Tag Archives: WTF?

"Trans for Trump" Deface Black Lives Matter Mural Outside Trump Tower

“Trans for Trump” Deface Black Lives Matter Mural Outside Trump Tower

The NYPD arrested four people who threw blue paint on the Black Lives Matter mural outside of Trump Tower in Midtown Friday claiming to be “Trans for Trump”.

The incident happened around 4 p.m.

Two women and a man were arrested and charged with criminal mischief. Germanotta (no first name), 39, D’Anna Morgan, 25, and Luis Martinez, 44 were released with a desk appearance ticket, according to police.

Another person, who was identified only as a 64-year-old woman, was issued a summons for illegally posting fliers.

Germanotta was arrested while wearing an “All Lives Matter” shirt and wearing a rainbow-colored flag with the words “LGBT for Trump” on it. She said she wants people to know she is transgender, HIV positive and a registered Democrat who plans to vote for Trump in November.

“It should be all lives. All includes Black lives, brown lives, white lives, trans lives matter” Germanotta said.

This is the second time in one week the mural has been vandalized.

CHICAGO: Man Abducted At Gunpoint on Christmas Eve in Boystown

Activists Demand Chicago’s Gay Neighborhood “Boystown” Name Be Changed To Be More Inclusive

A petition, created by local “queer” non-binary activist Devlyn Camp is demanding that the historic Chicago gay neighborhood of “Boystown” change it’s name claiming it perpetuates sexism and other discrimination in the neighborhood.

The petition posted on Change.org reads in part:

The Castro, Greenwich Village, West Hollywood, and many more. LGBTQ neighborhoods exist for all intersections of queer identity. Chicago’s is the only gendered nickname. Systemic transphobia, racism, and sexism have plagued our neighborhood for decades, and it begins at the top, with the all-male board of the Northalsted Business Alliance. It begins with the BOYSTOWN signs down our street announcing that this neighborhood is “for the boys,” though the signs hang above our diverse Legacy Walk of several LGBTQ icons in our history.”

(SNIP)

“Many of our transgender siblings must visit the Center on Halsted to utilize necessary resources. Many of them have experienced transphobia in the North Halsted area. Our LGBTQ siblings of color looking for inclusive bars have been met with racism. Many women frequenting and working in North Halsted businesses have been met with sexism. When police shut down the bars early after Pride in 2018, many on the Northalsted Business Alliance praised the police.”

Northalsted Business Alliance board said in a written statement that it had formed a committee to begin outreach to businesses and community members, with the goal of gaining “important perspective” on a possible name change.

“This process will likely take a few months, as we listen to the community feedback and engage in broad-based efforts beyond just a possible name change, but a commitment to learning how to ensure the neighborhood moves forward as an inclusive and welcoming neighborhood for all,” the statement said.

The boundaries of the neighborhood stretches from about 3100 to 3800 North Halsted. The unofficial designation of Boys Town as an area dates back 50 years to 1970’s The neighborhood has always been predominantly populated by gay men and lesbians.

At the time of this post 1300 people have signed the petition. But blowback by many who live and work in the neighborhood have been equally strong against the name change.

Do you think the name change of Boystown to something more inclusive is justified or is it really much ado about nothing?

Sound off in the comments below.

American Family Association Petitions PBS to Cancel LGBT PRIDE Programming Calls It An "Attack On Christianity"

FAKE HISTORY: AFA Hate Group Claims NYPD Raided Stonewall Inn To Rescue Trans Teen From Sexual Abuse

Via Right Wing Watch:

The police officers who raided the Stonewall Inn in June 1969 were “trying to rescue a young boy who identified as transgender,” claimed Diane Gramley, the head of the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Family Association, on a recent broadcast of the “Stand in the Gap” radio show produced by the American Pastors Network.

“He was being used sexually and the police were trying to rescue him,” Gramley claimed. That remarkable, and utterly false, bit of historical revisionism came during a conversation about what host Gary Dull called “the menace of Gay Pride month.”

Gramley said that the “real goal” of Pride celebrations “is to indoctrinate and they are seeking to promote their deviant sexual behavior.” She has been to Gay Pride celebrations in Philadelphia several times, she said, “just to document who was supporting it, take some pictures of what was going on.”

So the AFA Just sat on that bit of information for 50 years?  Riiiiiiiiiiight.

We already have enough fake Stonewall history flying around with the stories about Sylvia Rivera and Marsha Johnson thank you very much. We don’t need more.

WORLD PRIDE NYC STONEWALL 50/Heritage of Pride Announces Grand Marshals, Snubs Surviving Riot Participants

This week, Heritage of Pride, the group that produces New York City’s annual Pride Parade and this year’s World Pride NYC Stonewall 50th Anniversary, announced its Grand Marshals.

Missing, though, are any of the surviving participants, known as the Stonewall Veterans, those who were there at the Stonewall Inn and stood up for our rights and rioted on that fateful night in June of 1969.

The Grand Marshals for this year’s historic Pride parade include the cast of Pose, as well as Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, co-founder of UK Black Pride, and Monica Helms, creator of the transgender pride flag.  The Trevor Project and the Gay Liberation Front, billed by NYC Pride as the first post-Stonewall LGBTQ+ activist organization, will also lead as grand marshals.

“We’re really thrilled with the group of grand marshals we have this year,” said James Fallarino, a spokesperson for HOP, which has produced New York City’s Pride events since 1984. “The goal is for them to reflect what World Pride 2019 and Stonewall 50 are all about.”

Obviously, it seems that to HOP, Stonewall 50 means not including or honoring any of the last few surviving participants who actually took part in the riot at the Stonewall Inn, or those who participated in the days and nights of rioting that followed. Also missing, except for the very general inclusion of the Gay Liberation Front–many of whom will not be participating this year because of HOP’s corporate ties–are any lesbian and gay Pride Marshals.

I ask you: how much more disrespectful and insensitive could Heritage of Pride be to our history and to the memory of those who fought for us not only in the riots but also over the past 50 years?

This is just one more reason on an ever-growing list why I do not support and will not attend Pride celebrations in NYC this year.

If Heritage Of Pride believes that the cast members of Pose are more worthy to be PRIDE Marshals than the people who actually fought for our liberation on June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, then our cause is all but lost.

Oh No She Didn't! - Ellen DeGeneres Forgives Kevin Hart [Video]

Oh No She Didn’t! – Ellen DeGeneres Forgives Kevin Hart [Video]

Ellen DeGeneres’ attempted to play peacemaker between The Academy, the LGBT Community and Kevin Hart

And it is rightfully blowing up in her face. 

In an interview with DeGeneres on Thursday that was was to air on Monday, but was moved to Friday Hart says he is “evaluating” reprising his role as the 2019 Oscars host after DeGeneres called the Academy to vouch for him.

DeGeneres went as far as to call the Academy to “vouch” for Hart.

“I called them, I said, ‘Kevin’s on, I have no idea if he wants to come back and host, but what are your thoughts?’ And they were like, ‘Oh my God, we want him to host! We feel like that maybe he misunderstood or it was handled wrong. Maybe we said the wrong thing but we want him to host. Whatever we can do we would be thrilled. And he should host the Oscars.'”

DeGeneres went on to defend Hart.. “As a gay person. I am sensitive to all of that. You’ve already expressed that it’s not being educated on the subject, not realizing how dangerous those words are, not realizing how many kids are killed for being gay or beaten up every day,” said DeGeneres. 

She added: “You have grown, you have apologized, you are apologizing again right now. You’ve done it. Don’t let those people win — host the Oscars.”

DeGeneres continued to stand by the interview, writing on Twitter, “In this conversation, @KevinHart4real was authentic and real, and I’m in his corner.” She also wrote that she believes in second chances.

Ms DeGeneres needs to understand that when she speaks as a “gay” person that she is not speaking or representing the whole of the LGBT community only herself and she should say as much.

As for believing in second chances perhaps Ellen will end her feud with Kathy Griffin who we all stand behind and who’s career has been hurt and tarnished far more than Hart’s by a much bigger and more malicious enemy.

Donald Trump Predicts “Death And Destruction” If He’s Indicted and Arrested.

Donald Trump Now Blames Federal Shutdown on 2020 Election

Via Reuters:

President Trump on Thursday called Democrats’ opposition to his proposed border wall “strictly political” and accused the party of seeking an advantage in the 2020 presidential election as a partial government shutdown entered its 13th day.

The tweet echoed comments Trump made during a lengthy and at-times meandering Cabinet meeting a day earlier, when he claimed the government is partially shuttered because “Democrats are looking to 2020.”

“They started telling me about the incident, a shooting... And then I go on to find out it’s a gay bar. I got scared, ‘Shit, is he gay?’ And he’s not gay, so I said, phew… I am a conservative Republican.”

Trump Administration and OPM Suggests Shutdown Affected Federal Workers Do Odd Jobs for Landlords In Lieu of Rent

The Office of Personnel Management tweeted advice to furloughed federal workers who are not getting paid during the shutdown on how to explain their situation to creditors and landlords—including one sample letter with the suggestion that they offer to perform chores in exchange for rent payments .

USA Today reports:

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has offered federal workers affected by the partial government shutdown a guide for negotiating with creditors, landlords and mortgage companies while their income is cut off.

The Thursday tweet notes that workers should consult with a “personal attorney” for advice but offers templates for how one might seek financial assistance for various financial obligations.

Among the suggested strategies: A furloughed employee might offer to trade maintenance services such as painting or carpentry work in exchange for a reduction in rent.

Here is the link to the he U.S. Office of Personnel Management resource center, which includes the template letters for creditors and financial institutions .

*Sample Letter to Landlord


Dear (Name of Company or individual with whom you have spoken)

This is to confirm our conversation of (date) in which we discussed a temporary reduction in my monthly rent.

As we discussed, I am a Federal employee who has recently been furloughed due to a lack of funding of my agency. Because of this, my income has been severely cut and I am unable to pay the entire cost of my rent, along with my other expenses. ·

As we had agreed in our conversation, I will be able to make regular payments in the amount of $_______. I realize that I will be responsible to pay the remainder of the payments and, when I return to work, I will contact you immediately to work out a plan to take care of the reduced payments. I will keep in touch with you to keep you informed about my income status and I would like to discuss with you the possibility of trading my services to perform maintenance (e.g. painting, carpentry work) in exchange for partial rent payments.

I appreciate your willingness to work with me and your understanding during this difficult time.

Sincerely,

(Name)

Address

Telephone Number

Melania Trump: "I’m The Most Bullied Person In The World."

UNBELIEVABLE! – Melania Trump To Address Cyberbullying Summit

The Hill reports:

First lady Melania Trump is planning to attend a summit in Maryland early next week focused on combatting cyberbullying. The White House announced that the first lady will be “addressing the positive and negative effects of social media on youth” during brief remarks at the summit in Rockville, Md., on Monday.

The first lady is set to make an appearance at the cyberbullying summit just days after President Trump ratcheted up his rhetoric on social media against former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman, calling her a “crying lowlife” and “dog” on Twitter.

Mormons Try To Block Marijuana Vote By Using SCOTUS Anti-Gay "Religious Liberty" Cake Case

Mormons Try To Block Marijuana Vote By Using SCOTUS Anti-Gay “Religious Liberty” Cake Case

It is their second lawsuit intending to block voters from weighing in on on the use of medical marijuana in Utah a group of Mormon opponents of Proposition 2 filed a lawsuit in state court Wednesday, said the ballot initiative would tread on their “freedom of religion”.

Walter J. Plumb, an attorney and active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who is the primary financier of the opposition campaign’s lawsuit takes issue with a provision of the ballot measure that would prevent landlords from not renting to a medical marijuana cardholder, saying that could create an issue of Mormon property owners being forced into renting to people who use cannabis.

Plumb’s “religious beliefs include a strict adherence to a code of health which precludes the consumption and possession of mind-altering drugs, substances and chemicals, which includes cannabis and its various derivatives,” the complaint states.

The group cites a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling involving a Colorado bakery owner who declined to make a wedding cake for a gay couple, saying it would go against his religious beliefs. 

“In the United States of America, members of all religions, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have a constitutional right to exercise their religious beliefs,” the complaint reads. “This includes the right not to consort with, be around, or do business with people engaging in activities which their religion finds repugnant.”

“The State of Utah is attempting to compel the speech of Utah landowners by suppressing their ability to speak out against cannabis use and consumption by only renting to tenants who do not possess or consume cannabis,” the complaint reads, “and who support their viewpoints in opposition against cannabis possession and consumption.”

The measure’s proponents seemed gleeful with the latest filing calling it a “wacky attempt” to stop Utahns from voting on it.

“They started telling me about the incident, a shooting... And then I go on to find out it’s a gay bar. I got scared, ‘Shit, is he gay?’ And he’s not gay, so I said, phew… I am a conservative Republican.”

SCOTUS Allows Texas Ruling To Stand That Same Sex Marriage DOES NOT Entitle Couples To State Marriage Benefits

 

The Austin Statesman:

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday let stand a Texas ruling that said the right to a marriage license did not entitle same-sex couples to spousal benefits under employee insurance plans.

The city of Houston asked the high court overturn last June’s Texas Supreme Court decision that determined all marriage-related matters were not decided when the U.S. Supreme Court found a right to same-sex marriage.

The federal court’s decision, issued without comment, allows the Texas court’s ruling to stand. Lawyers for Houston argued that the Texas court’s ruling was wrong and short-sighted.

“Equal recognition of same-sex marriage requires more than a marriage license; it requires equal access to the constellation of benefits that the state has linked to marriage,” the city’s lawyers told the court.

The original Texas Supreme Court noted that Obergefell requires states to license and recognize same-sex marriages just as they do opposite-sex marriages but did not hold that “states must provide the same publicly funded benefits to all married persons.”

The question remains that Edie Windsor’s case  settled that issue (equal spousal benefits), albeit at the federal level, so SCOTUS declining to hear a case involving equal spousal benefits at the state level is not only puzzling but should also be taken as a warning to us all.