For those who thought Donald Trump’s exit from the White House might leave Randy Rainbow without any further inspiration… Based on “Kansas City” from the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, OKLAHOMA!, the satirical genius offers his version of the song taking aim at Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC). As always, the parody lyrics are totes clever:
Everyone loves to hate on Ted and LindseyTheir problem isn’t popularityYou’d think they’d be ashamed of the shenanigans they tryBut never Cancun Cruz or Lady G
Diego Barros (via Instagram) Checking in with some of our favorite InstaHunks this week beginning with hottie Diego Barros (above) who found his own special Easter costume #woof International pop-star Ricky Martin (above) showed off his way cool new tattoo.
We’re not a particularly religious household here at Randy Report Central. The following are the Easter memes shared on Facebook by my hubby, Michael, in honor of the day. Please have a sense of humor.
According to a new survey by Pew Research Center, the number of Republicans who say “everything possible” should be done to make voting easy has dropped precipitously since 2018. Of course, this comes after their candidate lost the 2020 presidential election thanks to record-breaking voter participation. As a response, state legislatures have introduced over 360 voter restriction bills this year. Many election experts say the new laws will disproportionately affect voters of color, as well as those with disabilities. Georgia, whose close elections for president and U.S. Senate drew national attention, has already passed a bill that effectively suppresses the vote in the Peach State. Some aspects of the Georgia law include reducing the time period voters have to request absentee ballots, limiting the use of ballot drop boxes, and making it illegal to hand out water to voters standing in line for hours. Crunching the Pew Center’s data:
• 59% of U.S. adults overall say everything possible should be done to make it easy for every citizen to vote, while 39% say citizens should have to prove they want to vote by registering ahead of time.
• 85% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning Independents say everything possible should be done to make it easy for every citizen to vote, while 14% say citizens should have to prove they really want to vote by registering ahead of time.
• 28% of Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents say everything possible should be done to make it easy for all citizens to vote, while 71% say American citizens should prove they really want to vote by registering ahead of time.
It’s worth noting that prior to the 2018 mid-term elections, 48% of Republicans said everything possible should be done to make it easy to vote, while 51% said citizens should have to prove they really want to vote by registering ahead of time. That shows a clear 20 point shift in Republican attitudes on voting in less than 3 years. Broken down by race, 84% of Black adults and 69% of Hispanic adults say everything possible should be done to make it easy to vote, only 51% of white respondents said the same. On the issue of election security:
• 61% of U.S. adults overall say it would not make elections less secure if election rules were changed to make it easier to register and vote.
• 82% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning Independents say the same.
• 37% of Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents say the same.
“NY PopsUp is an expansive festival consisting of hundreds of pop-up performances that will regularly permeate the daily lives of New Yorkers,” reads the official website. “It is intended to revitalize the spirit and emotional well-being of New York citizens through the energy of live performance.” Today, lights lit up a Broadway stage for the first time in over a year as Tony Award winners Nathan Lane and Savion Glover took to the stage of the St. James Theater to a small but thrilled live audience. #Progress The brief matinee was directed by Broadway veteran Jerry Zaks. In a 20-minute tap-dance stream of consciousness, Glover reflected on his life in the theater dropping bits of “Memory,” “One,” and “Fabulous Feet.” Lane performed a new monologue by playwright Paul Rudnick, which told the story of a theater-obsessed man cooped up in his studio apartment during quarantine, his particularly hilarious encounter with Hugh Jackman and others. The video below shows the audience arriving and making its way through safety precautions plus excerpts from each of the two stars’ performances.
The festival continues through Labor Day, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the Tribeca Film Festival and the Festival at the new Little Island at Pier 55. Performances are not announced in advance, thus the reference to “PopsUp.” You can follow the program on Instagram here.
In the orchestra of the St. James Theatre. 4/3/21. Had to show ticket, covid test or vax card, photo ID outside. Socially distanced and masked inside. pic.twitter.com/DMyVfeY70N
— Laura Heywood BroadwayGirlNYC (@BroadwayGirlNYC) April 3, 2021
I will write more about this–I’m still processing the sensations of being back in a big theater. Nothing compares to the intensity of watching performance live. It activates the senses in ways the conscious mind can’t immediately digest. I’m moved, dazzled, stirred up. #NYPopsUppic.twitter.com/tSM7CZxvWC
Savion Glover on the stage of the St. James Theatre. 4/3/21. A breathtaking solo tapathon. “The Tap Dance kid is here,” he sang.#NYPopsUp. pic.twitter.com/eHDlpowf3C
(image via DC Comics) DC Comics is asking fans to vote on 16 different stories to determine which one will be made into a complete comic book series. One of the 16 contenders is titled, “Justice League Queer.” The description for the series reads, “Eight young queer heroes investigate a series of monstrous manifestations around the world and discover that something much more terrifying is coming.” Some of the other possible titles include Green Lanterns: Underworld On Fire, Lobo / Animal Man: Scorched Earth, Robins, Blue Beetle: Graduation Day, Nightrunner: Love in Paris, Superman & Lois: Ignition, and Suicide Squad Seven. The voting on the very different stories is going on right now in round robin style. In the first round, “Justice League Queer” is up against a series called “Robins” which tells the tale of former Batman sidekicks meeting up. It looks like Aqualad and Dreamer make the JLQ team With three days left, “Robins” is currently leading “Justice League Queer” 54% to 45%. I’d totally love to see what an LGBTQ Justice League would look like. And yes, I voted 🙂
The Canadian province of Ontario will be under a four-week lockdown due to a record number of ICU patients with COVID-19. As health experts have warned for weeks now, the new variants of the coronavirus are proving to be much more contagious and lethal. From Bloomberg News:
The order imposes restrictions on businesses and residents across the Canadian province of 14.7 million people, beginning April 3. Restaurants won’t be allowed to serve customers except for takeout and delivery orders; indoor public events are banned, with a few exceptions. Supermarkets and pharmacies will operate at 50% capacity and other retailers at 25%.
Officials said the main variant spreading in the province — known as B.1.1.7 — is 50% more lethal, twice as likely to send patients to intensive care units and three times as likely to require ventilation.
At a press conference Thursday afternoon, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said regarding the new variants, “This is a new pandemic. We are now fighting a new enemy,” Bloomberg reports that half of new ICU patients in the Canadian province are under 60.
In this week’s podcast: • President Biden issues first-ever presidential proclamation for Transgender Day of Visibility • Arkansas has passed a series of anti-LGBTQ laws in a week • The Pentagon erases Trump-era ban on trans military service members • Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first legal same-sex weddings • Lil Nas X pens a touching letter to his 14-year-old self – Link to his new music video ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’ All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report podcast.
Time to get outdoors and enjoy the warmer weather (stock image via Depositphotos) Some news items you might have missed: • Andrew Christian: With the weather finally warming up, it’s time to get out to the great outdoors for a date that includes some Vitamin D. Check out these ideas for you and your boo to do. • LGBTQ Nation: On March 31, Karine Jean-Pierre, the principal deputy White House Press Secretary, became the first out Black woman to host an official White House Press Brief. She delivered the briefing standing mid-flight aboard Air Force One. • Kenneth-in-the-212: Don’t miss Kenneth’s weekly round-up of the best in LGBTQ publications including the feature in Hot Spots Magazine (below) on LGBTQs and our furry family members. (image via Hot Spots Magazine) • Broadway Cares: The virtual edition of Broadway Backwards delivered an exuberant evening of performances and raised a record $749,555 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. The free online event can now be viewed by clicking here through 11:59 pm Eastern on Saturday, April 3. • Instinct Magazine: Virginia is now the 13th state to ban ‘gay panic’ and ‘trans panic’ legal defenses in cases of violence and murder on LGBTQ people. • Tostitos: The chip maker brings out Emmy Award winners Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek) and Kate McKinnon (SNL) together for this cute new ad spot where the comic geniuses one-up each other describing the flavor of new Habanero Tostitos. McKinnon thinks the chips are “drama” but Levy says they are “pelvicular.”
For those who thought Donald Trump’s exit from the White House might leave Randy Rainbow without any further inspiration… Based on “Kansas City” from the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, OKLAHOMA!, the satirical genius offers his version of the song taking aim at Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC). As always, the parody lyrics are totes clever: 
