Some news stories you might have missed: • Politico: Californians may see a ballot initiative on the November 2024 ballot asking voters to undo Prop 8 and remove language from the California Constitution that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. Continue reading “California Same-Sex Marriage + Louisiana May De-Transition Trans Kids + More News”
News: George Santos Says He’s “Never” Leaving Congress + More
Rep. George Santos (screen capture)
School Librarian Sues Anti-LGBTQ Activists For Defamation
(stock image via Depositphotos)
Louisiana Judge On Unpaid Leave After Video With Racist Language Surfaced
A judge in Louisiana is facing calls to resign after home video footage appeared to capture her and her family using racial slurs following a burglary attempt. Continue reading “Louisiana Judge On Unpaid Leave After Video With Racist Language Surfaced”
Case Rates & Hospitalizations Surge But Vaccinations See Increase
ABC News reports that Louisiana now has the highest case rate in the country with more than 600 new cases per 100,000 residents, according to federal data. Continue reading “Case Rates & Hospitalizations Surge But Vaccinations See Increase”
News Round-Up: July 23, 2021
Some news items you might have missed: • Instinct Magazine: RuPaul’s Drag Race is returning to Las Vegas, bringing six sexy Pit Crew members with it. And for the most part, it’ll be a totally new cast of sexy men (above). Check them out at the link. • Out Music: Belgian pop superstar Max Colombie, (aka Oscar and the Wolf) unveils his brand-new single and music video “Oliver.” The sultry single serves up a tropical beat and shimmering synths as Colombie’s sensual voice draws us further into his poolside dreamworld.
• Washington Blade: Louisiana lawmakers failed to override Gov. John Bel Edwards’ (D) veto last month of a bill that would have barred trans girls and women from participating on athletic teams or in sporting events designated for girls or women at elementary, secondary and postsecondary schools. • Family Equality: This short two-minute video, released in advance of Parents Day on Sunday, offers a lighthearted but thorough explanation of the discrimination, bias, and disproportionate financial outlays same-sex couples can face on their journey to parenthood.
• Outsports: The Olympics always drive huge LGBTQ viewership. Here are 8 events at the Tokyo Olympics likely to be popular with LGBTQ viewers. • Deadline: Billy Porter’s directorial debut for Orion Pictures – What If? – will star Black transgender actress Eva Reign in the upcoming high school rom-com. https://www.instagram.com/p/CRhoOsyH2vf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
COVID Patient Would Still Refuse Vaccine: ‘Don’t Shove It Down My Throat’
In his report for CBS This Morning, national correspondent David Begnaud recently spoke to a Louisiana man, Scott Roe, who is currently recovering from COVID-19 but remains adamant he will not be getting any of the vaccines available to the public.
Roughly one in three Louisianans are fully vaccinated. This week, the state’s health department reported the highest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations since late February. Scott Roe is one of them. “Here I am recovering, getting out of here finally tomorrow. Am I going to get a vaccine? No,” Roe said. “Because there’s too many issues with these vaccines.” This father, former baseball coach, small business owner and hunter caught COVID and then developed pneumonia.
“Before you got sick,” Begnaud asked Roe, “if you would have had a chance to get the vaccine and prevent this, would you have taken the vaccine?” “No,” Roe said. “I would have gone through this, yes sir… Don’t shove it down my throat. That’s what local, state, federal administration is trying to do – shove it down your throat.” “What are they shoving,” Begnaud asked, “the science?” “No they’re shoving the fact that that’s their agenda,” Roe said, “their agenda is to get you vaccinated.”
GOP Rep. Steve Scalise, Roe’s representative in Congress, announced this week he just received his first Pfizer shot, and urged his constituents to follow suit saying the shots are “safe and effective.” Roe’s response? “Not proven.”
I don’t even have words for this pic.twitter.com/vrCnrfhnfb
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 22, 2021
Anti-Vax ER Nurse Dies Of COVID-19
A Louisiana nurse who had railed against vaccinations on her social media has reportedly died from COVID-19 complications. From The Acadiana Advocate:
Olivia Guidry, a registered nurse in the emergency department, died Saturday after battling the virus for days in the hospital’s intensive care unit. Friends, who had been pleading for prayers for the young woman, expressed grief as the news of her death spread Saturday afternoon.
Guidry was diagnosed with COVID in early July, according to a social media post from her sister, Brittany Smith. She spiked a high fever and had a seizure, Smith wrote. She was placed in a medically induced coma on Thursday.
Louisiana has a vaccination rate of about 36%, below the national vaccination rate of nearly 50%.
Friends, colleagues grieve after young Lafayette ER nurse dies from COVID complications https://t.co/K1CYm4Fwqv via @theadvocateaca please take the Damn Shot
— Russel L. Honore’ (@ltgrusselhonore) July 12, 2021
All I can say is how many more people have to die because of the idiotic, right-wing conspiracy theorists, their demagogic political leaders, and media disinformation organs? How many more? https://t.co/qbGxnd3kMg
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) July 12, 2021
Domestic Dispute Ends With Crushing Conclusion
Corey Jones (mugshot via EBRSO)
Louisiana: Dem Governor Wins 2nd Term Over GOP Trump Ally
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards
The Republican National Committee invested $2 million and 60 staffers on the ground in hopes of flipping the seat red. Yesterday, Trump tweeted “Louisiana, 3 hours left, get out and Vote for @EddieRispone for Governor. Lower taxes and much more!” After the news that Rispone had lost the race, and not wanting to be associated with failure, Trump has now deleted the tweet. 
Trump also recently campaigned for GOP Governor Matt Bevin in Kentucky which resulted in the Democrat, Andy Beshear, winning the race. There will now be two Democratic governors in deep-red South.