Barack Obama Endorses Kamala Harris for President

In a surprise to no one, former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president today. 

Reaching the candidate by phone, the former first lady told Harris, "This is going to be historic." President Obama then chimed in to say, "We called to say Michelle and I couldn't be prouder to endorse you and to do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office."

Harris thanked the Obamas, before going on to say: "I just want to tell you the words you have spoken and the friendship you have given over all these years mean more than I can express, so thank you both. It means so much -- and we're going to have some fun with this too, aren't we?"

Watch below: 

Remains of the Day (06/25)

Today: Vacation buddies? See George Clooney and Barack Obama together in Italy

Vox: The 22 women who have publicly accusing Trump of sexual assault or misconduct

Instagram: Did I forget the weekend's hunkiest tennis winner?

Associated Press: Indiana school fires gay teacher to keep diocese ties

The Hill: House Democrats unveil changes to border bill to win over progressives

Washington Post: Iran calls new U.S. sanctions "outrageous," warns path to diplomacy is closed

Greg in Hollywood: While guesting on “WWHL,” Rosie O’Donnell covers the roses and thorns of her career

Boy Culture: MrMan's Top 10 hottest gay-sex scenes

ATP: Marcos Baghdatis to retire after competing at Wimbledon

Queerty: Brandon Flynn addresses Richard Madden relationship rumors

MetroSource: Now you can tell the "Golden Girls" thank you for being a friend

NewNowNext: Smithsonian’s “Illegal to Be You” exhibit revisits 150 years of queer history

The Daily News: Sister charged with stabbing her identical twin to death in New Jersey apartment

The WoW Report: Wishing Carly Simon a very happy birthday!

Dlisted: Dean McDermott ALSO has a story about his child walking in on him having sex with his wife

HuffPost: Young Americans are becoming less comfortable with LGBTQ people, GLAAD finds

Matthew's Island: Shirtless men together

The Randy Report: Gus Kenworthy gets "Nailed" by Michael Henry

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Hot Cat of the Day: I'd be pursuing my Ph.D. if this were routine!

Didn't We Almost Have It All?

From HERE.

For a moment there it really seemed like everything was going in the right direction. Now it seems the American Dream is dead on arrival. 

Obaga

Friend spotted this fabulous handbag in Penn Station. Woman said she gets stopped about it "10 times a day"! I miss having a real president. [Sigh.]

Page 1 Roundup (02/13)

The Daily News: Barack Obama thanks artist for capturing Michelle's 'hotness' in portrait

New York Post: Let me guess, Don Jr.'s wife stiffed her hair dresser

The New York Times: Donald's nasty budget

The Wall Street Journal: Think a marathon isn't challenging enough? Try doing it backward

Van Driver Kills 13 in Barcelona Terrorist Attack; More Than 75 Injured

What he said. (God, I wish we still had a grownup in charge.)

The latest on this reprehensible act of cowardice HERE.

Fun Couples: Prince Harry and Barack Obama

Jesus. How tall is Prince Harry that he seems to have a good inch or two over the best president in U.S. history?

Madonna Rendered ‘Speechless’ After Meeting President Obama

Look for these two -- one slaying, one playing -- on "The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon" later this evening!

Obamas Lease $4.3 Million Home in Tony D.C. Neighborhood

Get a load of the Obamas' post-First Family digs, in the wealthy Kalorama neighborhood of Washington. (My best friend down there, Ken, used to live on California Street and it was the most gorgeous area I've ever seen!) The house features nine bedrooms, an exercise room, and even a butler's pantry. (Can I please come for a visit, Michelle?!) I believe they're leasing because they're only staying in the capital until Sasha graduates from high school. See the whole spread HERE.

U.S. Directs Public Schools to Allow Transgender Access to Restrooms

After supporting the rights of gay people to marry, allowing them to serve openly in the military and prohibiting federal contractors from discriminating against them, the Obama administration is now wading into the battle over bathrooms and siding with transgender people. You're gonna make me lonesome when you go, Mr. President

The New York Times reports:

The Obama administration is planning to issue a sweeping directive telling every public school district in the country to allow transgender students to use the bathrooms that match their gender identity. A letter to school districts will go out Friday, adding to a highly charged debate over transgender rights in the middle of the administration’s legal fight with North Carolina over the issue. The declaration — signed by Justice and Education department officials — will describe what schools should do to ensure that none of their students are discriminated against. It does not have the force of law, but it contains an implicit threat: Schools that do not abide by the Obama administration’s interpretation of the law could face lawsuits or a loss of federal aid. The move is certain to draw fresh criticism, particularly from Republicans, that the federal government is wading into local matters and imposing its own values on communities across the country that may not agree. It represents the latest example of the Obama administration using a combination of policies, lawsuits and public statements to change the civil rights landscape for gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people.

President Obama (Pretty Much) Tells It Like It Is About Terrorism

I knew Obama was stepping into it by giving that speech last night about the San Bernardino terrorism attack because it would do little or nothing to make intelligent people feel better -- what CAN be done to stop these one-off loons? -- and even less for people looking for a reason to not be placated. But this (predictable) Republican response is just laughable. He DID say who did it -- followers of radical Islamic beliefs -- and he did call it an act of terrorism. Much to my surprise/relief, he EVEN made a point of saying: 

That does not mean denying the fact that an extremist ideology has spread within some Muslim communities. This is a real problem that Muslims must confront, without excuse. Muslim leaders here and around the glove have to continue working with us to decisively and unequivocally reject the hateful ideology that groups like ISIL and al Qaeda promote; to speak out against not just acts of violence, but also those interpretations of Islam that are incompatible with the values of religious tolerance, mutual respect and human dignity

But what I find particularly galling about this complaint is that it's acting as though what happened after Pearl Harbor was a good thing ... you remember, internment camps?

The president then said:

But just as it is the responsibility of Muslims around the world to root out misguided ideas that lead to radicalization, it is the responsibility of all Americans — of every faith — to reject discrimination. It is our responsibility to reject religious tests on who we admit into this country. It’s our responsibility to reject proposals that Muslim Americans should somehow be treated differently. Because when we travel down that road, we lose. That kind of divisiveness, that betrayal of our values plays into the hands of groups like ISIL. Muslim Americans are our friends and our neighbors, our co-workers, our sports heroes — and, yes, they are our men and women in uniform who are willing to die in defense of our country. We have to remember that.

It's a difficult line for a U.S. president to toe, but I think he did it as well as he could. Not all Muslims are terrorists, but many terrorists are Muslims. I think anyone listening heard him loud and clear. Read his full speech HERE.

Sharia's the Sheriff

Obama Mania

  It seems the president of the United States is cruising Fifth Avenue!

UPDATE:

And now a stop by "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart."

Best. President. Ever.

 The world may be going to hell in a handbasket, but don't let anyone tell you the U.S. is headed in the wrong direction: This country's never been better. #MarriageEquality #Obamacare #Inclusion #Empathy #Father #Husband

Offering Eulogy and ‘Amazing Grace,’ Obama Mourns Pastor

Supreme Court Backs Health Law Subsidies

OK, so President Obama's Whitewater is finally over. But while we know the plaintiffs in today's ruling actually had no standing, can ANYONE ELSE explain to me why the Republican Party has made it its full-time job to stop helping poor and middle-class people buy insurance?

Quote of the Day

In Charleston, Raw Emotion at Hearing for Suspect in Church Shooting

Reading that the families of the victims in Charleston, S.C., were already expressing forgiveness for this piece of shit OUTRAGED me. (I know, if it makes them feel better I should be OK with it, but FUCK THAT. I want him Jack Ruby-ed stat.)

I think the president has the middle ground covered.

Picture Perfect

On top of being smarter than your leader, the U.S. might just have the best-looking first family, too!

It Gets Better-er

President Obama, declaring himself on “the right side of history,” signed an executive order barring discrimination against LGBT workers by federal contractors -- and called on Congress to ban job discrimination against gay and lesbian Americans on the whole. In a ceremony at the White House, Mr. Obama noted that in much of the country, companies can fire employees based on their sexual orientation. “That’s wrong,” he said to an audience of supporters. “We’re here to do what we can to make it right — to bend that arc of justice just a little bit in a better direction.”

If you still don't get how pivotal this man has been in the LGBT movement, you're trying not to.

Read HERE.

In the Black

Maybe so, but he's not done a damn thing about the color of his skin.

White House to Issue Executive Order Barring LGBT Discrimination by Federal Contractors

Long-overdue news, via the ACLU:

The White House today announced the President’s intention to issue an executive order that would ban workplace discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees of federal contractors. ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero had this comment: "This is a historic announcement. President Obama’s commitment to LGBT equality will be one of his lasting legacies. This President has done more for the struggle for LGBT equality than all previous presidents combined. For more than 70 years, presidents, both Democratic and Republican, have used executive orders to eradicate taxpayer-funded discrimination in the workplace. Issuing this executive order will build upon a tradition that dates back to President Roosevelt’s 1941 order conditioning defense contracts on an agreement not to discriminate based on race, creed, color, or national origin. Barring discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity with taxpayer funds by all federal contractors will begin to undo one of the last vestiges of legally sanctioned discrimination."