All Things LGBTQ News 8/24/2026

Hey, hey, hey. >> [music] [music] >> I'm an Arnold. >> I'm Linda Quinnland. >> I'm Keith Gland. And welcome to All Things LGBTQ. We are taping on Tuesday, August 25th. All things LGBTQ is produced at Orca Media in Montpiel, Vermont, which we acknowledge is on seated indigenous land. And now, just a brief statement acknowledging that we're taping on the day that we heard the news of the passing of a fierce ally and advocate and icon, Dolly Parton. Dolly was somebody who not only stood behind us, but stood with us. So, thank you and safe passage. And with that, >> I have a Dolly anecdote that we probably all heard on MSNBC just now. Um Katie Tur's husband interviewed >> Yes. >> her and asked her what she would like to um what she would like people to say about her in a hundred years. And she said, "I'd like them to say I'm looking good for my age." >> Exactly. >> What a [laughter] what a >> I know. There was that other anecdote where um uh >> it takes a lot of money to look this cheap. [laughter] >> She was she was in that um drag show where there were Dolly Parton um impersonators >> and she didn't win. >> She didn't win. >> Somebody else won. >> Exactly. >> I thought that's great. Well, on to more sober matters. Um although her death is pretty sober. Um, I'd like to start with the Gaza statement. Over 74,000 Palestinians have been reported killed in Gaza since the war uh in October 2023, according to track data on the casualties of the Gaza war. Total casualties, more than 74,000 people have died directly in the fighting. Over 174,000 people have been injured. Women and children make up a large portion of the people who have died. Uh officials believe thousands of other bodies are still lost under destroyed buildings. Indirect deaths. Public health groups say the total death toll is likely much higher. Many people have died from severe hunger, disease, and lack of medical care. The world is watching this and the US is supporting it. It's reprehensible, unacceptable. our tax [clears throat] dollars at work and I think we all need to speak out whenever we can. >> Um, now let's turn to some international headlines and stories. Um, I have some interesting news from Africa which I love to talk about. I think Africa is so interesting. Uh, I'd like to show you a picture now of Archbishop Siril Coina Ben Smith who is a Ghana Anglican church official, an archbishop in fact, who uh has officially opposed the those harsher anti-LGBTQ laws that will soon be introduced in the West African country. Uh he spoke out against the impending laws last week while speaking to the BBC. The d, as I've said, the draconian law will make simply identifying as anything under the LGBTQ plus umbrella a c criminal offense. The bill also criminalizes the promotion of LGBTQ activities and introduces a duty to report act that um goes against the law. Uh, anyone who that identifies as an ally to the community can also face imprisonment. Exemptions would be made for those who work in the legal, media, and healthc care sectors that report on LGBTQ plus issues or provide medical treatment to the community. Now, I took this as good news. President John Rammani Muhammad has not yet signed the bill into law, but he's going currently getting a lot of pressure from religious leaders to do so. So, uh, this archbishop has provided a counternarrative. Sexual relations between men, termed unnatural common knowledge, have been illegal in Ghana since [clears throat] the British colonial times. But the new law would impose a prison sentence for anyone simply identifying as LGBTQ. It's been widely criticized by international organizations, as we would hope. According to the BEC, the Human Rights Watch said that it places LGBTQ people's lives at risk while encouraging citizens to surveil and denounce one another and recommended that it be abandoned. So, there's a voice in the wilderness. Archbishop um Sirill Coina Ben Smith. Um good news from South America. Um Bolivia recognizes the first same-sex marriage in a historic step toward equality. Oh, I did. I hope I showed you a picture of uh Bishop Serial Serial Cambina and Smith, but if I haven't, here he is. And now here are Fabiana Manzo and Scarlett Roa, who are these newly weds after nearly four-year legal battle. Um, they became the first same-sex couple to be civily married in the South American country of Bolivia. Despite these women's recent wedding, the country's constitution still forbids same-sex marriages. Nevertheless, their legal victory could open the door for other same-sex couples eventually marrying. Um, Scar and I have been together for more than four years, Benzer wrote in a public um, Facebook post. It makes me very happy to announce to our family and friends that after a legal fight of three years and 10 months, we have finally been able to access civil civil marriage as two women. Interestingly, she they are the second same-sex couple to win legal recognition from their home country. In [snorts] December 2020, David Agupa and Gido Montano won their court battle to become the first same-sex couple to register their partnership as a civil union, which as we know is a form of legal recognition that bestows many of the same privileges as marriage, but isn't marriage. Um Agipa said on Sunday that he considers the women's recent marriage to be a significant development in the country's longer journey towards marriage equality. Uh rather than speaking of a beginning, we should speak of a historical continuity from the first recognized union to the first civil marriage. While Bolivia doesn't criminalize same-sex sexual encounters uh and has LGBTQ anti-discrimination protections, same-sex couples and partners aren't legally allowed to adopt children. Lesbian couples aren't allowed aren't guaranteed access to in vitro fertilization and conversion therapy remains legal. So, this is a milestone, but it's not, you know, business as usual there. Now, do you want >> one more story? >> Okay. I have two that go together. >> All right. You have a few minutes. >> All right. Let me um shout out to the local Seavoy Theater. >> Oh, yeah. >> Where Linda and I on Sunday saw this film that she's given me permission to talk to you about. Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. >> Yes. After years of slap dash sequels and waning fandom, the Camp Measma slasher franchise is handed over to an enthusiastic young director who is Anna Hine Hannah Einer from Hacks um for resurrection. [snorts] But when she visits the original movie star Jillian Anderson from the XFiles, uh, a now reclusive actress shrouded in mystery, the two women fall into a blood soaked world of desire, fear, and delirium. So, let's take a look at a clip from Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, currently playing at the Seavoy Theater in Montpielar. >> And I'd just like to say that >> you loved it. >> Yes. [laughter] But the the the the blood and gore is very um >> campy >> campy. So, you know, I >> and I we weren't scared. It was very intriguing. But all right. So, now let's look at the clip >> out here. There are certain nights when you just get this feeling that some psycho killer sit you up into a million little pieces. [sighs] >> Oh, I like that feeling. I don't want to make another dumb sequel in the Camp Measma franchise. I don't want to make a remake of a remake of a remake. I want to make something that feels fresh and new. >> She's amazing. >> Yeah, >> she's [music] clearly the same person from Miasma 1, the final girl, but she's so much more. >> [music] >> How did you choose to live at the abandoned sleepway camp [music] from the first film? >> Someone's got to be here when Little Death comes back. >> Little Death isn't real. >> Well, not with that attitude. He isn't. If you've seen his movies, you know he always comes bad. I'm just thinking about what it's going to feel like. Losing your virginity. No. Dying. Is there >> Where is it that you kids think you're going? >> Whoa. Sex seems so easy for so many people, but I've never been able to get there with someone else unless I'm really far away in my head. >> Can you feel it? It's rising to the surface now. >> Why? >> Oh, it's happening. It's happening. >> Can't be asthma. Okay. I enjoyed it. >> Okay. I have a another story related to that, but I'll hold it if you'd like. >> Okay. Well, let's start out with an fun clip of Rosie O'Donald's owed to President Trump on the Jimmy Kimble Show. Here's the clip. I would like to close my final monologue here with a traditional Irish song dedicated to a very special boy. Oh, Donnie boy, it's Rosie Rosie calling from Hollywood, the Jimmy Kimble Show. Drop that Big Mac that we all know you're holding. Because my dear, I worry for you. So, poor Donnie boy, your poles, your poles are falling. Your [cheering] reflecting pool is green as Mountain Dew. [laughter] Your wig's a mess. Your ballroom is appalling. And with Nan, you bit off more than you can chew. Measles are back. Inflation is a swelling. You post all night. You're sleeping while you work. And what's with all this useless crap you're selling? Hey, sweetie pie, you're driving us all berserk. But there's a way to end this drama. It's time to use that stable genius brain. Since we all know you'll never be Obama, [cheering] [applause] why not resign and make this country great again? [cheering] Yes, we all know you'll never be Obama. Come on, resign and make this country great again. >> [music] [cheering] >> Thank you so much. >> I thought what better way to start. >> Um, >> and Ros's comment of to Trump, I know you're watching. [laughter] >> Yeah, he hates her. Anyway, New York Liberty star Briana Stewart has always seen the N um WNBA as an inclusive place that has served as a safe space for both its fans and the players. That's been challenged lately. The WMBA has been the subject of recent debates on whether transgender women, people assigned male at birth who transition to align with their gender identity should be allowed to participate in the league. There has never been such a player in the WNBA. Although the league's collective bargaining agreement says the WNBA is restricted to women, it contains no more specific language about gender identity or sex assigned at birth. So, we'll [clears throat] see where that goes. There are so many options when it comes to amazing music festivals in the United States, but Outside Lands is one of the only major festivals that features a dedicated open air stage specifically curated to celebrate queer nightlife history. If you attend other top tier mainstream festivals such as Coachilla Electric Daisy Carnival, you'll typically find pride parties or fun takeovers at some of the smaller stages. This is quite the different fresh air to see outside land's majority embrace all aspects of queer culture from drag excellence to kink performances. That's simply the magic of San Francisco. This festival takes place in August and will return next year and every year. So >> that sounds like fun. >> Sign up for that. [clears throat] >> According to a new report from LGBTQ rights advocacy advocacy organization human rights campaign, >> 12% of US adults or about 25.6 6 million people identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or gender diverse. The report found that 2.54% of Texans, about 2,243,000 people identify as LGBTQ, meaning the Lonear State has one of the largest LGBT populations in the country. >> Don't tell Labbit at that. >> [clears throat] >> More news from lunatic French. >> We know who that is. >> Well, there are so many. >> They're pr proliferating. >> I know. [snorts] Donald Trump falsely claimed Friday that American hospitals are performing reverse surgeries. >> I saw that >> on transgender people because he ordered them to do it. Do it. Do it. The headline says confuse Donald Trump. Right. >> Exactly. >> In fact, hospital now are doing reverse surgery at his orders. Trump told supporters at a Myrtle Beach convention center in South Carolina. They're doing reverse surgery. No one ever heard about it, but it's true. It's really happening. And it's because I said so. >> Oh my gosh. >> Well, he was down there promoting the Senate runoff. >> Oh, that's going to be interesting. which is today. >> Ah, Darlene Graham should go down in flames, but we'll see. >> Now, I don't have all I know I don't have all the news for these, but Florida voters advanced several out candidates on Tuesday and perhaps just as importantly handed losses to candidates aligned with the once dominant Moms for Liberty. >> Yes. And and some of those they highlighted were school board races. went down in flames. One of those I mean I think Moms for Liberty had taken over the whole school board. >> I know. And she was the the head was voted out, >> right? >> All good. >> All good. Equality of Florida cheered after 81% of candidates Oh, that's race Tuesday. The winners included >> five LGBTQ Democrats. Okay. A former Virginia police officer has sued her department, alleging officials violated her privacy by requiring her to share a locker with a transgender colleague. >> Oh, now she wants 15 million in damages. Former North Fork police officer Megan Graa [clears throat] filed the lawsuit alleging that the department did not inform her she would be sharing a woman's locker room with a transgender woman. While Gar Grao was undressing, she encountered the recruit who Grao alleged stared at her like a man would. >> Oh, that's so ridiculous. Oh, please. >> All righty. >> All righty. A school district in Maryland has given into [clears throat] Trump's administration demands to out students sexual orientation or gender identity if revealed at school regardless of the students wishes. Ann Ardell County Public School Superintendent Mark Bedell in a letter to school personnel said the district would amend its safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ plus students regulation. Under the amended regulation, parents and legal guardians of a student will have access to all of the students records, files, documents, and other material maintained by the schools. talk about your invasion of privacy. >> And here's some happy news. >> Good. >> Um, a um massive store devoted to President Donald Trump and other Here's a picture and other mega merchandise is closing. And it's because even deep in the deep south fans are just not into him anymore. state recently visited the Trump Superstore just outside of Knogsville, Tennessee, and found everything was on sale at 50% off or more as a shop appears to shut down. >> What a shame. 50% that would kind of match the tariffs. [laughter] >> It still wouldn't be what it was worth, right? >> Tariff jeour. >> Yeah. >> All right, one more story here. in the White House trusted a transgender CIA briefer with the most sensitive secrets until her identity went public. Julia Curley briefed presidents and became the White House senior career intelligence officer um and then a far-right campaign targeted her for being transgender. Julia Curley spent nearly two decades carrying the country's secrets. She worked in war zones, traveled to 35 countries, briefed presidents, and boarded Air Force One with the president's daily brief. She was trusted to decide what some of the world's most powerful people needed to know before beginning their days. She worked under Pence um even, you know, with his views. Um, so that was a >> Do you have a picture? >> No, I don't. >> We can get one. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> So, we're gonna start with a trivia question. >> And this was one of those morning lift serves that got my attention about love letters that might have undone somebody's reputation. At a dinner party in 1922, they met a renowned author, aristocrat, and sapphist. That's all one person. They wrote in their diary that they didn't think much of the conversation, but they did think very highly of her legs. >> So that might be something that goes along with, you know, the Trump administration, but they were. So looking at events, Rainbow Umbrella Women's Discussion Group still on hiatus. Correct. >> Okay. Book discussion group. Did you finally finish Vamoose? >> No, we're still doing Vamoose. >> It's coming up soon. >> And I'm going to interview her for this September 19th show. >> Very good. Okay. LGBTQ story hour. Still looking at going into October. Okay. >> October 13th, right? >> Mhm. >> Oh, October 13th. Okay. I just got that date. >> Six o'clock. So, NPR, Away with Words. I I went on to look for the podcast and couldn't find it. >> Yeah. >> Have you you have taped it? >> I I've been trying to find it. I mean, I've got away with words. It's on YouTube. >> Oh, [clears throat] >> but I can't find the specific one I'm in yet. I don't know whether um it's coming up later or Okay. So, >> well, I also noticed that on VPR it's on Saturdays from 6:00 to 7 a.m. >> Yes. >> There there are two of us who might be struggling to >> Yeah. >> So, Quee Adoptee Expressions, would you like to give a plug for why people should email you with their stories if they're a lesbian adoptee >> or LGBTQ? Oh, I thought it was specific to Oh, >> no. It's So, any LGBTQ um adoptes out there, um I'm working with Mio >> Song >> to um put together an anthology um of LGBTQ adopes and their stories. I think it's really important. Um, and we need to hear those voices and um, >> poetry, first person narratives. >> Yes. >> Short stories, drawings. >> Yeah. And [clears throat] you know, someone put on one of the adoption sites that I'm on is that uh, adopes is one of the civil rights um, issues that has not been addressed. >> Fair on that regard. Okay. Thank you, Keith. >> You're welcome. So, looking at events coming up, Rainbow Harvest Festival. This is Saturday, September 19th, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. This is sponsored by Mosaic, >> the sexual violence program based in Barry. Activities, crafts, music, sna, snacks, >> resources, and more. And this is an attempt for community building and for different organizations and individuals to have an informal setting to meet each other. Now, I thought I had just reported on this, but apparently it's going to be an ongoing event. Strapped in with a name like that is Thursday, September 3rd, 700 p.m. at the Vermont Comedy Club. $15 to $20 cover charge. Goofy is Hot. Join your host and comedian and producer Tal Freriedman for this celebration of all things queer, goofy, and hot, >> including standup, improv, sketch, comedy, drag, burlesque, and more. >> And is every indication this is going to be a monthly event. >> Wow. >> Story hours are going to get some competition. >> I know. Emojis Pride Ball. Saturday, September 5th, starting at 7:30 p.m. at Higher Ground. Cover is $30. The theme is denim and diamonds. >> That could be fitting with a Dolly impersonation right there. >> I was thinking of that. Rhinestones. >> Exactly. inviting you to serve your fiercest blend of grit and glamour from rhinestone studded fantasy to your most iconic blue jean realness. >> So, and then on Sunday, September 6th, LGBTQ women's dance, tea dance, let's dance, starting at 4:00 at St. John's Club in Burlington. they would like a 15 to20 donation but said nobody is going to be refused for lack of of funds. So and then on Monday September 7th queer flora fauna and funga a radical forage through art and writing. This is starting at 7 o'clock at the hard press print and design shop in Danville. Huh. What is Bunga? >> This is the Vermont book launch for a new anthology. >> Edited by Frankly Cannon and featuring several Vermont authors, artist, horiculturist, and queer folks. >> Uhhuh. All right. >> We We might either have to get the book or get the anthology or go to it to find out what all of those mean. Proud Women Play Music. Wednesday, September 9th, starting at 6 PM Red Square,5 to10 donation, a live music event of women performing for women. >> Yeah. >> So, and then Untapped, the K-pop ediction edition, Friday, September 11th, starting at 8:00 p.m. at the Monkey House in Wooki. $15 at the door. Vermont's largest running drag and burles show is going K-pop and this is Sasa Seriachi. And then our flag means pride. Saturday, September 12th, 700 p.m. Main Street Landing Art Center, the Black Blocks Theater in Burlington. Calling all intrepid seafaring adventurers. What better way to celebrate pride than a mischievous muroke, salty sirens, and all things pridefully piritical. >> Oh my. >> Yeah, there we go. >> Green Mountain Cabaret, a naughty nautical burlesque variety show. So, and then the final is the Burlington, Vermont Pride event is on Sunday, September 13th, starting at noon on Church Street and ending up in Battery Park >> on Rashashana. >> On Rashaashana. And with that, I'll hand it back to you. >> Okay. I'd like to pick up the film motif and uh >> we're ready for our closeup. [laughter] The headline is absolutely [ __ ] not. Queer directors refuse Harry Potter work over JK Rawlings transphobia. >> And let me show you a picture of some of these directors. First, let's look at Ally Panc. Uh, and I'll tell you a little about her. She's directed episodes of Shrill and The Great and the 20 23 film I Used to Be Funny. She shared an image of a text message exchanged with her agent in which the agent asked, "Uh, I have an instinct on the answer, but feel compelled to ask Harry Potter. Hard no. Absolutely [ __ ] not." Pinku responded, adding, "I thank you for asking." She wrote in the image caption, "And simply, is this easy to say no to funding transphobia?" uh two queer directors, the other is Kate Heron. They recently revealed that they turned on opportunities to direct episodes of HBO's upcoming Harry Potter TV series because of the transphobic views of billionaire author JK Rawlings. Um so we I told you about um director Pan Q. Um, Haron also directed episodes of Loki, Doctor Who, Sex Education, and The Last of Us, wrote, "They've asked me twice. I've had to explain. My answer is never going to be a change from no." Um, Pank acknowledged Haron's comment, writing, "Also want to shout out the amazing amazing Heron, who also said no twice, and that's actually hard. The director's refusal to work with Rawlings stands in opposition to actors who've taken roles in the upcoming series. And here's the list of shame. Actors Belle Powley and Papa Ashidu who play the boy wizard wizard wizards and patuna Patunia Dersley and potions professor s Cous Snape respectively have both made public statements in favor of trans rights. Actor Nick Nick Frost who plays the half giant house peak keeper Hogrid said his opinion differs from Rawlings but added that she is entitled to her own. Actor John Lithkco and I've heard of this before who plays headmaster Dumbledore has said Rawlings views didn't factor into his decision to act in the series. He has alternatively called her views ironic and inexplicable and also twisted and misrepresented. Regardless of their feelings, the series will help help make millions for Rawling, which she uses to fund her anti-trans social battles. She used her vast wealth, mostly accumulated through the success of her Harry Potter franchise and its many multimedia spin-offs, to personally fund legal cases aimed at diminishing rights and protections for transgender women in the UK and Ireland. A spokesperson for Rawlings confirmed that the author Women's Fund has been quietly operating since late 2024, managing her ongoing financial support for legal cases involving women's and girls trans girls sex-based rights. She will serve as direive executive director for HBO series. Um, including the Casey Boy HBO's gay CEO has repeatedly dismissed concerns about her toxic transphobia, saying that Rowling Rowling is entitled to her personal political views, adding, "If you want to debate her, go on tr Twitter." According to the Guardian, the Harry Potter franchise is worth an estimated $25 billion. Wow. >> In May 28, a blue sky post said British a British barristister, Julian mom, wondered how much a Rawlings fortune would be spent oppressing a minoritized group she doesn't like. >> So, I love those filmmakers standing up. >> Yes. >> Now, more from Russia and its uh censorship activities. Now they've censored the LGBTQ plus sections in the Pope's recent autobiography. So um >> censoring the Pope. Okay. >> I wasn't aware the Pope was had an autobiography, but here it is. It's called Hope. Um he recent it's a recently released autobiography of now deceased Pope Francis. >> Remember Pope Francis? >> Okay. So the um image posted by Christians Against War, a group of regional Christians who oppose Russia's four year ongoing invasion of Ukraine, >> showed the entire passages of the book that have been blacked out. um that the censored passages are the ones in which the former pontiff says that gay and transgender people are welcome in the church that trans people can be baptized and serve as godparents that homosexuality is not a crime but a human reality and that non-liturgical blessings can be given to same-sex couples. The aforementioned media outlet said this is Christians against war. Um, the member stated that the aforementioned Russian language version of the Pope's autobiography completely cuts out a section in which he describes his visit to the Russian embassy the day following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In that section, the Pope mentions his efforts to facilitate peace talks to stop Russia's bombing amid its monstrous cruelty and attacks in various Ukrainian cities. Now in upbeat news, let's look at a picture of Silja Kosonin, who is an athlete who has come out after the European gold medal win. And she it she won in front of her girlfriend. Finnish hammerthrower Silja Corsonan has won the biggest title of her career and celebrated it by going public with her girlfriend. She's 20 year old, 20 years old. She claimed um gold in the women's hammer throw at the European Athletics Championship in Birmingham last Burling Birmingham last Wednesday, beating her nearest rival. The couple she and her girlfriend Seny Vern have been dating since the beginning of the year after meeting in their hometown. >> Now more happy another happy >> one more story. >> Oh, Linda. It's a happy picture of Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jettton who was caught on camera during his this sweet moment with Nicholas Kenan who is the Argentinian field hockey player who is his partner. Um he the picture shows them together and then the two having an LGBTQ plus community cheering for them after Keenan walked over to get a kiss from Jettton at the KIH Field Hockey Cup. I have two more stories. >> Well, you may have to wait and get back to them. We'll see. >> I'm hoping. >> And flips. [laughter] >> Hoping against. >> All right. Well, I don't have too much and then we'll move on to to move on to clip Keith. Colorado man was shot in the head during an anti-gay road rage confrontation. Police say Denver prosecutors charged Jacob Shifutz with three counts of attempted murder. Police say a Colorado man shot at a gay couple in a road rage incident. One victim told police the shooter hurled anti-gay slurs before shooting his husband in the head. >> Colorado. >> Awful. A New Orleans historian, writer, and LGBTQ advocate, here's his picture, died at 58, Frank Perez dedicated much of his life to documenting LGBTQ history in New Orleans. Perez was a resident of the French Quarter and occasionally gave tours of the area, sharing its history and cultural significance. He was founder of the LGBTQ Archives Project of Louisiana, an organization focused on preserving the history of the LGBT community in the state. Most recently, Perez served as the editor-inchief at Ambush magazine, so he will be missed. Um, Bishop Kawina Albert Rainey Cheeks, the founder of former senior pastor of DC's LGBTQ Supportive Inner Light Ministries Church um, [clears throat] and founder of Us Helping Us People into Living, which provides services for DC area residents with HIV. IV uh with an outreach to the black LGBT gay community passed away on August 11th at Georgetown University. He was 74. And here's his picture. And then for my last story, Columbus, Ohio. Two of Columbus, Ohio's well-known LGBTQ bars have new ownership recently purchased by a group of local LPG LGBTQ plus proprietors. It just really was an honor to be able to come in and for us to focus to be part of this and uh help carry these institutions onto the next phases for the community. Michael Smithson, a new owner, and Alex Nightclub and Union Cafe, said Smithson, founder and CEO of Columbus-based onair communications, is one of three new managing partners of Alexis Nightclub and Union Cafe. Axis and Union are among the most well-known LGBTQ bars in Columbus and are now owned again, but this time by members of the LGBT community. >> Good. >> So, that's good news. >> Very good. >> Yeah. So, the same as an SCASA's statement, we don't need to look across the ocean for things that our government is doing in our name which are reprehensible. We merely need to look over our shoulders and it's what ICE is doing >> and it's what ICE is doing >> for which there is no accountability and there is a recent incident that occurred here in [snorts] Vermont that holds it up in a manner that we really [clears throat] can't ignore it. There is something called operation stone garden. Sound familiar? >> No. >> Most people have no clue what it is. However, how it came into the public media and the public consciousness. Chinton County Deputy Sheriff Sergeant Scott Costello. Is she the one that called to Okay, >> you anticipate. >> No, no, no. It No, that's exactly it. What happened is this Chittton County member of the Chittton County Sheriff's Department was out in patrol in Burkshere, which is nowhere near Chittentin County, and pulled over a vehicle because it had no front license plate. looked in the vehicle, obviously Latino people in the car. He called Border Patrol. >> Mhm. >> And asked for assistance. >> Mhm. >> That's in clear violation of Vermont's fair and impartial policing protocols. He said that he did this because he needed officer safety back up. I thought they were wielding guns, right? >> Well, you know, this person is in his 20s and he has subsequently 22 years old. He has subsequently been deported to Mexico. >> Mhm. >> Now, the protocol for if you have a concern for officer safety, you call dispatch. >> Yeah. and you say who is nearby you don't call border patrol >> right >> so what are there any repercussions >> what is currently h good lead in an [laughter] the sheriff gamlin who just made it through the primary has asked for an independent outside agency to evaluate what happened and make recommendations but not waiting for that. Governor Scott has stepped up and said this is a clear violation of Vermont fair and impartial policing. This is not what ver Vermont law enforcement by statute are instructed to do >> and so what so what will he undertake? Well, you the investigation needs to be completed first and then a recommendation of you know this is what should happen as a consequence of it. So, we will definitely be following this and we're also going to be following what happens with Operation Stone Garden because that allows Homeland Security to provide overtime to local and state police for northern border enforcement, which would seem to fly in the face of fair and impartial policing as well. So, we're going to be following both of those aspects. So, on our next show, I'm going to talk about the primaries and the queer candidates that made it through the primary. And then I went through and I was kind of surprised by the number of out candidates that chose not to run for reelection. So, we'll be identifying them as well. But two two notable things from the primary. Kevin Bloom, who was running against the Chittenton County Sheriff, didn't make it through, but came very close. And I have to wonder if this story about the sergeant had been released prior to versus on election day, if that might have had a stronger impact. >> Yeah. And then Al Turkos, who was running for the Wooki seat, did not make it through, but they were running up against two incumbents. And Vermont has a very strong incumbency bias. Now, this is a story that ask questions because it's really convoluted and it's already given an nightmares. The leadin was suddenly as the country was celebrating its 250th anniversary last month, Vermonters caught wind of a Florida preacher posting on social media. >> It is giving me nightmares >> would be taking over the Pney campus. This is Green Mountain College >> to create a Christian school called Z University. I am the awakener. >> This is Florida Evangelical Minister >> Tommy Zto. >> It's not going through, is it? >> Well, let's talk about that. And And that's why I've got all these notes. He's he apparently has been in New York and Vermont doing evangelical ministries. >> Oh boy. the and he did agree to be interviewed for bits and pieces of what has been in the public media. And he had said that the night before he had baptized 20 people in the Ptony River. Yeah. >> That he had this open house at Green Mountain College where over 200 people showed up to vote voice support for his project. and he's looking for donations and some of the story behind it is Green Mountain College became defunct. It was put up for auction and or it was put up for sale and it was purchased by Raj Bakta who is a TV personality and a whiskey merchant and he had visions of trying to create you know a religious institution as [clears throat] well but he couldn't pull it together >> and he made some real missteps so that there is a half a million dollars in repairs that need or just basic maintenance that needs to be done to the campus. And he made all kinds of environmental violations for which he has to do remedy or pay penalties. Hold that in mind. So he put out into the public forum that he wanted to make a donation of the campus to a Catholic organization seeking to revive Western civilization. >> So they're Catholic? >> No, no, no, no, no. >> Catholic small C. >> No. That's what the whiskey merchant put out. Zto happened to be in the area when this hit and said, you know, I'm not Catholic. I'm evangelical, but I'm definitely interested and stepped forward and apparently there is some kind of agreement, but there is no disclosure about the amount or sales. But Zitto says that he's looking at opening and having students in in the summer of next year. >> Oh, good. >> But, you know, he he also said has made similar attempts before in Florida that failed. >> Well, that's encouraging. He's filed for bankruptcy and the IRS has removed the nonprofit status for his evangelical ministry. So, he really has no form or basis to accept donations. He also said that you know this would be an accredited school. However, he has no faculty in place. He had made a statement about using AI certified courses which could be a maneuver to try and get around it. But looking at the town side and that's why I said hold on to that thought. >> What town is this? >> This is in Green Mountain College Pton, Vermont. >> Okay, >> it's southern Vermont. He has to meet or satisfy all of the penalties by the previous owner. All of those carry forward with the property. Just because you sell doesn't go away. So, he has to remedy all those environmental issues. He has to come up with half a million dollars for just basic maintenance before he even goes forward. And those institutions that would do the accreditation said summer of 2027 that is at least the accreditation process is at least 2 years minimum with getting your faculty together, getting your course curriculum, getting it reserved, getting it approved and everything in final stage and the zoning commissions in PNY have not reviewed or approved this either. So stay tuned. >> Yes. >> And and we will definitely see what happens because there is nothing that there is nothing that has been filed as a land transaction. So Ann, you got seven minutes. >> Good. Let me finish up with >> five minutes. Rob >> and you've got five minutes. >> Let me finish up with Rod Jet. Rob Jettton and uh his partner Mr. Keenan. Um, their kiss is especially poignant because Kenan admitted that when he went to the Olympics, he was forced to hide his relationship with Jettton because he was a closeted athlete. After Sparks flew at a supermarket in 2022, Jetton and Keenan began dating, got engaged in 2024. Kenan will be from become the Netherlands first gentlemen when they walk down the aisle, which is rumor rumored to happen later this summer. Bad news from Slovakia. >> Oh, >> they defy the EU and refuse to register a gay couple's marriage. Okay, so these people uh got married >> they go. >> They got married um what? >> Out of the EU. Bye-bye. >> Well, they you know they're it's a fruitless effort because the EU is I mean you know the EU is going to triumph. Uh, however, Slovakia is a Christian minority nation where same-sex relationships have been legal since 1962 when it was part of Czechoslovakia. Sexual orientation and gender identity are protected categories under the nation's anti-discrimination laws, and LGBTQ people can serve in the military. So now this couple um has tried to get married and their marriage um certificate has been rejected by the registry office. But um the legal arguments are so weak that you know um of course the couple plans to challenge the decision and they have no doubt that they will prevail. Finally, I this is an upbeat little story uh by this rugby this trans rugby player named Archer. Let's take a look at him. He has written a story beginning, I'm tougher and more confident since signing up for my trans rugby team. And so, uh let's look at a look take a picture of let's look at a picture of the rugby team. They are the Transmanian Devils. Um, you can't play rugby without being resilient. He's a player for the Transmanian Devils, the UK's first Trans-Pacific rugby union team. Uh, there are over 120 clubs worldwide in more than 20 different countries spanning six continents. So, there's rugby. Good way to end. All right. So, the trivia dinner party 1922 >> conversation wasn't that great. The legs were. It was the start of an almost 20 years of flirtation, friendship, and literary collaboration. Both women were married when their affair began and their letters grew into one of the most celebrated exchanges in literary history. >> I have it at home. >> It is Virginia Wolf and Vita Sackville West. >> Yes. [laughter] Hooray. >> And and when I read it, it just made me giggle and I thought of you. >> That's right. [laughter] That's my period. And with that, >> and with that, remember the elections are coming out. Make sure you get out there and vote. >> And that's one way to >> remember to resist. [music]