Madonna Scores 9th Number One Album On Billboard With ‘Madame X’

Madonna's new album, Madame X, garners the 'Material Girl' her 9th number one album on the Billboard 200.
(image via Instagram/Madonna)

Madonna’s new album, Madame X, garners the ‘Material Girl’ her 9th number one album on the Billboard 200.

From Billboard:

The set, released via Interscope Records on June 14, launches with 95,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending June 20, according to Nielsen Music. Of that sum, 90,000 were in album sales.

The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units. Units are comprised of traditional album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). The new June 29-dated chart, where Madame X bows at No. 1, will be posted in full on Billboard’s websites on June 25.

Overall, Madame X’s debut sum of 95,000 equivalent album units is comprised of 90,000 in album sales, 1,000 in TEA units and 4,000 in SEA units.

Madame X grants Madonna her ninth leader on the Billboard 200. She last led the list in 2012, with MDNA. Here’s a look at all of Madonna’s No. 1 albums: Madame X, MDNA, Hard Candy (2008), Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005), American Life (2003), Music (2000), Like a Prayer (1989), True Blue (1986) and Like a Virgin (1985).

Madonna continues to have the second-most No. 1 albums among female artists, trailing only Barbra Streisand, who has 11. Among all acts, The Beatles have the most No. 1s, with 19. They are followed by Jay-Z (14), Streisand and Bruce Springsteen (both with 11), Elvis Presley (10), Eminem, Garth Brooks, Madonna and The Rolling Stones (all with nine).

Madge also scored a #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Song chart.

The Queen of Pop has landed at the top of Billboard’s chart more than any artist in history, snatching up 163 number one positions across all charts including Billboard 200, Hot 100 (singles), Dance and more.

Pride Music: Jamie Hannah “Sound Of My Youth”

Boy George protege, Jamie Hannah

Since 2017, Jamie Hannah has been working with Benny D, an award winning producer who has worked with artists including Stormzy and Kylie Minogue, to produce his debut E.P which will be released this year.

Brought into the project by Benny D, Boy George has been consistently impressed with Jamie Hannah’s voice, even going as far as saying that he’s never heard a voice like his.

The first single, “Sound of My Youth,” showcases his unforgettably smooth tone as the lyrics share the story of a past relationship that you just can’t seem to forget about, and the memories that continue to haunt you.

Jamie Hannah’s pure and emotive voice perfectly encapsulates the nostalgia and melancholy of the song while the lyrics document the singer’s feelings of ‘drowning’ and loss in a truly emotional way.

Hannah’s classical training at the Royal College of Music is self-evident on the track demonstrating real complexity and sophistication.

The track begins simply with a collection of dreamy, laidback synths before it’s quickly kicked up a notch by the addition of a weighty and pulsating drum beat and Hannah’s commanding vocals.

The track recently hit Top 5 on Music Week’s Commercial Pop chart.

Check it out below, and find more about Hannah on his Instagram here.

NBA Star Dwayne Wade On Supporting Son Attending Pride: “It’s My Job As A Father”

“I don’t really talk about it much because it’s Zion’s story to tell,” Wade said to Variety during an interview at Cannes Lions, the annual advertising conference in the South of France. “I think as a family, we should support each other. That’s our job. And my job as a father is to facilitate their lives and to support them and be behind them in whatever they want to do.”
Dwayne Wade

NBA star Dwyane Wade shared with Variety recently that it’s “his job as a father” to support his son attending a pride parade.

In April, Wade’s then 11-year-old son Zion posted pictures of himself at Miami Pride, with his siblings and stepmother Gabrielle Union.

Wade, who was on the road with the Miami Heat, chimed in and voiced his love for Zion on social media. “We support each other wide Pride!” Wade wrote on Instagram.

“I don’t really talk about it much because it’s Zion’s story to tell,” Wade said to Variety during an interview at Cannes Lions, the annual advertising conference in the South of France. “I think as a family, we should support each other. That’s our job. And my job as a father is to facilitate their lives and to support them and be behind them in whatever they want to do.”

Asked if he had a message for other parents during Pride month, Wade said it’s no different than parenting every other month of the year.

“I’m asked a question about my kids a lot from a sports perspective,” Wade said. “I think people expect you to parent each kids the same. They are all different, and I have to get to know them and where they are. I have to say to most parents, get to know your kids. Don’t put your wants and needs on them.”

Gallup: Trump Lags Behind Modern Presidents In Approval

Donald Trump

Gallup polling shows Donald Trump lags behind most other modern presidents in terms of approval ratings.

The approval ratings reported here are based on Gallup Daily tracking averages for President Donald Trump in 2017 and 2018, and periodic multi-day polls for Trump starting in 2019.

As you can see from the graphic below via Gallup, Trump’s current approval stands at 43 percent.

His highest rating to date in the Gallup poll was 46 percent in April, and his lowest was 35 percent in December 2017.

Click image to enlarge

Compared with previous presidents at this point in their presidency, though, Trump lags behind just about every modern president except Jimmy Carter who was mired in the Iran hostage crisis and a terrible economy.

Barack Obama garnered 46 percent approval at this point; George W scored 63 percent; Bill Clinton, even with impeachment looming, had 47 percent approval.

Touching Anonymous Note Demonstrates Why Showing LGBTQ Pride Is Important

An note from a young neighbor told a Texas lesbian her Pride flag inspired them to come out.

Earlier this week, partners Meghan Stabler and Sal Stow found a touching note placed under a rock on their doormat in Williamson County, Texas.

“You don’t know me, but my name is [redacted]” the note read. “We’re moving today, but I wanted to thank you.”

“Seeing a pride flag waving so proudly out side your house every day has given me the courage to come out to my family and be more comfortable with who I am,” the note concluded.

“This is why visibility is SO important,” Sal Stow wrote on Facebook in sharing the note. “You never know who needs the support and to know it’s ok. I hope this person is ok, their family is being supportive and they find a community to connect with that can help them through this brave process.”

She also explained that county officials recently voted 4-0 to not allow the Pride flag to be flown over the courthouse, but that won’t stop her from showing her pride.

“I am proud of who I am and the person I love” Stow wrote. “I will continue to be visible in whatever way I can.”

Catholic Bishop Told Jesuit High School To Fire Gay Teacher, School Said ‘No’

The Archbishop of Indianapolis told a Jesuit high school to fire a gay teacher. The school said 'no.'
Brebeuf Jesuit Prep School

The Archbishop of Indianapolis told a Jesuit high school to fire a gay teacher.

The school said ‘no.’

From CNN:

A Jesuit high school in Indiana can no longer call itself “Catholic” because it employs a teacher engaged in a same-sex marriage, the Archbishop of Indianapolis says.

Archbishop Charles Thompson’s decree, dated June 21, means that Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis will no longer be recognized or identified as a Catholic institution within the archdiocese.

Thompson said the church considers Catholic school teachers to be “ministers” of the faith.

“To effectively bear witness to Christ, whether they teach religion or not, all ministers in their professional and private lives must convey and be supportive of Catholic Church teaching,” the Archdiocese of Indiana said in a statement on Thursday.

In a statement, leaders from Brebeuf Jesuit Prep School said it has “respectfully declined the Archdiocese’s insistence and directive that we dismiss a highly capable and qualified teacher due to the teacher being a spouse within a civilly recognized same-sex marriage.”

The Rev. Brian Paulson, who heads the Midwest Province of Jesuits, said that the teacher does not teach religion and “is a longtime valued employee of the school.” The teacher is not named in any of the statements.

“To our knowledge, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis’ direct insertion into an employment matter of a school governed by a religious order is unprecedented,” said the letter from the school’s president, the Rev. William Verbryke, and two members of the board of trustees.

“This is a unique action among the more than 80 Jesuit secondary/pre-secondary schools which operate in dioceses throughout North America.”

InstaHunk Round-Up: Video Edition

Eliad Cohen celebrates Pride in Sao Paulo

Mixing things up on this fine Sunday, I thought I’d do an entire post of InstaHunks’ video posts.

First up, Eliad Cohen (above and below) checks in from the massive party that is Sao Paulo Pride.

Danny “Tree Man” Jones decided to get some (crowd) surfing in:

Nyle DiMarco was honored with the Alan Turing award for LGBTIQ Visibility award. Click to the second frame to watch his acceptance speech:

And I can watch Jeff Ferreira video himself and be happy:

Dan Tai offered this sample of his dancing skills:

What Steve Raider’s tumbling may lack in terms of form, he more than makes up for in “form:”

A post shared by Steve Raider (@steve_raider) on Jun 22, 2019 at 11:07am PDT

Ramses Principe took time to work out (for a change):

And as we bring this installment of InstaHunks to a close always remember to keep your eyes forward:

A post shared by Butts! (@allbootyguys) on Jun 23, 2019 at 5:50am PDT

View this post on Instagram

#allbootyguys 👀A post shared by Butts! (@allbootyguys) on Jun 22, 2019 at 7:12am PDT

Gay Teen Survives Being Disowned & Homelessness, Now He Helps Others In Need

Travis shares his story of homelessness

At 17-years-old, Travis was disowned for being gay.

In a heartbreaking video from Now This, Travis explains, “In my mom’s house, it’s God first and then family.”

His family signed a document informing him he would be arrested for trespassing if he stepped foot on their property again.

He used all his savings to move to Los Angeles and lived, for a time in a youth hostel.

But when his money ran out, he lived on the LA streets for weeks until the Los Angeles LGBT Center could secure a bed for him. The organizations also helped him find a job.

Now he’s helping others in his situation.

A 2012 study found 40% of homeless youth are LGBTQ, and 68% of those cases were due to family rejection.

Check out his story below.

Tweet Of The Day

I remember being close to their age in 1978.

God, the look in the kids’ eyes – the pain and confusion.

I’d be willing to bet a lot of the white kids seen in the beginning of this clip wear MAGA hats today.