LGBTQ news and entertainment
In advance of his upcoming debut album – All-American Boy – Steve Grand shares this lyric video of the first song off the CD, “Whiskey Crime.”
Grand sounds strong, with a nice edge to his voice here. Bringing a little country/rock vibe along. This sounds about right for a Friday 🙂
The CD drops March 23rd.
In the EPK for his debut album, All-American Boy, out singer/songwriter Steve Grand talks on what the past year and a half has been like since he became an internet sensation with his first music video of the same name (3.8 million views at this writing).
In the video below, Grand dismisses the idea that artists coming out isn’t as important as it once was saying, ““You know who cares are the kids that are really struggling with this. Or the kids who feel like they would still rather be dead than live life as a gay person. I’m thinking about them all the time while I’m doing these things.”
Grand’s album is scheduled to drop March 24.
Last summer, everyone on the planet was taking part in the “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge” to raise funds for ALS research. Definitely a good cause, and the trend gave us all some entertaining videos.
Not least of which was out singer/songwriter Steve Grand’s take of the challenge which involved his stripping down to birthday suit and jumping in Lake Superior after a concert.
“We did some shots before the show, and we were feeling good,” he recalls. “I wanted to do [the challenge] in a creative way, so I said ‘I’m just gonna get naked and jump in this lake! It was just a, fun goofy time.”
The trend may have gone away, but you can still donate to ALS by clicking here.
Steve Grand’s long awaited debut CD All-American Boy drops March 24th.
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| Out singer/songwriter Steve Grand |
Out singer/songwriter and shirtless hottie Steve Grand has released two new singles: “Time” (from his upcoming album) and a cover of the Elton John classic “Bennie and the Jets” which Grand says was just for fun.
After a spectacular crowd sourcing campaign on Kickstarter (started with $81K goal, went on to raise over $320,000!!!), some fans had been getting antsy about no new music since the funding closed on March 30th and he had initially announced delivery of the album around July 2014.
Here’s hoping this calms the fans until the full album comes out some time next year.
Late this past summer, Grand also treated his fans to a naked lake dip video for the popular ALS Ice Bucket challenge 🙂
You’ll recall Grand became a hot poster boy for out musicians in July of 2013 with his terrific (shirtless) debut music video “All-American Boy.”
Hit the links above to listen and buy 🙂
We’ve seen the naked picture, but now – as promised – out singer/songwriter Steve Grand makes good on his promise of video footage of his naked Lake Superior “ALS Plunge.”
We don’t get to see much, but we do get a full minute of Mr. Grand addressing us in the buff.
In addition to ALS, I chose to donate to two other charities I feel passionate about. I encourage everyone out there to find a cause you are passionate about, do your research, and donate according to your means. Remember, numerous little donations are what make the biggest differences!
The Water Project (thewaterproject.org) is another charity I feel passionate about, as there are nearly 1 billion people in the developing world that do not have access to clean, safe, drinking water.
The Night Ministry – The Crib, is one of the charities I chose to donate to. LGBT youth are disproportionately affected by homelessness. Some studies show as many as 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBT. The Night Ministry – The Crib, is a local, Chicago emergency overnight shelter that accepts 20 youth a night.
And don’t forget you can donate to ALS by clicking here.
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| Wet and naked Steve Grand |
Out singer/songwriter Steve Grand shared a pic of himself after diving into Lake Superior naked putting his own nude spin on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.
Along with the pic, Steve wrote this:
“I don’t always get naked, but when I do, it’s for a good cause. I didn’t want to waste fresh water (since there are so many without) so naturally, I jumped into Lake Superior, naked, after my performance here in Duluth, MN. Video to come soon.
“I’m donating to ALS (visit alsa.org/donate) as well as 2 other charities I am passionate about. (Thewaterproject.org and a local LGBTQ homeless youth charity).
“I nominate ALL of you, to find a charity you are passionate about (in addition to ALS), do your research, and donate according to your means. Love you all! -Steve”
With an initial goal of $81,000, out singer/songwriter Steve Grand closed out his Kickstarter campaign at a staggering $326,593!
Steve’s total makes his campaign the #1 most-funded music Kickstarter by a musician not affiliated with a label.
He’s the #2 most-funded music project in the history of Kickstarter.
Steve had almost 5,000 individual backers.
Congrats to Steve, and to a community that clearly CAN rally around an out artist when moved to do so.
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| Steve Grand |
• Out singer/songwriter and current “It” boy Steve Grand’s Kickstarter campaign passes the $200K mark. He was looking for $81K. And he has two more weeks to go…
• Questions are raised about Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation as news comes that only $5K in grants were given out. Gaga’s mom defends the Foundation saying it isn’t built to dole out money.
• A Houston man arrested in the murder of his daughter and her girlfriend was reportedly “not happy” about the couple’s lesbian relationship
• Looks like another “Obamacare victim” is going to save money under her new, improved health insurance, despite GOP spin.
• Sen. Rand Paul wants Kentucky to change the election laws so he can appear on the 2016 ballot twice
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| Steve Grand in his new music video “Back To California” |
“All-American Boy” singer Steve Grand appeared on Larry King Now this week to talk about his upcoming debut album and the Kickstarter campaign that funded it.
He launched the campaign just yesterday with hopes to raise $81,000 before March 30. Instead, he has raised over $116,000 in one day:
Recording and producing an album can be an expensive undertaking. Record companies often spend hundreds of thousands of dollars — millions for the bigger artists — producing and promoting an album.
My goal is $81,000. That will allow me just enough to finish my record, create album art, package it, and film my next music video, which I plan to release on the same day as the album.
If we can raise this money together, you can count on my album being out sometime in May. And then I’ll see you on tour!
Grand says excess funds will be used for radio promotion and marketing.
I really like this guy since he released his smash, uber-viral music video “All-American Boy.”
You can check out his Kickstarter pitch plus his latest music video – “Back To California” – below.
Go Steve Grand!
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| Out singer/songwriter Steve Grand |
Michael Musto interviews “All-American Boy” Steve Grand for OUT, where he talks on being kind of “weird” in high school, his famous first music video and more. Here’s just a bit:
Did conversion therapy scar you for life?
I want to make it clear that it’s been misrepresented that I went through what most people know as conversion therapy. I saw a Christian therapist who, among many other beliefs, believed I’d be happier in a straight life. He didn’t shame me for being gay. Most of the focus, we weren’t even talking about my sexuality. But certainly his belief that I’d be living a happier life as a heterosexual was indeed harmful. In no way, shape, or form—I can’t even believe I have to clarify this—do I condone ex-gay therapy. I think it’s a horrible practice. There’s no scientific basis for it. A person’s sexuality is a part of who they are. And I certainly suffered for not having my sexuality affirmed.
Can you be a happy gay within the church?
We need to learn to applaud the gradual changes. The church has been around for thousands of years. Like it or not, they’re gonna be here for a long time. One of the great ways to make a change is showing we’re just like everyone else and we love the same and we’re just as diverse as the straight community. By having more visibility within the church, that can only be a good thing. I certainly don’t support the church’s stance on gay issues as they are right now. They have a long way to go. But I think there’s a great power to being present—to having openly gay people in church and having the congregation witness and embrace. I got up in front of a congregation and said I was gay and I believed there was nothing wrong with that, and I was applauded for that. There’s a quiet majority that’s growing that wants to say, “Hey, these are our brothers and sisters too. Make sure we’re sending the message that all are welcome.”
Read the whole exchange with the hunky singer at OUT.com