Neighbors Rally Around Couple After Pride Flag Burned + More News

(screen capture via Idaho Statesman)
Some news items you might have missed: • The Advocate: A progress Pride flag was burned at the home of a gay couple in Boise, Idaho, after one flag had been stolen and another vandalized earlier. Neighbors and others rallied around the couple by flying Pride flags for the first time. Continue reading “Neighbors Rally Around Couple After Pride Flag Burned + More News”

Several Active Military/Veterans Among Arrested Patriot Front Members

Patriot Front member Winston Durham
Winston Durham  (screen capture)
The concerning trend of active military and veterans taking part in extremist groups continues as Military.com  reports several members of the white supremacist group Patriot Front who were arrested on conspiracy to riot charges at an Idaho Pride event last week have military backgrounds. Continue reading “Several Active Military/Veterans Among Arrested Patriot Front Members”

Neo-Nazi Kicked Out Of Mother’s House After Attempted Riot At Pride Event

Jared Michael Boyce was arrested and charged with conspiracy to riot at an Idaho Pride event on Saturday, June 11, 2022.
Jared Michael Boyce (mugshot – Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office)

The mother of Jared M. Boyce, 27,  kicked him out of her house after his arrest for conspiracy to riot with the far-right Neo-Nazi group Patriot Front at an Idaho Pride event. The Southern Poverty Law Center calls the group “one of the most prominent white supremacist groups in the country.”

Continue reading “Neo-Nazi Kicked Out Of Mother’s House After Attempted Riot At Pride Event”

31 Members Of Neo-Nazi Group Patriot Front Arrested For Planning To Riot At Idaho Pride Event

31 members of the neo-Nazi group Patriot Front were arrested in Idaho after planning to riot at a Pride in the Park event.
(images via Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office)
More information has been released about the 31 members of a neo-Nazi group called Patriot Front who were arrested in Idaho on Saturday for allegedly planning to riot at a local Pride event. Continue reading “31 Members Of Neo-Nazi Group Patriot Front Arrested For Planning To Riot At Idaho Pride Event”

Extremist Group Arrested Trying To Intimidate Idaho Pride Goers

Far-right extremists tried to interfere with an LGBTQ Pride in Idaho but were thwarted. “Pride in the Park” returned to Coeur d’Alene City Park in Idaho today after a two-year hiatus. But the family-friendly event was threatened by the far-right Panhandle Patriots who sought to clash with the LGBTQ event armed with guns. Continue reading “Extremist Group Arrested Trying To Intimidate Idaho Pride Goers”

Banning LGBTQ Books In Texas + More News

The superintendent of the Granbury Independent School District in North Texas told a group of librarians he was concerned about the inclusion of books with LGBTQ+ themes Some news items you might have missed: • Texas Tribune: The superintendent of the Granbury Independent School District in Texas told a group of librarians he was concerned about having LGBTQ books on their shelves, even if they do not describe sex. “It’s the transgender, LGBTQ and the sex — sexuality — in books. That’s what the governor has said that he will prosecute people for, and that’s what we’re pulling out.” Continue reading “Banning LGBTQ Books In Texas + More News”

Pastor Being Treated In ICU After Holding Maskless Church Services

Pastor Paul Van Noy holds open church services during COVID-19 pandemic

Pastor Paul Van Noy holds open church services during COVID-19 pandemic
Pastor Paul Van Noy (screen capture via YouTube)
A pastor in A Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, is being treated for COVID-19 at the Kootenai Health intensive care unit after who opening his church in May for in-person services that encouraged unmasked congregants to gather. Who’d have ever guessed something could go wrong? From the Spokesman-Review:

Paul Van Noy, the senior pastor at Candlelight Christian Fellowship, has spent the past two weeks in the ICU while his wife, Brenda Van Noy, recovered from her own bout with COVID-19 at home. Five other church staff have been infected, said Eric Reade, body ministry coordinator the church.

The church closed its doors for two weeks and underwent deep cleaning before reopening for in-person services Sunday, Reade said.

“We didn’t want, obviously, to be spreading the virus,” he said.

Church staffers don’t know how Van Noy contracted the virus, Reade said.

Van Noy, who apparently has a history of sharing his political views from the pulpit, has publicly shared his doubts regarding the efficacy of wearing face coverings to help protect against the virus.

Idaho Protester Arrested After Refusing To Leave Closed Playground

Sara Walton Brady (photo via Ada County Sheriff’s Office)
In a video shared on social media platforms, anti-vaccination activist Sara Walton Brady, 40, dared police to arrest her as officers tried to peacefully disperse an organized protest on a closed playground in Idaho. Any guesses as to what happened next? The group was protesting Gov. Brad Little’s stay-home order after removing signs and caution tape indicating the park’s closure. From the Idaho Statesman:

Sara Walton Brady, 40, of Meridian, was noncompliant and refused to leave after being given many opportunities, police said. She was arrested on one count of misdemeanor trespassing. She was booked into Ada County Jail and released.

According to a police press release, officers on Tuesday night responded after several calls were made to dispatch. Officers then informed those gathered that the playground structure was closed and that they were welcome to utilize open areas of the park.

Walton Brady posted a $300 cash bond Tuesday evening, and her next court date is set for May 29, according to online court records.

A GoFundMe campaign was launched to “buy booze” for the arresting officer.

Podcast: Leslie Jordan’s InstaStardom, Idaho Challenged On Anti-Trans Laws, All-Star Celebration Announced For Sondheim’s 90th

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 Texas couple tragically dies within hours of each other due to COVID-19 • Idaho’s new anti-transgender laws are already being challenged in court • Actor Leslie Jordan has become an Instagram sensation surging from 80K to 3 million followers. Find him on Instagram here. • The new Netflix documentary Circus of Books chronicles the journey of a middle-class, straight Jewish couple from everyday entrepreneurs to accidental LGBTQ activists • A vintage photo of two men named ‘Tommy’ and ‘Buzz’ has captured the romantic imagination of gay internet • Huge stars will perform on the streaming event, Take Me To The World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration, on April 26 All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report