Homophobe Israel Folau Sues For $10 Million & His Old Job

Israel Folau pictured center (image via Wikimedia)

Homophobic Australian rugby player Israel Folau has filed a $10 million lawsuit to the Fair Work Commission against Rugby Australia alleging he was sacked for his Christian beliefs.

Not only is the former Wallabies player demanding his job back, but 30-year-old also wants $10 million in compensation.

The Guardian reports Folau issued a statement regarding the lawsuit which read, in part, “No Australian of any faith should be fired for practicing their religion.”

But Rugby Australia maintains that it was Folau’s breach of the players’ code of conduct via his anti-LGBTQ social media posts that caused his dismissal, not “practicing his religion.”

The code of conduct requires players to “treat everyone equally, fairly and with dignity regardless of gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, cultural or religious background, age or disability.”

This is what Folau characterizes as “practicing” his religion:

View this post on Instagram

Those that are living in Sin will end up in Hell unless you repent. Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him. _______________ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these , adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19‭-‬21 KJV _______________ Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38 KJV _______________ And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Acts 17:30 KJV _______________

A post shared by Israel Folau (@izzyfolau) on Apr 10, 2019 at 1:18am PDT

“Whilst Israel is entitled to his religious beliefs, the way in which he has expressed these beliefs is inconsistent with the values of the sport,” said Rugby Australia at the time. “We want to make it clear that he does not speak for the game with his recent social media posts.”

In June, Folau launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to pay for his anticipated legal fees. But GoFundMe canceled that effort saying, “While we welcome GoFundMes engaging in diverse civil debate, we do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination or exclusion.”

But the Australian Christian Lobby, an extreme religious group, jumped in and helped Folau raise over $2 million for his legal battles to come.

It's worth noting that Folau is a millionaire several times over. According to TheAustralian.com, he owns 8 homes worth over $5 million and a $500k Lamborghini.

So, why does he need fans to pay his legal bills?

In April of 2018, Folau said he has “no phobia towards anyone” but would not recant his social media antics. At the time he told rugby officials he would “walk away from his contract” if he comments hurt his sport.

I guess $10 million sounds better to him today.

Alabama Senate Candidate: "We're Too Interested In Homosexual Activities"

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill

A Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Alabama told supporters over the weekend the problem with the United States today is Americans are too “preoccupied with homosexual activities” and “the wife swap shows.”

It would seem the Senate race is also a race to prove who is the most homophobic politician in Alabama...

John Merrill, currently serving as Alabama’s Secretary of State, is one of many Republicans looking to unseat Sen. Doug Jones (D) in the 2020 election cycle.

The senate seat was held for 20 years by former Donald Trump toadie, Jeff Sessions, who vacated the position to become U.S. Attorney General, which didn’t work out too well for him, but that’s another story.

At a town hall event in DeKalb County this past weekend, Merrill was asked his thoughts on “culture shift” in the country (that’s code for the gays emergence in the mainstream) and the erosion of moral principles.

It was great to be back in Fort Payne this morning and speak to the folks in attendance at the DeKalb County Republican Breakfast at the Western Sizzlin! I was honored to talk to them and answer questions about my campaign for the United States Senate! #All67 pic.twitter.com/00cN2DmzUC

— John Merrill (@JohnHMerrill) July 13, 2019

“[T]hat’s what we’ve allowed to happen,” said Merrill first reported by YellowHammerNews. “How have we allowed it to happen? There are no more good TV shows on like ‘Gunsmoke,’ ‘Bonanza,’ ‘The Virginian,’ ‘Andy Griffith,’ ‘I Love Lucy.’”

“We don’t have those shows anymore,” continued Merrill. "We’re too interested in homosexual activities. We’re too interested in seeing how this family’s finding a way to mess on this family or to see how people are trying to date on TV, or having wife-swapping on TV. That’s what we watch.”

Bolding is mine.

So, basically, Merrill longs for the good old days of TV shows that glorified guns and had wives stay at home in the kitchen.

The comments were confirmed by Alabama news site AL.com on Monday evening during a phone interview.

“The foundational principles which we have grown up as a nation are no more,” lamented Merrill. “There’s no more TV shows like ‘Gunsmoke’ or ‘Bonanza’ or ‘The Virginian’ or ‘I Love Lucy’ or ‘Andy Griffith.' I said people are too interested in homosexual activities. They’re too interested in the wife swap TV shows and the shows that are not morally uplifting. That’s the problem.”

Asked by reporter Howard Koplowski what exactly that means, Merrill repeated himself.

“I meant what I said. People are too interested in anything that is not uplifting, edifying. They’re too busy being preoccupied with homosexual activities and the wife swap shows."

According to Koplowski, Merrill demurred from offering any specific examples of how Americans are too preoccupied with “homosexual activities.”

The secretary of state did bemoan about the lack of TV shows “that are based on biblical foundations,” however.

I guess we should have seen that coming.

“Shows that promote family and culture with a father, a mother and children based on biblical teachings and biblical principles on which our nation was founded,” explained Merrill.

Merrill also told USA Today, “There are too many TV shows preoccupied with people’s sexual orientation instead of messages that edify our basic moral foundation.”

The Human Rights Campaign's Project One America Director Meghan Kissell issued this statement regarding Merrill's comments:

"This attack on LGBTQ people and our values only further underscores the fact that the Alabama Senate Republican primary is becoming a race to the bottom and a competition for who is the most virulently anti-LGBTQ. Alabamians deserve a leader who fights for the equality of everyone and every community, not someone who would feel more comfortable in America’s oppressive past.”

I seriously think people in the republican party are more obsessed with "homosexual activities" than I am.

And I'm pretty dang gay. pic.twitter.com/TwBL2AK94D

— Caine (@CaineWithAnE) July 16, 2019

this man looks like he needs to experience some "homosexual activities" and/or be on a dating show

— VKA (@VyMercurious) July 16, 2019

Much like me, John Merrill is apparently too interested in homosexual activities to watch Nick at Night. pic.twitter.com/pK5ENhpLgB

— Gabriel Rosenberg (@gnrosenberg) July 16, 2019

The only people preoccupied with homosexual activities appear to be GOP politicians...

— Linda Allen (@lindaballen1) July 17, 2019

Also, the top viewed TV drama of 2018 was “This Is Us,” which is noticeably not about homosexual activities or, uh, wife swapping?

— Jane Coaston (@cjane87) July 16, 2019

Another Same-Sex Couple Denied Services For Their Wedding

Angel Lane and fiancee Tiffany Allen (via Facebook)

Another wedding vendor has denied services to a same-sex couple for their upcoming nuptials.

Angel Lane and her fiancée Tiffany Allen have plans to get married this October in Las Vegas.

In making plans for what to wear for the big occasion, they reached out to fashion brand D. Auxilly in New York City, specifically regarding a $1,500 jumpsuit.

The couple reached out to designer Dominique K. Galbraith about ordering the clothing.

But Galbraith refused to take the order after hearing the couple were lesbians. She said whipping up a wedding outfit for a same-sex wedding violated her Christian faith.

In an email, Galbraith wrote:

"I wouldn’t be able to make a piece for a same-sex wedding. It goes against my faith in Christ. I believe Jesus died for our sins so that we would live for him according to His Holy Word. I know you both love each other and that this feels right but I encourage you both to reconsider and see what the Lord has to say and the wonderful things He has in store for you both if you trust and obey Him."

She added that she would "be available to talk and share more about Jesus if you’d like. Feel free to call me."

Speaking to Metro, Allen said, "I hurt because I didn’t feel good enough."

"A person who truly has that heart will tell you that God doesn’t make any mistakes," she added. "I’m not a mistake. My fiancée is not a mistake."

Since sharing their story on social media, the couple say many designers have reached out with offers to provide for their wedding ceremony.

It's important to note that Lane and Allen live in Missouri where there are no public accommodation laws to protect people from discrimination based on sexual orientation.

However, Galbraith's business is located in New York state which most certainly does prohibit turning away business due to anti-LGBTQ bias.

Metro reports Tiffany and Angel are filing now filing a formal complaint against D Auxilly, and are also considering taking a lawsuit against the company.

Galbraith reportedly hung up the phone without comment when contacted by Metro.

News Round-Up: July 10, 2019

Anthony Bowens (via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Pro wrestler and InstaHunk Anthony Bowens (above) points out that "Summer is heating up..." One look at that pic and you know why ;)

• ABC News: Thanks to a police tip line, authorities say they have apprehended a suspect, 20-year-old Tyresse Singleton, who allegedly set fire to a rainbow flag outside of a Harlem gay bar. Gov. Andrew Cuomo had directed the State Hate Crimes Unit to assist in the investigation

• USA Today: Posters featuring U.S. women’s soccer star Megan Rapinoe were vandalized with homophobic slurs at a New York City subway station Monday evening.

• FOX9: The mayor of Columbia Heights, Minnesota, is facing calls of homophobia because she won't sign-off on a Pride event proclamation. The mayor claims the local LGBTQ organization failed to follow (brand-new) guidelines for proclamations.

• NBC News: Kentucky Democratic Senate candidate Amy McGrath raised more than $2.5 million in the first 24 hours of her campaign against Mitch McConnell. McGrath campaign manager Mark Nickolas said it’s the most ever raised in the first 24 hours of a Senate campaign.

• The Advocate: Michael Johnson, convicted in 2015 for one felony charge of “knowingly” transmitting HIV to one man and four charges of exposing four other men to the virus who didn’t contract it, was released this week 25 years early. His lawyers won an appeal after showing that prosecutors failed to turn over significant evidence. Because the charges he pleaded to fell under health statutes, Johnson will not be required to register as a sex offender.

• Out artist Billy Winn says the songs on his new EP, Dreamland II, are based on the idea that "it's all fun and games until someone catches feelings."

The first single from the EP, "Another Broken Heart," an EDM/dance track, was inspired by circumstances in his own life, adding, "It's a dance track with a strong, relatable message about something we've all been through at least once."

Check out the new single below, and for more info head to BillyWinn.com.

News Round-Up: July 5, 2019

David Harbour in Netflix's Stranger Things (screen cap)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Dad Bod alert: Who's a fan of the Netflix's Stranger Things? Season four was released last night and folks think series star David Harbour (above screen cap) is the new poster guy for 'dad bods.' #woof

• CNN: Adding homophobia to racism, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents made a migrant hold an “I Like Men” sign as an anti-gay punishment.

• Washington Post: Congressman Justin Amash, who represents Michigan's 3rd congressional district, has been one of the few Republicans to publicly criticize Donald Trump, and actually side with Democrats in calls for impeachment proceedings. In an op-ed yesterday, he quit the GOP and announced he now identifies as an Independent.

• NY Times: Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) surprisingly raised less than $12 million for her presidential campaign in the past three months; very disappointing considering her very strong debate performance last week. The figure pales in comparison to her primary rivals: Mayor Pete Buttigieg pulled in $24.8 million in the second quarter, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. reports $21.5 million in campaign donations, and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) took in $18 million.

• Gay Star News: Out musician Aaron Porter says his latest single, "Sorry," comes from a very personal place for him. And, like life, it slowly evolved until coming to fruition.

"I was in a place of frustration and the track we created was a slow piano-led ballad, he told GSN. "I feel like the song has grown as I have dealt with my situation, and now it’s a fierce pop banger and I feel alive when I sing it."

Check out the new R&B/pop bop below.

Washington State Supreme Court Upholds Ruling Against Anti-LGBTQ Florist

Homophobic florist Barronelle Stutzman

The Washington State Supreme Court has upheld its 2017 ruling which found florist Barronelle Stutzman had violated the state’s anti-discrimination laws when she refused to sell wedding flowers to a gay couple in 2013.

Stutzman’s legal team had appealed the original ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, but last June the high court punted.

Instead of reviewing the case, SCOTUS vacated the Washington state Supreme Court ruling and ordered the state’s top court to take another look at the caseto ensure they did not rule with any religious bias.

On Wednesday, the state Supreme Court upheld its original ruling in a unanimous decision,

Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson issued a statement which read, “Washington state law protects same-sex couples from discrimination based on their sexual orientation, the same way it protects Washingtonians from discrimination based on their religion, veteran or military status, disability, race and other protected classes.”

The case began when Robert Ingersoll and Curt Freed were planning to marry in 2013 after Washington state legalized same-sex marriage the year before.

They approached Stutzman for flowers for their event, Stutzman refused citing her Christian beliefs.

Washington state’s public accommodation laws specifically prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Stutzman was fined $1,000 and ordered to sell floral arrangements for same-sex weddings if she were to continue selling arrangements for heterosexual weddings.

Although she cried about financial burdens due to the ongoing court case, it’s worth noting that over $174,000 was raised via crowd funding for Stutzman. GoFundMe eventually shut down the campaign based on the company’s policy that campaigns can’t be used to raise funds for legal cases where formal charges have been filed.

However, Stutzman was allowed to keep the $174,000.

Following Wednesday’s ruling, Stutzman’s attorneys (from the virulently anti-LGBTQ law firm Alliance Defending Freedom) say they plan to take their appeal (again) to the U.S. Supreme Court.

(Source: KEPR)

Alabama Mayor Under Fire For Call To 'Kill Out' LGBTQs

Mayor Mark Chambers is under fire for social media posts calling for 'killing out' LGBTQs

An Alabama mayor is facing criticism after posting controversial comments to his Facebook page.

Carbon Hill Mayor Mark Chambers wrote on his Facebook page in all capital letters:

“We live in a society where homosexuals lecture us on morals, transvestites lecture us on human biology, baby killers lecture us on human rights and socialists lecture us on economics.”

Chambers’ constituents responded to the post, but one response from a Facebook friend got the mayor’s attention.

"By giving the minority more rights than the majority,” wrote the supporter. “I hate to think of the country my grandkids will live in unless somehow we change and I think that will take a revolution.”

Having singled ‘homosexuals’ and ‘transvestites’ as the issue, Chambers wrote back, “The only way to change it would be to kill the problem out. I know it’s bad to say but without killing them out there’s no way to fix it.”

“To kill the problem out.”

"Without killing them out there's no way to fix it."

Chambers' original statement on Facebook which was quickly deleted

Local news affiliate WBRC contacted the mayor to clarify the social media statements.

Initially, the mayor denied posting the comments telling WBRC reporter Brittany Dionne, “I don’t think I posted that, I think that’s somebody else’s post.”

Dionne pointed out she was on the correct Facebook page noting photos of his family and birthday greetings, and asked if someone might be using his identity on Facebook.

Chambers replied with a meek “I don’t know.” When Dionne asked to meet in person, the mayor hung up.

Chambers did call back a few minutes later wherein he admitted to writing the post but argued it was being “taken out of context.”

“I never said anything about killing out gays or anything like that,” he told WBRC. Chambers explained that his comments were in reference to what might happen in a “revolution.”

“If it comes to a revolution in this country, both sides of these people will be killed out,” he said.

During the second call, Chambers also claimed that immigrants were taking over the country and called them “ungrateful.”

The mayor added that the post was meant to be a private message and didn’t intend for the public to see it.

He complained that he didn’t realize his Facebook page was available to the public, and shortly after the call with Dionne, his page went to private status.

You can watch the full report from Brittany Dionne at WBRC's website here.

Chambers was elected mayor of Carbon Hill, population 2,000, in 2014.

(source: WBRC)

Alabama Public Television Bans Gay Wedding Episode Of Long-Running 'Arthur'

Mr. Ratburn and Patrick head down the aisle (image via PBS)

The long-running PBS children’s show, Arthur, opened its 22nd season last week with an episode featuring one of the animated characters marrying to his male partner.

In an episode titled “Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone,” it turns out that Arthur’s stern yet forgiving 3rd grade teacher is gay, and marries his boyfriend, Patrick.

The storyline was celebrated by LGBTQ advocacy groups like GLAAD:

Congratulations Mr. Ratburn! 🌈🐀https://t.co/8ejkwU1sfU

— GLAAD (@glaad) May 14, 2019

While the episode doesn’t mention the word “gay” or “homosexual,” I did wonder if some folks might be offended or raise their homophobic voices in opposition to two animated characters finding happiness together.

Yep. And some of those folks are in Alabama.

Alabama Public Television (APT) decided the same-sex wedding was too much for its intended audience to handle, and refused to air the episode. Instead, APT chose to air a re-run.

Yes, this is the same Alabama where public lawmakers just passed a law which will require a 13-year-old rape victim to carry a possible child to term.

Perhaps if Mr. Ratburn HAD married his sister, Alabama community standards would have been fine with the show? https://t.co/jeKuQjo26j

— Crooks and Liars (@crooksandliars) May 21, 2019

Mike McKenzie, the director of programming at APT, confirmed to NBC News that upon receiving an alert from PBS in mid-April about “possible concerns about the content of the program,” APT felt it was best to omit the episode from their schedule.

“Parents have trusted Alabama Public Television for more than 50 years to provide children’s programs that entertain, educate, and inspire,” Mike McKenzie, director of programming at APT, said in a statement.

“More importantly—although we strongly encourage parents to watch television with their children and talk about what they have learned afterwards—parents trust that their children can watch APT without their supervision,” continued McKenzie. “We also know that children who are younger than the ‘target’ audience for Arthur also watch the program.”

“The vast majority of parents will not have heard about the content, whether they agree with it or not,” added McKenzie. “Because of this, we felt it would be a violation of trust to broadcast the episode.”

(image via PBS)

Interestingly, one parent heard about the LGBTQ-inclusive episode and recorded the show with plans to watch with her 9-year-old daughter. But Misty Souder told AL.com that she was disappointed to only find a re-run on her DVR.

Souder says she contacted APT about the censorship, and used the experience as a teaching moment for her daughter about the importance of standing up for others.

“I just want her to be aware,” Souder explained to AL.com. “There’s too much going on not to stand up for stuff, even if it’s Arthur. I never thought I’d be going to battle for a gay rat wedding, but here we are.”

This isn’t APT’s first time to censor PBS’s Arthur.

In a 2005 episode, a bunny character named Buster visited a girl who was revealed to have two mothers.

Yep - APT pulled that installment, too.

According to AL.com, then-executive director of APT Allan Pizzato explained, “Our feeling is that we basically have a trust with parents about our programming.”

“This program doesn’t fit into that,” he added.

Watch the full episode featuring Mr. Ratburn's wedding HERE.

Podcast: Equality Act, Gay Panic Defense Banned, Rocketman Premieres At Cannes

In this week’s podcast:

• The Equality Act passes in the House of Representatives

• Nevada bans the gay panic defense

• An Australian rugby player loses his $4 million contract thanks to homophobic social media posts

• FX's groundbreaking series POSE honored at the Peabody Awards

• The Elton John ‘musical fantasy biopic’ Rocketman premieres at the Cannes Film Festival

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

Brazil's Homophobic President Cancels US Trip After Public Outrage

Jair Bolsonaro (image via Flickr/Agência Brasil Fotografias - CC License)

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has cancelled an upcoming trip to the United States, where he was to be honored as person of the year by the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce, after growing outrage among LGBTQ activists and other groups.

The American Museum of Natural History last month announced it would no longer host the event with Bolsonaro.

Delta Air Lines, The Financial Times and Bain & Co are among the companies that pulled their sponsorship of the event because of Bolsonaro’s participation.

Otávio Santana do Rêgo Barros, a spokesperson for Bolsonaro, announced the trip’s cancellation due to “deliberate attacks from the mayor of New York and the pressure of interest groups on the institutions that organize, sponsor and host the event annually.”

Statement from the Brazil on the cancellation of President Bolsonaro’s trip to New York. pic.twitter.com/BjdW8hn3SO

— Ryan Ruggiero (@RyanRuggiero) May 3, 2019

A former Brazilian Army captain and member of Brazil's Congress, Bolsonaro took office on January 1 after waging a very anti-LGBTQ, anti-women and anti-indigenous campaign.

He's publicly said that he'd rather have a dead son than a gay son.

When asked if he was homophobic, he not only answered 'yes,' but said he is 'proudly' homophobic.

Shortly after being sworn in, he ordered Brazil's human rights office not to consider LGBTQ-specific issues.

Bolsonaro on March 19 stressed his government’s “respect of traditional family values” and opposition to “gender identity” as he spoke alongside President Trump during a press conference in the White House Rose Garden.

And last week, Bolsonaro announced he does not want Brazil to become a “gay tourism paradise.”

Wyoming School Bans, Then Un-Bans, Rainbow Flags

McCormick Junior High School in Cheyenne, Wyoming

Earlier this month,  I reported on an incident at McCormick Junior High School in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where homophobic and racist flyers appeared in the hallways of the school.

Students discovered flyers which read, “It’s great to be straight. It’s not OK to be gay. Black lives matter only because if it weren’t for them who would pick our cotton.”

“Join the kkk,” concluded the message, which appeared to be signed by “the confederate kid club.” 

After Kaycee Cook, a substitute teacher and co-sponsor of the school’s gay/straight alliance, reported the flyers she was later notified that she’d been fired by Principal Jeff Conine.

Since then, Laramie County School District 1 Superintendent Boyd Brown announced that he had identified at least one student believed to be responsible for creating the racist and anti-gay flyers, and that Cook was likely to be reinstated at the school.

But wait - there’s more!

Last Wednesday, 20-25 students who are members of the GSA were called out of class to a meeting with three faculty members who told them they could no longer post any rainbow flags, wear any rainbow clothing or anything LGBTQ-related.

According to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, Ashlynn Kercher, an 8th grade member of the GSA, said, “They told us it was a school distraction and ‘You don’t want to make other people feel like you felt when you saw the posters.’”

The students were reportedly told that if they break the ‘no rainbow/LGBTQ paraphernalia’ rule they will be written up on dress code infractions, and possibly suspended.

Principal Conine told the Tribune Eagle he didn’t know anything about the meeting taking place and that he had not decided to ban anything.

But Ashlynn’s mother, Abby Kercher, spoke to the district’s Title IX coordinator, John Below, who reportedly told her he and the principal had decided to ban the flags and clothing.

On Thursday, the School District issued a statementwhich read, in part:

“Because of the provocative use of flags, especially under the current controversy at the local junior high, the District will not allow the display of confederate flags on District property or at District events. Further, the District will review potential policies or regulations regarding the disruptive use of flags and symbols within the District.”

You’ll note the statement does not say the district is banning rainbow flags.

Superintendent Brown clarified the next day that rainbow flags were not being banned“as long as students do not use them to incite other students.”

(Source: Wyoming Tribune Eagle)

Stranger To LGBT Parents Of Toddler With Cancer: 'I Was Going To Donate But Found Out Parents Are Lesbians'

Tiffany and Albree Shaffer with their children (image via Facebook)

The parents of a one-year-old girl diagnosed with advanced cancer were shocked to receive a hateful message on social media from a stranger.

Diagnosed in January with stage four Neuroblastoma, little Callie Shaffer has already spent more than 100 days in the hospital undergoing rounds of chemotherapy as well as surgery to remove a cancerous tumor.

Her parents, Tiffany and Albree Shaffer, have created a Facebook page titled “Callie Strong, Tiny But Mighty” to share Callie’s progress with friends and family. They say the support has been overwhelming, and helped them through this difficult time.

But amid all the good wishes being sent Callie’s way, the lesbian couple were shocked to find a hateful, homophobic message from someone they don’t even know.

"My prayers for Callie. I was going to donate $7600.00 to her fund, but I found out her parents are lesbian. I've chosen to donate to St. Jude due to that fact. Sorry. I'll still pray for her though, but maybe it's God's way of getting your attention that she needs a mommy and a daddy, not two mommies."

Callie’s parents shared a screen capture of the comment on their Facebook page.

“This is a very sick little girl, who's life is on the line," read the parents' caption.

“For someone to actually send this and speak to my family in this way is utterly DISGUSTING,” they continued.

“Regardless of how you feel, don't say a word,” added the couple. “What Callie needs is love and support.....not hate and misery.”

Speaking with local NBC News affiliate WNDU, Albree admitted she was “shocked” and “disgusted.”

"That's mainly what it was -- shock and hurt at the same time,” said the mother.

“She's loved. She's being taken care of. Why does it matter?,” added Callie’s aunt, Trisha Lamb. “Why would you want to hurt someone who is already hurting?"

With a stage four diagnosis, Callie has a long road ahead of her. In addition to chemo and surgery, she will need radiation treatments and a bone marrow transplant.

Albree has had to stop working to be with Callie in the hospital, while Tiffany is working as much as possible to pay the family’s bills in addition to driving to see her daughter every day.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help defray the costs of the expensive treatment.

You can follow Callie’s progress on Facebook here.

(h/t WNDU)

Teacher Fired For Reporting Homophobic/Racist Flyers At School

(image via Twitter)

During the last week of March, homophobic and racist flyers began to appear throughout the hallways of McCormick Junior High School in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

According to the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, the flyers read, “It’s great to be straight. It’s not OK to be gay. Black lives matter only because if it weren’t for them who would pick our cotton.”

“Join the kkk,” concluded the message, which seemed to be signed by “the confederate kid club.”

#hideous

When the flyers were brought to the attention of Kaycee Cook, a substitute teacher and co-sponsor of the school’s gay/straight alliance, she contacted Wyoming Equality. The advocacy group works to protect LGBTQ people in the state.

The executive director for Wyoming Equality, Sara Burlingame, told the press that she had heard about the flyers from several members of the community.

“This is unacceptable,” she said in a statement to Queerty. “It does not reflect the values of Cheyenne. We’re not going tolerate this. And we’re going to show up and support our LGBT youth and our black youth with unwavering pride and support.”

Even the mayor of Cheyenne, Marian Orr, got wind of the flyers and tweeted her support to Cheyenne youth writing, “Tonight, my heart is the heaviest it’s been since taking office. This is not right. To the youth in our community: You are loved. You are valued. We need you to take us forward. You are Cheyenne.”

Tonight, my heart is the heaviest it’s been since taking office. This is not right. To the youth in our community: You are loved. You are valued. We need you to take us forward. You are Cheyenne. https://t.co/NSvk0MRkKv

— Mayor Marian Orr (@gofishwyo) March 28, 2019

When the Wyoming Tribune Eagle contacted Principal Jeff Conine about the flyers, he seemed to downplay the issue saying there were only two flyers found and that they were removed before the school day began.

But others, including Kaycee Cook, told the Eagle that the flyers were “all over the school.”

In fact, anti-LGBTQ bullying has been reported for weeks at the school with little done to tamp down the hate.

Some students say they stopped going to the school’s GSA meetings because a group of boys began verbally harassing and bullying the members of the group.

One student who preferred to remain anonymous said the boys openly called themselves racists and homophobes.

There are even reports of teachers calling same-sex students holding hands “disgusting.”

Cook says she’s taken the issue to supervisors for weeks without any results.

Here's where it really gets messed up, though.

On March 27, Cook received an email from Principal Conine firing her.

(image via Wyoming News)

“I am notifying you that due to incidents that have occurred at McCormick you are no longer welcome as a guest or a substitute teacher in our building,” read the email.

Cook told the press she believes Conine’s actions were in retaliation for contacting Wyoming Equality.

The Laramie County School District 1 issued a statement about the debacle, which read:

“In the midst of an investigation regarding inappropriate flyers that were posted at McCormick Junior High yesterday, (LCSD1) is offering support to our LGBTQ and black students who were reportedly targeted through the incident.”

When contacted by the Eagle, Principal Conine told reporters he wasn’t prepared to make a statement about the email.

Since last week, at least one of the student's responsible for the hateful flyers has been identified. LCSD1 Superintendent Boyd Brown told Wyoming News that the student would be "disciplined in line with district policy."

Additionally, it looks like Cook's dismissal will be reversed and she should be reinstated at the school soon.

What a debacle.

Conservative Writer Fired For Homophobic Twitter Rant

Denise McAllister (image via Twitter)

A conservative writer has been fired by the right-wing websites The Daily Caller and The Federalist after going on an anti-gay rant on Twitter this weekend.

The issue began when Denise McAllister tweeted that she had “slipped” by trying to talk to her husband during a basketball game Friday night.

“Trying to talk to my husband while Carolina is playing. He looks at me and says, ‘Woman, you know better than this. The game in on.’ He’s right. I slipped. Commercial comes on. I fetch him a beer. He grabs me. Deep kisses. Patience and timing, ladies. That’s the lesson.”

Openly gay journalist Yashar Ali, who writes for New York Magazine and HuffPost, retweeted the post highlighting the words ‘He’s right. I slipped,’ and commenting, “Oh Denise” with an unhappy emoji.

“He’s right. I slipped.”

Oh Denise ☹️ pic.twitter.com/8cWlcGPtUm

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) March 31, 2019

McAllister responded to Ali writing, “A gay man commenting on a heterosexual relationship is just. Sad. Pathetic really.”

Ali retweeted that post adding, “I guess Denise is not happy that I’m worried about how her husband treats her.”

2. I guess Denise is not happy that I’m worried about how her husband treats her. pic.twitter.com/ZIJ6cTROda

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) March 31, 2019

McAllister escalated the back and forth telling the world Ali “doesn’t know his purpose as a man” or “as a human being.” She added that Ali “wallows and tries to find himself in another man’s asshole.”

In a since-deleted tweet, she also claimed that Ali might have a crush on her, adding, "Maybe I'm making him doubt his love of penis."

Ali came back sharing that, as an Iranian, a gay man and a Catholic, he’s never felt ashamed and wouldn’t change who he is.

I was bullied for being Iranian as a kid. But I never felt ashamed of my ethnicity. I came out on 8/17/2001 & while it hasn’t always been easy, I have always been proud of who I am. I’m Iranian, gay, and Catholic. Perhaps an odd combo, but I wouldn’t change who I am for the world pic.twitter.com/xGPzoDzM13

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) March 31, 2019

About an hour later, Ben Domenech, editor in chief of The Federalist, tweeted that McAllister would not be writing for his publication any longer.

In response to your many inquiries, we've spoken and Denise McAllister will not be writing for us at The Federalist any more.

— Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) March 31, 2019

In a deleted tweet, McAllister later shared that she “quit” The Daily Wire after Ben Shapiro, the site’s editor in chief, had reached out and informed her she was “no longer welcome” because of her anti-LGBTQ Twitter rant.

In an email Sunday afternoon to HuffPost, Shapiro reportedly confirmed that The Daily Wire has “no plans” for McAllister to write for them. He also underscored that McAllister had been a ‘contributor,’ and not an employee.

Eventually, McAllister returned to Twitter with an apology for Ali saying she had reacted out of “a perceived attack” on her family.

The tweet in question has been deleted. I apologize to @yashar for responding to a perceived attack on my family in the manner I did and regret any embarrassment I caused @benshapiro and the @realDailyWire as well as @bdomenech and @FDRLST.

— DC McAllister (@McAllisterDen) March 31, 2019

She also bemoaned the fact that she was fired for criticizing a gay man, but no one stood up for her when she defended "masculinity."

Charlotte Clymer, who works for the Human Rights Campaign, pointed out that gay folks can be fired just for being who we are in 30 states. #Touché

In 30 states, LGBTQ people can still be fired solely due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

LGBTQ youth have a suicide rate that is much as three times higher than their non-LGBTQ peers.

Seems like you’re struggling to recognize basic humanity here.

— Charlotte Clymer🏳️‍🌈 (@cmclymer) March 31, 2019

By the way, before you think these right-wing sites were suddenly standing up for LGBTQ people, it’s worth noting that Domenech is married to The View co-host, Meghan McCain, who McAllister recently had a Twitter dust-up with as well.

McAllister called the gabfest “a roundtable of delusional mental midgets,” and McCain clapped back, writing, “You were at my wedding Denise…”

So, her firing by McCain’s husband may not have been all that altruistic.

you were at my wedding Denise....

— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) March 26, 2019

Life in the Twitterverse, kids.

(h/t HuffPost)

Mississippi High School Bans Same-Sex Dates At Prom

Students at a Mississippi high school were given required attendance paperwork in order to attend prom that included language that clearly banned same-sex dates.

Via Yahoo News:

Students at Tremont Attendance Center in Mississippi were told to sign paperwork that included language stating that guests attending the Apr. 26th prom must be “of the opposite sex.” The rule was emphasized twice — in capitalized, bold letters — on the two-page form, and under a safety waiver that required student and parent signatures.

High school prom organizers that excluded same-sex couples from the upcoming dance deny the rule was homophobic.

“Guests must be 10th-grade–21 years old and of the opposite sex,” read the rule.

The form was shared on Facebook by Jack McCrory, a Tremont graduate whose niece is a current student. “From the open-minded and tolerant folks of the Tremont prom committee,” he wrote on Monday.

Trae Wiygul, the superintendent of Itawamba County Schools, did not respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment.

He told WTVA, “The Itawamba County School District does not sponsor or endorse proms. If prom is being held, it is a private affair hosted by parents. Since this matter allegedly concerns a parent, who is also a teacher, any activity that person may have done during school hours concerning a prom was outside the scope of employment and is being investigated.”

Wiygul said a teacher who passed out the forms is being investigated.

According to WTVA, a parent involved with prom said the rule was an attempt at “crowd control,” so students could not purchase tickets for unofficial dates. “That’s not relevant to a person’s sex,” McCrory tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

A Facebook post, allegedly written by a Tremont student and sent to Yahoo Lifestyle, says the paperwork was passed out by “multiple teachers” prefacing an intercom announcement from the principal, which warned that students could not bring same-sex dates.

Joshua Tom, the legal director of the ACLU of Mississippi, tells Yahoo Lifestyle, “Preventing same-sex couples from attending prom is discriminatory and unconstitutional. We’d advise that the county doesn’t repeat its discriminating actions from nine years ago or face legal jeopardy.”

Twitter Trolls Joe Biden For Calling Pence "Decent"

Former Vice President Joe Biden (image via Flickr/KellyKline - CC license)

Former Vice President Joe Biden came under fire for calling current Vice President Mike Pence a ‘decent guy’ while speaking at the Chuck Hagel Forum in Global Leadership at the University of Nebraska at Omaha on Thursday.

The comment was especially stunning for those familiar with Pence’s lengthy history of anti-LGBTQ policies and positions.

The comment came as Biden brought up Pence’s recent speech at the Munich Security Conference last month. During the speech, Pence mentioned greetings from President Trump to the audience which was met with stark silence.

“The fact of the matter is it was followed on by a guy who’s a decent guy, our vice president, who stood before this group of allies and leaders and said, ‘I’m here on behalf of President Trump,’ and there was dead silence. Dead silence,” Biden told the Nebraska audience on Thursday.

Reid Epstein, political reporter for the Wall Street Journal, tweeted the comment:

In Omaha, Joe Biden calls Mike Pence "a decent guy, our vice president."

— Reid J. Epstein (@reidepstein) February 28, 2019

Sex In The City star Cynthia Nixon called Biden out on Twitter, writing, “You’ve just called America’s most anti-LGBT elected leader ‘a decent guy.’ Please consider how this falls on the ears of our community.”

.@JoeBiden you’ve just called America’s most anti-LGBT elected leader “a decent guy.”

Please consider how this falls on the ears of our community. @DrBiden https://t.co/Cw2beknTj7

— Cynthia Nixon (@CynthiaNixon) February 28, 2019

Biden responded to Nixon’s tweet less than an hour later admitting the misstep: “You’re right, Cynthia. I was making a point in a foreign policy context, that under normal circumstances a Vice President wouldn’t be given a silent reaction on the world stage. But there is nothing decent about being anti-LGBTQ rights, and that includes the Vice President.”

You’re right, Cynthia. I was making a point in a foreign policy context, that under normal circumstances a Vice President wouldn’t be given a silent reaction on the world stage.

But there is nothing decent about being anti-LGBTQ rights, and that includes the Vice President.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) February 28, 2019

Biden’s comment got many in the Twitterverse upset:

Mike Pence believes in gay conversion therapy and allowed an HIV outbreak to happen in Indiana. No, Joe Biden, Pence is not a decent guy. He’s scum. https://t.co/QAHQQ6Nurp

— Adam Best (@adamcbest) February 28, 2019

Calling Mike Pence "a decent guy" may be the dumbest thing that Joe Biden has ever said, which is really saying something.

— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) February 28, 2019

I accidentally deleted my tweet about joe Biden and Mike Pence, but let me be clear.

Mike Pence is an asshole.

So to all you conservatives swinging from your branches into my mentions to stan for a dude who wants to electrocute the gay out of people: Go fuck yourselves.

— Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) March 1, 2019

Joe Biden what the entire fuck...

Mike Pence is a decent man? The same racist, sexist and probably the most anti LGBT supporter with legislative power..... that guy is fucking decent?

Yeah this is why Biden didn't make it out of Iowa in 1988 and 2008.

— Mr. Weeks (@MrDane1982) March 1, 2019

But Washington Blade reporter Chris Johnson points out even openly gay Mayor Pete Buttigieg has referred to Pence in positive terms:

To everyone mad at Joe Biden, know who called Mike Pence a "super-nice guy" two years ago?

Pete Buttigieg, the gay candidate running to become president. https://t.co/GZCOcqcYG9 pic.twitter.com/d8mfW134e0

— Chris Johnson (@chrisjohnson82) March 1, 2019

Biden’s comment seems like a conventional “my opponents aren’t evil, just wrong” sally. Obama (and most candidates for prez) said the same many times.
It’s an old political ritual that a Twitterized primary may reject. https://t.co/HSTc0UAdQ6

— Nick Confessore (@nickconfessore) March 1, 2019

Biden has a long history of being a staunch LGBTQ ally. He came out for marriage equality before his boss, Barack Obama did, and he was recently the speaker at the national Human Rights Campaign dinner.

From my perspective, I think the comment comes across as Biden just being affable in referring to Pence. I don’t think it was a full-on testimonial about Pence’s character.

I'm hoping small incidents like this don't inspire folks to attack our allies.

And, if Biden should run and become the Democratic nominee for president in 2020, you can bet I'll be voting for him.

Mike Pence's New Chief Of Staff Once Penned Homophobic Op-Ed Calling Gays "Repugnant" & "Perverted"

Marc Short, incoming Chief of Staff for Vice President Mike Pence

It’s common knowledge that Vice President Mike Pence has been no friend to the gay community.

A short list of attacks against LGBTQ folks while in Congress includes voting against marriage equality, opposing transgender rights, and opposing the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’

While governor of Indiana, he signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law making it possible for businesses to discriminate against the LGBTQ community, suggested shifting federal funds meant for AIDS research to programs that would “provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior” and more.

So it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Pence’s incoming chief of staff, Marc Short, penned an op-ed while in college that called homosexuals “perverted” and “repugnant.”

As the saying goes, ‘birds of a feather flock together.’

According to The Daily Beast, the essay appeared in The Spectator, a conservative student newspaper for Washington & Lee University that Short co-founded.

In the article, which appeared in 1989, Short wrote that AIDS activists efforts in the 1990s were a “propaganda campaign” that was meant to “scare all heterosexuals into believing they are prime targets for contraction of the disease.”

“The campaign’s purpose,” alleged Short, was to “both lobby Congress for more federal funding of AIDS research and to destigmatize the perverted lifestyles homosexuals pursue.”

He even went so far as to claim the LGBTQ community “celebrated” the news of NBA superstar Magic Johnson’s HIV diagnosis because it “refueled the propaganda campaign ignited by gay activists and carelessly perpetuated by journalists whose intent is to scare all heterosexuals into believing they are prime targets for contraction of the disease.”

While he did say that AIDS victims deserved sympathy, Short added “that does not mean that we glorify homosexuals’ repugnant practices of frequent anal intercourse.”

When contacted by The Daily Beast about the op-ed, Short issued a statement, which read, “I regret using language as an undergraduate college student that was not reflective of the respect I try to show others today. We have all learned a lot about AIDS over the past 30 years and my heart goes out to all victims of this terrible disease.”

Legendary AIDS and gay rights activist Peter Staley wasn’t swayed by the apology.

“I wrote stuff in college too,” Staley told The Daily Beast. “And I don’t look back and say, ‘Oh, sorry, it was my college years.’ You’re either on the right side of stuff or the wrong side.”

“He was taking classic Jesse Helms-style rhetoric from the late '80s and putting an early '90s spin on it and sounding like the fools they all were,” added Staley. “Guys like him wanted us to die. And they had an effect.”

The article surfaces as the public debate about past behavior and statements of Washington power players while in college continues to grow, like the recent scandals regarding Democratic leadership in Virginia involving dressing up in black face.

The Daily Beast reports that Pence’s office did not issue a statement regarding the essay.

It’s awful that @VP would hire someone who has such disdain for gay people and those living with HIV and AIDS, but it’s sadly not surprising given Pence’s own record on these issues. https://t.co/E33GxKK30g

— GLAAD (@glaad) February 27, 2019

(image via White House/public domain)