Category: News

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Gay Novelist Edmund White Passes At Age 85 + More News

Gay novelist Edmund White (screen capture)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Substack: Edmund White, one of the great authors of queer literature, died June 3 at the age 85. His novels – like A Boy’s Own Story – were unapologetically queer, helping millions of gays to figure themselves out. White was the LGBTQ community’s archivist, its provocateur, and its most literate party guest. Rest well, Edmund White.

• NBC News: Gracie McGraw, the daughter of country music stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, said she has been an “out and proud queer, bisexual woman” after tabloid media said she had recently “come out” in a recent Instagram post.

Gracie McGraw, the daughter of country music stars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, said she has been an “out and proud queer, bisexual woman” after tabloid media said she had come out in an Instagram post.

[image or embed] — NBC News (@nbcnews.com) June 4, 2025 at 9:00 AM

• Facebook: Scott Abel recalls a ghastly episode from his college days when a friend needed emergency care but EMTs walked away when they found out the friend had AIDS. The story points up why elder gays are still so fervent on the subject of queer rights.

• Florida’s Voice: A Naples father has filed an emergency (!) request in federal court seeking to stop a June 7 Pride festival, which is expected to feature a family-friendly drag performance (horrors!) on the main stage of a public park.

• Washington Post: Carl Nassib, the first openly gay NFL player to compete in a regular season game, now has a jersey hanging in the National Museum of American History.

Carl Nassib, the NFL’s first openly gay player, now has a jersey hanging in the National Museum of American History, commemorating a historic moment for LGBTQ athletes [image or embed]

— Post Sports (@postsports.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 4:44 PM

• New York Times: The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said on Wednesday that the broad Republican bill to cut taxes and slash some federal programs would add $2.4 trillion to the already soaring national debt.

• Law Dork: A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that the Trump administration must give migrants sent to an El Salvador prison, under an 18th-century wartime law, a chance to challenge their removals.

• Variety: The official poster for Wicked: For Good has arrived. The film, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, opens in theaters November 21.

The official poster for "Wicked: For Good"

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Podcast: Navy To Remove Harvey Milk’s Name + States Ranked For LGBTQ Safety + More

The Randy Report podcast

In this week’s episode of The Randy Report podcast:

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the US Navy to remove pioneering gay rights activist Harvey Milk’s name from a ship. Plus… Continue reading “Podcast: Navy To Remove Harvey Milk’s Name + States Ranked For LGBTQ Safety + More”

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Putin Tells Trump Russia Plans Retaliation For Ukraine’s Weekend Drone Bombing

Russian President Vladimir Putin (screen capture)

Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social that he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin today for over an hour. According to Trump, Putin declared Russia plans to retaliate against Ukraine for its devastating surprise attack over the weekend.

“It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace,” wrote Trump. “President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.”

Breaking News: Vladimir Putin plans to retaliate against Ukraine’s surprise attack, President Trump said after speaking to the Russian leader by phone. https://trib.al/L4hdRaU

[image or embed] — The New York Times (@nytimes.com) June 4, 2025 at 10:41 AM

From the New York Times:

Mr. Trump did not say in the statement if he sought to discourage Mr. Putin from attacking Ukraine. He rather expressed optimism over the prospect of working with Mr. Putin on another foreign policy priority: deterring Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

The White House did not immediately respond to questions inquiring if Mr. Trump had pushed back against Mr. Putin in the phone call or why his Truth Social post had been temporarily deleted.

The post broke a rare, if temporary, silence by Mr. Trump on complex international affairs. The statement was his first about Kyiv’s drone attack on airfields in Russia, a stunning assault that hit nuclear-capable bombers, revealing a significant vulnerability.

You’ll recall Trump campaigned on a promise that he could end the Russian invasion of Ukraine “in one day” citing his “very, very good relationship” with Putin. And yet, here we are more than four months into Trump’s second administration and it appears there’s no real progress on bringing the conflict to an end.

Even though there is a bipartisan measure in the Senate to impose strong economic sanctions on Russia – led by Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) – Trump has refused the endorse the bill.

Sunday’s drone attacks in Russia reportedly took 18 months to plan and involved smuggling drones inside the country on commercial trucks where they were parked near military airfields. They were then activated remotely and piloted to their targets.

The attack reportedly caused about $7 billion in damage.

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Missoula Adopts Pride Flag As ‘Official City Flag’ + Music From Conan Gray + More News

MIssoula designates Pride flag as an official city flag, side-stepping a recent Montana state law

Some news items you might have missed:

• Erin In The Morning: Montana lawmakers passed a new law effectively banned the flying of Pride flags on city property and in public schools. So last night, the city council of Missoula formally designated the Pride flag as an official city flag, thus side-stepping the ban.

• New Music: The music video for Conan Gray’s “This Song” takes viewers on a journey through sun-drenched fields, riverside roughhousing, and long drives into the dusk as two young men fall in love. The string-heavy production has a loping feel that pairs perfectly with the song’s yearning lyrics. Continue reading “Missoula Adopts Pride Flag As ‘Official City Flag’ + Music From Conan Gray + More News”

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Pete Hegseth Orders US Navy To Remove Harvey Milk’s Name From Ship

As millions observe Pride Month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Navy to take the rare step of renaming a ship, one that bears the name of pioneering gay rights activist Harvey Milk.

A Defense Department official confirmed that that the timing of the announcement – occurring during Pride month – was intentional. Continue reading “Pete Hegseth Orders US Navy To Remove Harvey Milk’s Name From Ship”

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‘King Of The Hill’ Actor Shot Dead By Anti-Gay Neighbor + More News

Jonathan Joss on 'Parks and Recreation' (screen capture)

Some news items I thought worth your time:

• Variety: Actor Jonathan Joss, who voiced the character of John Redcorn for 10 seasons on “King of the Hill,” died in a shooting on Sunday. In a Facebook post, his husband said Joss was shot by a neighbor after years of “openly homophobic” harassment. He was 59. Continue reading “‘King Of The Hill’ Actor Shot Dead By Anti-Gay Neighbor + More News”