Man Says Trump Gave Him Permission to Scream Homophobic Tirade in LGBT-Friendly Church: WATCH

A Tempe, Arizona man stormed into an LGBT-friendly church screaming homophobic abuse last week, saying he had permission from President-elect Donald Trump.

Pastor Doug Bland posted about the incident on Facebook:

KPHO reports:

Tempe police said the stranger saw the rainbow flag hanging outside the Community Christian Church on Wednesday and went inside the office to voice his disgust.

“It made me so angry and afraid for our country,” Pastor Doug Bland said.

Aside from the man voicing his hatred for the LGBT community, he threatened to pay people to protest outside the church and spread lies about pedophilia among the congregation.

“He said that if Hillary would have won he would have driven right on by the church without stopping, but because Trump won he felt he had permission to say and act the way he wanted to expressing the hate that he had for this particular group of people,” Bland said.

The pastor said his employee kept her composure and didn’t escalate the situation. The man eventually left without further incident.

The church has responded by hanging a new banner outside the church, next to its rainbow flag. The banner reads “Lovers in a Dangerous Time”.

Said Bland:

“I think it’s a challenge to us to make sure we respond with love and with grace instead of responding hate for hate. No matter when we’re living there’s always going to be some kind of cloud hanging over us, conflict we have to face. Right now the division in our country over what does a real democracy look like and how can we be citizens together and move forward as a nation is sort of the cloud that we’re facing. This is a good opportunity for us to really practice what we preach. I hear it as this is really the heart of who we are, that the hate-filled language and acts are an exception to the rule.”

Watch KPHO’s report:

azfamily.com 3TV | Phoenix Breaking News, Weather, Sport

The post Man Says Trump Gave Him Permission to Scream Homophobic Tirade in LGBT-Friendly Church: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

Man Says Trump Gave Him Permission to Scream Homophobic Tirade in LGBT-Friendly Church: WATCH

This Trial Is About More Than a Gay Guy in a Thong

Will Walters says his arrest for public nudity at San Diego Pride in 2011 shows unequal application of the laws.

www.advocate.com/pride/2016/12/13/trial-about-more-gay-guy-thong

Rick Perry, Who Promised to Eliminate Energy Dept, Picked by Trump to Lead It

President-elect Donald Trump will pick former Texas Governor Rick Perry as his Secretary of Energy, according to media reports.

As you’ll recall, Perry said in 2011 during a Republican debate, that he wanted to eliminate the Department of Energy – well, he didn’t actually say it at the time…..because he couldn’t remember.

Perry was discussing his jobs plan and his flat tax plan when he said: “And I will tell you, it is three agencies of government when I get there that are gone. Commerce, Education, and the… what’s the third one there? Let’s see.”

Perry then paused and there was audible laughter in the room. Texas Rep. Ron Paul then chimed in “You need five,” to which Perry responded, “Oh, five, OK. So Commerce, Education, and the…”

Watch the moment:

Reading Rick Perry, who infamously forgot the existence of the Dept. of Energy, is Trump’s pick to lead it. You can’t make this crap up.

— Ana Navarro (@ananavarro) December 13, 2016

The post Rick Perry, Who Promised to Eliminate Energy Dept, Picked by Trump to Lead It appeared first on Towleroad.

Rick Perry, Who Promised to Eliminate Energy Dept, Picked by Trump to Lead It

Getting ‘Dirty,’ Swiss-Style (Photos)

www.advocate.com/photography/2016/12/13/getting-dirty-swiss-style-photos

#DayInLGBT Is a Chance to Tell Our Own Stories

Don’t let America live in an alternate reality. Share a photo using hashtag #DayInLGBT.

www.advocate.com/commentary/2016/12/13/dayinlgbt-chance-tell-our-own-stories

Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Declared Unconstitutional in Cherokee Nation (Video)

“The right to marry without the freedom to marry the person of one’s choice is no right at all,” says the Native American Attorney General M. Todd Hembree.

www.advocate.com/marriage-equality/2016/12/12/ban-same-sex-marriage-declared-unconstitutional-cherokee-nation-video

LGBT Power Players Prep for Trumpland

Led by the Victory Fund’s Aisha Moodie-Mills (pictured), politicians and officials like Senator Tammy Baldwin and Army Secretary Eric Fanning strategize ahead of January 20.

www.advocate.com/election/2016/12/12/lgbt-power-players-prep-trumpland

‘Model’ Back on ‘Top,’ Latifah Is A ‘Star’ and more TV this week

Check out our weekly guide to TV this week, and make sure you’re catching the big premieres, crucial episodes and the stuff you won’t admit you watch when no one’s looking.

Ugh. Can we all stop trying to make Rita Ora happen? The British singer/actor/model (I guess?) is the host of the new incarnation of America’s Next Top Model. The VH1 reboot is sans Tyra (and no guys this time), but it’s still the OG reality competition that truly was the precursor to the stellar RuPaul’s Drag Race. We’re not sold this reboot is going to work, but WE ARE ROOTING FOR YOU. WE ARE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU. See for yourself tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern on VH1.

Politics still has us too upset to be pithy, but you should watch President Barack Obama make his final appearance on The Daily Show while sitting president. It’ll be the last time we see a POTUS opposite Trevor Noah, we’re sure. Obama is on tonight at 11 p.m. Eastern on Comedy Central.

See the beginning of the next big TV musical drama with Star. Starring Queen Latifah, the series follows an up-and-coming girl group trying to make it in the music biz. The show, also created by Empire mastermind Lee Daniels premieres Wednesday at 9 p.m. Eastern on Fox.

Pop divas (Ariana Grande, Fifth Harmony, Hailee Steinfeld) join popular pop hunks (Bieber, Joe Jonas, Diplo) for a holiday music extravaganza Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern on The CW.

The always dependable reality competition stalwart Project Runway comes to the beginning of the end Thursday at 9 p.m. Eastern on Lifetime. This week is part one of this solid season’s finale. Catch up with last week’s ep above.

What are you watching this week on TV?

The post ‘Model’ Back on ‘Top,’ Latifah Is A ‘Star’ and more TV this week appeared first on Towleroad.

‘Model’ Back on ‘Top,’ Latifah Is A ‘Star’ and more TV this week