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| (via Instagram) |
Santa’s on his way, kids!
Here’s hoping you were totally as ‘nice’ (or naughty) as you planned this year.
Merry, merry to all of you!
#HoHoHo
Just Because: Christmas Eve Edition
News Round-Up: December 24, 2018
Some news items you might have missed:
• Here’s hoping Santa shows up looking half as hot as this ‘Santa Daddy.’ He sure isn’t your parents’ calendar Santa… 😉
• The Stonewall Inn announced that Madonna has been named a Stonewall Ambassador for the upcoming 50th anniversary Stonewall celebrations in June 2019.
• Don’t miss the 41st Annual Kennedy Center Honors set to air Wednesday at 8 p.m Eastern on CBS. Cyndi Lauper is scheduled to sing a tribute honoring Cher; Kelly Clarkson performs in honor of country superstar Reba McEntire; plus honors for Philip Glass, Wayne Shorter and the creators of Hamilton (Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, Andy Blankenbuehler and Alex Lacamoire).
• A new poll shows former Vice President Joe Biden would beat Donald Trump by 6 points – 42% to 36% – in a hypothetical head-to-head run for the presidency in 2020.
• The Advocate has compiled a list of the Top 10 Homophobes and Transphobes of 2018.
• The ‘Old Gays’ at Into were sat down and asked to identify several modern famous gays.
A few of the queer celebs the gentlemen nail immediately (Gus Kenworthy and Troye Sivan are clearly popular in the elder gay set), but others were met with big ole question marks (“These are people I’ve never heard of;” “I just don’t watch current television”).
Watch below. Pretty cute.
InstaHunk Round-Up: Christmas Eve Edition
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| InstaHunks Tom Ernsting and Andrew Serkin |
The big day is almost here, so I thought I’d check in on what some of my favorite InstaHunks are doing this Christmas Eve.
Above, woofy couple Andrew Serkin and Tom Ernsting look totes comfy in their long johns.
Another hunky duo, Brett Miles and Alex Abramov are feeling cuddly as the holiday approaches:
UK athlete Dan Tai shares that he’s finished all of his wrapping (except, fortunately, himself):
The Chippendales really want to know what YOU want this Christmas under the tree (or on a throne?):
Broadway actor and star of the Daddyhunt web series, Jim Newman, has been running a whole series of “Day of Christmas” featuring him nude but with strategically placed holiday items:
Adult performer Austin Wolf is way happy about eating “pie.”
Griffy, half of the sexy/crazy Rick and the Griffopotamus Instagram account, has a naughty but nice approach to the Mistletoe:
Woofy Gus Kenworthy is giving out skiing lessons in his hometown of Telluride:
Here’s how they ‘Santa’ down in Rio de Janeiro:
And you can always count on an InstaHunk to find a beach for the holidays. Say ‘hey’ to personal trainer Nik Ripley down in Fiji:
The Return Of Kevin Spacey: “You Wouldn’t Believe The Worst Without Evidence, Would You?”
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| Kevin Spacey |
Kevin Spacey briefly returned to his House of Cards role of “Frank Underwood” in a video posted to his YouTube channel that has lots of folks scratching their heads.
The actor, who was fired from the hit Netflix series amid several allegations of sexual impropriety, speaks to the camera in the same style utilized by ‘Frank’ with language that could apply both to his character’s sudden death and his own personal legal challenges.
According to The Boston Globe, Spacey is scheduled to be arraigned on January 7 in Nantucket regarding a criminal complaint of indecent assault and battery that allegedly happened in July 2016.
A link to the video was tweeted out by Spacey (his first tweet in a year) minutes after the Globe’s story was published.
In the video, titled “Let Me Be Frank,” the 59-year-old begins by staring at the viewer saying, “Oh, I know what you want.”
“Oh sure, they may have tried to separate us, but what we have is too strong, too powerful,” he continues.
Is he talking about himself and the audience? Or himself and ‘Frank?’
Referencing his “deepest, darkest secrets,” the Academy Award winner says, “I showed you exactly what people are capable of.”
He also says he knows what his audience wants – “You want me back.”
He then takes a turn, sharing, “Of course, some believed everything and they’ve been waiting with bated breath to hear me confess it all.”
“They’re just dying to have me declare that everything said was ‘true’ and that I got what I deserved,” Spacey laments without directly mentioning the real-world allegations. “Wouldn’t that be easy, if it were all so simple?”
“You wouldn’t believe the worst without evidence, would you?”
“You wouldn’t rush to judgements without facts, would you?”
“Despite all the poppycock, the animosity, the headlines, the impeachment without a trial, despite everything, despite even my own death, I feel surprisingly good,” Spacey says referencing Frank’s death. “And my confidence grows each day that soon enough you will know the full truth.”
Clearly, Spacey is attempting to offer his own House of Cards finale, but there’s a wink of the eye in his choice of words and timing of the video.
Interestingly, most commenters on the YouTube page are raving, saying the ‘scene’ was much better than the actual final season of House of Cards.
Watch the three-minute video below and let me know what you think in the comments section.
(Kevin Spacey is meeting with the worst PR company of all time)PR flack: “So here’s our idea: we film you, in character as Frank Underwood, in a poorly-lit kitchen, reciting a ton of skin-crawling dialogue, and then we release the clip on Christmas Eve.”
Spacey: “Perfect”
— Scott Wampler™ (@ScottWamplerBMD) December 24, 2018
What if he shows up in court with his Underwood personae.. I’m willing to believe that he actually thinks he’s Frank Underwood now. https://t.co/bTeWeEA7vu— Ihsan Zirih 🇺🇸 (@IhsanZirih) December 24, 2018
That video by Kevin Spacey is seriously weird. But welcome back @KevinSpacey. He just trashed his enemies and House of Cards season 6 in only 6minutes. Pure talent. Welcome back Mr President, Frank Underwood— Lord Abraham Mutai (@ItsMutai) December 24, 2018
“Ex-Gay” App Dropped From Apple’s Online Store After Petition Protest
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| So-called ‘ex-gay therapy’ can lead to anxiety, depression & suicide (stock photo via Depositphotos) |
An app promoting so-called “conversion therapy” has been removed from Apple’s App Store one day after LGBTQ advocacy group Truth Wins Out (TWO) launched a campaign in protest.
Non-profit Christian organization Living Hope Ministries had developed and promoted the free app for over three years, according to The Dallas Morning News.
But once the folks at TWO, which fights the ‘ex-gay’ myth, discovered the app, it was time for action.
A Change.org petition was launched asking Apple to remove the app from its store citing the many organizations (American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association to name a few) that oppose the practice as multiple studies show it can lead to anxiety, depression, and self-destructive behavior, including suicide.
In their petition, TWO asked, “Why would Apple allow its online store to be used as a platform to promote such dangerous, homophobic garbage?”
The app was dropped from Apple’s App Store the next day.
Apparently, the deletion occurred without notifying Living Hope Ministries.
Executive Director Ricky Chelette told The Dallas Morning News they plan to appeal the decision, adding, “I don’t know why they would have taken it down.”
On their website, Living Hope Ministries says its mission is “to proclaim God’s truth as we journey with those seeking sexual and relational wholeness through a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.”
In a statement, Truth Wins Out executive director Wayne Besen thanked Apple for “exemplifying corporate responsibility and taking swift action to remove a dangerous app that stigmatizes and demeans LGBT people.”
“Ex-gay programs are consumer fraud and cause significant harm to the people they purport to help,” he added.
The app is still available, though, on other digital platforms like Google and Amazon, and Besen is addressing those tech giants as well.
“Every minute this heinous product is available on these platforms, the potential exists for it to harm LGBT youth,” says Besen. “We demand that Google and Amazon immediately stop selling and promoting this app, which dehumanizes LGBT people.”
While Texas allows the harmful practice, conversion therapy has been banned for use on young people in 14 states as well as the District of Columbia.
Brian Sims Calls Out GOP Lawmaker “Stop Lying. It’s Gross.”
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| Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims |
Woofy Brian Sims of Pennsylvania does not suffer fools gladly.
It all began when Marsha Blackburn, the Tennessee Republican who was recently elected to the U.S. Senate, took to Twitter to blame Democrats for the shutdown of several federal departments and agencies.
“I am disappointed to see that the Senate Democrats chose to shut down our government instead of secure our southern border,” wrote Blackburn on Saturday. “The American people deserve to be protected against drug cartels and human traffickers.”
As has been widely reported, the current government shutdown occurred because Donald Trump reneged on an agreed upon bipartisan plan to fund the government until February.
But when far-right political pundits like Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter criticized Trump for not getting $5 billion to fund the beginning of his infamous wall along the Mexican border, it was more than Trump could take. And so, he reversed course demanding his ‘wall money.’
In a meeting ten days before the shutdown, Trump even told Democratic leaders Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer that he would be “proud” to shut down the government.
“I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck,” Trump told the Democrats in a televised meeting in the Oval Office. “Because the people of this country don’t want criminals and people who have lots of problems — and drugs — pouring into our country. I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down. I’m not going to blame you for it.”
Sims, the hunky gay Democratic state lawmaker in Pennsylvania, called out Blackburn on Twitter for her “outright lie.”
“Marsha, all spin aside, this post is just an outright lie,” Sims clarified on Twitter. “It’s no a play on what really happened. It’s a complete fabrication. This is the kind of bold-faced lie that makes people hate politics and politicians. From one elected official to another: Stop Lying. It’s gross.”
Marsha, all spin aside, this post is just an outright lie. It’s no a play on what really happened. It’s a complete fabrication. This is the kind of bold-faced lie that makes people hate politics and politicians. From one elected official to another: Stop Lying. It’s gross.— Brian Sims (@BrianSimsPA) December 23, 2018
Blackburn, who has been a Trump toadie for a long time, was merely repeating what her idol has been tweeting since the funding debacle bubbled up last week.
According to The New York Times, the Trump shutdown will likely last into the new year when a new Congress is sworn in and the Democrats take control of the House.
The shutdown has shuttered the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Interior, Agriculture, Housing and more. Some 400,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed as we head into Christmas.
My man Brian has never shied away from calling out GOP politicians for lying.
When anti-LGBTQ Vice President Mike Pence was heading into Philadelphia (Sims’ district) for a visit this past June, Sims ‘welcomed’ the veep with a controversial image giving Pence the finger.
“To be clear, we’re a City of soaring diversity. We believe in the power of all people to live and to contribute: Black, Brown, Queer, Trans, Atheist, Immigrant, we want you and we’ll respect you,” Sims wrote on Facebook. “So keep that in mind while you’re here raising money to attack more families, spread more lies, blaspheme with your bible, and maybe even talk to a woman without your wife in the room.”
I’ve been a fan of the woofy Sims for years. Let’s take a stroll through his Instagram, shall we?
‘Will & Grace’ Serves Up Guest-Star Mashup Video
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| Patti LuPone guest starring on ‘Will & Grace’ |
Over the 8 years of its original run (plus the two reboot/revival seasons), Will & Grace has given us not only lots of laughs from the ‘fearsome foursome,’ but tons of great guest stars.
Patti LuPone, Rosie O’Donnell, Blythe Danner, Ellen DeGeneres, David Schwimmer, Matt Bomer and Adam Rippon have all dropped by the hit NBC series to take part in the hilarity.
Plus, we’ve gotten cameo spots by music icons like Elton John, Janet Jackson, Madonna, JLo, Britney Spears and the one-and-only Cher.
With so many guest stars, the series has shared this awesome mash-up of celeb visitors over the years.
The comedy champ is still going strong having already been confirmed for a third revival season for fall of 2019.
The current second revival season returns on January 31, 2019.
Who is your favorite W&G guest star? I’ll go first – the fabulous Blythe Danner (as Will’s mother) always made us giggle. Totally brilliant.
Stock Market Drops 400 Points After Treasury Secretary Checks On Banks Liquidity
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| Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin |
The U.S. stock market plummeted 400 points on opening this morning after it was revealed Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin called the CEO’s of the nation’s largest bank to make sure they had enough cash in their vaults.
Economic experts were dumbfounded by the move.
So. Much. Winning.
From The Washington Post:
The Dow fell more than 400 points, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq slid deeper into bear territory.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had called the leaders of the nation’s six largest banks and later issued a statement declaring that the institutions had ample credit to extend to U.S. businesses and households. Analysts said the outreach and statement could backfire.
Stocks are on pace for their worst December since the Great Depression. On Friday, the Dow ended its worst week since 2008. The Nasdaq is in a bear market.
JUST IN: Dow Jones opens down after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s comments on banks. https://t.co/76N3Vl6Kz8 pic.twitter.com/cLUruw8Ypx— ABC News (@ABC) December 24, 2018
Mnuchin: Just wanna let everyone know there’s *not* a liquidity crisis.
General public: Wait, what? Who was talking about a liquidity crisis?
Mnuchin: No one! No need to talk about a liquidity crisis! Probably not an issue!
Public: Probably?
Mnuchin: I’m sure it’ll be fine… https://t.co/wsEaKExMJ2— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) December 23, 2018
So many 52-week lows you’ll get tired of 52-week lows pic.twitter.com/2pLzSmlcYT— Josh Barro (@jbarro) December 24, 2018
Remember Stocks have been Plummeting for three straight months but no one cared until now. Marry Christmas to all the rich people that will be poor next year. pic.twitter.com/sgnZtzIqTv— Lil’ Poundcake (@TheLilPoundcake) December 24, 2018
Trump On Who Should Be Fired For Government Shutdown? “The President!”
As the Trump shutdown continues (and most likely will into the new year), let’s check in to see what Donald Trump once said about bearing the responsibility of a government shutdown:
Fox News – “If there is a shutdown, who should get fired?”
Trump – “The President!”
There you go, Donald.
FOX NEWS: “If there is a shutdown, who should get fired?”TRUMP: “The President!”
When there isn’t a tweet, there’s always a video. pic.twitter.com/Gn6jnf2bOc
— Shomeo (@SassBaller) December 24, 2018
Trump Complains Of “Presidential Harassment”
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| Donald Trump |
Donald Trump retweeted praise for himself by homocon Tammy Bruce this morning, and in doing so repeated his new catch phrase, “presidential harassment.”
“The President has been remarkable. I do not doubt that he will thrive in this new environment, and he will be a constant reminder of what populism is.” Thank you to Tammy Bruce and Steve Hilton. Presidential Harassment has been with me from the beginning!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2018
It’s funny – Trump was never shy about tweeting his own ‘presidential harassment’ of President Obama, was he?
Earlier this month, Trump used the same phrase to explain why his approval ratings aren’t better.
Without the phony Russia Witch Hunt, and with all that we have accomplished in the last almost two years (Tax & Regulation Cuts, Judge’s, Military, Vets, etc.) my approval rating would be at 75% rather than the 50% just reported by Rasmussen. It’s called Presidential Harassment!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 6, 2018