Friday, July 15, 2016
Donald Trump Has Picked His Running Mate
The rumors were true.
From: NewNowNext
From: NewNowNext
It’s official: presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump has picked Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate.
I am pleased to announce that I have chosen Governor Mike Pence as my Vice Presidential running mate. News conference tomorrow at 11:00 A.M.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2016
Before he was governor, Pence spent 12 years in the House of Representatives. He is strongly anti-abortion and signed a religious freedom bill into law, which many view as an anti-gay law.
Obvious logo issues aside, I don’t understand what’s happening with the kerning here pic.twitter.com/kwDoFwro4b— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) July 15, 2016
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNT FROM ORLANDO? ATTITUDE PAYS TRIBUTE IN NEW AUGUST ISSUE
The latest issue of Attitude is available to download now.
From: Attitude
From: Attitude
Last month, 49 innocent lives were lost when 29-year-old US citizen Omar Mateen entered Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and opened fire on an unsuspecting crowd of LGBT people, friends and allies.
Not only the worst mass shooting in modern US history, the attack was one of the most violent acts perpetrated against LGBT people in the West for decades.
In our new August issue – available to download now – Attitude presents a passionate analysis of events, with guest writers from the Latin, Muslim, Christian, Black and Trans communities asking the question: What have we learnt from Orlando?
Acting Editor Cliff Joannou says: “In the years to come, Orlando will without doubt be considered a watershed moment for our community; from the renewed awareness of the everyday hate and fear many of us have accepted as part our lives, to the way the media reports on LGBT+ issues.
“We all know the grim facts of the situation. But the burning question that kept coming to mind when I was thinking about how we should mark the tragedy was simply: what have we learned from Orlando? And I say this because if we do not learn and grow from this terrible moment in our history, then the memory of those who died will truly be lost to hate.”
Truck Drives Into Crowd In South Of France, Killing At Least 80
Authorities are calling it a terror attack, but believe the driver acted alone.
From: NewNowNext
From: NewNowNext
A truck drove into a Bastille Day celebration today in the South of France, killing at least 80 people and wounding dozens. The driver plowed into the crowd for more than a mile before being stopped.
The attack took place after a fireworks display in Nice, along the Promenade des Anglais. The driver was later killed by police, who found guns and grenades in the bed of his truck.
“You could see the fear in people’s faces,” said one eyewitness, according to CNN.
“Everyone was calling ’Run, run, run, there’s an attack,” said another. “We heard some shots… There was great panic.”
In a statement, President Obama condemned “in the strongest terms what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack.
The incident comes eight months after coordinated attacks in Paris killed 130 people. Bastille Day is France’s version of Independence Day, symbolizing the overthrowing of the monarchy and the start of the journey to democracy.
Republican Yesterday, Democrat Now
By: Anthony Nicodemo
Head boy’s basketball coach, Saunders High School, Yonkers, N.Y.
Head boy’s basketball coach, Saunders High School, Yonkers, N.Y.
I was raised a Republican.
Many years ago, my uncle was heavily involved in our local GOP leadership. I can remember each summer looking forward to the annual picnic and attending with my grandfather and grandmother. I have great memories of those days.
Although we were registered Republicans, I remember my father despising Ronald Reagan. We were a pro-union house and my dad, a long time Teamster would never support someone who wasn’t a friend of the unions.
Over time my immediate family became independents. I choose to stay a Republican. I remember my cousin Jill calling me, “Alex P. Keaton,” comparing me to Michael J. Fox’s character in the television sitcom Family Ties.
As I grew into adulthood I began working with many at risk youth. Eventually I settled into a teaching job with mostly learning disabled, minority students. I also landed a coaching job in Yonkers, which is as diverse a community as you could live or work in.
What I found was that these students (my students) were not given ample educational,or economic opportunities. Their education was not as solid as mine. Resources were scarce and they would have a much more difficult time succeeding in life. The Republican party platform did not help these communities, but I remained a Republican.
Eventually I embraced being gay. I came out of the closet and took on a role of activism. Early on I was asked to attend a meeting of our county executives LGBT advisory board. I quickly learned that being a conservative Republican, they did little for the LGBT community. I watched the Ted Cruz’s and Mike Huckabee’s spout anti-LGBT rhetoric. I remained a Republican.
Today this changes! Amidst reports of bigoted and anti-LGBT Indiana governor Mike Pence being chosen as Donald Trump’s vice-Presidential candidate, it’s time to switch to the Democratic side. I just can’t take it anymore!
I’ve voted in six Presidential elections and I’ve never voted Republican. However, just to be affiliated with the party makes my skin crawl. I do not want to receive any more emails, calls or anymore political literature.
I have plenty of friends and family who are Republicans. They say how much they love and support me and “my community,” yet choose to vote Republican. If you support people who do not want [me] to have equal rights, you do not support me, nor my LGBT family.
Since coming out I’ve met and became friends with some wonderful leaders in the Democratic party. Brian Sims (PA Assemblyman), Shelley Mayer (NY Assemblywoman), Andrea Stewart-Cousins (NYS Senator), Mike Spano (Yonkers Mayor) and Michael Sabatino (Yonkers City Councilman). I apologize for not pulling the trigger earlier and for being complacent.
How any LGBT individual can vote Republican is beyond me. How can you vote for a platform that says you are not equal? This is the Republican party, anti-LGBT, divisive and filled with hate. It feels good to know that I will no longer have any affiliation with that party.... and in November I can proudly vote as a Democrat.
ORLANDO PULSE NIGHTCLUB BROKEN INTO JUST A MONTH AFTER SHOOTING
The club has been targeted shortly after being handed back to its owners following police investigations.
From: Attitude
From: Attitude
Pulse Nightclub, where last month 49 clubbers were killed in an anti-LGBT terrorist attack, has been broken into shortly after being handed back to it’s owners on July 13 following a lengthy investigation into the massacre.
We can confirm Pulse had a break in last night. Details will be in the report. Once it is finalized we will release. pic.twitter.com/fcLWDhsyB7— Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) July 14, 2016
According to a report in Time, the intruders used a prying tool to force their way into the nightclub. It’s still unknown whether or not anything was taken or if there was any serious damage to the club.
Nightclub owner Barbara Poma said: “We are disappointed that someone felt compelled to violate the privacy of our beloved Pulse nightclub and the sacred place it has now become”.
“We have faith in the Orlando Police Department and its investigation of this break-in. The club will continue to remain closed to the public as we work to plan the future of Pulse”.
Our community is still grieving. It's disturbing that someone would try to bring additional pain to the victims. https://t.co/iQ3LAp8X60— Mayor Buddy Dyer (@orlandomayor) July 14, 2016
Big Brother Update:
July 15, 2008
From: Favorite Hunks & Other Things
From: Favorite Hunks & Other Things
Although I usually am not into big body builders, I must say I find myself enjoying Jessie Godderz on Big Brother. He certainly is not playing the game the best thus far, but he is cute, and 'fun' to watch. I must say I did enjoy him sliding through the honey tonight in the veto challenge. Glad this eye candy is not leaving the first week the show is airing.
Meanwhile, Cowboy Steven Daigle showed a little peak while changing today.
House Dems Slam GOP Over Proposed Anti-LGBT Bill
"This hearing is deeply hurtful to a still grieving LGBT and allied community."
From: NewNowNext
Exactly one month after the horrific mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Republican House lawmakers gathered to discuss a bill that many believe could open the floodgates for rampant LGBT discrimination.
The hearing was held this past Tuesday and saw legislators discussing the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA), a proposed “religious liberty” bill that would prohibit the federal government from taking “discriminatory action” against any person who “believes or acts in accordance with a religious belief or moral conviction” that marriage should be between “one man and one woman.”
Essentially the legislation, which borrows language from Mississippi’s sweeping anti-LGBT HB 1523, would allow individuals to deny services, accommodations, facilities, goods or privileges to LGBT folks under the guise of protecting their religious liberties.
The measure was introduced last year by Rep. Raul Labrador (pictured above alongside Ted Cruz) and currently has 171 co-sponsors. In defense of FADA, Labrador said, “It has never been our intention to give anyone a so-called license to discriminate,” adding that the bill doesn’t “take away anybody’s rights…it just attempts to enshrine in law religious liberties long believed to be protected.”
House Democrats came down heavily on FADA, arguing that the protections it seeks will come at the cost of existing protections for LGBT people. If passed, employers could cite the bill when discriminating against LGBT employees and hospitals could easily bar same-sex spouses from patient rooms.
Marriage equality is the law of the land. But #LGBT Americans still lack federal protections against discrimination they desperately need.— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) July 12, 2016
The GOP #FADA bill could let hospitals, government workers, employers, & even landlords discriminate against married same-sex couples.— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) July 12, 2016
The @HouseGOP should be ashamed. The last thing Congress should be doing is giving homophobic Americans a license to discriminate.— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) July 12, 2016
“This hearing is deeply hurtful to a still grieving LGBT and allied community,” said former Supreme Court plaintiff Jim Obergefell, who was called to witness against FADA by the Democratic party.
“Earlier in this hearing it was stated that the purpose of the First Amendment Defense Act is to ensure no one is discriminated against because of how they view marriage,” he continued. “I would like you to read the bill again and understand that is exactly what the bill does.”
Fellow witness Katherine Franke, a professor at Columbia Law, added that the bill was “creating a solution to a problem that does not exist” and that it would upset “the delicate balance” between individual beliefs and the federal government.
With any luck, FADA will meet the same fate as its sister bill HB 1523, which a federal judge blocked earlier this month.
Gay Black Man Found Hanged In Atlanta
RIP London Jermaine
From: NewNowNext
Last Thursday, the body of an unidentified black man was found hanging in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park.
Though it was initially believed the incident may have been “hate crime,” police officials have now confirmed that the victim, 22-year-old Michael George Smith Jr., took his own life.
Smith, who was also known as London Jermaine, was discovered by park security at 4:30am . Just 30 minutes before his death, he took to Facebook to share his last words: “I see y’all in the next life…Father forgive me.”
His identity was verified by family on Tuesday, and friends confirmed that he was a student at Georgia Tech, where he was studying computer science. Jermaine was openly gay and hoped to be an actor and model.
Though most of Jermaine’s posts on social media were lighthearted, a screenshot he shared of a conversation with his younger brother shed light on the struggles he faced with his homophobic family.
Jermaine wrote, “My mother is teaching my siblings to dispise [sic] Gays…I’m done with life.”
Some still believe Jermaine was lynched but the FBI stated that “a review of the findings… failed to indicate any signs of foul play.”
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed released a statement on Facebook:
I am deeply saddened by the loss of a young man’s life last night in Piedmont Park. This disturbing event demands our full attention.
The Atlanta Police Department (APD) is conducting a robust investigation into his death and I have asked to receive regular briefings on the status of the investigation. We have also referred the case to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Everything we have seen suggests that there was no foul play involved, but I want to state clearly and unequivocally that we will not prejudge the circumstances surrounding this young man’s death.
APD will share all evidence discovered in the course of the investigation. We ask for the public’s support and cooperation as we work to resolve this matter.
Friends have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses.
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