'FL police chief suspended for suggesting deputy's COVID-19 death was linked to his being gay' & other Mon midday news briefs

Florida police chief suspended for suggesting deputy’s COVID-19 death was linked to his being gay: report - Mercy! Someone needs to get a complimentary kick in the ass.

Leftover fabric from the AIDS Quilt is being used to make face masks for healthcare workers - I think this is a good thing. But it still jabs my heart just a little bit.  

Franklin Graham says he 'shudders to think' where America would be if Trump weren't president during COVID-19 - My post from last night bears repeating.

Northam signs anti-discrimination act to protect LGBTQ community - Good things happen even in the midst of a crisis.

Franklin Graham says he 'shudders to think' where America would be if Trump weren't president during COVID-19

Franklin Graham stoops to new low in support of Trump

Last week, according to NBC News, Trump held a conference call with evangelicals and other religious leaders who have supported him. The purpose was to implore them to convince their supporters and followers to vote for him. You can read the article if you would like. For me, however, one part stood out in a terrible fashion:

Trump praised one of those leaders, evangelical leader Franklin Graham, for the work his group Samaritan Purse's work setting up a field hospital in Central Park.Graham has said previously that COVID-19 is happening because of sin and because mankind "turned its back on God." On the call Wednesday, he praised Trump and Pence for their handling of the crisis. "Mr. President, we want to thank you and the vice president for your leadership, our country would be in trouble," Graham said. "If you were not the president, I just shudder to think where we would be."

 

Bear in mind that while Graham made that statement, many other individuals have the opposite opinion. Trump has been almost universally blasted for his behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. From taking over press briefings about the pandemic with lies and conspiracy theories, to attacking governors trying to deal with it in their states, to downplaying the crisis for weeks and then lying about it by claiming he always knew how serious it was,  this entire situation is the disaster we were warned about during the 2016 election. The Russian investigation and the impeachment were only the preludes; the cocktails before the main dish, if you will.

And that's not even taking into account:

 the articles this weekend which confirmed that Trump ignored medical and security experts who tried to warn him about the coming pandemic,

the way he brazenly attacks reporters who ask him perfectly legitimate questions about his handling of the pandemic,

the accusations that he is showing unfair preference to GOP governors in giving out needed medical equipment,

 hinting that he wants to "reopen" America, ie. putting a halt to lockdown procedures which have helped stave off COVID-19 even though our country now leads the world in coronavirus deaths with over 20,000.

Graham said he shudders to think where the  country would be if Trump wasn't president during this pandemic. It's fair to say that the rest of us shudder to realize how many mistakes he made which helped to further the chaos and death. Willful mistakes, too.  Mistakes of someone who lacks the intellectual, emotional, and moral maturity to even lead an old lady across the street.

Someone should ask Graham a simple question. We know why he has supported Trump these past three years and continues to support him even now. But really, are conservative judges worth the lives of over 20,000 Americans?

Anti-LGBTQ leader claims LGBTQ groups trying to 'wrap their tentacles' around coronavirus stimulus money

Frank Schubert

On Thursday, the following article was published by hate group American Family Association's fake news site, One News Now:

A nonprofit organization with a mission to protect marriage and the faith communities that sustain it says LGBT groups may succeed in dominating the media and wrapping their tentacles around coronavirus stimulus funds. 

 

The Human Rights Campaign -- the largest, wealthiest, and most powerful pro-LGBT lobbying group in the U.S. – has written an open letter to the media, the government, and health officials demanding special consideration to their community, whose members are supposedly especially vulnerable to the virus. They are seeking financial resources and government coordinating with LGBT organizations. 

 

"This is a virus that affects every person in the country," responds Frank Schubert of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). "Millions of people are out of work, trillions of dollars in economic loss has been wiped out, and here we have special interest groups from the LGBT community demanding that they be given special considerations."

 

While he finds the effort off-putting, he says the Human Rights Campaign may be able to pull it off.

 

"They may be in a position to affect that outcome because of their close allied relationship with Nancy Pelosi, who is as we speak busy writing the next coronavirus relief act," the NOM spokesman tells OneNewsNow. "She's made it clear to members of her Democratic Party that she intends to use that opportunity as a way to advance her hard-left agenda."

'LGBTQ celebrities who have come out in 2020 (so far)' & other Thur midday news briefs

LGBTQ Stars Who Have Come Out in 2020 (So Far)​ - Eh. Why not a little frivolity in a story to beat back the doldrums? 

LGBTQ rabbi who confronted AIDS crisis now faces coronavirus - Excellent article! 

 Outside of CNN's LGBTQ town hall, evening TV news spent under 20 minutes covering 2019's anti-trans violence - Discounted again . . .

L.A. Pride's 50th Anniversary Is Postponed — But Not Defeated - Good for them!

'The Curse of the Black Widow' - if it's not a camp classic, then it should be

Based on the popularity of last week's post on the motion picture, The Women, I'm thinking of posting a weekly bit on classic camp movies we can all watch while we are stuck at home during this pandemic. Tonight is one of my favorites.

The Curse of the Black Widow comes from 1977, a time before cable when television movies ruled the day. Just about several times a week, ABC, CBS or NBC would feature an original movie, which could be a comedy, drama, or horror. And a lot of actors made bank starring in those movies. Several of them will probably be featured here in the future. But very few should grab your attention like this movie, which was also known as Love Trap.

The summary is simply nuts. A detective (Anthony Franciosa) is investigating a bunch of mysterious murders in which the victims blood was drained and replaced with venom. He finds out that the murders center around fraternal twin heiresses (Patty Duke and Donna Mills). And here is the kicker (by the way, I will be including spoilers, but you really shouldn't watch these movies for the plot) - due to a incident when they were born, one of the twins has the power to transform into an indestructible giant black widow spider who can only be harmed by fire. Which twin is it? The one with the most acting range. Out of Duke and Mills, who has an Oscar and two Emmys? You figure it out.

'How three major LGBTQ centers are virtually keeping their communities alive' & other Wed midday news briefs

How 3 Major LGBTQ Centers Are Virtually Keeping Their Communities Alive - We need more good news like this. 

Campaign to Help LGBTQ Seniors Reminds Us Love Is Not Cancelled - Amen!

Coronavirus jeopardizes LGBTQ groups’ $22.6 million budget request - Well damn. This is not good. 

Mormon leaders address coronavirus pandemic, somehow manage to make it about ‘sinful’ gay sex - But don't they always?

Video montage proves how Fox News helped make the coronavirus and COVID-19 pandemic worse in America

I interrupt my usual banter because I feel that this is a video which needs to be seen and shared as much as possible. And it concerns all of us, including the LGBTQ community. Years ago, some folks said that Fox News was dangerous, not necessarily because of its right-wing conservative slant, but because of the lies and propaganda its personalities freely push in pursuit of that slant. These folks were pushed aside, laughed at, or generally ignored. Even when Fox News backed up Bush's "weapons of mass destruction" lie, undermined Obama at every turn, helped to transform Hillary Clinton into Satan's female twin in the eyes of many Americans, etc. etc., excuses were made for the network. 

And now we're here and no one is laughing. We rightfully blame Trump and his incompetence for how the coronavirus has negatively impacted this country. But let's not forget his helpers.At every turn, Fox News trivialized or made light of the pandemic. Instead of informing the country, its personalities bent over backwards to defend Trump or make excuses for him.   As the above video proves, Fox News should share equal blame for the lives lost in America during this COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone who works at Fox News - and I mean everyone - has blood on their hands. And I hope history never forgets.