Black Prospective Home Buyer Finds KKK Memorabilia While Viewing Cop's Home

(screen capture)

A prospective African-American homebuyer in Michigan was touring a home when he came across Confederate flag placemats on the dining room table.

Taking a look at the NASCAR-inspired garage, he found two more Confederate flags.

According to the Washington Post, Rob Mathis said to himself, "Wouldn't it be funny if this was a Klansman's house?"

And just minutes later, he and his wife came across a plaque in one of the bedrooms. Mounted on wood was an application for membership in the Ku Klux Klan.

The home, about an hour outside of Grand Rapids, belongs to Muskegon police officer Charles Anderson, who has served on the police force there for more than 20 years.

Mathis posted a photo of the KKK application as he shared how the experience left him rattled.

“I feel sick to my stomach knowing that I walk to the home of one of the most racist people in Muskegon hiding behind his uniform and possibly harassing people of color and different nationalities,” he wrote in his post late Wednesday.

The city of Muskegon announced in a Facebook post that an investigation had been opened and Anderson is now on administrative leave.

When contacted by MLive.com, Anderson offered only a brief response saying, “They (his police union) said not to talk about it. That’s what they told me. Because it’s under internal investigation they said not to make a statement.”

Complicating things more, Anderson was involved in the shooting death of a black man ten years ago while on duty. At the time, he was acquited of any wrongdoing.

But, the Muskegon chapter of the NAACP is now asking that all cases involving Anderson and people of color be reviewed.

There's A Town In Michigan Called 'Gay Hell'

YouTuber Elijah Daniel bought a Michigan town and renamed it 'Gay Hell'

I’ve been told a few times in my life that as a gay man I’m going to hell.

Well, at least now, I have directions to the place.

YouTube personality Elijah Daniel, in an act of rebellion against the Trump administration’s ban on U.S. embassies flying the rainbow flag during Pride Month, decided to buy a town known as Hell, Michigan and renamed it ’Gay Hell.’

ahead of pride month Trump’s administration put a ban on embassy’s flying pride flags.

so as of today, I am now the owner of Hell, Michigan. I bought the whole town.

And my first act as owner, I have renamed my town to Gay Hell, MI.

The only flags allowed to fly are pride. pic.twitter.com/AKOcZm2Jvm

— elijah daniel (@elijahdaniel) June 17, 2019

Daniel followed up in another tweet, “Y’all told me I was gonna go to hell for being gay my whole life so I bought it and made it fully gay. F*ck you homophobes.”

YALL TOLD ME I WAS GONNA GO TO HELL FOR BEING GAY MY WHOLE LIFE SO I BOUGHT IT AND MADE IT FULLY GAY FUCK U HOMOPHOBES

— elijah daniel (@elijahdaniel) June 17, 2019

In Daniel's Gay Hell, the ONLY kind of flags allowed to be flown are Pride flags.

And don’t worry about getting bored - there’s stuff to do in Gay Hell.

Like, visit the local library (funded by ‘Damnation University’), or if you’re feeling amorous, get married at the local wedding chapel.

Gay Hell, Mi has everything. A library, a place to lock your love in Gay Hell, and even a WEDDING CHAPEL TO GET GAY MARRIED IN HELL! pic.twitter.com/mt2RzgraEx

— elijah daniel (@elijahdaniel) June 17, 2019

Even the weather seems to be cooperating with the new owner’s theme:

can we appreciate that the weather currently in gay hell, mi is 69 degrees pic.twitter.com/3NYzm4CCsx

— annie! (@cloudycomets) June 17, 2019

Daniel has nearly 600,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel and became engaged to his boyfriend, Sam, this past January.

Back in 2017, the 25-year-old shared on Twitter, "If Donald Trump, a REALITY STAR can be our president there's no reason why I can't be a politician."

And so, after calling 50 different towns, he paid $100 to become ‘mayor for a day’ in Hell and ‘outlawed’ heterosexuality in an effort to mock Donald Trump’s treatment of Muslims.

“When I found out it was for sale, I was like ’sh*t, I’ve gotta buy this now,’” he told Sky News.

One couple who visited Gay Hell snapped a pic next to the town’s “love locks’ and tweeted, "Our gay love and legal marriage is forever cemented on the gates of Hell. It's what @s8n would want."

CONGRATS. LOVE IN GAY HELL IS FOREVER. https://t.co/AkvRhGVA1f

— elijah daniel (@elijahdaniel) June 18, 2019

Daniel says most of the reactions he’s seen have been positive, and that folks understand it’s “just a fun joke.”

This is one of the most inspired fucking things I've seen in I don't know when. Bravo.

— STEVE HUFF (@SteveHuff) June 17, 2019

This place has EVERYTHING... pic.twitter.com/381HYfQMyR

— Mr. BoJangles (@jraaro1) June 18, 2019

News Round-Up: January 7, 2019

Alex Landi (promo photo: Grey's Anatomy/ABC)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Buff Alex Landi, who plays out Dr. Nico Kim on Grey's Anatomy, tells Attitude Magazine that he just wants to do his best when portraying roles regardless of his sexuality or his character’s.

• Michigan's Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) has signed a new directive banning LGBT-based discrimination in state services or by state contractors. The new executive order does not include a loophole exemption for religious organizations that receive state funds.

• Virulently anti-gay Texas Pastor Donnie Romero resigned last week after it was revealed he has a deep history of gambling, hiring prostitutes and smoking marijuana. At the time, Romero actually cheered the Pulse Nightclub shooting wishing the gunman had 'finished the job.' Ye who protesteth the loudest, do it the mosteth.

• Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has changed her position on healthcare for transgender people in prison saying she now supports access to all "medically necessary services, including transition-related surgeries."

• Donald Trump may think Special Counsel Robert Mueller might wrap up his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election soon, but Mueller just extended his grand jury in Washington, D.C., for another six months.

• Tony Award winner (Kinky Boots) and Golden Globe nominee (Pose) Billy Porter dropped a new music video for "Love the Pain Away," a song he wrote in 1999.

Billy shares he recently came across the song again and realized it still applies to what's happening today in the U.S.

Note how Billy extends the video to give all of his band and chance to shine. #Class

Michigan Judge Halts Recount After Two Days: "No Evidence Of Tampering"

Jill Stein's recount of the Michigan presidential vote has been ordered to stop by a federal judge because there's no "evidence of tampering or mistake."

From Detroit Free Press:

In his eight-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith said “there is no basis” for him to ignore a state court ruling that said the recount should never had started. He was referring to the Michigan Court of Appeals 3-0 ruling, which said that Green Party Candidate Jill Stein, who requested the recount, never had a shot at winning with her fourth-place finish and 1% of the vote, and therefore was not an aggrieved candidate.

Goldsmith’s ruling also bolstered some arguments that were repeatedly made by the Michigan Republican Party: that there was never any evidence that hacking or fraud occurred at the polls, and that Michigan’s voting system is so secure that not even the “Gremlins, Martians or Russian hackers” could tamper with it. That argument appeared to carry some weight with the judge.

“To date, plaintiffs have not presented evidence of tampering or mistake. Instead, they present speculative claims going to the vulnerability of the voting machinery — but not actual injury,” Goldsmith wrote, adding the potential for fraud is not enough to continue to allow the recount to proceed.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

Congressman Matt Cartwright Eviscerates Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Over Flint Water Debacle

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder had his butt handed to him today while testifying before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on the Flint water debacle that has left thousands with lead poisoning.

Check this one heated exchange via The Detroit News:

“I’ve had about enough of your false contrition and your phony apologies,” Rep. Matt Cartwright of Pennsylvania told the governor.

“Plausible deniability only works when it’s plausible, and I’m not buying any of this that you didn’t know until October 2015,” Cartwright said. “You were not in a medically induced coma for a year.”

“People who put dollars over the fundamental safety of people do not belong in government, and you need to resign, too, Mr. Governor,” Cartwright said.

Congressman Matt Cartwright: "Governor Snyder, plausible deniability only works if it's plausible." He goes on to say, "You need to resign, too." Watch the complete Flint Water Crisis hearing here: http://cs.pn/1MnmC3z
Posted by C-SPAN on Thursday, March 17, 2016

Pollsters Blindsided By Bernie Sanders' Michigan Primary Win

The big story today is Sen. Bernie Sanders surprise win in the Michigan Democratic primary last night.

I say surprise because virtually every pollster and prognosticator in politics had pegged Hillary Clinton to win by double digits.

Check the screen capture above of the most recent polls aggregated by Real Clear Politics.

This morning, pundits are saying this will be remembered as one of the biggest upsets in electoral politics.

"Little House On The Prairie" Star Melissa Gilbert Announces Run For Congress

Excited to announce my run for U.S. Congress in Michigan's 8th. Please join me in my fight for working families. http://t.co/WTUEZukVeX

— Melissa Gilbert (@GilbertforMI) August 10, 2015

More than "just an actress," Gilbert has previously served as president for the Screen Actors Guild, as did former President Ronald Reagan.

Michigan Republican Attempts To Cover His Extra-Marital Affair By Starting False Gay Rumor About Himself

Michigan lawmakers Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat

I mean, you really can't make this stuff up.

Michigan GOP lawmaker Rep. Todd Courser attempted to cover up his real extramarital affair with another Republican lawmaker, Rep. Cindy Gamrat (both straight, married to other people, several kids each) by having his aide spread false gay rumors about him.

See, that way, when the truth came out about his real affair it wouldn't seem so bad. Got it?

From Queerty:

It would have worked perfectly (but really though, would it have?) had Ben Graham, Courser’s aide at the time, not recorded the whole thing. Graham refused to send the email, and was promptly fired. (Side note: Gamrat also fired her aide who was unwilling to assist in the coverup.)

In the recordings, Courser was heard asking Graham to send the email and get “nasty about it” by saying the lawmaker was addicted to porn and was a “sexual deviant.”

The two lawmakers are married with children, and have worked in tandem to actively block same-sex marriage even after the Supreme Court’s June decision. Because Jesus. And freedom.

You can hear the recorded meetings over at DetroitNews.com

Michigan Governor Signs Discriminatory Anti-Adoption Bill Into Law

Governor Rick Snyder of Michigan signed into law today a bill that allows private adoption agencies with state contracts to decline adoption services to same-sex couples if it goes against "sincerely held religious beliefs."

The press release from Michigan Gov. Snyder's office spins the law as "ensuring that as many children are adopted to as many loving families as possible" and yet it throws up a road block to doing just that.

Ugh.

From the Governor's press release:

Gov. Rick Snyder today signed legislation ensuring Michigan children up for adoption have the greatest opportunity to be placed in loving homes. "The state has made significant progress in finding more forever homes for Michigan kids in recent years and that wouldn't be possible without the public-private partnerships that facilitate the adoption process," Snyder said. "We are focused on ensuring that as many children are adopted to as many loving families as possible regardless of their makeup."

House Bills 4188, 4189 and 4190, sponsored by lawmakers from both parties -- state Reps. Andrea LaFontaine, R-Columbus Township, Harvey Santana, D-Detroit, and Eric Leutheuser, R-Hillsdale, respectively, help continue Michigan's successful placement of children with loving families by codifying current adoption practices within the state. Under the legislation, faith-based agencies that contract with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services can operate in accordance with their beliefs.

The bills also require child placement agencies that decline any services to prospective parents to promptly provide information and a list of alternative adoption agencies willing and able to serve them. They do not change current practices in Michigan, but prevent faith-based agencies from having policies forced on them that violate their religious beliefs, which have resulted in agencies closing in Massachusetts, Illinois, California, and Washington, D.C.

The Detroit Free-Press: "Critics of the bills have derided the legislation as state-sanctioned discrimination against same-sex and unmarried couples — especially because many of the faith-based agencies receive public funding from the state."

“Governor Rick Snyder has proven today that he has utter disdain for the welfare of children in Michigan and that he cares only about empowering backwards discrimination,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “This legislation keeps children in need out of the loving homes they deserve, and it sets this great state back decades.”

News Round-up: June 10, 2015

Laverne Cox

Some stories you may have missed:

• Laverne Cox (Orange Is The New Black) will be the first transgender person to be immortalized at the famous Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum

• A straight couple in Australia plan to divorce if same-sex marriage is legalized in his country.
That'll learn 'em.

• It seems McKinney resident Sean Toon, who stood up for the police officer who handcuffed a 14 year old girl over pool party chaos, might have had more to do with the incident that he has previously let on.

• There are 3,000 kids in Michigan waiting to be adopted and the state Senate just made that much more difficult.

• The new Netflix series Sense8 is pretty fab. And so is the handsome latin star Miguel Ángel Silvestrewho, who plays one of the show's gay characters. Check out his teaser video below.

Michigan: Anti-Gay Auto Shop Owner Claims Graffiti Attack By "Evil" Homosexual Agenda

Michigan auto shop owner Brian Klawiter recently reported his business being vandalized by what he calls the "evil" homosexual agenda.

This comes in the wake of Klawiter's inflammatory statements last week when he said he wouldn't serve "openly gay" customers.

From Klawiter's Facebook page:

Well, folks, as we predicted, it didn't take long for the ugly face of the homosexual movement to present itself. What started out with "mere" death threats against myself and my family and homosexuals spamming my Facebook page with gay porn shots, has escalated to physical violence.

[snip]

The homosexual agenda is evil, and is prepared to destroy anyone who gets in its way, or who calls homosexuality a sin. Today it's us; tomorrow, it could be you.

There's really no way to know if this is true vandalism or staged to gin up further anti-gay furor.

But everyone should know violence and destruction by our side does no good for anyone.

Nowhere. No how.

Don't do it.

Michigan Auto Shop Owner Who Would Deny Gays Service Has No Business License

It turns out Brian Klawiter, the auto shop owner who posted on Facebook that he would refuse to serve openly gay customers, doesn't even have a city business license, according to city authorities.

Brian Klawiter earlier this year told the City Council that requiring a license violates his constitutional rights because it authorizes city inspectors to enter his property without a warrant.

"This is a blatant and intentioned violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution," Klawiter told the council on Jan. 26. "I dispute your lawful ability to do what you claim. I will not sign the application. I cannot and will not give up my civil rights, especially when requested by a government entity for which the Constitution was designed to limit the power of."

Klawiter also says he has received death threats because of his anti-gay Facebook post, but police have not been asked to investigate, nor has Klawiter filed any charges.

Michigan Auto Shop Owner Says He Won't Serve "Openly Gay" Customers

Quote of the day from Michigan auto shop owner Brian Klawiter:

"I would not hesitate to refuse service to an openly gay person or persons. Homosexuality is wrong, period. If you want to argue this fact with me then I will put your vehicle together with all bolts and no nuts and you can see how that works."

"If you want to come in here with your boyfriend and you want to openly display that, that’s just not going to be tolerated here. We don’t believe that here."

I assume this guy is either just an ass, or he's looking for an $842,000 windfall like the pizza joint owners in Indiana?

Michigan Will Recognize Over 300 Same-Sex Marriages Performed Last Year

Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan announced today that the state will recognize the more than 300 same-sex marriages that occurred last year during a brief period between court rulings that brought down the state's ban on marriage equality.

From the AP:

The Republican governor said he will not appeal a federal ruling last month that the state must recognize the marriages. U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith said the marriages are valid but put on hold his decision for 21 days pending any appeal by the state.

"The judge has determined that same-sex couples were legally married on that day, and we will follow the law and extend state marriage benefits to those couples," Snyder said in a statement.

Michigan's recognition of the marriages could affect the couples' health insurance coverage and their ability to jointly adopt.

A different federal judge struck down Michigan's 2004 voter-approved gay marriage ban on March 21. Same-sex couples in four counties married the next day, before an appeals court suspended the decision and blocked additional marriages.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently decided to consider the legality of bans in Michigan and three other states.

Michigan is one of four states who saw their state's same-sex marriage bans upheld by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Those rulings will be reviewed by SCOTUS in April with a ruling expected in June.

Federal Judge Orders Michigan To Recognize 300 Same-Sex Marriages

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that a federal judge has ordered the state of Michigan to recognize 300 same-sex marriages in Michigan today, calling them a "fundamental right."

"In these circumstances, what the state has joined together, it may not put asunder.," U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman said in his opinion.

U.S. Supreme Court could decide whether to hear MI same-sex marriage case

The 300 couples wed last March after a federal judge struck down the state's ban on same sex marriage. The state has since refused to recognize them.

SCOTUS To Consider Michigan Same-Sex Marriage Appeal On January 9th

January 9, 2015 looks to be the day that the US Supreme Court will consider taking up a review of the Michigan same-sex marriage ruling.

Last month, the 6th Circuit became the first appeals court to uphold state-level bans on same-sex marriage. The 6th upheld marriage equality bans in Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

Michigan is considered an especially appropriate case to take to SCOTUS for several reasons:

• There was an actual trial for the legal challenge as opposed to a ruling based purely on a judge's review of briefs filed
• The Michigan case includes not only recognition of marriages performed in other states, but seeks to overturn Michigan's own ban on same-sex marriage
• The Michigan plaintiffs are raising children - a big component in the marriage equality debate


Hopefully, SCOTUS will take this important case up for review in this session. Otherwise, LGBT families would have to wait another year for marriage equality.

Kentucky and Michigan follow Ohio and Tennessee with SCOTUS Filings For Same-Sex Marriage Review

Following the petitions filed on Friday by Ohio and Tennessee, the plaintiffs in the Kentucky and Michigan same-sex marriage cases - which recently saw their respective state's bans upheld by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals - have filed requests with SCOTUS for review of that 6th Circuit anti-equality ruling.

SCOTUS is highly expected to take up at least one if not all cases now that there is disagreement among federal appellate courts on marriage equality.

Stay tuned.

Michigan: State's Lawyers Move To Invalidate Over 300 Same-Sex Marriages

Attorneys for the state of Michigan argued on Friday that a federal appeals court ruling last week that upheld the state’s ban on same-sex marriage invalidates the unions of 300 same-sex couples who were married earlier this year.

The couples received marriage licenses in March when U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman first struck down the ban, and before the ruling was stayed.

On November 6, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld Michigan’s same-sex marriage ban, and similar bans in three other states. The plaintiffs in those cases are filing appeals with the US Supreme Court.

From the state's six page brief:

“Consequently, from a legal standpoint, because the marriages rested solely on the district court’s erroneous decision, which has now been reversed, it is as if the marriages never existed, and Plaintiffs’ requests for benefits attendant to a legal marriage must be denied."

The federal government has announced the marriages will be recognized for the purposes of social security, immigration status and other benefits.

News Round-up: November 12, 2014

Zachary Quinto

Stories you might have missed:

• OUT100 cover guy Zachary Quinto calls the LGBT community "complacent" in the new millennia of AIDS

• Texas state Sen. Donna Campbell looks to pass a constitutional "license to discriminate" against the gays

• A federal judge has ruled Michigan cannot ban benefits for same-sex couples, even if they aren't allowed to marry

• Sting's new Broadway musical, The Last Ship, opened to mixed reviews from the critics, so now the music legend may join the cast of the show to save the sinking "ship"

• Bravo Network's Andy Cohen doesn't read the gay blogosphere because he KNOWS what names he gets called there

Andy Cohen

Plaintiffs In 6th Circuit Court Marriage Ban Ruling Look To SCOTUS

According to Buzzfeed's Chris Geidner, all sets of plaintiffs from yesterday's 6th Circuit ruling upholding bans on same-sex marriage have conferenced and the decision is to unanimously head to the US Supreme Court.

Abby Rubenfeld, the lead lawyer for the Tennessee plaintiffs, updated BuzzFeed News about Friday’s call with the counsel from all four states.

“We just had a conference call with the attorneys from all four Sixth Circuit states on the marriage cases. We were all in agreement to apply for certiorari at the supreme court, and not to first seek en banc review in the Sixth Circuit,” she explained. “Given the significance of the issue, the reality that it will end up in the Supreme Court ultimately, and the harms that all of our clients are suffering each day that their marriages are not recognized, we want to get to the Supreme Court sooner rather than later.”

“We hope to file within two weeks, and hopefully sooner, so that we can still be on the docket for this term—which means resolution by june 30, 2015,” she added.