Donald Trump Says the Darndest Things! (Video)

Stephen Colbert tests Republican delegates on whether Trump actually said he’s well-endowed or that his children smell good.

www.advocate.com/comedy/2016/7/21/donald-trump-says-darndest-things-video

NBA Pulls All-Star Game From North Carolina Due to HB 2

The basketball league is reportedly looking to New Orleans after North Carolina failed to back down from anti-LGBT legislation.

www.advocate.com/sports/2016/7/21/nba-pulls-all-star-game-north-carolina-due-hb-2

Florida School Principal Reacts To Post-Orlando Same-Sex Kiss: “Kill Gays”

We once heard social media described as truth serum — that on a long enough timeline, people cannot hold their tongues and will out themselves for who they truly are to the world.

Steve Kenney, principal of Center Academy in Pinellas Park in Florida, is an example of this phenomenon. He has now been outed to the world as a religiously inspired, fanatical homophobe who has no business shaping young minds. At least not until he gets the help he obviously needs.

Cyd Zeigler of Outsports has just published an account of an exchange he had over Facebook, and then offline, with and concerning Kenney, which started shortly after the mass shooting in Orlando at the Pulse nightclub.

Zeigler writes that he posted the following photo of himself kissing his husband to his personal Facebook page:

“The day after the tragedy, in the hope of reminding my personal network of the love in the world by sharing more pictures of gay couples kissing, I posted this photograph of my husband and partner of 13 years, Dan Pinar, and me on my public-facing Facebook account,” Ziegler says in his Outsports article, explaining his motivation for making the post.

As is often the case with social media, the message quickly reached beyond just his “personal network” and found its way to Kenney’s newsfeed, effectively popping the so-called “Facebook filter bubble.” Kenney responded to the photo first with a single word: “Sick.”

Kenney wasn’t done unloading his hateful rhetoric, turning to some of the worst passages of the Bible to do his dirty work for him thereafter, calling for the murdering of gay people.

Ziegler reports that this sent “shivers” down his spine, “particularly given the timing, literally hours after the Orlando shooting.”

“While Kenney was clearly not harming anyone physically with his post, and while it would be hyperbole to suggest there was any actual intent to do so on Kenney’s part, I thought about how religious doctrine was again at play, as it had been just 36 hours earlier in Orlando,” Ziegler writes.

“My heart sank as I clicked on Kenney’s Facebook page to see he listed himself as the head of Center Academy in Pinellas Park, Fla., just 100 miles from where the Orlando massacre took place and where the Tampa Bay Rays would honor the dead later that week. I wondered how an educator of young minds — a school principal — could not only think such terrible things about gay people, but go a step further and post them on a stranger’s loving photo only hours after the massacre.”

“It is horrifying to realize there are people in leadership roles in education who hold these repugnant views,” he quotes GLSEN executive director Eliza Byard as having said to him. “Saying gay people deserve to die is so far beyond the pale it is horrifying, and any time we learn of someone with those views, we must do what we can to make sure they are not directing the education of young people.”

To make matters worse, the school Kenney is a principal at is for students with special needs.

“How particularly ugly and horrifying that someone who works with a more vulnerable population, who are so prone to face additional challenges to having a happy and fulfilling life, would do this,” Byard said.

“Religion-based bigotry is shameful – it is wrong. Youth who are LGBT are at high risk of suicide and negative health harms and are subject to harassment and violence,” Shane Windmeyer, Executive Director of Campus Pride, a national educational organization for LGBTQ and ally college students, told me when I asked for his reaction. “The principal needs to create a safe learning environment for all students. I don’t see how such a person would be able to do that for LGBT youth. His posts are deplorable in light of the Orlando shooting – and simply not what you expect of a principal. Parents and families should be appalled and asking serious questions about this school.”

Ziegler reached out to Center Academy CEO Andrew Hicks to inform him of Kenney’s comments. Hicks told him that he had spoken to Kenney about it and that Kenney had promised not to make similar posts in the future.

When Ziegler inquired about disciplinary actions against Kenney or any LGBT education and training in the school, Hicks said he could not share that information but stated that he was looking into the possibility of LGBT training.

Ziegler attempted to speak with Kenney personally, but those attempts were ignored.

“I don’t want Kenney to lose his job. I don’t,” Ziegler explains. “I do want there to be repercussions for his insensitivity; if I were the school administration, I would consider suspending him without pay. And I do want this whole thing to be a learning experience for him and a catalyst for change for the school. I want the parents and administration to be very aware of this issue. I want them to be the eyes and ears on the ground watching Kenney’s decisions. I want them to make sure that every LGBT student in that school feels included, and that programs are set up in Center Academy to ensure that Kenney’s statements about gay people being ‘sick’ don’t dictate school policy or programs.

“I want Kenney to introduce an LGBT speaker at a school assembly. I want Kenney to shake the hand of a gay athlete sharing her story with the athletic department.

“I know the school will ultimately find its way through this, and I share this story publicly to make sure it does.”

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/GH5ASZP3sfw/florida-school-principal-reacts-post-orlando-sex-kiss-kill-gays-20160721

Michelle Obama’s Carpool Karaoke With James Corden Is The Best One Yet

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NBA Pulls 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte Over North-Carolina’s Anti-LGBT Bathroom Bill

The NBA will pull its 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte North Carolina as a result of the state’s anti-LGBT bathroom bill, HB 2.

The NBA was reportedly not satisfied with hollow changes made to the bill earlier this week by Governor Pat McCrory.

New Orleans is reportedly the front-runner to take over hosting duties for the game.

Yahoo reports: 

The NBA is focused on the New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center as the host for All-Star Weekend and the All-Star Game on Feb. 19, league sources told The Vertical.

For now, there are still other cities trying to lure the All-Star Game, sources said.

A formal announcement on the NBA’s withdrawal out of Charlotte is expected as soon as this week, league sources said Thursday.

Developing…

The post NBA Pulls 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte Over North-Carolina’s Anti-LGBT Bathroom Bill appeared first on Towleroad.

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Reince Priebus Doesn’t Think the GOP’s Platform Is Anti-LGBT – WATCH 

Reince Priebus, the RNC chair, doesn’t think the GOP platform endorses ex-gay conversion therapy or demeans the children of same-sex couples, despite incontrovertible evidence that the platform does exactly that.

In an interview with Chuck Todd on Sunday before the RNC mess convention kicked off this week, Priebus bristled when Todd asked if he was comfortable with the fact that the party platform endorses conversion therapy.

“No, it doesn’t,” Priebus insisted. “That’s out – There’s an amendment on that issue. It has been taken out. It’s not in the final platform.”

WATCH: RNC Chair @Reince Priebus denies anti-LGBTQ extent of party’s platform #RNCinCLE t.co/8fykXoBLbH pic.twitter.com/sAUDEdu0Hz

— HumanRightsCampaign (@HRC) July 20, 2016

But that’s not exactly true.

While the platform doesn’t mention conversion therapy by name, it reads,

“America’s healthcare professionals should not be forced to choose between following their faith and practicing their profession…We support the right of parents to determine the proper medical treatment and therapy for their minor children.”

While not the full-throated endorsement of conversion therapy that hate group leader Tony Perkins may have wanted, that language does mean that the GOP believes parents should have the right to subject their children to conversion therapy (aka torture).

PREVIOUSLY: 2016 GOP Platform Lays It Bare: Today’s Republican Party is an Anti-LGBT Hate Group

Though the original amendment proposed by Perkins mentioned explicit support for “conversion therapy”, the platform’s new language (which was passed on Monday) is nothing more than misdirection. As HRC notes, “The fact that Tony Perkins and his allies didn’t raise a ruckus when the language was tweaked tells you all you need to know.”

Todd also asked Priebus about language in the platform that suggests children of same-sex couples are more likely to be drug addicts and criminals than children of heterosexual couples.

RELATED: MUST WATCH – Republican Delegate Blasts Party for Homophobic Platform: ‘Stop Repelling Gays’

Priebus again attempted to deny the anti-LGBT nature of the platform, saying, “It doesn’t mean that.”

Here’s what the platform actually says:

“Children raised in a two-parent household tend to be physically and emotionally healthier, more likely to do well in school, less likely to use drugs and alcohol, engage in crime or become pregnant outside of marriage.”

“The data and the facts lead to an inescapable conclusion: Every child deserves a married mom and dad.”

It’s hard not to read that language and come away with a sense that the RNC chose to explicitly denigrate the children of same-sex parents as well as same-sex parents themselves as somehow being dangerous to their own children.

Priebus says the point of the language is only to stress the RNC’s support for “traditional values” and what the “best” type of an American family is.

You be the judge.

Watch, below.

The post Reince Priebus Doesn’t Think the GOP’s Platform Is Anti-LGBT – WATCH  appeared first on Towleroad.

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Ted Cruz — and Honey Badger — Don’t Care: GOP Convention Recap, Day 3

Convention Recap, Day 3

There’s nothing like Loser Night.

Ted Cruz, channeling that crazy nastyass Honey Badger, ripped Trump a “constitutional conscience” right up his diaper-soft Pence-poof posterior.

Teddy Cruz don’t care. He’ll take Donald the King’s Cobra poisonous stings, retreat for a snooze— then come right back and EAT DONALD ALIVE like it was nothing.

You go ahead and watch that great gay animal video again— I promise, you’re watching the film of the future.

This was supposed to be Happy Loser Night. Newt Gingrich wanted to sign you up for one of his Great Mansplaining Courses. Scott Walker shouted at the wind. Marco phoned in his “Hey Girl!” via video. Why wasn’t Rubio there in person? “Something came up!” There’s a Marcia Brady in every GOP presidential race, and Marco has her nailed.

Aside from Cruz, all the action was in the Royal Box last night, where the Trump Dynasty is seated on velvet cushions in order of favor.

The expressions on their faces throughout the evening more riveting than anything on stage. Watch Donnie Jr. scowl and pout through his little brother Eric’s “Ode To Daddy.” No one’s going to accuse Baby E of plagiarism, because his entire homage consisted of, “I love you, I love you, so, so, so, so much!”

Tiffany squirmed like a gassy kitten, her face a putty of teenage alienation. She sat next to implacable Ivanka who spoke volumes to her half-sister with one cold shoulder: “If you pick your nose in front of the cameras I will kill you where you lie.”

Ivanka had a cell phone she used with diamond precision. When Cruz made it clear he wasn’t going to kiss the ring, she made one call— and the mini-riot on the convention floor was the next thing we viewed on-camera.

The Donald charged into the fray, urging on the maddened crowd, giving both thumbs up, the louder the Coliseum roared  for Ted’s head. All that was missing was gladiator sandals— Charlton Heston’s disappeared in Pam Bondi’s gift bag.

Viewers at home didn’t even see the end of Cruz’s speech because the wrestling arena turned all cameras to Donald the Hulk. His Stepford receiving line rose to greet him again. Trump WILL dominate you! He has blonde dragons!

Trump was supposedly on hand Night 3 to introduce his vice-presidential running mate… What’s his name again? Gov. Mike Pence, how could we forget!

Back when Mike Pence was trying to take AIDS funds and allocate them to gay conversion therapy, he WAS somebody. Back when Pence told Indiana women they’d never escape forced birth as long as he was around to inspect their sinful vaginas, Pence actually made the news. He had dreams, he had delusions of God’s Chosen People— his wife and family.

Well, that is OVER.

There’s no one like Trump to perform Il bacio della morte, reducing his victims to a state of panic while they do anything to save their lives. God will have little to do with it.

Donald interrupted Pence last night to put his hands on the grey man’s shoulders, tower over him in height, and give him the biggest Roman Air Kiss of the Damned that we’ve seen since I, Claudius. “See what I did to Ted Cruz tonight? I could do that to you in my sleep.”

But Honey Badger don’t give a shit. It won’t be the last we see of Mr. Cruz.

Susie Bright will be tweeting for Towleroad @TLRD tonight in prime time during the GOP Convention.

Illustration by Jon Bailiff

The post Ted Cruz — and Honey Badger — Don’t Care: GOP Convention Recap, Day 3 appeared first on Towleroad.

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