LGBTQ news and entertainment
Some news items you might have missed: • AP News: Hungary’s government will not change policies the European Union believes infringe on LGBTQ+ rights and those of asylum seekers, even if doing so would unfreeze billions in funding the bloc has withheld from Budapest. Continue reading “Hungary Refuses To Change Anti-LGBTQ Policies + More News”
In this week’s episode of The Randy Report podcast, the House Ethics Committee has issued its blistering report on truth-challenged out Rep. George Santos. Plus… Continue reading “Podcast: That George Santos Ethics Report + New Mr. Gay World + More”
José López Duvont is Mr. Gay World 2022 (via Instagram)
Louw Breytenbach (via Instagram)
Less than two months after he was crowned Mr. Gay World 2021, South African human rights activist Louw Breytenbach has relinquished his title. Continue reading “Mr. Gay World 2021 Relinquishes Title Over Contract Disputes”
Louw Breytenbach, after overcoming much personal adversity, became the first South African man in a decade to be crowned Mr. Gay World. Continue reading “Louw Breytenbach Crowned Mr. Gay World 2021 After Overcoming Personal Adversity”
Francisco José Alvarado (via Instagram)
• AlterNet: In late March, when every other European country was in lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus, Sweden’s officials decided that Swedes could be relied upon to follow sanitation guidelines themselves. Restaurants, shops, and recreational spots were allowed to stay open. As of May 19, Sweden had more coronavirus deaths per capita than any other country in Europe. • The Daily Beast: The Justice Department informed lawyers for Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) there will be no insider trading charges filed against Loeffler. The senator and her husband, New York Stock Exchange chairman Jeffrey Sprecher, have denied that their sales of millions of dollars in stock – made shortly after a closed-door Senate intelligence briefing on the coronavirus in early January – had anything to do with that information. • Talking Points Memo: A new study produced by business school profs at Columbia and University of Chicago suggests that viewing Fox News is strongly correlated with ignoring social distancing guidance during the first weeks of the COVID19 epidemic and is in fact driving that non-compliance. • Social Media: The Bidens paid tribute to the nation’s veterans on Memorial Day, appearing in public at a wreath-laying ceremony near his Delaware home. Over the weekend, Biden took a swipe at Donald Trump’s golf habit tweeting, “The presidency is about a lot more than tweeting from your golf cart. It requires taking on the ultimate responsibility for the biggest decisions in the world. Donald Trump simply wasn’t prepared for that. I promise you I will be.”
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| ‘Janjep’ Carlos is Mr. Gay World 2019 |
Over the weekend, John Jeffrey “Janjep” Carlos from the Philippines claimed the crown of Mr. Gay World 2019.
Carlos is only the second Filipino to be crowned Mr. Gay World, reports ABS-CBN News. He follows in the footsteps of fellow countryman John Raspado, who took home the title in 2017.
The 41-year-old real estate agent succeeds Mr. Gay World 2018, Jordan Bruno of Australia.
In the final judging, Carlos beat out 1st runner up Francisco Alvarado of Spain, 2nd runner up Oliver Pusztan of Hungary, 3rd runner up Cjayudhom Samibat of Thailand, and Nick Van Vooren of Belgium who was the 4th runner up.
In his introduction package for the Mr. Gay World competition, Carlos explains he loves traveling and exploring different countries.
“This has widened my horizon and understanding of different cultures, values and issues that have created global impact,” he explains.
He also shares that as Mr. Gay World, he would choose to use his platform to bring attention to mental health, and specifically depression.
“Around the world, many people are suffering from depression,” says Carlos. “Depression is real, and it has caused tragic loss of life. Depression is a real illness that can be treated if diagnosed.”
“With love and understanding of people undergoing depression, this illness can be transformed into wellness,” he concludes.
Carlos shared the winning moment with his 331k Instagram followers writing, “That moment when ur name was called as the winner and flashed ur flag on the big screen is something i feel very proud of.”
Check out more from the Instagram of newly-crowned Mr. Gay World 2019, “Janjep” Carlos.
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| Jordan Bruno, Mr. Gay World 2018 (photo: Fred LeMarche) |
Australian author and chef Jordan Bruno has been crowned Mr. Gay World 2018.
This marks the first time an Aussie has taken the coveted title since the competition began ten years ago.
According to the official website, the aim of the global contest is to “inspire and empower gay men to come together in a public performance that would show the world that being gay encompasses a broad spectrum.”
Over an intense four days, contestants compete in several categories including a sports challenge, a photo shoot competition, a runway fashion show and a swim suit competition.
Bruno won six out of 12 competition categories including personal interview, social responsibility, best in formal wear, online vote, photogenic and face of 2018.
“I was overwhelmed and it’s really an honor. For Australia, it gives us visibility and recognition, but it also gives us permission to help the world now. With the title behind me, I’m able to shine a light on different LGBTI issues across the world,” said Bruno.
The handsome 26-year-old says he wants to use his title to help bring the LGBTQ community together by addressing issues like femme shaming, body issues, lesbian discrimination at pride events and more.
New Zealand’s Ricky Devine-White and India’s Samarpan Maiti won second and third place respectively.
Bruno says he became close to his competitors over the course of the contest telling Attitude Magazine, “The fact [is] that you are in a competition and you’re also like a family at the same time, which is quite interesting because you are competing against each other but also each other’s best friend as well.”
“I’ll keep in touch with all of these guys, they are now part of the family when we travel to their countries,” he added.
Check out more pics of the woofy Mr. Jordan Bruno below.
Some news items you might have missed this holiday weekend:
• InstaHunk Ace Cee (above) shares wisdom for the day: “Save water, shower together…”
• Check out the Australian hunk who just won Mr. Gay World 2018. Jordan Bruno hopes to use his title to address issues within the LGBTQ community like femme shaming, body issues, and lesbian discrimination at pride festivals.
• New York Police Department officers are in hot water over posing with a male stripper in just a G-string and boots.
NYPD cops under fire for racy photo with male stripper https://t.co/NJ2gFk1xLV pic.twitter.com/nzjQyfOPvt— New York Post (@nypost) May 28, 2018
• Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, considered the most vulnerable of Dem senators up for re-election this fall, leads his GOP opponent by 12 points in a new poll.
• A gay high school valedictorian, barred from giving his graduation speech because he used the phrase “the young people will win,” gave his speech anyway via a bullhorn. His school officials claimed the phrase, coined by the high school students in Parkland, Florida, was “too confrontational.”
• With Pride Month just days away, learn how the word “gay” shifted in meaning from “happy” to “homosexual from the folks at Origin of Everything: