LGBTQ news and entertainment
Britney Spears and her Las Vegas Strip “Piece of Me” crew give you their contribution to the #MannequinChallenge.
“We use our bodies to make our own #MannequinChallenge,” Spears captioned the video on Instagram, referencing lyrics from her new single “Slumber Party,” which served as the music bed of the clip.
TIME rated the video, directed by award winning director/photographer Denise Truscello, in the Top Mannequin Challenges of all time.
Check out the first look at the highly-anticipated upcoming miniseries, When We Rise, written by Academy Award winner Dustin Lance Black and executive produced by Gus Van Sant.
The eight-part gay rights miniseries seems timely considering the explosion of LGBT advancement over the last 8 years, plus the current turbulent political environment.
“It’s been the honor of my life to research and craft these stories of family, diversity and equality over the past three years,” Black said in a statement. “To have collaborators of this caliber sign on to help bring these stories to life is a tremendous vote of confidence, and I hope a testament to the relevancy and necessity of our continued march toward justice for all.”
The project is packed with a star-studded cast including Guy Pearce, David Hyde Pierce, Mary-Louise Parker, Charlie Carver, Whoopi Goldberg and Rosie O’Donnell.
When We Rise premieres February 2017 on ABC.
Donald Trump has announced his choice for Secretary of Education and it’s anti-gay marriage, Amway billionaire Betsy DeVos of Michigan.
In addition to the Amway fortune, the DeVos family also owns the Orlando Magic.
She becomes the second woman to join Donald Trump’s cabinet.
DeVos, a former Michigan Republican Party chairwoman, is well known for her support for charter schools and vouchers.
She and her husband, Dick DeVos, are mega-donors to the Michigan Republican party and well-known for their generous donations to GOP officials and candidates.
In 2012, ABC News ran a story on the DeVos which included the fact that they donated $500,000 to the virulently anti-LGBT organization, the National Organization for Marriage (NOM).
Additionally, DeVos and her husband donated $200,000 to Michigan’s ballot measure to ban same-sex marriage.
In other words, they REALLY don’t like the gays.
In response to that donation, LGBT activists called for a boycott of health and beauty company Amway, which is owned by DeVos’ father.
GLSEN issued this statement regarding the news:
“We are deeply concerned by the nomination of Betsy DeVos for U.S. Secretary of Education. GLSEN is committed to the principle that all students have a right to high-quality public education free from discrimination. DeVos’s record of advocacy for vouchers and tuition tax credits represents a rejection of that principle. We have seen time and time again that so-called “school choice” undercuts civil-rights enforcement and drains public education systems of desperately needed funds. True educational equity requires schools that serve the most at-risk students, including students of color; students with disabilities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning (LGBTQ) students; and English-language learners. Vouchers and tuition tax credits do not advance this cause.
“As we have seen over the past eight years, federal civil rights oversight of education is essential to ensure that all students in this country have real access to opportunity. There is so much to be celebrated in the civil rights gains made during the Obama Administration. As a nation, we must build on that legacy. Over the years, people of good will across the political spectrum have been able to come together to promote the success of all students, and we call upon DeVos to join us in moving forward.”
And this from the National Education Association, the country’s largest education labor union with 3 million members:
Every day, educators use their voice to advocate for every student to reach his or her full potential. We believe that the chance for the success of a child should not depend on winning a charter lottery, being accepted by a private school, or living in the right ZIP code. We have, and will continue, to fight for all students to have a great public school in their community and the opportunity to succeed no matter their backgrounds or circumstances.
Betsy DeVos has consistently worked against these values, and her efforts over the years have done more to undermine public education than support students. She has lobbied for failed schemes, like vouchers — which take away funding and local control from our public schools — to fund private schools at taxpayers’ expense. These schemes do nothing to help our most-vulnerable students while they ignore or exacerbate glaring opportunity gaps. She has consistently pushed a corporate agenda to privatize, de-professionalize and impose cookie-cutter solutions to public education. By nominating Betsy DeVos, the Trump administration has demonstrated just how out of touch it is with what works best for students, parents, educators and communities.
But remember, Trump is going to be a “good friend” to the LGBT community.
#right
Retired neurosurgeon and former Republican presidential hopeful Dr. Ben Carson is expected to be tapped as secretary of housing and urban development.
HUD is responsible for administering low-income housing assistance, fair housing laws, housing development and aid to neighborhoods in distress.
Carson endorsed Donald Trump shortly after dropping out of the race.
He was highly expected to be considered for a spot in Trump’s administration, with many guessing the Health and Human Services department.
But soon after the election, Carson said didn’t feel he had the experience to serve in Trump’s Cabinet, calling himself “a fish out of water” when it comes to being a federal bureaucrat.
Regarding his cabinet picks, Trump told the New York Times on Tuesday, “We’re trying very hard to get the best people — not necessarily people that will be the most politically correct people, because that hasn’t been working,” Trump said. “So we have, really, experts in the field. Some are known and some are not known, but they’re known within their field as being the best. That’s very important to me.”
Considering Carson’s background in medicine, it is not entirely clear what experience he has with housing and urban development policy.
I am seriously considering Dr. Ben Carson as the head of HUD. I’ve gotten to know him well–he’s a greatly talented person who loves people!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2016
Donald Trump taps South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to be the US Ambassador to the United Nations, according to an announcement by the Trump transition team.
Haley becomes the first face of diversity in the Trump team as she is younger than most of Trump’s appointees thus far (44 years old), female and the daughter of Indian immigrants.
She has been considered a rising star in the Republican party, currently serving her second term as governor of South Carolina.
Haley comes as somewhat of a surprise pick in that she campaigned for Sen. Marco Rubio during the Republican primary, and ultimately endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz for the GOP nod.
Trump has been critical of Haley along the way:
The people of South Carolina are embarrassed by Nikki Haley!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 1, 2016
In January, Trump characterized Haley’s position on immigration as “weak” after the South Carolina governor welcomed properly vetted legal immigrants into her state.
From CNN:
In a statement released Wednesday, Haley said the US “faces enormous challenges” both at home and internationally. She cited a “sense of duty” in accepting Trump’s offer.
“When the President believes you have a major contribution to make to the welfare of our nation, and to our nation’s standing in the world, that is a calling that is important to heed,” Haley said. “The second is a satisfaction with all that we have achieved in our state in the last six years and the knowledge that we are on a very strong footing.”
Haley was also among those being considered by Trump for secretary of state. Her pick leaves former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and a handful of others among those still in the running for the top diplomat position.
Haley will keep serving as governor until the Senate confirms her nomination.
Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein as “Edna” and that fab Jerry Mitchell choreography – this will be great!
Jennifer Hudson as “Motormouth Maybelle?” -Not so sure she’s got the vintage to sing “I Know Where I’ve Been.” But I am a fan.
Hairspray Live! debuts on Wednesday, December 7 at 8/7c on NBC.
President Obama admits to getting “kind of choked up” as he presents Ellen DeGeneres with the USA’s highest civilian honour, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
“It’s easy to forget now just how much courage was required for Ellen to come out on the most public of stages 20 years ago.”
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| Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times |
New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman live-Tweeted insights from this morning’s Donald Trump / New York Times confab.
The meeting was scheduled then briefly cancelled, then reconfirmed hours later apparently due to an erroneous report from Trump advisor Reince Priebus to the Trumpster that the Times had changed the terms of the meeting. The Times confirmed no terms were changed on their part.
While part of the meeting was off the record, both sides agreed some of the exchange would be for public consumption.
Some highlights:
• Regarding the end of the campaign, Trump went into Michigan because his team learned Clinton’s campaign was worried about the state.
• While he admits “We had a great victory” in the election, he did mention he’s well-aware he did not win the popular vote. “I’ll see every once in awhile someone says, ‘Well, the popular vote.'” Says he was never a fan of the Electoral College “until now.”
• Trump on alt-right supporters: “It’s not a group I want to energize. And if they are energized I want to look into it and find out why.”
• Trump says “no” when asked if he is taking investigations off the table for Clintons but adds he doesn’t want to “hurt the Clintons.” He added “I think it would be very very divisive for the country.”
• Regarding the concerns about his businesses and conflicts of interest: “The law’s totally on my side, the president can’t have a conflict of interest.” Furthermore, “I’d assumed that you’d have to set up some type of trust or whatever and you don’t.”
• On Bannon:”If I thought he was a racist or alt-right or any of the things, the terms we could use, I wouldn’t even think about hiring him.” Regarding Breitbart: “Breitbart is just a publication. The cover stories like you cover stories.”
• Regarding Congress: “Paul Ryan, right now, loves me. Mitch McConnell loves me,” Trump says. Then says, “I’ve liked Chuck Schumer for a long time.”
• Trump asked about potential pushback on an infrastructure plan from GOP leaders. “Right now, they’re in love with me,” Trump says.
• Trump says he is “seriously considering” Mattis for DoD, says he asked Mattis about waterboarding, was surprised he didn’t favor it.
• Asked about son in law Jared Kushner, Trump says he will probably not have a formal position in the White House but could “could be a player on Mideast peace.
• Trump gets asked about his commitment to first amendment, says, “I think you’ll be happy.”
Haberman is an excellent reporter you should definitely follow on the Twitter – @maggieNYT
For more details on the meeting, click over to the New York Times.
One of the best aspects of December is all the new calendar press releases I get.
From my inbox this morning, you’ve got to check out photographer Fred Goudon’s French Farmers 2017 Calendar.
Goudon writes:
The French Farmers Calendar is a tribute to a profession which often lack of gratefulness. All of them have lent themselves to play the game of posing in a sexy way to promote in an off-the-wall way the work and dedication with which the farmers are involved relentlessly in their hard job. We have been warmly welcomed by farm owners all over France to make this project as realistic as possible. We shoot in Normandie, Provence, Champagne and Picardie.
Gorgeous black/white photography featuring a something-for-everyone smorgasbord of shirtless, hunky farmers make this a no brainer.
While the idea of a printed calendar might seem “retro” for some, isn’t nice to have a little visual treat to glance at as you plan your day?
Click over to Amazon to order now.
The inclusion of a lesbian wedding scene in a new commercial for Zales Jewelers gives me a lift this morning.
I love seeing the increased diversity across all kinds of products in advertising. It truly represents the best of America.
However, the haters over at One Million Moms (who’s numbers don’t come close to one million) are outraged over the new spot by Sales.
Zales Jewelers should be ashamed of attempting to normalize sin by featuring two women getting married in their latest commercial. It shows two women in wedding gowns exchanging vows and wedding bands. Zales is promoting same-sex marriage and their new “Love and Pride” Collection. The “Love and Pride” wedding band collection, designed for the LGBTQ community with rainbow and matching bands, is “promoting Equality, Diversity, and Unity” and “celebrate their Love with Pride” as stated on their website.
Zales is using public airwaves to subject families to the decay of morals and values, and belittle the sanctity of marriage in an attempt to redefine marriage. Even though homosexuality is unnatural, this advertisement is pushing the LGBTQ agenda. An even greater concern is that the commercial is airing when children are likely watching television. To make matters worse, this ad has aired during family viewing time such as football games and primetime shows.
OMM encourages their mindless followers to contact Zales to express their faux outrage.
I think contacting Zales is a terrific idea!
How about we all send a ‘thank you’ via Twitter (@ZalesJewelers) to let them know how much we appreciate the company’s warm and inclusive message 🙂
Here’s the spot.