LGBTQ news and entertainment
German-born pop star Kim Petras sat down with ABC News to chat on how her identity as a trans woman has shaped her music but doesn’t define her.
The 26-year-old talks about her idols (Kylie, Cher, Madonna, Gwen), selling out concerts and growing up in gay bars with her ‘gay homies.’
Really great profile. Watch below.
And while we’re here, check out Kim’s latest single, “Another One,” from her upcoming album, Clarity.
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| Donald Trump (L) Megan Rapinoe (R) |
After hearing that the openly lesbian U.S. women’s soccer team co-captain, Megan Rapinoe told a reporter, “I’m not going to the f**king White House,” if her team should win the the World Cup, Donald Trump took to his Twitter to rant at the soccer legend.
“I’m not going to the fucking White House.” – @mPinoe pic.twitter.com/sz1ADG2WdT— Eight by Eight (@8by8mag) June 25, 2019
Trouble is, Trump being Trump, he tweeted his rage at the wrong ‘Megan Rapino.’
“Women’s soccer player, @meganrapino, just stated that she is “not going to the F…ing White House if we win.” Other than the NBA, which now refuses to call owners, owners (please explain that I just got Criminal Justice Reform passed, Black unemployment is at the lowest level…….in our Country’s history, and the poverty index is also best number EVER), leagues and teams love coming to the White House. I am a big fan of the American Team, and Women’s Soccer, but Megan should WIN first before she TALKS! Finish the job! We haven’t yet invited Megan or the team, but I am now inviting the TEAM, win or lose. Megan should never disrespect our Country, the White House, or our Flag, especially since so much has been done for her & the team. Be proud of the Flag that you wear. The USA is doing GREAT!”
It appears someone at the White House tipped off the Donald about his latest gaffe and he retweeted.
Women’s soccer player, @mPinoe, just stated that she is “not going to the F…ing White House if we win.” Other than the NBA, which now refuses to call owners, owners (please explain that I just got Criminal Justice Reform passed, Black unemployment is at the lowest level…— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2019
….in our Country’s history, and the poverty index is also best number EVER), leagues and teams love coming to the White House. I am a big fan of the American Team, and Women’s Soccer, but Megan should WIN first before she TALKS! Finish the job! We haven’t yet….— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2019
….invited Megan or the team, but I am now inviting the TEAM, win or lose. Megan should never disrespect our Country, the White House, or our Flag, especially since so much has been done for her & the team. Be proud of the Flag that you wear. The USA is doing GREAT!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2019
Rapinoe isn’t the first athlete to decline a visit to Trump’s White House.
The Toronto Raptors shooting guard, Danny Green told the press a visit to the White House now that the Raptors are NBA champs is a “hard pass.”
More from the Twitterverse:
U.S. Soccer Star Megan Rapinoe: ‘I’m Not Going To The F**king White House’- and I don’t blame you one bit, Megan. https://t.co/07SrnjDTOt— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) June 26, 2019
Guy who molests the flag regularly when he’s not raping someone or grabbing a pussy, and disrespects the country with his every vulgar utterance is sad that Megan Rapinoe doesn’t want his hamberders. https://t.co/dV6PpzcsEb— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) June 26, 2019
Trump is now going after Megan Rapinoe because the “fuck your feelings” president flips out when members of groups targeted by his policies criticize him rather than knowing their place.— Adam Serwer🍝 (@AdamSerwer) June 26, 2019
Megan Rapinoe is an incredible athlete who for years has used her platform to speak out against police brutality and racial profiling. The President should not be attacking @mPinoe’s right to protest. https://t.co/QA5ee8loG7— GLAAD (@glaad) June 26, 2019
Btw, Megan Rapinoe has been one of the greatest human-athletes on the planet since she showed up on the scene. She’s an advocate, she’s a wonder, she’s always been far ahead of the curve, like this 2014 op-ed. We have stanned, and continue to stan. https://t.co/6qKAij8TNp pic.twitter.com/tiWFCwu2k8— Slade (@Slade) June 26, 2019
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| Robert Mueller |
Politico reports former special counsel Robert Mueller will testify in public before the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees on July 17:
Mueller was served with a subpoena after the Democratic-led committees and the former special counsel failed to agree on terms for his voluntary public testimony.
“Americans have demanded to hear directly from the special counsel so they can understand what he and his team examined, uncovered, and determined about Russia’s attack on our democracy, the Trump campaign’s acceptance and use of that help, and President Trump and his associates’ obstruction of the investigation into that attack,” Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said in a joint statement.
Robert Mueller has agreed to testify before Congress pursuant to subpoena.Russia attacked our democracy to help Trump win. Trump welcomed and used that help. As Mueller said, that should concern every American.
And now, every American will get to hear directly from Mueller.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) June 26, 2019
BREAKING: Robert Mueller will testify before Congress on July 17.
SOON TO BE BREAKING; White House blocks Mueller from testifying on July 16.— Amy Siskind 🏳️🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) June 26, 2019
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| So freaking cute…! |
Some news items you might have missed:
• Instagram: Handsome guy + handsome dachshund pup = HotDudesWithDogs
• Politico: Federal prosecutors have accused Rep. Duncan Hunter of improperly using campaign funds to pursue numerous romantic affairs with congressional aides and lobbyists
• The Hill: Donald Trump says he couldn’t have raped writer E. Jean Carroll because “she’s not my type.”
• Reuters: A member of an armed group known for stopping migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border has been arrested after authorities charged him with impersonating a U.S. Border Patrol agent
• AP: Illinois is the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana
• Emerson Polling: Latest polling shows five Democrats would beat Trump in hypothetical match-ups:
NATIONAL POLL:General Election Head to Heads
Trump 45% | Biden 55%
Trump 45% | Sanders 55%
Trump 47%.| Warren 53%
Trump 48% | Buttigieg 52%
Trump 48% | Harris 52%Full Results: https://t.co/PM0ybZf3a2 pic.twitter.com/enP7vGaAZ5
— Emerson Polling (@EmersonPolling) June 25, 2019
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| Lady Gaga |
Lady Gaga speaking at her concert Monday night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem:
“So it’s Pride Week. I wish it could exist 365 days of the year, but I’ll take a f–ing global week.
“Wow on Friday, the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. Yeah, that was when our community said enough is enough. And all hail to so many, including miss Marsha P. Johnson. What bravery, what courage. In the spirit of acceptance, the spirit of tolerance, the spirit of courage to be seen as you see yourself.
“I have learned so much over the years from all my fans. I feel so blessed, thank you for showing me and teaching me. And I’ve learned something very important to those people now, and I wish to share this with everyone who’s listening, not just in this theater, but around the world.
“Ask the question: ‘What. is. your. pronoun.’ Because for a lot of people, it’s really hard, and their pronouns aren’t respected or they’re not asked, and for me I’ve grown and changed over the years in a lot of different ways — I’ve felt misunderstood in different ways.
“All our hardships are different; I don’t mean to compare; I just mean to say we’re in this together, and I’ve had a million reasons to want to give up, and sometimes if you’re lucky you just need one good reason to stick around.”
The Willowbranch location of the Jacksonville Public Library in Florida had planned a Pride Month event for young people called ‘The Storybook Pride Prom’ this coming Friday.
The announcement for the prom at the Willowbranch Library for teens 14-18 read, “To celebrate National Pride Month, LGBTQ teens are invited to create their own ‘happily ever after’ at The Storybook Pride Prom! Come dressed inspired by your favorite book character — casual, formal, or in drag — whatever makes you feel great. Be you!”
Sounds like a wonderful event, no?
But virulently anti-LGBTQ activist Elizabeth Johnston mounted her broom and pushed a phone campaign that forced the Jacksonville Public Library to cancel the inclusive event due to threats of violence from homophobes.
“Express your disgust that this perversion is taking place in a taxpayer funded library!” Johnston wrote in a Facebook post.
After a deluge of phone calls and threats, Jacksonville Public Library wrote on its Facebook page that “the library is not confident that it will be 100% prepared to provide a safe, secure environment for customers, staff, volunteers, contractors, protestors and active supporters, and most of all for the teens themselves.”
In this week’s podcast:
• White House hopeful Elizabeth Warren has proposed allowing same-sex married couples be allowed to file amended tax returns for refunds
• A Texas couple found a touching note on their porch during Pride Month
• Terrorist threats at St. Louis Pride
• A wealthy Australian rugby player, stripped of his contract for homophobic social media, wants fans to pay his legal bills
• Pose star Billy Porter is getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
All that and more on this episode of The Randy Report
A member of Dogspotting Society caught this wonderful dog and his big stick on camera.
(h/t theOUTfront.com)
Superfruit, the out pop duo who have kept the summer of 2017 bopping with creative and colorful music videos from their two-part debut album Future Friends, offered this music video for the title track in September 2017 and it’s a knockout.
Playing opponents in a boxing ring, Mitch Grassi and Scott Hoying show skill (and skin) as they sing, “So if it all ends, I promise that one day we could be future friends.”
Grassi and Hoying are also members of the uber-popular Grammy Award-winning a cappella quartet Pentatonix. Noting the different musical sensibilities between the two group, Grassi told OUT, “With Superfruit, it’s a little more gay-friendly and a lot more open, more sexual, more liberated.”
I’m a big fan not only of the duo’s music but also their unapologetically g-g-g-gay aesthetic 🙂
Since 2013, Superfruit has amassed over 335 million views on YouTube.
I’ve previously featured Superfruit’s music videos for “Imaginary Parties,” “Vacation,” “Worth It,” “Heartthrob,” and “Bad 4 Us.”
Future Friends – Part One is available on all digital download sites.
Check out the new video below.
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| Homophobic rugby player Israel Folau |
Yesterday, I reported on homophobic Australian rugby player Israel Folau, whose hateful, anti-LGBTQ social media posts resulted in his being stripped of his multi-million dollar contract with Rugby Australia.
Looking to sue the sports organization, Folau launched a crowd-funding campaign via GoFundMe hoping to raise AUS$3 million.
But GoFundMe shut down the campaign citing terms of service violations and writing in a statement that, “We do not tolerate the promotion of discrimination or exclusion.”
Enter the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL), a Christian extremist political lobbying group, who have now set up a new fundraiser on its website with the same goal of $3 million on Folau’s behalf, kicking in the first $100,000 themselves.
As of this writing, ACL has banked over $1.5 million in just a day.
“There is an outpouring of support for Israel Folau from the Australian community, who see Israel’s case as their case,” said ACL managing director, Martyn Iles. “They feel the pinch of political correctness, and the erosion of their basic freedoms.”
“Folau’s supporters will only be emboldened in their commitment by what has happened,” adds Iles. “They were concerned about their freedoms, and GoFundMe has yet again reminded them that their concerns are real.”
“Israel’s case is our case if we want to live free and embrace our beliefs without fear of being marginalized or discriminated against.”
According to ACL, the new funds will be deposited in a trust for Folau to use only for legal expenses.
As I previously reported, TheAustralian.com says the 30-year-old rugby player is nowhere near the poor house as he owns seven homes located in and around Sydney reported to be worth over $5 million, and drives a $500,000 Lamborghini.