Tag: Mike Pence

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News Round-Up: December 9, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:

• You could say things are going “swimmingly” down here in Puerto Vallarta. The views are very nice 🙂

• Speaking to OUT from the set of his new movie, Limited Partners, Billy Porter described the news of his Golden globe nomination for “Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series – Drama” for Pose as “unbelievable, it’s out of body, it’s surreal, it’s crazy. I’ve been in this business for 30 years, I’m speechless, and I’m a man of many words, so to make me speechless is a big deal.”

• GOP Sen. Marco Rubio warns a presidential pardon for former campaign chair Paul Manafort would be a “terrible mistake” and could “trigger a debate about whether the pardon powers should be amended.”

• Focus Features has acquired Michael Ausiello’s critically-acclaimed memoir Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies with Dan Savage and David Marshall Grant to co-write the screenplay. The memoir is an emotional, often funny, account of Ausiello’s 14-year relationship that ends with the heart-wrenching death of his husband Kit, who succumbed to a rare form of neuroendocrine cancer in 2015. Jim Parsons is set to star.

• Vanity Fair: Donald Trump wonders if he should dump Vice President Mike Pence in 2020?

• Robyn has released the official music video for her hit, “Honey,” featuring dancers cast from a call sent out on her Twitter account.

The chosen dancers were flown to London for the shoot from all around the world.

According to press materials, “Robyn wanted the process of making the video to also embody her mantra of bringing people together and communicating in person…It is a testament to love, sensuality and the loose feeling during the after-hours of a great party.”

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Mike Pence’s World AIDS Day Speech Filled With Misinformation, No Mention Of LGBTQ Community

Vice President Mike Pence speaks at World AIDS Day event at White House

In advance of the 30th observance of World AIDS Day (December 1), Vice President Mike Pence spoke at a White House event where he boasted of the current administration’s ‘accomplishments’ on HIV/AIDS.

Since 1988, December 1 has been acknowledged as a day dedicated to raising aware of the AIDS pandemic that has claimed more than 35 million lives worldwide.

Pence’s speech was filled with wild inaccuracies as he attempted to credit Donald Trump with bringing “a renewed energy and focus” to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

That statement alone represents the height of hypocrisy.

Celebrating the 15th anniversary of PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), Pence told the audience at the event that the president plans on signing a bill soon that will reauthorize the program.

What he didn’t mention is that Trump’s own budget proposal called for a 17% reduction in funding for the program, in addition to $425 million to be cut from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

Hailing the success of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, which provides health coverage for low-income people with HIV/AIDS, the Vice President failed to tell the crowd that the administration diverted funds from the program this year to help pay for separating families at the Mexican border.

Additionally, the president fired the remaining 16 members of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS after 6 prominent members resigned over his indifference to the issue.

In the nearly two years since Trump took office, no one has been appointed to lead the White House Office of National AIDS Policy. How do you take credit for ‘renewed energy and focus’ when you haven’t even asked someone to lead the charge against the disease?

Then there’s the “Deploy or Get Out” policy which could mean the discharge of HIV+ U.S. military service members. The policy, announced in February of this year, directed the Pentagon to remove any military personnel who are considered undeployable to serve outside of the U.S. for 12 consecutive months “for any reason.”

And, for the second year in a row, at no time did Pence, nor any other White House official, acknowledge the disproportionate impact HIV/AIDS has had on the LGBTQ community.

In 2016, two-thirds of all new HIV diagnoses in the United States were gay and bisexual men.

Even going back to before Pence’s time in the current administration, there was his woeful record as a congressman and governor of Indiana on the issue of HIV.

Running for congress in 2000, his campaign website stated that funds from the Ryan White program should be “directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior.”

As Governor of Indiana, Pence opposed a needle exchange program which would have slowed HIV infections in rural counties in his state. It was only after 200 people became infected in just one county that he allowed the program to be implemented.

Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, tweeted his criticism of the speech, calling out Pence’s hypocrisy and misinformation:

And longtime LGBTQ activist and author Michelangelo Signorile pulled no punches in his assessment of Pence’s remarks:

(h/t Washington Blade)

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Report: Trump Is Asking Aides ‘Is Mike Pence Loyal?’

Mike Pence (L) and Donald Trump (R)

A New York Times article reports on Donald Trump considering replacing Vice President Mike Pence with a new running mate in order to make inroads with female voters in 2020.

Apparently, the man who likes to “grab’em by the pussy” feels he’s got the evangelical thing sewn up now.

From The New York Times:

In recent weeks, with his electoral prospects two years from now much on his mind, Mr. Trump has focused on the person who has most publicly tethered his fortunes to him. In one conversation after another he has asked aides and advisers a pointed question: Is Mike Pence loyal?

Mr. Trump has repeated the question so many times that he has alarmed some of his advisers. The president has not openly suggested dropping Mr. Pence from the ticket and picking another running mate, but the advisers say those kinds of questions usually indicate that he has grown irritated with someone.

Within the White House, most people he has talked to have assured the president that Mr. Pence has been a committed soldier, engaging in activities that Mr. Trump has eschewed, such as traveling to Hawaii to receive the remains of veterans of the Korean War, or visiting parts of the globe that Mr. Trump has avoided.

But some Trump advisers, primarily outside the White House, have suggested to him that while Mr. Pence remains loyal, he may have used up his utility. These advisers argue that Mr. Trump has forged his own relationship with evangelical voters, and that what he might benefit from more is a running mate who could help him with women voters, who disapprove of him in large numbers.

One name insiders keep coming back to is Nikki R. Haley, the United States ambassador to the United Nations.

Haley has already announced her plans to leave at the end of the year. A former governor of South Carolina, Haley also enjoys a close relationship with Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner.

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HRC Reveals “The Real Mike Pence” And His Anti-LGBTQ Policies

As Donald Trump holds court on a daily basis in the nation’s political spotlight, the chant of impeachment has been heard in some corners.

But the reality of a Trump impeachment means an almost certain President Mike Pence.

As the Human Rights Campaign points out, a Pence presidency would present clear danger to the LGBTQ community.

HRC president Chad Griffin said in a statement:

“Mike Pence has made a career out of attacking the rights and equal dignity of LGBTQ people, women and other marginalized communities.

“Now as vice president, he poses one of the greatest threats to equality in the history of our movement.

“With the world distracted by Donald Trump’s scandal-ridden White House, Mike Pence’s nefarious agenda has been allowed to fly under the radar for too long. He has become not only the most powerful vice president in American history, but also the least scrutinized.”

The HRC has compiled a new report on Pence’s woeful history on LGBTQ rights and policies, and assembled the information in a new microsite to shine a spotlight on Pence’s inside-the-White House efforts to continue his decades-long crusade by leading the Trump/Pence administration’s attacks on LGBTQ people, including those who bravely serve our nation in the military.

• Support for the practice of so-called “conversion therapy”

• Support for legalized discrimination against LGBTQ people

• Blocking hate crime legislation and funding for HIV and AIDS prevention

• Efforts to undermine access to health and reproductive care essential to LGBTQ people

Watch the new video below from the HRC which summarizes Pence’s poisonous positions on LGBTQ policies.

And visit the HRC’s new site for more info on “The Real Mike Pence.”

(via press release)

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News Round-Up: April 13, 2018

Alabama Sen. Doug Jones' hottie gay son, Carson Jones
Carson Jones, son of Alabama Sen. Doug Jones

Some news items you might have missed:

• Alabama Senator Doug Jones has become the 46th co-sponsor to The Equality Act, which seeks to add ‘sexual orientation and gender identity’ protections to existing civil rights laws. Jones says his (hottie) openly gay son Carson’s coming out helped shape his political views on LGBTQ rights.

• The city of Columbus, Indiana, which just happens to be virulently anti-gay Vice President Mike Pence’s hometown, will celebrate its first-ever LGBT Pride Festival tomorrow.

• Amazon video just got that much more gay as the streaming giant has just added dozens and dozens of LGBTQ films that screened at Outfest in L.A. to Amazon Prime.

• A recent report by Goldman Sachs analysts pointed out that curing diseases doesn’t make nearly as much money for Pharma companies as creating drugs that treat (but don’t cure) chronic illnesses. The statement adds fuel to the conspiracy theory that should cures for diseases like AIDS might be discovered, they might be withheld in favor of “treatment” drugs.

• The Maine House of Representatives has approved legislation that would protect LGBTQ youth from so-called “ex-gay therapy.”

• It appears Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, liked to record conversations with associates. Folks in TrumpLand are worried some of those recordings which might have been included in the Monday raid on Cohen’s offices, contain material damaging to Trump.

• Olympian Adam Rippon opened last night’s GLAAD Media Awards by calling his bestie Gus Kenworthy onstage and explaining, “I’ve had such a big year, but my biggest achievement so far is finally getting Gus to come out of his shell. Four years ago he was afraid to kiss his boyfriend after he won silver in Sochi. Now, he’s unleashed.”

Gus agreed saying, “Literally, I’ll kiss anybody.” And with that laid a big smooch on Adam.

Watch below.

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VP Mike Pence Behind Latest Anti-Trans Military Ban

Vice President Mike Pence (L) with Donald Trump

Last Friday, the White House issued its official plan to remove transgender service members from the U.S. military.

Attached to the plan was a “report” from the Defense Department as well as a memo signed by Defense Secretary James Mattis

It now appears the “report” actually came from anti-LGBT Vice President Mike Pence and anti-trans activists.

From LGBTQ Nation:

Multiple sources told Slate that Mike Pence “played a leading role in the creation of this report,” along with anti-transgender activists Ryan Anderson and Tony Perkins.

Anderson works at the right wing Heritage Foundation and recently wrote When Harry Became Sally, a book that claims that being transgender is a mental illness based on the narratives of “ex-transgender” people. Perkins works for the Family Research Council, an SPLC designated hate group.

Another source told Think Progress that the report was a product of a “working group” led by Pence that produced a report with different conclusions from Mattis’s committee report. The source said that Pence “overruled” Mattis’s report, but did not explain exactly what that meant.

Sources for Slate said that Mattis chose not to spend “political capital” fighting Pence on this issue.

Pence has long supported virulently anti-LGBT positions and policies from opposing same-sex marriage and gays in the military to supporting so-called “ex-gay therapy.”

Even though major medical organizations like the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association affirm that transitioning is an effective treatment for gender dysphoria, the Pence report does not discuss either association’s positions.

Last week, a federal judge asked Donald Trump to provide a list of the “experts” Trump said he “consulted with” before issuing his haphazard policy change via Twitter last summer. Team Trump refused citing executive privilege.

The ban on transgender military members is currently being blocked via injunctions from four different federal courts.

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John Oliver’s Book About Mike Pence’s “Gay Bunny” Sells Over 180K Copies

John Oliver chats with Seth Meyers

Seth Meyers chatted with John Oliver of HBO’s Last Week Tonight about the runaway success of A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, Oliver’s bestselling book about Vice President Mike Pence’s gay bunny.

Oliver debuted the book at the end of a segment of his show regarding Pence’s homophobic views. Oliver says the project evolved “on the quiet.”

The book has hit #1 on Amazon’s best seller list selling over 180,000 copies leading not only the Pence’s bunny book (#4) but also James Comey’s upcoming A Higher Loyalty (#2).

Also available is the audio book read by a list of luminaries like Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jim Parsons, RuPaul, Ellie Kemper, and John Lithgow and features a white-haired stink bug character that looks awfully familiar.

You can find the book on Amazon here. All proceeds from the book go to The Trevor Project and AIDS United.

Inside A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo

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John Oliver’s Gay Bunny Book Hits #1 On Amazon

So, after chatting about Vice President Mike Pence’s many anti-LGBTQ issues and policies on Sunday night, John Oliver of HBO’s Last Week Tonight announced a “gay bunny” version of the childrens book by Pence’s 24-year-old daughter, Charlotte, and illustrated by his wife, Second Lady Karen Pence about the family pet bunny, Marlon Bundo.

As fate is a funny chick, Last Week Tonight‘s version has hit #1 on the Amazon book chart topping the Pence version currently sitting at #4.

The proceeds will go to The Trevor Project, which supports LGBTQ youth, and AIDS United, which works to end the AIDS epidemic in the United States.

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John Oliver’s Book About Mike Pence’s Gay Bunny Hits #1 On Amazon

John Oliver, host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, did a deep dive last night on Vice President Mike Pence’s terrible record on LGBTQ rights.

About the only thing Oliver could find to like about the veep is his pet rabbit, Marlo Bundo.

Bundo is so popular that the vice president’s daughter, Charlotte Pence, wrote a book about the bunny which was illustrated by second lady (and watercolor artist) Karen Pence.

The publisher says the tome “gives young readers a bunny’s-eye view of the special duties of the vice president.”

In order to spotlight the LGBTQ rights Pence so virulently opposes, Oliver trolled Pence with a parody book, A Day in The Life of Marlon Bundo, wherein a bow tie wearing Marlon meets and falls in love with another gay bunny but runs into obstacles when they try and marry.

Overnight Oliver’s became an Amazon #1 bestseller:

Oliver’s parody book was penned by Last Week Tonight contributor Jill Twiss and illustrated by EG Keller.

The proceeds will go to The Trevor Project, which supports LGBTQ youth, and AIDS United, which works to end the AIDS epidemic in the United States.

“Please buy it for your children; buy it for any child you know, or just buy it because you know it will annoy Mike Pence,” says Oliver. “You’d be doing a nice thing, in a really dick-ish way. And isn’t that the dream, at the end of the day?”

You can watch the segment below. The section on Bundo begins around the 14:10 mark.