Report: Pentagon Spent Billions On Salmon, Lobster, King Crab In End Of Fiscal Year Purchases

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (screen capture)

The government watchdog group Open the Books did a deep dive into Defense Department spending and found the Pentagon under Pete Hegseth’s (photo) leadership burned through $93 billion in September 2025 alone as part of an end-of-fiscal-year spending spree to maintain its funding levels. Continue reading “Report: Pentagon Spent Billions On Salmon, Lobster, King Crab In End Of Fiscal Year Purchases”

Defense Dept Asks Appeals Court To Reinstate Ban On HIV+ Recruits

Defense Department

The Defense Department is asking a panel of judges at the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals to reinstate its policy banning prospective service members who are HIV+ even though they are asymptomatic and have undetectable viral loads. Continue reading “Defense Dept Asks Appeals Court To Reinstate Ban On HIV+ Recruits”

This City Could Be 1st In US To Reverse LGBTQ Protections + More News

'Welcome to Texas' sign

Some news items I thought worth your time:

The Advocate: This city in Texas could become the first in the nation to reverse its anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people. #ThanksTrump

OUT: Niecy Nash-Betts was told coming out could end her career. Then, she won an Emmy. In a new feature, the OUT100 Icon of the Year opens up about the importance of being in a Black queer relationship and visibility. Continue reading “This City Could Be 1st In US To Reverse LGBTQ Protections + More News”

Pentagon DEI Purge Includes Historic ‘Enola Gay’ Aircraft + More

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (screen capture)

Mentions of the Enola Gay (the B-29 bomber that dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima) and the pioneering women who completed Marine infantry training are among thousands of online posts slated for removal as the Defense Department seeks to eliminate content related to DEI. The Enola Gay (which was named after the pilot’s mother) was flagged for homosexuality because “gay.” The bomb that was dropped was nicknamed “Little Boy.” Grooming? Continue reading “Pentagon DEI Purge Includes Historic ‘Enola Gay’ Aircraft + More”

‘Mid-Century Modern’ Wraps Production + More News

Some news  items you might have missed: • Gayety: Production on the new sitcom, Mid-Century Modern, has wrapped. The series, described as a gay-themed comedy in the spirit of The Golden Girls (starring Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, Nathan Lee Graham and the late, great Linda Lavin) is set to make its debut on Hulu March 28. Continue reading “‘Mid-Century Modern’ Wraps Production + More News”

Podcast: Golden Globe Nominations, Anti-Trans Defense Dept Bill + More News

The Randy Report podcast

In this week’s episode of The Randy Report podcast: the House of Representatives approved the annual Defense Department spending bill with a ban on gender-affirming care for trans children of military service members. Plus… Continue reading “Podcast: Golden Globe Nominations, Anti-Trans Defense Dept Bill + More News”

Defense Dept To Begin Proactively Restoring Honorable Discharges To LGBTQ Veterans

The Defense Department will begin proactively reviewing cases in order to issue honorable discharges to LGBTQ veterans discharged under DADT. The Defense Department announced on Wednesday, the 12th anniversary of the repeal of its hideous “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, that it will begin proactively reviewing cases involving LGBTQ veterans who were discharged under DADT. Continue reading “Defense Dept To Begin Proactively Restoring Honorable Discharges To LGBTQ Veterans”

LGBTQ Veterans Sue To Update ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ Discharges

Several LGBTQ veterans who received less than honorable discharges due to their sexual orientation during the U.S. military's "don't ask don't tell" policy are suing the Defense Department. Several LGBTQ veterans who received less than honorable discharges due to their sexual orientation during the U.S. military’s “don’t ask don’t tell” policy are suing the Defense Department. The group says in its lawsuit that their constitutional rights were violated when the government failed to update them to honorable discharges when the discriminatory policy was repealed in 2010. Continue reading “LGBTQ Veterans Sue To Update ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ Discharges”

News Round-Up: June 4, 2021

Silverjow's famous "Hunks of the week" celebrate Pride Month 2021

The oh-so-talented Silverjow celebrates Pride month via his 'hunks of the week'
(image via Instagram/Silverjow)
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: From my favorite illustrator on the Gram of Insta, Silverjow (above) offers his ‘hunks of the week’ celebrating Pride Month. Make sure you follow him on Instagram here.The Hill: Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters today the defense department will continue the existing policy from July of 2020 regarding the display or depiction of unofficial flags. “There won’t be an exception made this month for the Pride flag.” • Kenneth-in-the-212: Click over to Kenneth’s weekly round-up of the what’s what in local LGBTQ publications like the 14th anniversary issue of Southern California’s RAGE Magazine (below).
(image via Rage Magazine)
NY1 News: Forging a vaccination card or providing fraudulent proof of immunity could soon be a felony in New York based on a measure approved Thursday by the Democratic-led Assembly. • Right Wing Watch: Far-right wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos says that as soon as he became “ex-gay,” dogs stopped barking at him, which he believes is a sign from God.

Out Music: Todrick Hall celebrates Pride with the release of his new single – “Boys In The Ocean” – an irresistible funk jam that rides along an infectious bass line and guitar licks, primed for summer escapism. Last year, Billboard wrote of Hall, “He’s part old-school theatre showman, part new-school internet personality, part drag queen… he’s also pushing the boundaries of LGBTQ representation in a business that has historically been unwelcoming to queer people of color.”

News Round-Up: May 29, 2021

The Pentagon will host a Pride Month event including an address by the Defense Secretary
Some news items you might have missed: • Washington Blade: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to deliver the keynote address for an upcoming event at the Pentagon recognizing Pride Month. Defense Secretaries attended such events during the Obama years, but the practice halted during the “other guy’s” administration. • Instinct Magazine: When the pandemic shut down many restaurants and bars, several states legalized to-go cocktails. Now, 14 states have made ‘roadies’ legal forever. https://www.instagram.com/p/CPeeH3htbAp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link • Washington Post: Vietnam’s Health Ministry announced Saturday that it had detected a highly transmissible new variant of the coronavirus that has helped fuel a recent wave of infections in the country. • Dallas Voice: Out writer/actor Ryan O’Connell chats with the Texas outlet about his TV series Special. The Netflix show is loosely based on his own life as an out gay man living with cerebral palsy.

HuffPost: Brazil’s homophobic President Jair Bolsonaro is moving closer and closer to being defeated in next year’s election. As he edges towards crisis mode, he is becoming more abusive toward his adversaries. • Hulu: The documentary Changing The Game takes us into the lives of three high school athletes—all at different stages of their athletic seasons, personal lives, and unique paths as transgender teens. The film centers on Mack Beggs, who made headlines when he became the Texas State Champion in girls wrestling – as a boy – and all he wanted to do was wrestle on the boys team. Also featured are Sarah, a skier and teen policymaker in New Hampshire, and Andraya, a track star in Connecticut openly competing on the girls track team.