‘Gay Bachelor’ Robert Sepulveda Jr. Threatens Legal Action Despite Having A Case

As you’ll recall, Robert Sepulveda Jr. has been fumbling his way through the news, first as the contestant on Logo’s Bachelor clone; then for having worked as an escort; then for having been kind of sex-negative about the whole thing; and also for having run a rainbow-crosswalk nonprofit that may or may not still exist.

His latest misadventure: making noise about suing online bullies, or something.

It’s clear that he doesn’t have the strongest grasp on how the law works. But that didn’t stop him from posting a legal threat to Instagram:

“If you come fro me, we will come for you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” he wrote. (It’s worth noting that the grammar-checker underlined “prosecute” just now, suggesting that it be changed to “persecute.”)

Who exactly does he intend to “prosecute”? Who knows. As a lawyer pointed out to The Wrap, he’d have to prove that people are spreading lies about him, and that he’s not a public figure. Good luck.

Maybe Robert’s miffed that people are still bringing up his sex worker past. And yes, there is certainly an unfortunate stigma attached to that kind of work, and if he wants to move on — fine, he should be able to do so. But that doesn’t mean he can stop people from talking about it.

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Trump Supporters Talk Hillary Health Conspiracies: “It Could Be AIDS”

The Daily Show’s Jordan Klepper interviews a Trump supporter. Via Comedy Central.

There’s nothing the far right likes better than a good conspiracy. Or a half baked conspiracy. Or a conspiracy they just now made up but are pretty sure could be real. Their latest fixation is Hillary Clinton‘s health and The Daily Show‘s Jordan Klepper went to Donald Trump rallies in the swing states of Wisconsin and Ohio to find out more.

Related: Trump Supporters Too Intolerant To Pass His “Extreme Vetting” Test

Sure, “they” want you to believe she just had pneumonia, but these non-sheeples aren’t falling for it. They know there’s something bigger afoot. Like Parkinson’s, cancer, MS, or perhaps it’s AIDS.

via GIPHY

So how did Hillary Clinton contract AIDS? From Bill, naturally.

And how did Bill contract AIDS? From Magic Johnson, duh.

via GIPHY

We also learn that Clinton may have a body double. Oh, and Obama is still a Muslim terrorist, and no amount of actual evidence will convince them otherwise. And did you know, he wasn’t even in the Oval Office on 9/11?! Shocking stuff. But don’t worry, they’ll keep asking the tough questions…and then answering them themselves with ridiculous conclusions based on feelings and fear. Because they are the true Americans and they will make everything great again.

Watch the video below, if you can stomach it.

Watch the full segment here.

www.queerty.com/trump-supporters-talk-hillary-health-conspiracies-aids-20160921?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

FBI Seeks Two Individuals in Connection with Chelsea Bombing

The FBI sent out an alert seeking two individuals in connection with the second pressure cooker bomb that was left on 27th street in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood the night of the bombing by Ahmad Khan Rahami on 23rd street.

Writes the FBI’s New York office:

The FBI is asking for the public’s assistance in locating these two unknown individuals.  Closed circuit television recordings indicate that these individuals allegedly located a piece of luggage on the sidewalk, removed an improvised explosive device from the luggage, and then left the vicinity leaving the device behind but taking the luggage. The image shown was taken on West 27th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., on Saturday, September 17, 2016, in the same hour that an explosive device had detonated on West 23rd Street.

The FBI is interested in speaking to these individuals and recovering the luggage.

#BREAKING Seen them? #FBI looking to locate these two for questioning on 27th St suitcase t.co/lUsgqiyt3s pic.twitter.com/P1rUFUkOau

— FBI New York (@NewYorkFBI) September 21, 2016

Ahmad Khan Rahami was arrested on Monday following a shootout with police after being directly linked to the bombs and another in Seaside Park, New Jersey.

DNA Info reported on September 19 that two men, described as “thieves”, may have inadvertently disabled the second bomb:

The young men, who sources described as being well-dressed, opened the bag and took the bomb out, sources said, before placing the explosive into a garbage bag and walking away with the rolling suitcase.

“Once they picked up the bag, they seemed incredulous. They had actually picked this up off the street and they walked off with it,” according to Robert Boyce, the NYPD’s Chief of Detectives, who was responding to a question about DNAinfo New York’s story.

“They look like they were two gentlemen just strolling up and down Seventh Avenue at the time,” Boyce added.

Investigators believe they inadvertently disabled the explosive, sources said.

“It’s difficult to say right now if they at all, inadvertently perhaps even, pulled a wire,” Boyce said.

Since the bomb remained intact, it allowed investigators to examine the cellphone attached to the bomb and discover that it was connected to the family of Rahami.

The post FBI Seeks Two Individuals in Connection with Chelsea Bombing appeared first on Towleroad.

FBI Seeks Two Individuals in Connection with Chelsea Bombing

Federal Judge Rejects Challenge to NC’s Anti-Gay ‘Marriage Recusal’ Law

A federal judge has thrown out a challenge to a North Carolina law that allows local government officials to refuse to marry same-sex couples if doing so would violate their sincerely-held religious beliefs.

News of the ruling first broke on Twitter on Wednesday.

BREAKING: Judge tosses challenge to N. Carolina law that lets magistrates refuse to marry gay couples due to religion.

— The Associated Press (@AP) September 21, 2016

After losing at trial court, LGBT advocate will appeal case challenging NC’s magistrate recusal law to 4th Circuit. t.co/9bkZXchs9r pic.twitter.com/xo9IDh8Csa

— Dominic Holden (@dominicholden) September 21, 2016

Earlier reporting from the AP on Twitter suggested that the law was upheld. However, an update has since clarified that the decision on Wednesday had to do with the judge’s belief that the plaintiffs laced standing and could not show they were harmed by the law.

AP deleted a tweet about a judge upholding a N. Carolina law that lets magistrates refuse to wed same-sex couples. The judge TOSSED the law.

— The Associated Press (@AP) September 21, 2016

The AP reports: 

The judge in Asheville dismissed a lawsuit filed by three couples, two gay and one interracial. The judge ruled that the couples lacked legal standing as taxpayers to sue and lacked evidence showing they were harmed directly by the law taking effect in June 2015. Still, U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn wrote there is potential someone could suffer real harm because of the law.

The plaintiffs’ lawyers a notice Wednesday that they’ll appeal Tuesday’s ruling to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

North Carolina’s Marriage Recusal Bill (aka SB 2) was passed by the state lawmakers in 2015. In fact, lawmakers had to override Governor Pat McCrory (that same Pat McCrory) who had vetoed the bill in order make the bill law.

Part of the reason why McCrory may have vetoed the bill was that SB 2 was not just construed as a dangerous anti-gay law at the time it was passed. Rather, the language in it was so broad it potentially gave credence to government officials wishing to deny marriage licenses to and discriminate against interfaith couples and interracial couples in addition to gay cpuples. As Rachel Maddow explained in her brilliant summation of the bill’s implications, “They were aiming at gay people. They hit everybody.”

Watch Maddow’s recap on the bill, below.

[Editor’s note: a previous version of this story ran with the headline ‘Federal Judge: NC Magistrates Can Refuse to Marry Same-Sex Couples Because of Religious Beliefs.’ This was based on initial reporting from the AP suggesting that the law was strictly upheld, rather than a challenge being dismissed because it lacked standing.]

The post Federal Judge Rejects Challenge to NC’s Anti-Gay ‘Marriage Recusal’ Law appeared first on Towleroad.

Federal Judge Rejects Challenge to NC’s Anti-Gay ‘Marriage Recusal’ Law

Bono Guts Trump: ‘He’s Potentially the Worst Idea that Ever Happened to America’ – WATCH

U2 lead singer and activist Bono spoke with Charlie Rose about the upcoming US presidential election and spelled out his opinion on the state of the race and on Donald Trump in particular.

Asked whether Trump is “a change agent because people are so unhappy about the status quo”, Bono appeared to become physically revolted at the suggestion, letting out an audible gasp before putting his head down on Rose’s famous round table.

“America is like the best idea the world ever came up with,” Bono said, “but Donald Trump is potentially the worst idea that ever happened to America. Potentially.”

He added, “He could destroy it because of what we’re saying. America is not just a country…America is an idea.”

The Irish rock star commented that he believes Trump “hijacked” the GOP and that he’s “trying to hijack the idea of America.” “I think it’s bigger than all of us,” Bono said, “this is really dangerous.”

As for Trump’s supporters, Bono said, “I would not diminish Trump’s supporters or underestimate their angst.”

Watch, below.

The post Bono Guts Trump: ‘He’s Potentially the Worst Idea that Ever Happened to America’ – WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

Bono Guts Trump: ‘He’s Potentially the Worst Idea that Ever Happened to America’ – WATCH

HRC Announces HBCU Advisory Council, Partnership with Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions

Today, HRC announced the inaugural members of a National Advisory Council that will work with HRC’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Project. The distinguished members include the former presidents of Morehouse College and Bennett College, as well as Michael Lomax, CEO and President of the United Negro College Fund and former president of Dillard University. In conjunction with the announcement, HRC’s HBCU Project is also launching a new partnership with The Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions at the University of Pennsylvania to establish national benchmarks and best practices for HBCUs on LGBTQ inclusion.

The council’s 11 members will help develop and shape programs for HRC’s HBCU Project, which provides leadership training and programs to improve LGBTQ inclusion on campus, and serve as Equality Ambassadors by advocating for LGBTQ-affirming learning environments.  Members are:

• Frenchie Davis, an alumna of Howard University, singer/songwriter, and a finalist on American Idol and The Voice
• Noah Perkins-Deal, a student at Prairie View A&M University
• Robert Franklin, PhD, a Morehouse College alumnus, the James T. and Berta R. Laney Chair in Moral Leadership at Candler School of Theology at Emory University, and former President of Morehouse College
• Marybeth Gasman, PhD, the Director of The Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions and professor at the University of Pennsylvania
• Leslie Hall, MSW (ex-officio), an alumnus of both Bowie State University and Howard University and Manager of the HBCU Project at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation
• Michael Lomax, PhD, an alumnus of Morehouse College, current CEO and President of the United Negro College Fund, and former President of Dillard University
• Julianne Malveaux, PhD, the President/Founder of Economic Education and former President of Bennett College
• Trinice McNally, MS, an alumna of Bethune-Cookman University and Program Manager of HBCU Initiatives at the National Black Justice Coalition
• Steve Mobley, PhD, a Howard University alumnus and an Assistant Professor of Higher Education at University of Alabama
• Brian Stewart, an alumnus of Morgan State University and a current graduate student at Pepperdine University
• Darrell Wheeler, PhD, a Howard University alumnus, President of the National Association of Social Workers, and the Dean of the School of Social Work and Vice Provost for Public Engagement at the University of Albany

“HRC is honored to work with these remarkable educators and leaders as we continue to expand our HBCU Project’s initiatives,” said Mary Beth Maxwell, HRC’s Senior Vice President for Programs, Research, and Training. “Through the years, HRC’s HBCU Project has trained and equipped hundreds of HBCU students and administrators to deliver real change for LGBTQ students on their campuses. The advisory council and partnership with The Penn Center will provide experienced voices and powerful tools to help us ensure that our important work continues to grow in both its impact and reach.”

“Working with this distinguished group of leaders will help HRC’s HBCU Project achieve our goal of LGBTQ equality and inclusion at all 105 HBCUs nationwide,” said Leslie Hall, Manager of the HBCU Project. “Our new partnership with The Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions will bring us closer to that goal by working with us to develop national benchmarks for HBCUs to utilize in their pursuit of equality.”

For HBCUs that reach or surpass various benchmarks, the partnership between HRC’s HBCU Project and The Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions will establish a framework to recognize HBCUs that lead the way on LGBTQ equality. They will also develop tools for HBCUs to expand their diversity and inclusion efforts for LGBTQ people, including webinars for staff and administrators on housing and health care policies.

The HRC’s HBCU Project was founded to support LGBTQ students at HBCUs by providing resources and trainings to advance affirming and supportive college campuses at historically Black colleges and universities.  For the last 11 years, the HBCU Project has hosted an annual HBCU Leadership Summit to train and prepare student leaders and administrators to advocate for LGBTQ inclusion and safety.  

To learn more about the HRC’s HBCU Project, including our trainings and summit, visit www.hrc.org/campaigns/hbcu-leadership-and-career-summit.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-announces-new-partnership-with-the-penn-center-for-minority-serving-ins?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

HRC Mississippi Speaks at University of Mississippi Medical Center Event

On September 14, the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s (UMMC) Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) held their inaugural meeting for the 2016-17 academic year.  It was a privilege to be their first speaker as students, faculty and staff gathered to hear about HRC’s work in Mississippi.   

As an innovator in medicine, UMMC is one of the state’s largest employers and is dedicated to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for employees, students and their patients.

Because of this commitment from administrators and with the influence of UMMC’s GSA, UMMC will join hundreds of other healthcare institutions across the country and join HRC Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index (HEI). 

The HEI is the national LGBTQ benchmarking tool that evaluates healthcare facilities’ policies and practices related to the equity and inclusion of their LGBTQ patients, visitors and employees. The HEI 2016 evaluated a total of 2,061 healthcare facilities nationwide.

HRC looks forward to working closely with UMMC as they strive to improve the healthcare experience and become an example to other healthcare institutions in Mississippi.

To learn more about HRC’s Health Equality Index, visit www.hrc.org/HEI.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-mississippi-speaks-at-university-of-mississippi-medical-center-event?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Pride Toronto Apologizes for 'History of Anti-Blackness' Following Parade Protest

“There has been an unbelievable amount of racism expressed by members of our community through this organization,” the group writes.

www.advocate.com/pride/2016/9/21/pride-toronto-apologizes-history-anti-blackness-following-parade-protest

Corey Feldman Threatens To Return To NBC For Encore Performance

Rule of thumb: Skulking onstage to hobgoblin around in a snakeskin hood in front of an entire bitchy country is bound to get you attention.

Just don’t expect people to hurdle long-stemmed roses in your direction — particularly if your performance is so unintentionally hilarious that it’s practically life-affirming.

Related: Corey Feldman’s “Today Show” Performance The Definition Of “Trainwreck” 

But Corey Feldman was visibly upset during a now-deleted Facebook Live post he published over the weekend, in which he railed against an unfeeling Internet for misunderstanding his Today Show performance last Friday. (You can watch segments from the deleted post here, via Complex.)

“We just wanted to tell everybody that, like, it’s been really painful,” said the 45-year-old Feldman, sitting next to one of his “Corey’s Angels,” a certain Courtney Anne. “We put ourselves out there and we did the best we could. And, like, I’ve never had such mean things said about me. Like constantly.”

Then he began to sob. “All we can say is that we tried really hard. Because we love our fans and we just wanted to give them the best show that we could. But we don’t deserve … these things that are said about us are awful.”

It was a song, okay? It wasn’t that weird. I’m sorry if it’s not good enough for you, but you don’t have to beat us up. I just want to say that, like, why is it okay to, like, publicly shame us? … I don’t understand … It’s, like, not PC to, like, say somebody is fat or somebody is white or somebody is black or somebody is yellow or green or if they have a short leg or if they have a missing finger. Like we can’t talk about these things. But it’s okay to bash Corey Feldman and the Angels.

He’s mistaken. It’s perfectly acceptable to make fun of people with short legs.

On Tuesday, Feldman made a comparably low-key appearance on The View, where he wore a casual Jawa cloak and gabbed with Sara Gilbert about having the guts to perform on television while the rest of us sit at home and gutlessly make fun of him.

Curiously, when asked why he decided to take down the live Facebook post, he responded thus:

I took it down because I wanted people to see the real emotion that I was feeling because I think that, you know, in today’s world of celebrity, people always kind of hide behind their publicists, they hide behind their masks, they hide behind statements and quotes, and you never really see how it affects somebody’s emotions. I wanted people to see I’m not a fake, I’m not a real person, and this affects me: I am made of blood and flesh and cry.”

This explanation — as to why he bravely took down the emotional Facebook post — was met with wild applause on The Talk. 

You can watch the weirdness unfurl below.  

@whipclip @Corey_Feldman: So true?????? #TheTalk

— Jady Andrews Wori (@JadyPage) September 20, 2016

Elsewhere, Feldman suggests he was invited back to NBC “for an encore” performance, according to Entertainment Weekly. Keep in mind he has a double CD’s worth of material to choose from.

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Gay-For-Pay Sean Cody Star Who Allegedly Murdered His Sugar Daddy Will Soon Have His Day In Court

Mario Romo/David Enrique Meza (right) and Taylor Marie Langston (left)

When 25-year-old Mario Romo made his debut on Sean Cody‘s website in 2010, he was one of the brightest burning stars in gay-for-pay adult entertainment. Today, he’s sitting in a Texas jail cell, awaiting trail for allegedly murdering his wealthy ex-lover.

According to freshly unsealed FBI files obtained by Str8UpGayPorn, Romo, who was born in Mexico and whose real name is David Enrique Meza, has been indicted on multiple charges surrounding the brutal stabbing murder of 52-year-old Texas businessman Jake Clyde Merendino.

Related: Sean Cody Star Mario Romo Arrested For Murdering Texas Sugar Daddy

The FBI documents claim that Merendino and Romo were lovers prior to the May 2015 murder, even though Romo identifies as straight and has a girlfriend. Merendino provided luxury housing for Romo, including an oceanfront condo at Palacio del Mar and a brand new motorcycle.

Before murdering him, authorities believe Romo and his girlfriend, Taylor Marie Langston, who was pregnant with Romo’s child at the time, convinced Merendino to name Romo as his sole heir in a hastily handwritten will on a hotel notepad in December 21, 2014.

The murder took place five months later, between 7 and 8 PM on May 1, 2015 outside Bobby’s By The Sea hotel in Palacio del Mar. Merendino was found in the parking lot. He had been stabbed over 20 times in the chest and stomach before having his throat slashed.

Witnesses say they heard a motorcycle leaving the area shortly after the crime. And surveillance video along the U.S./Mexico border shows Langston speeding back into the United States in a black SUV with no license plate later that night.

Not long after the murder, Romo brought the handwritten will to Merendino’s lawyer in an attempt to claim his inheritance.

When detectives interviewed Romo, he denied having anything to do with the murder, though he did admit that he and Langston had been thinking about robbing Merendino but got cold feet. Meanwhile, Langston denied ever being in Mexico and offered an alibi for the night of the murder. That alibi later denied being with her.

Romo has been slapped with federal counts of interstate or foreign domestic violence resulting in murder and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Langston is accused of obstruction of justice, false statement to a federal officer, and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

If convicted on all counts, Romo faces life in prison. Langston faces up to 20 years.

A pre-trial meeting is scheduled for October 14.

Related: Convicted Sean Cody Extortionist Jarec Wentworth Speaks Out From Prison, Alleges Massive Conspiracy

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