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Prince Harry Speaks On HIV Awareness At Sentebale Concert

Prince Harry and Coldplay at Sentebale Concert for raising awareness for HIV/AIDS

Prince Harry spoke last night at the Sentebale concert at Kensington Palace imploring young people to “please take a little bit of time to learn about the fight against HIV.”

Handsome Harry also joined super rock band Coldplay for “Up & Up” during the concert.

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Music: St. Lucia Performs “Dancing On Glass” On GMA

Brooklyn-based St. Lucia performs the lead single “Dancing On Glass” from their sophomore album Matter.

Bouncy, bright, 80s inspired synth-pop to get you to the weekend.

Released in late January, Matter (the follow-up to St. Lucia’s 2013 album When The Night) has been universally praised:

• Rolling Stone: ‘Prince at his purplest’

• Entertainment Weekly: ‘The indie dance party album of the year’

• NYLON: ‘A bold new direction for the band’

• KCRW’s Jason Bentley: “This should be the biggest band in the world right now”

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Possible Bribery Charges For Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi Over Donald Trump Donation

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi

A Massachusetts lawyer has requested federal prosecutors look into bribery charges against Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and GOP White House hopeful Donald Trump.

The issue at hand goes back to 2013 when Bondi was reviewing complaints against Trump University, now at the center of several fraud lawsuits.

Just days after her campaign sought, and received, a $25,000 donation to her political action committee from Donald Trump, Bondi decided against investigating the complaints.

From the Orlando Sentinel:

The Orlando Sentinel reported on Sept. 13, 2013 that Bondi’s office was looking into the Trump complaints. Campaign finance records show Bondi’s political committee, And Justice for All, received the $25,000 donation from Trump on Sept. 17, 2013.

“Evidence strongly indicates that Bondi’s decision not to initiate or participate in litigation against Trump University was given in exchange for Trump’s contribution based on the short time period between the receipt of the political contribution and the announcement of Bondi’s decision not to participate in the New York litigation,” Larrabee’s complaint states.

The Associated Press reported earlier this month that Bondi’s political consultant Marc Reichelderfer said she personally solicited the donation from Trump. Larrabee filed state ethics and elections complaints against Bondi over the Trump donation after the report was published.

Those complaints are still being reviewed, but Bondi called the allegations untrue. A spokeswoman for Bondi did not respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday.

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House Committee Schedules Anti-LGBT Legislation Hearing For One Month Anniversary Of Orlando Massacre

Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz

They say timing is everything.

So, you have to wonder about House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz’s decision to schedule a hearing for the anti-LGBT “First Amendment Defense Act” (also known as FADA) on July 12 – exactly one month to the day that the nation was rocked by the deadliest mass shooting incident (and the worst anti-LGBT hate crime) in the history of the country.

The legislation would allow anyone who claims “deeply-held religious beliefs” the right to legally discriminate against LGBT folks.

The bill was introduced in the House last year, and has had no movement since. So, it’s odd that Chaffetz would now decide to hold a hearing, except to present his “dog and pony show” as an election year stunt to placate anti-LGBT Americans.

According to the official summary for the bill, the First Amendment Defense Act “prohibits the federal government from taking discriminatory action against a person on the basis that such person believes or acts in accordance with a religious belief or moral conviction that: (1) marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman, or (2) sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage.”

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Tune In Tonight: Broadway’s She Loves Me Via Livestream

BroadwayHD and Roundabout Theatre Company will make history tonight when the two organizations team up to present a live stream of the Tony-winning revival of She Loves Me June 30 at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT.

Visit broadwayhd.com/shelovesme to reserve a live-stream pass for $9.99. Viewers who tune in to the broadcast after 8 PM will see the show as it’s being performed live until curtain. For anyone who misses the live broadcast, the on-demand encore will be available for seven days with the $9.99 purchase.

BroadwayHD annual subscribers will also be able to view the She Loves Me recording once it is made available as part of the on-demand library. The broadcast will first need to be edited, which could take a number of weeks. Once included in the library, individual titles are available as two-day rentals for $7.99 for non-annual subscribers.

The classic musical comedy began previews February 19 at Studio 54, and will run through July 10. The revival received eight Tony nominations.

She Loves Me tells the story of two parfumerie clerks who, unbeknownst to each other, are corresponding romantically as anonymous pen pals.

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Super-Stats Guy Nate Silver: Hillary Clinton Has 80% Chance Of Winning Presidency

Super statistician Nate Silver, who predicted 49 out of 50 states in the 2008 presidential race and 50 out of 50 in 2012, has launched his 2016 Election Forecast page.

The page takes into account all the recent polls in an effort to track where the race for the White House is on any given day. There are three models that crunch the numbers – Polls Only, Polls Plus (which takes into account all polls plus economic conditions and historical data), and Now-Cast (which discerns what the outcome would be if the election were held today).

You can bookmark this and check every now and then to get, in my opinion, one of the best indications of the state of the presidential race.

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Caitlyn Jenner Covers Sports Illustrated: “I Loved Bruce”

Caitlyn Jenner, in this month’s Sports Illustrated, has this to say about her former gender identity, Bruce Jenner:

“I loved Bruce. I still love him today. I like what he did and the way he set an example for hard work and dedication. I’m proud of that part of my life. But this woman was living inside me, all my life, and it reached the point where I had to let her live and put Bruce inside. And I am happier, these last 12 months, than I’ve ever been in my life.”

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Hillary Clinton Pens Open Letter For Orlando LGBT Newspaper: “I See You. I Hear You. I’m With You.”

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has penned an open letter for Orlando’s LGBT newspaper, Watermark.

Here’s the essay in it’s entirety.

We know their names.

Stanley. Amanda. Oscar. Rodolfo. Antonio. Darryl. Angel. Juan. Luis. Cory. Tevin. Deonka. Simon. Leroy. Mercedez. Peter. Juan. Paul. Frank. Miguel. Javier. Jason. Eddie. Anthony. Drew. Alejandro. Brenda. Gilberto. Kimberly. Akyra. Luis. Geraldo. Eric. Joel. Jean. Enrique. Jean. Xavier. Christopher. Yilmary. Edward. Shane. Martin. Jonathan. Juan. Luis. Franky. Luis. Jerald.

We know where and when and how they died. And we know that every one of their stories represents someone who won’t get the chance to live out the future they deserved.

Our hearts are broken, and our thoughts are with the survivors still fighting for their lives. And to the LGBT community – in Orlando and across America – know this: I see you. I hear you. I’m with you. And I will do everything in my power to prevent future tragedies like this act of terror and hate.

That means acknowledging who was targeted in this attack. From the raids on the Stonewall Inn in New York, to the arson attack on UpStairs Lounge in New Orleans, to the detonation of a bomb at the Otherside Lounge in Atlanta – too often, places that should be safe for the LGBT community have instead been targets for violence. For all the progress we’ve made, it’s still far too dangerous to be gay in America.

LGBT people are now more likely than any other group to be the target of a hate crime. LGBT people of color face intersectional pressures and dangers. And a full 70 percent of victims of anti-LGBT murders in the United States are people of color – and the statistics are particularly striking for transgender people of color. So there’s a reason so many people seek out safe spaces.

In Orlando, that sense of security was shattered. The gunman specifically targeted the Latino LGBT community. In fact, it was “Latin Night” during Pride Month, a time that should have been a joyous celebration. When that feeling of safety comes under attack, all Americans must stand in solidarity with our LGBT brothers and sisters.

After the massacre, LGBT people from all over the country came forward to share how much this hit home. That’s because so many communities in America have somewhere like Pulse, where people can find a community and feel free to be themselves.

Yes, this is a time for reflection. But more importantly, this is a time for action. We need real plans to prevent future attacks and ensure the safety of the LGBT community and all Americans. Here’s mine.

First, we need to take on the epidemic of gun violence in America. Prohibiting suspected terrorists from buying guns – and expanding background checks so that terrorists can’t easily avoid that prohibition – should not be controversial. We can’t legislate hate away, but we can make it less deadly. That’s why I was so proud to see Democrats staging a sit-in on the floor of the House of Representatives, demanding a vote on commonsense gun reforms that the vast majority of Americans support.

Second, since we know that the gunman in Orlando was radicalized by terrorist propaganda, we need to disrupt and dismantle the global online network that groups like ISIS use to communicate and to inspire these horrible acts. As president, I’ll set up a task force to track and counter the threat of lone wolf attacks like these.

And third, let’s continue to fight for the ideal this attack intended to target: that no matter who you are, or who you love, you are equal in America. Let’s fight to enshrine that ideal in our laws—by passing the Equality Act. And let’s call out hateful rhetoric whenever and wherever we see it in our daily lives.

The attack at Pulse shook so many of us to our core. But in the weeks since, we have seen moving demonstrations of support – from the thousands of people attending vigils across the country, to the Council on American-Islamic Relations calling for donating blood, to the people and groups on the ground in Orlando who have come together to support their LGBT friends, neighbors, colleagues, and loved ones.

So know that you have allies who are looking out for you. People like Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, whose leadership and support during this crisis ought to be a model for other local leaders. And you have millions of Americans celebrating Pride Month alongside you.

I’m one of them. And I’ll never stop fighting for your right to live freely, openly, and without fear.

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Stop The Hate: 49 Celebrities Honor The 49 Victims Of Orlando Nightclub Shooting

From the Human Rights Campaign:

The attack on Pulse nightclub has tragically become a symbol of how deadly anti-LGBTQ hate can become when it is combined with easy access to military-style assault weapons. In the wake of the attack in Orlando, HRC has been joined by a wide range of civil rights leaders in speaking out against laws and politicians who foment hate against LGBTQ people. HRC has also called on Congress to establish protections for LGBTQ people in all fifty states through the Equality Act and officially adopted a resolution in support of common-sense gun violence prevention legislation that will help ensure LGBTQ people and all Americans are safe and equal in every community.

“The 49 heroes who lost their lives on June 12 were brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, friends and neighbors, boyfriends and girlfriends, husbands and wives. They were mostly young and mostly Latinx. But above all, they were human beings who were loved, and who had hopes and dreams for long, full lives,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “It has been only a few short weeks since we lost 49 people to a deadly act of hatred. It is our responsibility to keep their memories alive and honor their legacies by ensuring our nation acts to end anti-LGBTQ hate and gun violence. We are incredibly grateful to Ryan Murphy, Ned Martel and the 49 artists who came together to create this beautiful and lasting tribute.”

In the aftermath of the Orlando tragedy, Murphy asked how he could help drive awareness about the dual epidemics of anti-LGBTQ hate violence and gun violence that, together, claimed so many lives at Pulse nightclub. The result was this moving tribute, filmed over the course of three days, at FOX Studios in Los Angeles.

“The hate that stole these 49 individuals from all those who loved them has been allowed to flourish in our country for too long,” said Ryan Murphy, Emmy Award-winning screenwriter, director and producer. “No person is born hating another, and we have an obligation as Americans to stand up against prejudice and bigotry that would incite violence against someone simply for who they are. I am proud to have joined with Ned Martel, my talented colleagues, and the Human Rights Campaign to honor these 49 heroes and stop the hate.”

Brief vignettes recounted by leading performers and entertainment leaders tell the stories of all 49 victims (in order of appearance): Jean Carlos Nieves Rodriguez, 27; Stanley Almodovar III, 23; Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32; Luis Daniel Conde, 39; Juan Pablo Rivera Velazquez, 37; Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40; Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33; Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37; Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35; Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21; Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49; Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24; Franky Jimmy De Jesús Velazquez, 50; Juan Chavez-Martinez, 25; Jerald Arthur Wright, 31; Antonio Davon Brown, 29; Miguel Angel Honorato, 30; Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25; ‘K.J.’ Morris, 37; Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34; Frankie Hernandez, 27; Akyra Monet Murray, 18; Joel Rayon Paniagua, 31; Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24; Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan, 24; Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25; Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25; Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26; Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22; Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33; Paul Terrell Henry, 41; Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35; Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25; Amanda Alvear, 25; Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30; Angel Luis Candelario-Padro, 28; Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31; Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26; Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19; Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25; Enrique L. Rios Jr., 25; Darryl Roman Burt II, 29; Cory James Connell, 21; Martin Benitez Torres, 33; Luis S. Vielma, 22; Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20; Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36; Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22; and Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32.

Their stories are told by (in order of appearance): Lady Gaga, Chris Pine, Cuba Gooding Jr., Connie Britton, Matt Bomer, Sarah Paulson, Angela Bassett, Lea Michele, Colton Haynes, Sophia Bush, Jane Fonda, Harry Shum Jr., Denis O’Hare, Rob Reiner, Melissa Benoist, Caitlyn Jenner, Edgar Ramirez, Max Greenfield, Chaz Bono, Cheyenne Jackson, Emma Roberts, Kerry Washington, George Lopez, Evan Rachel Wood, Sofía Vergara, Diego Boneta, Nina Jacobson, Demi Lovato, Tyler Oakley, Yeardley Smith, Kid Cudi, Kaitlin Olson, Kevin McHale, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lee Daniels, Chace Crawford, Evan Peters, Gerard Butler, Katey Sagal, John Stamos, Laverne Cox, Jordana Brewster, Wes Bentley, Finn Wittrock, Darren Criss, Kathy Bates, Anna Paquin, Guillermo Díaz and Joe Mantello.

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New Poll: Hillary Clinton Leads Donald Trump In Battleground States

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leads billionaire Donald Trump in a new poll of all-important battleground states.

According to Ballotpedia‘s battleground poll, Clinton leads Trump:

• 51% to 37% in Florida
• 45% to 41% in Iowa
• 50% to 33% in Michigan
• 48% to 38% in North Carolina
• 46% to 37% in Ohio
• 49% to 35% in Pennsylvania
• 45% to 38% in Virginia

Her leads held at nearly the same margins when Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson was included in the poll. And Clinton led Trump 48% to 37% when all states were factored together. With Johnson included, Clinton led Trump 44% to 34%, with Johnson at 13%.

While nationwide polls are interesting, I always remind readers that the election will basically be won in 7-10 battleground states. Watch these to know which way the election is leaning.