Tag: Georgia

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Georgia: Man Who Recorded Fatal Shooting Of Unarmed Black Jogger Arrested

Ahmaud Arbery
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has arrested the man who filmed the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, the unarmed 25-year-old black man who was killed during an encounter with two white men, in connection with the killing. From the New York Times:

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a statement that the man, William Bryan, 50, was arrested on charges of felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment. The two other men, Gregory McMichael, 64, and Travis McMichael, 34, were charged with murder and aggravated assault this month.

Mr. Bryan, who is white, recorded the confrontation on Feb. 23 as the McMichaels pursued Mr. Arbery while he was running through the Satilla Shores neighborhood near Brunswick on the southeastern Georgia coast.

More than two months passed without arrests or criminal charges, and the video, released online this month, has been credited with bringing a surge of attention to the case and mobilizing activists. After the McMichaels were arrested, pressure ratcheted up for the authorities to arrest Mr. Bryan, who is known as Roddie.

Activists have said publicly that Bryan “had been more than a bystander.” Arbery’s family issued a statement this evening saying they were “relieved” by the arrest. “His involvement in the murder of Mr. Arbery was obvious to us, to many around the country and after their thorough investigation, it was clear to the G.B.I. as well,” read the statement.

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Shooting Video Was Leaked By Friend Of McMichaels Thinking It Would Clear Them

Greg McMichaels and his son Travis were convicted of the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia

L-R Gregory McMichaels, Travis McMichaels (mug shots)
It turns out the video footage showing Gregory and Travis McMichaels shooting Ahmaud Arbery in the street was leaked by a friend believing it would clear them. The friend, attorney Alan Tucker, also put the blame for Arbery’s death on Arbery saying if he had ‘just froze’ he wouldn’t have been shot. From The Daily Mail:

The shocking video that showed two white men shooting unarmed black jogger Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia was leaked to the press by the assailants’ close friend who believed it would clear them of any crime.

Attorney Alan Tucker told Inside Edition Friday that he was responsible for releasing the footage, which showed his pals Gregory and Travis McMichael engaged in a fatal altercation with Arbery in Brunswick on February 23.

‘I really thought releasing the video would put the truth out to the public,’ Tucker stated.

‘If he [Arbery] had just froze and hadn’t done anything, then he wouldn’t have been shot.’

I see. Two white men in Georgia grab their guns, jump in their pickup truck and chase after a young black man jogging. They stop the young man waving their weapons and yelling at the young man. Not knowing who they were or what was happening, it was Arbery’s responsibility to just stand there and perhaps let them shoot him??? For over two months, there was little to no response by the local police authorities. It wasn’t until the video was released that public outcry made ignoring the case impossible. According to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Brunswick District Attorney Jackie Johnson blocked police from arresting them because she was friends with Gregory McMichael, who worked as an investigator in Johnson’s office. The McMichaels have now been charged with murder and aggravated assault. Gregory McMichaels reportedly told police he recognized Arbery as a burglary suspect in the neighborhood. But no break-ins were reported in the neighborhood for seven weeks before they killed him.

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Georgia Men (Finally) Arrested In Fatal Shooting Of Black Jogger

Ahmaud Arbery
From the Washington Post:

A Georgia father and son were arrested and charged with murder Thursday evening in the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery amid intensifying pressure from across the political spectrum.

Footage of the young black man who was fatally shot by a white man in Georgia ignited outrage across the political spectrum, with former vice president Joe Biden comparing it to a lynching and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) calling the shooting “absolutely horrific.”

President Trump, speaking at an event in the Oval Office on Thursday, said he expects to get a “full report” on the incident and called the death “a very sad thing.”

Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, spoke passionately about the incident during a virtual campaign roundtable focused on African American issues Thursday, telling participants that watching 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery “shot down in cold blood” was like seeing him “lynched before our very eyes.”

Arbery was killed in February while jogging in a residential neighborhood in Brunswick, Ga. Video of his brief interaction with at least two men who confronted him, seconds before the gunshots, was released on social media this week.

Gregory McMichael, 64, a retired police detective, and his son, Travis McMichael, 34, saw Arbery jogging and told police they believed he looked like a suspect in a series of neighborhood burglaries (although local journalists found just one burglary reported to police between Jan. 1 and Feb. 23). The two men grabbed a handgun and shotgun and began chasing Arbery in a truck, according to a police report. Gregory McMichael said he shouted to Arbery, “Stop, stop, we want to talk to you,” before pulling up in their truck. Approaching him with their guns, a physical altercation ensued that left Arbery dead. You can see the video below as well as a Twitter thread from Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), the only black Republican in the Senate.

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News Round-Up: April 28, 2020

Gus Kenworthy and Birdie (via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • New York Times: National Institutes of Health scientists in Montana last month inoculated six rhesus macaque monkeys (considered the closest equivalent to humans) with single doses of a vaccine developed by the Oxford University’s Jenner Institute. The animals were then exposed to heavy quantities of the virus that is causing the pandemic — exposure that had consistently sickened other monkeys in the lab. But more than 28 days later all six were healthy. • InstaHunks: I spent about a year studying the guitar when I was younger, and I was terrible. Woofy Gus Kenworthy (top) has really learned a lot in just two months. Color me impresssed. But it looks like his best fur pal Birdie isn’t feeling it. Watch below.

 

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I’ve spent the past two months trying to learn the guitar and my dog is… honestly not very impressed.

A post shared by gus kenworthy (@guskenworthy) on

• Reuters: A study of more than 1400 LGBT+ women – one of the largest of its kind – found 37% of lesbian mothers in the UK suffered discrimination from other parents, while the same number’s children were victimized. • Bloomberg News: Donald Trump indicated today he’s considering withholding COVID-19 financial assistance from blue states unless they agree to do away with sanctuary cities. Note: states like California and New York, which have sanctuary cities, already send much more to the federal government than they receive.

• Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Two people in Georgia drank liquid cleaning products over the weekend in misguided attempts to ward off COVID-19, according to the Georgia Poison Center. Both men had histories of psychiatric problems and are expected to recover. • The Gaily Grind: ABC News correspondent Will Reeve, the son of the late “Superman” actor Christopher Reeve, accidentally revealed to the nation that he wasn’t wearing any pants while doing a live report on “Good Morning America” from his home. The 27-year-old’s camera was angled down and revealed that the correspondent was not wearing any pants as he sat on a stool immediately generating reactions on social media after the moment on “Good Morning America” went viral.

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Podcast: LGBTQ Activist Phyllis Lyon, Grindr Used To Set Up False Arrests, Homophobic Florida Police Chief

The Randy Report podcast

The Randy Report podcast delivers the week's top stories in a quick, convenient podcast - 'the 60 Minutes of gay news - only shorter' In this week’s podcast: • A Florida police chief is on administrative leave after telling his officers a sheriff’s deputy died from coronavirus because he was gay • Georgia police use Grindr to setup allegedly false drug arrests • Michigan teen’s mother files lawsuit after her son suffered a concussion from anti-gay bullying at school • Ireland’s openly gay Prime Minister is returning to medicine to help in the COVID-19 crisis • Trailblazing lesbian activist Phyllis Lyon died this past week at the age of 95 • And leftover fabric from the AIDS quilt is being used to save lives during the COVID-19 threat All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report.

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Georgia Postpones Democratic Primary Due To COVID-19

Responding to the ongoing coronavirus threat, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the Democratic primary in Georgia will be postponed for two months.

Georgia elections officials postponed the presidential primary scheduled for next week because of the coronavirus pandemic, becoming the second state forced to push back a vote in the race for the White House due to the outbreak.

The state rescheduled the presidential vote previously scheduled for March 24 until May 19, the same date as the regular primary for a U.S. Senate seat and many other offices, elections officials told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday.

“Events are moving rapidly and my highest priority is protecting the health of our poll workers, their families, and the community at large,” said Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger [photo].

Louisiana was the first state to move its Democratic primary shifting to June 20th.

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News Round-Up: February 14, 2020

Chasten and Pete Buttigieg on the campaign trail
Some news items you might have missed: • Instagram: Pete Buttigieg, on the campaign trail, posts the above photo with hubby Chasten, with the caption “Happy Valentine’s Day to the one I love.” #swoon • Advocate: Two gay men were shot this week in a drive-by attack in Miami, leaving one in critical condition, and they believe it happened because they were kissing — and a lesbian nearby was also injured. • Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A new poll released Thursday showed the former vice president Joe Biden with 32% of support in Georgia. Sen. Bernie Sanders and former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg were both at 14%. The poll pegs Pete Buttigieg at just 5% of Georgia’s vote and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 4%. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar trails at 3%. Georgia’s primary is on March 24. • Apple TV: Don’t forget the five-part docuseries Visible: Out on Television is now available on Apple’s streaming service. The series investigates the importance of TV as a medium that helped shaped the American conscience, and how the LGBTQ movement has shaped television.

• Bloomberg Law: Michael Avenatti, who became famous representing porn star Stormy Daniels, was convicted of trying to extort millions of dollars from Nike Inc. and defrauding a client in the process. Jurors in Manhattan found Avenatti guilty of all three criminal counts. The verdict on Friday, following a two-week trial, could lead to a long prison sentence for the lawyer. • CBS News: Donald Trump says he’s considering ending the standard protocol of having top administration officials listen to his calls with foreign leaders, following his conversation with Ukraine’s president, a call that culminated in his impeachment. • KIT212: Kenneth rounds up the what’s what in gay rags this week including forever-hottie Robbie Williams covering this month’s Attitude Magazine (below). • Boston 25 News: Drug Enforcement Agency officials raided the home of Dr. Keith Ablow, the embattled former celebrity psychiatrist caught in a series of sexual assault lawsuits. The famously anti-LGBTQ Ablow saw his medical license revoked last year after he was accused of engaging in inappropriate sexual activity with several patients and illegally distributing prescriptions to employees. • Mediaite: Mike Bloomberg’s campaign openly mocked Donald Trump again over his comments on the coronavirus in which POTUS said, “Now the virus that we are talking about having to do, you know, lotta people think that goes away in April, with the heat,” by basically just splicing it with that famous Billy Madison “What you have just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things…” scene. #BloombergAintPlaying

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Disney CEO: It Will Be ‘Difficult’ To Continue Filming In Georgia If Abortion Law Takes Effect

Bob Iger, Disney Chief Executive

Georgia’s new abortion ban could cost the state dearly as Bob Iger, Disney’s chief executive, told Reuters that continuing to film in the Peach State would be “very difficult” were the law to go into effect.

“I rather doubt we will,” Iger said during an interview at Disneyland. “I think many people who work for us will not want to work there, and we will have to heed their wishes in that regard. Right now we are watching it very carefully.”

Should the law takes effect, “I don’t see how it’s practical for us to continue to shoot there,” he added.

Reuters notes that, thanks to a lucrative tax credit offered by the state, the film and television industry has created 92,000 jobs in Georgia, and at least 455 productions were shot there in 2018.

And these aren’t just small indie projects.

Disney’s billion-dollar blockbusters Black Panther and Avengers: Endgame were filmed in Georgia.

Netflix has also announced they are re-thinking their production schedule in Georgia.

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Georgia Assembly Considers Banning ‘Conversion Therapy’ For LGBTQ Youth

Georgia

The Georgia Assembly has filed landmark legislation, the Youth Mental Health Protection Act (HB 580), to protect LGBTQ youth from the dangerous and discredited practice of conversion therapy, which falsely claims to be able to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Currently, 15 states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation to protect LGBTQ from so-called ‘ex-gay’ therapy.

“All children in Georgia should receive care that first, does no harm. Conversion therapy has no scientific basis and contradicts the medical community’s understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity,” said bill sponsor, Rep. Matthew Wilson. “I am proud to sponsor this bill that helps ensure the safety of Georgia’s LGBTQ youth by outlawing this incredibly dangerous practice.”

Organizations like The Trevor Project are actively lobbying in every state to put an end to conversion therapy. Their 50 Bills 50 States campaign is the largest in the world working to protect LGBTQ youth from the discredited practice which can amplify stigma and shame.

A study at San Francisco State University showed LGBTQ youth who were rejected by their families due to their identities were 5.9 times more likely to report high levels of depression, 3.4 times more likely to use illegal drugs, and 8.4 times more likely to have attempted suicide when compared to youth from accepting and affirming families and caregivers.

Conversion therapy is widely denounced by prominent professional medical associations including the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

(via press release)

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Podcast: Georgia vs Gays, Billy Porter Slays On The Red Carpet, Terry Crews Calls Kids Of Same-Sex Parents Emotionally ‘Malnourished’

In this episode of The Randy Report podcast:

• Georgia lawmakers look to legalize LGBTQ discrimination

• The United Methodist Church doubles down on anti-LGBTQ animus

• Formerly homeless valedictorian kicked out of his home for being gay is thriving in college, and just landed a Congressional internship. He also set up his own scholarship foundation. Click here for more info.

• Pose star Billy Porter brings political discourse to the Oscars’ red carpet

• Out singer/songwriter Kisos shares his ‘five stages of grief’ with “Happily Ever After”

• Brooklyn Nine Nine’s Terry Crews got called out for saying kids of same-sex parents will grow up emotionally ‘malnourished’

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report.

I want to send a big shout-out to everyone who’s hit up the podcast over the past couple of years.

It’s amazing to see the growth in numbers of folks discovering the podcast in such an organic manner, and I want to thank everyone for taking a listen and spreading the word about the podcast.

I always look at the podcast as the kind of “LGBTQ catch-up” I would want to hear, with a mix of stories that spans the wide spectrum of political and pop culture news.

I was excited to be contacted by an advertising exec who has a list of clients looking to advertise on the podcast.

!!!

Now, you know, ad execs only show interest when they see an audience they value.

Tip of the hat to all of you 😉