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Gay mayor accused of sexual harassment as #MeToo reckoning comes to West Hollywood
LA TImes ^ | 2/16/2019 | Hailey Branson-Potts

Posted on 02/17/2019 4:58:24 PM PST by simpson96

For years, Mayor John Duran has been a public avatar for West Hollywood’s cheekily sexual culture.

From the City Council dais, he joked about wearing gold lamé underwear and announced a public forum on anal cancer named Booty Call to Action. But he was also accused by another councilman of looking for sex on the dating app Grindr during public meetings.

Even after the city paid $500,000 in 2016 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by Duran’s former council deputy—whom Duran hired after meeting on Grindr and having sex with him—Duran was reelected.

For many, it seemed West Hollywood was the town that #MeToo forgot.

But now, amid new allegations of sexual harassment against Duran by members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, some West Hollywood residents and politicians are saying enough is enough and that times have changed. Three of the city’s five council members have called on Duran to resign, saying he has become a distraction.

Duran, 59, has refused to step down, describing himself as a proudly sensual gay man who lived through a sexual revolution colliding against a prudish #MeToo movement that’s too quick to judge. Bawdiness is just part of who he’s always been, Duran said, and he’s not going to change now.(snip)

In Grindr screenshots provided to The Times, Duran asked to come to Gleason’s room. Gleason declined, saying it was “a little too close to home” and that he worked for Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino and was dating Gerle.

Duran wrote: “Oh my god. I didn’t realize that. Disregard!”

A few minutes later, he wrote: “[Oral sex] shouldn’t count. But Gerle would Hate me.” A few minutes later, he asked again for a sex act, then wrote, “Oh come on. That was slightly funny.”


(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Health/Medicine; Local News; Society
KEYWORDS: california; genderdysphoria; globalwarminghoax; greennewdeal; grindr; hollywood; homosexualagenda; joebuscaino; johnduran; losangeles; metoo; westhollywood
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To: simpson96

According to his Wikipedia page, he is one of the few public officials who is HIV-positive, so he is an all-around man of distinction. Whatta guy!

Now I think I’ll go have a puke and a shower.


21 posted on 02/17/2019 7:28:27 PM PST by Southside_Chicago_Republican (The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog.)
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To: Ken H

please dont use the word “backfired” in this context.


22 posted on 02/17/2019 7:38:33 PM PST by rintintin (q)
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To: simpson96

what’s Grindr ?

I know it’s a website but for what?

And, no, I don’t want to Google it.


23 posted on 02/17/2019 7:41:47 PM PST by Cen-Tejas
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To: liberalh8ter

I read the whole article. Duran is one sick disgusting b@st@rd.

His words and conduct are beyond outrageous. He is a gay sexual predator, period.


24 posted on 02/17/2019 7:42:05 PM PST by RooRoobird20 ("Democrats haven't been this angry since Republicans freed the slaves”)
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To: simpson96

Homosexuals seem to bring corruption and degradation to whatever they are involved in


25 posted on 02/17/2019 8:32:04 PM PST by PGR88
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To: simpson96

Yep, this is the douche that honored Stormy Daniels.

26 posted on 02/17/2019 8:37:22 PM PST by BookmanTheJanitor
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To: simpson96
What is that with the glasses just above his left elbow?

Reminds me of a certain Disney character ....


27 posted on 02/18/2019 12:00:27 AM PST by CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC ("Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt" - Pr. Herbert Hoover)
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