Kevin Spacey Emerges From Exile For Impromptu Poem Reading In Italy

Academy Award winner and accused sexual assaulter Kevin Spacey made a rare public appearance this past Friday after a lengthy period of self-imposed exile.
Kevin Spacey (via screen capture)

Academy Award winner and accused sexual assaulter Kevin Spacey made a rare public appearance this past Friday after a lengthy period of self-imposed exile.

This is the first appearance since sexual assault charges against him by a young man in Nantucket were dropped in July after his accuser refused to waive his 5th Amendment rights.

The odd appearance included a dramatic recitation of Gabriele Tinti’s poem “The Boxer” at Rome’s Palazzo Massimo alle Terme museum.

Spacey read the poem to a gathering of nearly 150 museum attendees in front of the bronze nude statue known as “Boxer at Rest.”

Via The Telegraph:

“Spacey appeared in front of the Greek statue Boxer at Rest in Rome, to read Gabriele Tinti’s poem The Boxer, about an exhausted fighter used for entertainment then left bleeding by the ringside. … Standing beside the Greek bronze cast of the ravaged fighter, which dates from around 316 BC, Spacey, dressed in a tobacco-coloured suit, intoned the poem to a startled audience at the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme.”

According to reports, journalists were tipped off in advance of the appearance. It would appear that Spacey chose the poem for subtext.

From the poem:

“The more you’re wounded the greater you are. And the more empty you are. I have endured no end of sleepless nights. They used me for their entertainment, fed on shoddy stuff. Life was over in a moment.”

White House Acting Chief Of Staff: Trump Rhetoric ‘Not To Blame’ For White Nationalist Shootings

Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney told ABC News reporter Jon Karl that Donald Trump’s heated racial rhetoric is not to blame for the rash of recent mass shootings by white nationalist terrorists.

“This is a serious problem … but they are sick, sick people and the president knows that … I don’t think it’s fair to try and lay this at the feet of the president.”

Mulvaney’s title is ‘Acting’ Chief of Staff for a reason. He’s merely an actor in Trump’s reality show, saying the lines he’s given.

Favorites From Billy Porter’s Fab & Fierce Recording Career

Looking back at Billy Porter's extensive recording career.
Billy Porter (photo: John Ganun)

As we’re enjoying season 2 of the acclaimed FX series POSE, I see many on social media living for the musical performances on the show, especially by Tony Award winner Billy Porter as ‘Pray Tell.’

But some may not realize how extensive Porter’s recording career is.

After winning the television talent show Star Search back in 1992 (while performing on Broadway), Porter began making his mark in the recording studio.

One of his most well-known pop music tracks (even if folks didn’t know it was the future Golden Globe/Emmy Award nominee) was “Love Is On The Way,” the lead single from the soundtrack of the 1996 Bette Midler / Goldie Hawn / Diane Keaton film, The First Wives Club.

Porter also had a #1 hit on the Billboard AC chart collaborating with pianist Jim Brickman and Jordan Hill on the title track to Brickman’s 1999 album, Destiny.

Porter’s own albums offer his own distinct musical style which combines R&B, pop, and soul.

His latest single, “Love Yourself,” an upbeat paean to looking to ourselves first for approval.

The song “Time,” from his spectacular live one-man show, At the Corner of Broadway + Soul, was written by Porter and grabbed national attention when it was featured on the reality dance competition, So You Think You Can Dance.

He also recently teamed up with his longtime friend, two-time OutMusic Award winner Matt Zarley, on a cover of the 1994 Des’ree hit, “You Gotta Be.” Again, the theme of self-love and empowerment weaves its way through the Porter catalog. Note – all proceeds of the new recording go to the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

And Porter has also returned to his Broadway roots bringing his unique musical sensibilities to two studio albums – the 2014 Billy’s Back on Broadway, and his 2017 release, Billy Porter Presents: The Soul of Richard Rodgers.

Buttigieg: U.S. Is “Under Attack From Homegrown White Nationalist Terrorism”

Mayor Pete Buttigieg speaking in Las Vegas, NV

Mayor Pete Buttigieg told attendees at a labor union forum in Las Vegas Saturday that the United States is “under attack” by white nationalists carrying out deadly mass shootings across the country, and those white nationalists have become emboldened by Donald Trump.

Buttigieg was speaking at a forum in Las Vegas sponsored by the public-sector labor union AFSCME.

News of the recent mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart broke during the event.

Eschewing his prepared introductory remarks, Buttigieg addressed the tragedy head-on.

“America is under attack from homegrown white nationalist terrorism,” Buttigieg said in his opening remarks. “White nationalism is evil. And it is inspiring people to commit murder, and it is being condoned at the highest levels of the American government, and that has to end.”

When asked his thoughts on Trump’s position on white nationalists, Buttigieg said the president “at best condones and encourages white nationalism.”

Buttigieg also called for stricter gun control laws across the country.

“We are the only country in the world with more guns than people,” said the 37-year-old White House contender. “It has not made us safer. We can respect the Second Amendment (on gun rights), and not allow it to be a death sentence for thousands of Americans.”

Among several policies he shared that would help stem the tide of gun violence were:

• Implementing universal background checks for firearm purchases

• Banning the sale of high capacity magazines

• Allowing the Centers for Disease Control to research gun violence

• Passing “red flag” laws that remove firearms from at-risk people, such as those convicted of domestic violence

Buttigieg also said there should be stricter regulations for military-style firearms often used in mass shootings.

“Weapons of war have no place in American neighborhoods,” said the Afghanistan war veteran.

Buttigieg addressed the lack of leadership on gun violence by the president today.

“Will the President of the United States leave his golf resort, go back to Washington, address the nation, condemn—in no uncertain terms—white nationalism, and call for the Senate to convene tomorrow to enact at least the most basic gun safety reforms that most Americans want?”

Biden Leads By Double-Digits In New National Poll

New polling continues to show former Vice President Joe Biden holds a significant lead over other Democratic presidential contenders.
Donald Trump (L), Joe Biden (R)

New polling shows former Vice President Joe Biden continues to hold a significant lead over other Democratic presidential contenders.

From The Hill:

Former Vice President Joe Biden has a 2-to-1 lead nationally over the next closest Democratic presidential contender after the second round of debates, according to the latest Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll.

The new survey finds Biden with 34 percent support among Democrats, followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at 17 percent.

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) is in third place with 9 percent support, followed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) at 8 percent, South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 4 percent, former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke at 3 percent and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) at 2 percent.

“Biden has been steady despite some rocky performances at the debates,” said Mark Penn, co-director of the Harvard CAPS/Harris Poll. “The Democratic voters are far more in sync with Biden’s views than any of the other candidates running. He maintains his front-runner status.”

The poll also showed 46 percent of Democrats view Biden as best choice to beat Trump, followed by Sanders at 34 percent.

Minister Stiffs Waiter ("If He Wasn't Gay") Then Arrested For Assaulting Female Manager

Frederic Sterry Smith, 62, of St. Augustine, Florida, was arrested and charged with simple battery after ripping up his restaurant bill and shoving it down the female manager's blouse.
Mug shot of Frederic Sterry Smith (St. Johns County Sheriff Office)

Frederic Sterry Smith, 62, of St. Augustine, Florida, was arrested and charged with simple battery after ripping up his restaurant bill and shoving it down the female manager’s blouse.

According to the Naples Daily News, Smith and his female companion had finished eating at the restaurant when he wrote on the receipt “if he wasn’t gay,” with a zero-dollar tip.

Upon seeing the homophobic message the male server took it to the manager on duty, who went outside to confront Smith.

When asked if he had written the message on his check, Smith said yes. He then grabbed the bill, and ripped it up. He grabbed the manager’s shirt collar, pulled it open and shoved “the torn check down her shirt, touching her breast with his hand,” according to the police report.

Police quickly tracked the man down, and when questioned about the incident Smith reportedly became “verbally abusive and angry,” denying the stunt.

“I can say whatever I want, to whoever I want!” he told the officers. 

His female companion told the police, “We didn’t touch her.”
Apparently, the couple’s denials were not convincing.
Smith was booked into the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office jail on a charge of simple battery, and released on $500 bail.
Fox News reports that Smith “works as a minister and president at Servant’s Heart Disaster Relief, a St. Augustine-based nonprofit and evangelical ministry ‘devoted to helping hurricane victims in North America and the Caribbean.'”

This is a “man of God?”

Gay Son Of ‘Straight Pride’ Organizer Puts The Hate Rally On Blast

In addition to the upcoming 'Straight Pride Parade' in Boston on August 31, homophobic folks on the other side of the country in California are attempting to hold their own faux 'Pride' event.

In addition to the upcoming ‘Straight Pride Parade’ in Boston on August 31, homophobic folks on the other side of the country in California are attempting to hold their own faux ‘Pride’ event.

Working under the name “National Straight Pride Coalition,” the organizers say they plan to “celebrate heterosexuality, masculinity-femininity, babies-born and unborn, Western civilization, our wonderful country, Christianity.”

These kinds of events are generally viewed as mocking the annual LGBTQ Pride events held across the country.

Organizers have applied for a permit to hold their ‘Straight Pride’ rally on August 24th in Modesto’s Graceada Park.

But the gay son of one of the organizers told the Modesto Bee he will ask City Council members to not issue the permit for the event.

Matthew Mason is the adopted and estranged son of one of the organizers of the event. He told the Modesto Bee“We don’t want hate in Modesto. I am making sure Modesto is not a place for hate speech.”

.mcclatchy-embed{position:relative;padding:40px 0 56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;max-width:100%}.mcclatchy-embed iframe{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%}

“They believe Western Civilization should be straight, white and Christian with a very specific gender binary,” explained Matthew. “They believe this should be a culture war. It’s rhetoric I’ve heard my whole life.”

The 28-year-old adds that he has no problem with people celebrating ‘straight pride’ in earnest. But adds,  “You don’t have to say that means (LGBTQ+ community members) are deviants. You can be Christians, but you don’t have to dictate that people in the LGBTQ+ community are not Christians. You can celebrate Western Civilization without saying, ‘West is best.’”

Matthew is currently planning a candlelight vigil to protest the ‘Straight Pride’ event. He also plans on addressing the Modesto City Council to urge it not to allow the event “because it has the potential for violence.”

Matthew’s biological mother, Kristi Ah You, is a Modesto City Council member. She told the local CBS News affiliate that the city will probably not grant a permit to the event because the event would constitute hate speech.

News Round-Up: August 2, 2019

Calum Von Moger (via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Bodybuilder and fitness expert Calum Von Moger shares the above pic with a humorous touch embracing his inner peacock as he writes, “I was made for this moment.” • LGBTQ Nation: While crime overall in major cities has declined over recent years, a new study shows hate crimes increased 9% over the last year. That makes for the 5th consecutive increase and the largest jump since 2015. • Gr8erDays: Follow this Instagram account for celebrity trivia from Hollywood days gone by.

Morning Consult: New polling shows the second round of debates among Democratic presidential candidates did little to shake up current standings. Thirty-two percent of Democratic voters still say former Vice President Joe Biden is their first choice, just 1 percentage point down from MC’s polling after the first debates. None of the candidates shifted more than 2 points. • Wall-Street Journal: While median income in the U.S. has gone up 14% in 30 years, housing prices have gone up 290% and college tuition has risen 311% making life for the middle class even more difficult. • Out Music: Swedish pop star Tove Lo drops her latest single, “Bad as the Boys,” a light, breezy, summertime pop bop which finds the singer teamed-up with Finnish singer ALMA. “’Bad as the Boys’ is about my first summer girl crush when I was in my teens,” says the singer. “It’s about that sting you feel in your heart when you know summer is coming to an end and so is the romance.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fk0YGYsSNA

Homophobe Israel Folau Sues For $10 Million & His Old Job

Israel Folau pictured center (image via Wikimedia)

Homophobic Australian rugby player Israel Folau has filed a $10 million lawsuit to the Fair Work Commission against Rugby Australia alleging he was sacked for his Christian beliefs.

Not only is the former Wallabies player demanding his job back, but 30-year-old also wants $10 million in compensation.

The Guardian reports Folau issued a statement regarding the lawsuit which read, in part, “No Australian of any faith should be fired for practicing their religion.”

But Rugby Australia maintains that it was Folau’s breach of the players’ code of conduct via his anti-LGBTQ social media posts that caused his dismissal, not “practicing his religion.”

The code of conduct requires players to “treat everyone equally, fairly and with dignity regardless of gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, cultural or religious background, age or disability.”

This is what Folau characterizes as “practicing” his religion:

Those that are living in Sin will end up in Hell unless you repent. Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your sin and come to him. _______________ Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these , adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19‭-‬21 KJV _______________ Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38 KJV _______________ And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Acts 17:30 KJV _______________
A post shared by Israel Folau (@izzyfolau) on Apr 10, 2019 at 1:18am PDT

“Whilst Israel is entitled to his religious beliefs, the way in which he has expressed these beliefs is inconsistent with the values of the sport,” said Rugby Australia at the time. “We want to make it clear that he does not speak for the game with his recent social media posts.”

In June, Folau launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to pay for his anticipated legal fees. But GoFundMe canceled that effort saying, “While we welcome GoFundMes engaging in diverse civil debate, we do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination or exclusion.”

But the Australian Christian Lobby, an extreme religious group, jumped in and helped Folau raise over $2 million for his legal battles to come.

It’s worth noting that Folau is a millionaire several times over. According to TheAustralian.com, he owns 8 homes worth over $5 million and a $500k Lamborghini.

So, why does he need fans to pay his legal bills?

In April of 2018, Folau said he has “no phobia towards anyone” but would not recant his social media antics. At the time he told rugby officials he would “walk away from his contract” if he comments hurt his sport.

I guess $10 million sounds better to him today.