New York AG Warns Hospitals: Withholding Gender-Affirming Care Could Violate State Law

New York Attorney General Letitia James

New York Attorney General Letitia James is warning hospitals in her state that complying with Donald Trump’s executive order that seeks to stop gender-affirming care to trans youth would violate state anti-discrimination laws. Continue reading “New York AG Warns Hospitals: Withholding Gender-Affirming Care Could Violate State Law”

News Round-Up: June 8, 2021

(screen capture from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia)
Some news items you might have missed: • Gallup Polling: U.S. support for legal same-sex marriage continues to trend upward, now at 70% – a new high in Gallup’s trend since 1996. This latest figure marks an increase of 10 percentage points since 2015, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that all states must recognize same-sex marriages. • Gothamist: Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today that the vast majority of New York’s coronavirus restrictions and safety measures will be lifted once 70% of adults have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine—which he estimated could happen within the next two weeks. • Washington Blade: An East Texas bakery shared a photo of rainbow Pride cookies on Facebook and immediately got slammed with homophobic hate including customers cancelling huge orders. But by the next morning, the owners were deluged with orders offering to buy the cancelled cookies and a line of customers down the block buying out the entire bakery in a show of support.

NBC4i: An anti-vaccine physician told Ohio lawmakers Tuesday that COVID-19 vaccines can magnetize people. “I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures all over the internet of people who have had these shots and now they’re magnetized. They can put a key on their forehead. It sticks.” • NBC News: Wisconsin pharmacist Steven Brandenburg has been sentenced to 3 years in prison after pleading guilty to destroying 500 doses of COVID-19 vaccine in January. Brandenburg admitted he removed doses of Moderna vaccine from refrigeration storage overnight knowing it would render them ineffective. • Buzzfeed: Check out this list of 33 great LGBTQ-themed shows to watch on Hulu for Pride Month like Love, Victor or that awesome coming out dance sequence on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (top image).

Campaign Strategy: ‘Stable Genius’ Announces Blue States Have ‘Gone To Hell’

Donald Trump

Here’s a campaign strategy I’ve never seen in presidential politics. Donald Trump took to Twitter today to demonize several states including California, New York, and Illinois. According to Trump, the Golden State is “going to hell,” the Empire State has “gone to hell,” and the Land of Lincoln “has no place to go.” Why would a president of the “United States” attack Americans in such a manner? And by the way, does the Donald forget there are Republicans running for public office in those states?

Gay Racist Toad Shouts N-Word, Attacks Guy Recording His A**holery

Just grotesque… (screen capture via YouTube)
Here’s a sad example that there’s a jerk in just about every demographic. A video shared on social media shows a confrontation between a driver and a pedestrian escalate to violence after the driver realized he was captured on video calling a Black sanitation worker a “f*cking n****r.” The incident took place on New York City’s Upper East Side over the weekend. After shouting the racist slur, the driver noticed a pedestrian was recording the ugliness. “Are you recording me?” asked the driver. “Yeah,” says the pedestrian. “Why?” the driver asks. In a pretty spot-on assessment, the pedestrian replied, “Because you’re an asshole.” “I’m an asshole? Honey, look in the mirror, okay? The only person who is an asshole is you for recording,” says the racist driver. During the exchange, the motorist asked the pedestrian, “Are you gay, too?” “Too?” Oh god, he’s gay? Dang it… “No,” the pedestrian replies. “No, you’re not? Well, you look like it,” the driver snaps back. When the pedestrian shares he plans on uploading the video to the internet, the driver scoffs, “Okay, I’ll get fans, honey. That’s what I’ll do.” It’s at that point the driver exits his car and assaults the pedestrian. Along the way snatches the phone recording the incident and hurls it to the ground. The driver probably thought he’d solved his internet problem, except others nearby noticed the exchange and were recording as well.

The YouTube poster writes that prior to the beginning of the clip, the driver “was repeatedly shouting at a Black sanitation worker, yelling “you’re a n*****”. The noise was enough for several residents to come down to street level.” Folks in the Twitterverse were NOT having the hideous behavior.