Man Who Was Headed to L.A. Pride Charged with Molestation

James Wesley Howell drove to California to escape a molestation investigation in his home state of Indiana, suggests a prosecutor. 

www.advocate.com/crime/2016/6/15/man-who-was-headed-la-pride-charged-molestation

Tammy Baldwin Needs Your Help on Gun Control (Video)

The out U.S. senator from Wisconsin joined fellow Democrats in filibustering on the issue today.

www.advocate.com/politics/2016/6/15/tammy-baldwin-needs-your-help-gun-control-video

Trans Woman Killed in New Orleans, Police Considering Hate Crime

This marks the 14th trans person killed this year in the U.S. — the same number killed in all of 2013.

www.advocate.com/crime/2016/6/15/trans-woman-killed-new-orleans-police-considering-hate-crime

Donald Trump Wishes Pulse Patrons Had Been Packing Pistols (Video)

www.advocate.com/election/2016/6/15/donald-trump-wishes-pulse-patrons-had-been-packing-pistols-video

Nick Jonas Explains What He Was Doing At NYC Vigil For Pulse Victims

After speaking at a vigil honoring the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting held outside of the Stonewall Inn in New York City Monday night, Nick Jonas was scrutinized for taking the focus away from the queer lives, many who were people of color, that the event was created to hold space for.

“This is not a time for straight allies to take up space — especially if you’re an ally who just dropped an album three days ago,” read an op-ed on HuffPo. The sentiment across social media from those in attendance echoed this viewpoint.

In a recent appearance on Andy Cohen‘s Watch What Happens Live, Jonas revealed that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo personally invited him to lend his voice to the event, refuting the idea that his attendance was somehow connected to seeking publicity for his album.

Here’s what Nick said:

“I think at the core, this is a humungous tragedy that affected so many lives and my heart was broken for the victims and their families. So I looked at my team and said ’Listen, I’m in town, I’d love to lend my voice in any way I can and be a part of it in any way possible.’

And so Governor Cuomo asked me to speak…I didn’t prepare anything I just got up and spoke from the heart.

…

I was surrounded by the LGBT community at an early age and really built a lot of great friendships. My father said right away to me, ’Love it love, we’re all equal, we deserve love, and to be loved by who we want to be loved by.’ It shaped my view and so I’ve tried to be an ally and do what I can to raise my voice in moments when there is tragedy that strikes, not only for the LGBT community but also for America.”

He never addressed the criticism directly, but you can tell he’s eager to let everyone know he was coming from a place of good intentions.

We don’t see any reason to believe otherwise.

h/t NNN

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If Shooter Was Gay, What Changes? — Open Thread

…and it seems pretty clear that the shooter was gay. The shooter was gay, or was exploring it, or had feelings or some other related sexual identity. His visits to the club, messages on hookup apps, and the comments of friends point us in that direction.

The shooter was gay. So, who are the enemies? Winners? Losers?

So, what do you think of that?
Surprised?
Are we fighting ISIS? Guns? Internalized homophobia?
Is it still terrorism?
Is this “good for the gays”?
Do you see the events in Orlando differently?
Does this change how civil society sees the event? The response?
And who or what is then to blame?

A lot of issues here and how this goes down in the coming weeks…or in history…is far from resolved. What do you think?

Comments below. No personal attacks on other readers, please. Stick to the issues: If he was gay, what’s changed?

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Rainbow Over Pulse, Francois Hollande, Justin Trudeau, Fred Caruso, Orlando Shooter, EgyptAir: NEWS

PULSE. Rainbows appear over Pulse nightclub.

Where this rainbow starts is where #Pulse is. This is truly amazing! Pulse is directly behind that Salvation truck. pic.twitter.com/M26eFgSRfQ

— Craig Lucie (@CraigLucie) June 14, 2016

NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON. Scientist shares tribute to Orlando in most scientific way possible, explains why rainbows are magical.

DISNEY WORLD. 2 year-old boy attacked by gator found dead.

RIP. Big Gay Musical creator Fred Caruso has died at 41, leaves behind chilling suicide note on Facebook.  

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE. Broadway stars to record Burt Bacharach song to benefit Orlando victims.

FBI. Orlando shooting being investigated as both a hate crime and an act of terror.

FBI Agent Ronald Hopper on Orlando shooting: “I would call it a hate crime. I would call it terrorism. It’s both.” t.co/02QJKteAlg

— ABC News (@ABC) June 15, 2016

CASTING. Helen Mirren will appear in the next Fast and Furious movie. 

SPACE. Scientists discover gravitational waves for second time: “The researchers calculated that the gravitational wave arose from the collision of two black holes, 14.2 and 7.5 times the mass of the sun.”

ORLANDO. Janet Jackson shares a tribute. 

EGYPTAIR. Wreckage of flight 804 has been discovered. 

CANDID CAMERA. Orlando shooter can be seen in 2012 documentary about BP oil spill.

JUSTIN TRUDEAU. Satyric website creates fake photo of Justin Trudeau locked in a same-sex kiss: “The photoshopped image shows Trudeau kissing NDP leader Tom Mulcair. The story’s headline declares that the two are ‘united against homophobia.’ […] ‘After an event like this, we had to do something,’ it (falsely!) quotes Trudeau as saying in French. ‘I approached Tom to see what he thought, but I didn’t expect him to be so enthusiastic.’”

It is fake, but we still love it. Who doesn’t want to see #Trudeau kiss another man? #LoveIsLove #TwoMenKiss pic.twitter.com/23JKhGCVzT

— Dick Hunter (@SquirtOrg) June 15, 2016

GUNS. Senate Democrats are filibustering until Republicans agree to discuss gun control. Also, Walmart announces it will stop selling AR-15 assault rifles. 

TRUMP. In addition to tell people to “Ask the gays”, Donald Trump on Wednesday said, “The LGBT community, the gay community, the lesbian community—they are so much in favor of what I’ve been saying over the last three or four days.” Um, no.

NATURE. Some coral reefs are thriving, but why?

NYC. Andy Cohen visits the Stonewall vigil for victims of the Orlando shooting.

FRANCE. President Francois Hollande says homosexuality is “a choice” in talking about Orlando massacre: “It is America that has been hit but it is also freedom, the freedom to choose one’s sexual orientation and to determine one’s style of life”

EVERYDAY HOMOPHOBIA. Out gay radio producer Joe Votruba shares his emotional response to the Orlando massacre: “Every single day when you go outside as a gay man, you have to wonder, Oh, how gay can I be around this crowd? Should I hold my boyfriend’s hand right now or should I not? That’s why these bars and these clubs that we go to are so important.”

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NEW MUSIC: I Have A Tribe, Band of Horses, Garbage

This week in New Music: an authentic new voice with Irish singer-songwriter I Have A Tribe, an essay in indie rock domesticity from Band of Horses and a just ok rehash from Garbage.

I Have A Tribe – Beneath A Yellow Moon

Patrick O’Laoghaire – aka I Have A Tribe (above) – has at least two things in common with Damian Rice – born in Dublin, Ireland and (apparently) given a huge amount of freedom and autonomy on recording his debut album Beneath a Yellow Moon.

His singer-songwriter approach is however far removed from Rice’s which has sunk into the abyss of self importance.

O’Laoghaire, while definitely in the singer-songwriter mode, is better compared with the folk-ish work of fellow Irishman Mick Flannery and the always interesting Ray LaMontagne.

At it’s very best, Beneath A Yellow Moon is a highly emotional affair. A gorgeous album, best sampled on the tracks “Scandinavia” and “Buddy Holly.”

Band of Horses – Why Are You OK

On their fifth studio album, Band of Horses and frontman Ben Bridwell are in fine form.

The Seattle-based band are in a way back to basics on Why Are You OK.

Bridwell says that he has been busy with being a father of four and “settling into middle age.”

While John Grant is doing the same disgracefully, Bridwell seems happy with his lot. The standout track is probably “Casual Party” which is straight indie rock concerned with kids and domesticity. “Barrel House” is all about enjoying the evening sun on his porch of all things. “In a Drawer” is so laid back it veers towards – at first – “Boys of Summer” territory. That’s not a criticism. Plus it later stomps towards Eels’ early output.

Why Are You OK is as close to dreamy indie summer pop as you can get, a halfway point between Low and the aforementioned Eels.

Garbage – Strange Little Birds

I would love to be able to report that Strange Little Birds by Garbage is a return to their debut album’s glory days but I’d be lying.

The debut self-titled album was a cobbled-together mix of pop, punk and indie that somehow worked. Strange Little Birds was promised by singer Shirley Manson as a follow up of sorts but everyone knows that’s a problem. (1) You can’t recapture the glory days (2) Why would you want to unless you’re desperate?

Opener “Sometimes,” much like the band it seems, really doesn’t know what it wants to be. Second track “Empty” opens with that driving 90s indie rock sound fans will be accustomed to but somehow it fails to deliver. “Magnetized” does the same. As do “We Never Tell” and “So We Can Stay Alive.”

The album is at its best on three tracks that come in the middle: “If I Lost You,” “Night Drive Loneliness” and “Even Though Our Love Is Doomed.” These are dreamy, late-night electro pop numbers that could have come straight from 1995 but they lack any killer hook to grab on to.

And therein lies the problem. It’s not all bad – actually none of it is bad, it’s just fine.

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