Washingtonblade.com, Volume 49, Issue 11, March 16, 2018

Page 1

MARCH 16,

2018

VOLUME 49

ISSUE 11

AMERICA’S LGBTQ NEWS SOURCE

WASHINGTONBLADE.COM

Pompeo a ‘reckless choice’ at State Trump unceremoniously dumps Tillerson for anti-LGBT CIA chief By MICHAEL K. LAVERS mlavers@washblade.com

CIA Director MIKE POMPEO cultivated an extreme anti-LGBT record as a member of Congress.

President Trump this week announced he has ousted Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and that he plans to nominate CIA Director Mike Pompeo as his replacement, raising concern among LGBTQ advocates. Trump, in a tweet that announced the decision, also said he would nominate

Deputy CIA Director Gina Haspel to succeed Pompeo. Reports indicate Trump asked Tillerson to resign on Friday. Tillerson returned to D.C. from Africa early Tuesday morning and reportedly learned of his ouster on Twitter. Tillerson on Tuesday told reporters in a statement he read in the State Department’s briefing room that he spoke with Trump shortly after noon EST while he was en route to California. Tillerson also said he will delegate his responsibilities to Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan. “The secretary had every intention CONTINUES ON PAGE 14

PHOTO BY GAGE SKIDMORE; COURTESY OF FLICKR

Ready to march LGBT advocates joining next week’s gun protest in D.C. By LOU CHIBBARO JR. lchibbaro@washblade.com The Human Rights Campaign and the National LGBTQ Task Force are among a large number of LGBT advocacy organizations and LGBT activists expected to participate in a March 24 demonstration in the nation’s capital against gun violence. The March For Our Lives, which was initiated by student survivors of the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Fla. that claimed the lives of 17 people, is expected to draw hundreds of thousands to the Washington march and at

more than 100 regional marches expected to be held across the country and abroad. “On March 24, the kids and families of March For Our Lives will take to the streets of Washington, D.C. to demand that their lives and safety become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today,” a statement on the event’s website says. Organizers say a key component of the event will be a call for Congress and state legislatures to strengthen the nation’s gun control laws. Although the event is being billed as a “march,” spokespersons for D.C. police and the National Park Service have said CONTINUES ON PAGE 16

EMMA GONZALEZ of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School has become one of the faces of the new gun reform movement. CNN SCREENSHOT

OUCH!

OUR FAMILIES

STILL CRAVING

Auntie Maxine trashes Trump as ‘despicable’ in fiery HRC speech.

A camp guide and more in our annual special section.

Catching up with k.d. lang as she prepares to perform ‘Ingenue’ in area show.

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