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ELECTION 2016: Openly LGBTQ Candidates Vie To Make History Across Nation

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Seven Out Hopefuls Could Become Firsts In Their States

This year’s election contests aren’t just going to be a big day for the presidential race. There are numerous state and local officers up for election. Because we know just how important — perhaps even more so — these down-ballot races can be, The New Civil rights Movement is breaking down the other races and what initiatives progressives should be paying attention to as they head to the ballot box on Tuesday. 

In Part 1 we looked at the 12 states electing a new governor. Part 2 took a look at some of the key US Senate races. This time, we’re taking a look at a few of the candidates who could become the first or only openly LGBTQ legislator in (or from) their state.  

Colorado’s 5 Congressional District: Misty Plowright

Misty Plowright is the first transgender candidate from Colorado, and she’s running for Congress. She’s been decried by the Right and ignored by her opponent Doug Lamborn, but as she told the Denver Post, “It’s hard to come after me. I’m not ashamed of who I am.” No Democrat has ever done better than 40 percent, though that’s not stopping Misty from trying. “I’ve been underestimated my entire life. Well, I’m still here and I’m still going,” she said.

Colorado House of Representatives, 8th District: Leslie Herod

If elected, Leslie Herod will become the first African American LGBTQ person to serve in the Colorado legislature. She’s running in a reliably blue district and is poised to make history. 

North Carolina House of Representatives, District 98: Jane Campbell

Jane Campbell’s opponent, Republican John R Bradford III, was one of the chief architects and proponents of HB2, which was motivation enough to convince Campbell to run. She’s not affiliated with any party though she’s heavily backed by Democrats. She’s also endorsed by HRC, Equality NC, and The News-Observer. She’s poised to be the only openly gay member of the legislature when elected. (Chris Sgro, executive director of Equality NC, was appointed to his temporary position to complete the last session.) 

Georgia House of Representatives, 101st District: Sam Park

Sam Park joins a long line of openly gay men vying to be the first to be elected in Georgia and may well be the first to actually make it happen. His poll numbers show him in a very tight race against incumbent Valerie Clark. What makes this interesting is that Park comes from Gwinnett County, where, as of this month, a majority of voters represent minority communities. Pundits from both sides of the aisle say this shows the coming change of Georgia’s red-voting habits to a deeper shade of purple. Park’s opponent was also a supporter of Georgia’s discriminatory “Religious Freedom Restoration Act” which was famously vetoed. (Full disclosure: I know Sam personally and on the board of a group that endorsed him. I also think he’s great.)

Washington’s 7th Congressional District: Brady Piñero Walkinshaw

Brady Walkinshaw is looking to make the move from the state legislature up as the first openly LGBTQ Latino American elected to Congress. Walkingshaw’s district is safely Democratic, but his opponent, Pramila Jayapal, is also a Democrat. Both candidates have stood up for LGBTQ rights and immigrant rights and it seems as though Washington (both the state and the district) will be well served by either candidate.

Montana’s Congressional Representative: Denise Juneau

Denise Juneau could become the first Native American in Congress and the first openly LGBTQ representative from Montana. However, recent polling has her opponent, Trump-endorsing former Navy SEAL Ryan Zinke, up 19 points.  

Arizona House of Representatives, District 2: Daniel Hernandez

Daniel Hernandez first made news when he helped then-Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords stay alive after she was shot in 2011 at a public event. Now he’s advocating for stricter gun laws and LGBTQ rights. If elected, he’ll be the only openly LGBTQ legislator in Arizona. 

This is just a small sampling of some of the many openly-LGBTQ candidates running in 2016. There are also numerous LGBTQ-friendly candidates running. Be sure to do your research before you head to the polls — you could help make history! Check out your local LGBTQ PAC or other groups and make sure your voice is heard!

Image via TorbakHopper and a Creative Common License on Flickr

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News

Fox News Host Suggests Trump ‘Force’ Court to Throw Him in Jail – by Quoting Him

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April 19, 2024

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The Fox News host who targeted a juror serving on Donald Trump’s criminal New York trial is now suggesting the ex-president should violate his gag order and “force” the court to throw him in jail, by quoting the Fox News host.

Jesse Watters came under fire earlier this week for profiling juror number two, sharing possibly identifying information published by a myriad of reporters but then using that information to pass judgment on her ability to serve.

“I’m not so sure about juror number two,” Watters concluded on Fox News.

Jurors, at the judge’s direction, were to remain anonymous, for their protection and the protection of the trial.

The judge excused her, after she said she felt she was not able to be impartial because friends and family were calling her asking if she had been chosen to serve on the Trump trial, after the media blitz.

New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan admonished the press for reporting the information, but some news outlets appeared to ignore his warning.

Watters on Wednesday “did a segment with a jury consultant, revealing details about people who had been seated on the jury and questioning whether some were ‘stealth liberals’ who would be out to convict Trump,” the Associated Press reported.

READ MORE: Gaetz: ‘Corrupt’ Republicans Could ‘Take a Bribe’ and Throw House to Dems, Blocking Trump Run

Trump later posted Watters’ quote on his Truth Social platform, leading some, including New York prosecutors, to ask the judge to cite him for allegedly breaking his gag order.

Judge Merchan ordered Trump to not mention witnesses, jurors, prosecutors, court staff, or the family members of prosecutors and court staff, CNN has reported.

New York prosecutors told Juge Merchan Trump has violated the gag order at least ten times.

“Prosecutor Christopher Conroy described the ‘most disturbing’ example as a social media message Trump posted on Wednesday evening quoting a Fox News host as saying, ‘They are catching undercover Liberal Activists lying to the Judge in order to get on the Trump Jury,'” Politico reports.

That host was Jesse Watters.

RELATED: ‘Afraid and Intimidated’: Trump Trial Juror Targeted by Fox News Dismissed

Friday afternoon, Watters appeared to egg Trump on, urging the ex-president to violate the gag order.

“I would make them put me in jail,” Watters said on Fox News. “I would have a tweet about something perhaps I said on ‘The Five’ or ‘Jesse Watters Primetime,’ and I would force them to throw me in jail.”

Watch Watters’ remark below or at this link.

 

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Gaetz: ‘Corrupt’ Republicans Could ‘Take a Bribe’ and Throw House to Dems, Blocking Trump Run

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April 19, 2024

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U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) says some of his fellow House Republicans would “take a bribe” to throw the razor-thin GOP majority to the Democrats if a far-right faction calls up a motion to oust Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, allowing Democrats to hand the gavel to the Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries. he warned if that happens, Democrats would immediately declare Trump ineligible to be President, pack the U.S. Supreme Court, and pass numerous laws like the American Rescue Plan.

“I do believe in a one seat majority there could be one or two or three of my colleagues who would take a bribe in one form or another in order to deprive the Republicans of a majority at all,” Gaetz said Friday on his podcast (video below.)

He added, “the risk that one or two of my corrupt Republican colleagues might take a bribe, take a walk, feign an ailment and flip this thing to the Democrats is a risk that is too high for me at this time.”

Gaetz’s fellow far-right Florida Republican member of Congress, Anna Paulina Luna, told listeners, “I heard that when, if and when the motion vacate is introduced, that there will be immediate resignations of a couple of more moderate members of Congress. And in the event that that happens, that ultimately means it does go to a Democrat speaker.”

RELATED: Jeffries Vows Democrats Will Ensure Ukraine Aid Passes as Johnson Defectors Grow

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) last month filed a “motion to vacate,” which she can use at any time to force a vote to oust the GOP Speaker, Mike Johnson. U.S. Rep. Tim Massie (R-KY) and just today, U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) has signed on as co-sponsors.

Congressman Gaetz told listeners if Democrats do take the House through a force vote to remove Johnson, Democrats would “be declaring Donald Trump an insurrectionist and setting up a barrier to him being able to become the president United States.”

“That’ll be their leadoff hitter, and then the chaser to that shot will be a massive spending package that looks a lot more like the American Rescue Plan. They will blow past every concept of every cap ever imagined. You’ll be looking at Universal Basic Income, you could be looking at packing the Supreme Court.”

Watch a short clip of Gaetz’s remarks below or at this link.

READ MORE: ‘Stop Bringing Up Nazis and Hitler’: Marjorie Taylor Greene Smacked Down by Democrats

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Jeffries Vows Democrats Will Ensure Ukraine Aid Passes as Johnson Defectors Grow

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April 19, 2024

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Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries vowed Friday the majority of Democrats will support Republicans’ Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and Gaza foreign aid legislation as Republican Speaker Mike Johnson lost support of another member of his conference to a faction determined to oust him.

“Democrats will provide a majority of our majority as it relates to funding Israel, humanitarian assistance, Ukraine, and our allies in the Indo Pacific,” Minority Leader Jeffries said. “It remains to be seen what Republicans will do in terms of meeting the national security needs of the American people, but it was important for House Democrats to ensure that the national security bills are going to be considered.”

Despite Republicans having a one-vote majority, more Democrats on Friday voted to move the critical and long-awaited foreign aid bills forward than did Republicans.

READ MORE: ‘Stop Bringing Up Nazis and Hitler’: Marjorie Taylor Greene Smacked Down by Democrats

The 316-94 vote included 165 Democrats and 151 Republicans voting yes, and 55 Republicans and 39 Democrats voting no.

Axios’ Juliegrace Brufke posted the list of Republicans voting against their party’s legislation.

Calling it a “rare” moment in modern congressional history to have to rely on opposition party votes to pass legislation, BBC News reports Speaker Johnson’s “hold on power is tenuous, and the legislators who oppose him – and his bid to provide aid to Ukraine – occupy some key positions within the House’s power structure.”

Amid the procedural vote to move the foreign aid funding bills forward, U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, a far-right Republican of Arizona, announced he is joining Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), and Congressman Tim Massie (R-KY) in formally announcing their will vote to oust Speaker Johnson.

Gosar, like Greene, is reportedly a Christian nationalist. In 2022 CNN reported his “lengthy ties to White nationalists, [a] pro-Nazi blogger and far-right fringe received little pushback for years.”

RELATED: ‘Repercussions’: Democrats and Republicans Stand Against ‘Pro-Putin’ House GOP Faction

“We’ve been very honest in our assessment of the situation from the beginning,” Jeffries on Friday also declared. “At the appropriate time as House Democrats, we will have a conversation about how to deal with any hypothetical motion to vacate.”

“Moscow Marjorie Taylor Greene, Massie, and Gosar are quite a group. But central to our conversation is to make sure that the national security legislation in totality is passed by the House of Representatives.”

Watch the videos above or at this link.

 

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