Texas Gay Bar Faces Boycott After Trump-Supporting Owner Announces Run For Congress

Mauro Garza (image via campaign website)

The LGBTQ community of San Antonio, Texas, is boycotting a local gay bar after the Trump-loving owner announced he is running for the Republican nomination for Congress in the county's district.

Mauro Garza is the openly-gay owner of the Pegasus Nightclub in San Antonio.

He has announced he will be running for the GOP nomination for the state's 20th Congressional District hoping to face-off against incumbent Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro, a longtime LGBTQ ally.

His announcement tweet garnered one 'Like.'

I would like to thank the Bexar County Republican Women for allowing me to announce my candidacy for US Congress District 20 (TX) #SanAntonio #Texas #Congress #candidate

— Mauro Garza (@Mauro4Texas) August 10, 2019

Texas’ 20th District is located in Jefferson County - the state’s only ‘pivot’ county. Pivot counties are those that voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 but went to Donald Trump in 2016.

Castro, who was first elected to Congress in 2012, easily won reelection in 2018 with more than 80 percent of the vote.

Garza proudly identifies as conservative and is a member of the Log Cabin Republicans.

An enthusiastic supporter of Donald Trump, he campaigned in 2018 to be the Republican nominee for Texas’ 21st District but fell woefully short of winning the nomination coming in 15th in the Republican primary garnering less than 1 percent of the vote.

He’s mainly remembered for running around in a red MAGA-type hat with the slogan “Make TX-21 Greater.”

Hardly the stuff of political legend.

If you check out Garza’s Twitter feed, you’ll find a litany of anti-Democratic attacks and retweets from the Donald’s account. He’s also a staunch supporter of virulently anti-LGBTQ Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

The LGBTQ folks in San Antonio aren’t having Mr. Garza’s campaign announcement, and a boycott of his nightclub has been launched.

Local activists have launched a Twitter account, @ProtestThePeg, urging local patrons and performers to ditch the club.

The group also demands that Garza “sell Pegasus & the property itself so that LGBTQ money no longer goes to supporting xenophobic, racist, misogynistic, and anti-LGBTQ ideologies.”

We are hoping that RuGirls (& anyone that uses our interests to build wide-reaching platforms & wealth) join us to denounce support for anti-LGBTQIA+ movements. @RuPaul @RuPaulsDragRace @VH1 @Viacom @WorldOfWonder @LatriceRoyale

— Protest the Peg (@PegProtest) August 13, 2019

On Fri, Aug. 9, @Mauro4Texas announced his @GOP run for @USCongress #TX20. His club, The Pegasus, books drag performers from around the nation, we are calling for a nationwide boycott in an effort to defund his contributions to anti-LGBTQIA+ politicians/platforms. #ProtestThePeg pic.twitter.com/hEoUG0ctmE

— Protest the Peg (@PegProtest) August 12, 2019

We demand @Mauro4Texas sell Pegasus & the property itself so that #LGBTQ money no longer goes to supporting xenophobic, racist, misogynistic, and anti-LGBTQ ideologies.

We will continue the boycott until he’s out of business or sells it all. #ProtestThePeg #SanAntonio pic.twitter.com/EqsIrRU45d

— Protest the Peg (@PegProtest) August 13, 2019

In their call for a nationwide boycott, Protest The Peg singled out RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Kennedy Davenport who performed at Pegasus in July and has shown no public support for the boycott.

“We understand there are many artists who rely on the entertainment industry as their source of income,” they wrote in a statement. “We are fully aware of the limits systemic oppression can impose on us to secure employment and meet our needs. We recognize that our spaces are the safest for LGBTQIA+ talent to work.”

“However, the LGBTQIA+ entertainment industry provides different platforms that reach large audiences,” the group continued. “We ask that you use those platforms responsibly and refrain from contracting talent to attend or perform at Pegasus Nightclub.”

On his campaign website, Garza promises to “advocate Conservative Reform for the LGBT+ Community,” whatever that might be.

Totally-Not-Gay Former Congressman & The 'Abs Over Principles' Instagrammer

'Totally-not-tipping' Aaron Schock (screen capture)

Totally-not-gay, former GOP congressman Aaron Schock reappeared on social media again, this time on the Instagram account of someone named Jeremy Cormier.

Other outlets are designating Cormier as an Instagram "influencer," but I've honestly never heard of him. This post will probably be the most exposure he ever receives, considering after perusing his IG account, his life goals seem to be perfecting his abs and hanging with shirtless boys.

A trainer friend of mine pointed out he might want to balance some other body parts during workouts like his under-developed pecs or even consider a 'leg day' once in a while, but I'm not an expert so,...

Posting a photo of himself with Schock on his account, Cormier captioned the post, "Beach bros."

Now, Cormier could have just shared the pic with "a guy with great abs," but instead went to the trouble of tagging Schock in the photo. So, Cormier had to know the attention (and not the good kind) he was about to attract.

And, maybe that's the point. As one commenter wrote, "When abs are more important than principles."

As I've reported many times, during his time in the House of Representatives, the Republican congressman from Illinois took public positions against LGBTQ issues like voting against the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, and for the anti-same-sex marriage Defense of Marriage bill. All while rumors abounded that he was a closeted gay.

In the past several months, Schock has been seen hanging with shirtless gays at Coachella, as well as making out and sliding his hands down the pants of a guy at the music festival as well.

In the photo above, Schock was captured tipping a gay go-go dancer in Mexico City.

You can find more on Mr. Schock's escapades here.

View this post on Instagram

Beach Bros ☀️🏖

A post shared by Jeremy Cormier (@jeremycormier) on Aug 9, 2019 at 9:32am PDT

James Duke Mason, who previously shared the photo of Schock at Coachella, wrote on the post:

"Jeremy, you know I love you, and you’re entitled of course to associate with whomever you choose to associate with- but this is disappointing. I don’t know who @aaronschock is in his heart, but this is a man who spent a decade actively fighting our rights and has STILL not apologized for it publicly. Think about the LGBT youth who have literally taken their lives because of anti-gay politicians like Aaron. This post really breaks my heart."

Many of the comments noted the vast dearth of people of color in Cormier's IG account.

I scrolled through his entire IG feed going back to 2013. There's seriously not one black or brown face in any photo. In six years of posts.

Oh, wait - I did see one Asian man in a photo from 2016, but that was about it in terms of diversity.

Other than his abs, the only thing on display appears to be a sea of white gay men.

I think that tells us everything we need to know.

Maybe Cormier has more in common with Mr. Schock than we know.

Just to prove irony is dead, Mr. Cormier's next IG post was attending a same-sex wedding, which Schock opposed while in office.

This post pretty much sums up his entire Instagram feed.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jeremy Cormier (@jeremycormier) on Jan 15, 2018 at 9:31am PST

More the comments section:

"Nothing to see here, just a disgraced anti-gay politician who refuses to acknowledge his hypocrisy and the harm he has done to our community..."

"The dude's Instagram feed is all the response y'all need. Look at it. What do you notice? Jeremy is more comfortable posting photos with antigay politicians than with anyone who isn't nonwhite. White supremacy is a spectrum and takes on several forms from mild to serious, but the reality is Jeremy probably just shares Aaron's worldview. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯"

"What do y'all expect from an Instagram that's a sea of white faces. These instagays who live in the world's most diverse cities (New York, Los Angeles, etc.) and yet manage to never socialize with or build friendships with a single person who isn't white have long ago told us who they are."

"I thought trash was picked up on Mondays in Malibu."

"This is so fucking corny and so typical of the instagay community. How do you not care he voted against our communities interest while in congress?"

"It’s the epitome of what white gay privilege looks like."

Note - I did email Mr. Cormier to see if he had any statement he'd like to make about the post and Mr. Schock. I've not received a reply at this time. If he does respond, I'll be sure to update this post.

Gay Quisling In White House Sees No Problem With Trump's LGBTQ Policies

Deputy White House press secretary Judd Deere (images via Instagram)

Openly gay Judd Deere lives in Washington, D.C. He has a boyfriend, attended DC Pride, and currently serves in the Trump White House as Deputy Press Secretary.

Tasked with touting Donald Trump’s policies - including those that erode LGBTQ progress - Deere recently told Buzzfeed News he doesn’t care what the LGBTQ community thinks of him. He says his rise in the Trump administration is proof Trump isn’t homophobic.

“I’m completely open about who I am,” Deere told Buzzfeed. “These individuals that I work with in this building don’t treat me any differently because I’m gay.”

But, there is a caveat to that statement as Deere admits he doesn’t “walk into the White House every day and say, ‘I’m Judd Deere; I’m gay.’”

Adding that the president “doesn’t treat me any different” because he’s gay, Deere cops to not knowing if Trump even knows he identifies as gay.

Like former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Deere is originally from Arkansas.

He previously worked for the state’s Attorney General which fought against listing both same-sex parents on a child’s birth certificate. Striking down Fayetteville’s LGBTQ nondiscrimination ordinance was also on the menu during his time there.

“I focused on hiring the very best people, and that’s why I hired Judd,” wrote Sanders, in an email to Buzzfeed. “I am proud to have him on our team to help on LGBT issues as well as the many others in his portfolio.”

(image via Instagram/JuddPDeere)

Speaking of ‘helping on LGBT issues,’ Deere says he has no problem with the Trump administration’s policies regarding the community.

His position is that none of the controversial, news-making policies are really discriminatory.

On whether a baker can turn away a same-sex couple looking for a wedding cake?

“Yeah, that’s fine,” says Deere. “I’ll just go find another cake shop that will.”

Trump’s ban on transgender military service members, Deere says trans soldiers “erode military readiness,” and adds that the ban was “developed through extensive studies within the military by senior military officials.”

Not true - Trump’s own generals have publicly shared they were surprised by the July 2017 tweets announcing the ban.

When it comes to allowing healthcare providers to deny treatment to LGBTQ people based on ‘sincerely held religious beliefs,’ Deere (towing the administration line) says Trump is protecting ‘conscience rights.’

Buzzfeed’s Dominic Holden asked Deere what Trump has done for LGBTQ Americans, and Deere points to the president’s promise to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, as well as launching a “global campaign to decriminalize homosexuality.”

Across the board, though, Deere maintains that any notion the Trump administration is anti-LGBTQ is “just a smear campaign.”

And when it comes to how he himself might be perceived after agreeing to the Buzzfeedinterview, the deputy press secretary is unfazed.

“I don't go into a dark depression because somebody hates the person I work for, or wants to get upset at me because they think I'm crazy for working here, because it just doesn't matter to me,” said Deere.

(source: Buzzfeed News)

'Totally-Not-Gay' But Caught With His Hand In The 'Tip Jar'

'Totally-not-tipping' Aaron Schock (screen capture)

'Totally-not-gay' former Republican Congressman Aaron Schock was recently caught on video tipping a go-go dancer at Boy Bar, a gay club in Mexico City this past weekend.

The Daily Mail was first to share the video footage which quickly went viral.

“The last person I would expect to see in Boy Bar is a former Republican congressman,” said the individual who recorded 37-year-old Schock at the nightclub. “I was taking a video of the go-go dancer on stage and all of a sudden I saw him.

"He looked like he was enjoying himself," added the source.

Here's a GIF of Aaron Schock tipping the hot go-go dancer in the Mexico City gay bar. pic.twitter.com/tY1WmL07jp

— 🇺🇸🌊 Kal-El of Krypton 🏳️‍🌈🌽 (@MadeOnKrypton) June 27, 2019

To be honest, I'm terrible with faces, so I don't know that I would have recognized the former lawmaker in a gay bar in another country.

But Schock did post on his Instagram that he was visiting Mexico City over the weekend, so...

View this post on Instagram

Caminando por el castillo. #mexicocity🇲🇽

A post shared by Aaron Schock (@aaronschock) on Jun 22, 2019 at 5:15pm PDT

Schock resigned from Congress in 2015 amid allegations he had misappropriated campaign funds for his own use.

This past March, federal prosecutors agreed to drop 24 charges of fraud, making false statements and theft of government funds if he repaid more than $100,000 in misappropriated funds.

Over the past several months, Schock, who has never publicly come out, has been spotted frolicking with shirtless gay men in a number of locales including the Coachella festival and a West Hollywood hotel pool.

Long suspected of being gay, Schock angered the LGBTQ community by voting against LGBTQ rights and interests during his time in the House.

As a congressman representing Illinois, he voted against the repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell," against adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the federal hate crime laws, and for the Defense of Marriage Act, which would have defined marriage as only between a man and a woman.

To be clear, I'm never one to out a gay person UNLESS they used their position to harm the LGBTQ community while enjoying the privileges that we've fought for.

The Twitterverse has had a field day with the new-found video clip:

“Hey Cutie, I’m Aaron Schock. As a congressman I voted against marriage equality, the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and Equal Protections for LGBT folk. Now hold still while I shove this dollar down your shorts.” pic.twitter.com/YLGDXrW9Ei

— Greg Hogben (@MyDaughtersArmy) June 27, 2019

Ladies, get yourself a man that looks at you the way Anti-Gay GOP Congressman Aaron Schock does tipping a Go-Go boy in a Mexico City gay bar pic.twitter.com/CcgL4FlPUf

— skylar (@notzaizu) June 28, 2019

@aaronschock I support your lifestyle choice pic.twitter.com/DDETnKqQus

— brian laughlin (@zombie_ducky_82) June 28, 2019

There’s no shame in tipping male dancers. Lord knows I’ve done it a time or two. Then again, I’ve been out since I was 18, and have never been an anti-gay Republican congressman like @aaronschock. https://t.co/nQP5ZMBjHP

— George Henson, PhD (@unpoetaloco) June 27, 2019

@aaronschock at least you were decent enough to make some eye contsct pic.twitter.com/cUnBY4snEk

— Chucky. (@HolyShitItsWade) June 28, 2019

Aaron Schock: "I don't mind male strippers being gay, I just don't know why they have to shove it down my throat all the time." https://t.co/fpoi2I7Msh

— Amir Talai (@AmirTalai) June 28, 2019

@aaronschock I hope it was a "big" tip! pic.twitter.com/bvWMgwyIdJ

— SHC Ultra (@ShcUltra) June 28, 2019

Aaron Schock: I'm Not Planning A 2020 Run For Congress

Aaron Schock (image via Instagram)

Former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock tells the Peoria Journal-Star that he has no plans to run for his old seat in Congress.

Earlier this week, I reported that Schock had recently updated his Statement of Organization with the Federal Election Commission. The update included the language "office sought" as Illinois' 18th District - the office he held for several years.

The former lawmaker told the Journal-Star that the recent filing on the account “simply changed the treasurer back to me.” The history on the FEC filing indicates the previous treasurer had been listed as Paul Kilgore. 

The account’s funds currently register as zero, and Schock said that “we don’t need a big third-party compliance firm like we had been using. They’re expensive.”

In 2015, Schock resigned from office in disgrace for alleged financial misconduct regarding his campaign funds.

Back in March, the Justice Department agreed to drop the corruption case involving false expense claims and inappropriate use of campaign funds. In exchange for paying $110,000 in restitution and taxes, the 24 felony counts against him were dropped.

The agreement did not require him to admit any wrongdoing, and left him without a criminal conviction.

At the time, the Republican told CBS News that he hadn’t shut the door on a possible return to politics at some point in the future.

“At 37-years-old, I don’t think I’ll ever say never,” said Schock.

FEC Filing - Is 'Totally-Not-Gay' Aaron Schock Running For Congress Again?

Aaron Schock (image via Instagram)

Is former Congressman/current West Hollywood gadabout Aaron Schock planning on running for Congress again soon?

Just days ago a Statement of Organization was filed or updated with the Federal Election Commission by Schock for Congress.

The date shown is June 7, 2019 and the form indicates it was signed by Schock himself.

The office sought is listed as Illinois’ 18th Congressional District and the party? Yep, still Republican.

The 38-year-old is also named as the Treasurer, although there’s not much to tend to since the Financial Summary shows 0.00 funds.

In 2015, Schock resigned from office in disgrace for alleged financial misconduct regarding his campaign funds.

Back in March, the Justice Department agreed to drop the corruption case involving false expense claims and inappropriate use of campaign funds. In exchange for paying $110,000 in restitution and taxes, the 24 felony counts against him were dropped.

The agreement did not require him to admit any wrongdoing, and left him without a criminal conviction.

At the time, the Republican told CBS News that he hadn’t shut the door on a possible return to politics at some point in the future.

“At 37-years-old, I don’t think I’ll ever say never,” said Schock. He added that he had “enjoyed being out of politics the last four years.”

Of course, we know he’s enjoyed a lot over the last few years than just “being out of politics.”

(image via Instagram)

The ‘totally-not-gay’ former Congressman has been spotted and photographed hanging, kissing and getting handsy with gay men at Coachella, flirting at WeHo pools and apparently getting busy on dating apps.

Now, nothing wrong with that – unless you spent your time in office opposing LGBTQ rights like voting against the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ or supporting a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

(images via Facebook/Queerty)

For the record, Schock denies being gay. So, there.

It is difficult to imagine how a run for political office would play out.

The recent stories and photos would definitely come up at some point, and he would have to address those, as well his insistent denials about being gay.

Would a conservative-leaning, Republican district vote for him? Or, in a wider context, who would vote for him? A guy who lied over and over on the issue, and voted against a community that he’s a part of?

Does Schock have a second chapter in politics in mind?

Or, maybe he just re-upped the FEC filing for "old times sake."

We'll just have to see.

Coachella Gays Who Posed With 'Totally Not Gay' Aaron Schock Apologize: "We Didn't Know Who He Is"

'Totally not gay' former Congressman Aaron Schock (second from left) living his
best gay life at Coachella

Two of the gays who posed for photos with 'totally not gay' former Congressman Aaron Schock at the Coachella Music Festival last week have posted an apology to the LGBTQ community for not knowing who he is and his impact on the LGBTQ community.

In a post on each of their Instagram accounts, William Rossi and Rob Masi say they had just met Schock on the day of the photo, and had no idea who he is or how horrible he's been to the LGBTQ community.

"In regards to the picture we took at Coachella, Rob and I have been out since we were 14 and 15, respectively; and living as proud gay men in a loving relationship, who hope to get married one day," they begin. "We are entirely against Aaron Schock’s values, views, and actions."

"We had just met Aaron on the day of the photo at Coachella, and before posting it, we were embarrassingly unaware of: who he was, his political views, and the extent of his negative impact on the LGBTQ community which we are proudly a part of," the couple continued.

The duo say the inclusion of Schock came about out of a desire to be 'polite' to a stranger, nothing more.

View this post on Instagram

Please read...

A post shared by William Rossi (@willrossi3) on Apr 18, 2019 at 3:31pm PDT

"Rob and I wanted to take a photo with our friends at Coachella, to celebrate our last day there," say the men. "Being polite, we allowed Aaron – who was basically a stranger to us and someone we just met – to include himself in our photo."

The couple made it clear that "if we had more knowledge of his beliefs and past actions," they would have never hung with him nor included him in their photo.

"We would not have allowed Aaron to join the photo, nor would we have associated with him if we had more knowledge of his beliefs and past actions," say the men from San Francisco. "For our own political ignorance, we are deeply sorry."

They also include a 'call to action,' if you will, encouraging Schock to come out.

"We hope Aaron does decide to come out publicly and live the gay life he so freely enjoyed at Coachella, the kind of life so many out and proud LGBTQ individuals have fought for and have made possible for younger gays like to live today," encouraged the men.

They also say, now that they are aware of his past anti-LGBTQ votes in Congress, that Schock should apologize to the tribe he now seems to want to be a part of.

"And we hope if or when Aaron does decide to come out and own his actions, he apologizes and makes amends with the LGBTQ community, because he certainly owes us one," they conclude.

Here's a photo of the two men, sans Schock, at Coachella.

View this post on Instagram

The lineup of day 2 was shit so we spent it taking pics 🙋🏼‍♀️ #coachella

A post shared by Rob Masi (@rnmasi) on Apr 14, 2019 at 11:36am PDT

Quisling Aaron Schock Seen Hanging With The Coachella Gays

Aaron Schock (2nd from left - image via Facebook)

Eagle-eyed folks at Coachella this past weekend spotted ‘totally-not-gay’ former GOP Congressman Aaron Schock hanging out shirtless with a gaggle of gays.

Photos were shared in a Facebook post, Schock appeared to be having quite the time at the music festival posing shirtless with a group of men as well as looking a bit parched (or something) standing in a crowded tent (again, shirtless).

And Queerty is reporting that Schock was seen later making out with a guy as his hands were getting busy:

As the pics were shared across social media, several LGBTQ activists expressed their disgust that gay men would be hanging out with the former Republican congressman from Illinois who voted against LGBTQ interests during his time in office.

He had a voting record that was very anti-LGBTQ from voting against the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ to supporting an amendment to the Constitution that would ban marriage for gays. All that and more led to a zero rating from the Human Rights Campaign.

Before a financial scandal that promptly led to his resignation in 2015 - you may recall the Downton Abbey-inspired decor of his Washington D.C. office - Schock was making quite the name for himself posing shirtless on the cover of fitness magazines as well as traveling with his own personal photographer.

But that all went awry when he was charged with 24 counts that including wire fraud, mail fraud, making false statements, filing false tax returns and more in November of 2016. Just a few weeks ago, prosecutors agreed to drop the charges if he paid $42,000 in back taxes as well as returning $68,000 to his congressional campaign funds.

While he never came out during his time in Congress, rumors have followed the 37-year-old for years, including one from out journalist Itay Hod.

And former Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts (who came out in 1987) told Business Insider in 2015, “I don't know if he's gay or not, but if he is, he's forfeited any right to privacy because he votes anti-gay. My view is that people who are gay who vote to support the right of other people to do it have a right to privacy, but the right to privacy does not include hypocrisy."

Matthew Rettenmund of Boy Culture wrote about the Coachella photos saying, “It is appalling to see disgraced former Republican Rep. Aaron Schock cavorting at Coachella with members of the smug, white abs club considering his unapologetically anti-gay voting history.”

“From the closet, he voted against gay marriage, against rescinding Don't Ask, Don't Tell and more, and then he left office due to financial irregularities that he seems to have gotten away with,” added Rettenmund.

James Duke Mason, who posted the photos to Facebook, penned this caption:

“Normally I wouldn’t comment on something like this, but I am just infuriated by these images of former Republican (and anti-gay) Congressman Aaron Schock partying with a group of gay men at Coachella. The fact that he would think he could show his face in public, particularly when he has NEVER renounced or apologized for his votes against gay marriage, gays in the military and against anti-discrimination laws is astounding. My intention isn’t to out him or target him personally, but simply to point out the hypocrisy. I saw him at a recent gay social event in West Hollywood and shook his hand before I realized who he was; he should really be ashamed of himself. And the gays who associate with him without calling him out should know better. It really is a disgrace.”

Others on Twitter had some opinions as well.

@aaronschock Are you going to publicly acknowledge your history of voting anti-LGBT now that you're enjoying outings with your openly gay pals at Coachella?

— Joe Drake (@JoeDrakeNYC) April 16, 2019

.@aaronschock had a despicably anti-LGBTQ record in Congress. He never tried to make amends for the harm he caused. He should be ostcracized, not celebrated at #Coachella.

CC: MuscleGays™️ and RichWhiteGays™️

🙄🙄🙄https://t.co/JH9IEYUuXc

— Jeremy Rosenberg 🏳️‍🌈🦄 (@JeremyR1992) April 16, 2019

@aaronschock looks like you had fun at Coachella with some of my fellow LGBT brothers. Where’s the apology for voting against their rights while you were in Congress???

— Chase Stewart (@getchasers) April 16, 2019

OUT Journalist Comes Out As Homocon

(image via JoeMyGod)

Out Magazine writer Chadwick Moore (above right) shares with the New York Post that, due to the backlash to his feature article with alt-right homocon Milo Yiannopolous, he now feels the need to "come out" as a homocon himself.

At the time, LGBTs were incensed that Moore treated his subject with such kid gloves. This would perhaps explain why his OUT article was so flowery towards Yiannopolous.

After the article was published, Moore says many longtime friends dropped him, he got the cold-shoulder at this favorite gay bar, and even got called a Nazi for supporting strengthening U.S. borders.

He goes on to declare how liberals actually against free speech, and the many difficulties of being conservative in New York City.

From his  the New York Post:

When I was growing up in the Midwest, coming out to my family at the age of 15 was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Today, it’s just as nerve-wracking coming out to all of New York as a conservative. But, like when I was 15, it’s also weirdly exciting.

I’ve already told my family, and it’s brought me closer to my father. He’s a Republican and a farmer in Iowa, and for years we just didn’t have very much to talk about. But after Trump’s inauguration, we chatted for two hours, bonding over the ridiculousness of lefties. But we also got serious: He told me that he is proud of my writing, and I opened up about my personal life in a way I never had before to him.

I’ve made some new friends and also lost some who refuse to speak to me. I’ve come around on Republican pundit Ann Coulter, who I now think is smart and funny and not a totally hateful, self-righteous bigot. A year ago, this would have been unfathomable to me.

I even went on a date this past week with a good-looking Republican construction worker, someone I previously would not have given a shot.

Moore sounds a bit self-important when he writes, "Coming out to all of New York..." As if everyone in the world knows who he is? Ego can be such a funny thing.

It's hard to imagine how, reading his essay, that he's completely the victim in all this. I think he comes across as a bit too butt hurt over the Milo article.

And speaking of butt hurt - perhaps it's a bit oversharing with "all of New York" to respond this way when asked how the construction worker date went:

Gay Hotelier Ian Reisner Lied Regarding Making Campaign Contribution To Sen. Ted Cruz

Quisling NYC businessman Ian Reisner

Boys, boys, boys. You've GOT to get your act together and your stories straight.

For weeks gay NYC hoteliers Ian Reisner and Mati Weiderpass have been in trouble with the NYC LGBT community because they held a "fireside chat" with virulently anti-gay Sen. Ted Cruz last month.

Initially, the two men were "surprised" by the uproar saying they didn't really understand the degree to which Cruz opposes LGBT rights. And they stressed that the evening was not a fundraiser of any kind.

“There were no checks given, it was nothing like that,” Reisner told New York magazine.

Next, came the community boycott of their businesses including the niche hotel The Out NYC, followed by a full-on "apology tour" stressing that they will work hard to regain the gays' trust.

That lasted a couple of days until Weiderpass published an attack on the LGBT community including one passage calling the gays "cheap." Now there's damage control for you.

"It is amazing that my businesses are being boycotted by some because I hosted a discussion with an elected official. Not a fundraiser. Not an endorsement. A dialogue," wrote Weiderpass in an op-ed for The New York Observer. "Despite media reports to the contrary, I did not organize the Cruz dinner, but did embrace the opportunity—again, in a non-fundraising setting—to discuss a number of important issues, including support for Israel and support for gay rights."

Well, the proverbial "other shoe" dropped today as the New York Times reports that Reisner actually DID write a check to Cruz's campaign - for the maximum amount of $2,700.

It was only AFTER the scandal escalated that Reisner apparently asked for his check back - probably because the donation would should up on Mr. Cruz’s campaign finance filing when it becomes public in July.

“In the interest of transparency, I gave Senator Cruz a $2,700 check to show my support for his work on behalf of Israel,” Mr. Reisner said in a statement he provided after The Times learned of the donation from two people with direct knowledge of it. “When I realized his donation could be misconstrued as supporting his anti-gay marriage agenda, I asked for the money back. Senator Cruz’s office gave the money back, and I have no intention of giving any money to any politicians who aren’t in support of L.G.B.T. issues.”

Bolding is mine.

Umm, yes Mr. Reisner, contributing to a politician's campaign is generally seen as supporting their positions. Unless you inherited all your money, there's no way you could be a successful businessman and not understand such rudimentary concepts.

It just keeps getting worse for these guys.

Interestingly, when asked about the $2,700 check, Reisner's buddy Weiderpass seemed "surprised" to learn about the donation as he attended an event last night at New York's Marriott Marquis hotel.

And guess who also just happened to attend last night's event?

Yes - Sen. Ted Cruz.

Conservative Pundit Guy Benson: I'm Standing On The Shoulders Of Those I Now Belittle

Conservative pundit and Fox News commentator Guy Benson shared in his new book that he is gay.

And yesterday he took a media lap to the thrill of Teabagistan to celebrate his newfound "openness."

Stopping by Megyn Kelly's show, Benson gave "some credit" to the gay rights activists who, through decades of fighting for equality and dignity, make it possible for him to be openly gay in America today.

How generous.

"I just want to acknowledge, quickly, that I recognize that I am so fortunate to live in a country and an era where we can be having this exact kind conversation on national television. And I recognize that a lot of that is due to the fact that I'm standing of the shoulders of people who've worked very hard for a very long time, who probably don't share my political persuasion. So I just want to give them some credit in this. But I think when that crosses some threshold into punishing and purging dissenters and trying to exact punishments on people for not agreeing, that is not what we should be about in this country. I think we should be better than that in this country."

Hotel Owner Ian Reisner Blames Lack Of Profit On "Cheap" and "Entitled" Gays

Talking to New York Magazine with his business partner, Matti Weiderpass, hotelier Ian Reisner had this to say about the LGBT community and the boycott aimed at his gay-centric hotel and night club The Out NYC since hosting a "fireside chat" with Sen. Ted Cruz:

"You know, it’s so ironic — I wanted to build kind of a community center in the gateway to Hell’s Kitchen, which in 2008–2009 was already a gay place and now it’s even gayer. Very close to Broadway. We decided there’d be so many different ways to give back to the community. We show gay artists there. For gay performers, we have let this cabaret club go on for three and a half years.

"And you don’t make money when you let drag queens in on Tuesday night and 30 people drink at $10 a drink and you have to pay five people to watch over the place. You don’t make money.

"My only point is, this has not been a profitable venture. Gays are cheap. They’re frugal; gays are frugal. Let me retract that … gays are entitled … Do you know how challenging it is to make a penny off a gay person? I’m gay, I don’t pay cover. I’m gay, where’s my comp drink? [Everyone laughs.] No, I’m being serious! The Out NYC has not shown a profit yet."

Bolding is mine.

I'll point out here that:

a. Reisner himself is gay.

b. Reisner has run the gamut of being defensive to being "shaken" to his bones to now being just plain icky over his hosting the virulently anti-gay Sen. Ted Cruz in his home two weeks ago.

c. This is an excellent way to dig an even deeper hole...

More Cancellations For The Out NYC After Owners Host Sen. Ted Cruz

More LGBT groups are cancelling their events at Ian Reisner's The Out NYC Hotel after the hotelier hosted virulently anti-gay Sen. Ted Cruz in his home earlier this week.

The New York City Gay Men's Chorus cancalled it's Lily Garden fundraiser at the hotel that was originally scheduled for last night.

From the New York City Gay Men's Chorus Facebook page:

We wish we could say this was a clear, easy decision. It wasn’t. We believe in nuanced, complex discussion, and we think that dialogue with your opposition will always lead to positive change in the world. We cannot say who is right and who is wrong, and we hope the debate will continue.

We can say, however, that we made the decision because we want to be 100% clear in our support for the LGBTQ community. NYCGMC has a 35-year history of campaigning for human rights through our music. Our mission must always come first.

We are sorry that we cannot spend the afternoon with our friends and supporters. Besides being an important fundraiser, The Lily Garden is a fantastic event due to the tireless effort of Matt Levison aka Lily Putian. We are grateful that Matt has volunteered to reschedule the event later in the year.

Additionally, HONEY - Urban Bear NYC's official dance party - that was scheduled at XL Nightclub (located at The Out NYC) on May 15th has been put on hold until further notice.

Executive Producer Robert Valin of Urban Bear sends the news:

With talks of a protest as well as a boycott of the venue, and with others pulling out of their contracts, we have decided to put our dance party HONEY, scheduled at XL Nightclub on Friday, May 15th ON HOLD until further notice.

At this time, we believe this to be the best decision, as numerous members of our community and their families are employed by THE OUT and XL Nightclub, and an impending boycott could adversely affect their livelihoods. We want to do the right thing and believe that waiting until all the facts are in before making any final decisions is best. We welcome your thoughts as we consider alternate locations for the dance event.

"Broadway Bares Solo Strips" Cancels Over Ian Reisner's Ted Cruz "Fireside Chat"

Fallout for Ian Reisner after hosting a "fireside chat" with anti-gay 2016 GOP candidate Sen. Ted Cruz.

Broadway Cares has announced they are canceling Broadway Bares Solo Strips which was scheduled to be held at Reisner's hotel The Out NYC on May 10th:

It is with regret that we have decided to cancel this year’s edition of the Broadway Bares Solo Strips fundraiser, which was scheduled for May 10 at the NYC club 42West. We cannot in good conscience hold an event at a venue whose owners have alienated our community, as reflected in an April 23 New York Times story and an April 24 follow-up post.

We do business with and accept fundraising support from a variety of people across a wide spectrum of political and religious affiliations. The rich diversity of our community makes what we do together so special. It is a rare instance where the actions of a donor negatively impacts us as an organization and potentially jeopardizes our relationship with others whose support is integral to our success. But when it does occur, in a way that’s blatantly against all we stand and work for, we can’t pretend it doesn’t come with consequences. Silence is not a neutral position. It is complicit.

This is not about partisan politics or punishment. This is about doing what’s right to ultimately ensure that our commitment to the men, women and children we serve cannot be questioned.

Ticket purchasers are being contacted by email. If you have questions about your Broadway Bares Solo Strips tickets, please contact Cat Domiano at domiano@broadwaycares.org.

That being said, the big event - Broadway Bares - will still be held on June 21st at Hammerstein Ballroom at 311 West 34th Street for two sensational shows at 9:30 pm and midnight. Get tickets.