Grindr just won a major lawsuit that could’ve fundamentally changed the internet
Should hook-up apps be held legally liable for people who use them to harass others?

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CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin Confronts Jussie Smollett Lawyer: ‘Does Your Client Plan to Apologize to Actual Victims of Hate Crimes’ for His ‘Ridiculous Stunt?’ — WATCH

CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin confronted Jussie Smollett’s attorney Tina Glandian on AC360 on Wednesday night over the controversy involving the dropping of 16 felony charges against Smollett for faking a hate crime.

Toobin asked Glandian: “Does your client plan to apologize to the actual victims of hate crimes who will now be disbelieved because of your client’s ridiculous stunt here?”

Replied Glandian: “I completely disagree with your categorization this is a ridiculous stunt. Again, he’s not been convicted of any crimes. It is unbelievable to me the amount of conviction in his guilt when prior to him ever stepping foot inside the courthouse, and now the 16 counts were dismissed against him by the state attorney’s office, and such a high profile matter and the fact that people still call it—call this a ridiculous stunt is actually very offensive to me.”

Glandian then pulled a switcheroo: “The only person who should be apologizing is the mayor and the city of Chicago. That’s who should apologize to the victims of hate crimes who will now hesitate to come forward because they don’t want to be charged with 16 counts themselves.”

Glandian was also grilled by Cooper on why his client wouldn’t recognize the two brothers whom Smollett allegedly paid to stage the attack and why they haven’t been charged with anything.

“So, he knew this guy for a year and a half, they’d trained together, they’d socialized together. If this guy is punching him in the face and saying things to him, how is it possible he could not recognize this guy?”

Glandian argued that Smollett would not have recognized the brothers, but did not bring up something she said on the Today show on Thursday morning.

In that interview, Glandian said that the brothers may have been wearing “whiteface.”

“Well, you know, I mean, I think there’s — obviously, you can disguise that. You can put makeup on. There is, interestingly enough, a video. You know, I think police had minimal investigation in this case, it took me only five minutes to Google. You know, I was looking up the brothers, and one of the videos that showed up actually was of the brothers in whiteface doing a joker monologue with white makeup on him. So, it’s not — it’s not implausible.”

The post CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin Confronts Jussie Smollett Lawyer: ‘Does Your Client Plan to Apologize to Actual Victims of Hate Crimes’ for His ‘Ridiculous Stunt?’ — WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin Confronts Jussie Smollett Lawyer: ‘Does Your Client Plan to Apologize to Actual Victims of Hate Crimes’ for His ‘Ridiculous Stunt?’ — WATCH

HRC and Equality Florida Action PAC Announce Support for Jane Castor

Today, HRC and Equality Florida Action PAC announced both organizations are backing Jane Castor in the runoff election for mayor of Tampa, Florida. If elected, Castor will make history as the city’s first openly LGBTQ mayor. 

“With over thirty years in public service, Jane Castor is a proven leader and problem solver who will stand up and fight for all of Tampa’s hardworking families,” said HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse. “HRC is proud to endorse Jane Castor for mayor of Tampa, and we look forward to working with her to ensure that Tampa continues to be an inclusive, open and welcoming place for everyone.” 

“Jane Castor’s race for Mayor of Tampa is Equality Florida Action PAC’s number one priority in 2019,” said Equality Florida Senior Political Director Joe Saunders. “Representation matters, especially for LGBTQ families. When Jane wins, she will be Tampa’s first LGBTQ mayor, the first LGBTQ woman to lead one of Florida’s largest cities and the only LGBTQ woman leading a major U.S. city in the southeast United States. As we head into the runoff, Equality Florida Action PAC is ready to use every tool we have to mobilize the over 30,000 pro-equality Tampa voters in our database to support Jane in this historic race.” 

“I’m honored to receive the support of the Human Rights Campaign and Equality Florida Action PAC, the largest LGBTQ civil rights organizations working to advance equality in Florida. As a beat officer on the force for three decades, I was proud to become our city’s first LGBTQ police chief, and I look forward now to making history as Tampa’s first LGBTQ mayor on April 23. I am excited to work with HRC, Equality Florida Action PAC and other community members to make our city an even more inclusive, equitable and welcoming place for all, no matter who you love or what you look like,” said Jane Castor.

Jane Castor served 31 years at the Tampa Police Department, most recently as Police Chief from 2009 to 2015. She was the department’s first woman and openly LGBTQ chief. Under Jane’s leadership as police chief, Tampa’s crime rates decreased by 72 percent. Castor brought efficiency, accountability and real problem solving to the Tampa Police Department. Castor has been endorsed by Tampa Bay Times, Equality Florida Action PAC, Emily’s List, Ruth’s List, Victory Fund, LPAC and Tampa Bay Area Chiefs of Police Association.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-and-equality-florida-action-pac-announce-support-for-jane-castor?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed