U.S. House Votes 240-197 To Condemn Trump Twitter Attack On 4 Congresswomen As ‘Racist’

The New York Times reports that the House voted today 240-187 to condemn Donald Trump’s attacks on four progressive Democratic congresswomen as ‘racist.’

The House voted on Tuesday to condemn as racist President Trump’s attacks against four congresswomen of color, but only after the debate over the president’s language devolved into a bitterly partisan brawl that showcased deep rifts over race, ethnicity and political ideology in the age of Trump.

The measure passed nearly along party lines, 240-187, following one of the most polarizing exchanges on the House floor in recent memory. Only four Republicans and the House’s lone independent, Representative Justin Amash of Michigan, voted with all Democrats to condemn Mr. Trump.

“I know racism when I see it, I know racism when I feel it, and at the highest level of government, there’s no room for racism,” thundered Representative John Lewis, Democrat of Georgia, an icon of the civil rights movement who was nearly beaten to death in Alabama in 1965.

House Republicans, of course, defended the current occupant of the Oval Office.

Just four Republicans voted with the Democrats — Reps. Will Hurd (Tex.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Susan Brooks (Ind.) and Fred Upton (Mich.). Rep. Justin Amash (Mich.), who quit the GOP earlier this month and now identifies as Independent, also voted for it.

Morning Consult Poll Shows Biden Still Leads In Dem Primary Race

On a daily basis, Morning Consult is surveying over 5,000 registered voters across the United States on the 2020 presidential election.

Every Monday, MC shares the latest survey data, offering an in-depth guide to how the race for the Democratic nomination is shaping up.

The below are the results from Democratic primary voters nationwide.

The latest results are based on 16,504 survey interviews conducted between July 8-14, 2019.

As you can see, former Vice President Joe Biden continues to lead the pack with 32 percent support, with Sen. Bernie Sanders in second place at 19 percent.

Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Kamala Harris (D-CA) place third and fourth with 14 percent and 13 percent respectively.

And Mayor Pete Buttigieg rounds out the Top 5 at 5 percent.

Boy Culture Ranks Top Gay-Porn Stars

Over at Boy Culture, Matt Rettenmund has done the hard work and ranked what he considers “History’s 225 Greatest Gay-Porn Stars.”
L-R Austin Wolf (via Instagram), Arad Winwin (via Instagram)
Over at Boy Culture, Matt Rettenmund has done the hard work and ranked what he considers “History’s 225 Greatest Gay-Porn Stars.”

I know, I know…it’s hard work but someone’s got to do it.
Rettenmund ranked the first 40 in order, and then the other 185 adult performers are included and listed in alphabetical order.

As they say, “Just to be nominated is an honor…”
Now, in all honesty, I’ll admit my knowledge of gay-porn performers is much more limited than Rettenmund, who earlier in his career worked as a gay-porn industry professional for publications like Torso, Honcho, Playguy and Mandate.

Ok, so I do know who Austin Wolf is… (via Instagram)
As Boy Culture points out, gay men didn’t have much back in the 1980s and 90s in terms of “societal instruction on what happens when two guys fall in love, or even lust.” So, gay porn was about the only source we had for figuring out how this all might work.

I remember some of these guys from videos my first boyfriend had back in the 1980s, but I’m not so good with names in terms of today’s adult performers.

But the internet loves lists, so I’ll share Rettenmund’s “Top 10” here, but you can click over to Boy Culture for the full Top 40 plus all of his honorary mentions.

As Rettenmund writes, “It’s not science, so please don’t flunk me.”

10. Lukas Ridgeston (b. 1974)
9. Brent Corrigan (Sean Paul Lockhart, b. 1986)
8. Austin Wilde (b. 1983)
7. Kevin Williams (b. 1965)
6. Chad Douglas (Martin R. Cox, 1957-1999/AIDS)
5. Jack Wrangler (John Robert Stillman, 1946-2009/emphysema)
4. Ryan Idol (Marc Anthony Donais, b. 1966)
3. Joey Stefano (Nicholas Anthony Iacona Jr., 1968-1994/O.D.)
2. Jeff Stryker (Charles Casper Peyton, b. 1962)

And Boy Culture’s number one adult entertainment star is…
1. Al Parker (Andrew ‘Drew’ Okun, 1952-1992/AIDS)

Photos Of UK Man Beaten Unconscious In Hate Crime Attack Go Viral

A gay man in the UK was knocked unconscious and severely beaten requiring medical attention at a hospital.
Ryan Williams of Preston, Lancashire

A gay man in the UK was knocked unconscious and severely beaten requiring medical attention at a hospital.

Ryan Williams, of Preston, Lancashire, shared his story along with graphic photos of his injuries from the attack on social media.

“I never thought in my life that I would get beaten up for being GAY!,” wrote Williams on his Facebook page. “Wtf has this world actually come too, you’re all vile and disgusting!”

“I want people to understand that being gay isn’t a choice and I can’t help it,” he added. “I’m sorry that you can’t deal with it but hey ho no need to knock someone out because of it!

He closed his post writing, “I seriously can not believe that a homophonic attack happens! Which it does and it’s wrong! Stand strong and love yourself, this isn’t gonna stop me from being fabulous! Being gay is OK!”

Williams told The Mirror he and some friends were headed to McDonalds for a bite to eat after an evening out on July 13.

“There was a group of people nearby in the street and they started calling me and my friends gay,” explained the 22-year-old. “We went over and told them it’s not okay to say things like that.”

But as Williams walked away, he says he was hit in the back of the head and fell to the ground. Stunned from the attack, he was then kicked repeatedly in the face until he blacked out.

He was taken to Royal Preston Hospital where he was treated for injuries to his face.

Police told The Mirror they are treating the attack as a hate crime.

Kellyanne Conway To Reporter: “What’s Your Ethnicity?”

While taking questions from reporters on the White House driveway, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway flipped out a bit over questions regarding Donald Trump’s attacks on four congresswomen of color by asking a reporter about his ethnicity.
Kellyanne Conway

Ok, this was odd…

While taking questions from reporters on the White House driveway, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway flipped out a bit over questions regarding Donald Trump’s attacks on four congresswomen of color by asking a reporter about his ethnicity.

Andrew Feinberg, a White House reporter for Breakfast Media, asked Conway, “If the president was not telling these four congresswomen to return to their supposed countries of origin, to which countries was he referring?”

Conway responded asking, “What’s your ethnicity?”

“Why is that relevant?” replied Feinberg.

“Because I’m asking a question,” said Conway. “My ancestors are from Ireland and Italy.”

She then snapped, “A lot of us are sick and tired of this country – of America – coming last, to people who swore an oath of office.”

None of that relates to anything Feinberg was asking. Watch below.

Conway then took to Twitter to say her question was meant “with no disrespect.”

2019 Primetime Emmy Nominations Announced

The 2019 Emmy Award nominations are out and, as expected, Billy Porter snagged a well-earned nomination for Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work as "Pray Tell" in FX's acclaimed series, Pose. The series was also nominated in the Outstanding Drama Series category.
Billy Porter in FX’s ‘Pose’

The 2019 Primetime Emmy Award nominations are out and, as expected, Billy Porter snagged a well-earned nomination for Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work as “Pray Tell” in FX’s acclaimed series, Pose.

Porter makes history as the first openly gay black man to be nominated for a Lead Actor in a Drama Series Emmy Award.

The series, which chronicles the ball culture of New York City in the late 80s at the height of the AIDS epidemic, was also nominated in the Outstanding Drama Series category.

RuPaul’s Drag Race was also honored with nine nominations including Outstanding Competition Series.

My favorite limited series of the year, Fosse/Verdon, received 17 nominations including nods for Lead Actor and Lead Actress in a Limited Series for Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams respectively.

And – Randy Report favorite Randy Rainbow snagged a nod for Outstanding Short Form Variety Series.

HBO’s Game of Thrones led the scoreboard with a whopping 32 nominations.

The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards will air Sept. 22 at 8:00 p.m. ET at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Here is the list of acting and series nominees. The full list of nominees can be found at Emmys.com.

Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie:
Mahershala Ali — “True Detective” (HBO)
Benicio Del Toro — “Escape at Dannemora” (Showtime)
Hugh Grant — “A Very English Scandal” (BBC)
Jared Harris — “Chernobyl” (HBO)
Jharrel Jerome — “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Sam Rockwell — “Fosse/Verdon” (FX)

Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie:
Amy Adams — “Sharp Objects” (HBO)
Patricia Arquette — “Escape at Dannemora” (Showtime)
Aunjanue Ellis — “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Joey King — “The Act” (Hulu)
Niecy Nash — “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Michelle Williams — “Fosse/Verdon” (FX)

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:
Anthony Anderson — “Black-ish” (ABC)
Don Cheadle — “Black Monday” (Showtime)
Ted Danson — “The Good Place” (NBC)
Michael Douglas — “The Kominsky Method” (Netflix)
Bill Hader — “Barry” (HBO)
Eugene Levy — “Schitt’s Creek” (CBC Television)

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
Christina Applegate — “Dead to Me” (Netflix)
Rachel Brosnahan — “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon)
Julia Louis-Dryfus — “Veep” (HBO)
Natasha Lyonne — “Russian Doll” (Netflix)
Catherine O’Hara — “Schitt’s Creek” (CBC Television)
Phoebe Waller-Bridge — “Fleabag” (Amazon)

Lead Actor in a Drama Series:
Jason Bateman — “Ozark” (Netflix)
Sterling K. Brown — “This is Us” (NBC)
Kit Harington — “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
Bob Odenkirk — “Better Call Saul” (Netflix/AMC)
Billy Porter — “Pose” (FX)
Milo Ventimiglia — “This is Us” (NBC)

Lead Actress in a Drama Series:
Emilia Clarke — “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
Jodie Comer — “Killing Eve” (BBC/AMC)
Viola Davis — “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC)
Laura Linney — “Ozark” (Netflix)
Mandy Moore — “This is Us” (NBC)
Sandra Oh — “Killing Eve” (BBC/AMC)
Robin Wright — “House of Cards” (Netflix)

Outstanding Competition Program:
“The Amazing Race” (CBS)
“American Ninja Warrior” (NBC)
“Nailed It” (Netflix)
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (VH1)
“Top Chef” (Bravo)
“The Voice” (NBC)

Outstanding Variety Talk Series:
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)
“Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” (TBS)
“Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC)
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO)
“The Late Late Show with James Cordon” (CBS)
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)

Outstanding Television Movie:
“Bandersnatch: Black Mirror” (Netflix)
“Brexit” (Amazon)
“Deadwood: The Movie” (HBO)
“King Lear” (BBC)
“My Dinner with Herve” (HBO)

Outstanding Limited Series:
“Chernobyl” (HBO)
“Escape at Dannemora” (Showtime)
“Fosse/Verdon” (FX)
“Sharp Objects” (HBO)
“When They See Us” (Netflix)

Outstanding Comedy Series:
“Barry” (HBO)
“Fleabag” (Amazon)
“The Good Place” (NBC)
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon)
“Russian Doll” (Netflix)
“Schitt’s Creek” (CBC Television)
“Veep” (HBO)

Outstanding Drama Series:
“Better Call Saul” (AMC)
“Bodyguard” (Netflix)
“Game of Thrones” (HBO)
“Killing Eve” (BBC America)
“Ozark” (Netflix)
“Pose” (FX)
“Succession” (HBO)
“This Is Us” (NBC)

Trump Twitter Rant: “Those Tweets Were Not Racist!”

Donald Trump

As the U.S. House prepares to vote to formally condemn Donald Trump’s racist tweets directed at four progressive House Democratic congresswomen, Trump took to Twitter to again rant on the subject.

Trump claims there was nothing racist about telling women of color to “go back” to the countries they came from.

p.s. all four are U.S. citizens; three of the four born in the U.S.

The Donald also begged House Republicans not to vote against him regarding the resolution.

No Charges For Officer Involved In Chokehold Death Of Eric Garner

(stock image via Pexels/Rosemary Ketchum)

There will be no charges for the police officer who put Eric Garner in a chokehold which ultimately led to Garner’s death five years ago.

From The New York Times:

The Justice Department will not bring federal charges against a New York City police officer in the death of Eric Garner, ending a yearslong inquiry into a case that sharply divided officials and prompted national protests over excessive force by the police, according to three people briefed on the decision.

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn intend to announce the decision not to bring criminal civil rights charges on Tuesday morning, just one day before the fifth anniversary of Mr. Garner’s death. That is the deadline by which they would have to file some of the possible charges against the officer, Daniel Pantaleo.

The decision extinguishes the hopes of the Garner family and their supporters that Officer Pantaleo might face prosecution in a case that ignited demonstrations and debates over the use of force by police officers and led to changes in policing practices across the United States.

Police officers were attempting to arrest Garner for selling individual cigarettes to passersby on the street, thus avoiding sales tax, when the episode escalated ending with Pantaleo choking Garner.

Bystanders recorded the incident where Garner could be heard saying, “I can’t breathe.” But Pantaleo did not release Garner. A medical examiner concluded that the pressure on Mr. Garner’s neck and chest set off a fatal asthma attack.

Pantaleo has been on desk duty since the incident five years ago which has allowed him to continue to get paid and add time to his pension.

And from New York State Attorney General Letitia James:

News Round-Up: July 15, 2019

(image via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk Phillip Evelyn II (above) says 72 hours rest from the gym does wonders. Somehow, my lengthy time from the gym hasn’t paid off in the same way LOL.

• Variety: After receiving backlash for comments she made about politically correct casting saying that she should be allowed to “play any person, or any tree, or any animal,” Scarlett Johansson clarified the comments saying they were “edited for click bait” and taken out of context.

• NewNowNext: If elected to Congress next November, Dan Baer would the first openly gay man to be seated in the Senate and just the third LGBTQ person elected overall, following Wisconsin’s Tammy Baldwin in 2012 and Arizona’s Kyrsten Sinema last year

• The Guardian: The number of people who said they considered gay sex to be wrong rose for the first time since the AIDS crisis.

• Washington Blade: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has criticized gay adult studio Men.com for an alligator that appears in a scene of its latest porn video.

• Gaily Grind: World War II code-breaker and visionary mathematician who was castrated under Victorian-era anti-gay laws, Alan Turing will be the face of Britain’s new £50 note.

• Billboard Magazine: Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, rules the Billboard Hot 100 for a 15th week, moving to within a week of the record for the most time spent at No. 1 in the chart’s six-decade history.

Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber, and Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” each spent a record 16 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 2017 and 1995-96, respectively.

Former Wimbledon Ball Boy Turned InstaHunk Shares Secrets From Centre Court

Former Wimbledon ball boy turned personal trainer Alex Crockford

As tennis enthusiasts remained glued to coverage of the Wimbledon finals this past weekend, a former ball boy for the prestigious tournament shared insider info on the tough training and schedule the ball boys and girls (BBGs) maintain throughout the Championships.

Personal trainer (and InstaHunk) Alex Crockford spoke with The Daily Mail about his two years a ball boy at Wimbledon beginning when he was 15-years-old.

Among his most vivid memories was nearly fainting due to the heat. “I was seeing blurry stars, but I managed to stay standing,” he told the Mail. “That was a hot day.”

Alex Crockford at 15 (image via Crockford)

This year, four people collapsed during the tournament, two of them being BBGs.

Crockford says he would keep water next to the umpires, but would sometimes be too scared to be out of position to grab a drink.

Crockford says just being on court with the major tennis stars of the day was a big perk, even though BBGs aren’t allowed to engage with the athletes due to strict rules.

“The whole process really is very strict,” he explained. “Not talking to anyone including the tennis players. Not reacting to crowds of people watching.”

Crockford, now 29, shared that thousands of teens apply to become BBGs but only a couple of hundred are selected to take part in training classes that begin as early as February.

Necessary skills include ball rolling, throwing and receiving, as well as testing on tennis knowledge on sets, games, when players change side of the court and when to change tennis balls.

For instance, tennis balls are changed during a match after seven games, and then every nine games after that.

“Rolling a ball perfectly flat on the floor and bouncing a ball on the floor only once to a tennis player who is moving is harder than you think!” he explained.

BBGs were also expected to pick up on players’ personal habits.

“I remember one player always wanted to use the same ball after he won a point, so we had to retrieve the ball and serve it back to him,’ he shared. “Others want their towel in a particular place, and some like to be given more balls than others.”

Since his days at Wimbledon, Crockford has become a successful fitness model and personal trainer most known for developing the CROCKFIT method.

You can follow him on Instagram here where he has over 243K followers.