News Round-Up: February 8, 2019

(image via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk 'Steve In LA' wants you to remember to consider adopting from a dog rescue next time you want to expand your furry family. OMG, I want all four! 

• The Arizona state government has raised over a million dollars for a notorious anti-LGBTI group, Alliance Defending Freedom, by selling specialty license plates.

• Things got way out of hand last night at popular West Hollywood gay bar, Micky's, when a patron being escorted out of the establishment turned and stabbed the security guard twice in the back.

• Tennessee state Sen. Joey Hensley, virulently anti-gay and professes "deeply held religious convictions," has introduced legislation in his state that would allow adoption agencies to discriminate against same-sex couples. Hensley, who has divorced four times (sanctity of marriage my ass), was named in a divorce proceeding in 2017 for sleeping with another man's wife. #DeeplyHeldReligiousBeliefs

• One of the highest ranking officers in the California National Guard has announced the state won't discharge transgender soldiers from its ranks even as the Trump administration continues to move its ban on trans military service members.

• The president of Brazil has announced plans to remove all references to homosexuality, feminism, and violence against women from public school textbooks. President Jair Bolsonaro's campaign for the presidency proudly included anti-LGBTQ policies.

• Laverne Cox was giving you LIFE as she closed the 11 Honore fashion show finale during New York Fashion Week.

The event is a first for 11 Honore as it only featured plus size clothes from designers.

Wearing a gown by Zac Posen, the Orange is the New Black star twirled on the runway, serving up glamour, and clearly having the time of her life. Get it, diva!

View this post on Instagram

What an incredible honor to close @11honore's first fashion show with these incredible women who represent the size diversity of the women of America. Thank you for existing @11honore and for giving me this incredible honor. ...thank you @zacposen for the gown of LIFE!!! #TransIsBeautiful #SizeInclusivity #SizeDiversity ... Reposted from @harpersbazaarus - Now this is how you close a fashion show! @11honore set the bar high for the kickoff of #NYFW. @lavernecox - #regrann

A post shared by laverne cox (@lavernecox) on Feb 6, 2019 at 4:48pm PST

News Round-Up: February 27, 2018

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk Bernardo Belmar (above) reminds us why winter living is luscious on the left coast.

• Speaking of the left coast, California lawmakers have proposed legislation that would declare so-called "conversion therapy" an "unlawful practice" and fraud.

• In March of 2017, WikiLeaks tweeted it never had direct contact with long-time Trump friend/adviser Roger Stone. The Atlantic has obtained private Twitter messages between the two showing the denial was a lie.

• Donald Trump son-in-law and presidential adviser Jared Kushner has had his security clearance downgraded.

• "Goddess of pop" and awesome gay ally Kylie Minogue will headline New York City Pride.

• Trans actress Laverne Cox dropped her first single “Beat for the Gods” this week, and the music video gives glory to voguing, drag and club dance with some Fosse references thrown in for good measure.

National Coming Out Day 2017

Come out, come out, wherever you are!

Today, on National Coming Out Day, the LGBT community celebrates the single most powerful action you can take to make LGBT equality a reality. And that is to come out as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

Every step forward we've seen in the past several years is directly related to the increased visibility our community has when we proudly step up and out as who we are. People who know someone who is openly gay are more likely to support equal rights for LGBTs.

Coming out inspires friends, family, and allies of the LGBT community to stand up for what is right, even in the face of discrimination, bigotry, and violence.

And on the most personal level, coming out improves our mental health, self-esteem, success, and happiness.

Even if the first step you can take today is to come out to yourself, please know millions support your courage to live life authentically.

One of the most powerful moments I've experienced writing The Randy Report was when a regular reader reached out to me to come out on National Coming Out Day. I was honored that they trusted me to share the beginning of their journey.

Here's hoping a lot of folks begin their own journey today.

Be brave. Be proud. Be you.

Check out Laverne Cox and Wilson Cruz sharing their coming out experiences below, along with social media messages from several Randy Report favorites.

It's #NationalComingOutDay! Come out as gay. Come out as trans. Come out as supporting equality. We need your voices now.

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) October 11, 2017

Someday we'll no longer need #NationalComingOutDay. But for today, if you're ready to come out and tell your story, know we're here for you.

— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) October 11, 2017

I’ll keep fighting for a world where everyone feels safe to be who they are and love who they love. #NationalComingOutDay pic.twitter.com/acho7T1Qgi

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) October 11, 2017

"I always danced to the beat of a different drummer." @RuPaul #NationalComingOutDay #OutIn60 pic.twitter.com/Jz59Xl8Xtb

— RuPaul's Drag Race (@RuPaulsDragRace) October 11, 2017

🐻❤️🐻💭[ Happy National Coming Out Day ] thanx our parents and all our friends for love and support 😘 #lovewins #nationalcomingoutday #loveislove #betrue #lovehim #thanksforsupport #supportislove #lgbt #dontbeafraid #beyourself #beyourselfalways #lovehim #heismyeverything

A post shared by Alexander Abramov (@abramov_lex) on Oct 11, 2017 at 9:44am PDT

Coming out is a scary thing. You build your life around the notion that your worth is tied to being masculine, fitting in, and conforming to norms. That pressure is overwhelming but, in coming out, we gain a new family. A family that loves us for who we truly are. On National Coming Out Day, show love to everyone around you, no matter how they identify. Everyone is at different places in their journey, and a little support makes a huge difference.

A post shared by Justin & Nick (@justinickpgh) on Oct 11, 2017 at 8:08am PDT

We believe in a sport environment where people shouldn’t have to hide their sexuality #NationalComingOutDay #SportAllies #WR18

A post shared by The Warwick Rowers (@warwick_rowers) on Oct 11, 2017 at 9:41am PDT

#HappyNationalComingOutDay 🏳️‍🌈

A post shared by Ricky (@ricky_martin) on Oct 11, 2017 at 9:57am PDT

Podcast: Trump Administration Backs Anti-Gay Baker; Ellen Admits She Was Told To Tone Down The Gay; New Music From Jeb Havens

In this week’s podcast from The Randy Report:

• The Trump administration throws it’s support to an anti-gay baker from Colorado at the US Supreme Court

• A new study in the UK shows gay folks are still afraid to hold hands in public

• A new computer algorithm can determine sexuality by scanning a photo - not a good thing

• Ellen DeGeneres admits she was told to tone down the gay talk in the early years of her talk show

• Trans actress Laverne Cox books another network series

• Out international recording artist Jeb Havens offers a moving, emotional cover of Pink's "What About Us"

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

News Round-Up: June 23, 2017

Weekend bound (via Instagram)

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Who's ready for the weekend? #Yahoooooo!

• Thanks to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, the spire of One World Trade Center and the Kosciuszko Bridge to be lit with the colors of the transgender flag for Trans Day of Action today, June 23rd. The same landmarks will be illuminated in the colors of the Pride flag on Saturday and Sunday for NYC Pride celebrations.

• Also for NYC Pride - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declared June 22nd officially "Laverne Cox Day" as the actress made an appearance at his official residence, Gracie Mansion.

Said Cox, “Can you believe that a black transgender woman from Mobile, Alabama, raised by a single mother has a day in New York City named after her?”

In all she does, she enlightens and uplifts. I was honored to proclaim Thursday, June 22nd, 2017 Laverne Cox Day in New York City. pic.twitter.com/u0ZGhLKyLQ

— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) June 23, 2017

• July 1st was the date that qualified transgender people were supposed to be able to enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces, but military heads are asking for a six month delay.

• California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced yesterday that four states are being added to the state-sponsored travel ban because of efforts to enshrine discrimination against LGBTQ people into law.

• Speaking of lights for Pride, the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago was lit up in rainbow colors, apparently in celebration of Chicago Pride this weekend. But the lights only lasted one night, and when asked the hotel responded with, “We’ve been told not to say anything until the PR person puts out a statement.” Of course, as we all know, President Trump ended the tradition of recognizing Pride Month after eight straight years of proclamations from President Obama.

Chicago Trump building lit for gay pride. pic.twitter.com/d46Ge44KZW

— Blake McCoy (@BlakeNBC) June 21, 2017

Laverne Cox Books New ABC Pilot, "The Trustee"

Openly trans actress and activist Laverne Cox' CBS series Doubt may have been cancelled after only two weeks, but she's already on to her next leading TV gig.

Cox has been cast as co-lead in new ABC pilot, The Trustee, a female buddy police series.

From Variety:

[Cox] will play Amanda Jones, a larger-than-life ex-con finishing out her prison sentence doing menial tasks for the police department. Co-lead Meaghan Rath plays her counterpart, Eliza Radley, a driven but stubborn detective who finds unlikely help from Amanda.

Cox and Rath are joined by Michael Cudlitz of “The Walking Dead,” who will play Captain Timothy Waits, a wry and sardonic police captain who has learned to appreciate Eliza’s unorthodox policing methods.

As regular Randy Report readers know, Cox is the first transgender actress of color to star in a network television series. She has been honored with an Emmy nomination for her work on Netflix' Orange Is the New Black, and a Daytime Emmy as producer of The T Word.

Laverne Cox: "It's Not About Bathrooms"

Shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court decided to vacate the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on trans high school student Gavin Grimm's case, and then kick it back for reconsideration at the 4th, actress/trans activist Laverne Cox shared a powerful essay with InStyle about her views on the current state of the rights of transgender folks.

Just a bit from the personal essay:

Over 30 percent of trans people report not eating or drinking so they can avoid going to public bathrooms. Sixty-percent of us have avoided using a public restroom out of fear of being harassed or assaulted. Even when I’m in liberal cities like LA or New York, I would rather not use public bathrooms. But if you leave your house, you have no choice.

But don’t be fooled: These bathroom laws aren’t really about bathrooms. When the current administration rescinded the guidelines for how transgender students should be treated in schools, they made it all about bathrooms. But the Obama-era guidelines also included pronoun and name preferences for these young people as well. These are important components of how trans kids should be treated in school, but all that is lost when we sensationalize this issue. It’s not about bathrooms. It’s about the humanity of trans people, about us having the right to exist in a public space.

There's more at the link, and I really encourage you to read it.

Today needs to be just a speed bump, not a stop sign.

Laverne Cox Kills On MSNBC Talking Trump's Shift On Trans Student Protections

Transgender actress Laverne Cox absolutely rocked her appearance tonight on MSNBC's Hardball.

We already knew she is an outstanding advocate for the trans community, and her calm, collected and reasoned appearance here underlines that.

I'd break it down for you, but to be honest, it really just needs to be seen.

Bravo, Laverne!

p.s. note how Travis Weber, representing the ironically named Center for Religious Liberty, never - never - answers Matthews' question about which bathroom Laverne should use. #coward

Laverne Cox Puts Upcoming SCOTUS/Transgender Rights Case In Grammy Spotlight

Laverne Cox

Out transgender actress Laverne Cox, of Netflix's Orange Is The New Black and the upcoming Doubt on CBS, had the LGBT moment of the Grammy Awards last night when she used her time center stage to bring attention to transgender high school student Gavin Grimm and his fight for equal rights that is headed to the Supreme Court.

Before introducing Lady Gaga and Metallica, Cox told the audience, “Please Google Gavin Grimm. He’s going to the Supreme Court in March. #StandWithGavin."

Grimm is the 17-year-old student whose fight for the right to use a bathroom that matches his gender identity at his local Virginia school district has garnered headlines in the national LGBT press.

More about Gavin's case from the ACLU:

Gavin is a 17-year-old boy. But because he is transgender, his school board passed a policy barring him from sharing facilities with the rest of his peers. Rather than use the boys’ restroom that all other boys use, Gavin is forced into a converted utility closet or another, separate, stigmatized space every time he needs to use the restroom during the day.

Gavin's case will go before the U.S. Supreme Court on March 28th.

According to the Washington Post, Grimm had no idea Cox was going to bring up his case:

Grimm, now 17 and a high school senior, said Sunday night that he had no idea Cox was going to mention his name and was not watching the Grammys. But his mother Deirdre was in another room, and Grimm found out only when she “started shrieking.”

“I was just so thrilled because I love her. She’s just a beautiful person inside and out,” Grimm said. “I was really touched and thrilled and honored that that was the first thing out of her mouth.”

Grimm, once painfully shy, has become the unlikely standard-bearer for transgender student rights.

“At this point, that’s the role I occupy and I want to make sure I’m using that platform for positive,” Grimm said. “I definitely didn’t set out at the beginning wanting to or expecting to shouted on the Grammys.”

a powerful #GRAMMYs call to action by @Lavernecox for @GrimmGavinE #StandWithGavin pic.twitter.com/AFXn82tPDe

— Challenger (@bakedinapie) February 13, 2017

#StandwithGavin he is going to #SCOTUS in March. He is just 17 years old and wants the same rights as every other boys in his high school.

A photo posted by laverne cox (@lavernecox) on Feb 12, 2017 at 7:34pm PST

Behind The Scenes Of Fox's ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

Go behind the scenes of Fox's upcoming television remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Adam Lambert, Laverne Cox and even Tim Curry (the original "Dr. Frank-N-Furter") star in the musical set to air October 20th.

Trailer: "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" On Fox

The first full-length trailer for Fox's upcoming "Rocky Horror Picture Show" reboot dropped yesterday at the San Diego Comic Con.

Starring Laverne Cox, Adam Lambert, Christina Milian and Tim Curry, this trailer gives us the first look at the reimagined "Time Warp."

What do you say readers? Does this fill you with an-ti-ci-SayIt!-pation?

Premieres October 20th on Fox.

Laverne Cox Sends Big Rainbow Kisses For Pride

Laverne Cox, soon to star in the new TV version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, slowly gives viewers a big, wet kiss, leaving lip prints on the screen.

Of course, the red lips are a long familiar visage for Rocky Horror fans.

And the, we watch the lips change to rainbow in honor of Pride month.

Airing on Fox the week of Halloween, the TV musical is directed by Kenny Ortega (High School Musical) and also stars Adam Lambert as Eddie and the original "Frank-N-Furter," Tim Curry, as The Narrator.

First Look: Laverne Cox As "Dr. Frank-N-Furter" In Upcoming ROCKY HORROR Remake

Entertainment Weekly has a first look at OITNB star Laverne Cox as the iconic "Dr. Frank-N-Furter" and Tony Award winner Ben Vereen as "Dr. Scott" from the upcoming remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show:

You may notice that this Frank has a somewhat different look, and that’s by design (the costumes for this Show are by Tony-winner William Ivey Long).

“We were on set and a reporter saw me and said I looked like the love child of Grace Jones and David Bowie. I said ‘That’s exactly right.’ I think we mix up the look more than they did in the original,” Cox explains.

“It’s inspired by the original but it’s really our own take. It’s way more elaborate and couture. [Director] Kenny Ortega had this vision that Frank was at this old theater and found these old burlesque costumes and is, like, using them and wearing them now but has altered them a bit.”

New Laverne Cox Legal Drama For CBS Gets Second Chance Pilot

Laverne Cox

A new legal drama for CBS - "Doubt" - will get a second chance at life as the network has ordered a reshoot of the pilot after recasting the lead with "Grey's Anatomy" star, Katherine Heigl.

Returning in her original principal role is "Orange Is The New Black" star and transgender activist Laverne Cox.

Apparently, while the show was not picked up this past spring, the network asked for rewriting and various roles to be recast.

From Variety:

Original cast members Dulé Hill, Dreama Walker, Elliott Gould, Kobi Libii and “Orange Is the New Black’s” Laverne Cox will still star in the repiloting of “Doubt” with Cox playing Cameron Wirth, a trans Ivy League-educated lawyer who’s both competitive and compassionate.

Described as fierce and funny, Cameron’s own experience with injustice causes her to fight even harder for all of her clients.

Laverne Cox Rocks The House At Broadway Bares 2015

My buddy Javi Morgado sends this clip and photos straight from Broadway Bares 2015 where the sexiest bodies on Broadway helped raise over $1.5 million for Broadway Cares.

Check out Laverne with the very sexy Casey Lee Ross, who plays "the Casting Director."

Laverne Cox wowed thousands of spectators tonight at Broadway Bares 25 raising more than $1.5 million for the organization nearest to my heart, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Posted by Javi Morgado on Sunday, June 21, 2015

Updated with pics!

Click on the pics to enlarge. Thanks to Javi Morgado for sharing your front row view :)

Laverne Cox at Broadway Bares 25

Harvey Fierstein at Broadway Bares 25

The sexy bodies of Broadway Bares 25

Creator Jerry Mitchell, Laverne Cox, Harvey Fierstein and Bianco Del Rio

Finale

Laverne Cox Covers Entertainment Weekly

Laverne Cox, transgender actress from the hit Netflix show "Orange Is The New Black" covers this week's issue of Entertainment Weekly.

Yay!

News Round-up: June 10, 2015

Laverne Cox

Some stories you may have missed:

• Laverne Cox (Orange Is The New Black) will be the first transgender person to be immortalized at the famous Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum

• A straight couple in Australia plan to divorce if same-sex marriage is legalized in his country.
That'll learn 'em.

• It seems McKinney resident Sean Toon, who stood up for the police officer who handcuffed a 14 year old girl over pool party chaos, might have had more to do with the incident that he has previously let on.

• There are 3,000 kids in Michigan waiting to be adopted and the state Senate just made that much more difficult.

• The new Netflix series Sense8 is pretty fab. And so is the handsome latin star Miguel Ángel Silvestrewho, who plays one of the show's gay characters. Check out his teaser video below.

Laverne Cox On Bruce Jenner's Coming Out As Transgender

Orange Is The New Black star Laverne Cox, attending the White House Correspondents' Dinner last night, spoke to MSNBC's Janet Mock about Bruce Jenner's coming out to the world as transgender:

"I spoke to Bruce today, and they were really pleased with the way things went last night."

"I think a lot of people tuned in expecting to see a spectacle, and they tuned in and saw a profoundly nuanced, complicated, beautiful human being."

"I thought ABC handled it really beautifully...I had spoken to Bruce several months back, and the same person I had spoken to on the phone, who really just loves their children so much and wants their family to be happy, was the person I saw on television last night."

Cox was also celebrating her Daytime Emmy Award win the night before for Best Special Class Special as an executive producer of "Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word" for MTV.

Trans Actress Laverne Cox Named To People's "World's Most Beautiful"

How wonderful.

From People.com:

The actress has left a big impression on Hollywood (and America) in a very short amount of time.

Cox's skillful performance as Sophia on Orange Is the New Black and her work advocating for transgender women make her one of our boldest beauties yet.

Laverne Cox Cast In New CBS Pilot Doubt

Laverne Cox cast in new CBS pilot, Doubt

Transgender actress Laverne Cox continues breaking barriers as news arrives that she's been cast in a new CBS network series, Doubt.

The Orange is the New Black actress will play a transgender Ivy League-educated attorney, described as “competitive as she is compassionate. She’s fierce, funny and the fact that she’s experienced injustice first hand makes her fight all the harder for her clients.”

The Doubt role was always conceived as a transgender character, and it’s tough to imagine a better catch for the part – Cox made the cover of Time magazine last year in a story about the transgender movement. While there have been plenty of transgender characters on broadcast TV shows in the past, they are often short-term parts or comedic roles.