NC Governor Pat McCrory Planted Fake Questions at Presser to Avoid Grilling Over Anti-LGBT HB2

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory planted fake questions at a press conference, posed by an unwitting moderator, to avoid having to answer real questions about the anti-LGBT HB2 law that has cost the state millions of dollars in lost revenue.

The first three questions at the press conference in Charlotte were said to be from the Charlotte Observer. But they weren’t. They were questions written by McCrory’s own staff. The moderator was “a volunteer from the lunch audience” simply reading them from a sheet of paper.

When the real Charlotte Observer reporter tried to pose a question, it was denied by McCrory: “We’ve got three Observer questions answered already. I think you guys dominate the news enough.”

So what were the questions answered by McCrory?

They were softballs from his staff about what he wanted to do with his next term; how he wanted to reduce the state’s rape kit backlog; and how the state crime lab performed under McCrory’s opponent, Roy Cooper.

When the event was over, McCrory did not meet with the throng of reporters who were there. He ducked out a side door and down a hall that led to a back exit. I followed him to try to ask him about HB2, but his staff blocked me.

Ricky Diaz, a campaign spokesman, on Friday acknowledged the campaign provided questions for the governor, but said “we were asked to in order to keep the conversation format going.”

McCrory has at least 395 million reasons not to want to answer questions about HB2. That’s the amount, in dollars, that the law has cost the state, according to a new estimate from Wired magazine, as noted in our Hot Links earlier this morning.

RELATED: NC Governor Pat McCrory Will Call Special Session to Repeal HB 2 if Votes are There, Says Hospitality Group

Writes Wired:

…the total cost to North Carolinians so far from HB2 protests is slightly more than $395 million. That’s more than the GDP of Micronesia. And the bulk of it is from sporting organizations, who even five years ago would likely not have waded into political territory like this. But experts aren’t that surprised that the NBA, NCAA, and ACC have taken this step now. “They’re not out on a limb here,” Durso says. “They’re in line with their base.” The near unanimous outcry against HB2 and in support of the NCAA and ACC confirms that. Legislating discrimination has become an expensive bad habit.

And McCrory has reason to worry politically. The latest RealClearPolitics polling average has the governor trailing Attorney General Roy Cooper by 48.7 to 44.

The post NC Governor Pat McCrory Planted Fake Questions at Presser to Avoid Grilling Over Anti-LGBT HB2 appeared first on Towleroad.

NC Governor Pat McCrory Planted Fake Questions at Presser to Avoid Grilling Over Anti-LGBT HB2

Two Gang Members Sentenced For Beating Long Island Man To Death Because They Thought He Was Gay

Queens Supreme Court Justice Joseph Zayas has sentenced two gang members who fatally beat and stomped an 18-year-old Long Islander because they thought he was gay.

Brooklyn-based Jonathan Echevarria (22) pleaded guilty last Tuesday to first-degree manslaughter and will serve 18 years in prison. Queens-based Nolis Ogando, also 22, pleaded guilty on Thursday to first-degree gang assault and received a sentence of eight years.

I remember all too well the tragic killing of Anthony Collao in #Woodhaven. The wheels of justice turn slowly. t.co/8AxLknwDT3

— Alex Blenkinsopp (@AlexBlenkinsopp) May 12, 2016

Anthony Collao was chased by a gang of six men after he left a party in Woodhaven in March 2011. The six men caught Collao at 12:50 a.m. Yelling slurs and brandishing weapons, the six men threw Collao to the ground and punched, kicked and bashed him before robbing him, reports NY Daily News. Collao died two days later as a result of his injuries.

RELATED: Murder of Mother and Daughter in Missouri Under Investigation as Anti-LGBT Hate Crime: VIDEO

Police apprehended five of the men around fifteen minutes after the attack. The sixth defendant was arrested three months later.

Three of the defendants, Calvin Pietri, Luis Tabales and Christopher Lozado were convicted in 2013 while Alex Velex pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter last April and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Queens district attorney Richard Brown described Collao’s murder as a “brutal and unprovoked attack. The last two defendants in this case,” he added, “have now admitted their roles in this heinous attack that cost a young man his life.”

(Image via Twitter)

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Two Gang Members Sentenced For Beating Long Island Man To Death Because They Thought He Was Gay

Dad Becomes Viral Sensation After Hacking Wife’s Facebook to Take Down Anti-Gay Politician

Australian father Peter Roberts, 71, has become a sensation online after he hacked into his wife’s Facebook account so he could publicly call out an anti-gay politician.

Roberts, it turns out, has a gay son, and wouldn’t stand for seeing him disparaged by one of his nation’s leaders.

As BuzzFeed reports, the Facebook post that started the conflagration was written by Conservative MP George Christensen. He  was apparently disgusted that a new law in Australia lowers the age of consent for anal sex to 16.

Said Christensen on Facebook, “So the State Labor government just made it legal for 50 year old men to have se with 16 year old boys. […] Where are the State Government’s priorities at? And do we really want 16 year old boys being preyed upon and groomed by much older men for what is now legal sex?”

Using his wife Mary’s Facebook account, Peter to respond to Christensen’s post with this scathing retort:

A few Anzac years ago you bought me a beer, as a 20 plus veteran with two tours of Vietnam. if you did it now I would tip the bloody thing over your head. The typical homophobic, they must be pedophiles. So it is alright for old men like me to try and find a younger women but not a Gay man. I have a GAY SON who I am so proud of what he has achieved in his life. His condition, or what you want to call it, came from my Fathers ancestor,y so I have passed it on to him. he should have the same rights as I have to Marry, to adopt if he and his partner wants to and not have clowns like you who live in the past helping to run this country and make decision for us and him. If you decide to come to the Reef Gateway Hotel at Cannonvale for an Anzac Day please ask for me. 18201 Warrant Officer Second Class Peter Roberts. I have hacked my wifes facebook for this as she probably would be harsher.

Peter’s gay son, Dale, was more than proud to share what his father had done.

At the age of 71 without a social media account my dad has gone viral & is on Buzzfeed. It’s been a bizarre weekend. t.co/1ISGHqpSeD

— Dale Roberts (@ozdale) September 19, 2016

Dale told BuzzFeed,

“Dad is by no means public with his politics. And definitely not on social media. He’s 71 and doesn’t have his own account. He’s very quietly supportive of me (he met my partner for first time recently at mum and dad’s 40th wedding anniversary), I think he’s just frustrated that we don’t have the same rights and opportunities he does.”

As for what in particular might have spurred his father on, Dale says that the recent debate over same-sex marriage in the country could have played a part. “I think dad’s post and the reason it’s gone off is because people can relate to the frustration with it all, marriage equality can happen immediately,” Dale said.

[Top photo via Twitter]

The post Dad Becomes Viral Sensation After Hacking Wife’s Facebook to Take Down Anti-Gay Politician appeared first on Towleroad.

Dad Becomes Viral Sensation After Hacking Wife’s Facebook to Take Down Anti-Gay Politician

HRC, ENC Thank Mayor Roberts for Standing with LGBTQ Community, Renew Calls to Repeal HB2

Today, HRC, Equality NC and other civic leaders joined together in Charlotte to denounce Governor McCrory’s latest ploy to deflect blame for his disastrous and hateful HB2 law. As Governor McCrory and Republican legislative leaders continue to face intense public backlash over the damaging consequences of HB2, they have mounted another effort to pressure  Charlotte into repealing its citywide LGBTQ protections as part of a so-called “reset.” HRC and ENC were joined by Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts, Council member John Autry and other allies to denounce the scheme and called on the North Carolina General Assembly to convene and repeal HB2 once and for all.

Leading North Carolina editorial boards are also speaking out against the thinly-veiled effort, led by the Charlotte Chamber and a hospitality lobbying group on behalf of McCrory and state Republicans. The Charlotte Observer called it “a step backward, both symbolically and practically” and urged the City Council not to “sell out” Charlotte’s LGBTQ community. WRAL put it just as bluntly: “The problems that have befallen North Carolina after the hasty and poorly conceived passage of HB2 fall squarely on the shoulders of Gov. McCrory and the legislature’s leadership. They should have the conscience and integrity to repeal the bill, acknowledge and apologize for the terrible consequences at their hands and move on. Charlotte should change nothing.”

Notably, the so-called “reset” wouldn’t even fix the problem. Earlier this year, the NCAA renewed its commitment to ensuring that all fans and players, including LGBTQ people, are able to enjoy NCAA events without fear of discrimination.. Without Charlotte’s nondiscrimination ordinance in place, North Carolina will not win back games.

“Mayor Roberts has made it clear that the rights of LGBTQ people are not up for grabs, and that Charlotte won’t sell out our community,” said JoDee Winterhof, Senior Vice President of Policy and Political Affairs.  “Not only is this scheme to repeal Charlotte’s protections wrong, it won’t fix the problem. The fact is, Governor McCrory and his allies in the state legislature have had six months to fix the mess they’ve created, and they could repeal HB2 tomorrow without any action from Charlotte. And, like the majority of North Carolinians and businesses across the state, we believe that’s exactly what they must do.”

“One hundred other cities across the nation, including Orlando and Atlanta, have similar non-discrimination protections as Charlotte. These ordinances are common sense local protections that actually create a competitive advantage for Charlotte,” said Equality North Carolina Executive Director Chris Sgro. “Instead of repealing HB2, Governor McCrory is reprising his role as Blamer in Chief. Not a single entity has left North Carolina because of the Charlotte ordinance – they’ve all left because of HB2. We all know what must be done – and that is to immediately repeal HB2.”


More than 100 communities across the country, including major cities like New Orleans and Atlanta have non-discrimination protections like Charlotte — as do 19 states and hundreds of Fortune 500 companies. In fact, more than 135 million Americans — or 42 percent of the U.S. population — live in cities with non-discrimination ordinances like Charlotte.

This morning, Roy Cooper joined the chorus of business and civic leaders who have called for the General Assembly to fully repeal HB2 without precondition.

Last week, the NCAA and ACC joined more than 200 major business leaders in calling for full repeal of HB2. Repealing Charlotte’s non-discrimination ordinance would leave North Carolina without an “inclusive atmosphere for all college athletes, coaches, administrators and fans,” which the NCAA called for when it announced it was pulling its championship games from North Carolina.

www.hrc.org/blog/hrc-enc-thank-mayor-roberts-for-standing-with-lgbtq-community-renew-calls-t?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Five Must See Moments from the Emmy Awards

Last night, LGBTQ people, particularly LGBTQ women, had an historic night at the Emmy Awards, marking wins in several categories throughout the evening. In case you missed it, here are five must see moments celebrating diversity and recognizing the LGBTQ community:

1.     Jeffrey Tambor wins Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series for Transparent: In his acceptance speech, Tambor called on Hollywood to hire more transgender actors. “I just hope there are more opportunities for transgender talent,” he said. “I would very much like to be the last cisgender male playing a transgender female. I think we are there now.”

2.     Jill Soloway wins Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series for Transparent: Soloway celebrated the transgender community and also highlighted the violence against transgender women in her acceptance speech. “When you take women, people of color, trans people, queer people, and you put them at the center of the story, the subjects instead of the objects, you change the world, we found out,” she said. “Thank you to the trans community for your lived lives. We need to stop violence against transgender woman.”

3.     Executive producers Ryan Murphy and Nina Jacobson win Outstanding Limited Series for The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story: Longtime HRC supporters and LGBTQ advocates Murphy and Jacobson picked up an Emmy for their hit series The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.

4.     Sarah Paulson wins Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie for The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story: Paulson took home an Emmy for her standout role in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, telling her partner Holland Taylor she loved her in her acceptance speech. Meanwhile, Taylor tweeted her love for Paulson throughout the evening.  

5.     Kate McKinnon wins Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series for Saturday Night Live (SNL): SNL comic genius Kate McKinnon, who is openly lesbian, thanked Ellen DeGeneres and Hillary Clinton in her emotional acceptance speech.

www.hrc.org/blog/five-must-see-moments-from-the-emmy-awards?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

'Transparent' Creator Compares 'Dangerous' Donald Trump to Hitler

Soloway was just one of a number of celebrities who criticized the Republican nominee.

www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/2016/9/19/transparent-creator-compares-dangerous-donald-trump-hitler

Nick Jonas: “Goat” Is “About Masculinity And What It Looks Like Today”

The first thing that stood out to me was the relationship between the brothers; something that I can relate to…. Brad and Brett Land — this is based off Brad Land’s memoir — and it’s just an amazing story about masculinity and what it looks like today, and [my character’s] journey through fraternity culture and his experience with hazing which really got out of hand. I knew it was a role that would challenge me and help me grow and thankfully they cast me in it….

“I think that all of us were really conscious of making sure that we didn’t make a movie that was an indictment of fraternity culture, because there’s a lot of good things in it. Even in filming the movie, being around the other brothers, both the biological brothers and the brothers in the fraternity, you see that there are some things that can help you grow and become a better person, but a lot of things that make it challenging….

“What I saw, and I can only speak to my experience in making the movie… I didn’t have a traditional college experience… what I saw was when you get a bunch of young men together without any real consequences for their actions, it is kind of a battle to be alpha and be the best and bad things happen in that scenario. My little brother just started college this year and I said, ‘Look, man, before you decide to pledge in a fraternity, I’d love for you to see this movie, just as a bit of an educational tool: That’s the worst case scenario.” — Nick Jonas, in an interview with The Today Show’s Matt Lauer, discussing his role in the upcoming film Goat, a cautionary tale about college fraternities and testosterone run amok.

www.queerty.com/nick-jonas-goat-masculinity-looks-like-today-20160919?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

PHOTOS: Brazilian Studs Get Rowdy In Rio

www.gaycities.com/photos/319-la-paz/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Ahmad Khan Rahami, Suspect in NY and NJ Bombings, Taken Into Custody After Shootout with Police – VIDEOS

Ahmad Khan Rahami, the man police think was responsible for bombs being planted in Manhattan and New Jersey over the weekend has been taken into custody.

Rahami’s arrest came after 36,000 NYPD officers went on heightened alert. The NYPD also issued emergency alerts to all cell phones in New York, providing a photo of Rahami and asking anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts to contact authorities.

The New York Times reports:

Mr. Rahami, 28, was identified on surveillance video near the locations of both the bomb that exploded in Chelsea and another device that did not detonate a few blocks away. He was described as a naturalized citizen of Afghan descent who had been living with his family in Elizabeth, N.J.

It remained unclear whether there were other suspects who the police were searching for in the connection with the bombing.

Rahami was reportedly taken into custody after a shootout with police.

Ahmad Khan Rahami, suspect in NY & NJ bombings, seen being loaded into an ambulance t.co/xQKQoLv7XQ t.co/MvXSlYgc6T

— CNN (@CNN) September 19, 2016

According to CNN, “The shootout happened Monday in Linden, New Jersey, a local and federal law enforcement official said. Rahami was taken to an ambulance in a stretcher with his right shoulder bloodied and bandaged.” The news service added, “Two officers were hit in the shootout with Ahmad Khan Rahami in Linden, New Jersey, the mayor of the nearby city of Elizabeth s said. One officer’s vest was struck, and the other was shot in the hand.”

A law enforcement official with knowledge of the case spoke with the NYT and says evidence obtained by police suggests “Mr. Rahami was connected not just to the Manhattan explosion in the Chelsea neighborhood, but also to a bombing that took place earlier on Saturday on the Jersey Shore,” as The Times put it:

“We don’t know his particular ideology or what his inspiration was or whether he was directed or whether he was inspired,” the official said. “We don’t have any of that.”

“We have a lot to connect him to the Seaside Heights device, to the 27th Street device, to the 23rd Street device,” the official added. “And in all likelihood the Elizabeth train station device — which is a half-mile from his residence. So, the ideology, the connection to international terrorism, we might flesh that out as we go through the results of search warrants, looking for computers, discs, things like this. Search warrants that we did Sunday night at the residence in Elizabeth.”

RELATED – NY Governor Cuomo Briefs Reporters on Chelsea Bombing: ‘Obviously an Act of Terrorism’

Watch a video from the NYT, below.

The post Ahmad Khan Rahami, Suspect in NY and NJ Bombings, Taken Into Custody After Shootout with Police – VIDEOS appeared first on Towleroad.

Ahmad Khan Rahami, Suspect in NY and NJ Bombings, Taken Into Custody After Shootout with Police – VIDEOS

Donald Trump on Chelsea Bombing: ‘I Knew This Was Going to Happen’ – WATCH

Donald Trump appeared on Fox and Friends on Monday to proclaim that he knew all along an event like Saturday night’s Chelsea bombing would happen. Which is why he says he supports such draconian, anti-immigrant policies. “I knew this was going to happen,” the Republican nominee said.

Trump: Clinton wants to allow “100s of thousands of these same people” that have “hatred & sickness in their heart” pic.twitter.com/RHESH5Ml8h

— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) September 19, 2016

During his remarks, Trump also suggested that he plans to amend his current policy on immigration to effectively ban all immigration. “We can’t let any more people come into this country,” Trump said. “You have to stop them from coming into the country.”

Trump then attempted to opponent paint Hillary Clinton as dangerous to America’s national security, saying “she wants to allow hundreds of thousands–she wants more to come in.”

Trump: Clinton wants to allow “100s of thousands of these same people” that have “hatred & sickness in their heart” pic.twitter.com/RHESH5Ml8h

— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) September 19, 2016

Watch the segment, below.

Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com

[h/t NCRM]

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Donald Trump on Chelsea Bombing: ‘I Knew This Was Going to Happen’ – WATCH