Top 5 Banned LGBTQ Books + ‘Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends’ + More News

Some news items I thought worth your time: • The Advocate: Here are the top five most challenged LGBTQ+ books in 2024 according to the American Library Association. Seven of the top 10 books banned last year had LGBTQ+ characters. • Kenneth-in-the-212: For your Hump Day viewing – tennis instructor/former “Bachelor”/”Dancing with the Stars” hunk Joey Graziadei. More at the link.

• BroadwayWorld: The first musical I ever appeared in was a Stephen Sondheim musical (Gypsy). I got my union card in a Sondheim show (West Side Story), and my final show on Broadway was by Sondheim (Follies). So, I am, of course, super-interested in the new revue, Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends, that just opened on Bway. Check out the review round-up at the link. • Word Salad: Trump hosting the 2024 LA Dodgers at the White House – “When you ran out the healthy arms, you ran out of really healthy – they had great arms but they ran out. It’s called sports. It’s called baseball in particular and pitchers I guess you could say, really particular.” #wut?

Imagine what the GOP would be saying if this were Biden.

Trump: When you ran out the healthy arms, you ran out of really healthy – they had great arms but they ran out. It’s called sports. It’s called baseball in particular and pitchers I guess you could say, really particular pic.twitter.com/VB2R94ltEv — Matt Walton, M.Ed (@Matt4VA) April 7, 2025

• Gay Times: Gay Twitter’s latest it-boy Robert Irwin (son of the late Steve Irwin) has shared a steamy behind-the-scenes video of his viral “wellness and fitness” shoot. • JoeMyGod: Newsmax host Rob Schmitt says holding elections is a “huge liability” (hello, democracy…).