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Funny: ‘Bad Boy’ Takes Care Of ‘Daddy Scott’

Drew Canan nurses Artie O’Daly (screen capture)
Artie O’Daly is back with a new episode of his popular ‘Bad Boy’ web series. This is the 11th installment of O’Daly’s off-beat, wild and wacky world of ‘Bad Boys’ where no one really seems to be following anyone else’s conversation. The short film opens ‘Bad Boy’ Jim (Drew Canan) explaining a faux robbery he attempted naked and armed with just his hot dog. Cue the series of weiner jokes peppered throughout the clip. Scott (‘Daddy Scott’) played by O’Daly isn’t feeling great, so he shuts down work early. Jim immediately jumps into action to take care of Scott providing tissues, furry cuddle buddy, and some pills. What kind of pills? Who knows? Jim also offers to rub Scott’s chest with VapoRub, which somehow leads to pouring baby oil on his own chest and rubbing things around. Cue the 70s porn music. Along the way there’s a worker at the door who wants to work on Scott’s ‘crack,’ and Aunt Whitney may (or may not) have a dead paramour upstairs. Props to O’Daly for his consistently off-kilter dialogue that keeps the ‘Bad Boys’ universe so quirky and entertaining. You can check out my previous coverage of the ‘Bad Boy’ series here.

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Daily Dog: When The UPS Delivery Guy Comes Calling

So there’s apparently a whole Facebook page titled UPS Dogs devoted to dogs who love their UPS drivers. Check out the cute brain-break below as these furry family members greet home deliveries each day. One UPS guy even adopted one of his daily friends when the dog’s human passed away. #DogsRule

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News Round-Up: February 14, 2020

Chasten and Pete Buttigieg on the campaign trail
Some news items you might have missed: • Instagram: Pete Buttigieg, on the campaign trail, posts the above photo with hubby Chasten, with the caption “Happy Valentine’s Day to the one I love.” #swoon • Advocate: Two gay men were shot this week in a drive-by attack in Miami, leaving one in critical condition, and they believe it happened because they were kissing — and a lesbian nearby was also injured. • Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A new poll released Thursday showed the former vice president Joe Biden with 32% of support in Georgia. Sen. Bernie Sanders and former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg were both at 14%. The poll pegs Pete Buttigieg at just 5% of Georgia’s vote and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 4%. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar trails at 3%. Georgia’s primary is on March 24. • Apple TV: Don’t forget the five-part docuseries Visible: Out on Television is now available on Apple’s streaming service. The series investigates the importance of TV as a medium that helped shaped the American conscience, and how the LGBTQ movement has shaped television.

• Bloomberg Law: Michael Avenatti, who became famous representing porn star Stormy Daniels, was convicted of trying to extort millions of dollars from Nike Inc. and defrauding a client in the process. Jurors in Manhattan found Avenatti guilty of all three criminal counts. The verdict on Friday, following a two-week trial, could lead to a long prison sentence for the lawyer. • CBS News: Donald Trump says he’s considering ending the standard protocol of having top administration officials listen to his calls with foreign leaders, following his conversation with Ukraine’s president, a call that culminated in his impeachment. • KIT212: Kenneth rounds up the what’s what in gay rags this week including forever-hottie Robbie Williams covering this month’s Attitude Magazine (below). • Boston 25 News: Drug Enforcement Agency officials raided the home of Dr. Keith Ablow, the embattled former celebrity psychiatrist caught in a series of sexual assault lawsuits. The famously anti-LGBTQ Ablow saw his medical license revoked last year after he was accused of engaging in inappropriate sexual activity with several patients and illegally distributing prescriptions to employees. • Mediaite: Mike Bloomberg’s campaign openly mocked Donald Trump again over his comments on the coronavirus in which POTUS said, “Now the virus that we are talking about having to do, you know, lotta people think that goes away in April, with the heat,” by basically just splicing it with that famous Billy Madison “What you have just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things…” scene. #BloombergAintPlaying

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New Law Could Pave The Way For Bathhouses To Return To San Francisco

District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who represents the LGBTQ-centric Castro area in San Francisco, has introduced legislation that would lay the groundwork for allowing gay bathhouses to reopen. Back in 1984, as the AIDS epidemic was reaching a fever-pitch, San Francisco put new rules in place ordering owners to tear down individual cubicles with locks on the doors as well as having employees ‘monitor’ the sexual activities of patrons to ensure there was no unsafe sex taking place. But advancements in medical science in the decades since has changed the HIV landscape. Modern HIV medications are now capable of bringing viral loads down to undetectable making transmission of the virus nearly impossible. Plus, the advent of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) has led to a dramatic decline in new HIV infections, especially in San Francisco. According to the Bay Area Reporter, new diagnoses of HIV dropped below 200 in 2018. District 6 Supervisor Matt Haney, whose district includes the South of Market neighborhood where most gay bathhouses were located back in the day, has expressed his support of the new legislation. Pointing to the advances in HIV drugs, as well as research which has shown monitoring sexual activity in bathhouses has “little to no effect,” Haney announced he will be co-sponsoring Mandelman’s legislation. The change in policies would instruct the city health director to “revise the health department’s minimum standards governing the operation of adult sex venues so they no longer ban locked doors or require sex monitoring by staff,” writes the Bay Area Reporter. The proposal could also include requiring bathhouses to provide free condoms and other safe sex supplies. The ordinance requires that these new minimum standards be adopted by no later than July 1, 2020, and that there be a public notice and public comment process. “When properly operated, by providing access to safer sex educational materials and supplies and HIV and STD testing, these venues assist rather than impede our efforts to control the transmission of HIV,” said Mandelman in a statement. “I hope that this ordinance will support our efforts to get to zero new HIV infections and will put a bookend on a painful chapter in the history of the queer community in San Francisco.” Although no bathhouses currently operate in San Francisco, there are gay sex clubs, like Eros, which is a condoms-only club and doesn’t offer individual, private rooms for sexual activity. (Source: Bay Area Reporter)

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Out Music: Kyle Motsinger ‘Whenever’

Out singer/songwriter Kyle Motsinger drops his latest music video, “Whenever,” just in time for Valentine’s Day. As folks think on celebrating their relationships, Motsinger says his new bop is about being single and being ok with waiting for the right someone. I chatted with the talented ginger about the track, his plans for V-Day and more.

The Randy Report: Your new music video, “Whenever,” is way cute. What was the inspiration behind the project? Kyle Motsinger: Thank you! I started thinking a few months ago that “Whenever” could be a great Valentine’s Day/Singles Awareness Day video. I think about how fun that holiday was in grade school. I remembered making construction paper hearts and other crafts in class. The hanging hearts in the video are straight out of my first-grade class! Everything else fell into place. I found a great photography space in Brooklyn called Egg Studios that had multiple colored backdrops and my director, Tyler Milliron, (Milliron Studios) got the idea to do stick puppets from a production of Beauty and the Beast that he filmed the prologue for. I liked the theatricality of that. This video is very me. haha TRR: It seems every romantic comedy and pop song promotes finding “fulfillment” in a relationship as if being single is a ‘tragedy.’ But “Whenever” comes across like the ‘anti-Valentine’s Day’ song for folks who are single and doing A-okay. Was that your message? KM: Well, it’s not exactly anti-Valentine’s Day. I’m totally happy for couples celebrating it. I also think loving yourself and your loved ones should be celebrated on that day and every day. See my video for “Love on Each Other!” However, it’s definitely also a singles anthem and a message to those who are single to not worry about it. It’ll happen “Whenever” it happens. TRR: There’s a lot of truth in your lyric, “When you least expect it, that’s when hearts collide.” I remember desperately wanting a boyfriend years ago. Honest to god, it wasn’t until I let go of that that I met my husband (of 25 years now). KM: I love that! Congrats on 25 years! My last and most serious relationship happened when I wasn’t looking. I’m definitely on a few dating apps but I don’t check them much and haven’t really dated from them. I’d rather spend “Some Enchanted Evening” seeing “a stranger across a crowded room.” There’s that musical theatre again! TRR: Since we’re talking about romantical situations, inquiring minds want to know – are you coupled up or happily single? I’m happily single and have been for a few years. I won’t say no to someone that comes into my life if they’re the right one. TRR: Besides releasing your new music video, what are your plans for Valentine’s Day? KM: I’ll be with my friends at a party. I love them dearly so there won’t be a lack of heart in my Valentine’s Day! Thanks, Randy! I hope you and your husband have a great one too!

I love Kyle’s creative approach to his music and videos. I most recently shared his “Parallel Universes” music video in November. Check out the uber-upbeat music video for “Whenever” below. You can find the track on iTunes here.

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Gays Cancel Wendy Williams After She Trashes Them On Air

Wendy Williams got in some serious hot water yesterday by calling out her gay fans. Williams brought up the topic of Galentine’s Day, a way for women to celebrate their gal pals who have been important in their lives instead of buying into all the Valentine’s Day hubbub. She asked the crowd who would be participating and noticed a few men in the crowd were applauded, which apparently set her off. Shot: “If you’re a man and you’re clapping, you’re not even a part of this. You don’t understand the rules of the day. It’s women going out and getting saucy and then going home. You’re not a part. I don’t care if you’re gay. You don’t get a [menstruation] every 28 days. You can do a lot that we do, but I get offended by the idea that we go through something you will never go through.” “And stop wearing our skirts and our heels. Just saying, girls, what do we have for ourselves? Looky here now, gay men, you’ll never be the women that we are. No matter how gay.”

And….chaser: “I’ll start by saying I apologize, I did not mean to offend my LGBTQ+ community on yesterday’s show. I did not realize until I got home, and I watched the second running of our show. “I didn’t mean to hurt anybody’s feelings. I’m just having a conversation. If you know me long enough, then you know…I live and let live every day. Life is too short. I’m 55 years old, and maybe I sounded like your auntie, your mother, your big sister, or somebody out of touch. I’m not out of touch, except for perhaps yesterday by saying what I said. I deeply apologize. “I will do better.”

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News Round-Up: February 13, 2020

Steve and Tobi (via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: We’re just a day before Valentine’s Day when we celebrate all kinds of important relationships in our lives. Woofy Steve_in_LA (above) poses with his “#1” Tobi – now those are some handsome faces, amiright? Follow Steve on Instagram here. • We Got This Covered: Sony is reportedly interested in developing a live-action Spider-Verse movie that would unite former Spidermen Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. An idea being considered is to portray Garfield’s version of the hero as bisexual and give him a boyfriend in the film. • Queerty: A man says his dead husband’s healthy organs were refused by a hospital’s organ donation program because of his sexual orientation. “Sean did not have HIV, or any other STD’s for that matter. But because he was a gay man living in America in 2020 he was not allowed one of his final wishes of donating his organs to help save another person’s life.” • The Hill: The Pentagon is moving $3.8 billion from various weapons programs such as the F-35 fighter jet to pay for President Trump’s southern border wall, according to a notice sent to Congress on Thursday. • Advocate: A new study shows gay and bisexual men have higher rates of skin cancer compared to heterosexual men. • US News: Donald Trump has proposed a 25 percent cut to the signature military fund designed to offset Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, according to the Defense Department’s budget documents unveiled this week. So, he wants more money for defense EXCEPT when it comes to Russia??? • Gay Star News: San Francisco city Supervisor Rafael Mandelman introduced legislation this week that could remove restrictive regulations on bathhouses introduced at the height of the AIDS epidemic. The city’s gay saunas closed when the established new rules in 1984. They insisted owners tore down individual cubicles and video rooms so people couldn’t have unsafe sex in private. • New Music: Check out the latest from popster Anne-Marie – “Birthday” is an empowering pop bop that exudes the artist’s mischievous personality and powerful vocals. The official video – a modern-day nod to Cinderella – is a playful visual, following Anne-Marie celebrating her birthday like a princess, complete with a lavish, show-stealing ball gown and dancing in a huge, opulent drawing-room. But at the stroke of midnight, she finds herself back in more modest surroundings at home, celebrating with her friends. Fun and upbeat. I like.

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RuPaul: My Drag Persona Was A Product Of Science

RuPaul addressed current rash of anti-drag bills across the country

RuPaul dropped by Late Night with Seth Meyers to talk on his many upcoming projects including the new season of RuPaul’s Drag Race as well as the new live version of the series in Las Vegas at the Flamingo Las Vegas. Reminiscing about New York City back in the 1980s, Ru realized that with success came a price: “When I got famous, that’s when the drag fun ended for me, honestly. I couldn’t terrorize y’all’s neighborhoods anymore because I became the face of drag!”

Later in the interview, Meyers asked Ru how he came up with his drag persona. It turns out it was all scientific: “I’ve always been ambitious and I’ve always liked to look under the hood to see how things actually worked. So I knew that if I was was going to do drag and make it above 14th Street so to speak, I had to calculate the image. “What I did was I had one part Dolly Parton to two parts Cher, one part David Bowie and a big heaping spoonful of Diana Ross. “Then I took the subversive sexuality out of my persona so Betty and Joe Beercan could invite me into their living room and you know what it worked.”

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No More ‘Days’ For Daytime’s Gay Power Couple

L-R Chandler Massey and Freddie Smith (screen capture)
After years of playing Salem’s resident on-again/off-again gay couple on Days of Our Lives, actors Freddie Smith and Chandler Massey have been informed their contracts were not renewed for the long-running daytime drama. Breaking the news on his Twitter account, Smith (who plays Sonny Kirakis on the series) wrote, “Days of Our Lives releases Freddie Smith and Chandler Massey from contracts. I will miss Salem so much!!” “Thank you all for the incredible love and support throughout the years,” he added. “I really feel we told a love story that will live on forever.” Massey (who plays Will Horton) followed that up with his own tweet writing, “Wish it weren’t coming to an end, but I will be forever grateful to everyone who went on this journey with us.”

The tweet linked to a YouTube video where Smith shared with fans that he and Massey may be done shooting Days episodes as early as this week. Without giving up any details as to how the couple departs the show, Smith shares the viewing audience won’t be saying goodbye to Will and Sonny (affectionately known as ‘WilSon’ to fans) until September 18, 2020, due to the show shooting episodes six months in advance. Smith adds that the decision “was not our choice,” and that he and Massey were looking forward to staying on and keeping their storyline going. But it appeared to Smith as though the writing was on the wall. “As the scripts started coming in, I was like, ‘This doesn’t look good. This doesn’t look like we’re going to get re-signed to a contract.’” Still, Smith acknowledges the history that the show and ‘WilSon’ made. “In 2011, for Days of Our Lives, hats off for taking that risk, telling that love story, and I’m just really happy to be a part of it.” Over nine years and around 900 episodes, Smith says “We’ve done something special.” Special indeed when you consider the couple exchanged vows in the first male-male wedding in US daytime drama history. In recognition of the characters and storylines of Sonny and Will, the GLAAD Media Awards honored Days as ‘Outstanding Daily Drama’ four years in a row (2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015). Additionally, Massey won the Daytime Emmy three years in a row (2012, 2013, 2014) for ‘Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series’ marking the first time a gay character was recognized in that category. In 2015, Smith took home the same trophy. TVLine reports Days released the entire cast from their contracts last fall in a belt-tightening decision as the producers waiting to see if the show would be renewed for its 56th season. Once the renewal was announced, the series began negotiating contracts with some (not all) of the show’s players. In announcing the news online, TVGuide.com called the gay couple “the heart and soul of the long-running soap.” You can watch Freddie Smith share his thoughts in the video below.

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5th Grader Grilled By Teacher About Gay Rumors In Front Of Class

(stock photo via depositphotos)
A teacher in Port St. Lucie, Florida, confronted a fifth-grade student about being the subject of lesbian rumors in front of the young girl’s class. The mother of the student, Jezenia Gambino, told local NBC News affiliate WPTV the incident occurred after rumors about her daughter and another female student began to circulate. “The rumor was that my daughter and another 5th-grade little girl were dating,” said Gambino. When the rumor reached the 11-year-old’s teacher, the instructor decided to question the girl about it – in front of her classmates. “She asked them if they were together if they were dating as a couple together and she asked them in a way that they felt they were in trouble,” said Gambino. Gambino says her daughter didn’t tell her about the confrontation until the young girl’s friend texted her saying perhaps they shouldn’t be friends. “She wasn’t sure if they should hang out together anymore because of what happened in school,” Gambino told WPTV. “She didn’t want anyone to think they were gay.” After the mother reported the incident to the school’s principal an investigation was opened. A week later Gambino received an email explaining the teacher “reported to the Florida Department of Education for engaging in inappropriate communication with her daughter.” The result? The teacher was given a verbal warning. In a statement to the press regarding the incident, the school district said, “School Board will not tolerate sexual harassment or any other form of illegal harassment by any of its employees, students, volunteers or agents.” But Gambino isn’t satisfied with that result saying, “What they did affected my daughter in a way that now I’m having to go back and fix.” Gambino has now removed her daughter from the school and is currently homeschooling her for the rest of the school year.