Monthly Archives: December 2017



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NEWS

Supreme Court refuses to take up Texas case undermining marriage equality

Supreme Court refuses to take up Texas case undermining marriage equality

SCOTUS upheld a ruling threatening spousal benefits for LGBTQ couples by declining to hear Pidgeon v Turner

NEW YORK – Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD – the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, released the following statement after the Supreme Court of the United States refused to take up Pidgeon v. Turner. This decision upholds the ruling of the Texas Supreme Court saying there is not a de facto right to government benefits for LGBTQ couples. This decision begins the process to undercut marriage equality by erasing spousal benefits, including healthcare, for legally married LGBTQ couples in the state of Texas.

“With all eyes on tomorrow’s oral arguments in the Masterpiece Cakeshop religious exemptions case, the Supreme Court has just let an alarming ruling by the Texas Supreme Court stand which plainly undercuts the rights of married same-sex couples. Today’s abnegation by the nation’s highest court opens the door for an onslaught of challenges to the rights of LGBTQ people at every step.”

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Pidgeon V. Turner Timeline

  • Nov. 2005 – Texas bans gay marriage by referendum.
     
  • Nov. 2013 – After United States v. Windsor, then-mayor Annise Parker extends spouse benefits to city employees in same-sex marriages legally obtained in other states.
     
  • Dec. 2013 – Jack Pidgeon and Larry Hicks file a lawsuit against Parker and City of Houston, arguing providing benefits to same-sex spouses violates Texas Constitution and Texas Family Code.
     
  • Dec. 2013 – Trial court grants temporary injunction halting benefits.
     
  • Aug. 2014 – U.S. District Court, S.D. Texas, Houston Division ruled in favor of Pidgeon and Hicks.
     
  • March 2015 – City appeals decision to Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Texas.
     
  • June 2015 – While case is on appeal, SCOTUS decides Obergefell v. Hodges.
     
  • July 2015 – Based on Obergefell, Fourteenth Court of Appeals dissolves injunction and sends matter back to trial court for decision in line with SCOTUS ruling.
     
  • Sep. 2016 – Anti-LGBTQ activist in Texas launch a letter-writing campaign to pressure Texas Supreme Court Judges, who are elected officials, to reopen the case. Many threatening the judge’s chances of reelection if they do not reconsider.
     
  • Oct. 2016 – Anti-LGBTQ group, Texas Values, lobbies the Texas Supreme Court to re-open the case.
     
  • Jan. 2017 – The Supreme Court of Texas agrees to hear the case.
     
  • Mar. 2017 – Supreme Court of Texas hears arguments in Pidgeon v. Turner; case has support of Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and state senators and representatives, who all filed Amicus briefs.
     
  • June 2017 – The Texas Supreme Court ruled that is not a de facto right to government benefits for married gay and lesbian couples.
December 4, 2017

www.glaad.org/blog/supreme-court-refuses-take-texas-case-undermining-marriage-equality

NEWS

Donald Trump Defends Michael Flynn: ‘Hillary Clinton Lied to the FBI and Nothing Happened to Her’

Donald Trump Defends Michael Flynn: ‘Hillary Clinton Lied to the FBI and Nothing Happened to Her’
trump michael flynn

Donald Trump defended former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI on Friday, in a quick exchange with reporters on the White House lawn Monday morning.

“Well, I feel badly for General Flynn. I feel very badly. He’s led a very strong life. I will say this. Hillary Clinton lied many times to the FBI and nothing happened to her. Flynn lied and they destroyed his life. I think it’s a shame. Hillary Clinton, on the 4th of July weekend, went to the FBI, not under oath. It was the most incredible thing anyone’s ever seen. She lied many times. Nothing happened to her. Flynn lied, and it’s like, they ruined his life.”

Pres. Trump says he “feels very badly for General Flynn,” and claims “Hillary Clinton lied many times to the FBI, nothing happened to her.” t.co/2NwmbHuEvT pic.twitter.com/3n1cIPKMVc

— ABC News (@ABC) December 4, 2017

The post Donald Trump Defends Michael Flynn: ‘Hillary Clinton Lied to the FBI and Nothing Happened to Her’ appeared first on Towleroad.


Donald Trump Defends Michael Flynn: ‘Hillary Clinton Lied to the FBI and Nothing Happened to Her’

NEWS

Nicola Sturgeon And Sadiq Khan Lead Calls For Special Brexit Measures For Remain Areas

Nicola Sturgeon And Sadiq Khan Lead Calls For Special Brexit Measures For Remain Areas
Nicola Sturgeon and Sadiq Khan are leading calls for other parts of the UK to be given special measures on Brexit following reports that Northern Ireland could remain part of the single market and Customs Union.

The leaders, who both represent areas which strongly backed Remain during the 2016 Referendum, said there would be “huge ramifications” if Theresa May allowed the rumoured concessions for Northern Ireland.

First Minister Sturgeon used the news to push her case that Scotland should also be allowed to remain the in the single market post-Brexit, retaining “regulatory alignment with the EU”.

“Right now, Ireland is powerfully demonstrating the importance of being independent when it comes to defending your vital national interests,” she said in a tweet this afternoon.

“If one part of the UK can retain regulator alignment with EU and effectively stay in the single market (which is the right solution for Northern Ireland) there is surely no good practical reason why others can’t,” she added.

Scotland voted strongly in favour of staying in the EU during the 2016 Referendum, 62% to 38%. All 32 of the country’s council areas backed Remain.

Right now, Ireland is powerfully demonstrating the importance of being independent when it comes to defending your vital national interests
If one part of UK can retain regulatory alignment with EU and effectively stay in the single market (which is the right solution for Northern Ireland) there is surely no good practical reason why others can’t.

December 4, 2017
News about a potential deal for Northern Ireland has also led to other parts of the UK – including London – to seek exemption from a hard Brexit, with political commentators warning it could have “huge implications for devolution”.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, wrote on social media this afternoon: “Huge ramifications for London if Theresa May has conceded that it’s possible for part of the UK to remain within the single market and customs union after Brexit.

“Londoners overwhelmingly voted to remain in the EU and a similar deal here could protect tens of thousands of jobs.”

Huge ramifications for London if Theresa May has conceded that it’s possible for part of the UK to remain within the single market & customs union after Brexit. Londoners overwhelmingly voted to remain in the EU and a similar deal here could protect tens of thousands of jobs.

December 4, 2017
Chartered accountant and international political economy professor Richard Murphy added: “The City of London will now be looking at the Northern Ireland EU deal and be asking: ‘Why can they have regulatory alignment but we have to leave the single market?’

“Expect a massive kickback from EC1,” he added.

Almost 60% of Londoners voted to Remain last year – in some boroughs, this figure was as high as 78.5%.

After the Referendum result, more than 180,000 people signed a petition calling for London to become independent and “apply to join the EU”.

from @rowenamason. Gov basically trying to deny the obvious. Sturgeon, Khan et al now have door to push at: ‘regulatory alignment too, pls.” pic.twitter.com/YkDYUn39KU — John Harris (@johnharris1969) December 4, 2017
Right so now that’s Scotland and London’s leaders wanting in on the single market….over to you Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle and other ‘Remain’ cities
Question is what happens in NI in future when rest of UK wants to change law but they need to stick closer to the EU? This all has huge implications for devolution

December 4, 2017
A deal on the Northern Irish border is expected to be agreed today, with Theresa May holding crunch talks in Brussels.

The news has sparked a strong reaction from ardent Brexiteer Nigel Farage, who said politicians have failed millions of Leave voters with Brexit “concessions”.

The Ukip MEP wrote on Twitter: “The UK government’s bitter betrayal of 17.4 million people today is a concession too far, for it will lead to endless problems in Scotland and it damages the integrity of the United Kingdom.” 

This UK Government’s bitter betrayal of 17.4 million people today is a concession too far, for it will lead to endless problems in Scotland and it damages the integrity of the United Kingdom.

December 4, 2017

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/nicola-sturgeon-sadiq-khan-brexit_uk_5a255282e4b03c44072ed655

NEWS

Billy Bush on Trump’s Pussygate Tape: ‘Of Course He Said It’

Billy Bush on Trump’s Pussygate Tape: ‘Of Course He Said It’

In an op-ed in the New York Times, Billy Bush trashes Trump’s claims that the “pussygate” tape, in which the president brags about assaulting women, is fake.

Says Bush in the op-ed:

Of course he said it. And we laughed along, without a single doubt that this was hypothetical hot air from America’s highest-rated bloviator. Along with Donald Trump and me, there were seven other guys present on the bus at the time, and every single one of us assumed we were listening to a crass standup act. He was performing. Surely, we thought, none of this was real.

We now know better.

Trump has yet to respond.

The post Billy Bush on Trump’s Pussygate Tape: ‘Of Course He Said It’ appeared first on Towleroad.


Billy Bush on Trump’s Pussygate Tape: ‘Of Course He Said It’

NEWS

UK Weather Sees Hail And Snow Expected Later In The Week Amid Cold Snap

UK Weather Sees Hail And Snow Expected Later In The Week Amid Cold Snap

More snow could be in store across parts of the UK this week as the cold snap returns with even more bite, the Met Office has warned. 

After several days of icy temperatures last week, Britain enjoyed a spell of milder weather over the weekend.

But forecasters are predicting the mercury will plunge again later this week, with the chance of wintry showers for many places.

This week sees temperatures on the rise at first, before falling sharply through the second half of the week. It’s certainly going to feel like #winter by Friday! pic.twitter.com/idt1VPG7Gd

— Met Office (@metoffice) December 4, 2017

Good morning, a mainly cloudy and dry today, becoming wet and windy mid-week t.co/jtrhUzUBdR ^Ash pic.twitter.com/1vUXtZHZkG

— Met Office (@metoffice) December 4, 2017

Met Office meteorologist Charles Powell warned temperatures could drop even lower than last week as northerly gales blast the UK.

He said: “It’s quite quiet as we start the week, but on Tuesday we will see a small change that will paint a picture, as slightly wet and windy weather develops across north west Scotland.

“On Wednesday there will be gales across the UK with a band of rain working its way across the west.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/uk-weather_uk_5a25235ae4b0a02abe9236fb

PHOTOS

Zoe Kazan on Fighting Donald Trump, Living With Anorexia, and Her Relationship With Paul Dano

Zoe Kazan on Fighting Donald Trump, Living With Anorexia, and Her Relationship With Paul Dano

angelamarks01 posted a photo:

Zoe Kazan on Fighting Donald Trump, Living With Anorexia, and Her Relationship With Paul Dano

via WordPress bit.ly/2iedCak

Kazan, winning rave reviews for her role in Love, Love, Love, is also fighting the president-elect’s bigotry, combining acting and writing, and speaking up about her eating disorder.

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The pun is truly unintended. Shes very thorny, I said to Zoe Kazan about Rose, the character she is playing in Mike Bartletts acclaimed play, Love, Love, Love, at New Yorks Laura Pels Theatre.

Bartletts brilliant comedy-drama follows a British familyin which Kazan plays the daughterthrough 40 -plus years of big and small history, and the big and small hurts that shape it, informed by the political and cultural cross-currents of intervening eras.

The gloriously familiar pop music between acts will gladden any music fans heart, while the baby boomer generation, and the Gen-Xers they birthed, are both celebrated and mercilessly satirized.

On stage, the 33 -year-old Kazanwhom I satisfied backstage on a recent weekday evening, before a performanceskillfully represents an all-too believable stroppy, anguished tangle of teenage energy, whose selfish, lackadaisical mothers cannot consider the harm they are doing to her and to themselves.

Rose, who we both laugh at and feel for, comes to be a moral fulcrum for the craziness she grows up around, her eventual maturity seeming careworn rather than warm.

Kazans English accent is impressive, and she says that Bartlett helped in rehearsals by asking her to put more embarrassment into her body when I was youngthat was all I required, the key. Later she becomes more at ease with herself. She is very forthright. She isnt doing a lot of mitigating behaviour to get her route, she is not playing sweet. She doesnt have game.

Although Kazan has appeared in mainstream fare like Its Complicated, she is best known for roles in indie movies, including The Savages, Meeks Cutoff, and Ruby Sparks, which she wrote the screenplay for, leading to two prestigious award nominations.

Its just what happened, she said of the indie route her cinema career has taken thus far. It was what was available to me, and the roles that were really interesting to me. There are fewer films made at a studio level I like than were made 15 years ago.

Most lately, Kazan has been notable on social media for her criticism of Donald Trump, and for writing a piece in The New York Times, in which she eloquently wrote about her experience of suffered by anorexia around the age of 18.

The causes for my eating disorder ran along the usual lines: depression, an inability to express my fury, a desire to exert control, a desire to feel less, a desire to have my body express the things my voice could not, Kazan wrote. That, and I had get in the habit of believing it was better to take up less space.

The wry tone and plainspoken honesty evident in her article and on her Twitter account is also refreshingly evident when we met.

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The post Zoe Kazan on Fighting Donald Trump, Living With Anorexia, and Her Relationship With Paul Dano appeared first on ViraLovaMatic.

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