Tag Archives: feds

Cancer Charities Hit With Fraud Charges, Feds Say They Stole $187M From Donors

Via USA Today: Charities that claimed their funds were helping patients fighting cancer but were actually spending the bulk of donations on vacations, concerts and other luxurious perks are facing federal charges that they stole more than $187 million from consumers in one of the biggest charity fraud cases ever filed. The Federal Trade Commission, along with law enforcement officials …

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US Rep. Ted Lieu To Introduce Bill To Ban “Ex-Gay” Torture As Fraudulent Practice

Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed: On Tuesday morning, Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu of California will introduce a federal bill to ban commercial efforts to change people’s sexual orientation or gender identity — often called conversion therapy. “The public views conversion therapy as quackery, as something that harms people,” Lieu told BuzzFeed News on Monday afternoon, just after landing back in …

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US Denounces Gambian President Over Vow To “Slit The Throats” Of Gay Men

Several days ago Gambian President Yahya Jammeh vowed to “slit the throats” of gay men, adding, “If you are a man and want to marry another man in this country and we catch you, no one will ever set eyes on you again, and no white person can do anything about it.” Yesterday US National Security Adviser Susan Rice denounced …

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NTSB Asks FBI To Investigate Whether Amtrak Crash Train Was Hit By Bullet

Via the Hill: An Amtrak train that crashed outside of Philadelphia this week may have been the target of an attack. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said on Friday that the FBI had been called in to investigate the possibility that the train was hit by a bullet or some other object. According to the NTSB, an assistant conductor …

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ILLINOIS: Nation’s First LGBT Veterans Monument To Be Unveiled Near Chicago

On Memorial Day the nation’s first-ever federally approved monument to LGBT veterans will be unveiled at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery near Chicago. Via the Windy City Times: The monument, which was spearheaded by Stanley J. Jenczyk, junior board member of the Chicago chapter of the American Veteran’s for Equal Rights ( AVER ), was approved late last year by …

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FDA To Ease Gay Blood Ban

The FDA today followed up on its December hearings and announced that the lifetime ban on blood donations by gay men will soon end. But under the new rules, gay men will only be allowed to donate if they have been abstinent for the previous year. The new policy is currently only in draft form and the public will have …

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US Census Keeps Marriage Questions

Responding in part to pressure from the Family Research Council, the US Census Bureau has decided to keep the marriage-related questions that appear on the survey it sends to nearly 300,000 households every month. The bureau had proposed eliminating questions from the American Community Survey that asked respondents whether they have been married, widowed or divorced within the past year. …

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Rand Paul Vows To Filibuster Patriot Act

Sen. Rand Paul said yesterday that he plans to filibuster against the impending reauthorization vote for the Patriot Act. “I’m going to lead the charge in the next couple of weeks as the Patriot Act comes forward,” he said in a one-on-one interview with the New Hampshire Union Leader. “We will be filibustering. We will be trying to stop it. …

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AG Eric Holder Lauds LGBT Triumphs In Goodbye Speech To Justice Department

Attorney General Eric Holder has left the building. But not before a press conference in which he righteously spiked the ball about the LGBT triumphs seen during his tenure. Moments ago the Department Of Justice joined in on Twitter by posting the above photo. Earlier today the DOJ posted the below recap of Holder’s life and six years with the …

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One-Man Helicopter Lands On US Capitol Lawn, Feds Order Security Lockdown

ABC News reports: A small helicopter landed on the Capitol’s West Front this afternoon in Washington, D.C. and the man piloting the small aircraft has been arrested, authorities said. According to the Tampa Bay Times, a 61-year-old mailman in Florida threatened to drive his gyrocopter through protected airspace to deliver the mail. The Ruksin native, Dough Hughes, has contemplated the …

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Dems To Intro Federal LGBT Rights Bill

Via USA Today: Congressional Democrats said Monday they’ll push for federal legislation to prevent discrimination against gays and lesbians in states that lack broad non-discrimination laws. “It’s time for Congress to weigh in on what is happening across the country,” said Rep. Steve Israel of New York, who heads the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. “The recent examples of …

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Quote Of The Day – Vivek Murthy

“Being gay is not a disorder. Being transgender is not a malady that requires a cure. Had I been Leelah Alcorn’s physician, I would have told her exactly that. And that’s the message I want other doctors, nurses, health professionals, and public health leaders to help get out to parents and children who may be confronting these issues.” – Surgeon …

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White House Posts YouTube Clip In Support Of “Ex-Gay” Torture Bans

Posted minutes ago to the official YouTube channel.

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Obama’s Executive Order On LGBT Workplace Discrimination Goes Into Effect

From the blog of the Labor Department Secretary Tom Perez: Today, President Obama’s Executive Order on LGBT Workplace Discrimination goes into effect. It prohibits federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Because of this Executive Order, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people employed by federal contractors across the country will now receive …

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Former Staffers Accuse AIDS Healthcare Foundation Of Massive Kickback Scheme

According to a press release published by lawyers representing former AIDS Healthcare Foundation staffers, the combative organization has engaged in a massive patient referral kickback scheme that has defrauded the federal government to the tune of $20M a year. The press release begins: Three former managers of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Inc. (AHF) have filed Federal and Florida State Whistleblower Act …

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John Oliver Talks “Dick Pics” And The Patriot Act With Edward Snowden

Via NBC News: Snowden spoke to the “Last Week Tonight” host in Moscow, where he has been for more than a year since being charged with espionage after leaking classified information regarding the NSA’s extensive surveillance programs. Oliver asked Snowden to explain the implications of NSA surveillance on racy personal photos. “The good news is there’s no program named ‘the …

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Tony Perkins Has The RINO Sadz

“Almost a dozen Republicans — some who visibly campaigned on natural marriage — sided with Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) in tearing down the last two federal holdouts that respect state marriage laws: the social security and veterans’ administrations. Unlike other departments, these agencies have consistently recognized marriage for couples based on the state where they live — not the state …

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GOP Fights Immigration With GIFs

Last week the GOP-led House Judiciary Committee decided to fight immigration reform by posting ten GIFs to their official federal government site. Because Britney Spears and the Little Mermaid might have more traction with the public. Or something.

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TEXAS: AG Sues Feds To Stop Medical Leave For Married Same-Sex Couples

The Dallas Morning News reports: Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the U.S. Department of Labor on Wednesday over a proposal to extend family leave benefits to same-sex married couples. Under the proposed federal rule to take effect March 27, the definition of “spouse” would be revised to include gay partners who were married in a state that recognizes same-sex unions. …

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Cyndi Lauper: The FRC Wants Homeless LGBT Kids Excluded From Federal Act

Via press release from Cyndi Lauper: Can you believe that there are people actively working to leave youth out in the cold? Don’t they realize it’s just going to push us to work even harder to protect our kids?! The Family Research Council is one of those groups. Their target: a clause in the the Runaway and Homeless Youth and …

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