News Round-Up: May 21, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• We usually see InstaHunk Ignacio Pérez Rey (above) on a sun-drenched beach somewhere, but it turns out he also likes his pool back home in Madrid.

• The Maine legislature has passed LD 1025 which will protect LGBTQ youth from the harmful practice of so-called conversion therapy, and make Maine the 17th state to do so. The harmful practice is condemned by every major medical and mental health organization, including the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, and American Medical Association.

• The Philippines Congress launched an online poll this week to gauge support for legalizing same-sex unions.

• Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson didn't know the difference between "REO" and sandwich cookie Oreo. Every nascent real estate agent knows in their first week of training "REO" stands for "real estate owned," another term for a foreclosed property. But this guy is the Housing Secretary...

Rep. Katie Porter: "Do you know what an REO is?"
Secretary Ben Carson: "An Oreo?"
Porter: "No, not an OREO. An REO. R-E-O."
Carson: "Real estate?"
Porter: "What's the 'O' stand for?"pic.twitter.com/9dTw0xtNRm

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 21, 2019

• Several lawmakers are opposing the nomination of homophobic court nominee Howard Nielson, who has made antiquated remarks on same-sex parents, famously lashed out at a gay judge, and helped challenge affirmative action in court.

• An out, gay black man has become a congressional leader in fighting back against the homophobia of Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro.

• Inspired by the books of Armistead Maupin, the new Netflix Limited Series Tales of the City begins a new chapter in the beloved story.

Mary Ann (Laura Linney) returns to present-day San Francisco and is reunited with her adopted daughter Shawna (Ellen Page) and ex-husband Brian (Paul Gross), twenty years after leaving them behind to pursue her career. Fleeing the midlife crisis that her picture-perfect Connecticut life created, Mary Ann is quickly drawn back into the orbit of Anna Madrigal (Olympia Dukakis), her chosen family and a new generation of queer young residents living at 28 Barbary Lane.

Here's the first full trailer for the new incarnation of TOTC which premieres June 7th on Netflix.