Senator who accused governor of “defiling” capitol by posing with “evil” drag queens won’t resign

Senator who accused governor of “defiling” capitol by posing with “evil” drag queens won’t resign

Republican State Sen. Phillip Wheeler of Kentucky is ignoring calls for his resignation after he made homophobic remarks against Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear for posing with a gaggle of drag queens during an LGBTQ rally at the state Capitol.

At a campaign rally for GOP Rep.-elect Richard White last weekend, Wheeler held up a photo on his cell phone of Beshear and a group of Derby City Sisters, the local chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

“This is what our Democratic governor is about today,” Wheeler told the crowd. “Take a look, these are the values the Democratic Party of today is out there trying to convince our children is the right way to live.”

“Ladies and gentleman,” he continued, “this is not only a fight for the soul of America. It is a fight against evil, for just the forces of decency.”

“I would have never thought that there would be a day when we have people dressed in devil horns, celebrating with our governor in our beautiful Capitol … a place with much religious imagery, and yet we have a governor that celebrates it being defiled.”

Posted by Richard White on Saturday, February 22, 2020

A backlash ensued. Now, many Democrats are calling on Wheeler to resign.

Speaking to the Lexington Herald-Leader, Wheeler insisted his comments were not homophobic and he has “no problem” with gay people. In fact, one of his relatives is gay!

“I have no problem with LGBT people being around children,” he insisted. “I love my [relative], I let him be around my children. If he came around my children dressed like that, I’d rethink my choice.”

What he was upset about were the queens’ costumes, which included devil horns and a KFC bucket repurposed into a nun’s habit.

“If they’re going to mock the Christian religion, I’m not interested in having a discussion with them,” Wheeler said. “They’re not going to convince me that it’s appropriate.”

“We expect a certain amount of decency and decorum in our Capitol.”

Meanwhile, Gov. Beshear is defending the photo and says Wheeler’s comments were, without a doubt, homophobic.

“They were absolutely homophobic,” he Beshear said. “I don’t think he is the fashion police for the Capitol. I believe he owes each and every one of them an apology. They’re as much Kentuckians as anybody else.”

And Marisa McNee, spokeswoman for Kentucky Democrats, called Wheeler an “embarrassment” to the state of Kentucky and called for him to immediately resign for making such “hateful, ignorant comments.”

www.queerty.com/senator-accused-governor-defiling-capitol-posing-evil-drag-queens-wont-resign-20200228?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Coronavirus, Corona Beer, Pete Buttigieg, Garth Brooks, Rainbow Crosswalks, Trans Military Ban, BYU, Troye Sivan, Britney Spears, Boy Butter: HOT LINKS

Coronavirus, Corona Beer, Pete Buttigieg, Garth Brooks, Rainbow Crosswalks, Trans Military Ban, BYU, Troye Sivan, Britney Spears, Boy Butter: HOT LINKS

OOPS: Federal Workers Were Sent to Help U.S. Coronavirus Evacuees Without Proper Protection, Whistleblower Says

OOPS AGAIN: Key Missteps at the CDC Have Set Back Its Ability to Detect the Potential Spread of Coronavirus

TWEET OF THE DAY: The New Yorker

An early look at next week’s cover, “Under Control,” by Brian Stauffer: t.co/jbWDbmDyRl pic.twitter.com/mBpv1VYMsX

— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) February 27, 2020

CORONA-CRASH: Global stock markets have lost $6 trillion in value in six days

9 DOWN, 41 TO GO: Washington state to ban “gay and trans panic” defenses in murder cases. The bill named for Nikki Kuhnhausen, a transgender teen who was killed last year, passed the Senate on a 46-3 vote after the House passed it 90-5.

LOW EXPECTATIONS: Pete Buttigieg Is Competing Hard For A Participation Trophy In South Carolina

DUMB AND DUMBER: Trump Fans Came After Garth Brooks for Wearing a ‘Sanders’ Jersey. They Got the Wrong Sanders.

Garth Brooks posted a photo of him wearing a Barry Sanders jersey after performing in Detroit.

His followers thought it was an endorsement for Bernie Sanders. t.co/Fq7p5lbhmv pic.twitter.com/1p4GIP84pe

— Sporting News (@sportingnews) February 28, 2020

DUMB AND DUMBERER: People are scared of buying Corona beer amid coronavirus pandemic fears

BIGGER IN TEXAS: Dallas spends $128K to install 10 rainbow crosswalks.

RIP: Gentefied writer and trans activist Camila María Concepción dies at 28

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WELL SAID: BYU professor says school’s gay Honor Code change is ‘a blessing,’ especially for those who don’t like it

CROATIA: Police to Carry Out Probe Into Burning of Gay Couple Effigy at Imotski Carnival 

MOSCOW: Russia Censors Disney’s First Openly Gay Character From ‘Onward.’ Officer Specter appears in one scene, where she casually mentions having a girlfriend.

‘OUT OF CARE AND CONCERN’: Kennedy Catholic High president on leave amid gay teacher controversy

LET THEM SERVE: Department of Defense funded study finds support for transgender military members among peers

SNEAK PREVIEW: Lady Gaga Reveals New Details About LG6, aka Her Next Album

NEW AD OF THE DAY: Boy Butter

WORTHY CAUSE: NCAA’s first publicly gay wrestler wants to dedicate life towards helping kids

WAXING POETIC: Troye Sivan announces he’s getting his own wax figure at Madame Tussauds

equal parts terrified and excited to see The Figure pic.twitter.com/q37AGIxgZq

— sky ferreira stan account (@loversreel) February 27, 2020

OUCH: Britney Spears Let Us Hear The Breaking Of Her Foot

ON THE RAGS: A look at what’s making news in the gay magazines

NEW MUSIC VIDEO OF THE DAY: Coldplay, “Champion of the World”

TRAILER OF THE DAY: Candyman

FRIDAY FUR: Vinson Fraley

The post Coronavirus, Corona Beer, Pete Buttigieg, Garth Brooks, Rainbow Crosswalks, Trans Military Ban, BYU, Troye Sivan, Britney Spears, Boy Butter: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.


Coronavirus, Corona Beer, Pete Buttigieg, Garth Brooks, Rainbow Crosswalks, Trans Military Ban, BYU, Troye Sivan, Britney Spears, Boy Butter: HOT LINKS

This Women’s History Month, We’re Celebrating LGBTQ Women and Allies in the Fight for Equality

This Women’s History Month, We’re Celebrating LGBTQ Women and Allies in the Fight for Equality

March is Women’s History Month, and this year, HRC is honoring LGBTQ women and allies leading the fight for equality in city halls, state capitols and the U.S. Congress, on the campaign trail, on the road to the ballot box, and in every aspect of our democracy. Women’s leadership is more important than ever in our fight to move equality forward and achieve gender justice for marginalized communities across the U.S. and around the world. 

Thanks to LGBTQ women and allies in office, our community has seen historic progress in recent years. Last fall, after our largest-ever field, digital and direct mail program in Virginia, HRC helped re-elect committed public servant and champion of equality Del. Danica Roem, and we helped elect pro-equality majorities to both chambers of legislature for the first time in the commonwealth’s history. 

And under the leadership of Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, both chambers have advanced landmark LGBTQ rights legislation. The Virginia Values Act will grant non-discrimination protections to Virginians on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and several other characteristics. Virginia also took a step — over 50 years in the making — by ratifying the ERA and affirming the importance of equality under the law.  

The leadership of women in office has also driven critical progress on the national stage. Last year, Speaker Nancy Pelosi made clear that passing the Equality Act was one of her priorities as leader of a pro-equality U.S. House, and under her leadership, our community achieved a major milestone for equality. This victory would not have been possible without the outspoken advocacy and allyship of congressional champions of equality like Sharice Davids, Pramila Jayapal, Stephanie Murphy and others. 

And in the pivotal election ahead, we have trailblazers and history-makers running who are ready to lead their constituents and communities forward. Already in this cycle, we have endorsed HRC’s own Sarah McBride who, if elected, will become the first openly transgender person to serve in a state senate, as well as Congress’ first openly lesbian parent Angie Craig. Other incredible candidates endorsed this cycle so far include Lucy McBath, Marcia Fudge, Marcy Kaptur and Joyce Beatty.

And while women leaders are using the power of the vote to build critical change, activists and advocates across the country are making sure that all voters are able to access the ballot box, and that all of our votes are counted. Ahead of the pivotal upcoming 2020 election, HRC and Stacey Abrams’ Fair Fight are partnering to help combat voter suppression.

100 years after the ratification of the 19th Amendment, a critical but critically incomplete victory for equality at the ballot box, we know that there remains much work to be done to ensure that all of our votes and voices are being counted. 

And with all the progress we have seen, there remains a great deal of work ahead to achieve full gender equality — including one that does not tie identity solely to the male-female binary. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we honor the contributions of non-binary and gender-expansive leaders like Pauli Murray and Jacob Tobia who have been and continue to be at the heart of our struggle for gender equity and justice.

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we also must acknowledge that sexism and misogyny are still far too pervasive in our institutions of daily life. We also pause to remember the victims of fatal anti-transgender violence, the majority of whom are Black transgender women. The epidemic of violence that disproportionately targets transgender women of color must cease, and we must as an organization, a movement and a country do more to protect and empower transgender and non-binary people. That includes uplifting and supporting the work of transgender and non-binary advocates who have been at the forefront of this fight for decades.

This Women’s History Month, we celebrate women’s leadership in the LGBTQ movement and across movements, while also recognizing the great distance we have to go to achieve full equality for women, non-binary folks and all marginalized communities.

www.hrc.org/blog/this-womens-history-month-were-celebrating-lgbtq-women-and-allies-in-the-fi?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Bloomberg issues apology to trans people, gets blasted over marriage equality remarks

Bloomberg issues apology to trans people, gets blasted over marriage equality remarks

Democratic Presidential candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has issued an apology for a 2016 incident in which he referred to transgender people as “men in dresses” and “it.” The candidate has also come under fire for allegedly misleading voters about his support of marriage equality.

In a statement to NewNowNext, Bloomberg lamented his past remarks, offering up his mea culpa. “It was a poor attempt to describe how some who oppose transgender equality think about this issue—and those words do not reflect my unwavering support for equality for transgender Americans,” Bloomberg said in is statement. “I want to offer my sincerest apologies to the members of the transgender community. As mayor, I signed a sweeping transgender civil rights bill and, as president, will promote policies that advance equality for transgender Americans who have been attacked by the Trump administration over the past three years.”

The apology follows weeks of criticism of Bloomberg for alleged homophobic and transphobic remarks. No sooner had Bloomberg issued his statement, then New York Governor Andrew Cuomo–a fellow Democrat–slammed Bloomberg over claims that he, Bloomberg, is responsible for ushering in marriage equality in New York in 2011.

Related: Michael Bloomberg was eviscerated on stage at last night’s debate. And then came the memes…

“I went up to Albany, and I went to the Republicans, and I sat down with a bunch of them, and I convinced the Republicans — even though I was a very liberal New York City mayor — I convinced them to vote for gay marriage,” Bloomberg said on CNN Wednesday night.

Here’ Gov. Cuomo’s comments about Bloomberg and his role in same-sex marriage. Republicans today downplayed his role in the vote, though Bloomberg did meet with them at the time pic.twitter.com/UkUmcVdckG

— Nick Reisman (@NickReisman) February 27, 2020

Cuomo denied Bloomberg’s claims the following day during a press conference, labeling them “demonstrably false.” “You should not say something that is demonstrably false, on an immediate basis,” Cuomo said. The governor went on to point out that while Bloomberg did favor marriage equality and met with New York Senate Republicans to discuss the issue, only four GOP Senators ended up supporting the bill. “Mike Bloomberg had nothing to do with it,” Cuomo said. “They did it out of conscience.”

According to Spectrum News, three of the four senators said they had little contact with Bloomberg and cited Cuomo as the driving force behind their votes.

www.queerty.com/bloomberg-issues-apology-trans-people-gets-blasted-marriage-equality-remarks-20200228?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Fox News Interviews Man Who Went Through Coronavirus Quarantine, And He Can’t Stop Coughing: WATCH

Fox News Interviews Man Who Went Through Coronavirus Quarantine, And He Can’t Stop Coughing: WATCH

This is not exactly encouraging.

Fox News on Friday morning interviewed Frank Wucinski, a Pennsylvania man who recently went through the quarantine process for coronavirus — but Wucinski couldn’t stop coughing.

Fox News just interviewed a Pennsylvania man who went through the coronavirus quarantine process — but he couldn’t stop coughing during the interview 😳pic.twitter.com/kzoIYQM8x6

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 28, 2020

“As time goes forward, hopefully doctors and scientists will get a better handle on the whole situation,” Wucinski said, with his young daughter sitting in his lap.

“Fortunately, from what I understand [cough], it is contagious, but the death rate is pretty low [cough, cough],” he said. “So, I understand the fear.”

“We can see you still have a cough,” Fox News host Ed Henry responded. “What do the doctors say about your own condition moving forward?”

Wucinski then coughed again before grabbing a water bottle out of his daughter’s hand, saying “I need some of that,” taking a sip, and giving it back to her.

“They say I’m fine,” Wucinski said. “I got tested twice, negative both times. The cough is probably just nerves.”

“Fair enough,” Henry’s co-host Sandra Smith said, laughing.

As it turns out, Wucinski was evacuated from the virus epicenter of Wuhan, China, and his father recently died from the disease. Earlier this month, his 3-year-old daughter Annabel was readmitted to the hospital to undergo coronavirus testing for a second time, Fox News previously reported.

Fox News just interviewed a man released from quarantine – he was directly affected when his father-in-law died from the virus in China . He began coughing, took a water bottle from his daughter’s mouth & drank from it, handed it back to her and she put it back in her mouth!?! t.co/TGmWgiQoVF

— Billie Trainer (@BillieTrainer) February 28, 2020

Fox News later on: THE LIBS LET THIS MAN GO AND WANT HIM TO KILL US ALL BY COUGHING OVER CABLE TV!!!!! t.co/kuZVKlQTO9

— Andrew King (@H2Omaker71) February 28, 2020

OMG t.co/EeszMXDBBj

— Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) February 28, 2020

Good news … everyone at Fox News will be coughing and quarantined tonight t.co/3xMzllfhIJ

— HowieHedge (@howardlindzon) February 28, 2020

Why is he coughing and then sharing the water with his daughter??? Jesus.
It’s the end times and I just gotta laugh at it… smh Fox News brought Patient Zero to the studio 😂t.co/Tr92eeKl1i

— Sailor Moon Krystle 🌙 (@KrystleEmerald) February 28, 2020

If you watched the video of that dad being interviewed on Fox News coughing on then drinking from the same water bottle as his child… #coronavirus t.co/EUSwewisQD t.co/f8agnFvumS

— Yonathan Seleshi (@yonathanseleshi) February 28, 2020

He’s visibly sick, coughing all over his kid, but is confident that he is clear because a test that is falsely negative 60 percent of the time, looking for a virus that plays hide and seek, told him he was fine.

Good news fox. t.co/AEyl2VZALX

— Lewis Carroll’s Acid Trip (@kvghopper) February 28, 2020

The post Fox News Interviews Man Who Went Through Coronavirus Quarantine, And He Can’t Stop Coughing: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.


Fox News Interviews Man Who Went Through Coronavirus Quarantine, And He Can’t Stop Coughing: WATCH

The GLAAD Wrap: ‘Scream, Queen: My Nightmare on Elm Street,’ and ‘Saint Frances’ in theaters; new music from Lady Gaga, Orville Peck, and more!

The GLAAD Wrap: ‘Scream, Queen: My Nightmare on Elm Street,’ and ‘Saint Frances’ in theaters; new music from Lady Gaga, Orville Peck, and more!

Photo Credit: Netflix

Every week, The GLAAD Wrap brings you LGBTQ-related entertainment news highlights, fresh stuff to watch out for, and fun diversions to help you kick off the weekend.

1) Documentary Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street will be released in Los Angeles this weekend, and then on digital on March 3. The film follows out actor Mark Patton whose career stopped and started with the sequel to A Nightmare on Elm Street, which has been described as “the gayest horror movie ever made.” Click here for more information about its release.

2) Indie film Saint Frances is out in limited release this Friday. The film follows Bridget, who gets a summer job nannying the rambunctious daughter of two moms, and slowly becomes part of someone else’s family. The film is playing in New York and LA this weekend and will be opening in more cities next month. Click here for tickets.

3) Filmmaker James Sweeney’s debut, Straight Up will premiere in New York this weekend, followed by a rollout to other cities. The film follows Sweeney’s Todd who, despite being gay, strikes up and intellectual relationship with a woman, Rory. Click here for more information on the film.

4) A trailer has been released for Death and Bowling, a new film by transgender filmmaker Lyle Kash. The film follows two trans men who meet at the funeral of a lesbian bowler in LA. The majority of the cast and crew are trans as well. Watch the trailer below and catch the premiere on March 29 in Los Angeles.

OFFICIAL TRAILER: DEATH AND BOWLING from lyle kash on Vimeo.

5) GLAAD honoree, writer and filmmaker Janet Mock has partnered with Netflix and Ryan Murphy to co-write and direct the film Janet, following Janet Cooke, a young reporter at The Washington Post, who made up a Pulitzer Prize-winning story. The cast has been also announced for the tenth season of Murphy’s American Horror Story. The stars include out actors Sarah Paulson and Angelica Ross, along with Macaulay Culkin, Evan Peters, Katy Bates, Billie Lourd, and more.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

#AHSSeason10

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6) A teaser has been released for Betty, an HBO comedy series based on the film Skate Kitchen. The show follows a group of women skateboarders in New York, including several queer characters. Betty will premiere on May 1 on HBO. In more TV news, out actor Gideon Glick has been cast in the upcoming season of GLAAD Media Award-nominated comedy series The Other Two. Glick will play Jess, Cary’s (Drew Tarver) new boyfriend.

7) Netflix has renewed Atypical for a fourth and final season to air in 2021. The show follows Sam, a teenager on the autism spectrum, as well as his sister Casey, who is queer. New Fox pilot, The Big Leap, announced several casting decisions this week. The show follows a group of underdog dancers competing on a reality show. The cast includes Ray Cham as Justin Reyes, who recently came out only to be kick out of his house by his parents but is ready to dance again.

8) Out bi singer and actress Lady Gaga released her single “Stupid Love,” today, along with an accompanying video. Watch the video below. Queer singer Perfume Genius released a new single and music video, “Describe” on Tuesday. He also announced his next album, Set My Heart on Fire Immediately, which will be released on May 15, 2020. Watch the video for “Describe” here.

9) Queer artist Christine and the Queens released a new six-track EP La vita nuova on Thursday, along with a short film of the same name. Listen to the EP here and watch the film here. Out singer Orville Peck released his newest video “Queen of the Rodeo” on Monday. The single is off his upcoming album Pony set to be released on March 22. Watch the drag queen-filled video below.

10) Marriage of Inconvenience, a six-episode comedy series, is currently funding. The show follows two gay men who become “married” through witness protection to help hide their identities. Written by father-son duo Jason T. Gaffney and Ed Gaffney, the project aims to be a modern queer Odd Couple. Click here to learn more and contribute.

February 28, 2020

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-wrap-scream-queen-my-nightmare-elm-street-and-saint-frances-theaters-new-music-lady-gaga