• How cute are InstaCouple Justin & Nick? Follow them on the gram of Insta here.
• Two men from Washington D.C. were arrested for drug trafficking as they tried to board a gay cruise leaving from the port of Miami. They were caught thanks to intercepted planning emails sent from one of the men’s government-issued laptop.
• The ABC hit sitcom Modern Family has been renewed for its 11th and final season.
• Donald Trump loves to refer to it as the ‘failing’ New York Times, but facts are facts, and the Times‘ stock price just hit a 13-year high.
• Damon Wayans Jr. is just the latest celeb apologizing for past homophobic statements and ‘jokes.’ At least he has the decency to actually straight-up apologize.
• Out pop singer/songwriter Gia Woods drops her new music video, “Jump The Fence,” which offers a groovy respite with shades of female empowerment and sexual freedom.
Billboard gushed about the new song calling it “a breathy pop ear-worm packed with tribal-like pulsations and distant howls that matches the musical climate while maintaining an undeniable edge.”
Gia’s breakout music video, “Only A Girl,” has garnered over 10 million viesw and counting. The talented 22-year-old is prepping to release her debut EP later this year.
Donald Trump complained again today about so-called ‘presidential harassment’ when he was asked about the House Intelligence Committee moving forward with investigations into his finances and possible Russian ties.
The ‘presidential harassment’ thing reminds me of the character in Mean Girls who keeps trying to get her invented catch-phrase to become popular. It’s not going to work.
Calling the new chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif), a ‘political hack,’ Trump added, “It’s just presidential harassment and it’s unfortunate and it really does hurt our country.”
This AM, Jerry Nadler said: “To say that we can’t do that is to say that we shouldn’t do our constitutional duty. It’s to assert an executive preeminence that one would think he might want to be a dictator.” Via ABC pic.twitter.com/OEx4vtFkLl
Schiff announced Wednesday his committee would undertake a broad investigation “beyond Russia” into whether President Donald Trump’s financial interests are driving his actions.
The committee voted today to fulfill another priority of Schiff’s: releasing the transcripts of all witnesses before the House investigation to Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
The full, un-redacted transcripts will give Mueller the chance to ‘compare notes’ with his own interviews of Trump allies. Should he find discrepancies, Trump’s friends could be in big trouble. Lying to Congress is a felony.
For his part, Schiff issued his own statement saying, “I can understand why the idea of meaningful oversight terrifies the President. Several of his close associates are going to jail, others await trial, and criminal investigations continue. We’re going to do our job and won’t be distracted or intimidated by threats or attacks.”
I can understand why the idea of meaningful oversight terrifies the President. Several of his close associates are going to jail, others await trial, and criminal investigations continue.
We’re going to do our job and won’t be distracted or intimidated by threats or attacks.— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) February 6, 2019
YESTERDAY: Trump called for “unity.”
TODAY: Trump reverted back to his normal self and called Adam Schiff “a political hack trying to build a name for himself.”
MORAL OF THE STORY: Never believe anything that a con man says when he is desperately trying to cover up his crimes.
Gus Kenworthy, out Olympic skier and all-around hottie, has been cast in one of my favorite shows and I am shook!
Hollywood super-producer Ryan Murphy broke the news this morning on Instagram (cause that’s how news happens these days) that gorgeous Gus has been cast in the next installment of American Horror Story.
The social media post featured a pic of a grinning Gus with the caption, “That special moment when you realize you have an Olympic medal AND will be playing Emma Roberts’ boyfriend on ‘American Horror Story’ Season 9.”
Gus replied to the post with a giant “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.”
AHS alum Colton Haynes chimed in writing, “Ahhhhhh, so happy for u @guskenworthy!!! Ur gonna be soooo amazing and so happy ur finally getting into acting!!!”
A post shared by Ryan Murphy (@mrrpmurphy) on Feb 6, 2019 at 9:52am PST
Over on his own Instagram, Gus shared Murphy’s post writing, “I guess the cat’s out of the bag… I’m So F*cking Shook ILYSM @mrrmurphy” complete with applause, crying and love-struck emojis.
Out actor Charlie Carver (Teen Wolf, Boys in the Band) blessed the “Awesomeness” news , and YouTuber Max Emerson threw in a “Whoah!”
In fact, the comments on Gus’s post turned into a “who’s who” of gay Instagram including Eliad Cohen, Justin & Nick, Adam Rippon, Andy Mientus,
Gus, who won a silver medal in the men’s Slopestyle at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, told Variety last year that acting has been his dream since childhood.
He’s dabbled a bit up to now making his TV acting debut in a 2016 episode of ABC’s The Real O’Neals. He also had a cameo moment in the cult TV hit, Sharknado 5: Global Swarming.
But for the most part, Gus has let his longtime boyfriend, Matthew Wilkas (Gayby, Eastsiders), be the actor of the couple.
UK pop legends the Pet Shop Boys are giving this frigid February a blast of musical sunshine by releasing a digital four-track ‘in-the-moment’ EP called Agenda this week.
“It contains three satirical songs and one rather sad song,” says band member Neil Tennant of the EP. “I think it’s because of the times we’re living through.”
The first song,“Give Stupidity A Chance,” I featured yesterday in my News Round-Up.
The second, “On Social Media,” dropped today.
The third, “What Are We Going To Do About The Rich?” is set for Thursday, and then on Friday, “The Forgotten Child,” (figure that for the sad song) will drop as the complete EP will be available to purchase.
Over an infectious house beat, “On Social Media” skewers our everyday habits as we post, scroll, tweet, selfie, hashtag and pontificate via our smart phones.
From “On Social Media:”
Likes are in the thousands / My tweets are being retweeted My family pics or holiday snaps / With total love are greeted It’s so nice when people like you / You’re feeling hashtag blessed You pop out of the conversation / It’s like you passed the test
This isn’t the duo’s first entre in political satire. You may recall PSB’s 2006 track, “I’m With Stupid,” which offered comedic slaps at then-President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Agenda, the first new music from the iconic duo since 2016’s Super, drops this Friday, February 8.
In his State of the Union address tonight, Donald Trump says he plans to end the HIV epidemic within 10 years.
“In recent years, we have made remarkable progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS,” said Trump. “Scientific breakthroughs have brought a once-distant dream within reach. My budget will ask Democrats and Republicans to make the needed commitment to eliminate the HIV epidemic in the United States within 10 years. Together, we will defeat AIDS in America — and beyond.”
“Together we will defeat AIDS in America and beyond.”
He’s proposed diverting funds from the Ryan White HIV Program to pay for border security.
And then there’s the litany of attacks on the LGBTQ community as a whole.
Sorry, I call bullshit. As the old commercial goes, “Where’s the beef?”
“HIV advocates all agree that ending transmission is an important goal,” Stacey Long Simmons, director of advocacy and action at the National LGBTQ Task Force told the Washington Blade.
“Based on Trump’s repeatedly broken promises, we have cause to question his commitment until we see the necessary funding flowing to strategies that will actually end transmission.”
Some news items you might have missed: • I love Wrangler jeans. And the outdoors. And cowboy hats. And something else, wait, it’s coming to me… 🙂 • The movie Boy Erased, based on Garrard Conley’s real-life journey through so-called ‘conversion therapy’ will not be released in Brazil. Universal Pictures says the film won’t be released due to ‘financial reasons.’ The South American country recently elected openly-homophobic Jair Bolsonaro as president. • If you ever wondered EXACTLY what it’s like to be bullied at school as a young boy, before he’s even figured out who he is, please read this by my talented friend, David Toussaint. Definitely worth the read. https://twitter.com/DRToussaint/status/1092872236124565505 • ABC News: An investigation by a government watchdog organization shows President Donald Trump’s four trips to his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida over four weeks in March and February 2017, including his summit with the Japanese prime minister, cost the government nearly $14 million. • Opera singer David Daniels and his husband Scott Walters, were arrested Tuesday over allegations of rape by baritone Samuel Schultz in 2010. Schultz, who told police he was drugged and raped in 2010, came forward with the allegation in August. • Texas political phenom Beto O’Rourke gave Oprah “a strong signal” he is seriously considering a 2020 run for the White House. https://twitter.com/Jay1043/status/1092923855910457344 • A seven year-old boy in Wisconsin was beaten, tortured and buried in the snow until he died of hypothermia for not knowing his Bible verses. • Pet Shop Boys drop their first single, “Give Stupidity a Chance”, from their upcoming EP Agenda (release date April 12). Neil Tennant describes the track as “a satirical song about the poor quality of political leadership in the modern world.” “Chicks are always up for it / You’ve got to grab whatever you can / We need a leader who knows money means class / With an eye for a peach-perfect piece of ass” Check out the lyric video below.
Donald Trump tweeted out a screen capture of a headline from The Drudge Report that read, “Call For Unity, Trump Approval 48%, Teflon Donald.”
That last part is a riff on the moniker “Teflon Don,” which was used to describe Mafia crime boss John Gotti, who the police could never seem to make charges stick to.
Until they did.
Gotti was charged, tried and thrown in the slammer in ’92 where he stayed until his death in 2002.
Billy Porter delivers Logo’s State of the Union address for the LGBTQ community
In advance of President Trump’s annual State of the Union address tonight, actor/activist Billy Porter delivered Logo’s “LGBTQ State of our Union” address regarding issues facing the LGBTQ community – triumphs, setbacks and looking ahead to 2019 as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.
Porter begins with a statement of fortitude: “While our rights are under threat and the sanctity of identities is in peril, let me be clear: the state of our union is strong.”
Addressing some of the challenges the LGBTQ people face today, Porter points out:
• 29 transgender people (mostly trans women of color) ‘lost their light’ to violence in 2018
• Anti-LGBTQ violence is on the rise as 40% of LGBTQ survivors of hate violence sustained an injury in 2017 compared to the 31% in 2016.
• 42% reported seeking medical attention in 2017 compared to the 23% in 2016.
• 27% reported weapons were used their assaults compared to 13% in 2016.
While that does sound bleak, the Golden Globe nominee calls for a more positive approach to addressing these ills.
“How do we fight this hate? With love,” says the Pose star. “Continue to demonstrate out love for each other. Love is strength – strength we must have to fight for our integrity and for our very lives. We will fight hate with solidarity by standing for our siblings around the world.”
Porter calls on the LGBTQ community to declare, “We are here through the banning of transgender service members. We are here through the violence enacted by hate speech. We are here. And if the victories of the last year prove anything, we ain’t going no damn where.”
The 49-year-old also noted the results of the midterms elections delivering the most diverse Congress in history.
He mentions the successes of openly gay politicians – Jared Polis’ election to governor in Colorado; and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, the first openly gay Democratic presidential candidate, joining “a strong crop of Democrats ready, willing and able to throw down with 45.”
“And you better believe we’re coming for that White House and we’re gonna paint it rainbow,” adds Porter.
When it comes to pop culture there’s more good news.
“On TV, on film and in music we are ‘showing up and showing out,” boasts the Tony Award winner. “We are in front of, and behind the cameras; we are increasingly the authors of our own stories.”
Recognizing 2019 as the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots and New York City hosting this year’s World Pride event, Porter says, “We will continue to come together to acknowledge and embrace our intersectional community, and to push for equality and justice – for ALL.”
He closes the address by saying, “Make no mistake – our best days are ahead of us. Onward and upward. God bless our LGBT community and God bless the United States of America.”
The White House has issued a statement by President Trump recognizing the Lunar New Year and 2019 as the Year of the Pig.
Melania and I send our greetings to those celebrating the Lunar New Year.
Today, people across the United States and around the world mark the beginning of the Lunar New Year with spectacular fireworks displays, joyful festivals, and family gatherings. This is a sacred time for many people of Asian descent, and it is an opportunity for all Americans to honor the important contributions these communities have made to the story of American greatness.
As families, friends, and loved ones gather to welcome the Year of the Pig, we join in sharing our best wishes for good health, prosperity, and happiness.
The White House didn’t say if the statement was issued during ‘executive hours’ or not.
