When a gang of thieves targeted a vehicle to rob, they had no idea what they were getting into. The troublesome threesome had targeted Guatemalan Congressman Aldo Dávila’s car.
A frequent target of threats, the country’s only out gay legislator travels with armed bodyguards – as the robbers soon found out.
“This is the first attack that has happened to me,” Dávila told the Associated Press. “I constantly receive threats for work but no more than that.”
Security video shows the robbers rushing the car with one of the men holding a bag covering what appears to be a gun. The men surround the vehicle and start to pound on the windows when a shot is fired from inside the vehicle and one of the assailants falls back into the street.
The other robbers fled the scene.
“I’m fine, a little scared,” Dávila said after the attack. “They approached from various sides, I threw myself to the ground and my guards, fortunately, repelled the attack.”
Local activists say it isn’t clear if the attack was politically motivated or just a robbery gone wrong. They note that Dávila is a reformer who is frequently targeted by the opposition party.
Police arrested 20-year-old Fernando José Barreno at the scene. He was taken to the hospital with gunshots to his shoulder and back.
#NACIONALES ATENTADO CONTRA DIPUTADO Esta tarde el Diputado Aldo Davila fue víctima de un atentado armado, dentro de la misma quedan muchas discrepancias ya que ha sido una persona que ha sacado a luz y ha luchado contra varias anomalías del actual gobierno. Se destaca el pronto actuar por parte de la seguridad que acompañaba al diputado. #OBAP
Author and college student Donovan Russo hopes to bring more LGBTQ representation to the superhero/vigilante genre with his debut novel, Steven’s War.
A highly entertaining and gripping story, Steven’s War tells the story of Steven Cahill, a closeted Marine serving in Afghanistan during the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” period of the military. After enduring a devastating loss on the battlefield, Steven is sent back home to the crime-ridden Salem City. When Steven’s world further crumbles, he embarks on a vengeful quest to take down the man responsible for Salem’s corruption.
The novel is a dark thriller which smartly and uniquely weaves in LGBTQ themes. In fact, Russo opens with a Harvey Milk quote: “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
Russo took some time to chat more about the book with Instinct.
Denny Patterson: Hi, Donovan! Thank you for taking some time to chat with me about your book, Steven’s War. How exciting is it to publish your debut novel? Donovan Russo: Thanks so much for your time and consideration, Denny! Publishing my novel and holding the book in my hand for the first time was such a crazy experience. It felt satisfying, special, and as if this long and tiring process has finally come to fruition.
DP: Can you tell us what inspired you to write Steven’s War? DR: I have been a fan of the comic book genre since I was five years old. I am 24 now. So, the Marvel and DC movies, shows, and literary works have inspired me greatly in my life. Therefore, and because I like to write, I was looking for an opportunity to kind of put my own spin on the genre. In regards to why I wanted to write this character as a member of the LGBTQ community, there are a couple reasons.
First, because I am an MBA candidate, I always try to look at things in terms of the marketplace. With that being said, there are not a lot of LGBTQ superheroes that I am familiar with. I saw this as a chance to create a product that would be different. Second, and from a creative standpoint, I thought that making my protagonist gay would add more to his characterization, as I could then dive deeper into the internal conflicts that he is struggling with. Lastly, although there are LGBTQ superheroes out there for fans, I think we can both agree that more representation is needed. Hence, I wanted to do my part in creating a character that an underrepresented group could resonate with.
DP: There are not too many books that focus on the controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Why did you want to include this? DR: I learned about this policy while conducting my research, and I was honestly heartbroken over it. Overall, I thought that utilizing it would add a sense of realness to the story, especially in those early chapters that are set in the Middle East. Although “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is no longer a rule, I still think its impact is present in today’s world. Especially when it comes to environments that still ooze with toxic masculinity and heteronormativity.
DP: What was the most surprising fact about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” you discovered while doing your research? DR: Just the shock that there was so much homophobia in the military in recent history. The policy was changed in the early 2010s, right? That is just mind blowing to me. If you want to serve our country, your sexual orientation should not matter.
DP: How has Steven’s War been received by readers? DR: It is an indie book, so there obviously has not been huge sales numbers or reviews. However, the people who have read it, they have honestly said really nice things about it. Most notably, people have said that they are surprised over how well written it is. I mean, I guess that is a compliment, right?
DP: What do you hope they take away from the book? DR: There are a few goals or ideas that I want consumers to take away from this book. First, although it has been marketed as a superhero narrative, I think anyone who enjoys character driven stories could appreciate it. Second, you do not have to be a member of the LGBTQ community to enjoy it, as there is something in this novel for everyone. Lastly, I did not have a political agenda while writing this. Yes, there is a critique of homophobia in it, but the heart of the book largely focuses on this messed up guy who is just trying to figure out his life. I think we all could relate to that.
DP: Although we are progressing when it comes to LGBTQ representation, do you think those kinds of characters and themes are still largely missing from superhero and vigilante books? DR: I am not criticizing any other writer or company because a lot of what exists has already greatly inspired me. However, I will say that a lot of progress is being made and we are seeing more and more LGBTQ stories within the marketplace. I think stories are only going to get more diverse!
DP: How do you see yourself in Steven? DR: Steven Cahill has a lot of anxiety like I do. He is also fascinated about others, the meaning of his life, and the relationships he has made in similar ways that I have. By all means, Steven Cahill and Donovan Russo are two different characters at the end of the day, and perhaps that is the key. We all see ourselves in the characters that we consume, but it is important to realize that we are not the characters that we write, play, or interact with. We are our own individuals, and that is okay!
DP: Have you always had a passion for writing? DR: Yes! I have written for CNBC and Yahoo Finance, a bunch of screenplays, songs, short stories, and I have interned on the literary development side of the entertainment industry providing notes and coverage on projects that were in the works.
DP: What were some of your favorite comic books and vigilante stories growing up? DR: I really loved the Dark Knight trilogy by Christopher Nolan. Truly, I think those movies, specifically The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises are masterpieces. I also love what Disney and Marvel Studios have done as well. My top five Marvel Cinematic Universe movies are Endgame, Infinity War, Civil War, the first Avengers, and the first Iron Man. I also have to give a shout out to the Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies. Those literally opened up the world to me.
DP: While promoting Steven’s War, you spoke a lot about heteronormativity and toxic masculinity. Why do you think these are still such troubling issues? DR: I think we are still very much in a transition phase, in regards to the development of our society. There are still a lot of folks out there who do not want to embrace different ideas or communities. There are a lot of people out there who prefer the “old fashion” ways of the world. I think we can make an argument that it is easier to live in 2021 than it was to live in 1991, and that it was easier to live in 1991 than it was to live in 1981, and so on. I think that things will only get easier and more accepting. Overall, it just comes down to more people being educated and exposed to the modern world. Doing their part to make it a better place.
DP: Can we expect a sequel to Steven’s War? DR: I have ideas, but it is not my focus at the moment.
DP: What have you learned about yourself throughout the writing process? DR: For one, I learned just how relaxed and at peace the writing process makes me feel. I wrote a good chunk of this book during the height of the pandemic, so it really got me through some tough times. In a weird way, it was kind of like Steven Cahill and I were there for each other. It is interesting to look back on the story and character now that it has been a few months. I would say though, that the biggest lesson for any writer out there, if you actually want to take advice from me [laughs], is that the true story that you want to tell will unfold in the editing process. Do not discredit the value of editing your work and reading it until it makes you blue in the face. It will allow you to dig deeper into the characters, plot, and language.
DP: Outside of writing, you are overseeing the launch of an inaugural film festival with the NJ LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Can you tell us more about that? DR: Of course. I appreciate you asking about that. It started out as an MBA service project for school, where I wanted to find a way to blur the lines between what interests me and what my MBA program requires. As a result, I pitched the idea of a film contest to the NJ LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and we have been able to get some really awesome judges and organizations involved. Most notably, GLAAD is helping us out with it and some of our judges have worked as executives for ViacomCBS, NBCU, and one is a Hollywood Script Consultant that has worked on huge movies. We are still figuring out some of the logistics, but are really excited about where it is heading. I should also add that the goal of this festival is to provide a free platform for LGBTQ cinema and artists, celebrating their work.
DP: Before we wrap up, are there any upcoming books in the works, or anything else you would like to mention or plug? DR: I just want to say thank you so much for your time and consideration! I am sure there are dozens of more interesting people to talk to instead of me!
The CEO of a health care company has been fired after a video of him harassing a gay teen went viral and even comedian Kathy Griffin shared it in order to make him “online famous.”
“You look like an idiot,” Sam Johnson, 46, former CEO of the telemedicine platform VisuWell, can be heard telling student Dalton Stevens, who showed up at Franklin High School’s prom in a red dress with his boyfriend. He can be seen following the teens and harassing them, even taking a swing at them at one point.
“We unequivocally condemn the behavior exhibited by Sam Johnson in a recent video widely circulated on social media,” VisuWell said in a statement posted online. “After investigating the matter and speaking to the individuals involved, the VisuWell Board of Directors has chosen to terminate Mr. Johnson from his position as CEO, effective immediately.”
The statement said that they have a “zero-tolerance policy for intolerance of any kind” and that Johnson’s actions did not meet the “high standards we set for ourselves.”
“We share the concerns that so many have expressed on this matter and look forward to announcing concrete steps we are taking in support of the LGBTQ community in particular over the coming weeks.”
Stevens’s boyfriend Jacob Geittmann recorded the video when Johnson came up to them before prom.
“He’s about an inch away from my boyfriend and he says, ‘What are you wearing?’ And he’s like, ‘A dress, why?’ And he’s like, ‘Why are you wearing that? You shouldn’t be wearing that,’” Geittmann said.
His video starts with the confrontation already in progress. Stevens is telling Johnson to get away from him. The teen walks to go into the hotel, and Johnson follows him.
An adult can be heard telling Johnson to stop because it’s “a special night” for the teens, and he shrugs in his short-sleeve collared shirt and grins.
“I’m sorry, I’m gorgeous,” the teen says.
“Are you?” Johnson responds.
At one point, Johnson swings at Geittmann’s phone and tells him to stop recording. He also appears to hit Stevens in the arm.
In another video, Geittman said that Johnson succeeded in knocking the phone out of his hand and it hit the ground, which is not shown. He said Johnson was “pretty obviously drunk.”
After being posted to TikTok this past Saturday, the video went viral and was shared on Reddit and Twitter.
“It seems like he’s dying to be online famous,” Kathy Griffin wrote when sharing it on Twitter.
If this is Sam Johnson in Nashville, Tennessee, the CEO of @VisuWell, healthcare-tech-growth strategist, married to Jill Johnson where they may reside in Franklin, Tennessee, it seems like he’s dying to be online famous. 🤷♀️🏳️🌈🤷♀️ https://t.co/GPYOYBQywv
Johnson told NewsWeek that the allegations against him are “entirely false.” He said that the gay teens were “obnoxious” and “loud” and that he wanted them to “tone down the vulgarities around the families and children who were present.”
He said he was at the restaurant at the hotel when he “was presented with their loud cursing.”
“Making it about the dress was their idea and they edited out most of the exchange. I have no ill will towards anyone or their personal choices, so long as it does not harm me or my family.”
After the encounter, Geittman said that his boyfriend “looked gorgeous, everybody loved it, and nobody had a problem with it.”
Douglas Ross was attacked for his historic views on same-sex marriage during a bad tempered leaders’ debate on Channel 4.
Tuesday, 27th April 2021, 8:42 pm
The Scottish Conservative leader was asked about his position on equal marriage in Tuesday night’s debate following a report in the Daily Record that he, while a councillor in Moray in 2014, had said he would have voted against the legislation had he been an MSP.
Told the legislation had made former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson “cry with joy”, the Moray MP said it was now something “we should support”.
Scottish Conservative party leader Douglas Ross, as Scottish party leaders take part in Channel 4 News election debate in Glasgow.
Asked directly whether he would have voted against the legislation that allowed gay people to marry their partners, Mr Ross said he had been “balancing both sides of the argument”.
He said: “I’ve said in a debate in Moray Council chamber that there was a passionate, engaged debate on both sides and I was balancing both sides of the argument because many constituents had contacted me.
“I said at the time I would have voted against it, just like two of Nicola Sturgeon’s ministers voted against it, but I have also said I fully support it.
“I think marriage is a thing of beauty both for men and women and people of same sex and I think it is something we should support.”
The response earned a stinging attack from Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who accused the Scottish Conservative leader of representing the “same old Tories”.
Referring to the apology around comments about the gypsy traveller community from Mr Ross at the previous debate on STV, Mr Sarwar said Scotland “deserves better”.
He said: “We’ve gone back to the same old Tories.
“The cuddly Tories under Ruth Davidson are well and truly gone.
“There’s a reason why Ruth Davidson has walked away, because Boris, we’ve got Boris, we’ve got Brexit, we’ve got chaos, we’ve got division, and not only is Douglas talking about same sex marriage, but he has already had to apologise for hateful views against other minority communities in Scotland.
“We are back to the same old Tories and frankly we deserve better.”
The leaders also clashed over accusations against Boris Johnson of sleaze and the alleged “pile the bodies high” comments made by the Prime Minister.
Mr Ross said he believed the Prime Minister following Mr Johnson’s denial that he said the comment, but attacked the comments themselves.
He said: “Those comments are unacceptable from anyone, whatever level of elected office or any individual at all and I would never support those comments, but the Prime Minister has said he did not make them.”
Responding, Nicola Sturgeon said she was “staggered” at what she described as “hypocrisy”, after Mr Ross and his party attempted to oust the First Minister over her government’s handling of harassment complaints against Alex Salmond before she had given evidence to that inquiry.
However, Ms Sturgeon was pressured over the SNP’s handling of their investigations into disgraced former finance secretary Derek Mackay by Mr Ross.
Willie Rennie, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said the competing claims of sleaze were “grotesque”, while Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said the level of confidence in the UK Government had hit “rock bottom”.
A message from the Editor:
Thank you for reading this article. We’re more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.
If you haven’t already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.
The ‘Flourish’ programme is a ‘voluntary resource’ for teachers that describes sex and puberty as a ‘gift from god’ and suggests sex belongs in a committed relationship.
The programme describes marriage as a “sacrament of commitment” and notes that while “every human being is loved by god as they are,” the Church’s teaching regarding marriage between a man and a woman, “cannot be omitted” from the children’s education.
Senator warns Catholic teachings left him praying not to be gay as a child
00:00:00 / 00:00:00
On The Hard Shoulder this evening, Senator Warfield the announcement shows that “the Bishops Conference just has too much influence on the curriculum” in primary schools.
He said there was little or no sex education in primary or secondary school while he was growing up.
“So obviously I left school with very little understanding of same-sex relationships and I had to piece together my own understanding of that,” he said.
“I suppose my personal development was stymied because of that as well.”
Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin with Senator Fintan Warfield and Senator Rose Conway Walsh talking to the media on the plinth at Leinster House, 02-05-2021. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews
He said the lack of “comprehensive and inclusive” sex education coupled with the Church’s teachings on sexuality left him praying not to gay as a child.
“This is not me against people who hold firmly held beliefs and it is obvious that there are many people who are both religious and LGBT,” he said.
“I grew up in a Catholic household and I have been very adjacent to the Catholic Church for all of my childhood.
“When I was about to stop going to mass, I played music with the folk group in the church so I have been adjacent to Catholicism all my life and yes, I did resort to prayer, as I know many LGBT people have, in the hope that this was a phase.
“But it wasn’t a phase and, you know, I think we need to offer our young people more.
“Prayer won’t protect our kids against STIs, against pregnancy, against HIV – so we need to offer a comprehensive but really inclusive education policy in our schools.
“This shouldn’t be an issue and it’s not an issue when it comes to any on the subject like history or maths.”
He said sex education in schools should be, ‘age-appropriate, comprehensive and it should be inclusive of all young people.’
“Young people want schools to provide comprehensive, relevant, age-appropriate relationships and sexuality education throughout all stages of education,” he said.
“I didn’t get any sex education – and my peers didn’t either in secondary level.”
You can listen back to Senator Warfield here:
Senator warns Catholic teachings left him praying not to be gay as a child
Students arrive in a moto-taxi to Rigoberto Lopez Perez public school, some wearing masks as a precaution amid the spread of the new coronavirus, at the start of the school day in Managua, Nicaragua, Monday, April 27, 2020. Nicaragua ordered its students back to class Monday, in spite of concerns about spreading the novel coronavirus that have led other countries in the region to try to keep education on track through remote learning. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga)
Alfredo Zuniga
Surfers enjoy a sunrise surf at Sumner Beach as level four COVID-19 restrictions are eased in Christchurch, New Zealand, Tuesday, April 28, 2020. New Zealand eased its strict lockdown restrictions to level three at midnight to open up certain sections of the economy but social distancing rules will still apply. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Mark Baker
Captain Tom Moore’s grandson Benjie stands in the Great Hall of Bedford School, England, Monday April 27, 2020, where over 120,000 birthday cards sent from around the world are being opened and displayed by staff. The 100 year old World War II veteran completed his quest to walk 100 laps of his garden and raised almost 13 million pounds ($16 million) for Britain’s National Health Service. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
Joe Giddens
Manon, 13, from France, dances at the Catalunya square in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, April 27, 2020 as the lockdown to combat the spread of coronavirus continues. Health authorities in Spain are urging parents to be responsible and abide by social distancing rules a day after some beach fronts and city promenades filled with families eager to enjoy the first stroll out in six weeks. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Emilio Morenatti
President Donald Trump listens to a question as he speaks about the coronavirus in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, April 27, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Alex Brandon
Homeless men stand against the wall on the street of downtown Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, April 28, 2020. Many have lost their income as South Africa is under a strict five-week lockdown in a effort to fight the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Themba Hadebe
Reinier Sijpkens performs classical music on his music boat for elderly people confined to their nursing home because of the coronavirus on King’s Day in Heemstede, Netherlands, Monday, April 27, 2020. The Dutch national birthday party was a muted affair, dubbed King’s Day at Home because of coronavirus restriction, a far cry usual nationwide celebration with street parties. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Peter Dejong
A police officer stands on the roof during a prison riot at Castro Castro prison in Lima, Peru, Monday, April 27, 2020. Peru’s prison agency reported that three prisoners died from causes still under investigation after a riot at the Miguel Castro Castro prison in Lima. Inmates complain authorities are not doing enough to prevent the spread of coronavirus inside the prison. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Rodrigo Abd
A man wearing a mask sits next the coffin of his mother as he’s transported by a cemetery worker in a full protection suit to her burial site at the Nossa Senhora das Gracas cemetery in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, April 27, 2020. The woman’s body was previously being held in a refrigerator for confirmed and suspected victims of of COVID-19, according to the administration of the cemetery. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Silvia Izquierdo
Using social distancing due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Rev. Pat O’Brien, of St.Pius X Catholic Church, blesses a group as he leads a Eucharistic procession through a neighborhood near his church in San Antonio, Monday, April 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Eric Gay
Surfers wait for officials to open Bondi Beach in Sydney, Tuesday, April 28, 2020, as coronavirus pandemic restrictions are eased. The beach is open to swimmers and surfers to exercise only. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Rick Rycroft
Home care worker Rosalinda De Pooter, right, wearing a face mask to protect against coronavirus, pets her client Josephine Claes’ dog, as they play a table game during a partial lockdown against the spread of COVID-19 in Booischot, Belgium, Monday, April 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Francisco Seco
Haflinger mares with their foals run during this years’s first turn-out to grass at Europe’s largest Haflinger stud-farmin Meura, central Germany, Tuesday, April 28, 2020. Around 300 Haflinger horses are living there. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
Jens Meyer
A girl wearing plastic gloves is helped with her mask before traveling with her family to her home province of Piura, at the bus station in Lima, Peru, Monday, April 27, 2020. After a week of not being allowed to leave the capital under strict quarantine rules to help contain the spread of the new coronavirus, day laborers and informal workers and their families are now allowed to travel home, but local authorities are screening them for COVID-19 before letting them travel. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Signs on the window at Taproot Lounge and Cafe advertise takeout options while the restaurant is closed to indoor seating due to state restrictions, on Thursday, Dec. 10. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
With rising Covid cases putting strains on the state’s hospital capacity, Marion and Polk counties will return to stringent pandemic restrictions that haven’t been in place since winter.
Beginning Friday, April 30, restaurants will no longer be able to offer indoor dining, outdoor social gatherings will be limited to six people instead of eight, and churches will have to cut capacity. Gyms and movie theaters 500 square feet or larger will only be allowed to have only six customers at a time.
Gov. Kate Brown on Tuesday announced that 15 counties, including Marion and Polk, would move into the “extreme risk” category that comes with heightened restrictions. Counties will remain in that category for a maximum of three weeks, according to a press statement.
The move came after the state met two triggers: hospitalizations of Covid-positive patients exceeded 300 and the seven-day total of Covid patients rose by above 15%. The governor had earlier held off enacting more severe restrictions but introduced the triggers in her risk framework to prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.
On Monday, both those thresholds were met with 319 Covid-positive patients occupying hospital beds statewide and the seven-day total of Covid-positive patients rising by 37.4%.
“If we don’t act now, doctors, nurses, hospitals, and other health care providers in Oregon will be stretched to their limits treating severe cases of COVID-19,” said Brown in a statement. “Today’s announcement will save lives and help stop COVID-19 hospitalizations from spiking even higher. With new COVID-19 variants widespread in so many of our communities, it will take all of us working together to bring this back under control.”
That comes in addition to rising case rates in Marion and Polk counties. In Marion County, the case rate rose to 299 per 100,000 people between April 11 through April 24. That’s up from 204 cases per 100,000 from the previous reporting period and 137 per 100,000 the period before.
Polk County saw its rate rise to 215.8 per 100,000 people for the most recent reporting period. That’s an increase from 200 per 100,000 in the previous period and the 191.7 per 100,000 before that.
Brown also said she’s working with the Oregon Legislature on a $20 million small business relief package for businesses located in counties with the extreme risk designation.
Additionally, the governor will be evaluating Covid data every week, instead of every two weeks, to evaluate risk levels. The next possible update to risk levels will be announced on Tuesday, May 4, and take effect on Friday, May 7.
Livestream to Showcase Chorus Impact, Diverse Entertainment; Silent Auction, And More From The BGMC
Boston— Boston Gay Men’s Chorus (BGMC) is pleased to announce that its annual benefit gala ENCORE takes place virtually this Saturday, May 1 at 7 p.m. ENCORE will feature all of the elements of the in-person experience but will present them online: the live auction, BGMC storytelling, a hat competition with diverse LGBTQ+ entertainment, and special musical guest The Boy Band Project. Catherine Peterson, Executive Director of ArtsBoston and Immediate Past Chair of Chorus America will host the one-hour event from the Regent Theatre in Arlington.
“What people enjoy most about ENCORE will be replicated virtually: the excitement of live auctions and the powerful storytelling of the chorus’ work framed around electrifying entertainment,” said BGMC Executive Director Craig Coogan. “That’s what draws people to ENCORE year after year.”
ENCORE falls on the same day at the storied Kentucky Derby, so guests will be invited to compete in a virtual hat competition that will take place on Instagram. A live chat in the auction software will allow guests to comment as the show progresses. BGMC Music Director Reuben M. Reynolds, III, will kick off the festivities with a pre-show demonstration of the proper way to make a mint julep.
“I’m thrilled to host ENCORE and to support the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus,” said Peterson. “With their powerful videos and dazzling archival material the Chorus has brought solace and smiles to me and thousands of others during the pandemic. I can’t wait to give a little back to BGMC at this fun and fabulous event.”
The organization’s signature silent auction starts April 22 and will conclude as the gala live stream begins. ENCORE auction items include professional photo sessions, MASS MoCA and ICA Boston Passes, fine dining opportunities, a private wine class for 20, tickets to the Boston Philharmonic and the Celebrity Series of Boston, Botox treatments, massage, yoga membership, a Maine whitewater rafting excursion for two, personal concierge services, bedazzled BGMC throw pillows and more.
Tickets are $100 at https://bgmc.home.qtego.net/ Hosting opportunities are available through April 21 for pods of four or 10 with a full meal and derby décor delivered by East West caterers.
“Funds raised at ENCORE support our work throughout the year,” said Coogan. “Historically, about twenty percent of the organization’s budget comes from this fundraiser. With the pandemic, the percentage will be even higher this year. We can’t wait to interact with our fans, members, and supporters in this new way!”
NOTE: In the past, BGMC has held other virtual concerts. Check one of them out here.
About Boston Gay Men’s Chorus
The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus is one of New England’s largest and most successful community-based choruses. Founded in 1982, the 200-voice ensemble is celebrated for its outstanding musicianship, creative programming, and groundbreaking community outreach. Under the dynamic leadership of Music Director Reuben M. Reynolds III, the BGMC sings a wide spectrum of classical and popular music and creates social change by providing a positive, affirming image of the gay and lesbian community. The Chorus is heard live by more than 10,000 people each season and thousands more through recording, television, and Internet broadcasts. CBS-WBZ named the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus one of the “top 5” choruses in the city of Boston. The Boston Business Journal in 2018, 2019, and 2020 named BGMC one of the top-performing arts organizations in the city. BGMC is a Cultural Ambassador — being the first LGBTQ chorus to perform in Poland in 2005, the Middle East in 2015, and in South Africa in June 2018.
Harrisburg’s lone Republican candidate for mayor drew attention with a recent Facebook post declaring that same-sex relationships are immoral and products of abuse.
Tim Rowbottom also said he fears those advocating for equal treatment of gays and lesbians are colluding to indoctrinate America’s youth.
But the thousands of angry social media responses may not be the biggest problem facing the 41-year-old’s campaign.
Dauphin County court records show Rowbottom faces criminal charges, including a second-degree felony charge of strangulation.
Rowbottom, contacted by PennLive on Monday, declined an interview request, but invited emailed questions. He did not respond by Tuesday afternoon to questions sent to him Monday afternoon.
According to charging documents, Harrisburg police were dispatched to Rowbottom’s home at 333 S. 18th St., on May 16, 2020 to check on the welfare of a child.
Officer Aida Eminagic said in court documents that a juvenile there said Rowbottom had hit her repeatedly with a belt. Eminagic said she saw marks on the child’s left forearm and left leg that, in her opinion, went beyond “just discipline and rose to the level of abuse.”
The child had sent photos of the injuries to a relative who alerted police, prosecutor Jennifer Gettle said.
Rowbottom was charged with simple assault and child endangerment. Prosecutors later added the strangulation charge after, Gettle said, they established that Rowbottom had placed a knee on the child’s neck during the course of the assault. The case is awaiting trial in Dauphin County Court.
If Rowbottomis convicted of a felony, he would be ineligible to hold elected office under the state Constitution.
In the meantime, though, he is free to pursue his campaign.
A criminal history check showed Rowbottom has had a number of brushes with the law, including a drug possession conviction in York County in the 1990s, two DUI convictions and a 2015 case in which he was convicted of unlawfully possessing a 150-pound fiberglass chicken stolen years earlier from a Lower Paxton Township bar, a misdemeanor.
In the April 22 Facebook post on his Tim Rowbottom for Mayor of Harrisburg page, Rowbottom argued that same-sex relationships go against God’s law, and he believes are the result of abuse.
“It is not my intention to degrade or attack them in any way,” Rowbottom wrote.
“I say these things in concern for those that are a product of abuse, but (I) do not believe in enabling bad seeds inflicted upon them to continue a cycle of abuse. The Bible makes it clear to me that these things are an abomination and the reasons that oppression and repression are plaguing the LGBT community and those in direct contact (CITY RESIDENTS).”
Rowbottom in the post promises “to encourage and promote values that align with the Word of God (BIBLE),” and work to end methadone clinics or other policy initiatives he sees as “enabling or promoting addiction,” another problem he said is preventing Harrisburg from reaching its potential.
The post drew scores of angry responses from readers incensed that anyone would describe Harrisburg’s LGBT residents as “a problem.”
“you know you could have just said ‘i don’t want to be mayor because i hate anyone who isn’t exactly like me’ and gotten the same message across,” said one commenter.
City and political leaders added their voices to the criticisms.
“I think anybody who reads that can see that this man is not qualified to be mayor,” said City Treasurer Dan Miller, who is gay. “It’s just so hard to understand how someone could be so opposed to people who just want to live their lives and love other people.”
Dauphin County Republican Committee Chairman Dave Feidt, who spoke to PennLive Saturday before the pending criminal charges were found, also condemned Rowbottom’s post.
Feidt said the county committee has not endorsed Rowbottom, and said that he is not aware of any connection between Rowbottom and the county party, aside from Rowbottom’s choice to register as a Republican.
“I don’t agree with what he’s saying,” Feidt said. “I think it’s far afield of what the Republican Party stands for.”
In announcing his candidacy last month, the self-described Christian conservative issued a 12-point platform that included calls to reopen the former William Penn High School building for vocational and other employment training; ending what he sees as selective codes enforcement; and prioritizing spending of grant money on Harrisburg-resident business and property owners.
Rowbottom has clashed with the Papenfuse administration, including blaming the mayor for quashing his plans to redevelop a parcel of land on South 18th Street in Allison Hill. Rowbottom filed a civil suit in federal court seeking damages from the city, Dauphin County and the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority. The suit is pending.
Barring a write-in challenge, Rowbottom will face the winner of the May 18 Democratic primary in the November election.
Any Republican candidate running for mayor faces long odds.
The city’s 22,828 registered Democrats outnumber the 3,758 Republicans 6 to one. Another 5,177 people are independents or members of other parties. The last registered Republican to run for mayor was Nevin Mindlin in 2009.
And Rowbottom’s struggles could open the door for another candidate — from the GOP, or even one of the five candidates in the Democratic primary — to win the Republican nomination with write-in votes.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue alumni Greg Hayes, chief executive officer of Raytheon Technologies Corp., and Jack Calhoun, senior advisor at McKinsey & Co., will receive honorary doctorates during this year’s spring commencement ceremony May 15 at Ross-Ade Stadium.
Greg Hayes
Hayes will receive his honorary degree from the Krannert School of Management. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in management from the School of Management in 1982. He is chief executive officer of Raytheon Technologies, an aerospace and defense company, and is a member of its board of directors.
Raytheon Technologies was formed in April 2020 when United Technologies Corp.’s aerospace businesses, Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace Systems, merged with Raytheon Co. Before the merger, Hayes had a nearly 21-year career at United Technologies, holding several senior leadership roles across finance, corporate strategy and business development. These positions led to his appointment as chief financial officer in 2008, CEO in 2014 and chairman in 2016.
Hayes is a board member of the Business Roundtable, a national association of CEOs that works to promote the U.S. economy. He also serves on the board of the National Academy Foundation, a national network focused on solving challenges related to education and the economy, and as a board member of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, which maintains the world’s largest collection of aviation and space artifacts. He is a former member of the Krannert School of Management’s Dean’s Advisory Council.
In addition to his many business and technology endeavors, Hayes works to be a provider during times of need. During the current global pandemic, he has worked on engineering solutions to help reduce viral spread in airports and aircraft and overseen production of 3D-printed masks for health care workers.
Jack Calhoun
Calhoun will receive his honorary from the College of Health and Human Sciences. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in technology from Purdue in 1987. He serves as senior advisor at McKinsey & Co., a global management consulting firm, where he advises clients in various areas, including consumer products, retail, beauty, fashion and luxury products.
While at Purdue, he was president of the Purdue Student Union Board, chair of Iron Key, member of Varsity Glee Club and received the G.A. Ross Award as an outstanding senior male graduate.
Calhoun began his career at Procter & Gamble and then worked for Levi Strauss & Co. and Charles Schwab Corp. Later, he became global president of Banana Republic.
As a pioneer of multiple complex partnerships, Calhoun was responsible for developing the first fashion brand integration with the reality TV show “Project Runway.” He also developed successful product lines with costume designers Colleen Atwood, “Memoirs of a Geisha,” and Jacqueline Durran, “Anna Karenina,” for their Academy Award-winning movies. Additionally, Calhoun led the prosperous brand partnership with the Golden Globe-winning TV series “Mad Men” and spearheaded numerous other substantial fashion, designer and branded partnerships.
Calhoun serves as vice chair of the Student Life Advisory Council at Purdue. He is an executive board member of the San Francisco Opera, vice chair of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and chairman of the Australian fashion brand Lack of Color. He also previously sat on the board of directors of the Kimpton Group Holding Co., the board of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Inc. furniture company and the national board of GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation).
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/.
Journalists visiting campus: Journalists should follow Protect Purdue protocols and the following guidelines:
Campus is open, but the number of people in spaces may be limited. We will be as accommodating as possible, but you may be asked to step out or report from another location.
To enable access, particularly to campus buildings, we recommend you contact the Purdue News Service media contact listed on the release to let them know the nature of the visit and where you will be visiting. A News Service representative can facilitate safe access and may escort you on campus.
Correctly wear face masks inside any campus building, and correctly wear face masks outdoors when social distancing of at least six feet is not possible.
Franklin Graham speaks at the Republican National Convention on 27 August, 2020. (Getty/ Drew Angerer)
Franklin Graham was predictably outraged to hear that Joe Biden had lifted Trump’s ban on LGBT+ flags being flown at US embassies.
Secretary of state Antony Blinken announced on Friday (April 23) that all US diplomatic outposts would be authorised to fly the Pride flag, overturning a Trump-era ban just in time for Pride month.
The happy news was celebrated by LGBT+ advocates around the world, but it spelled sheer doom for Franklin Graham, who urged his followers to pray for America.
“Just because something is ‘authorised,’ that doesn’t make it right!” the notorious anti-LGBT+ preacher whined on Facebook.
“Why should a flag representing one group of people and a specific agenda be literally raised up above all others and allowed to fly at our embassies and consulates?”
He contended that since the rarely-used Christian flag is not flown from US embassies (yes, it exists), the LGBT+ flag should also not be displayed.
“The embassies represent the United States of America on foreign soil – only the US flag should be flown,” he said. “Not the gay Pride flag, not the Christian flag, not any other flag. The previous administration had a one-flag rule that the Biden administration has rescinded.
“Our US flag represents the sacrifice, the honour, the unity, the patriotism – and the blood – that made America great. Pray for our nation and our leaders.”
Meanwhile, 77-year-old right-wing pundit Newt Gingrich took a more heated tone as he launched into an angry rant on Fox News’Justice with Judge Jeanine on Saturday (24 April).
“If you listed every idiotic thing that the Biden administration has done in the first 100 days, you’d begin to realise it’s threatening everybody who believes in the Second Amendment, or it’s attacking everybody who believes in right to life, or it is attacking people of traditional values who are appalled that this administration would fly the gay flag at American embassies all over the world,” he said.
“You just go down item by item and it’s almost like they have a checklist of what can we do that will really truly infuriate traditional Americans.”
Unfortunately for Newt, we checked the facts and most Americans really aren’t infuriated by the sight of a rainbow flag. Fancy that.
RAMAT GAN, Israel (AP) — An Israeli soccer referee has come out as transgender and is living — and enforcing the rules of the game — as the only woman in the country’s top-shelf league.
Sapir Berman announced Tuesday she has received the support of her family, the local referees’ union and Israeli and international soccer officials. She said players and fans have begun to address her as a woman, even when they gripe about her calls on the field. On Sunday, Berman will be the head referee for a playoff match between heavyweight teams Hapoel Haifa and Beitar Jerusalem.
It will be a marquee event on Berman’s life-long road to living, as she said Tuesday, as herself.
“I always saw myself as a woman, from a young age,” Berman, whose birth name was “Sagi,” told reporters at Ramat Gan Stadium, headquarters of the Israel Football Association.
“I realized society will not accept me, will not be on my side, so I continued like this for nearly 26 years,” she said.
Berman said that being involved in such a male-dominated profession made her hesitate to go public. But about six months ago, “I decided to come out and to show who I am, first of all to myself, for my soul,” she said with a smile.
Fans and players quickly took notice, she said, addressing her with the feminine form of Hebrew words — a change Berman chooses to see as a sign of respect for her decision to transition.
Israeli soccer officials stood behind Berman at Tuesday’s news conference in a room above the stadium’s playing field.
“We have a new referee, Sapir Berman,” the Israel Football Association tweeted. “We are so proud.”
Berman’s decision to come out, and stay on at the Israeli Premiere League, comes at a time when gay and transgender people are achieving higher profiles and acceptance in some parts of the world.
Last week, Caitlyn Jenner — an Olympic hero, reality TV personality and transgender rights activist — joined a growing list of candidates seeking to oust California Gov. Gavin Newsom from office.
And a British soccer referee came out as transgender in 2018. Lucy Clark, formerly known as Nick, has said she hopes to become a “game-changer.”
There’s also troubling, or at least inconclusive, news around the world for transgender people, particularly on the legal front.
In the U.S., five states have passed laws or put in force other policies limiting the ability of transgender youths to play sports or receive certain medical treatment. There’s been a vehement outcry from supporters of transgender rights — but little in the way of tangible repercussions for those states.
Israel is generally progressive on LGBTQ rights, but some soccer matches are played in conservative communities. The match on Sunday that Bergman will lead is scheduled at Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa, one of the most tolerant areas of the country.
So far, Berman said, there have been no problems from fans. That’s notable, said one expert, because transgender people are generally socially accepted by Israelis. But the lack of heckling also can be credited to the early and unequivocal support of the IFA and other Israeli soccer institutions.
“It’s a good thing; it was a pre-emptive move on their part to send the signal of acceptance,” said Eran Globus, policy adviser and former chairperson of Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance. He said no men’s soccer players have come out as gay. “I think Sapir will be a beacon on that frontier.”
Israel is one of the world’s most progressive countries on LGBTQ rights, despite its image as a society struggling with religious coercion. Gay and transgender people can serve openly in Israel’s military and the Knesset, for example.
But Israel still has a way to go, Globus said. No transgender person has been elected to public office. And in several respects, the law trails behind the social inclusion of transgender Israelis. On several issues where gay rights are recognized, there have been no decisions on whether those rights apply to transgender people.
For Berman, the soccer world has been largely supportive. There are already players who address her as a woman, and at a recent youth match an angry parent used Hebrew’s feminine version of “Wake up, ref!” when complaining about a call.
“It shows me there’s change in society,” she said.
Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto visited Pride House Tokyo for the first time today, coinciding with a week of Rainbow Pride celebrations in Japan’s capital.
Hashimoto’s visit took place on the same day that a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) support group held a meeting at the Japanese Parliament to call on the Government to enact equality legislation as part of the legacy of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics.
Same-sex marriage is still illegal in Japan.
Pride House is the first permanent LGBTQ+ centre in Tokyo, and the concept has been present in some form at every Olympic Games since Vancouver 2010.
“When we will recall the Tokyo 2020 Games, I want people to think that this was a turning point for realising diversity and harmony including understanding for LGBT,” Hashimoto said during discussions at the facility.
“We need to take action right now to achieve that and it’s the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee’s responsibilities.”
As well as being the only Group of Seven country not to have adopted same-sex marriage,anti-discrimination laws also do not exist in many areas of Japanese life, including in the workplace.
Transgender people and their gender identities have been recognised in Japan since 2004, but under Japanese law, transgender people will only be identified as their preferred gender after reassignment surgery and sterilisation.
Gon Matsunaka, President of Pride House Tokyo, told Hashimoto that many LGBTQ+ people face discrimination in sport due to binary divisions of gender and sex.
“The occasion that LGBTQ people face discrimination the most is said to be in sport industries,” said Matsunaka.
“There are many sports in which people have to be divided between men and women.”
Pride House acts as a refuge for LGBTQ+ people and an information centre in the build-up to and during sporting events.
Tokyo Rainbow Pride and related events are running throughout Japan from April 24 to May 5, including a virtual parade and online festival.
Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.
MOVIES
— Now that awards season is finally over, it’s time for some spring action movies and what better way to start than with Michael B. Jordan playing an elite Navy SEAL avenging his pregnant wife’s death in a Tom Clancy adaptation? “Without Remorse,” hitting Amazon Prime Video on Friday, finds the “Creed” and “Black Panther” star playing John Clark (who some may be familiar with as a character in the Jack Ryan universe). Jordan co-stars with Jodie Turner-Smith (“Queen & Slim”), Jamie Bell and Guy Pearce in the globe-trotting action pic, which could very well be the start of another franchise.
— If you’re hunting for something a little more family friendly, Netflix has the animated “The Mitchells vs. the Machines” premiering Friday as well. Produced by “The Lego Movie’s” Phil Lord and Chris Miller the Michael Rianda-directed crowd pleaser finds a family whose cross country road trip gets sidetracked by a robot apocalypse. Featuring the voices of Maya Rudolph, Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Olivia Colman and Eric Andre, some have described it as a mash-up of “Vacation” and “The Terminator.”
— Or if you’re feeling like mulling over ideas of nature versus nurture, there’s the new documentary “Lucy the Human Chimp,” available Thursday on HBO Max, about a chimpanzee who was raised in a suburban home by a psychologist and his wife and later was transferred back to the wild. Lucy made headlines in her day, having learned sign language and how to eat with silverware, but when puberty hit she became aggressive and destructive and was sent to a rehabilitation center in Gambia. Filmmaker Alex Parkinson promises to go beyond the headlines and focus on the bond between Lucy and her caregiver Janis Carter.
— AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr
MUSIC
— Billie Eilish is releasing the first single from her highly anticipated sophomore album on Thursday. Eilish announced Tuesday that the 16-track “Happier Than Ever” will arrive July 30, even revealing the track list and album artwork. The 19-year-old didn’t say which song would be released Thursday as the lead single, but all of the tracks were written by her and her older brother and close collaborator Finneas. Together, they crafted her debut album — “When We All Go to Sleep, Where Do We Go?” — winning a total 11 Grammys at the 2020 show. This year they won two more Grammys for the songs “Everything I Wanted” and “No Time to Die.”
— Signed to Merge Records, which mainly features alternative rock artists, R&B singer Dawn Richard is set to drop her sixth solo album on Friday. The former Danity Kane and Diddy-Dirty Money performer blends a number of genres on “Second Line,” including R&B, pop, electro and alternative sounds. The album centers on the New Orleans-born singer’s persona King Creole. “The definition of a second line in New Orleans is a celebration of someone’s homecoming,” Richard said. “In death and in life, we celebrate the impact of a person’s legacy through dance and music. I’m celebrating the death of old views in the industry. The death of boxes and limits.”
— Jay-Z’s latest signee, 21-year-old Maeta, is releasing a new EP on Friday. “Habits,” the rising performer’s seven-song project for Roc Nation, is a blend of pop and alternative R&B sounds and features collaborations with Grammy winners like Skrillex, Mustard and Kaytranada. The EP cover art was even inspired by a photo of the icon Janet Jackson. Maeta, who is from Indianapolis and got her start by covering songs on SoundCloud and Instagram, released her debut EP, “Do Not Disturb,” in 2019.
— AP Music Editor Mesfin Fekadu
TELEVISION
— Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” is back for a 10-episode fourth season, with the action moving from Boston to Chicago, site of an ongoing rebellion against the oppressive Gilead regime. There are new risks ahead for Elisabeth Moss’ rebel leader June, and no end in sight: The series has been renewed for another season. Three episodes debut Wednesday, with the rest to follow in consecutive weeks. In the meantime, want to take a deeper dive into its themes and real-world issues with Moss, co-stars Yvonne Strahovski, Ann Dowd and Joseph Fiennes, and the drama’s producers? They’re part of “Female Empowerment in the Age of The Handmaid’s Tale,” a Paley Center for Media program.
— The new Apple TV+ drama series “The Mosquito Coast” boasts a notable family connection: it stars Justin Theroux and is based on the 1981 novel of the same name by acclaimed writer Paul Theroux, his uncle. In the adaptation by novelist and series producer Neil Cross (“Luther”), radical idealist Allie Fox (Justin Theroux) abruptly flees California with his wife and children for a perilous journey through Mexico. The U.S. government is after him, with the why to be unveiled. The seven-episode series co-stars Melissa George, Logan Polish and Gabriel Bateman. After its two-episode premiere Friday, new episodes will be released on consecutive Fridays.
— The third and final season of FX’s groundbreaking “Pose” begins Sunday (10 p.m. EDT) with two episodes. The series that delved into the New York ballroom scene of the late 1980s — a time both exuberant and AIDS-plagued — introduced the largest LGBTQ cast ever on TV. It also made a screen star of Billy Porter, the Tony Award-winner (“Kinky Boots”) who plays Pray Tell, the balls’ organizer and emcee. In 2019, Porter became the first openly gay man to win a lead actor Emmy. The new season, set in 1994, finds his character struggling with health crises and Mi Rodriguez’s Blanca, who’s working as a nurse’s aide, his staunch ally. The seven-episode season ends June 6.
Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin with Senator Fintan Warfield and Senator Rose Conway Walsh talking to the media on the plinth at Leinster House, 02-05-2021. Image: Sam Boal/RollingNews
