Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Enacts LGBTQ Non-Discrimination Policy

New policies protecting LGBTQ people in employment and hiring will go into effect tomorrow for the Jacksonville, Florida Sheriff’s Office.

“The addition of these protections at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and our other key public employers are important steps on the path to full equality in Jacksonville,” Dan Merkan, chairman of Jacksonville Coalition for Equality, told The Florida-Times Union. “The Jacksonville Coalition for Equality will continue to work towards the day where every hard-working resident of Jacksonville will no longer have to worry about losing their job because of who they are.”

In January, Mayor Lenny Curry issued a Mayoral Directive to protect City employees and contractors against employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. The Mayoral Directive went into effect in April. In the months since, the city’s four major independent authorities — agencies that are part of the city government but separate from City Hall — have followed suit. Those include JEA, JaxPort, the Jacksonville Aviation Authority and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority.

For several years, the Human Rights Campaign, along with Equality Florida and Jacksonville Area Sexual Minority Youth Network (JASMYN) as part of the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality, a local Jacksonville coalition, continue to build public support for city-wide LGBT protections.

www.hrc.org/blog/jacksonville-sheriffs-office-enacts-lgbtq-non-discrimination-policy?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

After #NoMoore, Pro-Equality Alabamians Rejoice

Post submitted by Evan Kendrick, HRC Alabama State Manager

I’m proud to say that Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore is #NoMoore. On Wednesday, September 28, Moore stood — disgraced and suspended from the Supreme Court —  before the Alabama Court of the Judiciary for his unethical and extralegal actions surrounding marriage equality. Today, the Alabama Court of the Judiciary suspended Moore without pay through the remainder of his term. I was proud to be in the courthouse to witness this historic trial and I’m even more proud to see justice win.

As I watched both sides make their arguments, a crowd of LGBTQ and allied Alabamians, led by Ambrosia Starling, rallied outside on the courthouse steps. After Moore’s trial ended, the growing crowd joined HRC and speakers Dr. Paul Hard, Cari Searcy, Rev. Ramone Billingsley, and Que Bell for an HRC press conference calling for #NoMoore. As we anticipated the impending decision and reiterated our desire for Moore’s removal, our speakers also called on Alabama’s voters to recognize their responsibility in electing pro-equality public officials. The only way to remove discriminatory beliefs from public offices is to elect pro-equality candidates.

Earlier this year, HRC Alabama initiated our #NoMoore campaign to remove Moore from the Alabama Supreme Court for his blatant legal and ethical failings. HRC Alabama called out Moore’s discriminatory behavior with a billboard in downtown Montgomery, and held rallies and press conferences outside each of Moore’s ethics hearings — including Wednesday’s final hearing. This marks the second time Moore has faced negative consequences for pushing his personal agenda from the state’s highest court.

Following the official decision, pro-equality Alabamians across the state rejoiced that our call for #NoMoore hate and discrimination was heard and recognized. However, we must stay united and remain vigilant against all public officials who seek state-sponsored discrimination. Now, as we look forward, I am proud to say that Alabama’s future will not include Roy Moore as an active member on our state’s Supreme Court. 

www.hrc.org/blog/after-nomoore-pro-equality-alabamians-rejoice?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Did Donald Trump Mess With the Wrong 'Criminal' Beauty Queen?

In a series of early-morning tweets, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump went after former Miss Universe Alicia Machado.

www.advocate.com/election/2016/9/30/did-donald-trump-mess-wrong-criminal-beauty-queen

Philly Patrons Protest Gay Club After Owner Uses the 'N' Word

Patrons of a gay club in Philadelphia are claiming they will now take their business elsewhere. 

www.advocate.com/crime/2016/9/30/philly-patrons-protest-gay-club-after-owner-uses-n-word

Mike Yenni Responds To The Whole Sexting-With-A-Teen-Boy Scandal Then Promptly Goes Into Hiding

It’s been a rough day for Mike Yenni, the “happily married with one daughter” Republican from Louisiana who was just outed for allegedly having an affair with a 17-year-old Catholic school boy.

According to local New Orleans news station WWL-TV, 40-year-old Yenni, the former mayor of Kenner, LA and current Jefferson Parish President, allegedly sexted with the teenager while he was on the campaign trail last year. He also allegedly gave the youth designer underwear, kissed him in a mall bathroom, and suggested they have a threesome with another 19-year-old male.

Related: Married Conservative Politician Outed For Sexting Teen Boy, Kissing Him In Mall Bathroom

According to the station, Louisiana’s age of consent is 17, which means any sexual contact between Yenni and the teen would not have been illegal, but federal law bars the use of any telecommunications device to engage in “obscene” conversation with anyone under the age of 18. So there were whispers that the FBI was investigating the matter.

Indeed, Craig Betbeze, a spokesman for the FBI, told WWL-TV, “We have been made aware of the allegations and are looking into it.” It was also confirmed that the feds had taken the teen’s cell phone.

Yenni’s camp had remained tight-lipped about the whole thing until this afternoon, when his media consultant Greg Buisson finally released the following very brief, very vague statement:

Mike does not believe there’s any reason he should be contacted [by the FBI] because he maintains that he has not violated any laws personally or professional. And that’s his belief at this point.

According to NOLA.com, Buisson refused to elaborate on the allegations or what they could mean for Yenni politically, insisting that the politician, who was out of the office today and appears to have gone into hiding, will have no further comment on the matter.

The teen is also keeping quiet for now, telling Queerty in an email, “I’m not doing any further correspondence with media outlets for the time being.”

It should be noted that this is not the first time Yenni has been embroiled in a sexting scandal. WWL-TV reports that he was accused of sending racy messages to eight different adult men and one adult woman during a three week period between December 2009 and January 2010 using a city-issued BlackBerry.

Does anyone else feel like there’s another shoe just waiting to drop here?

Related: Teen’s Story About Hooking Up With Married Politician Sounds Awfully Like Mike Yenni

www.queerty.com/mike-yenni-responds-whole-sexting-teen-boy-scandal-promptly-goes-hiding-20160930?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Trump Defends 3 am Twitter Rant: ‘At Least I’ll Be Awake to Answer the Call!’

Donald Trump has defended his early morning tweetstorm attacking former Miss Universe Alicia Machado and Hillary Clinton.

As Andy previously reported, Trump railed against Machado and urged people to watch a (nonexistent) sex tape in which he says Machado appears:

“Anytime you see a story about me or my campaign saying “sources said,” DO NOT believe it. There are no sources, they are just made up lies!…Wow, Crooked Hillary was duped and used by my worst Miss U. Hillary floated her as an “angel” without checking her past, which is terrible!…Using Alicia M in the debate as a paragon of virtue just shows that Crooked Hillary suffers from BAD JUDGEMENT! Hillary was set up by a con… Did Crooked Hillary help disgusting (check out sex tape and past) Alicia M become a U.S. citizen so she could use her in the debate?

ICYMI: In Two-Hour Twitter Rant at 3 am, Donald Trump Urges Voters to Watch a Sex Tape

After many wondered what would compel the Republican nominee to go on a two hour Twitter rant between the hours of 3 and 5 am, Trump responded by writing on Twitter, “For those few people knocking me for tweeting at three o’clock in the morning, at least you know I will be there, awake, to answer the call!”

For those few people knocking me for tweeting at three o’clock in the morning, at least you know I will be there, awake, to answer the call!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 30, 2016

“The call” Trump seemingly refers to is a call from The White House Situation Room that awakens the president in the event of a crisis that requires his attention.

Bernie Sanders responded quickly to Trump’s tweet, writing, “It’s pretty telling that Donald Trump thinks the problem with his sexist tweets is the time that they were sent.”

It’s pretty telling that Donald Trump thinks the problem with his sexist tweets is the time that they were sent. t.co/jF09wLSwao

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) September 30, 2016

Earlier in the day, Meet The Press moderator Chuck Todd appeared dumbfounded that a nominee for president of the United States would be encouraging people to watch pornography.

“Why is he encouraging people to watch pornography?” is a ? @chucktodd had to ask about a pres candidate today: t.co/OrKg8wcKr4 pic.twitter.com/aX9xCbcnZS

— Matt Wilstein (@TheMattWilstein) September 30, 2016

Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton called Alicia Machado after Trump’s “strange tweetstorm” to thank her for her courage in the face of Trump’s attacks.

Clinton called Alicia Machado after Trump’s “strange tweetstorm,” spokesman @NickMerrill tells reporters aboard Clinton’s plane. pic.twitter.com/XYVGkZro2V

— Ruby Cramer (@rubycramer) September 30, 2016

Machado responded to Trump’s attacks on Instagram with a post in Spanish, and also responded with a full press release going after Trump. Said Machado, “I will not be bullied or silenced. I’m standing with women and the Latino community everywhere.”

“I will not be bullied or silenced. I’m standing with women and the Latino community everywhere.” pic.twitter.com/oz9vSNlqVr

— Alicia Machado (@machadooficial) September 30, 2016

PREVIOUSLY: Alicia Machado Responds to Trump’s ‘Sex Tape’ Attacks in Spanish, on Instagram

All of the focus on what Trump does at 3 am reminds us of this skewering of Trump courtesy of The Simpsons. 

The post Trump Defends 3 am Twitter Rant: ‘At Least I’ll Be Awake to Answer the Call!’ appeared first on Towleroad.

Trump Defends 3 am Twitter Rant: ‘At Least I’ll Be Awake to Answer the Call!’

Watch Donald Trump Suggest He Planned to Call Mexicans ‘Rapists’ in Newly Released Deposition Videos

Videos have just been released of a deposition Donald Trump gave in June in which he suggests that he planned to call illegal Mexican immigrants “rapists” during his campaign kick-off speech.

BuzzFeed filed a motion seeking the release of the videos and a judge released them on Friday.

The deposition was given after Trump sued a number of restaurants that backed out of a business deal with the Republican nominee after he made his incendiary comments during his announcement speech.

BuzzFeed reports: 

Trump suggests in one exchange that his incendiary comments about Mexicans made during his campaign kickoff — he said people coming here from the country were “rapists” — were premeditated. Another answer shows Trump bragging about how he signs hundreds of real estate leases but relies on others to actually read and review the documents.

The depositions are related to Trump’s $200 million project to transform the Old Post Office building — a taxpayer-owned landmark just five blocks from White House — into a luxury hotel. Trump’s company won the right to develop the project by making numerous promises to the government that he failed to keep.

Via NBC News: 

In his testimony, which was conducted under oath, Trump complained that the chefs who objected to his rhetoric about undocumented immigrants were being “politically correct” and “grandstanding” when they canceled their plans to operate at Trump’s new hotel at the historic Old Post Office on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Trump also explained at the deposition when and why he wrote the “rapists” comment, saying that he did not write the statement in advance of his presidential announcement speech last year but that he did plan it.

“All I’m doing is bringing up a statement that is very real about illegal immigration, and I think most people think I’m right,” he said.

Watch the videos, below.

The first video turns to Trump’s comments about Mexican immigrants approximately at the 44:30 mark.

Trump discusses Judge Curiel at around the 8:34 mark.

The post Watch Donald Trump Suggest He Planned to Call Mexicans ‘Rapists’ in Newly Released Deposition Videos appeared first on Towleroad.

Watch Donald Trump Suggest He Planned to Call Mexicans ‘Rapists’ in Newly Released Deposition Videos

Gay Boxer Orlando Cruz Has Two More Fights Before He’ll Be World Champion

Gay boxer Orlando Cruz says he’s planning to be world champion and can get there after just two more fights, the Philippine Star reports:

Orlando Cruz of Puerto Rico said his quest begins by getting past Luis Sanchez on October 7, after which he will pursue a fight with WBO interim world champion super featherweight champion Miguel Berchelt.

“We are working hard for this fight and hope to do well. We are facing Berchelt in January or February for the interim world title. But I have an excellent team and we have no hurry to get to that point. We are at the time of assimilating weight and going step by step,” the boxer said in a report by El Vocero, a Puerto Rican newspaper.

RELATED: Boxer Orlando Cruz Comes Out, Making Him First Openly Gay Man In The Ring

Cruz, the first professional boxer to come out as gay while active, is currently ranked at No. 4 among featherweights by the World Boxing Organization. In July he honored victims of the Pulse Orlando nightclub shooting at a match in Kissimmee, Florida.

The post Gay Boxer Orlando Cruz Has Two More Fights Before He’ll Be World Champion appeared first on Towleroad.

Gay Boxer Orlando Cruz Has Two More Fights Before He’ll Be World Champion

BREAKING: CIAA Moves Championships out of North Carolina as Fallout from Anti-LGBTQ HB2 Continues

Today, HRC and Equality NC, the statewide organization working to secure equal rights and justice for LGBTQ North Carolinians, praised the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) decision to stand up for the safety of the organization’s employees, players, and fans by moving championship games out of North Carolina due to the state’s anti-LGBTQ HB2 law. Eight of the CIAA’s 12 member schools are based in North Carolina.

“Make no mistake, the fact that more championships are being moved out of North Carolina is a direct result of Pat McCrory’s stubborn refusal to repeal HB2,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “McCrory’s reckless response to the mess he created by signing HB2 into law continues to inflict serious harm on the state. Lawmakers who continue to ignore the overwhelming majority of North Carolinians and business leaders demanding the discriminatory law be repealed do so at their own risk come November.”

“200 days after its initial passage, HB2 — the worst anti-LGBTQ bill in the nation — continues to hurt our state every day,” said Equality NC Executive Director Chris Sgro. “Where is Pat McCrory right now? As our state suffers economically and communities are targeted for discrimination by the law, the governor does nothing. The time for action is now. We must repeal this awful law.”

The CIAA announcement states: “The CIAA’s transition, beginning with the relocation of 8 championships, is the first step in demonstrating that the conference does not support laws which prevent communities from effectively protecting student-athletes and fans.” The CIAA decision follows similar announcements from the NBA, NCAA, and ACC, which also moved championship games out of the state because of the deeply discriminatory HB2 law.

Despite the growing and widespread opposition to HB2, Governor McCrory and the General Assembly have been unwilling to even consider repealing the full substance of the discriminatory law, including its ban on transgender people accessing restrooms consistent with their gender identity in government offices and schools, and its removal of municipalities’ ability to pass LGBTQ-inclusive non-discrimination laws and minimum wage ordinances.

www.hrc.org/blog/breaking-ciaa-moves-championships-out-of-north-carolina-as-fallout-from-ant?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

HRC Endorses Russ Feingold of Wisconsin for U.S. Senate

Today, HRC announced its endorsement of Russ Feingold for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Ron Johnson.

“For Wisconsinites who believe in equality for LGBTQ people, the choice in this election couldn’t be more clear. Russ Feingold has dedicated his career to making sure that LGBTQ people are treated equally under the law,” said HRC Senior Vice President of Policy and Political Affairs JoDee Winterhof. “Ron Johnson believes in a world where companies can fire an LGBTQ person because of who they are or whom they love. Long before it was politically popular, Russ Feingold championed LGBTQ equality because it was the right thing to do. The Human Rights Campaign is proud to endorse his campaign and we look forward to working with Russ Feingold on moving us closer to full legal equality by passing the Equality Act.”

The nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute found strong support for LGBTQ equality in Wisconsin. A majority — 73 percent — of Wisconsinites support LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections.
While Russ Feingold has a long history of supporting LGBTQ equality, Ron Johnson has opposed LGBTQ equality during his time in office. He has refused to support the Equality Act, comprehensive legislation to protect LGBT people from discrimination. In addition, he voted against the bipartisan Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-endorses-russ-feingold-of-wisconsin-for-u.s.-senate?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed