In this week’s episode of The Randy Report podcast: • President Biden appoints an out police chief to head up Customs and Border Protections • A new vaccine shows enormous promise against HIV • Polling shows Americans overwhelmingly oppose anti-transgender legislation • Colton Underwood, star of ‘The Bachelor,’ comes out as gay and gets some backlash • The third and final season of the ground-breaking FX series POSE will premiere in May – click here for trailer • And LGBTQ entertainment critics will have their say on the best in cinema from the past year at the Dorians Film Toast 2021 All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report
President Biden announced a series of modest steps today aimed at curbing gun violence. “Gun violence in this country is an epidemic, and it’s an international embarrassment,” said Biden during his announcement. From the New York Times:
Mr. Biden said the Justice Department would issue a proposed rule to curb the proliferation of so-called ghost guns — kits that allow a gun to be assembled from pieces with no serial numbers. The intention of the rule would be to require that the components in the kits have serial numbers that would allow them to be traced and for the weapons to be legally classified as firearms, with the buyers subjected to background checks.
Mr. Biden also said he would require that when a device marketed as a stabilizing brace transforms a pistol into a short-barrel rifle, that weapon is subject to the requirements of the National Firearms Act. The gunman in the Boulder, Colo., shooting last month used a pistol with an arm brace, making it more stable and accurate, he said.
Mr. Biden said the Justice Department would also publish model “red flag” legislation for states. The measure would allow police officers and family members to petition a court to temporarily remove firearms from people who may present a danger to themselves or others.
With no serial numbers, ghost guns are virtually untraceable making them appealing to criminals and extremists who want weapons that don’t require background checks. Biden can’t unilaterally pass a red flag law without Congress approving it first. But providing a blueprint for such legislation might help pass such laws in states that want to enact similar laws. And speaking of Congress, the president did urge the lawmakers to pass a number of reforms including banning assault rifles, requiring background checks for guns purchased at gun shows and more. Read the full article here.
The solutions to curb gun violence already exist. All that is left is the will and the courage to act. And President Joe Biden has the will and the courage to act.
President Biden calls on Congress to enact a number of gun reforms including: 1) Ban assault weapons 2) Eliminate gun manufacture immunity 3) Require background checks for guns bought at gun shows 3) Close “Charleston loophole” 4) Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act
President Joe Biden at the White House (photo: Flickr/WhiteHouse – public domain)Politico is reporting President Joe Biden will announce a set of executive actions to help curb gun violence on Thursday.
Biden will direct the administration to begin the process of requiring buyers of so-called ghost guns — homemade or makeshift firearms that lack serial numbers — to undergo background checks, according to three people who have spoken to the White House about the plans. He is expected to be joined at the event by Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Other executive actions remain unclear. But stakeholders have speculated that the president could announce regulations on concealed assault-style firearms; prohibitions on firearm purchases for those convicted of domestic violence against their partners; and federal guidance on home storage safety measures.
In this week’s podcast: • President Biden issues first-ever presidential proclamation for Transgender Day of Visibility • Arkansas has passed a series of anti-LGBTQ laws in a week • The Pentagon erases Trump-era ban on trans military service members • Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first legal same-sex weddings • Lil Nas X pens a touching letter to his 14-year-old self – Link to his new music video ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’ All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report podcast.
President Joe Biden (photo: public domain) Acknowledging that “transgender Americans make our Nation more prosperous, vibrant, and strong,” Joe Biden becomes the first occupant of the Oval Office to issue a presidential proclamation recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility. From the White House:
Today, we honor and celebrate the achievements and resiliency of transgender individuals and communities. Transgender Day of Visibility recognizes the generations of struggle, activism, and courage that have brought our country closer to full equality for transgender and gender non-binary people in the United States and around the world.
Their trailblazing work has given countless transgender individuals the bravery to live openly and authentically. This hard-fought progress is also shaping an increasingly accepting world in which peers at school, teammates and coaches on the playing field, colleagues at work, and allies in every corner of society are standing in support and solidarity with the transgender community.
In spite of our progress in advancing civil rights for LGBTQ+ Americans, too many transgender people — adults and youth alike — still face systemic barriers to freedom and equality.
Transgender Americans of all ages face high rates of violence, harassment, and discrimination. Nearly one in three transgender Americans have experienced homelessness at some point in life. Transgender Americans continue to face discrimination in employment, housing, health care, and public accommodations. The crisis of violence against transgender women, especially transgender women of color, is a stain on our Nation’s conscience.
The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to fulfilling the promise of America for all Americans by stamping out discrimination and delivering freedom and equality for all.
To ensure that the Federal Government protects the civil rights of transgender Americans, I signed, on my first day in office, an Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation. Today, we are proud to celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility alongside barrier-breaking public servants, including the first openly transgender American to be confirmed by the United States Senate, and alongside patriotic transgender service members, who are once again able to proudly and openly serve their country. We also celebrate together with transgender Americans across the country who will benefit from our efforts to stop discrimination and advance inclusion for transgender Americans in housing, in credit and lending services, in the care we provide for our veterans, and more.
To more fully protect the civil rights of transgender Americans, we must pass the Equality Act and provide long overdue Federal civil rights protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The Equality Act will deliver legal protections for LGBTQ+ Americans in our housing, education, public services, and lending systems. It will serve as a lasting legacy to the bravery and fortitude of the LGBTQ+ movement.
Vice President Harris and I affirm that transgender Americans make our Nation more prosperous, vibrant, and strong. I urge my fellow Americans to join us in uplifting the worth and dignity of every transgender person.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 31, 2021, as Transgender Day of Visibility. I call upon all Americans to join in the fight for full equality for all transgender people.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.
President Joe Biden (screen capture) During an event today announcing wider coronavirus vaccine eligibility, President Joe Biden called on “every governor, mayor, and local leader to maintain and reinstate the mask mandate – please.” “This is not politics,” Biden emphasized. “Reinstate the mandate if you let it down. And businesses should require masks as well. The failure to take this virus seriously — precisely what got us in this mess in the first place — risks more cases and more desks — deaths.” “We’re in the life-and-death race for the virus that is spreading quickly, with cases rising again, new variants are spreading,” added Biden. “And, sadly, some of the reckless behavior we have seen on television over the past few weeks means that more new cases are to come in the weeks ahead.”
Biden calls on state and local officials to reimplement mask mandates if they’ve already rescinded them pic.twitter.com/DcdE5FyusJ
Hours after Biden’s speech, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a White House briefing that while the nation has “much reason for hope,” she added, “but right now I’m scared.” “I am asking you to just hold on a little longer, to get vaccinated when you can, so that all of those people that we all love will still be here when this pandemic ends,” said Walensky. According to the New York Times COVID tracker, over the past week there has been an average of 63,204 cases per day, an increase of 15 percent from the average two weeks earlier. Biden also announced he’s directed his COVID team to make sure there’s a vaccine site within 5 miles of 90 percent of Americans by 3 weeks from today. In related news, the latest Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll survey found that 71% of voters approve of how Biden has reacted to the pandemic, an increase of 3 points since February. Biden’s overall job approval stands at 61 percent with a relatively low disapproval at 39 percent.
President Joe Biden (image via Flickr/WhiteHouse – public domain) With the passage of the COVID relief package in Congress plus the increase in vaccinations for the coronavirus, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Friday shows the number of Americans who approve of President Joe Biden continues to increase. From Reuters:
The March 17-18 national opinion poll found that 59% of adults in the United States approved of Biden’s overall job performance, while 35% disapproved and 6% said they were not sure.
The number of adults who approve of Biden is up by about 4 percentage points since a poll that ran in late January, and the increase is largely due to a rise in Biden’s popularity among independents.
About six in 10 independents said they approved of Biden in the latest poll, up from about five in 10 who felt the same way in January.
Read the full article here. As some right-wing pundits discussed with glee Biden tripping on the steps of Air Force One, this tweet pretty much summed up the situation for me:
Joe Biden got 100 million shots for Americans in 59 days, $2 trillion to actually help people and he told Putin to fuck off.
President Joe Biden President Joe Biden campaigned on a promise to get 100 million vaccine shots in arms before his the end of his first 100 days in office. That goal was reached today – 42 days early. Speaking to reporters at the White House today, Biden said he’ll set a new goal by next week, teasing the possibility of hitting 200 million vaccinations by Day 100. In related news, Biden’s coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients announced today that the U.S. would “loan” Mexico 2.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and 1.5 million doses to Canada. Zients said because the AstraZeneca shot is not yet authorized in the U.S., “This loan will not reduce the supply of vaccine to Americans.” Meanwhile, folks took to social media to celebrate the 100 million mark.
.@POTUS set a goal to deliver 100 million vaccine shots in 100 days. His administration hit the milestone in just 58. Let’s keep it going: Please get the vaccine as soon as it’s available to you. It’s the only way to beat this pandemic. pic.twitter.com/uYmwRMMmYw
Getting to 100 million shots in arms has been a team effort. Thank you to @POTUS for your leadership, the frontline workers and volunteers at vaccination sites, the manufacturers and factory workers producing the doses, and Americans for getting vaccinated when it was your turn.
Today is a day of great hope & progress for our nation as @POTUS & @VP make good on the promise to get 100M vaccines into people’s arms in their first 100 days – reaching their goal 42 days early. Help Is Here. pic.twitter.com/O7bqwThFZ0
100 million shots since January 20– 58 days. 42 days ahead of @POTUS commitment.
-Now averaging 2.5 million/day & growing -Accelerated production, speed & distribution -Added hundreds of vaccine sites & thousands of vaccinators -65% of seniors have their first shots — Andy Slavitt @ 🏡🇺🇸 (@ASlavitt) March 18, 2021
In December, Biden set a goal to administer 100 million doses in his first 100 days. Today, his 58th day in office, he hit that milestone— in almost HALF the time promised.
In this week’s podcast: • The European Union’s Parliament overwhelmingly approves a resolution declaring all 27 member countries an LGBT ‘Freedom Zone’ • GLAAD has launched the Biden Equality Accountability Tracker which will monitor the Biden administration’s executive orders, legislative support, speeches and nominations that affect LGBTQ people and rights • After the success of It’s A Sin, could a Queer As Folk reboot could be in the works? • Philadelphia performance artist and dancer Gunnar Montana celebrated National Barbie Day in a ‘Super Gay’ way • Love in quarantine – Joshua Sade James‘ new song “I’ll Wait For You” sings out for separated couples during the pandemic • And Leslie Jordan wants the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, to know ‘The gays have your back’ All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report
Randy Rainbow drops his first Biden parody video with his take on the classic “Mr. Sandman.” But in this iteration, Randy is getting randy to get his vaccination:
Mr. Biden – bring my vaccineKeep me protected from COVID-19Tell me the trick to how I might earn aFix of that magic Pfizer or Moderna
Our musical hero also has a bit of ‘Trump PTSD’ to cope with along the way, but let’s face it – who doesn’t? Hit the play button and enjoy. Happy Tuesday!
In this week’s episode of The Randy Report podcast: • President Biden appoints an out police chief to head up Customs and Border Protections • A new vaccine shows enormous promise against HIV • Polling shows Americans overwhelmingly oppose anti-transgender legislation • Colton Underwood, star of ‘The Bachelor,’ comes out as gay and gets some backlash • The third and final season of the ground-breaking FX series POSE will premiere in May – click here for trailer • And LGBTQ entertainment critics will have their say on the best in cinema from the past year at the Dorians Film Toast 2021 All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report 
