Filed Under ‘Life Comes At You Fast’

I really don’t need to comment. I’ll just let this all speak for itself. On April 28, a Facebook user named Richard Rose in Ohio posted the above message. On July 1, he was officially quarantined having tested positive for the coronavirus. The next day, he shared this: Shortly before his death from COVID-19 on July 4, this was posted on his Facebook: I’ll add to this the tale of a 30-year-old Texas man via The Daily Mail:

A Texas man has died after attending a “Covid party” because he thought coronavirus is a hoax, authorities said.

The man was 30 years old at the time of his death, according to Methodist Healthcare Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jane Appleby.

Appleby told news organizations that the patient, who has not been named, had attended a so-called Covid party prior to contracting coronavirus.

“This is a party held by somebody diagnosed by the Covid virus and the thought is to see if the virus is real and to see if anyone gets infected,” Appleby told News 4 San Antonio.

The man who attended the party then became critically ill.

While in the hospital, Appleby said that just before he died, he looked at his nurse and said, “I think I made a mistake, I thought this was a hoax, but it’s not.”

Appleby also told KSAT that, “He didn’t really believe. He thought the disease was a hoax. He thought he was young and he was invincible and wouldn’t get affected by the disease.”

I get no joy from sharing this. But, it’s an obvious cautionary tale to those who continue to refuse to wear a mask or even believe the COVID-19 crisis exists. (h/t Boy Culture)

News Round-Up: July 9, 2020

Robbie Rodriguez (via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: So, who noticed openly gay Florida nurse and Crossfit athlete Robbie Rodriguez (above) on NBC’s ‘Titan Games’ recently? Follow the inspiring healthcare provider on Instagram here. • Washington Blade: The African nation of Gabon has decriminalized consensual same-sex sexual relations becoming one of the few countries in sub-Saharan Africa to legalize them. A 2019 law that criminalized same-sex relationships by a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a 5 million Central African CFA franc ($8,561) fine was repealed by both chambers of Parliament and the president of Gabon signed the measure on Tuesday. • Instinct Magazine: Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family) and Broadway producer Justin Mikita are officially fathers. The couple announced that their newborn baby boy, Beckett Mercer, was welcomed into the world on Tuesday, July 7. • CNBC: As the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic continues, 32% of U.S. households have not made their full housing payments for July yet. About 19% of Americans made no housing payment at all during the first week of the month, and 13% paid only a portion of their rent or mortgage. • NY Times: Joy Reid has been announced as the new anchor for the 7 p.m. ET hour on MSNBC. Her new show, “The ReidOut,” will premiere in the slot previously held by Chris Matthews’ “Hardball” on July 20. The new assignment makes Reid one of only a few Black women who have anchored a major American evening news program. • AP News: Tulsa City-County Health Department Director Dr. Bruce Dart said Wednesday Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Tulsa in late June that drew thousands of participants and large protests “likely contributed” to a dramatic surge in new coronavirus cases. Tulsa County reported 261 confirmed new cases on Monday, a one-day record high, and another 206 cases on Tuesday. During the week before the Trump rally, there were 76 cases on Monday and 96 on Tuesday. • LGBTQ Nation: Out actress Javicia Leslie has been cast as the new Batwoman in the CW series, following Ruby Rose’s departure after just one season in the titular role. She will be playing Ryan Wilder, a different character from Rose’s Kate Kane. She’s described as “likable, messy, a little goofy and untamed.” While Ryan is “nothing like Kate Kane,” the new character is also a lesbian. Ruby Rose congratulated her successor on social media.

Two Theaters Approved By Actors Equity To Resume Performances

Woman on stage in a play

Woman on stage in a play Theatermania reports that Actors Equity Association (AEA), the national labor union representing stage actors and stage managers, has approved two Massachusetts theaters to produce new productions in the very near future. Barrington Stage Company and Berkshire Theatre Group have both worked with AEA to move forward with their plans.

Barrington Stage Company is producing Harry Clarke, a one-man show that will employ two Equity members, a performer, and a stage manager. It begins performances in August.

Berkshire Theatre Group is mounting the musical Godspell, an outdoor production with a cast of about 10 and two stage managers.

Both theaters have agreed to safety features that include testing for Equity members and those who come in contact with them.

Other new measures to ensure the safety of workers and audiences: Berkshire Theatre Group, for example, will stage Godspell outdoors for 96 audience members.

Barrington Stage Company is using its indoor facilities but has removed seating, reducing its house capacity to 163 down from over 500. Patrons will be required to wear masks.

It also has committed to an isolated backstage area and regular electrostatic spraying to clean the facilities. Additional entrances and exits are also being built, and all performances will be intermissionless.

News Round-Up: July 6, 2020

Walk The Moon lead singer Nicholas Petricca (photo: Anna Lee)
Some news items you might have missed: • Global Pride 2020: More than 57 million people from more than 163 countries joined the 27-hour virtual event, Global Pride 2020, that took place on June 27. Major artists including Laverne Cox, Elton John, Adam Lambert, Olivia Newton-John, Kesha, and Pabllo Vittar appeared alongside world leaders including former US Vice President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and openly gay Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. • Andrew Christian Blog: I’m not saying they’re sugar daddies but check out this list of the ‘6 Richest Gay Men in the World.’ • Instinct Magazine: On the last day of Pride Month, Nicholas Petricca (pictured above), lead singer of pop band Walk The Moon (‘Shut Up and Dance’), came out as bisexual on his Instagram page. Petricca posted a photo of a quote by Harvey Milk followed by a four-minute video where he started the video by saying, “Hi. My name is Nicholas. I’m the lead singer of a band called WALK THE MOON and I’m bisexual.”

CinemaBlend: Matt Bomer explains why it’s been so important to tell the story of a gay superhero on DC Universe’s Doom Patrol. In his role as ‘Larry Trainor/Negative Man,’ Bomer says he gets to not only address the issue of coming out, but overcoming the guilt and shame many LGBTQ people feel in their journey. • Heavy: Corey Hannon, who became infamous over the weekend for heading out to gay mecca Fire Island believing he was infected by the coronavirus, has been banned from all Fire Island bars and restaurants for his shenanigans. • Pink News: Marvel star Tessa Thompson says her bisexual character, Valkyrie, will ‘push the bounds of’ queer representation in future films. Thompson has already told fans to expect a queer storyline in the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder, teasing that as Asgard’s new king, “she needs to find her queen.” • ABC News: About six-and-a-half years after criticizing then-President Barack Obama for doing the same, Donald Trump is weighing in on the controversial Redskins team name. The franchise put out a statement on Friday saying that it plans to “undergo a thorough review of the team’s name.” With a name change seeming all but certain for Washington’s NFL team, Trump tweeted his disapproval on Monday.

Arizona Becomes 8th State To Confirm Over 100K Cases Of COVID-19

Arizona is now the 8th state to cross the 100,000 case threshold regarding COVID-19. And no, it’s not just ‘more testing’ behind the case of the number of cases. Hospitalizations due to coronavirus diagnoses are way up. From The Hill:

Arizona joins Texas, California, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Illinois in tallying more than 100,000 cases. 

Hospitalizations in inpatient and ICU beds and ventilators in use by coronavirus patients increased Sunday to their highest reported levels since hospital data reporting began in April, according to The Arizona Republic. 

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) began easing lockdown restrictions on May 1, allowing some salons, barbershops, restaurant dine-in services and retail stores to open their doors. But as cases and hospitalizations began to spike, Ducey last week ordered bars, gyms, movie theaters, waterparks and tubing rentals to close for 30 days. 

White House: Americans Will Grow Numb To COVID-19 Deaths

Donald Trump threatens indie run over Muslim ban

Donald Trump (image via Flickr/WhiteHouse – public domain)
While the Biden campaign’s view of the COVID-19 pandemic is that of a problem that needs not only leadership but empathy and compassion, Team Trump is hoping Americans will simply grow numb to the mounting death count. From the Washington Post:

Trump’s advisers, by contrast, are seeking ways to reframe his response to the coronavirus — even as the president himself largely seeks to avoid the topic because he views it as a political loser. They are sending health officials to swing states, putting doctors on TV in regional markets where the virus is surging, crafting messages on an economic recovery and writing talking points for allies to deliver to potential voters.

The goal is to convince Americans that they can live with the virus — that schools should reopen, professional sports should return, a vaccine is likely to arrive by the end of the year and the economy will continue to improve.

White House officials also hope Americans will grow numb to the escalating death toll and learn to accept tens of thousands of new cases a day, according to three people familiar with the White House’s thinking, who requested anonymity to reveal internal deliberations. Americans will “live with the virus being a threat,” in the words of one of those people, a senior administration official.

Broadway: Nick Cordero Passes Away At 41 From COVID-19

Broadway star Nick Cordero
A post I truly did not ever want to write. After more than 90 days in the hospital due to COVID-19, actor and Tony Award nominee Nick Cordero (Waitress, Rock of Ages, A Bronx Tale, Bullets Over Broadway) has passed away at the age of 41. Although I only met Nick once in a backstage moment, I can say I’ve never seen such an outpouring for a member of our Broadway community as I’ve seen for Nick. Nick passed on Sunday morning at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He is survived by his wife Amanda Kloots, whom he wed in September 2017, and their 1-year-old son Elvis Eduardo. Kloots shared the news in a social media post this afternoon.

“God has another angel in heaven now. My darling husband passed away this morning. He was surrounded in love by his family, singing and praying as he gently left this earth. “I am in disbelief and hurting everywhere. My heart is broken as I cannot imagine our lives without him. Nick was such a bright light. He was everyone’s friend, loved to listen, help and especially talk. He was an incredible actor and musician. He loved his family and loved being a father and husband. Elvis and I will miss him in everything we do, everyday. “To Nicks extraordinary doctor, Dr. David Ng, you were my positive doctor! There are not many doctors like you. Kind, smart, compassionate, assertive and always eager to listen to my crazy ideas or call yet another doctor for me for a second opinion. You’re a diamond in the rough.

“I cannot begin to thank everyone enough for the outpour of love , support and help we’ve received these last 95 days. You have no idea how much you lifted my spirits at 3pm everyday as the world sang Nicks song, Live Your Life. We sang it to him today, holding his hands. As I sang the last line to him, “they’ll give you hell but don’t you light them kill your light not without a fight. Live your life,” I smiled because he definitely put up a fight.

“I will love you forever and always my sweet man.”

RIP Nick Cordero.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

God has another angel in heaven now. My darling husband passed away this morning. He was surrounded in love by his family, singing and praying as he gently left this earth. ⠀ I am in disbelief and hurting everywhere. My heart is broken as I cannot imagine our lives without him. Nick was such a bright light. He was everyone’s friend, loved to listen, help and especially talk. He was an incredible actor and musician. He loved his family and loved being a father and husband. Elvis and I will miss him in everything we do, everyday. ⠀ To Nicks extraordinary doctor, Dr. David Ng, you were my positive doctor! There are not many doctors like you. Kind, smart, compassionate, assertive and always eager to listen to my crazy ideas or call yet another doctor for me for a second opinion. You’re a diamond in the rough. ⠀ ⠀ I cannot begin to thank everyone enough for the outpour of love , support and help we’ve received these last 95 days. You have no idea how much you lifted my spirits at 3pm everyday as the world sang Nicks song, Live Your Life. We sang it to him today, holding his hands. As I sang the last line to him, “they’ll give you hell but don’t you light them kill your light not without a fight. Live your life,” I smiled because he definitely put up a fight. I will love you forever and always my sweet man. ❤️

A post shared by AK! ⭐️ (@amandakloots) on

Gays Gone Wild? Fire Island Social Media Posts Go Viral

In this episode of ‘Gays Gone Wild,’ “Fire Island” was trending on Twitter today after several social media posts went viral featuring tons of shirtless gays at shoulder-to-shoulder parties at the gay summer mecca, Fire Island. No masks, no social distancing. Journalist Chris Weidner curated the following posts and reports via Twitter. Among the ‘Covidiots’ is an apparent 23-year-old Giancarlo Kristian Albanese, currency analyst at EverythingFx. It looksl like he was planning on returning to his parents house (where he lives) in White Plains, NY. Except – his mother reportedly if undergoing chemotherapy, and his brother commented on Giancarlo’s post saying he is now unwelcome at home.

And then there’s Corey Hannon who told social media that he had been suffering from COVID-19 for over a week but went to Fire Island anyway.

Hannon later posted an ‘apology’ video which seemed to twist and turn itself in knots. On one hand, he said he never actually tested positive for COVID-19, but he believed he had experienced it. BUT – even though he took a test for the virus, he still headed out to Fire Island to frolic in the sun amid the gays. He ‘apologized’ for the ‘misrepresentation’ of his COVID story and that his video rant was never meant to be posted to his account as it was just ‘bad humor’ intended to be shared among friends. He also denounced so-called ‘cancel culture’ for how his own posts on social media came back to bite him in the ass. First of all, pal, stop posting every second of your life on social media if you don’t want to deal with the ramifications. You’re not that cool. Second, we can’t cancel what hasn’t happened. I’d never heard of Hannon before today. The idea of ‘cancel culture’ is to ‘cancel’ prominent individuals who have abused public trust in having a following. Dude, you ain’t that famous…

Twitter was NOT havin it:

Broadway Actor Adam Perry’s 109 Days Of COVID-19

Broadway actor Adam Perry backstage at Frozen (image via Instagram)
Adam Perry, who’s appeared in numerous Broadway shows (Frozen, Rocky, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Anything Goes, Promises, Promises, A Chorus Line, Wicked) shared his ongoing journey with the coronavirus having lived with symptoms now for over 100 days. For months now, the myth of the coronavirus has been that it “only affects the elderly.” But Perry, who has been in peak physical condition for years thanks to dancing on Broadway and hitting the gym regularly, says his experience with COVID-19 has been “terrifying.” “There is nothing like the feeling of not being able to breathe,” he told CNN’s Kate Bolduan on Erin Burnett OutFront.

Since testing positive for the virus on March 17, Perry says his ongoing symptoms start with a cough and then develop into tightness in his chest. Even more disconcerting, every time the veteran Broadway performer thinks he’s beaten the disease, his symptoms return. “I would feel better for a few days and then it would just come and smack me again,” Perry said. “I had two days of symptoms and then felt like a million bucks for three days. So I thought I was off the hook, thought I beat it, but then it came back with a vengeance.” A serious concern for Perry today is struggling with his ‘new normal.’
Adam Perry (center) in Broadway Bares in 2017 (image via Instagram)
“I have been doing eight shows a week for 15 to 20 years,” he said. “Now the capacity is not the same. I am just praying daily that it will get back to normal and I will be able to do things again.” The 39-year-old actor shared on his Facebook page that watching the news of new COVID-19 cases surging across the country left him in tears. “I cried watching the news tonight,” wrote Perry. “Cases are spiking. The president makes jokes about coronavirus. People shame others for wearing masks. The country is making it a partisan issue.” Perry urged viewers to “come together, wear a mask, socially distance for as long as we can until there’s a vaccine because this thing has an infinite variable of outcomes for people.” He added that, in his view, there’s “a short term, long term, and ‘we just don’t know,’ so it’s just really important that people take care of each other.” He added, “I just really don’t want other people to have to experience what I experienced.” Watch Perry’s recent appearance on CNN above along with just a few posts from his Instagram account showing how fit the Broadway veteran has stayed over the years.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Cuntry gal in Cabela’s & vintage Ralph Lauren 🎣

A post shared by Adam Perry (@adammperry) on

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Pines lighting tho 🌲🧚🏻‍♂️🌲 📷: @lapidustudio

A post shared by Adam Perry (@adammperry) on

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Golden Pride 💛🏳️‍🌈💛 📸: @esp_bymike

A post shared by Adam Perry (@adammperry) on

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Jan 1st. Is it summer yet? 🙄 🌊photography by @lapidustudio

A post shared by Adam Perry (@adammperry) on

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Natural tho 🌿 Photo by @kevinmcdnyc 📷

A post shared by Adam Perry (@adammperry) on

View this post on Instagram

⚓️🌊⚓️ 📷: @kylekrieger

A post shared by Adam Perry (@adammperry) on

US Breaks Record For Daily Increase With 55K New Cases

When Donald Trump told Americans we’d “hit new highs,” I doubt this is what he was talking about. From Reuters:

The United States reported more than 55,000 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the largest daily increase any country has ever reported, according to a Reuters tally.

The daily U.S. tally stood at 55,274 late Thursday, topping the previous single day record of 54,771 set by Brazil on June 19. Just two weeks ago, the United States was reporting about 22,000 new cases a day.

It has now reported more than 40,000 cases for seven straight days and broken records for new cases three days in a row, according to the tally.

The number of new cases has risen in 37 out of 50 states with Florida leading the way with over 10,000 cases reported on Thursday. As testing has increased, so have positive test results which are up 7% nationally.