RT @ChristopherFTL: #PaulRyan voted to Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC. http://t.co/F3k0hmCK

RT @HuffPostDC: '"Path to Prosperity?" For Many Senior Citizens, VP Pick Ryan's Plan Would Be Path to the Poorhouse' @wendellpotter http://t.co/yuryIC1S

RT @washingtonpost: The U.S. Army logged 38 suicides last month -- twice the number of troops killed in Afghanistan this month. http://t.co/cegwtELf

RT @washingtonpost: Military suicides last month: 38 Army, 26 National Guard (active), 12 National Guard (inactive), 8 Marines http://t.co/PSTPLgSg

RT @TheFix: David Maraniss on Bill Clinton. Just read it. http://t.co/9AVxipgd

RT @asmith83: Even other countries add -gate after scandals: coalgate in India. http://t.co/QWeNEvyn

RT @BarackObama: 49 days until Election Day—if you’re not registered yet, start here: http://t.co/7Mvoryj4

I was attacked and hospitalized this year for being gay. My partner was refused from the hospital. He spent the night alone scared *I* might die alone. I did, too. This election year, there is a gentleman asking for your vote who believes we do not deserve equal rights-- including being together in the hospital. In the ever-after. Nor fiscally. I ask you to please not think of your wallets at the ballot, but of your hearts. Could you let your husband die alone? Mitt Romney would say that I deserve to die that way-- and I can't elect him. I hope that you cannot either. If you love me (or love your spouse) I ask that you pause and reflect on morals and compassion. I have never been so scared in my entire life as I was in that night-- alone. Please know that your vote goes beyond laissez-faire notions of capitalism and concerns of modified socialism and hits me directly at home. A vote for Mitt Romney will bolster an opportunity to strip me of civil rights, and I pray that your heart won't allow that. If you can in good conscience and faith elect an official who will allow me to die alone with a catheter but no solace, may peace be with you. I cannot. There is no tax break worth my humanity or my husband's tears. I pray that the reality of that notion means that you cannot either. If it doesn't, however, I wish you a moment of reckoning. Again, may peace be with you.

Yay-merica!!

I need a website that lists the odds of our next air strike leading to world war 3. It would save me a ton of fretting.

Remembering today the queer negroes who fought for equality. Bayard Rustin, I'm grateful. My black brothers today, celebrate equality by letting your black brothers know you've got our back. Dr King, god bless.

white male privilege *generally* trumps sexual minority, yay or nay?

Pop Francis continued: “A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: ‘Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?’”

“This church with which we should be thinking is the home of all,” he said, “not a small chapel that can hold only a small group of selected people.”

I just discovered that the largest church in DC, Mt Cavalry, is only a stones throw from my house in NE. Pastor Owens preaches against "sissies and faggots" from his pulpit to 7,000 members. They offer ex-gay ministries. How much of this is to blame for the assault last year? Contact the church at 202-529-4547

It really irks me, tho I appreciate the outlier factor, when there is gender pricing parity. http://theincidentaleconomist.com/wordpress/two-sided-markets-part-i/

Retweeted City Paper (@wcp):

Joe Biden: D.C. "should be a state." http://t.co/R7JcCNrAUm http://t.co/20LYolLoPV

Retweeted Tom Sherwood (@tomsherwood):

Good example how DC unfairly barred by Congress from taxing income at its source. Va/Md/other states reap billions$. http://t.co/hzhTunnRCE

It's appalling -- @WhiteHouse can't help. @BarackObama can't fix it. @EleanorNorton can't vote on it. @KPShare and @DCHealthLink have failed

How can we remove Trump's lease from the Old Post Office? This has long been one of my fav… http://t.co/oa9qy3LqTd http://t.co/SiY647LkOu

Retweeted Jacqueline Fell (@jackiefell):

.@randpaul blasts federal government for offering taxpayer funded yoga. Instructor @michaeljoelhall says benefits outweigh cost. #yoga

Fuck Your Politics.

All these Christians in America acting like they don't have blood on their hands and also mocked fries a few years ago. gtfo. Native Americans say "hi!"

Largest mass arrest in Washington's history just happened. Did you hear about it?

1/2 of all federal inmates are there due to drugs. Something is wrong-- free them, not just from prison but also from stigma.

If you have power and don't use it, you are complicit in these horrors.

When will you do something? How many deaths inside black churches? How many rapes? How many of my brothers and sisters need to be slaughtered?

Get radical.

The radicalized American in Orlando was closeted? If you've ever bullied a queer individual for their sexuality, you have blood on your hands. You are responsible for this.

Listen: I like shooting guns. Don't come at me with that extra ya ya.

Read the numbers, and come to your own conclusion.

I trust your ability to parse data.

The president is having a town hall on race and gun violence next door. I want to go-- they're literally next door.

Good Job, Kim Rhodes!

Now...

"As the fact check site Snopes points out, her sixth medal was covered by many major U.S. news outlets, including USA Today, the New York Times, CBS Sports, SB Nation, NBC, WGN and the Chicago Tribune. Other outlets like Time, Forbes, Huffington Post and NPR covered Rhode’s bronze medal and mentioned her pro-Second Amendment values.

Both Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal wrote about the stigma attached to shooting sports but as Five Thirty Eight noted, Americans aren’t really excited about the event, and that more than anything is what is responsible for limited sponsorships.

Shooting sports are ranked among the least popular games at the 2016 Rio Olympics. It wasn’t even listed in an Adweek survey announcing the “11 Olympic Sports That Viewers Are Most Excited About Watching,” because it didn’t make it into the top 11 sports. If fans of the sport were more supportive of their event and encouraged a higher viewership, perhaps Rhode could score some sponsorships and the sport could get more attention."

Anywho, spend some time in the comments, but try not to respond. Avoid trolls, but don't create an echo-chamber for yourself.

oh my god. this debate. oh my god.

Anderson is being steam rolled and its not as hot as I had hoped.

Yes, lets look at Orlando, Donald. Tell me more.

"I'm gonna force them back into their countries," Donald Trump. Tell me how, buddy.

Give them a history lesson, Hillary. Lincoln 'em.

"I voted to close the loophole you took advantage of" -- will this get the traction it deserves?

What info do you have on the rebels that she doesn't have, Donald?

"How stupid is our country?" Bro, you're the nominee. I think we know.

Yes, lets take a look at Washington, DC, Donald. Lets talk about why we're divisive.

So you can't be a good person with a sex tape? Uh oh.

"Exercise your franchise" -- finally, Hillary. A good, organic catch phrase.

Am I actually gonna have to go to HillaryClinton.Com to fact check this 1000 years of energy from coal? Clean coal? Thats gotta be some made up shit, right? Brandon T. !

Yeah. The kids.

These commentators
"Fiesty presidential debate" -- hm.
"Most contentious debate in american history" -- uh, are you out of your mind? People got shot.

So, an audience of undecided voters... and it was stocked with Bill Clinton's accusers? No way. Thats a lot.

I'll gladly vote for the one who can grow and learn and apologize.

So I read all the fact checking pieces-- no quotes from God on whether Trump's assertion that Hillary was the literal Devil or nah. Guess I'll have to go to work not knowing... Get your shit together NPR.

Our third party Candidate, everybody!

"We have no country if we have no borders." -- that's not true

Woke up & DOW Jones futures were down 700 points. Back to bed.

8 years ago, I could not sleep because the streets were packed with celebration. Today, the faces on the bus are as long as this horrific fever dream. Cold sweat, cold rain.

Lots of folks don't know why they're being unfriended like they haven't had the n-bomb dropped in their house with aplomb. Stop. You know how your husbands feel. You know how you act with adults (if not children). And, do you know how that VP feels about folks like me? Stop. Just stop.

Not all Trump supporters self identify as racist or stupid.

So, my queer friends house in Philly has been egged & the church down the way has been vandalized with "white nation." Heard about these two older guys trying to decide whether or not to take off their "make America great again" hats before going into a Manhattan bar-- so easy for them, not so for the black church & the 'pink' house.

Over 1000 hate crimes *reported* since the middle of November. If you weren't aware of that, you're probably heterosexual and white.

I'm self employed and will likely lose my health insurance because of these plates in my face and that PTSD I had for a hot minute. I didn't love my premiums, but I was glad to have health care.

Any time is a good time to subvert the dominate paradigm... but particularly right now.

Know someone oppressed by the instilled power structure? Speak up! Act up!

Sending all of my heart and soul home to the citizens of my beloved District. Be strong, be kind, and take no shit. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you for last time we had March for woman's lives. xo.

Thank you for the last time we had to March for women's lives. xo.

13 years ago-- the march for women's lives.

I'll just be over here lookin' & likin" these March posts-- keep 'em coming, y'all!

I swear to Allah, if the price of my tequila goes up 20% I will have a bathtub agave jihad.

I've failed at adulting today. Trolling trolls is not activism.

"In Trump's America, even the roses are white!"

Domestic Violence Resource Project #DVRP at @PurplePatch today. Get some @hotbuttonissues buttons and support a great cause.

WE'RE HERE! WE'RE QUEER! GET USED TO IT!

I wish that the White House would have acknowledged the male spouse of Luxembourgs's male prime minister. I wish that 45 would have made a statement for June, which is Pride Month. I do not wish I hadn't been assaulted physically and verbally most days growing up-- told my voice, my body, my mind, and my capacity for love were wrong, ugly and loathesome-- because it has made me who I am today. However, I do not wish it on your children, my children, or anyone else.

As a child, that kind of violence almost killed my spirit. As an adult, it almost killed my human form.

The silence is deafening and the message is clear. Systematic erasure. You want to help? Know that it's pride. Know when black history month is. Talk frankly and openly about sexuality and race. If you can't, ask for help. Im talking frank conversation from your cohort. If you don't have anyone you can have this conversation with, I'm here. Get real. Get woke. GET LOUD.

I assure you, WE aren't going back in the closet-- we won't die to the pages of history. Tell your friends.

Your silence is deafening.

WHY WE SHOULD SEE THEIR NAMES: Freedom of assembly has an inherent imperative towards integrity that silent support does not: it invokes a willingness to stand behind beliefs in a public space and rally others to do the same. This effort at constructing and propogating means those that have asssembled are now responsible for standing behind their beliefs-- not just in the spaces they've chosen for assembly, but in all public spaces. The culture created by a successful effort at normalizing a belief has a far reach, and the responsibility for it doesn't lessen when the rally ends. We have a responsibility for the fallout of our actions, this is simple karma. When I march for queer rights, reproductive justice, or anything else I am also willing to answer and defend my beliefs when asked, and I don't get to believe these things part time. To call to action a community requires the ethical where-with-all to stand behind your belief when asked, and if one can't, perhaps they shouldn't be emboldening others to do what they themselves aren't willing to defend.

CALL A BIGOT A BIGOT.

In the last few months, two different gay friends were assaulted. Both are over 50. Both in Washington, DC. One had an assailant yelling about being "in trumps America now." Y'all, we've been in this America.

My outfit from 2010, when I decided I wanted to go explore the teabagger events. Notes: 1) ive been wearing these cut up shirts for a long ass time. 2) how these politics have morphed!

The overlap between being objectified by people of power and situations where assault of the sexual variety occurs runs the risk of allowing "me too" to be viewed from the cheap seats as a bit of a toothless tiger.

Sexual harassment occurs constantly. I have been sexualized and demeaned to some degree in every job I've had as an adult. I suspect almost every woman/gay men have, too. I know almost every gal in town has been catcalled, for sure.

On a hierarchical level we have given passes to strong men taking sex acts by force. The amount of people who voted for a man who literally propagated grabbing woman by their pussies and doing whatever he wants with them needs addressing. "They'll let me," he says.

At least 16 women have publicly accused Trump of forcibly attempting to kiss, grope and have sex with them. He is on the record saying he forcibly touches woman.

This is not sexual harassment-- this is sexual assault.

What kind of accountability do we reasonably expect men in power to have when we give them a "yes, but" along with a "me, too" So glad we're speaking up: remember this in 3 years, fam. The more voices we raise, the more potential we create.

Take that "Me, too" and talk to you husbands, wives, sisters, brothers, and kids.

Me, too.

A Chechniyan popstar was tortured and killed by his government for being gay. Too close to home for my tastes.

Y'all still supporting that no-tax-paying, bigot enriching, minority oppressing, opiating organization?

k.

FTR: Im talking about the one that charges $9 for a bud light, not the one that asks for 10% of your income.

How the fuck did America elect that monster?

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14404-night-work/

‘Night Work’ is one of my favorite albums of all time by my favorite band of all time. This review is basically saying that music by gay people for gay people is not palatable to a straight audience and therefor not inclusive enough.

This is why I’ve been so fucking pissed for 2017 and will carry that fire into 2018. This is why Living Single isn’t on Hulu. Because I have participated in fucking straight people culture without complaint and have had to pull teeth to get straight people to even consider coming to a queer event (other than the pride parade-- but who doesn't love a parade? I digress ). This is to me self evident of the fact that straight folk (especially, but not limited to, white ones) think their activities are normal, and gay folks activities are not. No wonder gay folk dont want y'all in their safe spaces-- folks act like theyre on safari or doing something lurid. No gurl, it's a fucking Thursday and the drinks are cheap.

You know who does come to queer events when I ask? My non-white female friends. They also know how to treat the space (ie, putting away any urge to behave in an entitled manner). You know who came with me to see the Scissor Sisters tour Night Work? Wanna know who watches Living Single?

This article, and this situation, is garbage. If this made your asshole pucler, then maybe now you know why your gay friends low key think you’re the worst and if you’re white, your non-white friends low key think you’re even worse than that. But Facebook is an echo chamber, so if you made it this far, you’re probably not the problem.

Back to the pitchfork review:

“If the cover of Night Work did not clue you in, let's just state the obvious right now: This is a very, very gay album. Whereas the first two Scissor Sisters records found a way to translate specifically gay subject matter into big-tent camp that opened up their appeal to anyone with a taste for colorful dance music and 1970s radio pop, their third album isn't quite as inclusive. They are no less tuneful, but their aesthetic and lyrical themes are more firmly rooted in gay culture, to the point that many straight listeners may find themselves feeling like outsiders looking in. Instead of presenting a queer pop sensibility for the masses, they've gone deeper into their subcultural niche."

“…I must confess that I am not afraid of the word “tension.” …there is a type of constructive nonviolent tension that is necessary for growth. Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal, we must see the need of having nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men to rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood. So, the purpose of direct action is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation"

AS MLK WROTE IN HIS Birmingham letters, Rattling the establishment is very useful. Its true, you might find yourself a pariah, but to an unrepresented community of people, you are representation, giving voice to those that have been largely voiceless. It requires valor and bravery, as MLK later came to discover, as standing your ground may in fact become the hill that you die upon.

Much like my affinity for drag, I recognize that yoga will never truly be mainstream because it "mocks ego," as RuPaul says. Yoga is very good for marginalized people. It's goodness for the voices unspoken is directly proportionate to its threat to the establishment.

The establishment, the Man, is invested in maintaining its power, and because that power comes from a deified ego, the establishment further marginalizes those that dare question ego.

Anything that mocks ego becomes an inherent threat.

Those vested in the power that comes from the establishment, and for this I say as clearly as I can: especially ONLY from the establishment-- those people will always attempt to (at best) diminish and (at worst) silence (by any means necessary) that which shows that the emporer has no clothes. They will do it with a clear conscience as only those who have made a god out of a toothless tiger can murder guiltlessly.

The very best way to rattle the ego starts by creating tension. Without discounting your inherent value, question your worth. You can't use your privileges for good if you don't admit you have them. We all have god given rights and innate gifts. What are your gifts? Where have you struggled? You can't recognize your growth potential without a sober assesment of where you are. This will help build empathy.

Then, go out and get loud.
Rattle the establishment.
Do yoga.
Fight AIDS.

Make MLK, RuPaul, and this little yogi proud and go out there and color with all the colors in the crayon box.

In the first 11 months of 2017, the Metropolitan Police Department reported 163 hate crimes in D.C. where individuals were targeted on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender expression or political affiliation. Of these, the greatest share ― 51 hate crimes in all, or about 31 percent ― involved someone being targeted for their sexual orientation.

63% of trump voters cant bring themselves to feel favorably about the sentiment “black lives matter. ” 73% of trump voters oppose demonstrations/rallies. This is why we said what we said and and we say what we say. Black lives matter.

Why won’t you say “Black lives matter?”

So much "can't erase history" stuff, and I am gonna take it on face value that y'all don't really understand ( a VERY charitable read rn).

Lemmie break this down for ya:

Say you came over and put a statue up in my front yard-- one that was in the image of the men who have verbally and physically assaulted me over the years. How do you think it would make me feel?

Now, lets make it spicy: that statue, lets say it was built to highlighting the virtuousness of the men who harassed, hospitalized, and hurt me?

Do you think I'd wanna come home? Do you think I'd wanna be anywhere near it?

Would you like to see the face of your tormenters every day comin' and goin? "History is history" really feels like "suffer, bitch."

After being asked to denounce white supremacy, Donald J. Trump spoke directly to a neo-fascist white nationalist domestic terrorist organization and told them to “stand by.”

Are we as a nation so numb that we are not up in arms, figuratively or literally? I’m shocked that this was on the national debate stage; and shocked that this isn’t the headline in every major new outlet world wide.

The sitting president also said that he did not believe that the election could be legitimate this cycle, and that he would not peacefully transfer power, nor would he encourage peace during that time.

Instead, he encouraged his white nationalist followers to stand by.

Can anyone defend *not* voting him out?

Thank you to everyone who worked to get out the vote.