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Ryan Murphy Will Turn Broadway’s THE PROM Into A Netflix Movie Event

Hollywood super-producer/director Ryan Murphy (Pose, American Horror Story, GLEE) has announced he’s bringing another queer story to the small screen. Murphy announced on his Instagram Wednesday that he will turn the new Broadway musical, The Prom, into a Netflix “movie event.”
Ryan Murphy will bring Broadway musical The Prom to Netflix

Hollywood super-producer/director Ryan Murphy (Pose, American Horror Story, GLEE) has announced he’s bringing another queer story to the small screen.

Murphy announced on his Instagram Wednesday that he will turn the new Broadway musical, The Prom, into a Netflix “movie event.”

“THE PROM is one of the most uplifting, heartfelt and special musicals I have ever seen on Broadway,” wrote Murphy. “It’s truly an original that celebrates the underdog and says in a loving spectacular way that LGBTQ rights are human rights.”

Citing a “special connection” to the piece due to the location of the musical, Indiana, which happens to be where Murphy hails from, he told his followers, “I’m thrilled to announce I’m turning it into a MOVIE EVENT for Netflix.”

THE PROM is one of the most uplifting, heartfelt and special musicals I have ever seen on Broadway. It’s truly an original that celebrates the underdog and says in a loving spectacular way that LGBTQ rights are human rights. I feel a special connection to it because it’s set in Indiana, and that’s where I grew up, too. I’m thrilled to announce I’m turning it into a MOVIE EVENT for Netflix, and I’m bringing producers @billdamaschke and @dori.berinstein and the amazing creative team with me — Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw, Tony Award winner Bob Martin, Tony award nominee @sklarbar73 and Tony Award nominee @Chadbeg. See it first at the Longacre Theatre. It has a musical score that will leave you singing for days, a hilarious and moving book and some of the most showstopping direction, choreography and performances I’ve ever seen on Broadway. @theprommusical
A post shared by Ryan Murphy (@mrrpmurphy) on Apr 9, 2019 at 5:32pm PDT

In adapting the material for TV, the 6-time Emmy Award winner shared that the Broadway creative team – including Tony Award winning director/choreographer Casey Nickolaw – will come along for the ride, as well as the stage producers.

The show, which follows the story of a high school student in a small Indiana town who is banned from bringing her girlfriend to the prom, opened at the Longacre Theater on Broadway last fall to rave reviews.

“So full of happiness you think your heart is about to burst!” – Variety

“Comic gold!” – The Hollywood Reporter

“Broadway Comedy Razzle Dazzles Small Town Bigotry” – Deadline

You may recall the splash the show made when the cast performed the number “Build A Prom” on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in November.

Upbeat, lively and full of energy, the musical number closes with the two female leading characters kissing.

I’m pretty sure that was the first same-sex kiss to be televised on the long-running parade.

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NY State: Town Clerk Forced To Apologize For Refusing Marriage License To Gay Couple

Town clerk Sherrie Eriksen apologizes for denying gay couple a marriage license
Town clerk Sherrie Eriksen apologizes for denying gay couple a marriage license

On July 30 last summer, Thomas Hurd and Dylan Toften went to the office of their town clerk in Root, New York, to obtain a marriage license.

Instead of a joyful, upbeat episode in their lives, the men were dismayed to be turned down by town clerk Sherrie Eriksen.

She put the couple off saying they couldn’t get a marriage license because they didn’t make an appointment before coming to the office, according to WRAL.

She also told the men that she has a personal objection to same-sex marriage.

That’s despite the fact that New York state legalized marriage equality in 2011, and the U.S. Supreme Court made it the law of the land in 2015.

Toften took to social media at the time to share the incident writing, “Town of Root clerk is a bigot!!! Refused to do our marriage license. She said make an appointment to have her deputy do it… do your job Andrew Cuomo.”

Gov. Cuomo responded to the post by tweeting, “Marriage equality is our law in NY. The denial of a license to a same sex couple is an unconscionable act of discrimination. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I’d like to congratulate Dylan & his future husband on their marriage.”

Several town meetings were held, an investigation was launched, and a lawsuit was threatened by the couple, according to WRGB News.

In the end, an agreement was reached: the town of Root would pay the men $25,000 plus Eriksen would personally deliver a public apology.

And so it came to be on Wednesday afternoon that Eriksen, standing in front of news cameras and town leaders at the weekly town meeting, made her apology.

“In my capacity as town clerk, it is my responsibility to provide marriage licenses to all couples, regardless of sex or sexual orientation, so long as they meet all applicable New York state requirements,” she began. “As such, my office and I will personally will issue marriage licenses to any couple without exception, who is legally entitled to be issued one.”

Her voice wavering a bit, she continued, “On July 30th of last year, there was an unfortunate incident involving Mr Thomas Hurd and Mr Dylan Toften, who came to my office seeking a marriage license.”

“I am sorry for any harm or inconvenience my actions caused the couple, thank you,” she concluded.

Here’s the video via local CBS News anchor Emily DeFeciani:

Hurd and Toften eventually received a marriage license from another town and were married on August 18.

The couple told WRGB that they’re proud they stood up for marriage equality.

“If we had never stood our ground, how many more people would’ve had to go through this?” Toften said.

Dylan Toften and Thomas Hurd (image via Facebook)

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Donald Trump: “I Know Nothing About Wikileaks”

Donald “I don’t know nothing about Wikileaks” Trump

As I reported earlier today, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was arrested in London today after hiding out in the Ecuadorian embassy since 2012.

Asked by the press today if he “still loves Wikileaks,” Donald Trump pretended to “know nothing about Wikileaks.”

And yet, back in October 2016, Trump extolled the virtues of Wikileaks after they released thousands of emails from the Democratic National Committee.

Trump repeatedly said he “loved” the organization when it was releasing emails related to Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

Trump Oct 2016: “WikiLeaks, I love WikiLeaks.”

Trump Oct 2016: “This WikiLeaks is like a treasure trove,”

Trump Nov 2016: “Boy, I love reading those WikiLeaks.”

Let’s go to the video tape!

Funny how that works, huh?

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Wikileaks’ Julian Assange Arrested, Dragged From Ecuadorian Embassy In London

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange being dragged from Ecuadorian embassy in London

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was arrested at the Ecuadorian embassy in London where he has lived since 2012.

He’s sought refuge there from sexual assault allegations against him in Sweden.

From the New York Times:

The United States has charged WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange of conspiring to hack a computer as part of the 2010 release of reams of secret American documents, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday, putting him just one flight away from being in American custody after years of seclusion in the Ecuadorean embassy in London.

The single charge, conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, was filed a year earlier, in March 2018, and stems from what prosecutors said was his agreement to break a password to a classified United States government computer. It carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and is significant in that it is not an espionage charge, a detail that will come as a relief to press freedom advocates. The United States government had considered until at least last year charging him with an espionage-related offense.

Mr. Assange, 47, has been living at the Ecuadorean Embassy in London since 2012. British authorities arrested him on Thursday, heavily bearded and disheveled. A dramatic video showed him shackled and being carried out of the embassy and forced into a police van. He was detained partly in connection with an American extradition warrant after he was evicted by the Ecuadoreans.

Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, testified before a congressional committee in February that Trump’s close friend and adviser Roger Stone had bee in contact with Assange before WikiLeaks released leaked emails from the Democratic National Committee in 2016.

GOP Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska chimed in about the arrest via Twitter:

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Trump Tweets Fake Approval Ratings

Donald Trump must have been thrilled as he tweeted a screen-shot from Lou Dobbs‘ Fox Business show reporting his approval number is at 55% from the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service. Only problem is: it's wrong. The director of the poll followed up Trump's tweet with one of his own announcing the mistake. Trump's approval rating from the poll is actually 43% - which is about where he's topped out for two years. The 55% number is his disapproval rating.
Donald Trump

Donald Trump must have been thrilled as he tweeted a screen-shot from Lou Dobbs‘ Fox Business show reporting his approval number is at 55% from the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service.

Only problem is: it’s wrong.

The director of the poll followed up Trump’s tweet with one of his own announcing the mistake just 40 minutes later.

Trump’s approval rating from the poll is actually 43% – which is about where he’s topped out for two years.

The 55% number is his disapproval rating.

That same poll showed 49% say Trump’s style and approach are insulting and wrong; only 27% approved of his “style” and “approach.”

Only 38% said Trump deserves re-election.

#doh

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News Round-Up: April 10, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk Dan Tai gets up close to a mama elephant. If that’s not enough elephant action for you, check this baby elephant pretending to be brave. #ElephantsRock

• Following an overall trend of increased hate crimes since Donald Trump took office, a Colorado transgender man was attacked on his own front porch for “acting gay.”

• It’s National Siblings Day, so here’s a shout out to my brother, Gary, who I fought with throughout my childhood. But, as adults, we found common ground – wonder what that was…? #MoreWine

Happy Siblings Day to my big bro, Gary

• A gay guy wrote an essay titled, “Why Pete Buttigieg Is Bad For Gays,” and he’s wrong.

• Hollywood powerhouse producer/director Ryan Murphy announced he will make the hit Broadway musical The Prom (about a high school girl asking another girl to the prom) into a Netflix movie.

• Testifying before Congress today, Education Secretary Betsy Devos admitted she knew rolling back Obama-era guidance that protected trans students would lead to lower attendance and depression for those students.

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Gus Kenworthy Became Emotional Talking Coming Out At 2019 Point Foundation Gala

Gus Kenworthy (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Point Honors Gala New York 2019)

Olympic medalist Gus Kenworthy was honored this past Monday at the Point Foundation’s 2019 New York gala.

The Point Foundationempowers promising LGBTQ students to reach their full academic potential – despite the obstacles often put before them – to make a significant impact on society.

Point is the largest scholarship granting organization in the United States for LGBTQ students of merit.

Introduced by Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness, Kenworthy accepted this year’s Point Leadership Award by remembering his own school years when he was closeted.

Speaking of the LGBTQ students in the room, he noted how “incredibly inspiring” they are to him as they live their truths today “unashamed and unapologetically.”

“I wish that I had the courage to be myself when I was in high school,” he admitted “But it took me many years to get to that point.”

The Olympic silver medalist addressed the “stress and anxiety” queer adolescents face during those years.

“We often face ridicule and we fear torment,” he continued. “My time spent in the closet is a blur of depression and anxiety.”

Noting that he did experience high points during those times – becoming a professional skier, graduating high school, making his first Olympic team and scoring his first Olympic medal – the 27-year-old candidly shared that, “I didn’t really enjoy those moments to their fullest because I truly wasn’t present for them.”

In keeping up a facade of ‘straightness,’ he says he didn’t really feel the gravity of winning an Olympic medal.

And, echoing sentiments we heard from White House hopeful Mayor Pete Buttigieg this past weekend, Kenworthy admitted that he tried to wish away being gay.

“I remember wishing more than anything else that I were just straight,” he told the audience. “I would literally pray that I might wake up and not be gay anymore. I would be ‘normal’ and the rest of my life would be easy. I worked twice as hard at everything I did to make up for the fact that I was gay – something I thought was a shortcoming at the time.”

But coming out – something he used to fear – would be his salvation.

Kenworthy explained that once he came out in 2015 via ESPN Magazine, he had his best ski season ever. And he hadn’t changed a single thing about his training or approach to his sport.

Except – “I was finally competing as myself.”

“And that little extra bit of energy, that I’d previously spent worrying, stressing, compartmentalizing, that extra little bit was my ticket to success.”

Gus Kenworthy (L) and Jonathan Van Ness (R)
(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Point Honors Gala New York 2019)

Kenworthy then listed many of the fearsome obstacles young LGBTQs face today including “violence” and “isolation.”

He became emotional intoning the danger gays around the world contend with, like being stoned to death in countries like Brunei.

And here in the U.S.: “We have a president who has made repeated attacks on our community, on our trans brothers, sisters, and gender non-binary siblings.”

“We have a Vice President who still believes in conversion therapy, for f*cks sake,” he added.

However, expressing his confidence that the next generation of LGBTQ youth will create a bright future, he offered this in closing: “Continue spreading your charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent – because shantay, you stay!”

Click here to learn more about the Point Foundation.

A post shared by gus kenworthy (@guskenworthy) on Apr 9, 2019 at 9:43am PDT

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Baseball Players Celebrate Runs With ‘Double Grab’ Secret Handshake

Joey Gallo and Nomar Mazara share a ‘low two’ after scoring runs

During Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels, Joey Gallo and Nomar Mazara of the Texas Rangers had a moment of celebration that went viral after sharing a choreographed “double-crotch grab” handshake to celebrate a home run.

It was Gallo who hit a home run that led to both him and teammate Mazara scoring runs.

After rounding the bases and getting to home plate, the duo did a quick set of ‘low fives’ capped off with a handful, reports TMZ.

TMZ points out that no one seemed to ask about the secret handshake after the game.

#LoveBaseball

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Stranger To LGBT Parents Of Toddler With Cancer: ‘I Was Going To Donate But Found Out Parents Are Lesbians’

The parents of a one-year-old girl diagnosed with advanced cancer were shocked to receive a hateful message on social media from a stranger.
Tiffany and Albree Shaffer with their children (image via Facebook)

The parents of a one-year-old girl diagnosed with advanced cancer were shocked to receive a hateful message on social media from a stranger.

Diagnosed in January with stage four Neuroblastoma, little Callie Shaffer has already spent more than 100 days in the hospital undergoing rounds of chemotherapy as well as surgery to remove a cancerous tumor.

Her parents, Tiffany and Albree Shaffer, have created a Facebook page titled “Callie Strong, Tiny But Mighty” to share Callie’s progress with friends and family. They say the support has been overwhelming, and helped them through this difficult time.

But amid all the good wishes being sent Callie’s way, the lesbian couple were shocked to find a hateful, homophobic message from someone they don’t even know.

“My prayers for Callie. I was going to donate $7600.00 to her fund, but I found out her parents are lesbian. I’ve chosen to donate to St. Jude due to that fact. Sorry. I’ll still pray for her though, but maybe it’s God’s way of getting your attention that she needs a mommy and a daddy, not two mommies.”

Callie’s parents shared a screen capture of the comment on their Facebook page.

“This is a very sick little girl, who’s life is on the line,” read the parents’ caption.

“For someone to actually send this and speak to my family in this way is utterly DISGUSTING,” they continued.

“Regardless of how you feel, don’t say a word,” added the couple. “What Callie needs is love and support…..not hate and misery.”

Speaking with local NBC News affiliate WNDU, Albree admitted she was “shocked” and “disgusted.”

“That’s mainly what it was — shock and hurt at the same time,” said the mother.

“She’s loved. She’s being taken care of. Why does it matter?,” added Callie’s aunt, Trisha Lamb. “Why would you want to hurt someone who is already hurting?”

With a stage four diagnosis, Callie has a long road ahead of her. In addition to chemo and surgery, she will need radiation treatments and a bone marrow transplant.

Albree has had to stop working to be with Callie in the hospital, while Tiffany is working as much as possible to pay the family’s bills in addition to driving to see her daughter every day.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help defray the costs of the expensive treatment.

You can follow Callie’s progress on Facebook here.

(h/t WNDU)

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Disney Releases Official Trailer For Live-Action ‘The Lion King’

Young Simba in the upcoming live-action film ‘The Lion King’

Hakuna Matata!

Disney has released the first full-length trailer for the upcoming live-action remake of The Lion King, due in theaters this summer.

Jon Favreau, who helmed the successful live-action The Jungle Book, is once again on directing duties.

Practically every Lion King character fans have come to love since the animated film was released in 1994 make an appearance in the trailer. Zazu (John Oliver), Simba (Donald Glover), Nala (Beyoncé), Rafiki (John Kani), and Sarabi (Alfre Woodard) all show up on the savannah.

First glimpse of Beyoncé in ‘The Lion King’

“While others search for what they can take, a true king searches for what he can give,” we hear James Earl Jones (reprising his role as Mufasa) tell young Simba as father and son look out over their animal kingdom from Pride Rock.

The new live-action film not only includes dialogue and songs from the award-winning animated feature, but Favreau also recreates some of the most famous scenes from the original shot by shot.

The official synopsis reads:

Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own.

The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.

One of the highlights of the trailer is a few moments near the end as Pumbaa (Seth Rogen) and Timon (Billy Eichner) offer up the first few notes of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”

Disney’s The Lion King roars into theaters July 19, 2019.