Utah Passes LGBT-Inclusive Antidiscrimination Bill, Religious Exemptions
Gov. Gary Herbert signed the bill into law tonight; meanwhile, the state will allow some public employees to opt out of performing same-sex weddings.
Trudy Ring
Category Archives: NEWS
Kathy Griffin Quits 'Fashion Police'
Kathy Griffin Quits 'Fashion Police'
On Thursday, Kathy Griffin announced in a statement via Twitter that she’s leaving E!’s “Fashion Police.”
The 54-year-old comedian, who joined the show following the death of Joan Rivers, wrote:
“After 7 episodes of ‘Fashion Police,’ I have discovered my style does not fit with the creative direction of the show and now it’s time to move on.”
Reps for E! confirmed Griffin’s departure from the show to HuffPost Entertainment in a statement:
We can confirm that Kathy Griffin is leaving E!’s “Fashion Police.” We wish her all the best and are grateful for her time on the show, as well as the many laughs that she gave us all. “Fashion Police” will return, as scheduled, on Monday, March 30 at 9pm with our talented Co-Hosts Giuliana Rancic and Brad Goreski and Executive Producer Melissa Rivers. No further information is available at this time.
Griffin’s exit comes just weeks after fellow co-host Kelly Osbourne left the show in the midst of drama surrounding Giuliana Rancic’s offensive remarks about actress Zendaya’s dreadlocks during a post-Oscars episode of “Fashion Police.” On the show, Rancic said Zendaya’s dreadlocks made her look as if she smelled “like patchouli oil” or “weed.”
On Tuesday, Griffin finally addressed the controversy, telling the Chicago Sun Times’ Splash magazine that, while she doubted there would have been as much backlash had the joke come from her instead of Rancic, she wouldn’t have said it to begin with.
“I wouldn’t have said the joke in the first place. Some dude wrote it for her,” she told the magazine.
Read Griffin’s full statement below:
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) March 13, 2015
Kathy Griffin quits Fashion Police after just seven episodes
Kathy Griffin quits Fashion Police after just seven episodes
I doscovered that my style does not fit with the creative directon of the show and now it’s time to move on’
gregh
www.gaystarnews.com/article/kathy-griffin-quits-fashion-police-after-just-seven-episodes130315
Rep. Aaron Schock Under Fire for Not Disclosing Companion on Official Trip to India
Rep. Aaron Schock Under Fire for Not Disclosing Companion on Official Trip to India
Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) has come under scrutiny again for bringing Jonathon Link, a photographer and videographer, on an official trip to India paid for by The Global Poverty Project, a private advocacy organization, the National Journal reports.
Under House rules, according to the NJ, a member of Congress can “accept private money for a companion’s travel expenses only if the companion is a staffer, spouse or child. Link was none of those; he didn’t appear on Schock’s official or campaign payroll until September 2014.”
The NJ adds:
The organization offered to pay for the costs of one staffer to accompany Schock as long as the staffer flew economy class, according to the spokesman. Another aide was originally going to come, but the organization noted they were looking for a photographer, and Schock suggested Link, with whom he has worked in the past, the spokesman said. The photos Link took were made available to both Schock and the Global Poverty Project.
Schock never disclosed that Link went on the trip, which is required by law.
The Blue Nation Review reported on Link and the India trip last week.
It also reported on unusual fees paid late in 2014, some of which went to Schock’s ‘personal photographer’:
After voting to freeze salaries for federal workers all the way through 2015 and opposing any minimum wage increases, Congressman Aaron Schock quietly gave huge pay raises and/or bonuses to most of the staff members in his taxpayer-funded office during the last three months of 2014, according to Congressional expenditure reports examined by Blue Nation Review….
…Jonathon Link, Schock’s full time personal photographer, started September 1 and was paid $4,166 for that month, which translates to an annual salary of about $50,000. In the final three months of the year, he was paid $17,500, which translates to an annual salary of about $70,000. In addition to his congressional salary, Link’s photography studio was paid more than $29,000 during the final three months of the year for “Web Dev Hst, Email and Rltd Serv.” Schock’s office also paid “Web Dev Hst, Email and Rltd Serv” through Fireside21—a company that charges just a few hundred dollars per month and actually specializes in web development, hosting, email, and related services for Congressional offices. Was Link double-dipping?
Schock on Wednesday shook off a CNN reporter asking him to explain his “lavish lifestyle.”
Andy Towle
Texas Dems Bake Up a Response to Antigay Lawmakers
Texas Dems Bake Up a Response to Antigay Lawmakers
It was sweet revenge, or at least sweet payback, to counter an anti-marriage equality event.
Trudy Ring
www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2015/03/12/texas-dems-bake-response-antigay-lawmakers
Oklahoma Rep. Emily Virgin Suggests Businesses Post Notice Before Discriminating Against Patrons
Oklahoma Rep. Emily Virgin Suggests Businesses Post Notice Before Discriminating Against Patrons
A Democratic state representative in Oklahoma has offered up an unusual amendment to the state’s Religious Freedom Act that would reportedly give businesses the option to discriminate based on their religious beliefs, but would require those establishments to be upfront about it.
In the amendment, Oklahoma Rep. Emily Virgin suggests that wedding-related companies “not wanting to participate” in a business exchange based on the “sexual orientation, gender identity or race of either party” shall “shall post notice of such refusal in a manner clearly visible to the public in all places of business, including websites,” according to The Gayly Oklahoman.
The amendment continues that the notice “may refer to the person’s religious beliefs, but shall state specifically which couples the business does not serve by referring to a refusal based upon sexual orientation, gender identity or race.”
The proposed amendment has received some praise. Freedom Oklahoma Executive Director Troy Stevenson told Raw Story in a statement, “If the state of Oklahoma is going to protect discrimination, then at the very least, businesses should be required to own their bias, and post it publicly for the world to see.”
The Dallas Voice’s David Taffet wrote that the proposal also had an unintended benefit for heterosexual customers, too: “That way, a straight couple that wouldn’t have been turned away would be notified that they’re doing business with bigots and might want to find an alternate vendor as well.”
As KFOR points out, the legislation was proposed at a time when a number of bakers, florists and other wedding-related businesses have been feeling the heat after their respective owners turned away customers seeking cakes and other services related to same-sex weddings.
Sean Penn warns that anti-gay parents will leave a terrible legacy for generations
Oklahoma Pro-Conversion “Therapy” Bill Dies on State House Floor
Oklahoma Pro-Conversion “Therapy” Bill Dies on State House Floor
This afternoon, a bill introduced to the Oklahoma State House by Representative Sally Kern that would legalize anti-LGBT therapy died without coming to a vote.
HRC.org
Out Univision Host Fired For Racist Comments Comparing Michelle Obama To Planet Of The Apes
Out Univision Host Fired For Racist Comments Comparing Michelle Obama To Planet Of The Apes
File this under “things that are super easy to remember never to do”: make obviously racist comments while on live television.
It won’t be hard to remember, but for Univision style host Rodner Figueroa, the lesson was learned the hard way.
Speaking about make-up artist Paolo Ballesteros’ viral transformations into various celebrities, he said of Michelle Obama:
“Mind you, you know that Michelle Obama looks like she’s part of the cast of ‘Planet of the Apes.’”
And the crowd. Went. Silent.
It was more Rush Limbaugh than it was Joan Rivers, and that’s never a good thing under any circumstances.
Host Raúl de Molina attempted to save the situation by commenting that Michelle is attractive, but the damage was done.
Univision put out this statement:
Yesterday during our entertainment program “El Gordo y La Flaca” Rodner Figueroa made comments regarding First Lady Michelle Obama that were completely reprehensible and in no way reflect Univision’s values or views. As a result, Mr. Figueroa was immediately terminated.
To his credit, Figueroa wrote a lengthy apology letter to the First Lady, Latino Rebels English translation of which reads:
Respected First Lady Michelle Obama,
I offer my sincere apologies for a comment I made about the characterization from what a makeup artist made about you during my appearance on Univision’s “El Gordo y la Flaca” entertainment program yesterday, and how it was misinterpreted.
I want to clarify that I am not racist in any way and that my comment was never directed towards you, but towards the characterization of that artist, who left much to be desired. The entire video clip in context will prove it.
I feel embarrassed and I apologize, because there is no excuse for a professional like me to make this type of comment, which can be interpreted as offensive and racist duing such volatile times in our country. I take responsibility for this lack of judgment on my part, but I cannot accept being called a racist by anyone and be dismissed because of it, and be publicly humiliated by Univision after 17 years in this business.
I come from a biracial Latino family, with family members like my father who are Afro-Latino. I am the first openly gay presenter on [U.S.] Hispanic TV and I’ve been an activist in favor of causes for minorities, as I have been discriminated against. I voted openly twice for you husband, Barack Obama, because I consider him a great man who respects minorities, like me, in this country.
I worked on two programs for Univision where I commented on the looks of many celebrities, including royalty and Latin American Firt Ladies and I have never offended anyone becuase of their skin color, sexual orientation or nationality. I am a decent person, but a human being after all, and I make mistakes like this. And with the fact that my comment has been interpreted in such an unpleasant and inappropriate (crossing the line) way, I do not deserve to be called a racist, and I have to defend myself out of respect and love for my family, my father, my fans and my community.
I was verbally notified that a complaint made from your office led to my dissmisal and through leaked information initiated from Univision executives, I am now being condemned on social media by those trying to destroy my career unfairly, without even having being notified officially in writing and without an investigation that would clariy the situation.
Again, I offer a humble apology for the misunderstanding and take responsibility.
Very respectfully,
Rodner Figueroa
Sure as hell beats Russell Tovey’s awkward Twitter half-apology.
We actually feel for the guy here — seems like an honest mistake.
Here’s the clip:
Dan Tracer
Hear What Happened When This Gay Man Came Out To His Muslim Father Despite Therapist's Advice: VIDEO
Hear What Happened When This Gay Man Came Out To His Muslim Father Despite Therapist's Advice: VIDEO
The son of a Palestinian refugee who risked everything to come to the United States, Khalid el Khatib stayed in the closet on the advice of his therapist because he did not want to disappoint his father.
However, when the pain became too much Khalid decided he could no longer lie to his family.
In a new video for I’m From Driftwood, Khalid explains that four years later, although some issues remain, he has the full love and support of his father.
Watch Khalid explain his decision to come out to his father, AFTER THE JUMP…
Jim Redmond
www.towleroad.com/2015/03/son-comes-out-to-muslim-father-despite-therapists-advice-video.html
