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Arkansas Leads Nation In New COVID Cases As Vaccinations Decline

The first confirmed case of the omicron variant in the U.S. has been discovered in California.

Y’all…please get vaccinated. I’m just saying. From USA Today:

Cases of COVID-19 have doubled in the U.S. in the past two weeks, and Arkansas is becoming a case study in how low vaccination rates can fuel the spread of the virus.

Arkansas continues to be the nation’s top state for new cases per capita, and only 35% of the state’s population is fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus appears to be largely sparing vaccinated people from the most severe illness.

“Of all of our critically ill COVID positive patients at Baptist Health facilities, none have been fully vaccinated,” said Stephanie Whitaker, chief nursing executive for Baptist Health, a major healthcare provider in the state.

The state’s Department of Health said there are 240 COVID-19 patients in the state’s ICUs and 118 on ventilators. Only 4% of the state’s intensive care unit beds are available.

Cases of COVID-19 rose in all 50 states this week.

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Fun: TikToker Goes Viral With Amazing, Impressive Trick Shots

This TikToker is going viral for his amazing trick shot skills. Davide Panzeri has 2 million followers on TikTok where he posts nearly every day. You can follow him at @trickshotdav. He told Muscle & Fitness Magazine he started learning the trick shots as a way to battle burnout depression from work. Some commenters on the YouTube page are crying “Oh, but how many times did he have to try to get it right?” In the video, NowThis News reports some tricks took him 6 months to learn. I could never do any of this. Ever. p.s. easy on the eyes as well 🙂

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Las Vegas: Face Masks Recommended For All In Public Spaces

Las Vegas health officials have recommended everyone (vaccinated or not) go back to wearing face masks when indoors.

Las Vegas health officials have recommended everyone (vaccinated or not) go back to wearing face masks when indoors. And, we’re back to wearing face masks here in my town of Las Vegas, Nevada, thanks to rising cases and slowing vaccination rates. From the Review-Journal:

The Southern Nevada Health District on Friday recommended that everyone — including those vaccinated against COVID-19 —again wear face masks in crowded indoor public settings such as grocery stores, malls and casinos.

The health district’s recommendation comes as COVID-19 test positivity rates, case counts and hospitalizations continue to increase in Southern Nevada, which has been designated as a “sustained hotspot” for the disease by the federal government.

In mid-May, Gov. Steve Sisolak dropped the mask mandate for those who were vaccinated, following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The mask requirement remained for unvaccinated people in most public indoor settings, but was largely unenforced and often ignored.

It’s worth noting the change is only a ‘recommendation’ at this time and not a mandate. Los Angeles County reinstated its mask mandate beginning last night.

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News Round-Up: July 16, 2021

Voters stand in line waiting to vote

Voters stand in line waiting to vote
Investigation by AP found few potential cases of voting irregularities in Arizona
Some news items you might have missed: • LGBTQ Nation: It seems Caitlyn Jenner is filming her ‘campaign’ for governor of California – any guesses why the reality TV celeb might be doing that? • OUT: Two gay men vacationing on the French island of Corsica were brutally attacked by group of up to 20 men while a large crowd gathered and watched but did nothing to stop the brutal assault. • It Gets Better: Regular readers of TRR know I’m not only a huge supporter of the Olympic Games but especially the Paralympic Games. Check out the journey of out lesbian Courtney journey who will be competing in wheelchair basketball for Team USA at this year’s Games.

• Instinct Magazine: Michael Henderson, the popular head coach of Murrieta Valley High School’s cheer and student program in southern California, was abruptly fired from his job last month. Henderson says he was fired for being gay and has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit alleging that the process leading to his dismissal was “flawed.” • Kenneth-in-the-212: Check out Kenneth’s round-up of the what’s what in LGBTQ publications including out swimmer Michael Gunning covering the latest from Attitude Magazine.

(image via Attitude Magazine)
• 4WWL: Alan Scott Lanoix tested positive for COVID-19 and spent 17 days in the hospital with several on a ventilator. His wife and 3 sons all tested positive too. Lanoix died June 9 at 54 years old. According to his sister, “He thought the vaccine was poison.” • AP: Investigation by the Associated Press finds fewer than 200 cases of potential voter fraud identified by Arizona’s local election officials out of 3.4 million ballots cast in last year’s presidential election.

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Judge Suspends DACA Program But Allows Dreamers To Stay In US

(stock image via Depositphotos)
From HuffPost:

A federal judge in Texas ruled Friday that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program ― a policy that lets undocumented immigrants who were brought into the U.S. as minors stay in the country ― is illegal and must be suspended.

In his ruling, Judge Andrew Hanen ordered President Joe Biden’s administration to stop approving new DACA requests from such immigrants, referred to as “Dreamers,” once again upending the Obama-era policy Biden had just revived in January.

The decision by Hanen, an appointee of former President George W. Bush known for his harsh rulings on immigration matters, does not have any bearing on current DACA recipients, nor does it affect their ability to renew their DACA grants.

Hanen made a point of saying the presence of DACA recipients “contributes to a more competitive labor market, which makes it more difficult for legal residents of Texas to obtain work.” But in 2017, NPR fact-checked that idea and said it’s not true. Not only do DACA recipients tend to be well-educated, making the economy that much more productive, they also contribute to the U.S. as consumers. It’s important to remember that DACA recipients are young people who were brought to the U.S. as small children. They didn’t make a choice to break any laws. And the idea of deporting a 14-year-old to, say, Mexico, when they might have been brought here as a baby is ridiculous. Also – a Pew survey conducted last year showed almost three-quarters of respondents, including majorities of Democrats and Republicans, support finding a pathway to permanent legal status for Dreamers. Read more at HuffPost.

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What To Watch: ‘The X Circus’

From The X Circus official website - 'Hallelujah' in rehearsal

From The X Circus official website - 'Hallelujah' in rehearsal You may remember Matthew Richardson & Francis Perreault from their breath taking 2016 short film, “The Arrow” or Richardson’s appearances on America’s Got Talent. Now, on Sunday evenings at 9 p.m. ET, they and other LGBTQ+ circus artist are coming together as The X CIRCUS for live interactive streaming performances on YouTube. You’ll be able to ask questions with the artists after, get an inside look into the training and production side of things, AND learn more about the meaning of the acts and the stories of the artists. “THE X CIRCUS is my attempt to create a platform for LGBTQ+ artists to openly express queer stories and art, and to present acts that normally are not always seen on stage,” says Richardson. “My goal is to create more normalcy and a kinder world for the queer community.” Here’s the premiere episode from this past Sunday:

From the official website for The X Circus:

The X Circus is dedicated to creating powerful performance art and films to open minds and inspire a kinder world. With a focus on LGBTQ+ circus art, these project aim to help minorities by challenging social norms, raising questions and starting conversations.

“By creating unique circus films and performances that evoke emotion, we deliver important messages through unforgettable acrobatics and dance. Led by circus artist & creator Matthew Richardson, these projects have come to life thanks to the talents of an incredible team and years of hard work.

Learn more about the project and its diverse array of performers telling their stories through brilliant artistry and work at  The X-Circus.  Here’s the romantic 2016 circus/queer film ‘The Arrow’ which has garnered nearly 2 million views. You can follow Matthew Richardson on Instagram here.

(h/t TheOUTfront)

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Milahroy Invites You Follow The Furry Fun To MY MALIBU

Milahroy and friend in 'My Malibu'
Out singer/songwriter Milahroy invites you to follow the furry goodness on the way to My Malibu (feat. theLMNOP).
Milahroy and friend in ‘My Malibu’ (screen captures)

Out singer/songwriter Milahroy invites you to follow the furry goodness on the way to My Malibu (feat. theLMNOP).

The bouncy indie bop has a fun, infectious folk/pop vibe that conjures up echoes of Mumford and Sons – only more fun.

Aye – Ridin’ on a wave / Ya I’m sailin’ away to my oasis Aye – Ridin’ on a wave / Sunset I’m chasin’ Makin my way to you / Need to have my Malibu

“‘My Malibu’ isn’t a place or a person – it’s where I go when I open that guitar case & grab my instrument – it lights me up,” says Milahroy. “I feel I enter this oasis that is unworldly.”

In past music videos, the handsome artist has been kidnapped by dark forces (“Cool“), chased by zombies (“D.F.O.“), and hidden away in his own personal disconnection (“Daylight“). But in “My Malibu,” our hero is out in the wilderness searching for his happy place with a gorilla bro and a beach-bound granny. Sounds silly? That’s pretty much the point. That could sound kind of random, but like all of his music videos, there’s meaning in all things Milahroy. Milahroy flying high on the way to My Malibu “As for the gorilla & grandmother, there’s a big balance between the masc/fem energy in myself & my upbringing,” explains the artist. “I’ve had both my grandmothers present during my childhood, they would babysit a lot & watch over my siblings and I.” “As for the gorilla, my father is where I get all my fur! I used to hate it – but when I learned to let go & accept it, I began to love it!” Milahroy is on a search for his happy place The whole endeavor is light-hearted and full of whimsical imagery. Whether partying in the woods with his furry bro, or flying high above cotton-candy pink clouds, the song represents those ineffable ideas that feed our souls. “‘My Malibu’ could be anything that lights us up, whether it’s our person, a location, an inanimate object or even a memory that keeps us going.” The new single is available now on Spotify, Apple Music and other digital streaming platforms. Follow Milahroy on Instagram here.

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News Round-Up: July 14, 2021

(image via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • Just Because: InstaHunk Yes.Its.Andy (above) shares this calming scene. Follow him here. Can I just say I liked the colors? • JoeMyGod: Republican senators have issued a statement calling for the repeal of wearing masks on public transportation because it could ruin family vacations. • Deseret News: Family nurse practitioner Aaron Hartle (45-year-old former triathlete and father of five) decided he wasn’t in any hurry to get vaccinated against COVID-19, even though the virus killed one of his patients. In June, COVID-19 sent Hartle to the hospital for a week. Back at home, he remains on oxygen and tires easily as he talks about an ordeal that that didn’t need to happen.

• NBC News: Britney Spears was granted a request to hire her own attorney on Wednesday, a development that could mark a major shift in how her 13-year conservatorship case has been handled. • Raw Story: According to Michael Wolff’s new book Landslide, Jared Kushner would apparently ‘slow-walk’ Donald Trump’s temperamental orders in order to lower the immediate temperature precisely to the point where the president would not notice (due to his short attention span) and Jared would not be blamed. • LGBTQ Nation: Today is International Nonbinary People’s Day and Twitter is celebrating with an outpouring of heartfelt emotion. #InternationalNonbinaryDay is trending with thousands of tweets from supporters and enbies themselves.

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Celebrating My Birthday & The Anniversary Of My Best Friendship

Carlye at Disney World; both of us at the opening night of ‘Hello, Dolly!’ on Broadway
Today, France celebrates Bastille Day, or as we say in my house, my birthday. I am not a ‘birthday person.’ I never have been, not that I mind getting older. The best part of my birthday really isn’t about me. The best part of my birthday is the anniversary of one of the best parts of my life. The best part of my birthday is that on July 14, 1980, I found my best friend, the foundation of who I am and how I got here. Today is the anniversary of the day Carlye and I officially became best friends. Yes, officially. We decided on that day. I can never write enough about how I was made better the day we met. I can never write enough about how Carlye and her family made me feel like I belonged. I can never write enough about how Carlye and I survived New York City and life together: • being briefly homeless at midnight on October 30, 1985 • living in what we called ‘the hovel’ in a six-floor walk-up on the Upper East Side • waiting tables and auditioning, and waiting tables and auditioning, and waiting tables and auditioning • getting to opening nights • getting through funerals • getting through illnesses – hers and mine I could all go on and on. But I’ll leave it at that – for now. The best part of my birthday is not about ‘me.’ It is about ‘we.’ Happy birthday to me, but more importantly happy anniversary Carlye.

Carlye and I at a holiday party some year in NYC