Tag: Navajo

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News Round-Up: February 8, 2021

Actor Russell Tovey

Actor Russell Tovey
Russell Tovey (image via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • Out: Actor Russell Tovey (above) says his dad wanted him to get ‘hormone treatment’ after he came out as a means to ‘cure’ Tovey of being gay. • The Advocate: Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has selected Arlando Teller, a gay member of the Navajo Nation, man to serve as deputy assistant secretary for tribal affairs. Teller, who was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2018, resigned his seat last week to take the post at the Department of Transportation. • Pink News: Soccer legend David Beckham has signed a £10m deal to become face of Qatar, one of the most dangerous places in the world to be gay. • Revry: The queer streaming network has a whole schedule of programming to celebrate Black History Month. The six-part drama Single Record follows a talented and arrogant rapper whose record label could drop him if his next song isn’t a hit. His desperation to save his career will force him to confront his identity, sexuality and bring him to new lows that could cost him everything.

• Jerusalem Post: An Iranian cleric warned followers not to go near people vaccinated for COVID-19, claiming the vaccine turned them gay. Ayatollah Abbas Tabrizian wrote on his Telegram social-media platform: “Don’t go near those who have had the COVID vaccine. They have become homosexuals.” • Reuters: Hackers broke into the computer system of a facility that treats water for about 15,000 people near Tampa, Florida and sought to add a dangerous level of lye to the water supply. “The guy was sitting there monitoring the computer as he’s supposed to and all of a sudden he sees a window pop up that the computer has been accessed,” Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said. “The next thing you know someone is dragging the mouse and clicking around and opening programs and manipulating the system.” • CNN: Senate leaders reached an agreement Monday giving House impeachment managers and Donald Trump’s lawyers up to 16 hours each to present their cases and creating the option for a debate and vote to call witnesses — if the House impeachment managers seek it.

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Navajo Nation: Trump’s “Pocahontas” Comment Was An Ethnic Slur And “Uncalled For”

In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s crass reference to “Pocahontas” during a ceremony at the White House yesterday meant to honor Native American veterans of WWII, the leader of the Navajo Nation said he found the reference to be an ethnic slur and inappropriate for the occasion.

During an interview with CNN, Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye said Trump’s political attack on Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren during a ceremony honoring Navajo code talkers was “uncalled for.”

“This was a day to honor them, and to insert something like that — the word ‘Pocahontas’ as a jab to a senator — you know, that belongs on the campaign trail,” Begaye said. “That doesn’t belong in the room when our war heroes are being honored.”

Sonny Skyhawk, the founder of American Indians in Film & Television, told CNN that Trump deliberately held the ceremony in front of a painting of President Andrew Jackson who signed the Indian Removal Act. That legislation led to thousands of Native American deaths due to over 60,000 being forced to relocate.

Skyhawk said there’s no way Trump didn’t know the history, noting, “Andrew Jackson is one of his heroes.”

Watch the interview segment below.