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News Round-Up: January 30, 2020

Ryan Worley (via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Ryan Worley (above), of the world-famous Chippendales, is totes adorbs watching this kitten’s fascination with a string of lights. Follow him on Instagram here. • Advocate: The South Dakota House of Representatives Wednesday approved a bill that would make it a crime for doctors to give gender-transition treatment to minors. Doctors could receive up to a year in prison and a fine of $2,000. • Super Bowl: RuPaul took to social media to remind folks that he was the first drag queen to star in a Super Bowl commercial back in 2000. Here’s some #TBT action for you:

• AP: A bill proposed by a group of Republican lawmakers on Wednesday that would have amended the Iowa Civil Rights Act by removing protections against discrimination for transgender people is dead. • ABC News: Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says Donald Trump would “definitely” encourage primary challengers to run against any GOP Senators who vote against him in the ongoing impeachment trial. “You could very well see the president encouraging or creating primaries against senators that are up this year if they went and voted the other way,” • Sesame Street: The long-running children’s television show announced on Facebook today that Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award winner Billy Porter will be “bringing those fierce vibes to Sesame Street” in an upcoming episode. The post showed Porter posing in his iconic tuxedo dress from the Oscars.

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Justice Dept Lawyers Contradict Trump Impeachment Team

Throughout the impeachment trial, Donald Trump’s lawyers have said that the House impeachment investigation should have played out in court. They’ve repeatedly said that subpoenas for witnesses and documents must take place in the courtroom because the judicial branch is an essential check on the legislative branch. But House Manager Adam Schiff incited laughter in the Senate when he announced that Trump’s Justice Department argued in court today that judges have no place to enforce subpoenas because of the impeachment power. According to reports, when the judge asked DOJ lawyers “If Congress can’t enforce its subpoenas, what remedy is there?,” the attorneys said, “Impeachment.” As Schiff said in front of cameras today, “you can’t make this up.”

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Jonathan Van Ness Stars In Pop-Tarts Super Bowl Spot

Super Bowl commercials aren’t just for drag queens, don’t you know? Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness stars in a new spot for Pop-Tarts Pretzels set to air during the second quarter of the big game on February 2. If you’re “struggs to snack,” Van Ness wants you to know Pop-Tarts ‘fixed that for you.’ “From ho-hum to so-yum, Pop-Tarts Pretzel is the perfect combo of sweet and salty,” extols the exuberant hairstylist. But wait – there’s more!

The Street reports that immediately after the ad airs, Pop-Tarts plans a live giveaway for fans who follow @PopTartsUS to win gifts like the sparkly jersey Van Ness wears in the commercial and more. Look for more LGBTQ representation during the Super Bowl. • RuPaul’s Drag Race alums Miz Cracker and Kim Chi will star in a spot for Sabra hummus plus: • Openly lesbian Katie Sowers, an Offensive Assistant Coach for the San Francisco 49ers, will be featured in a Microsoft ad • Transgender actresses Trace Lysette (Transparent) and Isis King (When They See Us) appear in a Turbo Tax spot • Bisexual Lilly Singh (Late Night with Lilly Singh) in an Olay commercial • And talk-show queen Ellen DeGeneres will star with wife Portia de Rossi in an advert for Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa.

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The Mooch To John Bolton: ‘Welcome To Life Under The Bus’

Anthony Scaramucci (screen capture)
Donald Trump’s former White House Communications Director (for 11 days) Anthony Scaramucci pens a new op-ed in the Washington Post adorned with the headline, “Hey John Bolton, welcome to life under the bus!”

President Trump’s White House has launched another disinformation campaign against a former staffer. This time, John Bolton, the last national security adviser, is the target, thanks to revelations from his unpublished book.

Trump said Monday that Bolton’s claim about withholding aid to Ukraine in a quid pro quo “was only to sell a book.” The president later added Bolton “begged” him for a job and proffered advice that would have led to “World War Six by now.” But he still hired Bolton.

I know what Bolton is going through very well because Trump did the same to me. After I criticized him, the president started calling me a “nut job” and said I “wheedled” my way into his campaign.

[snip]

I, for one, never felt more alive than when the president of the United States called me an “unstable nutjob” on Twitter. His bullying and intimidating methods have frozen many in his party, but when I began receiving them myself, I realized I was finally free. Bolton might learn that speaking the truth is the best method of recovery for Trump Employment Syndrome.

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Jonathan Hernandez: My Brother Came Out To Mom During Prison Visit

Jonathan Hernandez (screen capture)
The New York Post reports Jonathan Hernandez, brother of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, tells Dr. Oz that his brother came out to their mother during a tearful prison visit. In his first TV appearance since the premiere of the Netflix true-crime documentary series Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez, Jonathan says his brother told his mother, Terri Hernandez, he was gay prior to his 2017 suicide. “He’s like, ‘Mom, you’re going to die never knowing your son,’” Hernandez says in the interview scheduled to air today. “My mom being my mom, started mouthing with Aaron, and they started bickering back and forth, and all of a sudden they have this conversation, and they’re both flooded with tears across from each other.” Putting the moment in context, Jonathan adds, “Here’s the weight of what’s on my brother being expressed, and for a mother to be looking at it across from the scratched glass.”

One of the questions Killer Inside explores is whether the fear that kept Aaron’s sexuality hidden might have been a driving force for killing his former friend Odin Lloyd in 2013. Hernandez was serving a life sentence for the crime at the time of his death. Dr. Oz asks Jonathan his thoughts on a possible motive during the interview. “That’s one of the questions and, you know, head-scratchers that they still have regarding really this entire case,” says the brother. “There’s just so many questions regarding everything. And, for me to sit here and say it was this or that, I can’t say. All you can do is look at the evidence that was provided.”

Jonathan Hernandez speaks to Dr. Oz
In another segment, Dr. Oz asks how Hernandez’s father Dennis (who died in 2006) might have responded to Aaron sharing he had ‘conflicting thoughts’ on his sexuality. “I don’t know if he would have been able to finish his sentence,” Jonathan said. “My dad would have thought he could beat that out of him.”

Earlier this week, Aaron’s former fiancee said she didn’t know if he was gay. “If he did feel that way, or if he felt the urge, I wish that I was told,” Shayanna Jenkins told Good Morning America. “I wish that he would have told me because I wouldn’t have loved him any differently. I would have understood. It’s not shameful.” (source: New York Post)

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Pete Buttigieg Endorsed By Equality California And Silver State Equality

Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization, and its Nevada-based affiliate Silver State Equality announced their endorsement of Mayor Pete Buttigieg for President of the United States on Thursday. The decision was reached unanimously by the groups’ joint presidential endorsement committee following a lengthy process that included a detailed questionnaire, thorough evaluation of the candidates’ viability and policy positions, staff engagement and interviews with the candidates.

“From his comprehensive plan to end the HIV epidemic by 2030 to his commitment to make our schools safe and supportive for LGBTQ students to his specific funding and policy priorities to protect and empower the transgender community — especially transgender women of color, who face an epidemic of violence and persecution — Mayor Pete Buttigieg has the boldest, most comprehensive agenda to achieve full, lived equality for all LGBTQ people of any presidential candidate in the nation’s history. “While we did not endorse Mayor Pete simply because he’s gay, the historic nature of his candidacy has already had a transformational impact on the LGBTQ community. Electing the first openly LGBTQ president will send a message to millions of LGBTQ youth across the country that no dreams are too big and no leadership position is too high.

For the first time, California’s primary will be held on Super Tuesday in March, and California voters will begin casting mail-in ballots on Monday, February 3, the same day as the Iowa Caucus. The 2020 Nevada Caucus will be held on Saturday, February 22. (via press release)

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News Round-Up: January 29, 2020

Daniel Sheehan (via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: I totally agree with designer Daniel Sheehan (above) on the issue of less: “As I get older I am understanding the notion of Less, that less can in fact be MORE. Better quality life, stronger relationships, and focus on what is really important to me as an individual and as a member of society.” Follow the wise and woofy Sheehan on Instagram here. • The Gaily Grind: Lee Brobson, 30, had to be hospitalized after he was brutally beaten up by two men during a night out after he bravely stood up for two of his gay best friends who were being subjected to a homophobic attack for holding hands. • BBC News: A number of gay men say they are going to extreme lengths to change their bodies – including using steroids and having plastic surgery – just to become “accepted” by others in the LGBT community. • NBC News: Donald Trump’s impeachment lawyer, Alan Dershowitz, argued today that a quid pro quo involving a president’s political benefit was fine because all presidents believe their elections are in the public’s interest. Essentially, if Trump withheld nearly $400 million in aid to pressure Ukraine into announcing investigations of Democrats to help his campaign, that’s fine because Trump thinks his election is to the country’s benefit. • Advocate: Nine Republican lawmakers in Iowa have introduced a bill that would remove gender identity from the state’s nondiscrimination law — and if the bill passes, it would mark the first time an entire category was removed from such a law in any state. • MLive: Supporters of a ballot initiative to protect LGBT Michigan residents from discrimination say they’ll begin collecting signatures as soon as this weekend following initial approval from a state board. The group has until May 27 to collect 340,047 valid petition signatures in order to be eligible for statewide ballot in fall 2020. • Twitter: When Donald Trump Jr. tried to appropriate Billy Porter’s Grammy Awards lewk in an attempt to troll Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, Porter clapped back on Twitter throwing classic shade complete with closing curtains.

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Ellen Surprises Teen Told To Cut His Dreadlocks With $20,000 Scholarship

Ellen DeGeneres welcomed Texas high school senior DeAndre Arnold to her show today, who made national news after he was told by school officials that he had to cut off his dreadlocks in order to return to classes. DeAndre sat down with Ellen to share that as it now stands he won’t be allowed to walk at graduation and why he has stood his ground. DeAndre shares that his father is from Trinidad where men wear their hair long as part of their culture. The high school student says he’s surprised schools won’t embrace other cultures outside of Texas. “Like, I’ve worked for this all my life. I’ve strived for this. I deserve this moment, to walk across the stage and enter into life. My parents deserve this. Like, they’re the ones who, you know, they got me through anything. And you know, they just taught me everything. They deserve to see me walk across the stage,” Arnold said. DeGeneres made an on-camera appeal to the Texas school district, asking them to do the right thing. And, of course, it wouldn’t be Ellen without a surprise. Alicia Keys shows up to surprise Arnold with a $20,000 scholarship from Shutterfly. Happy Hump Day!

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Official Trailer For Gay Rom-Com ‘The Thing About Harry’

L-R Jake Borelli, Niko Terho (images via Freeform)
The upcoming road-trip romantic comedy, The Thing About Harry, starring out actor Jake Borelli (Grey’s Anatomy) looks like it’s going to be uber-adorable. Borelli plays Sam, a funny, neurotic, cute young gay who wields his scathing wit alongside an idealistic worldview. He came out in high school, something that took a lot of courage in his small Missouri town, but was bullied constantly. Niko Terho is Harry, an uncomplicated romantic player who leaves broken hearts in his wake. The thought of commitment scares Harry to death, even though he actually yearns for love, family, and stability. The film follows the former high school enemies who are forced to drive to a friend’s engagement party on Valentine’s Day together. Along the way, Sam discovers Harry has since come out and the two get stuck spending the night at a roadside motel. You see where this is going, right? The cast also features Queer Eye‘s Karamo Brown as Paul, a well put-together, pretentious gay man and GLOW‘s Britt Baron will play Sam’s best friend Stasia. Director Peter Paige will also play Casey, Sam’s kind-hearted roommate. The film debuts on Freeform network on February 15. Check the trailer below.

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Florida: Corporations End School Voucher Funding After Report Of LGBTQ Discrimination

The Orlando Sentinel recently reported that 156 private Florida schools (all of them Christian) that receive public scholarship funding also discriminate against LGBTQ students and their families.

The Sentinel found 83 schools that refuse to admit LGBTQ students or could expel them if their sexual orientation or gender identity were discovered. Some also refuse to educate students whose parents are gay or to hire staff who are gay.

Another 73 schools call being gay or transgender a biblical sin but do not explain how those views play out in admissions or student discipline decisions.

Following the article, state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D) tweeted to companies who continue to donate to the voucher program and tagged Fifth Third Bank in the tweet. Fifth Third Bank responded saying, “Thanks Rep. Smith for your feedback. We definitely stand with #LGBTQ students and parents. We have communicated with program officials that we will not be contributing again until more inclusive policies have been adopted by all participating schools to protect the sexual orientation of all our students. (And, we will see you at the next @OrlandoPride!).”

“These schools are literally poisoning children’s minds against LGBTQ people, and they are funded by taxpayers,” Smith later told Florida Politics. “It’s wrong.”