Author: Randy Slovacek

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Nevada: Governor Vetoes Bill That Would Award Electoral Votes To Winner Of Popular Vote

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak

The Nevada Independent reports that Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has vetoed a bill that would have pledged the Silver State’s six electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote for president.

AB186 proved a divisive one in the Legislature that elicited some of the closest votes in the session. Proponents argued that it would ensure every vote counted equally, while opponents said they feared it would diminish the relevance of Nevada and other small states.

If approved, the bill would have tied Nevada to a compact of states agreeing to pledge their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote, but would only take effect until enough states had joined the compact to eclipse the 270 electoral vote threshold.

So far, 15 states with a total of 189 electoral votes have joined the compact, with Colorado, Delaware and New Mexico approving laws to join the initiative.

While I’m a proud Nevadan, I’m disappointed in Sisolak’s veto.

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News Round-Up: May 30, 2019

• When the hot tub gets 'that much hotter' thanks to InstaHunk Guoyang510 (above).

Some news items you might have missed:

• When the hot tub gets ‘that much hotter’ thanks to InstaHunk Guoyang510 (above).

• Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, key figures in the gay rights movement, will be honored with a permanent monument in Greenwich Village near the Stonewall Inn.

• A 38-year-old gay man wrote to Slate’s “Dear Prudence” advice column asking whether he’s morally obliged to tell a female co-worker that he found her 18-year-old son appearing on an adult cam site.

• For the first time in decades, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform has scheduled a hearing to discuss legislation to make Washington, D.C. the 51st state. Republicans have routinely opposed statehood due to the vast majority of registered Democrats that reside there.

• A Brazilian man has been left in a vegetative state after being beaten in a homophobic attack.

• A new animated children’s series from Hulu, The Bravest Knight, features two gay dads, (voiced by TR Knight and Wilson Cruz) Sir Cedric and Prince Andrew, who share the adventures of Cedric’s journey to knighthood with their daughter and aspiring knight, Nia.

RuPaul, Christine Baranski, Wanda Sykes, Donna Murphy and A.J. McLean (of the Backstreet Boys) also appear in the series which debuts June 21.

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Whoops Of The Day

Donald Trump

Donald Trump’s tiny thumbs tweeted, and then deleted, this message today:

“Russia, Russia, Russia! That’s all you heard at the beginning of this Witch Hunt Hoax…And now Russia has disappeared because I had nothing to do with Russia helping me to get elected. It was a crime that didn’t exist. So now the Dems and their partner, the Fake News Media,…”

"Russia, Russia, Russia! That's all you heard at the beginning of this Witch Hunt Hoax...And now Russia has disappeared because I had nothing to do with Russia helping me to get elected. It was a crime that didn't exist. So now the Dems and their partner, the Fake News Media,..."

Whoops.

(Bolding is mine)

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Daily Dance: Behind-The-Scenes Of FX’s ‘Fosse/Verdon’

I have loved FX’s mini-series Fosse/Verdon. Sorry to see we reached the finale this Tuesday.

One of the highlights of the series, which chronicles the lives, love and collaborations of director/choreographer Bob Fosse and 4-time Tony Award winner Gwen Verdon, has been the attention to detail in regard to the famous ‘Fosse style’ of dance presented throughout the series.

FX put together this behind-the-scenes look at how the choreography achieved such authenticity, in great part to members of the Verdon Fosse Legacy Project.

The project is made of of dancers who worked closely with Fosse on his Broadway productions and so have first hand knowledge of what the true, original intent of iconic steps and dance numbers was.

In the video below, Dana Moore, Lloyd Culbreath, and Valarie Pettiford talk about their work and experiences with the master himself.

I’ve worked with Dana, Lloyd and Valarie, and they definitely are the keepers of the flame.

When I went into the Broadway production of Chicago the Musical, it truly was like learning a new language. Dancing ‘Fosse style’ means mastering a vocabulary all unto itself.

Over the years, I’ve staged four productions of Chicago using the same approach that Ann Reinking did of creating my own version but utilizing the vocabulary, and there’s no cheating on that.

Trust and believe, Fosse dancers spot bad ‘imitation Fosse’ from a mile away.

Check out the video below, and bravo to the folks who gave us this terrific series.

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Where Else Would A Storm Chaser Pop The Question?

Joey Krastel pops the question to bf Chris Scott

We’ve seen marriage proposals at Disney World, at Pride events, even at home supply super-stores, but meteorologist Joey Krastel popped the question with an element of danger thrown in. On May 28, the 27-year-old posted a photo on Twittershowing the ‘storm chaser’ down on one knee in front of his boyfriend, Chris Scott, with a wild storm in the background. The caption read, “The 2 loves of my life.”

Krastel has been fascinated by storms and weather since the age of four when he saw his first tornado. “It was at that moment where I knew everything I wanted to do from then on out,” he told NBC News. “Every meteorologist has a weather story from when they were little that defined their path.” In fact, it was weather that brought the couple together. Scott has had an interest in storms since he first saw the tornado-themed film Twisterwhen he was a young boy. It was his enchantment of weather that led him to follow Krastel on Instagram where the meteorologist posts photos and video footage of wild weather. One comment led to another and another, and soon the pair got in touch and began dating. Dates included, of course, adventures in storm chasing. It was with that in mind that Krastel planned his big moment. “It was always in the back of my mind to get engaged during storm chasing,” he shared with NBC News. “I felt like it would be this perfect way to seal the deal.” And so it was that a road trip that began in Dallas and traveled across Oklahoma and New Mexico. But it wasn’t until the group was driving through Kansas that they came across “the right storm.” “It all just kind of came together and happened so quickly,” said Krastel. “I was like, ‘Ok, this is it.’” With a tornado whirling in the distance, Krastel dropped to his knee and popped the question as a friend snapped the pic. This photo posted to Krastel’s Instagram shows how close the couple were to the dangerous storm at the time of his proposal.

The couple now has a terrific marriage proposal story to share with friends, but it’s important to warn that storm chasing can be very dangerous for folks who do not understand weather patterns. National Geographic reports that tornadoes cause 80 deaths and more than 1,500 injuries in the U.S. There are many ways to reinforce a home against wind damage — some are simple enough to DIY while others may require professional assistance. Click here for a guide to preparing your home from damaging winds.
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Disney CEO: It Will Be ‘Difficult’ To Continue Filming In Georgia If Abortion Law Takes Effect

Bob Iger, Disney Chief Executive

Georgia’s new abortion ban could cost the state dearly as Bob Iger, Disney’s chief executive, told Reuters that continuing to film in the Peach State would be “very difficult” were the law to go into effect.

“I rather doubt we will,” Iger said during an interview at Disneyland. “I think many people who work for us will not want to work there, and we will have to heed their wishes in that regard. Right now we are watching it very carefully.”

Should the law takes effect, “I don’t see how it’s practical for us to continue to shoot there,” he added.

Reuters notes that, thanks to a lucrative tax credit offered by the state, the film and television industry has created 92,000 jobs in Georgia, and at least 455 productions were shot there in 2018.

And these aren’t just small indie projects.

Disney’s billion-dollar blockbusters Black Panther and Avengers: Endgame were filmed in Georgia.

Netflix has also announced they are re-thinking their production schedule in Georgia.

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News Round-Up: May 29, 2019

• Who’s ready for Pride Month? • Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who famously did not allow a debate on the SCOTUS nomination of Merrick Garland for nearly a year, told a crowd in Kentucky on Tuesday that if a Supreme Court vacancy came up during the 2020 presidential campaign, “We’d fill it.” Totally different thing when the nomination is from your party, huh? • Even the legal pundits at Fox News think Robert Mueller’s statement that he didn’t charge Donald Trump with obstruction of justice “because he’s the president” was damning for Trump: https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1133840519640039425 • Louisiana lawmakers passed an abortion ban on a 79 – 23 vote Wednesday that would prohibit women from terminating a pregnancy once a fetal heartbeat has been detected. Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards [photo] has indicated that he would break with his party and sign the ban if it crosses his desk. • The non-partisan Congressional Research Service reports the sweeping tax law Republicans enacted in late 2017 is definitely not paying for itself, and has not significantly boosted the economy or increased wages.

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Oscar Nominee Sufjan Stevens Drops New Music For Pride Month

Sufjan Stevens

Singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens has released two new songs for Pride month – “Love Yourself” and “With My Whole Heart.”

Stevens is probably most famous today for his songs he contributed to last year’s queer coming-of-age movie, Call Me By Your Name. The track “Mystery of Love” garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award nod as well.

The new tracks are available now on all digital platforms and will be released in late June as a limited-edition vinyl.

The 43-year-old artist says “Love Yourself,” a euphoric synth-pop bop, is based on a musical sketch he wrote 20 years ago. Stevens plans on including the 1996 demo on the vinyl release as well as a short reprise.

“With My Whole Heart” is an entirely new song that came from a personal challenge: “to write an upbeat and sincere love song without conflict, anxiety, or self-deprecation.” Definitely more bouncy, the track is a retro, lo-fi affair with lots of layered vocals leading to a vibe-y, chill guitar solo.

In addition to the two tracks, Stevens has also designed a limited edition t-shirt for Pride month.

In addition to buying music you enjoy, purchasing the tracks will also aid two organizations that help LGBTQ homeless youth. A portion of the proceeds will go to both the Ali Forney Center in New York City and the Ruth Ellis Center in Detroit, Michigan.

A post shared by M A R I A N A 🌊 (@marianbuschmann) on May 29, 2019 at 6:40am PDT
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Nancy Pelosi On Mueller’s Comments: “Congress Will Continue To Investigate”

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has issued a statement in response to this morning’s comments by Special Counsel Robert Mueller:

“The Special Counsel’s report revealed that the President’s campaign welcomed Russian interference in the election, and laid out eleven instances of the President’s obstruction of the investigation. The Congress holds sacred its constitutional responsibility to investigate and hold the President accountable for his abuse of power.

“The Congress will continue to investigate and legislate to protect our elections and secure our democracy. The American people must have the truth. We call upon the Senate to pass H.R. 1, the For The People Act, to protect our election systems. We salute Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his team for his patriotic duty to seek the truth.”

Pelosi urged Democrats to whoa up on impeachment calls, saying, “We want to do what is right and what gets results.”

The House Speaker added, “We do want to make such a compelling case that even the Republican Senate will be convinced of the path that we have to take as a country.”

Several Democratic candidates for president weighed in with their thoughts as well:

Oh, and the Trumpster had to chime in as well:

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Maine Becomes 17th State To Ban ‘Ex-Gay Therapy’

Maine has become the 17th state to ban so-called ‘conversion therapy’ for minors.

Maine has become the 17th state to ban so-called ‘conversion therapy’ for minors.

The legislation prohibits state-licensed counselors, psychologists, social workers, health professionals, guidance counselors and pastoral therapists from engaging in the harmful practice of trying to change a young person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Lawmakers in Maine passed a similar bill last year, but the legislation was vetoed by former Republican Gov. Paul LePage. His veto made him the only governor in the U.S. to veto a ban on conversion therapy.

Today, however, Gov. Janet Mills enthusiastically signed the bill into law saying in a statement, “Conversion therapy is a harmful, widely-discredited practice that has no place in Maine.”

“By signing this bill into law today, we send an unequivocal message to young LGBTQ people in Maine and across the country: we stand with you, we support you, and we will always defend your right to be who you are,” she added.

Conversion therapy has been widely denounced by leading professional medical associations including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Psychological Association.

Studies have shown that the harmful practice can lead to depression, anxiety, drug use, homelessness, and suicide.

The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ youth, is invested in ending conversion therapy in every state.

Sam Brinton, Head of Advocacy and Government Affairs for The Trevor Project, applauded Maine’s efforts to help LGBTQ youth.

“After the disappointment of last year’s veto, they came back stronger and passed legislation to protect LGBTQ youth from the dangers of conversion therapy,” said Brinton in a statement. “We will continue to push each and every day to insure that every state in the country follows Maine’s example and ends this cruel practice once and for all.”