LOGO Network to abandon most gay-only programming
Logo TV says the network is planning a shift in programming – which will abandon most of its gay-onlyTV lineup – follows a study that more closely identifies the way the LGBT community lives today. Findings suggest that 53 percent of gay people live openly but without a priority to showcase their sexual orientation. Only 30 percent of those surveyed say they preferred living and socializing in an exclusively LGBT community.
“The gay community continues to evolve in size, influence and identity,” said Starcom Mediavest’s Esther Franklin, EVP, head of SMG Americas Experience Strategy. ”Beyond Demographics (TM) allows us to understand the needs of this critical community as they emerge and to paint a clearer, more specific picture of what’s meaningful and relevant in their lives.”
The updated lineup at Logo will feature shows akin to “America’s Next Top Model”, “Laguna Beach”, and “Storage Hunters” after producers of those shows have signed on to produce programming absent of gay-focused plots.
Logo says it will not abandon some of its prime gay TV including “RuPaul’s Drag U” – one of the network’s top-performing shows.
I was under the impression that the POINT of Logo was to provide gay-centric programming. I’ll be interested to see how these changes are implemented. Several professionals I know in the TV/entertainment field tell me Logo rarely knows what it’s doing, and is run by people with little “big picture” experience.
I know from my own personal viewing experience in trying to support the network, it has seemed erratic in the moves it’s made in terms quality and quantity of programming.
Time will tell.
(source)
Greg Quinlan cries as society moves forward
“I do not believe this Field Poll of 59% of California regular voters support same-sex marriage. That just flies in the face of the two real polls, two elections — one to change the laws in California, the other one to change the state Constitution. The California voters want marriage to be one man, one woman — period. In spite of the massive amounts of money, of being out-stanced and out-maneuvered, and with foot soldiers on the ground, the homosexual agenda still cannot get a majority of the voters in any state, anywhere in this nation to approve homosexual marriage — not one time.” – “Ex-gay” leader Greg Quinlan, claiming that yesterday’s poll was faked.
This is Greg Quinlan crying in his Post Toasties because society is evolving and he wishes it wasn’t.
The Field Poll is a non-partisan independent organization. 59% to 34% is a wide margin to be wrong.
The poll’s director, Mark DiCamillo, tells The Sacramento Bee that the growing support shows that opinions are changing as younger voters replace older voters. And as California’s marriage battle plays out in the courts, and judges in other states rule against traditional marriage, he says the opinion of the people is changing.
You can’t just say “I don’t believe” to make it go away, Greg. Society is evolving. It’s happening.
Forward.
Interview with US Marine whose homecoming pic went viral
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy So glad this story getting so much attention.
William Levy – newest (and hottest) addition to Dancing With The Stars shirtless
William Levy – newly announced cast member of this seasons Dancing With The Stars – is a former model and reality TV star who’s transitioned successfully to acting on soap operas and in film.
His hunk status was solidified when People en Espanol named him one of its “50 Most Beautiful People” in 2011.
Despite Levy’s success in the Latin market, the 31-year-old Cuban says appearing on American television fulfills one of his childhood dreams: “When I was in Cuba, when I was little I always dreamed about being here and I always dreamed about doing something in the American market, being in Hollywood, you know, so it’s good to feel that it’s getting closer and closer, my dream is getting closer and closer to be reality.”
Where my husband is right now…
The Winter Party is underway in Miami, featuring five days and nights of parties, from a Nurse Jackie cocktail reception at Score to Matinee at Space Miami.
The best part: Proceeds benefit the National Gay And Lesbian Task Force!
Of course, the only reason Michael is attending is the charitable component. That’s Michael – give, give, give. Plus he had some business meetings to attend. Good thing it just happened to coincide with the Winter Party.
Have fun down there kids!
p.s. don’t cry for me – I’m not a huge party guy. I’ve got great weather, the house to myself, a bottle of Chardonnay chilling for a late afternoon dip in the jacuzzi… life is good 🙂
How French athletes celebrate a goal
In a recent match, Mathieu Debuchy, who is a midfielder with Lille, passed the ball to Olivier Giroud who scored the point. Debuchy then ran to Giroud who grabbed his head with both hands and kissed his teammate.
The clip has been shown over and over in Europe, and the hashtag #Debuchy was still a trending Twitter tag on Thursday morning.
Now how do I sign up?
Newt Gingrich PROMISES $2.50 gas
The truth is gas prices have been going up, though they remain below the high reached in mid-2008 and they were kept unnaturally low in late 2008 and 2009 due to the Bush Recession.
But Republican claims about energy independence, the purported need to “drill, baby, drill,” and the alleged refusal of the Obama Administration to allow energy development are simply false.
The fact is US oil production is at an eight year high. The U.S. exported more gasoline, diesel and other fuels than it imported in 2011 for the first time since 1949, and U.S. dependence on foreign oil has declined every year since President Obama took office.
The reality of the situation is that oil and gas prices are set by a global market that is largely beyond the reach of any U.S. President.
The biggest cause of the increase in gas prices is skyrocketing demand for gas and oil in China, India, and other rapidly developing nations which are pushing up prices globally.
Second, supply disruptions in the middle east has at least temporarily reduced global supply.
Third, concerns about a possible military conflict with Iran (which many conservatives are actively cheerleading) has created an opening for financial speculators to drive oil prices up even more.
Contrary to the Republicans’ caterwauling, there is little that President Obama, or any other political leader, can do to force gas prices to decline.
That being said, here’s what President Obama has done:
• significantly increased vehicle efficiency in order to reduce the amount of gas Americans need to purchase. In April 2010, the Administration finalized a regulation increasing Corporate Average Fuel Economy (“CAFE”) standards for cars to 35.5 miles per gallon (“mpg”) by 2016.
• been actively investing in developing alternative fuels, such as algae-based biofuels that could replace up to 17% of our nation’s oil imports.
• sought to end the more than $4 billion of taxpayer subsidies that the oil industry receives every year. When the oil companies are making record profits they don’t need the American tax payers money. The President wants to use those subsidies to help finance the transition to cleaner fuels.
The fact of the matter is the GOP “drill, baby, drill” solution won’t bring gas prices down any time soon. And it’s a short sighted solution to begin with. Fossil fuels will eventually be used up. At SOME TIME in the future we have to commit to finding newer, cleaner, more renewable sources of energy.
Idina Menzel on being barefoot at the symphony
In the new Idina Menzel Live: Barefoot at the Symphony — filmed at Toronto’s historic Royal Conservatory of Music and airing on PBS Saturday, followed by an album, DVD, and digital download available Tuesday — Idina reaches back into the amazing musical repertoire that she’s spent over 20 years putting together.
The Advocate: Idina Menzel Live: Barefoot at the Symphony features lots of songs that fans would expect you to perform as well as some surprises. How did you choose the material?
Idina Menzel: The idea of having this magnificent, thrilling orchestra behind you is incredible, and yet it can be daunting, so I wanted music that would live and breathe but also strike a balance and maintain an intimacy. It’s an eclectic mix. There’s a lot of theatricality, but then there are moments when I talk to the audience and get personal, so it sort of came from that. I knew I wanted to share certain aspects of my life, so I figured out which songs would chronicle that.
For your signature songs, is it important to rework them?
Yes, but I have to be careful. A song like “Defying Gravity,” which I’ve sung so many times, in the past I’ve tried to mess with it too much. This time around, with the orchestra behind me, I decided to just sing it. My goal was to evoke that amazing moment in the show [Wicked], so I went back in that respect and really didn’t shy away from the drama and the theatricality of that moment.
Speaking of “Defying Gravity,” why do you think so many people respond to that song?
At some point in our lives, I think all of us feel that we’re weird or different. I know I can be very self-conscious about who I am and how I’m perceived. And it’s at that moment in the show that [Elphaba] decides, “I’m going to do this differently now. I’m gonna stop caring about what people think and just embrace who I am. Fuck what anybody else thinks.” She’s our hero because she stands up and does it. There’s also the other aspect that as a woman, it’s sometimes hard to be really fierce and strong. You want to be kick-ass, and yet as women we’re sometimes afraid we’ll be perceived as a bitch. The song is that character’s way of harnessing her incredible power and using it to change the world and influence people while not fearing her strength. I’m so thankful that I had that show because I could live in her world and be as powerful as I wanted.
Your song “Gorgeous” from your last pop record [I Stand] is a perfect anthem for marriage equality. Was that in your mind when you were writing it?
It totally was. It’s inspired by one of my best friends in the whole world, who moved to Rotterdam, Holland, to be with his boyfriend. It also fed into my own marriage — an interracial marriage — and the idea that it drives me up the wall when people don’t just mind their own business. We should be able to be who we are and live our lives — and the song was my response to feeling frustrated about that.
When did you first become aware of the battle for gay rights?
Probably when I was cast in Rent. By playing Maureen I was educating myself on …
What it was like to be a big, bad lesbian?
Yes! [Laughs] No, more about the experiences of the gay community. After seeing the show, young kids would write me letters saying they saw themselves in these characters and how grateful they were that we were celebrating them. This show gave many of them permission to be who they were. Wicked sort of carries on in that same tradition. It’s not necessarily about whether or not you’re gay, but it’s about finding who you are and celebrating that. So, while it wasn’t something I was necessarily planning on, I really took notice and understood that these people confiding in me was a gift, so I want to be as vocal as I can be for all of those who sat in the audience and made me feel so good.
Human Rights Campaign names Chad Griffin as new president
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Chad Griffin, the Los Angeles-based political consultant whose central role in the Proposition 8 lawsuit turned him into a national LGBT rights figure, has been named president of the Human Rights Campaign.
A major fundraiser for the Obama campaign who began his career in the early days of the Clinton White House, Griffin will replace current president Joe Solmonese at the helm of the $40 million organization on June 11, HRC announced Friday following a board of directors vote. Solmonese, who joined HRC as president in 2005 and said in August that he would leave after his contract expires at the end of this month, will continue in his role until June. Solmonese was named a national co-chair for the Obama campaign last month.
In its pick of Griffin as president, HRC has chosen someone who was shaped from an early age by Washington political culture yet who is not defined by it, having spent the vast majority of his career outside the Beltway.
Griffin, 38, is a fervent supporter of President Obama with personal ties to White House officials, but has pushed the bipartisan case for marriage equality, notably hiring former George W. Bush solicitor general Theodore Olson to co-lead the Prop. 8 suit and aligning with conservatives including gay former Republican National Committee chair Ken Mehlman, who has raised money for the legal effort.
Griffin has been openly critical of the president’s ‘evolving’ position on marriage equality, calling Obama’s indicated support for state’s rights on deciding who can marry “a step backwards.” And, central to the job, Griffin has a proven ability to be a formidable fundraiser.