News Round-Up: July 6, 2018

(image via Instagram)

Some news stories you might have missed:

• InstaHunk Alex Abramov says, "The category is: Live. Work. Pose."

• The New York Yankees are the only Major League Baseball team to not hold a Pride night this year.

• A barista at Starbucks has been fired for mocking a man who stutters. After stuttering on his name during his order, the barista replied, ‘Okay, S-s-s-sam.’ When he received his coffee, his name on the cup was written as ‘SSSAM.'

• Twitter is deleting over a million fake accounts a day - double the rate from last October.

• Scarlett Johansson cast herself in the role of a transgender man in the upcoming film, Rub & Tug, and folks are not happy about it.

• I've been meaning to post this really heartwarming viral video of four fathers attending Pride for the first time with their LGBTQ children.

Produced as an ad spot for Dublin Bus, its really beautiful seeing the kids faces upon hearing their dads were heading to Pride with them on a rainbow-colored bus. Watch the short spot below.

Will & Grace Pride Mash-Up: "You Are Exactly Who You Are Supposed To Be"

Sean Hayes in 'Will & Grace'

"You are exactly who you are supposed to be."

You could say that's one of the ineffable messages of Pride Month.

And underscoring yet again the impact Will & Grace has had on LGBTs and allies alike, this one minute video gets to the center of what has made the show such an enduring success.

Humor with heart.

The newly-released mash-up from the iconic sitcom in honor of Pride Month reminds us why the Will & Grace reboot been an amazing revival for NBC and the LGBT community.

Take, for example, the clip from the latest season between Will and guest star Ben Platt:

Will: “My coming out was pretty typical - my mom cried, my dad drank…”

Ben: “I told my parents when I was 8. They both threw me a coming out party on the same weekend.”

Will: “That’s not a coming out story. How’s James Franco supposed to win an Oscar playing that???”

While it gets a good laugh, the brief scene combines comedy and light with a subject many experienced as painful.

The quick video tribute offers coming out moments from Will and Jack, as well as the infamous “television kiss” between the two dashing urbanites.

Eric McCormak (L) and Sean Hayes (R)

We’re also treated to moments of pride by parents on the show, something most of America had never seen before W&G.

And why? Because as Jack tells us, “That’s what we do in the community - we ‘gay it forward.’”

Because Pride Month isn't just about a party, or history, or a slogan.

“The minute you forget what we went through to get here, is the minute it could all be taken away.”

Well done, NBC.

Happy Pride, folks.

(h/t The OUTFront)

Today In LGBT Pride: 9/11 Hero Mark Bingham

Mississippi: City Council Denies Pride Parade Permit With No Reason Given

The LGBT community of Starkville, Mississippi, was informed last week that an application for a permit to organize what would have been the town's first Pride parade was denied after a 4-3 vote by the town's aldermen.

To add to their frustration, the organizers weren't given a reason for the denial. Three of the aldermen who voted against the permit left through the back entrance.

At the city council meeting, 16 people showed up to support the parade, only two spoke against it. One of the naysayers told the city council a Pride parade would turn the town into "a Sin City."

Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill denounced the decision saying in a statement it sent a message that the small college town is not "inclusive." The mayor also pointed out that Oxford, Mississippi, where the University of Mississippi is based, has held gay pride parades for several years.

(source)

Podcast: Transgender Folks Get Help In The Workplace; "Yes" Vote Leads Australia's Marriage Equality Vote

In this week's podcast:

• California's governor signs "first in the nation" legislation that will require training meant to help high unemployment among transgender people

• Donald Trump joked that Vice President Mike Pence wants to “hang" all gay people

• The "Yes to Marriage Equality" campaign in Australia appears to be leading

• Georgia state lawmaker considers quarantining HIV+ people

• Rentboy CEO goes to prison even as female escort websites continue without penalty

• Out Canadian country music artist Patrick Masse headlines Las Vegas Pride

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

Serbia's First Openly Lesbian Prime Minister Marches In Belgrade Pride Parade

Serbia’s first openly gay prime minister, Ana Brnabic, marched in Belgrade’s Pride parade for the first time saying her presence demonstrates the government's respect for all of its citizens.

Via Deutsche Welle:

“My message here today is that the government respects all citizens,” Brnabic told reporters. “We want to send a signal that diversity makes our society stronger.”

Carrying rainbow flags, balloons and a banner reading, “For change,” pride participants walked through the capital, Belgrade.

“Today we walk together and together we will stress that problems still exist and that we want to work together to solve them,” said activist Goran Miletic.

Riot police cordoned off the city center with metal fences as helicopters flew overhead to prevent possible clashes with extremist groups opposed to the pride gathering. Opponents gathered with their own banners but no incidents were reported.

Serbia has recently tried to improve its image with an eye towards European Union membership. Gay activists in Serbia hailed Brnabic's appointment in June 2017 as an important step in their struggle for gay rights, but say much more still needs to be done.

Serbia's first openly gay prime minister Ana Brnabic is on a gay pride march in Belgrade. Police have cordoned off the city centre. pic.twitter.com/WugxURB2KU

— Global's Newsroom (@GlobalsNewsroom) September 17, 2017

What great energy at @BelgradePride today! #ZaPromenu #PrideWatch2017 pic.twitter.com/jSeiYrSzzp

— ILGA-Europe (@ILGAEurope) September 17, 2017

Happy @BelgradePride! Insolidarity! #lgbtrights are #HumanRights @goranmiletic_en @crdefenders pic.twitter.com/DIGoZQN4JL

— Tanya L. Domi (@tanyadomi) September 17, 2017

When The Inclusive Message Of "Y'all Means All" Is Deemed Too "Political"

Charlottesville's Pride event is just around the corner and the organizers want to make sure that the annual LGBT event is meant to include everyone.

So much so that this year's theme is "Y'all Means All."

But apparently that message of inclusion was deemed too "political" for one t-shirt company.

Charlottesville is about to celebrate pride, but the planning hit an unexpected problem proving exactly why we still need these events.

The usual vendor for Charlottesville Pride, Red Star, outsourced the organization's t-shirt order to Pennsylvania-based Legacy Athletics.

But Legacy Athletics declined to fulfill the order on the grounds that the Pride message was too "political."

Here's the response sent to Red Star:

I am sorry for the delay, this is a design that we would not be able to produce.

While Legacy does offer custom logos, we also carefully nurture and protect our brand. One of the ways we keep a positive connotation to the brand, is by avoiding doing any products with custom logos that might be deemed as controversial, political, offensive, etc. This does not in any way mean that we either support or do not support the organization making the request, but the reality is that in light of recent events in Charlottesville as well as the fact Gay Pride events are political activism; we respectfully decline this order. Again, I hope you can understand our position.

Now, companies can certainly decline an order from an organization like Charlottesville Pride because political groups are not protected classes.

But you have to admit "Y'all Means All" is a tough message to oppose.

Charlottesville Pride organizers used the episode as a teaching moment explaining this is exactly why we need Pride celebrations:

And to those of you who thought we were past this kind of discrimination, please know that while this explicit expression of homophobia is indeed shocking, it’s only the fact that what usually seethes beneath the surface has come up for air that’s new. We live with implicit and inferred bias and constant threat of legal recrimination everyday.

In this world of Trump, where open bias and supremacy against all kinds of marginalized communities has become applauded and encouraged, we, the LGBTQ community, need you – our allies, our would-be friends – to stand up for us, to stand up with us, to have our back.

If you're in the area, Charlottesville Pride is this Saturday, September 16, at the Sprint Pavilion, 700 E. Main St.

London Pride Parade Inspires Two Marriage Proposals

Fernando Ferreira proposes to bf Greg Woodford at London Pride

A very sweet moment from this past weekend's Pride Parade in London as rugby player Fernando Ferreira proposed to his boyfriend Greg Woodford.

The London-based Kings Cross Steelers are a regular fixture in the parade every year since it was founded in 1995.

But during a mock line-out, Fernando Ferreira got up and walked over to the barricade where his boyfriend, Greg Woodford, was standing.

What happens next will melt your heart.

Ferreira gets down on one knee, as his rugby mates cheer in the background.

This was the second marriage proposal at the London Pride parade this weekend.

Along the parade route, a woman holding a rainbow flag approached her girlfriend, who happened to be a transport police officer working the parade.

While she was clearly surprised she says yes immediately.

And the crowd goes wild!

#LoveIsLoveIsLoveIsLove

She said YES!

Congratulations ❤️💍#LoveHappensHere pic.twitter.com/bAmZABMMzD

— BTP (@BTP) July 8, 2017

(h/t Gay Star News)

UK Prime Minister Theresa May Celebrates London Pride

UK Prime Minister Theresa May issued a video message supporting London for sending out a “proud and positive message to the world” as London Pride takes place this weekend.

May underscored the UK’s pledge to support LGBT rights in other countries, and to take a stand against hate crime at home.

“Around the world, cruel and discriminatory laws still exist – some of them directly based on the very laws which were repealed in this country 50 years ago. So, the UK has a responsibility to stand up for our values and to promote the rights of LGBT Plus people internationally."

"We must stamp out homophobic bullying in schools, and and drive down homophobic and transphobic hate crimes."

"So as London once again sends a proud and positive message to the world, I wish everyone a fantastic Pride."

Now that's leadership.

PM: Pride brings people together in joyful celebration of our values of freedom, tolerance & equality #PrideInLondon https://t.co/nR9ZGnZWN9 pic.twitter.com/KLE6fGtevD

— UK Prime Minister (@Number10gov) July 8, 2017

Additionally, Parliament was lit up with rainbow lights in honor of London Pride last night.

London's Houses of Parliament illuminated for the first time with rainbow to celebrate pride. 🇬🇧🏳️‍🌈#PrideInLondon#GodSavesTheQueens pic.twitter.com/8jDX1WdeQC

— Greg Hogben (@MyDaughtersArmy) July 8, 2017

You'll recall that President Trump broke an 8 year tradition of the White House issuing a proclamation acknowledging June as Pride Month in the U.S.

Millions Celebrate World Pride 2017 In Madrid

Organizers say approximately 2 million took part in the WorldPride 2017 festivities in Madrid, Spain, this weekend.

This year's event coincides with the 40th anniversary of Spain's first LGBT parade.

Via Reuters:

A convoy of more than 50 floats snaked through central Madrid amid a carnival atmosphere as part of celebrations marking the WorldPride parade, a celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights that has been held in several cities across the world since its inception in 2000.

Politicians from across the political spectrum walked ahead of the parade, passing through the Spanish capital which was decked out in rainbow flags to mark the occasion.

“Madrid wants you to remember, and to never forget, that whoever you love, Madrid loves you,” Madrid's Mayor Manuela Carmena wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

The next WorldPride will be hosted by New York City in 2019 which just happens to be the 50th anniversary of Stonewall.

A post shared by Guille VR (@guilleatoll) on Jul 2, 2017 at 8:48am PDT

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❤️💛💚💙💜

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Sen. Sherrod Brown Proposes Senate Resolution Recognizing June As LGBTQ Pride Month

Ohio Senator Sharrod Brown shared the news today that, with no presidential proclamation acknowledging June as LGBT Pride Month, he has proposed the first-ever Senate Resolution for Pride Month.

Sen. Sherrod Brown

This year, the White House broke with an 8 year tradition and did not issue a presidential proclamation acknowledging June as Pride Month.

So I'm proud to lead the first-ever Senate Resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month.

And today, I'm equally proud that so many of my colleagues heartily agreed to cosponsor. An outpouring of support for the LGBTQ community.

We must always stand with our LGBTQ friends and neighbors – not just during the month of June, but year round. -SB

You may recall that while the White House didn't find the time to issue an LGBTQ Pride Month proclamation, the folks there did name June as “National Homeownership Month”, “National Ocean Month”, “African-American Music Appreciation Month” and “Great Outdoors Month."

Brown tagged an impressive 23 U.S. Senators along with his message as co-sponsors for the proposal.

This year, the White House broke with an 8 year tradition and did not issue a presidential proclamation acknowledging June as Pride Month.

— Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) June 28, 2017

So I'm proud to lead the first-ever Senate Resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month. pic.twitter.com/TE4NRrPeIE

— Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) June 28, 2017

And today, I'm equally proud that so many of my colleagues heartily agreed to cosponsor. An outpouring of support for the LGBTQ community. pic.twitter.com/ccDKhb1jsX

— Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) June 28, 2017

We must always stand with our LGBTQ friends and neighbors – not just during the month of June, but year round. -SB pic.twitter.com/RKXPYPeAED

— Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) June 28, 2017

You can see the proposed resolution below.

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Marches In Toronto Pride Parade And LGBTs Everywhere Go Wild

While President Trump may be ignoring Pride Month, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rocked the world as he marched in Toronto's Pride Parade this past weekend.

Let's check the boxes in this one pic (above):

1. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
2. At Pride
3. Wearing rainbow socks
4. High-fiving a little girl dressed as Wonder Woman
5. Rainbow flag Canadian maple leaf on his left cheek

And the crowd goes wild...

Love is love. #PrideTO pic.twitter.com/z2No7rdchZ

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) June 25, 2017

#NoJusticeNoPride Blocks Capitol Pride Parade

(image via Twitter)

The Capitol Pride parade was interrupted for a short period today as members of No Justice No Pride blocked the parade route over the corporatization of the pride event as well as protesting the participation of the Metropolitan Police Department.

From Washington Blade:

About 3:30 p.m., a couple hundred No Justice protestors were accompanied by pop hits by Beyonce, Lady Gaga, et. al., as they chanted anti-corporate slogans. Later, they joined hands with a chain-like material on P Street between 15th and 16th streets, N.W., in the planned route of the Pride parade. Ten protestors were in the chain with several other activists surrounding them. On one end, a woman chained herself to a fence; the other end to a parked vehicle.

They chanted slogans and clashed vehemently with several bystanders. Police set up a boxed parameter and informed members of the press and others to remain outside. Interactions came close to fisticuffs a few times but as far as the Blade reporters could tell, no violence ensued.

The Blade reports that parade organizers consulted with police and eventually re-routed the parade amounting to a delay of about 90 minutes.

No Justice No Pride's demands include, per their website:

1) Capital Pride will honor the legacy of Pride and the trans women of color who inspired it by ensuring that trans women of color play a central role in decision-making processes.

2) Capital Pride will take a strong position against state violence and end its endorsement of MPD by no longer inviting police officers to march in its parade.

3) Capital Pride will address its neglect of indigenous, Muslim and two spirit communities.

4) Capital Pride will bar corporate entities that inflict harm on historically marginalized* LGBTQ2S people from participation in Pride events.

5) Capital Pride will immediately sever all ties with Wells Fargo, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, and Leidos and return any funds received from these corporations by donating them to community based organizations.

6) Capital Pride will commit to restructuring, replacing and expanding its board of directors to represent and center the leadership of historically marginalized communities.

Second blockade holding it down. Blocking @LockheedMartin float in protest of military industrial complex at Pride. #NoJusticeNopride pic.twitter.com/1Lu93w7oj6

— Drew Ambrogi (@DrewAmbrogi) June 10, 2017

#NoJusticeNoPride organizers have just deployed a blockade in on P st NW in between 15st and 16st!! Come support now!! #NJNP #Pride #DCPride pic.twitter.com/xAx8Lrz09v

— BLACK (@_WeAreBlack) June 10, 2017

Additionally, the Black Lives Matter movement also made an attempt to block the parade:

#CapitalPrideDC parade blockade continues now for an hour. LGBTQ #BlackLivesMatter activists cabled together with police surrounding them. pic.twitter.com/T6uPMClNQl

— DCMediaGroup (@DCMediaGroup) June 10, 2017

So today #blacklivesmatter stopped the D.C. Pride parade. pic.twitter.com/tFlhfLPcIO

— Fras (@DangerCW) June 10, 2017

Tens Of Thousands March In Warsaw "Equality Parade"

(photo via Twitter)

While Poland's government continues to deny any legal recognition of same-sex couples, organizers of the 17th annual ‘Equality Parade’ say 50,000 people showed up yesterday in an effort to “draw attention to the rights of LGBT people, fight discrimination and promote acceptance of same-sex unions.”

Via Deutsche Welle:

Poland’s constitution is one of seven in the EU to ban gay marriage and the country is one of six in the 28-member bloc not to allow same-sex civil unions. The ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party in Poland came to power in late 2015 on a ticket of promoting traditional Polish values, family and Catholic traditions.

Looking at photos of Warsaw #Pride. Reportedly 50 000 turned up, making it the biggest in Polish history. 😭❤🌈 #paradarownosci2017 pic.twitter.com/NeLSYhZIBh

— Ana Oppenheim 🌹 (@AnaOpp) June 3, 2017

Happy to be at today's Warsaw Equality Parade with my husband @ParadaRownosci #paradarownosci2017 pic.twitter.com/BVVSdnXXiF

— Gerard Keown (@gerkeown) June 3, 2017

Thank you all for today's fabulous #PrideWarsaw #ParadaRownosci #paradarownosci2017 pic.twitter.com/oo3BCGppzY

— Wojtek Gronwald (@wojtekg09) June 3, 2017

News Round-Up: January 26, 2017

Some news items you may have missed:

• Zac Efron (above via Instagram) is getting impatient about the release of the Baywatch movie on May 26.

• Organizers are working towards a "National Pride March" scheduled to take place on June 11th in Washington, D.C.

• Kelly Schneider, a 23 year old man from Idaho, has pled guilty to luring a gay man to a face to face meeting where Schneider savagely beat the man and left him to die.

• LGBTs stage "Queer Rage" dance party singing and dancing in the streets on the night before Republican lawmakers' retreat in Philadelphia.

• President Trump took to Twitter (where else?) to denounce the upcoming release of document leaker Chelsea Manning.

• The night of Donald Trump's inauguration, former Democratic vice-presidential candidate Sen. Tim Kaine spent the evening officiating the wedding of Dea Jones and Sharon McLeod.

• Netflix announces a reboot of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Good idea or no?

Bangkok Set To Celebrate Gay Pride For First Time Since 2006

The city of Bangkok is set to celebrate gay pride for the first time since 2006

Bangkok will hold its first gay pride parade later this year, a long 11 years after its last.

Via Mashable:

While Thailand has held a pride event each year in the island of Phuket, the pride parade coming back to the capital is a show of unity for the local LGBTQ community, one of the organisers said.

"It was the lack of organisation and a lack of a definite plan back then that really affected Pride to go ahead," Paul Heymans, founder of OUT BKK, one of the LGBTQ organisations involved in Bangkok Pride, told Mashable.

The pride parades of a decade ago were organised by the business sector, and capitalised on the gay movement, and were less focused on promoting visibility or acceptance for the LGBTQ community, claims Rapeepun Jommaroeng, the deputy secretary-general of Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand (RSAT), another one of the organisers.

"It was more about promoting their businesses in the views of activists," Jommaroeng wrote in an email. "I never perceived solidarity within this sector."

Organisers are also hopeful that increased visibility will help the community move toward gender and marriage equality.

"(Pride) could be another opportunity to sensitise Thai society about gender diversity issues," said Jommaroeng.

Heymans added: "Getting married legally is a basic human right and one many Thai LGBT organisations set as a main priority."

In that Thailand's largest northern city, Chiang Mai, has seen anti-LGBT protests in the past, perhaps this renewed sense of celebration will help foster a more open sensibility of inclusion for LGBTs across the country.

The event will take place at some point in November. Originally slated for May, the delay is in honor of a one-year mourning period following the October death of the revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The six-day Pride event will include a lineup of workshops, film festivals, social events and a pride march. More info can be found here on Facebook.

LGBT Pride Parade Proceeds Without Incident In Belgrade, Serbia

Despite being cancelled several times in past years, with helicopters in the air and thousands of police deployed, an LGBT Pride parade took place without incident in Belgrade, Serbia, this past Sunday.

Taking part in the celebrations were mayor of Belgrade Sinisa Mali, Democratic Party DS and Cedomir Jovanovic, President of the Liberal Democratic Party, LDP.

Via Pink News:

Previous parades have been cancelled, and the four years leading up to 2014 saw the parade banned after violent clashes took place between extremists and police.

Back in 2014, hundreds of people took part in the first Belgrade Pride parade permitted to go ahead in four years.

The previous time police allowed Belgrade Pride to go ahead was 2010, when it was marred by violent stand-offs with far-right extremists. Around 100 people were injured at the event, as extremists threw petrol bombs at the police and gay rights activists.

The event has been cancelled every year since, with the 2011, 2012 and 2013 parades all being banned by authorities over fears of violence.

Anti-LGBT Flip Benham Holds A Rally Of One Ranting About Penises At Charlotte Pride

Flip Benham flips out

Anti-LGBT loon Flip Benham spent a good part of his weekend sitting in a parking lot near one of the stages at Charlotte Pride attempting to ruin the event for thousands and thousands of attendees.

The good news is: he failed.

Armed with a loudspeaker, Benham ranted and raved about penises and rectums drawing a few folks who came to stare at the ridiculous spectacle.

I do wonder why it's always penises and rectums? The hateful anti-Pride folks seem to have no problem with lesbian's vaginas, only the gays penises. Hmm...

In any case, the weekend was a huge success for Charlotte. As a matter of fact, it was a record crowd thanks in part to the state's hateful HB2 law.

From Charlotte’s CBS affiliate:

Last year, 120,000 people made it to Uptown for the Pride celebration. This year, organizers estimated closer to 200,000 people went to the Festival and Parade, including more than 3,500 marchers in the Parade. “This is amazing energy. This just brings you up so much,” said David Pable, one of the marchers.

The Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade aren’t just about the attendance records for the LGBT community. Instead, it has become a safe haven for free expression.

“You see all the people out here enjoying Pride and celebrating who they are, and have a chance to truly be who they are,” said Michelle Money, who went to both the Parade and Festival.

Because of the growth of both events, they were declared extraordinary events for the first time ever, meaning a larger police presence was required. There was pushback by Charlotte Pride, but worries were eased after discussions with CMPD.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

LGBT Pride Celebrations Aboard The USS Ronald Reagan

With all the Pride pics we've seen over the past few weeks, here's a couple that are really quite remarkable and wonderful.

From the Navy Office of Community Outreach, I received these pics from Pride celebrations held onboard the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, which has a crew of nearly 6,000.

Top: PHILIPPINE SEA (June 25, 2016) Lt. Jon Fujiwara, from Westminster, Colorado, speaks to Sailors about being proud of who they are as individuals during a pride month observance event in the aft mess decks aboard the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). “It’s awesome to see everyone come out and support the community, and it was an awesome event,” said Fujiwara. The USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jamaal Liddell/Released)

Bottom: PHILIPPINE SEA (June 25, 2016) Yeoman 2nd Class (SW/AW) Elexis Rogers, from Jacksonville, Florida, sings the National Anthem during a pride month observance ceremony organized by the Gay, Lesbian and Supporting Sailors (G.L.A.S.S.) association on the aft mess decks aboard the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). The G.L.A.S.S. association organizes events for the ship including fundraisers, community relations projects and morale building events. The USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jamaal Liddell/Released)

Both were accompanied by the following:

On our planet, more than 70 percent of which is covered by water, being there means having the ability to act from the sea. The Navy is uniquely positioned to be there; the world's oceans give the Navy the power to protect America's interests anywhere, and at any time. Your Navy protects and defends America on the world's oceans. Navy ships, submarines, aircraft and, most importantly, tens of thousands of America's finest young men and women are deployed around the world doing just that. They are there now. They will be there when we are sleeping tonight. They will be there every Saturday, Sunday and holiday this year. They are there around the clock, far from our shores, defending America at all times.

Thank you very much for your support of the men and women in U.S. Navy, deployed around the clock and ready to protect and defend America on the world's oceans.

New Music: Kristine W "Out There"

New music from dance diva Kristine W - just in time for Pride, the appropriately titled "Out There."

If you're in Seattle, don't miss KW at Seattle Pride Fest today at 2PM!

I hope everyone gets their Pride on. Dance, kids!