Ali Fazeli Monfared (image via Twitter)
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 pic.twitter.com/ATljfEAAvN
— Joshua Bassett (@joshuatbassett) May 11, 2021
News Round-Up: May 11, 2021
News Round-Up: March 10, 2021
Some news items you might have missed: • AP News: The European Parliament is scheduled to debate a resolution on Wednesday that would declare the entire 27-member European Union a “freedom zone” for LGBT people. The move is seen as a reaction to actions in Poland, where many local communities have adopted symbolic homophobic resolutions declaring themselves free of “LGBT ideology.” • Pink News: There was widespread shock when LGBT+ Rights Ghana, an advocacy organisation, had its offices raided and shut down by national security forces in February. On Monday, parliamentarian Samuel Nartey George announced that he and seven other MPs will bring forward legislation in an effort to criminalize the promotion of LGBTQ rights. • NowThis News: An Uber driver (above image) in San Francisco, CA, was assaulted by passengers after one of them allegedly refused to wear a mask (warning: distressing). The San Francisco police are now investigating the women for possible charges. A GoFundMe was launched to help the driver here.
• Washington Post: President Biden confirmed Wednesday that his administration plans to secure an additional 100 million doses of the single-shot vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson. The additional doses will reinforce the supply needed to offer all American adults a vaccine by the end of May. • Twitter: Donald Trump issued a pathetically lame statement tonight “reminding” people HE should get credit for the COVID vaccines. He notably doesn’t take responsibility for the 529,000+ American deaths that occurred thanks in part to his admitted ‘downplaying’ of the virus. 
Uber Driver Calls Police After Telling Gay Dads Crying Infant “Needed His Mother”
In a recent Twitter thread, gay dad James Moed shared a disturbing incident where an Uber driver apparently called the police after telling Moed and his husband their crying baby “needed his mother.” Moed and his husband were staying at the Marriott Marina while traveling in San Diego last week. The couple, who live in the UK, was awakened by a knock at their hotel room door at 1:30 a.m. At the door were police officers who demanded to see the men’s identification. According to the Twitter thread, Moed shared “It turns out the @Uber driver who had taken us back to the hotel had called the cops – accusing us of…child trafficking? Endangerment?” Apparently, during their Uber ride to the hotel, their driver told the couple their crying infant “needed his mother.” Even though the men explained the child has two dads, the driver “didn’t back down.” The police departed peacefully after the couple showed their identification including their son’s passport to prove they weren’t ‘child trafficking.’ But even after the officers left the hotel, the men were shaken. “Stayed awake freaking out,” wrote Moed. “What if we hadn’t had his passport? The cops had been less agreeable? Where can my #queerfamily travel safely?” The father shared that he had contacted Uber about their driver’s behavior and the app’s algorithm replied with a form letter and a refund. Insisting he didn’t want a refund, he says he pressed on asking for “proof that you keep #LGBTQ riders safe from homophobic drivers.” A few hours later, Moed added that he had spoken to Uber support requesting an “apology from the driver (not his dismissal)” as well as evidence of LGBTQ sensitivity training. So far, the couple hasn’t indicated if they’d heard back from Uber. https://twitter.com/jamesmoed/status/1224911775608594432 https://twitter.com/jamesmoed/status/1224911777139392522 https://twitter.com/jamesmoed/status/1225151863105957888 We’d like to hear from you, readers – have any of you had a homophobic experience while using Uber? Let us know in the comments below. (Image by why kei on Unsplash)
Uber Driver Kicks Same-Sex Couple Out For ‘Kiss On The Cheek’
An Uber driver kicked two Camden County, N.J. women out of her car after one kissed the other on the cheek. One of the women, Kristin Michele, recorded the incident. From NJ.com:
Kristin Michele and Jenn Mangan were in an Uber on their way to a Zac Brown Band concert in Camden on Friday night when Michele leaned over and gave Mangan a kiss on the cheek, they said.
The driver then immediately told the women to get out of the car, Michele said.
“I said ‘I don’t understand.’ She said ‘I can’t ride with that. You kissed her,’” Michele said. “She said ‘I won’t have that.’”
Michele started recording a video right after that, in which she asks, “Are you kicking me out because I’m gay?” and the driver responds, “Yes, I am. Yes. Get out.”
The women eventually walked half a mile home, and then took a train to their concert. They say they reached out to Uber and the company says they would look into the incident.
News Round-Up: March 4, 2019
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| (image via Instagram) |
Some news items you might have missed:
• InstaHunk Jared Techau has the right idea for cold, rainy nights in Los Angeles. #metime #mood #candles
• A man convicted of the murder of a gay man in Alabama in 1999 has been stabbed to death in prison.
• Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) has expressed support for the federal legalization of marijuana as he considers a potential presidential bid in 2020.
• A man and his friend were kicked out of an Uber in Sydney, Australia after his friend kissed him on the forehead during the car ride.
• Journalist Michael Musto spoke with an Academy Award voter who has an idea how Glenn Close lost her Oscar this year.
• The Fab Five are back! Netflix just dropped the trailer for Season 3 of Queer Eye which includes the show’s first duo and first lesbian makeovers.
The new season will also tackle issues like alcoholism, identity crises and more.
Season 3 drops on March 15. Watch the trailer below.
Did An Uber Driver Request Sex In Exchange For A Free Ride?
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| Matthew Marston says an Uber driver offered him a free ride for sex |
I know you should tip your driver, but this might be a bit much.
Orlando resident Matthew Marston was just trying to get to work on Monday when he fired up Uber on his phone and ordered a ride.
What he wasn’t prepared for though was the text message he received from the driver once his fare was accepted.
According to local NBC affiliate WESH, the Uber driver reportedly sent Marston a message which read, “Hey, I’ll give you a free ride if you let me (commit a sexual act).”
Clearly, Marston was stunned, telling WESH, “I was shocked. It felt uncomfortable.”
Uncomfortable? Umm, yeah…you could say that.
Even though it was 3AM in the morning, Marston cancelled the ride. But Uber slapped him with a $5 cancellation fine.
He admits he had to think twice before ordering a new Uber, but he had to get to work, so he tuned up the app once again. This time with no complications.
Marston says he tried to get in touch with Uber but hasn’t been able to get anyone from the freelance transit company to respond.
Bob Hazen of WESH called the phone number for the driver but the call went straight to voicemail.
Hazen spoke with an Uber spokesman who said they were aware of the incident and investigating. They also relayed that Marston’s $5 had been refunded.
Uber told Hazen that the company was looking into whether another person could have accessed the account and sent the offending text.
News Round-Up: June 12, 2018
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| Brandon Haagenson and David Merten in Afterglow (photo: Mati Gelman) |
Some news items you might have missed:
• Congrats to long-running play Afterglow (above) celebrating it’s one year anniversary running off-Broadway tonight.
The one act play follows Josh and Alex, a married couple in an open relationship, who invite Darius to share their bed one night. What follows is an exploration of individual definitions of love, loyalty, and trust as futures are questioned, relationships are shaken, and commitments are challenged.
• And speaking of New York City, an Uber driver kicked a lesbian couple out of his car for sharing a quick peck/smooch.
• Alec Baldwin gleefully told Howard Stern he’d win if he ran for the White House, but he’s busy hosting the reboot of the TV gameshow “Match Game.” You know he’s just f*cking with the Trumpster…
• Maine has become the third state to approve a third gender for state-issued drivers licenses and IDs.
• A drug used to treat alcoholism appears to improve viral suppression in folks with HIV.
• This tweet of a grandmother ironing her granddaughter’s Pride flag has gone super-viral:
I got up this morning to get ready for #DCPride. My grandma walked into my room, looked at my bi flag, and said, “Oh, this needs to be pressed out!” Such a simple gesture, but it holds so much love and meaning for me. pic.twitter.com/stiD3vg5vs— Lexie 💖💜💙 (@lexie_galaxie) June 9, 2018
Uber Plans To Launch A Fleet Of Flying Taxis By 2023
Uber has announced plans to launch a fleet of flying taxis by 2023.
The plan is to begin in Dallas and Los Angeles with testing to start in 2020.
Instead of picking you up, the plan would be to build “sky ports” where folks can board and disembark in a ride-sharing program.
Each sky port will be able to handle 200 takeoffs and landings an hour.
The air-cars will be flown by a pilot and hold up to four people.
NASA will be involved in creating a system of industry standards and regulations.
Check out the video report below. Who’s up for an air-taxi?
News Round-Up: January 3, 2018
Some news items you might have missed:
• Actor and fitness model Lony Pizarro (above) proves not every shirtless pic happens at the beach or in a bathroom 🙂
• Looks like actress Ellen Page and gf Emm Portner heard some wedding bells recently. #Congrats
• Kenneth-in-the-212’s “Wrestle Wednesdays” are plenty reason to get through the week 😉
• The ISIS executioner who beheaded gay men has been captured in Iraq
• Eric Trump, attempting to retake the mantle of “Dumbest Trump,” accused out talk show host Ellen DeGeneres of being a part of the “Deep State” conspiracy. You know, that “Deep State” thing about elected government officials – which Ellen is not…?
• A gay couple in Houston was kicked out of their Uber at 4AM by their driver after exchanging a sweet kiss.
• It’s no wonder the guys over at NewNowNext are suddenly rugby fans. Who knew sports could be so much fun?
Uber CEO Quits Trump Advisory Council Over Immigration Ban
I’m guessing enough accounts were deleted to get the attention of Uber’s CEO, Travis Kalanick.
Via The Daily Beast:
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick left President Trump’s business advisory council on Thursday over the administration’s ban on refugees and visitors from Muslim countries, according to a memo obtained by Recode.
Uber faced an enormous backlash from users after Kalanick initially said that he would continue to engage with Trump after the president’s recent executive order.
In a memo to his employees, obtained by The New York Times, Kalanick wrote: “Earlier today I spoke briefly with the president about the immigration executive order and its issues for our community. I also let him know that I would not be able to participate on his economic council. Joining the group was not meant to be an endorsement of the president or his agenda but unfortunately it has been misinterpreted to be exactly that.”
See, folks? Taking action can result in change.