Stream ‘Happy Birthday, Marsha!’ Free This Weekend + More

"Happy Birthday, Marsha!" streaming free this weekend

Some news items for you:

What To WatchHappy Birthday, Marsha! (lead image) is a “lush and speculative portrait” of iconic transgender artist and activist Marsha P. Johnson and her life in the hours before she ignited the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City.

Frameline Distribution is offering free access to stream the acclaimed short film from August 21-24. Hit the link.

The Advocate: Nancy Pelosi on AIDS, transgender rights, the legacy she resists claiming and why Democrats must “win big.” Continue reading “Stream ‘Happy Birthday, Marsha!’ Free This Weekend + More”

Podcast: Cher Stumps For Biden, LGBTQ Icon Honored By Her State, New Music From NIKO

The Randy Report podcast

The Randy Report podcast delivers the week's top stories in a quick, convenient podcast - 'the 60 Minutes of gay news - only shorter' In this week’s podcast: • The Trump campaign claims the Donald is the “most pro-gay president in American history” – but don’t fall for that • A federal court rules in favor of a gay couple granting their daughter her legal US citizenship • Scientists discover an HIV strain resistant to PrEP • LGBTQ icon Marsha P Johnson gets honored in her home state • The one and only Cher raises $2 million for Joe Biden hosting an LGBTQ fund-raiser • Out singer/songwriter NIKO dropped his newest single “Try” dedicated to his partner All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

News Round-Up: August 25, 2020

Gustavo Naspolini in Santorini (via Instagram)
Some news stories you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Gustavo Naspolini (above) shares this shot from Santorini – which is where I was supposed to be today if it hadn’t been for COVID-19. #HowNiceForHimNBC News: Brooklyn’s East River State Park was renamed Monday after Marsha P. Johnson on what would have been the transgender rights activist’s 75th birthday. Marsha P. Johnson State Park is New York’s first state park to honor an LGBTQ person and transgender woman of color, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. • Washington Post: Openly gay former US Ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, recently claimed Donald Trump to be the ‘most pro-gay president in history.’ The Post took a moment to debunk the ‘stew of misleading timelines and out-of-context quotes.’ • CBS News: Following 46 cases of bleach ingestions in the North Texas Poison Center region since the start of August, experts are again warning people that drinking the chemical won’t prevent COVID-19. #srslyTheatermania: Now that the powers that be have announced the Tony Awards will happen digitally this fall, David Gordon breaks down how things might shakeout with the truncated Broadway season. For instance, it appears only two actors will be eligible in the Best Actor in a Musical category. • Election 2020: Miles Taylor, who served as chief of staff in Trump’s Department of Homeland Security, says the Donald told officials to break immigration laws in order to enact his policies, and if there were problems he would pardon them. This new spot, from Republican Voters Against Trump, will be airing in battleground states on Fox News. Trumpers will probably be thrilled the Donald wanted to break immigration laws.

News Round-Up: June 10, 2020

Paulo Batista (via Instagram)
Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks: Woofy transgender bodybuilder Paulo Batista (above) is literally pumped to be back in the gym: “One of my first days back to a gym in a while! It felt great to get a real pump and sweat in!”Buzzfeed News: Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling doubled down on her recent anti-transgender comments, releasing an extensive statement about her fears of “current trans activism,” which recycles dangerous anti-trans stereotypes and cliches. #DeeplyDisappointingPeople: CNN anchor Anderson Cooper opens up about being a dad to adorable baby Wyatt. “This is a dream come true,” the veteran journalist says of parenthood. • Pride Month TV: The acclaimed documentary, The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, celebrates one of the icons of the gay rights movement, and the self-described “street queen” of NY’s gay ghetto in the 1960s. When Johnson’s body was found in the Hudson River in 1992, police called it a suicide and didn’t investigate. David France’s film seeks to uncover the truth of her death while celebrating her legacy. Streaming now on Netflix.

The Hill: The final testing stage for a potential coronavirus vaccine developed by Moderna is set to begin in July. John Mascola, the director of the vaccine research center at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told the Wall Street Journal the trials will involve about 30,000 people at more than 50 sites, which will mostly be within the U.S. • Washington Post: Last week, the hashtag #LadyGraham exploded on social media in response to allegations made on Twitter by gay adult-film star Sean Harding against Sen. Lindsey O. Graham of South Carolina. The hashtag purportedly refers to Graham’s nickname among male sex workers. What followed has been a mixed bag of political commentary, wanton speculation and downright trolling. • Politico: The Trump administration is preparing to open the door to oil and gas drilling off Florida’s coast — but will wait until after the November election to avoid blowback in a swing state whose waters both parties have long considered sacrosanct, according to four people familiar with the plan. • Out Music: Acclaimed out singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright drops his latest music video, “You Ain’t Big,” from his upcoming album Unfollow the Rules. “I originally wrote the song “You Ain’t Big” about the strange fact that in the music business worldwide until recently (our estimation has fallen considerably) no matter how well you’ve done anywhere else, if you couldn’t make it in the heartland of the US you weren’t really considered a true star,” shares Wainwright. “Think Little Richard, Elvis, the Beatles, and Julio Iglesias.” “Its vintage sound harkens back to the classical American country music sound of the 40s and 50s and with the help of opposing images in the video of how different life was for white people compared to black people in the 1950’s, as it has sadly remained,” adds the two-time Juno Award winner. “I think it rings appropriate for this time and professes a certain truth.”

Pride History: Stonewall Icon Marsha P. Johnson “Darling, I Want My Gay Rights Now”

Marsha P. Johnson (Credit: Diana Davies/New York Public Library)

As we recognize Pride Month, in addition to the celebrations and Pride festivals/parades, I do want to offer a few short bits of history along the way so we know whose shoulders on which we stand today.

Pioneering drag performer, activist and a leader at the Stonewall Rebellion will be honored with a monument near the Stonewall Inn this year.

Learn why in one minute: