Author: Randy Slovacek

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“It Gets Better” to become an MTV network special

The It Gets Better campaign, launched by Dan Savage in 2010 as a response to antigay bullying and teen suicide, is now an hour-long special with appearances by Zachary Quinto, Jake Shears, Chaz Bono, Margaret Cho, Sia, and Adam Levine, reports Entertainment Weekly.

Watch this clip from the MTV special: Vanessa

Get More: MTV Shows

Dan Savage will host the special, also titled “It Gets Better”, which will follow three young people as they struggle with LGBT issues and will premiere simultaneously on Logo/MTV February 21.
(source)

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Olivia Newton-John opening the 2012 AACTA Awards

Olivia Newton-John opens the 2012 AACTA Awards (Sydney, Australia) with “Daydream Believer” and “Weightless” from the soundtrack of her new movie “A Few Best Men.”

“A Few Best Men” is directed by Stephan Elliott, who also directed the cult hit film “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.” The movie opened this past weekend to the best box office numbers of an Australian comedy in over a decade. And Olivia has received some of the best reviews of her career for her performance as a straight-laced politicians’ wife who “goes off the rails” during her daughter’s wedding.

ABC Radio National: “The standout moments are all with Olivia Newton-John, who steals the show as the mother of the bride, and the resentful wife of a politico husband. When she’s onscreen the whole thing lifts.  She still has an extraordinary magic.”

Urban Cinefile: “A sheep in drag, a runaway floral arrangement and Olivia Newton John as you’ve never seen her before are some of the memorable moments of this riotous comedy. In an inspired piece of casting, Olivia Newton-John is a knock-out as the (initially) stitched up mother of the bride, who later shows that appearances can be deceiving.”

Later this month she begins a concert tour of Australia and Asia. And in June, she will attend the opening of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre – a hospital, research and wellness center in Melbourne for which she has tirelessly raised millions over the past several years. Twenty years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and since then has become one of the world’s biggest advocates for early detection.

A long-time LGBT ally, Olivia recently made a public statement in support of marriage equality: “With respect to marriage equality – I believe that no one has the right to judge and deny couples who love each other the ability to make a marriage commitment. Love is love.”

At 63, this is seriously a diva (and LGBT ally) who can sustain. I think she looks great, sounds great, and clearly shows no signs of slowing down.

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Mitt Romney “isn’t concerned about the very poor”

Mitt talks about a safety net that is “there for the very poor.”

Unfortunately, he and his party would like to dismantle that safety net, even as they demonize it.

Most of what you hear from Republicans is how terrible the “freeloaders” are who get help from these “safety nets” and then expect to be taken care of.

The fact is it is much harder to get on food stamps and other programs than people think. My brother, who is legally disabled, waited years to get on food stamps because he couldn’t find a job. And when he applied, he was told he needed to be working to receive food stamps.

???

Doesn’t it seem like the folks who may need food stamps the most are the ones who CAN’T find a job? No one could explain that to me.

When Mitt Romney says he will repair the “safety net” if it needs it, you should look into his definition of “if it needs it.” You may find another example of “say what you need to to get elected” double-speak.

UPDATE: Mitt went on damage control a few hours later, once he “realized” how it “might” sound. Here are a few updated statements from Mitt (via political reporter Sam Youngman):

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GLEE: First look at Ricky Martin as “The Spanish Teacher”

In the episode titled “The Spanish Teacher,” which airs February 7, Will (Matthew Morrison) gives the glee club a Spanish-singing assignment, and enlists the help of a teacher, played by Martin.

The talented Latin heartthrob, who will soon headline a Broadway revival of Evita, is expected to perform a rendition of LMFAO’s “I’m Sexy and I Know It,” as well as another song.

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Maryland 14 year old asks legislators to vote ‘no’ on gay marriage

The Maryland Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on Tuesday from advocates and opponents of the marriage equality bill currently pending in the state legislature.

Among those testifying were 14-year-old Sarah Crank, who told legislators that it “would be the best birthday present ever if you would vote no on gay marriage.”

“I really feel bad for the kids who have two parents of the same gender,” she said. […] “They have no idea what kind of wonderful experiences they miss out on.”

“People have the choice to be gay, but I don’t want to be affected by their choice. People say they were just born that way, but I’ve met really nice adults who did change.”

Listen — audio courtesy of Think Progress:

“It’s rather scary to think that when I grow up the legislature or the court can change the definition of any word they want,” she added.

“If they could change the definition of marriage then they could change the definition of any word,” said the home schooled teen.

Imagine being 14 years old and asking – as a birthday present – that legislators deny equal rights to other people.

Just think about that.

Think about the parents that raised a child to stand in front of the world and ask that people be denied equal rights.

Please think about it. And after you think on that, please tell me you’re sad.

I was raised in Texas where I COULD have had a red-neck, bigoted father who might have beat me for being who I am. Thank god my father was the amazing man he was.

This little girl… wish her good luck.

That’s all I got….