LGBTQ news and entertainment
In examining the outcome of the election, Bill O’Reilly laments the loss of his Leave It To Beaver world.
Stewart offered O’Reilly some soothing words of advice, telling him not to worry so much, because “America’s greatest tradition” is a “frightened ruling class lamenting the rise of a new ethnically and religiously diverse new class,” and every generation rises in the United States in order to give themselves and their children the opportunity to “sh*t on the next group” to show up.
James Davis of The Chippendales, currently appearing on CBS’ THE AMAZING RACE, stopped by “On Air with Robert & CC” to talk about life as a Chippendale, their new 2013 calendar, his passion for music with his progressive-metal band MY NAME ENGRAVED and the experience of racing around the world.
Click here to listen to the interview.
Betty Buckley made her Smith Center debut Thursday in Las Vegas with her fabulous show Ah Men – the Boys of Broadway.
Singing songs originally sung by male characters in the Broadway canon, she proves that when it comes to singing men’s songs – as the “tom boy” Annie Oakley would say – “anything you can do, I can do better.”
Buckley doesn’t pretend to BE men while performing these songs. She merely takes the songs and claims them for her own. And in doing so, she brings to bear the essence of the songs.
I’ll preface this post by saying I’ve admired Betty Buckley’s work for a long, long time. From CATS, to DROOD, to TRIUMPH OF LOVE, to SUNSET BOULEVARD, to GYPSY, to Carnegie Hall – I was there, and I appreciate the talent that is Betty Buckley.
Here are a few of my thoughts seeing this legend again live:
• With Buckley, you never get the sense that the song is there to be sung. It’s there to be lived. A song is never a vocalise, it’s a moment in time.
• Her magnificent voice is untouched by age, demonstrating the range and power that’s been a hallmark of her career. At one point in performance, she pulls the microphone feet away from her mouth, filling the 300+ theater with her voice unaided by amplification. Few performers are equally famous for both the big and the intimate moments. Buckley is of that rare breed.
• Taking the stage with bright, almost athletic power, she launches into “I Can See It” from THE FANTASTICKS with enviable ease. By the middle of the song she’s singing “I can hear it; sirens singing.” And with that it’s clear she is our siren and we, the audience, are spellbound.
• One of the evening’s highlights (and this is a show with nothing but highlights), is her interpretation of “Hey There” from THE PAJAMA GAME. Set to a gorgeous, almost hypnotic rolling motif by music director Christian Jacob, Buckley at the same time questions & consoles her inner self in musical gorgeousness.
• If you have to pick THE showstopper of the night, it is the one piece of “specialty” material written for the evening: “A Hymn to Her,” a clever rewrite by Eric Stern and Eric Kornfeld of “A Hymn to Him,” Henry Higgins’s from “My Fair Lady.” Invoking the voices of great male roles throughout Broadway, Buckley makes clear, in hysterical fashion, that men are put on notice – I. Can. Do. This. And she does.
• As she begins GUYS AND DOLLS’s “Luck Be A Lady Tonight” she notes that it is a perfect song for Las Vegas. And it is.
• Buckley shares one song from her newest show, The Other Woman: The Vixens of Broadway. “Another Suitcase In Another Hall” was gorgeous in it’s vulnerability and musicality.
• In a medley of three songs from “Sweeney Todd,” each written for a different male character, Buckley sang each in character. “Not While I’m Around” is delivered with earnest purity and truth; “Johanna” becomes an anthem of nearly unbridled desire; her chilling rendition of “My Friends,” in which Sweeney affectionately sings to his razors, makes it apparent that Buckley could easily be a most dangerous Sweeney Todd.
• While some artists retain the spotlight all evening, Buckley is generous to highlight her musical collaborators throughout the night. Ample credit is due to pianist, arranger & musical director Christian Jacob of the Tierney Sutton Band, drummer Matt Betton and bassist Peter Barshay, who provide superb support and sensitive musicianship throughout the evening.
• Many, many more great moments to speak of: “Come Back To Me” – love me some Burton Lane; WEST SIDE STORY’s “Maria” – a master class in intimacy; “Corner of the Sky” from PIPPIN – brought the evening full circle with full voiced vocals and optimistic ideals.
If you don’t have the opportunity to see Betty Buckley live, you can enjoy this suite of songs on her CD of the same name. Check it out on Amazon.
From Jaymes Vaughan and James Davis of The Chippendales are raising funds for Vaughan’s father who is in a tough battle with cancer:
My Dad always told me I could do anything I wanted. He encouraged me and made me feel like the world was mine to conquer.
Now he is battling one of the rarest forms of cancer in the world, and he needs help to conquer it.
Anything you can do to help me help him would be more than appreciated. No donation is too small.
Thank you for your continued love, prayers, and support. Bless Y’all…
– Jaymes Vaughan
Guest star Matthew Broderick’s “Dave” isn’t sure if he’s on a romantic date with Phil in “Mistery Date” episode.
The Democratic majority in Oregon’s House of Representatives is set to name openly gay state Rep. Tina Kotek as their new leader tonight.
Openly gay leaders will control legislative chambers in five states, according to the AP, up from two before the election last week. Senator Ed Murray, who is openly gay, was elected majority leader in neighboring Washington this week, while Rep. Mark Ferrandino was elected Colorado House speaker.
Oregon’s KATU offers more from Kotek herself:
Kotek said she didn’t set out to break barriers but is honored to represent the gay community. It’s important for the gay community to have role models in leadership positions, she said.
“We all look for people out there who look like us,” she said.
“I have had emails and text messages from people who are very excited,” Kotek said. “I think any time you have a ‘first’ it’s an important thing for the community.”
Denis Dison from Victory Fund, the national organization that backs LGBT candidates, said Kotek and her peers are just the latest example of LGBT Americans’ inclusion in the legislative system.
“For many years we were building a bench of openly gay officials who could step into those roles, and now we’re seeing that around the country,” he said.
JoeMyGod points out the Family Research Council’s latest money beg, which lays out their post-election priorities.
Remember, these are the folks who SWEAR they are totally not anti-gay:
We ask you to stand with us in three important ways. PRAY – With the re-election of Barack Obama, we now face another four years and simply put – one of the greatest challenges of our lifetime. PERSEVERE – Stand with us. Truth will win out! PARTNER – With your financial support, FRC will redouble our efforts to …
• Prevent radical homosexual activists from further harming the U.S. military
• Compel the Department of Justice to enforce the Defense of Marriage Act
• Challenge the provisions of ObamaCare which undermine families
• Stop the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)FRC needs your support now more than ever. Your gift before will help us continue to identify harmful policy, identify and embolden allies on the Hill and maintain God-given religious freedoms.
Thank you for your generosity at this challenging time for our country.
>>>Note that three out of four items are anti-gay.
Amy Poehler’s “Leslie Knopes” meets her hero Vice-President Joe Biden, who she has mentioned in past episodes is on her “celebrity sex list.”
(transcript via Politico):
“Oh, Mr. Vice President, I am deeply flattered, but there’s no way that I could take over Madam Secretary Clinton’s position,” Poehler’s not-so-humble character says.
“I’m confident you could do that job or any other,” Biden responds.
“OK, I will,” she says.
Biden thanks her for her public service
“I just want to say thank you,” Poehler’s character says, patting Biden’s face as the camera pans to show some of the vice president’s real-life advisers.
“You’re very welcome, you’re very welcome. Hey, you’re very welcome,” he responds and she grips onto his arms.
LGBT people kissing in front of Hôtel de Ville by f100001572602509
Videographer Morgane Thibault sjares this video he shot of a massive kiss-in held last night in front of the Hôtel de Ville in Paris. The Hôtel de Ville is the building housing the City of Paris’s administration.
He writes:
This is a video I shot last night in Paris while LGBT people were kissing in front of Hotel de Ville, to show support for the “marriage for all” bill which would extend marriage rights and adoption rights to homosexual couples. The bill is being harshly debated by a very aggressive right wing, which has prompted LGBT groups to show support in various ways including this symbolic action (a nod to the famous “Baiser de l’hotel de ville” photograph by Robert Doisneau)
(via Towleroad)