Tyler Oakley, one of the most well-known YouTube stars in the world, has shared with his millions of fans that he is taking a break from producing weekly videos for his channel. “I am just going to cut right to the chase,” Oakley said in a vlog post. “I have been making videos and uploading them every single Tuesday at noon for years and years and years. If you have been watching since I have been in college, I was 18 when I started, and I’m now 31.”
“I’ve never really taken a break and it’s now time for me to take a break,” Oakley added. “I’m going to be focusing on some other stuff that I’m really excited about, and I’m really ready to develop out and make into some fun new little things. I haven’t felt a fun, new little thing in a long long time.” Over the 13 years Oakley has been on the video platform he’s amassed over 7 million subscribers who have faithfully shown up for the young LGBTQ advocate as he shared various aspects of his life. In the video (titled ‘See Ya Later’), Oakley says he’ll definitely be back, but doesn’t name a specific date.
Tom Goss (image via screen capture) Out singer/songwriter Tom Goss shares this haunting new synth-pop single, “Irreplaceable.” Set in a frozen, bare landscape, Goss sings of tender devotion to the listener:
I know you fear, I know you doubt Your place, our love, tomorrow’s lightYou are irreplaceableYou are irreplaceable
Throughout, Goss trades places with a diverse set of friends and even his husband, Michael, in an exercise underscoring all of our individuality and uniqueness. Lovely.
On the other end of the emotional spectrum, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Tom has announced his 2021 calendar is now available. If the cover is any indication, you can check out Tom every day in the new year (roller skates, 70s shorts and all).
Trevor Wilkinson (screen capture) Texas high school senior Trevor Wilkinson was placed on in-school suspension (ISS) on November 30 after he showed up to school wearing nail polish. Nail polish, it turns out, violates his school’s dress code – but only if you’re male. According to Wilkinson, who attends Clyde High School in West Texas, he was told he would remain in suspension until he removed the nail polish. Wilkinson took to Twitter that day to protest writing, “Imagine your school not allowing boys to paint their nails and giving boys iss for it. And the whole administration being okay with it, homophobic and sexist? Welcome to west Texas.”
imagine your school not allowing boys to paint their nails and giving boys iss for it. and the whole administration being okay with it, homophobic and sexist? welcome to west texas🤠
Wilkinson’s story went national after he refused to remove the nail polish and instead launched a Change.org petition demanding that the school policy be changed. At this writing, over 336,000 people have signed the petition. “It is a complete double standard because girls are allowed to have any form of nails they want, and honestly they can express themselves in any way they want,” Wilkinson wrote on Change.org. “I am a gay male and I’m beyond proud. This is unjust and not okay.” Monday night, Wilkinson addressed the school board again asking them to amend the dress code. And yes, he was wearing his nail polish. He began by noting that the ACLU had sent letters to nearly 400 schools in September about school rules that might be discriminatory. Clyde High School was among those who received a letter. (image via Trevor Wilkinson) “With all due respect, there have been two times this issue could have been resolved,” he told the board. “Although frustrating, I know everything is not going to go my way. But this isn’t about me anymore – it’s about a discriminatory, sexist policy that needs to be changed.” “I got my education taken away from me for something as minor as painting my nails because it’s against the dress code,” he continued. “The question is why? Why is it against dress code for a man to be comfortable with his masculinity and defy the gender norms society has imposed on us?” “If it’s not harmful for girls to wear it, why is it harmful for males?” he added. Wilkinson also pointed out that making a rule about nail polish only applicable to male students was sexist. “Having a double standard like this only shows that Clyde doesn’t accept kids for who they are.” He also threw down some equality speak saying, “I understand that you guys have traditional values and I respect that, but to get respect you also have to give it.” “There’s a certain beauty in uniqueness and nobody should have that taken away. Diversity is what makes this country so beautiful.” He closed his remarks asking the school board to be “open-minded enough to accept and respect others for who they are.” Wilkinson addresses the school board at the 2:45 mark in the video footage from local ABC News affiliate KTXS. https://www.facebook.com/KTXSTelevision/videos/297445305014979 But it appears the school district will not be changing its dress code any time soon. Superintendent Kenny Berry issued a statement which read, in part, “The District will conduct a thorough review of its dress code when it performs its annual review of the Student Handbook.” There was no mention of when that annual review might take place. Berry went on to note that, until that time, “the District will assure that no student is treated in a discriminatory or inequitable manner.”
Donald Trump on 60 Minutes (screen capture) With basically no options to exploit further in regard to his failed reelection campaign, Donald Trump is now raging at his former media ally, Fox News Channel. “Can’t believe how badly @FoxNews is doing in the ratings,” wrote the Trumpster on Twitter. “They played right into the hands of the Radical Left Democrats, & now are floating in limboland. Hiring fired @donnabraziIe, and far worse, allowing endless negative and unedited commercials. @FoxNews is dead. Really Sad!”
Can’t believe how badly @FoxNews is doing in the ratings. They played right into the hands of the Radical Left Democrats, & now are floating in limboland. Hiring fired @donnabraziIe, and far worse, allowing endless negative and unedited commercials. @FoxNews is dead. Really Sad!
Perhaps the biggest difference between 2016 and 2020 is @FoxNews, despite the fact that I went from 63,000,000 Votes to 75,000,000 Votes, a record 12,000,000 Vote increase. Obama went down 3,000,000 Votes, and won. Rigged Election!!!
Riotron releases surprise holiday single, ‘Silent Night Angel’ (promo photo) Some news items you might have missed: • Instinct Magazine: Hungary’s parliament has voted to amend the country’s constitution defining families as ‘the mother is a woman, the father is a man.’ This effectively bans LGBTQ people from adopting since queer people cannot marry in the conservative nation. • NY Times: A day after the U.S. surpassed 300,000 deaths due to the coronavirus, the FDA has confirmed Moderna’s assessment that its vaccine had an efficacy rate of 94.1 percent in a trial of 30,000 people. With expected approval on Friday, six million doses could begin shipping across the country. • Christmas Music: Canadian retrowave pop artist Riotron (above photo) returns with a surprise holiday single titled “Silent Night Angel.” Riotron’s Jeff Fettes says, “For me, the holiday season is magical, but also intense and full of surprises. This is my version of a carol.”
• Ipsos Polling: New polling shows more than one in four Americans (27%) say they plan to get the vaccine as soon as it’s available, more than double the number that said the same in mid-September (13%). Nearly two-thirds of Americans (64%) trust the FDA to look out for the best interests of their family. • USA Today: A judge in Phoenix jettisoned a lawsuit claiming widespread election fraud in Arizona, saying the plaintiff had no standing to challenge the state’s election results because she was not registered to vote. • The Advocate: Mike Pence is being mocked for his exuberant entrance to a campaign event where he “prance-clapped” across a tarmac in order to stump for Georgia Republican Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue. It’s like he was just called down on The Price Is Right.
L-R Joe Biden, Pete ButtigiegReuters reports President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate Pete Buttigieg to serve as Secretary of Transportation in the upcoming administration. In choosing Buttigieg, Biden would be nominating the first openly gay man to a Cabinet position. If confirmed, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, would become the first LGBTQ Cabinet secretary to be approved by the U.S. Senate.
Mayor @PeteButtigieg is a leader, patriot, and problem-solver. He speaks to the best of who we are as a nation.
I am nominating him for Secretary of Transportation because he's equipped to take on the challenges at the intersection of jobs, infrastructure, equity, and climate.
A rising star in the Democratic Party, in 2020 Buttigieg won the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses becoming the first openly gay candidate of a major political party to win delegates in a White House bid. But when he saw no path to winning the Democratic nomination, Buttigieg ended his campaign and became a vociferous campaigner for Biden. During a March campaign event, Biden spoke warmly of Mayor Pete and compared him to his late son, Beau Biden. “I know that may not mean much to most people, but to me it’s the highest compliment I can give any man or woman,” said Biden at the time.
Before the 2020 election cycle, Buttigieg served two terms as the mayor of South Bend since 2012. While in office, Buttigieg deployed to Afghanistan as an intelligence officer in 2014. Earlier reports indicated the 38-year-old had been under consideration for several prominent posts in the Biden administration including U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Commerce Secretary and U.S. ambassador to China. The transportation job, though, would seem to be a good fit for the Rhodes Scholar who displayed a strong knack forwonkish facts and figures during the 2020 campaign. If confirmed, Buttigieg would oversee nearly 55,000 employees and a $90 billion budget for a department that oversees the funding of highways, transit systems, air traffic control and more.
Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement regarding Buttigieg’s nomination, “His voice as a champion for the LGBTQ community in the Cabinet room will help President-elect Biden build back our nation better, stronger and more equal than before.”
Biden campaigned on promises of new infrastructure projects like building new highways and bridges as good for the country and a way to create good paying jobs while balancing the impact on the environment.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (screen capture) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Tuesday finally acknowledged President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris on their White House win, one day after the electoral college affirmed the result in state capitals across the country. “As of this morning our country has officially a president-elect and a vice president-elect,” McConnell said Tuesday speaking on the Senate floor. “Many of us hoped that the presidential election would yield a different result, but our system of government has processes to determine who will be sworn in January 20.” “The electoral college has spoken. So today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden.” “I also want to congratulate the vice president-elect, our colleague from California, Senator Harris,” added McConnell. “Beyond our differences, all Americans can take pride that our nation has a female vice president-elect for the very first time.” While Republicans are slowly nodding ‘Yes, there will be a new president in January,’ Donald Trump continues to deny the outcome. Early Tuesday, he tweeted, “This Fake Election can no longer stand.”
BREAKING: Senate Majority Leader McConnell: "The Electoral College has spoken … Today, I want to congratulate President-elect Biden." pic.twitter.com/lsAdel7rgd
Thank you Kevin. Many Trump votes were routed to Biden. The highly respected Michigan Judge released this epic report. True all over the Country. This Fake Election can no longer stand. Get moving Republicans. Big Swing State Win! 75,000,000 VOTES. https://t.co/0sodJFr80k
A stellar lineup of theater favorites will show there’s no place like Broadway for the holidays as they welcome you into their homes and hearts during Home for the Holidays on Tuesday, December 15, 2020. The free concert is produced by and benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. You’ll feel the holiday spirit when some of Broadway’s most celebrated stars perform songs based on traditions from their homes and from where their shows are set. With songs from comedic to heartfelt, it’s your perfect seasonal variety show.
From the welcoming warmth of Come From Away‘s Gander, Newfoundland, to the rich culture of South Africa through cast members from The Lion King, you’ll escape into a world where Broadway can help make the season merry and bright despite today’s challenges. A shortlist of the illustrious lineup includes Alan Cumming, André De Shields, Ed Dixon, Heather Headley, Ramin Karimloo, Karen Olivo, Nina West and the Grammy Award-winning Broadway Inspirational Voices. Every dollar donated will help those across the country affected by HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 and other critical illnesses receive healthy meals, lifesaving medication, emergency financial assistance, housing, counseling and more. The donations also support and champion organizations focused on social justice and anti-racism. Click here to watch the free stream beginning at 8 pm Eastern on the Broadway Cares website, or you can catch the show in the YouTube above. The stream will be available through December 19.
Alpine skier Hig Roberts (image via Instagram) Some news items you might have missed: • NewNowNext: Alpine ski legend Hig Roberts (above) has come out as gay. “Not being able to be who I am and not be able to be openly gay as a professional athlete was truly hindering my performance,” the 29-year-old told The NYTimes. • Instinct Magazine: The UK is loosening its restrictions for gay and bisexual men to donate blood – a bit. The National Health Service of the United Kingdom announced men who are sexually active in a relationship with a single male partner for the prior three months can now be considered for donation. • Pink News: Disgraced former influencer Milo Yiannopoulos has vowed to ‘burn the Republican Party to the ground’ after losing everything for ‘Daddy’ Trump. The gay ‘Straight Pride’ figurehead has vented about his life being “completely destroyed”, as Republicans struggle to accept the defeat of Donald Trump. Milo Yiannopoulos (screen capture) • Eonline: A new Guardians of the Galaxy comic story depicts the superhero Star-Lord, played by Chris Pratt in the Marvel movies, in a polyamorous, bisexual relationship. It’s unclear whether the character’s sexuality will be addressed in any Marvel movies, including the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Thor: Love and Thunder. • Vice: Pornhub is removing all videos on its site that weren’t uploaded by official content partners or members of its model program. Before the content purge on Sunday evening, the website hosted around 13.5 million videos, a large number of them from unverified accounts. On Monday morning as of 9 a.m., that number had dropped to only 4.7 million videos. • Boy Culture: Hillary Clinton was feeling good after voting as an elector in New York state for Joe Biden.
Ann Reinking in ‘All That Jazz’ (screen capture) Tony Award-winning actress/dancer/choreographer Ann Reinking (Chicago, Fosse, Pippin, Sweet Charity, Over Here!) passed away Saturday night at the age of 71. From Variety:
She is perhaps best known for playing Roxie Hart in 1977’s “Chicago,” replacing Gwen Verdon. She reprised the part when she returned for the 1996 revival of the famed production.
“The hope is that in rediscovering ‘Chicago,’ audiences will rediscover what theater was,” Reinking told The New York Times at the time of the show’s revival. “It was sophisticated, complicated, adult.”
Her work on the later “Chicago” ultimately earned her a Tony Award for best choreography.
Reinking was also the co-creator, co-director and co-choreographer for “Fosse,” a musical meant to showcase Fosse’s choreography. She created the project alongside Richard Maltby Jr. and Chet Walker. The musical was Reinking’s final bow on Broadway, as she served as a replacement ensemble member in 2001.
The Broadway revival of Chicago the Musical was an unexpected and thrilling part of my career on Broadway. I had moved to Los Angeles to be with my husband Michael in 1996, thinking perhaps my dancing career was behind me. And then, on a whim, I went to an open call for replacements for Chicago the Musical in early 1998. Over 300 dancers attended that call, and at the end of the day, I was one of ten left standing. Three days later, Ann and director Walter Bobbie were coming through LA and the ten of us were called back to show what we had to offer.
Four months later, I got a call asking me to join the national touring company that was playing in Los Angeles, and ultimately I was hired about a dozen times over the next 15 years to go into the Broadway and touring companies. Sometimes, it would be for a year, sometimes for a month as a temporary replacement. And I know that was because of Ann. She trusted me over and over again to be a part of her thrilling choreography. Imagine not only meeting one of your heroes but working with them. And learning from them. And dancing right alongside them. Ann Reinking as Roxie Hart in the Broadway revival of Chicago (photo: Max Vadukul) One of my most memorable times with Ann was during brushup rehearsals for the Broadway company’s second anniversary. I vividly remember, and I’ve quoted her often, her saying that dance represents tradition – and that it’s our responsibility as dancers to pass steps and style on to the next generation. The last time I saw Ann was during her run in FOSSE in the early 2000s. We chatted backstage in her dressing room after the performance. She was, of course, brilliant. As we parted ways leaving the Broadhurst Theater, she asked in passing, “So, you’re in NYC for a while?” I said, “Yes.” Of course, the next day, the casting folks called – per Ann’s request – and asked if I was available to go back into Chicago. With Ann Reinking in 1998 celebrating the 2nd anniversary of CHICAGO on Broadway Thank you, thank you, thank you, Annie. For the inspiration, for the laughs, for the insight, and for your genius. RIP Ann Reinking. By the way, just to underscore how lucky I’ve been in my theater career, I’ve danced with all three of these great stars. Color me grateful.
The Chicago family is saddened to learn of the passing of Ann Reinking. She was a fearless leader, and the very essence of Broadway. There wouldn’t be a Chicago without her and we will be forever grateful. We will miss you, Annie pic.twitter.com/mHMCzhnyxK
Tyler Oakley, one of the most well-known YouTube stars in the world, has shared with his millions of fans that he is taking a break from producing weekly videos for his channel. “I am just going to cut right to the chase,” Oakley said in a vlog post. “I have been making videos and uploading them every single Tuesday at noon for years and years and years. If you have been watching since I have been in college, I was 18 when I started, and I’m now 31.” 
