(stock image via Unsplash)(Guest post by Rizzle) Everyone is Born Free and Equal – Speak Out for LGBTQ Community Rizzle, a vibrant 60-second video platform, will be hosting the 360Pride contest to support the LGBTQ community! And yes, winners of 360Pride can win up to $750 in prizes. People who are different feel isolated – as though they don’t belong anywhere. Due to the current pandemic, individuals who were already isolated feel even more so. Members of the LGBTQ community can find it hard to be heard and form relationships. Sometimes they’re brought up in environments that’s not as accepting as others which makes it difficult to be heard. Rizzle wants people from the LGBTQ community to share their stories with the Rizzle community. We want different voices with diverse backgrounds to speak out on their experiences. Rizzle is a place where you can be who you are. It’s a community that not only respects people with diverse backgrounds but celebrates them. Rizzle’s goal is to celebrate who you are as an individual. We want to hear from a variety of people from the LGBTQ community and understand your perspective. We want your videos to inspire, educate, and entertain audiences who are, and aren’t, part of the LGBTQ community! Joining 360Pride is the perfect opportunity to share and celebrate your story. It’s super easy to create a video on Rizzle. NO EDITS NEEDED, just using just your phone – point, record, upload! Rizzle360 is all things news, opinions, pop culture, and more. Download Rizzle here.
In response to the ongoing protests across the country in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, a Minneapolis man who died face down on the ground, handcuffed with a knee on his neck for several minutes, the gay dating app Grindr says “We will not be silent.” In posts to the company’s social media accounts, Grindr has announced the ethnicity filter on its app is history. Gone.
“We were planning to announce our #PridePerseveres initiative today, but in light of the ongoing violence and injustices against our POC family, that no longer feels appropriate,” begins the statement on Instagram. “How can we launch a month of celebration when so many of us are hurting?” “How can we celebrate Pride without acknowledging that we wouldn’t even HAVE a Pride month if it weren’t for the brave black, brown, trans, and queer folks whose uprising against the police at Stonewall gave birth to the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement?” Announcing the company stands “in solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement and the hundreds of thousands of queer people of color who log in to our app every day,” the dating app says it will not be silent nor be inactive. “Today we are making donations to the Marsha P. Johnson Institute and Black Lives Matter, and urge you to do the same if you can.” “We will continue to fight racism on Grindr, both through dialogue with our community and zero-tolerance policy for racism and hate speech on our platform,” the statement continues. “As part of this commitment, and based on your feedback, we have decided to remove the ethnicity filter from our next release.” Grindr goes on to mention their previously announced #PridePerseveres calendar, a series of Pride events taking place each day of June, will go on but “in a different light.”
Noting that Pride this year “has an added responsibility, a shifted tone, and a new priority,” the programming for the series will be amended to show “support and solidarity for queer people of color and the #BlackLivesMatter movement.”
L-R George Floyd (screen capture), Derek Chauvin (mug shot) An independent autopsy found George Floyd died of asphyxiation diverging from the official report released last week. From the LA Times:
An autopsy commissioned for George Floyd’s family found that he died of asphyxiation due to neck and back compression when a Minneapolis police officer held his knee on Floyd’s neck for several minutes and ignored his cries of distress, the family’s attorneys said Monday.
The autopsy by a doctor who also examined Eric Garner’s body found the compression cut off blood to Floyd’s brain, and weight on his back made it hard to breathe, attorney Ben Crump said at a news conference.
The family’s autopsy differs from the official autopsy as described in a criminal complaint against the officer. That autopsy included the effects of being restrained, along with underlying health issues and potential intoxicants in Floyd’s system, but also said it found nothing “to support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation.”
Floyd, a black man who was in handcuffs at the time, died after the white officer ignored bystander shouts to get off him and Floyd’s cries that he couldn’t breathe.
CNN anchor Don Lemon (screen capture) Out CNN anchor Don Lemon wondered aloud on-air this weekend why there have been so few celebrities speaking out during the protests and riots happening across the nation in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd by a white Minneapolis police officer. On Saturday, lamenting the lack of leadership from the White House (“When did we lose control of this country?”), Lemon asked about the wealthy people who have made it but not showing up now. “What about Hollywood?” asked Lemon. “I see them on Twitter saying, ‘Oh, I’m loving what Don’s doing’ but they got to do more than that. Especially Black celebrities and Black leaders — and white celebrities and rich Hollywood.” “Why aren’t they helping these young people?,” he continued. “These young people are out there standing on the platform, the edge of an abyss, by themselves.” Lemon then addressed his celebrity friends directly: “Stop texting me and asking me, ‘Oh my god, Don, what is happening to our country?’ Get on television and do something and help these young people instead of sitting in your mansions and doing nothing and have some moral courage and stop worrying about your reputation and your brand.”
Ratcheting up the pressure, Lemon started naming names like Oprah, Jay-Z, Drake, Ellen DeGeneres, Anthony Anderson, Diddy, Jane Fonda, Tyler Perry, Tracee Ellis Ross and Kim Kardashian West. Admitting that donating money is appreciated, Lemon pushed for more. “Visibility is extremely important because young people need to see people who have made it so that they can understand that they have made it, too, and they can know publicly, that you have their backs.” He added, “Beyoncé released a message. You can’t?”
While Lemon’s passion may be admirable, for the record there were several celebrities stepping up and out during the weekend’s protests. The Washington Post reports celebs like Anna Kendrick, J. Cole, Nick Cannon, Tinashe, Kendrick Sampson, Emily Ratajkowski, Sophia Bush, Machine Gun Kelly and Paris Jackson took to the streets joining protesters. And Jamie Foxx joined the protests in Minneapolis Friday night after speaking at a news conference earlier in the day. Bisexual pop star Halsey shared on social media that police “opened fire of rubber bullets and tear gas multiple times on us” and that she was “hit twice. Once by pellets and once by shrapnel. We were gassed repeatedly for hours.” She added, “I will be returning.” (screen capture) Rappers T.I. and Killer Mike addressed protesters during the Atlanta mayor’s news conference Friday, urging protesters not to destroy property.
Donald Trump to governors during race riots: “You have to dominate!” It has been one week since George Floyd died in Minneapolis after a white police officer pressed his knee into the 46-year-old black man’s neck for more than eight minutes, and the protests continue across the nation with no leadership from Donald Trump. From the Washington Post:
During a conference call Monday, Trump berated the state leaders, calling them “weak,” and urged them to “dominate” protesters, according to officials familiar with the president’s remarks. The conference call followed another turbulent night across the nation, as protests that began peacefully exploded into mayhem.
Trump also called on them to take back the streets and use force to confront protesters and said if they did not, they would look like “fools,” alarming several governors on the call as they communicated privately, according to the officials.
“If you don’t dominate, you’re wasting your time,” Trump said, according to a person on the call.
Demonstrators clashed with police outside the White House for a third consecutive night as the unrest spread from Boston to Sioux Falls, S.D. More than half of the nation’s governors have called in the National Guard to help quell the unrest, and at least 45 million Americans were under a curfew on Sunday night.
In some cities, law enforcement officers were seen marching and kneeling with protesters. But elsewhere, police in riot gear continued to increase their use of force, which added to the disorder. On Monday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) ordered a state investigation after a man was fatally shot during an overnight confrontation with Louisville police and the National Guard.
Some conservative commentators are urging the president to address the nation, but the White House press secretary said Trump is focused on the far-left “antifa” movement that he believes is behind the violence. “A national Oval Office address is not going to stop antifa,” Kayleigh McEnany said.
At this point, we’re basically the ‘States of America.’
HEAR IT: Trump calls state officials "weak," insists they must dominate, and vows to "clamp down" in DC. pic.twitter.com/ARsIhAvCJe
L-R Lisa Brescia, Christiane Noll, Jessica Phillips, and Jennifer Laura Thompson Four Broadway leading ladies singing together for the first time. Four Broadway and National Tour Dear Evan Hansen ‘Moms’ — Lisa Brescia, Christiane Noll, Jessica Phillips, and Jennifer Laura Thompson — joined forces for this music video that asks the universal question, “Anybody Have A Map?” The Dear Evan Hansen YouTube channel shared the video in 2018, and I kept meaning to share this. I love how different all four actresses are and yet they have a similar ineffable quality. I love the arrangement, and in these crazy days, the song offers a lighthearted acknowledgment that we don’t always have the answers.
The Broadway producers wisely took advantage of the show’s terrific score to come up with unique spins on the songs. In the past, I’ve shared two ‘Evan Hansens’ singing “Only Us” to each other for Valentine’s Day and four actors who’ve taken on the title role from the Broadway, National Tour, Toronto and West End productions singing “For Forever.”
A large protest in Brooklyn on Saturday sent a shock through social media when video emerged of two New York Police Department vehicles driving through a group of protesters. The protest was one of dozens nationwide over the death of George Floyd.
The videos show dozens of protesters gathered in a street holding up a small barricade, appearing to stop an NYPD SUV from continuing to drive. A bag is seen to be thrown on the car as protesters throw objects at the vehicle.
Seconds later, a second NYPD vehicle approaches, and drives through part of the crowd, directly hitting at least half a dozen people. As it drove through, the initial vehicle hit the gas and rammed through the people who were standing in front of it, causing several people to collapse on the ground.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio addressed the incident at a late-night press conference saying that although it was “upsetting,” it’s also “inappropriate for protesters to surround a police vehicle and threaten police officers.” “That’s wrong on its face,” de Blasio said. “I’m not going to blame officers who are trying to deal with absolutely impossible situation … If a police officer is in that situation, they have to get out of that situation. The video was upsetting, and I wish the officers hadn’t done that, but I also understood that they didn’t start the situation.”
Deadly force outside of guidelines. Immediate disciplinary action is mandatory.
Unless of course we are right about fascism. — Lenny Liebmann (@lennyliebmann) May 31, 2020
@NYCMayor your comments tonight were unacceptable.
As mayor, this police department is under your leadership. This moment demands leadership & accountability from each of us. Defending and making excuses for NYPD running SUVs into crowds was wrong. Make it right. De-escalate. — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 31, 2020
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on ABC This Week During an appearance on ABC News’ This Week, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was asked by George Stephanopoulos what President Donald Trump should be doing during the ongoing riots and protests over the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis. “The president of the United States should bring dignity to the office that he serves,” said Pelosi. “He should be a unifying force in our country.” “We have seen that with democratic and republican presidents all along. They have seen their responsibility to be the president of the United States, to unify our country, and not to fuel the flame, not to fuel the flame. “I think to take his bait time and time again is just a gift to him because he always wants to divert attention from what the cause of the response was.”
“I’m not paying too much attention to what the president says,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Trump tweets.
“I think to take his bait time and time again is just a gift to him because he always wants to divert attention from what the cause of the response was.” https://t.co/sVerbxGgdMpic.twitter.com/i6302lt9Yd
Hey folks, happy Saturday! Like most journalists, it’s not often I make myself the story. But since The Randy Report is a blog, there is some leeway, and readers have learned a little bit about me over the years. My friend Joey Hernandez at An Older Gay Guy Show podcast asked to chat with me about how The Randy Report came to be and the daily ins-and-outs of blogging in the world today. From the time I get to my desk each day to how I choose my topics to WHY I even do this, Joey drills down to all things ‘Randy Report.’ I’ve listened to Joey’s award-nominated podcast for years. Aimed toward life after 40 among gay guys, Joey talks and laughs about the trials and tribulations of growing older, sex, health, fitness, TV and films, personal stories and more. He’s funny, candid and with episodes titled “The Craziest Place I’ve Ever Had Sex,” he’s a great listen. If you’re looking for a new podcast to check out – DEFINITELY check out An Older Gay Guy Show. And if you’ve ever wondered about life at The Randy Report, hit the play button below.
Rizzle is a place where you can be who you are. It’s a community that not only respects people with diverse backgrounds but celebrates them. Rizzle’s goal is to celebrate who you are as an individual. We want to hear from a variety of people from the LGBTQ community and understand your perspective. We want your videos to inspire, educate, and entertain audiences who are, and aren’t, part of the LGBTQ community! Joining 360Pride is the perfect opportunity to share and celebrate your story. It’s super easy to create a video on Rizzle. NO EDITS NEEDED, just using just your phone – point, record, upload! Rizzle360 is all things news, opinions, pop culture, and more. Download Rizzle here.
Grindr goes on to mention their previously announced 
Hey folks, happy Saturday! Like most journalists, it’s not often I make myself the story. But since The Randy Report is a blog, there is some leeway, and readers have learned a little bit about me over the years. My friend Joey Hernandez at 
