Here we are at the fourth Friday of July.

While many parts of the world were experiencing record-breaking heat, we were having daytime highs in the 70s. Work continues to be crazy. The pollen count remains high. And I spent way more time reading than writing this week.

Anyway, welcome to the Friday Five. This week I bring you: the top five stories of the week, five stories of interest to the queer community, five stories about the impeachable one, five stories about haters and their ilk, five stories about the lack of exoneration, and five videos (plus things I wrote and notable obituaries).

Stories of the Week:

Our Churches Are Burning, Racist Terrorism Is Rising – I Should Have Listened To My Grandma About American Racist Terrorism.

Can’t read just one: Slate’s daily advice columns are strange, funny, deep, and increasingly a major traffic driver for the site » Nieman Journalism Lab.

The Crane Wife – Ten days after I called off my engagement I was supposed to go on a scientific expedition to study the whooping crane on the gulf coast of Texas.

Meeting My Brother For The First Time. Adopted writer used genetic service and found her half-brother.

The Democrats Are Experiencing a Generational Clash – Saikat Chakrabarti, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s chief of staff, is working to build a generational movement.

This Week in News for Queers and Allies:

The House unanimously passed a bill to give money back to same-sex couples – The bill would return up to $67 million to gay and lesbian taxpayers and remove gendered language from the tax code.

With ‘Old Town Road,’ Lil Nas X Sets New Precedent For LGBTQ Musicians – The rapper’s track, featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, is the longest-running No. 1 single by an openly queer artist in history.

Dear Gentlemen, Your 60-year-old Wedding Pics are Ready – LGBT History project is trying to identify the men in these once confiscated photos of a same-sex wedding iin 1957. Go look at the pictures!

I Could Spend All Day Looking at the Covers of These LGBTQ Publications.

North Carolina Reaches Agreement to Protect Trans Restroom Access- The state can’t limit access in buildings under its control, says a settlement of a case involving a notorious anti-transgender law.

This Week in the Impeachable One and Related Disasters:

Trump has not built a single mile of new border fence after 30 months in office.

Trump Is a Petty Racist, Not a Master Strategist.

The Death Penalty Is Already a Farce. William Barr’s Plan Might Make It Torturous.

Lawyer: US-Born Teen Lost 26 Pounds While Detained By Border Patrol For Weeks.

Trump Chillingly Tells Students’ Group the Constitution Gives Him ‘The Right to Do Whatever I Want as President’.

This Week in Not Exoneration:

Actually, Robert Mueller Was Awesome – History will show that he had one big goal, and nailed it.

What the Mueller investigation was always about.

Senate Intelligence report on Russian meddling sounds alarm for 2020 and then 2020 election security: GOP senators block bills hours after Mueller warns of Russian interference .

Trump was not exonerated by my report, Robert Mueller tells Congress.

No Knight On A White Horse – House Democrats have spent the last two years waiting for someone else to solve the Trump conundrum. It is now up to them, and to them alone.

This Week in Homphobes and Other Deplorable People:

A “Straight Pride” Parade In California Plans To Celebrate Western Civilization And “Whiteness” – The thinly veiled white supremacist rally aims to celebrate “Western civilization,” Christianity, and “whiteness,” according to one of the organizers. The hate is getting more blatant…

Anti-LGBTQ GOP Lawmaker Resigns After Grindr Messages Reveal ‘Burning Desire’ for ‘Down and Dirty Guy’.

Mom who sued trans daughter for transitioning is taking her case to the Supreme Court – Her teenage daughter was legally emancipated and living on her own, but she says she should have been able to deny her child medical care.

Christian Hate-Preacher Steven Anderson Has Been Banned from Entering Australia.

LGBTQ-friendly church in Battle Ground, WA targeted by vandals.

In Memoriam:

Chris Kraft, 1st flight director for NASA, dies at 95.

Chris Kraft’s Greatest NASA Accomplishments.

Remembering Chris Kraft.

Paul Krassner Is Up In Heaven Now.

In Fond Remembrance of Mad Magazine.

Rutger Hauer, ‘Blade Runner’ Co-Star, Dies at 75.

Remembering Rutger Hauer, Black-Armored Knight of the Genre.

Tears in rain: 8 of our favorite moments from Rutger Hauer’s career – Though he was most famous for his unforgettable turn as Roy Batty in Blade Runner, there was so much more to the career of Rutger Hauer.

Things I wrote:

Weekend Update 7/20/2019: Crystal cathedrals, berated bigots, and racist racisms.

Chock-full of meaning, or more adventures in dictionaries.

Videos!

Boyfriends Talk About Being Creative While In Love:

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Scientists Just Discovered Fresh Water Under the Ocean, and It’s HUGE:

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SUCKERS – Randy Rainbow Song Parody:

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John Oliver Describes Boris Johnson, England’s Very Own Trump:

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Sam Smith – How Do You Sleep? (Official Video):

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