While Lenny Kravitz’s history of loving the gays and Zac Efron’s body shaving antics took over everyone’s social media feeds this week, the political power players were busy doing all sorts of things while nobody was looking. Here’s just a few of the stories that you really need to know about it…
DON’T YOU DARE SAY GAY: The co-founder of anti-LGBTQ+ hate group Moms for Liberty had sex with a woman alongside her husband, who is the head of the Florida GOP party, and now he’s being accused of sexual assault. [Read all about it at Queerty]
HOUSE OF HATE: Homophobic GOP Speaker of the House Mike Johnson wrote the forward on a 2022 book that contains anti-LGBTQ+ insults, a defense of the N-word, support for the insane Pizza-gate conspiracy theory, and mocked Pete Buttigieg for being gay. Lovely. [Read all about it at LGBTQ Nation]
MUST-SEE TV: CA Governor Gavin Newsom aborted Ron “Don’t Say Gay” DeSantis presidential hopes on live national television just six weeks before the Iowa caucus —which is exactly in line with the draconian reproductive rights ban the Florida governor signed in the dead of night earlier this year.
DIVA DOWN: Lying gay GOP congressman George Santos was finally expelled from the House and it caused a spontaneous burst of hilarious homosexual glee all across the internet. [Read all about it at Into]
FOR YOUR HUMILIATION: Anti-gay Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz took time out of doing nothing worthwhile in Congress to make a cameo appearance in a transphobic “comedy” film made by the alt-right loons at The Daily Wire. [Read all about the dumpster fire at Queerty]
SHE REALLY DON’T CARE: Melania Trump used beloved former First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s funeral to make another questionable fashion statement. [See and read all about it on at Queerty]
THE CHAPPELLE SH*TSHOW: Dave Chappelle continued his downward spiral by taking a selfie with repugnant Colorado crotch-grabber Lauren Boebert and Florida far-right Rep. Anna Paulina Luna.
KISSING COUSINS: Mary Trump continues to drop bombs about her Uncle Donald’s fraud trial and just pointed out a very interesting tidbit about her cousin Ivanka’s testimony that could further imperil the disgraced ex-president. [Read all about it at Queerty]
KLAN MOM: Cuckoo-bananas GA GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene “took a break from burning books to write one” and then tried to get on Jimmy Kimmel Live to promote it. However, it didn’t turn out like she had hoped. [Read all about it at LGBTQ Nation]
NEVER FORGET: On World AIDS Day, President Joe Biden honored those lost and recommitted to continue fighting to eliminate HIV transmission. Meanwhile, Republicans continue to delay reauthorizing PEPFAR, a bipartisan health program signed into law by President George W. Bush 20 years ago that funds HIV initiatives around the world.
Related:
Meghan McCain’s interview with George Santos just before he was expelled from Congress hasn’t aged well
McCain and Santos lamented his legal woes and infamy.
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Kangol2
I hope Queerty covers Russia’s raids yesterday on gay-friendly bars and a sauna, and the increasing threat to LGBTQ people there. St. Petersburg’s Central Station bar, one of the oldest in the city, is closing down, potentially because of last year’s anti-LGBTQ laws and the recent anti-LGBTQ proclamation from Putin’s Supreme Court.
From AFP News, via Barron’s: “Russian Police Raid Gay Bars In Moscow, Media Says”:
“Police in Moscow targeted multiple gay-friendly nightclubs and a men’s sauna in what appeared to be simultaneous raids, local media outlets said Saturday.
The raids come two days after Russia’s Supreme Court labelled what it calls the “international LGBT movement” as “extremist”, in a move rights groups warned could precede a wider crackdown.
Police could be seen standing at the entrance of a nightclub on Malaya Yakimanka Street, where a large dance party was taking place, video from the Ostorozhno Novosti news outlet showed.”
abfab
Just as long as he doesn’t touch the bath houses in Brighton Beach, I’m good.
decrans
Once again, Abcrabs’s compassionate liberalism. As long as it doesn’t affect, me, who cares? Spoken like a Republican he disdains.
Fahd
Russia’s insidious “Russification” of the occupied territories of eastern Ukraine isn’t enough of a human rights violation on a grand scale, now this full assault on the LGBT community within its own country. For shame! Everything to distract from the failings of a mafia state that is run by a pipsqueak thug who wants to ensure there’s no dissent and things go ever so smoothly when he runs for “reelection” next year.
Where, at a minimum, is the international condemnation?
Of course, with the closed borders, travel restrictions, and excessive travel costs caused by Russia’s unjustified attack on and siege of Ukraine, it has become increasingly difficult for Russians to leave Russia; an underground railroad to facilitate the escape of members of the community is in order.
abfab
When you say ”condemnation”, define that and then let us know if condemnation works or does anything at all. A rhetorical question.
Baron Wiseman
@Fahd
“…a pipsqueak thug who wants to ensure there’s no dissent and things go ever so smoothly when he runs for “reelection” next year.”
Sounds like President Biden. Biden and his administration have created a Censorship Industrial Complex censoring and eliminating millions of Americans free speech, not to mention doing his best to jail his main political opponent in next years election. Fascism is alive and thriving under President Biden.
LeBlevsez
BW –
Censorship Industrial Complex? Of course you’re referring to all those massive industrial plants across the country that are making Giant Gum Erasers. These are indeed perilous times.
Baron Wiseman
@LeBlevsez
Except for those pesky murders, Fascism is a hoot! Right?
RIGay
Fascinating – all three of your entry photos are of people whom are rapidly going into the trash heap of history! One and all.
abfab
Yes, but not rapid enough!
abfab
The Republicans
In Spirited Debate, George Santos Dares House Colleagues to Expel Him
The House debate on Thursday boiled down to a central question: Should Mr. Santos’s series of lies and alleged crimes outweigh historical precedents?
AP
gregg2010
I’m so glad we have “justyouandi” as our own personal Fashion Police! You go, Girl!
Fahd
Not as bad as Hilary when it comes to fashion choices is like saying George W. Bush was not as bad a president as Melania’s husband; neither is a strong argument.
still_onthemark
@gregg: If he’s the Fashion Police, he MUST tell us his opinion of George Santos and his crimes against fashion!
abfab
I really miss Madeleine Albright’s brooch collection. Now that woman knew about fashion statements. Melania…meh.
See here Queers….
readmypins dot state dot gov
Baron Wiseman
NBC News is now reporting that Gavin Newsom’s wife threw in the towel, stopping the debate from going any longer against Ron DeSantis. New reporting revealing a chaos offscreen that led to the surprise twist…Gov. Newsom’s wife walked onto the set to stop the debate from going longer reportedly saying, ‘We’re done.’
Newsom’s wife knew how badly he was beaten, that she stepped in to stop the bleeding. How embarrassing.
decrans
“One of Siebel Newsom’s complaints centered around DeSantis’ mention of her father. DeSantis claimed that he told him he moved from California to Florida because it was better governed.”
Yup. It got under their skin. But you know, in Queerty’s world and our cheerleading tribalism culture, Newsom was just cleaning clocks for two hours straight. As a former California resident, I enjoyed it. I would love to see other politicians call Gavin Newsom on his slippery car salesman routine. Better than Meghan McCain arguing with Joy Behar on ‘The View,’ IMO.
Kangol2
DeFascist is still whining and sniping at Newsom. He got clocked like a chump against a prize fighter. All the post-debate spin won’t change that fact! Even conservatives like David Frum pronounced him the loser, in more ways that one!
decrans
Kangol, people see what they want to see. Gavin dodged questions at the beginning of the debate and looked uncomfortable during the parental rights and in-laws segment. You’re a person who wants to claim Pete Buttigieg’s pedophile is fringe propaganda. But then again, there’s an interview in THE GAY PUBLICATION Washington Blade talking about how they are besties. Therefore, your perspective is biased. You see what you want to see. A neutral observer says, “Hey, they both got some good licks in.” Gavin Newsom wasn’t able to explain how he’s been trying to solve homelessness for 20 years now. California is a model state for America, yes? What does that say about being a model state when you have had recurring issues around your campaign promises for the last 20 years? So no, it wasn’t the knockout punch you think it was. You are a dic- sucker for Gavin Newsom. And you’re willing to overlook everything else. Plain and simple.
decrans
Style over substance. You also have to consider how effectively Newsom answered statistics from the CDC and US Census Bureau.
Stats like:
1.) Gasoline is $5 in California and $3 in Florida. How does that translate to working-class individuals that Gavin Newsom desperately targets? What’s being done to get these working-class individuals to transfer to electric cars? Did Gavin himself answer these questions? Do you have answers, Kangol?
2.) The deficit is $31 billion in California. And Gavin Newsom wants to proclaim good governance. But wait. The deficit is also soaring in America with social security looking insolvent. What does Gavin Newsom propose we do to get that under control while still keeping social programs in place? He couldn’t even hack it in his home state! Meanwhile, Florida is running a surplus of $17 billion.
These are all questions that Gavin Newsom had a difficult time answering. He grinned and looked like an idiot at the camera. Now at the end of the debate, Gavin Newsom got his punches in. Two hours of nonstop bloodletting? That’s not what happened, Kangol. Be intellectually honest for a change.
dbmcvey
Wow Baron. You’re stupid.
RGL
Baron- a breathtakingly cherry picked recounting of the NBC news reporting. We should have expected nothing less from you. Among the things you left out are DeSantis’ wife’s interruptions, the fact that the time for the debate was up. The planned debate wasn’t interrupted, the idea of letting it go on another hour was nixed. And of course you left out the part about Hannity basically trying to assist DeSantis at every turn. DeSantis is sinking faster than the Titanic. They only reason he won re-election in Florida was because, as Anna Navarro said, the Democrats ran a corpse against him. What’s being under reported are the numbers of people leaving Florida because of DeSantis.
Kangol2
Even horrible conservative David Frum, George W. Bush’s former speechwriter, broke down DeFascist’s TV disaster, in The Atlantic: “And, of course, DeSantis did not do well. He is well informed and well prepared, but he’s just not as mentally nimble as Newsom, not as natural a television performer. He loses his composure easily. If he does not know those truths about himself, his advisers must. So again, why?”
And: “Unlike Newsom, DeSantis did not seem to have a plan for the debate. He was there because he psychically needed to be there, to get some things off his chest. Even so, DeSantis hardly appeared to enjoy himself. His habitual dark mood seemed to grow darker over the course of the night. Perhaps he got at least some satisfaction from the experience, the release that comes from kicking back at the rock you stubbed your toe on. The kick was maybe not a smart decision.“
decrans
Harold Ford Jr. said they both did about the same. What’s your point? Everyone sees what they want to see. The LA Times said Gavin humiliated California on a national stage. See how that works, Kang?
Baron Wiseman
@RGL
“According to four sources in the DeSantis camp — one who witnessed the moment in the room and three others who were standing backstage (where there was no press or live studio audience) — Newsom’s wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, came into the debate room on at least two occasions to raise some objections.
She also made her way to the stage during the break after the candidates agreed to extend the debate and put an end to it.” – NBC News
See how that works? Talk about your “breathtakingly cherry picked recounting.”
When it comes to the Florida/California migration…
FACT: California leads the nation in out-migration.
FACT: Florida leads the nation in in-migration.
Spin it however you want, and you will, those are the facts.
Baron Wiseman
@Kangol2
David Frum? There’s a blast from the (conservative) past!
David Frum is a Never Trumper who has ingratiated himself with the liberal establishment and made his break with the GOP long before Trump. He was even fired from the American Enterprise Institute. He was also a founding leader of the centrist group No Labels.
Kangol2
Baronin yet again shows he’s been mainlining FoxNews/Newsmax/Breitbart etc.
Which states, governors and legislatures have passed laws restricting speech over the last 3 years, since Biden has been in office?
Which states, governors and legislatures have passed laws restricting and criminalizing speech about abortion or women’s reproductive health services or aiding women in seeking legal abortions and related health care?
Which states, governors and legislatures have passed laws to ban or restrict access to books, for children, young adults and in some cases, adults, since the books are removed from the library altogether?
Which states, governors and legislatures have passed laws restricting speech about teaching about slavery or African American history or American history or race or racism?
Which states, governors and legislatures have passed laws restricting speech about LGBTQ people or LGBTQ books or topics?
Which states, governors and legislatures have passed laws banning or attempting to ban drag performances, which are an obvious form of speech?
Which states, governors and legislatures have passed laws attempting to ban TikTok, a social media site, not just restricting it for minors, and thus restricting the free speech of its users?
A hint to answering all of these: the states, governors and legislatures are Republican or dominated by Don the Con’s MAGA party.
Which states have in their constitutions a right to speech that mirrors or even expands upon the free speech clause in the US Constitution? ALL FIFTY OF THEM.
abfab
People. You are fighting and wasting your words and thoughts with a MAGA Republican woman. You will never win.
Baron Wiseman
@Kangol2
Wow. Great speech. Now only if half of it were true or not be taken completely out of context from what these real issues are about. I realize that isn’t your style, you are more of a throw it at at the wall and see what sticks kinda guy. 🙁
Diplomat
Obviously Biden feels atease with forcing preferred pronouns in schools siding with the delusional, a direct violation of the first amendment. The tards want to be called they them due to their multiple personality disorder. No. You go to therapy and get your psychosis handled. Thk god this is a passing fad. Nothing like demon activists sent to confuse and destroy.