President Joe Biden signs a bill making Juneteenth a national holiday (image via POTUS) I couldn’t possibly leave my desk without acknowledging this amazing moment in history at Juneteenth is now officially recognized as a national holiday. For years, people have acknowledged June 19 as the day the last remaining slaves in Texas were notified they’d been freed in 1865 – two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The holiday is the first to be established by Congress since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was signed into law in 1983.
I was honored to welcome Miss Opal Lee to the White House today. A daughter of Texas. And the grandmother of the movement to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. pic.twitter.com/pl3tFSxGds
Throughout history, Juneteenth has been known by many names: – Jubilee Day. – Freedom Day. – Liberation Day. – Emancipation Day. And today, a national holiday. pic.twitter.com/NGgve5piV6
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQEaWpxAcTS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Sharing some of our favorite Instagram posts from this week. First up, Bearded Frank (above) served up serious beard goals while chilling poolside: Rick and the Griffopotamus sent greetings from Hawaii: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQCwgfLgoBg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link HawaiiMuscleBear sent ‘alohas’ from his island as well in exchange for belly rubs: https://www.instagram.com/p/CP-legztOLn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Jaymes Vaughn wished his boo Jonathan Bennett happy birthday in Palm Springs: https://www.instagram.com/p/CP8gn6th0T7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Luke Evans got his Pride on (or off): https://www.instagram.com/p/CQD_zgigBBS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Moe Bear gave us a peek at the goings-on at Rainbow Mountain: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPwQYBcAQ9L/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Dr. Thara (aka Kaiser.Arms) threw down some dance moves: https://www.instagram.com/p/CP9dFoPD58Z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Artist and designer Anthony Varrecchia was reminiscing in New York City: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQCoREEFtX0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Dr. Marco got some heavy lifting done between hospital shifts: https://www.instagram.com/p/CP7JbxipaUV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link American Idol alum David Hernandez caught up with an old friend: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQCF_QNJSSS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Jason Carter was giving you some ‘Miami noir’ black and white realness: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQEeucvp4NL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Max Emerson woke up to a photoshoot with his handsome hounds: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPyj-GLlUQR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Last one: Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff dropped by the DC Pride parade this weekend. Harris is the first sitting vice president to march in a Pride Parade. https://www.instagram.com/p/CQCcAZDLTi3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Michael Packard A Massachusetts lobster diver was swallowed by a humpback whale off the coast of Cape Cod on Friday morning before being spit out. From the Associated Press:
Michael Packard, 56, of Wellfleet, told WBZ-TV after he was released from Cape Cod Hospital that he was about 45 feet (14 meters) deep in the waters off Provincetown when “all of a sudden I felt this huge bump, and everything went dark.”
He thought he had been attacked by a shark, common in area waters, but then realized he could not feel any teeth and he wasn’t in any pain.
“Then I realized, oh my God, I’m in a whale’s mouth … and he’s trying to swallow me,” he said. “And I thought to myself OK, this is it — I’m finally — I’m gonna die.” His thoughts went to his wife and children.
He estimates he was in the whale’s mouth for about 30 seconds, but continued to breathe because he still had his breathing apparatus in.
Then the whale surfaced, shook its head, and spit him out. He was rescued by his crewmate in the surface boat.
WHALE OF A TALE: A Massachusetts man describes being "thrown in the air" after he says he was nearly swallowed by a humpback whale. 😱 pic.twitter.com/azmkbB1TDX
Pro surfer Billy Kemper and son Lion (screen capture) Take a minute, chill and enjoy professional surfer Billy Kemper — and his son Lion — surfing together at a surf park (not in the open water). Happy Friday! p.s. If you like this, you’ll probably like this as well…
This is professional surfer Billy Kemper — and his son Lion — surfing together.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPwACVqg2ei/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Sharing some of our favorite Instagram posts this week beginning with woofy Fabrício Ternes (above) who stopped us in our tracks with this subdued pic from Brazil. #ThatSmile The Pit Crew hotties from RuPaul’s Drag Race got ready for some Pride Month action: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPmDK3jpPE2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Joel Green was serving up some ‘power red’ at the beach: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPvtdOOrxCu/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Fashion designer Daniel Sheehan has a message for Pride Month: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPpYdyBB-Yl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Houston Scott (clearly) likes chest day: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPjYITRrD78/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Former pro rugby player/current CrossFitter Dan Tai is a serious “witness to the fitness.” How about those calves? #dang https://www.instagram.com/p/CPtNmieFNvC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Olympic and world champion diver Tom Daley got thisclose to being porn-adjacent in his photo shoot for Man About Town: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPfkNlVnoI1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Luffy found his way to Barcelona (lucky Barcelona…) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPicFKGFIuZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Mr. Gay Vegas (aka J.Son & host of the Temptation Sundays gay pool parties) won an Emmy Award for his reporting in Las Vegas on the BLM movement: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPxPyyWHbC8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Andre Chandler threw down a big boy dance: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPxWnJul91D/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Intrepid YouTuber Max Emerson entertained with this visual nugget: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPtJjL_lpO5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
As we emerge from the isolation of the pandemic, freshly vaccinated and eager to enjoy the warmer weather, it’s easy to see why folks might be thirsty for human touch.
Let’s face it, there are some frisky folks out there ready to mingle.
Well, the folks at Lawnstarter decided to rank the 200 largest U.S. cities from horniest to least horny based on an overall score averaged across several weighted metrics.
Among those key metrics were: Google searches for Adult Entertainment, access to live Adult Entertainment venues, access to Adult Stores and sex toy sales, sex partner potential, and ‘unprotected sexual activity’ measured by STDs per 100,000 residents.
Where does your city fall on this spicy list?
It may not come as a surprise that Paradise, Nevada, comes in at the top of the list. Paradise is actually the unincorporated town where the most well-known part of ‘Sin City,’ the Las Vegas Strip, lies.
With more sex shops and adult entertainment venues than any other place in the U.S., it’s no wonder Paradise scores the number one spot.
Coming in just behind in the number two and three spots are Orange, California, and Hollywood, Florida. Both clearly have lots of opportunities to enjoy sunshine, sand, bare skin and sweat.
Providence, Rhode Island, scores high in fourth place thanks to ranking #1 in sex toy sales. The number crunchers also note that Providence is a gay mecca, so factor that as you wish.
Top 10 Friskiest Cities: 1 Paradise, NV 2 Orange, CA 3 Hollywood, FL 4 Providence, RI 5 Atlanta, GA 6 Fort Lauderdale, FL 7 Newark, NJ 8 Dayton, OH 9 Tempe, AZ 10 Baltimore, MD
(stock image via Matton/Gogo)
On the other end of the spectrum, 7 of the 10 least horny cities are in Texas. That includes Plano at #194, Frisco at a not-so-frisky #199, and Midland at – drumroll please – #200.
The stats peeps believe politics might have something to do with the low rankings. They point to Match.com’s recent Singles in America report which indicated 76% of singles need their partner to share their political views. Considering the Lone Star state saw its battleground politics roiling last year, maybe a lot of folks wanted to chill with Netflix alone.
Jackson, Mississippi, which came in 150th overall, garnered the dubious distinction of contracting the most STDs (stats via Innerbody). In fact, 17 of the Top 25 on that list are southern cities.
Bottom 10 Least Frisky Cities: 191 Omaha, NE 192 McKinney, TX 193 Naperville, IL 194 Plano, TX 195 Brownsville, TX 196 Laredo, TX 197 Amarillo, TX 198 Cape Coral, FL 199 Frisco, TX 200 Midland, TX
A few more stats from the survey:
• Most likely to engage in casual sex during the pandemic? Bisexuals with 65% raising their hands
• Nearly 57% of respondents say they plan to have more sex after getting vaccinated
• Almost 46% of respondents say they are comfortable hooking up today versus 15% who are not; 40% said they don’t plan to hook up
• 13.9% said they didn’t have any sex during the pandemic, 58% had only one sexual partner, and 35% overall admitted to engaging in casual sex
Click over to Lawnstarter for the complete breakdown of the survey and rankings. And remember to celebrate National Sex Day on June 9!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPgQOgptbvO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Checking in with the Hunks of Instagram this fine holiday weekend. First up, international pop star Ricky Martin (above) spent some of his weekend with his adorbs French bulldog who joined the family last fall: Heading into a 6-day work week, Curtis Fitzgerald took time off for #SundayFunday with a shoutout to the hard workers: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPhjt7PgJzs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Army Nurse Blaize Preston got our attention when he got popping on the Gram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPbSnBtDoz5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Rich Burns took a trip to Palm Springs with his pooch, Archie. https://www.instagram.com/p/CPieWRAMo0Z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Johnny Middlebrooks feels like things are getting “normal-ish again.” https://www.instagram.com/p/CPhWhiqLd5i/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Joel Green had some words for those who judge. Trust and believe, we are NOT judging this pic: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPV7qcnrAiN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Dr. Marco shared a dramatization based on a real-life encounter as a doctor: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPcO9Z8Jso8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Fitness model Bruno Baba has been playfully poking fun at his pandemic weight gain. Now he’s asking if he should “get even bigger?” https://www.instagram.com/p/CPgw2AwhtHo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Boy Butter celebrated its 18th anniversary of fighting friction: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPdmQCFhijK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link NYCGayDad was feeling down from 60 days of laundry, cooking, and cleaning – until the Guncles showed up: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPdLBwbBeik/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Max Souza threw it back to his time in Bahia because “I’m already missing you!” https://www.instagram.com/p/CPZHEk7NPmW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Facundo Rodriguez got his Crunch Fitness on… https://www.instagram.com/p/CPV5jSiNo9Z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Yes, Tyler James is serving up some serious ‘jorts’ (jean shorts) in the California desert because he’s “wild like that.” https://www.instagram.com/p/CPd0e9QJK-Q/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Bonus: After my recent Brian Sims/crop top post, I was inspired to look for some Insta-bears in crop tops and…success! https://www.instagram.com/p/B7HrhjyhX4G/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CGJv7e5H3_2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Taking a moment to remember why we celebrate this day as a nation. It’s not “National BBQ Day,” you know. Think of those we’ve lost who stood up for, and made possible, our freedoms and liberty here in the U.S. A few facts about Memorial Day: • Originally known as Decoration Day, the observance began in the years following the Civil War honoring those who fell during that conflict. • During World War I, the tradition expanded into a day of remembering all men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. • In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as a federal holiday to be held on the last Monday in May. The law went into effect in 1971. • Each year on Memorial Day a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time. • Memorial Day typically marks the start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end. • Memorial Day has a different focus than Veterans Day. Memorial Day is a day of remembering those who perished while serving, while Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. • The average age of fallen U.S. soldiers is 26½. The New York Timesreports that Arlington National Cemetery is running out of room and may need to consider new rules that may turn away eligible soldiers.
PA state Rep. Brian Sims and Bear (via Instagram) What could be better for ‘Furry Friday’ than a bear in a crop top? Out Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims recently reversed his opinion about pets in clothes when he posted a pic on Instagram of his adorbs doggo Temper wearing a t-shirt from his campaign store. “I WAS WRONG: I recently expressed misgivings about pets in clothes, and I was wrong,” admitted bearded Brian. “Clearly Bears in crop tops are the Moment!” He added the hashtag #Sims4Pa along with a link to his online store as the 42-year-old lawmaker is running for Lieutenant Governor of the Keystone state. To be honest, both ‘bears’ in the photo are pretty cute. https://www.instagram.com/p/CPar-GKBglF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link I’ve been a fan of Sims for a long time because, basically, what’s not to like? He became the first out lawmaker elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2012, and he’s been loud and proud about LGBTQ issues as well as the BLM movement and women’s equality. Plus, he’s not shy about expressing himself whether it’s regarding coronavirus recklessness by his colleagues, flipping the bird at former Vice President Mike Pence, or boldly discussing his use of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Head over to his official campaign site for more info about Sims. And while you’re there check out his campaign merch where you can find Bear’s pink & white crop top or this ‘I Believe in Trans Excellence’ t-shirt: And then there’s Temper, who’s a regular feature (hashtag #BearAttack) on his Instagram. Here’s just a sample of the furry goodness. https://www.instagram.com/p/B3xEj-QhIaJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/B86ObNUBEkG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CMNN8LpBM_E/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CDJhZqJhmQ9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CAc38M1hSqc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/B-KgRrLBxAE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CCGntSIhVoU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CLdFjDdhJ82/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CHleSTAhN7P/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
I received a totally unexpected surprise in my email today informing me my podcast, The Randy Report, was named one of the 20 Best Entertainment Podcasts of 2021 by Welp Magazine. How cool is that??? Not only is it flattering for the podcast to be acknowledged, but The Randy Report was recognized alongside major podcasts in entertainment reporting including Entertainment Tonight! I mean…. seriously. I really, really appreciate the inclusion in the list more than I can say. The podcast began as an extension of this here blog thingy. During the early days of The Randy Report blog, I co-hosted an online radio show called The Candi & Randy Show. It was something I’d never thought about doing, but the host, Candi Fox, asked me to join her after I’d done an interview and it was a lot of fun. I eventually had to step away because my plate was getting waaaay full between blogging and writing for other outlets. But I missed the vocal part of sharing LGBTQ news. So a couple of years later, I launched the podcast. If you are a regular listener, you may have noticed that, unlike most podcasts, I have no advertising on the show. I set out to offer a succinct LGBTQ news magazine that would be convenient to listeners, and I didn’t want the clutter of ads. Fortunately, I’ve been able to do that for more than 200 episodes. And every episode sees continued audience growth which really makes my gay heart leap up. While we’re on the topic, I’ll add I was very proud when Metrosource included me in its “15 LGBTQ Podcasts To Keep You In The Know.” That, too, was super-cool. Thanks to all of you listeners who join me for what I like to call “the 60 Minutes of gay news…only shorter.” If you don’t already, check out some episodes – a mix of celebrity interviews and weekly news round-ups – everywhere you get your podcasts including iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud and Spotify.
I received a totally unexpected surprise in my email today informing me my podcast,