Author: Randy Slovacek

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Jeopardy! Host Alex Trebek Passes Away At 80

Alex Trebek (image via Jeopardy!)
Longtime Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek has passed away at the age of 80 after a nearly two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. From PEOPLE:

In a somber video message to fans shared March 6, the ABC game show host vowed to “fight” the disease and also continue working on the game show, which he hosted for 35 years. “Now normally the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I’m going to fight this and I’m going to keep working,” he said.

He also asked his fans to lift up prayers on his behalf. “And with the love and support of my family and friends, and with the help of your prayers also, I plan to beat the low survival rate statistics for this disease,” continued Trebek, who also quipped that he must continue working because of the terms of his contract through the 2021-22 season.

By the end of August, Trebek had completed his chemotherapy treatments, and announced in a video that he was “on the mend.”

“I’ve gone through a lot of chemotherapy, and thankfully that is now over,” he said. “I’m on the mend and that’s all I can hope for right now.”

Sadly, he announced in September 2019 that he had to undergo chemotherapy again.

Since he joined Jeopardy! in 1984, Trebek hosted over 8,000 episodes of the venerable game show. Along the way, Trebek’s work was recognized with several accolades including 8 Daytime Emmy Awards as well as a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999. But it was the viewers and players who held Trebek in perhaps the highest regard. In November of 2019, I wrote about a moment on the show when a contestant realized he couldn’t win the episode, he decided to use his final Jeopardy! answer to send a message of love to the beloved host. Contestant Dhruv Gaur wrote “We love you, Alex” after being stumped on the answer. The hashtag #WeLoveYouAlex soon began trending on Twitter.

In 2014, the easy-going Canadian-born host penned an essay for Salon Magazine expressing his support for the LGBTQ community: “I’m in favor of equal pay for women, and the Lilly Ledbetter act. I believe in equal rights for the LGBT community; in fact, this winter, I braved the Minnesota winter weather to attend a gay wedding (which was officiated over by my wife).” Rest in peace Alex Trebek.

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Champ & Major Biden Will Bring Dog Energy Back To The White House

(images via Joe Biden/Jill Biden Instagram)
As part of the Biden family, I’m thrilled to see we’ll be welcoming Champ and Major Biden as the nation’s ‘First Dogs.’ Presidential pets have long been a tradition in the White House although Donald Trump is the first president since James Polk to not have a pet while in office. According to PEOPLE, Biden’s German shepherd, Major, will also make history as the first rescue dog to live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

The Biden family adopted Major from the Delaware Humane Association in November 2018, 10 years after the couple welcomed their first German shepherd, Champ.

Champ was welcomed on Christmas 2008 and the beloved pet lived at the vice presidential residence at the U.S. Naval Observatory during Biden’s two terms with former President Barack Obama.

View this post on Instagram

Build Bark Better. Happy #NationalDogDay

A post shared by Dr. Jill Biden (@drbiden) on

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George W. Bush Congratulates Biden, Says Trump Has Right To ‘Pursue Legal Challenges’

Former President George W. Bush (photo: public domain)
Former President George W. Bush issued this statement of congratulations today regarding President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’s victory in the 2020 race. Along the way, Bush thanked Biden for his “patriotic message” in his acceptance last night and noted Biden has “won his opportunity to lead and unify our country.” Bush also tipped his hat to Donald Trump for his “hard-fought campaign” and acknowledged Trump “has the right to request recounts and pursue legal challenges, and any unresolved issues will be properly adjudicated.”

I just talked to the President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden. I extended my warm congratulations and thanked him for the patriotic message he delivered last night. I also called Kamala Harris to congratulate her on her historic election to the vice presidency.

Though we have political differences, I know Joe Biden to be a good man, who has won his opportunity to lead and unify our country. The President-elect reiterated that while he ran as a Democrat, he will govern for all Americans. I offered him the same thing I offered Presidents Trump and Obama: my prayers for his success, and my pledge to help in any way I can.

I want to congratulate President Trump and his supporters on a hard-fought campaign. He earned the votes of more than 70 million Americans – an extraordinary political achievement. They have spoken, and their voices will continue to be heard through elected Republicans at every level of government.

The fact that so many of our fellow citizens participated in this election is a positive sign of the health of our democracy and a reminder to the world of its strength.

No matter how you voted, your vote counted. President Trump has the right to request recounts and pursue legal challenges, and any unresolved issues will be properly adjudicated. The American people can have confidence that this election was fundamentally fair, its integrity will be upheld, and its outcome is clear.

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Newsmax Host: Media Timed Biden Win For When Trump Was On Golf Course

Reporting from the corner of Cynicism and Bitter… A talking head at the far-right leaning streaming website Newsmax tried to insinuate all of the mainstream media (including Fox News Channel) colluded with the state of Pennsylvania to wait for Donald Trump to take his 284th trip to play golf before projecting former Vice President Joe Biden as the next president of the U.S.

“The timing on of all this, Emerald, certainly fascinates me. We talk a lot about media collusion with the Democratic Party and here we have the president just leaving the White House to go to his golf course to play a round of golf and he deserves to be able to do that.”

“We have the press conference that Rudy Giuliani is going to hold in Philadelphia happening. And at the very same time, all of all sudden, all of the networks, with the exception of Newsmax, decide that this is the time that they’re going to call the election. We are, here at Newsmax, not calling the election.”

Check out the creepy laugh when he says “He deserves to be able to do that…” Practically everyone with an interest in the election returns figured out the result would probably be announced today. Why would Trump even play golf today? And then, of course, there’s the fact that Trump lied to the American people four years ago and said there “wouldn’t be time for golf” if he was elected in 2016. It’s almost Shakespearean that Trump learned he lost the race on a golf course.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

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LGBTQ Organizations Celebrate Biden/Harris Victory

President Biden has issued a proclamation recognizing June 2024 as LGBTQ Pride Month.

President-elect Joe Biden
LGBTQ organizations across the U.S. are celebrating the victory of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. From Alphonso David, President of the Human Rights Campaign:

After four long years, we can finally celebrate — our voices were loud and clear, and together, we have elected Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House, by more than four million votes and counting! Their election proves once again that equality is a winning issue, and reflects both the incredible work of this organization and the strength of our shared unity.

The Biden/Harris White House will be the most pro-equality in history. President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris are not just our allies, but they are true advocates for LGBTQ equality. These leaders have a clear vision: a vision where LGBTQ people are protected from discrimination; a vision where transgender and gender non-conforming people don’t fear for their lives walking down the street; a vision where LGBTQ children are loved, embraced and protected from bullying.

From GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis:

The results of this presidential election affirm that every vote and every voter counts. LGBTQ people and all marginalized Americans came together to make this victory possible, and now the journey to safety, equality and acceptance can continue forward.

President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris have promised to fight for America as a place where we all can belong and succeed, where truth and kindness matter. In the early days of their administration, they must prioritize protecting LGBTQ people equally under the law in a country where we can live without fear. We must all also confront the racism and bias that fueled the division of the last four years, and resolve to come together for justice and equality for all. We are eager to act on this historic vote for progress and get our country back on track.

From Rea Carey, Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund:

Today, I breathed a sigh of relief for the first time in years, even as we know that we have hard work ahead of us. My hope is that after four years of white supremacist policies, actions and rhetoric aimed at the worst impulses of those who see LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, people of color, people with disabilities, and so many as the ‘other’ as targets for discrimination and prejudice, we have elected national leaders who have vowed to see and fight for the humanity in all of us.

I am filled with hope because our children will again live in a nation led by an administration that sees their potential, their resilience, and their diversity as strengths. I am filled with hope because for the first time in history a woman will serve as Vice President of the United States of America. After more than 100 years of women of color being cut out of the protections gained by the constitutional amendment granting mostly white women the right to vote, a woman of color will be bringing her expertise, experience and vision to lead this nation.

From Rebecca Isaacs, Executive Director of Equality Federation:

The will of the people is clear: voters have chosen Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to move us forward together towards a better future. This has been a long, difficult election unlike any we have witnessed before. But the story of the election is this: Despite all of the obstacles, we voted in enormous numbers for democracy, for justice, for equality, and for each other.

There is no question that President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris will be champions for advancing LGBTQ equality.

From Imani Rupert-Gordon, National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director:

President-Elect Joe Biden has long been a champion of our community and he has promised the most LGBTQ-inclusive administration that has ever been in the White House. The opportunity to partner with a friendly administration and rebuild has never been greater.

And additionally noteworthy, Kamala Harris not only represents the first woman ever with the title Vice President-Elect, but also the first Black woman and South Asian woman to hold the position, which will provide a perspective that we have never had in that role before.

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris

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Joe Biden Wins!!!

Joe Biden will be the 46th president of the United States, CNN projects, after a victory in Pennsylvania puts the Scranton-born Democrat over 270 electoral votes.

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Out Music: Apollo Flowerchild ‘Bloody Hands’

Apollo Flowerchild in ‘Bloody Hands’ (screen capture)
Black trans singer/songwriter Apollo Flowerchild releases their haunting new single, “Bloody Hands,” on the trailblazing new label Trans Trenderz which focuses exclusively on supporting Black Trans music makers, a subsection of creatives who have been tragically underserved within the music industry. The track, produced by Blxck Cxsper, is the first by a Trans Trenderz artist to have been recorded at Studio G Brooklyn by seven-time Grammy-nominated producer, Joel Hamilton, who mixed the track. Flowerchild’s earthy baritone is set amid a hypnotic sonic soundscape. And the song’s brooding, pensive lyrics offer a window into the artist’s personal eloquence and grace.

I’m regretting every choice Destroying all the things that I hold dear And a dark cloud hovers near

More than a record label, Trans Trenderz is a Black Trans-owned organization aiming to help Trans artists achieve mainstream success while feeling empowered and respected for who they are. On top of releasing music that is entirely produced by Trans people, they are leading several initiatives to help strengthen the transgender musical community: • The Ghostly Beats Project where they mobilize allies to provide Black Trans musicians the resources they need to produce and monetize their music • The Trans Trenderz Music Awards to highlight and bring recognition to the hard-working Trans creatives in all corners of the music industry • Workshops & Public Speaking, to educate and empower

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News Round-Up: November 6, 2020

Juan Melecio (image via Twitter)
Some news items you might have missed: • Edge Media: Juan Melecio (above), better known as gay porn star Antonio Biaggi, finished 5th in a field of 6 candidates for two city commissioner seats in gay-centric Wilton Manors, Florida. • The Advocate: The GOP failed in its attempt to derail the campaign of Democrat Roger Montoya by shaming him over a gay porn past nearly 40 years ago. Montoya triumphed in his New Mexico race for House District 40, besting Republican opponent Justin Salazar-Torrez 56.8 percent to 43.2 percent. • Victory Fund: Todd Gloria has won his race to become the next Mayor of San Diego, California. He is the first openly LGBTQ person and first person of color to be elected to the office. • New Music: Australian superstar Kylie Minogue drops some super-cute disco beats with her latest single, “Where Does The DJ Go?” The pop diva will also be streaming a live 50-minute performance – Kylie: Infinite Disco – around the globe on Saturday, November 7.

• NBC News: Defense Secretary Mark Esper has prepared a letter of resignation, according to three current defense officials. Defense officials say Esper prepared his letter because he is one of the Cabinet officials long expected to be pushed out after the election. • Vox: Georgia now has two Senate runoffs, both to be decided on January 5, 2021, as Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R) and Democrat Rev. Raphael Warnock failed to cross the majority threshold in Georgia’s special election Senate race.  Sen. David Perdue (R) and Jon Ossoff (D) are headed to a runoff as well as neither were able to clear the state’s 50 percent threshold. • Washington Examiner: Amid reports Donald Trump might not concede the election, a spokesman for Joe Biden’s campaign, Andrew Bates responded: “The American people will decide this election. And the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House.”

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Ft. Lauderdale: Trumpers Harass Gay Mayor At Voting Site Yelling ‘Fa**ot’

Mayor Dean Trantalis of Fort Lauderdale (screen capture/CBS4News)
As the counting of ballots continues across the country following Election Day this week, we’ve all seen stories of heated rhetoric between supporters of political candidates at the polls. But it turns out even mayors aren’t immune to ugly vitriol this election cycle. Mayor Dean Trantalis, the first openly gay mayor of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, says he was harassed by supporters of Donald Trump who began yelling homophobic slurs at him while he visited an early voting site on Saturday. “I encountered a number of people who were there on behalf of the Trump campaign who immediately accosted me, calling me pedophile, started calling me a fa**ot, and thought it was fun,” Trantalis told the local CBS News affiliate. But Mayor Trantalis didn’t assign blame to the Republican Party saying the people involved in the incident were “a lot of rabble-rousers that are fringe elements of the Trump organization that felt they could come into our city.” “Several were not from our city,” he added. “They admitted they came from other parts of the state.”
(photo via Dean Trantalis)
The mayor encountered similar behavior at other polling places and near his home as well. Trantalis shared that in his own neighborhood he saw yard signs for his campaign to which people had attached little pink flags. He said it was clear the flags were “a dog whistle for someone who’s gay.” “Almost to say, ‘We’re watching you, we’re around your house,’” he explained. “They wanted to intimidate me.” But the mayor is steadfast in his belief that such behavior doesn’t represent the people who live in Fort Lauderdale. “If you can’t be respectable, honorable people, you need to take your dog and pony show somewhere else,” he told CBS4News. “That’s not who we are.”

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Santorum: Give Trump & Supporters Time To ‘Work Through Their Feelings’

Rick Santorum (screen capture via CNN)
CNN political analyst Rick Santorum told CNN viewers this morning that “Democrats need to give Republicans, including Trump, time and space to work through their feelings about losing.” “You know he’s just found out that he’s probably not going to be the president of the United States,” added Santorum.

The Twitterverse found that idea a bit funny considering how famously thoughtful Trump supporters have been about Democrats’ “feelings.”