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Man Arrested After Vowing To ‘Come Back Orlando Style’ To ‘Take His 50’ At NY Queer Bar

Man Arrested After Vowing To ‘Come Back Orlando Style’ To ‘Take His 50’ At NY Queer Bar

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Bushwick’s Happy Fun Hideaway is the only expressly queer bar in the area; a self-consciously funky space with a tropical fever decor serving up Frito Pie, pinball machines, kitsch films like Liquid Sky and Masters of the Universe, and an endless rotation of left-field music. On weekends, the place is a shoulder-to-shoulder squash of newly-out twenty-somethings, many making their first awkward forays into gay bars and New York nightlife in general.

Related: Club Bouncer & War Veteran Saved Dozens of Lives in Orlando Shooting

But if any fun was hidden away on Monday evening, it apparently wasn’t on the premises. Around 11:15 pm, as the bar teemed with a shellshocked crowd —  many of whom had just returned from the Stonewall Inn vigil — an extremely intoxicated man threatened to “come back Orlando style” after getting into a drunken scuffle with the bouncer.

According to The New York Daily News, 40-year-old Justin Rice was throwing back cocktails with his girlfriend when the two of them began loudly arguing. An unnamed bouncer, 34, told the couple to chill out. When that didn’t help matters, he threw Rice out of the bar.

Related: Nick Jonas Accused Of ‘Queer-Baiting’ At New York Vigil For Orlando

“You fucking faggots,” Rice screamed. “I’m going to shoot this place up and get my fifty just like Orlando, Florida. I’m going to come back Orlando-style!”

Rice, after managing to hit the bouncer and throw a metal bucket filled with sand at him, was eventually restrained until the police arrived.

The bouncer only suffered minor injuries and bruises.

Rice has been charged with aggravated harassment and assault.

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PHOTOS: Instagram Users Respond To Orlando Tragedy In Beautiful And Creative Ways

PHOTOS: Instagram Users Respond To Orlando Tragedy In Beautiful And Creative Ways

The nation is still reeling over what happened the tragedy in Orlando. But now that the initial shock is starting to wear off, people have begun channeling their grief in many different ways. Candlelight vigils, memorial ceremonies and marches honoring the 49 victims are happening in cities across the country. Many involved have also taken to social media to share photos from those events, as well as post personal artwork and imagery to show their support for the victims and families involved.

Scroll down to see the ways people on Instagram are showing solidarity with Orlando…

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Stephen Colbert Diagrams Trump’s Response to the Orlando Massacre: WATCH

Stephen Colbert Diagrams Trump’s Response to the Orlando Massacre: WATCH

Donald Trump Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert had a lot to say about Donald Trump’s response this week to the Orlando massacre. Colbert’s revealing diagrams, however, speak for themselves.

Watch:

The post Stephen Colbert Diagrams Trump’s Response to the Orlando Massacre: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.



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Teacher Accused of Anti-Gay Rant in Wake of Orlando Attack Says Account Was Hacked – VIDEO

Teacher Accused of Anti-Gay Rant in Wake of Orlando Attack Says Account Was Hacked – VIDEO

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Last month, we told you how Ali Chaney (above), a gay 13-year-old student in Texas, was sent home from school for wearing a T-shirt that read: “Some people are gay. Get over it.”

Screen Shot 2016-06-15 at 7.24.32 AMOn Monday, a teacher allegedly sent Ali’s mother, Cassie Watson, a Facebook message (right) suggesting that Sunday’s terror attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando shows administrators at SC Lee Junior High School in Copperas Cove made the correct decision.

“In light of the Orlando incident wear (sic) all gay people were openly slaughtered, I wonder if you’d still let your daughter wear the t-shirt to school that caused public controversy and may have subjected her to possible harm by others?” the teacher wrote. “Being gay isn’t a crime but publicly forcing your opinion upon others, and to do it through your child at school, will always be offensive to others.”

KCEN-TV has chosen not to identify the teacher, who reportedly works at a local elementary school. The station reports that while district administrators are aware of the message, it’s unclear whether they are investigating.

“I would hate to ruin somebody’s career over a simple message,” Watson told KCEN. “But, if this is how she truly feels, and there is a possibility that she could be teaching our young kids these lessons, then I absolutely believe that she may need to find a new profession.”

On Tuesday, the unidentified teacher sent KCEN a statement alleging that her Facebook account had been hacked.

“My FB account was hacked yesterday and I was not responsible for the message sent to the lady causing her to believe that her child would be harmed.  It took several attempts to delete the account after notifying FB that my account had been hacked. I have lived my life protecting the rights of others and being an advocate for ALL children. I’m saddened that a hacker can cause such negativity and division among so many people.  Please give my sincerest apology to this woman and her child. Thank you.”

Watson told the station she doesn’t believe the message was the work of a hacker.

Watch KCEN’s report below.

kcentv.com – KCEN HD – Waco, Temple, and Killeen

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Hillary Clinton, DC Primary, #TwoMenKissing, Omar Mateen, Pete’s Dragon, Trent Reznor: NEWS

Hillary Clinton, DC Primary, #TwoMenKissing, Omar Mateen, Pete’s Dragon, Trent Reznor: NEWS

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#TWOMENKISSING. Art from Brian Kenny.

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bk_clintonTHE END, FOR NOW. Hillary Clinton wins Washington DC primary, meets with Sanders: “Hillary Clinton formally concluded the U.S. Democratic presidential race on Tuesday with a win in the District of Columbia primary, then turned her focus to uniting the party during a 90-minute private meeting with defeated rival Bernie Sanders….Both camps described the meeting as “positive” and said the two noted their shared commitment to stopping Trump and pursuing issues such as raising the minimum wage, eliminating undisclosed money in politics, making college affordable and making healthcare coverage more accessible.”

Tampa Bay RaysORLANDO. Tampa Bay Rays will donate Pride night proceeds to Orlando victims: “Beginning this morning, all open seats to Friday’s Rays-San Francisco Giants 7:10 p.m. game at Tropicana Field will be available for $5 with 100 percent of proceeds benefitting the Pulse Victims Fund (gofundme.com/PulseVictimsFund), set up for the families of the victims.”

Omar MateenOMAR MATEEN. Orlando killer visited gay chat rooms. “Investigators don’t know whether he visited the chat rooms for personal reasons or for surveillance before carrying out the brutal attack early Sunday at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando, killing 49 people and wounding more than 50 others.”

ITAY HOD. Did self-hatred drive Mateen?

pulsePULSE. Straight Pulse bartender returns to cover Orlando massacre as AP videographer: “As a cash-strapped college student at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, I was more than willing to try something outside the box to earn good money. Taking that job selling shots of alcohol was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The gay community virtually adopted me and eased my college expenses with its generosity. It feels surreal to now be a member of the news media covering the massacre at Pulse. I’ve focused my camera on countless murder scenes and tragic stories, and I rarely get emotional. I use my lens to distance me and keep work separate from real life.”

POSSIBLE SECOND TARGET. Mateen sent Facebook friend request to owner of Orlando gay club Revere: “When I didn’t accept (the Facebook friend request), I looked through his friends first and rejected it. In doing that, I looked — a few of his friends were just Arabic writing and I didn’t even know. It was just nothing that would relate to an LGBT club. It just didn’t make sense.”

JOINT MUSLIM STATEMENT. Leading Muslims speak out:  “On behalf of the American Muslim community, we, the undersigned, want to extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the barbaric assault that occurred early yesterday morning at Pulse, an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando, Florida. We unequivocally say that such an act of hate-fueled violence has no place in any faith, including Islam. As people of faith, we believe that all human beings have the right to safety and security and that each and every human life is inviolable.”

ELLEN PAGE. Speaks out on Orlando.

FLORENCE WELCH. Sends her thoughts to Orlando. “Say my name and every color illuminates. We are shining, and we will never be afraid again.”

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mississippi hb 1523JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI. City Council passes landmark LGBT nondiscrimination ordinance. “As the LGBTQ community grapples with the horrific massacre in Orlando, it is truly encouraging to see the Jackson City Council taking decisive action to protect and affirm the rights of all their citizens,” said HRC Mississippi State Director Rob Hill. “Discrimination and hate have no place in Jackson, and everyone, regardless of who they are, should have the legal right to feel safe in their community. We thank Councilman Tyrone Hendrix for his continued leadership on issues of equality, and are confident that the Council’s actions will serve as an example to communities across the country.”

NARB. Nick Jonas explains.

Louis CKPILOTS. Louis CK explains why he’s voting for Hillary. It’s like if you were on a plane and you wanted to choose a pilot. You have one person, Hillary, who says, “Here’s my license. Here’s all the thousands of flights that I’ve flown. Here’s planes I’ve flown in really difficult situations. I’ve had some good flights and some bad flights, but I’ve been flying for a very long time, and I know exactly how this plane works.” Then you’ve got Bernie, who says, “Everyone should get a ride right to their house with this plane.” “Well, how are you going to do that?” “I just think we should. It’s only fair that everyone gets to use the plane equally.” And then Trump says, “I’m going to fly so well. You’re not going to believe how good I’m going to fly this plane, and by the way, Hillary never flew a plane in her life.” “She did, and we have pictures.” “No, she never did it.” It’s insane.

FORMAT WAR. Apple’s Trent Reznor blasts YouTube: “Personally, I find YouTube’s business to be very disingenuous. It is built on the backs of free, stolen content and that’s how they got that big. I think any free-tiered service is not fair. It’s making their numbers and getting them a big IPO and it is built on the back of my work and that of my peers. That’s how I feel about it. Strongly. We’re trying to build a platform that provides an alternative – where you can get paid and an artist can control where their [content] goes.”

PETE’S DRAGON. A trailer for the remake.

 

 

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Congressman Denies Shooting Targeted Gay People Then Blocks Nondiscrimination Amendment

Congressman Denies Shooting Targeted Gay People Then Blocks Nondiscrimination Amendment

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) doesn’t think gay people are targeted for violence or discrimination.

The post Congressman Denies Shooting Targeted Gay People Then Blocks Nondiscrimination Amendment appeared first on ThinkProgress.

thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2016/06/15/3788738/congressman-denies-shooting-targeted-gay-people-blocks-nondiscrimination-amendment/

VIDEO: 2012 gun violence survivor Kristene Chapa speaks at #WeAreOrlando vigil

VIDEO: 2012 gun violence survivor Kristene Chapa speaks at #WeAreOrlando vigil

Since surviving an execution-style shooting in a Texas park four years ago, Kristene Chapa has dedicated herself to healing physically and emotionally from the attack’s severe wounds and the loss of her girlfriend, Mollie Olgin, who died at the scene. But she is also committed to standing publicly against violence, particularly violence against fellow LGBT community members.

She is working with a writer on a book to tell her story in print, she shared her experiences on stage at the 26th annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York, and last night, she spoke at a vigil in Corpus Christi to honor the victims who lost their lives in an attack of historic proportions at Latin Night in Orlando’s Pulse club. In 2012, vigils were held nationwide as prayers were sent for her survival and recovery. Now, she is paying it forward.

In her gripping and honest speech, of which GLAAD has video, Kris told the large crowd, united in solidarity:

Hello. My name is Kristene Chapa. Some of you may have heard my name, others may have not. Like the victims in Orlando, I was attacked by a gunman and left for dead. My girlfriend, Mollie Olgin, and I were both shot in the head. Tragically, Mollie did not make it. When I lost Mollie, my whole world came crashing down. Every single part of me hurt.

Sunday’s mass shooting in Orlando was a horrible massacre. Parents should not have to bury their children. I know this tragedy has scared a lot of LGBT people. I will never understand how someone can kill innocent people as if they’re nothing! As if they are not human beings! Each person who died in Orlando was somebody’s loved one!

Having a gun pointed at you is an awful experience. Praying you will make it. Fearing you will not see your loved ones again. Knowing this is it, you are going to die. So scared you need to throw up. Your heart beating so fast you feel like it’s going to jump out of your chest.

After I was shot, doctors told my family I could die within 24-hours. But I survived and slowly began to recover. Even after I learned to walk again, I was terrified to go out in public. Scared to go to the mall or the movies. But one day, I woke up and told myself: I cannot be afraid the rest of my life. I have a second chance to live!

After Orlando, we must turn to faith and love. Fear and hatred will not save us. We must come together and fight for each other. Stand side by side. Because what good is a life lived in fear? That would be giving the terrorists what they want. We have to trust in God and live our lives to the fullest! 

You can watch the full video of her speech here:

Video courtesy of Mark Martinez & Kristene Chapa

For years, GLAAD has been working with Kristene and her advocates in Texas and around the country to bring attention and support to her message. Kristene and Mollie’s story has captured the attention of local and national media, including an MSNBC Originals episode from December 2014. Her alleged attacker is set to go to trial this fall. The ‪#‎justice4krisandmollie movement has continued to grow. You can join in the support by visiting www.glaad.org/justice4krisandmollie, tweeting with the hashtag #justice4krisandmollie, or donating to Kristene’s Go Fund Me page.

GLAAD stands in solidarity with Florida’s LGBTQ community and is working to support the efforts of Equality Florida. Check out a list of resources Equality Florida has provided for those seeking information or who wish to offer their support here

June 15, 2016

www.glaad.org/blog/video-2012-gun-violence-survivor-kristene-chapa-speaks-weareorlando-vigil