” It was soon after followed by his debut EP, The Newberry Special. “I look back at the beginning of my career and laugh at how I thought I was seasoned when I was so not,” he explains. “As an artist, you grow, and I know so much more about everything that goes into the process of creating hit records.” “I am finally at an authentic place where my music represents who I am. My sound is pop, for sure, but it also very diverse, with many different vibes, just like me.” “I hope listeners will take a go on this ride with me,” says Newberry. “It’s a very honest track that I hope breaks down barriers. But most of alI, I hope it makes people want to dance.” Bobby Newberry’s “Ride” is available on Apple Music, Spotify, and all digital platforms. Follow him on Instagram here.