Tag: Mike Pence

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Podcast: Transgender Folks Get Help In The Workplace; “Yes” Vote Leads In Australia’s Marriage Equality Mail-In Vote

In this week’s podcast:

• California’s governor signs “first in the nation” legislation that will require training meant to help high unemployment among transgender people

• Donald Trump joked that Vice President Mike Pence wants to “hang” all gay people

• The “Yes to Marriage Equality” campaign in Australia appears to be leading

• Georgia state lawmaker considers quarantining HIV+ people

• Rentboy.com CEO goes to prison even as female escort websites continue without penalty

• Out Canadian country music artist Patrick Masse headlines Las Vegas Pride

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

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The New Yorker: Trump Joked Pence Wants To “Hang” All The Gays

Vice President Mike Pence, President Donald Trump

According to a lengthy profile of Vice President Mike Pence in The New Yorker, Donald Trump apparently “joked” that Vice President Mike Pence “wants to hang” all gay people.

“Trump thinks Pence is great,” Bannon told me. But, according to a longtime associate, Trump also likes to “let Pence know who’s boss.”

A staff member from Trump’s campaign recalls him mocking Pence’s religiosity. He said that, when people met with Trump after stopping by Pence’s office, Trump would ask them, “Did Mike make you pray?”

Two sources also recalled Trump needling Pence about his views on abortion and homosexuality. During a meeting with a legal scholar, Trump belittled Pence’s determination to overturn Roe v. Wade. The legal scholar had said that, if the Supreme Court did so, many states would likely legalize abortion on their own. “You see?” Trump asked Pence. “You’ve wasted all this time and energy on it, and it’s not going to end abortion anyway.”

When the conversation turned to gay rights, Trump motioned toward Pence and joked, “Don’t ask that guy—he wants to hang them all!”

Pence’s views on LGBT rights have been a threat to the community for years.

As Indiana governor, he signed into law the virulently anti-LGBT Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 2015, which essentially legalized discrimination against gay people. The legislation created a huge backlash against the state and Pence.

Additionally, Pence has publicly supported so-called gay conversion therapy and has been named “one of the most anti-LGBT politicians out there.”

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Pence NFL “Walkout” Stunt Cost Taxpayers $242,500

Vice President Mike Pence with President Trump

CNN estimates that Vice President Mike Pence’s political stunt of walking out of the Indianapolis Colts/San Francisco 49ers game yesterday cost American taxpayers “about $242,500.”

As I reported yesterday, Pence flew to Indianapolis yesterday to attend the NFL game only briefly, leaving upon seeing several San Francisco players kneel during the national anthem, which they have done at every game this season.

According to the Air Force, flying a C-32, the model of plane used for Air Force 2, for one hour costs about $30,000. Pence’s flight from Las Vegas to Indianapolis Saturday took about three hours and 20 minutes, so it cost about $100,000.

Pence then flew from Indianapolis to Los Angeles on Sunday, which took about four hours and 45 minutes, costing about $142,500.

The grand total: about $242,500.

The stunt was clearly planned as reporters traveling with the vice president were told to wait in the van as there was likely to be an early departure.

Donald Trump confirmed as much later tweeting, “I asked @VP Pence to leave stadium if any players kneeled, disrespecting our country. I am proud of him and @SecondLady Karen.”

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Vice President Pence Walks Out Of NFL Football Game Over Players Kneeling During National Anthem

Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence
(image via Twitter)

Vice President Mike Pence walked out of today’s NFL game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Indianapolis Colts when several players from the 49ers took a knee during the singing of the national anthem.

Pence later tweeted (taking after his boss, I guess) to explain his position saying, in part, “While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, I don’t think it’s too much to ask NFL players to respect the Flag and our National Anthem.”

From HuffPost:

Following the example of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, NFL players around the country have knelt during renditions of the national anthem in order to protest against police brutality and racial injustice directed towards black Americans.

More than a hundred NFL players from several football teams kneeled or held arms in solidarity earlier this month after President Donald Trump called NFL players who kneel during the anthem “sons of bitches.” He later insisted his criticism of the NFL had “nothing” to do with race.

Interestingly, Donald Trump chimed in saying he asked Pence to walk out making some wonder if Pence traveled to Indiana just to pull an orchestrated stunt – on the taxpayer’s dime:

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News Round-Up: July 11, 2017

Wayne Skivington (via Instagram)

Some news items you may have missed:

• Cirque du Soleil Zumanity performer & super-dad Wayne Skivington (above) gets his workout on with his adorable son.

• Vice President Pence is putting some space between himself and Donald Trump Jr.:”The Vice President was not aware of the meeting. He is not focused on stories about the campaign, particularly stories about the time before he joined the ticket.”

• Nearly two-thirds of American LGBTs feel less safe under President Trump.

• A much-rumored reboot of the Showtime series The L Word is officially in the works.

• True Blood star Nelsan Ellis died of heart failure due to alcohol withdrawal complications, and his family wants folks to know in an effort to save others.

• You have to stop, drop and scroll down to watch this awesome father of a 14-year-old transgender boy, Ashur, in Texas.

Ken Ballard speaks movingly about his son who has attempted suicide twice while coming to terms with being transgender and the anxiety about telling his parents and being accepted. Fortunately, Ashur is now living his authentic self and his parents love him unconditionally.

“I would rather have my son be alive than bury my daughter,” says Ken.

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News Round-Up: June 16, 2017

Ignacio Pérez Rey via Instagram

• Ignacio Pérez Rey already has the jump on the weekend. #TGIF

• Big deal – Amazon is buying Whole Foods for $13.7 billion.

• Virulently anti-LGBT Rep. Steve Scalise owes his life to out and proud Capitol Police officer Crystal Griner, who took down Scalise’s shooter.

• Info Wars nut Alex Jones says he secretly recorded his full pre-interview with Megyn Kelly, and has released it in an attempt to embarrass the former Fox News host. In the recording, she promises no “gotcha” questions and fawns over Jones saying she finds him “fascinating.” Jones says he also recorded the full four hour interview and will release that if he thinks Kelly’s upcoming Sunday night airing distorts his statements.

• President Trump has appointed his son’s wedding planner to run the Department of Housing Urban Development Region II, which includes New York. In case you’re wondering – no, she has absolutely no experience in housing, and according to reports she lied about having a law degree.

• Vice President Pence lawyers up as the current special counsel investigation widens it’s scope.

• Expect to hear Grammy®-nominated recording artist Audien and acclaimed DJ/producer 3LAU play their new collaboration, the haunting new single “Hot Water”  this weekend at EDC 2017 in Las Vegas. Listen below.

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Notre Dame Grads Walk Out On Vice President Pence’s Commencement Speech

At today’s graduation ceremony for Notre Dame’s class of 2017, dozens of students stood up and left as Vice President Pence began his commencement speech.

From USA Today:

This was not a surprise, but rather a staged protest some students had been planning for weeks. When Notre Dame announced that the vice president and former governor of Indiana would be the university’s 2017 graduation speaker in March, the student organization WeStaNDFor began brainstorming ways to take a stand.

Bryan Ricketts, who served as Notre Dame’s student body president from 2015-16 and graduated Sunday with a dual-degree in political science and chemical engineering, was one of the leaders. Ricketts told IndyStar that many of his peers were “upset and hurt” by the school’s decision to invite Pence because his “policies have impacted the humanity of certain graduates.”

WeStaNDFor explained in a release that they are primarily protesting Pence’s opposition to gay rights, his attempts as governor to prevent Syrian refugees from resettling in Indiana, his support of President Donald Trump’s immigration travel ban, and his opposition to sanctuary cities that do not enforce federal immigration laws.

The walkout was planned well in advance with leaders of the action, including consulting with the local police to find the most peaceful manner to make their statement.

The group posted instructions for how to walkout on their website:

The group even posted instructions on how to leave: “Walk away from Pence quietly, in confidence, with your head up high, taking your time. Embrace the moment, maybe even hold hands/lock arms with those joining you.”

Watch part of the walkout below.

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Hypocrisy: Vice-President Mike Pence Used Private Email Account As Governor Of Indiana

Vice-president Mike Pence

But, but, but… Hillary’s emails???

It turns out Vice-president Mike Pence, during his tenure as governor of Indiana, used a private email account (on AOL no less).

From Indystar.com:

Vice President Mike Pence reportedly used a private email account to conduct public business, including homeland security matters, while he was governor of Indiana. Records of the emails were obtained by IndyStar through a public records request. Dwight Adams/IndyStar

Vice President Mike Pence routinely used a private email account to conduct public business as governor of Indiana, at times discussing sensitive matters and homeland security issues.

Emails released to IndyStar in response to a public records request show Pence communicated via his personal AOL account with top advisers on topics ranging from security gates at the governor’s residence to the state’s response to terror attacks across the globe. In one email, Pence’s top state homeland security adviser relayed an update from the FBI regarding the arrests of several men on federal terror-related charges.

Cyber-security experts say the emails raise concerns about whether such sensitive information was adequately protected from hackers, given that personal accounts like Pence’s are typically less secure than government email accounts. In fact, Pence’s personal account was hacked last summer.

Furthermore, advocates for open government expressed concerns about transparency because personal emails aren’t immediately captured on state servers that are searched in response to public records requests.

As a member of Team Trump, Pence spent much of last year lambasting Hillary Clinton for using a private email account.

Hypocrisy much?

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Billionaire Betsy DeVos Confirmed As Education Secretary By Vote Of 51-50

Vice-president Mike Pence

For the first time in history, the vice-president was required to cast a tie breaking vote in order to confirm a president’s cabinet nominee.

Billionaire Betsy DeVos, who has spent many years promoting a voucher system for America’s schools but has no formal experience or training in education, was approved today in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 51-50.

The New York Times reports:

Two Republicans voted against Ms. DeVos’s confirmation, a sign that some members of President Trump’s party are willing to go against him, possibly foreshadowing difficulty on some of the president’s more contentious legislative priorities. It was the first time that a vice president has been summoned to the Capitol to break a tie on a cabinet nomination, according to the Senate historian.

The two Republicans who voted against the nominee, Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, announced their opposition to her last week. In back-to-back floor speeches, the lawmakers said Ms. DeVos was unqualified because of a lack of familiarity with public schools and with laws meant to protect students, despite her passion for helping them.

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Mike Pence’s New Neighbors Fly Rainbow Flags In Peaceful Protest Of His Anti-LGBT Positions

Several of Vice President-elect Mike Pence’s neighbors in Washington, D.C. have begun flying rainbow flags in an effort to peacefully protest his now infamous anti-LGBT positions.

From CNN:

Until he moves into the Naval Observatory after taking office, the vice president-elect is renting a $6,000-a-month home in Chevy Chase, a swanky neighborhood in the Northwest quadrant of the nation’s capital.

Some neighbors have put up rainbow flags since the Indiana governor moved in to protest what they call his anti-gay policy positions. The flag represents a symbol of pride in the LGBT community.

Roughly half-dozen pride flags are outside of homes on the block where Pence lives and neighbors say more are on the way.