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State Dept. Offers ‘Concern’ Over ‘Kill the Gays’ Law That Punishes Homosexuality by Stoning LGBT People to Death

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The U.S. Dept. of State was forced to issue a statement on Brunei’s new law that not only makes sex between two people of the same gender illegal, but inflicts death by stoning as a punishment. It’s yet another “kill the gays” law that violates human rights agreements, including the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Instead of issuing a strong condemnation and working with other governments to deliver a rebuke, or impose sanctions, or threatening tariffs on the nearly $300 million in goods Brunei imports from the U.S., all the Trump administration’s Dept. of State could offer was a milquetoast statement of “concern.”

Brunei’s antediluvian new law goes into effect on Wednesday. As The Daily Beast explains, it “imposes death by stoning or whipping for sodomy, adultery or rape, and amputation of a hand or foot for theft.”

The Daily Beast reports the U.S. State Dept. only offered its statement after the news site published an article noting that State had, in fact, said nothing, while other countries and activists have been raising awareness and warning the country it is violating international law.

“After nearly 24 hours of declining to clarify its position, the State Department finally sent The Daily Beast a statement saying the U.S. was ‘concerned’ about the new law, minutes after we published a story noting Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the department’s silence.”

“The United States is concerned with Brunei’s decision to implement Phases Two and Three of the Sharia Penal Code,” the State Dept. statement reads. “Some of the punishments in the law appear inconsistent with international human rights obligations, including with respect to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

“We have encouraged Brunei to ratify and implement the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which it signed in 2015, and to sign, ratify, and implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”

In a follow up email a State Dept. representative offered these additional remarks:

“Governments have an obligation to ensure that all people, including LGBTI people, can freely enjoy the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms to which they are entitled. We strongly oppose human rights violations and abuses against LGBTI persons, including violence, the criminalization of LGBTI status or conduct, and serious forms of discrimination.”

Again, the word “condemn” appears nowhere.

The Daily Beast notes Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the State Dept. would not directly address the stoning to death of LGBT people.

An NCRM search of the State Dept.’s website did not turn up that statement online. Nor did a scan of the State Dept.’s recent press releases.

U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell in February claimed  the Trump administration would be working to decriminalize homosexuality worldwide.

Days later President Trump was asked about the new program and said he knew nothing about it.

Grenell himself on social media has only mentioned Brunei’s inhuman new horrific law twice, and only in relation to news articles – he has not posted any official State Dept. documents regarding the antediluvian law.

In one post he asked people to “speak up,” and in another he tweeted the new “should be widely condemned.” But he did not say he or the State. Dept. does.

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Image by US Dept. of State via Flickr

 

 

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‘Real Winner’: Internet Destroys Trump for Congratulating Racist, Islamophobic, Anti-Semitic QAnon Conspiracy Theorist

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President Donald Trump Wednesday morning congratulated a QAnon conspiracy theorist who has racist, Islamophobic and anti-Semitic beliefs for winning her Republican Congressional primary. Marjorie Taylor Greene is now the GOP’s candidate to face Democrat Kevin van Ausdal in November.

“Congratulations to future Republican Star Marjorie Taylor Greene on a big Congressional primary win in Georgia against a very tough and smart opponent. Marjorie is strong on everything and never gives up – a real WINNER!” Trump tweeted.

Politico published a video of Greene making vile and offensive remarks, but Georgia Republican voters cast their ballots for her anyway. The remarks were so offensive Politico had to place a disclaimer at the beginning to ensure viewers knew they did not endorse her hatred.

In the video Greene “suggested that Muslims do not belong in government; thinks black people ‘are held slaves to the Democratic Party’; called George Soros, a Jewish Democratic megadonor, a Nazi; and said she would feel ‘proud’ to see a Confederate monument if she were black because it symbolizes progress made since the Civil War,” Politico reported.

She also insists the Quran cannot be used to swear elected officials into office. “No. You have to be sworn in on the Bible,” she says, which is false.

Her QAnon conspiracy theories make her an even less suitable candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Many condemned Trump on Twitter for endorsing Greene – take a look:

 

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‘Propaganda Machine’ Kayleigh McEnany Blasted for False Claim Trump Has ‘Great Record’ on LGBTQ Issues

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White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany is under fire for claiming President Donald Trump has a “great record” on LGBTQ issues.

Trump, who is the most anti-LGBTQ president in modern history, has been rolling back hard-won protections for LGBTQ people in all areas of government, since taking office three and a half years ago.

McEnany was asked about Trump’s ban on transgender service members, which he announced via Twitter on July 26, 2017, as the Washington Blade’s Chris Johnson reminded her Monday. She did not have much to say and appeared to respond by reading from prepared notes on a list of items.

“I haven’t talked to him about that specific policy, but this president is proud that in 2019 we launched a global initiative to end the criminalization of homosexuality throughout the world,” McEnany told Johnson in response to his question about the ban on transgender service members.

“He has a great record when it comes to the LGBT community. The Trump administration eased a ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men and he launched a plan to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, so we’re very proud of our achievements.”

That “global initiative to end the criminalization of homosexuality throughout the world” is non-existent and has not resulted in any actions or changes in policy or law in any other country. When Trump was first asked about it he said he did not know anything about it.

The easing of the antiquated blood ban was only in response to the coronavirus pandemic. And the “plan to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030” is just a plan. 18 months after it was announced there’s little evidence it was put into action.

Meanwhile, just last month Trump announced he was “surprised” the Supreme Court ruled against his administration when it found anti-LGBTQ workplace discrimination is illegal, because the court “was supposed to be in our favor.”

Also last month Trump’s HHS finalized a move to roll back healthcare protections for transgender people, calling them “unnecessary.”

Just weeks ago Trump’s Dept. of Housing and Urban Development moved to allow taxpayer-funded shelter providers to ban transgender people experiencing homelessness, citing religious rights.

Last year the Trump administration rolled back an Obama-era rule banning adoption agencies from discriminating against LGBTQ people, then bragged about it.

The list goes on and on.

The Trump campaign promoted McEnany’s false claim on social media.

Many have expressed outrage, especially since so many of the Trump administration’s attacks against LGBTQ people are often major life issues.

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Trump Plans to End Coronavirus Task Force: NYT

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Amid multiple projections of coronavirus deaths about to “nearly double” to 3000 per day and new infections to increase about ten-fold President Donald Trump is set to end the Coronavirus Task Force. What started as a January 31 executive order for public relations purposes that did almost nothing until the death toll exploded became a highly-watched group.

But for Trump, who craves the spotlight, its members’ high-profiles have become problematic.

“Trump administration officials are telling members of the coronavirus task force that the White House plans to wind down the operation and it’s not clear whether any other group might replace it,” The New York Times is now reporting.

NCRM earlier today in an exclusive reported that Vice President Mike Pence has “slacked off” on holding the coronavirus Task Force meetings. He led 24 in March, just 18 in April, and only two last week.

The coronavirus pandemic is far from over. On Monday the nation saw a new milestone set, with the death toll breaking 70,000 people.

This is a breaking news and developing story. Details may change. This story will be updated, and NCRM will likely publish follow-up stories on this news. Stay tuned and refresh for updates.

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