Posts

Posted on

Mid-Day Brain Break: Todrick Hall “21 Songs Every Gay Knows”

Actor/choreographer Todrick Hall offers this quick, one minute lesson in "21 Songs Every Gay Knows."
Todrick Hall

Actor/choreographer Todrick Hall offers this quick, one minute lesson in “21 Songs Every Gay Knows.”

Very clever, and fun mid-day brain break.

With just one line from each song (you do know them all, yes?) plus a signature move, Hall totally captures the tunes.

Hit play below.

Posted on

News Round-Up: June 27, 2019

Nick Jonas (via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Nick Jonas is giving you seriously ‘daddy’ grown-up goodness in this promo pic introducing his character “Bruno Gaido” from his upcoming movie, Midway, due out November 8. #Dang

• A gay couple were the target of homophobic insults before being spat on, clawed and physically attacked in an unprovoked attack in Essex in southeast England.

• Senate Democrats have introduced a resolution recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, the first time Congress has formally acknowledged the event that led to the modern LGBTQ rights movement.

• Alphonso David has been named the next president of the Human Rights Campaign. He is the first civil rights lawyer and the first person of color to lead the LGBTQ advocacy organization.

• Prince William says it would be “absolutely fine” if one of his children came out as gay.

• Deadline reports that Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, along with James Corden, Andrew Rannells, and Keegan-Michael Key, have all been tapped by Ryan Murphy for the Netflix adaptation of the LGBTQ-themed Broadway musical, The Prom.

• As WorldPride gets underway in New York City today, just a reminder of how a leader CAN relate to his LGBTQ constituents. Folks, I give you Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Toronto’s Pride event this past weekend.

Posted on

Night 1 Of Democratic Debates: Warren Leads, Castro Surprises, Booker Strong On LGBTQ Issues

The first Democratic National Committee (DNC) debate of the 2020 presidential election cycle took place last night in Miami and, as expected, there were a few surprises.
Sens. Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, and former HUD Sec. Julian Castro

The first Democratic National Committee (DNC) debate of the 2020 presidential election cycle took place last night in Miami and, as expected, there were a few surprises.

Last night’s debate, the first of two, included Julián Castro, Bill de Blasio, Jay Inslee, John Delaney, Tulsi Gabbard, Tim Ryan, Amy Klobuchar, Beto O’Rourke, Cory Booker, and Elizabeth Warren.

One of the biggest moments of the evening came when Rep. Tulsi Gabbard was asked a question about her history of opposing LGBTQ rights and supporting conversion therapy.

Gabbard noted that she’s since apologized for those statements and reminded people that she grew up in a conservative family with conservative thoughts on LGBTQ people.

“Maybe many people in this country can relate to the fact that I grew up in a socially conservative home, held views when I was very young that I no longer hold today,” Gabbard said. “I served with LGBTQ service members, both in training and deployed down the range. I know they would give their life for me, and I would give my life for them.”

She also promised to support and vote for The Equality Act.

But Sen. Cory Booker jumped in saying Gabbard’s support of The Equality Act was “not enough,” and expanded the conversation to transgender people saying, “We do not talk enough about trans Americans, especially African American trans Americans and the incredibly high rates of murder right now.”

“We don’t talk enough about how many children – about how 30% of LGBTQ children do not go to school because of fear,” said Booker. “It’s not enough just to be on the Equality Act, which I’m an original co-sponsor of. We need to have a president who will fight to protect LGBTQ Americans every single day from violence.”

Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro, who appears to have helped himself the most via his debate performance, also brought up trans people during a question about healthcare and abortion rights.

Castro also looked strong on immigration issues as he dominated during that segment of the debate.

The rest of the field didn’t seem to make up any ground, although, sensing they needed their ‘moment,’ Bill de Blasio, Tim Ryan, Beto O’Rourke, and John Delaney began inserting themselves into questions hoping for more speaking time.

At the end of the day, it seems Warren did as expected and came across as the front-runner (in this crowd); Castro elevated himself; and Booker and Sen. Amy Klobuchar each had strong moments.

One surprise was how flat O’Rourke seemed throughout. After a stellar run for U.S. Senate in Texas last year, it seemed his time off from the campaign trail took a bit of a toll on his usual charismatic presence.

Other thoughts from the Twitterverse:

The second group of 10 Democratic candidates – including former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Mayor Pete Buttigieg – face off tonight in Miami on NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo at 9 p.m.

Posted on

Pride Music: Pet Shop Boys “Go West”

A “must-have” when it comes to Pride Month music – the Pet Shop Boys cover of “Go West.”

Of course, it’s on my pool playlist all summer long. But, especially during Pride Month.

The track is a 3-time gay-gay-gay play.

Originally recorded by The Village People (do I even have to elaborate here?), the song was covered by the Pet Shop Boys in 1993 and nominated for a Grammy Award for “Best Music Video.”

 Plus, the tune was featured in the Broadway musical, Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

See? Gay 1, 2, 3. What’s not to love?

On top of the muscular melody, the lyrics offer a positive message totally born for Pride:

(Go West) Life is peaceful there / (Go West) In the open air (Go West) Baby you and me / (Go West) This is our destiny (Go West) Sun in wintertime / (Go West) We will do just fine (Go West) Where the skies are blue / (Go West) This is what we’re gonna do

Continue reading “Pride Music: Pet Shop Boys “Go West””

Posted on

Trump Calls Fox Business And Things Go South Very Quickly

Donald Trump called into Fox Business News to chat with Maria Bartiromo, but things quickly devolved into just one long rant.
The look on Maria Bartiromo’s face…

Donald Trump called into Fox Business News to chat with Maria Bartiromo, but things quickly devolved into just one long rant.

Vox reporter Aaron Rupar posted several clips of the “interview” where Trump goes off about his usual irritations including China, Europe and his own Federal Reserve chairman, he went on and on about the Mueller investigation as well.

He even made up a new, false accusation that Special Counsel Robert Mueller committed a fake crime.

The best part of the whole episode is the look on Bartiromo’s face.

Click over to Aaron’s Twitter feed for more of Trump’s more-unhinged-than-usual phone call.

Posted on

Music Video: Adam Lambert “Comin In Hot”

Last month, I covered the released of Adam Lambert’s music video “New Eyes,” from his upcoming album, Velvet.

The American Idol alum has just dropped the next single from the album, “Comin In Hot,” and it picks up right where “New Eyes” left off.

As previously announced, the music videos from the album tell a multi-part story.

The groovy new video finds the 37-year-old singer still in that retro nightclub having quite the ‘encounter’ with a fierce, sexy witch played by trans activist, Miss Shalae.

Musically, Lambert is serving up a fusion of sultry 70s rock and funk, letting the style carry the tune without relying on histrionic, power vocals.

“I want your touch, come put your hands on me / I want my love to feed your vanity / Comin’ in hot,” sings Lambert.

Since his last release, The Original High, the 37-year-old has been touring extensively as the frontman for iconic rock band, Queen, as well as making a cameo appearance in the Freddy Mercury biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody.

Discussing the upcoming album during an appearance on RuPaul’s talk show, RuPaul, Lambert said, “it’s not a big superstar, name-ringing kind of situation. It’s friends, people that I’ve met over the last 10 years that I respect, a lot of queer writers as well that I’ve teamed up with, more female writers than ever.”

He also shared that he met his current boyfriend on Instagram. “I love meeting freaks on Instagram,” said Lambert. “I think I’m a pretty good judge of character. We took our time.”

Check out Lambert’s chat with Ru below.

Posted on

Waitress Accused Of Spitting On Eric Trump

Eric Trump (R) with his brother Don Jr. (L)

The New York Times reports that a Chicago waitress apparently spit on Eric Trump, one of Donald Trump’s sons, while he was having dinner on Tuesday night.

An official with the Trump Organization, where Mr. Trump is an executive vice president, said the woman who spit on him was immediately handcuffed and detained by the Secret Service and the Chicago police. She was released after about two hours when Mr. Trump decided not to press charges.

Officials with The Aviary released an unsigned statement Wednesday describing “an unfortunate incident” that “occurred between an employee at The Aviary and Eric Trump.” That employee has been placed on leave, the statement said, adding that restaurant officials did not witness the reported spitting.

I don’t condone acts like this, but as others have similarly paraphrased, I’m guessing he wasn’t her type?

And for those folks saying what a wonderful person Eric is, and wondering how folks would have reacted if Obama’s daughters had been spat on, I would point out Eric kills innocent animals for fun, and has been accused of stealing from cancer charities, so…

Trump whined about it the nutjobs at Breitbart News, saying the waitress “clearly has emotional problems.”

“For a party that preaches tolerance, this once again demonstrates they have very little civility,” he said. “When somebody is sick enough to resort to spitting on someone, it just emphasizes a sickness and desperation and the fact that we’re winning.”

Posted on

Pride Music: Kim Petras “Another One”

German-born pop star Kim Petras sat down with ABC News to chat on how her identity as a trans woman has shaped her music but doesn’t define her.

The 26-year-old talks about her idols (Kylie, Cher, Madonna, Gwen), selling out concerts and growing up in gay bars with her ‘gay homies.’

Really great profile. Watch below.

And while we’re here, check out Kim’s latest single, “Another One,” from her upcoming album, Clarity.

Posted on

Trump Twitter Rants At US Womens Soccer Team’s Megan Rapinoe

Donald Trump (L) Megan Rapinoe (R)

After hearing that the openly lesbian U.S. women’s soccer team co-captain, Megan Rapinoe told a reporter, “I’m not going to the f**king White House,” if her team should win the the World Cup, Donald Trump took to his Twitter to rant at the soccer legend.

Trouble is, Trump being Trump, he tweeted his rage at the wrong ‘Megan Rapino.’

“Women’s soccer player, @meganrapino, just stated that she is “not going to the F…ing White House if we win.” Other than the NBA, which now refuses to call owners, owners (please explain that I just got Criminal Justice Reform passed, Black unemployment is at the lowest level…….in our Country’s history, and the poverty index is also best number EVER), leagues and teams love coming to the White House. I am a big fan of the American Team, and Women’s Soccer, but Megan should WIN first before she TALKS! Finish the job! We haven’t yet invited Megan or the team, but I am now inviting the TEAM, win or lose. Megan should never disrespect our Country, the White House, or our Flag, especially since so much has been done for her & the team. Be proud of the Flag that you wear. The USA is doing GREAT!”

It appears someone at the White House tipped off the Donald about his latest gaffe and he retweeted.

Rapinoe isn’t the first athlete to decline a visit to Trump’s White House.

The Toronto Raptors shooting guard, Danny Green told the press a visit to the White House now that the Raptors are NBA champs is a “hard pass.”

More from the Twitterverse:

Posted on

Mueller To Testify In Public Before House Committees July 17

Politico reports former special counsel Robert Mueller will testify in public before the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees on July 17, both panels announced late Tuesday.
Robert Mueller

Politico reports former special counsel Robert Mueller will testify in public before the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees on July 17:

Mueller was served with a subpoena after the Democratic-led committees and the former special counsel failed to agree on terms for his voluntary public testimony.

“Americans have demanded to hear directly from the special counsel so they can understand what he and his team examined, uncovered, and determined about Russia’s attack on our democracy, the Trump campaign’s acceptance and use of that help, and President Trump and his associates’ obstruction of the investigation into that attack,” Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said in a joint statement.