#TrumpMeltDown Trends As Donald Rants

Donald Trump

Donald Trump was apparently so upset the Supreme Court didn’t hand him the election (as he’d planned) that he refused to come down to his own White House holiday party superspreader event. But he did make time for a Twitter rant…because of course. It’s worth pointing out that Team Trump lost dozens and dozens of baseless lawsuits in trying to steal the election. He lost in federal courts, appellate courts, and now the Supreme Court wouldn’t even let his peeps in the door. He lost to conservative, Republican-appointed judges, he even lost to judges he appointed. It’s time, Donnie. It’s time to find some dignity. #TrumpMeltDown quickly began trending on Twitter.

Supreme Court Rejects Texas AG’s Attempt To Undo 2020 Election

Fifty-four percent of Americans believe Donald Trump should be impeached

Fifty-four percent of Americans believe Donald Trump should be impeached The U.S. Supreme Court has declined a bid from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to nullify the ballots of millions of voters in four battleground states that went in favor of President-Elect Joe Biden. From the Washington Post:

The court’s unsigned order was short: “Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another state conducts its elections. All other pending motions are dismissed as moot.”

Trump, who has appointed three of the court’s nine members, has long viewed the Supreme Court as something of an ace-in-the-hole, and called for the justices to display “courage” and rescue him in post-election litigation.

Just about every legal expert with two brain cells to spark together predicted this would be the outcome for Paxtons’ woeful attempt to curry favor with Trump. Many of the 100+ Republican members of Congress who publicly supported the woeful attempt have said off the record that they knew the lawsuit wouldn’t go anywhere but they felt it was a “loyalty test” to the Trumpster and wanted to avoid any future fire from the Donald. Paxton is currently under federal investigation himself, and many say he was trying to finagle a presidential pardon with his leg humping.

Gus Kenworthy’s New LinkedIn Pic Breaks The Internet

Out Olympian Gus Kenworthy posted a photo on his Instagram while mentioning he’s looking to update his LinkedIn account and needed new resume pics. Umm…woof.  In the photo, snapped by photog Brian Kaminski, Gus is resting in repose in a pair of short shorts, washboard abs on display along with the perfect amount of fur. The pic was accompanied by the tongue-in-cheek caption, “My friend @briankaminski was kind enough to come over yesterday and take some pictures for my LinkedIn.” Can I just say, “You’re hired, Gus!” Kaminski also shared a pic from the shoot teasing there are more to come.

 

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Gus has been keeping a lower profile on social media during the pandemic than in prior years. In April, he shared that the isolation of coronavirus lockdown had taken some toll on his mental health. At the same time, he announced he was doing personalized greetings for fans in order to raise money for first responders in the health crisis. In December 2019, the Olympic silver medalist announced he was switching from Team USA to Team Great Britain (he was born in England) with the hopes of representing the United Kingdom in the 2022 Winter Olympics. Clearly, Gus is keeping in top-shape. Of course, there was that trip to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes back in September… 😉

News Round-Up: December 11, 2020

Rita Moreno celebrates her 90th birthday today

Michael and I with living legend Rita Moreno who turns 89 today (photo: Denise Truscello)
Some news items you might have missed: • The Advocate: Todd Gloria made history as he was sworn in as San Diego’s mayor Thursday, becoming the first out member of the LGBTQ+ community and first person of color to hold the post on anything but an interim basis. San Diego becomes the largest city in the nation with an out gay man as mayor. • KIT212: Kenneth’s weekly round-up of the what’s what in LGBTQ publications includes an article in MetroWeekly about gay adult performer Billy Santoro admitting he faked a suicide attempt (below) after backlash for racist social media posts.
Billy Santoro (via husband, Gage Santoro/Instagram)
• Gay Star News: The parliament for the isolated Asian country Bhutan, located in the Himalayas, has approved a bill decriminalizing gay sex. • BosGuy: It’s Furry Friday over at the Boston-based gay blog. Yay! Find more furballs here.
(via BosGuy)
• HuffPost: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) introduced legislation in the House on Thursday that would bar schools from receiving federal funding if they allow transgender girls and women and non-binary people to compete on sports teams consistent with their gender identities. The bill was immediately denounced by transgender activists and allies who labeled the legislation “blatantly transphobic.” • Gr8terDays: The Hollywood throwback Instagram account highlights celebrity birthdays like living legend and EGOT-winner Rita Moreno, who turns 89 today. The lead photo with the iconic star and hubby Michael was taken at Nevada Ballet’s annual gala last year. We asked if we could pose as her back-up dancers Tiger and Duff from her film, The Ritz.

 

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TN Lawmaker Called COVID Reporting ‘Sensationalized,’ Now Hospitalized With Virus

Tennessee state Rep. David Byrd (via Facebook)
Asking friends for their prayers via Facebook, Tennessee state Rep. David Byrd (R-Waynesboro) says he may soon be placed on a ventilator due to COVID-19. The Republican state lawmaker was hospitalized over the weekend with pneumonia and his oxygen levels are reportedly low. “I really need a miracle today!!” Byrd wrote on Facebook. “My doctor said if my oxygen level doesn’t improve then he has no choice but to put me on a ventilator. So please pray that God will breathe His healing spirit into my lungs!!” According to The Tennessean, Byrd was seen on the floor of the state House during a caucus meeting not wearing a face mask on November 24. Shortly before that, he hosted a dinner at a restaurant in his district for dozens of GOP colleagues, again with no mask in sight. It’s worth noting that in June Byrd voted in support of a House resolution stating that “mainstream media has sensationalized the reporting on COVID-19 in the service of political agendas.” And there you have it.

Joe Biden/Kamala Harris Named TIME’s Person Of The Year

TIME named President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as its Person of the Year. From the profile:

Biden had the vision, set the tone and topped the ticket. But he also recognized what he could not offer on his own, what a 78-year-old white man could never provide: generational change, a fresh perspective, and an embodiment of America’s diversity.

For that, he needed Kamala Harris: California Senator, former district attorney and state attorney general, a biracial child of immigrants whose charisma and tough questioning of Trump Administration officials electrified millions of Democrats.

The Vice President has never before been a woman, or Black, or Asian American. “I will be the first, but I will not be the last,” Harris says in a separate interview. “That’s about legacy, that’s about creating a pathway, that’s about leaving the door more open than it was when you walked in.”

In an age of tribalism, the union aims to demonstrate that differences don’t have to be divides.

Additionally, Dr. Anthony Fauci and frontline health workers were named 2020 Guardians of the Year along with Racial Justice Organizers. Lebron James is the 2020 Athlete of the Year, Eric Yuan was named Businessman of the Year, and pop group BTS was honored as Entertainer of the Year,

‘One Night Only: The Best Of Broadway’ Tonight On NBC

A quick reminder to tune in for the big Broadway celebration tonight on NBC hosted by Tina Fey in the heart of New York’s theatre district.  One Night Only: The Best Of Broadway is bringing back the magic of the stage. Fey promises performances from the casts of Jersey Boys, Ain’t Too Proud, Chicago the Musical, Mean Girls and more. Catch the show tonight at 8/7c on NBC.

Ellen DeGeneres Tests Positive For Coronavirus, Talk Show Shuts Down

Ellen DeGeneres (screen capture)
Emmy Award-winning talk show host Ellen DeGeneres shared via Twitter today that she’s tested positive for the coronavirus. “Hi Everyone, I want to let you all know that I have tested positive for COVID-19,” wrote Ellen. “Fortunately, I am feeling fine right now. Anyone who has been in close contact with me has been notified and I am following all proper CDC guidelines.” “I’ll see you all again after the holidays,” she wrote in closing before adding, “Please stay healthy and safe.” There’s no word on whether her wife, Portia de Rossi, or any staffers have tested positive. Production for her talk show has been paused until January according to Variety. Unfortunately, Ellen joins the ranks of just a few high-profile LGBTQ celebrities to have contracted the virus.

The news is quite the capper for Ellen’s 2020 after she’s faced months of controversy involving an internal investigation after allegations of racism, sexual misconduct and other workplace problems which led to three top producers being fired.

News Round-Up: December 10, 2020

(image via Kenneth-in-the-212)
Some news items you might have missed: • KIT212: Kenneth’s new regular feature, “Mask4Masc,” offers some ‘hunky highlights’ (above) for these otherwise grim days. More at the link. • Gay Star News: New data shows 1 in 6 adopted children in the UK are finding homes with same-sex couples. The number of ‘rainbow families’ has increased for three years in a row now. • YouTube: From the description – “The von Trapplings have so far only been singing about Covid. But current events compel them to add their sound of music once more, to farewell a president who just doesn’t seem to want to leave office after being democratically fired.”

• NewNowNext: The pop culture site spoke with four queer performers at different stages of their OnlyFans careers to get a better sense of the labor and investment they put into their business models. Regular readers know I find the financial possibilities of OnlyFans fascinating. • Variety: A “True Blood” reboot is in the early development stages at HBO. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Jami O’Brien are attached to write the script and executive produce, with original series creator and showrunner Alan Ball also attached to executive produce. At this time, none of the show’s original cast is attached to return. • The Hill: Sixty percent of voters don’t want President Trump to run for president again in 2024, according to an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released Wednesday. The survey found just 32 percent of respondents think the president should run for a second non-consecutive term. • CNN: While Donald Trump continues to whine about his epic fail in his quest for reelection, First Lady Melania Trump is already making plans for ending her time in the White House. According to sources, she’s begun inquiring about “what was available to her in terms of budget and staff allocation for post-White House life.”