RIP, Maggie Smith -- And Her One Indispensable Film

A letter from congressional Democrats called to remove protections from the LGBTQ+ agenda on the U.S. military just weeks before Americans decide who will lead the government at the ballot. Republican U.S. Senator Chip Roy of Texas revealed the letter on his social media account to inform the public about the extremist demand. 'Drag artists and their performances serve as an essential form of self-expression ...'"The care transgender service members receive is essential for them to be their authentic selves and focus on their mission. Denying this access to health care would deter transgender people from joining the Amed Forces, damage retention efforts, and hurt our military readiness," read the letter. Roy said the efforts would lead to the military promoting "transgender surgeries, drag shows, transgender books," and “pride flags.”The letter appeared to reference these expressions of support for the LGBTQ+ movement when Democrats called for Congress to "ensure that LGBTQ+ service members and family members feel welcome in the military and that symbols and art forms related to the LGBTQ+ community are not singled out for censorship."One of the signatories posted about the letter on her social media account."Our military should be welcoming to anyone willing and able to serve. That's why I led 162 House Democrats in calling to remove anti-LGBTQ+ provisions from this year's NDAA," wrote Rep. Sarah Jacobs of California. The letter was also signed by Democratic Reps. Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, among others.Jayapal posted sections of the proposed policy change that specifically included drag shows, Pride flags, and transgender books for school children, including drag queen story hour. "Drag artists and their performances serve as an essential form of self-expression and drag performances have long been a part of military history, tracing back to World War I and World War II," the provision read. Voters cite the economy and inflation as their top concerns in the election, while "LGBT rights" rated less than half a percent in importance in a recent Gallup poll among Americans. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

An Oklahoma man resigned as pastor of St. Andrew Christian Church in Tulsa after being accused of horrific child sex abuse and incest crimes by his daughter in a social media post. Bertheophilus Maurice "Judge" Bailey Sr. is accused of allegedly beginning the years-long abuse when the victim was in the sixth grade, according to an affidavit. He was arrested on Wednesday afternoon. 'I would call him my best friend only to hide the reality of what I was living.' "As a victim of sexual and mental abuse at the hands of Pastor Bailey for over a decade, I feel compelled to warn others about his predatory behavior," she wrote on Facebook. "Despite his status as a respected member of the community, it is essential to shed light on his actions to prevent further harm to unsuspecting individuals." The abuse allegedly began when the pastor would pray on the girl's body and use the occasion to touch her. The abuse worsened as the girl grew older, according to prosecutors. "He would pray over me at first, but he would do a lot of touching while he was praying," Harmony Oates told KJRH-TV. The affidavit included damning text messages allegedly between the two. "I am an adulterer. I am a child molester. I am a rapist," he reportedly wrote in one text. Police said in another text that Bailey admitted to watching pornography involving incest and justified his acting out what he saw in the pornography. They have also reportedly obtained recordings and other witness statements to corroborate her accusations. "The thing is whenever I was a kid I separated my dad from who he was. I had to that's the only way I survived," Oates continued. "I would call him my best friend only to hide the reality of what I was living."She said that she first told her husband and then her brother before having the difficult conversation with her mother. "Coming out of the darkness by speaking out makes you a survivor," she added. Bailey is being held on a $500,000 bond. He is charged with incest, child sex abuse, forcible sodomy, first-degree burglary, and two counts of first-degree rape. Oates said she is rediscovering God after the alleged abuse. "I'm learning more and I know he has me and he has every other victim. And I know that he has been guiding me through this whole journey and I know he will come for me like a father even though my dad did not," Oates said.As of Friday, Bailey is still identified at the church's website as the pastor, though he has reportedly resigned. A news report about the horrific allegations can be viewed on KOKI-TV's channel on YouTube. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

James Fitzjames' mandible shows signs that he was cannibalized by his fellow crew members after his death on King William Island circa June 1848. The post Remains Of Franklin Expedition Captain James Fitzjames Have Been Identified 175 Years After His Tragic Demise In The Arctic appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Researchers theorize that woolly mammoths may have gone extinct due to pollen allergies triggered by climate change, which impaired their ability to find mates, detect predators, and locate food. The post A New Study Proposes That Pollen Allergies May Have Driven Woolly Mammoths To Extinction appeared first on All That's Interesting.

EXCUSE US?! DOJ Reports They Were Notified of INTENTIONALLY Faulty Welds on Subs, Aircraft Carriers

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Former Fulton County, Georgia, special prosecutor Nathan Wade was finally served a subpoena by the House Judiciary Committee to appear for a deposition before the panel, nearly one week after it was signed into effect, according to reports.