Category: LGBTQ life

Posted on

Andy Cohen & GLAAD Call For End To Gay Blood Ban

Andy Cohen on ‘Watch What Happens Next Live’
This morning, Good Morning America ran an in-depth piece about Lukus Estok, a young gay man who had recovered from COVID-19, but was turned away from donating his plasma at the New York Blood Center because he is gay. In a new statement to Good Morning America, an FDA spokesperson stated that “the FDA is committed to considering alternatives to the time-based deferral for men who have sex with men by generating the scientific evidence that will support an effective individual risk assessment-based blood donor questionnaire.” The FDA also revealed to Good Morning America that it is “working to commence a pilot study that will enroll about 2000 men who have sex with men and who would be willing to donate blood.” “The FDA is placing American lives on the line as they debate stigma, not science,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “During the current crisis, the FDA is wasting time and money on a pilot study when all the scientific research and medical authorities plainly state that gay and bi man should not be restricted from donating blood.” “All blood donations, regardless of sexual orientation, are screened to ensure healthy samples and now the American Medical Association, leading elected officials, and more than 600 medical professionals have all done the work for the FDA and unequivocally state that this ban needs to end,” added Ellis. On his Thursday evening broadcast of Watch What Happens Live, Andy Cohen revealed he was denied from giving plasma after surviving COVID-19. He called out the FDA’s restrictions for being based on “stigma rather than science,” which is ultimately impeding on the urgent need for blood donations from Americans, as well as plasma donations from COVID-19 survivors. Watch Andy Cohen’s impassioned speech here.

GLAAD thanked Andy on Twitter for speaking out against the ban:

Earlier this week, attorney generals from 19 states and D.C. issued a letter to the Assistant Health Secretary, requesting that the FDA further loosen its ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men. (via press release)

Posted on

GLAAD Announces Livestream Event ‘Together In Pride: You Are Not Alone’

GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today announced that it will host “Together in Pride: You are Not Alone,” a livestream event on Sunday, April 26 at 8pm ET on GLAAD’s YouTube channel and Facebook Live. The event will highlight the LGBTQ response to COVID-19 and amplify messages of acceptance and affirmation to the LGBTQ community and people living with HIV during this unprecedented time. The livestream will raise funds for LGBTQ community centers that are members of CenterLink. GLAAD announced that Kesha and Melissa Etheridge will perform during the event, with special guests including Billy Eichner, Matt Bomer, Lilly Singh, Adam Lambert, Bebe Rexha, Dan Levy, Mj Rodriguez, Wilson Cruz, Kathy Griffin, Gigi Gorgeous, Nats Getty, Michelle Visage, Javier Muñoz, Sean Hayes, Sharon Stone, and Tatiana Maslany. The livestream event will feature performances, interviews, and video messages. More guests will be announced soon. Actor and producer Erich Bergen is creating the event with GLAAD. The “Together in Pride: You are Not Alone” livestream will also raise critical funds for CenterLink, a coalition of more than 250 LGBTQ community centers from 45 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, as well as Canada, China, Mexico, and Australia. CenterLink strengthens, supports, and connects LGBTQ community centers, which serve over 2 million people each year. Participating community centers will also share the livestream on their social platforms. Follow GLAAD on Twitter and Facebook for links to watch the event. (via press release)

Posted on

Vintage Photo Captures Romantic Imagination Of Gay Internet

Tommy & Buzz (via HomoHistory)
A vintage photo dated March 26, 1949, has captured the imagination of LGBT Redditors who wonder who were the handsome men named “Buzz” and “Tommy.” The photo has surfaced on the internet from time to time with the earliest post I could find is from 2012 at HomoHistory.com, but no one has ever been able to decipher who the two young men were. We can tell from the pic that they appeared to be lifeguards since they are wearing swim trunks and their t-shirts read, “Dept. of Parks Life Guard.”
(via HomoHistory)
On the back of the photo is the inscription, “To Buzz, I’ll always remember the times we spent together. All my love, your Tommy” The sign-off reading “all my love, your Tommy” certainly leans into a romantic flavor. And one more detail has been noticed by those captivated by the image: the two men’s arms are almost on top of each other, as if they want to hold hands but weren’t sure.
(via HomoHistory)
In 1949, homosexuality was against the law in most countries so the sentiments expressed could have posed a danger for the two men. Some folks have posited that Buzz and Tommy were just two good friends without any romantical inclinations at all. That, back in the day, men hadn’t been taught to be afraid of any semblance of tenderness or deep friendship. But I find my gaydar pinging as do many others. The pic re-emerged on the subreddit r/lgbt two days ago, and folks’ imaginations continue to swirl about Tommy and Buzz. One commenter wrote, “Reminds me of that possibly gay couple in Pompei that historians always seem to dismiss, ugh.” Another wondered aloud, “I wonder if they had to get married. Or if they were lifeguards and the summer was over and they had to go back to their lives of lies.” Sometimes, the point of discovering a piece of history isn’t necessarily knowing the whole truth, but how it makes us feel and what that might reveal within us. “This makes me happy and sad at the same time,” offered one Redditor. And a Reddit user commented: “The fact it says ‘Your Tommy’ really suggests that they were lovers. I’m so lucky to live in a time and place where two men can walk down the street holding hands and not be arrested.” The Instagram account lgbt_history shared the photo back in 2016 where the image received comments like “Overwhelming,” “Lovely,” and “67 years ago boys loved boys.” One Instagram user wrote, “Can we remake Grease with this love story? Instead of Danny being cool, he’s closeted but desperate for Tommy.” Click here for more vintage photos of gay couples over at HomoHistory. (source: HomoHistory.com)  

Posted on

TikTok: Gay Quarantine Experience Captured In 10-Seconds

(screen captures)
This 10-second TikTok pretty much encapsulates the gay quarantine experience. From baking, cleaning, gardening, grooming, decorating and working out, this touches on just about everything that’s been happening here at basecamp Randy Report. Find more of Darren & Michael on TikTok here.

@darrenandmichaelWeekend plans? ##gay ##gaycouple ##lgbt ♬ original sound – harrisontrains

(h/t Pink News)

Posted on

Podcast: Blood Donations, Anti-LGBTQ Hate Groups, A Virtual Pride Celebration

The Randy Report podcast

The Randy Report podcast delivers the week's top stories in a quick, convenient podcast - 'the 60 Minutes of gay news - only shorter' In this week’s podcast: • The FDA issues new guidelines regarding gay and bisexual men donating blood • A new report shows anti-LGBTQ hate groups are on the rise in the U.S. • Get ready to live-stream a global Pride celebration this June • Sean Hayes reflects on saying goodbye to Will & Grace a second time All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

Posted on

Out Music: International Artists Serve Up Virtual Collaboration “True Colors”

An international consortium of 16 LGBTQ+ music artists have come together for a virtual collaboration to encourage people to stay safe and support one another while much of the world is in lockdown via a touching cover of Cyndi Lauper’s LGBTQ+ anthem ‘True Colors.’ The diverse range of talent includes singer-songwriter Tom Goss, cabaret artist Dave the Bear, trans activist Mzz Kimberly, Britain’s Got Talent singer Rob King, guitar hero Mrs. Smith, and the multi-talented Graham J… plus Miles Elliot, Owen Gilhooly, Jason Thorpe, Randy Willcox, Patrick Masse, Felix Over, Lady Lola Lockdown, Syd Carter West, Chris Hibbert, and mental health advocate Paul Middleton, who masterminded the collaboration. “The aim of putting this project together was to let our community know that we are in this together,” said Middleton in a statement. “Wherever you are you can make a difference. To stay safe and look out for each other.”

If this world makes you crazy And you’ve taken all you can bear You call me up Because you know I’ll be there

Middleton adds, “The artists hope that as viewers listen to these words, the community will rise and show their true colors in supporting one another, the elderly and the vulnerable.”

Posted on

InstaHunk Round-Up: Weekend Edition

(image via Instagram/Rick and the Griffopotamus)
Checking in with the Hunks of Insta… First up, Rick and the Griffopotamus (above) prove there are benefits to working out at home. More working out – Joe Blizzard rode his bike this morning:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

a beautiful start to the day ☀️🚲 🦁 #miami #bike #saturdayvibes #saturdaymorning

A post shared by JOE BLIZZARD (@joeblizzard) on

Even more exercise! Nathan McCallum offers this body-weight leg workout (p.s. bonus points for Nathan’s winning hair game):

I’m totally down to having a virtual cup of coffee with Jeff Ferreira:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Não quer entrar e tomar uma xícara de café ? ☕️ 😰

A post shared by Jefferson Ferreira (@jeffferreira22) on

With all the Netflix-ing going on, Ramses Principe ponders, “Do you pay for your Netflix or do you use someone else account? LOL #QuarantineAndChill”

Jim Newman and his boo are busy being bears in the woods:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Men in the woods #woodsmen #coronatherapy #hairy #scruffy #sweaty #bearded #fit #gay #daddies #😍 #👨‍❤️‍👨

A post shared by Jim Newman (@jimnewmannyc) on

Bremen Menelli wants to know if his longer beard ‘quarantine look’ is on point?

Jake Bain really likes his rug:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Double posting because I’m bored and alone and I like this pic lol🥳

A post shared by Jake Bain (@jake.bain) on

Dyllón Burnside (‘Ricky’ on FX’s POSE) is just trying to get over the hump:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Just trying to get over the hump. 📷 @adrog1983

A post shared by Dyllón (@dyllonburnside) on

Former Bachelorette competitor Chad Johnson got busy cleaning the kitchen.

And finally, one of my favorite illustrators gives us this from his “Hunks of the Week” couple:

Posted on

International Transgender Day Of Visibility: ‘I Am Samantha’

L-R Benjamin Scheuer, Samantha Williams
In honor of International Transgender Day of Visibility, singer-songwriter Benjamin Scheuer releases his new song, “I Am Samantha.” The touching track recounts the real-life journey of Samantha Williams – a transgender woman who Scheuer first met and befriended at a coffee shop in New York City. As Scheuer learned about Samantha’s story – and she, in turn, learned about his career as a singer/songwriter – she reflected on the fact she’d never heard a song about someone named Samantha. He promised her to change that, filling notebooks with details of her life and her journey to transition, and ultimately writing what is now “I Am Samantha.” “I Am Samantha” is the story of one trans woman. It is also the story of what it means to love and be loved. With uncommon empathy, Scheuer unpacks not just Samantha’s journey, but the human journey we all take to find identity, acceptance, and love. Today’s release comes accompanied by a powerful music video directed by T Cooper (director of the award-winning documentary Man Made) and starring a cast of 27 trans actors (believed to be the largest trans cast assembled to date). The visual was also helmed by an all-female, LGBTQ, and/or person of color crew.

The song is being released today, March 31st on International Transgender Day of Visibility in partnership with a host of incredible organizations including the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF), GLAAD, Trans Lifeline, and The Ally Coalition. Of their partnership on the project, TLDEF Program Manager AC Dumlao shares: “‘I Am Samantha’ is more than a song and a music video, it is a message that trans communities are resilient and multifaceted, and our stories are meant to be seen and heard. At TLDEF’s Name Change Project, where we connect low-income trans folks with legal representation in the name change process, we work with hundreds of trans folks every year, who like Samantha, are looking to live in their truth with their chosen name. TLDEF is excited to collaborate with Canvasback Music for the release of ‘I Am Samantha.’” Benjamin Scheuer’s journey to this debut is not your standard singer/songwriter story. Well known throughout the theatre world on both sides of the Atlantic for his one-man show THE LION (2014), (which delivered a clutch of awards including a Drama Desk Award for “Outstanding Solo Performance,” an off-West End Award for “Best New Musical,” and an ASCAP “Cole Porter Award for Songwriting”). Below you can check out the behind-the-scenes action from the making of the music video for “I Am Samantha.”

Samantha Williams penned this short essay to explain who Benjamin Scheuer is to her, how the song and video came to be, and what it means to be called by your name:

He’s a customer at the West Village coffee shop where I work, a fellow artist (I’m a writer; he’s a musician) who attended a reading of one of my screenplays and gave truly helpful notes, a tall guy with a boyish face and steampunk style, with cherry-dyed hair, elaborate boots and epaulets, and yet announcing his presence most resoundingly with his seemingly ever-present smile and earnest, enthusiastic greetings.

Benjamin Scheuer (pronounced SHOY-er) is a storyteller with a guitar, sharing through song his own very personal trials and triumphs as well as those of others. I already knew this when in his presence I complained to a coworker, as we listened to the Foo Fighters song “Sean” (also my fellow barista’s name), that there were no popular songs about “Samantha,” the name I had taken as my own about a year before (though I’m still not sure this oversight of songwriters throughout contemporary music history is actually true).

“I Am Samantha” was conceived in that moment of everyday food-service-industry banter, both songwriter and subject knowing this wouldn’t be just another lighthearted serenade or would-be rock hit in which the name was chosen simply because it rhymed with something or had the right number of syllables.

This was highlighted for Benjamin when I told him the origin of “Samantha,” that it had been the only name my parents could agree on prior to my birth, not yet knowing what was between my legs—which would ultimately lead to a name I went by for decades before all but erasing it from identifying documents (Ohio being one of four states that don’t allow changes to one’s birth certificate).

Benjamin and those involved in every aspect of the recording, producing and upcoming release of “I Am Samantha” have each endeavored to understand and do right by the story of my transition from [dead name] to the fully realized, confident person I am today.

Each of them I’ve had the pleasure of meeting is just as evidently excited as I am to share this song, this story of struggle and self-discovery, with the world—so that it might do what art uniquely can, which is to increase empathy by revealing the world through someone else’s eyes, while also, I can attest, making some of us feel just a little less lonely.

Benjamin Scheuer and Samantha Williams in Los Angeles
Benjamin Scheuer and Samantha Williams in Los Angeles (photo: Noa Griffel)
Posted on

Funny: Michael Henry Goes After ‘Masc4Masc’ Dating Trope

L-R Michael Henry, Adrian Anchondo, Lyle Colby Mackston
YouTuber and queer culture guru Michael Henry goes after the “masc 4 masc” dynamic on dating apps in his latest video by proudly declaring he’s “fem4fem.” Hanging out with his friends on the bleachers – as gay men are inclined to do – Henry snatches Adrian Anchondo’s phone out of his hand when he hears the familiar sound of a Scruff alert. Reading Anchondo’s profile he sees, “No Fems no flakes. If you don’t work out than we won’t work out.” Lyle Colby Mackston asks “who’s that?” upon seeing the username “Masc4Masc4Now.” “That’s me,” replies Anchondo. In unison, Henry and Mackston: “You?” “I just like guys’ guys. You know, guys that work out and go to the gym like me,” says Anchondo. “It’s just a preference.” Related: Michael Henry Challenges “Masc/Fem” Gay Couple Stereotypes Without pause, Henry announces, “Well, I’m ‘fem4fem.’” As Anchondo laughs, Henry and Mackston launch into a dialogue about the kind of men THEY prefer. “You don’t have to be sexually attracted to a fem guy, but to explicitly say ‘no fems’ and ‘masc4masc only’ in your profile is kind of a douche move,” says Mackston before adding, “I love a fem top.” Henry chimes in, “I will only bottom for a bottom.” After listing several “masc” tropes like guys who wear “basic black tank tops and ball caps,” or deepen their voices, Henry shares his preference for “fem” guys comes from feeling he can be his authentic self with them. In true Michael Henry form, the short video not only exposes but explores yet another stigma the LGBTQ community inflicts upon itself. Hit play below and then tells us your thoughts in the comment section.

Posted on

Michael Henry Shines A Light On The Use Of GHB In Gay Culture

Michael Fariss in “G” (screen capture)
Michael Henry is back with another lighthearted yet pointed message about how some behaviors in gay culture can be dangerous. Chatting in the park about the upcoming ‘Zebra Meat Disco party,’ Michael Fariss shares that he’s heading home to make his “special cocktail” with GHB. Yeah, that would be the date rape drug. Michael Henry and Chris Renfro are understandably confused. “So you’re micro-dosing the date rape drug to feel peak buzz?” asks Chris. After listing the many dangers involved in using the drug – including a one-drop threshold between bliss and incapacitation – Fariss admits he has “G-ed out” in the past. “I was in a paralyzed-like state, I shook, I had heart palpitations, and I was completely incoherent. My friend said I projectile vomited and fell through a skylight,” says Fariss. “BUT – before that, I was horny as hell.” Eventually, Fariss flips the script on Henry and Renfro pointing out that alcohol can lead to becoming incapacitated as well. Watch the clip below to see all the great points raised. Props to Michael Henry for continuing to use humor to bring up important questions facing the LGBTQ community. By the way, there are already hundreds of comments on the YouTube page in less than a day. Many share their own stories of folks slipping GHB into their drinks and waking up on someone’s front lawn or in the hospital. Click here to view the comments for yourself. Things that make you go hmm…