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Virtual Event: ‘Rufus Does Judy At Capitol Studios’

Rufus Wainwright sings ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ (screen capture)
Rufus Wainwright shares this intimate take on the classic tune, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” in advance of his upcoming virtual concert event: Rufus Does Judy at Capitol Studios. Wainwright revisits his groundbreaking 2007 tribute to Judy Garland, Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall, performed in its entirety, live from Los Angeles’ famed Capitol Studios. Rufus Does Judy at Capitol Studios will see Wainwright backed by a four-piece band in front of a micro-audience comprised of 2x Academy Award-winning actress Renée Zellweger, winner of last year’s “Best Actress” Oscar for her spectacular performance as Garland in 2019’s Judy. In addition, Wainwright will be joined musically by the award-winning star of stage and screen Kristin Chenoweth in person at Capitol Studios and his sister Martha Wainwright from Montreal. The event will premiere Thursday, June 10 at 8:00 PM (AEDT/EST/CET), celebrating what would have been Garland’s 99th birthday. Tickets for Rufus Does Judy at Capitol Studios are available now exclusively via Veeps priced at $30 (advance)/$35 (day of show). Check out Wainwright’s delicately nuanced performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” below.

On his relationship with the iconic Judy Garland song:

“I was about 5 years old when I started singing “Somewhere over the Rainbow.” My mom would occasionally wake me up in the middle of the night and make me sing the song to guests to end the party. They would feel so bad that the kid was still up that late at night and leave.

“Much later, she accompanied me on the piano at Carnegie Hall, the Palladium, the Olympia, and the Hollywood Bowl during the ‘Rufus does Judy’ shows in 2006 and 2007.

“After she passed away, I am only doing the beginning lines of the song a cappella without any piano accompaniment as an honor and memory to her and the hole she has left behind.

“It has a deeply personal meaning to me to sing this song. I think my mom and I singing that song together was also her finally acknowledging my homosexuality with which she struggled for a long time. I am sure that similarly to my experience this song means a lot to LGBTQ folks young and old and their struggles with coming out and living a proud queer life.”

Kristin Chenoweth and Rufus Wainwright
Kristin Chenoweth and Rufus Wainwright (photo: Sean James)
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Utah: Gov Issues 1st PRIDE Declaration, Rainbow Flag Raised At City Hall In SLC

(image via Twitter)
Well, will wonders never cease? Utah’s Governor Spencer Cox issued an official declaration recognizing June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. He is believed to be the first governor of Utah to issue such a proclamation. “We must encourage relevant and vital conversations about what it means to love each other, understand our differences, and support our LGBTQ+ friends and family members,” reads the declaration from Cox. “We can strengthen resilience in the LGBTQ+ community through family and community inclusion and by providing access to help, and giving them our support, respect, understanding, and friendship.” Additionally, Salt Lake City’s Mayor Erin Mendenhall took part in a ceremony raising the rainbow Pride flag at City Hall.

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Cartoon Network Celebrates Pride Month With ‘Drawn To Expression’

Cartoon Network celebrates Pride Month with 'Drawn to Expression' Cartoon Network is celebrating Pride Month with the premiere of Drawn to Expression on Tuesday, June 1. This new installment highlights inspiring LGBTQIA+ kids and families and the ways they express themselves and their individuality through creative outlets such as art, music, and cooking. Drawn to Expression champions the power of creativity and the joy that authentic self-expression brings. The participants featured in the episode aim to empower those around them by freely expressing who they are and sharing their experiences with others in the hopes of creating a more unified and inclusive community for all. The Drawn to Expression graphics were designed by LA-based illustrator and designer, Caleb Boyles. All Drawn To episodes are available on CN, the CN App, and across the network’s social platforms.

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New COVID-19 Cases Drop To Near Pandemic Low

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

While many states didn’t report COVID-19 stats over the Memorial Day holiday, according to CNBC, the U.S. had the lowest number of new cases reported in more than a year on May 29.

The 11,976 new cases reported on May 29 were the lowest since March 23, 2020, when 11,238 new cases were reported, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The seven-day average of 21,007 is the lowest since March 31 of last year, when it was 19,363.

Friday also saw the TSA report the highest number of travelers since the pandemic began, with more than 1.9 million people taking to the skies for the long weekend.

Read the full article at CNBC.

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President Biden Issues Proclamation Recognizing Pride Month

President Biden has issued a proclamation recognizing June 2024 as LGBTQ Pride Month.

President Joe Biden (image – public domain)
President Joe Biden issued a presidential proclamation today recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month. From WhiteHouse.gov:

The uprising at the Stonewall Inn in June, 1969, sparked a liberation movement — a call to action that continues to inspire us to live up to our Nation’s promise of equality, liberty, and justice for all. Pride is a time to recall the trials the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) community has endured and to rejoice in the triumphs of trailblazing individuals who have bravely fought — and continue to fight — for full equality.

Pride is both a jubilant communal celebration of visibility and a personal celebration of self-worth and dignity. This Pride Month, we recognize the valuable contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals across America, and we reaffirm our commitment to standing in solidarity with LGBTQ+ Americans in their ongoing struggle against discrimination and injustice.

The LGBTQ+ community in America has achieved remarkable progress since Stonewall. Historic Supreme Court rulings in recent years have struck down regressive laws, affirmed the right to marriage equality, and secured workplace protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in every State and Territory.

The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act broadened the definition of hate crimes to include crimes motivated by sexual orientation or gender identity. Members of the LGBTQ+ community now serve in nearly every level of public office — in city halls and State capitals, Governors’ mansions and the halls of the Congress, and throughout my Administration.

Nearly 14 percent of my 1,500 agency appointees identify as LGBTQ+, and I am particularly honored by the service of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve in the Cabinet, and Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, the first openly transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate.

Biden goes on to note the many policies from the Trump administration he’s reversed since taking office in January. Among those are charging Federal agencies to fully enforce all Federal laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation, and ending Trump’s transgender military ban. The president also urges Congress to pass the Equality Act, which would extend existing federal civil rights laws to LGBTQ people. And he calls on everyone in the country to “recognize the achievements of the LGBTQ+ community, to celebrate the great diversity of the American people, and to wave their flags of pride high.” Read the full presidential proclamation here. You’ll recall Trump never issued a proclamation for Pride Month during his time in the White House.

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InstaHunk Round-Up: Weekend Edition

https://www.instagram.com/p/CPgQOgptbvO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Checking in with the Hunks of Instagram this fine holiday weekend. First up, international pop star Ricky Martin (above) spent some of his weekend with his adorbs French bulldog who joined the family last fall: Heading into a 6-day work week, Curtis Fitzgerald took time off for #SundayFunday with a shoutout to the hard workers: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPhjt7PgJzs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Army Nurse Blaize Preston got our attention when he got popping on the Gram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPbSnBtDoz5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Rich Burns took a trip to Palm Springs with his pooch, Archie. https://www.instagram.com/p/CPieWRAMo0Z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Johnny Middlebrooks feels like things are getting “normal-ish again.” https://www.instagram.com/p/CPhWhiqLd5i/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Joel Green had some words for those who judge. Trust and believe, we are NOT judging this pic: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPV7qcnrAiN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Dr. Marco shared a dramatization based on a real-life encounter as a doctor: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPcO9Z8Jso8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Fitness model Bruno Baba has been playfully poking fun at his pandemic weight gain. Now he’s asking if he should “get even bigger?” https://www.instagram.com/p/CPgw2AwhtHo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Boy Butter celebrated its 18th anniversary of fighting friction: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPdmQCFhijK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link NYCGayDad was feeling down from 60 days of laundry, cooking, and cleaning – until the Guncles showed up: https://www.instagram.com/p/CPdLBwbBeik/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Max Souza threw it back to his time in Bahia because “I’m already missing you!” https://www.instagram.com/p/CPZHEk7NPmW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Facundo Rodriguez got his Crunch Fitness on… https://www.instagram.com/p/CPV5jSiNo9Z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Yes, Tyler James is serving up some serious ‘jorts’ (jean shorts) in the California desert because he’s “wild like that.” https://www.instagram.com/p/CPd0e9QJK-Q/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Bonus: After my recent Brian Sims/crop top post, I was inspired to look for some Insta-bears in crop tops and…success! https://www.instagram.com/p/B7HrhjyhX4G/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CGJv7e5H3_2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

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American Airlines Suspends Alcohol Service Due To Unruly Behavior

An American Airlines plane on the tarmac

An American Airlines plane on the tarmac
(photo: Quintin Gellar/Pexels)
After a recent incident on a Southwest Airlines flight ended with a flight attendant losing two front teeth thanks to a drunk passenger, Southwest announced it would suspend serving alcohol during flights. American Airlines has announced it will now follow suit. From CNN:

“Flight attendants are on the front lines every day not only ensuring our customers’ safety, but are also calming fears, answering questions, and enforcing policies like federally-required face masks,” said Brady Byrnes, managing director of flight service at American, in a memo to flight attendants obtained by CNN.

“Over the past week we’ve seen some of these stressors create deeply disturbing situations on board aircraft,” the memo said. “Let me be clear: American Airlines will not tolerate assault or mistreatment of our crews.”

American had suspended alcohol service in March 2020 to reduce interactions with passengers during the pandemic. Beverage services were resumed on May 1. But now, American Airlines says serving alcohol will remain suspended for coach passengers through September 13. That’s when the Transportation Security Administration’s mask mandate for all planes is scheduled to expire. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, “Since Jan. 1, 2021, the FAA has received approximately 2,500 reports of unruly behavior by passengers, including about 1,900 reports of passengers refusing to comply with the federal facemask mandate.”

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Texas Democrats Walkout To Stop Voter Restriction Bill Vote

Texas

A high school senior was expelled right before the school year for coming out as gay and proud With a midnight deadline hanging over the proceedings, Texas Democrats staged a walkout in the state House successfully blocking a voting bill that would have made it harder to vote by mail, limit driving non-family members to the polls, and more. From the Washington Post:

The exodus from the floor came after Chris Turner, the House Democratic chairman, sent instructions to colleagues at 10:35 p.m. Central time instructing them to exit the House, according to an image shared with The Washington Post.

“Members, take your key and leave the chamber discreetly,” Turner wrote, referring to the key that locks the voting mechanism on their desks. “Do not go to the gallery. Leave the building.”

Texas sets a quorum for each legislative chamber at 2/3 of the elected members (Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 10). In the House, that means 100 representatives have to be present for a vote. Republicans only have 83 House seats. The bill (Senate Bill 7) would ban drop boxes and drive-through voting – popular practices used in heavily Democratic Harris County last year. It would have moved early voting hours on Sundays to the afternoon. That clause was clearly aimed at the get-out-the-vote programs known as ‘souls to the polls’ popular among Black churchgoers. The bill is dead for now, however, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced he will call a special legislative session to address the bill again later in the year.

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Memorial Day 2021

A field of US flags in a military cemetery

A field of US flags in a military cemetery Taking a moment to remember why we celebrate this day as a nation. It’s not “National BBQ Day,” you know. Think of those we’ve lost who stood up for, and made possible, our freedoms and liberty here in the U.S. A few facts about Memorial Day: • Originally known as Decoration Day, the observance began in the years following the Civil War honoring those who fell during that conflict. • During World War I, the tradition expanded into a day of remembering all men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. • In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as a federal holiday to be held on the last Monday in May. The law went into effect in 1971. • Each year on Memorial Day a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time. • Memorial Day typically marks the start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end. • Memorial Day has a different focus than Veterans Day. Memorial Day is a day of remembering those who perished while serving, while Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. • The average age of fallen U.S. soldiers is 26½. The New York Times reports that Arlington National Cemetery is running out of room and may need to consider new rules that may turn away eligible soldiers.

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New Music: Matt Palmer, Cory Stewart, Michael Lazar

Out musicians Michael Lazar, Matt Palmer, Cory Stewart

Out singer/songwriter Matt Palmer in "Do It All Again"
Out singer/songwriter Matt Palmer in “Do It All Again”
Matt Palmer kicks off this round-up with his new single, “Do It All Again,” from his new EP The Good Parts.” The infectious pop/R&B up-tempo “Do It All Again” is brimming with a kind of euphoria that keeps leading us back to romance no matter how things ended before. “When I started working on ‘The Good Parts,’ I was going through a break-up and planned on it being 100% a break-up record, but it really evolved into something else as things evolved in my personal life,” says Palmer of the EP. “Musically, I love that there are smoother, bass-heavy songs like “I Don’t Want It,” more mid-tempo, synth-based tracks like “Do It All Again” and a couple of ballads but it never feels too disjointed,” adds the artist. “I hope it’s a good soundtrack for us as we figure out what life is like post-lockdown.” Hit play below to check out “Do It All Again” and you can follow Matt Palmer on Instagram here.

Cory Stewart's latest single 'Perfect World' comes in two flavors Cory Stewart has fans hearing double as he dropped his latest single, ‘Perfect World,’ on Friday, a new dance-pop single interpreted in two distinct ways, defined as the Red Pill Edition and the Blue Pill Edition. ‘Perfect World’ was conceptualized by Stewart and Slow Dance in mid-2020 after Stewart expressed his desire to “auto-tune the world” to his co-collaborators. The song quickly materialized in the hands of Jacob and Alex (of Slow Dance), with lyrics eventually being finessed by the pair and Stewart in follow-up Zoom sessions. The result is the hyper-pop, slick and sexy Red Pill Edition, which takes no prisoners on its ascension to the world’s soon-to-be-opened dance floors. With lockdown time on his hands, he also collaborated with UK-based producer Edward Russell on the nostalgia-inducing, 80s-meets-00’s Blue Pill Edition of ‘Perfect World.’ Check out the Red Pill Edition below and follow Cory Stewart on Instagram here.

 

Miami-based out artist Michael Lazar shares his debut single, “Capsule,” from his upcoming album 51/49 due out this fall. Written during the pandemic when the world was locked down, “Capsule” describes the feeling of being trapped, censored, or somehow silenced, both literally and figuratively. The electro-pop track blends unique, layered harmonies with rolling rhythms and chord structures that results in a subtle sonic sense of urgency. For Lazar, the song “speaks to that feeling we’ve all had when you’re shouting to be heard but no one seems to be listening.” Consisting of 15 songs written, recorded, and produced by Lazar, he describes the upcoming album as a culmination of the artist’s 18-year journey through tragedy and loss to self-discovery and finding love. Hit play below and you can follow Lazar on Instagram here.