Author: Randy Slovacek

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The Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson to be youngest GLAAD Vanguard Award recipient

The Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson will be presented with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s Vanguard Award in Los Angeles on April 21, making him the youngest recipient of that award in the organization’s history.

GLAAD’s Vanguard Award is annually presented to media professionals who, through their work, have increased the visibility and understanding of the LGBT community.   The 19-year-old Hutcherson, who came to the LGBT community’s attention playing the son of two lesbian mothers in last year’s The Kids Are All Right, co-founded the Straight But Not Narrow (SBNN) campaign with his close friend, actor Avan Jogia.

“As the youngest person to ever receive the Vanguard Award, Josh Hutcherson represents a new generation of equality advocates who know that no one should be denied vital legal protections or face discrimination because of who they are,” GLAAD’s Mike Thompson says in a statement. “Through his work in trailblazing films like The Kids Are All Right, as well as his leadership in projects like the Straight But Not Narrow campaign, Josh is helping countless Americans understand the importance of equality.”

The award will be given at the 23rd annual GLAAD Media Awards ceremony.

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Rick Santorum may – or may not – endorse Mitt Romney in next couple of months

I notice the former campaign staffer for Rick Santorum says Mitt Romney and Santorum will meet in the next month or so, and will discuss an endorsement but nothing’s guaranteed.

Should be quite the cocktail hour:

“Hey, remember that time you outspent me 10-1 in  – what state was that?”
“Ah,… good times….”

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Nick Jonas to release EP of “How To Succeed…”

Producers of the Broadway production of “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” said Tuesday a five-song EP will be released May 8 featuring the voice of the youngest of the three Jonas Brothers, Nick Jonas.

Jonas is currently playing J. Pierrepont Finch, having taken over the part from Darren Criss of Fox’s hit show “Glee,” who briefly assumed the role from Daniel Radcliffe.

Jonas, who is committed to playing the song-and-dance part until at least July 1, has recorded “Brotherhood of Man” and “I Believe In You” among the five songs.

Daniel Radcliffe also recorded his own cast album.

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WA: Pastor receives standing ovation for not joining anti-gay signature drive

The Rev. Tim Clark received a standing ovation Sunday from the congregation at Seattle’s Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church when he announced that the parish would not gather signatures for a referendum to repeal same-sex marriage.

“I am happy to report that Our Lady of the Lake parishoners have been overwhelmingly and, thus far, unanimously supportive of the decision I made NOT to gather signatures in support of this Referendum,” Clark wrote in response to an e-mail.

“The standing ovation experienced during one of the Masses says less about me and much more about the health of this parish. I only wished the archbishop could have experienced the sustained applause — the ‘sensus fidelium’ — of the people. He needs to listen to this ‘voice.’ That is my prayer.”

Rev. Clark has said that faith should not be politicized:

“What troubles me is the message this whole approach sends which I find discriminatory and insensitive. To follow through with his wishes would be hurtful, divisive and a countersign to what we are trying to foster in this Catholic community in Wedgwood.

“I deeply believe, and say this with boldness, that this approach is not in the mind of Christ.”

Archbishop Sartain left the decision whether or not to gather signatures to the discretion of pastoral leaders.
(source)

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Hardball: Even in the Great Depression we built America

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
As I’ve mentioned before, I watch Hardball on MSNBC every day. I think Chris Matthews is fair and clear. Especially in this argument.

Chris is always arguing for good construction and manufacturing jobs – the same kind of jobs that built America during the boom of the 1950s. And I agree. Jobs that need to be done for infrastructure anyway.

The 1950s were good days for America in terms of growth and opportunity. (By the way, the top income tax rate in the late 1950s was 91% versus 35% today. And America grew at an exponential rate in the 1950s and 1960s.)

Things that make you go “hmm…”

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Poll: Most Americans say tax system favors wealthy

As some Americans rush to file their 2011 tax returns by the Tuesday deadline, a new poll shows more than two-thirds of Americans believe the revenue system benefits the wealthy while being unfair to average workers.

In the CNN/ORC survey, 68% of respondents said the current tax system benefits the rich and is unfair to ordinary workers, compared with 29% who disagreed with that view. Overall, 50% said the federal income taxes they paid were about right, with 45% saying their taxes were too high and 3% answering their taxes were too low.

More at CNN.com

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Staff Sargeant discharged under DADT reinstated

The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) announced today that U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Anthony Loverde, who was discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in 2008, has been reinstated and will return to active duty in May.

Loverde is only the second service member welcomed back to the Armed Forces after the September 2011 repeal of DADT. (Petty Officer Jase Daniels, another SLDN client, was previously reinstated as a linguist in the U.S. Navy.)

Loverde, 31, joined the Air Force at age 20. Before being discharged, he was an expert at calibrating weapons systems and oversaw cargo loads for more than 60 flights into Iraq. “I am honored and humbled to return to the service of my country and the job I love,” Loverde said. “I am grateful to my legal team and all of those in the armed forces who helped to facilitate this reinstatement. I am eager to take the oath and get to work.”

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Wider covereage on Buffett Rule failing in US Senate

Remember when you hear politicians say “what Americans want is…”

A CNN/ORC poll conducted over the weekend found that 72% of Americans support the idea of setting a minimum tax rate for people who make more than $1 million a year. Of those, 90% of Democrats, 69% of independents and 53% of Republicans back such a millionaire tax.