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Why Are Anti-Maskers So Triggered?

Anti-masker triggered in Tucson, Arizona
Why are some folks so triggered by being asked to wear a face mask? Philadelphia’s CBS News affiliate reports a man punched a 17-year-old Sesame Place employee in the face after the teen reminded him to wear a mask while in the park due to COVID-19. The teen suffered a jaw injury and a damaged tooth. He was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Middletown on Sunday and underwent surgery on Monday.

And in Tucson, Arizona, this guy became so unhinged his son had to physically carry him out of the store. Why are these folks losing their minds over being asked to wear a face-covering?

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Barack Obama On Harris For Running Mate: ‘Joe Biden Nailed This Decision’

Former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden (public domain)
From former President Barack Obama: Choosing a vice president is the first important decision a president makes. When you’re in the Oval Office, weighing the toughest issues, and the choice you make will affect the lives and livelihoods of the entire country – you need someone with you who’s got the judgment and the character to make the right call. Someone whose focus goes beyond self-interest to consider the lives and prospects of others. Joe Biden nailed this decision. By choosing Senator Kamala Harris as America’s next vice president, he’s underscored his own judgment and character. Reality shows us that these attributes are not optional in a president. They’re requirements of the job. And now Joe has an ideal partner to help him tackle the very real challenges America faces right now and in the years ahead. I’ve known Senator Harris for a long time. She is more than prepared for the job. She’s spent her career defending our Constitution and fighting for folks who need a fair shake. Her own life story is one that I and so many others can see ourselves in: a story that says that no matter where you come from, what you look like, how you worship, or who you love, there’s a place for you here. It’s a fundamentally American perspective, one that’s led us out of the hardest times before. And it’s a perspective we can all rally behind right now. Michelle and I couldn’t be more thrilled for Kamala, Doug, Cole, and Ella. This is a good day for our country. Now let’s go win this thing.

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Choosing a vice president is the first important decision a president makes. When you’re in the Oval Office, weighing the toughest issues, and the choice you make will affect the lives and livelihoods of the entire country – you need someone with you who’s got the judgment and the character to make the right call. Someone whose focus goes beyond self-interest to consider the lives and prospects of others. @JoeBiden nailed this decision. By choosing Senator @KamalaHarris as America’s next vice president, he’s underscored his own judgment and character. Reality shows us that these attributes are not optional in a president. They’re requirements of the job. And now Joe has an ideal partner to help him tackle the very real challenges America faces right now and in the years ahead. I’ve known Senator Harris for a long time. She is more than prepared for the job. She’s spent her career defending our Constitution and fighting for folks who need a fair shake. Her own life story is one that I and so many others can see ourselves in: a story that says that no matter where you come from, what you look like, how you worship, or who you love, there’s a place for you here. It’s a fundamentally American perspective, one that’s led us out of the hardest times before. And it’s a perspective we can all rally behind right now. Michelle and I couldn’t be more thrilled for Kamala, Doug, Cole, and Ella. This is a good day for our country. Now let’s go win this thing.

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Biden Announces Kamala Harris For Veep Pick

L-R Joe Biden, Kamala Harris
Former Vice President Joe Biden announced today that Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) is his choice for running mate in the 2020 presidential election. From the New York Times:

Joseph R. Biden Jr. selected Senator Kamala Harris of California as his vice-presidential running mate on Tuesday, embracing a former rival who sharply criticized him in the Democratic primaries but emerged after ending her own campaign as a vocal supporter of Mr. Biden and a prominent advocate of racial-justice legislation after the death of George Floyd in late May.

Ms. Harris, 55, is the first Black woman and the first person of Indian descent to be nominated for national office by a major party, and only the fourth woman in history to be chosen for one of their presidential tickets. She brings to the race a far more vigorous campaign style than Mr. Biden’s, including a gift for capturing moments of raw political electricity on the debate stage and elsewhere, and a personal identity and family story that many find inspiring.

Susan Rice, former Ambassador to the UN, viewed by many to be a top contender announced her support for the pick. GLAAD points up Sen. Harris’ record on LGBTQ issues which includes:

  • Establishing San Francisco County’s first LGBTQ hate crimes unit, LGBTQ victim advocacy unit, and LGBTQ sexual assault awareness program, as San Francisco District Attorney

  • Refusing to defend Prop 8, California’s ban on same-sex marriage as the state’s Attorney General, later performing the marriage of the couple who sued to get Prop 8 overturned

  • Creating the first-in-the-nation law to ban gay or trans “panic” defenses used to justify violence against LGBTQ people, and later, as U.S. Senator, introducing a bill to ban its use in federal trials

  • Introducing legislation to prevent the use of religious beliefs to justify LGBTQ discrimination

  • Supporting the Equality Act, which bars discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation and gender identity nationwide including in education, federal funding, housing, education and public accommodations and the jury system

  • Introducing legislation to ensure LGBTQ Americans are counted in the U.S. Census

 

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Russia Approves COVID-19 Vaccine Without Phase 3 Trials

(image via Unsplash)
Well, this would make me uncomfortable… From ABC News:

Russia on Tuesday became the first country to clear a coronavirus vaccine and declare it ready for use, despite international skepticism. President Vladimir Putin said that one of his daughters has already been inoculated.

Putin emphasized that the vaccine underwent the necessary tests and has proven efficient, offering lasting immunity from the coronavirus.

However, scientists at home and abroad have been sounding the alarm that the rush to start using the vaccine before Phase 3 trials — which normally last for months and involve thousands of people — could backfire.

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UK Man Becomes 1st In The World To Have New Penis ‘Built’ On His Arm

Malcolm MacDonald (screen capture via The Sun)
After losing his penis due to a blood infection, a 45-year-old UK man is the recipient of a new penis being grown on his forearm. MacDonald, who lives in Norfolk, UK, struggled for years with an infection of his perineum, the area between the anus and testicles. Over time, the infection spread to his fingers and toes causing them to turn black. Then, one day, he was shocked to see his penis turn black as well. “It was like a horror film,” MacDonald told The Sun. “I was in a complete panic. I knew deep down it was gone and I was going to lose it.” “Then one day it just dropped off on to the floor,” he adds. “Because I had been through the devastation of knowing I was going to lose it, I just picked it up and put it in the bin.” MacDonald, who works as a mechanic, says the best doctors could do for him at the time was “to roll the remaining stump up like a little sausage roll.” The separated dad-of-two fell into a depression, became a recluse, and began drinking heavily. In 2016, his doctor referred him to Professor David Ralph, a specialist in phallus reconstruction in residence at University College Hospital in London. Ralph and his team were able to take skin grafts from MacDonald’s arm and butt to build the new penis along with a vein from his leg for blood flow. During discussions about what the new appendage would look like, MacDonald asked for – and received – an additional two inches.
(Malcolm MacDonald (screen capture)
“They were happy to listen to what I wanted it to be like, which was amazing,” says MacDonald. “Not many can say they have a designer penis.” The procedure, funded by the NHS, cost £50,000 ($65,000US). He says when he first saw the penis on his left arm, he felt “so, so proud.” He adds that, like any other man, he “just couldn’t leave it alone” in the beginning – “I thought it was the best thing ever.” The penis was ‘grown’ over the next two years and in 2018, it was time to transplant the new appendage (that he had nicknamed ‘Jimmy’) to his groin along with a penile implant to help him achieve erections. But, the final surgery has been postponed numerous times due to illness, transportation, and scheduling mistakes. Last December, he was ready and prepped for the operation but a last-minute staff shortage caused another cancellation. Then, in April, he was scheduled again for the transplant but the COVID-19 pandemic put the surgery on hold again. MacDonald tells The Sun he hopes to be able to have the surgery before the end of the year. “It really feels like it is time to get it off,” admits the 45-year-old. “I can’t run because it waggles about. I can’t go swimming or wear a short-sleeve shirt.” “I can’t lie, having a penis on your arm for four years is a really strange thing to live with,” adds MacDonald. “But I am determined this penis will be ultimately used for what it was built for.” (source: The Sun)

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News Round-Up: August 10, 2020

Broadway star Ramin Karimloo (screen capture)
Some news stories you might have missed: • Pink News: Dr. Allen Bergin, an influential Mormon therapist who advocated for conversion therapy for decades, has reversed his position and apologized for his harmful views after learning that his two sons and grandson are gay. • Edge Media: A candidate for the Washington State House of Representatives may face charges after ripping down a rainbow Pride flag flown by a church and then threatening witnesses to the act, telling them that “If it gets put back up, I will take it down.” • YouTube: How I haven’t done a full post about the oh-so-talented Ramin Karimloo (above) is beyond me. Please enjoy the perfection that is Ramin singing “Being Alive” from Stephen Sondheim’s Company. The performance was part of the KINGS OF BROADWAY 2020: A Celebration Of The Music Of Jule Styne, Jerry Herman & Stephen Sondheim charity event.

• Instinct Magazine: Poland’s President Andrzej Duda was sworn into his second term last week after his campaign described the LGBT rights movement as a dangerous “ideology,” and declared that LGBT folks “not people.” And so, LGBT people are now leaving the country. • Gay Star News: More from Poland as thousands of LGBT people and allies protested in Warsaw, Poland on Friday and Saturday – resulting in police brutality. Commentators say the events are a possible ‘Stonewall moment’ for Poland as people stood up to two years of mounting LGBT+ hate. • Cox Media: According to a report by the American Academy of Pediatrics, 97,078 children tested positive for the novel coronavirus between July 16 and July 30. As of July 30, 338,982 children tested positive for COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic. • Instagram: Academy Award-winner Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) has been announced to star in a film about the life of famed counter-culture artist Andy Warhol. Leto broke the news on his Instagram account.

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LA’s Annual LGBTQ Film Festival Goes Digital & Outdoors For 2020

Outfest, Los Angeles’ annual LGBTQ film festival, is going digital and outdoors with 6 nights-of drive-ins, 160+ films, including 35 world premieres, 10 North American premieres, and 4 U.S. premieres. This year’s hybrid streaming/outdoor festival boasts the most inclusive and diverse festival in history – with over 70% of films directed by women, trans, and people-of-color filmmakers. The 2020 film festival takes place from August 10-20. Click here for a list of films and festival passes.

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New Zealand: Zero New Cases Of COVID-19 In Over 100 Days

New Zealand (image via Google Maps)
Axios reports New Zealand has gone more than 100 days with zero new cases of COVID-19 coming from a local source. With an election coming up in September, the current prime minister sees her government’s response as a selling point for reelection.

New Zealanders are going to the polls on Sept. 19. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been widely praised for her leadership that saw NZ lock down hard for several weeks before all domestic restrictions were lifted in June. She sees her government’s response to and recovery from the coronavirus outbreak as key to her Labour Party being re-elected.

By the numbers: New Zealand has 23 active coronavirus cases. All are NZ residents newly returned from abroad, who are staying in managed isolation facilities.

The border remains closed to non-residents and all newly returned Kiwis must undergo a two-week isolation program managed by the country’s defense force. All travelers tested three times before they leave.

Police are stationed outside hotels where travelers are in quarantine.

At this writing, New Zealand (population just over 5 million) has had 1,569 confirmed cases and only 22 deaths from COVID-19. New Zealand’s number of confirmed cases translates to 315 per million people versus 15,366 cases in the U.S. per million citizens.

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Gay Man Beaten Unconscious Amid Barrage Of Anti-Gay Slurs

Christian Council (images via Facebook)
Two people who allegedly beat a gay Oklahoma man unconscious are not expected to face hate crime charges despite the victim and a witness telling police officers the assailants hurled anti-gay slurs during the assault. Oklahoma City-based real estate agent Christian Council, 28, told police he was returning home in his car in the early hours of June 27 with a friend, 26-year-old Andrew Martinez, when he came upon a pickup truck parked in the street blocking traffic in his apartment complex. Council says he honked once then again before the truck finally moved out of the way at which point Council parked his car several spaces down. As he and Martinez exited the car, two men and a woman were standing nearby. The woman, later identified as Amery Dickerson, 23, called Council and Martinez “c**ksuckers” and one of the men used another homophobic slur. According to the police report, when Council explained he honked his horn because he couldn’t get by, Dickerson charged at him, shoving him into a parked car. As she charged him a second time, he pushed her in the face to protect himself. Council says at that point the two men yelled, “You f*ggot, don’t you know you can’t hit a girl?’”  “And the driver of the truck and the girl’s boyfriend beat me,” adds Council. “Beat me unconscious.”

Bennett Stone, 24, was identified as the man who started the fight. As the incident escalated, Council and Martinez say the trio was yelling homophobic slurs. Martinez tried to intercede but the unidentified man restrained him while Stone continued the beating. Martinez told police Council lost consciousness for “a minute or two” as he stopped responding to the blows and his body went limp. Martinez was eventually able to call 911. The police charged Dickerson and Stone with misdemeanor assault and battery which could result in up to 90 days in jail and a fine of $1,000. Council was treated for a concussion as well as cuts and bruises at a local emergency room. In the weeks since the attack, Council says he’s experienced post-traumatic stress disorder while in public. According to The Oklahoman, the initial police report didn’t mention any of the homophobic slurs used during the assault even though Council and Martinez relayed that to the officers. In characterizing certain crimes, Oklahoma City police can indicate whether an incident was domestic violence, a drive-by shooting, or a hate crime. The officers didn’t check the hate crime box. The report was later amended to include the use of anti-gay remarks after the police reviewed body camera footage showing Council mentioning the slurs. In Stone’s version of the events, he claims he saw Council “punch” Dickerson and he was merely defending Dickerson. A spokesman for the Oklahoma City police, Master Sgt. Gary Knight told The Oklahoman the incident is currently under review before referring it to the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s office. “There is no hard evidence that suggests the attack was because of his sexual orientation,” Knight told The Oklahoman. “Right now it appears the conflict was because of a truck not moving out of the way of his vehicle. These people did not know each other. There’s no indication they jumped out of their vehicle because of his sexual orientation.”

(image via Facebook)
Council, however, disagrees saying the incident escalated because Stone and Dickerson realized he was gay. “I want to make this very clear,” said Council to The Oklahoman. “They got out of their truck because they were mad that I honked at them. They beat me unconscious because I was gay.” “It was very clear to me that as soon as they saw that my friend and I were gay, or that they assumed we were gay, it was very clear to me that it went from they were mad that I had honked at them, to they were mad that two gay men had the audacity to honk at them, or inconvenience them in any way,” he added. Council is aware LGBTQ people aren’t a protected class in Oklahoma meaning Stone and Dickerson won’t be facing state hate crime charges. Still, he says he has filed a hate crime report with the FBI. Council also says he’d prefer that Dickerson and Stone be sentenced to some form of restorative justice. “These people can go and sit in a jail cell and just let their hate against queer-trans people build, or they can be forced to go work community service hours alongside the queer and trans community and see the humanity in us, and I think that that kind of restorative justice will do a lot more for our community than jail time will,” Council told The Oklahoman. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help Council cope with the cost of medical treatment in the ER and downtime from work as well as legal fees as Council is planning a civil suit against his attackers. (source: The Oklahoman)