News Round-Up: April 12, 2019

Some news items you might have missed: • Even though his iPhone didn’t recognize his newly-32-year-old face this morning, I’m thinking Alex Abramov (above) will find a way to soldier on… • Rugby Australia has declared its intention to terminate Israel Folau’s contract over his anti-LGBTQ social media posts. • Donald Trump’s transgender military ban went into effect today. Nearly 15,000 Americans who signed up to put their lives on the line for the US could be impacted (read that ‘discharged’) by the new policy. • A Trump-supporting Oklahoma woman has been arrested after confessing to a spree of racist vandalism that targeted black, transgender and Jewish residents in two towns. • Two male dancers have joined the New England Patriots cheerleading team. • Check out the latest single from P!nk, “Can We Pretend,” from her upcoming album Hurts 2B Human out April 26. P!nk makes me feel good. I like her music, I like her musical perspective on life. If you’ve never seen her in concert (and I’m not a concert kinda guy) you have to go. It’s a totally feel-good experience. And I love that a lyric in this song is “Can we pretend that we both like the president?”

News Round-Up: February 23, 2019

Austin Wolf (via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Self-professed ‘fitness obsessed’ InstaHunk Austin Wolf pumped up his arms. I wrote about it. That’s why he looks like he does and I look like me LOL… #HappySaturday

• New York state prosecutors are reportedly prepping a new set of charges against Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, should the president decide to pardon him. Presidential pardons only help those convicted of federal – not state – crimes.

• R&B star R. Kelly has been charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in Chicago, Illinois.

• Billionaire Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, was charged Friday with two counts of soliciting prostitution in a Florida massage parlor. Kraft, a huge Donald Trump supporter, says he’s innocent of all charges although police say there is video evidence of Kraft on two occasions.

• This bisexual teacher came out to help a suicidal student, and then his school fired him.

• I often get questions about how I like living in Las Vegas, Nevada, and I do love it. But, this surprised us this week:

A post shared by Randy Slovacek (@randyslovacek) on Feb 21, 2019 at 8:17am PST

Tip sheet for watching the Super Bowl with New England Patriots fans

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If you don’t know much about football, but find yourself watching the Super Bowl today with a bunch of New England Patriots fans, here’s a little tip sheet of things to say to help sound “in the know” about what’s happening before and after Madonna’s half-time show.
(source)

Gay-friendly teams to face off in Super Bowl XLVI

If you watch this year’s Super Bowl, you’ll see a rare sight – two of the most gay-friendly teams in all of professional sports. Both the New York Giants and the New England Patriots have strong reputations for equality.

Steve Tisch, owner of the New York Giants, filmed a video for HRC’s New Yorkers for Marriage Equality campaign in 2011, saying, “I am proud to join the chorus of professionals in sports working for fairness both on and off the field.”

Former Giants star Michael Strahan, now a football analyst for Fox Sports, recorded a video as well, saying he feels “it’s unfair to keep committed couples from getting married.”

On the Patriots side, they were the first team to send a representative to the Gay Bowl, the championship game for the National Gay Flag Football League, according to Outsports.

Also, Patriots safety Bret Lockett showed his support for equality by posing for the NOH8 Campaign last year.

Whether you root for the Patriots or the Giants, know that you’re rooting for a team that hails from a place that embraces marriage equality. How’s that for a level playing field?

And even if you don’t watch the game, check out Tisch’s and Strahan’s testimonials below.