Author: Randy Slovacek

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Why Obama was asked to “show his papers”

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I hate discrimination of any kind. Period. This is why I’m so fervent in my writing about equality. Not just the LGBT community – every community.

As Martin Luther King, Jr. said “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

There are people who just don’t like Obama. Fine. Dislike his policies as a politician.

But if you don’t think this was about having a man of color “show his papers” – you’re not paying attention.

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Tom & Ron’s story – why marriage equality is necessary

THIS is why Federal recognition of marriage rights for the LGBT community is important. This is why DOMA needs to be repealed.

If Ron was female he would have enough money to keep his home. He now has to sell the home he shared with his partner of 55 years.

Social Security allows for the surviving member of a married couple to receive the larger of the two Social Security checks – either the survivor’s or the member who passed away. This is how it works for heterosexual couples.

Not for gay or lesbian couples.

Marriage equality isn’t about “redefining” anything. It’s about equality.

It’s that black and white. Nothing to do with religion and everything to do with rights that come attached to a civil marriage license issued by a civil government. This is why these are civil rights issues.

“Liberty and justice for all.”

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Cosmopolitan Hotel – ejects trans woman, apologizes

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is receiving backlash today after a report surfaced on a hotel and lodging blog that a transgender guest was banned for life from the hotel -casino for using an empty women’s restroom.

The guest, identified as a “pre-op trans” named Stephanie, said upon leaving the women’s room she was taken out of the resort by security guards, told she was trespassing on Cosmopolitan property and she would be arrested if she didn’t leave. She said she was photographed and told she was banned from returning to the hotel.

Since the blog was posted, commenters have flooded the Cosmopolitan’s Facebook page with complaints on the reported incident.

When asked about the incident, Cosmopolitan officials noted to the Las Vegas Weekly, a sister publication of the Las Vegas Sun, the hotel is a Travel Alternatives Group-approved resort.

In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Cosmopolitan officials said they regretted the incident and would “welcome her back to the resort anytime.”

“The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is committed to maintaining a community that recognizes and values the inherent dignity of every person, by fostering sensitivity, understanding and mutual respect of our guests and employees,” according to the statement.

“We sincerely regret any misunderstanding or inappropriate actions that any member of our staff may have taken. And to ensure increased sensitivity within this area, the organization will focus on continued training and on-going awareness initiatives. In addition, we apologize to the individual guest and welcome her back to the resort anytime. Again, we would like to apologize to the LGBT community and anyone concerned and hope to demonstrate our firm dedication to fair and unbiased treatment of all.”

I’m not so sure how much of a commitment this shows on the part of the Cosmopolitan in that this happened in the first place. Not only was the guest “escorted” out, she was “banned for life.” I don’t see security guards taking this kind of action without some kind of confidence that they had the backing of the hotel.

Not sure about you, but I live in Las Vegas and I have a LOT of other options when it comes to choosing places to spend my money and where I recommend my visiting friends to go.

I also now question the wisdom of whoever deemed the Cosmopolitan a “Travel Alternatives Group” approved resort. For that kind of designation, this property is supposed to be LGBT friendly.

Hmmmm….

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Jovany Barreto – American Idol hottie…

So I don’t watch American Idol any more. It got to be a lot of the same ole same to me.

But I just came across this guy – who’s seriously not hard on the eyes – AND singing a Jon Secada song. I’m a sucker for Jon Secada, so I’m posting.

I understand he’s a Cuban American from Louisiana who works as a shipyard mechanic.

I’m thinking this guy could easily be heading up the Chippendales in Vegas at the Rio Hotel and Casino.

Hot guy, great song. Easy post.

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Donald Trump on being trumped

The “Donald” takes much, much credit and pats his own back over and over regarding “getting the President” to release his birth certificate.

Throughout the painful interview with John King, Trump repeats made up facts and figures that he can’t substantiate.

When asked about releasing his tax returns – which he said he would do “when Obama releases his birth certificate” he waffles and won’t give an answer.

When he quotes a CNN poll that supposedly had him tied with Obama, King tells Trump that no such poll has ever been done at CNN. The “Donald” gets angry and insists King is wrong. He promises to find it and show it to King and CNN. He never gets back to CNN with it.

He speaks about how successful he is yet he’s filed bankruptcy three times.

This is such a carnival barker trying to “gin up” business for his brand. I can’t see this man ever releasing any tax returns or real information about himself. He makes up facts and vagaries with no foundation of proof. Can we really see this leading our country?

Talk about sideshows and carnival barkers…

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Priscilla Queen of the Desert on THE VIEW

I saw the show in NYC last week. Had a great time.

Tony Sheldon was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award this week as the older, transexual drag queen. The whole cast does a terrific job – the principals AND the ensemble (or as I like to call them – “the backbone of the American Musical theater”).

I have to give a special shout-out to Nathan Lee Graham who took every moment on-stage and made the most of it. Creative, engaging and committed, Nathan had me howling through the whole show on his own.

If you’re in NYC go see this show. It’s not “Medea” but it’s a great time.

With Nathan Lee Graham backstage after Priscilla Queen of the Desert on Bway
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Palin makes fun of Katie Couric

At least one person appears to be having a big old laugh over Katie Couric’s long-anticipated announcement that she will leave the “CBS Evening News” come June. That would be former half-term governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, who during her failed 2008 vice presidential candidacy famously fumbled an interview with the anchor.

Couric recently spoke of her future career plans: “I am looking at a format that will allow me to engage in more multi-dimensional storytelling,” referring to the syndicated daytime show she plans on launching in 2012.

To which Palin snarled on Fox News Wednesday: “Yeah, and I hear that she wants to now engage in more ‘multi-dimensional story telling’ versus I guess just the ‘straight on, read into the, that teleprompter screen story telling. More power to her. I wish her well in her ‘multi-dimensional story telling.’ “

In case you missed Couric’s cringe-inducing, one-on-one chat with Palin the first time around, you can watch it above.

By the way, just released is a photo of Oscar nominee Julianne Moore as the half-term governor for her upcoming role in the HBO film about the 2008 campaign.

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Outer Critics Circle Awards nominations 2011

The winners of this year’s Outer Critics Circle Awards will be announced on Monday, May 16, 2011, with the ceremony honoring the recipients held on Thursday, May 26, at Sardi’s Restaurant in New York City.

Here’s a list of the nominees:

OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY PLAY
Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Good People
The Motherf**ker With the Hat
War Horse

OUTSTANDING NEW BROADWAY MUSICAL
The Book of Mormon
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Sister Act
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY PLAY
Blood From a Stone
Kin
Other Desert Cities
The Other Place

OUTSTANDING NEW OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL
Freckleface Strawberry
In Transit
The Kid
Tomorrow Morning

OUTSTANDING NEW SCORE
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
The Book of Mormon
Catch Me If You Can
Sister Act
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A PLAY
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Born Yesterday
The Importance of Being Earnest
The Merchant of Venice
The Normal Heart

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
(Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Anything Goes
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Hello Again
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A PLAY
Marianne Elliott & Tom Morris – War Horse
Emma Rice – Brief Encounter
Anna D. Shapiro – The Motherf**cker With the Hat
Daniel Sullivan – Good People

OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL
Rob Ashford – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Kathleen Marshall – Anything Goes
Casey Nicholaw & Trey Parker – The Book of Mormon
Jerry Zaks – Sister Act

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHER
Rob Ashford – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Ross Coleman Priscilla – Queen of the Desert
Kathleen Marshall – Anything Goes
Casey Nicholaw – The Book of Mormon

OUTSTANDING SET DESIGN
(Play or Musical)
Desmond Heeley – The Importance of Being Earnest
Derek McLane – Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Neil Murray – Brief Encounter
Todd Rosenthal – The Motherf**ker With the Hat

OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN
(Play or Musical)
Lez Brotherston – Sister Act
Tim Chappel & Lizzie Gardiner – Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Desmond Heeley – The Importance of Being Earnest
Lizz Wolf – Baby It’s You!

OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN
(Play or Musical)
Paule Constable – War Horse
Natasha Katz – Sister Act
David Lander – Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Malcolm Rippeth – Brief Encounter

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Reed Birney – The Dream of the Burning Boy
Bobby Cannavale – The Motherf**ker With the Hat
Joe Mantello – The Normal Heart
Al Pacino – The Merchant of Venice
Mark Rylance – Jerusalem

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Nina Arianda – Born Yesterday
Edie Falco – The House of Blue Leaves
Judith Light – Lombardi
Frances McDormand – Good People
Laurie Metcalf – The Other Place

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Norbert Leo Butz – Catch Me If You Can
Josh Gad – The Book of Mormon
Daniel Radcliffe – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Tony Sheldon – Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Aaron Tveit – Catch Me If You Can

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Victoria Clark – Sister Act
Sutton Foster – Anything Goes
Beth Leavel – Baby It’s You!
Patina Miller – Sister Act
Donna Murphy – The People in the Picture

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY
Brian Bedford – The Importance of Being Earnest
Evan Jonigkeit – High
Stacy Keach – Other Desert Cities
Seth Numrich – War Horse
Yul Vázquez – The Motherf**ker With the Hat

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Renée Elise Goldsberry – Good People
Linda Lavin – Other Desert Cities
Estelle Parsons – Good People
Alison Pill – The House of Blue Leaves
Elizabeth Rodriguez – The Motherf**ker With the Hat

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Colin Donnell – Anything Goes
Adam Godley – Anything Goes
Chester Gregory – Sister Act
John Larroquette – How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
John McMartin – Anything Goes

OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Laura Benanti – Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Nikki M. James – The Book of Mormon
Patti LuPone – Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Marla Mindelle – Sister Act
Laura Osnes – Anything Goes

OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
Daniel Beaty – Through the Night
Mike Birbiglia – My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend
John Leguizamo – Ghetto Klown
Michael Shannon – Mistakes Were Made

JOHN GASSNER AWARD
(Presented for an American play, preferably by a new playwright)
Amy Herzog – After the Revolution
Matthew Lopez – The Whipping Man
David West Read – The Dream of the Burning Boy
Kim Rosenstock – Tigers Be Still

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Ellen Barkin (Broadway debut), The Normal Heart
Adrian Kohler with Basil Jones, for Handspring Puppet Company Puppet Design, Fabrication and Direction for War Horse

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Rhode Island: Marriage Equality dead, shifts to civil unions

Rhode Island’s House speaker says legislation extending marriage rights to gay couples is dead for the year.

House Speaker Gordon Fox, who is gay and is a leading supporter of the gay marriage bill, says that it’s clear the bill won’t overcome opposition in the Senate.

Fox, a Providence Democrat, says he’ll introduce civil union legislation giving same-sex couples the same state rights afforded to married couples.

“Although my personal position on marriage equality has not changed, I have always been a practical person and I believe my pragmatism is one of the reasons why I was elected Speaker of the House. Based on individual discussions with many of you, I understand how difficult the marriage equality issue has been.”

“Based on your input, along with the fact that it is now clear to me that there is no realistic chance for passage of the bill in the Senate, I will recommend that the House not move forward with a vote on the marriage equality bill during this legislative session.”

“I will instead support full passage of a civil unions bill that grants important and long overdue legal rights to same-sex couples in Rhode Island.”

The announcement deals a major setback to advocates of gay marriage in the Ocean State. They had called civil unions a poor substitute for full marriage.

Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed’s resistance was seen as a big hurdle to clear for the bill’s passage.

In a statement to reporters, Weed – a Democrat – says she supports civil union legislation and is confident it will pass.
(via AP)

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DOMA repeal bill has enough votes to head to Senate floor

From the Washington Blade: New support for legislation that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act assures that the necessary votes are in place for a favorable Senate committee vote on the measure as advocates maintain hearings should take place first before advancing the bill.

Last week, the Respect of Marriage Act, legislation sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein that would repeal the 1996 anti-gay law that prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriage, gained two additional co-sponsors: Sens. Tom Harkin of Iowa and Herb Kohl of Wisconsin.

Kohl’s support for the legislation is critical because he’s a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and would have a vote when the roll is called to move the legislation to the floor. Lynn Becker, a Kohl spokesperson, said the senator had previously considered DOMA a state issue.

Meanwhile, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), another member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has also said she’d vote for repeal of DOMA in committee, although she’s stopped short of co-sponsoring the legislation. Last month, the Minnesota Independent reported that the senator would back the Respect for Marriage Act.

In a statement provided to the Washington Blade, Klobuchar confirmed that legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act has her support.

“I would vote to repeal this law because I believe same-sex couples and their families should have access to the same basic rights, including hospital visitation and survivor benefits,” Klobuchar said.

The support from Kohl and Klobuchar means that the Respect for Marriage Act has at least 10 votes in the Senate Judiciary Committee — enough to advance the bill to the Senate floor.

Obstacles still exist for the legislation since the bill must first pass out of the Judiciary committee then head to the floor of the Senate where, to avoid a filibuster, Democrats would have to have 7 Republicans support the bill. At this time, not one Republican has announced support.