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CBS Sunday Morning Remembers The Tulsa Massacre

Photo of Tulsa's 'Black Wall Street' district

Photo of Tulsa's 'Black Wall Street' district CBS Sunday Morning remembers the Tulsa Massacre:

One hundred years ago, a White mob in Tulsa, Oklahoma, killed 300 Black people and reduced the thriving Black community of Greenwood — also known as “Black Wall Street” — to ashes.

New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow talks about one of the most notorious massacres in American history and those who witnessed it.

When white people wonder why there is anger in the Black community via the Black Lives Matter movement, perhaps it’s because they never learned important chapters in Black history like the Tulsa Massacre…? Today, there are Republican lawmakers who oppose the teaching of Black American history calling a focus on slavery and the contributions of Black Americans in history “divisive.” Meanwhile, I’m reminded of Emmy/Tony winner Billy Porter’s ‘Message to America’ last June calling for change regarding how Black Americans are treated today.

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Today: The Lavender Effect’s Star-Studded Virtual Pride Parade

Watch The Lavender Effect Virtual Pride Parade May 30, 2021 at Noon PST on YouTube

Watch The Lavender Effect Virtual Pride Parade May 30, 2021 at Noon PST on YouTube Come celebrate this year’s PRIDE live with THE LAVENDER EFFECT® Star-studded Live Virtual Pride Parade which will be broadcast today – Sunday, May 30, 2021 – at 12 noon PST/3p EST via The Lavender Effect YouTube channel. The Virtual Pride Parade, hosted by Alec Mapa, will launch Pride Month and benefit THE LAVENDER EFFECT’s mission to Advance the Future of LGBTQ+ Heritage & Culture. While many local Pride celebrations again are being canceled or modified this year due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, many members of the community will not be able to gather in person, so this live virtual event will safely bring the LGBTQ+ community together from across the nation to celebrate Pride. This year marks the 51st Anniversary of the first PRIDE marches across the nation in June 1970, commemorating the anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, and protesting for LGBTQ+ equality.

Last year, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, THE LAVENDER EFFECT® hosted the first “Virtual Pride Parade” to celebrate Pride and bring the LGBTQ+ community together. The live fundraising event featured celebrities, national LGBTQ+ organizations, and politicians, and over 10,000 viewed from around the country. THE LAVENDER EFFECT® is a nonprofit project of Community Partners that helps to reduce shame, combat homophobia, and empower LGBTQ+ youth through programs like the Virtual Pride Parade, Oral History Projects, and educational programs. For more information, please visit http://www.TheLavenderEffect.org. https://www.instagram.com/p/COq4mp6DoYc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Scheduled to take part in today’s virtual event are well-known LGBTQ+ celebrities and allies, non-profits, and activists from around the globe, to help to bring the community together including: Lily Tomlin (Tony, Emmy and Grammy Winner; Grace & Frankie; 9 to 5) Judith Light (Tony & Emmy Winner, The Politician, Transparent, Who’s The Boss) Betty Buckley (Tony Award winner for Cats, Eight is Enough) Kathryn Hahn (Wanda Vision; Bad Moms) Sally Kirkland (Golden Globe Winner for Anna) Doug Spearman (Noah’s Arc) Alexandra Billings (Transparent) Bruce Vilanch (Emmy Winner; comedian writer/actor) Leslie Carrara-Rudolph & “Lolly” (Emmy Winner, Sesame Street) Michael Musto (journalist) Jason Stuart (Smothered; comedian) Maria Gentile (IheartRadio – What’s The Story With Maria) Drew Droege (Heathers) Kay Sedia (AJ and the Queen; Chico’s Angels) Mel England (Best Day Ever) Charles Busch (Drama Desk Award-winning Playwright & Actor) Honey West (Proven Innocent) Miss Barbie Q (Leave it on the Dance Floor, Honey) Bill Sive (Gay Elder Circle) Rita Gonzales (Out Agenda) Cynthia Ruffin (Colors Youth Counseling) Evan Wolfson (Freedom to Marry) Gail Rolf (Project 10 & Friends of Project 10) Harold Kameya & Family (PFLAG Los Angeles) Lorri Jean from (LA LGBT Center) Kathy Godwin (PFLAG National) Lauren Meister (Mayor Pro Tempore, City of West Hollywood) Sepi Shyne (Councilmember, City of West Hollywood) John Erickson (Councilmember, City of West Hollywood) Rabbi Denise Eger (Congregation Kol Ami) Richard Ayoub (Project Angel Food) Richard Zaldivar (The Wall Las Memorias Project) Ron Galperin (City Controller, The City of Los Angeles) Wayne Besen (Truth Wins Out) Bamby Salcedo (Trans Latina Coalition) Kat Kramer (THE LAVENDER EFFECT) Sheena Metal (THE LAVENDER EFFECT) Andy Sacher (THE LAVENDER EFFECT) Dr. Steve Krantz (THE LAVENDER EFFECT) (via press release)

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News Round-Up: May 29, 2021

The Pentagon will host a Pride Month event including an address by the Defense Secretary
Some news items you might have missed: • Washington Blade: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to deliver the keynote address for an upcoming event at the Pentagon recognizing Pride Month. Defense Secretaries attended such events during the Obama years, but the practice halted during the “other guy’s” administration. • Instinct Magazine: When the pandemic shut down many restaurants and bars, several states legalized to-go cocktails. Now, 14 states have made ‘roadies’ legal forever. https://www.instagram.com/p/CPeeH3htbAp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link • Washington Post: Vietnam’s Health Ministry announced Saturday that it had detected a highly transmissible new variant of the coronavirus that has helped fuel a recent wave of infections in the country. • Dallas Voice: Out writer/actor Ryan O’Connell chats with the Texas outlet about his TV series Special. The Netflix show is loosely based on his own life as an out gay man living with cerebral palsy.

• HuffPost: Brazil’s homophobic President Jair Bolsonaro is moving closer and closer to being defeated in next year’s election. As he edges towards crisis mode, he is becoming more abusive toward his adversaries. • Hulu: The documentary Changing The Game takes us into the lives of three high school athletes—all at different stages of their athletic seasons, personal lives, and unique paths as transgender teens. The film centers on Mack Beggs, who made headlines when he became the Texas State Champion in girls wrestling – as a boy – and all he wanted to do was wrestle on the boys team. Also featured are Sarah, a skier and teen policymaker in New Hampshire, and Andraya, a track star in Connecticut openly competing on the girls track team.

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Podcast: Netflix Mini-Series HALSTON, A Wild Rant About Cereal, An LGBTQ Icon Passes

The Randy Report podcast

The Randy Report podcast delivers the week's top stories in a quick, convenient podcast - 'the 60 Minutes of gay news - only shorter' In this week’s headlines: • A 13-year-old student was brutally bullied at her school as other students stood laughing and recording the incident • Karine Jean-Pierre, an out Black woman, made history at the White House this week • We said goodbye to iconic LGBTQ activist & photojournalist Kay Tobin Lahusen as well as gay event producer Jeffrey Sanker • A far-right TV host went on a wild rant about a Kellogg’s cereal honoring Pride Month • And I review the new Netflix mini-series HALSTON All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

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Deputy Who Mocked Vaccinations Dies Of COVID-19

Deputy Sheriff Trujillo

Deputy Sheriff Daniel 'Duke' Trujillo (image via Sheriff's Department)
Deputy Sheriff Daniel ‘Duke’ Trujillo (image via Sheriff’s Department)
Deputy Daniel “Duke” Trujillo, a 33-year-old former Marine, enjoyed posting videos and pictures on social media mocking those who chose to get their COVID-19 shot. Trujillo died Wednesday night of COVID-19 according to a news release from the sheriff’s department. He leaves behind a wife and young son. The Denver Post reports he’s the 2nd Denver Sheriff to die in 2 weeks. Deputy James Herrera, 51, died of COVID-19 on May 16. Both deputies worked at the Downtown Detention Center, which has had an active COVID-19 outbreak since April 2020. The Denver Sheriff Department website reported 11 active cases at the detention center as of Thursday. Although the two worked in a location with a high risk of COVID infection, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Department told the Post that “vaccinations were a choice.” At one point, Trujillo changed his social media profile photo to an image which read, “I have an immune system.” Folks, COVID disinformation kills. Sadly, Trujillo bought into the false information that the coronavirus wasn’t that serious.

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CA Cafe Announces $5 ‘Cover Charge’ For Wearing Masks

A sign at Fiddleheads Cafe reads, "Throw your masks in our trash bin"

A sign at Fiddleheads Cafe reads, "Throw your masks in our trash bin"
A sign posted at Fiddleheads Cafe in Northern California
A cafe in Mendocino, California, has announced it will charge a “cover charge” of $5 for those customers who place their order while wearing a face mask. In March, the 34-year-old owner of Fiddleshead Cafe, Chris Castleman, began offering a 50% discount for folks who were willing to throw their masks in the trash. From NBC News:

“It’s about time that the proponents of these ineffective government measures start paying for the collateral damage they have collectively caused,” the owner said.

The restaurant also planned to charge an additional $5 fee to those “caught bragging” about being vaccinated, according to a couple of the posted signs.

“The government shut everything down,” he said Friday. “Everyone wearing a mask is complicit.”

The cafe had previously posted a sign reading “Get your free COVID-19 vaccine card here.” The sign has since been removed.

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Circuit Party Producer Jeffrey Sanker Dead At 65

Circuit party producer Jeffrey Sanker

Circuit party producer Jeffrey Sanker
Jeffrey Sanker (image via White Party Palm Springs)
Jeffrey Sanker, the producer behind several long-running gay circuit parties, has died at the age of 65 after a lengthy battle with liver cancer. From the Washington Blade:

The 65 year old West Hollywood resident had built his company and reputation on hosting large scale parties in exotic places, including Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco, Mexico, Las Vegas, Nevada and Miami, Florida although his trademark extravaganza, White Party Palm Springs, had evolved into the nation’s largest gay dance music festival, attracting more than 30,000 attendees from every corner of the globe.

As word of his death spread on social media late Friday, tributes to Sanker flowed in.

In a text to the Blade, former West Hollywood City Councilmember John Duran noted, “Jeffrey was a long time friend. He was an iconic figure in gay history with his creation of the White Party. For many gay men, he created a space for them to find their tribe and sexuality. While he had his critics – he loved his gay community and left a lasting mark. So many of us found a place to belong because of his vision.“

Throughout the years, Sanker not only presented entertainment superstars like Lady Gaga, but also featured top-shelf DJs/producers like Dave Aude, Junior Vasquez, Victor Calderone, Manny Lehman, and Tony Moran at his events.

I have never been a circuit party kind of guy. But I can respect that along with creating a place for gays to celebrate themselves in their own space, many of his events often benefited local organizations and charities including The Trevor Project, Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing (GLEH), and Desert AIDS Project.

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News Round-Up: May 28, 2021

Chuck Norris models 'Action Pants'

Chuck Norris models 'Action Pants'
Chuck Norris models ‘Action Pants’
Some news items you might have missed: • BrandedInThe80s: I have no idea what “action pants” are. The above image is apparently photoshopped, but Chuck Norris did reportedly front a line of stretch jeans back in the 80s. • Kenneth-in-the-212: Hit the link to check out Kenneth’s weekly round-up of the what’s what in LGBTQ publications like the latest issue of DNA Magazine featuring cover guy Airon Mallars.
Airon Mallars covers DNA Magazine (photo: Antony Kozz)
• Edge Media: A new poll from Gallup shows that 66 percent of people favor allowing openly transgender people to serve in the military. However, 62 percent of Americans say trans athletes should only be allowed to play on sports teams that correspond with the sex they were assigned at birth. • The Advocate: Internet sensation and renaissance man Leslie Jordan made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry last weekend sporting a custom-made electric blue suit with fringe and hand embroidery. The appearance was in support of his gospel album Company’s Comin’. Said Jordan, “I grew up in the shadow of the Grand Ole Opry. So you know, it’s like a mecca to me. To be invited and to get to do three songs, it’s a big deal.”

• OUT: In a video clip that went viral, a 13-year-old trans teen was viciously attacked in the hallway of her middle school in South Florida by a bully. Equally disturbing, other students circled around the teen laughing and kicking at her while she struggled to stand up. The school and police say they are investigating, but a week later no disciplinary action has been announced. • JoeMyGod: The last on-air liberal has left Fox News as former DNC chair Donna Brazile and Juan Williams of “The Five” have both departed the right-leaning network. The New York Times reports that “Fox News has adapted to the post-Trump era by moving in a single direction: Trumpward.” • Pink News: A furious ‘Karen’ demanded to speak to the manager of the entire airport and got the response she deserves. The woman went from “I’m a women in a dress” to “You F’off” in a nano second.

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Republicans Block Vote On Capitol Invasion Commission

I don’t know how Republican Senators can say they ‘back the blue’ when they vote against a commission that would investigate the January 6 invasion of the U.S. Capitol building that resulted in one police officer dead and 100+ injured. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has called the idea of an investigative commission “extraneous.” From the New York Times:

Republicans on Friday blocked the creation of an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, using their filibuster power in the Senate for the first time this year to doom a full accounting for the deadliest attack on Congress in centuries.

With the vast majority of Republicans determined to shield their party from potential political damage that could come from scrutiny of the storming of the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob, only six G.O.P. senators joined Democrats to support advancing the measure. The final vote, 54 to 35, fell short of the 60 senators needed to move forward.

Modeled after the inquiry into the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the proposed panel of experts would have been responsible for producing a report on the assault and recommendations to secure Congress by the end of the year.

Eleven senators, almost all Republicans, skipped the vote to head out of town for the holiday weekend.

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Furry Goodness: Brians And Crop Tops And Bears – Oh My!

PA state Rep. Brian Sims and Bear

PA state Rep. Brian Sims and Bear
PA state Rep. Brian Sims and Bear (via Instagram)
What could be better for ‘Furry Friday’ than a bear in a crop top? Out Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims recently reversed his opinion about pets in clothes when he posted a pic on Instagram of his adorbs doggo Temper wearing a t-shirt from his campaign store. “I WAS WRONG: I recently expressed misgivings about pets in clothes, and I was wrong,” admitted bearded Brian. “Clearly Bears in crop tops are the Moment!” He added the hashtag #Sims4Pa along with a link to his online store as the 42-year-old lawmaker is running for Lieutenant Governor of the Keystone state. To be honest, both ‘bears’ in the photo are pretty cute. https://www.instagram.com/p/CPar-GKBglF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link I’ve been a fan of Sims for a long time because, basically, what’s not to like? He became the first out lawmaker elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2012, and he’s been loud and proud about LGBTQ issues as well as the BLM movement and women’s equality. Plus, he’s not shy about expressing himself whether it’s regarding coronavirus recklessness by his colleagues, flipping the bird at former Vice President Mike Pence, or boldly discussing his use of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Head over to his official campaign site for more info about Sims. And while you’re there check out his campaign merch where you can find Bear’s pink & white crop top or this ‘I Believe in Trans Excellence’ t-shirt: And then there’s Temper, who’s a regular feature (hashtag #BearAttack) on his Instagram. Here’s just a sample of the furry goodness. https://www.instagram.com/p/B3xEj-QhIaJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/B86ObNUBEkG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CMNN8LpBM_E/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CDJhZqJhmQ9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CAc38M1hSqc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/B-KgRrLBxAE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CCGntSIhVoU/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CLdFjDdhJ82/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.instagram.com/p/CHleSTAhN7P/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link