Category: Uncategorized

Posted on

Poll: President Obama leads in three important swing states

President Obama holds a narrow lead in three important swing states, according to new polling from NBC News and Marist College.  But the polls also indicate Mitt Romney is well within striking distance in each state.

The Marist polls show Obama at 48 percent in all three, while Romney trails by just a few points in each.

Here’s the rundown:
Florida: Obama 48, Romney 44
Ohio: Obama 48, Romney 42
Virginia: Obama 48 , Romney 44

Obama has a significant edge when it comes to favorability. The measure, which is more based on personal attributes than job performance, shows at least half of voters in each state rate the president favorably.

Romney, meanwhile, is in negative territory in Ohio and Virginia, suggesting he has some ground to make up when it comes to his personal brand.

Posted on

Anti-gay Family Research Council attacks Target for pride t-shirts

From Queerty: Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council has released a statement attacking Target’s inclusive gesture of selling gay pride t-shirts through the Target online website:

“Target’s slogan is “expect more.” And when it comes to their politics, Americans do… One of America’s biggest companies isn’t just named Target–it’s becoming one. Starting May 20, the mega-chain’s introducing a new line of same-sex “marriage” merchandise that says, “Love is love.” Target promises to donate 100% of the profits to a national homosexual group – but they don’t specify which one.

Retail analyst Britt Beemer says that Target’s strategy isn’t “very smart,” especially in conservative states, where it does the biggest business. “Anytime a retailer gets away from doing what they should be doing by being involved in a social cause, [they] lose.” The company said it wanted to “resonate beyond fashion.” But if they’re looking to resonate with Americans, they ought to try defending marriage. According to voters, the country’s still very opposed to redefining it. Let Target know that its agenda isn’t your style. Log on to target.com, scroll down, and click “Contact Us.”

Not sure if Perkins is being disingenuous or just illiterate —Target has clearly stated proceeds from the shirts will benefit the Family Equality Council, which supports LGBT families (a favorite target of FRC).

Also, the shirts — which are only available online—don’t say anything about gay marriage or even LGBT rights: The innocuous slogans, like “Love is Love,” “Harmony” and ‘Pride,” could mean almost anything. Which I’m certain that’s how Target planned it.

If you feel so inclined – check out the t-shirts on Target’s website by clicking here.

Posted on

Elton John hospitalized

Elton John has been hospitalized for a serious respiratory infection and it has temporarily derailed his concerts … according to TMZ.

Elton checked into Cedars-Sinai Hospital in L.A. at 6 AM Wednesday.  John underwent a battery of tests, after which the doctors recommended that he NOT perform for 7 days.  He was told he needed “complete rest and antibiotic treatment to prevent damage.”

The singer had to cancel 4 concerts scheduled this weekend in Las Vegas.

Elton tells TMZ, “It feels strange not to be able to perform these ‘Million Dollar Piano’ concerts at the Colosseum … I love performing the show and I will be thrilled when we return to the Colosseum in October to complete the 11 concerts.”

Elton added, “All I can say to the fans is ‘sorry I can’t be with you.”

It appears Elton has been released from the hospital.

Posted on

New Zealanders for gay rights say “WTF?”

Note – mature language

From the YouTube post: Everyone deserves to be treated with respect – It’s time we ask New Zealand WTF?!

More than 30 of New Zealand’s leading celebrities come together in this Rainbow Youth and Outline campaign.

For more information and to make a donation visit http://www.wtf.org.nz

Posted on

Leslie Ellis on The Candi & Randy Show

Listen to internet radio with CandiXRandy on Blog Talk Radio

Grammy Award winning vocalist Leslie Ellis joined us on The Candi & Randy Show to talk about life as a working singer/songwriter in “music city” – Nashville.

Through her career Leslie has sung with many artists including Celine Dion on “My Heart will Go On” – from the movie “Titanic” (for which Leslie won the Grammy) and Thomas Dolby on his latest album “Forty” (featured on “Hyperactive”). She sang the original soundtrack song, “Six Times Around the Sun” for the CBS mini-series, “Perfect Murder, Perfect Town.” Four of Leslie’s original songs appeared in the musical “Cowboy Cafe” and were performed live at the show’s premiere in North Carolina.

Her self penned “Flyer Song” was adopted by the US Navy and made into a video as a tribute to the troops and their families. She’s also written songs that were recorded by The Bellamy Brothers and NYC based recording artist David Ippolito.

As an actress, Leslie has appeared on television and the Broadway stage – CATS, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES and CITY OF ANGELS.

In 2007, she starred in an independent film called, “My Name Is Wallace” which was invited to the Cannes Film Festival; and in 2009 appeared in “The New, True Charlie Wu” as Eudiamonia.

Throw into the mix that she’s developing a new cooking show and you have a real achiever with a great amount of charm.

More info about the fantastic Leslie Ellis at www.LeslieEllis.com

Posted on

Daniel Craig goes shop-shop…

James Bond – Skyfall star Daniel Craig looking super agent cool in a pair of John Varvatos shades yesterday while doing a little shop-shop in NYC with wife, Rachel Weisz! 

Good enough for “James Bond” – good enough for me. 

Actually, my Michael loves all things John Varvatos.  Great designer.  If, somehow, you don’t know the designer’s fab work check him out at  www.johnvarvatos.com

Posted on

President Obama and the Fight for LGBT Rights

Glee star Jane Lynch narrates this documentary about LGBT rights in America. The video features a candid interview with President Obama, who speaks about the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, why he supports marriage equality, and what’s at stake for the LGBT community in this election.

Join LGBT Americans for Obama

Check out the new LGBT section – and list of LGBT accomplishments – of President Obama’s campaign website.

Posted on

Gen. Colin Powell supports same-sex marriage

Gen. Colin Powell said Wednesday on CNN’s “The Situation Room” that he supports legal same-sex marriage, either at the state or federal level.

“I have no problem with it,” he said in the interview, which will air at 5 p.m. ET. “In terms of the legal matter of creating a contract between two people that’s called marriage, and allowing them to live together with the protection of law, it seems to me is the way we should be moving in this country. And so I support the president’s decision.”


President Barack Obama announced his support of same-sex marriage, a change in his position, in early May.

Powell’s statements on Wednesday also represented a turning point in his own public statements on the matter. The former secretary of state was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when the military “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” position was implemented.

“It was the Congress that imposed ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ it was certainly my position, my recommendation to get us out of an even worse outcome that could have occurred,” Powell told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, recalling former President Bill Clinton’s support of overturning a ban on military service for gay individuals. After public opposition, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” was seen as a compromise.

Powell said he is aware of religious objections to same-sex marriage, but spoke primarily about it as a matter of public policy.

“I respect the fact that many denominations have different points of view with respect to gay marriage and they can hold that in the sanctity in the place of their religion and not bless them or solemnize them,” he said.

He said he has “a lot of friends who are individually gay but are in partnerships with loved ones, and they are as stable a family as my family is and they raise children. And so I don’t see any reason not to say that they should be able to get married under the laws of their state or the laws of the country.”

In 2010, Powell said he favored a military repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and was in “full support” of Congressional action which resulted in the policy’s repeal.

Posted on

BSmith ad celebrates gay marriage

For a quarter of a century, B. Smith Enterprises has quietly supported those in need by being the center of the community on Restaurant Row in New York City,  and will now be running an ad playfully supporting gay marriage in Dan’s Papers this weekend and throughout the summer.

Inspired by the six colors of the rainbow that symbolize gay and lesbian community pride (pictured), it says:

According to Dan Gasby, Chairman of B. Smith Enterprises, “B. Smith stands for civil rights and human rights; for people whom, no matter what their political leanings or religious beliefs, should be free to love who they choose unfettered. Coming off of President Obama’s recent support of gay marriage, we wanted to make a statement about how we believe the world should be. Our message: be thankful, be supportive, be expressive, be yourself. We also want to commend the NAACP for their courage and leadership in supporting and recognizing this critical human rights issue: people should be allowed to love whomever they wish.”