Senate Republicans Have Backed Themselves Into a Corner on Merrick Garland

Republicans are already freaking out that Donald Trump, a snake-oil salesman also peddling hate and xenophobia, is going to be their presidential nominee. Some refuse to endorse; many refuse to vote for him no matter what. Some have reluctantly fallen in line with grudging, confusing, half-hearted endorsements.

And then RedState.com, a reliable mouthpiece of the right, called on Senate Republicans to hold hearings on and confirm Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. RedState reasoned that with Mr. Trump at the top of the ticket, Republicans will lose the White House and “likely” the Senate in November. Even if Trump won, the conservative website wasn’t sure Trump would give them a conservative nominee. Judge Garland may not be RedState’s ideal, but he’s better than the devil they don’t know.

This is the height of obnoxious intellectual dishonesty: only now are conservatives willing to accept the uber-qualified Garland because they’re worried they may get a young progressive like Goodwin Liu or Barack Obama from President Hillary Clinton. Republicans’ refusal to even schedule hearings on Judge Garland has been a threat to judicial independence, an affront to President Obama’s legitimacy, and textbook example of how Republicans mislead the public away from their real intentions.

Judges should not be agents of politics. But the politicization of Supreme Court and appellate court nominees over the last 50 years has reached its zenith (or nadir, depending on how you look at it) with Republicans throwing a hissy fit because someone to the left of Genghis Khan may replace the late Antonin Scalia. And Republicans’ insistence that they are standing up for the public by holding the line on Garland is both a lie and a flagrant disregard of their Constitutional responsibilities. The public had its say, when it overwhelmingly re-elected President Obama in 2012 to a term that extends through 2016. Senate Republicans’ job is to give “advice and consent,” not to barricade the doors.

As RedState’s about-face proves, Senate Republicans’ views on the Garland nomination have never been about principle or process. They’ve been about politics: they liked Scalia’s politics; they dislike Garland’s. But they dislike Hillary Clinton’s even more. So, what choice do they have?

Therein lies that somewhat satisfying silver lining to this politico-judicial debacle. The Republicans have backed themselves into a corner with their unprincipled, brazen, and unjustifiable stance against Judge Garland.

They could ignore their Constitutional responsibilities and wait until the next president nominates a new judge. But if Hillary Clinton routs Donald Trump in November, and the Democrats ride a wave of anti-Trump sentiment to a Senate majority, that nominee could be a young, progressive darling. At least Garland has a reputation as a centrist, consensus-builder.

Or, Senate Republicans could continue their temper tantrum and hope (a) that Donald Trump wins, (b) that they keep the Senate, and (c) that Trump nominates a rational human being. Three big “if”s.

Or, the Senate could move on Garland’s nomination now, in which case all of this delay would have been for naught.

There really is no way forward other than a Justice Garland or someone Republicans may dislike even more. And that’s a win for the rule of the law.

Official White house photo by Pete Souza.

The post Senate Republicans Have Backed Themselves Into a Corner on Merrick Garland appeared first on Towleroad.

feeds.towleroad.com/~r/towleroad/feed/~3/J23jnesISYk/

Three Ways Teachers Can Create a More Inclusive Mother’s Day

Post submitted by Welcoming Schools Project Coordinator Charlie Girard

This Sunday, families across the country will celebrate Mother’s Day. For some families, however, this holiday can be a challenging time. Children may have two dads or they may live with grandparents. Some may have experienced the loss of a mother.

Educators can help all students feel included during this time. Here are three ways that you can show every student in your class that their family matters:

1. Read a book with your class that features diverse families.

HRC’s Welcoming Schools has several lists of books that kids love that adults can use to explain different kinds of families. The lists include books on adoption, books that highlight LGBTQ parents and much more.

2.Use lesson plans that celebrate all family structures.

Our engaging lesson plans allow students to define their own family structure as opposed to a set, traditional family binary.  Explore Welcoming Schools’ lesson plans focused on family diversity. All of these lesson plans align with the Common Core standards.

3.Make sure school celebrations can include a broad range of caring adults.

Having celebrations such as “Family Day” or “Special Person Day” allow students to acknowledge any supportive person in their life. This leaves room for students to honor caring adults, regardless of gender or relationship.

For more tips and specific books and lesson plan suggestions to help all students to feel included this Mother’s Day, read Welcoming School’s Note on Mother’s and Father’s Days.

HRC Welcoming Schools is the premier comprehensive approach to creating respectful and supportive elementary schools with resources and professional development to embrace family diversity, create LGBTQ-inclusive schools, prevent bias-based bullying and gender stereotyping, and support transgender and gender-expansive students.

www.hrc.org/blog/three-ways-teachers-can-create-a-more-inclusive-mothers-day?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

LGBT Landmarks Added to National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places

On Tuesday, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that it would add two LGBT historic sites to the National Register of Historic Places.

“The Edificio Comunidad de Orgullo Gay de Puerto Rico served as the meeting hall for the first gay/lesbian organization established in Puerto Rico,” the NPS explained in a Facebook post. “The Furies Collective house in Washington, DC, was home to a lesbian feminist collective that in the early 1970’s created and led the debate over lesbians’ place in American society.”

According to The Washington Post, the Furies Collective is the first historic landmark to specifically highlight the role of lesbians in U.S. history.

Any day now, it is expected that President Obama will announce Stonewall as a national monument. The famous riot at the Stonewall Inn and neighboring Christopher Park in New York City in June 1969 ignited the worldwide movement for LGBT equality, raising the visibility of LGBT people and uniting our community. 

“The road to civil rights is a long one, and adding these important places to the National Register will help recognize the LGBT communities’ fight for equality,” Kristen Brengel, vice president of government affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association, told The Washington Post. “It is fantastic that the National Park Service is acknowledging more LGBT sites, and we hope the administration will approve its first national park honoring LGBT history with Stonewall soon.”

HRC worked closely with members of the New York congressional delegation on legislation to make Stonewall the nation’s first landmark honoring LGBT history and had a number of meetings with administration officials to help them understand the importance of Stonewall in the telling of the American story.  HRC members and supporters also took action, asking President Obama to designate Stonewall as a national monument.

www.hrc.org/blog/lgbt-landmarks-added-to-national-park-services-national-register-of-histori?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

GLAAD to present "Bury Your Tropes" panel at ATX Television Festival

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-present-bury-your-tropes-panel-atx-television-festival

Jussie Smollet Mocks Homophobic Twitter Trolls After Last Night’s Steamy Gay Sex Scene On ‘Empire’

Some fans of the hit show “Empire” were not fans of last night’s episode.

To make a long story short, Jamal (Jussie Smollett) and D-Major (Tobias Truvillion) hooked up. In a big way. What started as a confrontation in the studio led to a heavy make out session which resulted in some pretty steamy man-on-man action.

Related: Empire’s Jussie Smollett Is On Top Where You Like Him

Naturally, some Twitter trolls took offense to what they saw. (Although, we’re going to go out on a limb and say they likely would have been juuuuust fine with it had it been a man and a woman. But we digress.)

Here’s what they had to say:

#Empire So sick of the Gay scenes we don’t have to constantly reminded Lucious son is gay?

— Mz_Duval (@IamPoeticSent) May 5, 2016

I’m not with this gay sht on #empire

— The REAL Pacrackz (@Pacrackz) May 5, 2016

That gay shit gotta go #Empire

— Ashtray (@FamilaaSkrillaa) May 5, 2016

Ok empire don’t have to show us this gay shit must be for birdman or something #empire

— QUEEN (@QueenJaslyn) May 5, 2016

Empire a lil too gay for me tonight

— #PBG (@A1miglo) May 5, 2016

Time for #empire 2 get canceled ?? super gay

— Wilt the Stilt (@_almighty_o) May 5, 2016

#Empire is gay as hell… It’s not bout the music anymore it’s all about male on male action like come own now

— JuRozzay (@Picture_Mannnn) May 5, 2016

That gay scene is too much #Empire

— Onika’s Baby (@Mikedopee) May 5, 2016

And here’s how Jussie responded:

What is this gay sheeeeit? ? #empire ? #JustRelax #ItsOverNow #ShhShhShhShhShh pic.twitter.com/sHlRPE1eVm

— Jussie Smollett (@JussieSmollett) May 5, 2016

Snap.

Related: Which Empire Son Would You Hook Up With?

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/XUo1-6-VQto/jussie-smollet-mocks-homophobic-twitter-trolls-last-nights-steamy-gay-sex-scene-empire-20160505

As Chick-Fil-A Expands in NYC, Mayor Bill De Blasio Urges New Yorkers Not to Eat There: WATCH

Chick-Fil-A is about to open its fourth branch in NYC, in the borough of Queens, and Mayor Bill de Blasio is urging New Yorkers not to patronize it, DNA Info reports:

“What the ownership of Chick-fil-A has said is wrong,” he said. “I’m certainly not going to patronize them and I wouldn’t urge any other New Yorker to patronize them. But they do have a legal right.”

Also speaking out against the anti-gay chain was Councilman Daniel Dromm:

“Chick-fil-A is anti-LGBT,” he said in a statement.

“This group imparts a strong anti-LGBT message by forcing their employees and volunteers to adhere to a policy that prohibits same-sex love.  It is outrageous that Chick-fil-A is quietly spreading its message of hate by funding these types of organizations.”

FOX & Friends Steve Doocy went to Chick-fil-A and interviewed a bunch of anti-gay customers.

Watch the repulsive segment:

The post As Chick-Fil-A Expands in NYC, Mayor Bill De Blasio Urges New Yorkers Not to Eat There: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

feeds.towleroad.com/~r/towleroad/feed/~3/TaonWhggxpg/

Seth Rogen: Some ‘Superbad’ Jokes Were ‘Blatantly Homophobic’

Seth Rogen says that “under the lenses of new eras,” some of the jokes in his 2007 film Superbad border “on blatantly homophobic.”

Speaking with the Guardian during a promotional tour for Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, Rogen said:

“It’s funny looking at some movies we’ve made in the last 10 years under the lenses of new eras, new social consciousness. There’s for sure some stuff in our earlier movies — and even in our more recent movies — where even like a year later you’re like ‘Eh, maybe that wasn’t the greatest idea.’

“There are probably some jokes in ‘Superbad’ that are bordering on blatantly homophobic at times. They’re all in the voice of high school kids, who do speak like that, but I think we’d also be silly not to acknowledge that we also were, to some degree, glamorizing that type of language in a lot of ways.”

On Neighbours 2: Sorority Rising, Rogen said he attempted to address larger issues such as misogyny. “The Greek system seems a little sexist,” he said. “The sheer fact that the women and the men don’t have equal rights and opportunities I think by definition makes it sexist, so that’s something we talked a lot about while we were making the movie.”

RELATED: Zac Efron Gets Oiled Up in New Clip from ‘Neighbors 2’ – WATCH

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising opens on May 20.

Watch a mildly diverting trailer for Neighbors 2 and a clip from the not too bad Superbad including some of those homophobic jokes below.

The post Seth Rogen: Some ‘Superbad’ Jokes Were ‘Blatantly Homophobic’ appeared first on Towleroad.

feeds.towleroad.com/~r/towleroad/feed/~3/7sOJxNrozzY/

Rolling Stones, Donald Trump, Sean Hannity, Ellen DeGeneres, GoPro, Carcassonne, Janet Jackson: NEWS

ENDORSEMENTS. Bobby Jindal throws in for Donald Trump. “If he is the nominee, I will be voting for him, I will be supporting him. I’m not happy about it. I don’t think he’s the best-qualified candidate. I don’t think he’s the one most likely to be successful, but I would vote for him over Hillary Clinton.”

He was first to attack him from the debate stage now @BobbyJindal softening his tone, will support Trump if nominee t.co/0Nh4bxdJkq

— Brooke Baldwin (@BrookeBCNN) May 3, 2016

UNENDORSEMENTS. Rolling Stones demand Donald Trump stop using their music: “‘The Rolling Stones have never given permission to the Trump campaign to use their songs and have requested that they cease all use immediately,’ a spokesperson for the legendary British band told TIME Wednesday. Trump has been known to play at least two other songs by the Rolling Stones at his rallies: ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want,’ ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ and ‘Brown Sugar.’ A campaign volunteer told the New Yorker in February that Trump personally curated the playlist, which also includes Elton John and music from ‘Cats’ and ‘The Phantom of the Opera.’”

FAUX NEWS. Sean Hannity wants people to stop blaming him for Trump: “Now, those of you who have that analysis, I think it’s extremely shallow and, by the way, also predicated on this notion that, well, people are stupid, people were bamboozled. Sorry, I don’t buy that for one second.”

TEXAS. Attorney General Ken Paxton demands plan from Target to protect women and children in bathrooms: “It is possible that allowing men in women’s restrooms could lead to criminal and otherwise unwanted activity. As chief lawyer and law enforcement officer for the State of Texas, I ask that you provide the full text of Target’s safety policies regarding the protection of women and children from those who would use the cover of Target’s restroom policy for nefarious purposes.”

MEDIA. Ellen DeGeneres launches her own digital network: “Launched in partnership with the Warner Bros. Television Group, the network will offer an original slate of programming for multiple platforms, including content from YouTube superstar Tyler Oakley and the “Damn Daniel” Snapchat stars.” The popular on-air personality has become somewhat of a digital powerhouse in the last couple of years, building a huge following both on the show’s account and her own personal pages. She has amassed more than 1.1 billion total cross-platform views, according to a Tubular survey from November 2015.”

GOPRO. Incredible video of a rocket ascending to space: “On November 6th, 2015 UP Aerospace Inc. launched the 20-foot (6 meter) tall SL-10 rocket into near-space. The mission: deploy the Maraia Capsule testing the aerodynamics and stability of the payload on re-entry to the atmosphere. The rocket reached an altitude of 396,000ft (120,700 meters) and speeds up to Mach 5.5 (3800mph or 6115km/h) at engine burnout.”

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE DAY. Janet Jackson “Dammn Baby”.

GLOBAL WARMING. Arctic sea ice near collapse? “So, just like the dissolution of the corals Pakalolo mentioned, the collapse of the seas ice is apparently 50 years ahead of its expected pace.  After the record low ice extent in 2012, I recall seeing someone predict an ice free day in Arctic ocean to happen before 2020.  This prediction was ridiculed.  There is not much laughter among the serious ice watchers right now.  The Greenland melt season has started early.  The rest of the Arctic is dropping ice extent fast, and it’s not usually until June that the melting really gets going.  Talk the last few years is how melt-ponding this  time of year prepares the ice for melting in July and August.  And how weather conditions play a big role in the melting season.  A cool, cloudy July and August can undo all of the melt-pond preconditioning from May and June.”

GAMES. Record-setting Carcassonne game used 10,007 pieces: “The tabletop game of placing tiles to slowly piece together a medieval countryside turned serious at March’s GothCon 2016 in Sweden. The largest Carcassonne game to date used a total of 10,007 tiles, spread out across a 108×92 grid.”

THIRSTY THURSDAY. Personal trainer Mark Camarena.

The post Rolling Stones, Donald Trump, Sean Hannity, Ellen DeGeneres, GoPro, Carcassonne, Janet Jackson: NEWS appeared first on Towleroad.

feeds.towleroad.com/~r/towleroad/feed/~3/dE61pB0x2oI/

#AM_Equality Tip Sheet: May 5, 2016

JUSTICE DEPT SAYS NC VIOLATING CIVIL RIGHTS ACT; COULD COST MILLION$: The U.S. Department of Justice is laying down the law, ruling yesterday that North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory’s discriminatory HB2 law, violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972. In a letter to McCrory, DOJ gives the governor until COB Monday to confirm “that the State will not comply with or implement HB2.” The state risks a lawsuit by the DOJ and loss of  $4.5 billion in federal public education funding. McCrory has signalled he may defy the Civil Rights Act. UNC President Margaret Spellings, who also received DOJ’s letter, must now decide whether to break with the flailing governor and chaos he has created — or comply with the Civil Rights Act and protect her students. Still think this is funny, governor? More from The News & Observer.

IF YOU’RE KEEPING TRACK: It’s been 43 days since McCrory, Berger, and Moore got together, rammed HB2 through the state legislature and signed the bill in all of 9 hours without allowing debate. And it’s been 3 weeks today since the same terrible trifecta has failed to respond to an open records request on the bill. HRC and Equality North Carolina are again calling on state leadership to stop hiding the ball and come clean to the public about the motivation behind HB2 and its hasty passage. More from HRC’s blog.

GET IN FORMATION: CLOONEY & QUEEN BEY ADD TO MOMENTUM AGAINST HB2

• George Clooney called on NC’s governor and legislative leaders to fully repeal the state’s discriminatory HB2. In an email message yesterday, Clooney wrote, “…human rights, civil rights and equality must be for all and not just most.”
• Sporting a “Y’all means all” shirt before her Raleigh concert Tuesday night, Beyoncé shared a message of support, raising awareness of HB2 and crediting advocates “committed to being good and carrying on the message of equality.”

OXFORD, ALA., CITY COUNCIL … SOMETIMES IF YOU’RE FIRST, YOU’RE LAST: Oxford, Ala., which recently became the first municipality in the nation to pass a discriminatory law attacking the transgender community, quickly repealed the vile measure Wednesday at a special City Council meeting. Said HRC Alabama State Director Eva Walton Kendrick — one of many opponents filling the room during the 3-2 vote: “Throughout the country elected officials from both sides of the aisle, along with hundreds of business leaders and advocates throughout the country have resoundingly rejected these kinds of proposals, which only seek to demean and marginalize the transgender community.” HRC applauds the council’s decision to repeal the measure. More in the Associated Press, Reuters and Washington Post stories.

THIS SHOULD “HUUUUGELY” TERRIFY YOU: With Donald Trump the presumptive Republican nominee, voters now confront the very terrifying possibility that the celebrity real estate deal-maker could be nominating the next Supreme Court Justice. Trump has vowed to appoint an anti-equality justice and his a rich history of horrible anti-LGBT stances. Given it’s been nearly two months since President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court, HRC hosted a call yesterday for LGBT and allied organizations to provide an update on the status of Garland’s nomination, what’s at stake for the LGBT community and ways to advance the nomination — including calling on Senate Republican leadership to #DoYourJob. More from HRC’s blog.

NEXT-GENERATION OF HIV LEADERS: Today, the HRC Foundation and Elton John AIDS Foundation announced its selection of 10 outstanding, young community-based leaders for a nine-month fellowship providing high-level training to elevate their work ending HIV in hard-hit U.S. communities.The HRC HIV 360° initiative is made possible with support from the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Read more about the program, and check out bios and a video of the fellows here and a piece by HRC’s Marvell Terry in The Advocate.

TURNED AWAY. Kelly Trent, a plaintiff in the lawsuit against NC Gov. Pat McCrory over HB2, speaks out about her experience with anti-LGBT discrimination in TIME.

KAPOW! Marvel’s top directors speak out about needing more LGBT superheroes. More from The Huffington Post.

STALL TACTICS. Pittsburgh City Paper asks why the Pennsylvania state legislature hasn’t passed the LGBT Fairness Act yet.

ON THIS DAY IN LGBT HISTORY … On the heels of the Stonewall announcement, two sites in DC make it to the National Register of Historic Places.

READING RAINBOW

The Argentina Independent ponders the fate of the country’s new anti-discrimination law, which is currently be discussed in Congress… Metro Weekly rattles off Ted Cruz’s many anti-LGBT statements… The Huffington Post highlights a soccer tournament being held for LGBT refugees in Paris… and The Advocate breaks down Mississippi’s history of homophobia….

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

www.hrc.org/blog/am-equality-tip-sheet-may-5-2016?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed