UNITED KINGDOM- Over the last decade, Joe Lycett has become one of the UK’s top comics, earning several comedy awards in the early years of his career.
Joe Lycett being investigated by police and a man getting jailed for 20 weeks for sending offensive memes, whilst grooming gangs run free sums up the state of modern Britain
— Sophie Corcoran 🇬🇧 (@sophielouisecc) June 21, 2022
On Tuesday, June 21st, Lycett took to social media to share with his followers that he was recently investigated by the police after an audience member complained about one of his jokes.
In his post on Instagram, he revealed that he was asked to explain the context of the joke and that the authorities have now closed the case.
Lycett, who is 33-years-old, said that he hopes the joke amused the investigating officers and that its going to stay in his standup routine for the remainder of his UK and Ireland tour. On Twitter, he wrote:
“So someone came to my tour show a few weeks back and was offended by one of the jokes. Snd their perfectly understandable response to this was … to call the (expletive) police.”
He shared a screenshot of a message from the police confirming that they were satisfied with the investigation and were going to close the matter. Lycett explained how the process played out. He tweeted:
“To be fair to them, the fuzz were very nice about it all but felt they had a duty to investigate. This involved me writing a statement explaining the context of the joke for them. I particularly enjoyed putting the words ‘giant donkey d**k’ into a message to a police detective. Charmed and hopefully amused, the rozzers have since closed the matter.”
If you would like to be offended to the point of calling the police tickets are available at https://t.co/f1H1U42MYw https://t.co/9J0XBuTgY0
— Joe Lycett (@joelycett) June 21, 2022
He added:
“You’ll be pleased to know that the joke, which I consider to be one of the best I’ve ever written, remains firmly and proudly in the show. The tour continues until September, unless I am jailed.”
Reportedly, one of Lycett’s fans who has been to see him on tour, replied to his tweet:
“We saw you in Derry the night after this ‘incident’ and am very relieved to hear that the giant donkey d**k is intact.”
Another fan responded by saying:
“In fairness, the coppers were more than likely stoked to meet you and it would have been the most amusing investigation they’ve been involved in!”
The Birmingham-born comic, who has appeared on comedy shows including Taskmaster and QI, has been behind several public stunts in recent years.
He previously attempted to raise awareness of single-use plastics by storming off the set of Steph’s Packed Lunch, after the host pointed out a photo of him using a plastic bottle, despite him claiming to have given up using them.
He also made headlines in March 2020 when he temporarily changed his name by deed poll to Hugo Boss, after the German luxury designer used trademark claims to target small businesses and charities who use “boss” in their branding.
🚓 👮♂️ pic.twitter.com/lVhkxCqiff
— Joe Lycett (@joelycett) June 21, 2022
Earlier in the year, Lycett made headlines when he faked Sue Gray’s report, which was investigating lockdown-breaking parties in and around Downing Street, with some people believing it was the real thing.
He said he felt (expletive) fantastic after it caused chaos and confusion in parliament and on social media, and later revealed that he was unable to be with his best friend when he died because he was following COVID rules.
Elementary school counselor under state investigation for standing in opposition to gender reassignment surgery in children
May 26th, 2022
MILWAUKEE, WI- According to a report from the Daily Wire, a Milwaukee elementary school counselor is under investigation by the state of Wisconsin for speaking out against and opposing gender reassignment surgery in children.
Milwaukee School Counselor Marissa Darlingh was one of several speakers at a feminist rally in Madison on April 23. She is now being investigated for "immoral conduct" and may lose her educator license and her job. https://t.co/CqS29yjr2i via @wisconsin_now
— Forward Ozaukee (@ForwardOzaukee) May 26, 2022
The school counselor, who has been identified as Marissa Darlingh, received a letter from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) on April 29th warning her that her state-issued license may very well be revoked if the investigation concludes that she engaged in “immoral conduct” while attending a rally in Madison. The allegations in the letter state:
“According to a report and video submitted by a community member, you participated in an event in Madison on April 23, 2022 in which you identify yourself as an elementary school counselor. You are on video saying, “(expletive) transgenderism”.
You are also on video stating you oppose gender identity ideology from entering your school building. You say none of your students will ever transition socially or medically under your “(expletive) watch”. You state you do not believe children should have access to hormones or surgery.”
According to a report from The Center Square, Darlingh acknowledged being at the rally where she was one of several speakers. She said:
“I oppose gender ideology ever entering the walls of my school building. Over my dead … body will my students be exposed to the heart of gender identity ideology. Not a single one of my students under my … watch will ever, ever transition socially, and sure as hell not medically.”
DPI warned her that the investigation will “determine if there is probable cause to support allegations of immoral conduct” and gave her the option to resign ahead of the investigation.
Milwaukee school counselor under state investigation for opposition to transgender ideologyhttps://t.co/a71NclJf1c
— Filtered News (@filterednews) May 25, 2022
However, Darlingh chose to fight for her rights instead and the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty has vowed to sue on behalf of Darlingh if the state tries to suspend or revoke her license over her opposition to gender reassignment surgery or use of profanity.
Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty’s Luke Berg said in a statement:
“The state is, quite simply, trying to punish a public-school counselor for her views on gender ideology. This is a classic, clear-cut violation of the First Amendment and the state can expect a federal lawsuit if it proceeds.”
Darlingh stated that nothing is going to change her mind about the issue and that she will continue to stand firm in her convictions. She said:
“My views on the harms of gender ideology to children are informed by a desire to serve and protect children. That’s why I got into education. I will love and serve every child under my care, no matter what, but I won’t recant under threat from the state.”
Oppose transgenderism, lose your license. @WILawLiberty represents Milwaukee Public School counselor who spoke out against radical gender-identity ideology at a rally (on her own time), then was threatened with license revocation by the state. https://t.co/13LEC61fLu pic.twitter.com/ot5RbfkxzW
— Dan Lennington (@DanLennington) May 25, 2022
The very end of the DPI’s letter to Darlingh stated:
“Also, please be aware that at any point during the investigation, you have the opportunity to voluntarily surrender your license and bring the DPI’s investigation of this matter to a close. If you do want to surrender your license, please carefully review the attached surrender agreement and if you agree, please sign the agreement and return it to me in the envelope included.”
City proposes “guaranteed income” program for transgender, nonbinary residents to combat “discrimination” against them
April 1st, 2022
PALM SPRINGS, CA — The Palm Springs City Council recently voted to allocate $200,000 from two local nonprofits to begin a payment program exclusively for its transgender and nonbinary residents.
City Council members voted unanimously on March 24 to pay DAP Health and Queer Works to design the program and apply for state funding, which is the first of three phases outlined in a city report to realize the proposed project, according to a report by BPR.
Are trans people not able to work? Maybe they can work for the la times
— Demonte (@Demontanus1) March 30, 2022
Queer Works is a Coachella Valley-based nonprofit aimed primarily at addressing disparities faced by transgender, nonbinary and intersex people while DAP Health is a nonprofit resource in the valley for those with, affected by or at risk for HIV or AIDS, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times.
Jacob Rostovsky, Queer Works’ transgender executive director, told Newsweek it is expected that the program will be similar to guaranteed income pilot programs launched in other U.S. cities.
On day 21 of #TransMonthOfVisibility we're grateful to be honoring Jacob Rostovsky (he/him)! Jacob is Trans Masc & is affiliated with Queer Works & The TransPower Project
Learn more about Jacob & how to support his work here: https://t.co/hH3uUDEyTR#TMOV #TDOV pic.twitter.com/FEQVgrXAu9
— California LGBTQ Health & Human Services Network (@CALGBTQHealth) March 21, 2022
Rostovsky said other cities that have experimented with guaranteed income on average have given 150 people monthly payments of $600 to $900:
“This is a chance to help individuals receive money that we can think of as a subsidy — to subsidize the gap in income that the trans and nonbinary community faces due to having some of the highest levels of unemployment in this country.
“So, when you raise them up to the average level, they achieve a lot more.”
Rostovsky told the Los Angeles Times that Queer Works has been “highly encouraged” to apply for a piece of California’s $35 million in funding for guaranteed income pilot programs.
The state’s plan, approved last year, targets pregnant women and young adults who have aged out of the foster care system, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Rostovsky noted that 5 percent of foster youth identify as transgender.
Today for Int’l Women’s Month we salute & celebrate Lisa Middleton, Mayor of Palm Springs. First elected to the City Council in 2017, she is the first transgender person to be elected in California for a non-judicial position. @LisaMiddletonCA #internationalwomensmonth #lgbtq pic.twitter.com/hNqSaoEbYL
— David Perry (@dpna) March 10, 2022
Newsweek reported:
“The two nonprofits will look for philanthropic dollars to fund the program. Additionally, they’ll look at ways to tap into a $35 million fund created by California lawmakers to provide monthly payments to pregnant women and young adults who’ve recently left foster care.
“The new pot of money would be distributed by local governments and nonprofits.
“The idea of no-strings cash payments has increasingly taken hold in the U.S. Presidential candidate Andrew Yang made it the centerpiece of his campaign, most Americans were given direct cash payments during the height of the pandemic and a group called Mayors for a Guaranteed Income is evaluating other local pilot programs.”
A 2019 study by the UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute suggested that poverty rates differ by sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI):
“We examined poverty rates separately for cisgender straight men and women, cisgender gay men and lesbian women, cisgender bisexual men and women, and transgender people.
- “LGBT people collectively have a poverty rate of 21.6%, which is much higher than the rate for cisgender straight people of 15.7%.
- “Among LGBT people, transgender people have especially high rates of poverty—29.4%.
- “Lesbian (17.9%) and straight (17.8%) cisgender women have higher poverty rates than gay (12.1%) and straight (13.4%) cisgender men. But cisgender lesbian women do not have significantly different poverty rates than cisgender straight women.
- “Bisexual cisgender women (29.4%) and men (19.5%) had higher poverty rates than cisgender straight women and men, respectively.”
The study noted that U.S. poverty is determined based on whether the income for an individual or family unit falls below the official federal poverty threshold:
“The thresholds are set each year for different sizes of households. In 2015, for example, a family of two adults and one child would be considered living in poverty if their annual income fell below $19,078.”
A male prisoner in CA doesn't need to have a sex change or take hormone therapy to secure placement in a female prison. All they have to do is self-identify as a woman & pass a subjective safety test, & they will be allowed to move to a women’s prison.https://t.co/TyapA8pIrg
— Karys Rhea (@RheaKarys) March 31, 2022
Newsweek reported that Palm Springs Council Member Christy Holstege, who was the previous mayor, said during Thursday’s council meeting:
“This is a complete revisiting of how we address poverty in this country by giving people money.”
Holstege claimed that restrictions on other government anti-poverty programs end up trapping their recipients, but a guaranteed income can allow people to spend money on “other solutions that we all know as being the experts of our lives.”
Set to be mayor of Palm Springs, California, Christy Holstege will be the first openly bisexual mayor in American history. Holstege also works on the city's Human Rights Commission, Homelessness Task Force, and the regional Planned Parenthood board. pic.twitter.com/cb1t5VIhbR
— Alice Paul Institute (@AlicePaulInstit) November 16, 2020
Los Angeles Times reported:
“Councilmember Christy Holstege, who brought the matter to the meeting, said Monday that she felt ‘incredibly proud’ of the city for coming down on ‘the right side of history and supporting our trans and nonbinary, gender-nonconforming community.’
Christy Holstege is civil rights attorney and the first openly bisexual mayor in America!
She has dedicated her life to representing her Palm Springs community & advocating for vulnerable populations. We can't wait for her to take her fight for equality to the State Assembly! pic.twitter.com/K9kNdJXM7F
— Vote Mama (@VoteMamaUS) October 14, 2021
“Like other guaranteed income programs, the pilot would provide direct cash payments to individuals to spend as they see fit. That sets it apart from some financial assistance programs that come with work requirements or specify how the money can be spent.”
To transgender children and their families everywhere: "You are loved, you are supported, you are respected. You will always have a home in the city of Palm Springs. You will always have a home in California." Proud to serve with Mayor @LisaMiddletonCA. 🏳️⚧️ #palmsprings https://t.co/sRrDTjUxne
— Christy Gilbert Holstege (@christyholstege) February 25, 2022
Proponents say these types of programs promote physical and psychological well-being by giving some of society’s most marginalized groups a financial life vest.
Palm Springs to swear in Lisa Middleton as first transgender mayor in California history https://t.co/c9eZNZfpeL
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) December 7, 2021
However, Palm Springs Mayor Lisa Middleton, who is transgender, cast doubt on the viability of guaranteed income programs and questioned if they should even be run by municipal governments.
KESQ News reported that Mayor Middleton was worried about the small scale of the project despite 400,000 people living below the poverty line in Riverside County.
Before ultimately voting in favor of the program, Middleton said:
“My serious concern is the ability of these guaranteed income programs to scale up to the magnitude of the issues that are before us.”
Palm Springs Council Member Greg Kors suggested the program was a worthy money redistribution experiment:
“But it would be money that may be much more effectively spent than it’s being spent now and that’s what this is trying to find out.”
Los Angeles Times reported:
“At this point, the pilot program still needs more funding to fully launch.
“When reached Monday, Rostovsky said some of the details concerning the program discussed at the recent council meeting — including a total reported budget of $1.8 million — were preliminary figures.
“Besides state funding, the partnership seeks philanthropic support and could come back to the city to ask for more money — which several council members said they might not be willing to allot.
“Over the next three to six months, Rostovsky said the partnership will work on putting together an application, seek input from local transgender and nonbinary leaders and conduct outreach.”
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