News Round-Up: March 20, 2018

(image via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Timeout Magazine shares its 2018 round-up of the 20 Hottest Dancers on Broadway including Mr. Adam Perry (above).

• From one lesbian to another: Former New York City council speaker Christine Quinn slammed Cynthia Nixon "as an unqualified lesbian" a day after the actress announced her run for New York governor. Quinn later walked her comments back.

• HUD Secretary Ben Carson told a House Appropriations committee today that transgender people in a homeless shelter make others uncomfortable.

• An openly gay Marine Corps veteran is running for a seat in the Alabama state House.

• Michelangelo Signorile explains why it matters that a gay man helped Trump backers exploit Facebook data.

• Justin Timberlake and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser welcome the thousands of protesters who are expected to descend on the District for the “March for Our Lives” rally Saturday.

I’m so inspired by the #MarchForOurLives students out there owning their voices. We need to demand action. Get out there and join the march this Saturday — more info here: https://t.co/PviopFKjAo pic.twitter.com/7sQxjLUyQX

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) March 19, 2018

News Round-Up: March 15, 2018

The Kings of Disco (not the Village People?)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Who's the 'real' Village People these days? It's pretty complicated, actually.

• Fort Lauderdale proves itself to be one of the most LGBT-friendly cities in America with the election of openly gay Dean Trantalis as mayor. The Democrat easily defeated his Republican opponent Bruce Roberts by winning 64% of the vote.

• When word broke that the Department of Housing and Urban Development ordered a $31,000 dining table for HUD Secretary Ben Carson's offices, we got quick denials that Carson knew nothing about the purchase. Recently released emails show, however, that Carson not only knew but picked out the new luxe new furniture with his wife.

• Donald Trump's new pick for Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, has a terrible record on LGBTQ equality. From opposing marriage equality to fighting open military service by LGBTS, he's been bad news for the community.

• Megan Rapinoe, the Olympic and World Cup champion soccer player who came out publicly several years ago, has signed a sponsorship deal with Bodyarmor sports drink.

• Ryan Worley of the Chippendales gives you an up-close peek at his totally awesome abs minutes after his Chipps calendar shoot. #Dang

Up close and personal of my abs at the calendar shoot. Thanks @ishiebmakeup @chippendales

A post shared by Ryan Worley (@ryguy220) on Mar 15, 2018 at 8:10am PDT

News Round-Up: March 1, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:

• Awesome illustrator Silverjow (above) reminds us that this is the lunar year of the dog! Make sure you check out his totally woofilicious art on Instagram.

• Washington state will be next to ban so-called "conversion therapy."

• Donald Trump says we need more teachers with guns in schools. And then yesterday, an actual teacher with an actual gun went nuts at a North Georgia high school. I guess that answers the question, "What could possibly go wrong?"

• Four-time married Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis has laughably penned a book about her "courage" to stand up for "traditional marriage." You'll recall she refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples due to her "deeply held religious beliefs" about marriage. #SanctityOfMarriageMyAss #ROTFL

• Out Olympian Adam Rippon has been invited to the Oscars!

• Actor Lee Pace, who plays "Joe Pitt" in the Broadway revival of Angels In America, kinda-sorta comes out in an interview with W Magazine.

•  A new Suffolk University/USA Today poll shows 47% of Americans would vote for a Democrat today versus 32% who would vote Republican. This is the third recent poll to show Dems with double-digit lead in upcoming 2018 mid-terms.

• Donald Trump's proposed budget cuts $6.8 billion from the US Housing department budget. But they've still got enough scratch hanging around to buy HUD Secretary Ben Carson a $31,000 dining table for his office.

• The new "Fab 5" from Netflix's Queer Eye offer their advice on how to throw a - what else? - FAB Oscar party.

The cast of Queer Eye

News Round-Up: June 9, 2017

(image via Instagram)

Some news items you may have missed:

• Come on, say it with Instahunk Alex Abramov (above): "Thank God it's Friday!"

• Democrat Jon Ossoff leads Republican Karen Handel 51% to 44% among likely voters among in a new Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll tracking the upcoming special election for a Georgia House seat.

• Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson defends federal budget cuts to housing programs for low-income people with HIV: “The pie is only so big.”

• Russian hackers are using Britney Spears' Instagram account to share cryptic encoded messages that control their hacking system.

• More than 18 million people tuned in to watch former FBI Director James Comey's testimony before the U.S. Senate yesterday.

• The Scottish Episcopal Church has voted to allow same-sex couples to marry in the church.

• Scissor Sisters and MDNR have released a lyric video for their collaboration “Swerlk,” a fundraising single in honor of the 49 lives lost in the Pulse nightclub massacre. Click over to http://www.SWERLK.com to donate.

Trump Officially Taps "Pathological" Ben Carson For HUD Secretary

(image via Facebook)

Only months ago, Donald Trump called Dr. Ben Carson "pathological" and wondered over and over what voters saw in Carson.

Fast forward to today as Trump is now nominating Carson for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

This is probably where I should state that Carson has no experience or specific knowledge related to "urban development" other than the fact that he grew up in Detroit.

Just weeks ago, Carson announced that he did not want any Trump administration cabinet position because he felt he didn't have experience.

Armstrong Williams, a close Carson confidante, told The Hill, "Dr. Carson feels he has no government experience, he's never run a federal agency. The last thing he would want to do was take a position that could cripple the presidency."

Now, remember - Carson says he has no government experience so he feels he's not qualified. And yet, he ran for the office of president of the United States?

Watch Trump from the campaign trail this year discussing "pathological" Ben Carson.

Trump Looking To Tap Ben Carson For HUD Secretary

Retired neurosurgeon and former Republican presidential hopeful Dr. Ben Carson is expected to be tapped as secretary of housing and urban development.

HUD is responsible for administering low-income housing assistance, fair housing laws, housing development and aid to neighborhoods in distress.

Carson endorsed Donald Trump shortly after dropping out of the race.

He was highly expected to be considered for a spot in Trump's administration, with many guessing the Health and Human Services department.

But soon after the election, Carson said didn't feel he had the experience to serve in Trump's Cabinet, calling himself "a fish out of water" when it comes to being a federal bureaucrat.

Regarding his cabinet picks, Trump told the New York Times on Tuesday, "We’re trying very hard to get the best people — not necessarily people that will be the most politically correct people, because that hasn’t been working," Trump said. "So we have, really, experts in the field. Some are known and some are not known, but they’re known within their field as being the best. That’s very important to me."

Considering Carson's background in medicine, it is not entirely clear what experience he has with housing and urban development policy.

I am seriously considering Dr. Ben Carson as the head of HUD. I've gotten to know him well--he's a greatly talented person who loves people!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2016

Dr. Ben Carson Doesn't Want A Role In Trump Administration

Dr. Ben Carson has announced he will not be a part of the incoming Trump administration.

Carson feels he shouldn't run a government agency because he has no government experience. He tells ABC News he would prefer a more "advisory" position.

Mind you - he did think he could run the whole country when he was running for president.

Think on that.

Dr. Ben Carson Endorses Donald Trump: "There Are Two Donald Trumps"

Former Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson endorsed GOP front-runner Donald Trump in an awkward press event today.

In previewing his endorsement, Dr. Carson initially tried to tell a story of "two Donald Trumps," before backtracking on what was coming across as an odd notion.

Finally, he got a little more thoughtful. Via Politico:

“Well, first of all, we buried the hatchet," Carson said, referring to Trump’s accusation of Carson being a pathological liar who showed the same destructive tendencies as a child molester. "That was political stuff. And, you know, that happens in American politics, the politics of personal destruction. All that is not something that I particularly believe in or anything that I get involved in. But I do recognize that it is a part of the process. We move on because it’s not about me, it’s not about Mr. Trump. It’s about America.”

Dr. Ben Carson Drops Out Of Republican Race For President

After landing in 4th place at the Iowa Caucuses, followed by last place showings in New Hampshire and South Carolina, and pretty much coming in 4th in contests across the country on Super Tuesday, Dr. Ben Carson has told his supporters he's pretty much reached the end of his presidential run.

From the Washington Post:

Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon who briefly led the Republican presidential race before his campaign began an extended public implosion, told his supporters in a statement Wednesday afternoon that he does not see a “path forward” and will not attend Thursday’s debate in Detroit.

Carson, however, did not formally suspend his campaign. Instead, he said in the statement that has decided to make a speech about his political future on Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland, just outside of Washington.

“I do not see a political path forward in light of last evening’s Super Tuesday primary results,” the statement said. “However, this grassroots movement on behalf of ‘We the People’ will continue. Along with millions of patriots who have supported my campaign for President, I remain committed to Saving America for Future Generations.”

Rumors have been swirling that Republican leaders have been asking Carson to drop out of the presidential race and, instead, run for Marco Rubio's senate seat in Florida where he lives.

I wonder if that will be part of his speech on Friday?

Stay tuned...

Major Campaign Aides Depart Ben Carson Campaign Team

Never a good sign that a presidential campaign is going well when the major players begin their exodus.

From Raw Story:

wo top aides in U.S. Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson’s campaign have resigned, the campaign said on Thursday.

Communications director Doug Watts announced his and campaign manager Barry Bennett’s resignations effective immediately in a statement, saying they respect the retired neurosurgeon and have enjoyed helping him reach “top tier status” in the crowded Republican field.

“We are proud of our efforts for Dr. Carson and we wish him and his campaign the best of luck,” Watts wrote.

News Round-Up: December 12, 2015

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Nick Jonas doesn't think of himself as a "gay icon" but feels more straight artists should embrace their LGBT fans more.

• The American Nazi Party really, really likes Donald Trump.

• Republican White House hopeful Dr. Ben Carson threatens to "leave" the GOP after rumors that Republican insiders were discussing the possibility of deal-making to decide the eventual nominee at the Republican National Convention.

• Soon you'll be able to send mail directly to Cuba for the first time in 50 years.

• Activist hacking group Anonymous puts Donald Trump on notice.

• Lin Manuel Miranda’s mega-hit Broadway show, Hamilton, will launch two tours in the US in 2016.

Ben Carson: "Deal With The Transgender 'Thing'" Somewhere Other Than The Military

Speaking in Iowa yesterday, GOP White House hopeful Dr. Ben Carson wished aloud that we should "deal" with transgender issues somewhere other than the military.

And, he added, he misses the good old days when gays and lesbians had to be uber-closeted to serve in the U.S. military.

“You know, we have too many important things to do,” Carson said at a “Veterans and Military Town Hall” hosted by the Concerned Veterans for America. “When our men and women are out there fighting the enemy, the last thing that we need to be doing is saying what would it be like if we introduced several transgender people into this platoon.”

“You know, give me a break. Deal with the transgender thing somewhere else,” Carson said before saying he prefers the old “don’t ask, don’t tell” military philosophy that ended in 2011.

SNL Cold Open: Fox & Friends With Dr. Ben Carson

Last night's SNL cold open skewered the funny folks at Fox & Friends - from their attitudes on Black Friday, Syrian Refugees and the war on all holidays, it seems.

Jay Pharaoh captures the nutty eye rolls and slow delivery of GOP hopeful Dr. Ben Carson.

Ben Carson's America Looks A Little Different

In attempting to side with U.S. governors who are refusing to accept Syrian refugees, GOP White House hopeful tweeted out a map of the United States that, looks, well... different.

Here's a map of the U.S. according to Google Maps:

And here's how Team Carson sees the nation. Check out some funkiness up in the New England area.

The odd thing here is, most folks don't just up and draw their own map of the country for graphic purposes. You use a template or an existing image. This looks like someone took a five year old's blocks and rearranged the country in the wrong order.

Of course, the tweet relating to the map is deleted now, and Carson's campaign is radio silent on the issue.

(source)

Donald Trump Goes After Ben Carson Over "Stabbing" Incident

Donald Trump asks "How stupid are the people of Iowa?" as he ranted and railed against the now infamous "stabbing incident" Dr. Ben Carson described in his biography.

From CNN:

Donald Trump on Thursday told Iowa’s voters that those who support Ben Carson are “stupid” to believe the “crap” that is his life story, part of a stunning 95-minute tirade that included his most aggressive attack yet on his closest competitor.

Toward the end of his wide-ranging complaints about the country and competition, Trump mocked Carson’s narrative about his violent temper as a youth that was calmed only when he prayed to God and asked for deliverance, an event that Carson describes as a miracle. That story of redemption has underpinned much of Carson’s support in the Hawkeye State.

Apparently, the rant went on for over an hour.

We were all wondering how long it would take for Trump to begin attacking Carson now that the good doctor has overtaken Trump in several polls.

File this under #InfightingIsFun

An Angry Ben Carson Gets Defensive In Press Conference

Ben Carson is learning that along with front-runner status in a presidential run comes closer scrutiny.

Today, a very defensive, and at times angry, Carson lashed out in several directions over new revelations about past statements he's made about his own personal narrative.

Ben Carson Admits To Fabricating West Point Admission

Politico is reporting today that Dr Ben Carson, current GOP White House hopeful, has admitted that he never applied nor was accepted to West Point.

The story has been a central talking point in Carson's personal biography for years.

According to a tale told in his book, “Gifted Hands,” the then-17 year old was introduced in 1969 to Gen. William Westmoreland, who had just ended his command of U.S. forces in Vietnam, and the two dined together. That meeting, according to Carson’s telling, was followed by the offer of a “full scholarship” to the military academy.

West Point, however, has no record of Carson applying, much less being extended admission.

“In 1969, those who would have completed the entire process would have received their acceptance letters from the Army Adjutant General,” said Theresa Brinkerhoff, a spokeswoman for the academy. She said West Point has no records that indicate Carson even began the application process. “If he chose to pursue (the application process), then we would have records indicating such,” she said.
When presented by POLITICO with these facts, Carson’s campaign conceded he never applied.

Ben Carson has repeatedly claimed he was offered a full scholarship from West Point. He conveys the story in at least two other books, “You Have a Brain” and “Take the Risk.” Carson repeated his West Point claim as recently as Aug. 13, when he fielded questions from supporters on Facebook.

New National Poll Shows Ben Carson Leading Donald Trump For GOP Nomination

A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll shows retired Dr. Ben Carson is leading former front runner Donald Trump of the Republican presidential nomination.

The new survey shows Carson getting 29% support versus Trump's 23%.

Sen. Marco Rubio clocked in at 11%, Sen. Ted Cruz at 10% and former Florida governor Jeb Bush 8%.

This is the second national poll indicating Carson now leads the race.

Stay tuned for The Donald's soon-to-come Twitter rant about how wrong the poll is.

News Round-Up: November 2, 2015

Boxer Yusaf Mack comes out as bisexual

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Did you hear the one about the straight pro-boxer who swears he must have been drugged because he doesn't remember starring in a gay porn? Never mind that he doesn't address this other gay porn he starred in.

• Sen. Ted Cruz and Ben Carson climb in a new Iowa poll as Donald Trump loses ground.

• Have I mentioned my latest theatrical adventure?

• Did you know big pharmaceutical companies can PAY generic drug makers to delay making those meds available to us, costing Americans $3.5 billion a year?

• Alleged Philly gay-basher Kathryn Knott heads to trial December 9th to defend herself for her part in an attack that left a man with a shattered jaw needing to be wired shut for months.

• "Pawn Star" reality celeb Rick Harrison bemoans the fact that he loses business for supporting anti-LGBT politicians.

• Despite all the moans from Republicans/conservatives, the U.S. deficit just hit a seven year low. #ThanksObama

• Sen. Marco Rubio surges to 3rd in New Hampshire poll after debate performance.

A Third Poll Shows Ben Carson Leading Trump In Iowa

Retired Ben Carson now tops a third poll in Iowa as Donald Trump's once dominant lead has evaporated.

A new poll via Monmouth University shows Carson during to a 14 point lead at 32% while The Donald falls 5 points from last month's poll to only 18% support.

The new survey shows Carson with the highest favorability ratings in the current field of GOP contenders with 84% approval. Trump clocks in with only 53% favorability. While that's virtually unchanged over the month, his unfavorability rating has gone up by 5 points.

This is now the third recent poll to show Carson with a healthy lead over the field in the Hawkeye State.

A Des Moines Register-Bloomberg poll released last week showed Carson with a 9 point lead, which led Trump to call the Register “crummy, third-rate newspaper.”

Plus, the most recent Quinnipiac University survey show Carson ahead by 8.

(source)