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Video: When You Feel Like Letting Go #HoldTight

Sweet video from New Zealand and Australia touches on that seemingly innocuous moment in life – when you want to hold hands with the person you love.

Straight people do it without thinking.

I have never held my husband’s hand in public without at least a tiny “something” crossing my mind.

Just about every LGBT person I know has done that “thing” where you let go as you approach a crowd, enter your parent’s house or feel the possibility of danger.

Now, to be clear, yes I hold my husband’s hand. But I hate that it crosses my mind to let go.

The only text in this 90 second video: “When you feel like letting go #HoldTight”

Hell yes.

#Forward

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Trump Produced Hollywood-Style Movie Trailer Starring Himself & Kim Jong Un

Well, this is… something.

It was reported earlier today that Donald Trump presented North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with a slick, four-minute Hollywood movie-styled video that cast Trump and Kim as the heroes of a story about “two men, two leaders, one destiny.”

Destiny Pictures presents a story of opportunity. A new story, a new beginning. One of peace. Two men, two leaders, one destiny. A story about a special moment in time, when a man is presented with one chance which may never be repeated. What will he choose? To show vision and leadership? Or not?

Via Vox:

“History is always evolving, and there comes a time when only a few are called upon to make a difference,” the narrator of the video says. “But the question is — what difference will the few make? The past doesn’t have to be the future. Out of the darkness can come the light, and the light of hope can burn bright.”

The video is heavy-handed in its Hollywood approach — it casts the potential reconciliation between North and South Korea as a “sequel,” and the narrator proudly declares, “Destiny Pictures presents: a story of opportunity.”

The short film was shown before Trump’s press conference after the meetings concluded.

The video is clearly meant to play up to Kim Jong Un’s ego, a tactic Trump must have wholly embraced because he knew HE would respond to such cinematic overtures.

Here’s the video:

Trump was asked if he was “concerned” whether the video might be used by Kim as propaganda?

“I’m not concerned at all,” declared Trump.

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Citing His “Special Bond” With Kim Jong Un, Trump Signs Agreement To Suspend Military Exercises With South Korea

Kim Jong-Un of North Korea with Donald Trump

After a half-day of “intensive” meetings, Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un publicly signed a joint statement Tuesday agreeing to pursue the denuclearization of North Korea although some described the document as “brief and vague.”

As part of the agreement, Trump promised to suspend joint military exercises with South Korea.

From NBC News:

The pact came at the end of a historic half-day round of negotiations that marked the first time a sitting U.S. president had met with his North Korean counterpart. “From the beginning, we got along,” Trump later told reporters.

Trump also confirmed military exercises involving American and South Korea forces would be put on hold for now. He said sanctions imposed against the Kim regime would not be removed until “we are sure that the nukes are no longer a factor.”

While the agreement fell short of outlining concrete measures that would lead to Kim giving up his nuclear weapons program — the stated long-term goal of U.S. negotiators — it gave Trump and Kim a piece of paper to point to as a sign of progress and a symbol of goodwill.

Trump told ABC News chief anchor George Stephanopoulos just hours after the summit meeting that he believes North Korea will denuclearize because of his newly-found “special bond” with Kim Jong Un.

“I do trust him, yeah,” Trump said. “Maybe in a year you’ll be interviewing and I’ll say I made a mistake. It’s possible. We’re dealing at a high level, a lot of things can change, a lot of things are possible.”

“I think our whole relationship with North Korea and the Korean Peninsula – it’s going to be a very different relationship than it has in the past,” Trump said. He went on to say that he and Kim have “developed a very special bond” and that they spent “a lot of time together today, very intensive time.”

At a press conference after the meeting of the two leaders, Trump acknowledged that he has invited Kim Jong Un to the White House and the North Korean leader has accepted.

Trump also shared that he has no notes from the summit because he doesn’t need them. “I don’t have to verify because I have one of the great memories of all time.”

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Podcast: Talking With Nevada State Senator Pat Spearman

Nevada state Sen. Pat Spearman

Today I’m talking with Nevada state Sen. Pat Spearman who is running for the Democratic nomination in Nevada’s District 4 for Congress.

The word “qualified” doesn’t even begin to cover the senator’s resume.

In her multi-faceted career, she’s earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, a Doctor of Business Administration degree, and a Masters degree in Divinity.

A 29 year veteran of the U.S. Army where she achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel, she was elected to the Nevada state Senate in two landslide victories.

Spearman is smart, smart, smart.

She’s the only LGBTQ candidate running in Nevada this election cycle.

Hit the play button as we talk about what’s at stake this campaign season.

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Ricky Martin: “I Wish I Could Come Out Again”

Pop star Ricky Martin says he wishes he could come out as gay again because "it felt amazing."
Ricky Martin

Stopping by ABC’s Popcorn with Peter Travers, pop superstar Ricky Martin chatted about his recent acting turn as Gianni Versace’s boyfriend Antonio D’Amico in FX’s “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” series which could earn the 46-year-old his first Emmy Award nomination.

Along the way, the subject turned to Martin’s positive outlook on life and the “Shake Your Bon-Bon” singer became effusive about how liberating coming out as gay was for him.

In fact, he says he wishes he could come out again.

“I always say this, I wish I could come out again. Because it felt amazing,” Martin said. “The freedom, the feeling of liberation was so powerful, that’s what I mean by saying I wish I could come out again because it just felt amazing. And then after that, people coming to me and saying thank you so much for coming out. Because of you, I understand my father better. I understand my sister better. So it’s an important thing to do.”

With LGBT Pride celebrations in full swing, the Latin hunk beamed with his message of self-acceptance.

“For those out there that are struggling with their identity, everything is going to be fine,” Martin said. “Just be yourself. Love yourself.”

The 46-year-old father of two also discussed how he’d feel if his kids were to come out.

“I don’t know, my kids are too young, but I wish they were gay,” he said. “It is a very special thing. The sensitivity, the way I see now, that I don’t have to hide in any way shape or form. I see colors. And then you see the rainbow. I understand why the symbol is the rainbow. It’s just real. Everything is tangible. It makes me a stronger person.”

Watch below:

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Tweet Of The Day: Wendy’s Shades IHOP

Wendy's throws shade at International House of Pancakes for changing name to International House of Burgers

The International House of Pancakes is changing its name from IHOP to IHOB and will now feature burgers, the company said in a tweet.

Not sure if the change will be permanent or just a stunt to promote hamburgers.

But Wendy’s isn’t scared of the competition, tweeting, “Not really afraid of the burgers from a place that decided pancakes were too hard.”

#FTW

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The 2018 Tony Awards Recap

And a good time was had by all.

Last night’s Tony Awards held in New York City was a terrific celebration of all things Broadway with several high points for the LGBTQ community.

The Band’s Visit, something of an underdog against big brand-name musicals Mean Girls, Spongebob Squarepants and Frozen, won an amazing 10 trophies including “Best Musical.”

Mean Girls went home empty-handed and Spongebob only snagged a Tony for “Best Scenic Design of a Musical.” The two productions were the most-nominated of the evening.

The smash hit play Harry Potter & The Cursed Child, a live follow-up to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter novels took home 6 Tonys including “Best Play” and “Best Direction of a Play.”

The acclaimed revival of gay-centric Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes starring Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane (both winners) won the Tony for “Best Revival of a Play.” Garfield’s acceptance speech for his work in the play was totally a win for the LGBTQ community:

Alex Newell, in spectacular, non-traditional casting as “Asaka,” led the cast of Once On This Island in a performance of “We Dance/Mama Will Provide” before winning the statue for “Best Revival of a Musical.” Watch Newell throw-down in life-giving style below:

Hosts Sara Bareilles and Josh Groban did a good job with their hosting duties mainly staying out of the way (in a good way) as well as offering a hilarious riff on the trials and tribulations of performing 8 times a week on a Broadway schedule.

The students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School performed “Seasons of Love” from RENT in honor of their drama teacher Melody Harzfeld who received this year’s Theatre Education Award as well as a $10,000 donation to the school’s theatre program.

And there was that little political bon mot from Robert DeNiro.

Introducing Bruce Springsteen (who was honored with a Special Tony Award )for a musical performance, the Oscar winner shared a few choice thoughts to the audience regarding Donald Trump.

CBS may have censored the statement but the packed house at Radio City Music Hall roared to a standing ovation after De Niro succinctly offered, “Fuck Trump. It’s no longer ‘Down with Trump!’ It’s just ‘Fuck Trump!’”

The Australian feed didn’t cut anything:

Check out all the performances and acceptance speeches on YouTube.

Here’s a complete list of those who took home Tony Awards last night:

Best Musical: “The Band’s Visit”

Best Play: “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”

Best Revival of a Musical: “Once on This Island”

Best Revival of a Play: “Angels in America”

Best Book of a Musical: “The Band’s Visit,” Itamar Moses

Best Original Score: “The Band’s Visit,” Music and Lyrics: David Yazbek

Best Leading Actor in a Play: Andrew Garfield, “Angels in America”

Best Leading Actress in a Play: Glenda Jackson, “Three Tall Women”

Best Leading Actor in a Musical: Tony Shalhoub, “The Band’s Visit”

Best Leading Actress in a Musical: Katrina Lenk, “The Band’s Visit”

Best Featured Actor in a Play: Nathan Lane, “Angels in America”

Best Featured Actress in a Play: Laurie Metcalf, “Three Tall Women”

Best Featured Actor in a Musical: Ari’el Stachel, “The Band’s Visit”

Best Featured Actress in a Musical: Lindsay Mendez, “Carousel”

Best Scenic Design of a Play: Christine Jones, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”

Best Scenic Design of a Musical: David Zinn, “SpongeBob SquarePants”

Best Costume Design of a Play: Katrina Lindsay, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”

Best Costume Design of a Musical: Catherine Zuber, “My Fair Lady”

Best Lighting Design of a Play: Neil Austin, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”

Best Lighting Design of a Musical: Tyler Micoleau, “The Band’s Visit”

Best Direction of a Play: John Tiffany, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”

Best Direction of a Musical: David Cromer, “The Band’s Visit”

Best Choreography: Justin Peck, “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel”

Best Orchestrations: Jamshied Sharifi, “The Band’s Visit”

Best Sound Design of a Play: Gareth Fry, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”

Best Sound Design of a Musical: Kal Harada, “The Band’s Visit”

Recipients of Awards and Honors in Non-competitive Categories:

Special Tony Awards for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
Chita Rivera
Andrew Lloyd Webber

Special Tony Awards
John Leguizamo
Bruce Springsteen

Regional Theatre Tony Award
La MaMa E.T.C.
New York City

Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award
Nick Scandalios

Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre
Sara Krulwich
Bessie Nelson
Ernest Winzer Cleaners

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My Special Pride/Tony Awards Playlist

Folks, don’t forget The 2018 Tony Awards are tonight on CBS at 8PM ET hosted by Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles.

My fellow LGBT blogger Larry over at The OUTFront asked me to come up with a special “Sounds of Pride” Tony Awards playlist as a guest post, and I figure why not share it here as well?

My goal was to share some magical moments from The Great White Way that also have a connection to the ideas of Pride Month for different reasons.

Let’s begin with the 1979 Tony Awards and “The Aggie Song” from Carol Hall’s The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. My dear friend Thommie Walsh (the original “Bobby” in A Chorus Line) was among the six nominations for the show at the Tony Awards that year, his for Best Choreography with Tommy Tune. While he didn’t win that year, his choreography was honored with Tony Awards twice – for A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine and My One and Only.

A sexy, naughty topic with hunky football players, the performance on the Tony Awards that year had to be edited for the national telecast 😉

In 2001, Thommie directed and choreographed a national tour of the show starring the on-and-only Ann-Margret.

Thommie passed away on June 16, 2007. I miss him every day. What an unbelievable spirit. Watch his work in action below.

Since the title of the post is “Sounds of Pride,” I’m going to go a little out-of-the-box and to include Paul’s monologue from the Pulitzer Prize-winning A Chorus Line.

Originated by Sammy Williams, who won a Tony Award for his performance, standing in a single spotlight for seven minutes, “Paul” shared his journey from bullied gay student to drag queen to aspiring Broadway dancer.

For the record-breaking “longest on Broadway” performance at the Shubert Theater in NYC, genius director/choreographer included past and present cast members in the ultimate celebration of the show.

For this moment, Bennett utilized a Greek chorus of “Pauls” chiming in with Sammy Williams as he re-created his Tony Award winning performance.

As I wrote earlier this year when Sammy passed away at 69, never before had a Broadway audience experienced such a raw, unfiltered version of our experiences in life as gay men. I remember seeing Sammy in the role in NYC and he was heart-stopping.

I wish I had the full monologue by Sammy but this gives you a sense of the incredible power of his performance.

Idina Menzel’s awesome performance of “Defying Gravity” from Wicked at the 2004 Tony Awards might seem like an unlikely choice for a Pride playlist, but her fearless rendition reveals much about the awesome sense of power we discover within ourselves.

Like countless audience members, I’ve enjoyed the show several times. But in this performance, check Idina’s expression at the :23 mark – she’s almost in awe as she realizes her own power.

“Something has changed within me, something is not the same.”

I never saw another “Elphaba” embody that specific thought.

And coupled with the blond, totally mainstream “Glinda” (by a perfect Kristin Chenoweth) who stands in admiration of her friend (check that 3:14 mark), I feel like this is such a metaphor for those who feel “other” and our allies.

“Unlimited – together, we’re unlimited.”

The message, at least to this gay writer, is clear. Our mission every day is to realize our own power. Even in the face of our haters.

“Look at her, she’s wicked. So we’ve got to bring her down.”

And of course, they do not.

From the ground-breaking RENT, the reprise of “I’ll Cover You” delivers in wide-ranging depth the sense of loss felt during the height of the AIDS epidemic.

Early in the show, this song is a flirty, fun moment of discovery between “Collins” and new boyfriend “Angel.” But in the aftermath of Angel’s passing, the same song takes on an entirely new meaning.

I wish I could find a great video of original “Tom Collins” Jesse L. Martin bringing this to life. But my friend Michael McElroy, veteran of 9 Broadway productions and who in 1999 became the founder and director of the Broadway Inspirational Voices definitely has the goodsin this clip from the official live-from-Broadway recorded version of the show.

“Live in my house – I’ll be your shelter. Just pay me back with 1,000 kisses. Be my lover and I’ll cover you.”

And finally, the gayest of the gay – the Tony Award performance by the original Broadway cast of the 1984 smash hit, La Cage Aux Folles.

I mean, seriously. Not only was this the first time Broadway musical audiences were presented with a loving same-sex romance, the indomitable Jerry Herman handed us our own anthem – “I Am What I Am.”

Plus – tap-dancing drag queens! Do I need to elaborate further?

Check out this performance from the 1984 Tony Awards where La Cage won 6 Tonys including “Best Musical as well as acceptance speeches from Jerry Herman, Harvey Fierstein, Arthur Laurents, and George Hearn.

“And now, I beg you – open your eyes…”

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Team Trump Rips Canada’s Prime Minister As “Weak” And “Dishonest”

Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada (L) and Donald Trump (R)

White House advisers attacked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as being “weak” and “dishonest” after Trudeau held a press conference at the G7 summit addressing proposed tariffs by the U.S.

From The Daily Beast:

The name-calling underscores the growing rift between the U.S. and one of its closest allies over trade policies and tariffs, and it threatens to further upend the progress on key economic issues that world leaders say they made at the G7 summit over the weekend.

“There’s a special place in hell for any foreign leader that engages in bad faith diplomacy with President Donald J. Trump, and then tries to stab him in the back on the way out the door,” top White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said on Fox News Sunday, echoing the president’s similar attacks against Trudeau. “And that’s what bad-faith Justin Trudeau did with that stunt press conference. That’s what weak, dishonest Justin Trudeau did.”

Trudeau, whose country hosted the annual G7 summit, announced during the summit that Canada was preparing “retaliatory measures” against the Trump administration’s decision to impose new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from his country.

“I have made it very clear to the president that it is not something we relish doing, but it is something that we absolutely will do, because Canadians—we’re polite, we’re reasonable, but we also will not be pushed around,” Trudeau said.

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LA Pride Oversells Tickets, Hundreds Of Angry Pride Attendees Turned Away

Image via Instagram – earlier in the day at LA Pride before the crowds exceeded capacity

Hundreds were turned away from West Hollywood’s Pride Festival on Saturday night, including many people who’d purchased tickets.

Over 100,000 have people turned out for the LA Pride Festival, meant to run before and after Sunday’s Pride Parade.

Although Saturday’s festival was meant to run from 12 PM to 1 AM the event hit capacity attendance by 10 PM. As a result, the fire marshal and West Hollywood Police stopped all entry to the festival.

According to some attendees, the police reaction might have gotten a little over the top with cops in reported riot gear.

“What were they expecting, Stonewall?” said Jerwyn Morton who flew in from New York City to attend LA Pride. “I have never seen so many cops in my life wearing riot gear at a gay event.”

From the LA Blade:

In the past several years, the event has faced an increasingly more complex geometry as the West Hollywood Park where it is held has been unavailable for the event. At the same time, organizers have added more and more high-end music programming and stages while reducing more carnival like attractions and vendors.

“The Festival has become a full on Rave. I went this evening because I wanted to simply stroll around the festival, but the line of early 20 something people was 20 people deep for several blocks, said Christopher Johnson, 44, of Long Beach. “I’m glad it’s successful but I’m not welcome. There’s nothing there for me anymore and it makes me feel old.”

NBC Los Angeles reported disturbances at the will call window and in the street, and an LA County Sheriff’s Department officer was assaulted.

Journalist Garrick Kennedy tweeted that the driving force behind the surge in ticket sales was headliner Kehlani’s fans.

LA Pride promoters announced that anyone who purchased entry to Saturday’s festival event will be able to use it on Sunday:

The LA Pride promoters did at least post video of Kehlani’s performance: