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Tag: flags

  • Montana’s ‘Pedophile bonfire’ to burn MAGA merch isn’t real

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    A Montana town’s “pedophile bonfire” sounds like a headline-making event, but it isn’t in the state’s local news. There is a good reason for that: It isn’t real.

    After the House Oversight Committee’s Nov. 12 release of about 20,000 pages of documents involving convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, social media users speculated about the files’ mentions of President Donald Trump. It was in that context that social media users spread news of disappointed former Trump supporters staging a fiery small-town demonstration..

    “BREAKING: A Montana town that voted 89% for Donald Trump a year ago is holding a ‘Pedophile Bonfire’ event in their public park tonight for anyone who wants to come burn their Trump flags and MAGA hats,” read a Nov. 15 X post by left-leaning commentator Brian Krassenstein. It attracted 918.2K views as of Nov. 21.

    Other liberal influencers and groups shared the same claim on Facebook and Instagram. 

    But this faux memorabilia-burning demonstration news originated Nov. 13 from a satirical X account and website called The Halfway Post, which describes itself as posting “halfway true comedy and satire.” 

    There are no credible news reports from Montana, which supported Trump in 2024, about such a bonfire. 

    Although we found some social media videos and news stories showing people burning MAGA hats in response to the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files in recent months and weeks, we did not find news of a bonfire.

    We rate the claim that a Montana town held a “pedophile bonfire” in a public park in November to burn Trump merchandise Pants on Fire!

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  • ‘God Hates Flags.’ Calls from Colorado GOP to ‘burn all the pride flags’ draw outrage

    ‘God Hates Flags.’ Calls from Colorado GOP to ‘burn all the pride flags’ draw outrage

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    In a post online, the Colorado Republican party called to “Burn all the #pride flags this June,” drawing criticism.

    In a post online, the Colorado Republican party called to “Burn all the #pride flags this June,” drawing criticism.

    Photo from Sophie Emeny, UnSplash

    The Colorado Republican party marked the beginning of Pride month by condemning LGBTQ people as child groomers and calling to burn Pride flags.

    The anti-gay messaging, included in an email and online post, quickly drew criticism.

    “The month of June has arrived and, once again, the godless groomers in our society want to attack what is decent, holy, and righteous so they can ultimately harm our children,” the state GOP party wrote in a recent mass email, according to 9News.

    The email was titled “God Hates Flags” in an apparent riff on an anti-gay slogan perpetuated by the Westboro Baptist Church. It was signed by state party chairman Dave Williams, according to the outlet.

    Williams previously sponsored an unsuccessful bill to ban same-sex marriage in Colorado in 2020, according to Colorado Public Radio. He is currently a candidate for Colorado’s Fifth Congressional District, and has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

    Following the email, the state party wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, “Burn all the #pride flags this June.”

    “Really State GOP?!” Valdamar Archuleta, the president of the Colorado Log Cabin Republicans, an organization that advocates for LGBTQ rights, wrote in a reply to the email.

    “The morons running our state party make it EXTREMELY hard for some of us to accomplish our goals for Liberty,” Archuleta wrote. “I’m really mad right now…”

    In a reply to the party’s post on X, State Rep. David Ortiz wrote, “Y’all, under your current leadership, have more in common with the Taliban than the founding fathers.”

    Ortiz, a Democrat and Afghanistan veteran, added, “LGBTQ folks served and serve in the military. We are cops, we are firefighters, we are your family members & neighbors. We will outlast your bigotry and hate.”

    In a statement to McClatchy News addressing the criticism, Williams said, “We make no apologies for saying God hates pride or pride flags as it’s an agenda that harms children and undermines parental authority, and the only backlash we see is coming from radical Democrats, the fake news media, and weak Republicans who bow down at the feet of leftist cancel culture.”

    The majority of Coloradoans, 72%, support allowing same-sex marriage, according to a Public Religion Research Institute poll from 2023.

    This story was originally published June 5, 2024, 3:08 PM.

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  • City cancels Trans Day of Visibility event but will still raise transgender pride flag

    City cancels Trans Day of Visibility event but will still raise transgender pride flag

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    The city of Philadelphia will raise the transgender pride flag to mark Trans Day of Visibility later this month, but unlike previous years, there will be no ceremony for the flag raising, said the city’s Office of LGBT Affairs.

    Executive director Celena Morrison-McLean wrote the announcement Friday on the city’s official website. “While we regret to inform you that we will not be hosting the event this year, we want to assure you of our continued commitment to the importance of Trans Day of Visibility and the elevation of transgender voices,” Morrison-McLean wrote.

    Still, the trans flag will fly at City Hall from Thursday, March 28 to Sunday, March 31, the latter being International Transgender Day of Visibility. 

    “Raising the Trans Flag at City Hall holds profound significance,” Morrison-McLean wrote. “It is a public declaration of our dedication to creating a more inclusive city that embraces diversity in all its forms.”

    Morrison-McLean did not clarify why the annual ceremony would not take place this year in her post. Last weekend, a video she took of a state trooper aggressively arresting her husband Darius McLean on the side of I-76 went viral.

    The trooper, who is currently on restricted duty, then arrested Morrison-McLean as well. The incident led to concern from city officials and outroar from the city’s queer community.

    On Thursday, Morrison-McLean and her husband, who is the chief operating officer at William Way Community Center, announced their intention to sue the Pennsylvania State Police over the incident.

    The couple gave their side of the story, with their lawyers saying that the couple were in separate cars; Morrison-McLean was driving a family member’s car to a mechanic while her husband followed her in a rental car.

    After Morrison-McLean changed lanes to avoid tailgating a state trooper’s car, the state trooper drove his car between the couple’s two vehicles. Morrison-McLean and the trooper pulled over, while McLean pulled over behind the trooper, expecting his wife to receive a ticket.

    Instead, lawyers say, the trooper charged at McLean’s vehicle and forced him out of the car, leading to the incident as filmed. While state police attempted to charge the couple with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, among other charges, the District Attorney’s Office dropped the charges.

    While Morrison-McLean’s announcement about the trans flag ceremony did not reference her current legal situation, she encouraged readers to support “local organizations and initiatives that continue to work tirelessly towards creating a more just and inclusive society.”

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    Chris Compendio

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