In this week’s podcast: • President Joe Biden goes to work on LGBTQ issues on Day One including reversing the transgender military ban, expanding workplace protections and more • Pete Buttigieg introduced his husband Chasten at his Senate confirmation hearing for Transportation Secretary • Dr. Rachel Levine could become the highest ranking transgender official in the U.S. government • The FDA approved a new once-a-month injectable HIV medication • The new queer mini-series ‘It’s A Sin’ premieres to rave reviews • Out singer/songwriter Kisos releases his gorgeous new music video ‘He Didn’t Want Me’ All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report As mentioned in the episode, you can email me your suggestions at randyslovacek (at) gmail.com
UPDATE: President Joe Biden has signed an executive order repealing Donald Trump’s ban on transgender Americans serving in the U.S. military.
“President Biden believes that gender identity should not be a bar to military service, and that America’s strength is found in its diversity,” read a statement from the White House.
“Allowing all qualified Americans to serve their country in uniform is better for the military and better for the country because an inclusive force is a more effective force,”
“Simply put, it’s the right thing to do and is in our national interest.”
In addition to reversing Trump’s ban on transgender service members, Biden’s executive order requires corrections to the record of any soldier affected by the ban. A Gallup poll conducted in June 2019 showed 71% of Americans support allowing transgender Americans to openly serve in the military.
Today, I repealed the discriminatory ban on transgender people serving in the military. It’s simple: America is safer when everyone qualified to serve can do so openly and with pride.
President Biden fulfilled another crucial pledge, repealing the transgender military ban to ensure everyone who’s qualified to serve in the military can do so openly and free from discrimination. pic.twitter.com/b24PHI9OII
— National Center for Transgender Equality (@TransEquality) January 25, 2021
CBS News reports that the Biden administration is expected to repeal the ban on transgender military servicemembers as soon as Monday.
The senior Defense official told CBS News the repeal will be through executive order signed by President Joe Biden.
The announcement is expected to take place at a ceremony with newly-confirmed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who will order the Pentagon to go back to the policy enacted in 2016 by former Defense Secretary Ash Carter that allowed transgender Americans to serve openly.
Biden mentioned his plan to reverse the trans ban often on the campaign trail. “I truly believe, Senator, that as I said in my opening statement, that if you’re fit and you’re qualified to serve and you can maintain the standards, you should be allowed to serve,” Secretary Austin said during his Senate confirmation hearing. “And, you can expect that I will support that throughout.” Donald Trump instituted the transgender military ban in July 2017 as part of a deal with a group of House Republicans. The GOPers threatened to block funding of Trump’s Mexico wall if he didn’t prohibit the U.S. military from paying for or supplying healthcare for trans service members. Trump took the request further and banned any new transgender applicants from serving. Over 20 retired generals and admirals denounced the policy saying the ban was “a troubling move backward.”
Biden expected to repeal Trump’s transgender military ban as soon as Monday. https://t.co/C1FnWSD6kh
Ending the trans military ban is huge for trans service-members & veterans, but also for everyone who wants a future free of discrimination. We are proud to have worked on this with the Biden team and so many tireless trans advocates. https://t.co/07e3oMrMbg
— National Center for Transgender Equality (@TransEquality) January 24, 2021
L-R Donald Trump, Joe Biden (screen capture, campaign photo) First Donald Trump lost the popular vote to Joe Biden, then the Electoral College, now – gasp – the TV ratings. From the New York Times:
President Biden’s inaugural address on Wednesday attracted about a million and a half more viewers than tuned in for Donald J. Trump’s inaugural speech four years ago, according to preliminary data from Nielsen.
Nearly 40 million people watched Mr. Biden’s address on the major cable news stations and the three big broadcast networks. In 2017, 38.3 million viewers watched his predecessor’s first speech as president, the Nielsen data shows.
CNN was the ratings leader, drawing roughly 10 million viewers from roughly 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., when Mr. Biden took center stage. Only 2.7 million watched Mr. Biden’s address on Fox News, the lowest of the major networks and a sharp reversal from four years ago, when nearly 12 million viewers tuned in to Mr. Trump’s preferred cable news network.
Of course, we’ve also seen reports that Trump was irked that Hollywood turned out bigly for the Biden inaugural with such stars as Lady Gaga, JLo, Garth Brooks, Katy Perry, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, Demi Lovato, Tom Hanks and more. Every time a star showed up during either the swearing in ceremony or the Inaugural Concert last evening, my hubby Michael would remind me of Trump’s ‘galaxy of stars’ – Scott Baio, reality contestant Jackie Evancho and Lee Greenwood.
President-elect Joe Biden Just hours after taking the oath of office, President Joe Biden signed 17 executive orders including one prohibiting LGBTQ discrimination in all federal agencies. The first paragraph of the executive order states, “All persons should receive equal treatment under the law, no matter their gender identity or sexual orientation.” The order instructs the head of each agency to “review all existing orders, regulations, guidance documents, policies, program or other agency actions” that prohibit sex discrimination to revise and amend such policies to include banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The order cites the Supreme Court ruling for Bostock v. Clayton Countywhich was handed down on June 15, 2020. The 6-3 decision found that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees on the basis of their gender identity or sexual orientation because such animus is a form of “sex discrimination” which is clearly prohibited under the Civil Rights Act. In the seven months since the ruling, the Trump administration chose to not implement the ruling. That inaction was consistent with most of the Trump administration’s policies regarding LGBTQ rights and protections.
President Biden just issued an executive order protecting Americans against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity — a turning point in our fight for equality under the law. https://t.co/fSuxT8dF8w
Biden’s executive order is more expansive than just the Bostock ruling, however. The order notes that, under Bostock’s reasoning, “laws that prohibit sex discrimination — including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Fair Housing Act, and section 412 of the Immigration and Nationality Act — prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation, so long as the laws do not contain sufficient indications to the contrary.” Biden also addresses how discrimination can often overlap with other forms of prohibited discrimination including animus based on the basis of race or disability. The language specifically notes that “transgender Black Americans face unconscionably high levels of workplace discrimination, homelessness, and violence, including fatal violence.”
These protections ensure people like Gerald Bostock, who took his case to the Supreme Court after being fired for expressing interest in an LGBTQ softball league, are able to work without fear of being fired because of who they are or whom they love. pic.twitter.com/YkFHLmQIPW
The executive order is a great start – especially seeing our new president addressing LGBTQ concerns on his first day on the job. But the order will have limitations in that some civil rights legislation doesn’t name sex as a protected class. That makes the passage of the Equality Act, which would expand all federal civil rights laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity protections. Biden has promised to sign the Equality Act, which would add LGBTQ protections to existing federal civil rights laws, into law within his first 100 days. But the impending second impeachment trial of Donald Trump may slow things down a bit. The Senate Judiciary committee, which would oversee the Equality Act bill, is the same committee now tasked with the impeachment proceedings. Additionally, Senate Democrats will need ten Republican colleagues to vote in favor of the bill since there’s the 60 vote threshold required to close debate and move to a vote. Jen Psaki, the new White House press secretary, told the Washington Blade that President Biden plans on issuing an executive order in the next few days that would reverse the Trump administration’s ban on military service by transgender Americans. Other executive orders signed Wednesday reversed Trump’s Muslim travel ban, stopped construction of the Mexico border wall, and rejoining the Paris climate agreement.
President Biden signs first three executive orders in the Oval Office including face mask mandate for federal properties and re-joining the Paris Climate Accord. pic.twitter.com/dtvYm61UF6
And a new day has dawned. At noon Eastern Standard time, the United States celebrated the 2021 Inauguration as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn into office. Our four year national nightmare is over, the 2020 election is behind us, and the great work begins. I’m sure many of you were watching the full ceremony today, but just in case, here are some highlights from the 2021 Inauguration: In addition to Biden and Harris’s swearing in moments, Lady Gaga sang the national anthem; a luminous Amanda Gorman, the nation’s first youth poet laurete called for Americans to “leave behind a country better than the one we were left;” and I smiled to see that Capitol Police hero Eugene Goodman, who led rioters away from the Senate during the Capitol building invasion, has been given a promotion and was given the honor of escorting Kamala Harris as she made her entrance.
BREAKING: Kamala Harris is sworn in as vice president of the United States. She is the first woman and the first person of Black and South Asian descent to hold the office https://t.co/tcmAzrzqTxpic.twitter.com/ojeQDh6B1l
Amanda Gorman, the nation’s first-ever youth poet laureate, called for Americans to “leave behind a country better than the one we were left” and unify together as she spoke at President Joe Biden’s inauguration. https://t.co/cqB4pZpaAvpic.twitter.com/BnAImxmhq6
L-R Actor/model Nyle DiMarco and President-elect Joe Biden (image via Instagram) Some news items you might have missed: • Out: Model, actor, and activist Nyle DiMarco (above) has something in common with President-elect Joe Biden – they both have new gigs. The America’s Next Top Model champ is one of a group of stars to appear in V Magazine’s 2021 calendar. • Mediaite: Turner Classic Movies has scheduled an “All Joe” Inauguration Day lineup of films to celebrate incoming President Joe Biden, while not-so-subtly trolling Trump. The lineup includes: Ode to Billy Joe (1976), Polo Joe (1936), The Fabulous Joe (1947), The Story of G.I. Joe (1945), Joe Smith, American (1942), A Guy Named Joe (1943), Pal Joey (1957) and Mighty Joe Young (1949). • CBS News: Signaling a continued break with President Trump the day before he leaves office, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blamed Mr. Trump in part for the assault on the U.S. Capitol earlier this month, saying the pro-Trump mob that overran the building was “provoked by the president and other powerful people.”
• CNN: Donald Trump has reportedly been talked out of issuing presidential pardons for himself and his family as well as certain Republican lawmakers said to be nervous about their legal vulnerability for their part in the U.S. Capitol insurrection. • The Hill: From Trump’s inauguration day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose from 19,827 to 30,930 on Tuesday, a 56 percent increase. That increase is below the 73.2 percent rise the Dow saw in Obama’s first term, or the 105.8 percent increase under Clinton’s first term. A similar trend was true for the S&P 500, which gained 67.8 percent under Trump. It gained 84.5 percent in Obama’s first term, and 79.2 percent in Clinton’s first term. • LA Times: The 232-bed Vignes Street development has shattered the axiom that homeless housing takes years to build and is exorbitantly expensive. From start to finish in under five months and at a cost of about $200,000 per bed, it has shaved years and hundreds of thousands of dollars off a traditional homeless housing project. • White House: Donald Trump issued a pre-recorded farewell address today. #ByeGurl
President-elect Joe Biden (screen capture) On Day One of his administration, President-elect Joe Biden will announce an ambitious, extensive overhaul of immigration laws that will aim to provide a path to citizenship for nearly 11 million people living in the U.S. without legal status. From HuffPost:
Under the legislation, those living in the U.S. as of Jan. 1, 2021, without legal status would have a five-year path to temporary legal status, or a green card, if they pass background checks, pay taxes and fulfill other basic requirements. From there, it’s a three-year path to naturalization, if they decide to pursue citizenship.
For some immigrants, the process would be quicker. So-called Dreamers, the young people who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children, as well as agricultural workers and people under temporary protective status could qualify more immediately for green cards if they are working, are in school or meet other requirements.
Under Donald Trump, immigration laws have been curtailed to be harsh and restrictive and included massive deportations.
President-elect Joe Biden is readying legislation that would provide an eight-year path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. without legal status. It's a sharp reversal from the Trump administration's immigration policies.https://t.co/p1sEjKZid5
Lots of news re: Biden’s immigration plan he’ll send to Hill on Wed: 8-year path to citizenship, immediate green cards for Dreamers/TPS, lifting limits on key employment visas, big focus on combating root migration causes from Central America. My exclu: https://t.co/Zv83kL14nc
President-elect Joe Biden (screen capture via The Hill)FOX29 in Philadelphia reports President-Elect Joe Biden spent the morning of Martin Luther King Day, Jr. volunteering at food banks to help the homeless and those less fortunate.
Biden was volunteering as part of MLK Day of Service at Philabundance, assembling boxes of food for those in need.
The President-Elect and Dr. Jill Biden were among the many volunteers at the South Philadelphia location, working together to fill boxes of food. Joining them were daughter Ashley, granddaughter Finnegan Biden and a boyfriend of another Biden granddaughter, Peter Neal.
Philabundance is a member of Feeding America, a network of food banks across the United States. For more information on Philabundance and what they do, click on their website, here.
Similarly, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and soon-to-be Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff spent the holiday volunteering at Martha’s Table in Washington DC. The efforts are part of the Biden campaign’s national day of service ahead of the inauguration.
No word as to Donald Trump’s MLK activities today. The only known item on his schedule is his departure from the White House on Biden’s inauguration day.
Donald Trump (screen capture) A new ABC News/Washington Post poll shows two-thirds of Americans approve of how President-elect Joe Biden is handling the weeks leading up to his inauguration. According to the survey, 67% of those polled approve of Biden’s handling of the presidential transition while only 25% disapprove. Additionally, 49% are confident Biden will make the right decisions. Four years ago, only 35% believed Trump would make good decisions. And speaking of the Donald… A large majority – 68% – oppose Trump pardoning himself versus 28% who support the move. Also – 54% of those polled feel Trump should be charged with a crime for inciting the riot that took place at the U.S. Capitol building on January 6. By an almost 2-1 margin, Americans believe Biden won the presidential election. While 32% are naysayers, 62% believe Biden had a clean win. A clear majority of Americans – 58% – support Twitter’s decision to permanently suspend Trump’s account. Forty-one percent oppose the idea. Almost half, 48%, strongly support the decision, while 36% strongly oppose it. My thoughts: count on Trump pardoning himself before he boards Marine One on the 20th. You can find the full results of the survey here.
Two-thirds approve of how Pres.-elect Joe Biden has handled his transition, new @ABC News/WaPo poll finds. That’s 27 points more than said so of Donald Trump four years ago, though it trails other recent presidents. https://t.co/6Nnxu7rAedpic.twitter.com/kJoFHmBRwf
No shit. He had to deal with #donaldtrumps uncooperative tantrums and his administration standing by his lies. Yes @JoeBiden has handled this well, very well.
President-elect Joe Biden (via campaign) President-elect Joe Biden has announced he will direct FEMA and the National Guard to build coronavirus vaccine clinics across the United States in order to make vaccinations more widely available faster. From CNBC:
The Biden administration will also “quickly jumpstart” efforts to make the vaccines available at local pharmacies across the U.S., which should ensure that Americans have access to doses at facilities only miles from their home, according to the plan.
“Here’s the deal: The more people we vaccinate, the faster we do it, the sooner we can save lives and put this pandemic behind us and get back to our lives and loved ones,” Biden said at a speech in Wilmington, Delaware, Thursday night. “We won’t get out of it overnight and we can’t do it as a separated nation.”
The rollout of the coronavirus vaccine has been much slower than anticipated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of this morning more than 31.1 million doses of vaccine had been distributed across the U.S. Of that, just over 12.2 million vaccinations have been administered. At this writing, Johns Hopkins University of Medicine reports there have been 23,478,669 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and 391,279 deaths related to the virus.
BREAKING: Biden to deploy FEMA, National Guard to set up Covid vaccine clinics across the U.S. https://t.co/I2mjs974Oo
My administration will move Heaven and Earth to: – Allow more people to get vaccinated – Create more places for them to get vaccinated – Mobilize more medical teams to get shots in arms – Increase vaccine supply and get it out the door as soon as possible
Two presidencies today Biden: “Here’s my plan for getting the Covid vaccine distributed quickly and rebuilding the economy.” Trump: “I’m conferring with a pillow salesman about imposing martial law.”
In this week’s podcast: • President Joe Biden goes to work on LGBTQ issues on Day One including reversing the transgender military ban, expanding workplace protections and more • Pete Buttigieg introduced his husband Chasten at his Senate confirmation hearing for Transportation Secretary • Dr. Rachel Levine could become the highest ranking transgender official in the U.S. government • The FDA approved a new once-a-month injectable HIV medication • The new queer mini-series ‘It’s A Sin’ premieres to rave reviews • Out singer/songwriter Kisos releases his gorgeous new music video ‘He Didn’t Want Me’ All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report As mentioned in the episode, you can email me your suggestions at randyslovacek (at) gmail.com 
I’m sure many of you were watching the full ceremony today, but just in case, here are some highlights from the 2021 Inauguration: In addition to Biden and Harris’s swearing in moments, Lady Gaga sang the national anthem; a luminous Amanda Gorman, the nation’s first youth poet laurete called for Americans to “leave behind a country better than the one we were left;” and I smiled to see that Capitol Police hero Eugene Goodman, who led rioters away from the Senate during the Capitol building invasion, has been given a promotion and was given the honor of escorting Kamala Harris as she made her entrance. 
