Fight Breaks Out Over Doll With Noose At Anti-Lockdown ‘Judgment Day’ Protest in Michigan: WATCH

A fight erupted among anti-lockdown protesters at the Michigan Capitol on Thursday, after some objected to the display of a doll with a noose around its neck.

MLive.com reports: J. Scott Park, an MLive photographer, witnessed the fight break out after a man carrying a garbage can filled with a sign, an ax and an American flag removed the flag from the can. Attached to the bottom of the flag was an unclothed doll with brown hair that was hanging from a noose. Organizers of the protest called the display “hate speech” and when one protester tried to take the doll off the flag a skirmish broke out. The man who brought the flag fled away from the fight and to the lawn of the Capitol where Michigan State Police surrounded him. The man was taken into the Capitol building following the altercation. Michigan State Police reported there were no injuries and no arrests were made. MSP public information officer Lt. Brian Oleksyk said the man who brought the flag was interviewed by police and he will be allowed to press charges if he elects to.

More from the Hill: Armed protestors gathered outside the state Capitol in Michigan on Thursday for planned “judgment day” demonstrations against the state’s stay-at-home order. The protests follow previous large gatherings of activists at the Capitol. The demonstration was organized by a conservative militia group, Michigan United for Liberty, the Associated Press reported. … Many previous demonstrations have shown protestors defying state orders by gathering without masks and standing close together. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) said Wednesday, “I don’t particularly want to see people congregating, period. We know that contributes to spread.”

Noose on a necked doll, That’s fugged up… pic.twitter.com/JZPIfZRW4q

— Djane Unchained (@cuddlymoose) May 14, 2020

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Fight Breaks Out Over Doll With Noose At Anti-Lockdown ‘Judgment Day’ Protest in Michigan: WATCH

UGG unveils all-gender capsule collection & hosts LGBTQ-inclusive virtual prom to celebrate Pride in partnership with GLAAD

www.glaad.org/blog/ugg-unveils-all-gender-capsule-collection-hosts-lgbtq-inclusive-virtual-prom-celebrate-pride

PHOTOS: Liam Payne has something to show you…again

We don’t mind circling back on this topic. Former One Direction member Liam Payne, 26, has continued his elastic partnership with Hugo Boss.

Last year Payne said there was a good amount of tequila involved in his eye-popping debut shoot, noting that he “hadn’t been properly warned about the amount of nudity [photographers] Mert [Atlas] and Marcus [Piggott] do in their work.”

Related: Liam Payne says he was drunk when these pics were taken

Well, lesson learned and integrated.

Are we ready for socks and sandals again? It’s a fine line but someone’s got to walk it.

Here are some photos from the new campaign:

www.queerty.com/photos-liam-payne-something-show-20200514?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

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!

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