LGBTQ news and entertainment
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) held a press event today to throw cold water on hopes of a sooner-than-later vote on President Biden’s Build Back Better domestic package aimed at helping Americans in areas of health care, education, climate and tax laws. Continue reading “Manchin Moves Goal Posts (Again) On Build Back Better Bill”
Some news items you might have missed: • The Advocate: A new ad (top image) for Doritos Mexico released in time for Día de Los Muertos — the Day of the Dead – features a late uncle turning up with an unexpected guest, a same-sex partner. The Day of the Dead is a Mexican and Latin American holiday observed November 1-2 that celebrates the memories of deceased loved ones. Continue reading “News Round-Up: October 27, 2021”
Some news items you might have missed: • Queerty: Everyone’s convinced aspiring Gen Z right-wing TV host Gunnar Thorderson (above) is secretly a gay porn star. I mean, with that name, come on… Continue reading “News Round-Up: September 30, 2021”
In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Sen Joe Manchin (D-WV) urges his Democratic colleagues in the Senate to hit a ‘strategic pause’ on President Biden’s $3.5 trillion budget package. Continue reading “Joe Manchin Won’t Support Biden’s $3.5T Budget Package”
Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia (image via Facebook)
Some in my party have argued that now is the time to discard such bipartisan voting reforms and embrace election reforms and policies solely supported by one party. Respectfully, I do not agree.
I believe that partisan voting legislation will destroy the already weakening binds of our democracy, and for that reason, I will vote against the For the People Act. Furthermore, I will not vote to weaken or eliminate the filibuster.
For as long as I have the privilege of being your U.S. senator, I will fight to represent the people of West Virginia, to seek bipartisan compromise no matter how difficult and to develop the political bonds that end divisions and help unite the country we love.
American democracy is something special, it is bigger than one party, or the tweet-filled partisan attack politics of the moment. It is my sincere hope that all of us, especially those who are privileged to serve, remember our responsibility to do more to unite this country before it is too late.
I understand Manchin believing he’s taking a ‘principled’ approach here. But many say Manchin’s stand for “bipartisan compromise” will basically kill most of the policies Joe Biden promised the American people during his campaign – which got him elected.
Joe Manchin @Sen_JoeManchin:
Using all of the tools at our disposal to stop the blowtorching of our democracy isn’t partisan.
It’s patriotic.
Refusing to stand against voter suppression isn’t noble.
It’s dereliction of duty.
Cc: @kyrstensinema
— Nick Knudsen 🇺🇸 (@NickKnudsenUS) June 6, 2021
Joe Manchin is happy to let Republicans unilaterally enact voter suppression laws but refuses to vote for the For The People Act because he says it’s too “partisan.”
Let’s be clear: there is nothing “partisan” about protecting the right to vote.
— MeidasTouch.com (@MeidasTouch) June 6, 2021
The Affordable Care Act passed the Senate on strictly partisan lines yet became so popular that Joe Manchin based his reelection campaign in 2018 on a pledge to fight attempts to repeal the law.
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) June 6, 2021
Never been this disappointed in a politician before. Joe Manchin is voting against the right to vote. His real reason can only be if we elect more Dems he will lose personal power and leverage he has now. Like so many before him, power has stolen his heart.
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) June 6, 2021
“I believe that partisan voting legislation will destroy the already weakening binds of our democracy, and for that reason, I will vote against the For the People Act.”
Republicans can rig democracy— and so long as they’re united, Manchin will let it fly. https://t.co/1YWoesUfM7
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) June 6, 2021
Joe Manchin's lazy arrogance is off the charts. He's destroying voting rights by calling for bipartisanship, while doing nothing to bring that about. He's the person you dread running into, because of his droning self-satisfaction
— Paul Rudnick (@PaulRudnickNY) June 6, 2021
Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia (image via Facebook)One of the so-called ‘moderate’ Democrats in the U.S. Senate – Joe Manchin of West Virginia – is quietly letting the powers that be know he may not be voting in favor of the Equality Act after being targeted by a massive call-in campaign by conservative groups.
While the legislation recently passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 221 to 206 (three Republicans voted in favor), the Senate is currently split 50/50 with Vice President Kamala Harris casting tie-breaking votes.
The rules of the Senate will require at least ten Republicans to vote with all Democrats (plus 2 Independents who caucus with the Dems) to overcome the filibuster. And presently, no one can name 10 GOP senators they believe will vote in favor of the bill that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to existing federal civil rights laws.
Without Republican support to overcome the 60-vote threshold, there’s no way to pass the Equality Act unless Democrats reform the filibuster. To do that, they would need Manchin to vote with them on the rules change which he has publicly opposed.
Even with recent polling showing an overwhelming 7 in 10 voters support the Equality Act, Manchin represents a hefty complication.
When the legislation was passed in 2019 by the House, Manchin publicly shared concerns he had saying the act didn’t provide “sufficient guidance to the local officials who will be responsible for implementing it, particularly with respect to students transitioning between genders in public schools.” It seems he still has those reservations today.
Plus, The Daily Beast reports Manchin has apparently received calls to his office by a ratio of “a thousand to one” opposing the Equality Act organized by conservative groups like the virulently anti-LGBTQ Heritage Foundation.
Without his support, it’s nearly impossible to see the Equality Act being passed in the Senate and heading to the desk of President Biden, who hoped to sign the bill in his first 100 days in office.
That could leave the widely popular legislation lost in neverland – the victim (again) of an outdated legislative process.
Some news items you might have missed: • The Advocate: The Human Rights Campaign’s State Equality Index for 2020 measures the rights and protections each state has in place for LGBTQ+ individuals. Texas is ranked in the bottom category, and referred to as a “high priority to achieve basic equality.” • Dallas Voice: With more calls to expel QAnon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) from Congress for her wild conspiracy claims and more, here’s a break down of what it takes to expel a member of of the House or Senate plus some history of those who were expelled. • Twitter: If you’ve never watched the far-right leaning outlet Newsmax, all you need to know here is Dominion Voting Systems threatened to sue the online newser into oblivion if they continued airing baseless claims of ‘vote manipulation.’ Now hit the play button.
THIS is really something. If you’ve never watched Newsmax, here you go. Setup – all you need to know I’d Dominion Voting Systems threatened to sue Newsmax into oblivion if they aired baseless claims of vote manipulation. Now hit play. pic.twitter.com/pvSm65yemZ
— The Randy Report (@randyslovacek) February 3, 2021
Just now: Alejandro Mayorkas has been confirmed to serve as Biden’s secretary of Homeland Security in a 56-43 vote.
Lots of firsts here: – First Latino to lead DHS – First immigrant to lead DHS – First Senate-confirmed DHS secretary since April 2019 — Sabrina Rodríguez (@sabrod123) February 2, 2021
Josh Rimer, left, with his fiancée Heath
To the man who smacked my butt on live TV this morning: You violated, objectified, and embarrassed me. No woman should EVER have to put up with this at work or anywhere!! Do better. https://t.co/PRLXkBY5hn
— Alex Bozarjian (@wsavalexb) December 7, 2019
• Axios: Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) told CNN on Wednesday that he’s “very much torn” on voting to convict President Trump in a Senate impeachment trial. • NY Times: I can’t explain it, but I’m over the moon that after 37 years Vanna White is hosting Wheel of Fortune for a few weeks (in a glass ceiling breaking moment) while Pat Sajak recovers from emergency surgery. • Stereogum: Every winter, Cyndi Lauper hosts her all-star Home For The Holiday benefit raising money for LGBTQ youth homelessness. Last night, Lauper headlined the 2019 edition of the show at the Novo for the event’s first year in Los Angeles. Lauper performed alongside people like Kesha, King Princess, Perry Farrell, Lily Tomlin, Belinda Carlisle, and the awesome Henry Rollins of Black Flag fame.
With much fanfare, the Equality Act – which would add LGBT protections to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 – was reintroduced in Congress this week.
Sponsored by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Senate Bill 788 has 43 Democratic sponsors, two Independent sponsors, and one Republican sponsor, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.
Only one Democrat in the Senate did not sign on to the legislation, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia.
Manchin didn’t sponsor the legislation when it was introduced in 2017, either.
And when marriage equality became the law of the land in 2015, his office only issued a tepid one-sentence statement urging people to abide by the law.
Similarly, in the House of Representatives, the Equality Act has 239 cosponsors: 237 Democrats and 2 Republicans – Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Rep. John Katko (R-NY).
Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) is the lone Democrat who did not sign on for the bill.
Lipinski has a squirrel-y history as a Democrat.
He was the only Democrat to sponsor the First Amendment Defense Act, which seeks to legalize anti-LGBT discrimination nationwide. And, he voted FOR the hateful Defense of Marriage Act.
When the Equality Act was last introduced in the House in 2017, he voted against it.
The Equality Act adds LGBT protections to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended segregation in public places and prohibited employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin, as well as the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin or sex.
Recent polling shows a supermajority of Americans support the legislation.
Additionally, 165 major American businesses have issued a statement of support for the Equality Act.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine announced during a lengthy speech on the floor of the Senate that she will vote ‘yes’ on confirming Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court.
JUST IN: Sen. Susan Collins: “I will vote to confirm Judge Kavanaugh.” https://t.co/gQzVtunCYT pic.twitter.com/Ix5JykVAsI— ABC News (@ABC) October 5, 2018
Shortly after her announcement, red state Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin also announced he will vote ‘yes’ as well, which appears to give Kavanaugh the 51 votes he needs for confirmation.
Manchin, in a tough re-election fight in West Virginia, is the only Democrat to cross party lines and vote for Kavanaugh.
For decades, @SenatorCollins promised Maine voters she would protect their rights. Today, she broke that promise, choosing Trump and McConnell over those constituents who believed her. This is her legacy vote – and she knows exactly what will flow from it. This is who she is— Joe Sudbay (@JoeSudbay) October 5, 2018
Are you all not, on one level, relieved that Susan Collins has finally revealed herself fully to the people of Maine?People of Maine, please beat her in 2020, and send her into retirement.
— Michelangelo Signorile (@MSignorile) October 5, 2018
Deeply disappointed in @SenatorCollins today. This is the most consequential vote of her lifetime — and of her constituents’ lifetimes. The harms of this vote will last decades.— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) October 5, 2018