Conservative Wingnuts Waste No Time Using Orlando Tragedy To Further Political Agendas

The bodies are still being identified and several prominent right wing-nuts are already using the Orlando tragedy to shamelessly promote their own political agendas and religious ideologies.

Related: The Internet Responds To The Orlando Tragedy

Donald Trump took a moment to accept “congratulations” for the attack. Sarah Palin used it to accuse Paul Ryan of being soft on Islam. Ann Coulter used it to take a jab at Hillary Clinton. And Stacey Dash used it to try to convert LGBTQ people to the Republican party.

Scroll down to see how antigay right wing-nuts are shamelessly exploiting the largest mass shooting in America to their own personal benefit…

Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don’t want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2016

Sunday Morning In Hell. A lone terrorist enter a sodomite temple in Orlando full of worshippers with final judgement of death.

— James David Manning (@DrJamesDManning) June 12, 2016

If the FBI declines to prosecute Hillary, remember that they interviewed this guy twice. “Nothing to see here folks!”

— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) June 12, 2016

If media #Orlando logic had been used on the Christian baker who refused to bake a cake, it was the oven’s fault.#PulseShooting

— Dr. Gene Lingerfelt (@GeneLingerfelt) June 13, 2016

Why would anyone want to deny gays and lesbians their Constitutionally-protected 2nd Amendment rights when we know they are likely targets?

— jimgeraghty (@jimgeraghty) June 12, 2016

Sarah Palin: Speaker Ryan Proves He Is Out of Touch on Islam t.co/hkE7curDrf

— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) June 13, 2016

What would Jesus say about the #OrlandoShooting?

He DID say: “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Lk13:5

— Westboro Baptist (@WBCSaysRepent) June 12, 2016

We should stop calling him President Obama and just call him President Oblivious.

— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) June 12, 2016

President Obama thinks lighting up the WH like a rainbow will distract everyone for his support of Sharia law.

— Mark Young (@Mark_JekyllHyde) June 13, 2016

My heart and prayers are with the LBGT community. This atrocity would not go unanswered under President Trump I promise!! #PrayingForOrlando

— Stacey Dash (@REALStaceyDash) June 12, 2016

Related: Can The Anti-Gay Right Ever Acknowledge The Human Toll Of Homophobia?

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Jimmy Somerville Offers Rose and Emotional Message for Orlando: WATCH

Singer-songwriter Jimmy Somerville is offering a rose, “widely recognized as the flower of love,” in an emotional message for the victims in Orlando.

Somerville sang a gorgeous a cappella rendition of his Bronski Beat track “Why” before offering up the flower in his touching video.

“This rose is for all those who died in the early hours of Sunday morning in Orlando, and this rose is for all those who survived Sunday morning in Orlando, and this rose is also for you. Never stop holding their hands, never stop kissing the lips of those you love. Never let anyone take that away from us. So if you love someone, tell them you love them, and give them a rose.”

“I feel sad inside, but I feel angry, and I wanted to send this message of solidarity.”

Watch:

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Sober Tony Telecast Celebrates Art in the Wake of Tragedy

Lin-Manuel Miranda and the cast of ‘Hamilton’

After a morning of unthinkable loss, it hardly felt like a time to celebrate. The massacre in Orlando that devastated the nation and the LGBT community happened just hours before a Tony ceremony that soldiered on as planned, with host James Cordon and other artists expressing messages of grief and hope, emphasizing the power of art and the theatre community’s inclusive embrace. The ceremony itself was dedicated to the victims of the shooting, and many wore silver ribbons to show their support.

The cast of ‘Hamilton’

Underneath this shadow, the 70^th annual awards were, as expected, an ode to the musical sensation Hamilton, which took home 11 Tonys, one shy of the record dozen held by The Producers. The hip-hop take on American history was so certain to win big that the ceremony both opened and closed with numbers from the show, a rarity if not a first. In addition to Best Musical, which Barbara Streisand handed over with a touching nod to the day’s events, acting prizes went to Leslie Odom Jr., Daveed Diggs, and Renée Elise Goldsberry. With his win for Best Score, Lin-Manuel Miranda gave one of the evenings most touching Orlando tributes, in the form of a sonnet to his wife.

Cynthia Erivo in ‘The Color Purple’

After a show-stopping performance from The Color Purple that resonated with a message of pride and resilience, star Cynthia Erivo took home the much-deserved honor of Best Actress in a Musical. With her win, all four musical acting awards went to people of color, a first in Tony history (Hollywood, take note). In accepting the production’s win for Best Revival of a Musical, producer Scott Sanders reiterated Celie’s inspiring message: “I’m beautiful and I’m here.”

The cast of ‘The Humans’

Stephen Karam’s uncanny family drama The Humans reigned among new plays, winning featured acting prizes for venerable industry vets Jayne Houdyshell and Reed Birney, for their turns as a couple struggling with emotional and financial hardships. In accepting the show’s Best Play award, producer Scott Rudin credited its success to director Joe Mantello, who also received shout-outs from the acting champs.

Jessica Lange and Gabriel Byrne in ‘Long Day’s Journey into Night’

Celebrated veterans also took home the top acting prizes, including Jessica Lange for her stunning performance as Mary Tyrone in Long Day’s Journey into Night. In his speech accepting the Best Actor award for his brilliant turn as an Alzheimer’s sufferer in The Father, Frank Langella scrapped a list of names in favor of a moving speech urging Orlando to stay strong. “We will be with you every step of the way,” the 78-year-old concluded.

Belgian avant-garde Ivo van Hove was also a big winner, with his white-box take on Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge winning him the Best Director prize in addition to taking home Best Revival of a Play.

Audra McDonald in ‘Shuffle Along’

The telecast celebrated other shows as well, which in any other season would have been strong contenders for top honors but were largely shut out. A performance from Shuffle Along saw a pregnant Audra McDonald tap-dancing backward alongside the musical’s starry cast. Sara Bareilles and Jesse Mueller teamed up on a beautiful performance from Waitress, introduced by the movie’s star Keri Russell. School of Rock, On Your Feet!, and the shuttered Spring Awakening each delivered their own rousing numbers, only the former two in the hopes of selling tickets.

Recent theatre features…
Sean Hayes Performs ‘An Act of God’ on Broadway: REVIEW
Who Will Win Besides ‘Hamilton’? Our 2016 Tony Predictions
Cirque du Soleil Attempts a Broadway Musical With ‘Paramour’: REVIEW
Rupert Everett Brings Oscar Wilde to Brooklyn in ‘The Judas Kiss’: REVIEW
2016 Tony Nominations: ‘Hamilton’ Dominates, Plus Snubs and Surprises
Audra McDonald Shines in Star-Packed Musical ‘Shuffle Along’ on Broadway: REVIEW
Jessica Lange Is Astonishing in ‘Long Day’s Journey Into Night’ on Broadway: REVIEW

Follow Naveen Kumar on Twitter: @Mr_NaveenKumar (photos: joan marcus,matthew murphy, brigitte lacombe, julieta cervantes)

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Orlando, Great White Sharks, Hillary Clinton, LinkedIn, The Vamps, James Wesley Howell: NEWS

Friend says Eddie Sotomayor took bullet in back getting his boyfriend out safely. Died in hospital #PrayForOrlando pic.twitter.com/NagY8tytMW

— Angela Taylor WESH (@AngelaWESH) June 12, 2016

ORLANDO. Shooting victim Eddie Sotomayor reportedly took bullet in back for boyfriend.

PULSE. Owner opened Orlando nightclub in memory of brother who died of AIDS. “Barbara Poma and Ron Legler opened Pulse in 2004 with the promise that it’s, “not just another gay club.” They created the space to celebrate Poma’s brother, John, and raise awareness for the LGBTQ community. ”

CLAIM. ISIS releases second statement taking responsibility: “‘One of the caliphate’s soldiers in America carried out a security invasion where he was able to enter a crusader gathering at a nightclub for homosexuals in Orlando, Florida … where he killed and injured more than a hundred of them before he was killed,’ the group said in its broadcast, Reuters reports.”

STONEWALL. Vigil for Orlando victims: “Hundreds of people swarmed Christopher Street around 6 p.m. for a vigil, dazed by the events of the early morning and needing to come to a place that they said gave them strength and solace. They held aloft rainbow banners, draped their arms around one another’s shoulders and offered chant after chant of “No hate!” Watching over them was a team of officers in counterterrorism gear. ‘In the good times we’ve come here, in the bad times we’ve come here,’ Brandon Cordeiro, 28, said. ‘What has always been true in all those times is we’ve stood together.’”

Vigil at the Stonewall Inn in NYC for the victims of the massacre in Orlando, FL. pic.twitter.com/LAIQhMDcQU

— John Aravosis (@aravosis) June 12, 2016

2016 ELECTION. Hillary Clinton launches first general election campaign ad. “In the one-minute-long spot, footage of Clinton looking presidential as she reviews a stack of briefing papers and descends from a plane that looks like Air Force One is spliced with clips of Trump inciting his crowds at campaign rallies. “I’d like to punch him in the face,” Trump says in one clip. In another, he tells the crowd, “Knock the crap out of them, would you? Seriously.” And in a third clip — which is also featured prominently in ads paid for by Priorities USA, the super PAC backing Clinton — Trump lampoons a reporter’s disability, making exaggerated jerking movements with his arms.”

NYC. NYPD beefing up security at LGBT bars and landmarks following Orlando attacks: “O’Neill said that the local LGBT community and all New Yorkers should not be afraid and that there are no immediate threats against the city. Still, he said, there is always a fear of a copycat attack.”

FREEDOM TOWER. One World Trade Center pays respect to Orlando victims.

JAMES WESLEY HOWELL. LAPD says Indiana man arrested with rifles and bomb materials in his car wasn’t intending to harm LA Pride: “In a revised statement, authorities said that Howell did not intend to “harm” attendees at the parade but merely wanted to attend the event, which draws thousands to support the LGBT community.”

Meet 20 y/o James Howell from the State of Indiana arrested enroute to #LApride. James enjoys pulling guns on folks pic.twitter.com/NpG3ufzV3Q

— Jonathan Franks (@LucidJonFranks) June 13, 2016

POSTERIORS. The bottoms of the British pop rock group The Vamps.

ACQUISITIONS. Microsoft to buy LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in cash: “The offer of $196 per share represents a premium of 49.5 percent to LinkedIn’s Friday closing price. ‘Today is a re-founding moment for LinkedIn,’ Reid Hoffman, chairman of LinkedIn’s board, said in a statement.”

GREAT WHITES. Long Island, New York could be breeding ground for Great White sharks. “Ocearch’s next expedition is planned for the seas off Long Island. As Fischer notes, the area is a prime candidate for a great white shark nursery, based on data gleaned from previously tagged sharks.”

Track Mary-Lee, the 16ft, 3,500lb great white shark, in real time off the Long Island coast t.co/YoCzeFA7le pic.twitter.com/PgJ991s88N

— sᴄᴏᴛᴛ sɴᴏᴡᴅᴇɴ (@LorumIpsum) May 14, 2016

MONTANA. Driver races from Tornado.

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Stories Emerge of Heroes at Orlando LGBTQ Nightclub

As we learn the names and stories of the 49 individuals who were killed in the Orlando LGBTQ nightclub massacre, we are also hearing stories of the heroes who helped save the lives of countless survivors of the attack.

Here are the stories of just a few:

Josh McGill

McGill and his friends crawled out of the club after hearing gunshots, and fled on foot once they reached the parking lot. When gunfire erupted outside of the club, McGill hid behind a car until the sound of the gunshots faded. He was about to run again when a stranger asked him for help. McGill found bullet wounds in the stranger’s arms, and tore off his own shirt to staunch the bleeding.

McGill asked another bystander for his shirt to stop the bleeding in a third bullet wound in the stranger’s back.

He walked the stranger toward police, who told McGill that he would have a key role in transporting the stranger to the hospital.

“McGill’s job, the officer told him, was to lay down in the back of the car, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times. ‘We will lay him on top of you, and you bear hug him,’ the officer said.

‘Keep him conscious, no matter what, McGill was told as they rushed off down the road.’”

McGill talked with the stranger, who was later identified as Rodney Sumter, a 27-year-old bartender at the club. Sumter is a father of two and is awaiting surgery.

Edward Sotomayor Jr.

Sotomayor, 34, known as Eddie to friends and family, was at the club with his boyfriend, and was shot in the back as he pushed his boyfriend through a club door to safety.

Ray Rivera, aka DJ Infinite

Rivera was the DJ at the Orlando LGBTQ nightclub, and things were winding down when he heard gunshots. Rivera took shelter behind his booth, along with a man and a woman. The man fled, but Rivera stayed with the woman and escorted her to safety.

Read more in The Washington Post.

Photo credit (left to right): Joshua McGill’s Facebook page, Edward Sotomayor Jr.’s Instagram, DJ Infinite’s Facebook page.

www.hrc.org/blog/stories-emerge-of-heroes-at-orlando-lgbtq-nightclub?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Bombing Countries Does Nothing To Fight Homophobia

Banning Muslims or bombing countries where they reside also won’t deter ISIS or other extremist groups, and it certainly won’t eradicate homophobia in the Middle East or in the United States.

The post Bombing Countries Does Nothing To Fight Homophobia appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/world/2016/06/13/3787756/bombing-doesnt-stop-homophobia/

The World In Rainbow: People Around The Globe Are Mourning The Orlando Shooting

Vigils supporting the LGBT community cropped up around the world.

The post The World In Rainbow: People Around The Globe Are Mourning The Orlando Shooting appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2016/06/13/3787612/orlando-reaction-pictures/

Here’s Your List Of Muslim Leaders Around The World That Condemned The Massacre In Orlando

Many commentators have said that the attack had more to do with Islam than the shooter’s own views on LGBT rights, but that doesn’t explain these condemnations from Muslim leaders.

The post Here’s Your List Of Muslim Leaders Around The World That Condemned The Massacre In Orlando appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/world/2016/06/13/3787788/muslim-leaders-orlando/

Must-See LGBT TV 6/12-18: 'Orange is the New Black' returns, 'Out of Iraq' premieres, 'Orphan Black' season finale and more

www.glaad.org/blog/must-see-lgbt-tv-612-18-orange-new-black-returns-out-iraq-premieres-orphan-black-season-finale

Orlando Police, FBI Pursuing Criminal Investigation, But Public Not 'In Imminent Danger' (Video)

www.advocate.com/crime/2016/6/13/orlando-police-fbi-pursuing-criminal-investigation-public-not-imminent-danger-video