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Short Film: Ian McKellen On Growing Up Gay And Coming Out

In this compelling short film (directed by Joe Stephenson for Tate Britain’s new Queer British Art exhibit), Scott Chambers gives an emotional performance evoking the feelings of a young Ian McKellen, as the acclaimed actor narrates his account of growing up in a time when there was no possibility of being out as a young gay man.

“Gay people, homosexuals, conducted their lives as secretly as possible. There was nobody who was out. Nobody.”

“Part of the reason I proselytize, talk about being gay, is because I don’t want today’s children not to enjoy their sexuality, be aware of it, think about it, puzzle about it, discuss it, have it out in the open, because of course it’s central to what you are.”

Watch below:

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SNL Round-Up: Louis C.K. Kills, Pepsi Commercial Director Gets It Too Late, And Double The Trump

My favorite moment from last night’s SNL – host Louis C.K.’s monologue (““I’ve been doing this for 32 years now, and it’s been going great for four years”) called out chickens for being racist, wonders if giraffes are amazed by their long necks, and ponders white privilege.

Louis C.K. also starred in this music video – “Thank You, Scott” – which pays “homage” to all those folks on their phones and laptops who might never actually get out and march for anything, but are saving the world one tweet at a time.

SNL showed why you need your friends as sounding boards, just in case you get that big, big chance to conceive and direct a Pepsi commercial starring Kendall Jenner.

And we got two Alec Baldwin “Trump” appearances.

First, Deadline recaps an Alec double-header as Baldwin plays not only Trump but Bill O’Reilly:

Playing both roles in a split-screen O’Reilly Factor interview parody, Baldwin had smarm, arrogance and pomposity oozing from both sides. A week after reports presented Fox’s Papa Bear as a serial sexual harasser willing to spend millions to settle with his accusers, SNL and Baldwin gave no quarter.

“A scandal no one thought I’d have the guts to address,” Baldwin’s O’Reilly said, then launched into some trumped up Obama scandal. And when a female Fox reporter didn’t show up as scheduled (“Did she get the check?” O’Reilly says to a producer sotto voce), another female correspondent steps in – from a pre-arranged 500 foot distance.

SNL even got in shots about the Factor‘s advertising exodus, as O’Reilly’s patrons were limited to barrel-bottom spots for dog cocaine, horse Cialis – and the movie Chips.

The sketch kicked into gear, though, with Bill and Don’s back-patting adventure.

Bill: “You even went as far as saying Bill O’Reilly did nothing wrong, and that based on…?

Don: “Hunch, just a loose hunch.”

The second Trump clip shows the Donald in coal country, feeling good about his big week:

“Thank you. thank you. We all love trump, don’t we? We do. I had an amazing week, folks. I met with leaders from China, Egypt and Jordan. Gorsuch was confirmed and the media is saying nice things and no one is talking about Russia. What a difference 59 tomahawk missiles can make.

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President George W. Bush Pens Public Appeal To Trump: Leave HIV/AIDS Program Budget Intact

President George W. Bush

President George W. Bush pens public appeal to the Trump administration to leave the budget for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) intact.

Last month, Trump proposed cutting $300 million from Bush’s extremely successful program that battles HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Here’s just an excerpt from Bush’s op-ed published by the Washington Post:

As the executive and legislative branches review the federal budget, they will have vigorous debates about how best to spend taxpayers’ money — and they should. Some will argue that we have enough problems at home and shouldn’t spend money overseas. I argue that we shouldn’t spend money on programs that don’t work, whether at home or abroad.

But they should fully fund programs that have proven to be efficient, effective and results-oriented. Saving nearly 12 million lives is proof that PEPFAR works, and I urge our government to fully fund it. We are on the verge of an AIDS-free generation, but the people of Africa still need our help. The American people deserve credit for this tremendous success and should keep going until the job is done.

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Alt-Right Idiot U-Turns On Trump Criticism After Losing Hundreds Of Twitter Followers

Funny how ego always comes in to play.

Author Christoph Rehage captured the rise, fall and denouement of InfoWars idiot Paul Joseph Watson in the world of Twitter.

Watson, who has developed a following on Twitter for his regular praise of Donald Trump, told the world he was “officially OFF the Trump train” in light of the president’s bombing of Syria.

But when his Twitter followers began to get off the “Watson train” he took note, and reversed himself.

Watson explained himself by saying his original tweet meant he was “off the Trump train in terms of Syria, but I have not ‘turned on Trump.'”

Of course, Mr. Watson.  Of course…

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Vegas View

Ricky Martin and Michael Caprio
Photo: Denise Truscello

Handsome hubby Michael and I attended the official opening of DSQUARED2’s new store in Las Vegas on Thursday.

The men of DSQUARED2 – Dean and Dan Caten – are not only hot fashion designers today but also designed all the costumes for Ricky Martin’s ALL IN residency at the Monte Carlo, which had it’s opening the night before.

The pop star hosted the new store’s opening and super talented photographer Denise Truscello snapped this pic of Michael with the very easy on the eyes Mr. Martin.

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Trump Orders “Bury-The-Hatchet” Confab Between Steve Bannon & Jared Kushner

Politico is reporting that President Trump, who is famous for pitting associates against each other, had grown weary of the discord between two of his closest advisers and ordered a “bury-the-hatchet” meeting.

Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner, two warring senior White House aides, had a bury-the-hatchet meeting ordered by President Donald Trump, after arriving at Mar-a-Lago this week. The sit-down, which was confirmed by two White House officials, was an attempt to smooth over tensions between the two men, which have dominated headlines for days. Whether the meeting was successful in creating a détente – and how long it lasts – is an open question, especially in a White House that has been dominated by infighting.

Bannon and Kushner had for months been allies. In recent weeks, though, there has been substantial discord between them. The fight, people in the administration say, centers on policy differences. Bannon, White House chief strategist, is a flame-throwing populist who formerly ran Breitbart News. He has criticized Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, for his more politically moderate approach. Kushner is suspicious of Bannon’s fiery style and has been concerned about how he’s influencing the president.

Earlier this week, the New York Times wrote that one confrontation ended with Bannon “growling” at Kushner, “Here’s the reason there’s no middle ground – you’re a Democrat.”

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News Round-Up: April 7, 2017

Tyson Beckford

Some news items you may have missed:

• World famous model and actor Tyson Beckford returns to Chippendales tonight as the iconic male revue’s first “Celeb in Residency” in Las Vegas. And he looks ready 🙂

• Will former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney run for Orrin Hatch’s Senate seat next year?

• After denying SCOTUS nominee Judge Merrick Garland any consideration for almost a year, Senate Republicans confirmed Judge Neil Gorsuch to the high court by a vote of 54-45 after utilizing the “nuclear option.”

• Nebraska Supreme Court strikes down longtime ban on gay/lesbian foster parents.

• New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has signed legislation that bans the use on minors of so-called “conversion therapy” which purports to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Currently, six other states have banned ex-gay torture: California, Illinois, Oregon, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont.

• Virulently anti-LGBT Republican Gov. Robert Bentley is asking folks who are shining a spotlight on his alleged adulterous affair with a staffer to “please stop now.” In a press conference he announced that although he’s “struggled” in the past with temptations, he gave himself completely to God last year, so – all good.

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New Music: Betty Buckley “Story Songs”

Tony Award-winner Betty Buckley (Cats, Mystery of Edwin Drood, Triumph of Love, Sunset Boulevard), who recently starred in M. Night Shyamalan’s box office hit film Split, releases her latest recording today, the two-CD Story Songs.

Yes, kids – Broadway star, movie star, recording star… she does it all…

The release is a live recording of Buckley’s acclaimed cabaret show of the same name. The song cycle includes tunes by Jason Robert Brown, Joni Mitchell, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Leonard Cohen, and more.

Reviewing the show last fall, the New York Times called the event “arguably the strongest cabaret of her career.”

“Ms. Buckley belongs to a small circle of nightclub singers who are truth-tellers. Riding the crest of acclaim she received for her portrayal of “Big Edie” in a Los Angeles production of the musical “Grey Gardens,” Ms. Buckley, her voice in excellent shape, gave everything she sang the shape and depth of a personal confession.”

Buckley is in top form, bringing to bear her full, formidable gifts. The voice, that has brought Carnegie Hall audiences to their feet, is vibrant and strong. And not a comma goes overlooked in her rich readings of these character-driven songs.

Christian Jacob, Buckley’s longtime arranger and music director, delivers a collection of jazz-tinged musical landscapes that perfectly align with the actress/singer’s emotionally bare and yet expansive performances.

The album is a fine follow-up to her 2014 collaboration with T Bone Burnett, Ghostlight.

In that the album captures an carefully constructed evening of song and storytelling, I’m loath to point to specific songs. But, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention her poignant “Don’t Give Up;” the rich, knowing melancholy of “Both Sides Now;” and Buckley’s “been there, done that” depth of survivorship in the ultimate showbiz anthem, “I’m Still Here.”

Truly one of our great storytellers, the album is a must-have. Head to iTunes, Amazon or anywhere music is sold.