Tag: news round-up

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News Round-Up: April 18, 2017

Some news items you may have missed:

• Fitness model/trainer Lony Pizzaro makes a great distraction from Tax Day 2017.

• According to Tourism Economics, the U.S. economy could lose more than $18 billion and about 107,000 jobs this year and next year due to President Trump’s travel ban policy.

• New York Magazine says Rupert Murdoch is now leaning towards firing Bill O’Reilly from his luxe Fox News job.

• A new poll shows 61% of adults living in Texas oppose President Trump’s plan to build a wall along the W.S./Mexico border. And yet, they voted for him.

• And speaking of Texas, did you hear the one about the idiot who stole a rainbow flag from flying at a church so he could leave an American flag in it’s place? With the flag was a note reading, “I didn’t agree with your flag so I took it down. If you don’t agree with this one, you can take it down. P.S. there are only 2 (two) genders.” No worries, though – the church figured it would happen some day, and had a backup Pride flag waiting in the wings.

• Even the cops get in on the act at New Orleans’ Easter Parade:

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News Round-Up: April 14, 2017

Some news items you may have missed:

• Woofy Instastud Alex Abramov (above)  is ready for the weekend #TGIF

• “Kill The Gays” Pastor Kevin Swanson ripped the new live-action box office bonanza that is Beauty and the Beast on his radio show recently. Swanson went on a tear ranting that not only is there a gay character, but the flick promotes “inter-species breeding.”  #SRSLY

• Fox News is so excited about the “Mother of All Bombs” dropping on ISIS, they turned it into a music video. I kid you not…

• There are whispers that SCOTUS Justice Anthony Kennedy might be considering retirement soon. That would shift the Supreme Court to a solid 5 conservative judges, and open the door to bad things for LGBTs.

• Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval signed Assembly Bill 99 into law this week, extending protections to LGBTQ youth in child welfare and juvenile detention facilities. AB 99 requires foster parents to be trained on working with LGBTQ youth, and requires state and local agencies and facilities to treat a child in accordance with their gender identity.

• Beach weather is coming, which means it’s time to pull it up, kids. For your viewing pleasure, here are some tips for bumping up the booty, courtesy of trainer Mike Espinosa:

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News Round-Up: April 13, 2017

Ben Cohen

Some news items you may have missed:

• Woofy, shirtless, straight ally Ben Cohen tweets from the gym (above). #Grrrr

• Hundreds gathered outside the Russian embassy in London to protest on behalf of Chechen gays after weeks of reports indicating Chechnya has rounded up over 100 gay men in “concentration camps.”

• According to The Guardian, investigators looking into connections between the Trump campaign and Russia now have specific concrete and corroborative evidence of collusion,” the source said. “This is between people in the Trump campaign and agents of [Russian] influence relating to the use of hacked material.”

• The doctor who was forcibly dragged off a United Airlines flight apparently suffered a concussion, loss of two front teeth and a broken nose. #TheFriendlySkies?

• Trump supporter Jeffrey Lord calls President Trump “the Martin Luther King of health care.” Hmm, vagina grabbing president compared to humanitarian…

• Two “Jean Val Jeans” – Ramin Karimloo (currently in previews on Broadway for Anastasia) shares this awesome moment from a few years ago when the original star of Les Miserables, Colm Wilkinson, joined him in an encore of “Bring Him Home.” Ramin’s voice just kills – and how beautiful that he steps back to give Colm the last note.

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News Round-Up: April 12, 2017

Some news items you may have missed:

• Fitness model/hottie Nick Sandell (above) is looking forward to Friday, too. Happy Hump Day!

• The wife of Omar Mateen, the shooter in the Pulse Nightclub massacre, has pled not guilty to aiding and abetting her husband in the deadly attack. The judge set a trial date of June 5th – one week before the 1st anniversary of the mass shooting.

• North Carolina Speaker of the House Tim Moore says he won’t bring the recently filed legislation to ignore the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage up for a vote.

• Lisa Kudrow is set to join the cast of “Grace & Frankie!”

• A new medical study suggests poppers, inhalants used by gay men during sex, could cause central vision problems.

• Is Steve Bannon on the way out of the White House? President Trump begins a sentence with, “I like Steve, but…”

• Shortly after Donald Trump’s inauguration, the Washington Post adopted a new slogan – “Democracy dies in darkness.” Today, journalist Michael Wolff told White House counselor Kellyanne Conway that “when they say ‘democracy dies in darkness,’ you’re the darkness.” She wasn’t too appreciative of the sentiment. Watch below.

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News Round-Up: March 31, 2017

Colton Haynes as “Daddy Warbucks” and Kathy Griffin as “Grannie”

Some news items you may have missed:

• Find out what happens when “Annie” hangs out too long at the orphanage in this parody “Grannie” of the hit musical. The clip stars Kathy Griffin as the aged orphan, plus it gives you a reason to finally call Colton Haynes “Daddy.”

• The NCAA will announce next week if North Carolina’s fake repeal of HB2 will actual help the state’s standing in terms of booking any championship games in the next five years.

• The Trump administration’s new budget seeks to cut $342 million in HIV/AIDS research and prevention programs. #ThanksTrump

• Congressional Democrats are demanding the next Census include questions on sexual orientation. That data is vitally needed to help policymakers understand the needs of the LGBT community.

• New survey by GLAAD indicates 25% of non-LGBTQ Americans are “uncomfortable” seeing an LGBTQ co-worker’s wedding picture on their desk.

• Trumpeter, singer, producer, and dancer Spencer Ludwig wants you to get “Diggy” this weekend. Watch the grooving video below:

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News Round-Up: March 29, 2017

The cast of What Happens at the Abbey

Some news items you may have missed:

• West Hollywood gay bar, The Abbey, is getting it’s own reality TV show, What Happens at the Abbey (above pic) a la Vanderpump Rules. The show premieres on E! May 14th at 10pm.

• RuPaul has some advice for any bachelorette parties who want to celebrate at gay bars: “Check yourself before you wreck yourself.”

• A gay HIV/AIDS activist will seek the Democratic nomination to fight for a Texas congressional seat that has been held firmly by 32 year incumbent, Rep. Joe Barton.

• Tens of thousands of New Yorkers, tired of footing the $146,000 daily cost of protecting the First Lady, have signed a petition demanding Melania Trump move into the White House.

• The Republican-controlled House just voted to kill internet privacy rules from the Obama era, meaning internet providers can now sell your browsing history to the highest bidder.

• Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus blocked an anti-transgender “bathroom bill” from reaching the floor.

• Rep. Maxine Waters takes on Bill O’Reilly’s racism with some straight talk: “Don’t allow these right-wing talking heads, these dishonorable people to intimidate you or scare you.”

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News Round-Up: March 28, 2017

Some news items you may have missed:

• Fitness model Lony Pizarro is ready for action.

• Dan Savage tracks down and interviews the only (quietly) gay Republican currently running for office in Alaska.

• Instagram is going to start blurring photos deemed “sensitive.”

• Don’t forget to check out the latest episode of The Randy Report podcast – click here to listen for free on iTunes.

• The Ohio city of Columbus joins Cincinnati and Toledo in banning so-called “ex-gay” therapy.

• Last Friday, Donald Trump sent a message he’s open to working with Democrats now that the House Freedom Caucus screwed him on healthcare. But it’s not gonna happen with tweets like these:

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News Round-Up: March 21, 2017

Some news items you may have missed:

• It’s the first day of Spring! Fitness model Lony Pizarro (above) is ready, are you?

• Kentucky Governor signs new law that allows public schools and colleges that accept federal funds to discriminate against LGBTs wanting to join school clubs or activities based on religious beliefs.

• Deep in the heart of deep red Texas, Texas A&M, the third largest public university in the U.S., elects it’s first openly gay student body president.

• Apple announced new versions of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus that will be part of the (Red) program, which funds programs that combat HIV and AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. The new red phones will be available this Friday.

• The upcoming vote in the House on Trumpcare could fail thanks to Tea Party Republicans who don’t like the legislation.

• Alan Cumming says younger gay men “don’t care” about the AIDS epidemic.

• Now that he’s engaged, is Colton Haynes going to be a daddy? The newly-engaged actor recently changed his Instagram description to “Uncle. Soon to be father. Traveler. Actor. Goof.”

A post shared by Colton Haynes (@coltonlhaynes) on Mar 20, 2017 at 2:27am PDT

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Oklahoma State Senator Arrested On Child Prostitution Charges Could Still Collect Pension

Leaders of both political parties in Oklahoma, plus GOP Gov. Mary Fallin, have called for the resignation of state Sen. Ralph Shortey in light of his arrest this week for prostitution-related charges.

If he doesn’t resign soon, the state Senate could vote to expel him.

However, due to state laws, Shortey will still be eligible for his pension as a lawmaker even if convicted.

Shortey, 35, has been in office long enough that he will get his state retirement. There is a law that strips elected officials of their pension if convicted of a felony like bribery, corruption, or perjury, but it does not include prostitution with a minor.

“Bribery means an automatic revocation of your retirement benefits, doing these things with minor children does not? I think that ought to change,” House Minority Leader Scott Inman said. Even if convicted, Shortey will receive over $9,000 a year from the state when he retires.

If that’s 25 years of retirement, for example, the State of Oklahoma will pay him nearly $230,000. Leader Inman told NewsChannel 4 he plans to file legislation next year to expand the law to include other felonies.

Transcripts of Shortey’s email exchange with the teen include a message from Shortey wherein he promised the boy he would  “f**k you like a good little boy if you keep calling me daddy.”

While Oklahoma’s age of consent is 16, child prostitution laws apply to anyone under 18.

Shortey, who is married to his high school sweetheart since 2002 and has children,  is still collecting his $38K annual salary as a state senator.