These Australian Firefighters Put Out Fires and Start Them Too

www.advocate.com/photography/2019/10/09/these-australian-firefighters-put-out-fires-and-start-them-too

George W. Bush responds to Ellen DeGeneres’ comments

Former US President George W. Bush has responded to comments made by Ellen DeGeneres about hanging out together on Sunday afternoon to watch a football game.

Bush’s spokesperson Freddy Ford told Fox yesterday, “President and Mrs Bush really enjoyed being with Ellen and Portia [de Rossi] and appreciated Ellen’s comments about respecting one another. They respect her.”

DeGeneres and wife de Rossi sat next to Bush and his wife, Laura, in a VIP suite at a Dallas Cowboys game.

Photos of DeGeneres and the former President talking and laughing with one another prompted much comment on social media, with many outraged that DeGeneres, a high-profile lesbian, and liberal Hollywood figure, appeared to enjoy spending time with Republican Bush.

Related: Ellen DeGeneres defends “fun” afternoon with “friend” George W. Bush 

Yesterday, on The Ellen Show, DeGeneres addressed the issue. She explained how she and de Rossi came to be in the VIP stand (they were invited by Charlotte Jones, daughter of Jerry Jones, who owns the Cowboys).

She then went on to say, “Here’s the thing. I’m friends with George Bush. In fact, I’m friends with a lot of people who don’t share the same beliefs that I have. We’re all different. And I think we’ve forgotten that that’s OK that we’re all different.

“For instance, I wish people wouldn’t wear fur. I don’t like it but I’m friends with people who wear fur … just because I don’t agree with someone on everything doesn’t mean that I’m not going to be friends with them.

“When I say be kind to one another I don’t mean only the people that think the same way as you do. I mean be kind to everyone.”

She ended by thanking George and Laura Bush for a “fun” afternoon.

Related: Twitter users aren’t forgiving Ellen DeGeneres for forgiving Kevin Hart 

During his time as President, George W. Bush opposed same-sex marriage and during his 2004 re-election campaign suggested introducing a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

He also defended the US military’s Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy to keep serving members of the military in the closet. Many regard him as a ‘war criminal’ for the US-led invasion of Iraq which resulted in thousands losing their lives.

Bush’s appreciation for DeGeneres is unlikely to quell debate about the two’s afternoon together. DeGeneres’ tweet and video posted late Monday night has now had over 338k likes and prompted over 20,000 comments. Many welcome her call for tolerance but many others are angry.

DeGeneres faced similar criticism earlier in the year when she defended the comedian Kevin Hart and suggested he should host the Oscars. This was despite him being dropped from the event over homophobic comments he’d made earlier in his career.

www.queerty.com/george-w-bush-responds-ellen-degeneres-comments-20191009?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Franklin Graham: Gays are Behind the Spread of STDs Because They Don’t ‘Follow God’s Guidelines’

Evangelist Franklin Graham took to Facebook on Tuesday to blame gay people and the entertainment industry for the spread of STDs.

Wrote Graham: “Here’s a topic that probably won’t be mentioned in the upcoming Democratic debate. An incredible 2.4 million cases of sexually transmitted diseases were diagnosed across the U.S. just last year alone. Hollywood is busy promoting promiscuity to the world—almost every movie, every television show is focused on sex. The saying goes, ‘sex sells.’ Well, the statistics in the CNN article verify that there’s a price to pay, and it is a very heavy price. God made us male and female and gave sex for us to enjoy inside a marriage relationship between a man and a woman—not two men, not two women. The Bible says that anyone who sins sexually, sins against their own body. How true. What’s the protection the world is looking for? It’s simple—follow God’s guidelines. Have only a monogamous relationship with your husband or wife.”

“As you read this, maybe you are one of these statistics and have a sexually transmitted disease,” Graham added. “The Bible says, ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins’ (1 John 1:9). You can be forgiven! He can cleanse your heart, and in His eyes, it will be as though you’ve never sinned.”

The post Franklin Graham: Gays are Behind the Spread of STDs Because They Don’t ‘Follow God’s Guidelines’ appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Franklin Graham: Gays are Behind the Spread of STDs Because They Don’t ‘Follow God’s Guidelines’

VICTORY! Steven Reed Elected Mayor of Montgomery, Alabama in Historic Win

Today, HRC released the following statement celebrating Probate Judge Steven Reed’s election victory in the race for mayor of Montgomery, Alabama. 

“Steven Reed is a longtime, unapologetic ally of the LGBTQ community, and last night, he made history as the city’s first Black mayor,” said HRC Alabama State Director Carmarion D. Anderson.“HRC was proud to endorse Reed and help turn out the vote for this steadfast champion of equality. We congratulate Steven Reed on his win and look forward to working closely with him to keep moving Montgomery and Alabama forward.”

In 2015, Reed made clear his deep commitment to LGBTQ equality. When now-former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore instructed probate judges and their staff to disregard a federal court’s ruling on marriage equality, Reed was the first of them to speak out against Moore and in favor of marriage equality. When Moore attempted the same stunt the next year, Reed said, “Judge Moore’s latest charade is just sad and pathetic. My office will ignore him and this [anti-equality ruling].” This August, Reed stated that he would support LGBTQ-inclusive protections.

In 2014, HRC launched Project One America, an initiative geared toward advancing social, institutional and legal equality in Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi. In 2019, Texas became a Project One America state, in recognition of HRC’s long-term commitment to the state. HRC Alabama continues to work to advance equality for LGBTQ Alabamians who have no state-level protections in housing, workplace or public accommodations. Through HRC Alabama, we are working toward a future of fairness every day — changing hearts, minds and laws toward achieving full equality.

www.hrc.org/blog/steven-reed-elected-mayor-of-montgomery-alabama-in-historic-win?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

‘Drag Race’ Star Yvie Oddly Opens Up About Her Invisible Disability

Yvie Oddly doesn’t care much about fame or mainstreaming drag. For this fierce performer, it’s all about art.

www.advocate.com/exclusives/2019/10/09/drag-race-star-yvie-oddly-opens-about-her-invisible-disability

Stephen Colbert Shreds Trump Administration’s Letter Refusing to Participate in House Impeachment Inquiry: WATCH

Stephen Colbert took apart the “officially bitchy, eight-page letter” from the White House refusing to participate in the House impeachment inquiry.

Said the letter: “Given that your inquiry lacks any legitimate constitutional foundation, any pretense of fairness, or even the most elementary due process protections, the executive branch cannot be expected to participate in it.”

Quipped Colbert, mocking Trump’s Vietnam draft dodging: “Don’t get him wrong, Trump would like to help with their inquiry into his conversation with Ukraine but tragically he has developed phone spurs.”

Replied Colbert: “Wait, wait, wait, wait. You can’t just not participate in your own impeachment. (In judge’s voice) Sir, you are charged with assault and battery. How do you plead? (In Trump voice) “Um…pass? Can I buy a vowel?”

Colbert continued: “The letter is full of absolutely bonkers arguments” including that the president has been denied the right to cross-examine witnesses.

“The witness is Trump’s incriminating phone transcript, which he released! If he wanted to, he could cross-examine himself. (In Trump voice) Where was I on the night of the phone call?’ ‘I was on the phone!’ ‘Ah-ha! Well, let me ask you this. If that’s the case, did you get any dirt on Joe Biden?’”

The post Stephen Colbert Shreds Trump Administration’s Letter Refusing to Participate in House Impeachment Inquiry: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Stephen Colbert Shreds Trump Administration’s Letter Refusing to Participate in House Impeachment Inquiry: WATCH