Good Reads for PRIDE Month: Two #1 True Paranormal Books & Paranormal Drag Queen

 Here's my latest press release, to celebrate Pride Month with 2 of my books.

Good Reads for PRIDE Month: Two #1 True Paranormal Books &  Paranormal Drag Queen

 BOSTON –  Celebrate PRIDE with 2 true paranormal best-sellers involving a drag queen and gay man’s spirit who solved the mystery of his own death. Medium/author Rob Gutro teamed with Paranormal Investigator and Drag Queen, Monique Toosoon on a new book called “Haunting Emery Estate,” about a chilling 5-hour investigation with three ghosts. Gutro’s book “Kindred Spirits” chronicles how his husband’s late partner has been part of their relationship for over 20 years.

 Toosoon, New England’s paranormal drag queen with a sensitivity to earthbound ghosts worked with Gutro, leading the investigation of Emery Estate in Massachusetts.  

 “We connected with three ghosts, two of whom we proved their identities, and one who affected mirrors in a frightening way. They conveyed their personalities and stories, and one double-crossed us,” Gutro said. Gutro also sketched two ghosts he saw.  

 Monique decided to try drag on investigations during COVID, and said, “I tend to call myself ‘The best trigger object you can bring investigating,’ because locations always tell me that the energy is completely different and much more elevated when I am around.”

 “Haunting of Emery Estate” covers the 5-hour investigation. The investigators tried to uncover the identities, stories and reasons why these ghosts remained behind. One of the ghosts even affected a public investigator whom had to be protected and he revealed his chilling and controlling nature at the end of the night. They have another book coming out in January 2026 about the “Haunting of Hunt Memorial Library.”

 Gutro’s other book, “Kindred Spirits: When a Medium Befriends a Spirit,” has been called “A Spirit Love Triangle.” It’s about how Rob’s husband Tom’s late partner Ed, who died in 1996, has been part of their relationship since they met in 2005.

 Ed’s communications with Rob unveiled the truth about Ed’s passing. Ed proved he visited every member of his family with a “treasure hunt,” before Rob met them for the first time. Ed sent a look-alike to rescue Rob and Tom on an England vacation, and proved he greeted each of their late dogs in the light. Ed’s fun personality shines while teaching us how spirits give signs to loved ones. "Knowing Ed in spirit is like having a friend who lives in another state," Gutro said.   

 Both books have been popular with LGBTQ readers and are best-sellers. Emery Estate also achieved the #1 spot on Amazon in Ghosts and Hauntings and Parapsychology categories.

 Rob Gutro is a medium, pet medium, scientist and paranormal investigator. He is the first in the paranormal field to make the distinction between earthbound ghosts and spirits who have crossed over and explains the paranormal with science. He also sketches ghosts. He has published 12 true paranormal books based on his experiences. He has three series including: The award-winning "Pets and the Afterlife" series, which teach how pets communicate from the other side. “Ghosts on a Medium’s Vacation,” contains history and hauntings Gutro encountered in England, Ireland and the Bird Cage Theatre, Arizona. His “Ghosts and Spirits” series is about hauntings and spirits he met.   

 Monique Toosoon is a captivating force in the world of drag and paranormal exploration. With a career spanning 2 decades and named New Hampshire's “Ghostess with the Mostest,” she was crowned Best Local Entertainer for four years running. From sold-out extravaganzas across New England to riveting appearances on esteemed paranormal showcases like Dark Echoes Paranormal Show and Ghost Finders, Monique's ascent knows no bounds. Monique also graced the grand finale of Ghost Finders. She is also the host of a YouTube and podcast program, “Ghosts and Glitter,” and the host of Scared Toosoon Tours.   

 

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Rob Gutro   

www.robgutro.com

Rob@robgutro.com

 

Monique Toosoon  

www.moniquetoosoon.com/  

moniquetoosoon@gmail.com

Pride Month: A Sad look at New restrictions on LGBTQ+ people in the U.S.

June is LGBTQ Pride month, but you'd never know it in the Republican States. Instead of being welcoming and ensuring everyone is treated equally (which includes health care), the Red States have issued all kinds of bans. Since when does removing rights and opening people up to harm make these states a good place to live?  These politicians seem to be heartless and cruel monsters.  Here's a rundown from the Associated Press about all of their awful laws: 

(photo: Annapolis, Maryland Pride parade of June 2019. Credit: R.G.)

A look at restrictions on LGBTQ+ people in the US, and the pushback

Associated Press June 7, 2023

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida law banning transgender youth from getting medical treatment is temporarily on hold after a surprise decision Tuesday by a federal judge.

The ruling comes amid a bevy of legislation sweeping state houses this year restricting gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

Meanwhile LGBTQ+ communities and their allies are organizing Pride events and calling for pushback against what they say are discriminatory laws.

Here’s a look at the latest developments:

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WHAT’S HAPPENING IN FLORIDA?

A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked portions of a new Florida law that bans transgender minors from receiving puberty blockers.

“Gender identity is real,” Judge Robert Hinkle said, ruling that the state has no rational basis for denying patients treatment.

Hinkle issued a preliminary injunction saying three transgender children can continue receiving treatment. The lawsuit brought by the three children’s parents challenges the law Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed shortly before he announced a run for president.

The judge’s decision focuses on the use of GnRH agonists, known as puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones. The litigation focuses on language involving minors and doesn’t address other wording that makes it difficult to nearly impossible for adults to receive or continue gender-affirming care.

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LOUISIANA’S RESTRICTIONS

A bill banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths in Louisiana has passed in the Senate and is heading to the governor’s desk. The measure would prohibit hormone treatments, gender-affirming surgery and puberty-blocking drugs for minors.

The House, which has already passed it, is expected to approve some amendments before the bill goes before Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat who opposes it. Edwards has not said whether he would veto the legislation. If he does, lawmakers could convene a veto session to try to override his decision.

Last session, the governor chose not to block a law banning transgender athletes from participating in women and girls sports competitions in Louisiana, although he successfully vetoed a similar measure the year before.

Louisiana legislators are also expected to give final passage to two other anti-LGTBQ+ measures — a “Don’t Say Gay” bill and one restricting pronoun usage.

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AN LGTBQ+ ‘EMERGENCY’

The Human Rights Campaign has declared a “ state of emergency ” for LGBTQ+ people in the U.S., calling on people in government and the business community to fight for equal rights. “We need champions right now,” HRC President Kelley Robinson said.

The campaign released a guidebook for LGBTQ+ Americans to help them navigate laws it deems discriminatory in certain states. It includes a “know your rights” information section and resources to help people relocate to states with stronger LGBTQ+ protections.

The nation’s largest organization devoted to LGBTQ+ rights said travel advisories aren’t enough to help people already living in states where lawmakers have targeted LGBTQ+ people.

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(photo: Annapolis, Maryland Pride parade of June 2019. Credit: R.G.)

FLAG FLAP IN MISSISSIPPI

Some residents are protesting after the Veterans Administration flew an LGBTQ+ pride flag at Mississippi’s Biloxi National Cemetery.

All the Republicans in the state’s congressional delegation have signed a letter demanding the VA remove the flag. The delegation’s only Democrat, Rep. Bennie Thompson, did not sign it.

The rainbow flag was added to a lineup of several U.S. flags last week to mark June as Pride Month.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough McDonough has authorized flying the pride flag at all VA facilities throughout June, as he has done in previous years. The VA said in a statement that it’s flying the flag to show its commitment “to inclusion and as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of LGBTQ+ Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors.”

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(photo: Annapolis, Maryland Pride parade of June 2019. Credit: R.G.)

WHERE TRANSGENDER BANS STAND NATIONALLY

Hundreds of bills have been proposed restricting the rights of transgender people, and LGBTQ+ advocates say they’ve seen a record number of such measures in statehouses.

In addition to Florida, at least 18 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, South Dakota and West Virginia.

Federal judges have blocked enforcement of laws in Alabama and Arkansas, and Oklahoma has agreed to not enforce its ban while opponents seek a temporary court order blocking it.

Every major doctors’ group, including the American Medical Association, has opposed the bans and supported the care for youth when administered appropriately. Lawsuits have been filed in several states where bans have been enacted this year.

Proud Boys disrupt Pride event at Wilmington, NC library

 Hate groups have been empowered since 2016, and now they are attacking LGBTQ Pride Events around the country. 

   In Idaho last month, a group of fully armed right-wing Proud Boys showed up in tactical gear with the intent to cause harm or likely deaths at a Pride Event. Fortunately, the local police moved in and arrested them. 

    Now, at a Library in North Carolina, Proud Boys showed up at a Library Event for Pride Month, shouting obscenities and threatening. Of course, the North Carolina Sheriff's office said "There was no disturbance" - WHY? Because they're obviously right-wingers who agree with promoting hatred. All of them need to be held accountable. When is this going to be wrong again? Here's the story of the Library event

Proud Boys disrupt Pride event at Wilmington library 

Updated June 23, 2022 5:55 a.m. EDT WECT -TV

WILMINGTON, N.C. — A Wilmington library that was celebrating Pride month with a reading was disrupted by Proud Boy demonstrators Tuesday.

The Southern Poverty Law Group has designated the Proud Boys as far-right extremists and a hate group.

Some of the families in the library said they were frightened by the protest.

"I definitely felt very unsafe, though," said Emily Jones.

A Pride story-time event at Pine Valley Library on Tuesday started peacefully. But parents said it quickly turned chaotic and filled them with fear when a handful of Proud Boys showed up in the window of their event room.

"They're doing that on purpose, for sure, to intimidate people," said Jones.

Jones was inside with her 1-year-old daughter. She said she takes her daughter to the story-time events often and was especially excited for this one, but her excitement quickly turned to panic.

"When a group of known violent people ... at that point, when those people show up, and they're coming into the library and trying to disrupt the story time, that's when I felt unsafe," said Jones.

The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office had deputies at the event to prevent the Proud Boys from entering the room.

Angie Kahney was in the hallway when the demonstrators walked in. She said the group was loud and disruptive.

But in a statement, the sheriff's office said there was no disturbance.

"They were yelling obscenities about how their tax money was being spent on pornography and drag queens. There was shouting. It was loud — their attempt was to intimidate and create a disruption, and that's exactly what they did," said Kahney. "They definitely disturbed us," said Jones.

The sheriff's office said because it's a public place, there was no need for the Proud Boys to be removed. The sheriff's office declined an on-camera interview with WECT, but did release a statement from Sheriff Ed McMahon saying he "took an oath not to uphold opinions but to uphold the law, which is exactly what my supervisors and deputies did."

The Wilmington library said they were aware the Pride reading might create some controversy. Librarians coordinated with the sheriff's office in advance and brought additional staff and volunteers to help.