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Nevada: Governor Announces State Will Begin To Reopen

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has announced Nevada will begin the process of opening on Saturday, May 9, which is sooner than the anticipated date of May 15th. Sisolak announced an overall decreasing trend since April 21 of COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU hospitalizations. “Our cumulative test positivity rate reached 12.2 percent on April 24 and has since decreased to 11.2 percent as of yesterday,” tweeted Sisolak. “When it comes to confirmed COVID hospitalizations, we’ve seen an overall decreasing trend since April 21, a total of more than 14 days.” Allowed in Phase 1 of Reopening:

-Restaurants can open for dine-in, but employees must wear face coverings. Reservations must be required, spacing must be 6 feet apart, and bar areas will remain closed. People waiting to be seated must wait outside.

-Barbershops may open by appointment only with chairs 6 feet apart. Only one customer per stylist and partitions in between chairs are encouraged.  Employees must wear face coverings.

-Retail stores may reopen but can only allow 50% capacity. Open-air malls may reopen, but indoor malls must remain closed although curbside pickup at indoor mall stores is allowed.

-Auto dealers can open, appointments encouraged. Showrooms can be open but only allow 50% capacity.

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Justice Dept To Drop Charges Against Michael Flynn

Michael Flynn (photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr)
The Department of Justice is reportedly planning to drop charges against former national security adviser Michael Flynn. I guess this saves Donald Trump from issuing a pardon… From the Washington Post:

The Justice Department moved to drop charges against former national security adviser Michael T. Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his Russian contacts during the presidential transition.

The unraveling of Flynn’s guilty plea marked a stunning reversal by the Justice Department in the case of the former three-star Army general who was convicted in special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Flynn was one of the first and highest-ranking Trump aides to cooperate and be convicted in special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He pleaded guilty in December 2017 to making false statements about his Russian contacts during the Trump presidential transition.

Having been a senior foreign policy aide for Trump during the 2016 campaign, Flynn served 24 days as national security adviser before being fired from the White House in 2017 for “misstating the nature of his contacts with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak to Vice President Pence, senior White House aides, federal investigators and the news media.” I feel the need to reiterate – Flynn pleaded guilty.

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Councilwoman Apologizes For Shouting Homophobic Slurs, Won’t Resign

Trenton city councilwoman Robin Vaughn
Robin Vaughn, a city council member in Trenton, New Jersey, has issued an apology for her vicious, homophobic screed unleashed against the city’s first openly gay mayor during a conference call among city officials. News outlets reported the lengthy expletive-laced rant last week which included Vaughn calling Mayor Reed Gusciora a “bitchass” and “motherf***king drug addict pedophile.” And that was just the beginning. Additionally, she turned her fire on another official, Joe Harrison, accusing him of performing oral and anal sex for the mayor. According to The Trentonian, Vaughn said the mayor and Harrison weren’t “real men,” and suggested, “the only thing [Gusciora] brought into City Hall is a bunch of young boys, and they’re sitting up there in the mayor’s suite.” Here’s an excerpt from the conference call. The full meeting can be heard here.

Having listened to the recorded conference call, it seems to me as though the words came out of her mouth way too easily, as if she uses them on a regular basis. After the rant was reported in the media, Gov. Phil Murphy and both U.S. senators – Sen. Bob Menendez and Sen. Cory Booker – have called for her resignation. But neither local nor state officials have the authority to remove her from office. Christian Fuscarino, executive director of Garden State Equality, told The Trentonian in a statement Sunday:

“Councilwoman Vaughn is unfit to serve the people of Trenton. There’s no need to parse words here: for her hateful anti-LGBTQ language and defending the anti-Semitic slurs of others, she must resign. Her words are an attack on the diversity of Trenton’s community, the city’s elected leadership, and our state as a whole. Any decent-minded New Jerseyan who believes in the success and future of our state’s capital should denounce this hateful rhetoric and call for her to step down immediately.”

Vaughn has reportedly announced she will not resign from her position. Her apology, issued on her Facebook page, begins, “I apologize. That must be the first thing you hear from me.” “I am deeply and specifically sorry for the language that has offended so many,” she continued. “It was also not my intent to attack anyone on the basis of any classification or personal preferences, but I should have been more sensitive to the potential implication of my words and how they might be perceived.” You can see the full statement below. During a subsequent teleconference meeting on Tuesday, the city council voted against a call to censure Vaughn.

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Shopper Goes Cray-Cray Over Face Mask Rule “False Flag Fake Pandemic”

A shopper in Florida went totally cray-cray when he tried to enter a Publix grocery store located in Miami Beach but refused to wear a face mask due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. His profanity-laced rant was captured by a code enforcement officer’s body cam. “This is a false flag fake pandemic,” the man screams at the enforcement officer. “You are in violation of my f**king constitutional rights and my civil rights. I’ve already f**king warned you. F**king expect it. I’m filing a f**king class-action lawsuit. You can take your fake f**king global terroristic false flag attack and shove it up your motherf**king ass. You’re terrorists. You’re in violation of my constitutional and civil rights. Fuck you, motherf**ker. There’s no pandemic. I’m filing a f**king lawsuit. I have a right to buy groceries without being forced to participate in your f**king terrorism. F**k you.” “Excuse me – you need to wear a mask,” asked the officer as the man turned to go. “Do you understand that – to come in the store?” “You’re violating my constitutional rights,” shrieks the man. “Well, this is private property,” replied the officer. The idiot continued his conspiracy theory screed: “This private property has food. I have a right to buy food without being forced to participate in a fake global false flag pandemic. There’s no pandemic. F–k you. You motherf–kers are going to get f–kin’ mass arrested and f–kin’ executed for f–kin’ terrorism. F–k you!”

The local CBS affiliate spoke to Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber about people not following safety guidelines. “I get that people are getting antsy, frustrated. I’m sure there is economic burden also that is feeding that kind of frustration,” said Gelber. “But you should never just scream, curse.” “They’re only trying to keep communities safer by let people know what’s in their best interest to keep their families safer,” he said. “We shouldn’t be screaming, we should be thanking them, complying with these very clear regulations because they’re intended to save lives.”

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News Round-Up: May 6, 2020

The original and new casts of Queer Eye will compete on Celebrity Family Feud
Some news items you might have missed: • HRC: On the 8th anniversary of former Vice President Joe Biden’s endorsement of marriage equality, the Human Rights Campaign announced its endorsement of Biden for President. HRC’s Board of Directors, comprised of 26 community leaders from across the nation, unanimously and enthusiastically voted to endorse Biden. “Vice President Joe Biden is the leader our community and our country need at this moment,” said HRC President Alphonso David. • NY Times: Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Wednesday issued final rules for how public and private schools must address allegations of sexual misconduct locking in protections for accused students and faculty. The new regulations narrow the definition of sexual harassment and require colleges to hold live hearings during which alleged victims and accused perpetrators can be cross-examined to challenge their credibility. • Out: On Sunday, May 31 Celebrity Family Feud is set to host the casts of the old and new iterations of Queer Eye (above) in a face-off for charity. The full, original cast will play for The Trevor Project and the new squad (with Karamo Brown swapped out for a featured guest from season 4) will compete for GLSEN.

• Daily Herald: Two Utah County businesses told staff to not follow quarantine guidelines and required staff who had tested positive to report to work resulting in 68 positive cases. • Variety: For the past seven decades, the show has always gone on for the Tony Awards, which honor the best Broadway performances and productions. But with the 74th edition being postponed from its planned June 7 date due to the coronavirus, there’s a real chance that the ceremony will be scrapped altogether this year. • CBS News: At an event marking National Nurses Day at the White House, Donald Trump contradicted Sophia Thomas, the president of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners who works at a community health center in New Orleans, who said the availability of personal protective equipment has been “sporadic.”

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Tips For Better Mental Health During COVID-19 Pandemic

As May is Mental Health Awareness Month AND we continue to face the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, it becomes more and more apparent that our well-being is closely tied to our mental health. For men, whose natural instinct is to take action, these times present unique challenges as most of us follow stay-at-home guidelines. With our regular routines interrupted and normal channels for processing stress – like heading to the gym or going out with friends – unavailable to us, thoughts and feelings can turn into anxiety and angst. In a new article for Healthline.com, Dan Doty, co-founder of EVRYMAN, offers some practical steps on how to help men’s mental health while coping with the stresses of isolation during the coronavirus pandemic. EVRYMAN is an online community that focuses on helping men act more productively on their emotions instead of burying or redirecting them thereby helping to build a more fulfilling life. Dan shares these four tips: • Feel Your Feelings – Taking proactive action for your mental health not only gets you the support you need, but it also helps break down the cultural stigma that can be a barrier to other men getting help. • Reach out to Connect – A call with your parents, a video chat with your co-workers, or a text message to a sibling can be invaluable right now. In order to make the best of these moments of connection, you can make them count by being more vulnerable and transparent. • Go Inside (yourself) – You don’t have to become a great meditator or world-class yogi to benefit from the amazing meditation apps that are out there. Don’t overthink it – try an exercise of setting a timer and writing for 10 minutes without stopping. Let go and write anything and everything that wants to come out. • Take Action – It might feel very tricky to take action right now, but a helpful strategy is to slow down and find small, manageable ways to move forward and orient ourselves to simple, practical actions. What may seem small and mundane at first glance can bring an air of progress and forward momentum. Click over to Healthline to read Dan’s full article. Note: EVRYMAN is currently offering free support to men all over the world via community calls and daily drop-in groups as a way for men from all walks of life to band together in support.

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Funny: How Different Couples Cope With Quarantine Sex Lives

L-R Kevin McDonald, Michael Henry, Gina Brown, Shiah Luna
Funny wise guy Michael Henry offers this take on how differently queer couples might cope with their quarantine sex lives. Taking a walk through the gayborhood with boyfriend Steve (played by woofy Kevin McDonald), the duo encounter oh-so-in-love lesbian couple Gina Brown and Shiah Luna. The properly ‘social-distanced’ conversation quickly reveals differences in the way the couples are handling sexual tensions. While the boys are “hanging in there eating a lot of jelly beans and pizza” and catching up on their binge-watching, it seems the girls don’t watch TV choosing instead to “connect with each other one on one” and baking bread. Henry shifts directly to sex complaining that his boo won’t bonk him: “We’ve been together for five years, living together for three and all I get is one handjob a week.” “What day?” “Wednesday.” Shiah and Gina, however, announce they have sex three times a day, taking turns focusing on each other. As the ladies share their homebound bliss, Henry complains that even with an open relationship he doesn’t get to see what Steve does on Chat Roulette. “I. Need. Privacy!” says Steve. “SHOW ME THE ROULETTE!” Truly a tale of two divergent sex lives during isolation.

By the way, in case you notice the physical proximity of the women, Henry shares as an FYI:

“Gina and Shiah are actual lovers that live together, which why they’re physically close together. Kevin and I are not lovers and don’t live together which is why we kept our distance. Xoxo. Thank you for watching and I hope you’re able to have a laugh! Please stay safe and sound friends!”

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Barbra Streisand Has A Message For Frontline Heroes Of COVID-19 Crisis

Legendary actress/singer/director Barbra Streisand has released a new video for her recording of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” created as a tribute to the medical staff, UPS drivers, grocery store clerks and essential workers who are risking their lives keeping the U.S. going through the COVID-19 crisis. “I sang this song almost 20 years ago after 9/11,” writes Streisand at the beginning of the video. “Today we face another crisis but I think the words still apply. With love and gratitude, Barbra.” I found myself tearing up in the first minute as I saw the slideshow of frontline workers in private, emotional moments. Not only because of their heroic efforts but at the other end of the spectrum I considered the selfish protesters showing up at various state capitols mad because they can’t get a haircut or go to a park. Every time one of them screams and yells without a face mask at a police officer they could be undoing all of those hours of sweat poured into trying to save lives by medical personnel and essential workers. Penned in 1945 for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel, Babs first recorded the song in 1997 for her 27th studio album, Higher Ground. She memorably performed the song live as a surprise finale at the 2001 Emmy Awards. Streisand closes the video with an appeal for donations to Direct Relief, which “supplies protective gear to all our heroes in the United States.”

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Stunning Virtual Collaboration: ‘Bolero Juilliard’

This is really quite special. Proposed by Juilliard President Damian Woetzel and under the artistic leadership of choreographer (and New Dances veteran) Larry Keigwin, Bolero Juilliard is a virtual collaboration with Juilliard’s community of artists, bringing together dancers, instrumentalists, singers, actors, and alumni during the ongoing pandemic. In addition to the incredibly talented students taking part in the creative endeavor, don’t miss famous alumni of the school popping up throughout the video including Christine Baranski (drama), Jon Batiste (jazz studies), Renée Fleming (voice), Laura Linney (drama), Patti LuPone (drama), Yo-Yo Ma (music), Bebe Neuwirth (dance), Itzhak Perlman (music), Bradley Whitford (drama) and more.

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News Round-Up: May 5, 2020

(via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaFunny: My buddy Greg Chase shared the above meme about Cinco de Mayo. And I love tacos, I love margaritas and I even like Corona Beer. Dang coronavirus… • Buzzfeed News: LGBT parents are suffering homophobic and transphobic abuse from their own children during the lockdown, a charity has revealed — while young LGBT people are being thrown out onto the street by parents who discover their child’s sexuality or gender identity. • Washington Blade: The DC Eagle, the District’s oldest continuously operating gay bar that first opened in 1971, informed its employees Monday night in an online meeting that it was going out of business after learning the building it rented was sold and it would have to move out by September. • NowThis News: Every time I see these video clips all I can think is, “Imagine what would have happened if the protesters getting in the police officers’ faces had been people of color?” As one person on Twitter wrote, “And just like that, blue lives didn’t matter anymore.” Here are just some of the shocking moments from anti-lockdown protests happening across the U.S.

• The Friendly Atheist: Ohio State Rep. Nino Vitale says he doesn’t want to wear a face mask during the coronavirus health threat because God doesn’t wear one either. “This is the greatest nation on earth founded on Judeo-Christian Principles. One of those principles is that we are all created in the image and likeness of God. That image is seen the most by our face. I will not wear a mask.” • Vanity Fair: According to sources, an investor group aligned with Donald Trump Jr. and the Dallas-based Hicks family has acquired a major stake in One America News Network, the fledgling conservative cable-news channel that has been reliably pro-Trump. • Outsports: Dennis Del Valle, a pro volleyball player from Puerto Rico now playing in Switzerland, said it was time to tell the world he is gay. The website 24 Hours reports Del Valle is the first member of a major Swiss men’s team in any sport to come out as gay.

 

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