All posts tagged "Lgbt"

Donald Trump's supporters on the far right have a new enemy: a little-known ex-Interior Department official in President Joe Biden's administration who was recently promoted.

Fox News recently reported on the promotion of Tyler Cherry, a former Interior Department communications director for Biden's administration. The conservative network noted that Cherry is now serving as the associate communications director at the White House.

"A former Interior Department communications director in the Biden administration has been hired in a new role and will be working on communications inside the Biden White House, despite sparking controversy last year over social media posts attacking police, criticizing Republicans and supporting the anti-Israel movement," according to Fox News. ...

Christian Republicans are expressing frustration at Donald and Melania Trump after it was announced Melania would attend a fundraiser for the pro-LGBT group the Log Cabin Republicans at Mar-a-Lago later this month.

Raw Story recently reported on the event, noting that the former first lady, known for supporting LGBT rights, will help raise money for the group that was banned from the Texas Republican Party.

But not everyone is happy about that....

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) is getting some heat after video footage showed her in close contact with a male companion at a Beetlejuice musical from which she was booted after allegedly vaping in front of a pregnant woman. That companion is reportedly the owner of a pro-LGBT bar that has hosted a drag show.

Boebert has already been skewered by fellow Republicans for not living up to her "family values" promises, and there have been questions about what was in the vape she ultimately admitted smoking.

Now, there are new details being reported about who she was with....

Threats against organizers of a Tennessee Pride festival apparently didn’t do much to deter visitors from attending the annual event.

The Blount County Pride festival in Marysville doubled its 2022 attendance despite threats from Ryan Desmond, the county’s District Attorney, who said he would prosecute organizers of the event if they violated a defunct anti-drag law, The Daily Beast reports.

A federal judge in response to a last-minute American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit ruled in favor of the Pride organizers in response to Desmond’s threats, the report said....

United States District Judge Ronnie Greer filed a temporary restraining order against Tennessee's top law enforcement officials Friday in favor of "calling for protections for" an upcoming local Pride event, The Messenger reports.

"This ruling reinforces that drag performance is constitutionally-protected expression under the First Amendment, regardless of where in the state it is performed," American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Tennessee Legal Director Stella Yarbrough told The Messenger. "To anyone else seeking to restrict the constitutional right of drag performance – you'll see us in court."

Blount Pride board president Ari Baker added, "This ruling allows us to fully realize Blount Pride's goal of creating a safe place for LGBTQ people to connect, celebrate, and share resources. We appreciate the community support and look forward to celebrating with you all on Saturday."...

A Maryland man has pleaded guilty to a hate crime for threatening to "slaughter" LGBTQ people after the shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, reported WUSA9 on Wednesday.

"According to a plea agreement filed in the District of Maryland Wednesday, Adam Michael Nettina, 34, of West Friendship, pleaded guilty to one felony count of transmitting threats by interstate communication," reported Jordan Fischer. "Nettina also agreed he chose his victims 'because of actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation or gender identity' and that a sentencing enhancement for hate crime motivation should apply."

Per the report, Nettina was originally arrested earlier this year after he left a threatening voicemail message for the Human Rights Campaign, one of the nation's largest LGBTQ advocacy groups....