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Shuffle Along To Close On Broadway July 24

Producer Scott Rudin has announced his Broadway show Shuffle Along will close on July 24th despite receiving rave reviews.

Strangely, Rudin seems to put the onus of closing on leading lady, six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald. McDonald recently announced that she is pregnant and would be leaving the production soon.

However, she was already scheduled to depart the show to appear in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill in London. So, I’m not sure what the difference is between her leaving for a pregnancy or for a previously scheduled commitment in London.

In addition, Shuffle Along has two other Tony Award winners, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Billy Porter. Plus, Tony Award winner Savion Glover was set to join the cast. So there’s no lack of star power on the stage.

See the announcement below via BroadwayWorld:

Producer Scott Rudin has just announced that SHUFFLE ALONG will play its final Broadway performance on Sunday, July 24, 2016. As was previously announced Audra McDonald, the six-time Tony winning star was already set to depart the production on July 24 for what was planned as a multi-month maternity leave. The news comes after reports of both Rhiannon Giddens having been cast and starting rehearsals as her replacement, and after news of choreographer Savion Glover being slated to join the show as well.

“Audra McDonald is the biggest star on Broadway, and audiences have been clamoring to see her in this role since the first preview of Shuffle Along in March of this year,” said Scott Rudin in a statement to the press. “She is absolutely extraordinary in the show, and I am filled with gratitude for both her exemplary partnership on Shuffle Along and also for her remarkable resilience and fortitude in doing everything possible to play as many shows as she can, despite the circumstance of her pregnancy.

We are thrilled that she and her husband, Will Swenson, are experiencing the opportunity to expand their family – and we wish them all good things as they approach the birth of their child this fall. It has, however, become clear that the need for Audra to take a prolonged and unexpected hiatus from the show has determined the unfortunate inevitability of our running at a loss for significantly longer than the show can responsibly absorb, and we have decided to close the show when she leaves on July 24. On behalf of myself and George C. Wolfe, I want to say how deeply grateful we are to her for everything she gave and continues to give the show. There is simply nobody like her.”

SHUFFLE ALONG began performances on March 15, 2016 and officially opened, to rave reviews, on April 28. It went on to win the New York Drama Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards for Best Musical, along with the Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Choreography (Savion Glover), Outstanding Costume Design (Ann Roth), and Outstanding Wig and Hair Design (Mia M. Neal). It was nominated for ten 2016 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It will have played 38 previews and 100 regular performances by the time it ends its run.

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President Obama Designates Stonewall National Monument

Via White House press release:

Since taking office, President Obama and his Administration have made historic strides in expanding opportunities and advancing equality and justice for all Americans, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans. From major legislative achievements to historic court victories to important policy changes, the President has fought to promote the equal rights of all Americans — no matter who they are or who they love. That commitment to leveling the playing field and ensuring equal protection under the law is the bedrock principle this nation was founded on and has guided the President’s actions in support of all Americans.

Today, President Obama will designate a new national monument at the historic site of the Stonewall Uprising in New York City to honor the broad movement for LGBT equality. The new Stonewall National Monument will protect the area where, on June 28, 1969, a community’s uprising in response to a police raid sparked the modern LGBT civil rights movement in the United States.

The designation will create the first official National Park Service unit dedicated to telling the story of LGBT Americans, just days before the one year anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision guaranteeing marriage equality in all 50 states. Additionally, in celebration of the designation and New York City’s Pride festival, the White House, in coordination with the National Park Foundation and the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, is releasing a video that will be played on the billboards in Times Square on Saturday, June 25, beginning at 12:00pm ET.

The new Stonewall National Monument will permanently protect Christopher Park, a historic community park at the intersection of Christopher Street, West 4th Street and Grove Street directly across from the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. The monument’s boundary encompasses approximately 7.7 acres of land, including Christopher Park, the Stonewall Inn, and the surrounding streets and sidewalks that were the site of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising.

Today’s designation follows years of strong support from local officials, organizations, members of Congress and citizens in New York City and across the country, as demonstrated recently at a public meeting held in New York City in May. The National Park Foundation is also today announcing that it will support the establishment of a local Friends Group to support the monument and that it will work with local and national organizations and the community to raise funding for dedicated National Park Service personnel, a temporary ranger station and visitor center, research and materials, exhibits, community outreach, and public education.

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Members Of Congress Introduce Resolution To Designate June 26th As “LGBT Equality Day”

This would most excellent, especially in light of the historic decisions which have occurred on June 26th.

Via press release:

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA) introduced a resolution to designate June 26, as “LGBT Equality Day,” honoring the anniversary of three significant victories won at the U.S. Supreme Court for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans.

“America should celebrate the progress we have made to pass on to the next generation a country that is more equal, not less equal. But we cannot mistake our progress for victory,” said Senator Baldwin. “We have more work to do in the march for fairness, freedom and full equality for the LGBT community. I believe America is ready to take the next steps forward and together we will break down barriers so that every American has an equal opportunity to dream the same dreams, chase the same ambitions, and have the same shot at success.”

“In the last two decades, our nation has seen the Defense of Marriage Act overturned, an end to the criminalization of same-sex conduct and now nationwide marriage equality — all through Supreme Court decisions handed down on June 26,” DelBene said. “But even as same-sex couples enjoy the right to marry in all 50 states, LGBT people continue to face violence, inequality and discrimination simply for who they are and who they love. Our resolution designates the 26th of June as ‘LGBT Equality Day’ not only to celebrate how far we’ve come, but also to acknowledge how much work remains to be done.”

During the past two decades, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued three different landmark rulings on the 26th of June that helped eliminate LGBT discrimination, affirm the dignity of same-sex couples and move our country toward a more perfect union:

· Lawrence v. Texas (June 26, 2003). Twelve years ago, the Court ruled on June 26, that states could no longer criminalize the private intimate conduct of same-sex couples, invalidating hateful and discriminatory laws in more than a dozen states.

· United States v. Windsor (June 26, 2013). Two years ago, the Court overturned Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on June 26, and ruled that legally married same-sex couples deserve all of the rights, benefits and protections provided by marriage under federal law.

· Obergefell v. Hodges (June 26, 2015). One year ago, the Court ruled on June 26, that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry, putting the United States on the right side of history and ending marriage discrimination once and for all.

Senator Baldwin and Congresswoman DelBene’s resolution is cosponsored by more than 175 members of Congress and is supported by the Center for American Progress, the Human Rights Campaign, the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund and the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.

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Britain Votes To Leave EU

Brexit vote has been counted and Britain has has voted to leave the European Union.

From the New York Times:

Britain has voted to leave the European Union, a historic decision sure to reshape the nation’s place in the world, rattle the Continent and rock political establishments throughout the West.

With 309 of 382 of the country’s cities and towns reporting early on Friday, the Leave campaign held a 52 percent to 48 percent lead. The BBC called the race for the Leave campaign shortly before 4:45 a.m., with 13.1 million votes having been counted in favor of leaving and 12.2 million in favor of remaining.

The value of the British pound dropped to a 31 year low as financial markets absorbed the news.

World stock markets fell dramatically, including the Dow Jones Industrial Average which fell 500 points upon opening today.

Prime Minister David Cameron has resigned over the news saying Britain needs “fresh leadership.”

Scotland is now looking at a new referendum on independence from Britain in light of the decision to leave the EU. Scotland, as a whole, voted 62% – 38% to stay in the EU.

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FBI: No Evidence Found That Orlando Shooter Was Gay

In the aftermath of the Orlando nightclub shooting, several people have come forward saying they had had contact with the shooter, Omar Mateen, on gay dating apps.

The FBI says they’ve found nothing to substantiate the claims.

From the L.A. Times:

The FBI has found no evidence so far to support claims by those who say Mateen had gay lovers or communicated on gay dating apps, several law enforcement officials said.

In seeking to verify the reports, federal agents have culled Mateen’s electronic devices, including a laptop computer and cellphone, as well as electronic communications of those who made the claims, law enforcement officials said.

So far, they have found no photographs, no text messages, no smartphone apps, no gay pornography and no cell-tower location data to suggest that Mateen — who was twice married to women and had a young son — conducted a secret gay life, the officials said.

The LA Times does go on to say that it’s possible Mateen had another phone or electronic device onwhich he might have used gay dating apps.

Additionally, while Mateen proclaimed allegiance to ISIS during the massacre, the FBI says it has found no direct link between Mateen and the Islamic State.

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#RestInPRIDE Honors Orlando Shooting Victims

I have no words. Beyond beautiful.

#RestInPRIDE

Via press release:

With the recent tragedy of 49 innocent lives lost at the LGBT nightclub, Pulse, in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016, the global community was left to mourn those unjustly taken by hate. As we continue to grieve in the wake of the Orlando tragedy, it is important to confront hate face-to-face and let the LGBT community and allies know they are not alone. #RestInPRIDE is one of the first call-to-action campaigns created to spread a message of love and support to people who are feeling alone or scared to live proudly.

Through sharing uplifting video messages with heart, #RestInPRIDE continues the important conversation about the victims and those affected by senseless acts of violence taking place on a daily basis. The artistic video features 49 different shared Pride memories honoring the 49 victims, including voices of various ethnicities, genders, ages, sexual orientations and people directly affected by the Orlando tragedy. The video ends with a montage of the participants putting rainbow-style “war paint” on their faces as a symbol that action needs to be taken.

Celebrities and influencers also participated in the campaign including actress Rumer Willis, actor Wilson Cruz, Olympian and HIV/AIDS advocate Greg Louganis and transgender actress and “I Am Cait” star Candis Cayne.

A vocal track of the song “Light” from the Pulitzer Prize-winning Musical Next to Normal serves as a backdrop to the video, and was recorded by artist Brian Justin Crum. All proceeds of the track, written by Tom Kitt, will go directly to the OneOrlando Fund. “Light” can be available for purchase on iTunes.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED: We ask that you please record and upload a video of your proudest memory on the @RestInPRIDE Facebook page with #RestInPRIDE utilizing rainbow “war paint”* like those in the main video, encourage others to share their moments to make their voices heard and show the Orlando community support at OneOrlando. Hear their names, see their faces, feel their stories and know the lives of our 49 brothers and sisters were not lost in vain but live on in the collective heart of our community.

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Donald Trump Would “Look Into” Continuing Tradition Of LGBT Pride Proclamation

ABC News’ Jon Karl asked the presumptive Republican nominee if he would continue some of the minority outreach that the Obama administration has conducted the past 8 years including presidential proclamations for LGBT Pride month and hosting Ramadan dinner with Muslims:

Trump then went on to argue that he is stronger on the issue than is presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, because he says that she has accepted money from countries that do not respect gay rights through the Clinton Foundation.

“I’m better for women and I’m better for gays. I am better for a lot of people and I think people are starting to see that,” Trump said.

Trump also indicated to Karl that he’d be open to continuing the tradition of hosting an Iftar dinner in celebration of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan, as both President Obama and Bush have done.

“It wouldn’t bother me. It wouldn’t bother me,” Trump said. “It’s not something I’ve given a lot of thought to but it wouldn’t bother me.”

Note how Trumpster repeats everything he says. Strange tick, isn’t it?

Of course, what the Donald isn’t repeating here is that he’s told right wing Republicans and pundits that if he were elected he would make nominations to the Supreme Court that would tilt the court far right which could lead to overturning marriage equality in the future. Trump has already stated he isn’t in favor of same-sex marriage.

And I’m sure Muslim hear a lot of “hospitality” in the phrase “it wouldn’t bother me.” How very welcoming.