Rights Groups: Confirming Jeff Sessions a 'Travesty,' 'Grave Mistake'
They’ll be keeping a close eye on the anti-LGBT Sessions, now the nation’s top law enforcer.
www.advocate.com/politics/2017/2/08/rights-groups-confirming-jeff-sessions-travesty-grave-mistake
Queer and Adjacent Women Rock #DressLikeAWoman
Donald Trump presumably has a specific idea of what fashion and mannerisms constitute a woman, but the internet and #DressLikeAWoman beg to differ.
www.advocate.com/women/2017/2/08/queer-and-adjacent-women-rock-dresslikeawoman
The Queerties are on! Vote for ‘Best LGBT Web Series’ now.
Vote for your favorite categories daily until Feb. 20th.
GLAAD: Jeff Sessions’ confirmation endangers LGBTQ Americans nationwide
Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD, the world’s LGBTQ media advocacy organization, issued the following statement after the United States Senate voted to confirm Jeff Sessions as the nation’s next Attorney General.
“As Attorney General, Jeff Sessions is tasked with leading the Justice Department and advocating on behalf of all Americans, including LGBTQ people. If his discriminatory record is any indicator, workplace and hate crimes protections could be in danger – and that is a terrifying prospect for the future of equality and acceptance in America.”
BACKGROUND: Jeff Sessions Endangers LGBTQ Americans Nationwide
Votes against LGBTQ Community
2004 & 2006: Senator Sessions voted for the Federal Marriage Amendment, a constitutional amendment that would have made marriage equality illegal.
2009: Voted against the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
2010: Voted against the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Act repeal, which effectively ended the nation’s ban against allowing LGBTQ Americans to serve in the armed forces.
2013: Voted against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act which bans federally funded service providers from discriminating against LGBTQ victims.
2013: Voted against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
2015: Sessions co-sponsored the so-called State Marriage Defense Act, a bill designed to circumvent federal protections for same-sex married couples.
2015: Sessions co-sponsored the so-called First Amendment Defense Act, which would allow opponents of marriage equality to discriminate against LGBTQ (or even supportive) customers and contractors.
Outrageous Actions against LGBTQ Americans
1996: As Alabama’s Attorney General, Jeff Sessions reportedly fought to stop LGBTQ conference: As Alabama’s attorney general in 1996, Sessions attempted to stop the Southeastern Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual College Conference from meeting at the University of Alabama under a state law passed in 1992 that made it illegal for public universities to fund in any way a group that promotes “actions prohibited by the sodomy and sexual misconduct laws.”
1997: While attempting to defund the National Endowment of the Arts, Sessions echoed social conservative claims that “the National Endowment for the Arts showed explicit homosexual activities on the screen using a $31,000 grant.”
2006: Sessions claimed the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning sodomy laws “divorced morality from law.”
2009: Sessions once referred to a gay sexual orientation as having “gay tendencies.”
2010: In midst of the Prop 8 court hearings, Sessions condemned California federal judge for finding the state’s discriminatory marriage ban to be unconstitutional, claiming he “was citing his own views, emotions and feelings” rather than the law.
2010: Sessions opposed the nomination of US Supreme Court justice Elena Kagan in large part because of what he perceived as her LGBTQ support.
2010: While opposing the nomination of a DC Superior Court judge, Sessions cited (and placed on record) letters from viciously anti-LGBTQ groups like the Traditional Values Coalition, which faulted the nominee for her “radical lesbianism, anti-marriage” views.
2015: Following the historic U.S. Supreme Court ruling which granted marriage equality across the nation, Sessions implied the US Supreme Court was not allowed to find a right to marriage equality and that he might continue the fight: “…what this court did-they can’t to do, nothing in the constitution for such a result no mention of marriage in the constitution,’ says Sessions. It’s an issue that evokes a lot of passion on both sides and may not be over.”
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www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-jeff-sessions%E2%80%99-confirmation-endangers-lgbtq-americans-nationwide
Is This Raunchy Music Video Art or Explicit Content?
Citing George Michael, musician Brendan Maclean defended his depiction of explicit sex acts as a lesson in queer history that must be preserved.
Twitter trolls Donald Trump after he tweets about waiting anxiously for “EASY D”
Twitter fingers is back.
Donald Trump used his tiny hands to send a bizarre tweet from his unsecured Android phone this morning, ranting incoherently about his totally unconstitutional “not a Muslim ban” Muslim ban, then mentioning something about “EASY D”:
Big increase in traffic into our country from certain areas, while our people are far more vulnerable, as we wait for what should be EASY D!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2017
People wasted no time responding to his call for “EASY D”:
Dude, if you want easy D, you can find it on Grindr. t.co/RiKdNVEOB7
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) February 8, 2017
Sorry. But. I’m dying over here, y’all. #EasyD #Waiting pic.twitter.com/H2LSfd2QVR
— Anthony M. Kreis (@AnthonyMKreis) February 8, 2017
“Tremendous news that EASY D has agreed to play the Bowling Green memorial concert! It’s going to be terrific. BIG FAN!”
— ??Elle? (@TrickOrTreackle) February 8, 2017
When you got that Easy D pic.twitter.com/X4KxvF7EqK
— Matthew Kick (@MatthewKick) February 8, 2017
And thus was born a thousand parties at gay clubs titled #EASYD.
— Tim Newman (@tnewmstweet) February 8, 2017
Oh, but it doesn’t stop there…
can’t believe POTUS is tweeting about the gay agenda: life, liberty, & the pursuit of EASY D t.co/1yMXX4lkQ5
— Tyler Oakley (@tyleroakley) February 8, 2017
Look me up on Grindr “Easy D” #easyd pic.twitter.com/KqXBUfNKi1
— Beer Breath (@Beer_Breath) February 8, 2017
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning for Easy D.
— Tyler Coates (@tylercoates) February 8, 2017
when he says he’s waiting for easy D pic.twitter.com/KCmW2YYu7m
— David Mack (@davidmackau) February 8, 2017
SPICER: I can’t do it. There’s no way to make “easy D” sound presidential.
KELLYANNE CONWAY: *smoking two cigarettes at once* Hold my beer.
— Carlos Maza (@gaywonk) February 8, 2017
We’d say this meme sums the whole situation up pretty perfectly:
Just another Wednesday in Trump’s America, right?
Related: WATCH: Kellyanne Conway finally starting to crack as CNN anchor corners her on live TV
NEW MUSIC: Jens Lekman, Missy Elliott, The Cranberries, All Tvvins
This week in New Music: Swedish sad-pop star Jens Lekman (above) is on fine form on latest track “Evening Prayer,” Missy Elliott returns with “I’m Better,” The Cranberries announce a new acoustic album and Irish duo All Tvvins channel classic 80s indie rock on debut album IIVV.
Jens Lekman – “Evening Prayer”
Sweden’s Jens Lekman will release album number five Life Will See You Now next week.
The follow up to 2012’s (honestly, slightly lackluster) I Know What Love Isn’t, based on single “Evening Prayer” Lekman has regained some of the indie pop carefree tweeness of his earlier work.
A press release says Life Will See You Now “inverts pop’s writing norm by making songs with sad concerns sound happy and songs with a happy subject sound sad.”
Yup, that’s what he does. See “The Opposite of Hallelujah.”
Missy Elliott – “I’m Better”
Well now, there’s a turn up for the books as former queen of hip hop Missy Elliott resurfaces with “I’m Better,” a follow up to 2015’s “ETF” and 2016’s “Pep Rally.”
Is a new album on the horizon?
Don’t know.
Hopefully?
The Cranberries Announce New Album
Putting (alleged) differences behind them and following on from 2012 album Roses, Irish rock quartet and 90s legends The Cranberries have announced a new European tour to coincide with a new “unplugged.”
No details for the album yet but it is known that it will include three new songs along with orchestral re-workings of some of their biggest hits including “Linger” and “Zombie.”
The tour also includes some dates in Mexico.
Details of all dates here.
All Tvvins – IIVV
Irish duo All Tvvins actually released their debut album IIVV late last year but it’s worth noting now as their enviable press seems to be leading to a modicum of mainstream success.
Conor Adams and Lar Kaye have been part of the Irish music scene, Kaye mostly being known for his work with post rock act Adebisi Shank, Adams for the less-than-successful but formidable Cast of Cheers.
With All Tvvins the duo have a plan – proper indie rock aimed at actual commercial success.
What we have here is ten songs over 37 minutes that are sparse and highly efficient. If that makes the album sound clinical, it’s really not.
In fact the overall impression is of an early U2 or a late-career The Police – in other words some classic rock with enviable production values.
Have a look at their storming recent performance on Irish music show Other Voices below.
The post NEW MUSIC: Jens Lekman, Missy Elliott, The Cranberries, All Tvvins appeared first on Towleroad.
NEW MUSIC: Jens Lekman, Missy Elliott, The Cranberries, All Tvvins
Sen. Elizabeth Warren Vows to Not Remain Silenced (Video)
Although the Massachusetts Democrat was rebuked for violating rules on “impugning” the reputation of a fellow Senator, Warren has taken to social media to get her message out about Jeff Sessions.
www.advocate.com/politics/2017/2/08/sen-elizabeth-warren-vows-not-remain-silenced-video
WATCH: Kellyanne Conway finally starting to crack as CNN anchor corners her on live TV
Trump spin doctor Kellyanne Conway has one of the toughest jobs in America, and for that reason we feel obliged to afford her a bit of absolutely zero sympathy whatsoever. She gives complacency a whole new name.
But is the thick shell she’s constructed between herself and reality finally beginning to crumble? By the looks of this chat with CNN’s Jake Tapper, all signs point to ‘yes.’ And it’s about time.
Even by her standards, defending the President’s attack on the “dishonest press” for not covering terror attacks was a particularly Sisyphean task. And for Tapper it was clearly personal. He has colleagues still risking their lives every day to report on terror-stricken regions, and that’s to say nothing of the fact that terror attacks are widely covered over a vast range of media outlets the world over.
“It’s offensive,” Tapper tells Conway at one point.
And for once Conway, always ready with a fresh new dump truck of “alternative facts,” seemed deflated.
Related: This candid nine second video will actually make your heart break for Melania Trump
“Saying that we don’t cover terrorism, that’s just false,” Tapper said.
Conway did try to spin it around to complain about the inordinate amount of coverage candidate Trump received during the brutal election season (arguably the only reason her guy won), but that spark we’re used to seeing from her appears to be well on its way towards extinguished.
“That’s a lovely spin, but that’s not what he was saying Kellyanne,” Tapper immediately responds, turning the conversation to Trump’s explicit accusation that the media has some “ulterior motive” for brushing terror attacks under the proverbial rug.
Then he brings up the recent deadly terror attack last month at a mosque in Quebec City, carried out by a white nationalist supporter of Trump.
“President Trump has not said or tweeted one public word about this,” Tapper said, asking, “You want to talk about ignoring terrorism, why hasn’t the president offered his sympathy to our neighbors in the north?”
No human being can continue on Kellyanne’s path without losing steam (hello Bowling Green massacre), and this ship looks like it’s about to go down.
Interview Part 2:
Nordstrom, Judy Garland, Steve Bannon, Richard Hatch, Pietro Boselli, Annette Bening: HOT LINKS
NORDSTROM. Trump attacks retailer for treating his daughter’s company unfairly: “There are all sorts of areas for concern about conflict of interest and self-dealing between Trump’s public duties and his family’s business interests. But this is the first time during his presidency that Trump has actually scolded a company for failing to do business with his family. You can expect to see this thrown back in Trump’s face the next time he pulls his Corporate Avenger bit — exactly whose interests is he looking out for when he slaps around corporate America?”
My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person — always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2017
BANNON VS POPE FRANCIS. Trump’s chief advisor wants to bring down the Vatican: “Just as Mr. Bannon has connected with far-right parties threatening to topple governments throughout Western Europe, he has also made common cause with elements in the Roman Catholic Church who oppose the direction Francis is taking them. Many share Mr. Bannon’s suspicion of Pope Francis as a dangerously misguided, and probably socialist, pontiff.”
NERD PROM. Trump’s war with press is affecting White House Correspondents Dinner: “President Trump is expected to attend the April 29 event at the Washington Hilton. But others are bailing on the festivities this year. Sources tell THR the casts of the D.C.-set House of Cards, Veep and Scandal likely will not attend (all have had a presence during the Obama years), while the WHCA has yet to secure a comedian headliner, as is customary by February. Many media organizations are waffling on their usual plans for the weekend.”
FRIDAY THE 13TH UPDATE. Jason gets killed.
UNHAPPY SPICE. Trump disappointed with Sean Spicer’s performance, searches for someone new: “A longtime Republican operative, Spicer is a close ally of White House chief of staff Reince Priebus. According to the source close to the hiring process, Trump is upset with Priebus over the selection of Spicer for arguably the administration’s most visible position, next to the President.”
FORTUNE. Why gay men should talk about their partners at work.
DEATHS. Battlestar Galactica star Richard Hatch dead at 71: “His death was confirmed by his son, Paul, who said in a statement that Mr. Hatch had pancreatic cancer and died in Los Angeles.”
AILING. Charlie Rose to undergo heart surgery. “I can’t wait to be back completely rested with my heart recharged, my passion for the work ahead purposeful and my joy at life’s pleasures high.”
INSTAUPDATE. Pietro Boselli, Anderson Cooper, Joe Jonas, Cristiano Ronaldo, James van der Beek HERE.
MILO VENTIMIGLIA. Actor surprises fan watching This Is Us at home.
When your filming #ThisIsUs & the neighbors are watching…#ThisIsUs while you’re filming #ThisIsUs!!! TONIGHT we’re back!! 9/8c on @nbc MV pic.twitter.com/XPixJS1j8J
— Milo Ventimiglia (@MiloVentimiglia) February 7, 2017
SPINOFFS. Saturday Night Live turning Weekend Update into a weekly series, according to reports.
ANNETTE BENING. Actress talks about her transgender son Stephen Ira: “I’m super proud of him,” she says. “I leave it to him to say what he wants about his life. I don’t think it’s fair for me to speak for any of my kids, quite frankly. Not that I wouldn’t like to, ha!” she laughs.
HARASSED. Sid Luft’s posthumous book claims Judy Garland was sexually harassed by munchkins. “The men were 40 or more years old. They thought they could get away with anything because they were so small.”
DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA. The White Trash Washing Machine Cover.
HUMP DAY HOTTIE. Rayan Baghdadi.
The post Nordstrom, Judy Garland, Steve Bannon, Richard Hatch, Pietro Boselli, Annette Bening: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad.
Nordstrom, Judy Garland, Steve Bannon, Richard Hatch, Pietro Boselli, Annette Bening: HOT LINKS
