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News Round-Up: March 31, 2017

Colton Haynes as “Daddy Warbucks” and Kathy Griffin as “Grannie”

Some news items you may have missed:

• Find out what happens when “Annie” hangs out too long at the orphanage in this parody “Grannie” of the hit musical. The clip stars Kathy Griffin as the aged orphan, plus it gives you a reason to finally call Colton Haynes “Daddy.”

• The NCAA will announce next week if North Carolina’s fake repeal of HB2 will actual help the state’s standing in terms of booking any championship games in the next five years.

• The Trump administration’s new budget seeks to cut $342 million in HIV/AIDS research and prevention programs. #ThanksTrump

• Congressional Democrats are demanding the next Census include questions on sexual orientation. That data is vitally needed to help policymakers understand the needs of the LGBT community.

• New survey by GLAAD indicates 25% of non-LGBTQ Americans are “uncomfortable” seeing an LGBTQ co-worker’s wedding picture on their desk.

• Trumpeter, singer, producer, and dancer Spencer Ludwig wants you to get “Diggy” this weekend. Watch the grooving video below:

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Ryan Phillippe’s 42 Year-Old “Dad Bod” Is Pretty Awesome

Shirtless Ryan Phillippe gives good shirtless "dad bod" at 42 years old

Actor Ryan Phillippe shared a few behind-the-scenes snaps via Instagram of his upcoming photo layout for Men’s Fitness magazine proving he gives new meaning to the term, “dad bod.”

Check those shoulders and triceps. Ryan makes 42 look awesome.

Derek & Drew Riker, photographers who happen to be handsome twins, handled the lens responsibilities for the shoot. The layout is scheduled to be featured in the June issue of the mag.

A post shared by @ryanphillippe on Mar 29, 2017 at 1:08pm PDT

A post shared by @ryanphillippe on Mar 29, 2017 at 5:46pm PDT

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Music Video: Mila Jam’s International Trans Day of Visibility Anthem “Faces”

Mila Jam

International Transgender Day of Visibility is honored every year on March 31, and is a time to celebrate transgender people around the globe and the courage it takes to live openly and authentically, while also raising awareness around the discrimination trans people still face.

In observing the annual celebration, New York-based trans singer-songwriter Mila Jam shares a new video for her uplifting LGBT anthem, “Faces.”

Laverne Cox, Candis Cayne, Tituss Burgess, Ari Gold, Sense8’s Jamie Clayton, supermodel Geena Rocero, Drag Race’s Peppermint, Transparent’s Zackary Drucker, Lina Bradford and Jai Rodriguez are just some of the famous faces lip-syncing along in the clip.

Mila shares about the new song (via press release):

“Faces” is about looking in that mirror and hearing do I belong, am I enough, will someone love me for who I really am? We wear smiles all the time but hide in fear and loathing because we feel different. The journey is universal no matter who you are. And, working through the dark uncertainties is all about learning to radiate your own light. Bravely. Unapologetically. Authentically. Happily.

Jam told OUT, “Everyone needs to see a reflection of themselves. Trans people are no different and completely worthy—beyond worthy. Trans Day of Visibility is a way to say, ’We belong here, just like you.’”

Proceeds from the sale of the single on iTunes will be go to the ONEPULSE Foundation, which aids the victims of the Pulse massacre.

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Chaffetz: No Immunity For Mike Flynn; President Trump Shouldn’t Be Commenting On Issue

Rep. Jason Chaffetz

Last night, former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn told investigators looking into Team Trump’s Russian connections that he would be willing to testify in exchange for immunity.

This morning, Trump weighed in saying “Mike Flynn should ask for immunity in that this is a witch hunt (excuse for big election loss), by media & Dems, of historic proportion!”

It crosses my mind to wonder: was Trump instructing Flynn to not testify without protection of immunity? Could that be viewed as obstruction?

But GOP Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, told Fox News that Flynn should not be granted immunity, AND President Trump should not be commenting on the issue.

“No, I don’t think it’s a witch hunt,” Chaffetz said. “Look, it’s very mysterious to me, though, why all of a sudden General Flynn is suddenly out there saying he wants immunity. A, I don’t think Congress should give him immunity. If there’s an open investigation by the FBI, that should not happen. I also don’t believe that actually that the president should be weighing in on this. They’re the ones that actually would prosecute something.”

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Out Music: Matt Zarley Talks On His New Album, “The Estrogen Sessions”

Award-winning out singer/songwriter Matt Zarley talks about his new album, The Estrogen Sessions, featuring his covers of his favorite music divas.

A Broadway veteran (A Chorus Line, Tommy, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Billboard charting recording artist AND People Magazine‘s first out “Hottest Bachelor,” Zarley recorded this collection of songs as a tribute to the divas who have influenced his recording career.

The hunky singer was honored with “Best Album” and “Best Single” accolades for his album, Change Begins With Me, at the 2012 OutMusic Awards.

I often hear folks in the LGBT community say, “Why aren’t there more out pop music artists? More really good out pop music artists?”

Well, here he is. Terrific voice, great acoustic arrangements of songs you know and love. What’s not to like?

If you like pure, mainstream pop music, hit the play button below.

Listen in as Matt shares his covers of hits by Whitney Houston, Sara Bareilles, Celine Dion, Dolly Parton, Pink and more.

If you want to skip right to the music, the first song, “Gravity,” starts around the 12:30 mark.

For more info about Matt, check out his official website at mattzarley.com.

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Video: “The Walking Dead” Star, Daniel Newman, Comes Out As Gay

“Now is no longer the time to keep it private.”

Daniel Newman, one of the stars of the hit TV series The Walking Dead, came out last night on Twitter followed by a video where he shared his “aha moment.”

In the video, Newman recalls a conversation he had while volunteering at an LGBT homeless shelter.

A girl at the shelter thanked him for volunteering, especially because he was “straight.”

When he told her that he was gay, she said, “Why have you never said that publicly before? You could help change our lives.”

Here’s a partial transcript of the video via Towleroad:

“It hit me like a gut punch. It felt like someone had knocked the wind out of me. I realized how important it is in this day and age to be visible; have people know who you are.

“When you are accomplishing incredible things, and you are hiding who you are, you are hurting hundreds of millions of people.

“By us staying quiet, we’re partially to blame for kids getting beat up and ridiculed, stereotypes and stigmas.

“I grew up in an Irish Catholic family, a farm town in Georgia in the South, and it wasn’t even about homophobia or anything; it was about you just keep your private life private. So that’s the way I’ve always been. Now is not the time any longer to keep it private.”

“I’m an actor. The whole world, the industry, is like ‘here’s your big break, you’re on The Walking Dead, you can’t come out, you can’t be in the press, because everything you work so hard for is going to be gone. There’s no gay or bi leading men, no action heroes, your career’s going to be over.’ I don’t care. Because I know what’s right.”

Bravo, Daniel! And thank you!

Watch Newman’s poignant coming out video below:

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Mike Flynn Requests Immunity In Exchange For Testimony Regarding Trump’s Alleged Russian Connections

Whoa.

From the Wall Street Journal:

Mike Flynn, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, has told the Federal Bureau of Investigation and congressional officials investigating the Trump campaign’s potential ties to Russia that he is willing to be interviewed in exchange for a grant of immunity from prosecution, according to officials with knowledge of the matter.

As an adviser to Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign, and later one of Mr. Trump’s top aides in the White House, Mr. Flynn was privy to some of the most sensitive foreign-policy deliberations of the new administration and was directly involved in discussions about the possible lifting of sanctions on Russia imposed by the Obama administration.

You might recall that back in September, Flynn told NBC (referring to Hillary Clinton), “When you are given immunity, that means you have probably committed a crime.” See below at the :52 mark.

The great irony here is that Flynn led chants of “Lock her up!” at last summer’s Republican National Convention, and now he’s asking for immunity to stay out of jail himself.

See the statement below from Flynn’s counsel asserting that Flynn “wants to tell” his side of the story.

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North Carolina Governor Signs Fake Repeal Of Anti-Trans Law HB2

After rushing new legislation through both the state House and Senate of North Carolina, which was touted as a “repeal” of anti-LGBT law HB2,  Gov. Roy Cooper has signed HB142.

The Human Rights Campaign issued a statement which read, in part:

Today, HRC, Equality North Carolina, and the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), strongly condemned North Carolina’s shameful new legislation that lawmakers and Governor Cooper touted as a “repeal” of their discriminatory HB2 law.

“After more than a year of inaction, today North Carolina lawmakers doubled-down on discrimination,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “This new law does not repeal HB2. Instead, it institutes a statewide prohibition on equality by banning non-discrimination protections across North Carolina and fuels the flames of anti-transgender hate. Each and every lawmaker who supported this bill has betrayed the LGBTQ community. HRC will explore every legal action to combat this dangerous legislation, and we urge all businesses, sports leagues and entertainers who have fought against HB2 to continue standing strong with the LGBTQ community attacked by this hateful law.”

The legislation passed today would effectively ban LGBTQ non-discrimination protections statewide through 2020 and permanently bar cities from passing laws that ensure transgender people can access facilities in accordance with their identity. ”

This was all done to meet a deadline imposed by the NCAA, which had told the state of North Carolina to either repeal HB2 or lose any championship games for the next five years.

No word yet on whether or not this fake repeal will actually satisfy the NCAA.