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Daily Archives: October 1, 2018
Kavanaugh Lied Under Oath & Must Be Held Accountable
Kavanaugh Lied Under Oath & Must Be Held Accountable
Today, HRC called on the U.S. Senate to hold Brett Kavanaugh responsible for lying under oath to the Senate Judiciary Committee and to reject his nomination.
“No one is entitled to an appointment to the United States Supreme Court. Honesty and integrity are essential qualifications. It is now clear that Judge Kavanaugh has repeatedly provided false testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee and the American people,” said HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy. “From the start, this confirmation process has been rushed, documents withheld, and the nominee has demonstrated lack of candor and temperament. Enough is enough. The American people deserve better than this. This nomination must be withdrawn or voted down”
There is compelling evidence that Brett Kavanaugh has lied regarding a range of issues including about Dr. Christine Blasey Ford being in his social circle, the Blasey Ford allegation being the subject of an investigation prior to the White House instructions to the FBI, the content and conclusion of witnesses statements, and his alcohol usage while at Yale
He has claimed he did not “drink to the point of blacking out” in high school and college, contrary to claims made by numerous classmates. He claimed the derogatory and insinuating remark written in yearbooks (“Renate Alumnius”) about a female classmate (which she called “horrible, hurtful, and simply untrue”) was a “sign of affection” and not related to sexual conquests, a claim disputed by four other classmates, including Sean Hagan, who wrote of Kavanaugh’s lie regarding this: “So angry. So disgusted. So sad. Integrity? Character? Honesty?” Kavanaugh even lied about the relatively trivial definitions of sexual slang terms used by he and his classmates.
Notably, Kavanaugh also claimed he was unaware that a Republican staffer in the Bush White House had stolen documents about judicial nominations from the computer servers of Democratic lawmakers, when in fact, he was sent the stolen documents through email and expressed an interest in meeting in-person to review them.
In August, the Human Rights Campaign joined partner coalition organizations in calling on Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley to order the release of millions of documents in the National Archives and George W. Bush Presidential Library related to the career of Brett Kavanaugh, a standard practice for Supreme Court nominees. This was ignored by Chairman Grassley, Senate Republicans, and the White House.
To that end, HRC released a video and report explaining why understanding Kavanaugh’s record at the White House is important; during these years, former President George W. Bush pressed for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex couples from marrying and opposed hate crimes legislation.
To date, an estimated 97 percent of the documents related to Brett Kavanaugh’s career have yet to be released, an unprecedented lack of transparency for a Supreme Court nominee.
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Jussie Smollett, Beto O’Rourke, Drag Con, Cristiano Ronaldo, Joe Masteroff, Lindsay Lohan, Will & Grace: HOT LINKS
Jussie Smollett, Beto O’Rourke, Drag Con, Cristiano Ronaldo, Joe Masteroff, Lindsay Lohan, Will & Grace: HOT LINKS
SAVE A LIFE. Jussie Smollett appears in PSA for The Trevor Project: “It’s heartbreaking to think of the amount of LGBTQ youth out there who feel hopeless and alone, or think they don’t have support,” said Smollett, who appears in the PSA below. “Just one supportive person can decrease an LGBTQ youth’s risk of suicide by 30%, and The Trevor Project is giving everyone the amazing opportunity to be that person. I can’t encourage you enough to apply — volunteering your time can literally save lives.”
BETO O’ROURKE. Ted Cruz challenger holds largest political rally since 2016 election: ‘O’Rourke’s political rally was held Saturday night at an outdoor amphitheater in Austin, Texas, with country music singer Willie Nelson and other country music performers onstage. The campaign said that more than 50,000 people had RSVP’d to attend the concert, while actual attendance was estimated at about 55,000.
LINDSAY LOHAN. Attacked after trying to take a couple’s child.
CRISTIANO RONALDO. Las Vegas woman says she was raped by the Real Madrid footballer: “They met on June 12, 2009 in a Las Vegas nightclub. Ronaldo was there on vacation with his brother-in-law and cousin. It was the summer when the star, then 24, would transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid for a then-record sum of 94 million euros. Kathryn Mayorga, 25 at the time, was a budding model and one of her jobs was to hang out with other young, beautiful women in front of bars to lure in guests.”
RIP. Joe Masteroff, who adapted Cabaret. ‘Inspired by Christopher Isherwood’s “Berlin Stories” and John van Druten’s stage adaptation, “I Am a Camera,” “Cabaret,” with a book by Mr. Masteroff, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, was a smash hit, running 1,165 performances. It won eight Tonys, including for best musical, and was followed by a national tour, a London production, an Oscar-winning 1972 film starring Liza Minnelli, many major revivals and countless community theater productions.’
AWKWAFINA. The first Asian woman to host SNL in 18 years.
TEXAS. Governor Greg Abbott says anti-LGBTQ bathroom bill no longer on agenda.
FLORIDA. Gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis appears at Miami event with anti-gay pundit Raynard Jackson who insulted Pulse nightclub victims. ‘He’s been fervently and angrily tweeting and blogging about the evils of the “homosexual lobby” for years. He seems to hate gay people, trans people, gender-nonbinary people, and anyone who doesn’t believe that men and women should get married at age 19 and pump out 33 kids.’
CALIFORNIA. Feds sue over state’s Net Neutrality law: ‘Among 34 bills signed Sunday, Brown approved the nation’s toughest net neutrality protections, setting up a legal fight by bringing back Obama-era internet regulations the federal government repealed about nine months ago. The Justice Department almost immediately filed its lawsuit, arguing Senate Bill 822 interferes with the federal government’s deregulatory approach to the internet, according to a statement.’
NANCY PELOSI. Impeaching Kavanaugh is a possibility.
Would a Democratic majority impeach Brett Kavanaugh?
.@nancypelosi says if he’s not telling the truth, he’s not fit to be on the Supreme Court or the court he’s on right now. #TribFest18
Watch live: t.co/7g5SMWLfnV pic.twitter.com/uI8OkfDQQK
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) September 29, 2018
READY4REPEAL. Group behind calls to repeal Singapore’s ban on gay sex urges public to contact lawmakers: ‘Ready4Repeal held its first town hall on Sunday (Sept 30), which drew 818 participants to Singapore Management University. There, the group shared updates on the petition they submitted to the Government, and laid out the next steps.Speaking after several LGBT people shared how 377A emboldened others to harm them, petition co-author Johannes Hadi said: “We need you to take these stories to your MPs.”‘
ORCAS. Half of world’s population threatened by PCBs.
HOLIDAY MASH-UP OF THE DAY. Mac and Cheese Candy Canes: ‘Seattle company Archie McPhee, which previously brought candy lovers bacon-flavored candy canes, is selling the new confectionary curiosity on its website. It describes the 5 1/4-inch-tall, yellow-and-white-striped candy canes as having “cheesy flavoring” that tastes “like your childhood favorite – mac and cheese. It’s like comfort food-flavored comfort food!”‘
SEEN AT DRAG CON. RuPaul, Tina Fey, Charles M. Blow, Nico Tortorella…and more …
DRAG CON ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DAY. Trixie Mattel and Katya are bringing back their talk show:
UNHhhh is BACK, kitty girls! Catch this clip of our Trixie & Katya panel at #DragCon NYC where @trixiemattel and @katya_zamo announce the return of UNHhhh on #WOWPresents Plus Watch the full trailer NOW on the @worldofwonder Twitter! pic.twitter.com/DdciQqST8l
— RuPaul’s DragCon (@RuPaulsDragCon) September 29, 2018
IRONIC INTERRUPTION OF THE DAY. A race horse charged into a bar where people were betting on horse races.
AMNESIA OF THE DAY. The Will & Grace cast can’t remember their first appearance on Ellen 14 years ago.
MONDAY MUSCLE. Zach Graves.
The post Jussie Smollett, Beto O’Rourke, Drag Con, Cristiano Ronaldo, Joe Masteroff, Lindsay Lohan, Will & Grace: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.
As HB 142 Ordinance Ban Lawsuit Moves Forward, HRC Calls for Discriminatory Law To Be Repealed
As HB 142 Ordinance Ban Lawsuit Moves Forward, HRC Calls for Discriminatory Law To Be Repealed
Today, HRC responded to news that a federal judge in North Carolina ruled that North Carolina HB 142 does not bar transgender people from using facilities that match their gender identity. U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder also said that he would allow a challenge to the law’s ban on local LGBTQ nondiscrimination policies to go forward. The case was brought by the ACLU, the ACLU of North Carolina and Lambda Legal.
“Today’s ruling made clear that the discriminatory and poorly written HB 142 does not prevent transgender North Carolinians from using restrooms consistent with their gender identity. Despite this, the law — and the state — remain deeply problematic for LGBTQ equality,” said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow. “It remains impossible for city and town governments to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination, including in public accommodations. What is needed and necessary for LGBTQ people is the full repeal of HB 142 and the enactment of statewide protections.”
This case challenged the deeply discriminatory HB 2 and its discriminatory replacement HB 142. The law bans local LGBTQ non-discrimination protections statewide through 2020, and it substitutes the previous anti-transgender bathroom provisions with a new provision that forbids state agencies, public universities, primary and secondary schools and cities from adopting policies ensuring transgender people have access to restrooms consistent with their gender identity.
At the time of its passage, the fake repeal was met with a huge national outcry from major civil rights organizations including the HRC, Equality North Carolina, the National Center for Transgender Equality, Lambda Legal, the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Voto Latino, The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; corporations including IBM, Salesforce, Dow and Levi’s; and celebrities like Ellen Page, Jane Fonda, Janet Mock, Tegan and Sara, Montel Williams, Rob Reiner, Jason Collins, Martina Navratilova and Raymond Braun have all called out this rotten deal.
Broadway Performer Goes Viral with Dramatic Retelling of Lindsey Graham’s Kavanaugh ‘Hissy Fit’ — WATCH
Broadway Performer Goes Viral with Dramatic Retelling of Lindsey Graham’s Kavanaugh ‘Hissy Fit’ — WATCH
Broadway actor and costumer Billy Hipkins had a few words about Senator Lindsey Graham’s “full on hissy fit” during last week’s Brett Kavanaugh hearing and his rant has gone viral, with nearly 300,000 views as of this posting.
Said Hipkins of Graham’s tantrum, in a dramatic southern drawl: “Then she snatched up her petticoats, called for her carriage and made for the plantation whipping them horses hell for leather! Upon arrival it is said that she stormed up to her bedroom suite, where the upstairs servants reported hearing her ripping the heads off of several of her dollies before falling into a deep and troubled slumber where she dreamed of actual vaginas coming to take away her rights!”
And more:
And Hipkins later talked about his viral moment:
The post Broadway Performer Goes Viral with Dramatic Retelling of Lindsey Graham’s Kavanaugh ‘Hissy Fit’ — WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.
The Perfect Day in Toronto
The Perfect Day in Toronto
57 Photos of Men Exposed by Joey Sbarro
57 Photos of Men Exposed by Joey Sbarro
www.advocate.com/photography/2017/7/18/joey-sbarro-connects-men-photos
WATCH: Taron Egerton becomes Elton John in first ‘Rocketman’ trailer
WATCH: Taron Egerton becomes Elton John in first ‘Rocketman’ trailer
Rocketman arrives in theaters May 17.
Three Yale Classmates of Brett Kavanaugh Say He Lied Under Oath About His Drinking and Behavior: WATCH
Three Yale Classmates of Brett Kavanaugh Say He Lied Under Oath About His Drinking and Behavior: WATCH
At least three college classmates of Brett Kavanaugh have come forward to say that Brett Kavanaugh lied under oath about his drinking habits and behavior at Yale.
Liz Swisher and Lynne Brookes spoke to MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell about their experiences (below).
Charles Ludington, a Yale classmate of SCOTUS nominee Brett Kavanaugh who spent time drinking with the judge, released a statement on Sunday night to the press, accusing Kavanaugh of lying under oath about his drinking.
Ludington said in the statement that Kavanaugh was a belligerent, aggressive drunk who hung out with jocks, drank other alcohol products in addition to beer, and he once saw Kavanaugh throw a drink in a man’s face as a response to a semi-hostile remark.
Wrote Ludington: “In recent days I have become deeply troubled by what has been a blatant mischaracterization by Brett himself of his drinking at Yale. When I watched Brett and his wife being interviewed on Fox News on Monday, and when I watched Brett deliver his testimony under oath to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, I cringed. For the fact is, at Yale, and I can speak to no other times, Brett was a frequent drinker, and a heavy drinker. I know, because, especially in our first two years of college, I often drank with him. On many occasions I heard Brett slur his words and saw him staggering from alcohol consumption, not all of which was beer. When Brett got drunk, he was often belligerent and aggressive. On one of the last occasions I purposely socialized with Brett, I witnessed him respond to a semi-hostile remark, not by defusing the situation, but by throwing his beer in the man’s face and starting a fight that ended with one of our mutual friends in jail.”
Ludington suggested that what he knew about Kavanaugh and had seen over the past week does not jibe with what is acceptable behavior for a federal judge: “I do not believe that the heavy drinking or even loutish behavior of an 18- or even 21-year-old should condemn a person for the rest of his life. I would be a hypocrite to think so. However, I have direct and repeated knowledge about his drinking and his disposition while drunk. And I do believe that Brett’s actions as a 53-year-old federal judge matter. If he lied about his past actions on national television, and more especially while speaking under oath in front of the United States Senate, I believe those lies should have consequences. It is truth that is at stake, and I believe that the ability to speak the truth, even when it does not reflect well upon oneself, is a paramount quality we seek in our nation’s most powerful judges.”
Kavanaugh lied under oath, said Ludington: “I can unequivocally say that in denying the possibility that he ever blacked out from drinking, and in downplaying the degree and frequency of his drinking, Brett has not told the truth.”
Ludington also said he would be sharing this information with the FBI.
Watch Swisher and Brookes talk to Lawrence O’Donnell about Kavanaugh’s lies:
The post Three Yale Classmates of Brett Kavanaugh Say He Lied Under Oath About His Drinking and Behavior: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.
