December 1st marks World AIDS Day, More testimonies ahead in the Jussie Smollett trial and the UK’s Strictly Come Dancing is breaking down barriers with the first all male duo.

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Transcript

Family, today is World AIDS Day. The day was founded in 1988 and it was the first ever global health day. It’s a time for us to be reminded that there is still a global fight going on actively affecting nearly 38 million people. It’s also a time to remember the 36 million people we’ve lost worldwide to this disease. 36 million. This pandemic had devasting impacts on our gay siblings in the early 80s which, in my humble opinion, was beautifully depicted in the show POSE. Today, it can be easy for us to forget HIV/AIDS and the impact it still has today because of scientific advances but let us not be complacent. There is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education. The theme for this year is “End inequalities. End AIDS”. This seems especially fitting as access to treatment has been increasingly difficult in some parts of the world since COVID-19 entered our lives two years ago. 

President Biden issued a World AIDS day proclamation which actually acknowledged LGBTQ people which turns out to be a big deal coming out of that last administration. The President pledged to continue the ongoing fight against HIV by an increase in funding, supporting global partners, and providing vital healthcare to underserved countries around the world. There has been $670 million dollars earmarked in the budget to support the Department of Health and Human Services’ Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. Initiative – to reduce HIV diagnoses and AIDS-related deaths. 

You got a red ribbon? Wear it today. If you don’t have one, post a virtual one. Let us never forget. 

In other news, the Jussie Smollett trial continues today here in Chicago. Opening statements and jury selection were completed on Monday. During opening remarks Smollett’s attorney maintained his client’s innocence. He said “At the end of the day they want you to believe Jussie was stupid enough to pay for a hoax with a check but was smart enough to pay (for supplies) with a $100 bill.” Smollett’s attorney went on to assert there was a third person involved pointing to an eyewitness account in a police report which identifies a white man with “reddish brown hair” with what appeared to be a rope underneath his jacket. The defense also contends the police were not taking this case seriously as a New York post reporter was the one who found the hot sauce bottle which contained the bleach following the police investigation 9 days after the alleged attack.

The prosecution maintains this was all a hoax which required 3,000 staff hours to investigate. He claims they staged it, conducted dress rehearsals, and wore red hats to allegedly connect them to “MAGA.” The special prosecutor alleges there are hours of video footage to back these claims as well as a still picture which shows Smollett near his condo walking up the stairs after the alleged attack with a clothesline around his neck while carrying a sandwich. 

Yesterday the lead investigator on the case testified for hours about how the 24-26 officers on the case were able to piece the story together through video, cell phone records, GPS, and other evidence which pointed to a conspiracy between Smollett & the Osandairo brothers to fake this hate crime. The prosecution reportedly showed the jury a video of Smollett doing a “dry run” of the incident with the Osandairo brothers. They also submitted evidence of a text message Smollett sent to one of the brothers on February 14, 2019 which read, “Brother…..I love you,” …“I stand with you. I know 10000% you and your brother did nothing wrong and never would.” Family, there is so much to this story and more testimonies on the way. The most anticipated being from the Osandairio brothers themselves . We will continue to follow the trial and report on any updates. 

Our last story for today is about Strictly Come Dancing in the UK. Dancing with the Stars took their concept and brought it to the US so that should give you an idea of how the show works. Well this year Strictly is featuring its first all male duo and they are incredible. This is by far more progressive than the recent all woman duo featuring JoJo Siwa here in the US. John Whaite & Johannes Radebe are in the final five couples and their standout performance that caught my attention was this incredibly sexy performance of the Rumba to Stin’s “Shape of My Heart.” Whew chile. It’s intimate and emotional and beautiful. Do yourself a favor and YouTube their performance. It will absolutely make your whole entire day. 

Now family it’s time for my word of the day. Ya’ll know Anna’s always got a word. The word for today is joy. Joy unspeakable joy is what I seek every single day. I strive to not allow anyone or anything to steal it either. Joy is that intangible emotion that many don’t believe they deserve or can have everyday. Don’t believe it or own that narrative. You can have joy every day. It may not last for 24 hours but what if you could have it for a moment and then another moment and another. What if joy began to pile up in your life. I’m telling you it would cause a powerful shift in your life. Till tomorrow family, peace. 

Sources: 

LGBTQ Nation

Biden’s World AIDS Day proclamation mentions LGBTQ people in break from Trump
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2021/11/bidens-world-aids-day-proclamation-mentions-lgbtq-people-break-trump/

World AIDS Day #WorldAIDSDay
https://www.hiv.gov/events/awareness-days/world-aids-day

World AIDS Day powered by National AIDS Trust

https://www.worldaidsday.org/

World AIDS Day 2021 – End Inequalities. End AIDS
https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-aids-day/world-aids-day-2021#

Love B. Scott

Jussie Smollett’s Lawyer Maintains Actor Was ‘Real Victim’ in Opening Statements of Trial
https://www.lovebscott.com/jussie-smolletts-lawyer-maintains-actor-real-victim-opening-statements-trial

NBC 5 Chicago

Jussie Smollett Trial Live Updates: Prosecution Focuses on How ‘Hoax’ Unraveled

Jussie Smollett Trial Live Updates: Prosecutors Continue Calling Witnesses, Trial Enters Third Day

New York Post

Jury sees video of Jussie Smollett in ‘dry run’ a day before alleged hate attack
https://nypost.com/2021/11/30/jury-sees-video-of-jussie-smollett-in-dry-run-a-day-before-attack/

​​John Whaite and Johannes Radebe Rumba to Shape Of My Heart by Sting ✨ BBC Strictly 2021

World AIDS Day, The Jussie Smollett trial & the UK’s Strictly Come Dancing features an all male duo – Wednesday, December 1, 2021