Mike Parrow

5 LGBT things you need to know today, Dec. 29

1. President Trump has fired the remaining members of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA), informing them of their termination without explanation via FedEx letter. In June, six PACHA members resigned by writing an open letter, published in Newsweek, saying the Trump administration was pushing for legislation that would be harmful to people living with HIV/AIDS.

2. An Oregon appeals court has upheld a $135,000 fine to bakers Melissa and Aaron Klein of the city of Gresham, who refused to bake a wedding cake for lesbian couple Rachel and Laurel Bowman-Cryer, citing their Christian beliefs and religious freedom in defense.

3. Orlando, Florida-based pro-wrestler Mike Parrow, a 6’4″, 300-pound powerhouse, came out as gay in an interview with Gay Star News. “I’ve always known I’m gay,” the 34-year-old said. “That was never a question in my mind.”

4. Evidence in the ongoing court case between publisher Simon & Schuster and gay former Breitbart writer Milo Yiannopoulous has surfaced online, including pithy notes made by the original editor of the book. Yiannopoulous is suing S&S for $10 million after they halted publication of his memoir due to controversial comments he made about pedophilia. Among the editor’s notes: “No need to drag the lesbians into this! And DON’T use lesbian as a slur!” and “If you want to make a case for gay men going back into the closet and marrying women just to have children, you’re going to have to employ a lot more intellectual rigor than you use here.”

5. VIDEO OF THE DAY: Pioneering Stanford University neuroscientist Ben Barres has passed away at 63. Earlier this year, Barres discussed his journey coming out as transgender in science.