Have you heard the news?
Congress finally (finally!) reached a deal in the latest COVID-19 relief package and we’re all getting… $600!
OK, OK, not all of us.
According to The Washington Post, anyone who earns less than $75,000 a year will get $600. Anyone who makes more than $75,000 a year will receive a reduced amount. Families with children will receive an additional $600 per child.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Here’s what Gay Twitter has to say about the matter…
Guys I’m so excited about the $600 stimulus checks I can’t even decide if I’m going to pay rent for the right side of my bedroom or the left!!!
— Jack (@GayLaVie) December 20, 2020
a $600 stimulus check is so 2020
— alison (@gay4chickfila) December 18, 2020
We should force all of Congress to stay home for 9 months and only give them $600.
— Raging Gay Conservative (@RagingGayCons) December 21, 2020
$600 isn’t close to covering rent but it’s enough to buy a lot of gay pornography
— Prison Rabbit (@PeacefulMoron) December 19, 2020
Idk I’m an entrepreneur. I’m using that $600 to start a business.
— auntie gay (@internetdeputy) December 18, 2020
fellas is it gay to get $600 from the government? you’re literally letting another man stimulate you
— jubjub (@aquafreshXTREME) December 18, 2020
me finding out Congress wants to give us an embarrassing ONE TIME $600 stimulus check
pic.twitter.com/c6uiGi6LE9— christopher (@A_Trendy_Gay) December 17, 2020
If Congress doesn’t want the government to shut down, they should just give the government $600.
— Jack (@GayLaVie) December 18, 2020
$600 won’t even cover the parking tickets I got during the FIRST lockdown lmao embarrassing.
— ✨gay boy✨ ACAB (@hellahorchataa) December 17, 2020
What??? You mean giving away $600 won’t cure everything that ails the US economy??? 🤦♂️🤷♂️🤦♂️🤷♂️🤦♂️🤷♂️
— Graham the Old Gay Guy 🏳️🌈🇨🇦 (@gafdog) December 21, 2020
Republicans told us we could afford healthcare if we didn’t buy iPhones. You guys are really shocked they think 600$ is enough?! pic.twitter.com/px8sKbOS9i
— Gay Male Auditioning for the Role of Wiccan (@GayChemist) December 17, 2020
Now, some memes…
Kangol2
Americans had the opportunity on November 3, 2020 to vote in a Congress–Senate and House–that would have addressed this crisis dynamically going forward, since the House Democrats passed a far more expansive stimulus bill in May 2020 that would have helped Americans in countless ways, but instead, despite Biden winning handily, when it came to Congress, Americans chose gridlock, and now things are down to the razor’s edge with these two Senate races that will determine whether homophobic, billionaire-enabling Mitch $600 McConnell stays in power or not. We get the government, including this current failed and treasonous administration, we vote for and apparently deserve.
Openminded
Before you consider slamming the Republicans for ONLY sending $600, realize the Democrats were only “fighting” to give out $1,200. Would an additional $600 really make that much difference? It’s all a disgraceful joke. Those of us who are so f’ing “fortunate enough” to have made too much money to qualify for a check or have kids older than 16 that we are still supporting thru college still get ZIP!!
It shouldn’t matter how much you made or didn’t make last year, that’s history, if you got shut down this year, you are in the same boat that many other people are in. The ironic thing is I received a $1,200 check earlier this year for my deceased mother who has been gone 2 years now. I’m proud but pissed that I didn’t attempt to cash it. Honestly, if our gov’t can’t keep up with who’s alive and who’s dead, can we really have faith that they can actually keep up with votes accurately? I’m not picking sides on the vote thing, it’s just a fact. Those who are happy that Biden won should feel more “lucky” than “vindicated and right”.
Chrisk
Openminded
The Democrats have proposed allot more for people then just $1,200 checks. So yes. It would’ve made a big difference.
LegionKeign
I don’t know about all these whiners, but my below-poverty-level ass is incredible thankful to be getting even that.
Remember the republiscums weren’t even gonna let us have that. We’ve got about a month till the administration takes over.
Hang in there, cherish ALL your blessings no matter how SMALL and Goddess Bless.
Roy Ajax
Trump was ready to sign a $1.6 Trillion bill in October but it was the democrats that did not sign it because they were playing politics and didn’t want to work with Trump. Now it’s only $900 Billion… blame lands squarely on Nancy Pelosi, even Bernie Sanders said on the record they should’ve signed the October bill.
Chrisk
Roy Ajax
Congress still would have to approve such a thing. If it was that easy the Biden could just come in and approve the Heroes act.
RoughRugger
Um…Roy? You realize that there was far, FAR more in the bill that the Dems turned down than just the relief money, right?? Do you really think it was worth that money to have multi-billion-dollar corporations get immunity from any lawsuits pertaining to their handling of the pandemic??
barryaksarben
ROY the troll us here lying again. The republicans no I take that back as there is no republican party anymore. The trump party was demanding that corporations and businesses get total immunity fro any lawsuits stemming from their horrible covid behavior and other items that had NO connection to helping the economy or people but the 1% wanted anyway. Go away roy we are so tired of your bullsh*t. Go post to idiots who believe your nonsense just because you say it more than once. We gays are smarter than they trump deplorables you are used to fooling
Godabed
well you also have to remember that Congress and the election system currently is run by the minority of the country. Is built on white supremacy, corruption and suppression of minority groups. So in some locations it would be nearly impossible for them to flip those seats due to gerrymandering, no matter how good the candidate is. Look at Jamie Harrison and Lindsey Gramham. That tells you everything you need to know about this corrupt system. By all accounts Jamie should have won that race.
Jake123
It’s honestly disgraceful.
Cam
Just so I understand, according to Republicans, working class American’s tax dollars are fine to be used to bail out CEOs and Banks, Give subsidies to Exxon when it had it’s most profitable year ever, but can’t be used to support small businesses and give funds to people who lost jobs because of Trump’s disastrous Covid response.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
On the entire east and west coasts that $600 does not amount to half a months rent. Those of you who live in California (especially in the San Francisco area) know what I am talking about and those of you living on the east coast starting just above the middle of Georgia all the way up to the Canadian border know as well what I am talking about. Now lets go just a bit further with that. In todays world that $600 will not cover one months rent in the most drug infested cities anywhere in the country.
The problem is simple: people do not make enough money to support themselves off of one job and in major areas that I named above many people are working two and three jobs just to afford the basic necessities of todays world. Basic necessities in todays world now include cell phone/wifi internet connection/access, a basic cable tv access, an insured car because companies moved to the outer areas and public transportation is unreliable on top of gas, electric and rent. How does one do all of that on a $15-20 per hour salary in Los Angeles, NYC area…etc? Oh, by the way, in San Francisco rents being at $2800 for efficiency apartments. Even if the bar has no cover charge it still doesn’t mean people aren’t beginning to feel they are splurging when asked to pay $10 for one beer.
Chrisk
Yep. Basic slave wages. You’ll never get ahead in life based on that. We very much live in a rigged system.
Doug
I live in SF too, and I agree with your assessment. I’ve been living in a rent-controlled apartment for almost 20 years now, and $600 will just barely pay my cell phone bill and utilities.
cubcmh
Well, I’m making lemonade. $600 is 6 x $2 pint of beer (plus $1 gay tip) PER DAY for a month (if the bars were open), OR a12-pack from the store. That’s one month of dulling my anxiety over not having enough money for stupid things like rent and food. Thank you Congress! (You’re gonna pay for my cirrhosis and rehab too, right?)
dhmonarch89
not Congress- thank McConnell/Republicans- Pelosi/Democrats have had 3 different plans since May- including more $1200 checks, that McConnell wouldn’t even bring to a vote.
dhmonarch89
all the more reason why taking the Senate this year was/is so important! Maybe Biden will release another relief package in February…if the 2 Ga. seats flip 1/5- there’s a shot it will pass w/out McConnell as leader.
Josh447
This pathetic relief package scenario could tip the Georgia runoff to the dems favor. Everyday depublicans are sick of this McConnell crap too, and are also paying for his travesties by not having enough money for rent or food.
Caine
@Roy Ajax – you lie. Cheeto was not going to do anything and the democrats did not block anything. lies lies lies.
rray63
So given all the talk I’ve seen in here, what would be a good number? If we have to count on it for the foreseeable future, how about 30,000 per person? No that wouldn’t work in CA or NY, how about 60,000.? Or perhaps a sliding scale depending on your zip code? Let’s go with 45,000, now someone do the math and tell us how much that would cost. Possibly done twice in one year. Don’t call me a freaking troll, I’m not but someone think, remember how to do that?
Openminded
Ray, you actually pointed out a good plan although your proposed numbers are far fetched. I live in TN where the initial $2,400 most couples got was a pretty good financial boost. But, I said it from the beginning, different zip codes have way different COL amounts and the checks should have reflected that difference. I realize the gov’t claims they were doing whatever they could as quickly as they could and didn’t have time to factor in these differences but they have had plenty of time to come up with a better formula while bickering back and forth over this second round of do nothing checks.
TheAbsoluteTRUTH
Wow @royajax a gay man who understands it was that bitch pelosi who screwed it all up with her added pork thats why it didn’t pass earlier. Good job
Liquid Silver
Hey, on the up side, they did pass 11 more weeks of unemployment! That takes the unemployed who were kicked out of jobs by Trump’s complete incompetency almost a third of the way to the vaccinations they’re going to need!
(The BBC reports we’ll have about 50-80 million vaccinations ready by March–you need two, this is only the first, and no assurance you can get the second in the month required).
And they get six hundred WHOLE DOLLARS to pay for extras during that time period, like mortgages (or rent) and food!
But Wall Street got BILLIONS!
(It’s enough that nobody’s going to storm the place and do anything about it, though, so that’s nice for them).
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
Let us not forget that a second strain of that virus has appeared and the current vaccine was rushed to the public to calm fears. The current vaccines have not been tested on people with HIV, cancers, pregnant women or the mutated virus. This is almost like the late 1990’s when every promising HIV drug was meant with mutations of some kind. It takes a minute to be sure a vaccine is effective and I will wait patiently to see how effective. Imagine taking the vaccine but it has not effect on the mutation.
Liquid Silver
And the vaccine is not approved for children (anybody under eighteen). I left that out.
I’m not feeling stimulated, happy, pleasant…and frankly, that’s true of both the Republicans and Democrats who’ve had ten months to discuss this and left it until the last week. Save the arguments…Nancy dismissed the House and walked Friday before last until last Thursday, not exactly a good faith move. That’s when I sent a nastygram to my House rep (Dem) and useless Senator (Rep).
Openminded
Sister Bertha, is it not worth the chance that the vaccine may protect you from the current virus? Early reports state that it is doubtful that the new mutation will be resistant to the current vaccines so it seems like a no brainer to get vaccinated as soon as it’s available. Everyone is bashing Trump & his administration for doing nothing, yet now that a vaccine has arrived, you are planning on doing nothing.
Liquid Silver, I realize this has been very tough on many people but go talk to rental property owners and see how much they have NOT gotten from the government while being prevented from evicting or even garnishing wages to collect rents. Many landlords have the bank on one side demanding loan payments and the government on the other side preventing us from collecting any income on our investment. I’m more than willing to work with someone who is trying but I have 3 units with tenants who have not missed a day’s work but still quit making rent payment just because the gov’t says they can. Anybody who thinks these tenants won’t pack up and move the first day the eviction rules are relaxed is crazy. Sad to say that one tenant who got laid off early on has showed his gratitude for not having to pay rent by helping tremendously with maintenance and other issues around the complex. But, who am I to complain, I’m one of those rich landowners who has the audacity to try and get ahead in this world.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
I won’t get into a debate with you about the virtues that you see in the vaccine but I do want you to know that I sympathize with your situation as a landlord. You bought that property as an investment I’m sure and it sounds as though you are being taken advantage of and some how I have a sinking feeling your tenants are gay. People took advantage of an opportunity that presented itself and they should be held financially accountable. It is sad these people probably are not making enough money to support themselves even with two/three jobs but it is not YOUR problem that they chose to live in an area where those types of conditions exist. On the washingtonpost.com website there is a breakdown of the stimulus package and who gets what but nowhere in it does it mention landlords. As a property owner your property taxes are due in less than two weeks and it sounds like you do not have the money to pay them. I wonder what the numbers will look like once the mom and pops landlords such as yourself can’t pay their taxes and get closer and closer to foreclosure. Were I you or any other gay person in this situation I would send an email to all gay publications to get them to start updating their mentality where in a pandemic bra, panties and gender identification should take a breather every now and then and the economic plight of gay community business owners (and yes, landlords are business owners) gets some light shed on it.
Liquid Silver
Nothing’s perfect. Maybe Congress shouldn’t rush bills through in a matter of days…you should write them.
(If you detect my sympathy levels aren’t exactly high, you’d be right–I’m more sympathetic for the ones who cannot pay who you can’t throw out right now).
Roy Ajax
Openminded
I hear you about the tennants. There are a lot who are not trying to take advantage, but the few that do really can hurt you. I quit being a landlord because of people “withholding” rent because they claim the heat wasn’t working or the fridge broke. After the situation is fixed they feel they’re entitled to a free month because they felt inconvenienced for a couple days. I’d offer a discount for the month but nope. You can go to court to get the rent, but try to actually collect on that judgement is another thing. Sorry to hear about your trouble.