Senior Department of Justice official fired for watching sexually explicit images at work

Trump’s Department of Justice has generally been a source of misery for LGBTQ Americans and its queer employees. But at least one senior department official enjoyed their time there by looking at digital smut on their workplace computer … until they were caught and forced to resign.

Although the official wasn’t named, CNN reports that the DOJ began a search for someone who’d been viewing adult content on at least two DOJ computers. They ended up (ahem) fingering a now-former deputy assistant attorney general, though it’s unclear when he viewed the smut or when the investigation took place.

Related: Antigay Senator: Stop Talking About The Naughty Homemade Tape On My State-Issued Computer

CNN reports:

According to the summary released Thursday, the official was seen watching p*rn and the inspector general (IG) later found a number of sexually explicit images had been accessed on the two computers issued to the official.

The official initially lied to investigators about having viewed the material on his work computer, the IG stated, but in a second interview “ultimately admitted” that he “may have intentionally accessed p*rnographic websites using government computers.”

“May have intentionally accessed” it? What is he, a preteen learning to use the world wide web? Of course he intentionally accessed it, unless he unintentionally Googled an innocent sounding euphemism like “watersports” or “rusty trombone.”

The workplace pocket pool player wisely resigned before the investigation concluded.

We almost feel sorry for for the guy except he works for a department that has steadily been eroding LGBTQ rights ever since Trump took office.

In an April 2019 poll, only 10% of the DOJ’s LGBTQ employees agreed with the statement, “The Department of Justice attracts and retains the best LGBTQ talent.” Furthermore, the DOJ has been supporting so called “religious freedoms” that allow discrimination against queer people.

Considering that, it’s no wonder one of its employees watched a little smut to brighten his workday.

www.queerty.com/senior-department-justice-official-fired-watching-sexually-explicit-images-work-20190830?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Sexuality is Complicated, New Study on Genes and Sexual Orientation Concludes

A major new study of genetics, controversial due to fears its conclusions could be used to empower those who seek to harm or change LGBTQ people, reveals that sexual orientation is a complicated thing, influenced by many factors, genetic and otherwise.

The NYT reports: “There might be thousands of genes influencing same-sex sexual behavior, each playing a small role, scientists believe. The new study found that all genetic effects likely account for about 32 percent of whether someone will have same-sex sex. Using a big-data technique called genome-wide association, the researchers estimated that common genetic variants — single-letter differences in DNA sequences — account for between 8 percent and 25 percent of same-sex sexual behavior. The rest of the 32 percent might involve genetic effects they could not measure, they said.”

The study analyzed 408,000 men and women from the U.K. Biobank between the ages of 40 and 69, and 70,000 customers of 23andMe with an average age of 51: “The researchers mainly focused on answers to one question: whether someone ever had sex with a same-sex partner, even once.”

Read more on the study HERE.

The post Sexuality is Complicated, New Study on Genes and Sexual Orientation Concludes appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Sexuality is Complicated, New Study on Genes and Sexual Orientation Concludes

#AM_Equality Tipsheet: August 30, 2019

THE TRUMP-PENCE ADMIN IS PUTTING PATIENTS’ ACCESS TO LIFESAVING TREATMENT AND MEDICATION AT RISK: More from The AIDS Institute.

This latest move by the Trump-Pence administration is deeply dangerous and puts lives at risk, including the lives of LGBTQ people. We must make it easier for patients to get the care they need, not burden them with even higher out-of-pocket costs. t.co/zcCwPKFtTW

— Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) August 29, 2019

NORMAN, OK. CITY COUNCIL PASSES NON-DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS FOR LGBTQ RESIDENTS: On Wednesday night, Norman became the first city in Oklahoma to approve comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ residents in employment, housing and public accommodations. More from the Oklahoma Daily.

ICYMI: Last night Norman, Oklahoma, became the ���������� city in the Sooner State to pass a comprehensive LGBTQ-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance covering employment, housing and public spaces. ��️‍����t.co/m6K35nfh2I

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) August 29, 2019

LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST SCHOOL OFFICIAL WHO HARASSED WEST VIRGINIA TRANS TEEN IN BATHROOM: More from The Washington Post.

FEEL GOOD FRIDAY — NFL VETERAN RYAN RUSSELL SHARES POWERFUL COMING OUT STORY: “The career you choose shouldn’t dictate the parts of yourself that you embrace,” writes Russell (@RKRelentless) to ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz (@kevinarnovitz). More from ESPN.

This latest move by the Trump-Pence administration is deeply dangerous and puts lives at risk, including the lives of LGBTQ people. We must make it easier for patients to get the care they need, not burden them with even higher out-of-pocket costs. t.co/zcCwPKFtTW

— Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) August 29, 2019

I JUST WANT TO BE MYSELF — HANOVER, PA. TEEN SHARES HIS JOURNEY ON COMING OUT AS TRANSGENDER: “If you feel like you’re something other than who you should be then it’s who you are,” said Ashton. Read more from Kaitlin Greenockle (@kaitlinroseg) in The Evening Sun.

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA INSTITUTE TO TACKLE HOMELESSNESS AMONG LGBTQ YOUNG ADULTS IN TUCSON: The University of Arizona Southwest Institute for Research on Women will support a project that links homeless LGBTQ young adults in Tucson to trauma-informed system of care that includes housing, health care, case management and mental health treatment. More from the University of Arizona.

THE 2019 U.S. CONFERENCE ON AIDS WILL FOCUS ON ENDING THE HIV EPIDEMIC IN AMERICA: “There are 1.2 million Americans living with HIV right now,” says Paul Kawata (@pkawata), executive director of the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC). “Every year, there are about 40,000 new cases.” More from Metro Weekly.

GLOBAL EQUALITY NEWS

LAWMAKERS IN MEXICAN STATE OF OAXACA APPROVE CHANGING CIVIL CODE TO LEGALIZE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE:More from Associated Press.

OUTRAGEOUS — CAYMAN ISLANDS APPEALS TO OVERTURN HISTORIC COURT RULING THAT APPROVED SAME-SEX MARRIAGE: More from Reuters.

GUATEMALA’S FIRST OPENLY LGBTQ CONGRESSMAN TO TAKE OFFICE: “I’m bringing a human rights agenda to those who haven’t had a voice in the congress of the republic,” said Aldo Davila (@AldoDavilagt). More from Reuters.

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tipsheet-august-30-2019?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

9 Big Ones From the Biggest of the Circuit Festivals

www.advocate.com/photography/2019/8/30/9-big-ones-biggest-circuit-festivals

Chick-fil-A Is Not Going Down Easy at the University of Kansas

Chick-fil-A, infamous for funding anti-LGBTQ causes, has gotten an upgraded location and a sponsorship at the university, and it’s not sitting well with some faculty members.

www.advocate.com/business/2019/8/30/chick-fil-not-going-down-easy-university-kansas