In this week’s podcast: • A journalist wrote a scathing piece about Mayor Pete Buttigieg and the mayor called his critic to listen • NYC sees a significant drop in new HIV infections • A Palo Alto police brutality case reaches a settlement • The gay panic defense could be bye-bye in New Jersey • Kasey Musgraves has a new ‘tres gay’ Christmas special on Amazon Prime • Award-winning out singer Matt Zarley drops his take on the holiday classic, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” * Observing World AIDS Day this year Link to Mark King’s essay – Link to JoeMyGod’s essay
Billy Porter covers Palm Springs Life Magazine (photo: Aaron Feaver) In a new interview for Palm Springs Life Magazine, Emmy Award winner Billy Porter (Pose) spills the tea on how he’s traversing the terrain of his ever-increasing celebrity. Speaking to writer Jeremy Kinser, Porter covers a wide range of topics from EGOT possibilities (“Where’s my James Bond theme? That will get me my EGOT!”) to upcoming film roles in Sony’s musical adaptation of Cinderella (“I will be playing my fabulous self”) and the female empowerment comedy starring Tiffany Haddish and Selma Hayek, Like a Boss(“Praise the Lord, I got a really good part!”) and more.
Porter credits his theater background (Tony Award for ‘Best Actor in a Musical’ in Kinky Boots, thank you very much) for prepping him with the stamina to keep up with the current onslaught of opportunities “Doing eight shows a week in the theater in high heels breeds thoroughbreds,” Porter tells Kinser. “I’ve been able to apply the same skillset that goes into doing eight shows a week into this moment where I really need to be present. I need to show up for everything because I’ve worked 30 years to get here. I’ve got to show up, I’ve got to be ready, and I am!” After working in Broadway productions like Five Guys Named Moe and Miss Saigon, it was during his tenure in the 1994 revival of Grease (where he served up a show-stopping “Beauty School Dropout”) that he was kissed by the visceral, gut-wrenching genius of the AIDS-era drama, Angels in America. “I thought, how do I go from playing the teen angel with 14 inches of orange rubber hair on my head, prancing around like Little Richard on crack, to that?” says Porter. “That play was the turning point for me in choosing a different direction in my life and ending up where I am sitting in front of you today. This is the life I wanted for myself. I’m doing it on my terms, and it was Angels in America that launched that journey for me.”
Inspiration can become a driving force. A force so undeniable it’s no surprise Porter would find himself cast in the critically-acclaimed 2010 off-Broadway revival of Angels, in the very role that sparked so deeply inside him. In hindsight, Porter’s journey from Angels in America to the ground-breaking FX series Pose makes total sense. The straight-talking ‘Belize’ in Angels could have easily been a cousin to the no-holds-barred ‘Pray Tell’ of Pose. Steven Canals, co-creator of the hit FX series, says he believes Porter’s irrefutable authenticity on the show is responsible, in part, for the broad appeal of the show which includes a sizeable straight, white female audience. “I think ‘Pray Tell’ is one of the characters on the show that you wish you knew in real life,” he shares. “Many folks who watch the show have probably known some version of that character. I think a lot of our viewers, regardless of their identity, are seeing their own history, their own experience on the screen.” Canals adds that on set, Porter is something of a role model to the cast in regard to navigating “this crazy business with class and with grace, and patience.” Amid all this success, it’s not hard to imagine the stresses of balancing fame and travel alongside domestic life with husband Adam Smith. Initially, Porter demurs: “Let’s move past that question.” But after a pause, Porter shares: “We’re finding the balance. It’s been a rocket ship liftoff, and it leaves the subject and the people around the subject wherever they’re at. It’s a lot. I’m in a space of trying to figure out how to balance it.”
Porter also spills the tea on some new film projects looming on the horizon. The actor and Canals are in the process of trying to secure the rights to the life story of R&B recording artist Donny Hathway (“This Christmas,” “A Song For You”), who struggled with mental health issues before falling to his death from the 15th floor of New York City’s Essex Hotel. A second project, currently in early development, is a big-screen biopic of iconic gay author James Baldwin, who Porter quoted while accepting this year’s ‘Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series’ Emmy Award. “Those are the people I should be playing,” Porter tells Palm Springs Life. “I’m so thrilled that I’m at the position now where people want me to play those people.” We smell an EGOT in someone’s future 🙂 It’s a great read accompanied by a – no surprise – gorgeous photoshoot by Aaron Feaver. Click over to Palm Springs Life for the full cover story by Jeremy Kinser. Billy Porter covers Palm Springs Life Magazine (photo: Aaron Feaver)
Tucker Carlson (screen capture)Fox News pundit Tucker Carlson admitted to his television audience last night what most Americans already know – that Donald Trump consistently lies and his followers don’t care. In a lengthy monologue on his show last night, Carlson told the nation, “Trump is a racist liar.” The statement was borne out of Carlson noting the Washington Post has been taking notes in regard to the Donald’s lies and exaggerations as if it’s a bad thing to hold the president of the United States accountable.
“The crowd at the 2017 inauguration was not the largest ever measured on the national mall. Sorry, it wasn’t. Why did the president claim it was? Because that’s who he is. Donald Trump is a salesman: A talker, a boaster, a booster, a compulsive self-promoter. At times, he’s a full-blown BS artist.
“If Trump hadn’t gotten rich in real estate he could have made a fortune selling cars. Most people know this. It’s transparent, really.
“Is lying really the reason the left despises Donald Trump? Or could the real problem be, as is so often the case, the exact opposite of what they claim it is? Think back over the last four years. When have the CNN anchors been the angriest?
“Was it when Trump told some whopper or exaggerated his own accomplishments? Nope. They’re used to that kind of lying. Everyone who spends time around politicians is. What infuriates official Washington is not when Trump lies, but when he tells the truth.
And that’s where Carlson goes off into the underbrush on the way to Poughkeepsie as he slices and dices language & logic to address multiple topics – Haiti, MS-13, justifying Saudi Arabia’s killing of a journalist – often using ‘absolute’ positions as reality. But by the end, he does circle back to say: “Let’s just agree that Trump is a racist liar and move on. By the way, did you know he’s up to almost 14,000 lies by now? My gosh, what a bad person he is. Unlike us.”
Instahunks Justin and Nick Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Often, holidays don’t go quite as you planned. Justin and Nick (above) share that their Thanksgiving is starting a day late after Nick was called into work unexpectedly. Sometimes, couples have to rock and roll a bit. • KIT212: Kenneth has the low-down on the what’s what in local LGBTQ publications across the country. • The Gaily Grind: Kid Rock was dragged off-stage at his own Tennesee bar after a racist tirade about Oprah. • Instinct: The internet goes ga-ga over viral video of two gay men finding out they’re about to become da-das. • AskGayBros: A thread on Reddit inquires about advice or issues to discuss in exploring a couple’s possible first three-some. • Washington Blade: Four-time Oscar nominee Annette Bening says she’s ‘very, very proud’ of her transgender son. • NewNowNext: Jonathan James offers his insights into becoming a gay pup: “I always compare being a pup to being a drag queen: No two queens are the same.” • Cover Song: I admit to giving a side-eye to the idea of covering The Boss, but I have to say Darren Criss’ funk cover of “Dancing in the Dark” lands for me. Take a listen and let me know what you think. Happy Friday, everyone!
Christine Hannigan & Melania Ramirez (image via Facebook) Three UK teens have pleaded guilty to harassing and threatening a lesbian couple on a late-night bus ride in London in the early hours of May 30 this year, but one denies it was a hate crime. As I reported this summer, Christine Hannigan and Melania Ramirez (surname formerly Gaymonat) were approached by four teenage boys who began taunting them and demanding they kiss. When they refused, the teens surrounded the couple taunting them, making sexual gestures, throwing coins at them and eventually punching the women. As a result, Hannigan’s jaw was injured and Ramirez’s nose was broken requiring medical treatment for both women. “They started behaving like hooligans, demanding that we kissed so they could enjoy watching, calling us ‘lesbians’ and describing sexual positions,” Ramirez wrote in a Facebook post accompanied by a photo showing the couple left bloody by the incident. “I don’t remember the whole episode, but the word ‘scissors’ stuck in my mind.” After the assault, which lasted about nine minutes, the teens departed taking Hannigan’s handbag with them. After the four teens were arrested this summer, they appeared in court on Thursday for an anticipated two-day trial. But before the proceedings could begin, three of the teens (aged 15, 16 and 17) pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behavior to cause harassment while charges against the fourth were dropped, according to Sky News. CCTV footage of the incident was viewed in court showing the boys approaching the women soon after the couple boarded the bus which Prosecutor Saira Khan characterized as “the tide washing in.” Hannigan testified in court on Friday saying the boys made comments about ‘scissoring’ and asked them to show how lesbians have sex. She called the teens’ demeanor “aggressive” and “scary” The 16-year-old boy also pleaded guilty to handling a stolen mobile phone and the 15-year-old admitted to handling a stolen bank card. The 17-year-old admitted to throwing coins at the women but denied being hostile towards the couple based on their sexual orientation. During the Thursday hearing, Judge Susan Williams said the abuse “was quite clearly directed towards this couple because of who they are.” Solicitor David Wood, representing the 17-year-old, admitted the coin-throwing was “pathetic” and constituted a criminal offense, but added, “It has nothing whatsoever to do with an attack based on hostility with regards to sexual orientation.” Judge Williams addressed the 17-year-old directly saying, “You say you were not being hostile to these ladies on the basis of their sexual orientation. That is an issue that has to be resolved because it does make the case more serious if the court comes to the decision that this was what was going on at the time and it does mark it as more serious.” “I think it will be a hair-splitting exercise but it’s perfectly obvious that this was a same-sex couple that has provoked their interest and the interaction between them,” added Judge Williams. “The offense cannot be explained in any other way. I do regard this as an aggravating feature and it would be reflected in the sentence.” (source: Sky News,The Guardian)
Madonna rests up over Thanksgiving holiday (image via Instagram) Bad news for Boston! Madonna has announced via Instagram that she has been forced to cancel all three performances of her Madame X concert tour in Boston due to “overwhelming” pain. The 61-year-old pop star, who says her current show brings her “so much joy,” admits in the post that the decision wasn’t made lightly but is necessary to “rest and follow doctor’s orders” in order to “come back stronger and better and continue the Madame X journey with all of you.”
The canceled dates were scheduled for November 30 and December 1-2 at Boston’s Wang Theatre, and unfortunately, they will not be rescheduled for some time in the future. “As we are unable to reschedule the Boston dates due to the tight scheduling through the balance of the year, refunds will be automatically issued to the credit card on which they were ordered,” read a statement on Madonna’s official website. A new post on the pop star’s website Friday morning announced the schedule for her concerts in Europe would also be reshuffled. “The Madame X 2020 tour will relaunch in Lisbon on 12-January where it plays 8 sold-out shows through January 23rd. It then proceeds to London whereas a result of the highly specialized production elements, the Madame X Tour date originally slated for Sunday, 26-January at the London Palladium will now be rescheduled to Sunday, 16-February becoming the final date in the 15-show run in this city. There is no change to the additional performances 27, 29 & 30 January and 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13 and 15-February,” read the announcement. Shortly thereafter, a second update went up regarding a shift of Madge’s Paris dates: “As a result of the highly specialized production elements, the first two Madonna’s Madame X Tour dates in Paris originally slated for Tuesday, 18-February and Wednesday, 9-February have been rescheduled to 10-March and 11-March respectively. There is no change to the additional performances on 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29-February and 1, 3,4, 7 & 8-March.” Although she doesn’t share the nature of her injuries, the BBC reports earlier this month Madge “told fans in San Francisco she was suffering from a “torn ligament” and a “bad knee.” The Queen of Pop hasn’t been shy about sharing her post-show routine which has included 3 a.m. ice baths taken in stride while her family and tour team cheers her on.
The BBC notes that while Madonna “is notoriously reluctant to cancel shows, abandoning only a handful of dates over the course of her 37-year career,” the Madame X tour has had some setbacks. The debut performance of the tour in New York had to be pushed back due to production issues. And once the three-week residency began at Brooklyn’s Howard Gilman Opera House, one of the NYC dates had to be canceled due to injury. The opening night performance of the tour in Los Angeles was called off as well. Madge shared pics and video of her resting on Thanksgiving Day including singing a bit of Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road.”
The Madame X tour is scheduled to re-commence in Philadelphia on December 7 for four nights at the Metropolitan Opera House in Philadelphia. (source: BBC)
Donald Trump (image via Flickr/White House) The Department of Justice’s inspector general has reportedly found no evidence of spying by the FBI on the 2016 Trump campaign. The New York Timesreports:
The Justice Department’s inspector general found no evidence that the F.B.I. attempted to place undercover agents or informants inside Donald J. Trump’s campaign in 2016 as agents investigated whether his associates conspired with Russia’s election interference operation, people familiar with a draft of the inspector general’s report said. The determination by the inspector general, Michael E. Horowitz, is expected to be a key finding in his highly anticipated report due out on Dec. 9 examining aspects of the Russia investigation. The finding also contradicts some of the most inflammatory accusations hurled by Mr. Trump and his supporters, who alleged not only that F.B.I. officials spied on the Trump campaign but also at one point that former President Barack Obama had ordered Mr. Trump’s phones tapped.
The report is expected to undercut many claims by conservatives that the FBI acted improperly while investigating Trump associates during the 2016 election. You’ll recall early in his term Trump accused President Obama of tapping his Trump Tower phones with no evidence to support the claim whatsoever.
(photos: Michael Brosilow/The House Theatre) Ohio’s Notre Dame Academy found itself in an unexpected controversy after school faculty and chaperones decided students couldn’t be exposed to a two-men playing the parents in a production of the holiday classic, The Nutcracker. Each year the Catholic school takes its 8th graders on a field trip. This year, the school chose The House Theatre of Chicago’s production of The Nutcracker. According to school alum Carly McGoldrick, the students were marched out of the theater before the curtain even went up once the adults in charge realized the same-sex casting.
the 8th graders at my catholic grade school take an annual trip to chicago around thanksgiving and usually get to see a musical or whatever… this year they went to see the nutcracker but clara’s parents were played by two men so chaperones made them all get up and LEAVE
waiting for NDA to refund the parents of their students for the cost of the tickets and to issue an apology for embarrassing them in front of an entire auditorium of people
We apologize for our decision for 8th graders leave to a performance of The Nutcracker before it began due to casting choices. The mistake is contrary to our inclusive spirit and reminds us our actions should affirm that we are all God’s children.
To clarify what happened, the decision was made for the NDA eighth-graders to leave a performance of The Nutcracker before it began because upon arrival they discovered that the producer had chosen to cast two men as the main character’s parents. However, the Spirit of Inclusion statement adopted by the NDA Board of Trustees in 2014 affirms that we in the Notre Dame Academy community welcome all into our Gospel community including but not limited to people of all colors, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender expression, abilities, economic classes, and nationalities.
We consider the decision to not attend the performance a mistake and sincerely apologize to anyone we offended. The action does does not reflect NDA’s true values. Rest assured we will redouble our efforts to live up to our inclusion statement.
Sometimes we teach our children as much from our mistakes as from our successes. We view this as a chance to teach our students the value of taking ownership of one’s mistakes and to reaffirm that our community is committed to inclusion.
The defense has been used to attempt to downgrade charges against defendants who argued that they killed because they were provoked by the disclosure of the victim’s gender identity or sexual orientation.
According to the American Bar Association, eight states had barred the “gay panic” defense as of July 2019. New York was the most recent to do so, in June, when Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill on the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising.
The tactic seeks to exploit a state law that allows for the reduction of a murder charge to manslaughter if the crime is “is committed in the heat of passion resulting from a reasonable provocation.”
The bill, NJ A1796 (18R), which the Assembly approved, 73-0, states that “a provocation is not objectively reasonable if it is based on the discovery of, knowledge about, or potential disclosure of the homicide victim’s actual or perceived gender identity or expression, or affectional or sexual orientation, including under circumstances in which the victim made an unwanted, non-forcible romantic or sexual advance toward the actor, or if the victim and actor dated or had a romantic or sexual relationship.”
The bill was first introduced in late 2014 by former Assemblyman Tim Eustace (D-Bergen), the state’s second openly gay lawmaker, but it did not advance through the legislative process until this year.
The legislation now heads to the state Senate where it also must pass to reach Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk.
In this week’s podcast: • A journalist wrote a scathing piece about Mayor Pete Buttigieg and the mayor called his critic to listen • NYC sees a significant drop in new HIV infections • A Palo Alto police brutality case reaches a settlement • The gay panic defense could be bye-bye in New Jersey • Kasey Musgraves has a new ‘tres gay’ Christmas special on Amazon Prime • Award-winning out singer Matt Zarley drops his take on the holiday classic, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” * Observing World AIDS Day this year Link to Mark King’s essay – Link to JoeMyGod’s essay 
According to school alum Carly McGoldrick, the students were marched out of the theater before the curtain even went up once the adults in charge realized the same-sex casting. 