Tag: news round-up

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News Round-Up: March 29, 2018

Me with Arminae Austen and Matt Zarley in Fort Worth, Texas 1999

Some news items you might have missed:

• Since it’s Thursday, how about a little #Throwback action? The pic above was from a production of A Chorus Line I directed back in 1999 at Casa Mañana in Fort Worth, Texas. I wasn’t originally going to be in the show but the producers eventually asked if I would also play the role of “Bobby” since I had many times before. Pictured with my besties from the Broadway production of ACL who came down to kill it, and kill it they did, Matt Zarley and Arminae Austen.

• There will be a sixth and final installment of social media phenom Sharknado this year on SyFy Network. #YAY! #DumbButFun

• The Ecuadorian embassy has placed jammers in its own building to block WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from access to the internet, social media or even phone calls. Assange has been living in the embassy since 2012 believing he’ll be picked up and extradited to the United States for questioning over activities by WikiLeaks.

•  A high-level Trump campaign official had repeated communications in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign with a business associate tied to Russian intelligence, according to a document released on Tuesday by the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the election. Remember when the story was “There was NO communication by anyone on the Trump campaign with Russians?”

• Did you hear the one about Donald Trump’s lawyer dangling pardons to former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn and former campaign chair Paul Manafort? #ObstructionOfJustice?

• Always keeping in mind that nature is beautiful but can be just as dangerous, check out this incredible video of a cheetah on the hunt who jumped into a jeep to check things out. Gorgeous, exciting but scary as hell. The passenger didn’t make eye contact so he wouldn’t seem a threat. #WOW

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News Round-Up: March 28, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:

• NYC actor/singer Jim Newman (above) is giving you serious cowboy, which makes total sense as he’s the “Cowboy” in a very famous disco band. Wanna guess which one? #SaveAHorse

• Legislation that would give same-sex couples the right to marry in Northern Ireland has advanced to a second reading.

• A father had his girlfriend rape his 11-year-old autistic son because he was afraid the boy was gay. Both father and girlfriend have been convicted and face life in prison. #LifeInPrisonSoundsRight

• We could see over 150 LGBTQ candidates in elections this fall as members of the tribe run for national, state and local office.

• Congress may be fixated on Facebook for data breach during 2016 election, but Donald Trump is apparently obsessed with Amazon. I’m sure it has nothing to do with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos also owning The Washington Post.

• Speaking of Trump, it looks like the bloom is off the rose as far as former Trump fan Ann Coulter is concerned. She told an audience of college Republicans last night, “I knew he was a shallow, lazy ignoramus, and I didn’t care.”

• With over $24 million in box office in two weeks, coming-of-age/coming-out film Love, Simon ranks in the Top 25 highest grossing teen romance movies of all time.

• Bonus Love, Simon: Keiynan Lonsdale, who plays one of the love interests in the hit gay teen comedy and came out as bisexual last year, just dropped a new queer love anthem, “Kiss the Boy.”

The song will be included on an upcoming album from Lonsdale.

Check out the lyric video below which is off-the-charts in its awesome diversity.

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News Round-Up: March 27, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:

• Fitness models Rodiney Santiago and Matt Bishop (above) demonstrate exactly what kind of shirtless winter fun you can have on the slopes. The pic was taken at Big Bear in California where I usually ski, but I never seem to get scenery like this when I’m there 🙂

• The HIV Incidence and Prevalence Report from the CDC shows that one in seven people in the U.S. living with HIV did not know their status.

• Becoming the first municipality in Wisconsin to do so, the Milwaukee Common Council has voted to ban the abusive practice of so-called “conversion therapy” on LGBT youth by a vote of 12-2.

• Marvia Malik makes history as Pakistan’s first transgender news anchor.

• In the case of a gay couple who were attacked last year by a group of anti-gay teenagers in the Netherlands, the prosecutor has only asked for community service as punishment for the attackers who beat the couple with bolt cutters. One victim lost five teeth and has had multiple surgeries since the attack.

• The Advocate has curated a collection of pics from the recent Leather Pride Week in Los Angeles and the crowd was definitely photo-worthy.

• Can you believe 2018 commemorates 25 years in the music business for Toni Braxton? To celebrate the R&B/pop diva has released her new album, Sex & Cigarettes. Check out her latest music video from the album – “Long As I Live.” Talk about a voice that just feels good…

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News Round-Up: March 22, 2018

(via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• First, it was Superman star Henry Cavill going all clean-shaven. Now, one of my favorite InstaHunks, Alex Abramov, (above) is teasing his followers writing, “Trim your scruff!” #KeepTheFur

• LGBT series EastSiders was nominated for 6 Daytime Emmy Awards including Outstanding Daytime Digital Drama Series, Outstanding Writing & Directing for creator and star Kit Williamson and Outstanding Actor in a Digital Daytime Drama Series for Van Hansis.

• San Francisco Airport plans on renaming one of the terminals after gay rights icon Harvey Milk.

• CNN president Jeff Zucker went THERE calling out competitor Fox News as “state-run TV.” He added, “It is a pure propaganda machine, and I think does incredible disservice to this country.”

• Two separate research teams believe they’re found links between genetics and being transgender.

• Emmy Award-winner Lena Waithe covers the latest Vanity Fair in style – her own style. Hit the link because if you don’t know her yet, you will love the uber-talented out writer actress after.

At the recent Black Women in Hollywood Awards, she told the crowd, “Being born gay, black and female is not a revolutionary act. Being proud to be a gay black female is.” Now, how you not gonna love that?

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News Round-Up: March 21, 2018

(via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Handsome dog, right? The pup’s a cutie, too 😉

• The most anti-LGBTQ Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives barely eked out a win over his primary opponent in Illinois. He now faces (no exaggeration) a Republican whose a devout Neo-Nazi.

• Cell phone video shows a gay teen in Oklahoma getting his head bashed into a school locker by a bully.

• For the first time in decades the National Rifle Associations has a net negative approval rating.

• Included in the undercover recordings of Cambridge Analytica executives was one of the top ranking bosses suggesting spreading gay rumors about candidates was an effective method of bringing them down.

• Political analyst Stu Rothenberg spoke to several insiders who predict the Democrats will win between 30-45 seats in the House during the fall mid-term elections, more than the 24 seats needed to take control.

• In a somber Instagram post, insanely handsome Superman star Henry Cavill shares the news that his facial hair is, sadly, no more. #ShavedButNotForgotten

A post shared by Henry Cavill (@henrycavill) on Mar 21, 2018 at 2:10am PDT

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News Round-Up: March 20, 2018

(image via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Timeout Magazine shares its 2018 round-up of the 20 Hottest Dancers on Broadway including Mr. Adam Perry (above).

• From one lesbian to another: Former New York City council speaker Christine Quinn slammed Cynthia Nixon “as an unqualified lesbian” a day after the actress announced her run for New York governor. Quinn later walked her comments back.

• HUD Secretary Ben Carson told a House Appropriations committee today that transgender people in a homeless shelter make others uncomfortable.

• An openly gay Marine Corps veteran is running for a seat in the Alabama state House.

• Michelangelo Signorile explains why it matters that a gay man helped Trump backers exploit Facebook data.

• Justin Timberlake and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser welcome the thousands of protesters who are expected to descend on the District for the “March for Our Lives” rally Saturday.

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News Round-Up: March 19, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:

• I spent part of today getting my pretty girl pup Tyler checked out at the vet today (regular check-up). So this pic of vet student Aman (above) totally caught my eye. My vet doesn’t look like this at all. #WOOF

• Attorney George Leontire, who worked on the legal defense team for Aaron Hernandez, says in a new documentary his client was “clearly gay” adding, “I think that he also came out of a culture that was so negative about gay people that he exhibited some self-hatred.”

• Emmy Award winner and openly bisexual Cynthia Nixon has announced she will run against Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in the Democratic primary later this year.

• Legislation has been launched which aims to prohibit “conversion therapy” in Ireland.

• Vice President Mike Pence was greeted during the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Savannah, Georgia, with lots of Pride flags raised in opposition to his anti-LGBTQ history.

• We get our first look at Renée Zellweger as Judy Garland for the upcoming bio-pic Judy from the BBC:

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News Round-Up: March 16, 2018

(image via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Brazilian model Maxs Souza (above) and his 8-pack kick back for the weekend ahead. #8pack #HardToConcentrate

• Ellen DeGeneres says Elton John was not very nice to her when she famously came out 20 years ago. “Shut up already. We know you’re gay. Be funny.”

• Introduced by Jane Fonda no less, RuPaul received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today!

• Jury hits University of Minnesota-Duluth with $3.74 million judgment for firing lesbian hockey coach.

• Gay-themed romantic comedy Love, Simon (in theaters today) was influenced by Broadway blockbuster Dear Evan Hansen.

• And speaking of Dear Evan Hansen, the show’s Tony Award-winning star Ben Platt has gone viral today sharing this “audition video” singing “Maria” from West Side Story.

Side note: Ben Platt has to make audition videos?

Having sung the song myself for years, I’m super-impressed by his high B-flat – effortless. What do you guys think?

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News Round-Up: March 15, 2018

The Kings of Disco (not the Village People?)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Who’s the ‘real’ Village People these days? It’s pretty complicated, actually.

• Fort Lauderdale proves itself to be one of the most LGBT-friendly cities in America with the election of openly gay Dean Trantalis as mayor. The Democrat easily defeated his Republican opponent Bruce Roberts by winning 64% of the vote.

• When word broke that the Department of Housing and Urban Development ordered a $31,000 dining table for HUD Secretary Ben Carson’s offices, we got quick denials that Carson knew nothing about the purchase. Recently released emails show, however, that Carson not only knew but picked out the new luxe new furniture with his wife.

• Donald Trump’s new pick for Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, has a terrible record on LGBTQ equality. From opposing marriage equality to fighting open military service by LGBTS, he’s been bad news for the community.

• Megan Rapinoe, the Olympic and World Cup champion soccer player who came out publicly several years ago, has signed a sponsorship deal with Bodyarmor sports drink.

• Ryan Worley of the Chippendales gives you an up-close peek at his totally awesome abs minutes after his Chipps calendar shoot. #Dang

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News Round-Up: March 5, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:

• Man Crush Monday – Fitness model Quin Bruce (above) has pretty much mastered the “far-away wistful gaze.” #woof

• According to a national tracking survey, support for LGBTQ people across the country has fallen for the first time in four years.

• Researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine and Harvard University have found transgender people are increasingly opting for gender confirmation surgery. From 2000 to 2014, researchers found such surgeries have increased fourfold.

• Chilean film A Fantastic Woman made history last night at the Oscars as the first film with a main transgender storyline and starring an out transgender actress to win at the Academy Awards taking home the statue for Best Foreign Film.

• Donald Trump’s self-determined deadline on a legislative fix for “Dreamers” came and went today. The courts stopped the government from deporting “dreamers” but, what now?

• The always ethereal Lana Del Rey covers “You Must Love Me” from the film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita.

Sir Andrew penned the song specifically for the film and went on to win the Oscar for “Best Original Song.” I’ve always felt the new tune helped Madonna take home the Golden Globe for Best Actress for her performance as “Eva Perón.”