Podcast: Miami Beach Gay-Bashing; Matt Bomer In Upcoming "Anything;" Diver Tom Daley Speaks Out On LGBT Rights At Commonwealth Games

In this week's podcast:

• Miami Beach Pride gay bashing

• Sen. Cory Booker calls out Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo on LGBT rights

• Newly-elected Alabama Sen. Doug Jones became the latest co-sponsor of The Equality Act citing his son Carson’s coming out as affecting his view on LGBTQ rights

• Out UK diverTom Daley speaks out against Commonwealth anti-gay laws

• Matt Bomer’s casting in upcoming film trans-oriented ANYTHING gets boos from transgender community

• And the latest political parody from Randy Rainbow - “You Can’t Stop His Tweets”

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report.

Democrat Doug Jones Sworn In As New Senator From Alabama

Standing next to Doug Jones' right is his hottie gay son, Carson Jones

The balance of power in the U.S. Senate will shift ever-so-slightly today as Democrat Doug Jones will be sworn in as the new senator from Alabama.

Jones takes over from place-holder Republican Luther Strange who replaced current Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

After Vice President Pence swears Jones in at noon today, Republicans will have a one-vote majority 51-49.

Additionally, Minnesota's lieutenant governor Tina Smith will be sworn in as the newest senator from Minnesota replacing Al Franken who resigned in the face of sexual misconduct allegations.

Smith's ascension to the office means Minnesota will become the fourth state to currently be represented by two women in the U.S. Senate.

Additionally, this means the Senate now has a record 22 female senators.

Roy Moore's Jewish Attorney Is Longtime Friend/Supporter Of Opponent Doug Jones

Republican Roy Moore (L) and Democrat Doug Jones (R)

Well, this is just delicious!

Last month, on the eve of the Alabama election to replace the Senate seat vacated by Jeff Sessions, Republican candidate Roy Moore watched his wife tell a crowd that rumors of the Moores being anti-Semitic were untrue because "One of our attorneys is a Jew!"

That lawyer, Richard Jaffe, was hired to defend the Moore's son against drug charges in 2016.

It turns out Jaffe is a longtime friend and supporter of the Democrat in that race, Doug Jones.

As we all know now, Jones won that election.

From The Washington Examiner:

Jaffe told the Washington Examiner he has been close personal friends with Doug Jones for more than 30 years and he both contributed to, and raised money for, his campaign.

"There could not be a more passionate supporter of Doug than me!" Jaffe said.

The Birmingham-based lawyer walked alongside Jones as he took center stage to deliver his acceptance speech and plans to be in the Senate gallery on Wednesday as Jones is sworn in.

Remember when Roy Moore's wife insisted that she and her husband couldn't be anti-semitic because one of their attorneys was a Jew? Anyway, turns out that this attorney, Richard Jaffe, actually voted for Doug Jones. Also raised money for his campaign. Which is just so…perfect. pic.twitter.com/i1jJQX4ObH

— Michael Arnovitz (@MichaelArnovitz) January 2, 2018

I just found a new definition for poetic justice. https://t.co/EeCypbwLqX

— Liz D. (@lizzard111) January 2, 2018

(h/t JoeMyGod)

News Round-Up: December 16, 2017

(via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• I've been fascinated by this pic of fitness model Quin Bruce (above). I find his expression captivating.

• A Tennessee county commission is planning a symbolic resolution condemning same-sex marriage after the U.S. Supreme Court made marriage equality the law of the land. #Whatever #WhyHate?

• All credit to Boy Culture for revealing not only did Democrat Doug Jones win the special Alabama Senate election this week, but Jones has a hottie gay son.

• A new poll shows a clear majority of Americans believe Donald Trump is guilty of sexual misconduct.

• Out actor and Teen Wolf star Charlie Carver has joined the cast of the upcoming all-star Broadway production of the groundbreaking gay play, The Boys in the Band, as "Cowboy." The production is slated to run April 30-August 12 at the Booth Theatre on Broadway.

• The rumor around Washington DC is Donald Trump may fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller before Christmas. If that happens, watch hell break loose.

• I was just down in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, celebrating my hubby's birthday and ran into underwear designer Andrew Christian. So in his honor, let's celebrate a bit of the holiday season with his hottie models. Watch below.

Alabama: A Study In Campaign Contrasts

Embattled GOP Senate nominee Roy Moore

It's a study in contrasts when looking at today's campaign ads coming out of the Alabama special election for the U.S. Senate.

First up, Roy Moore's rather tabloid-esque response to “false allegations” in a “scheme by liberal elites and the Republican establishment” meant to derail his run for Attorney General Jeff Sessions' old seat in the U.S. Senate.

Meanwhile, Democrat Doug Jones' new ad highlights Moore's views that preschool is "detrimental to children and our country," which he expressed in a 2007 op-ed for far-right wing site WorldNetDaily.

The essay was apparently in response to Hillary Clinton’s calls for universal pre-kindergarten classes for four-year-olds.

Compare for yourself - who would you vote for?

Moore, who was twice kicked out of office for disobeying the law and accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct?

Or the other guy, Jones, who successfully prosecuted murderers and the KKK, and stands up for education for your children?

Doesn't seem like a difficult choice to me.

Alabama's Largest Newspaper: Reject Roy Moore, Vote For Doug Jones

Alabama's largest newspaper endorses Democrat Doug Jones over embattled Roy Moore.

An excerpt from the editorial board at AL.com:

How can we look our neighbors, our parishioners, our colleagues, our partners, or our children in the eyes and tell them they are worth less than ensuring one political party keeps a Senate seat? How can we expect young Alabamians to have faith in their government or their church, when its leaders equivocate on matters as clear cut as sexual abuse?

A vote for Roy Moore sends the worst kind of message to Alabamians struggling with abuse: "if you ever do tell your story, Alabama won't believe you."

Or, worse, we'll believe you but we just won't care.

To be clear: it's not only his record on women and children that disqualifies Moore. If we vote for Roy Moore, Alabama will also show that we don't care about you if you're gay or Muslim or Catholic. If you're an atheist or an immigrant. We'll show each other that we only care about Roy Moore's definition of Alabama. And that there's not room for the rest of us.

[snip]

What is disqualifying is the conduct of Roy Moore against women and children. It was disqualifying for his party leaders. It was disqualifying for Alabama's senior senator. And it should be disqualifying for his state party.

By the various misdeeds, miscalculations and mistakes of its voters and leaders, Alabama has left itself with few options. Alabamians must show themselves to be people of principle, reject Roy Moore and all that he stands for.

There is only one candidate left in this race who has proven worthy of the task of representing Alabama. He is Doug Jones.

For a deep red state like Alabama, this is pretty stunning stuff. I highly recommend you read the entire editorial.