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Twitter Demanded Superpowers After Anti-Vaxxer’s “Magnetize” Theory Went Viral

(image via Twitter/GeorgeHahn)
Twitter went wild yesterday when video of an anti-vaxxer physician went viral after she claimed COVID-19 vaccines ‘magnetize’ people. Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, Doctor of Osteopathy, testified on Tuesday at an Ohio state House Health committee hearing in favor of a bill that would prohibit Ohio schools or businesses from requiring vaccines. “I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures all over the internet of people who have had these shots and now they’re magnetized,” Tenpenny told the Ohio House Health Committee. “They can put a key on their forehead. It sticks. They can put spoons and forks all over them and they can stick, because now we think that there’s a metal piece to that.” She added that there are “people” who believe the vaccines have an “interface – yet to be defined” with 5G cell phone towers before quickly adding, “not proven yet but…” So, first of all, there’s no metal in COVID vaccines. Second, the good doctor offers no ideas as to HOW mRNA interfaces with a cell phone tower. Does she think it requires an app like Scruff or something…?

To give you an idea of how ‘accurate’ her claims are, Tenpenny tried to bolster her bona fides by saying she’s spent up to 10,000 hours studying vaccines since the pandemic began. The only problem with that is there have only been something like 11,000 hours since the beginning of the pandemic in the U.S. So, she would have been “studying” vaccines 22 hours a day, every day, since March 2020. By the way, experts have already debunked the hilarious “COVID-19 contains magnets” myth: https://www.tiktok.com/@drgigiosler/video/6963458278600772870?sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6969720433135683078&is_from_webapp=v1&is_copy_url=0

But this woman, who followed Tenpenny, really put the nail in it when she tried to ‘prove’ the magnetic theory – #epicfail:

In any case, Twitter thought Tenpenny’s thoughts were about nine pennies short of having any good sense. After ‘Magneto’ began trending on Twitter, we took a look to see what folks thought of the theory:

Many people got excited thinking the Marvel villain ‘Magneto’ was trending because the new series ‘Loki’ debuted on the same day. Folks were pretty bummed that wasn’t the case.

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News Round-Up: June 8, 2021

(screen capture from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia)
Some news items you might have missed: • Gallup Polling: U.S. support for legal same-sex marriage continues to trend upward, now at 70% – a new high in Gallup’s trend since 1996. This latest figure marks an increase of 10 percentage points since 2015, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that all states must recognize same-sex marriages. • Gothamist: Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today that the vast majority of New York’s coronavirus restrictions and safety measures will be lifted once 70% of adults have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine—which he estimated could happen within the next two weeks. • Washington Blade: An East Texas bakery shared a photo of rainbow Pride cookies on Facebook and immediately got slammed with homophobic hate including customers cancelling huge orders. But by the next morning, the owners were deluged with orders offering to buy the cancelled cookies and a line of customers down the block buying out the entire bakery in a show of support.

• NBC4i: An anti-vaccine physician told Ohio lawmakers Tuesday that COVID-19 vaccines can magnetize people. “I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures all over the internet of people who have had these shots and now they’re magnetized. They can put a key on their forehead. It sticks.” • NBC News: Wisconsin pharmacist Steven Brandenburg has been sentenced to 3 years in prison after pleading guilty to destroying 500 doses of COVID-19 vaccine in January. Brandenburg admitted he removed doses of Moderna vaccine from refrigeration storage overnight knowing it would render them ineffective. • Buzzfeed: Check out this list of 33 great LGBTQ-themed shows to watch on Hulu for Pride Month like Love, Victor or that awesome coming out dance sequence on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (top image).

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Trump Calls On Countries To Ban Twitter And Facebook

Donald Trump

Donald Trump issued a statement today praising the nation of Nigeria (which he once called a ‘shit hole’) for banning Twitter after the social media company banned the country’s president. In the same breath he called on more countries to ban both Twitter and Facebook because he’s still butt hurt over being banned from the platforms. His current bans are a result of his being held accountable for the violent invasion of the U.S. Capitol building on January 6. Apparently still inhabiting Earth 2, Trump ponders if he should have banned the two social media platforms while in the White House – except, of course, he didn’t have that power.

Congratulations to the country of Nigeria, who just banned Twitter because they banned their President. More COUNTRIES should ban Twitter and Facebook for not allowing free and open speech—all voices should be heard.

In the meantime, competitors will emerge and take hold. Who are they to dictate good and evil if they themselves are evil?

Perhaps I should have done it while I was President. But Zuckerberg kept calling me and coming to the White House for dinner telling me how great I was. 2024?

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Out Music: DCappella ‘This Is Me’

Disney Music Group’s premier a cappella singing sensation featuring 7 world-class vocalists, DCappella.

Disney Music Group’s premier a cappella singing sensation featuring 7 world-class vocalists, DCappella. DCappella celebrates Pride Month with the release of the “This Is Me,” from The Greatest Showman. The Oscar® nominated song, an unapologetic declaration of identity and empowerment, subsequently became an anthem for the LGBTQ+ community and Pride celebrations. In addition to showcasing the group’s soaring vocals, the music video follows several LGBTQ people as they celebrate themselves and their lives. “What’s really moving about this project for me personally is that we cast real queer people for every vignette,” says Nina Kramer, the out director of the music video. “There was no world where we were going to cast straight actors to play out faux scenes about queer people’s everyday lives.” DCappella is Disney Music Group’s premier a cappella singing sensation featuring 7 world-class vocalists: Antonio Fernandez/vocal percussion, Joe Santoni/bass, Kalen Kelly/mezzo, Kelly Denice Taylor/alto, Morgan Keene/soprano, Orlando Dixon/baritone and RJ Woessner/tenor. You can follow them on Instagram here.

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What’ll You Have: ‘Joints For Jabs’ Or ‘Shot & A Chaser?’

(photo: Unsplash/Elsa Olofsson)

States are getting more and more creative in coming up with new incentives for folks to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The Washington state Liquor and Cannabis Board has its new promotion, “Joints for Jabs,” which will allow state-licensed cannabis retailers to give one free pre-rolled joint to customers 21 or older when they receive either a first or second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. ABC News reports the promotion will run through July 12.

Talk about going gangsta…

The board had previously authorized businesses with liquor licenses to offer a free wine, beer or cocktail to customers who could prove they’d been vaccinated through June 30.

But Washington isn’t the only state offering ‘puffs for pokes.’

An Arizona cannabis dispensary recently announced a similar program where you could get your free shot and receive a free pre-rolled joint and an edible cannabis gummy. The dispensary calls the program “Snax for Vaxx.”

Many states and businesses began incentivizing vaccinations when the demand began to slow in April.

That was when Krispy Kreme started giving out free donuts to those who got their shot.

Los Angeles County offered free Lakers season tickets, and the Hustler Club in Las Vegas ‘put some skin in the game’ by serving up free lap dances and bottle service.

West Virginia’s governor announced young folks between the ages of 16 to 35 would receive a $100 savings bond if they got vaccinated.

Ohio really upped the stakes when Gov. Mike DeWine announced a new lottery giving away $1 million each week for five weeks for those who received at least one dose of COVID vaccine. For winners under 18, the prize is a four year scholarship to an Ohio public university.

Colorado is doing a similar program called “Colorado Comeback Cash” where one vaccinated resident will be chosen to win $1 million each week for five weeks.

Between May 25 and July 3, Maryland is giving away $2 million in daily $40,000 drawings.

In May, New York State launched the “Vax & Scratch” lottery program which offered $20 scratch-off lottery tickets with a chance to win a $5 million prize if they received a COVID vaccination.

Lottery officials in Kentucky gave away 225,000 free lottery tickets in May to residents who stepped up to get vaccinated.

On June 28 Oregon will give away $1 million to one lucky vaccinated winner plus one person from each of the state’s 36 counties will win $10,000.

California is giving 10 lucky winners $1.5 million each on June 15, plus 30 more Californians could score $50,000 prizes.

Previously mentioned Washington state also has a $2 million lottery going on throughout June.

And don’t worry if you got your shot early. In most states, vaccinated residents are being entered automatically from states’ immunization databases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 64% of adults in the U.S. have received at least one dose of an approved vaccine. President Biden set a goal in early May to reach 70% by July 4.

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Get Your Pride On With The Bombas Pride 2021 Collection

(All images via Bombas)
I’m not the kind of consumer who’s generally married to a certain brand. Cost and quality usually drive my buying choices. One of the few items in our house we do practice brand loyalty to is Bombas socks. As I’m sure you know from their ad spots, not only are the socks better quality than the average sock (and they really are!) but for every pair of socks purchased, the company donates a pair to homeless shelters. So, when I was perusing my emails regarding Pride Month merchandise, trust and believe I stopped to read about the 2021 Bombas Pride Collection. Made in partnership with LGBTQ+ artists Ohni Lisle (she/her) and Daniel Quasar (xe/they), and the Bombas design team, the collection is a vibrant assortment of socks, t-shirts, underwear, and a limited-edition Pride tote bag, marking the first Bombas Pride collection that expands beyond socks. For the first time, “Bee Proud” is stitched into each Pride item in place of the brand’s “Bee Better” mantra. Plus, all Bombas.com orders will be shipped in a snazzy new custom Pride polybag packaging through June. The polybag packaging was created in partnership with artist Daniel Quasar featuring the Progress Pride flag design. Bombas worked with Ohni Lisle (she/her) to create a screen-printed design featured on select Bombas Pride t-shirts. She was inspired by squiggly type humanoid forms that are similar to gestures of people — people meet shapes. Customers can shop the full Pride collection exclusively on Bombas.com. By the way, just like Pride isn’t out and loud for just one month each year, the Pride collection will be available throughout 2021. Staying true to the Bombas mission (One Purchased=One Donated), for every Pride item purchased, a specially-designed item will be donated to someone in need within the LGBTQ+ community through three Bombas Giving Partners including:

• Casa Ruby (Washington, DC) • Mozaic (Columbus, OH) • Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM)

I don’t endorse a lot of products, but Bombas is a grand slam home run. Check out the 2021 Pride Collection here.

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News Round-Up: June 7, 2021

(image via Twitter/SFGiants)
Some news items you might have missed: • Mr. Man: The powers that be at MrMan have assembled the 100 most iconic gay kisses in the history of cinema in a rapid-fire 10 minute video. Definitely worth the click. • LGBTQNation: The San Francisco Giants became the first team in Major League Baseball to wear Pride colors onto the field on June 5 for their Pride Day game against the Chicago Cubs. The Giants updated their logo’s colors to incorporate Pride into their uniforms and caps.

• Instinct Magazine: When a 15 year-old male student was kicked out of school for wearing a skirt, male teachers began teaching their classes while wearing skirts in solidarity. • MetroSource: The creative team behind the Red Hot calendars (which feature ginger hotties) is taking applications for the 2022 edition. https://www.instagram.com/p/CO-MbEsnsQm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link • MetroWeekly: The Pentagon will keep a Trump-era ban on Pride flags being flown at military bases, despite President Joe Biden pledging to reverse it. • Queerty: Actor Wil Wheaton, known for his longtime role as kid genius Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation, welcomed pride month this weekend by giving a special shout-out to his queer fans. Wheaton, 48, publicly acknowledged the number of Star Trek fans that had a crush on the actor–or his character–during the show’s run. Then, Wheaton’s wife, Anne Wheaton chimed in. And that was followed by Wheaton’s TV mom, Gates McFadden, voicing her support. #VeryCute

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Nevada Gov. Signs Pro-LGBTQ Bills Into Law At Pride Fest

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak has dropped the statewide indoor mask mandate effective immediately.

Much of the LGBTQ political news being reported lately focuses on the spate of anti-LGBTQ bills being promoted and passed in Republican-controlled state legislatures across the country.

But it’s not all bad news everywhere.

This past Sunday, Nevada’s Governor Steve Sisolak attended the Henderson Pride Festival where he signed several pro-LGBTQ bills into law.

“It is so important that we bring these bills to the community, to this center to help you understand how important this is,” said Sisolak at the signing ceremony.

The event also served as the grand re-opening of the Henderson Equality Center.

It’s a breath of fresh air to see legislation moving LGBTQ interests forward and not backward.

The bills passed during the legislative session and now signed into law are:

Senate Bill 275 modernizes Nevada’s HIV laws by repealing a provision that made it a category B felony for someone who tests positive for HIV to “knowingly or willfully engaging in a manner” that could transmit the disease.

The laws were first put in place in the early part of the AIDS epidemic and targeted gay and transgender people. The antiquated laws don’t reflect the advances in HIV medicine and science that has occurred in the past 20+ years. Nine other states are currently considering similar legislation.

Senate Bill 237 allows LGBTQ-owned businesses to be designated as minority-owned which opens up opportunities from local chambers of commerce.

Senate Bill 109 will require local governments that collect demographic information to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Gov. Sisolak said the new law will “ensure our government reflects our community. Representation matters.”

Assembly Bill 261 makes Nevada only the sixth state in the U.S. to include the contributions of LGBTQ people in history and civics classes.

The Silver State now joins California, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon and Colorado in making public education queer inclusive.

On the other side of the political spectrum, though, Tennessee and Montana have passed laws requiring schools to notify warn parents if issues of sexual orientation or gender identity are scheduled to be addressed.

Analysis from the Human Rights Campaign found that more than 250 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced in state legislatures in 2021. At least 17 had been enacted according to an HRC report on May 7.

Responding to the pro-LGBTQ legislation passed this year in Nevada, GLSEN interim Executive Director Melanie Willingham-Jaggers said in a statement, “This year, we’ve seen record numbers of harmful anti-LGBTQ+ bills introduced across the country. But Nevada’s new law offers a powerful contrast and shows us that a better way is not only possible, but already in motion.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CP1eX9Rjeum/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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Burger King Shades Chick-Fil-A With LGBTQ Support

The new chicken sandwich from Burger King is trolling Chick-fil-A and we're there for it!

The new chicken sandwich from Burger King is trolling Chick-fil-A and we're there for it! Oh, the shade of it all. For years now, many in the LGBTQ community have boycotted Chick-fil-A after reports showed the company’s CEO and executives donated over and over again to anti-LGBTQ groups that work to opposed queer rights. Now, Burger King is not only showing SUPPORT for the LGBTQ community, but throwing some subtle shade at Chick-fil-A while doing so. From USA Today:

Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy was identified last week by The Daily Beast as a donor to the National Christian Charitable Foundation, which has a history of funding opposition to The Equality Act.

Burger King, which recently launched the Ch’King sandwich, tweeted Thursday it will donate 40 cents for every chicken sandwich sold in June (Pride month) up to $250,000, or 625,000 sandwiches, to The Human Rights Campaign.

“This is a community we love dearly and have proudly supported over the years, so we couldn’t miss an opportunity to take action and help shine a light on the important conversation happening,” a Burger King spokesperson said in an email statement to USA TODAY.

You’ll note in Burger King’s tweet below the company notes that it would continue its donations “even on Sundays.” Chick-fil-A has a long-standing policy of being closed on Sundays.

In a playful back-and-forth, the Whopper’s Twitter account seems to be a bit jealous of the new chicken sandwich LOL…

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Out Music: Tom Goss ‘Pride’

“Pride,” the new single and music video by Tom Goss, celebrates the rainbow of people who make up the LGBTQ community and their stories of hope, perseverance, triumph, and love. “When we think of Pride, we often think of tens of thousands of people marching in a parade, but it’s much more than that,” says Goss. “It’s the individuals, the love they share, and the moments together that make up the mosaic that is Pride as we know it today. That’s what this song is about.” He adds, “It’s important that we respect and pay homage to those that fought for us and (that we) continue the fight for the generations to follow.” https://youtu.be/weG3cdlnuOk The idea for the song was sparked by a cross-country road trip Tom and his husband took last summer. One stop on the trip was to visit their friend Ben who had recently lost his partner, Rich. The couple had been cornerstones in their local LGBTQ community. Goss attended a memorial service (held in front of City Hall) where friends gathered to laugh, cry and remember their friend. Their story inspired Tom to think about all of the other people who have fought tirelessly to make being gay something to be celebrated. People like Rich and Ben, living and loving quietly but heroically in small cities and towns across the country. The world may never know their names, but that doesn’t make their stories any less important. Tom issued a post on Facebook, asking LGBTQ couples to share their love stories with him. He was inundated by the most beautiful and moving testimonials from all over the world. From Tom Goss's new music video "Pride" “I hope ‘Pride’ and it’s music video encourage people in the community to stop and reflect on how we got to where we are today,” Tom says. “We owe so much to our forefathers and mothers. We cannot begin to imagine the hardships they endured, and that’s by design. They wouldn’t allow it. They wanted a better world for us, so they created it for us.” “It’s important that we respect and pay homage to those that fought for us and continue the fight for the generations to follow. That is Pride.” Produced by Austin Danson, Tom Goss’s “Pride” is available now on all major digital platforms.

Out singer/songwriter Tom Goss (photo: Dusti Cunningham)