The Randy Report

Get Lucky

2012-03-08T18:10:00.000-08:00

You will notice both models looked great in anything they wear in the ad.

Must be the clothes, right?

Dirty Laundry with the Andrew Christian Soccer Team

2012-03-08T15:41:00.000-08:00

I don't know what the other folks in the laundromat are so agog about.
My laundry room is just like this...

Woman loses food stamps after winning lottery - duh...

2012-03-08T15:30:00.000-08:00

Now, with so many people needing help, why would this woman continue to use food stamp money?

Greedy.

Majority of Marylanders would uphold same-sex marriage law

2012-03-08T14:42:00.000-08:00

Fifty-two percent of respondents to a Maryland poll said they would “probably” or “definitely” vote in favor of the state’s recently-enacted same-sex marriage law should it appear on the ballot in November, while 44 percent of the 600 respondents said they would “probably” or “definintely” vote against it.

The poll was commissioned by Marylanders for Marriage Equality and conducted by Public Policy Polling.

Polls recently released by Gonzales and The Washington Post have reported the split in votes closer to 50-50. Opponents of the law are currently trying to collect the 56,000 signatures needed to put the law on the November ballot.
(source)

Southern Poverty Law Center adds 11 to list of designated anti-gay hate groups

2012-03-08T13:53:00.002-08:00

The American “radical right” grew in 2011, a third consecutive year of extraordinary growth that has swelled the ranks of extremist groups to record levels, contributing to a significant increase in the number of anti-gay hate groups, according to a report issued today by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).

Overall, the number of hate groups counted by the SPLC last year reached a total of 1,018, up slightly from the year before but continuing a trend of significant growth that is now more than a decade old.

The report adds 11 groups to the organization's list of designated anti-gay hate groups.

Those groups are:

United Families International
Save California
Sons of Thundr (Faith Baptist Church)
You Can Run, But You Cannot Hide
Parents Action League
Jewish Political Action Committee
Mission: America
Windsor Hills Baptist Church
True Light Pentecost Church
Tom Brown Ministries
Public Advocate of the United States

From the Southern Poverty Law Center's report:

The SPLC report details the growth of hate groups to a record 1,018 in 2011, up from 1,002 the year before and the latest in a series of increases going back more than a decade. But the dramatic growth came in the Patriot movement, which is composed of armed militias and other conspiracy-minded organizations that see the federal government as their primary enemy. These groups saw their numbers skyrocket for the third straight year in 2011, this time by 55 percent - from 824 in 2010 to 1,274 groups last year. In 2008, just before the Patriot movement took off, there were 149 Patriot groups, a number that metastasized to 512 in 2009.

In all, Patriot groups have increased by 755 percent during the first three years of the Obama administration. Their number has now surpassed - by more than 400 groups - the previous all-time high set in 1996, when the first wave of the militia movement peaked shortly after the Oklahoma City bombing that left 168 people dead.

...The hate groups listed in this report include neo-Nazis, white nationalists, neo-Confederates, racist skinheads, Klansmen and black separatists. Other hate groups on the list target LGBT people, Muslims or immigrants, and some specialize in producing racist music or propaganda denying the Holocaust.

Funny: Stuck in traffic on the way to the gym

2012-03-08T13:44:00.000-08:00

Expert lip-sync: Surprise Party

2012-03-08T12:29:00.002-08:00

I didn't realize he was lip-syncing at first...

Pretty funny.

Taylor Kitsch channels James Dean in GQ Magazine

2012-03-08T12:08:00.001-08:00

In 1955, James Dean went to Marfa, Texas, to shoot his classic film Giant. Here, actor Taylor Kitsch returns to the town, now a travel destination, to show that Dean's laid-back ruggedness is as stylish as ever. Click here to view more in the GQ Gallery.

California: Support for marriage equality continues to grow

2012-03-08T11:51:00.000-08:00

Fifty-six percent of likely California voters now favor allowing same-sex couples to legally marry, according to a poll released today by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC).

The poll represents an increase in public support for the freedom to marry from an identically worded poll of likely voters conducted in September 2011 by Equality California, which marked support at 51%.

This news comes on the heels of a Field poll released last week that showing that support for marriage equality had reached as high as 59% among all California adults.

Madonna - Girl Gone Wild (Justin Cognito Extended Remix)

2012-03-08T11:03:00.001-08:00

Madonna's new single from new CD "MDNA" to be released March 28

I like! Great mix.

Dance kids....

Cover for MDNA

Funny: "Cashiers"

2012-03-08T10:06:00.002-08:00

Hate Group - One Million Moms - abandons JC Penney/Ellen boycott

2012-03-08T10:00:00.000-08:00

Anti-gay hate group One Million Moms (which actually only numbers about 40K) was outraged that JC Penney would affiliate itself with a “high-profile homosexual entertainer” like Ellen DeGeneres, but its attempt to boycott the store has fizzled.

Director Monica Cooley believes “only time will tell,” because the group is now moving on to other issues that require its attention.

The group’s boycott of Toys ‘R’ Us over selling a recent issue of Archie Comics has also failed miserably. The Archie Comics issue they objected to because of its same-sex wedding sold out.
(source)

Joe the plumber dodges 'queer' question

2012-03-08T09:48:00.001-08:00

Plucked from obscurity in 2008 due to a chance meeting with then candidate Barack Obama, Sam Wezelbacher - aka "Joe The Plumber" - became a 15 minute media sensation used by the McCain camp in last minute desperate attempts to breathe life into a dying presidential campaign

In 2009 Werzelbacher infamously declared that he wouldn't let gay people be around his children.

Having just won his Ohio GOP primary for the U.S. House, this morning he appeared on CNN where he was asked if he's evolved on gay issues. That prompted Werzelbacher to accuse the host of "gotcha" journalism and compared CNN to the gossip site TMZ. To her credit host Zoraida Sambolin continued to press Werzelbacher on his stance on gay people.

Werzelbacher later released a joint statement with GOProud:
"The left and their friends in the main stream media don’t want to talk about the issue most Americans in this country today care about – jobs. Instead, they want a culture war. They want a culture war because they cannot defend this President’s record of failure when it comes to creating jobs and growing our economy. They hope to cynically distract Americans to protect President Obama and his liberal allies in Congress in November."

Survivor: This season's Colton - nastiest player in the history of the show

2012-03-08T08:22:00.000-08:00

I've watched Survivor on CBS since season 1. It's one of the few shows Michael and I never miss (thank god for DVRs).

This season, Survivor One World decided to include a gay character on one of the teams. His name is Colton, he’s a Republican college student, and he is an embarrassing, bigoted gay man. He has it out for an African-american contestant named Bill, whom he calls “ghetto trash.” After stating that he has black people in his life, he clarified that by adding the person was his housekeeper in Alabama.

He also calls a little-person contestant Leif a “little Munchkin” who’s “about to get knocked back to Oz” above, as well as an “oompah-loompah.”

The viewing audience has seen nothing redeeming about Colton. I doubt we will.

The Candi & Randy Show: Tom Goss "Lost Songs and Underdogs"

2012-03-07T17:09:00.000-08:00

Tonight, on The Candi & Randy Show, we welcome singer/songwriter Tom Goss.

Click here to listen to the show - 9pmEST/6pmPST - Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Tom Goss is a unique voice among gay singer-songwriters — a former Catholic seminarian turned guitar-toting troubadour whose heartfelt lyrics, hooky melodies and quirky charm have earned him a dedicated national following.

Since he started performing in DC coffeehouses in 2006, the tireless 30-year-old hasn’t let any moss grow under his trademark flip flops: three full-length CDs (Naked Without and Back to Love and Turn It Around), two EPs (Rise and The Politics of Love), a live DVD (Live At Terry’s), four music videos—two rose to the #1 and #2 viewer-choice slots on MTV’s LOGO network—and nearly 500 shows in 100 cities nationwide.

Tom is an unabashed romantic, known for his songs about love (many inspired by his husband Mike, whom he married in October 2010) and longing.

Tom is committed politically as well, having released songs and videos in support of marriage equality and the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Like his music, Tom’s story is a mix of struggle and spirit. A native of Kenosha, Wisconsin, he spent his high school and college years as a wrestler, leaving the family sport of gymnastics for one better suited to his teenage aggression. Following a brief stint as a teacher, he moved to Washington, DC in 2004 to enter Catholic seminary. It didn’t go as planned, and he abandoned his quest to become a priest—but not his desire to spread a message of hope and reconciliation through his music.

When not touring across the country, he continues to lead and raise funds for a DC nonprofit called Charlie’s Place that provides free meals, clothing and social services to the homeless. It’s the perfect day job for a man who lives what he sings.

Tom's latest CD, Lost Songs and Underdogs, will be released April 3rd. However it is available for purchase and instant download on his website right now - www.tomgossmusic.net

Whitney Houston leaves entire estate to daughter Bobbi Kristina

2012-03-07T16:26:00.002-08:00

According to reports, Whitney Houston left her entire estate - valued at around $20 million - to 19-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina.

The will was filed today in Atlanta. Whitney signed it back in 1993, a month before she gave birth to Bobbi.

Whitney's will doesn't enumerate specific assets - but she leaves ALL furnishings, clothing, personal effects, jewelry and cars to her surviving children... i.e. Bobbi.

According to reports, Houston's money will be put in a trust which Bobbi will have access to in stages earning a portion when she turns 21, another chunk when she turns 25, and the rest when she turns 30.

Voskos Greek Yogurt ad

2012-03-07T16:00:00.000-08:00

Excuse me, I feel the need to buy some yogurt...

Colin Farrell and gay brother join anti-bullying campaign in Ireland

2012-03-07T15:52:00.001-08:00

Actor Colin Farrell wants to end antigay bullying in Ireland, saying he witnessed attacks on his gay brother, Eamon, when they were younger.

Both Farrell brothers have joined forces with Stand Up! Don’t Stand for Homophobic Bullying, a campaign launched last week by the Irish LGBT youth organization, BeLonG To.

“Each individual, as a member of his and her community, must Stand Up! In the face of this appalling brutality that plagues our schools," Colin says in a statement. "In effect, bullying is no less than the systematic doling out of pain upon the innocent. It is literally laughing in the face of somebody as they fall into increasingly grave danger. It's not my place to draw parallels, but we have had enough of such hardships. The world has."

He continues, “Whether it be the attacking of gay students, which I witnessed first hand happening to my own brother, or students who are in the minority as a result of race or religious beliefs or any other such characteristic that separates them from 'the norm,' it is all wrong and has no place in a just and compassionate country such as I know Ireland to be. We have always been praised as being the friendliest and most welcoming race in the world. My wish is for us to prove it daily, in the school yards and playgrounds across this Great Land of Ours."

Eamon and Colin Farrell

Tweet of the day: Sharon Osbourne

2012-03-07T15:30:00.000-08:00

Sarah Palin: "Anything is possible" regarding an open GOP convention

2012-03-07T15:24:00.000-08:00

She's baaaaaaack!

While voting in Alaska last night, Sarah Palin - the former half term governor - was asked whether she would consider being "drafted" for GOP presidential nominee should there be no clear victor at the end of the primary season.

Palin didn't shut the door on that or on running in 2016.

Rick Santorum: "I'm not asking anyone to drop out"

2012-03-07T15:17:00.000-08:00

After the ambiguity of Super Tuesday, reporters asked Rick Santorum if he felt Newt Gingrich should get out of the race for the GOP nomination, thereby making a clearer path for Santorum.

Santorum says he feels everyone should continue in the race as long as they feel that want to, and he wouldn't ask anyone to drop out.

"I'm not saying I don't want [Newt Gingrich] to get out. I'm all for him getting out," he said. "I'm all for Mitt Romney getting out. I'm for everybody getting out. I wish President Obama would just hand me the whole thing. But that's just not going to happen. The idea is let folks decide, you know, what they think is best–what's best for getting a conservative, someone who's going to put this country on the right track, elected to president."

Stuart Roy, an adviser who works for Red, White, and Blue Fund, the pro-Santorum super PAC, said Wednesday that "based on his electoral performance last night and his out-of-step record, it's time for Gingrich to exit the Republican nominating process." He added that Gingrich's "campaign is an obvious non-starter."

Apple announces new iPad

2012-03-07T14:46:00.001-08:00

Apple has today announced its new third-generation iPad, which comes packing a new high-resolution Retina display. “Until you see it you can’t understand how amazing it is”, said CEO Tim Cook.

The new iPad is priced at $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, $699 for 64GB. And $629, $729, and $829 for 4G. It will be available on March 16th in the US.

The new high-resolution display runs at 2048×1536 at a pixel density of 264PPI.

The new iPad maintains the current 10 hour battery life with 9 hours on 4G.

There is also a brand new feature in the iPad, an iSight camera on the front and a new rear camera that runs at 5MP. This allows the new iPad to record HD movies at 1080P.

Crunch the numbers: Romney does well with wealthy, not so much with working class

2012-03-07T14:33:00.000-08:00

The Washington Post reported this morning that in both Michigan and Ohio, “voters making more than $100,000 per year turn[ed] out in much higher numbers this year than they did in 2008″:

In 2008, 22 percent of GOP primary voters in Michigan made at least $100,000, and that group made up 21 percent of the electorate in Ohio, according to exit polls. This year, 33 percent of voters in Michigan made that much money, while 30 percent of Ohio voters did. In both cases, the number of wealthy voters grew by about 50 percent — a pretty stunning increase in that demographic over just a four-year span.

In both states, Romney won among those making more than $100,000 by 14 points, even though he lost among all other income demographics.

A ThinkProgress analysis of exit/entrance polls from the 14 states that have conducted them shows that Romney consistently does best among those earning more than $100,000 or $200,000 a year, while more often than not losing among middle- and working-class voters.

The only states where this wasn’t true were Massachusetts, his home state where he served as governor, and Virginia, where Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich weren’t even on the ballot.

Read more at ThinkProgress.com

Los Angeles Mayor: Democratic platform should include marriage equality

2012-03-07T13:38:00.000-08:00

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the chair of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, expressed his support for a marriage equality plank in the party platform in an interview with Politico.

Said Villaraigosa: “I do, I think it’s basic to who we are. I believe in family values and I believe that we all ought to be able to have a family and marry if you want to. I don’t think the government should be in that business of denying people the fundamental right to marry.”

At least 18 senators have expressed support for adding marriage equality to the platform. Freedom to Marry launched a campaign to that end last month.
(source)

Kylie Minogue: Mardi Gras and Marriage Equality

2012-03-07T10:17:00.000-08:00

During her appearance at Australia's Mardi Gras, Kylie Minogue expressed her opposition to Australia's ban on same-sex marriage, saying "Of course I believe that it should be legalised. I always say, love is love is love," according to the Herald-Sun.

In recent months, several major names from the entertainment field have expressed support for marriage equality in Australia including Hugh Jackman and Olivia Newton-John.

Mitt Romney camp: Nomination is an "impossibility" for Santorum and Gingrich

2012-03-07T09:33:00.000-08:00

The morning after a mixed Super Tuesday victory, Romney campaign strategists made a bold new case: He's inevitable.

"The nomination is an impossibility for Rick Santorum or Newt Gingrich," said one aide, adding that "they would have to ben the laws of reality" to pull off a win at this stage.

Strategists noted that for Santorum to clinch the nomination, he would need to win 65 percent of the remaining delegates—so far, he's won only 22.

For Gingrich, the path to the nomination is even steeper: he'd have to win 70 percent of remaining delegates, while he's only won 14 percent so far.

"It's going to take some kind of act of God to get where they need to get to the nomination," the aide said.

Mitt Romney, on the other hand, needs to win only 48 percent of the remaining delegates—and he's won 52 percent to date.
(source)

Results of GOP Super Tuesday

2012-03-07T09:31:00.000-08:00

Jessica Simpson naked and pregnant on the cover of Elle Magazine

2012-03-07T09:15:00.001-08:00

I don't know why, but this immediately strikes me as one more sad attempt by Jessica's father Joe Simpson to pimp out his daughter. I don't know why she would see the need to do this.

Just something sad and desperate about it all...

Billy Porter and cast of GREASE: "Beauty School Dropout"

2012-03-06T23:03:00.000-08:00

How I love me some Billy Porter!

I posted recently about Billy is set to star in the upcoming Broadway musical "Kinky Boots" where I'm sure he'll stop the show. But he's been a show-stopper on Broadway for a long time.

Billy killed it every night as the "Teen Angel" in the 1994 revival of GREASE. So smart that the director knew to let Billy do "what Billy does." If you're going to remake a classic, it's creative and brave to go in a whole different direction - which they do here.

I loved seeing Billy do this. Seriously, it's difficult to believe that Billy wasn't nominated for a Featured Actor Tony Award that year.

Watch and enjoy.

Sing Billy!

Broadway Backwards 2012 - video footage

2012-03-06T14:18:00.000-08:00

BROADWAY BACKWARDS 7, the once-a-year celebration of the gay and lesbian community, raised a record-breaking $329,000 on Monday, March 5, to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. This year's spectacular total surpassed last year's previous record of $281,200. Check out BroadwayWorld's exclusive footage of the big event!

New Jersey: Marriage equality could pump $119 million into economy

2012-03-06T14:06:00.000-08:00

A new study from the Williams Institute finds that New Jersey could generate as much as $119 million in just the first three years of marriage equality, including as much as $8 million in pure tax revenue.

By vetoing the legislation, Gov. Chris Christie (R) deprived his entire state of that economic benefit, but the legislature has until the end of 2013 to overturn that veto.
(source)

President Obama versus GOP candidates

2012-03-06T11:52:00.000-08:00

Click pic for larger view

Although it's very, very early I was curious to see the most recent polls regarding head-to-head match ups between President Obama and Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum.

According to the Real Clear Politics Averages, President Obama is leading Mitt Romney in polls by an average of 5.1%

And polls show President Obama leading Rick Santorum by an average of 6.8%.

Head over to Real Clear Politics to see a round-up of the latest polls. Great resource.

Kirk Cameron responds to detractors and "hate speech"

2012-03-06T10:25:00.000-08:00

In an email response sent to ABC News, Kirk Cameron has released a statement regarding what he considers the "hate speech" directed at him after he said on Piers Morgan's CNN show that homosexuality is “unnatural,” “detrimental,” and “ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.”

“I spoke as honestly as I could, but some people believe my responses were not loving toward those in the gay community. That is not true. I can assuredly say that it’s my life’s mission to love all people.”

“I should be able to express moral views on social issues,” he said, “especially those that have been the underpinning of Western civilization for 2,000 years — without being slandered, accused of hate speech, and told from those who preach ‘tolerance’ that I need to either bend my beliefs to their moral standards or be silent when I’m in the public square.”

He concluded, “I believe we need to learn how to debate these things with greater love and respect,” and added, “I’ve been encouraged by the support of many friends (including gay friends, incidentally).”

So Kirk Cameron uses words like “unnatural,” “detrimental,” and “ultimately destructive" regarding the LGBT community - says that those words are "loving" - and then says HE is the victim of "hate speech" when people react.

Riiiiiight. Now I get it.

Michelle Bachman: "I'm not a judgmental person"

2012-03-05T15:49:00.002-08:00

SRSLY. Does Michelle Bachmann know the definition of the word "bigot"?

From the Merriam-Webster Dictionary - Bigot: "a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance"

Not necessarily a bad word. Just accurate in her case.

She holds obstinately to her own opinions. Neither rude nor wrong. Pretty accurate.

Piers Morgan reads Bachmann one of her quotes from 2004, saying that being gay “leads to the personal enslavement of individuals. Because if you’re involved in the gay and lesbian lifestyle, it’s bondage.”

So we're clear - she can say THAT and it's not judgmental; but when Piers Morgan points it out, he's rude?

Notice how she does the "hypnotized" thing near the end and basically ignores what Piers Morgan reads to her.

Tom Hanks' son tweets shirtless pics - nice!

2012-03-05T15:41:00.002-08:00

Actor Tom Hanks' son Chester, an aspiring rapper who goes by Chet Haze, was so sexy?

He tweeted two shirtless photos of himself on Sunday.

The first image was sent out with the message, “Ladies…This is for you, “ followed by the posting of the second image and the message, “Ok ladies one more ;).”

Though the images were initially intended for his female fans, several gay sites shared the photos, prompting Haze to post a follow-up comment. "Yo, Shout out to ALL my fans-- both straight and gay... #humbled but just so you know I'm straight lmao ok ThankYou."

A later tweet said this: "Anybody who harbors resentment for Gay/Lesbian people is not only ignorant but truly living in the past. It's all love-- get wit the program"

Hanks is in the process of booking a 15-venue tour.

Chippendales - "Tebowing"

2012-03-05T13:13:00.002-08:00

Chippendales Kenny King & John Rivera take a moment to "Tebow"
To see more Las Vegas celebs strike the "Tebow" pose,
click over to the Las Vegas Sun.

Las Vegas Showgirl from Vegas The Show! Tebowing...

Fox News 2008: Presidents don't have the power to lower gas prices

2012-03-05T12:12:00.001-08:00

Well, now isn't this interesting? The busy people at Media Matters have taken a look through the archives, and lo and behold, guess who said "no President has the power to increase or to lower gas prices."

Very, very interesting clips from Fox News where practically everyone there was giving President Bush a "pass" when gas prices were rising in Summer 2008.

NOW, however, following GOP strategy, Fox News is blaming the Obama administration for rising gasoline prices -- a claim that has been repeatedly debunked by energy analysts.

In 2008, Fox's coverage occasionally even mirrored today's facts: expanding domestic oil drilling will not significantly lower prices, and the only way to reduce our vulnerability to gas price spikes is to use less oil.

Remember when I mentioned politics is just a big, big game?

AOL stops advertising on Rush Limbaugh show

2012-03-05T09:12:00.001-08:00

The news gets worse and worse for Rush Limbaugh, who last week called a college student a "slut" and a "protitute."

He has now lost his 8th (starting to lose count here) advertiser as AOL has decided to part ways with Limbaugh.

"At AOL one of our core values is that we act with integrity," said Maureen Sullivan, an AOL spokeswoman. "We have monitored the unfolding events and have determined that Mr. Limbaugh’s comments are not in line with our values. As a result we have made the decision to suspend advertising on The Rush Limbaugh Radio show."

I hope whatever fun he had calling a college student such names was worth the amount of income his show is now losing.

Advertisers ProFlowers and Carbonite cancelled advertising with Limbaugh after his "apology."

Quicken Loans, Sleep Train, Sleep Number, Citrix Systems Inc., and Legal Zoom have also announced that they will no longer be advertising on Limbaugh's show.

Tracey Gold - Kirk Cameron's 'Growing Pains' co-star - stands up for LGBT equality

2012-03-05T08:46:00.000-08:00

‘Growing Pains’ co-star Tracey Gold, made famous by her portrayal of Carol Anne Seaver on the 1980s classic, spoke out in support of equality on Sunday after her TV brother and fallen teen idol Kirk Cameron told CNN’s Piers Morgan that being gay is “unnatural,” “detrimental” and “ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.”

On Twitter, Gold posted "I am a strong supporter of the #LGBT Community, and I believe in equal rights for all. #NOH8 #LOVE"

Read more at GLAAD

Darren Criss from GLEE - shirtless on the beach

2012-03-05T08:34:00.001-08:00

Out-takes from Darren Criss' People Magazine shoot (see more here).
Click the pic to view larger.

All-star reading of "8" raises $2 million for AFER

2012-03-05T08:17:00.000-08:00

"On Saturday night, the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact presented the West Coast premiere reading of the play “8” before a sold-out crowd in Los Angeles and a worldwide audience watching on YouTube. “8” is an unprecedented account of the Federal District Court trial in Perry v. Schwarzenegger (now Perry v. Brown), the case filed by AFER to overturn Proposition 8, which stripped gay and lesbian Californians of the fundamental freedom to marry."

"Saturday night’s West Coast premiere reading of “8” was written by Academy Award-winning screenwriter and AFER Founding Board Member Dustin Lance Black and directed by AFER Founding Board Member Rob Reiner. Bryan Singer, acclaimed director of The Usual Suspects and X-Men, was Saturday night’s presenting sponsor. The benefit event raised more than $2 million for the fight to secure full federal marriage equality." - via press release from American Federation for Equal Rights

If you missed the live webcast, you can view it here.

Sunday slow-down: "Breathless" Vanessa Williams

2012-03-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

Official video for "Breathless" from the 2009 album "The Real Thing" on Concord Records.

Just feels good, doesn't it?

George Will: "Republicans are afraid of Rush Limbaugh"

2012-03-04T11:24:00.001-08:00

Speaking the truth, George Will calls out the absurdity of not one GOP politician disavowing Rush Limbaugh's attack on student Sandra Fluke.

As George Will says "they want to bomb Iran but they are afraid of Rush Limbaugh."

President Obama leads GOP candidates in Ohio by double digits

2012-03-04T10:22:00.003-08:00

A new NBC/Marist poll of Ohio registered voters shows President Obama at the fifty percent mark in the swing state against former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who sees 38 percent versus the President. Obama leads all possible GOP challengers in the state by double digits, which sampled over 3,000 Ohio voters. From Marist's analysis:

Ohio voters are more likely to identify as independents than they were in a similar poll conducted in October 2008. 35% of registered voters now consider themselves to be independent compared with 31% at that time. Republican identification has decreased from 31% to 26%, and Democrats are little changed. They went from 37% in 2008 to 38% now.

“President Obama’s advantage over his potential challengers in Ohio is underscored by the fact that more voters support him over the GOP field than approve of his job performance,” says Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion.
(source)

Olivia Newton-John named one of Australia's National Living Treasures

2012-03-03T19:54:00.003-08:00

Iconic actress and singer Olivia Newton-John and pop princess Kylie Minogue have been named among a group of seven new National Living Treasures.

Mining magnate Clive Palmer and science guru Dr Karl Kruszelnicki are also on the list, along with world champion Formula One driver Sir Jack Brabham, naturalist and conservationist Dr Harry Butler and creator of the cervical vaccine Professor Ian Fraser.

Ian Carroll, from the National Trust of Australia (NSW), said the group was chosen because they personified qualities all Australians should aspire to."Their generous and significant contributions have, like them, become part of our national heritage," he said in a statement.

Dustin Lance Black's play "8" in L.A. with an all-star cast

2012-03-03T17:09:00.002-08:00

"8"- Dustin Lance Black's play about the Prop 8 trial.

Featuring an all-star cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Martin Sheen, Christine Lahti, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jane Lynch, Kevin Bacon and others, "8" is a play written by Academy Award winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black and directed by acclaimed actor and director Rob Reiner. It is a powerful account of the case filed by the American Federation for Equal Rights (AFER ) in the U.S.

An "apology" from Rush Limbaugh

2012-03-03T15:05:00.001-08:00

Feeling the heat of losing many of his advertisers, Rush Limbaugh issued this statement as a sort of "apology" to Sandra Fluke for calling her a "slut" and a "prostitute."

I don't know that this constitutes an apology.

For over 20 years, I have illustrated the absurd with absurdity, three hours a day, five days a week. In this instance, I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation. I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke.

I think it is absolutely absurd that during these very serious political times, we are discussing personal sexual recreational activities before members of Congress. I personally do not agree that American citizens should pay for these social activities. What happened to personal responsibility and accountability? Where do we draw the line? If this is accepted as the norm, what will follow? Will we be debating if taxpayers should pay for new sneakers for all students that are interested in running to keep fit? In my monologue, I posited that it is not our business whatsoever to know what is going on in anyone's bedroom nor do I think it is a topic that should reach a Presidential level.

My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir. I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices.

What Rush is still clearly distorting is that Ms. Fluke did not insist on the government paying for anything. Just more 'red meat' for his listeners.

What Ms. Fluke advocates is that the insurance companies WE PAY PREMIUMS TO cover contraceptives. He's just trying to fire up his base.

Sad.

Normally I would link to the source material, but this one time please go google it if you want to see it. I can't bring myself to link to his website.

Saturday Slow Down: "John Doe No.24" - Mary Chapin Carpenter

2012-03-03T14:21:00.000-08:00

I don't think I can love this song more than I already do.

The simplicity and slow, deliberate tempo seem to create for the listener the silent world of John Doe No.24.

Knowing Mary Chapin Carpenter wrote this based on an actual newspaper clipping she came across makes it all the more poignant. There's a kind of calm acceptance of life's situation in the way Mary Chapin writes as "John."

I've been affected by the song from the day I heard it. I've never really known why other than it's clearly theatrical sense of soliloquy.

Listening today I was reminded of growing up without my own mother and a father who, although he loved me, was somewhat absent. And, as a young child, was very quiet and happy to be in my own world. Then I found my "crepe jasmine" - my best friend Carlye - who opened up new senses, colors and confidence in me. For the first time in my young life, this "orphan shoe" was no longer missing the other.

I guess that's where John Doe and I diverged. Lucky me.

I hope you like the song.

George Clooney on marriage equality

2012-03-03T13:31:00.001-08:00

Click to view larger

GLEE episode movingly highlights LGBT youth bullying and suicide

2012-03-03T13:02:00.000-08:00

For those who missed it, last week's controversial mid-season finale episode of "Glee" may have shocked fans, but one LGBT youth advocacy group has seen a number of benefits as a result.

As Entertainment Weekly is reporting, The Trevor Project saw their web traffic spike and their phone calls triple after the episode, which depicted former bully Dave Karofsky (beautifully played by Max Adler) attempting suicide -- to the tune of Young the Giant's "Cough Syrup" -- after being outed as gay to his classmates.

"What was great about the show is that they worked in conjunction with us so we knew in advance that there was going to in all likelihood be an increase in volume," Trevor Project co-founder Peggy Rajski tells EW. "What happened was the volume went up about 300 percent, but we were ready."

The Trevor Project is ready to help LGBTQ youth who feel they may be in crisis. If you feel you need help, please reach out 1-866-488-7386.

In high school, I weighed a lot of what raced through Dave Karofsky's mind in this episode. All those moments compacted in the quick video above that led to his suicide attempt happened to me at some point. But lucky for me, I kept moving forward.

The phrase "it gets better" has, thankfully, entered our daily lexicon. But it's not a cliche, it's the truth. I want to encourage everyone to think about the power of our words, because you never know when you may be teasing the next Dave Karofsky.

Forward.

Grandparents for marriage equality

2012-03-03T12:04:00.001-08:00

A gay activist's grandparents have participated in a poignant new video in support of Washington state's approval of same-sex marriage earlier this month.

As Jacob Reitan, who helped found the Soulforce Equality Ride in 2006, tells Towleroad, "My grandparents are now in their 90s. They have been blessed with a strong and beautiful marriage for nearly 70 years. Their marriage has been a role model for all of us in our family."

Reitan, who appears in the video with his gay cousin Caleb, goes on to note, "I want to have a marriage like theirs. I want society to recognize it. I want my family and friends to celebrate with us and support us."

Mitt Romney ahead in recent nat'l polls - Santorum already behind in Ohio before Super Tuesday arrives

2012-03-03T11:06:00.000-08:00

Click for larger view

Mitt Romney leads by 6.7% in the Real Clear Politics average of recent polls regarding the GOP Presidential nomination.

We'll see where that lies after this coming Super Tuesday.

By the way - everyone is talking about Ohio being the big prize both Santorum AND Romney really need to win.

However, not much attention has been paid to the fact that Santorum has already lost nine delegates by not being on ballots in three Ohio congressional districts. Each district merits three delegates.

Santorum failed to file a full complement of delegates in six additional districts, said central committee member Bob Bennett. That adds up to another nine delegates, for a total of 18 out of the 63 up for grabs.

Santorum also did not file all 18 of his at-large delegates.

"He may very well leave delegates on the sidelines," Bennett said. "Say he would win 70 percent of the state. He doesn't have that many delegates."

Kirk Cameron - being gay is "unnatural, detrimental and destructive"

2012-03-03T08:12:00.000-08:00

Actor-evangelist and former Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron says he doesn't support gay marriage and homosexuality is "unnatural, detrimental, and destructive," during an interview with CNN's Piers Morgan.Cameron, who now makes lucrative Christian-themed movies, appeared on Morgan's show to discuss several hot button issues, including marriage equality.

"Marriage is almost as old as dirt, and it was defined in the garden between Adam and Eve," Cameron explains to Morgan. "One man, one woman for life till death do you part. So I would never attempt to try to redefine marriage. And I don't think anyone else should either. So do I support the idea of gay marriage? No, I don't."

Asked his views on homosexuality, Cameron replies, "I think that it's unnatural. I think that it's detrimental, and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization."

Watch the interview.

Rush Limbaugh's "slut" comment fuels firestorm

2012-03-03T07:08:00.002-08:00

LOGO Network to abandon most gay-only programming

2012-03-02T16:16:00.000-08:00

Logo TV says the network is planning a shift in programming – which will abandon most of its gay-onlyTV lineup – follows a study that more closely identifies the way the LGBT community lives today. Findings suggest that 53 percent of gay people live openly but without a priority to showcase their sexual orientation. Only 30 percent of those surveyed say they preferred living and socializing in an exclusively LGBT community.

“The gay community continues to evolve in size, influence and identity,” said Starcom Mediavest’s Esther Franklin, EVP, head of SMG Americas Experience Strategy. ”Beyond Demographics (TM) allows us to understand the needs of this critical community as they emerge and to paint a clearer, more specific picture of what’s meaningful and relevant in their lives.”

The updated lineup at Logo will feature shows akin to “America’s Next Top Model”, “Laguna Beach”, and “Storage Hunters” after producers of those shows have signed on to produce programming absent of gay-focused plots.

Logo says it will not abandon some of its prime gay TV including “RuPaul’s Drag U” – one of the network’s top-performing shows.

I was under the impression that the POINT of Logo was to provide gay-centric programming. I'll be interested to see how these changes are implemented. Several professionals I know in the TV/entertainment field tell me Logo rarely knows what it's doing, and is run by people with little "big picture" experience.

I know from my own personal viewing experience in trying to support the network, it has seemed erratic in the moves it's made in terms quality and quantity of programming.

Time will tell.
(source)

Greg Quinlan cries as society moves forward

2012-03-02T14:54:00.000-08:00

"I do not believe this Field Poll of 59% of California regular voters support same-sex marriage. That just flies in the face of the two real polls, two elections -- one to change the laws in California, the other one to change the state Constitution. The California voters want marriage to be one man, one woman -- period. In spite of the massive amounts of money, of being out-stanced and out-maneuvered, and with foot soldiers on the ground, the homosexual agenda still cannot get a majority of the voters in any state, anywhere in this nation to approve homosexual marriage -- not one time." - "Ex-gay" leader Greg Quinlan, claiming that yesterday's poll was faked.

This is Greg Quinlan crying in his Post Toasties because society is evolving and he wishes it wasn't.

The Field Poll is a non-partisan independent organization. 59% to 34% is a wide margin to be wrong.

The poll's director, Mark DiCamillo, tells The Sacramento Bee that the growing support shows that opinions are changing as younger voters replace older voters. And as California's marriage battle plays out in the courts, and judges in other states rule against traditional marriage, he says the opinion of the people is changing.

You can't just say "I don't believe" to make it go away, Greg. Society is evolving. It's happening.

Forward.

Interview with US Marine whose homecoming pic went viral

2012-03-02T12:00:00.001-08:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

So glad this story getting so much attention.

William Levy - newest (and hottest) addition to Dancing With The Stars shirtless

2012-03-02T10:19:00.000-08:00

William Levy - newly announced cast member of this seasons Dancing With The Stars - is a former model and reality TV star who's transitioned successfully to acting on soap operas and in film.

His hunk status was solidified when People en Espanol named him one of its "50 Most Beautiful People" in 2011.

Despite Levy's success in the Latin market, the 31-year-old Cuban says appearing on American television fulfills one of his childhood dreams:“When I was in Cuba, when I was little I always dreamed about being here and I always dreamed about doing something in the American market, being in Hollywood, you know, so it’s good to feel that it’s getting closer and closer, my dream is getting closer and closer to be reality.”

Where my husband is right now...

2012-03-02T09:46:00.002-08:00

The Winter Party is underway in Miami, featuring five days and nights of parties, from a Nurse Jackie cocktail reception at Score to Matinee at Space Miami.

The best part: Proceeds benefit the National Gay And Lesbian Task Force!

Of course, the only reason Michael is attending is the charitable component. That's Michael - give, give, give. Plus he had some business meetings to attend. Good thing it just happened to coincide with the Winter Party.

Have fun down there kids!

p.s. don't cry for me - I'm not a huge party guy. I've got great weather, the house to myself, a bottle of Chardonnay chilling for a late afternoon dip in the jacuzzi... life is good :)

How French athletes celebrate a goal

2012-03-02T09:37:00.000-08:00

In a recent match, Mathieu Debuchy, who is a midfielder with Lille, passed the ball to Olivier Giroud who scored the point. Debuchy then ran to Giroud who grabbed his head with both hands and kissed his teammate.

The clip has been shown over and over in Europe, and the hashtag #Debuchy was still a trending Twitter tag on Thursday morning.

Now how do I sign up?

Newt Gingrich PROMISES $2.50 gas

2012-03-02T08:58:00.000-08:00

The truth is gas prices have been going up, though they remain below the high reached in mid-2008 and they were kept unnaturally low in late 2008 and 2009 due to the Bush Recession.

But Republican claims about energy independence, the purported need to “drill, baby, drill,” and the alleged refusal of the Obama Administration to allow energy development are simply false.

The fact is US oil production is at an eight year high. The U.S. exported more gasoline, diesel and other fuels than it imported in 2011 for the first time since 1949, and U.S. dependence on foreign oil has declined every year since President Obama took office.

The reality of the situation is that oil and gas prices are set by a global market that is largely beyond the reach of any U.S. President.

The biggest cause of the increase in gas prices is skyrocketing demand for gas and oil in China, India, and other rapidly developing nations which are pushing up prices globally.

Second, supply disruptions in the middle east has at least temporarily reduced global supply.

Third, concerns about a possible military conflict with Iran (which many conservatives are actively cheerleading) has created an opening for financial speculators to drive oil prices up even more.

Contrary to the Republicans’ caterwauling, there is little that President Obama, or any other political leader, can do to force gas prices to decline.

That being said, here's what President Obama has done:

• significantly increased vehicle efficiency in order to reduce the amount of gas Americans need to purchase. In April 2010, the Administration finalized a regulation increasing Corporate Average Fuel Economy (“CAFE”) standards for cars to 35.5 miles per gallon (“mpg”) by 2016.

• been actively investing in developing alternative fuels, such as algae-based biofuels that could replace up to 17% of our nation’s oil imports.

• sought to end the more than $4 billion of taxpayer subsidies that the oil industry receives every year. When the oil companies are making record profits they don't need the American tax payers money. The President wants to use those subsidies to help finance the transition to cleaner fuels.

The fact of the matter is the GOP "drill, baby, drill" solution won't bring gas prices down any time soon. And it's a short sighted solution to begin with. Fossil fuels will eventually be used up. At SOME TIME in the future we have to commit to finding newer, cleaner, more renewable sources of energy.

Idina Menzel on being barefoot at the symphony

2012-03-02T08:28:00.000-08:00

In the new Idina Menzel Live: Barefoot at the Symphony — filmed at Toronto’s historic Royal Conservatory of Music and airing on PBS Saturday, followed by an album, DVD, and digital download available Tuesday — Idina reaches back into the amazing musical repertoire that she’s spent over 20 years putting together.

The Advocate: Idina Menzel Live: Barefoot at the Symphony features lots of songs that fans would expect you to perform as well as some surprises. How did you choose the material?

Idina Menzel: The idea of having this magnificent, thrilling orchestra behind you is incredible, and yet it can be daunting, so I wanted music that would live and breathe but also strike a balance and maintain an intimacy. It’s an eclectic mix. There’s a lot of theatricality, but then there are moments when I talk to the audience and get personal, so it sort of came from that. I knew I wanted to share certain aspects of my life, so I figured out which songs would chronicle that.

For your signature songs, is it important to rework them?
Yes, but I have to be careful. A song like “Defying Gravity,” which I’ve sung so many times, in the past I’ve tried to mess with it too much. This time around, with the orchestra behind me, I decided to just sing it. My goal was to evoke that amazing moment in the show [Wicked], so I went back in that respect and really didn’t shy away from the drama and the theatricality of that moment.

Speaking of “Defying Gravity,” why do you think so many people respond to that song?
At some point in our lives, I think all of us feel that we’re weird or different. I know I can be very self-conscious about who I am and how I’m perceived. And it’s at that moment in the show that [Elphaba] decides, “I’m going to do this differently now. I’m gonna stop caring about what people think and just embrace who I am. Fuck what anybody else thinks.” She’s our hero because she stands up and does it. There’s also the other aspect that as a woman, it’s sometimes hard to be really fierce and strong. You want to be kick-ass, and yet as women we’re sometimes afraid we’ll be perceived as a bitch. The song is that character’s way of harnessing her incredible power and using it to change the world and influence people while not fearing her strength. I’m so thankful that I had that show because I could live in her world and be as powerful as I wanted.

Your song “Gorgeous” from your last pop record [I Stand] is a perfect anthem for marriage equality. Was that in your mind when you were writing it?
It totally was. It’s inspired by one of my best friends in the whole world, who moved to Rotterdam, Holland, to be with his boyfriend. It also fed into my own marriage — an interracial marriage — and the idea that it drives me up the wall when people don’t just mind their own business. We should be able to be who we are and live our lives — and the song was my response to feeling frustrated about that.

When did you first become aware of the battle for gay rights?
Probably when I was cast in Rent. By playing Maureen I was educating myself on ...

What it was like to be a big, bad lesbian?
Yes! [Laughs] No, more about the experiences of the gay community. After seeing the show, young kids would write me letters saying they saw themselves in these characters and how grateful they were that we were celebrating them. This show gave many of them permission to be who they were. Wicked sort of carries on in that same tradition. It’s not necessarily about whether or not you’re gay, but it’s about finding who you are and celebrating that. So, while it wasn’t something I was necessarily planning on, I really took notice and understood that these people confiding in me was a gift, so I want to be as vocal as I can be for all of those who sat in the audience and made me feel so good.

Read more of the interview at The Advocate

Human Rights Campaign names Chad Griffin as new president

2012-03-02T08:14:00.000-08:00

Chad Griffin

Chad Griffin, the Los Angeles-based political consultant whose central role in the Proposition 8 lawsuit turned him into a national LGBT rights figure, has been named president of the Human Rights Campaign.

A major fundraiser for the Obama campaign who began his career in the early days of the Clinton White House, Griffin will replace current president Joe Solmonese at the helm of the $40 million organization on June 11, HRC announced Friday following a board of directors vote. Solmonese, who joined HRC as president in 2005 and said in August that he would leave after his contract expires at the end of this month, will continue in his role until June. Solmonese was named a national co-chair for the Obama campaign last month.

In its pick of Griffin as president, HRC has chosen someone who was shaped from an early age by Washington political culture yet who is not defined by it, having spent the vast majority of his career outside the Beltway.

Griffin, 38, is a fervent supporter of President Obama with personal ties to White House officials, but has pushed the bipartisan case for marriage equality, notably hiring former George W. Bush solicitor general Theodore Olson to co-lead the Prop. 8 suit and aligning with conservatives including gay former Republican National Committee chair Ken Mehlman, who has raised money for the legal effort.

Griffin has been openly critical of the president’s 'evolving' position on marriage equality, calling Obama’s indicated support for state’s rights on deciding who can marry “a step backwards.” And, central to the job, Griffin has a proven ability to be a formidable fundraiser.

Equality Matters Weekly Podcast: February 27-March 2

2012-03-01T16:53:00.000-08:00

Equality Matters Weekly Podcast: February 27-March 2

Equality Matters campaigns for full LGBT equality.

What Teachers Make by Taylor Mali

2012-03-01T16:37:00.001-08:00

For the teachers.

One of my FAVORITE spoken word poems. Although I do still prefer Taylor Mali, the author, doing his solo version.

(and yes, I have favorite spoken word poems...)

Judge Sends Racist, Bestiality Email About Obama - Says He’s Not Racist

2012-03-01T15:23:00.002-08:00

A federal judge, Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Cebull from Montana, admitted sending a racist and bestiality-laden email about President Barack Obama and his mother.

He says he’s not a racist, and adds that he sent it because he is not a fan of the President.

Click to view larger

The email compares African-Americans to dogs, or, alternatively, suggests President Obama’s mother had sexual intercourse with a dog, reads:

“Normally I don’t send or forward a lot of these, but even by my standards, it was a bit touching. I want all of my friends to feel what I felt when I read this. Hope it touches your heart like it did mine.

“A little boy said to his mother; ‘Mommy, how come I’m black and you’re white?’” the e-mail joke reads. “His mother replied, ‘Don’t even go there Barack! From what I can remember about that party, you’re lucky you don’t bark!’”

Judge Cebull did not write it but forwarded it.

Judge Cebull gave this explanation to John S. Adams of the Great Falls Tribune, who broke the story:
“The only reason I can explain it to you is I am not a fan of our president, but this goes beyond not being a fan,” Cebull said. “I didn’t send it as racist, although that’s what it is. I sent it out because it’s anti-Obama.”

It’s one thing to criticize President Obama’s policies or leadership or even his character. But to insult his mother and equate interracial sex with bestiality? SRSLY? And this from a federal judge...

Sad.

Tennessee principal who told gay students they "were going to hell" resigns

2012-03-01T15:13:00.000-08:00

Dorothy Bond

The Tennessee high school principal who reportedly told students during an assembly that gay students were going to hell, has resigned.

Haywood County High School Principal Dorothy Bond has resigned, according to the school system’s law firm, reported the Jackson Sun.

In a statement released through Purcell, Sellers & Craig, Inc., the school system said:

“The Haywood County Board of Education acknowledges its student body’s right to free speech. Further, the Haywood County Board of Education strives to provide an atmosphere of tolerance and diversity while maintaining high academic standards.”

Bond allegedly singled out LGBT and pregnant students during a meeting with students, and said, “If you’re gay you’re going to hell and if you’re pregnant, your life is over,” reported WPTY-TV in Memphis.

Since the story broke earlier today, more than 5,000 people signed an HRC petition calling on the Haywood County School District to investigate the allegations.

Think about this folks. Imagine YOUR child attending a school where the principal told them they were "going to hell" or "your life is over."

Imagine.

Maryland Governor signs marriage equality into law

2012-03-01T15:06:00.000-08:00

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley signed into law HB 438, a bill legalizing marriage equality, in a 5 p.m. ceremony held at the State House in Annapolis Thursday evening.

Saying, "We are one Maryland," he declared, "The bill is signed," at 5:15 p.m.

O'Malley's signature makes Maryland the eighth state and ninth jurisdiction to legalize same-sex marriage.

Marriage equality is also legal in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Washington state and the District of Columbia. The Washington law also faces a referendum effort.

Opponents, led by the Maryland Marriage Alliance, the chief organization pushing to repeal the marriage equality law, have vowed to collect more than the 55,736 signatures required to force a referendum on the law onto the 2012 ballot. They are expected to meet the necessary requirements for a referendum.

If upheld by voters via a referendum, the bill will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2013.

Following O’Malley’s signing of the bill, several organizations that played prominent roles in the bill’s passage issued statements celebrating a major milestone for the state's LGBT community.

"The Governor's signature today puts Maryland on the road to fairness for all families," said Joe Solmonese, president of the national LGBT organization Human Rights Campaign (HRC). "This victory was possible thanks to the hard work of so many on the ground in Maryland. Our congratulations go to Governor O’Malley and our legislative allies who were incredible leaders in this effort."
(Read more at Metro Weekly)

Brad Pitt will join all-star cast of "Prop 8"

2012-03-01T13:36:00.000-08:00

The American Foundation for Equal Rights and Broadway Impact announced that the Brad Pitt will join the cast of the West Coast premiere reading of the Proposition 8 play, 8, which will be live-streamed via YouTube this Saturday, beginning at 7:45 p.m. Pacific.

The staged reading is an unprecedented account of the U.S. district court trial in Perry v. Schwarzenegger (now Perry v. Brown), the suit filed by AFER to overturn Prop. 8, which stripped same-sex couples in California of the fundamental freedom to marry.

Brad Pitt will star as Judge Vaughn R. Walker, the man who found Prop. 8 unconstitutional, joining an already star-studded cast that includes George Clooney, Kevin Bacon, Jane Lynch, John C. Reilly, Chris Colfer, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Cleve Jones, George Takei, The Simpsons’ Yeardley Smith, and many more.

The same-sex couples at the heart of the piece will be played by Christine Lahti and Jamie Lee Curtis (who will star as plaintiffs Kris Perry and Sandy Stier, a lesbian couple together for 11 years and the parents of four boys) and Glee’s Matthew Morrison and White Collar’s Matt Bomer (who will play plaintiffs Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo, a gay couple together over 10 years).

The production — sponsored by Bryan Singer, director of The Usual Suspects and X-Men — takes place Saturday at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, and proceeds will benefit the fight for marriage equality at the federal level. The free live stream of the event is unprecedented for a cast of this magnitude.
(source)

Justin Bieber is 18 today - 20 random things he can now do legally

2012-03-01T13:24:00.001-08:00

“Happy Birthday” to Justin Bieber.

And as a gift, Justin, here are 20 random things you can now legally do:

1. Audition to become a Chippendales dancer (minimum height in effect)

2. Gamble inside certain U.S. casinos in Idaho, Montana, Rhode Island and Wyoming

3. Get married in Hawaii

4. Purchase cigarettes

5. Get an intimate piercing

6. Rent a Lamborghini in Italy

7. Open an offshore banking account in Monaco

8. Drive an ice cream truck in Mississauga

9. Vote in the next general election

10. Join an online dating site

11. Apply for a Sears credit card

12. View pornographic materials

13. Star in pornographic materials

14. Visit certain “coffee shops” in Amsterdam

15. Donate blood

16. Buy an automatic weapon in Florida

17. Become a contestant on Jeopardy!

18. Operate a bulldozer, forklift or back-hoe

19. Take a full dose of Advil

20. View restricted content on YouTube

Here are a few more things Justin can now do legally.

25 people who think President Obama killed Andrew Breitbart

2012-03-01T12:48:00.000-08:00

Conservative activist Andrew Breitbart died early this morning in Los Angeles - of natural causes it was announced.

This tweet is just the tip of the iceberg of wild-ass conspiracy theorists who are alleging President Obama had Breitbart killed.

SRSLY.

Audra McDonald & Norm Lewis: "I Loves You Porgy" from Porgy and Bess

2012-03-01T12:33:00.001-08:00

How much do I love these two performers? Doesn't get any better.

Congrats to both Audra and Norm for the success of Porgy and Bess.

Norm Lewis: "I Got Plenty of Nothing" from Porgy and Bess

2012-03-01T12:21:00.002-08:00

Now, as fantastic as the voice is, I love that you also see how charming Norm is in this clip.

Very happy for his success with Porgy and Bess.

New gay hotel to open in Times Square: Out NYC

2012-03-01T10:20:00.001-08:00

Click for larger view

New York City is set to welcome its first gay hotel.

The new complex on West 42nd Street, “Out NYC,” bills itself as a “place for gays and their friends and family to have a good time, to stay, play, eat, relax and revive,” according to owner Ian Reisner.

Reisner told 1010 WINS’ Al Jones that he prefers not to call the new place a gay hotel, but rather a straight-friendly hotel catering to the gay lifestyle.

“We’re built as a gay-oriented hotel, where straight friends and family can come in and enjoy themselves as well,” Reisner said.

Rooms at the mid-town Manhattan hotel will go for between $200-300 per night and come complete with nightclub, bar, cafe, restaurant and a 5,000 foot wellness center.

Reisner said the atmosphere at the “urban resort” will “feel almost like a cruise ship” for “everyone to enjoy and relax.”

The booming business of briefs

2012-03-01T09:32:00.000-08:00

And I was just about to do some "research" on the subject...

New Jersey: Support for marriage equality jumps again

2012-03-01T08:31:00.000-08:00

According to a Quinnipiac University poll released today, support for full marriage equality in New Jersey continues to climb.

The poll showed backing for same-sex marriage in the Garden State climbed to a new high, 57 percent in favor compared to 37 percent opposed. The day after the state Senate passed a bill supporting gay marriage, a Rutgers-Eagleton poll released on Feb. 14 showed 54 percent of New Jerseyans favor gay marriage compared to 35 percent against.

Jon Stewart on Romney and Santorum's latest gaffes

2012-03-01T08:22:00.000-08:00

I've spoken recently with several people about the "game" that politics truly is.

The second half of this nails that issue. Rick Santorum tells HIS audience that President Obama is a snob for wanting Americans to go to some higher education. He then "clarifies" that by saying vocational schools are just as good an option.

What he doesn't say is that three years ago, that's exactly what President Obama urged Americans to do: four year college, community college, vocational school... Anything that would give an American an extra leg up on finding the job they want. Because knowledge helps us do that.

Wow. What a snob.

By the way, you do know that Rick Santorum has 3 university degrees, right?

The Candi & Randy Show: Justin Utley, OUTmusic Award winning singer/songwriter

2012-02-29T15:08:00.002-08:00

Justin Utley - OUTmusic Award winning singer/songwriter - joins us on The Candi & Randy Show to talk about his new critically acclaimed CD "Nothing This Real."

• SiriusXM OutQ Radio named him "Artist of the Year"

• Next Magazine called him "New York's hottest up-and-coming musician."

• Good Morning Maine: "Exceptional songwriting... Outstanding and groundbreaking music. This is what you've been looking for."

Tune in to hear Justin tell his story, the story "behind the songs," his approach to songwriting and his candid thoughts about life in the honest lane. He also discusses his experience with the Mormon Church and "gay conversion therapy."

This is a really great show, and we laugh a lot, in addition to enjoying his great music.

Justin Utley in concert

George Clooney: "I don't give a shit" if anyone thinks I'm gay

2012-02-29T14:43:00.000-08:00

"I think it’s funny, but the last thing you’ll ever see me do is jump up and down, saying, “These are lies!” That would be unfair and unkind to my good friends in the gay community. I’m not going to let anyone make it seem like being gay is a bad thing. My private life is private, and I’m very happy in it. Who does it hurt if someone thinks I’m gay? I’ll be long dead and there will still be people who say I was gay. I don’t give a shit." - George Clooney speaking to The Advocate

Lesbian couple told to leave restaurant - "get a room..."

2012-02-29T13:50:00.000-08:00

A lesbian couple in Phoenix were asked to leave the Sheraton Hotel's District restaurant on Sunday after sharing a kiss during an anniversary dinner, ABC15 reports:

Kenyata White and Aeimee Diaz were celebrating their one-year anniversary Sunday at Sheraton’s District restaurant, inside the downtown hotel, when they were asked to leave. The couple says they shared a simple kiss and they didn't think anything of it until the manager came up to them and told them to get a room.

The women said the manager told them other patrons had complained to him.

"By no means at all were we doing any inappropriate activity. It was a light kiss a kiss that you could give your friends on the lips. It wasn't any make out at all and so we were very puzzled as to why we need to get a room," White said.

After the manager saw how upset they were they say he apologized and offered them free drinks if they would leave and come back another time.

That's it. "Please leave and make my life easier, and if you do I'll buy you a free drink..."

I can't count the number of times I've watch heterosexual couples kiss or hold hands in public while consciously aware that I risk being bashed or harassed for the same behavior.

And yes, I did it anyway...

Support for marriage equality jumps in California

2012-02-29T13:25:00.000-08:00

California registered voters now favor same-sex unions by 59 percent to 34 percent, a 25-point gap that is the largest margin of support for the issue in the three-plus decades the Field Poll has been asking the question.

The new Field survey shows support has leapt markedly in the three and a half years since California voters approved Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage, 52.3 percent to 47.7 percent.

The poll showed increases in support virtually across the board – among voters under 64, non-white voters, Catholics, Republicans and nonpartisans.

Poll Director Mark DiCamillo said the move to a 25-point gap goes beyond the gradual increase in support that has been expected as young voters age and "replace" older voters in the electorate.

"This is now showing that opinions are changing irrespective of generational replacement," DiCamillo said. "This is real change."

"The winds of change are blowing in other states (and) when judges start ruling the same way, I believe that has an influence," he said.
(source)

Released by Romney campaign: Democrats vote for Santorum

2012-02-29T12:56:00.001-08:00

"Democrats voted for Santorum because they want four more years of Obama..."

Well, duh...

Stock market up 56%, unemployment has improved 23 consecutive months, troops out of Iraq, soon to be out of Afghanistan, repeal of DADT...

You do the math.

Now THIS is how to sell air-freshener

2012-02-29T12:11:00.000-08:00

The Renuzit brand of air fresheners is being expanded with the addition of a line named Renuzit Fresh Accents.

The campaign, scheduled to begin in earnest this week, avoids the approach common for the category of presenting homes transformed into gorgeous showplaces by a spritz or whiff of fragrance.

Rather, the campaign is centered on other gorgeous images: buff young men who are either shirtless or have opened their shirts to reveal chiseled midsections.

The gist is that Renuzit Fresh Accents is as gorgeous as the models because it is, the print, online and outdoor ads declare, “the first air freshener designed to look as great as it smells.”

My one question is: there's air freshener in the ad?

Teacher fired from St. Louis Catholic School for being gay on his wedding day

2012-02-29T11:21:00.001-08:00

Al Fischer, a popular, openly gay music teacher at a St. Louis-area Catholic school, was fired earlier this month after an archdiocesan official overheard him talking with co-workers about his upcoming plans to marry his longtime partner in New York.

To add insult to injury, Fischer’s firing will take effect on March 9 — the day of the couple’s 20th anniversary and their wedding day.

The report from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch makes it clear that Fischer’s sexual orientation was no secret at St. Ann Parish. Fischer directs the local gay men’s chorus. His partner, Charlie Robin, noted that the two attend school functions like concerts and staff parties as a couple.

In a letter he emailed to the school’s parents shortly after receiving his pink slip, Fischer wrote: ”I think the word has been well spread that this is not the fault of St. Ann School or its leadership, and I want to emphasize that I get that, too.” He said further that the school principal and parish priest “are still there for me in a big way.” Parents at the school are said to be very upset.

In the midst of all of this, Mr. Fischer is taking the high road and doing what a good teacher does: thinking not about himself, but about how his very public firing will impact the children he teaches. His letter encouraged parents to talk to their kids, to make sure that they don’t let what’s happened to him make them scared to be themselves. ”A family conversation about whether or not justice was served here could be a great thing. I do not want the lesson from this for the kids to be, ‘Keep your mouth shut, hide who you are or what you think if it will get you in trouble.’”

Read more at Truth Wins Out.

Davy Jones of the Monkees passes away due to heart attack

2012-02-29T11:16:00.003-08:00

Singer Davy Jones of The Monkees has died of a heart attack at 66, the medical examiner's office in Martin County, Fla., has confirmed to NBC News.
The news was originally reported by TMZ.

Jones was most famous for his role in the pop group The Monkees, which was put together in 1965 for the TV show of the same name. With such hits as "Daydream Believer," "Last Train to Clarksville," "I'm a Believer," and "Pleasant Valley Sunday," and the "Monkees" theme song, the group sold more than 50 million records.

In 2008, Yahoo Music named Jones the top teen idol of all time.

After "The Monkees" disbanded in 1971, Jones sang solo as well as with various reincarnations of the group.

He also acted on stage and screen, with his most famous TV appearance as himself on "The Brady Bunch," in an episode where Marcia Brady was the president of his fan club and tried to get the singer to appear at her school dance. He also played Fagin in "Oliver!" on Broadway.

He released his final album in 2009.

As recently as June of 2011, Jones told The Palm Beach Post that after a routine stress test, a doctor said he had the heart of a 25-year-old. "The doctor says my heart's so good, the door's open to do any kind of exercise I want," he told the paper.

Last summer Jones and fellow bandmates Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz as the band, minus Michael Nesmith, prepared to tour. That tour was later canceled due to internal conflict.

Peter Tork, Davy Jones and Micky Dolenz of The Monkees

Moderate GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe to not seek re-election

2012-02-28T15:23:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not, this actually makes me a bit sad. GOP Senator Olympia Snowe (Maine) has decided to retire at the end of her current term.

Sen. Olympia Snowe from Maine is one of the few good, moderate, "willing to work with Dems" Republicans left. She has shown a lot of intelligence and ability to get things done.

"Unfortunately, I do not realistically expect the partisanship of recent years in the Senate to change over the short term," she said in a statement explaining her decision to retire. Snowe said her ability to win re-election was not at issue—she was heavily favored to win re-election. Her exit gives Democrats a new opportunity to be pick up a GOP-held seat in a year where they are fighting to hold on to control of the Senate. Democrats currently control the chamber with a 53-47 split, with 2 independent senators caucusing with Democrats.

Snowe has a 78% rating from the HRC on LGBT issues. She supported the Hate Crimes Act, the repeal of DADT, and voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment. In 2009 she was the Senate cosponsor of the fully-inclusive ENDA.

While it is a good chance for the Dems to pick up a seat, I do have great respect for Sen. Snowe.

Celine Dion cancels string of concerts due to throat infection

2012-02-28T14:16:00.000-08:00

Celine Dion has announced that she has to cancel her current run of Caesars Palace shows through March 18 due to the throat infection she is battling. Medical specialists also have ordered her to rest her voice for 8 weeks to allow her a complete recovery.

She has been further diagnosed with weakness in her right vocal chord.

Celine flew to Los Angeles Monday afternoon for a thorough examination at UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Gerald Berke has now diagnosed Celine with weakness in her right vocal chord, secondary to the viral illness. Berke has prescribed 6 to 8 weeks of voice rest in order for Celine to completely recover from the condition.

“I tried to sing at my sound check last week, and I had no control of my voice whatsoever,” Celine said. “We thought that after a few days’ rest, I would improve, but it wasn’t getting any better. ... I guess it was worse than I thought.

“Obviously, this is the worst thing for a singer .... not being able to do your shows. I feel worse knowing that I’m disappointing my fans. I’m so sorry. ... I hope they forgive me.”
(source)

Gay marriage, gay lunch, gay parking?

2012-02-28T13:53:00.000-08:00

Broadway Backwards - March 5, 2012

2012-02-28T13:49:00.000-08:00

Broadway Backwards is the only annual Broadway event custom-made for the gay and lesbian community, our friends and families. Broadway actors, singers and dancers perform famous songs and numbers from the Broadway lexicon, but with the performers genders reversed.

Look for this year's star-studded, one-night only event March 5, 2012 at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre.

Watch the video to learn more about the event and see highlights from the first six editions of Broadway Backwards.

The event is produced by Broadway Cares and benefits BC/EFA and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of New York City.

Dow Jones closes over 13,000 - first time since May 2008

2012-02-28T13:19:00.001-08:00

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed today over 13,000 for the first time since May 19, 2008.

The stock market is now up over 56 percent since Obama took office. Today, the stock market was buoyed, in the view of one economist, by “job and income gains…leading to higher confidence and spending growth, in turn driving further spending gains.” Here’s how the stock market has fared under our last three presidents:

Remember - the GOP Presidential candidates are campaigning on the idea that "the country is headed in the wrong direction." So I'm guessing they'd rather the stock market DROP as it did under President Bush?

The success of the stock market under Obama is particularly notable considering the majority of Republicans believe he is a “socialist,” presumably out to destroy private enterprise.
(via ThinkProgress.org)

For those who are not enjoying SMASH

2012-02-28T11:28:00.000-08:00

From a website called Broadway Abridged. They have their own abridged version of SMASH.

SCENE: PREVIOUSLY ON SMASH...


                          MEGAN HILTY'S RACK
   Hi.





   SCENE: KATHARINE MCPHEE'S FIRST DAY OF REHEARSAL.


                          KATHARINE MCPHEE
   Hello everyone.


                          TWO BITCH GIRLS AND A BITCHY
                          GAY GUY
   UGH.


                          Megan Hilty enters and everybody claps
                          for her.


                          BROADWAY ACTOR WITH ONE LINE
                          IN THIS EPISODE
   We love you Megan Hilty!


                          ANOTHER BROADWAY ACTOR
                          MAKING MONEY ON THE SIDE BY
                          APPEARING IN THIS THING
   Megan Hilty, you're the best!  I like you and dislike
   Katharine McPhee!


                          A THIRD BROADWAY ACTOR WHOSE
                          TALENT IS BEING WASTED
   You'll surely NEVER be the villainess of this show, thereby
   turning off all the people who like you much better!  That
   wouldn't possibly happen!






   SCENE: ANJELICA HUSTON'S OFFICE.


                          ANJELICA HUSTON
   Oh no I have to sell my artwork.


                               THAT'S ENOUGH OF THAT...

SCENE: REHEARSAL.


                          Megan Hilty changes into her "I slept
                          with the Director and all I got was
                          this lousy T-Shirt" T-Shirt. 


                          KATHARINE MCPHEE
   They're *sleeping* together?


                          TWO BITCH GIRLS AND A BITCHY
                          GAY GUY
   I don't know that they're getting much sleep.!


                          SERIES CREATOR       
                          THERESA REBECK
   BWAH HA HA HA HA THIS IS WHAT I CONSIDER HUMOR.


                          JACK DAVENPORT
                 (to Megan Hilty)
   Hey, did you hear Nick Jonas is in this episode?  I'm
   throwing him a big birthday party.  I discovered him.


                          MEGAN HILTY
                 (to Christian Borle)
   Did you hear Nick Jonas is in this episode?  Jack Davenport
   is throwing him a big birthday party.  He told me he
   discovered him.


                          CHRISTIAN BORLE
                 (to Debra Messing)
   Did you hear Nick Jonas is in this episode?  Jack Davenport
   is throwing him a big birthday party.  He told Megan Hilty he
   discovered him.


                          DEBRA MESSING
                 (to that penis assistant)
   Did you hear Nick Jonas is in this episode?  Jack Davenport
   is throwing him a big birthday party.  He told Megan Hilty he
   discovered him.


                          MEGAN HILTY
   EVERYONE!  Katharine McPhee is too loud.  I want to throw her
   out of the number.


                          JACK DAVENPORT
                 (to Christian Borle)
   Megan Hilty thinks Katharine McPhee is too loud.  She's
   throwing her out of the number.


                          CHRISTIAN BORLE
   OK, Katharine McPhee.  Megan Hilty is throwing you out of the
   number because she thinks you're too loud.






   SCENE: CITY HALL.


                          KATHARINE MCPHEE
   So Megan Hilty threw me out of the number.  She thought I was
   too loud. Megan Hilty threw me out of the number.  She
   thought--


                          KATHARINE MCPHEE'S BOYFRIEND
   Has this show already assumed that people are watching it in
   the background while sorting laundry? 


                          KATHARINE MCPHEE
   But--


                          KATHARINE MCPHEE'S BOYFRIEND
   Sorry, I can't hear you.  In this episode, my characteristic
   is that I have a phone all the time!






   SCENE: ANJELICA HUSTON'S OFFICE.


                          ANJELICA HUSTON
                 (points at lawyer)
   YOUR OCCUPATION IS A LAWYER.


                          LAWYER
   Yes.


                          ANJELICA HUSTON
   I hate my ex husband but I used to not hate my ex-husband.


                          LAWYER
   Also true.


                          ANJELICA HUSTON
   Good, I wanted to make sure everyone knew that there can
   always be more exposition.
                 (sighs)
   Oh, artwork.


                          LAWYER
   We're not working off a script in this scene... we must be
   improvising, right?






   SCENE: OUTSIDE REHEARSAL.


                          TWO BITCH GIRLS AND A BITCHY
                          GAY GUY
   Oh look it's Katharine McPhee again.  UGH.


                          KATHARINE MCPHEE
   Megan Hilty threw me out of the number.  She--


                          TWO BITCH GIRLS AND A BITCHY
                          GAY GUY
   WE SAID UGH.  YOU ARE BORING AND FROM OHIO, SO WE HATE YOU.


                          KATHARINE MCPHEE
                 (piano underscoring kicks in to
                  show that this moment is
                  IMPORTANT)
                 (or that perhaps somebody needs
                  piano scoring to make up for
                  lackluster acting skills)
   You guys are being jerks.


                          TWO BITCH GIRLS AND A BITCHY
                          GAY GUY
   You are right!  We shouldn't be mean to you.  After all
   you're boring, and from Ohio!  
   Now we suddenly adore you because we are going to make you a
   better person by peer-pressuring you into buying expensive
   clothes and turning you into a rag doll.


                          KATHARINE MCPHEE
   Sure, why don't I spend the entirety of what my Dad gave me
   in the last episode, in one spree!  Surely that won't cheapen
   anything.

Check out the website. Some funny material there.

Funny moment on THE VOICE: Blake Shelton and Adam Levine

2012-02-28T11:00:00.000-08:00

Adam Levine - "First of all... Blake, you are a real vocalist, and a damn good vocalist."

Blake Shelton - "Thank you, Adam. Thank you very much. I love you, Adam."

Adam Levine - "I love you, too... totally in the non-sexual way."

Blake Shelton - "I can't say the same."

US Marine speaks about Homecoming pic going viral

2012-02-28T10:11:00.000-08:00

Brandon Morgan and Dalan Wells, the couple in the Marine homecoming photo that went viral over the weekend speak to Honolulu news station KHON.

Says Brandon: "This is a homecoming picture. Gay, straight, it doesn't matter who you are. Love is love. We haven't fought for more rights or better rights than others. We fought for equal rights. And now we have them."

Interview with Singer/Songwriter Justin Utley

2012-02-28T09:40:00.005-08:00

I've been a fan of Justin Utley and his music since his 2005 CD "Runaway."

With his muscular country/rock voice, hunky good looks, open smile and public activism on behalf of the LGBT community, it's easy to be drawn into all things Justin Utley.

Before moving to New York City, Justin lived in Utah and spent time involved in the Mormon Church's same sex attraction “conversion” therapy program. Since then, Justin became an activist for civil rights and for LGBT equality. He began to speak out against the Mormon use of "conversion therapy" and speaks out as a role model for anyone struggling with the Church and spreading the truth about 'therapies' that faith based religious groups prescribe.

Nominated for four 2010 OUTMusic Awards at the LGBT Academy of Recording Arts in NYC, his song "Stand For Something" won Best Country/Folk Song of the Year. The song was Justin's personal musical response to the passing of Prop 8 in California.

My co-host Candi and I recently had the opportunity to interview him for The Candi & Randy Show, and what I thought was going to be a 15 minute segment easily became a full hour.

Justin is charming, disarming, direct and open in talking about his music and life journey so far. Here's just a bit of that interview.

*******************************************************

Randy: You've spoken out about your experience with "ex-gay therapy" - can you tell us about it?
Justin: I can tell you that it doesn't work. After coming back from my Mormon mission, I went to my bishop and told him I was having these feelings that I might be gay. So they sent me to a facility run by the church which is like the church's "therapy/counseling" type thing. It's all bound by church social science, so they can't really explore outside the realm of that. So he sent me there to ask for a specialist in "same gender attraction disorder" - because homosexuality means that you're sexual and they didn't want you to be sexual so you have an affliction, it's like a disease. So I went to this one on one therapist for two years and then group therapy for the same amount of time. It was kind of like AA where everyone sits in a circle and talks, but with "ex-gay therapy" everyone is still gay the next week. At first it was liberating because I had met people who were in the same boat because I had spent 20-something years thinking I was the only one who was having these 'issues'. But then, like, a year into it I was like "so when do things change?"

In the end, the therapist had me convinced I had been molested as a child. So before I even came out to my family I had told my parents I had been molested as a child. The one who called it out was my mom. And she was like, there was never a day when you 'came home from piano lessons an hour late.' The way your conscious works, I would have known if something had happened. So this whole idea of whatever you're going through, this repressed memory that never happened needs to stop and you need to deal with your bullshit. So I decided to stop the ex-gay therapy, and I decided to start dating someone.

Let's talk about your music. You were nominated for 4 OUTmusic Awards in 2010 - winning for "Country/Folk song of the year" - how cool was that?
It was very validating. In 2009, I decided to stick this out and do what I came here to do. When I submitted it for the OUTmusic Awards, I felt like it would be great to just get a nomination. And then they came back with four nominations! And at that point I thought: Wow! I've definitely struck a chord - this is me. I'm meant to do this. It was amazing.

What is the process of writing like for you? Do you sit down on a regular basis to exercise that muscle? Or do you need to be inspired by a thought or experience?
I get inspired. Like when I recorded "Behind My Eyes," a few years before that my aunt had just committed suicide in Utah. She had called me a few weeks before and I thought that was really sweet - she had always supported me even though she was the 'black sheep' of her family, she was always defending me, she always had my back… and then she was gone. "Behind My Eyes" was born out of that unfinished conversation that I wanted to have with her. The problem was that I had stopped writing it when I started putting down the earlier material. I had started writing it when I was feeling moved and inspired. So I had to lock myself in a room and listen to the orchestration of the song over and over again until my mind and my emotions went right back to where I was when it all happened. And that allowed me to keep writing the song.

Tell me about writing the song "It Is What It Is"...
I remember coming home one day and my boyfriend was there. We had moved in together after about two months - which I found out was pretty quick for relationships. He was still at home and I was like, "I thought you were a manager at Equinox (prominent gym in NYC)? And he was like "oh no, I'm a personal trainer." So I said "when do you train clients?" and he said "I don't have any right now." And I was like "how are you paying your share of everything…?" And he said his mom sends him a check. And I thought, wow - it's not that I judge you because you don't have a job. It's that you don't have a work ethic.

We ended up having this argument and I asked him "what do you want to do with your life?" and he said "I want to be a back-up dancer for Madonna." I said "dude, you are like 6'4", 200 something pounds and thirty-something. You're probably not going to be backing up Madonna for anything." I mean, I 'm all for people pursuing their dreams but I also want to be a realist… and I thought to myself "what the fuck? really?" He really didn't like that answer and… he broke the top of my nose. LOL... There's even a line in the song "I never felt so out of place, I took one step back just to save my face." Yeah, he got a little angry. So I moved out and that night I wrote "It Is What It Is" which is one of my favorite tracks on the album.

You have a concert coming up in New York City on March 30th at The Triad.
Yes! It's this cool place on the Upper West Side - red curtains, little big theater, perfect for the setting and it's the first time in NYC I'll be performing with a full band. I'm very, very excited and it's going to kick off my summer of gigs.

Now, I'd like to ask some of those "odd interview questions" because I love to see what people will say.
Sure.

If you were a super hero, which super hero would you be?
The Hulk.

Ok! good answer. That was easy :)
I have to say, my temperament has changed a bit - the gym used to be a real intense goal for me. So maybe a morph between that and Superman. I think that may have something to do with the cape and the briefs and all that stuff for Superman, but...

Who was your first celebrity crush?
Ummm… probably Tom Selleck. My grandmother had this poster of him that I remember as a child, and I remember thinking "oh lord… that's a handsome man…"

What's your biggest turn-on in life?
As cheesy as it sounds, I get the biggest rush from putting together the first layers of a song - the first 'beginning, middle and end' of a song. When I can sit back and say "X amount of time ago this was dead space - there was nothing. And now I'm looking at this creation. A blank canvas that had nothing now has this depth and this emotion in it. I really, really love that feeling.

What is your life philosophy in ten words or less?
"Be the change you would see in the world." That's really what it's about for me right now. There would be so much more happiness and so much less bull-shit in the world if people lived by that. I talk to people about my music these last few years, and talk about equality. And people say to me "I'm on the boat but I want someone who's going to lower my taxes…" And I think - I'm not willing to sit at the back of this bus or go back to what I was. I'm worth so much more than that. I would pay 90% taxes to be able to feel and have the same rights, to be able to love, and be able to have the same life as anyone else in this country. I don't see how there's any other price that you can put on that.

*******************************************************

Listen to the whole interview tomorrow night on The Candi & Randy Show - 9pmEST/6pmPST. We laugh a LOT during the interview. Great guest, great artist.

You can find Justin Utley's music on Amazon, iTunes, his website - www.justinutley.com - and all major music sites. Go get his music!

And you can follow Justin on his Facebook Fan page.

Here's one of my favorite Justin Utley songs - "Great Escape" - from his new CD Nothing This Real

Tim McGraw backstage

2012-02-28T09:09:00.002-08:00

I've tried juggling. IT'S HARD!

Mitt Romney: "Out of touch"

2012-02-28T08:06:00.002-08:00

New Dancing With The Stars 2012 cast announced

2012-02-28T07:57:00.000-08:00

"Family Matters" actor Jaleel White, singer Gladys Knight and National Football League player Donald Driver will be among the 12 celebrity contestants on the next season of the ABC dancing competition.

Other famous faces participating in the 14th edition include "The View" co-host Sherri Shepherd, singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw, "Little House on the Prairie" actress Melissa Gilbert and Disney Channel star Roshon Fegan.

The new cast, which also includes tennis player Martina Navratilova, "Melrose Place" actor Jack Wagner, telenovela star William Levy, operatic singer Katherine Jenkins and "Extra" co-host Maria Menounos, was announced Tuesday on "Good Morning America."

The contestants will dance their first routines with their professional partners March 19 and March 26, and the first couple will be eliminated March 27.

New HBO series: Veep starring Julia-Louis Dreyfus

2012-02-27T15:50:00.000-08:00

The new HBO Series, "Veep," starring Julia-Louis Dreyfus as the first female vice-president premieres on April 22nd.

Mary Chapin Carpenter: "Shut Up and Kiss Me"

2012-02-27T15:02:00.000-08:00

If my radio show co-host Candi was a country singer, I imagine she would be something like Mary Chapin Carpenter: sultry voice, blond and smart.

Tweet of the day: Nate Silver

2012-02-27T14:26:00.000-08:00

Got that Rick Santorum?

2/3's of the United States believe the Constitution requires clear separation of Church and State.

Class is over.