Tag: news round-up

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News Round-Up: February 12, 2019

• America's Next Top Model & Dancing with the Stars champ Nyle DiMarco is asking Instagram "wyd (what you doing) on Valentines?" #MeMePickMe
Nyle DiMarco

Some news items you might have missed:

• America’s Next Top Model & Dancing with the Stars champ Nyle DiMarco is asking Instagram “wyd (what you doing) on Valentines?” #MeMePickMe

• Will & Grace star Sean Hayes is set to receive the Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the 30th annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on March 28. The Stephen F. Kolzak prize “is presented to a LGBTQ media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting LGBTQ acceptance.”

• State lawmakers in Tennessee may be targeting the LGBTQ community with discriminatory legislation, but the mayor of Nashville just signed an executive order intended to help LGBTQ-owned businesses.

• Movie star Chris Pratt got called out for attending an anti-gay church. So, of course, Ellen DeGeneres couldn’t wait to invite him on her show tweeting, “Whatever @PrattPrattPratt is selling, I’m buying!”

• Donald Trump, the first president in modern times to not have a dog, says he would feel “a little phony” having a dog. With all the lies he tells on a daily basis, having a DOG would make him phony? I’ve always felt if someone doesn’t like dogs, I probably wouldn’t like them.

• Lots of folks come to together to make dance/pop bop, “So Close,” a lively, infectious track.

With Swedish producers NOTD, German DJ Felix Jaehn and vocalist Georgia Ku onboard, plus California remixers Captain Cuts, the resulting collaboration makes for upbeat ear candy. That chorus definitely has some melodic, catchy DNA.

I like the music video, although the camera work gets a bit kinetic for me. Check it out.

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News Round-Up: February 8, 2019

(image via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk ‘Steve In LA’ wants you to remember to consider adopting from a dog rescue next time you want to expand your furry family. OMG, I want all four! 

• The Arizona state government has raised over a million dollars for a notorious anti-LGBTI group, Alliance Defending Freedom, by selling specialty license plates.

• Things got way out of hand last night at popular West Hollywood gay bar, Micky’s, when a patron being escorted out of the establishment turned and stabbed the security guard twice in the back.

• Tennessee state Sen. Joey Hensley, virulently anti-gay and professes “deeply held religious convictions,” has introduced legislation in his state that would allow adoption agencies to discriminate against same-sex couples. Hensley, who has divorced four times (sanctity of marriage my ass), was named in a divorce proceeding in 2017 for sleeping with another man’s wife. #DeeplyHeldReligiousBeliefs

• One of the highest ranking officers in the California National Guard has announced the state won’t discharge transgender soldiers from its ranks even as the Trump administration continues to move its ban on trans military service members.

• The president of Brazil has announced plans to remove all references to homosexuality, feminism, and violence against women from public school textbooks. President Jair Bolsonaro’s campaign for the presidency proudly included anti-LGBTQ policies.

• Laverne Cox was giving you LIFE as she closed the 11 Honore fashion show finale during New York Fashion Week.

The event is a first for 11 Honore as it only featured plus size clothes from designers.

Wearing a gown by Zac Posen, the Orange is the New Black star twirled on the runway, serving up glamour, and clearly having the time of her life. Get it, diva!

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News Round-Up: February 5, 2019

(image via Instagram/Johnny.Desperado)

Some news items you might have missed: • I love Wrangler jeans. And the outdoors. And cowboy hats. And something else, wait, it’s coming to me… 🙂 • The movie Boy Erased, based on Garrard Conley’s real-life journey through so-called ‘conversion therapy’ will not be released in Brazil. Universal Pictures says the film won’t be released due to ‘financial reasons.’ The South American country recently elected openly-homophobic Jair Bolsonaro as president. • If you ever wondered EXACTLY what it’s like to be bullied at school as a young boy, before he’s even figured out who he is, please read this by my talented friend, David Toussaint. Definitely worth the read. https://twitter.com/DRToussaint/status/1092872236124565505 • ABC News: An investigation by a government watchdog organization shows President Donald Trump’s four trips to his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida over four weeks in March and February 2017, including his summit with the Japanese prime minister, cost the government nearly $14 million. • Opera singer David Daniels and his husband Scott Walters, were arrested Tuesday over allegations of rape by baritone Samuel Schultz in 2010. Schultz, who told police he was drugged and raped in 2010, came forward with the allegation in August. • Texas political phenom Beto O’Rourke gave Oprah “a strong signal” he is seriously considering a 2020 run for the White House. https://twitter.com/Jay1043/status/1092923855910457344 • A seven year-old boy in Wisconsin was beaten, tortured and buried in the snow until he died of hypothermia for not knowing his Bible verses. • Pet Shop Boys drop their first single, “Give Stupidity a Chance”, from their upcoming EP Agenda (release date April 12). Neil Tennant describes the track as “a satirical song about the poor quality of political leadership in the modern world.” “Chicks are always up for it / You’ve got to grab whatever you can / We need a leader who knows money means class / With an eye for a peach-perfect piece of ass” Check out the lyric video below.

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News Round-Up: January 31, 2019

Instagram hottie José Adones – check his moves out at the end of this post

Some news items you might have missed:

• A candidate for the Wisconsin state Supreme Court wrote just a few years ago that legalizing homosexuality would lead to bestiality. But he has no bias against LGBTs whatsoever…

• New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed a law requiring school boards to use instructional materials that accurately portray political, economic, and social contributions of LGBTs and persons with disabilities. #Bravo!

• Donald Trump responded to reports of the horrific attack on Empire star Jussie Smollett telling reporters in the Oval Office today, “That I can tell you is horrible. It doesn’t get worse.”

• Yorke Print Shoppe in Chicago refused to print a fundraising brochure for an LGBTQ charity. The owner, Brad Scull, says he has nothing against “those people” but has an issue with promoting “the lifestyle.”

Note: There is no religious exemption to Illinois’s nondiscrimination law, and sexual orientation is specifically included as a protected class. So, you do the math…

• The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday ruled the city of Fayetteville may not continue enforcing its anti-discrimination ordinance while the city challenged the constitutionality of a 2015 law that prevents cities and counties from enacting their own LGBTQ protections not covered by state law.

• A deaf lesbian couple say Delta Airlines mistreated them when they tried to communicate with a gate agent in Detroit. The women say they wrote down their request to sit next to each other on the plane, but the agent crumpled up their note and threw it away.

• This could technically qualify as a ‘Daily Dance’ post, but I thought I’d leave this right here.

Florida-based dancer/entertainer José Adones (top of page) is giving you all kinds Latin flavor here. And I ain’t mad 🙂

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News Round-Up: January 30, 2019

• InstaHunk Matthew Camp (above) is giving you 'polar vortex/winter tones' on this Hump Day.
Matthew Camp (via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk Matthew Camp (above) is giving you ‘polar vortex/winter tones’ on this Hump Day.

• Inspired by the unofficial Gay Days events at Disneyland and Disney World in the US, Disneyland Paris will host its first official Pride event, titled Magical Pride, on June 1.

• Lawyers for Kentucky GOP Gov. Matt Bevin say that former Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis must pay the $225,000 in legal fees owed to the gay couples who sued her for refusing to issue marriage licenses.

Kim Davis

• White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network today that she believes God wanted Donald Trump to become president.

• Four middle school kids in North Carolina face felony charges after plans were discovered to attempt a ‘Columbine-style’ attack on fellow students and a teacher.

• I got the most delightful surprise when the fabulous Leslie Ellis called me up just to say ‘hi’ last night.

She and her uber-talented hubby, Casey Kelly, had watched the RENT Live event on Sunday night and it reminded her of her own Broadway days (we did the national company of CATS together in the 80s when she stopped the show every night with her performance of “Memory”).

Long story short: old-friends, chatting, laughs, sharing, long call – it was great 🙂

In any case, it made me long to her her gorgeous voice, so I’m sharing this with you, one of my favorite recordings of hers, “We Came Close.”

Click here for more info about the talented duo.

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News Round-Up: January 28, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• I just came across InstaHunk Thara (above), who basically has it ALL going on. #woof

• Speaking to Rolling Stone, Oscar winner Michael Caine calls his same-sex kiss with Christopher Reeve in the film Deathtrap “a bit of a disaster.”

• Longtime Donald Trump confidant, Roger Stone, told reporters the FBI stormed his house “with greater force than was used to take down bin Laden.” Note – Bin Laden was shot in the head and dropped in the ocean. I don’t think the two experiences are comparable…

• Acting attorney general Matthew G. Whitaker told reporters today that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation is nearing the end.

• A guy goes on Jeopardy, wins almost $100K and wins hearts by blithely mentioning his husband in passing.

• I’ve been meaning to post this for days: a dad and son, both dressed as Frozen’s Elsa, dance to “Let It Go.” The video was captioned, “Mom is gone, no stress.”

The dad told CBS News, “It’s important to teach children you can do whatever you want to do. It’s important to embarrass yourself and let go.”

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News Round-Up: January 21, 2019

Diego Lozano of Spain

Some news items you might have missed:

• In case you ever wonder why folks like to visit Madrid, Spain… Meet InstaHunk Diego Lozano 🙂

• Lady Gaga called out Vice President Mike Pence during her Las Vegas concert this weekend: “Mike Pence, who thinks it’s acceptable that his wife works at a school that bans LGBTQ — you’re wrong … You say we should not discriminate against Christianity. You are the worst representation of what it means to be a Christian.”

• There was some serious lip-lock action on the premiere of The CW’s new reboot of Roswell last week.

The series follows three young aliens who live in secret in a small New Mexico town. It turns out one, Michael (played by Michael Vlamis) is bisexual, and got down smooching his former bf, Alex (Tyler Blackburn) at the end of the episode.

• The new book, Team of Vipers, by former Trump aide Cliff Sims looks to be quite the read. It’s been described as, “Not a sycophantic portrayal of the president nor a blistering account written to settle scores.”

• Bloomberg: The U.K. Labour Party is calling for a vote in Parliament that could pave the way to a second referendum, raising the possibility that Brexit could be reversed.

• Variety: The CW has released the first look at transgender actress Nicole Maines, playing a superhero named “Dreamer” on the January 27 episode of DC Comic’s Supergirl.

Maines plays the first ever transgender superhero on television in an episode that explores the source of Dreamer’s powers. Maines will appear again in a later episode airing Feb. 17.

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News Round-Up: January 16, 2019

• InstaHunk Danny 'Tree Man' Jones acknowledges the challenges of trying to post 'engaging' content even when it's freezing outside.
(image via Instagram/DannyJones)

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk Danny ‘Tree Man’ Jones acknowledges the challenges of trying to post ‘engaging’ content even when it’s freezing outside.

• Vanity Fair reports that Donald Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, “hates” his job and expects the report from Special Counsel Robert Mueller to be “horrific” for Trump.

• New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has announced she will run for president in 2020. Gillibrand has been an LGBTQ ally for years fighting for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” opposing Trump’s transgender military ban, and pushing for federal LGBTQ protections.

• On the flip side, 2020 presidential hopeful Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii began her candidacy with an apology tour saying she’s really, really sorry for her long history of homophobia. #ByeFelicia

• Popular animated series Family Guy has announced the show will be ‘phasing out’ gay jokes.

• Chuck Holton, NRA-TV host, told viewers, “Men were meant to be dangerous” in response to the new Gillette ad I reported on yesterday that calls on men to ‘step up’ as role models for young males.

• Sweet video from INTO – “Old Gays Look Back At Their Younger Selves.”

“You look like a real jock.”
“Do I? I was pretty queer.”

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News Round-Up: January 14, 2019

Austin Wolf does the "How Hard Did Age Hit You?" challenge (above). I wish age would hit me that hard... LOL. And is it just the fact I'm older that I think most people's 'after' photos look better?

Some news items you might have missed:

• Austin Wolf does the “How Hard Did Age Hit You?” challenge (above). I wish age would hit me that hard… LOL. And is it just the fact I’m older that I think most people’s ‘after’ photos look better?

• Ohio’s new GOP governor has signed a new executive order banning LGBT discrimination in regard to state business.

• Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii has declared her candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination, but does her history as a full-throated homophobe disqualify her?

• Evangelicals sue for the right to deny homeless transgender people shelter.

• Free condoms are now available to everyone in Washington state who has health insurance. The new law also covers abortions, sterilizations, and vasectomies.

• Sen. Rand Paul, who has equated socialized health care to ‘slavery,’ will travel to Canada for hernia surgery.

• I’m always down to listen to anything new from Miss Chaka Khan. The Queen of Funk is back with her first album in 12 years, titled, Hello Happiness.

Check out the title track below, and look for the new collection on February 15.

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News Round-Up: January 11, 2019

• InstaHunk Joe Blizzard is setting up some serious 'beard goals.' #Woof
Joe Blizzard

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk Joe Blizzard is setting some serious ‘beard goals.’ #Woof

• White House officials are considering diverting disaster funds earmarked for Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas and California to build Donald Trump’s beloved ‘wall’ under the guise of declaring the border situation a ‘national emergency.’

• Did you hear about the United Airlines pilot and copilot having sex in the cockpit during a flight? Me neither. But fools who came across the fake story on the fake news site World News Daily Report swallowed the bogus story hook, line and sinker.

• After reviewing recent HIV research, experts at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) say they agree with over 300 health agencies around the world: HIV positive people with an undetectable viral load cannot sexually transmit HIV.

• Hate crime charges have been filed against a Washington state man who groped and punched a married lesbian couple at a Seattle Seahawks game.

• Check out this promo video for the upcoming WorldPride Main Event on Saturday, June 29, 2019, which will bring the entire LGBTQ community and its allies together on one ginormous dance floor at New York City’s largest venue, the Jacob Javitz Center.

Click here for more info on Pride Festival.