LGBTQ news and entertainment
This is the trailer for the 2013 video from the sexy rowers at the University of Warwick Boat club.
Follow the boys as they strip off for two days of shoots for the calendar in a variety of locations, including Warwick Castle, a large country house and, of course, the boys’ very own boathouse.
More info at www.warwickrowing.org
Ricky Martin will be the new coach of The Voice Australia.
He replaces Keith Urban who transferred to American Idol. He joins Seal, Joel Madden and Delta Goodrem for Season 2.
From The Hollywood Reporter:
Ricky Martin will join the Australian edition of The Voice as a coach for the music competition show’s second season.
The first season of the show on the Nine network became the country’s top-rated TV show. Martin replaces Keith Urban who left the show to take on his new role on American Idol.
Martin will join the Australian version of The Voice alongside coaches Seal, Joel Madden and Delta Goodrem for the 2013 season.
“Ricky Martin is one of the world’s biggest stars,” said Nine’s director of television, Michael Healy. “He brings huge experience to our panel of coaches, which he’ll pass on to our Australian Voice artists in 2013. Most of all, we think he’s the perfect addition.”
After helping make the show a hit, Ricky Martin will be leaving Broadway’s Evita at the end of January.
Martin, who plays Che, will join the musical’s two other leads in departing the show; all will be replaced. Martin’s final performance is January 26.
The pop star signed a deal to star in his own television show and is also considering going back to the studio, as well as writing a children’s book. Read more here.
(source)
A controversial “Dr. Oz Show” episode has sparked the ire of the nation’s most high-profile lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocacy groups for promoting the “dangerous and harmful practices” of reparative therapy.
The episode, which aired Nov. 28, debated the merits of so-called reparative, or “ex-gay,” therapy. Among the featured guests was Julie Hamilton, a representative of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (or NARTH) which has routinely been at odds with American Psychiatric Association and other scientific organizations.
In a blog post on his website, Oz defended Hamilton’s appearance, saying that he “felt that we needed to include all parties who have considered reparative therapy to hear the stories of people who have tried these treatments. Although some viewers may disagree with this tactic, if we want to reach everyone who might benefit from understanding the risks of this therapy, you have to present multiple perspectives.”
He then went on to note in the blogpost:
“After listening to both sides of the issue and after reviewing the available medical data, I agree with the established medical consensus. I have not found enough published data supporting positive results with gay reparative therapy and I have concerns about the potentially dangerous effects when the therapy fails, especially when minors are forced into treatments.”
GLAAD, GLSEN, and PFLAG yesterday a joint statement denouncing the show for its handling of the topic. An excerpt:
Producers of the Dr. Oz Show framed their program on so-called reparative therapy in a way that provided a lengthy platform for junk science.
The first two segments of the show featured two proponents of so-called reparative therapy, neither of whom was challenged, at any point, by Dr. Oz or any guests. These two “ex-gay” activists, however, were invited to stay and rebut statements by opponents throughout the rest of the program.
NARTH representative Julie Hamilton was introduced by Dr. Oz as an “expert” and spoke to countless parents and youth in the audience, as if NARTH’s work and practices represent legitimate and acceptable medical practices.
Producers held conversations with GLAAD, GLSEN and PFLAG National leading up to the episode, but did not disclose that a representative of NARTH would be featured.
Although the show also featured guests who condemned the idea and practice of “reparative therapy,” Dr. Oz himself never weighed in, and the audience was misled to believe that there are actual experts on both sides of this issue. There are not.
(source)
The fab, fun guys as AsapSCIENCE have a new two minute science lesson for us today.
If you were to compress the evolution of the world into one 24 hour period, this is how 4.5 billion years would play out.
Cool. Love these guys.
(via JMG)
In the last election, many anti-gay Republicans were voted out of Colorado’s state government. In light of that, LGBT activists and Democratic officials are confident they may finally pass civil unions there.
And according to the Denver Post, they’re going to start almost immediately after the new session commences.
After two years of fighting over the issue, the Republicans who controlled the House and killed the measure are out of power, paving the way for a civil unions bill to head to Gov. John Hickenlooper, who supports legal recognition for same-sex couples.
But the victory will be bittersweet for Sen. Pat Steadman, the gay lawmaker who has led the fight for civil unions.
The Denver Democrat said he believes allowing gays to marry, rather than just form civil unions, would truly represent equality, but marriage is banned under Colorado’s constitution.
And he won’t be able to share the moment with his partner of 12 years, Dave Misner, who died in September after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
“It’s going to be very sad for me, and sort of anticlimactic,” Steadman said.
Sen. Steadman points out that since voters amended the constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage, he has to abide by the rules:
“As a state senator, I cannot propose marriage equality because our constitution forbids it, and I took an oath to uphold our constitution,” Steadman told the paper. “But my oath also requires me to uphold the federal constitution and its promise of equal protection of the law. These obligations are in conflict and I cannot remain satisfied with the status quo.”
“Today, we reflect on the strides we have taken toward overcoming HIV/AIDS, honor those who have made our progress possible, and keep in our thoughts all those who have known the devastating consequences of this illness. The road toward an AIDS-free generation is long — but as we mark this important observance, let us also remember that if we move forward every day with the same passion, persistence, and drive that has brought us this far, we can reach our goal. We can beat this disease. On World AIDS Day, in memory of those no longer with us and in solidarity with all who carry on the fight, let us pledge to make that vision a reality.
“NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States do hereby proclaim December 1, 2012, as World AIDS Day. I urge the Governors of the States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of the other territories subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and the American people to join me in appropriate activities to remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS and to provide support and comfort to those living with this disease.” – President Obama.
The Weekly Standard is reporting that Rick Santorum is considering another run at the presidency in 2016.
In 2012, Santorum won nearly 4 million votes and 11 GOP primary contests — the same number of states, Santorum points out that Ronald Reagan won in his failed 1976 presidential bid.
“I’m open to it, yeah. I think there’s a fight right now as to what the soul of the Republican party’s going to be and the conservative movement, and we have something to say about that. I think from our battle, we’re not going to leave the field.”
Tom Daley does “the Mobot” in aid of the Mo Farah foundation.
Learn the Mobot with Olympic champion Mo Farah: http://bit.ly/DoTheMobot
‘Do The Mobot’ by Tigermonkey