RuPaul endorses Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom for governor of California
RuPaul appears in a PSA for California’s upcoming primary on June 5 urging folks to not only vote, but vote for Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom for governor.
“Today, I want to tell the world that I’ll be casting my vote for you, Gavin,” says the Super Model of the World.
Newsom gained headlines in the LGBTQ world when he began issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples back in 2004 (before same-sex marriage was the law of the land) during his tenure as mayor of San Francisco.
Many, including Mama Ru, credit Newsom’s actions with jump starting the marriage equality movement.
So there you have it, Californians. As Ru says, “If you don’t vote, you lose the right to complain. So – YOU BETTA VOTE!”
After canceling the much-ballyhooed summit with North Korea, Donald Trump now says the meeting with “supreme leader” Kim Jong-Un is back on.
But.
The Trumpster made a point of lowering expectations for the outcome saying this will be more of a “get-to-know-you” kind of meeting (cough**photo-op**cough).
The summit was cancelled by the president last week on the grounds that Mr. Kim’s government had shown “open hostility” toward his administration.
The president rescheduled the get-together with Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, barely a week after scrubbing it on the grounds that Mr. Kim’s government had shown “open hostility” toward his administration. In the days since, both sides worked to bridge the divide and proceed with the meeting.
The reversal followed an Oval Office meeting on Friday afternoon with a high-ranking North Korean envoy who delivered a personal letter from Mr. Kim to Mr. Trump. The envoy, Kim Yong-chol, the former North Korean intelligence chief and top nuclear arms negotiator, became the first North Korean official to set foot in the White House since 2000 and only the second ever to meet with a sitting American president.
Trump characterizes his just-concluded meeting with top North Korea officials as “a get-to-know-you situation,” says the June 12 summit with Kim Jong-un is on. pic.twitter.com/nEts5q8gln
NEW: U.S.-North Korea summit is back on, Pres. Trump says; “June 12, we will be in Singapore. I’ve never said it happens in one meeting — you’re talking about years of hostility, years of problems, years of hatred between so many different nations.” https://t.co/he9uLA17dypic.twitter.com/hSYtXLcBxQ
Trump lowering expectations for what will happen at Singapore summit: "It will be a beginning. I've never said it will all happen in one meeting."— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) June 1, 2018
Trump lowering expectations: “we’re not going to go sign something on June 12. the process will begin”— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) June 1, 2018
Bottomline: #NorthKorea committed to nothing and promised nothing, including denuclearization, and yet got a first-ever summit with the US president, something Pyongyang has desired for decades.
In honor of Pride Month (which began today), the Democratic National Committee issued this statement today:
“Pride Month is an opportunity to celebrate the vast contributions LGBTQ Americans have made to our society, to honor the generations of leaders and activists who have fought for equality, and to rededicate ourselves to the work that remains.
“We see the impact of LGBTQ Americans throughout our history. We see it in the hope of Harvey Milk and the trailblazing work of Pauli Murray. We see it in the courageous leadership of Bayard Rustin and the pioneering career of Sally Ride. We see it in the brilliant performances of Laverne Cox, the athletic dominance of Abby Wambach, and the indomitable spirit of the late Edie Windsor.
“Under President Obama, our nation continued its long march toward LGBTQ equality. We ended Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and we fought for transgender equality in schools, military service, health care, and public accommodations. Today, hospitals receiving Medicare or Medicaid funds must extend visitation rights to LGBTQ patients. Across the country, violence against LGBTQ individuals can now be prosecuted as federal hate crimes. And of course, marriage equality is now the law of the land.
“We’ve made incredible progress for LGBTQ rights, and we’ve seen LGBTQ candidates achieve historic victories up and down the ballot. But LGBTQ Americans still face hurdles to equality across our society – from bathrooms to bakeries to the ballot box. Every day, Republicans in Congress, the White House, and at the state and local level are trying to turn back the clock on LGBTQ rights.
“The Democratic Party stands with LGBTQ communities in America and around the world. We believe that no one should face discrimination, bullying, or violence because of who they are or who they love. And we will never stop fighting for the equality every human being deserves.”
As you may recall, while Donald Trump took time to recognize Great Outdoors Month, National Ocean Month, National Caribbean-American Heritage Month, African-American Music Appreciation Month, and National Homeownership Month, there was NO presidential proclamation for Pride Month.
Trump has, however, issued a ban on transgender people in the U.S. military after announcing via Twitter they would not be able to serve “in any capacity” in the armed forces.
Additionally, there have been executive actions in the name of “religious freedom” that make anti-LGBT discrimination easier and the Justice Department now excludes LGBT people from the enforcement of federal civil rights law.
Don’t hold your breathe for any change in LGBT policy from the Trump White House.
President Obama issued a presidential Pride Month proclamation every year of his administration.
Australian electronic musician Pogo, aka Nick Bertke, says his anti-gay rant wherein he cheered the Pulse Nightclub massacre posted yesterday was just a bit of fun to attempt to “trigger” people.
YouTube has since deleted the Aussie’s hate rant which probably has something to do with his “explanation” today.
Pogo now claims in a new video the whole bit was a bit of trolling to “grind the gears” of Internet folks who get triggered too easily.
“The things I said in this video I think have deserved the reception that the video has had. I love confusing people. Then I took it too far.”
“There is no pinch of salt big enough to be taken with what I have said. It’s all good and well for me to open a valve and to draw people out into the open – people I don’t like, you know, hypocrites etcetera, but I feel very strongly that it’s been very naive behavior on my part.
“If I’m going to tuck my tail between my legs and admit anything it’s that these posts and these videos and these things I’ve made for the sake of being edgy have not contributed to any productive conversation.”
He then confuses a bit by giving props to professional provocateur Milo Yiannopolous saying, “I like some of the things people like Milo Yiannopoulos say, but I don’t like the way he says them.”
Predictably, he eventually plays the “I can’t be homophobic because I have gay friends” card.
“Apparently I hate gay people,” says Pogo. “Many of my friends and supporters are gay. There is definitely a degree of irony.”
Pogo also shares in an accompanying note that empathy is “muddled” for him because he himself is “bicurious” and also says he has Aspergers and Bipolar disorder.
“I don’t hate gays. I am in fact bicurious myself, and it has not been easy within the culture I have been raised. The 2016 video circulating was a satirical sh*tpost made in bad tastes and I never intended for it go public. I have Asperger’s and Bipolar disorder so my sense of humour and empathy for people is often very muddled. It’s a condition I’ve struggled with for many years as an artist who feels passionately about things and who faces the public eye every hour of my life. The internet has taken the video very far out of context and proportion, but I am very sorry to the people who I the video has hurt or confused.”
LA-based psychotherapist Matthew Dempsey‘s has made a name for himself on YouTube with his thoughtful insights on issues like racism, aging, masculinity, depression, and other topics of interest to gay men.
In the handsome therapist’s latest video, he uses his own smoking hot body as a visual aid to address the issue of body positivity and feeling comfortable in our own skin
Now, before we go any further, Dempsey admits in a note published with the video that he expects some “eye rolls” and “rejection” over revealing his flat abs and sculpted chest in an interview about “loving yourself at any size.”
“I understand how ridiculous that message can be coming from me,” says Dempsey. “Genetics has given me an unearned advantage in life and it’s easier for me to love my body when the world around me tells me it’s looking just fine.”
Matt says the interview and photo shoot by Jerrad Matthew isn’t “a ploy to nab some extra attention” but a vehicle to share his own concerns about showing his body out of fear that folks would not take him seriously.
“I’ve been afraid to show any of my body for fear that others could feel worse about theirs or even more that you would all think I’m a fraud and not care about me or what I have to say anymore,” says Dempsey. “I can sometimes get stuck in trying to predict what others want from me and not disappoint and my social media presence has been no exception.”
“So, here’s to a little bit of ego, a lot of surrender, and a whole lot of beauty in a shoot created by my friend Jerrad Matthew.”
Perusing comments on several LGBT websites, it appears the video might have backfired to some degree as some have chimed in with those predicted “eye rolls.” A few detractors say taking off your shirt when you’re handsome and ripped isn’t really much of an exercise in “feeling comfortable in your own skin.”
I think Dempsey looks mighty fine shirtless or otherwise. But what do you think, readers?
Does Dempsey’s lesson in challenging body issues land? Watch below.
• Well, hello there fitness trainer Anatoly Goncharov (above). Aren’t you handsome…? #woof
• An Army veteran is suing the Department of Defense over its policy of excluding people with HIV from enlisting, being deployed overseas, or being commissioned as officers. Sergeant Nick Harrison was denied a position in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps because of a 1980s-era policy that judges HIV+ people to be “non-deployable.”
• Pop star Pink tweeted a pic of her wearing an HRC hat embroidered “Make America Gay Again” just in time for Pride Month. #iLovePink
I’m not usually one for animated series, nor am I the biggest drag fan, but I find I like most of what Netflix offers so I’m gonna give this a try.
The streaming service shared a teaser video today to announce it’s new animated series, Super Drags.
The five episode-series, scheduled for the second half of 2018, will chronicle the adventures of superhero drag queens.
From the YouTube description: “During the day, they work in a department store and deal with their uptight bitchy boss. By night, they tighten up their corsets and transform into the baddest SUPER DRAGS in town, ready to combat shade and rescue the world’s glitter from the evil villains. Get ready, because the SUPER DRAGS are going deeper than you think.”
Brazilian website CosmoNerd has more details (via Google translation):
“Super Drags is another powerful and proud addition to the diversity of Brazilian originals from Netflix and brings us the adventures of three young people with a super normal life … during the day, Patrick, Donny and Ramon work in a department store. With annoying customers and a picky boss. At night, they release their inner divas to become Lemon Chiffon, Cran’s Sapphire and Crimson Scarlet: three incredibly fabulous Super Drags who have been recruited to gather the LGBT community and spread glitter in the world.”
I wonder if a certain “Super Model of the world” might make an appearance…?
Trump announced his decision to pardon pundit and filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza, who pleaded guilty in 2014 to U.S. campaign finance law violations and was an outspoken critic of Democratic former President Barack Obama, on Twitter, saying he had been “treated very unfairly by our government!”
The Republican president then told reporters on a flight to Houston he was also considering a pardon for Stewart, who was convicted in 2004 on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and making false statements in an insider-trading probe.
James Comey, who Trump fired as FBI director last year and has repeatedly attacked, was the lead federal prosecutor in Stewart’s case and played a role in the prosecution of Lewis “Scooter” Libby, the chief of staff to former Vice President Dick Cheney. Trump pardoned Libby in April.
Trump also said he might commute the 14-year prison sentence of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat convicted of corruption charges, and was considering pardoning a woman convicted of a drug-related charge after reality TV star Kim Kardashian discussed the case with him on Wednesday.
D’Souza was found guilty of breaking campaign finance laws in 2012 by using straw donors to raise $20,000 — far more than the legal limit — for his friend Wendy Long, who was running for U.S. senator.
He paid a $30,000 fine, spent eight months partially confined and served nearly five years probation before Trump announced the pardon via tweet.
D’Souza says he was targeted by the FBI for prosecution because of his documentary, 2016: Obama’s America, which took a negative view of President Barack Obama.
He was not “treated very unfairly” in that he actually broke the law he plead guilty to. Trump likes D’Souza because he criticized Obama.
D’Souza took to Twitter to mock former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara (“He got fired & I got pardoned”) whose office prosecuted D’Souza’s case and was fired by President Trump last year.
The President has the right to pardon but the facts are these: D’Souza intentionally broke the law, voluntarily pled guilty, apologized for his conduct & the judge found no unfairness. The career prosecutors and agents did their job. Period. https://t.co/bA3I8vs4QQ via @politico
(all images courtesy of The Boys in the Band Broadway revival)
I recently wrote about Matt Bomer’s nearly naked mishap during the previews of the Broadway revival of The Boys In The Band, the iconic homocentric play by Mart Crowley.
To recap, Bomer forgot to check his props before a preview performance and after showering onstage realized he had no towel to cover himself with. But being the pro that he is, Bomer soldiered on through the scene wearing just his wet, tight white briefs.
Tonight, the 50th anniversary production premieres on The Great White Way. And the production has released several promo pics – including one of Bomer in those very tight, white briefs.
The Boys in the Band is rightfully considered a landmark as the first mainstream play to explore gay men’s lives onstage, without filter or judgement. Premiering off-Broadway in 1968 in New York City, this was all before the Stonewall riots which launched the gay rights movement.
The comic drama became an instant sell-out and ran for over 1,000 performances.
The movie adaptation, released in 1970 featuring the original stage cast, continues to be a milestone in queer cinema.
First produced in 1968, Crowley’s biting comedy drama is a groundbreaking work among pre-Stonewall depictions of LGBTQ characters, chronicling the fun and frictions that emerge when a group of gay male friends gather for a boozy birthday party in New York City. The play is loved and loathed to an equal extent, with some calling it a perpetuation of negative bitchy stereotypes and others hailing it as a breakthrough in its intimate exploration of the attitudes and behavior of gay men at a time when cultural representation was minimal.
With direction by Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello (Wicked, Assassins), the new production features an all-gay, star-studded cast led by Jim Parsons, Matt Bomer, Zachary Quinto and Andrew Rannells.
Also starring in the play are Charlie Carver, Michael Benjamin Washington, Brian Hutchison, Robin de Jesus, and Tuc Watkins.
The limited 15-week run of the production is being produced by Wicked’s David Stone and out TV producer Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story, GLEE)
Pogo fist pumps in honor of Pulse Nightclub massacre
I should sub-title this post “How to lose your job in less than two minutes.”
Pogo, aka Nick Bertke, an electronic musician from Western Australia whose videos remixing Disney animated classics have drawn more than 200 million views on YouTube, surprised his fans today in a video explaining the name of his channel – Fagottron.
For years many LGBT fans and outlets have shared his videos assuming his YouTube channel name was a nod to his own out and proud gayness.
But, no.
In the video, Berkte happily breaks down for his fans his “robust resentment” of the gays and actually fist pumps when he references the Pulse Nightclub shooting calling the deadly massacre “just fantastic.”
From the video:
“I came up with ‘Fagottron’ because I’ve always had a very thorough dislike of homosexuals. I’ve never liked a grown man acting like a 12-year-old girl. I’ve always found that to be quite disgusting.
“So, I thought to myself, how can I best express to the world that gays are just an abomination?
“So I thought, here in Australia – well, in America as well – you like to call gays ‘fags’ or ‘faggots.’ I think nothing encapsulates the sissiness of a gay guy quite like the word ‘faggot.’
“So, I thought to myself, I’m going to call myself ‘Fagottron’ and hopefully people get it.
“I have a fairly robust resentment of the gay community. I don’t want to really get into this, but when there was the Orlando shooting and the guy was shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ or something I was like (pumps fist).
“But yeah, I’ve got to be a bit careful with that because well, you know, I don’t like gays – but I don’t want to see people getting killed in nightclubs either.
“But still, I mean, it’s just fantastic. It just amazes me to see the West welcoming in a culture through the floodgates that wants gays dead (laughing). I think that’s fantastic.”
According to JoeMyGod, Bertke got a gig with Pixar and Nickelodeon after his work remixing Disney’s animated classics drew widespread acclaim. We’ll be curious to see if Pixar likes what they see today…
I wonder if he’ll try walking this back saying he was on Ambien?
