News Round-Up: June 13, 2019

Opening night of 'Potted Potter' in Las Vegas

Some news items you might have missed:

• I attended the opening night of the hit two-man play Potted Potter at Ballys Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas last night. The show, which parodies all 7 books of the Harry Potter series in 70 minutes, has been running for years in the UK. The original stars opened the show here and I was thrilled to take my uber-handsome god son, Josh, to the performance.

• During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, John Cena talked about getting 'accidental boners' during wrestling matches.

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) somehow 'straight-washed' his proclamation observing the 3rd anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting. DeSantis blamed the missing mention of the LGBTQ community on staffers. It was later added to the proclamation.

• A mother in South Carolina was arrested after walking into an elementary school and confronting her son's bullies.

• The Australian man accused of killing 51 worshippers at two mosques in New Zealand in March pleaded not guilty to all charges in a court on Friday.

• The 20 Democratic presidential candidates who qualified for the first Dem debates have been announced:

BREAKING: DNC announces the names of the candidates who will appear in the first Democratic Debates on June 26 & 27 from Miami. @chucktodd: "After months of campaigning and polling, the stage is now set." pic.twitter.com/fQbafzHr26

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) June 13, 2019

Florida's New Governor Excludes LGBTs From New Non-Discrimination Directive

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis
(photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr - CC license)

As new governors take office across the nation, many begin their tenures by issuing executive orders banning discrimination in terms of state government.

Both Michigan and Wisconsin saw their respective new governors, both Democrats, issue anti-discrimination orders quickly after being sworn in.

Those orders prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, age, race, color, national origin, religion disability, marital status, sexual orientation and gender identity in regard to state employment and state contracting.

But in Florida, it’s a very different situation.

Newly-seated Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis did sign a non-discrimination executive order this week, but the omission of LGBT protections in his directive is glaring.

Equality Florida’s senior political director, Joe Saunders, was quick to call out DeSantis for excluding LGBT Floridian’s in his executive order.

“Equality Florida is deeply disappointed to see that LGBTQ employees and contractors have been left out of the governor’s executive order,” Saunders said.

The lack of LGBT-inclusive protections is a sad continuation of Florida’s previous governor, Republican Rick Scott, who refused to issue an anti-LGBT discrimination executive order, even following the devastating mass-shooting at Pulse Nightclub on June 12, 2016, that left 49 LGBTQ people dead.

“As governors across the country establish these critical protections for LGBTQ families, this order draws a stark contrast,” said Saunders.

“We look forward to a dialogue with Gov. DeSantis about why LGBTQ employees have been omitted from this critical policy and how he plans to make sure that all Floridians, regardless of who they are or who they love, can be protected from discrimination,” he added.

Florida: GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Says Voters Shouldn't "Monkey This Up" Voting For HIs Black Opponent

Ron DeSantis (L), Andrew Gillum (R)

Check out the dog whistle from Florida's newly-crowned Republican candidate for governor, Ron DeSantis, who says Floridians shouldn't "monkey this up" by electing his "articulate" Democratic opponent, Tallehasse Mayor Andrew Gillum, a black man.

Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis used the term 'monkey around' about his Black opponent Andrew Gillum pic.twitter.com/i2veCn8XzS

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) August 29, 2018

Now, racists have used the term "monkey" for decades to refer to black people.

DeSantis' campaign claims "monkey this up" is a phrase he uses all the time and it has nothing to do with race.

I've personally never heard the phrase in my life, and I tend to get around.

And what's with acknowledging Gillum as "articulate?"

#dogwhistle

Fox News apologized for DeSantis' comments a short time later.

The mayor of Tallehasse would be the first African-American to lead the state.  

Gillum clapped back with dignity:

Andrew Gillum's response to the remarks made by Ron DeSantis. pic.twitter.com/7Q4kMx52aO

— Red T Raccoon (@RedTRaccoon) August 29, 2018

No one really uses the expression “monkey this up,” even when they’re not running against a black man for governor It isn’t whether he intended that to be racist. It was racist. No walkback changes that. Nothing to add. https://t.co/Tr0GsJXUOx

— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) August 29, 2018