News Round-Up: July 24, 2019

(via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunks: Woofy Diego Lozano (above) reminds me how many InstaHunks I follow in Spain. Which I guess explains why I'm headed back there in August ;)

• The Economist: In a new poll conducted by YouGov, former Vice President Joe Biden has a 7 point lead over Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) 25/18 respectively. In third place, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) garnered 13 percent support.

• GQ: Asked about "gay rumors," NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. says he "wasn't offended," adding, "I have no problem with anyone's sexual orientation. Love is Love."

• Twitter: Not to be weird or anything, but is that the 'white power' hand signal Trump is making?

Trump makes a hand gesture while saying AOC's name pic.twitter.com/2266fEvlWE

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 23, 2019

• Billboard: Out rapper Lil Nas X has tied the record (16 weeks) for the most weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The other record holders are Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day,” and Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber’s “Despacito.” He also scored 8 MTV Music Video Award nominations today including 'Video of the Year.'

• USA Today: A New Jersey school board member, Daniel Leonard, may face an ethics inquiry over social media posts that include violent comments regarding Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan). One post read, "My life would be complete if she/they die," across a photo of Tlaib. Leonard was, unsurprisingly, charged in a road rage incident last week where he crashed into a tree while chasing another motorist.

• Out Music: Openly pansexual artist Madison Malone releases this sweet mid-tempo groove, "Quiet Down." The music video features a wide, diverse universe of folks sharing their thoughts on what "love is."

The Wisconsin native has performed at some of the world's largest music festivals including SXSW and SUMMERFEST, where she was voted ‘Favorite Emerging Artist.' Find out more at her official website here.

9-Time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard Tells Fox Sports "I'm Not Gay"

9-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard

In an interview with Fox Sports, NBA star Dwight Howard directly addresses allegations whether he is gay and how a slew of rumors begun in the fall of 2018 impacted his life.

Speaking to reporter Kristine Leahy, Howard says in simple language, “I’m not gay.”

“It’s a lot of people who are [gay], and they have to hide,” he said.

Howard, who is currently on the Memphis Grizzlies roster, says the experience of gay rumors swirling around him gave him a new perspective in how he views gay athletes.

“I went through a situation last year that really just set me free,” he tells Leahy. “It ended up being a situation that…went viral.”

“People were talking about it, and it upset me because I didn’t even know who the person was,” he continued. “Why would somebody who I never met, never had any contact with, make up a whole story about me?”

Howard described the reaction from people as “hate, pure hate,” and that it felt like it “piled up” everywhere he went.

“I think that liberated me,” shared the 33-year-old athlete. “Because I saw how a lot of people would feel, whether they’re gay or they’re straight; whether they have issues; people are afraid to be who they are.”

“They’re afraid to just step out and be because they’re afraid of what other people might say or think about them,” said Howard. “That situation made me realize ‘You’re not like this, but just be you, be free.’”

"I'm not gay... It hurt at first to go through it. I sat at home and I was like 'I never want to come outside again.'" @DwightHoward spoke on the allegations that he was gay.

(🎥: @FairGameonFS1 | @KristineLeahy) pic.twitter.com/WcXz2WtOfY

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) July 16, 2019

The issue began last November with a series of tweets by a gay man named Masin Elije, who claimed he had been having a 'relationship' with Howard.

Elije says he met the NBA player at a Wild N Out event, and were soon chatting in direct messages on Instagram.

Describing Howard as “fine, 6’11”, goofy and very charming,” Elije alleged the two men began exchanging nude photos and developed some kind of relationship.

I was afraid to speak but today my life was threatened after I was sexually harassed, threatened and manipulated, by someone I respected, my ex boyfriend NBA player Dwight Howard, and his camp also “”catfished”” by his disrespectful ass PASTOR pic.twitter.com/n1I1fwDcUw

— Ah-Mazìn (@MasinElije) November 25, 2018

Elije went on to tweet that Howard had ‘cheated’ on him with a ‘transgender prostitute.’ Eventually, Elije accused Howard of physically threatening him if he didn’t sign a non-disclosure agreement.

After Elije filed a lawsuit against Howard in March, the 9-time All-Star denied all of the allegations by Elije to TMZ saying, “I don’t know this person, never seen him. Any allegation said about me is false.”

Howard filed a counter-suit against Elije asking for $10 million in damages, and described Elije’s lawsuit as a “money grab.”

The website ClutchPoints.com reported in November they had found at least two previous claims by Elije that were proven to be false.

Cory Booker Addresses Gay Rumors (Again)

Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey 

During a recent sit-down with the Philadelphia Inquirer, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker was asked, once again, about the fact that his status as a bachelor who has never married leads to rumors that he is secretly gay.

So tired.

Booker addressed the issue head-on telling the Inquirer, “I’m heterosexual.”

Rather than a denial that would sound defensive, Booker followed-up with the perfect statement: “Every candidate should run on their authentic self, tell their truth, and more importantly, or mostly importantly, talk about their vision for the country.”

Part of the curiosity lies in the fact that the U.S. has only elected two presidents who were bachelors - James Buchanan in 1857 and Grover Cleveland in 1886.

Cleveland would go on to marry Frances Folsom two years into his term. Buchanan remained a bachelor but asked his niece to serve as hostess of the White House.

In his interview with the Inquirer, Booker noted that societal expectations regarding presidents and their families have evolved over the years.

“Clearly the norms of family relationships have been changed dramatically as you’ve seen people across this country being elected to offices with all different kinds of family situations, including the president who has had three spouses,” Booker said.

“So I think a lot of that conventional thought on that doesn’t apply.”

In this day and age, you’d think folks would have moved on from having to ask if a politician is gay just because he’s single.

This writer has been a fan of Booker for years going back to his time as mayor of Newark from 2006 to 2013.

Throughout his political career, he has shown himself to be tough, fair AND an ally to the LGBTQ community.

For seven years, as mayor, he refused to officiate weddings until the right of marriage was available to all New Jerseyans.

And so, on October 21, 2013, when marriage equality finally came to the Garden State, he was there at the stroke of midnight in city hall officiating nine same-sex weddings.

When he asked the traditional “speak now or forever hold your peace,” a troll yelled “It is unlawful in the eyes of God!”

Without missing a beat, Booker continued the ceremony saying, “Not hearing any substantive and worthy objections, I now will proceed with the vows.”

We will know within the next several months what Booker’s plans are regarding 2020.

But, as he told the Inquirer, “I’m going to run on who I am whether that’s running for reelection (to the U.S. Senate) or running for president.”

“I’ve always trusted the voters enough to evaluate me on the content of my character, quality of my ideas, and my ability to do the job,” he added.

And that’s as it should be.

(h/t Philadelphia Inquirer)

No - French President Emmanuel Macron Is Not Gay

French President Emmanuel Macron
(image via Twitter)

 Why is it when a man is good-looking and successful, the gay rumor has to come out?

French President Emmanuel Macron has now had to deny (for the second time) that he’s not gay after his hunky now-former head of security was fired due to a scandal about police violence.

Alexandre Benalla was fired recently after video surfaced of him taking part in a rough beatdown involving protesters earlier this year.

The issue came to a head when French publication Le Monde identified Benalla in video on July 18.

President Macron (L) Alexandre Benalla (R)

Newspapers began to publish unconfirmed reports that Benalla was living in a large, luxury apartment for free, and was receiving a huge $140,000 a year salary.

After firing Benalla, Macron assured members of his own En Marche party that Benalla never had his country’s nuclear codes.

As GayStarNews reports, Macron began a 30 minute address to his colleagues about the firing by saying, “Alexandre Benalla has never had the nuclear codes; Alexandre Benalla never lived in a 300 square-meter apartment in Alma; Alexandre Benalla has never earned 10,000 euros.”

That was followed immediately by a light-hearted, “Alexandre Benalla is not my lover.”

The 40-year-old French president also took responsibility for Benalla’s actions in the video saying, “What happened on May 1 is terrible, serious and, for me, it was a disappointment and a betrayal.”

Maybe the gay rumors began because both men are very attractive and masculine, but it comes across as homophobic.

Last year, Macron was forced to address rumors of an affair with another hottie, Mathieu Gallet, president of Radio France.

Mathieu Gallet (image via Twitter)

Macron has been married to his wife, Brigitte, for 11 years. Their 24 year age difference has proven to be a point of fascination for some.

(h/t GayStarNews)

Sir Cliff Richard addresses gay rumors on Australia's "A Current Affair"

British music legend Sir Cliff Richard appeared on Australia’s "A Current Affair" and addressed long-time rumors that he is gay:

"It did (bother me) when I was young. It hurt my family a lot of course. But who cares?... It doesn't really matter to me any more. I have got gay friends. If I was gay would it make any difference? Would you not come to my concerts if I was gay? I hope not."

Of course, that is the point - would it matter? Should it matter? And the answer is obvious.

(h/t Towleroad)

Jake Gyllenhaal on gay rumors: "It's a huge compliment"

On an episode of Inside the Actors Studio set to air at 8 pm on September 19, Jake Gyllenhaal addresses rumors that he's gay, and says he misses Heath Ledger every day.

Bravo writes:

"Heath and I knew each other for years before that because we had both auditioned for Moulin Rouge together," Gyllenhaal says. After experiencing Ledger's brash, loose sense of humor in person, "I remember thinking, 'I like this guy.' He's just like, super lovable," Gyllenhaal recalls. He later admits Ledger's death hit him extremely hard: "It felt like losing a family member, and it still does to this day."

Gyllenhaal also says that the gay rumors that came following Brokeback never bothered him. In fact, "It's a huge compliment," he says.

And when it comes to what does turn him on, Jake is pretty direct: "Tits and ass."

Jake Gyllenhaal’s episode of Inside the Actor’s Studio airs Thursday September 19 on Bravo.

(h/t Queerty)

Newark Mayor Cory Booker talks gay rumors on MSNBC

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Hugh Jackman's wife on gay rumors: "Offensive, stupid, annoying..."

Deborra-Lee Furness, the 57-year-old actress married to Hugh Jackman, told 60 Minutes this weekend that speculating Jackman’s sexuality is “offensive,” “stupid,” and “annoying.”

So shut up already, guys.

She called the persistent gay rumors “frustrating” before her husband chipped in, telling cameras that “If I was [gay], I would be.”

“It’s just offensive,” she continued. “If he was gay, fine, he would say he’s gay. It has gotten so out of whack … it’s stupid, yeah, it’s annoying, because it’s not true.”

I think the gays just keep holding out hope because he's talented, well-liked and um, LOOK at him. I don't think the "rumors" are malicious.

In February the actor told The Hollywood Reporter the speculation "bugs" his wife and he revealed she has a hard time ignoring whispers about his alleged homosexuality. "She goes: 'It's big. It's everywhere!'"

But clearly the wife is done with it.

(via Queerty)