Dr. Bright Blasts Trump’s Coronavirus Response at House Hearing: ‘Our Window is Closing’ (WATCH)

Ousted federal scientist Dr. Rick Bright, now a whistleblower, is testifying today before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

“Today, the world is confronting a public health emergency unlike any we’ve seen in over a century,” Bright said in his opening statement. “We are facing a highly transmissible and deadly virus which not only claims lives, but also disrupts the very foundations of our society. The American healthcare system is being taxed to the limit. Our economy is spiraling downward, and our population is being paralyzed by fear, stemming from a lack of a coordinated response and a dearth of accurate, clear communication about the path forward.

“Americans yearn to get back to work, to open their businesses and provide for their families. I get that,” he continued. “However, what we do must be done carefully and with guidance from the best scientific minds. Our window of opportunity is closing. If we fail to improve our response now based on science, I fear the pandemic will get worse and be prolonged. There will be likely a resurgence of COVID-19 this fall. It will be greatly compounded by the challenges of seasonal influenza. Without better planning, 2020 could be the darkest winter in modern history. First and foremost, we need to be truthful with the American people. Americans deserve the truth. The truth must be based on science. We have the world’s greatest scientists. Let us lead. Let us speak without fear of retribution. …

“Initially, our nation was not as prepared as we should have been, as we could have been,” Bright added. “Some scientists raised early warning signals that were overlooked, and pages from our pandemic playbook were ignored by some in leadership. There will be plenty of time to look back to assess what has happened so we can improve, but right now we need to focus on getting things right going forward. We need a comprehensive plan that everyone knows and everyone participates in. Congress has taken important steps to support the response and there’s much more we can do. With your help, we can get through this crisis. Working cooperatively with our global partners, we can and will succeed in finding a cure for COVID-19, but that success depends on what we do today. We will either be remembered for what we did, or what we failed to do, in response to this crisis. I call on all of us to act to ensure the health, safety and prosperity of all Americans. You can count on me to do my part.”

Bright, who headed the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), filed a whistleblower complaint last week alleging he was removed from his post in retaliation for opposing the broad use of a drug frequently touted by President Donald Trump as a coronavirus treatment.

Prior to Bright’s testimony, Trump took to Twitter to attack him as a “disgruntled employee.”

Watch Bright’s ongoing testimony live below.

The post Dr. Bright Blasts Trump’s Coronavirus Response at House Hearing: ‘Our Window is Closing’ (WATCH) appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Dr. Bright Blasts Trump’s Coronavirus Response at House Hearing: ‘Our Window is Closing’ (WATCH)

#AM_Equality: May 14, 2020

HRC CONDEMNS PUERTO RICAN LEGISLATURE’S ATTEMPT TO ROLL BACK LGBTQ RIGHTS: The rewritten Code passed through the Puerto Rico Senate this week and will now be considered by the Puerto Rico House of Representatives. “Puerto Ricans deserve a fair, transparent ratification process of their Civil Code, not a rushed, backroom deal by the legislature,” said HRC President Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid). “We condemn anti-equality leaders’ furtive attempts to use this process as a way to target LGBTQ Puerto Ricans. Governor Wanda Vazquez must stand up for LGBTQ Puerto Ricans and for democracy by slowing down this process and allowing all to participate in shaping the future of the island.” Read more from HRC in English and Español and from Primera Hora en Español. 

HRC RESPONDS TO HHS RULE REMOVING SEXUAL ORIENTATION DATA COLLECTION FROM VITAL FEDERAL CHILD WELFARE REPORTING SYSTEM: The final rule from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would abandon data collection on the sexual orientation of youth in foster care and foster and adoptive parents and guardians in the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System. “In the midst of a global pandemic, the Trump-Pence administration chose to target some of the most vulnerable youth in the foster care system,” said HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy (@david_stacy). “LGBTQ youth are overrepresented in foster care, and this attempt to erase them and important data on adoptive and foster parents undermines efforts to address the marginalization, harassment and discrimination that LGBTQ youth in foster care and families face.” Read more from HRC. 

• For more information on how the failure of state and federal officials to collect full and accurate data on sexual orientation and gender identity is causing harm to LGBTQ Americans, check out HRC’s report LGBTQ-Inclusive Data Collection: A Lifesaving Imperative. 

THANKFUL THURSDAY — WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER: Wherever you are, you can fight for equality with HRC. Get involved in HRC’s efforts ahead of the 2020 elections by clicking here. 

We’re all in this together. And we need your help!

Visit t.co/H1FF0Tcux2 and get involved. pic.twitter.com/7trNKuZN7t

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 12, 2020

ONE YEAR AGO TODAY, TRUMP ANNOUNCED HIS OPPOSITION TO THE EQUALITY ACT: Since then, he has continued to use the levers of his administration to continue to oppose LGBTQ equality in the workplace. Read about his attacks on LGBTQ equality in the workplace here. 

One year ago, Trump announced his opposition to the #EqualityAct — crucial federal legislation that would guarantee non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people across the country.

Enough is enough. We must vote him out of the White House. t.co/7fTodltzcb

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 14, 2020

TODAY AT 3 P.M. ET — HRC PRESIDENT ALPHONSO DAVID JOINS NATIVE SON FOUNDER EMIL WILBEKIN (@EmilWilbekin) FOR AN INTERVIEW ON BLACK ENTERPRISE’S “THE NEW NORM” WITH SELENA HILL (@MsSelenaHill): David and Wilbekin will discuss the impact of COVID-19 on Black and LGBTQ communities, the importance of inclusive data collection and the unconscionable killing of Ahmaud Arbery. The interview will stream on Black Enterprise’s Instagram. More from HRC. 

• Last month, HRC joined Native Son and Color of Change in advocating for the release of demographic data on COVID-19. Sign the petition here, and learn more about HRC’s response to COVID-19 here.
• The National Black Justice Coalition and Black Policy Lab have announced that they’re launching a joint initiative to gather data on how COVID-19 is impacting Black LGBTQ people. More from Dallas Voice. 

HRC MOURNS THE LOSS OF BECKETT CYPHER: More from HRC and CBS News. 

We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Beckett Cypher. Our hearts go out to @metheridge, Julie Cypher and all of their family, friends and loved ones. Your entire HRC family is with you and sending you love. t.co/xeTzcEGTfr

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) May 14, 2020

IN THE STATES

INVISIBLE HISTORIES PROJECT, A BIRMINGHAM, ALA.-BASED NON-PROFIT, RECEIVES AN AWARD FOR ITS WORK ARCHIVING LGBTQ HISTORY IN THE SOUTH: Read more here and from the Associated Press. 

GET CULTURED – Entertainment, arts and sports news!

TALK SHOW “A LITTLE LATE WITH LILLY SINGH” HAS BEEN RENEWED FOR A SECOND SEASON: Singh (@Lilly) is the first openly bisexual woman and first person of Indian and South Asian descent to host a network late-night talk show. Read more from Variety. 

HUNTER HUNT-HENDRIX, VOCALIST OF THE BAND LITURGY (@LITVRGY), COMES OUT, SAYING “I AM A WOMAN”: Read her moving post at the band’s Twitter. 

READING RAINBOW – Bookmark now to read on your lunch break!
The New Yorker interviews openly queer musician Mike Hadreas (@perfumegenius) about his newest album; PinkNews reports that dance groups for LGBTQ older adults have gone virtual

Have news? Send us your news and tips at [email protected]. Click here to subscribe to #AM_Equality and follow @HRC for all the latest news. Thanks for reading!

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-may-14-2020?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

The dancer using lockdown to entertain neighbors with amazing street routines

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by A U S T Y N – F A R R E L L (@austyn_farrell) on Jun 16, 2019 at 9:57am PDT

A British dancer has gone viral this week by donning Tina Turner drag and dancing in his street to the her hit, ‘Proud Mary.’

Austyn Farrell was raised in Leicestershire but is now based in London. As a dancer, he’s performed alongside pop bands such as Steps and on Britain’s Got Talent, as well as work in Las Vegas. However, as a freelancer, the coronavirus pandemic has seen his work disappear.

To help pass the time, and to keep his anxiety at bay, he’s instead started performing elaborate dance routines in his street. It’s keeping his mind occupied and body in shape, entertains his neighbors, and is seeing him build an appreciative following on social media.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

@alankitrell Thanks for another week of love! all fun and games but some of the comments do really mean a lot so thank you have a fantastic weekend! Cup Kumka

A post shared by A U S T Y N – F A R R E L L (@austyn_farrell) on May 8, 2020 at 9:45am PDT

He started out with Disney Princesses and clips from movies such as A Chorus Line. A rendition of Dolly Parton’s ‘9 To 5’ earned a like and comment from the country icon herself.

Related: Todrick Hall releases star-studded video for ‘Mask, Gloves, Soap, Scrubs’

However, it was a rendition of Turner’s ‘Proud Mary’ a few days ago that has gone viral, being shown on BBC Show The One Show and re-shared by Oprah Magazine on its Instagram feed yesterday.

Farrell told the website GuysLikeU, “Monday to Friday, I perform songs outside my house for my neighbors and post it on my Instagram. The productions have been growing and growing, it’s getting ridiculous but it’s all fun. I enjoy it and it makes everyone laugh which is important at these times.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by A U S T Y N – F A R R E L L (@austyn_farrell) on Apr 22, 2020 at 10:52am PDT

He says losing work has been tough: “Being self-employed has been pretty crap during this period but there’s many of us in the exact same boat so we all just have to ride the wave I guess … I’ve tried to stay positive, happy and safe. The best thing we can do is stay home so there is no point worrying and letting my anxiety go mad.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by A U S T Y N – F A R R E L L (@austyn_farrell) on Oct 2, 2018 at 9:46am PDT

He also shared a sweet story about coming out. He says he first knew for certain he was gay when he fell in love with another boy when he started dance lessons at the age of 15. He was terrified of telling his family.

Related: Dance instructor slays with his kitchen quarantine fashion displays

“I started with my mum one weekend. I waited until she had been out and came home all merry. I sat next to her and started shaking as I said the words ‘mum, I’m gay and I have a boyfriend’. She replied smiling, ‘I know, son’.

“The next day she came and gave me the biggest hug and said what would I like for breakfast like nothing had changed. I then received a call from my dad saying ‘would you like me to be honest, son. I’ve known since you were three years old when you were wearing your nan’s heels and it will never change how proud and how much I love you’.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

No it’s not Elton John it’s just me I know I’ve been joking a hell of a lot but just staying positive. I’m not ignoring what’s happening in the world or hope I’m not coming across ignorant it’s just I’m not letting miss Rona trigger my anxiety off…not today Satan! I hope everyone is staying safe, sane and healthy. Happy Saturday Im so ready for next week with Austyn’s solo musical

A post shared by A U S T Y N – F A R R E L L (@austyn_farrell) on Apr 4, 2020 at 10:00am PDT

www.queerty.com/dancer-using-lockdown-entertain-neighbors-amazing-street-routines-20200514?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Mich. Suspends License of Barber Who Vowed to Stay Open ‘Until Jesus Comes’ Despite Coronavirus Order: WATCH

Michigan state regulators have suspended the license of 77-year-old barber Karl Manke, who pledged to keep his Owosso shop open “until Jesus comes” despite Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s coronavirus order.

The Associated Press reports: A judge declined the state’s request to shut down his shop Monday without first holding a hearing. Regulators took a different path by suspending his barber license and his shop license. “It is paramount that we take action to protect the public and do our part to help save lives,” Attorney General Dana Nessel said. Manke can ask for an immediate hearing with an administrative law judge at the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. “It’s pure retribution. It’s abuse of power: How dare you stand up to me?” said Manke’s attorney, Dave Kallman. … Manke has been hailed as a hero by some people who have driven an hour or more to get a haircut. “The government is not my mother, never has been,” Manke said Monday. “I’ve been in business longer than they’ve been alive.”

According to the WJRT, the Michigan Militia is vowing to defend Manke, who remained open Wednesday and said authorities will have to drag him out of the shop in handcuffs. Manke appeared Sunday on Fox & Friends.

Watch the latest video at foxnews.com

More from the New York Times: Mr. Manke said he initially closed his business, Karl Manke’s Barber & Beauty Shop, in March but reopened on May 4, as he grew increasingly concerned about his bills piling up. He wears a mask and recommends but does not require them for his customers, he said. State officials said Mr. Manke’s actions jeopardized public health and violated the governor’s order extending the closure of nonessential businesses to May 28. “Mr. Manke’s actions in violating Gov. Whitmer’s executive orders as well as other health orders put the public at risk for contracting Covid-19,” Michigan’s attorney general, Dana Nessel, said in a statement Wednesday. “Any time you have a barber or other professional providing services to numerous citizens in close proximity to each other and those citizens are then returning to their various residences, there is a risk of contracting and spreading the virus,” she said. “It is paramount that we take action to protect the public and do our part to help save lives.” Ms. Nessel’s office declined to say how it would enforce the suspension of the licenses, stating, “Our office is involved in pending legal action against Mr. Manke, so we cannot comment on these issues.”

The post Mich. Suspends License of Barber Who Vowed to Stay Open ‘Until Jesus Comes’ Despite Coronavirus Order: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Mich. Suspends License of Barber Who Vowed to Stay Open ‘Until Jesus Comes’ Despite Coronavirus Order: WATCH

FBI Seizes Richard Burr’s Cell Phone in Probe of COVID-19 Stock Dump, But What About Kelly Loeffler?

FBI agents seized a cell phone belonging to North Carolina Republican Sen. Richard Burr on Wednesday night, as part of an investigation into alleged insider trading, after he dumped up to $1.7 million in stock in February following private committee briefings on the impending COVID-19 crisis.

Burr turned over the phone after agents served a search warrant at his Washington-area home, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. Authorities reportedly seized the phone after a separate search warrant was used to obtain information from Burr’s Apple iCloud account.

News of the seizure prompted immediate questions about why the FBI isn’t similarly investigating Georgia Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who also sold hundreds of thousands worth of stock after receiving COVID-19 briefings. Some experts suggested the DOJ’s decision to go after Burr, but not Loeffler, could be politically motivated. Burr has been a thorn in the side of Donald Trump, while Loeffler has been fiercely loyal to the president. 

CBS News reports: “We’ll decline to comment,” Burr communications director Caitlin Carroll said late Wednesday. … Several of the stocks sold were in companies that own hotels, an industry that has been decimated by the coronavirus. The bulk of Burr’s stock sales took place on February 13, just before he made a speech predicting extreme measures would have to be taken to check the spread of the virus, including closing schools and cutting company travel, according to audio obtained by National Public Radio. A week earlier, on February 7, Burr coauthored an opinion piece with Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander that offered reassuring words for Americans concerned about the coronavirus. … It’s illegal for members of Congress to trade stocks based on information the public doesn’t have that they receive through their positions as lawmakers. Burr was among only three senators who voted against the legislation banning such trading in 2012.

More from the Washington Post: Burr was not the only senator accused of abusing coronavirus-related information that was not available to the general public to make personal financial decisions. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) also came under fire after the Daily Beast reported that she had sold a significant share of stocks in January after attending the same briefings as Burr. … Some legal observers noted there would be a potential disparity if Burr was being investigated but not other members of Congress who engaged in similar trades, particularly Loffler. After the Justice Department’s investigation into Burr became public, a Loeffler spokesman said she had not been contacted by federal law enforcement officials. Burr and President Trump have had a tense relationship at times.

The post FBI Seizes Richard Burr’s Cell Phone in Probe of COVID-19 Stock Dump, But What About Kelly Loeffler? appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

FBI Seizes Richard Burr’s Cell Phone in Probe of COVID-19 Stock Dump, But What About Kelly Loeffler?

1 Year Ago: Trump Opposes the Equality Act

On May 14, 2019 Trump announced his opposition to the Equality Act — crucial federal legislation that would finally guarantee explicit protections for LGBTQ people under our nation’s existing civil rights laws. Since then, he has continued to use the levers of his administration to continue to oppose LGBTQ equality in the workplace.

Here are some of his attacks on LGBTQ equality in the workplace:

1. Supported employment discrimination against LGBTQ people: The Trump administration submitted amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court supporting discrimination against LGBTQ people.

2. Rolled back Obama-era non-discrimination protections: Trump’s Department of Justice upended previous DOJ interpretations of the Civil Rights Act that protect transgender and non-binary workers from employment discrimination and ceased enforcing non-discrimination protections as well as taking a hostile stance to LGBTQ workers in court.

3. Planned new rules to license discrimination: Trump’s Department of Labor issued a regulation designed to allow federal contractors to claim a religious exemption to fire LGBTQ workers because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

4. Created a hostile work environment for LGBTQ federal employees: According to Politico: “[The Trump administration] fostered a climate where six staffers who are LGBT described removing their wedding rings before coming to work in the morning, taking down photos of their partners and families or ultimately finding new jobs further away from certain political appointees. They did not want to be identified; two said they feared being reassigned for being gay.”

www.hrc.org/blog/1-year-ago-trump-opposes-the-equality-act?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Beckett Cypher, Son of Melissa Etheridge and Julie Cypher, Dead at 21

No cause of death has been revealed, but more details are forthcoming.

www.advocate.com/news/2020/5/13/beckett-cypher-son-melissa-etheridge-and-julie-cypher-dead-21

Trump Says Anthony Fauci’s Advice to Senate Cautioning the Reopening of Schools Amid COVID-19 Crisis is ‘Not Acceptable’ — WATCH

Dr. Anthony Fauci on Tuesday warned a Senate panel that opening schools too soon could endanger kids, remarks that Donald Trump on Wednesday called “not acceptable.”

Said Fauci on Tuesday: “We don’t know everything about this virus, and we really better be very careful, particularly when it comes to children. Because the more and more we learn, we’re seeing things about what this virus can do that we didn’t see from the studies in China or in Europe. For example, right now, children presenting with COVID-19 who actually have a very strange inflammatory syndrome, very similar to Kawasaki syndrome. I think we better be careful, that we are not cavalier in thinking that children are completely immune to the deleterious effects.””

Said Trump when asked about the remarks on Wednesday: “I was surprised by his answer, actually, because it’s just– To me, it’s not an acceptable answer, especially when it comes to schools. The only thing that would be acceptable”

“This is a disease that attacks age, and it attacks health. … But with the young children and students, just take a look at the statistics, it’s pretty amazing.”

Trump rebukes Fauci, says his testimony about how opening schools amid a pandemic might not be a great idea was “just not an acceptable answer.”

“This is a disease that attacks age. It attacks health,” Trump adds. pic.twitter.com/qgdOG8qvKZ

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 13, 2020

The post Trump Says Anthony Fauci’s Advice to Senate Cautioning the Reopening of Schools Amid COVID-19 Crisis is ‘Not Acceptable’ — WATCH appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.

Trump Says Anthony Fauci’s Advice to Senate Cautioning the Reopening of Schools Amid COVID-19 Crisis is ‘Not Acceptable’ — WATCH

COVID-19 Doesn’t Discriminate — and Neither Should We

The pandemic has fueled anti-Asian bias, and it’s incumbent on us all to speak out against such bigotry.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2020/5/13/covid-19-doesnt-discriminate-and-neither-should-we

Daily Dose: The life and ‘Tales’ of a gay writing giant

Welcome to Queerty’s latest entry in our series, Queerantined: Daily Dose. Every weekday as long as the COVID-19 pandemic has us under quarantine, we’ll release a suggested bit of gloriously queer entertainment designed to keep you from getting stir crazy in the house. Each weekend, we will also suggest a binge-able title to keep you extra engaged.

The Birthday Candle: The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin

In honor of Tales of the City author Armistead Maupin turning 76 today, we offer up the documentary biopic of the man himself. The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin includes extensive interviews with Maupin, his husband Christopher Turner, family, friends and collaborators like Laura Linney, Ian McKellen, Olympia Dukakis and Amy Tan.

Fans of Tales of the City will no doubt notice conspicuous parallels between Maupin’s own life and those of his characters. More intriguing, however, are Maupin’s recollections of the controversies he endured as a writer, including the right-wing backlash to the Tales of the City miniseries, which almost got PBS defunded. The author also remembers the decimation of AIDS, how the crisis shaped his life and relationships, as well as how the epidemic only boosted his activism and drove home the need to tell LGBTQ stories.  Who’d have thought that one of Maupin’s most touching stories, would be his own?

Streams on Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube.

www.queerty.com/daily-dose-life-tales-gay-writing-giant-20200513?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29