Don’t Be Dumb at Brunch: Bet on Beto, ‘Golden Girls’ Glamour and a Gay Athlete’s Tale
Happy Sunday! It’s brunchtime— don’t be dumb. This week we bring you stories about an attempted attack on our community, coming out in the sports world, the incredible Beto O’Rourke and a little Golden Girls. Of course, we also have our Whack Job of the Week. See who it are below.
Here are the week’s 5 news stories that’ll keep you looking well-informed at brunch:
Targeted but Foiled
We will never forget the day we learned of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida – a terror attack against our community that sparked global attention. Pulse wasn’t the first attack against LGBTQ people and we know it’s not the last. But luckily a terror attack planned on a gay Frankfurt nightclub has been foiled. A yet to be publicly named 17-year-old was arrested on Sept. 1 on suspicion of preparing a serious act of violence. Thankfully none of the gay bars in Frankfurt experienced any attack despite the plans. This is just a serious reminder that even in places where we are supposed to feel safe, we should remain aware and vigilant.
Authentic Athlete
There is no right time to come out … especially if you are a young athlete with a potential NFL career ahead of you. Currently, there are zero active NFL players that are out as LGBTQ. The usual reason is fear of persecution and being neglected for drafts and contract extensions. We know the sporting world needs to catch up to the times but that takes brave athletes to step forward and live truthfully and authentically in a seemingly hostile environment. But when you live in the shadow it can affect your performance and your opportunities as well. Take it from Landon Foster, a former punter from the University of Kentucky. His dreams of a potential career where cut short when he decided not to pursue football after not coming out during his undergrad years. He calls it a regret but also sees how this is an opportunity to speak on the importance of living your truth. Perhaps he will inspire someone just like him to pave the way.
You Beto Get to Know Him
If you don’t know who Beto O’Rourke is, you ‘beto’ get to know him. He is currently a Democratic member of the House of Representatives from El Paso, Texas. More importantly, he is the man that is VERY close to kicking LGBTQ-hater Ted Cruz out of the United States Senate. Once thought to be unbeatable, Cruz is clinging to a small lead over O’Rourke but it is within the margin of error (1-3 points). O’Rourke has been an ongoing supporter of LGBTQ and immigrant rights. He believes marriage equality is a civil right. Many people are comparing him to, dare we say it, Barack Obama. O’Rourke still has a lot of work to do. Voter turnout for him in the primary wasn’t quite as high as expected, and Texas remains an overwhelmingly Republican state. He needs support, not only from the Texas LGBTQ community, but our community at large. You can (and should) support his campaign for equality here. Our voice grows louder in D.C. the more supporters we have in our corner.
Stay Golden!
It’s been 33 years this week since The Golden Girls debuted on NBC. If you know us and listen to our podcast, you know we LOVE Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia. Well, check out these pics by Modsy, an interior design service, of a re-imagined Golden Girls house for 2018. Even though Sophia told Blanche “enough wicker,” the iconic Miami home features some fresh touches while keeping its tropical pastel vibe intact – wicker and all. The whole layout, and where you can buy the pieces, is available on the Modsy website. We are so there!
Whack Job of the Week: Brazilian Presidential Candidate Jair Bolsonaro
We spend a lot of time calling out the anti-LGBTQ practices of our current administration. Government sanctioned hate disguised as religious “freedoms” is a form of discrimination we are currently fighting against. We have a president that doesn’t embrace the protection of LGBTQ Americans. But It’s one thing to fight the hate groups and less than credible individuals that rail against LGBTQ people but to have a president that outright says he’d rather his son die in an accident than come out to him as gay is truly horrendous. Those are the words of Presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro— who has a very good chance of winning. If we’ve learned anything from 2016 it’s to fight through the rhetoric and vote. The election in Brazil is the first week of October.
