News Round-Up: August 15, 2019

Eliad Cohen (via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunks: Papa Party founder Eliad Cohen asks, "What's your favorite fruit?" Talk about a 'loaded question...'

• The Advocate: Democratic White House hopeful Michael Bennet has endorsed a constitutional amendment guaranteeing LGBTQ people equal rights.

• Raw Story: Donald Trump loves to boast, “The stock market has added more than $8 trillion in new wealth,” since he took office. Now that the market is going down, however, he claims it has nothing to do with him. Trump has already blamed the Federal Reserve chairman (whom he nominated), the Democrats, and today blamed - who else? - the media.

The Fake News Media is doing everything they can to crash the economy because they think that will be bad for me and my re-election. The problem they have is that the economy is way too strong and we will soon be winning big on Trade, and everyone knows that, including China!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 15, 2019

• Washington Blade: U.S. Park Police have made at least 26 arrests during the past year in Meridian Hill Park in Washington, D.C. targeting gay men after undercover officers posed as consenting prospective partners interested in a sexual tryst.

• Reuters: Israel has decided to block a visit by U.S. Democratic members of Congress Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar

• Twitter: While former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper ended his presidential campaign today with veiled hints he may run for the U.S. Senate in 2020, former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke (whom many have suggested he run against Republican incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in his state) made clear a Senate run isn't "good enough."

.@BetoORourke: "There have even been some who have suggested that I stay in Texas and run for Senate, but that would not be good enough…we must take the fight directly to the source of this problem..." pic.twitter.com/uUlSnULsJy

— CSPAN (@cspan) August 15, 2019

Israel's Netanyahu Says No To LGBTQ Leaders Ahead Of Elections

(photo: 24x7photo.com/Flickr - CC license)

LGBTQ activists in Israel are angry after meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his residence Sunday where he reportedly told them he could not promise to promote LGBTQ equality after the upcoming elections on Tuesday.

It was Netanyahu’s first meeting with LGBTQ leaders in ten years.

According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu said “opposition from religious and ultra-Orthodox parties blocked him from meeting their demands.”

In a statement from the group following the meeting, the representatives said, "The prime minister refused to commit himself to promoting equality of rights as a condition for the establishment of the coalition and expressed concern about the opposition of the religious factions in any coalition that will be established.”

Netanyahu meets with LGBT leaders for first time in 10 years https://t.co/DHJtkkD4Mp

— The Times of Israel (@TimesofIsrael) April 7, 2019

With the final polls showing Netanyahu’s Likud party neck and neck with his opponent’s Blue and White party, some political pundits say the Prime Minister took the meeting for the photo op knowing he wouldn't act on behalf of Israel’s LGBTQ community.

With that in mind, it’s no wonder the estimated 500,000 LGBTQ voters in Israel aren’t leaning in Netanyahu’s direction.

A recent poll showed only 6% of LGBTQ voters in Israel plan to cast their ballot for Likud, in the upcoming election on April 9, while 31% say they favor the Blue and White party.

LGBTQ leaders in Israel are concerned as anti-gay rhetoric has grown more intense in recent years.

In February, the Association for LGBTQ Equality sent a report to Israel’s President Rivlin which documented a 54% jump from 2017 to 2018 in homophobic incidents.

(h/t Times of Israel)

Israel: High Court Rules Same-Sex Parents Can Have Both Names On Child's Birth Certificate

(photo: 24x7photo.com/Flickr - CC license)

In a huge win for gay/lesbian parents, Israel’s High Court of Justice has ruled that the government cannot refuse to list both same-sex parents on a child’s birth certificate.

The decision, issued on December 12, comes as the result of a lawsuit filed by a gay couple who had adopted a son.

According to The Times of Israel, when the two men tried to obtain a birth certificate with both of their names listed as the parents, officials at the Interior Ministry refused.

The court case was filed in conjunction with The Aguda, Israel’s LGBT Task Force, which advocates for gay rights.

The unanimous ruling, by a panel of three judges, noted the decision wasn’t just about the parents’ rights but the child’s right to be recognized as the couple’s son.

“The principle of ‘the good of the child’ argues for the recording of his entire family unit,” wrote Judge Neal Hendel, “and doesn’t permit us to limit ourselves to only one of his parents in the birth certificate."

"The contrast with the treatment of a child adopted by a heterosexual couple, who has the right to have both adopted parents written in a birth certificate, is a contrast that applies both to the child and to the parents," Hendel added. “It is unreasonable for the couple to be [legally] recognized as parents but for the certificate not to give expression to that fact.”

The high court decision orders the Interior Ministry to issue a birth certificate with both fathers’ names.

The Times of Israel notes that the ruling could affect two more LGBT parenting cases soon to arrive in the High Court of Justice.

One regards a lesbian couple suing to have both of their names on their child’s birth certificate even though only one woman has a biological link to the child, and the other concerns a transgender man who wishes to have his standing on his child’s birth certificate changed from ‘mother’ to ‘father.’

News Round-Up: July 11, 2018

Imagine your doctor looks like this...? #woof

A few news items you might have missed:

• So, he has lots of clothes on - I know, I know - but this InstaHunk (above), med student Marco, makes my days with pics like this. That face, those arms... #dang

• Israel's Parliament has voted down a proposed amendment that would have allowed same-sex couples the right to have children via a surrogate. #Boo

• According to a new poll by Pew Research, when asked "What president has done the best job in your lifetime?" more than four-in-ten (44%) say Obama is the best or second best president of their lifetimes, 33% say Bill Clinton and 32% say Ronald Reagan. The Donald was only considered "best" by 19% of respondents.

• A recent study shows condoms are 91% effective in preventing HIV transmission. Previous estimates put the efficacy of condoms at about 70%.

• If a picture is worth a thousand words...

This photo is the perfect metaphor. Donald Trump clearly sees the world the wrong way when compared to other NATO leaders. Is it because he’s a moron, because Putin tells him to or a mixture of both? pic.twitter.com/RRGCN0Hw70

— Adam Best (@adamcbest) July 11, 2018

United Nations Votes 128-9 Condemning US Plan To Recognize Jerusalem As Israel's Capital

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley

From The New York Times:

The overwhelming majority of the world’s nations delivered a stinging rebuke to the United States on Thursday, denouncing its decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and ignoring President Trump’s bombastic threats of revenge.

In what amounted to a collective act of defiance toward Washington, ambassadors of the 193-member General Assembly voted 128 to 9, with 35 abstentions, to approve a nonbinding resolution demanding that the United States rescind the Dec. 6 decision on Jerusalem, the contested holy city, which also included a plan to relocate the American Embassy there.

Earlier today, United States Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley issued a direct threat saying the US will consider pulling funding to the world body should the resolution pass.

And in an email to the General Assembly members, Haley wrote, “The President will be watching this vote carefully and has requested I report back on those countries who voted against us. We will take note of each and every vote on this issue.”

.@NikkiHaley tells @UN General Assembly: "America will put our embassy in Jerusalem. That is what the American people want us to do and it is the right thing to do. No vote in the United Nations will make any difference on that." #UNGA pic.twitter.com/qqVZOJvgpd

— CSPAN (@cspan) December 21, 2017

BREAKING: A majority of the UN General Assembly just voted to oppose the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

America vetoed a similar resolution at the UN Security Council on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/pWUE6cJoug

— AJ+ (@ajplus) December 21, 2017

On Wednesday, President Trump warned countries that vote against the US at the UN that "we're watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We'll save a lot. We don't care." pic.twitter.com/gP6KVF4kE1

— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 21, 2017

Trump Visits The Western Wall

During his time in Jerusalem, President Trump visited The Western Wall, also referring to by some as the "Wailing Wall."

We all know Trump likes walls, so how could he possibly pass up this opportunity?

This makes Trump the first sitting president to visit the wall. Barack Obama visited the Western Wall in 2008, when he was a presidential candidate.

Both left "notes of prayer" in cracks in the wall.

You can see the contents of both notes below.

President Obama's note

President Trump's note (click the image to enlarge)

Trump: I Never Mentioned Israel When I Shared Intel With Russia

President Trump took a moment today during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to tell the press that he never mentioned the name "Israel" during an Oval Office meeting with Russian officials earlier this month.

“I never mentioned the word or the name Israel. Never mentioned during that conversation,” Trump said in Jerusalem. “They’re all saying I did, so you have another story wrong. Never mentioned the word Israel.”

However, as Kyle Griffin of MSNBC correctly states, divulging the source of the shared intel during the Oval Office meeting with Russian officials was never the issue.

By volunteering this information, Trump has now publicly disclosed more classified information for the purpose of attacking the press for something no one said.

Watch Netanyahu wince as Trump makes his statement in the video below.

Trump just said he never mentioned Israel in his meeting w/ Russians.

(That was not the issue—Story never alleged Trump divulged source.) pic.twitter.com/oSi8rQmQe0

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 22, 2017

HIllary Clinton On Donald Trump's Israel Waffling: "Israel's Security Is Non-Negotiable"

Democratic front-runner criticized Republican Donald Trump today in a speech at the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee saying his changing positions on Israel are more than disconcerting.

This is the kind of solidarity talk Israel wants to see coming from an American president.

Via the New York Times:

In a rock-ribbed speech in Washington that previewed how she might confront Mr. Trump on foreign policy in a general-election campaign, Mrs. Clinton said, “We need steady hands, not a president who says he’s neutral on Monday, pro-Israel on Tuesday, and who-knows-what on Wednesday.”

“America can’t ever be neutral when it comes to Israel’s security and survival,” Mrs. Clinton said, speaking to the annual policy meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the nation’s most influential pro-Israel lobbying group. “My friends, Israel’s security is nonnegotiable.”

Mr. Trump has said in recent weeks he would be “neutral” when it came to negotiating a peace accord between Israelis and Palestinians. The remark, in substance, did not stray far from traditional American policy. But his blunt language rattled some Israelis, who worry that it might mean a less supportive United States.

Clinton also invoked Tel Aviv's huge LGBT pride parade as an example of both countries continuing histories of self-determination and liberty.

“We cannot be neutral about Israel and Israel’s future because in Israel’s story, we see our own and the story of all people who struggle for freedom and self-determination,” Clinton said. “There’s so many examples. We look at the Pride parade in Tel Aviv, one of the biggest and most prominent in the world, and we marvel that such a bastion of liberty exists in a region so plagued by intolerance.”

Israel Disagrees With Trump - Trump Dumps Israel Trip

Trump cancels Israel trip after Israeli PM disagrees with his remarks about Muslims https://t.co/oaoC1xz4VF

— TIME.com (@TIME) December 10, 2015

Michele Bachmann: God Is Flooding South Carolina Because U.S. Turned On Israel

US turns its back on Israel, disasters following http://t.co/1hYq8GAP7j

— Michele Bachmann (@MicheleBachmann) October 4, 2015

(h/t JMG)

Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu Glares At U.N. For 45 Seconds Of Silence

Clip description: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu glares silently at the United Nations for 45 seconds after berating the organization for their silence in the wake of Iran's continued threats against the Jewish state.

Mike Huckabee's Holocaust Comments Leave Jon Stewart Speechless

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President Obama Slaps Back At Mike Huckabee Over Iran/Israel Comments

Speaking at a press conference in Ethiopia, President Obama slapped back at current GOP presidential hopefuls who have taken to making "ridiculous" claims about his policies, and "outrageous attacks" that were unbecoming to presidential politics.

The president was asked about Mike Huckabee's assertion yesterday that the nuclear deal currently under consideration with Iran would “take the Israelis and march them to the door of the oven.”

via Mike Huckabee Twitter

Addressing the question, Obama tied Huckabee's comments to other Republican 2016 nominees:

“The particular comments of Mr. Huckabee are just part of a general pattern we’ve seen that would be considered ridiculous if it weren’t so sad. We’ve had a sitting senator call John Kerry Pontius Pilate. We’ve had a sitting senator, who also happens to be running for president, suggest that I’m the leading state sponsor of terrorism. These are leaders in the Republican Party.”

Obama later said the comments by Huckabee might be an attempt at getting some attention for his languishing presidential campaign: “Maybe this is just an effort to push Mr. Trump out of the headlines."

The president summed up the current political environment like this:

“The Republican Party is shocked, and yet that arises out of a culture where those kinds of outrageous attacks have become far too commonplace and get circulated nonstop through the Internet and talk radio and news outlets. And I recognize that when outrageous statements are made about me, a lot of the same people who were outraged when it’s made about Mr. McCain were pretty quiet.”

“The American people deserve better. Certainly presidential debates deserve better. In 18 months, I’m turning over the keys. I want to make sure I’m turning over the keys to somebody who’s serious about the serious problems the country faces and the world faces.”

(source)

Tweet of the Day

Obama: Hey. Netanyahu: Hey. Obama: So, umm... Netanyahu: Yeah.... Obama: So you got, what, 25% of the vote? Netanyahu: Don't be that way.
— Jeffrey Goldberg (@JeffreyGoldberg) March 19, 2015

RNC Taking All-Expenses Paid Trip To Israel With Hate Group

Why are members of the Republican National Committee taking an all-expenses paid trip to Israel on behalf of certified hate group American Family Association? A group that says gays are "responsible for the Nazi party" and that "atheist Jews" are one of the worst enemies of America?

Hate Group Leader No More - Bryan Fischer Fired By American Family Association

For years, readers have seen me posted about the outrageous and hateful things that have spewed forth from Bryan Fischer - now formerly of the hate group, the American Family Association.

It seems all things must come to an end something, as the AFA announced tonight that Bryan Fischer is no longer the spokesman for the organization; the position he has held for years.

From the clip description:

Rachel Maddow tonight broke news that the American Family Association has officially fired notorious evangelist Bryan Fischer after a controversy involving the RNC and Israel. Fischer is notorious for having some––well, let’s not sugarcoat it––crazy views on gays, “homofascists,” more crazy views on gays, and… yeah, basically a lot of gay stuff.

Fischer is so out there, he concocted some insane conspiracy theory last year that the only reason Shepard Smith wasn’t freaking out about Ebola is because he wants to support President Obama‘s big government gay agenda.

At issue this time is an RNC trip to Israel that was apparently being paid for by the American Family Association, of which Fischer is the director of issues analysis.

Or, rather, he was. Until today.

Maddow quoted AFA President Tim Wildmon as dismissing Fischer as “just a talk show host” who is no longer associated with the AFA. When asked specifically what bothered him about Fischer, he cited “the soundbite quotes, you know, the Hitler and the homosexuality one… we reject that.”

I invite you to watch the video below where Rachel Maddow explains how this impacts the Republican National Committee and Israel.

Ding, dong, the witch is dead, which old witch? The wicked witch...

Israel expands Gaza offensive

The Associated Press reports Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has ordered the military to prepare for a 'significant expansion' of its ground operation against militants in Gaza.

US Embassy celebrates Tel Aviv Pride

US Ambassador Dan Shapiro prepares to march in Tel Aviv Pride Parade

The US Embassy issued this congratulatory video for Tel Aviv Pride 2014.

In addition, the US Ambassador to Israel - Dan Shapiro - marched in the pride parade and wished the those celebrating happy pride.

I should add my longtime friends Russell and Dan are visiting Tel Aviv for Pride and are in the video below for a short moment at the :05 mark!

Happy Pride Tel Aviv!

My friends Dan and Russell who have a quick cameo in the US Embassy's Pride Video

France's first gay married couple honeymoon in Tel-Aviv

As Gay Pride kicks off in Tel Aviv, France's first gay married couple, Vincent Autin and Bruno Boileau, are clearly enjoying life while honeymooning in 'the White City."

From the Times of Israel:

On Friday morning, after spending the night at the seaside mansion of French Ambassador Christophe Bigot, Autin and Boileau arrived at Tel Aviv’s Gan Meir for a morning of music and speeches before the annual Pride Parade.

“France has voted for the law of love,” Autin, a 40-year-old gay rights activist, told a group of reporters who gathered to greet him and his new spouse. “For us it’s very important to be a bridge, especially here in the Middle East, so that what’s happened in France, and the way we are received and embraced here, can become an example for the rest of the Middle East.”

Congratulations to the happy couple! More wine!

Finance Minister of Israel supports marriage equality

Yay! Let's hear it for Israel!