Don’t Be Dumb at Brunch: The BBC Gets Gayer, Will Ellen Leave Daytime TV?

Happy Sunday! It’s brunch time. Don’t be dumb. This week we bring you stories from the UK, Kenya and Hollywood. And of course we have our Whackjob of the Week. She who it is below.

Here are the week’s 5 news stories that’ll keep you looking well-informed at brunch:

1. BBC Welcomes Its Very First LGBT Correspondent

The BBC has its first-ever LGBT correspondent. Ben Hunte has been tapped to cover topics that include sexuality and gender to bring stories from the LGTBQ community to the masses. Ben currently has a show called What’s New, the BBC’s first TV program for children in Africa and now will have a much larger platform on the network. What do you think about Ben’s new job?

2. LGBTQ Refugees Attacked in Kenya

We’ve often written about the export of hate from the United States to different countries around the world where populations are easily influenced to fight LGBTQ equality. Kenya is one such place, and it’s proven that even speaking out against the hate and mistreatment of LGBTQ individuals can result in violence against them. Nearly 30 LGBTQ refugees received injuries in a violent attack after trying to rally for improved conditions at one of the world’s biggest refugee camps in Kenya. Many protesters were left with serious injuries.

3. Is Ellen Thinking About Leaving TV?

Is Ellen over? Her show, we mean! After 16 seasons, Ellen DeGeneres is starting to think the show is restricting the type of comedy she can perform. She was quoted saying, “The talk show is me, but I’m also playing a character of a talk-show host. There’s a tiny, tiny bit of difference.” Portia, her wife, believes an exit from the show would be a good move that may give her more freedom to perform. Ellen’s brother Vance Degeneres, also a comedian, disagrees and thinks her show is an important platform, especially in this political climate. What do you think?

4. Cher Will Be Chering Her Story

Yes, we know Madonna is royalty in the LGBTQ community, but the Queen has to be Cher! Just over a week after a musical based on her life, The Cher Show, opened on Broadway, Cher has announced that she is writing a book based on her life (due 2020) and that a movie will follow! Gasp! The iconic 72-year-old has had an amazing year after making her return to the big screen in the sequel to Mamma Mia! after an eight-year film hiatus. That movie’s success inspired her to record an album of ABBA covers, Dancing Queen, and embark on a world tour, slated to reach North America in January.  Could this be her farewell tour? Oh, wait … her eighth farewell tour?

5. Whackjob of the Week: Economist Joseph Sabia

Congressional Republicans on the House Education and the Workforce Committee canceled a hearing about raising the minimum wage when they uncovered that one of their expert witnesses, San Diego State University’s Joseph Sabia, had written numerous homophobic blog posts from 2001-03. The most offensive comment (and there are plenty) was a suggestion that gay sex should be taxed by the government: “In gay sex, we have an activity that is clearly leading to disastrous health consequences. What rational person would engage in this sort of activity? There is only one solution — let’s tax it.” He claims the comments were “tongue in cheek.”

Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo were one of two plaintiff couples in California’s 2013 challenge of Proposition 8, which brought marriage equality back to the state after being ruled on by the U.S. Supreme Court. These activists also host the weekly podcast The Husbands. Catch them there or follow them on Hornet @PaulAndJeff.