Author: Randy Slovacek

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California lawmakers face-off on education inclusion of LGBT contributions

A new law currently before the California legislature would require inclusion of LGBT contributions to “the economic, political, and social development of California and the United States of America, with particular emphasis on portraying the role of these groups in contemporary society.”

Sen. Mark Leno, sponsor of SB 48, made this statement: “In light of the ongoing and ever-threatening phenomenon of bullying and the tragic result of suicides, it seems to me that better informed students might be more welcoming in their approach to differences among their classmates. Students would better understand that we are talking about a civil rights movement.”

Each school district would decide which age groups received such instruction.

The change in curriculum was approved five years ago but ran into opposition from Gov. Schwarzenegger. Newly elected Gov. Brown has not made his position on the bill public.

Opponents of the bill are relying on a position of “morality.”

“It is, in fact, legislating morality,” the LA Times quoted Craig DeLuz, a parent and Sacramento school board member, as saying. “It is requiring taxpayers to foot the bill to promote a lifestyle to which they may or may not be morally opposed.”

I imagine that a broader, more inclusive history of California – showing that members of the LGBT community have made important contributions – would be a healthy, positive message to take to young people. Evidence that people from all corners and strata of society provide positive input would further illuminate the point that “it takes a village” to form and move healthy communities forward.

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Broadway’s Jonathan Groff to Return to GLEE

Jonathan Groff will return in the three final episodes of the Fox musical-comedy Glee. The 26-year-old openly gay actor exited the show at the end of season one.

Groff’s Jesse St. James quit rival school glee club Vocal Adrenaline to join New Directors and date Broadway-bound diva Rachel Berry (played by Lea Michele). Rachel was heartbroken when it was revealed that he used her to infiltrate McKinley High’s glee club and report back to Vocal Adrenaline.

“He’s back to apologize to Rachel,” a source close to the show confided to TVLine.com’s Michael Ausiello, “and perhaps get her back.”

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Olivia’s cancer centre gets govt funds

From the Sydney Morning Herald: Olivia Newton-John’s dream of a completed Melbourne cancer centre will become a reality, and both sides of Victorian politics are trying to take the credit.

The fate of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre had been uncertain, with the new Victorian government last month saying there was a “black hole” in funding the project.

Premier Ted Baillieu has now found the $44.88 million to fund the full fit-out of the centre, including its research facilities, while blaming the former Labor government for leaving behind many project black holes.

For her part, Newton-John was thrilled the government had found a way to deliver the final funding.

“We are going to provide Victorians with a state of the art, world-class facility that will help and heal the lives of so many,” she said in a statement.

Newton-John serenaded then premier John Brumby when Labor made its election commitment with the songstress and breast-cancer survivor, saying the completed centre would be a dream come true after seven years of fundraising.

About 2000 Victorians are expected to receive treatment at the centre, which is due to open by April 2013.

As some readers may know, I am a cancer survivor myself.  And Olivia was my own guardian angel throughout my cancer journey.  I’m very lucky to know Olivia and to have had the support she gave me.  One of the most important things I learned from Olivia about surviving cancer was how valuable it is to have a supportive and positive environment around you during such a difficult time.

The Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre will not only provide cutting-edge medical treatment but also the “wellness” component will give patients the emotional and mental support necessary for the best possible mind set during a patient’s cancer journey.  Yoga classes, quiet gardens, massage and many other therapies will be complementary approaches available to patients in helping find a positive road forward in addressing the cancer battle.

Bravo Olivia!

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Republicans set to re-invent Medicare

Republicans will present a budget plan for 2012 that will attempt to reduce spending by $4 trillion dollars over the next decade. The plan would dramatically reshape Medicare and the entire budget landscape.

From The Wall Street Journal: The plan would essentially end Medicare, which now pays most of the health-care bills for 48 million elderly and disabled Americans, as a program that directly pays health-care costs. Mr. Ryan and other conservatives say this is necessary because of the program’s soaring costs. Medicare cost $396.5 billion in 2010 and is projected to rise to $502.8 billion in 2016. At that pace, spending on the program would have doubled between 2002 and 2016.

Mr. Ryan’s proposal would convert Medicare into a “premium support” system for those now under the age of 55. Participants from that group would choose from an array of private insurance plans when they reach 65 and become eligible, and the government would pay about the first $15,000 in premiums. Those who are poorer or less healthy would receive bigger payments than others.

Democrats say the GOP plan will leave millions exposed to multiple risks. The Medicare premium subsidies would increase more slowly than health costs, they say, so seniors would end up with less coverage over time.

Republicans say the plan would introduce more competition and thus, reduce costs.

Good luck with that one, kids. I’ve never known a business to say ‘hey, let’s lower costs – we’re making too much money.’

I personally think changes do need to be made, but not sure I trust the Republicans – who are always looking out for their own wallet – to protect the average citizens of the country. The wealthy, yes. But that word “protect” can be a tricky thing, don’t you know, when we’re talking about average Americans.

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Texas College Republican resigns after use of anti-gay slur

A Southern Methodist University student, Charlie McCaslin, has resigned his post with the Texas College Republicans after a video was posted of him describing getting “hammered,” “hooking up” with a young woman and referring to political opponents using a gay slur.

The video was taken last weekend at an afterparty at the Texas College Republicans Convention in Austin. Following an endorsement for Alex Schriver, the National College Republicans vice chairman who is vying for the top spot, McCaslin described a drunken sexual escapade at a party he and Schriver attended, then referred to supporters of Schriver’s rival, Jonathon Snyder, as “nerds” and “fags.” Schriver himself is heard reacting favorably to the speech by cheering “To Charlie!”

According to the site The Other McCain, “Schriver called McCaslin’s comments ‘inappropriate and highly offensive,’ and warned that ‘it is possible that some could incorrectly interpret my actions to be supportive” of McCaslin’s remarks. ‘I regret putting myself in that situation,’ Schriver said in the statement. ‘I hope that any who were offended will accept my sincere apology.’”

McCaslin was elected as state CR chair only last month and Schriver is currently vice-chairman of the national organization.

The president of the College Republicans at Southern Methodist University, where McCaslin is a junior, also addressed the scandal: “Neither myself nor SMU College Republicans agree with or support Charlie’s comments about women and members of the gay community, and we condemn those statements as offensive and wrong,” the campus newspaper quoted Chad Cohen as saying. “He was speaking for himself as an individual, and for no one else.”

The Texas College Republicans have also disavowed McCaslin’s remarks.

Schriver’s opponent, Jonathon Snyder, wants to also see him gone: “Having a Chairman who is willing to accept and then toast degrading remarks about women, homophobic slurs and juvenile behavior against anyone is unacceptable. For the sake of the CRNC, our candidates, and party I am calling on Alex Schriver to resign his post with the CRNC and end his campaign to become the next national chairman effective immediately.”

McCaslin, who seems inebriated in the video, ironically makes a point of mentioning that “character counts.” Indeed.

In my opinion, it’s the moments like this – when people feel safe to be themselves – that are the most telling about a person’s character. I think Mr. McCaslin revealed something true about himself here, not realizing this could come back to bite him in the butt. Life lesson.

(via Towleroad)

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Review of Charlie Sheen’s “Violent Torpedo” tour

And the word is not good, apparently.

According to the L.A. Times, Charlie Sheen’s opening night in Detroit at the Fox Theater started out with an enthusiastic crowd, but as time went on it became more and more apparent that Sheen had not taken the time to develop an “act” for his paying audience. It seems ranting sound bites for youtube is a lot easier than being interesting for a paying audience.

From the L.A. Times: Whether Sheen was thrown off by the steadily increasing hostility in the audience is unclear. But the impression is that beyond the video content that made up more than 50% of his 70 minutes of stage time, there didn’t appear to be much of a plan. The Two and a Half Men debacle was referenced only in one or two indirect swipes.

Irrespective of the vague information supplied about the show in advance, it seems dishonest to promise a night of soul-baring and deliver a lot of rehashed Web fodder.

There’s a certain trainwreck fascination in watching a meltdown in progress, but this anthropological study of the homo loco species wore very thin very fast. And Sheen appears to have known it. As the booing, and the shouts of “Loser” and “You suck” grew more insistent, and the walkouts increased, he said he would take a music break and return when the crowd woke up.

Afterward, Sheen did not return (reports that he reappeared on stage after the end are false). House lights came up. No bow. Show’s over. Half the audience sat there looking stunned for a time, watching the road crew clear the stage. On the way out, I overheard someone say, “Dude, that was seriously the worst thing I’ve ever witnessed.”

Ticket sales were reported to be brisk in the initial announcement of the tour, but now there are reports that a lot of those tickets were bought by scalpers in hopes of a block buster event. Word is now out that tickets are now available through those same scalpers at less than original price.

Is anyone surprised at any of this?

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Bill Maher to Obama – It’s time to support marriage equality

I like Bill Maher a lot. He offends some people, but it’s only because he doesn’t take a lot of time to get all PC about how he feels. And he isn’t afraid to call folks out – whether they are Democrat or Repub.

He calls it like he sees it, and he’s funny when he does. But the humor is there to carry the message. A message he’s clearly passionate about. And I appreciate that.

He’s not looking to get elected. He’s not pandering to voters. He’s expressing his honest opinion. Good for him.

And thank you Bill for speaking the truth about marriage equality.