Some news items you might have missed: • The Advocate: North Dakota lawmakers are advancing a resolution calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 ruling that established marriage equality nationwide. It’s worth mentioning the resolution has no force of law. • CBS News: Meanwhile over in Michigan, state Rep. Josh Schriver (R) has joined the trend introducing a similar resolution. With a Democratic majority in the state Senate, it won’t pass. Continue reading “State Lawmakers Push Anti-Same-Sex Marriage Resolutions + More News”
Burt Ward as Robin and Adam West as Batman (promo photo via ABC) Some news items you might have missed: • PageSix: Burt Ward, recently honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his role of ‘Robin’ (above) in the campy 1960s series Batman, says ABC advised him to take pills to reduce the bulge in his Robin trunks. #ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmm • Lambda Legal: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upheld a lower court ruling in Roe & Voe v. Esper that halted efforts by the Trump administration to discharge members of the Air Force because they are living with HIV. The panel of three judges wrote, “Any understanding of HIV that could justify this ban is outmoded and at odds with current science. Such obsolete understandings cannot justify a ban.” • Deadline: Trevor: The Musical, an acclaimed stage adaptation of the 1994 Oscar-winning short film that gave rise to one of the nation’s most prominent LGBTQ organizations, will make its New York debut this April in an Off-Broadway staging. • CNN: The latest CNN/Des Moines Register polling shows four Democrats closely clustered at the top of the rankings: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (20%), Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (17%), former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg (16%) and former Vice President Joe Biden (15%) all cluster tightly at the top of the pack. That’s an increase of 5 points for Sanders and a drop of 9 points for Buttigieg since the last DMR poll in November. • NBC News: After nearly 40 governors agreed to allow refugees in their states, Texas Gov. Greg Abbot became the first governor in the country to refuse to take in refugees today. However, 18 of his 26 Republican counterparts chose to open the door to refugees, much to the surprise of the Trump administration. • USA Today: Brazil’s Supreme Court has reversed a ruling that would have required Netflix to remove a satirical film depicting Jesus as gay. • Out Music: Randy Report favorite Halsey drops her new music video, “You Should Be Sad,” in advance of her third studio album Manic set for release January 17. The video is set at a country-inspired barn dance/rave and features choreographed sequences as Halsey channels her best Shania Twain. Fun clip and visually there’s lots of eye-candy.
Joe King, a former Mr. Leather Europe, is on a mission to help a young 22-year-old lesbian woman from Uganda who has suffered severe homophobia and poverty.
According to King, Shadia has lived “a very brutal and difficult life in Africa because of her sexuality.”
Rejected by her family for being lesbian, she traveled to Kenya with her two-year-old son. But life was no better there as she fell victim to rape and was forced to live in the streets, often eating bath soap to survive.
Shadia came to King’s attention through a friend at the Refugee Coalition of East Africa. The Coalition works to help LGBTQ people who find themselves the object of persecution.
The organization has arranged for Shadia, her son and her step-sister to relocate to Manchester.
King, who was honored as Mr. Leather Europe in 2016, told Gay Star News recently, “My heart went out for her. The poor girl has been through hell.”
Calling Shadia ‘inspirational’ and ‘thoughtful’ in the face of horrific adversity, King launched a GoFundMe campaign to help raise funds for Shadia’s new chapter in Manchester.
The young mother will be starting her life in a totally new country, with no friends, family or network to rely on.
Citing Pride season, King says he saw “an opportunity for the community to do something for someone and show what Pride is really about.”
King aims to show Shadia that she has a new family in the local LGBTQ community to help get her onto her feet as she begins a job search and takes her first steps in building a new life.
Perhaps an unlikely hero to an African refugee, the UK leatherman closes his appeal on GoFundMe writing, “Please help me support this amazing and inspirational woman and give what you can, no matter how small.”
Gay Star News reports he will meet Shadia at the airport in Manchester on Tuesday with a rainbow Pride flag.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) selected the 10 athletes from more than 40 candidates based on sporting skill, verified refugee status, and personal background.
The teammates originally hail from four of the world’s most troubled hotspots: Syria, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Democratic Republic of Congo. They were officially announced by the IOC’s Executive Board in June.
In Friday’s opening ceremony, they will march together under the Olympic flag.
Tonight, the first-ever #TeamRefugees will also stand before the world and prove that you can succeed no matter where you’re from.
Flailing GOP White House hopeful and current New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, speaking on the Hugh Hewitt radio show, puts on his tough act saying he wouldn’t even allow a 5 year old orphan from Syria into the United States.
Fox News talking head Laura Ingraham demonstrated, once again, her woeful lack of humanity last night as she whined about President Biden agreeing to take in 
