Part of B-52 Bomber Falls Off During Flyover to Honor Medical Workers (VIDEO)

Part of a B-52 bomber fell off during a flyover honoring Lousiana’s medical professionals on Friday.

The malfunction isn’t visible in videos of the flyover, and no one was injured. Which seems rather fortunate given that the B-52s passed above heavily populated areas, as including medical facilities, in New Orleans.

NOLA.com reports: A small access hatch from one of the two B-52 Stratofortress bombers that soared over several medical facilities in the New Orleans metro area fell off mid-flight around 10:30 a.m., landing on private property, according to the 2nd Lt. Aileen Lauer with the U.S. Air Force’s 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base. The plane was built in 1960-61. No one was hurt by the aircraft part and the piece falling off did not compromise the plane’s airworthiness. The piece was quickly retrieved by the Air Force and the plane returned to its base. 

President Donald Trump announced the flyovers last week.

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Part of B-52 Bomber Falls Off During Flyover to Honor Medical Workers (VIDEO)

Pence’s Staff Threatens Reporter After He Blows Whistle on Mask Policy

Voice of America’s Steve Herman says he was removed from Air Force Two after he told the truth.

www.advocate.com/news/2020/5/01/pences-staff-threatens-reporter-after-he-blows-whistle-mask-policy

Mike Pence demands apology from reporter who proved he broke Mayo Clinic’s mask rule

You’ve likely heard by now that Vice President Mike Pence violated the Mayo Clinic’s policy when he didn’t wear a face mask while touring the hospital this week. Now, the VP is demanding an apology from a reporter who called him out for it.

Yesterday, Voice of America’s White House Bureau Chief Steve Herman said that Pence’s office definitely knew about the face mask policy, despite Second Lady Karen Pence insisting on Fox & Friends that her husband had no idea.

“All of us who traveled with him were notified by the office of @VP the day before the trip that wearing of masks was required by the @MayoClinic and to prepare accordingly,” Herman tweeted.

Herman’s tweet came days after the Mayo Clinic itself tweeted (and later mysteriously deleted) that it had informed the VP’s office about its mask requirement prior to his visit:

Now, Herman tells The Washington Post that the White House Correspondents’ Association informed him this week that Pence’s office was banning him from Air Force Two.

They falsely claimed he violated an off-the-record agreement by leaking sensitive information about the Mayo Clinic visit.

For the record: Herman didn’t leak any sensitive information. Not only was the Mayo Clinic’s policy on masks already public information, but so was all the planning information leading up Pence’s visit.

Brett Bruen, the White House director of global engagement in the Obama administration, explained yesterday how planning information is circulated.

“A little background on ‘for planning purposes’ information from the White House to media,” he tweeted. “These are logistical details. If the VP was visiting a chocolate factory & masks were required that goes into the ‘planning’ info sent to the press. It isn’t sensitive or off the record.”

Seriously, nobody would still be talking about this if Karen and Mike Pence would just shut up about it.

Related: Twitter drags Karen Pence for her explanation why Mike Pence ditched his mask at the Mayo Clinic

www.queerty.com/mike-pence-demands-apology-reporter-proved-broke-mayo-clinics-mask-rule-20200501?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Attorney Dresses As Grim Reaper to Protest Reopening of Florida Beaches: WATCH

A Florida attorney is protesting the reopening of the state’s beaches by dressing as the grim reaper.

“I’m here today to try to make a point that I think it’s premature that we open our beaches,” Daniel Uhlfelder told ABC 13. “I’m a huge proponent of public beaches, and I’ve been fighting for that for years, but I think the danger of bringing all the people here to our area and spreading the virus, I think it’s going to prolong the recovery that we have. I think we should take better measures. Drawing people from all over the world to our beautiful beaches, it’s too soon, and it’s not appropriate.”

More from The Hill: Daniel Uhlfelder, the attorney suing DeSantis to shut the beaches amid the coronavirus pandemic, said that starting Friday he’ll start dressing as the Grim Reaper at beaches across the Sunshine State. … Uhlfelder filed a complaint last month calling for DeSantis to be forced to close all of the state’s beaches. Earlier this month, DeSantis said he would allow beaches to open at local leaders’ discretion. Just one day after that announcement, hundreds of people swarmed to Florida’s beaches. Florida’s statewide “safer at home” order expire[d] Thursday, and DeSantis unveil[ed] a plan regarding a phased reopening of the state economy on Wednesday. 

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Attorney Dresses As Grim Reaper to Protest Reopening of Florida Beaches: WATCH

A Resource for School Counselors on Supporting LGBTQ Youth During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Post submitted by Dr. Vincent “Vinnie” Pompei, Director of the Youth Well-Being Program and Andi Salinas, Manager of the Youth Well-Being Program

As schools turn to using online platforms to accommodate social distancing, a number of LGBTQ youth have lost their only outlets to fully be themselves. Face-to-face time with affirming peers and educators is critically important for these students, and many are now forced to isolate in unwelcoming and unaffirming homes. 

According to HRC’s 2018 LGBTQ Youth Report, only 21% of LGBTQ youth are out to their families, and 67% of LGBTQ students hear their families make negative comments about LGBTQ people. When LGBTQ students are unable to be their authentic selves or when they are living in unsupportive environments, the effects can be overwhelming.

During this time, school counselors can play a vital role in the lives of LGBTQ students. HRC, in partnership with the American School Counseling Association, has released a tip sheet for school counselors on how they can support LGBTQ students and mitigate some of the emerging challenges they face while social distancing. This new resource provides actionable steps, recommendations and important considerations for school counselors to use when working with LGBTQ students in virtual settings. 

When an LGBTQ student is feeling unsafe at home, school counselors can act as a lifeline by creating an affirming virtual space. If students can easily access a school counselor as an ally, they will be more likely to seek the support they need. When connecting with students in virtual environments, school counselors should also consider privacy as unsupportive family members or those who are unaware of their child’s LGBTQ identity could potentially listen in. 

Creating an electronic meeting request form can allow school counselors to ask what name and pronouns the student wishes to use during virtual meetings. The student’s response may depend on their ability to secure privacy during virtual sessions.

School counselors can also offer self-care tips as well as connect students with affirming and potentially life-saving resources such as The Trevor Project, which offers confidential support for LGBTQ youth 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. To promote resiliency, school counselors can also help students identify LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities, locate scholarships for LGBTQ students and even find LGBTQ-inclusive places to work. These culturally relevant resources help students think beyond current challenges while allowing them to develop goals and plans for their future. 

Now more than ever, school counselors have a critically important role to play in sometimes providing that one place and being that one person with whom LGBTQ students can be their true selves and get relevant resources and support. This new tip sheet is a powerful guide to help school counselors be that person and perhaps even save a life.

www.hrc.org/blog/a-resource-for-school-counselors-on-supporting-lgbtq-youth-during-the-covid?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

GLAAD Joins Puerto Rican Activists to Call for an End to Anti-LGBTQ Violence on the Island

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-joins-puerto-rican-activists-call-end-anti-lgbtq-violence-island