Monday, April 30, 2012

NC: A man, a rifle and a defenseless sign



Funny how proud & cool this guy thinks he is for shooting a sign.

Yep - he really took care of things.
(via JMG)

UPDATE - May 1, 2012: Cabarrus County deputies spent more than an hour at the teen’s home after learning about the video. They believe the 17-year-old Jonathan Wiles took the sign from an intersection and set it up in his backyard where he recorded himself firing several shots at it.

County officials said its investigation is not over. There is a county ordinance that deals with using firearms near other homes. Officials are also looking into the possibility of additional charges.

More here.

Broadway - or "The Shows What I Saw This Week"

While in NYC this past week, I was able to see several shows on Broadway. I love being in a Broadway theater and seeing folks do what they do best.


GHOST the Musical, based on the Patrick Swayze/Demi Moore/Whoopi Goldberg movie, was visually fantastic. Like nothing I've ever seen. If you know the movie (and who doesn't?) you know it begins with someone dying and becoming a ghost. It's hard to imagine the show without the technology which really made telling the story possible. This production takes technical theater to a new height. Da 'Vine Joy Randolph, who plays the Whoopi Goldberg role, is a serious scene-stealer. Hysterical, funny and has a big voice.



Tracie Bennett could very well win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Judy Garland in her final days. Completely lived up to her reviews and hype. Michael Cumpsty brings his usual brilliance to the play as Judy's accompanist. Plus the wonderful Jay Russell, who I went to college with at Syracuse University, is wonderful in the production. Congrats Jay on a fab evening in the theater.



Word is Linda Lavin also is a heavy contender in the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. She was very funny especially in the first act of this play. If you think family members loudly telling each other to "f*ck off" over and over is funny, you'll love this. The second act lost me a bit, but I did enjoy the play overall.



Also saw the new revival of EVITA. Rob Ashford's choreography was the highlight of the evening. Beautiful work by Rob.


One show I did not get to see this trip and will definitely see next is the revival of "Porgy and Bess" starring Norm Lewis & Audra McDonald. I did get to catch up with Norm for a bit after one of his performances, and I'm happy to report the show is doing well not only with the audiences but at the box office as well. Both Audra and Norm have been nominated for many awards for their performances. Can't wait to see it.

Marriage News Watch: April 30, 2012



Civil unions advance in Colorado, but old foes are joining forces in Maine.

There's just a few days left until North Carolina votes on an extreme constitutional amendment, and the race is getting closer and closer every day.

And new research has shown a promising trend when it comes to public opinion.

Drama Desk Awards reinstates Orchestration category



Last week the Drama Desk announced its nominees for the 2011-2012 season celebrating the best of On, Off and Off-Off Broadway. Absent from this year’s list was a category honoring the “Outstanding Orchestrations.”

After hearing the outpouring of concern and support for the category (including an online petition, created by Jamie McGonnigal, with 3,000+ signatures from industry notables and fans), the Drama Desk Executive Board has announced that they will reinstate the category for this year’s awards show on June 3 at The Town Hall.

The Nominating Committee reassembled over the weekend to select this year’s most Outstanding Orchestrations. 

This year’s nominees for Outstanding Orchestrations include: 
1. Bill Elliott, Nice Work If You Can Get It 
2. Larry Hochman, Death Takes a Holiday 
3. Martin Lowe, Once 
4. John McDaniel, Bonnie & Clyde 
5. Michael Starobin, Queen of the Mist 
6. Danny Troob, Newsies 

“The Drama Desk prides itself on celebrating New York’s rich theatrical community. Our Executive Board appreciates the forthright and passionate response to our nominations announcement and have taken your comments to heart. The Executive Board is very happy to reinstate the Outstanding Orchestrations category and honor the dedication and hard work of this season’s talented orchestrators.” said Isa Goldberg, Drama Desk President.

The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards will take place on Sunday, June 3, 2012, at 8:00 PM at The Town Hall in Manhattan.

Signorile: Gays who criticize other gays

"Like the classic case of the bully who picks on people because he's afraid, deep down, that he is the one who actually is weak, it appears that these guys beat up others in the community to divert attention from themselves and to show that they're down with everyone else who's doing the bashing. In the case of [Richard] Grenell, it's particularly interesting because if you watch a video of him being interviewed you'll see he is not exactly the standard of masculinity. And that's totally fine -- few men are, gay or straight. But for him to then criticize a lesbian for not meeting a standard of femininity does reveal a certain 'lady doth protest too much' quality.

"We've seen similar kinds of tweets about Maddow from Chris Barron, one of the founders of the conservative gay group, GOProud, who once mocked her for looking like a 'dude.' He's also tweeted that Barney Frank is 'catty,' has a 'purse' and wants to 'sit in Scott Brown's lap.' Curiously, Barron also obsessively tweets about his gym workouts and tweets many photos of his worked-out abs, in what seems like a desperate exercise in overcompensation, as if to say, 'See, I really am a real man, really!'" - Michelangelo Signorile, writing for Huffington Post.
(via JMG)

Fox News: Olivia Newton-John's cook book "LivWise"



FOX News put together a video package covering the main points about her new cook book "LivWise."

NC: Amendment One - Every1Against1



Same-sex marriage is already illegal in North Carolina. Which means voting AGAINST Amendment One is not a vote to legalize same-sex marriage.

Amendment One (SB514) is a proposed change to Article 14 of the North Carolina State Constitution that will appear before the voters on the May 8, 2012 primary ballot across North Carolina. Amendment One is not only an ideological assault on the civil rights of LGBT North Carolinians, it’s also a poorly written law that will have serious negative, unintended and harmful consequences on North Carolina’s children, families, seniors, women and businesses.

Stating that, “Marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State,” Amendment One aims to turn all unmarried couples — whether same-sex or opposite-sex — into second-class citizens unworthy of basic dignity and fair treatment.

Vote NO on Amendment One in North Carolina on May 8th.

More info here.

How you can help - click here.

Zach Wahls speaks of the sanctity of marriage on Piers Morgan Show



I agree with everything Zach says here.

The conversation regarding marriage equality needs to be a respectful one so those who don't yet see this as a civil rights issue can still be open to a dialogue.

I also wholeheartedly agree that the First Amendment does guarantee freedom of religion but it also does not create a theocracy in America.

Many times you hear anti-gay folks say they don't want homosexuality shoved down their throats. BUT by trying to create laws that follow religious teachings and using the Bible as the primary foundation of their disapproval, those folks are going down the road of trying to make this country a theocracy. By definition, those people are "shoving" their views onto the LGBT community.

From President Obama - "Forward"



The video outlines the challenges America faced as President Obama took office at the height of the worst recession in almost a century and details the progress that has been made reclaiming the security of the middle class and building an economy that's meant to last, where hard work pays and responsibility is rewarded.

Well done. And always nice to see facts...

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Video: Olivia Newton-John book signing in NYC



Olivia Newton-John at Barnes & Noble Book Store in NYC on April 27, 2012.

Olivia greeted fans and signed 500 copies of her "LivWise: easy recipes for a healthy, happy life" cookbook. All proceeds of the book go to help build the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre.

The line for the book signing snaked through the entire store many times over. Scheduled to end after two hours, Olivia stayed over three hours and signed for every fan who bought a book for the ONJCWC.

Funny photo of the day

Wear it with confidence and walk tall...

Fox News commentator insults then "apologizes"



Sandra Fluke speaks about being attacked by Fox News commentator Monica Crowley for the announcement of Sandra's engagement.

Crowley later "apologized" for the tweet saying “Regret my tweeted question caused a stir. I certainly & unequivocally apologize to Sandra & anyone else I offended. Not my intention.”

My one question is: what was your intention Ms. Crowley? I appreciate the "apology" but I can't imagine you meant any goodwill by your tweet.

Folks, just another example of the mean-spirited perspective Fox News folks bring to the table.

Disturbing: Radio show personality suggests a father have his daughter raped


Radio listeners in Cleveland received a rude jolt yesterday morning when Dominic Dieter of Rover's Morning Glory -- a talk show on the massively influential WMMS 100.7, "The Buzzard" -- told a father that his possibly-gay daughter should be raped straight.  From GLAAD:
According to the incident reports (and later confirmed to us by an executive for Clear Channel, the station's parent company), the anti-gay remark was made by Dominic Dieter, one of the "Rover's Morning Glory" cast members.  Responding to an e-mail from a father who (for reasons unknown) wrote to the station to say that he'd happened upon his teenage daughter kissing another girl. Deiter responded to the father, on-air, by saying:

"You should get one of your friends to screw your daughter straight."


This is not okay. Not on any level, and not in any context. We trust that the majority of fair-minded Americans will agree. Make no mistake, if this young woman is, in fact, gay - or if she's simply not interested in having sex with any of her father's friends, then what Dieter is suggesting is rape.

That's right, Dieter. Rape is not funny, and "corrective rape" happens to be a real and hideous thing.
GLAAD's calling for Dieter's suspension, and for an apology, and for Rover's Morning Glory to produce "a segment speaking about the real harms that can come from parental rejection." If you'd like to let WMMS know your thoughts, you can email the station at feedback@wmms.com, and the general manager, Gary Mincer, may be reached at 216-520-2600.
(source)

UPDATE: Over the weekend Dieter apologized for his comments:

"I just wanted to say that, I know on the show this past Friday I made some comments that people found…..  considered to be offensive.  And I just wanted to say, I understand why people are angry.  I want to genuinely apologize to anyone who may have been offended by what I said.  I regret what I did say.  My comments were inappropriate.  They were inexcusable, and just downright stupid.   And I want to make it clear; there was absolutely no intention to promote physical or sexual violence.  And I’m truly; truly sorry by my poor choice of words that led people to believe otherwise.  Again, Rover… I just want to apologize for any pain I might have caused. (...)  I ask people to find it in their hearts to forgive me.  I am sorry for the words that I did say. "

 

Friday, April 27, 2012

Pew Poll: Marriage Equality April 2012


Forward, kids. 
Slow but steady...

Olivia Newton-John on Fox Business News



Olivia Newton-John on Fox Business News talking about her new cookbook for the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre, her award-winning Gaia Resort and Spa, and other business ventures.

Mitt Romney: "Borrow from your parents"



Mitt Romney’s advice to young people who want to start a business: Borrow money from your parents.

At a “lecture” for students at Otterbein University in Ohio today, Mitt Romney told students that, his friend, Jimmy John, started a business by borrowing $20,000 from his parents at a low interest rate. Romney suggested anyone in the audience could do the same:
This kind of devisiveness, this attack of success, is very different than what we’ve seen in our country’s history. We’ve always encouraged young people: Take a shot, go for it, take a risk, get the education, borrow money if you have to from your parents, start a business.
This shows how out of touch with middle America Mitt Romney is. He assumes everyone's parents have $20,000 of disposable income laying around to loan their children.

I know Mitt's dad had money - whether he gave any to Mitt or not, Mitt seems to think everyone has at least that laying around.

Another strike out Mitt.  

Drama Desk nominations 2012


The Drama Desk was founded in 1949 "to explore key issues in the theater and to bring together critics and writers in an organization to support the ongoing development of theater in New York," according to press notes. The organization began presenting its awards in 1955, and it is the only critics organization to honor achievement in the theatre with competition among Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions in the same categories.

Outstanding Play
David Henry Hwang, Chinglish
Dan LeFranc, The Big Meal
Members of the Plastic Theatre, Unnatural Acts
Itamar Moses, Completeness
Lynn Nottage, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark
Nina Raine, Tribes
Nicky Silver, The Lyons

Outstanding Musical
Bonnie & Clyde
Death Takes a Holiday
Leap of Faith
Newsies The Musical
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Once
Queen of the Mist


Outstanding Revival of a Play
A Little Journey
Death of a Salesman
Edward Albee's The Lady from Dubuque
Gore Vidal's The Best Man
Lost in Yonkers
Richard III


Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Carrie
Evita
Follies
Jesus Christ Superstar
The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
The Threepenny Opera


Outstanding Actor in a Play
James Corden, One Man, Two Guvnors
Hugh Dancy, Venus in Fur
Claybourne Elder, One Arm
Santino Fontana, Sons of the Prophet
Joseph Franchini, The Navigator
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Death of a Salesman
Kevin Spacey, Richard III

Outstanding Actress in a Play
Tracie Bennett, End of the Rainbow
Sanaa Lathan, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark
Linda Lavin, The Lyons
Jennifer Lim, Chinglish
Kim Martin-Cotten, A Moon for the Misbegotten
Carey Mulligan, Through a Glass Darkly
Joely Richardson, Side Effects

Outstanding Actor in a Musical
Danny Burstein, Follies
Kevin Earley, Death Takes a Holiday
Raul Esparza, Leap of Faith
Jeremy Jordan, Newsies The Musical
Norm Lewis, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Ricky Martin, Evita

Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Miche Braden, The DeviI's Music: The Life & Blues of Bessie Smith
Jan Maxwell, Follies
Audra McDonald, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Kelli O'Hara, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Bernadette Peters, Follies
Molly Ranson, Carrie

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Bill Camp, Death of a Salesman
Jim Dale, The Road to Mecca
Tom Edden, One Man, Two Guvnors
Bill Irwin, King Lear
Jefferson Mays, Blood and Gifts
Will Rogers, Unnatural Acts
Morgan Spector, Russian Transport

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Stephanie J. Block, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark
Anna Camp, All New People
Kimberly Hebert Gregory, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark
Lisa Joyce, The Ugly One
Joaquina Kalukango, Hurt Village
Angela Lansbury, Gore Vidal's The Best Man
Judith Light, Other Desert Cities

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
Phillip Boykin, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Matt Cavenaugh, Death Takes a Holiday
Michael Cerveris, Evita
Michael McGrath, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Patrick Page, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
Andrew Samonsky, Queen of the Mist

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Judy Kaye, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Marin Mazzie, Carrie
Jessie Mueller, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Elaine Paige, Follies
Sarah Sokolovic, The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World
Melissa van der Schyff, Bonnie & Clyde

Outstanding Director of a Play
Jo Bonney, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark
David Cromer, Tribes
Ed Sylvanus Iskandar, These Seven Sicknesses
Sam Mendes, Richard III
Mike Nichols, Death of a Salesman
Tony Speciale, Unnatural Acts

Outstanding Director of a Musical
Christopher Ashley, Leap of Faith
Jack Cummings III, Queen of the Mist
Doug Hughes, Death Takes a Holiday
Kathleen Marshall, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Eric Schaeffer, Follies
John Tiffany, Once

Outstanding Choreography
Rob Ashford, Evita
Warren Carlyle, Follies
Breandan de Gallal, Noctu
Christopher Gattelli, Newsies The Musical
Kathleen Marshall, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Sergio Trujillo, Leap of Faith

Outstanding Music
Glen Hansard and Marketa lrglova, Once
Michael John LaChiusa, Queen of the Mist
Alan Menken, Leap of Faith
Alan Menken, Newsies The Musical
Frank Wildhorn, Bonnie & Clyde
Maury Yeston, Death Takes a Holiday

Outstanding Lyrics
Don Black, Bonnie & Clyde
Jack Feldman, Newsies The Musical
Joy Gregory and Gunnar Madsen, The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World
Glen Hansard and Marketa lrglova, Once
Michael John LaChiusa, Queen of the Mist
Maury Yeston, Death Takes a Holiday

Outstanding Book of a Musical
Douglas Carter Beane, Lysistrata Jones
Janus Cercone and Warren Leight, Leap of Faith
Joe DiPietro, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Joy Gregory, The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World
Michael John LaChiusa, Queen of the Mist
Thomas Meehan and Peter Stone, Death Takes a Holiday

Outstanding Music in a Play
Mark Bennett, An Iliad
Mark Bennett, Richard III
Tom Kitt, All's Well That Ends Well
Gina Leishman, Septimus and Clarissa
Grant Olding, One Man, Two Guvnors
Suzanne Vega and Duncan Sheik, Carson McCullers Talks About Love

Outstanding Revue
Newsical the Musical: End of the World Edition
The Best Is Yet to Come: The Music of Cy Coleman


Outstanding Set Design
Jon Driscoll, Rob Howell and Paul Kieve, Ghost The Musical
David Gallo, The Mountaintop
Roger Hanna, A Little Journey
David Korins, Assistance
David Korins, Chinglish
Derek McLane, Follies

Outstanding Costume Design
Gregg Barnes, Follies
ESosa, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark
William Ivey Long, Lucky Guy
Jessica Pabst, She Kills Monsters
Martin Pakledinaz, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Catherine Zuber, Death Takes a Holiday

Outstanding Lighting Design
Kevin Adams, Carrie
Neil Austin, Evita
David Lander, One Arm
Brian MacDevitt, Death of a Salesman
Kenneth Posner, Death Takes a Holiday
Paul Pyant, Richard III

Outstanding Sound Design in a Musical
Acme Sound Partners, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
Jonathan Deans, Carrie
Clive Goodwin, Once
Kai Harada, Follies
Steve Canyon Kennedy, Jesus Christ Superstar
Jon Weston, Death Takes a Holiday

Outstanding Sound Design in a Play
Quentin Chiappetta/mediaNoise, The Navigator
Gregory Clarke, Misterman
Gareth Fry, Richard III
John Gromada, Gore Vidal's The Best Man
Stowe Nelson, Samuel and Alasdair: A Personal History of the Robot War
Shane Rettig, She Kills Monsters

Outstanding Solo Performance
Baba Brinkman, The Rap Guide to Evolution
Suli Holum, Chimera
Jeff Key, The Eyes of Babylon
Cillian Murphy, Misterman
Denis O'Hare, An Iliad
Stephen Spinella, An Iliad

Unique Theatrical Experience
Give Me Your Hand
Gob Squad's Kitchen (You've Never Had It So Good)
Noctu
The Complete & Condensed Stage Directions of Eugene O'Neill, Vol. 1: Early Plays/Lost Plays
The Ryan Case 1873
White

 


The Drama Desk nominees will receive their Nomination Certificates at a gala cocktail reception May 8 at Oceana.
The 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards will take place June 3 at 8 PM at The Town Hall in Manhattan.

Adam Levine of Maroon 5 on the 2012 election


Oakland A's Brandon McCarthy blasts "kiss cams"


Oakland A's pitcher Brandon McCarthy blasted the practice of often focusing baseball stadiums' "kiss cams" on two men to spark laughter as silly and homophobic.

When the kiss cam shows two men they often make faces of disgust, while the crowd erupts in laughter. The 28-year-old player recently tweeted, "They put two guys on the 'Kiss Cam' tonight. What hilarity!! (by hilarity I mean offensive homophobia). Enough with this stupid trend."

McCarthy elaborated on his feelings to the San Francisco Chronicle.

"There's that stupid, little comedic value of it if you don't really think about what it implies," he said Tuesday. "It kind of got old on that level. Then I actually started thinking about why we were supposed to be laughing, and it bugged me."

It's hypocritical for Major League Baseball teams to film It Gets Better videos and continue with anti-gay baiting via the kiss cam, McCarthy says.

"If there are gay people who are coming to a game and seeing something like that, you can't assume they're comfortable with it," he said. "If you're even making a small group of people ... feel like outcasts, then you're going against what makes your model successful."
(source)

Campaign ad: "One Chance"



I know how I feel about President Obama making the call to capture Osama bin Laden. How about you?

As VP Joe Biden said "Bin Laden is dead, GM is alive."

And there you have it.

Betsey Johnson stores to close


Popular New York fashion designer Betsey Johnson’s chain went bankrupt Thursday, and most of her 63 freestanding boutiques will close.  From the NY Daily News:

The filing will likely result in the dismissal of 350 employees and the closure of most of the brand’s 63 stores. It listed “severe liquidity problems” and $4.1 million in outstanding unsecured obligations owed to vendors, manufacturers, service providers and other creditors including jewelers, watchmakers, banks and accountants. Steve Madden, who has owned the 34-year-old brand’s intellectual property rights since 2010, said in an email that the group will continue to support the company and ensure existing orders will be produced and ship on time.

Her clothing will continue to be sold Saks and other high-end stores.

Betsey Johnson graduated from Syracuse University and spoke at my graduation.  I've always kept tabs on her success over the years having met her and having the S.U. connection.

LivWise Cook Book Promotional tour 2

Just a few pics from the day so far....

Began the day at Fox & Friends, who are always so great to Olivia:


Then, across town to Good Day NY:


Over to the studios of The Dr. Steve Show (syndicated health/wellness show in many US markets - taped to air sometime in next week or so):


On the book tour road with Olivia

One thing that amazes me are the autograph hounds who stalk every stop we make while Olivia is promoting her new cookbook "LivWise."

Every single place Olivia goes, the autograph seekers seem to know and are waiting with several pieces of memorabilia for Olivia to sign. When she asks their name for the autograph, they never want her to write a name - clearly so they can sell the signed items.

And the same guys are at every stop. Some follow on bicycles, some run alongside the car and ask at stop lights.

Kind of amazing...


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Thursday, April 26, 2012

I met Zach Wahls today


Today,  I met Zach Wahls in the lobby of CNN where he was doing promotional appearances for his new book My Two Moms.

As regular readers of The Randy Report know, on January 31, 2011, Zach Wahls addressed the Iowa House Judiciary Committee in a public forum regarding civil unions. The nineteen-year-old son of a same-sex couple, Wahls proudly proclaimed, “The sexual orientation of my parents has had zero effect on the content of my character.” 

Hours later, his speech was posted on YouTube, where it went viral, quickly receiving more than two million views. By the end of the week, everyone knew his name and wanted to hear more from the boy with two moms.

I recently was talking about how celebrity sightings don't usually affect me much, but I have to say seeing Zach at 20 feet I dropped my bag and approached him directly.  I introduced myself and explained what I do and how much I admire him.  He could not have been more gracious as this stranger babbled to him.  He was exactly what you would expect from  his public appearances, as were his two moms.

My Two Moms also delivers a reassuring message to same-sex couples, their kids, and anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider: “You are not alone.”  Make sure you check out his new book.


I was visiting CNN with Olivia Newton-John who is also on a book tour promoting her new healthy cookbook LivWise - Easy Recipes for a Healthy Happy Life for which all proceeds go to help build the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne, Australia.

Olivia is a long-time ally of the LGBT community and has made her own public statement supporting marriage equality: "With respect to marriage equality, I believe that no-one has the right to judge and deny couples who love each other the ability to make a marriage commitment. Love is love."

My very cool honor to get to introduce these two LGBT allies to each other.

Olivia Newton-John and the Wahls family

Mitt Romney on the Boy Scouts



The Boy Scouts of America's habit of discriminating against gay members and troop leaders is again in the spotlight thanks to the allegedly patriotic group's decision to ban lesbian Jen Tyrrell from heading her son's group.

Hoping to keep the issue center stage, and put the squeeze on strategically anti-gay Republican Mitt Romney, GLAAD is pointing to video of the presidential candidate backing gay Scouts inclusion in 1994, when he was running for senator against Ted Kennedy.

Says Romney in the clip, “I believe that the Boy Scouts of America does a wonderful service for this country. I support the right of the Boy Scouts of America to decide what it wants to do on that issue. I feel that all people should be able to participate in the Boy Scouts regardless of their sexual orientation.”

(source)


NC: A few of the folks who are "for" Amendment One



Please notice how many of these "man on the street" interviews uses the exact same phrases and terminology.

Think they were handed talking points...?

"LivWise" Cook Book promotion NYC

Olivia and the cast of THE CHEW on ABC
"Olivia Trivia" on THE CHEW
Between segments on THE CHEW
Michael and Olivia working between TV appearances
The audience at ANDERSON COOPER
Olivia & Robin Roberts on GOOD MORNING AMERICA

Pew Poll: Marriage Equality April 2012

(via JMG)

Rachel Maddow on Wendy Williams Show



Rachel Maddow appeared on The Wendy Williams Show today and talks about how she was outed to her parents, where she met her partner Susan, and why she follows Ice-T and Coco.

Jeff Timmons on 98 Degrees reunion rumors


Earlier this month, millions of pop music fans were excited when they heard rumors that former ’90s boy band 98 Degrees was reuniting for a tour this summer.

Unfortunately, said rumors were quickly shot down by band member and soon-to-be-father Nick Lachey, who on Twitter wrote, “So psyched to see all the excitement for a 98 degree tour, but the only tour I’ll be doing this summer is at baby’s ‘r us.” (Nick and his wife, Vanessa Lachey, are expecting their first child together this year.)

“I honestly don’t think it’s gonna happen at all now,” founder and creator of 98 Degrees Jeff Timmons said, candidly. “If it wasn’t gonna happen now, it wasn’t gonna happen last year … Maybe it’ll never happen.”

“We had gotten serious about it,” he said, of the proposed summer tour. “So much so that a tour was being put together for us; a 15-city tour. We got on the phone, all of the guys discussed it, and it seemed like a go. And then not everybody wanted to do it, for various reasons. We make decisions collectively as a group; not one person make decisions. [Since] not all four of us were on the same page, we decided not to do it.”

“I would love to get back in the studio with 98 degrees, but I just don’t think it’s gonna happen,” Timmons says. “Some of us want to do music, and some of us don’t. We all gotta want to do it; we can’t be forced into that. It’ll come through in the music. So, I don’t think it’s gonna happen. I would love the opportunity, but right now it doesn’t seem like it’s gonna go down.”

Read more at Celebuzz

Morning Joe


From the IWC Flagship Boutique NYC grand opening

Video: "Homecoming"



"All men can be heroes. All men can be husbands. End marriage discrimination."

Released online by the Coalition for Equal Marriage, the video is designed to encourage support for the introduction of marriage equality in the UK.

Viewers can sign the petition here,

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

The Candi & Randy Show: Vanessa Williams & Helen Williams


Listen to internet radio with CandiXRandy on Blog Talk Radio.


Catch Vanessa Williams and her mother Helen for a full hour on The Candi & Randy Show as they talk about their new book "You Have No Idea." Both women are charming and direct. Great guests, great chat, great show!

YOU HAVE NO IDEA is the highly anticipated first book from award winning singer and actress Vanessa Williams and her mother Helen.

Vanessa and Helen discuss it all: from becoming the first black Miss America in 1983 and the controversy that followed, to her debut and success on Broadway, and her resurgence in recent years on network television in Ugly Betty and Desperate Housewives. Vanessa has proven she has serious staying power, and as readers will learn, that survivor mentality and resilience is inherited from her mother, Helen.

No stone is left unturned. Filled with personal family photos and mementos, YOU HAVE NO IDEA is an empowering celebration of the love between a mother and daughter and the lives, thus far, of two women who have consistently defied the odds to achieve success—no matter how uncertain their paths might have been.

I really encourage everyone to read the new book. It's sure to entertain and touch you.  The book is available today - April 17th - everywhere!  

Check it out on Amazon.  I got mine!


President Obama slow-jams the news



You know, I like that not only is President Obama a constitutional scholar with a law degree from Havard, but he can also be cool.

NC: Sen. Kay Hagan Speaks Out Against Amendment One



NC: Gov. Bev Purdue Speaks Out Against Amendment One



For more information, please visit www.protectallncfamilies.org

Pennsylvania to get first openly gay state legislator

Brian Sims has won a decisive Democratic primary in his Philadelphia district and will become Pennsylvania’s first openly gay state representative.

Sims defeated a longtime incumbent to capture the Democratic nomination in the heavily Democratic District 182, and will face no Republican opponent this November.

Sims, a former member of the Victory Campaign Board, is a distinguished policy attorney and civil rights advocate from Center City Philadelphia. The former Staff Counsel for Policy and Planning at the Philadelphia Bar Association, he recently stepped down as the President of the Board of Directors of Equality Pennsylvania.
(source)

Chippendale of the day: Jonanthan Howes


And yes - he really looks just like that.
Life isn't fair....

Breakfast of champions


God its early.

NYC bound....


Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Apple exceeds estimates for quarter - $39.2 billion


Apple’s market muscle held firm Tuesday as the company  surpassed analysts’ estimates and set second-quarter records in its sales of iPhones, iPads and Macs.

The tech titan posted quarterly revenue of $39.2 billion — second only to its all-time, quarterly revenue record of $46.33 billion, which it reported last December.

For the March quarter, Apple reported a net profit of $11.6 billion — or 12.30 per diluted share. A consensus estimate previously gathered by Thomson Reuters had predicted Apple would post quarterly revenue of $38.9 billion and $10.10 per share.

I'm an Apple guy.  I like the products and they work easily with each other.  I can't even use a PC.

Yes, Apple.  Taking over the world one iPad at a time.

Happy birthday Barbra Streisand!


Forever fabulous.

Bryan Fischer on CNN Attacks "Homosexual Lobby"



(From Right Wing Watch): Highlights from certified hate group American Family Association spokesman Bryan Fischer's appearance on CNN. debating R. Clarke Cooper of the Log Cabin Republicans over the Romney campaigns’ hiring of Richard Grenell, who is openly gay.

Fischer, who believes that gays and lesbians should be “disqualified from public office,” repeated his claims that Grenell’s hiring is an attack on the “pro-family community” because “the homosexual agenda represents the single greatest threat to religious liberty in America today” and is a “big gain for the homosexual lobby.”

Later, Fischer and Cooper debated whether sexual orientation is a choice, and Cooper compared Fischer to segregationist George Wallace who will be “left in the dustbin of history."

To show how rabid Fischer is about the hiring of Richard Grenell: "I called the RNC this morning, had my producer Jan Bryan call the offices of the Republican National Committee, we need some clarification on this. Where is the Republican Party on the issue of homosexual behavior. Do they consider homosexual behavior something that's healthy or harmful? What is their position on Governor Romney hiring somebody who is a homosexual activist to a prominent spokes position? We need to get some answers from the RNC. And, predictably, the Republican National Committee has not called me back."


Video: Lies about Amendment One in North Carolina



I expected something very heavy and legally dense when I clicked on this video.

Instead, what I got was a very clear demonstration of the kind of sideways rhetoric that anti-gay groups put out to keep the LGBT community second class citizens.

One person who attended the service called this "A political message disguised as a sermon." Take a look.

This shows not only the lies but the truths about Amendment One.

Click here to see how you can help stop discrimination in North Carolina.

Superstar rugby player Ben Foden gets a bit wild at Barcelona bachelor party


Superstar rugby player Ben Foden—seen here in a Cosmopolitan UK pictorial raising awareness for testicular and prostate cancer—is in trouble with his soon-to-be wife for a different photo.

Over the weekend at a bachelor party in Barcelona, Foden joined some dancers at a strip club by peeling off his kit (British slang for clothes).

The UK’s Daily Sun, which has posted the image in question (with Foden’s privates tastefully blurred), says the sports star’s fiancee, Una Healy, is “fuming” about the incident.  “She was shocked to see those pictures and Ben is in the doghouse big time since she found out.”

Oops.  I guess this is the problem with being famous AND wanting a wild bachelor party.  Even if you leave the country.  Somebody is going to have a camera these days.

On a lighter note - man, do rugby players have great bodies. 
(source)

Zach Wahls on The Late Show with David Letterman




Randy Report favorite Zach Wahls appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman last night and talked about being bullied growing up for having two moms, homophobia, and his advocacy about gay parenting.

This guy is so smart and so well-spoken.  I'm impressed over and over again every time I see him.

Zach's book, My Two Moms: Lessons of Love, Strength, and What Makes a Family, comes out this week.

NC: Newt Gingrich, with three marriages to date, supports the "sanctity" of marriage




Newt Gingrich, a serial adulterer who has three marriages under his belt, has made a video urging North Carolina voters to pass 'Amendment One', which would ban same-sex marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships in the state, in a new video.

As two new ads noted yesterday, it would also harm children by taking away health insurance, and it would jeopardize the safety of domestic violence victims.

Vote NO on Amendment One in North Carolina.

Jon Stewart: No one wants to be Romney's VP


Monday, April 23, 2012

Vanessa Williams on the set of "Desperate Housewives"


Vanessa Williams just tweeted this picture from the set of "Desperate Housewives" as they film for the last few days.

"Quiet moment of contemplation on set - 3 more shooting days 2 go! Soaking in every moment! :)"

President Obama helps college students



Four years ago Barack Obama promised to make college more affordable.

As president he doubled funding for Pell Grants, reduced student loan payments for millions of borrowers, and capped federal loan repayments at10% of income.

By cutting out the banks as middlemen which cost the government money, tens of billions of dollars was saved which can now lower interest rates for student loans and make more Pell Grants available.

And it didn't cost the American taxpayer anything.

Just saying...

Chris Hemsworth in OUT Magazine



This year, Chris Hemsworth will open two summer blockbusters: reprising the thunder god in Whedon’s The Avengers -- alongside a dizzying cast of costars (such as Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, and Chris Evans) -- and starring in a darkly gothic fairytale retelling, Snow White and the Huntsman.

Chris talks about the movies and his ascension to the Hollywood elite in a new interview with OUT Magazine.

Oh, and he took some new pics too :)

Check it out at Out.com




NC: New ads to oppose anti-gay Amendment One

The Campaign to Protect All NC Families has released two new ads opposing North Carolina’s Amendment One, which would ban not just same-sex marriage, but civil unions and domestic partnerships as well.

In the first, “Melissa,” a mother expresses her concern for her child’s health insurance, a possible consequence of invalidated domestic partnerships.



The second ad features the testimony of a victim of domestic abuse whose protection order could be rescinded by the amendment because she was not married to her partner.



Opponents of Amendment One, say their campaign is “winnable,” but they need people around the country to focus on the May 8 vote. For more info on how you can help go to http://www.protectncfamilies.org/

Marriage News Watch: April 23, 2012



Rehab Pool Party in Las Vegas is packed!


Rehab Pool Party just tweeted this pic.  These pool parties in Las Vegas are a huge draw for hotels.

I don't know that I would enjoy being all packed up against folks in a pool drinking, but they are waaaaay popular.  

Anti-gay ad from Minnesota



Brought to you by the people who would like to make sure gays and lesbians are second-class citizens.
(via JMG)

Olivia Newton-John at Waterstones in London



From Olivia's recent book signing in London for her cookbook "LivWise."  All proceeds of the book go to help build the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne, Australia.

I am always fascinated by the flashes of the photographers. I don't know why.  I also think it's funny how they yell at celebrities.

I do laugh when Olivia tries to stop them, say "I'll start over here and work my way across" so they all can have a direct shot, and then they just do what they were doing anyway. Take charge Miss Olivia!

Handsome men want to make your fruit juice



Gayest thing I've seen in a long time. But fun :)

From the South African-based juice Company, LiquiFruit.

Roslyn Kind on The Candi & Randy Show

Listen to internet radio with CandiXRandy on Blog Talk Radio

While she may have started out as "Barbra Steisand's little sister" - Roslyn Kind has made a big name for herself thanks to acclaimed recordings, appearances in concert, on Broadway and television.

L.A. Times: "Forget that Roslyn Kind is Barbra Streisand's kid sister. She's too good and too special to have to worry about comparisons..."

The London Times: “To say she is superb would be an understatement.” 

The New York Post: “She’s so good on so many levels; it’s difficult to categorize her.  This elegant, beautiful, petite, dynamo delight rules the stage with a royal command that demands adoration from every seat in the house.”

In addition to her work on stage and in the studio, Roslyn also takes pride in her work for various animal welfare, Alzheimer’s and AIDS related charitable organizations including HSUS, APLA and Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS.

Roslyn will be performing in concert at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts Saturday April 28th.  More info at RoslynKind.com

Hit the play button above to hear Roslyn talk about her music, career on stage AND her love of dogs.  Great, fun show.



Sioux City Journal devotes entire front page to anti-bullying editorial


In a rare and forceful act of advocacy, an Iowa newspaper devoted the entire front page of its Sunday edition to an anti-bullying editorial after a gay teen committed suicide.

The Sioux City Journal's front-page opinion piece calls on the community to be pro-active in stopping bullying and urges members to learn more about the problem by seeing the acclaimed new film, "Bully," which documents the harassment of a Sioux City middle school student. It notes that while many students are targeted for being gay, "we have learned a bully needs no reason to strike."

Relatives have said 14-year-old Kenneth Weishuhn Jr. suffered intense harassment, including threatening cellphone calls and nasty comments posted online, after coming out to family and friends about a month ago. He died April 15 from what the local sheriff's office described only as a "self-inflicted injury."

"In Kenneth's case, the warnings were everywhere," the editorial said. "We saw it happen in other communities, now it has hit home. Undoubtedly, it wasn't the first life lost to bullying here, but we can strive to make it the last."

Bravo to the Sioux City Journal!  Click here to read the entire editorial. 

Sanford Police chief to resign after criticism over Trayvon Martin investigation

Chief Bill Lee of the Sanford Police Department in Sanford, Florida, plans to resign, a city official familiar with the matter said Monday.

Lee's department was criticized for its handling of the investigation into the February 26 shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed teenager.

Lee said one month ago that he was stepping down temporarily, a day after the Sanford City Commission expressed no confidence in his leadership.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Happy Earth Day 2012!



Earth Day inspires and brings out different actions in each of us.

I wanted to share with you some favorite suggestions for Earth Day “to dos.” You may want to adopt some of these ideas and put them on your list of favorite family activities – for Earth Day or any day:

• Get your “glee on” out in Nature – Get outside, sing a song, do a dance, have a picnic, BBQ, go camping, walk on the beach or take a hike. Whatever gets you there, gather your family and spend some time outdoors. Talk to you kids, introduce them to nature better yet, let them introduce nature to you! Remind yourself and the kids in your life of the treasures nature has given us, and why we need to fight so very hard to protect them.

• Memory Lane Walk Down the Red Carpet “Favorite Earth Day Movies”– Watch, enjoy, lose yourself in the moment and learn something too. Movies for everyone: The Lorax, Chimpanzee, Avatar, Planet Earth, Wall-E and March of the Penguins. Documentary movies for older kids and adults: Queen of the Sun-What are the Bees Telling Us? Tapped, Gasland, Bag It, An Inconvenient Truth, Revenge of the Electric Car, Moby Duck – Learn something important., and have fun at the same time.

• Spring Cleaning and Letting the Sun Shine In – Open the windows wide and get the kids to help you clean them. You’d be surprised to see what a difference a little water and vinegar, or even just a crumbled piece of newspaper can do to “shine up” and “clean up” your windows! Pack up winter clothes, in particular those that don’t fit anymore and give them to a local charity. Got other items you don’t need but someone else might use, consider selling them on Green eBay or giving them away at Craigslist, or Free Cycle! Get your kids to help you change the air filters in your air conditioner (maximum energy efficiency). Also, make sure there are no leaky faucets in or outside your house. Change your light bulbs to energy efficient CFLs or LEDs, and consider putting your outside lights on timers. Saving energy not only reduces power plant pollution but it can also save you money too.

• Get “Down and Dirty” – plant a tree, or better yet plan a garden with the kids in your life. Vegetable, herb, or flower – the garden can be as big or small as you have room for…Herbs grow great on window sills, and corn, pumpkins and beans are fun and easy to cultivate and very cool to watch grow! Have you heard of a rain garden? This is a “trending topic” all on it’s own and a great way to plan for and mitigate storm water run off that some of us are having to get used to as heavy rain events are becoming a more frequent occurrence of our changing climate. Consider getting a rain barrel too!
(source)

Roslyn Kind on The Candi & Randy Show tonight

 
While she may have started out as "Barbra Steisand's little sister" - Roslyn Kind has made a big name for herself thanks to acclaimed recordings, appearances in concert, on Broadway and television.

L.A. Times: "Forget that Roslyn Kind is Barbra Streisand's kid sister. She's to good and too special to have to worry about comparisons..."

The London Times: “To say she is superb would be an understatement.” 

The New York Post: “She’s so good on so many levels; it’s difficult to categorize her.  This elegant, beautiful, petite, dynamo delight rules the stage with a royal command that demands adoration from every seat in the house.”

In addition to her work on stage and in the studio, Roslyn also takes pride in her work for various animal welfare, Alzheimer’s and AIDS related charitable organizations including HSUS, APLA and Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS.

Catch Roslyn on The Candi & Randy Show tonight: 11pmEST/8pmPST - click here to listen. 

More info at RoslynKind.com

Ketel One Walk of Change at the 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards

Hudson Taylor
While attending the 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards, celebrities and supporters stopped by the Ketel One Vodka “Walk of Change” to make their mark and for every handprint left, Ketel One donated $1000 to GLAAD.

Participants included Hudson Taylor, Trevor Donovan, Wendie Malick, Chaz Bono, GLEE's Max Adler and many more.

Just a few notes from the evening:

• Dancing with the Stars alumnus,Chaz Bono, attended the GLAAD Media Awards to graciously accept the Stephen F. Kolzak award. Surprise guest, Cher arrived right before the award and was beaming with pride as she presented her son with the notable honor.

• Always popular, Betty White was greeted with a roaring applause from the event’s audience. The Hot in Cleveland star, who arrived fashionably late, dined with her cast members, Wendy Malik and Jane Leeves, and toasted to their GLAAD Media Award.

Hunger Games star, Josh Hutcherson, accepted the Van Guard Award at the Los Angeles GLAAD Media Awards. The young actor, who was greeted with a bear hug from Benecio Del Toro, came to support the LGBT community and noted that the cause was close to his heart.

• Glee stars Max Adler and Grant Gustin showed there support for the LGBT community and gave back to GLAAD leaving their handprints in the Ketel One Walk of Change.

• Not surprisingly dressed in their best, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Kyle Richards and Lisa Vanderpump, arrived in full-length gowns to strut their stuff on the red carpet. To many attendees’ disappointment, Jiggy was not in attendance.

Check out the pics below, plus more here.

Trevor Donovan
Wendie Malick
Chaz Bono
Max Adler
Col. Victor Fehrenbach