News Round-Up: May 11, 2019

• I never get tired of the fun, whimsy and sexy diversity from graphic artist Silverjow (above). Happy Saturday!
(image via Silverjow)

Some news items you might have missed:

• I never get tired of the fun, whimsy and sexy diversity from graphic artist Silverjow (above). Happy Saturday!

• Over 11,000 people have signed a petition protesting an Indiana high school’s plan to deadname a student at his graduation ceremony.

• Trump cultist Brenden Dilley went after Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims after Sims confronted anti-abortion activists at a women’s health clinic. In a Twitter video, Dilley asserts that Sims isn’t really gay, and just pretending to up his liberal cred.

Dilley calls for Sims to “suck a dick” to prove he’s gay. Donald Trump, these are your people.

• An 11-year-old rape victim in northwestern Ohio is pregnant, and according to the state’s new, highly restrictive law on abortion, a girl in her position must carry and deliver her rapist’s baby. #Seriously

• A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows support for launching impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump has moved up to 45% support.

News Round-Up: May 6, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk Ignacio Pérez Rey (above) is giving you all kinds of ‘true colors.’

• The Trump administration announced that it was weakening offshore drilling rules that were put in place in the wake of the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon explosion that killed 11 people and triggered the biggest ocean spill in U.S. history.

• A new poll from HarrisX shows former Vice President Joe Biden getting 46% support compared to 14% for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who came in a distant second place, and Mayor Pete Buttigieg was in third place with 8%.

• Eagle-eyed ‘Game of Thrones’ viewers were surprised to see a Starbucks cup left on a table in a scene from last night’s episode. HBO issued a statement: “The latte that appeared in the episode was a mistake. Daenerys had ordered an herbal tea.”

• House Democrats will vote on Wednesday whether to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt for missing a deadline for providing a complete copy of the Robert Mueller report.

• Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Monday told House Democrats he would not furnish President Trump’s tax returns despite their legal request. Several legal experts have said it would be unprecedented for Mnuchin to refuse to turn over the tax returns, as a 1924 law specifically gives lawmakers the authority to seek the returns.

• 370 former federal prosecutors who worked in Republican and Democratic administrations have signed a statement asserting special counsel Robert Mueller’s findings would have produced obstruction charges against Donald Trump if he wasn’t in the Oval Office.

• There’s a new royal in the UK as Prince Harry becomes the Dream Daddy we all knew he was.

News Round-Up: April 22, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• This is how InstaHunk Ignacio Pérez Rey welcomed his Monday in Madrid. Who else was excited for the new week?

• After a South Carolina family’s Pride flag was found ripped down and burned, neighbors began flying rainbow flags in solidarity.

• Rumors have surfaced that Kevin Hunter, husband for 22 years to Wendy Williams, had an ongoing sexual relationship with R&B singer Aveon Falstar during his marriage to Williams.

• A new University of New Hampshire Granite State Poll shows Sen. Bernie Sanders getting 30% support of likely Democratic primary voters in the Granite State. Former Vice President Joe Biden, who’s expected to announce his White House bid this week, came in at 18%, and Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 15%.

• Nevada is now the 10th US state to allow gender-neutral markers on identification documents. Residents can now choose ‘x’ in addition to’ for male and ‘f’ for female on drivers licenses and birth certificates.

Randy Report favorite Pink drops the lyric video for the title track of her upcoming album, Hurts 2B Human, featuring Khalid.

The new collection, the pop icon’s 8th studio album, will be released Friday, April 26.

News Round-Up: April 19, 2019

I hear MTV Jersey Shore star Vinny Guadagnino, who joins the Chippendales here in Las Vegas as Celebrity Guest Host April 26 through May 26, is selling a LOT of tickets. And yes, men are always welcome at Chippendales.

Some news items you might have missed:

• I hear MTV Jersey Shore star Vinny Guadagnino, who joins the Chippendales here in Las Vegas as Celebrity Guest Host April 26 through May 26, is selling a LOT of tickets. And yes, men are always welcome at Chippendales.

• A new Rasmussen Reports national survey finds that 59% of likely U.S. voters say they would personally be willing to vote for an openly gay president; 30% would not, 12% are not sure.

• It’s not just adults Donald Trump’s transgender military ban is affecting. This college student lost his 3-year ROTC scholarship because of the new policy.

• A 28-year-old man in Mississippi was beaten so severely – his jaw was shattered in two places – because his assailants thought he was gay.

• 1995 drag classic To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar is being re-released for Pride Month on Blu-Ray with special features including deleted scenes.

• Christian home schooling parents, David and Louise Turpin, who beat, starved and held 12 of their children captive inside their home, were sentenced Friday to life in prison.

• The music and the magic of Elton John’s incredible life comes to the big screen in upcoming musical fantasy biopic, Rocketman.

Watch as the team behind the film discusses Elton John’s journey from prodigy to icon in this special look at Rocketman, in theatres May 31.

News Round-Up: April 17, 2019

InstaHunks Ben Zerbst and Donald Romain took each other to Disneyland for some Hump Day fun. #FutureDILFSofDisneyland
Ben Zerbst and Donald Romain

Some news items you might have missed: • InstaHunks Ben Zerbst and Donald Romain took each other to Disneyland for some Hump Day fun. #FutureDILFSofDisneyland • Brunei has defended its punishment of death by stoning for gay sex in a letter to the European Parliament. Under the country’s new law, not only are LGBTQs targeted but adultery garners the same punishment, and thieves and robbers risk amputations. • Prosecutors plan to seek a sentence of four to 10 months’ jail time for actress Felicity Huffman for her role in the college admissions scandal. • This year’s Time 100 – the 100 most influential people of 2019 – includes Lady Gaga, Indya Moore, Ryan Murphy, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. https://www.instagram.com/p/BwWtrG6gk-W/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== • Nevada could soon join the three other states – California, Illinois, and Rhode Island – that ban the ‘gay panic’ or ‘trans panic’ defense in cases of assault or murder. • Folks were wondering why queer rapper Lizzo performed at Coachella Music Festival this past weekend when it came to light owner Philip Anschutz has given his money to anti-LGBTQ organizations. Lizzo explained: “Whether we like it or not most major organizations are run by bigoted millionaires that donate to bigoted organizations. I realize my activism is to disrupt those spaces and spread my message to thousands of ppl.” “Y’all may not agree w it and that’s ok. But know that I’m doing what I gotta do to make sure my big black ass voice is heard. Can’t wait to dismantle the hate that funds this country… but until then, imma be putting big, black, femme, lgbtq+ bodies on stages and telling our stories.” Here’s Lizzo’s latest music video “Juice” featuring a whole bunch of RuPaul’s Drag Race queens for added fun. Her new album Cuz I Love You drops Friday.

News Round-Up: April 16, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• Paleontologist Francesc Gascó is giving you serious beard and biceps (above).

• Democratic presidential hopeful Mayor Pete Buttigieg told CNN today he doesn’t have a problem with Vice President Mike Pence having religious beliefs, but added, “My problem is when those religious beliefs are used as an excuse to harm other people.”

• Sirius XM Radio has announced a new limited-time channel dedicated to the music of Cher.

• Former Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN) said that Donald Trump is the most “biblical” president America will ever have.

• The government of Brunei has defended its gay stoning law as a way to ‘nurture’ their citizens.

• According to reports, it could take up to three years to repair Notre Dame Cathedral after a fire completely destroyed its roof. Over $700 million has been pledged for its repair.

• Out Canadian singer-songwriter Mathew V has released the music video for his latest single, “Catching Feelings.” Directed by Gabriel Adelman, the video follows Mathew V through an extraterrestrial adventure set to an extremely danceable track.

“‘Catching Feelings’ can be counted as one of the first evocatively sun-soaked jams of 2019. Toned, smoothed out & soulful.” – EQ Music

His debut album, The Fifth, was released in the spring of 2018 and charted in both Canada and the US. The album earned critical acclaim from press outlets such as Nylon and Billboard, marking Mathew as an artist to watch.

His catalogue is now approaching 10 million online streams. Hit play below.

News Round-Up: April 15, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• Now, y’all know the fab Shoshana Bean is back on the Broad Way starring in Sara Bareilles’ Waitress, right? Annnnd, her leading man is the oh-so-talented Jeremy Jordan? Get to the Brooks Atkinson Theater before they be gone. #JustSaying

• A jury sentenced a man to death because they thought he would enjoy being in prison for life because he is gay.

• Dallas police arrested 29-year-old Edward Thomas on a charge of aggravated assault for the brutal beating of a transgender woman. Authorities are investigating whether the brutal attack caught on video should have hate crime charges attached, although gender identity is not a protected class in the state. The video, posted to Facebook, is quite disturbing as Thomas punches the victim over and over as a crowd stood by.

• At Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Missouri, an unnamed student tore down a large hanging sign advertising the school’s Gay Straight Trans Alliance (GSTA). The vandal crumpled up the sign into a ball and dropped it into the crowd below as dozens of students laughed and clapped.

• A 40-year-old man has filed a lawsuit against his parents for throwing away his porn collection that he estimates was worth $29,000.

• Donald Trump has a challenger for the 2020 Republican nomination – former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld has officially declared as a candidate for the Republican nomination for president in 2020.

• Sen. Bernie Sanders has released 10 years of tax returns showing both income and tax rate jumped after presidential campaign, and revealing his millionaire status.

• I could really, really wish to be in Mykonos right now with this guy… 🙂

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: April 9, 2019

• InstaHunk Thara (above) is getting pumped up for the summer circuit (and I don't mean weight training).

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk Thara (above) is getting pumped up for the summer circuit (and I don’t mean weight training).

• Quartz reports “former agency officials,” said White House adviser Stephen Miller would leak the monthly number of immigrants apprehended at the border to the Washington Examiner, who would then publish a story about the high numbers.

He would then print out the story and give it to Donald Trump. After seeing the story, Trump would then “pick up the phone and blast (Homeland Secretary) Nielsen.

• FX has announced that the second season of Pose will premiere June 9 at 9pm. The network also confirmed that the second season will time jump to 1990 with vogueing about to the day Madonna released her music video for “Vogue,” causing the ball culture to “reevaluate their goals.”

• Rosie O’Donnell says she greatly regrets giving Ladies Who Punch author Ramin Setoodeh 20 minutes of her time. In those minutes, she revealed she was sexually abused by her father, that she had “a little bit of a crush” on former colleague Elisabeth Hasselbeck and described working with Whoopi Goldberg as “The worst experience I’ve ever had on live television.”

• A tire company in Colorado is paying a transgender man $60,000 and writing a letter of apology after it settled a sex discrimination lawsuit.

• Don’t miss the season finale of Schitt’s Creek on Wednesday at 10 p.m. on POP.

[Spoiler alert] Last week’s episode gave us quite the moment:

News Round-Up: April 3, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• Here’s a t-shirt (modeled by InstaHunk Ramses Principe) that I can totally relate to 😉

• The governor of Utah has signed into law the state’s new, tougher hate crimes law with stricter punishments for those who commit crimes specifically due to bias. Yes – Utah!

• Even though Netflix cancelled the terrific One Day at a Time reboot, the streaming giant may be standing in the show’s way of finding a new home.

• Starting out at a bus stop as young boys, James Corden and Tony Award winner Ben Platt tell the story of a life-long friendship using 9 different sets and 12 carefully curated songs all captured in one take.

• Investigators on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team say the four page letter by Attorney General William Barr didn’t adequately portray the findings of their investigation.

Stoning gays to death officially became the law of the land in Brunei today. Even Ellen DeGeneres has joined the boycott of hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei.

• Donald Trump’s choices for ambassadorships has been, interesting, to say the least. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates — a wealthy real estate developer with no diplomatic experience. Ambassador to Morocco? A well-heeled car dealer. For Iceland? While well-traveled, the nominee had never even been to the Nordic country.

• The brilliant satirist, Randy Rainbow, offers his parody of the Disney classic, “Cruella DeVille,” with a nod to our current clueless Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.