LGBTQ news and entertainment
In this week’s podcast: • For the first time, HIV appears to be eradicated using only medications • Poland’s anti-LGBTQ president squeaks out reelection • White House press secretary raises eye-brows claiming Donald Trump’s “pro-LGBTQ” agenda • Chicago’s Boystown may get a new name All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (screen capture)
“We see the game he’s playing because it’s so transparent and he’s not very good at it. He wants to show failures on the part of Democratic local leaders to throw red meat to his base. His goal is to polarize, to destabilize local government and inflame racist urges. And we can absolutely not let him prevail,” Lightfoot said.
“I will code what I really want to say to Donald Trump. It’s two words: It begins with F and ends with YOU.”
On Thursday night, President Trump took to Twitter as protesters surrounded a Minneapolis police station and set fire to it.
He characterized the protesters as “THUGS” and tweeted, “Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”
On Friday, Lightfoot accused the president with whom she has clashed repeatedly of attempting to “foment violence.” She made no apologies for the vulgar reference that ran contrary to the advice of former First Lady Michelle Obama’s infamous line that, “When they go low, we go high.”
“I am not Michelle Obama,” the mayor said.
(screen capture via CBS 2 Chicago)
“I’m worried right now,” said employee Timothy Shy. “This is the second day, and we are already hearing about this.”
Production was temporarily halted at part of the facility and the main plant.
“Social distancing doesn’t really work,” said employee Billy Cowart.
There are changes, from the social distancing reminders outside to temperature checks and re-configured work stations inside. Ford provided a video highlighting some of the updated health changes COVID has brought along to their plants
“All these people are crowded and on top of each other,” said Michael Hopper while wearing his Ford issued face mask.
“I lost a brother to coronavirus May 6,” Hopper said.
Hopper along with others describes an experience inside the plant that doesn’t sound or look like the polished video.
“I cleaned my own workstation myself,” said Hopper. “How our jobs are set-up, if one person gets in the hole that would affect the person behind him.”
(photos: Michael Brosilow/The House Theatre)
According to school alum Carly McGoldrick, the students were marched out of the theater before the curtain even went up once the adults in charge realized the same-sex casting.
the 8th graders at my catholic grade school take an annual trip to chicago around thanksgiving and usually get to see a musical or whatever… this year they went to see the nutcracker but clara’s parents were played by two men so chaperones made them all get up and LEAVE
— carly mcgoldrick (@bakedzucchini) November 25, 2019
waiting for NDA to refund the parents of their students for the cost of the tickets and to issue an apology for embarrassing them in front of an entire auditorium of people
— carly mcgoldrick (@bakedzucchini) November 25, 2019
Notre Dame Academy posted this apology on its Facebook page:
We apologize for our decision for 8th graders leave to a performance of The Nutcracker before it began due to casting choices. The mistake is contrary to our inclusive spirit and reminds us our actions should affirm that we are all God’s children.
To clarify what happened, the decision was made for the NDA eighth-graders to leave a performance of The Nutcracker before it began because upon arrival they discovered that the producer had chosen to cast two men as the main character’s parents. However, the Spirit of Inclusion statement adopted by the NDA Board of Trustees in 2014 affirms that we in the Notre Dame Academy community welcome all into our Gospel community including but not limited to people of all colors, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender expression, abilities, economic classes, and nationalities.
We consider the decision to not attend the performance a mistake and sincerely apologize to anyone we offended. The action does does not reflect NDA’s true values. Rest assured we will redouble our efforts to live up to our inclusion statement.
Sometimes we teach our children as much from our mistakes as from our successes. We view this as a chance to teach our students the value of taking ownership of one’s mistakes and to reaffirm that our community is committed to inclusion.
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| (image via Flickr/Paul Woolrich – CC license) |
A transgender woman alleges a Chicago Police sargeant forced her to perform oral sex on him to avoid being arrested.
On March 5, the woman arrived at Rush University Medical Center and told the staff she had been sexually assaulted, reports the Chicago Tribune.
According to the unnamed woman, she was in an area on Fifth Avenue in the Lawndale neighborhood known for prostitution. She admitted she was with a man who she referred to as her boyfriend.
A Chicago police car pulled up and asked her what she was doing in the area. The woman says she explained she was “going home.”
According to her statement via police report, he allegedly told her that if she didn’t want to go to jail she would have to perform oral sex on him saying, “Because that’s what you do.”
She says she was ordered to get in the front seat of his car, and the sargeant drove off leaving her male companion there.
He allegedly stopped in an alley, exposed himself and ordered her to perform the sex act in the vehicle. At some point, the woman says she was able to preserve DNA evidence.
During the alleged sex act, the 39-year-old woman says the officer told her, “I can make you one of my regulars.”
At the hospital, she gave staffers the DNA evidence that she said would prove her story.
But she left the hospital before filing a police report saying she was fearful of “retaliation” by police officers.
Eventually, police detectives were able to discern the woman’s identity but found contacting her to be difficult. At the same time, detectives searched through surveillance video in the area she said the assault took place.
Weeks later, detectives became aware the woman was in police custody for a shoplifting charge and were able to interview her.
The Tribune reports that the Chicago Police Department “stripped the officer of his police powers on April 6 based on the findings of an internal investigation.
A week later, the sergeant was allowed to officially retire from CPD without being charged in connection with the alleged assault.
Police say they are still awaiting the results of DNA testing.
According to the Tribune, this isn’t the officer’s first brush with internal police charges.
In 1997, he was investigated after it was discovered he threatened to plant drugs on a suspect unless they handed over a gun. While Internal Affairs recommended he be fired, he was eventually given a 30-day suspension.
With the premiere of the eighth and final season of HBO’s Game of Thrones set for April 14, uber-talented Allison Lane and creative partner Chris Ritter serve up this delightful parody of Chicago the Musical’s “Cellblock Tango.”
Only here, we are celebrating the merry murderesses of Westeros!
Watch Arya Stark, Daenerys Targaryen, Lady Olenna Tyrell, Sansa Stark, Brienne of Tarth, & Cersei Lannister explain why all those men “Had It Comin”!
I’ve previously shared Allison’s work here, here, here and here.
Hit the play button below. Happy Saturday!
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| Jussie Smollett |
Just when we thought the whole Jussie Smollett debacle was done and done, the city of Chicago has announced it may file a lawsuit in an attempt to recoup expenses for the cost of investigating his alleged late-night attack.
In late January, Smollett filed a police report alleging he was assaulted by two masked men who beat him, poured an unknown liquid over his head and put a noose around his neck – all while reportedly shouting homophobic and racist slurs.
As reported here on The Randy Report, the investigation eventually turned to Smollett, and he was charged with 16 counts of filing a false police report.
Last week, the charges were abruptly dropped.
Two days later, the city sent the Empire actor a bill for $130,000 for expenses related to the police investigation.
Smollett apparently has no interest in paying the bill.
Via Variety:
“Mr. Smollett has refused to reimburse the City of Chicago for the cost of police overtime spent investigating his false police report on Jan. 29, 2019,” the city said. “The Law Department is now drafting a civil complaint that will be filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County… The Law Department will file the suit in the near future. As part of this legal action, the Law Department will pursue the full measure of damages allowed under the ordinance.”
Smollett maintains he is innocent.
“It is the Mayor and the Police Chief who owe Jussie an apology — for dragging an innocent man’s character through the mud,” his lawyer has previously told the press. “Jussie has paid enough.”
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| Lori Lightfoot (courtesy of Lightfoot campaign) |
In a historic race, Lori Lightfoot has been elected mayor of Chicago, Illinois.
The achievement makes the 56-year-old the first openly LGBTQ person – and the first Black female – to serve as mayor of Chicago.
Lightfoot will be the only current Black lesbian mayor in the United States.
View this post on InstagramSweeping all 50 wards of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot on Tuesday became the first LGBTQ person elected mayor of that major American city. . "Out there tonight, a lot of little girls and boys are watching. They're watching us, and they're seeing the beginning of something, well, a little bit different," Lightfoot, 56, who is also the first black woman elected mayor in the country’s third-largest city, told a jubilant crowd at a downtown hotel. "They're seeing a city reborn." . Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, CEO of Victory Fund, a nonpartisan organization that promotes LGBTQ candidates, hailed Lightfoot’s groundbreaking victory. . “A Black lesbian taking power in the nation’s third-largest city is a historic moment for so many communities that are too often ignored in American politics," Parker, who is a lesbian, said in a statement shared with NBC News. . “Lori will certainly remain focused on the issues facing Chicago,” Parker continued, “but as the highest-ranking LGBTQ person ever elected mayor of an American city — a title she takes from me — she is also now a key leader in the movement to build LGBTQ political power nationwide.”A post shared by NBC OUT (@nbcout) on Apr 3, 2019 at 4:09pm PDT
Chicago is now the largest city ever to elect a queer person to mayor. That distinction was previously held by former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, who served from 2010-2016.
Parker, who current serves as executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, praised Lightfoot in a statement.
“A Black lesbian taking power in the nation’s third-largest city is a historic moment for so many communities that are too often ignored in American politics,” said Parker. “Chicago’s enormous influence on the national dialogue provides a platform for Lori to promote more inclusive solutions to the challenges facing our cities and nation – and to be a credible messenger as well.”
“Lori will certainly remain focused on the issues facing Chicago,” Parker added. “But as the highest-ranking LGBTQ person ever elected mayor of an American city – a title she takes from me – she is also now a key leader in the movement to build LGBTQ political power nationwide.”
Lightfoot, who had served as president of the Chicago Police Board, is a former federal prosecutor.
She campaigned on ridding the city of government corruption as well as helping lower/middle income families she believes have been left behind or ignored
Lightfoot will succeed Mayor Rahm Emanuel on May 20.
But wait – there’s more!
With 62 percent of the vote, Satya Rhodes Conway bested longtime Mayor Paul Soglin becoming the first openly gay (and second female) Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin.
And in Kansas City, Missouri, city councilwoman Jolie Justus was the top vote-getter among 11 candidates in that mayoral race earning her a one of two spots in the June 18 general election.
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| Jussie Smollett |
The Chicago Police Department has announced the arrests of two men in connection to the alleged homophobic attack on Empire star Jussie Smollett.
According to CNN, the men are the same that were previously identified in surveillance video as “persons of interest.”
Tom Ahern, Chicago Police communications deputy director, told the press that the men are being viewed as “potential suspects,” but have not been charged at this time.
The men were taken into custody for questioning Wednesday night at O’Hare Airport as they returned from a trip to Nigeria.
One of the men previously pleaded guilty to aggravated battery in 2012, and was sentenced to 2 years of probation, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Earlier today, CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said detectives “had probable cause that they may have been involved in an alleged crime.” Guglielmi didn’t specify what the alleged crime might have been.
“Interrogations will resume today with the two individuals and their attorney,” Guglielmi said in his statement. “While we haven’t found any video documenting the alleged attack, there is also no evidence to say that this is a hoax.”
Smollett told the authorities that on January 29, he was attacked by two men who assaulted him, put a noose around his neck and poured an undetermined liquid on him. According to Smollett, the men used homophobic and racial slurs during the attack as well as yelling, “This is MAGA country!”
On Thursday, the CPD shared they had identified the two men, reportedly brothers from Nigeria, using surveillance cameras, public transportation records and corroborating info provided by Smollett.
Chicago news station CBS2 reports police raided the home of the two men finding bleach, shoes, electronics and more.
According to their lawyer, Gloria Schmidt, the men know Smollett as at least one of them has reportedly worked as an extra on Empire.
“They do know Jussie,” she told CBS2. “They have worked with him on Empire. My preliminary investigations show that on set it’s very tight. They’re all very cordial with each other, so they’re baffled why they are people of interest.”
There were conflicting press reports Thursday night as some outlets claimed the Chicago Police Department was looking into whether Smollett staged the attack himself and falsely reported the crime.
Among the theories was that Smollett might have faked the assault to raise his profile as his character on Empire was to be written off the series.
But Guglielmi announced via Twitter that media reports alleging the attack was a “hoax” were “unconfirmed by case detectives.”
The police spokesman added that media sources regarding the attack are “uninformed and inaccurate.”
Media reports anout the Empire incident being a hoax are unconfirmed by case detectives. Supt Eddie Johnson has contacted @ABC7Chicago to state on the record that we have no evidence to support their reporting and their supposed CPD sources are uninformed and inaccurate. pic.twitter.com/iSO5YFv452— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) February 15, 2019
Additionally, 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment released the following statement regarding the reports:
“The idea that Jussie Smollett has been, or would be, written off of EMPIRE is patently ridiculous. He remains a core player on this very successful series and we continue to stand behind him.”
BREAKING: Fox has released a statement firmly standing behind the actor:“The idea that Jussie Smollet has been, or would be, written off of Empire is patently ridiculous. He remains a core player on this very successful series and we continue to stand behind him.”
— Zach Stafford (@ZachStafford) February 15, 2019
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| MorryMatson, former employee of CVS Heath in Chicago |
After a CVS Health store manager called the Chicago police on a black woman who was merely trying to use a manufacturer’s coupon, the drug store chain has announced the manager and his assistant have been fired for their discriminatory actions.
Here’s CVS’s statement issued today via Chicago’s :
“We have sincerely apologized to Ms. Hudson for her experience in one of our Chicago stores. Our Region Director in Chicago contacted her as soon as we were made aware of this incident. We have completed our investigation, and as a result the two colleagues who were involved are no longer employed by CVS Health. CVS Health does not tolerate any practices that discriminate against any customer and we are committed to maintaining a welcoming and diverse environment in our stores. We have firm non-discrimination policies in place to help ensure that all customers are treated with respect and dignity. Profiling or any other type of discriminatory behavior is strictly prohibited.”
Last week I reported on the incident where Camilla Hudson tried to use the coupon at the CVS on North Broadway near Loyola University.
Hudson captured the incident on cellphone video and posted it to her Facebook page. The video shows manager Morry Matson literally shaking as he calls 911.
Matson told her Hudson wouldn’t accept the coupon and accused her of forging the coupon.
Matson says he was a delegate for President Trump during his 2016 campaign and is running for alderman of Chicago’s 48th Ward.
Shortly after the incident was reported and went viral, Matson’s campaign site went dark.
Matson was also the president of the Illinois chapter of Log Cabin Republicans.
But according to a statement given to BlockClubChicago by Gregory T. Angelo, national president of the Log Cabin Republicans, the Illinois state charter has been revoked.
Log Cabin Republicans Chapter Leaders have a duty to conduct themselves in a manner becoming of an organization advocating equality and inclusion of all Americans — whether or not they are acting in an official capacity on behalf of LCR or otherwise. As news articles highlighting Mr. Matson’s actions from this past weekend show, not doing so can have detrimental consequences not only for individual Chapters, but for the national organization as a whole. As such, the provisional charter afforded to LCR Illinois under its newly reconstituted leadership has been terminated.