LGBTQ news and entertainment
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| Adam Rippon |
Olympic bronze medalist Adam Rippon breaks down scenes from figure skating movies, including The Cutting Edge, I, Tonya, and Blades of Glory.
Along the way, the gregarious Adam shares his thoughts on what’s realistic in these films and what’s not-so-possible.
Cute few minutes. Watch below.
Some news items you might have missed:
• Now why don’t any of my hikes come across folks like InstaHunk Joel Green? #NatureDoesAGuyGood
• The documentary Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood, which chronicles the life of Scotty Bowers who procured “dates” for movie stars back in the Golden Age of Hollywood, scored big at the box office in it’s first weekend.
• Donald Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, told the hosts of Fox & Friends that “collusion is not a crime.” #ItsCalledTreason
• Deonton A. Rogers faces several serious charges for the non-fatal shooting of a 29-year-old trans woman in Detroit. Rogers made a lewd remark to her, but when he realized the woman was transgender, he initiated a fight. But the woman fought back; that prompted Rogers to pull out a gun and shoot the woman in the shoulder before fleeing the scene. The victim has since made a full recovery, and lucky for her, the entire incident was caught on security cameras.
• Hundred of mourners showed up for the funeral of Anthony Avalos, the 10-year-old boy who died having endured years of physical abuse and had come out as gay just before he was killed.
• Olympic medal-winning figure skater, Adam Rippon, announced this morning that he will be joining the panel of judges for “Dancing With The Stars: Juniors.” Rippon won season 26 of the reality show with pro partner Jenna Johnson.
ESPN Magazine’s 10th Annual ‘Body Issue’ is online today!
Begun in 2008, the issue highlights the physiques of 16 world-class athletes.
Alison Overholt, editor in chief of ESPN Magazine said in a statement,“The goal has always been for us to celebrate the athletic form—in every shape and size—and to allow people to stop and marvel at the works of art these bodies truly are.”
This year’s edition is more LGBTQ-inclusive than ever featuring Olympic bronze medalist Adam Rippon as well as lesbian soccer forward Megan Rapinoe (Seattle Reign) together with her girlfriend, 10-time WNBA All-Star point guard for the Seattle Storm, Sue Bird.
The couple’s print cover is the first time a queer couple has covered the Body Issue.
“It’s pretty amazing to think about [being on the cover of the Body Issue], especially in the times we’re in,” Rapinoe shared in her interview. “Just think of how far we’ve come, but also the current climate. Not only are we female athletes, but we’re dating as well. It’s kind of bad-ass.”
Coming off of this year’s Winter Olympics as well as a grueling tour for ‘Stars On Ice’ while competing (and winning) Dancing with the Stars, Rippon told ESPN Magazine, “I couldn’t have done this [shoot] while I was in the closet.”
“I think that, with my experience of coming out, I felt so liberated in so many ways,” the 28-year-old added.
Also included in the Body Issue are Saquon Barkley (running back for New York Giants), sprinter Tori Bowie, cross-country skier and Olympic gold medalist Jessie Diggins, National Women’s Soccer League MVP Crystal Dunn, Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel, as well as totally fit seniors Jerry Rice of the NFL and pro-golfing legend, Greg Norman.
The print edition of the Body Issue hits news stands on June 29, but you can check out the online versions over at ESPN Magazine here.
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| Adam Rippon (screen capture) |
Out Olympian Adam Rippon bares all for ESPN The Magazine’s annual Body Issue.
According to People.com, 28-year-old credits the coming out process for giving him the courage to do the all-nude photoshoot.
“I couldn’t have done this [shoot] while I was in the closet,” says Rippon. “I think that, with my experience of coming out, I felt so liberated in so many ways.”
After competing in South Korea at this year’s Winter Olympics, then immediately hitting the road for ‘Stars On Ice’ while simultaneously competing (and winning!) the all-athletes edition of Dancing with the Stars, Rippon’s body is in fierce shape.
“I don’t want to say I’ll never be in this shape again, but I’ll never be in this shape. I’ll be in another shape,” he said. “This is a milestone of all the work it took me to get to the point to be an Olympic medal-winning figure skater.”
The Olympic bronze medalist says he’s grown more comfortable with his body and the concept of masculinity over time.
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve redefined to myself what being masculine is and, to me, being masculine is owning yourself as a man,” he said. “Maybe I’m not typically masculine, but I feel like a strong-ass man when I go out there and compete.”
ESPN Magazine‘s Body Issue hits newsstands on June 29 featuring 16 world-class athletes who bare all for the 10th anniversary edition.
Watch behind-the-scenes footage from Rippon’s photoshoot below.
SPOILER ALERT: On Monday night’s finale of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars: Athletes edition, out Olympian and self-proclaimed “America’s sweetheart” Adam Rippon took home the mirror-ball trophy becoming the Season 26 champion.
Rippon and his pro partner Jenna Johnson had to go head-to-head with fellow Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding and Sasha Farber, and Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman and Sharna Burgess.
Rippon and Johnson were tasked with two final dance styles: jazz and freestyle.
The jazz dance (performed to the Broadway classic “Anything You Can Do” from Annie Get Your Gun), was a pure show biz routine that brought the audience to their feet and received a perfect score from the judges.
“It was so exquisitely theatrical,” judge Bruno Tonioli gushed. “Technically, it was brilliant. Your timing and partner work is flawless.”
But the Asian-inspired freestyle fan dance (set to DJ Kass’ “Scooby Doo Pa Pa”) complete with vogueing, fan-snapping and more received a slightly mixed reaction scoring 9s and 10s for a 28 out of 30.
The judges read on the freestyle was perplexing in that it was full of very specific style and Team Rippon were definitely on fire from the get-go.
As a dancer and choreographer myself, I was floored at the complexity of the dance routines. And not only Team Rippon’s.
NFL-er Josh Norman absolutely killed in his football-inspired freestyle to “Walk On Water” by 30 Seconds To Mars. Not only difficult choreography, but he was dancing in formations with several other dancers and totally on point!
And it didn’t hurt that he performed the number shirtless and ended up under a shower 😉
Even Tonya Harding came out guns blazing with her disco-themed turn to “Hush Hush; Hush Hush” by The Pussycat Dolls.
But in the end, the prophecy of the season’s first night cha-cha to RuPaul’s “Sissy That Walk” came to fruition as Adam and Jenna were named the champions.
This is Johnson’s first win on DWTS in only two seasons with the dance show.
“The Mirrorball has now taken on a new meaning, someone like me is accepted and I feel loved,” Rippon shared before his freestyle routine.
Rippon is the first openly gay winner of Dancing with the Stars. Congrats, Adam!
DANCING WITH THE STARS SEASON 26 CHAMPIONS 🏆 pic.twitter.com/2cOabudmmI— hayley | ADAM AND JENNA WON (@fishuponadwts) May 22, 2018
And as we close the books on this edition of DWTS, can we get one more peek at the awesome furry goodness that is Olympic luger Chris Mazdzer? #woof
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| Adam Rippon and Jenna Johnson on DWTS |
Believe it or not, we have just one week left in this “Athletes-only” edition of Dancing with the Stars, and Olympic bronze medalist (and self-proclaimed “America’s sweetheart”) Adam Rippon is crushing it.
I’ve been pulling for Adam from day one and he hasn’t disappointed.
Charming, self-deprecating and hard-working as hell, Rippon has been everything the TV show’s producers could have wanted.
Performing a contemporary dance last night to “O” by Coldplay (which Adam knows uber-well since he skated to it at the Winter Olympics), Team Rippon came to slay, and slay they did.
Gorgeous choreography (I’m glad Carrie Ann pointed out later how deceptively challenging the steps were), complete commitment and detailed execution made the bird-inspired dance take flight.
And the judges agreed.
DWTS season 24 runner-up David Ross: “By far my favorite dance of the night.”
Judge Len Goodman: “It had great control mixed with flair. It’s the best dance I’ve seen tonight. Well done.”
Judge Bruno Tonioli: “You were like two birds of paradise – mesmerizing and enchanting. It’s impossible to tell who is the professional. This is a masterpiece of a dance.”
Judge Carrie Ann Inaba: “I love that you push yourself that hard. I just wanted to thank you. This is why artists create – to have moments like this. Where it’s just pure perfection.”
Team Adam received the evening’s high-score 39-of-40, which he dedicated to his mom, saying afterward: “The only thing that I’m thankful for is that I’m a beautiful crier.”
From where I stand, the mirror-ball trophy is Adam’s to lose. He’ll face off in the finals next week against fellow-figure skater Tonya Harding, and Washington Redskins defensive back Josh Norman.
Watch Adam and Jenna’s contemporary dance below:
Last night also featured a salsa “ballroom battle” between woofy Olympic luger Chris Mazdzer and the NFL’s Josh Norman.
Both did great – you can watch below to see who won to compete next week – but how could I pass up a chance to gaze again upon Mazdzer’s furry goodness?
He knows what he’s working with. Just saying…
A post shared by Chris Mazdzer (@mazdzer) on May 10, 2018 at 9:35am PDT
Out figure skater Adam Rippon and professional dance partner Jenna Johnson took on the uber-challenging Quickstep in serious style on last night’s all-athletes Dancing with the Stars.
In the pre-performance video, Rippon shared that his grueling ‘Stars on Ice’ tour schedule has him flying all over the country while Johnson travels with him everywhere to rehearse.
It’s airports, hotels, skating performances, 5 hour dance rehearsals, 3-4 hours of sleep a night, then rinse and repeat.
The Olympic bronze medalist says he doesn’t get back to L.A. until the day of DWTS tapings.
But a busy schedule and sleep deprivation did not stand in the mighty Rippon’s way.
Set to “Make Way” by Aloe Blacc, the duo delivered near perfection receiving 37 out of a possible 40 points. That made for a tie, with skating pal Mirai Nagasu and her pro partner Alan Bersten, for the night’s high score.
The judges gushed.
Bruno Tonioli: “No messing around, no distractions! Absolutely fantastic dancing all the way through. Your timing is impeccable.”
Len Goodman: “So much content, so much speed, but so much clarity of movement. Well done!”
Carrie-Ann Inaba: “You better work. So tight!”
“That was stunning, said guest judge Rashad Jennings. Although Adam’s snazzy red/black suit took the former NFL player aback: “This outfit though. Did you pick this outfit?”
“I actually stole it from your trailer,” said Rippon without missing a beat. “We’re the same size. Nobody knew that.”
After the performance, Rippons told Fox News his new Finnish boyfriend, Jussi-Pekka Kajaala, will be moving from Finland to Los Angeles to be with him.
“I live here in L.A. already but he’s in the process of moving here. He lives in Helsinki right now,” Rippon explained.
“He’s coming as soon as the [‘DWTS’] show is over. He’s been to L.A. a bunch of times since the Olympics.”
Bonus video: Adam and Jenna also took part in the group “1970s Football Dance” to the disco hit “Instant Replay.”
I literally learned to dance to this song.
And how about Adam snagging that football pass like a pro? Watch below.
p.s. the pro guy’s look pretty a-mah-zing in those sequin football pants. Just saying… 😉
In this week’s LGBTQ headlines:
• Oklahoma and Kansas state legislatures pass anti-LGBTQ adoption laws
• A new survey of over 40,000 Americans shows acceptance for same-sex marriage has hit 61%
• Ireland moves to ban so-called “conversion therapy”
• The ‘boys of summer’ are back and most Major League Baseball teams have scheduled special LGBT Pride Nights (head over to Outsports.com for a complete list of MLB Pride Nights)
• Drag queen Ada Vox exits American Idol with her head held high
• Tony Kushner’s Angels In America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes became the most Tony-nominated play in history as the 2018 Tony Award nominations were announced
• Adam Rippon came to slay on the premiere of the all-athletes season of Dancing with the Stars
All that and more on this episode of The Randy Report
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| Adam Rippon (L) and Gus Kenworthy (R) |
Last night, Olympic bronze medalist Adam Rippon sat down for a chat on ABC News’ Nightline with his Olympic BFF, silver medalist Gus Kenworthy.
Kenworthy, in “special correspondent” mode, interviewed Rippon about being the first openly gay U.S. athlete at the Winter Olympics and in doing so becoming “America’s sweetheart” as well as a leading voice for the LGBQ community.
Rippon made his Dancing with the Stars debut this week delivering a killer cha-cha to RuPaul’s “Sissy That Walk.”
Check out the interview below, and make sure you hang out for the last minute where Gus decides to teach Adam a few dances moves 😉
In related Kenworthy news, over on Instagram where he recently passed the one million followers, Gus once again shared that awesome ripped body of his as he dipped a toe into a pool in LA.
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| Olympic bronze medalist Adam Rippon and partner Jenna Johnson debut on DWTS |
Out Olympian Adam Rippon killed it last night on the new season of Dancing With The Stars as he and his pro dance partner Jenna Johnsona cha-cha’d to RuPaul’s “Sissy That Walk.”
Both Rippon and Johnson have acknowledged their personal chemistry in working together for the abbreviated “athletes-only” season of DWTS.
“I’m not a scientist, but we’ve got chemistry,” Rippon told Billboard Magazine.
The 28-year-old bronze medalist clearly came to slay, and the judges agreed giving the performance all 8s across the board. That score of 24 tied for the top spot along with pro football player Josh Norman.
As someone who’s been a professional dancer and choreographer for over 35 years, I have to say I’m way impressed: the lines, the body positions, the energy extending all the way out to his finger-tips. This is a very strong performance.
Watch Rippon slay in his DWTS debut below.