Author: Randy Slovacek

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Zach Wahls speaks at GLAAD Media Awards NYC 2012

Last night writer & LGBT advocate Zach Wahls took the stage at the GLAAD Media Awards in New York to share anecdotes from his personal journey following his speech in front of the Iowa House of Representatives which was the most-watched political clip of 2011 according to Youtube.

He talked about the impact of his video, including changing the mind of a soldier on marriage equality and building confidence in a lesbian woman to become a mother. He also spoke jokingly about questions he gets asked about growing up with two mothers. Zach was particularly funny in offering his answer to one question about his moms – “which one is the man” – by saying “that’s like looking at chop sticks and asking ‘which one is the fork?'”

“Since that speech went viral back in February of 2011, I’ve been all over the country, from California to New York, down to Florida, continuing to share my story and have this conversation about gay marriage or as I like to call it, marriage,” said Zach Wahls.

I think this guy rocks. Amazing to think he’s so young and yet so articulate.

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Fox News: What’s the BFD? WTF?

After its years-long misinformation campaign against health care reform, Fox News is now down to attacking the Obama reelection campaign for selling what Fox deems as “vulgar” T-shirts to celebrate the law.

The campaign recently released a line of T-shirts bearing the slogan, “Health reform still a BFD,” which plays off Vice President Joe Biden’s famous open mike moment during the health care law signing ceremony in March 2010.

On March 23, Fox’s leading culture warrior, Todd Starnes, called the “BFD” shirts “vulgar.” Fox Nation quickly trumpeted his attack:

This morning, the Fox & Friends Saturday crew devoted several segments to parroting Starnes, with guest co-host Nicole Petallides calling the shirts “so vulgar” and asking, “Would [Obama] like his daughters to wear that T-shirt?” Co-host Clayton Morris said: “I wouldn’t want my son to see that. I wouldn’t want him to see Daddy in a T-shirt like that.”

Morris also said that “you expect more from the presidency of the United States than to be tweeting out from their own account driving to you a T-shirt that has a vulgarity on it. It just doesn’t sit well.”

The Democratic National Committee’s Organizing for America arm released a line of shirts with the slogan, “Health reform is a BFD,” a week after Biden’s comment — two years ago.

And if Fox genuinely feels that “BFD” is offensive, wouldn’t the network also object to the “WTF” construct?

In January 2011, Fox News contributor Sarah Palin used the phrase “WTF” on the network to repeatedly attack Obama’s 2011 State of the Union speech. Palin, of course, was the Republican Party’s vice presidential candidate in 2008.
(source)

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GLAAD Media Award winners NYC 2012 – complete list

 

The following is a list of all award recipients announced at the 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York:

• Craig Zadan & Neil Meron received the prestigious Vito Russo Award
• Katy Butler, who has been lobbying the Motion Picture Association of America to lower the rating for the documentary Bully, so younger people may view it
• Outstanding feature film: “Pariah”
• Outstanding reality television program: Dancing With The Stars
• Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: “Battle Against Bullying” ABC World News with Diane Sawyer (ABC) [accepted by: reporter Josh Elliott]
• Outstanding Magazine Article: TIE: “15th Anniversary of the Passage of the Defense of Marriage Act” (series) by Chris Geidner (Metro Weekly) [accepted by: Chris Geidner] and “Black & Gay in Corporate America” by Carolyn M. Brown (Black Enterprise) [accepted by: Carolyn M. Brown]
• Outstanding TV Movie Or Mini Series: Cinema Verite (HBO)
• Outstanding Talk Show Episode: “Coming Out on the Oprah Show: 25 Years of Unforgettable Guests” The Oprah Winfrey Show (syndicated)
• Outstanding TV Journalism – Newsmagazine: “The ‘Sissy Boy’ Experiments” Anderson Cooper 360 (CNN)
• Outstanding Newspaper Article: “Led by the Child Who Simply Knew” by Bella English (The Boston Globe)
• Outstanding Newspaper Columnist: Frank Bruni (The New York Times)
• Outstanding Newspaper Overall Coverage: The New York Times
• Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage: The Advocate/Out
• Outstanding Digital Journalism-Multimedia: “Injustice at Every Turn” (ITLMedia.org)
• Outstanding Blog: Towleroad and Mombian
• Outstanding Music Artist: Lady Gaga, Born This Way (Interscope Records)
• Outstanding Comic Book: Batwoman by J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman (DC Comics)
• Outstanding Los Angeles Theatre: No Word in Guyanese for Me by Wendy Graf
• Outstanding New York Theatre: Broadway & Off Broadway: The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures by Tony Kushner
• Outstanding New York Theatre: Off-Off Broadway: Southern Comfort book and lyrics by Dan Collins, music by Julianne Wick Davis

SPANISH-LANGUAGE

• Outstanding Daytime Talk Show Episode: “Lesbianas celebran 10 años” Caso Cerrado (Telemundo)
• Outstanding Talk Show Interview: “Entrevista con Raquel Gómez y Mony Ruiz Velasco” Al Punto (Univision)
• Outstanding TV Journalism – Newsmagazine: “Asesino” Primer Impacto (Univision)
• Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: “Ángeles del cambio” Noticiero 34 (KMEX TV-34 [Los Angeles, Calif.])
• Outstanding Newspaper Article: TIE: “Casamiento e hijos biológicos para pareja gay hispana de EEUU” by Claudia Torrens ( Associated Press) and “Madre hay una sola, no necesariamente” by Virginia Gaglianone (La Opinión)
• Outstanding Magazine Article: “Nueva York la igualdad” by Michelle Oyola (People en Español)
• Outstanding Digital Journalism Article: “Las 7 señales de un niño transgénero” by Paula Andalo (Univision.com)
• Outstanding Music Artist: Ricky Martin, Música + Alma + Sexo (Sony Music Latin)
• Special Recognition: El Diario la Prensa

Additional categories will be presented at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on April 21 and in San Francisco on June 2.

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Ketel One Vodka Hosts ‘Walk Of Change’ At The 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards

NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 24: Celebrities and supporters stopped by the Ketel One Vodka “Walk of Change” at the GLAAD Media Awards to make their mark – literally.

For each celebrity handprint left, Ketel One donated $1,000 to GLAAD. Participants included Bernadette Peters, Cheyenne Jackson, Jay Manuel and Thomas Roberts.

When leaving his hand print on the Ketel One Walk of Fame, Cheyenne Jackson brought attention to his new wedding ring saying, “Look at my wedding ring!! This is so weird!”

Smash star, Phillip Spaeth, wasn’t shy about getting his hands dirty for a good cause when leaving his handprint on the Ketel One Walk of Change.

Broadway superstar Bernadette Peters flexed her stardom as she playful posed for the camera and even stated, “Am I making a muscle?” as she left her handprint.

The always fabulous Bernadette Peters

Vinny Guadagnino from Jersey Shore

Craig Zadan, producer

Jay Manuel and Cheyenne Jackson

Thomas Roberts of MSNBC
Phillip Spaeth from SMASH

Photo Credit – WireImage for Ketel One Vodka

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GOP vs ObamaCare – “Kill It Dead”

What would repeal of the Affordable Healthcare Act mean to you?

• Cheaper drugs for seniors in the doughnut hole. REPEALED.

• Coverage for children with pre-existing conditions. REPEALED.

• Free access to Preventative services. REPEALED.

• Women won’t have to pay more than men. REPEALED.

• No lifetime cap on coverage. REPEALED.

• Protection from insurance company abuses. REPEALED.

Think about it: Do you HATE having those protections from insurance companies YOU pay?

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Jon Hamm & Jimmy Fallon play “Water War”

On a visit to Jimmy Fallon’s show to promote the return of “Mad Men.”

The real fun began when Jimmy challenged Jon to a game of war — but with a twist. At the end of each round, the winner got to douse the loser with a glass of water. The clip is very, very cute, thanks to Jimmy’s incessant giggling and Jon’s good sportsmanship.

One of the more entertaining late night skits I’ve seen in a long time.

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Tawny Heatherton’s long lost music video “Run Crazy Man”

From David Drake’s recent sold-out run of “My Tawny Valentine” – Tawny’s 1985 Euro Disco smash “Run Crazy Man.” Go Tawny!

For those who haven’t kept up, “Tawny Heatherton” is the brilliant David Drake’s newest theatrical creation. The niece of 70s icon Joey Heatherton, Tawny is still following butterflies and rainbows. She may get a bit lost every now and then, but her public finds her.

How could anyone top the lyric “paper or plastic? both are fantastic…”

Directed by Ned Stresen-Reuter
Music by Trevor Kuprel
Styling by Christopher Mathieson
Featuring Tawny’s back-up boys, Aaron Tone & J.Stephen Brantley
Announcer: Joseph Addeo

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Finland to may adopt marriage equality

 

Marriage equality has been proposed in Finland by a group of local MPs. The suggested legislation would change the civil definition of marriage in the country while protecting religious groups that wish to remain homophobic.

Reports the Star Observer:

The Finnish Parliament have now sent the initiative to the Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee, where its passage is uncertain.

The draft amendment was signed by 76 of the 200 members of Parliament, with more lawmakers including Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen expected to vote for it, Reuters reports.

European Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Alexander Stubb, the first signatory of the initiative, spoke passionately for the amendment during debate.

“This initiative is aimed at dismantling a system that causes inequality, in which couple relationships are divided into A and B categories” he said.

Finland was one of the first countries to recognize the legal status of same-sex relationships by instituting a domestic partnership registry in 2002.