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Chechen President Banned From U.S. Over Reports Of LGBTQ Torture

Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov (screen capture via HBO Sports)
I expect the Trump administration will tout this as part of its “great record” on LGBTQ issues, but in the end, I’m not sure it actually DOES anything of consequence. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Monday that Ramzan Kadyrov, president of the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation, has been banned from entering the U.S. under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2020. Section 7031(c) “requires the Secretary of State to bar from U.S. entry” foreign officials about whom the Secretary has credible information indicating that they have been involved, directly or indirectly, in “gross violation of human rights.” You’ll note the statute says “requires” so let’s not give Pompeo too much credit here. Today’s announcement also affects Kadyrov’s immediate family members. That said, it’s not clear Kadyrov or his family had any plans to visit the U.S. any time soon. Plus, Section 7031(c) will expire on September 30, 2020, unless Congress extends it by a continuing resolution or restated in a new law. A statement issued by the State Department says this action is being taken “due to Kadyrov’s involvement in gross violations of human rights in the Chechen Republic.” The Department says it has received extensive credible information that Kadyrov is responsible for numerous human rights violations including torture and extrajudicial killings. In 2018, the United States joined fifteen other nations in creating a fact-finding mission into “horrific reports of abuses against LGBTI persons” and others who were targeted by Kadyrov. The subsequent report found that “harassment and persecution, arbitrary or unlawful arrests or detentions, torture, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial executions” had taken place. The State Department says it is now concerned Kadyrov may be “using the excuse of the coronavirus pandemic to inflict further human rights abuses on the people of the Chechen Republic.” Kadyrov, who was appointed president of Chechnya in 2007 by Russian President Vladimir Putin, has repeatedly denied not only the allegations of torture and murder but that gay people even exist in his country. Human rights activists have been sounding the alarm for years that Kadyrov had launched a series of state-sponsored anti-gay purges across the highly conservative, traditional Muslim country. In May 2017, the Human Rights Watch shared one detainee’s description of the horrific treatment he’d been subjected to in an unofficial prison: “They electrocuted us, beat us with pipes, kicked us, and punched us, they made other inmates beat us, they called us names, spat in our faces.” The U.S. announced sanctions against Kadyrov in December 2017, including visa bans and asset freezes, under the 2012 Magnitsky Act. The BBC reported at the time that Kadyrov responded by “mocking the US move in an Instagram post in which he said ‘a sleepless night is waiting for me.'” He added he was “proud” to be “out of favor with the special services of the USA.” The new film Welcome to Chechnya, which debuted on HBO June 30, documents the horrific persecution of LGBTQ people in Chechnya.

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InstaHunk Round-Up: Weekend Edition

Dan Tai (via Instagram)
Checking in with some of my favorite InstaHunks this weekend. First up, ex-pro Rugby player Dan Tai (above) reminds us that ‘health is wealth.’ Which makes Dan the ‘Bill Gates of fitness’ 🙂 Justin and Nick are back from a short Insta-Sabbatical and they brought their handsome 8-month-old rescue Bear. #woof https://www.instagram.com/p/CC1BFk6ngo1/ Max Souza checks in to see how YOUR Sunday is going? https://www.instagram.com/p/CCjgodvAFVQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Bremen Menelli rocked his swimsuit as he got ready to ‘refresh’… #thirsty https://www.instagram.com/p/CC1p5EFgPQz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Philip Evelyn II reports from the Bronx: “It’s f*ckin’ hot out here and this summer is gonna take whatever f*cking body I give it.” We’ll take it! https://www.instagram.com/p/CCywGbJpdno/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Rick and the Griffopotamus served up Rorschach Mind F@ck Madness behind-the-scenes with legendary photographer Mike Ruiz and make up genius Nick Lujan. https://www.instagram.com/p/CCzYzjRAhKi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Fitness model Killian got his morning stretches in: https://www.instagram.com/p/CCyMeh5Io2L/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Joel Green proves he simply can’t take a bad photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/CCwoFVqp4Oi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Ignacio Pérez Rey showed off his golden, sun-kissed tan from Madrid: https://www.instagram.com/p/CC1UP1is44F/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Also in Madrid – y’all Spain has got it going on – paleontologist Francesc Gascó gives a final Crossfit flex as he says ‘Good night.’ https://www.instagram.com/p/CC1p_8Qo3e0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link  

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Texas Talker Throws More Shade At Hypocritical ‘Christians’

Texas talker Andrew Joseph Duffer throws shade at hypocritical 'Christians'

Texas talker Andrew Joseph Duffer throws shade at hypocritical 'Christians'
Andrew Joseph Duffer (screen capture)
He’s baaaaaaaack! Andrew Joseph Duffer went viral last month with his walk-and-talk video from his “country-bumpkin podunk town” in Northeast Texas “where hypocrisy, racism and homophobia run rampant.” In his new video, Duffer calls out the ‘do as I say, not as I do’ crowd with a couple of lessons from the Bible. “We already know a beer-belly bumpkin’s biblical paradise lies in Leviticus chapter 18 where it says ‘you will not lie with a man as you would a woman,'” begins Duffer. “Y’all sure to like to stop there, but if you’ll click your f**kingboots on over to chapter 19 you’ll see it says you shouldn’t cut your hair.” “If memory serves it wasn’t that long ago that you Trump-supporting Christians were protesting – during quarantine I might add – for your right to get a hair cut,” he adds. “Ain’t that interesting???” Duffer also notes that while there’s no mention of Jesus addressing homosexuality in the Bible, the issue of divorce is most definitely something Jesus had some thoughts on. And it’s pretty specific, too. In Matthew 5:31-32, Jesus says, “Anyone who divorces his wife causes her to commit adultery and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” With that in mind, what Duffer wants to know is – how many ‘Christian’ county clerks who opposed same-sex marriage refused to sign any divorce documents? Or marched in the streets against divorce? Says Duffer, “Talk about picking and choosing…” Related: Andrew Joseph Duffer “Keep your seatbelts fastened, we are reaching the turbulent part of the video!” The Texas talker also takes a swing through the topic of immigration wondering why some folks claim America is a ‘Christian’ nation “except when a person of color seeks refuge here? Why do ‘all lives matter’ until they’re Black? And why don’t we ‘love they neighbor?'” To the folks that tell people who don’t look like them to ‘go back to their country,’  Duffer suggests “If that’s what you want, you’re going to have to hop back into your Pilgrim panties and get the f*ck back on the Mayflower.” He also equates Christopher Columbus discovering America with the same sense that he “was a glitter-pissing, rainbow-sh*tting, gay-as-the-day-is-long homosexual. It was always there, everyone knew about it but me – just like America.” He sums up by pointing out, “You’re not really Christians – your lips and your lives don’t match, and you spend more time trying to play God than please God.” “Come on, y’all, we already know that Cher is immortal – what kind of country are we going to leave behind for her???” Annnnd, curtain. Love this guy 🙂

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Fox News Poll: Voters Trust Biden To Handle COVID-19 Over Trump Bigly

L-R President Donald Trump, former Vice President Joe Biden
The latest polling from Fox News will not be putting a smile on Donald Trump’s face. The survey of 1,104 registered voters shows the coronavirus is the number one issue on the minds of voters and that factors in when asked who Americans want to see in charge of handling the COVID-19 threat. While 51 percent trust former Vice President Joe Biden to handle the pandemic, only 34 percent believe Trump has the stuff to end the health threat. Biden also leads on questions of traits needed to be an effective president like compassion (Biden 56% – Trump 36%), intelligence (Biden 51% – Trump 41%), and judgement (Biden 52% – Trump 40%). Even on the issue of ‘mental soundness,’ which the Trump campaign has tried to characterize Biden as being mentally deficient, the public sees Biden as more in control of his mental faculties than Trump (47% – 43% respectively). That said, with the 2016 presidential election still fresh in our minds, voters know anything can happen. When asked if Trump will be reelected the results were a tie – 45% each side with 10% answering ‘Unsure.’ It’s worth noting, however, that tie is bad news for Trump. Back in February, the Fox News poll found 56% believed Trump would score a second term while only 43% were non-believers. I’m not a ‘national poll’ fan, but since this data comes from Fox News, I will note when asked if the election were held today, 49% said they would cast their ballot for Joe Biden while only 41% would vote Trump. Even with the 3% margin of error that is not good news for the Donald.

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Report: 18 States In Coronavirus ‘Red Zone’

The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit newsroom, obtained an unpublished report prepared for the White House coronavirus task force regarding 18 states currently in the coronavirus “red zone.” Included in the report were recommendations to roll back reopening measures as more and more cases are confirmed and test positivity continues to rise. From CNN:

The “red zone” is defined in the 359-page report as “those core-based statistical areas (CBSAs) and counties that during the last week reported both new cases above 100 per 100,000 population, and a diagnostic test positivity result above 10%.”

The report outlines measures counties in the red zone should take. It encourages residents to “wear a mask at all times outside the home and maintain physical distance.” And it recommends that public officials “close bars and gyms” and “limit social gatherings to 10 people or fewer,” which would mean rolling back reopening provisions in these places.

The report comes despite President Donald Trump’s insistence that states reopen and a push to send the nation’s children back to school, even as cases increase.

“Now we’re open, and we want to stay open and we will stay open. We’re not closing. We’ll put out the fires as they come out,” Trump said at a White House event earlier this month.

The 18 states currently in the red zone for cases: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. These 11 states are in the red zone for test positivity over ten percent: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas, Washington. All of those – except for Washington state – are in the red zone for cases as well.

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After Round Of Golf, Trump ‘Saddened’ By Passing Of John Lewis

Since the passing of Congressman John Lewis was announced, Donald Trump tweeted about 30 times without mentioning the civil rights icon. He then got up, and according to reports, played around of golf with his buddy, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Finally, this afternoon, after numerous other national leaders and all former presidents had issued public statements of condolences regarding Lewis’s death, Trump’s Twitter account shared a two-sentence tweet saying Trump and the First Lady are “saddened” by the congressman’s passing.

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Military Ban On Confederate Flags Effectively Bans Pride Flags As Well

(image via Depositphotos)
Defense Secretary Mark Esper issued new guidance on Thursday regarding flag displays on military installations effectively banning the display of Confederate flags without actually using the word ‘Confederate.’ In the unclassified memo, Esper writes, “The flags we fly must accord with the military imperatives of good order and discipline, treating all our people with dignity and respect, and rejecting divisive symbols.” Esper’s memo goes on to list the specific kinds of flags that will be allowed to be displayed in addition to the American flag: flags of the U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia; military flags and those of U.S. allies. The new guidance applies to “public displays or depictions of flags by service members and civilian employees in all Department of Defense workplaces, common access areas, and public areas.” Those spaces include open-bay barracks, parking lots, schools, individual offices, and break rooms. According to reports, the new rules are meant to be an indirect approach to banning Confederate flags without raising the ire of Donald Trump, who has made appeasing racist groups a part of his reelection campaign. However, the new flag guidance also effectively prohibits the display of LGBTQ Pride flags since they aren’t listed among the approved list of flags. Pentagon spokesman Lisa Lawrence confirmed this on Friday in an official statement: “The memorandum does not authorize public display of unlisted flags in the Department of Defense.” While many political pundits say the point of the new guidance is to address Confederate flags, it’s well-known that displaying rainbow flags in military settings has irked some anti-LGBTQ conservatives. So, it’s not much of a stretch to imagine the prohibition of Pride flags isn’t intentional on some level. The Modern Military Association of America, the largest LGBTQ military and veteran advocacy group organization in the U.S. responded to the news by demanding Esper reconsider the effects of his vague language. “It’s absolutely outrageous that Defense Secretary Mark Esper would ban the Pride flag — the very symbol of inclusion and diversity,” wrote MMAA Interim Executive Director Jennifer Dane on the group’s official website. “In what universe is it ok to turn an opportunity to ban a racist symbol like the Confederate flag into an opportunity to ban the symbol of diversity? This decision sends an alarming message to LGBTQ service members, their families, and future recruits.” “The Pentagon must immediately reconsider and take swift and appropriate action to ensure the Pride flag and LGBTQ Pride Month observances are not threatened. If Secretary Esper refuses to reconsider, we call on Members of Congress to take action.” The anti-Trump group VoteVets also denounced the idea of equating the Confederate flag with the Pride flag in a statement on Twitter. “It is patently offensive that Mark Esper has, along with the Confederate flag, declared the Pride flag to be ‘divisive,’” Goodwin said. “The Pride flag celebrates the hard-fought rights of LGBTQ Americans, including many troops. To equate it with a symbol that represented a denial of human rights is disgusting and a slap in the face of those members of the community who serve, or seek to serve, in uniform.”

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Congressman John Lewis, Civil Rights Icon, Dead At 80

Rep. John Lewis (D-GA)
Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), an icon in the fight for civil rights for decades, has died at the age of 80 after his battle with pancreatic cancer. I’m careful not to write “passed away,” because Lewis never merely “passed” anything in his storied life. The youngest of the Big Six civil rights activists, Lewis garnered national headlines after leading hundreds of protesters in the Bloody Sunday march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, on March 7, 1965. Knocked to the ground and beaten by Alabama state troopers, Lewis’s skull was fractured and images of the infamous moment were spread across the country, crystallizing the civil rights movement to such a degree the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed shortly thereafter. The civil rights lion was elected to Congress over 20 years later representing his district in Atlanta, Georgia.

And from the New York Times:

Mr. Lewis led demonstrations against racially segregated restrooms, hotels, restaurants, public parks and swimming pools, and he rose up against other indignities of second-class citizenship. At nearly every turn he was beaten, spat upon or burned with cigarettes. He was tormented by white mobs and absorbed body blows from law enforcement.

Mr. Lewis was arrested 40 times from 1960 to 1966. He was repeatedly beaten senseless by Southern policemen and freelance hoodlums. During the Freedom Rides in 1961, he was left unconscious in a pool of his own blood outside the Greyhound Bus Terminal in Montgomery, Ala., after he and others were attacked by hundreds of white people. He spent countless days and nights in county jails and 31 days in Mississippi’s notoriously brutal Parchman Penitentiary.

Lewis didn’t restrict his battles to civil rights for Black Americans. He was also an early ally of the LGBTQ movement. In 2003, he penned an op-ed for the Boston Globe arguing in favor of same-sex marriage long before others would come to embrace that call.

We are now at such a crossroads over same-sex couples’ freedom to marry. It is time to say forthrightly that the government’s exclusion of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters from civil marriage officially degrades them and their families. It denies them the basic human right to marry the person they love. It denies them numerous legal protections for their families.

This discrimination is wrong. We cannot keep turning our backs on gay and lesbian Americans. I have fought too hard and too long against discrimination based on race and color not to stand up against discrimination based on sexual orientation. I’ve heard the reasons for opposing civil marriage for same-sex couples. Cut through the distractions, and they stink of the same fear, hatred, and intolerance I have known in racism and in bigotry.

In the 1990s, he voted against the heinous ‘Defense of Marriage Act’ which defined marriage as only between a man and a woman, and he stood with the pro-LGBTQ advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign. He also voiced his opposition to Georgia’s prohibition on adoption by LGBTQ people. One of my favorite tributes was from Lewis’s friend and former UN ambassador, Andrew Young: “He didn’t convince you by his arguments. He convinced you by his life.” People much more eloquent than I offered their tributes to Lewis. Rest in power, John Lewis.

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News Round-Up: July 17, 2020

Broadway star Norm Lewis
Some news items you might have missed: • What To Watch This Weekend: I’ll definitely be watching Tony Award nominee and all-around super-talent Norm Lewis in concert with SiriusXM’s Seth Rudetsky at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT. Broadway audiences know the oh-so-handsome Lewis from his performances in Phantom of the Opera, Once on This Island, Sondheim on Sondheim, The Little Mermaid, Les Misérables, Chicago and more. Continue reading “News Round-Up: July 17, 2020”