On Saturday, Donald Trump played golf for the 13th day of his 50 days in office. It was his 10th day playing at his West Palm Beach golf course. Because he insists on flying down to Florida (there must not be any golf courses near Washington DC), American taxpayers have been billed more than $18 million for the Donald’s golf excursions. At this rate, he will surpass the $151.5 million he spent golfing in his first term. Continue reading “How Much Have Trump’s Golf Trips Cost Taxpayer’s So Far?”
Some news items you might have missed: • Gaily Grind: Amy Schneider (above) is the first transgender woman to qualify to compete in the Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions, an annual tournament between the show’s top 15 contestants. The nine-time champ is still on a roll with $343,200 in winnings. Continue reading “News Round-Up: November 29, 2021”
Some news stories you might have missed: • Instinct Magazine: The Urban Bear event in NYC (above) came roaring back after being cancelled last year. The event has grown from a picnic of 12 people in Central Park to an internationally acclaimed gathering of thousands celebrating the LGBTQ+ Bear community and all who embrace diversity, acceptance, and body positivity. Continue reading “News Round-Up: September 20, 2021”
The Ralph Lauren Corporation has announced an end to their 7-year sponsorship of pro golfer Justin Thomas less than a week after Thomas was heard using the word ‘faggot’ after missing a putt at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.
The remark occurred after Thomas attempted a five-foot putt at the fourth hole when his shot went astray. He could clearly be heard saying “fa**ot” in frustration.
Upon finishing the round, Thomas was informed his remark had been picked up by the TV microphones. He was apparently unaware he’d even used the word.
The Golf Channel spoke to Thomas, currently ranked #3 in the world, about the remark and he immediately expressed his regret for using the word.
“It’s inexcusable – first off I just apologize,” said Thomas. “There’s no excuse. I’m an adult, a grown man. There’s absolutely no reason for me to say anything like that. It’s terrible. I’m extremely embarrassed. It’s not who I am. It’s not the kind of person that I am. Unfortunately I did it and I have to own up to it.”
“I found out when I got done with my round…it’s bad,” he added. “There’s no other way to put it. I need to do better.”
“I deeply apologize to everybody and anybody who I offended and I’ll be better because of it.”
Apology aside, Ralph Lauren Corporation announced on Friday they were “disheartened” by the incident and distanced themselves from Thomas saying the use of the slur is “entirely inconsistent with our values.”
At the Ralph Lauren Corporation, we believe in the dignity of all people, regardless of age, race, gender identity, ethnicity, political affiliation or sexual orientation. This is part of our longstanding commitment to foster cultures of belonging – in the workplace and in communities around the world.
We are disheartened by Mr. Thomas’s recent language, which is entirely inconsistent with our values. While we acknowledge that he has apologized and recognizes the severity of his words, he is a paid ambassador of our brand and his actions conflict with the inclusive culture that we strive to uphold.
In reflecting on the responsibility we have to all of our stakeholders, we have decided to discontinue our sponsorship of Mr. Thomas at this time. As we make this decision, our hope is that Mr. Thomas does the hard and necessary work in order to partner with us again – truly examining this incident, learning, growing and ultimately using his platform to promote inclusion.
Gay former professional golfer Maya Reddy told Sky Sports this week that Thomas’ anti-LGBTQ language reflects homophobia in professional golf. In 2016, Reddy qualified at the age of 23 to play on the Symetra Tour – the LPGA’s developmental tour – but decided to walk away from the sport due to incidents of discrimination and a lack of inclusivity in the culture of professional golf. “I had tournament directors on mini-tours say xenophobic, racist, and homophobic things to me on the first tee, in the guise of a joke,” explained Reddy. “I’m kind of in two minds about it,” said Reddy about the Thomas incident. “I think the fact that he apologised about it so quickly and with force, saying that this wasn’t OK and that he should do better, is really important because he acknowledges the harm that using that specific slur causes. “I think the PGA Tour saying that it wasn’t OK and acknowledging the harm it causes is also very important,” she added. “That being said, what is frustrating for me and many who watched this play out, was that it was so easy for him to jump to that word.”
In this week’s episode: • What can queer people expect from Joe Biden’s first 100 days in office? • Donald Trump takes a final swipe at LGBTQ Americans • North Carolina begins enacting LGBTQ protections (again) • Russell T. Davis, creator of the new UK TV drama It’s A Sin, shares his thoughts on casting gay actors in gay roles • A lesbian former pro golfer speaks up about number 3 ranked Justin Thomas’s ‘faggot’ remark during this weekend’s tournament of champions • Plus, two new commercials hit the gay sweet spot All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report
Cleveland Grover Meredith Jr. (images via social media) Some news items you might have missed: • NY Times: Cleveland Grover Meredith Jr. (above) was charged with threatening Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker, after he traveled to Washington for the pro-Trump rally on Wednesday and sent a text message saying he would put “a bullet in her noggin on Live TV.” Meredith had been staying at a Holiday Inn in Washington and had weapons in his camper-style trailer, including a Glock handgun, a pistol, a Tavor X95 assault rifle and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. • Instinct Magazine: A reboot of Sex and the City is officially a go on HBO Max. Titled And Just Like That… the show will star Sarah Jessica Parker (Carrie Bradshaw), Cynthia Nixon (Miranda Hobbes) and Kristin Davis (Charlotte York Goldenblatt). Kim Cattrall, who played Samantha Jones in the original series, will not be returning. A scene from Sex and the City • OUT: Beauty and the Beast star Luke Evans confirmed that he has split from his art director boyfriend Rafael Olarra. He also opened up about his desire to start a family, and said that maybe the time is right to start a family on his own. • Newsweek: An insurrectionist photographed hanging from the balcony of the Senate Chamber has begged for forgiveness, saying he got “caught up in the moment.” Josiah Colt, from Boise, Idaho, said his actions had been inappropriate and that he had not intended to “stain on our great Country’s Democratic process.” Colt took to social media to brag about his rampage through the Capitol.
• Washington Post: The organizers of the PGA Championship canceled plans to hold the event at President Trump’s Bedminster, N.J., golf club in 2022 in the wake of last week’s Trump-inspired riot at the U.S. Capitol. • CNN: Two Capitol Police officers have been suspended and another person has been arrested for their alleged involvement in the riot on Jan. 6, said Rep. Tim Ryan, who is chair of the House Appropriations subcommittee handling the investigation into the police response to the Capitol attack last week. “One was the selfie officer and another was an officer that put a MAGA hat on that started directing some people around,” the lawmaker said. Capitol Police officer takes selfie during invasion of U.S. Capitol • Miami Herald: Adam Christian Johnson, the man captured in viral photo carrying Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s lectern from House chambers during the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, has been arrested. He has been charged for numerous offenses including one count of theft of government property. • Fox News: In a rather odd exchange, Trump campaign national press secretary Hogan Gidley was asked by Fox anchor Bill Hemmer if Donald Trump feels “emasculated” after being kicked off social media. Gidley answered: “I wouldn’t say emasculated. The most masculine person I think to ever hold the White House is the president of the United States.” #OhReally?
Fox News Anchor Bill Hemmer asks Trump National Press Secretary Hogan Gidley if the president feels emasculated from “the social media crackdown.” pic.twitter.com/lIirtRXWhN
Justin Thomas, currently the #3 pro golfer in the world, was apparently surprised to learn that television cameras caught him using a homophobic slur after missing a putt at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii on Saturday.
Thomas was attempting a five-foot putt at the fourth hole when his shot went astray. He could clearly be heard saying “faggot” in frustration.
The Golf Channel spoke to a clearly chagrined Thomas about the remark and he expressed his regret for using the word.
“It’s inexcusable – first off I just apologize,” said Thomas. “There’s no excuse. I’m an adult, a grown man. There’s absolutely no reason for me to say anything like that. It’s terrible. I’m extremely embarrassed. It’s not who I am. It’s not the kind of person that I am. Unfortunately I did it and I have to own up to it.”
“I found out when I got done with my round…it’s bad,” he added. “There’s no other way to put it. I need to do better.”
“I deeply apologize to everybody and anybody who I offended and I’ll be better because of it.”
Thomas expanded on those thoughts speaking to NBC Golf after finishing third on Sunday.
“I wish that I could learn to grow a different way than the way that I chose to do it, but unfortunately it’s in the past and there’s nothing I can do about it now,” said the 27-year-old.
“It definitely was a distraction out there today. But now I just get to take time going forward and try to become better because of it.”
Thomas banked a $490,000 payday for his third place finish. Some on social media defended Thomas’s use of the slur:
Wait… he’s on a golf green, no people, persons, theys, thems, there’s, that’s, hers,hims, she’s, shems or hims around… so he’s clearly not directing this statement at an individual, merely a moment in time that frustrated him. What are we doing here, let this man f@cking golf
Every golfer understands his frustrations and has said much worse than this. I guarantee 99% of people “offended” by this don’t golf nor watch it, but seizing an opportunity to shame a good man like the vultures they are. He apologized, let it go.
Yeah I think we need to all relax on this one. JT is only human and did apologise let’s not make this more than what it is a little slip of the tongue 👅. It happens to us all💪🏌🏻♂️
But others wondered why it was this particular word that Thomas used. It wasn’t f*ck, sh*t, dammit, dang it, or a host of other terms. It was a homophobic slur. That he didn’t even notice he used until it was pointed out.
What the hell, man! JT was one of my faves!This is such a bummer. Why is that even in his vocabulary or thinking process? Why not not just say ‘fuck’ or something else vulgar, but saying ‘fag’ means else he’s got some issues upstairs!Apologies mean nothing if it’s not accidental.
He said it which means it is in his mental wheel house. The apology is irrelevant. His being homophobic is an entirely different matter and THE more relevant matter. Now YOU get over it.
A Cincinnati son of Marty Brennaman ( Thom ) just lost his major national TV job by saying the exact same word ( Caught on a hot mike during commercial ). These are professionals who are on TV. I know many other expletives he could have used other than this.
So many replies here making fun 8f triggered people. But ya know. Why is it NEVER “whitie” “craqqer” or “honqey” when a slur falls out “accidentally”? Why is it always antigay\black slurs? Funny huh? #MisspelledOnPurposeSTFU
What do you think, readers? Big deal? Little deal? You may recall longtime sportscaster Thom Brennaman lost his job last September using a similar slur. Thoughts on why a homophobic slur came out of Justin Thomas’s mouth versus a host of other swear words? And why do so many dismiss the use of the word ‘faggot’ as being nothing to get upset about? Would it have been different if he’d used the N-word?
Reporting from the corner of Cynicism and Bitter… A talking head at the far-right leaning streaming website Newsmax tried to insinuate all of the mainstream media (including Fox News Channel) colluded with the state of Pennsylvania to wait for Donald Trump to take his 284th trip to play golf before projecting former Vice President Joe Biden as the next president of the U.S.
“The timing on of all this, Emerald, certainly fascinates me. We talk a lot about media collusion with the Democratic Party and here we have the president just leaving the White House to go to his golf course to play a round of golf and he deserves to be able to do that.”
“We have the press conference that Rudy Giuliani is going to hold in Philadelphia happening. And at the very same time, all of all sudden, all of the networks, with the exception of Newsmax, decide that this is the time that they’re going to call the election. We are, here at Newsmax, not calling the election.”
Check out the creepy laugh when he says “He deserves to be able to do that…” Practically everyone with an interest in the election returns figured out the result would probably be announced today. Why would Trump even play golf today? And then, of course, there’s the fact that Trump lied to the American people four years ago and said there “wouldn’t be time for golf” if he was elected in 2016. It’s almost Shakespearean that Trump learned he lost the race on a golf course.
Newsmax anchor floats a conspiracy theory that the election was called to ruin Trump’s round of golf pic.twitter.com/q8dGEk22MV
Some news stories you might have missed: • 
