News Round-Up: June 13, 2019

Opening night of 'Potted Potter' in Las Vegas

Some news items you might have missed:

• I attended the opening night of the hit two-man play Potted Potter at Ballys Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas last night. The show, which parodies all 7 books of the Harry Potter series in 70 minutes, has been running for years in the UK. The original stars opened the show here and I was thrilled to take my uber-handsome god son, Josh, to the performance.

• During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, John Cena talked about getting 'accidental boners' during wrestling matches.

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) somehow 'straight-washed' his proclamation observing the 3rd anniversary of the Pulse Nightclub shooting. DeSantis blamed the missing mention of the LGBTQ community on staffers. It was later added to the proclamation.

• A mother in South Carolina was arrested after walking into an elementary school and confronting her son's bullies.

• The Australian man accused of killing 51 worshippers at two mosques in New Zealand in March pleaded not guilty to all charges in a court on Friday.

• The 20 Democratic presidential candidates who qualified for the first Dem debates have been announced:

BREAKING: DNC announces the names of the candidates who will appear in the first Democratic Debates on June 26 & 27 from Miami. @chucktodd: "After months of campaigning and polling, the stage is now set." pic.twitter.com/fQbafzHr26

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) June 13, 2019

New Zealand Parliament Bans Assault Weapons

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

Less than a month after a white supremacist loon shot up two mosques killing 50 people, New Zealand's lawmakers have banned most automatic and semi-automatic weapons.

Additionally, components that modify existing weapons were prohibited as well.

From NBC News:

All but one member of New Zealand's parliament voted Wednesday to change gun laws, less than a month after shooting attack targeting two Christchurch mosques that killed 50 people.

The gun reform bill passed 119-1 after its final reading in Parliament. It must now receive royal assent from the governor general before it officially becomes law.


Brenton Tarrant, 28, a suspected white supremacist, was charged with 50 murder charges after the attack on two mosques on March 15.

Around 250,000 people in New Zealand own a total of about 1.5 million weapons.

BREAKING: New Zealand's parliament voted 119-1 today to ban military-style semi-automatic weapons. The change comes less than one month after the Christchurch mosque shootings that left 50 people dead. pic.twitter.com/UHxFn7Vuez

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) April 10, 2019

New Zealand High School Boys Perform Haka In Support & Unity With Muslim Community

As New Zealand continues mourning the deaths of 50 people gunned down by a white nationalist terrorist, dozens of boys from Christchurch Boys' High performed a ceremonial haka dance to show support and unity with the Muslim community.

I've posted hakas on The Randy Report before here.

I always find the fierce commitment to the dance, and the spirit of those performing the haka, to be profoundly inspiring.

According to ABC News Australia, "Tears began to stream down the faces of some people watching as the boys performed the traditional dance."

(h/t JoeMyGod)

Trump Tweets: The New Zealand Shooting Isn't My Fault!!!

Donald Trump

In the aftermath of the Christchurch shooting in New Zealand which left 50 people dead, it was discovered that a manifesto was sent to the Prime Minister of New Zealand as well as media outlets.

In the documents, the accused gunman hailed Donald Trump as “a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose” although he did not support his policies.

Donald Trump has since tweeted angry rebuttals for being 'blamed' for the shooting.

The Fake News Media is working overtime to blame me for the horrible attack in New Zealand. They will have to work very hard to prove that one. So Ridiculous!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2019

Although he tweeted his 'warmest sympathies' and 'best wishes' to New Zealand, he refused to criticize the white supremacist ideology behind the shooting. This has been contrasted with his quick responses to Islamist terror attacks in the past.

New Zealand massacre suspect praised Trump as "a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose."

Trump has:

1. Advocated banning all Muslims from the U.S.

2. Praised the (apocryphal) killing of Muslims with pigs blood

3. Proposed creating registry of all Muslims

— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) March 15, 2019

Student Blames Chelsea Clinton For New Zealand Massacre?

Chelsea Clinton (image via Twitter)

A video showing a Muslim student blaming a very pregnant Chelsea Clinton for the anti-Muslim massacre of 49 people in New Zealand instantly went viral.

The moment took place at a vigil to honor the victims gunned down at two New Zealand mosques.

Clinton, pregnant with her third child, displays extraordinary composure while an angry student alleges Clinton's recent commentary about anti-Semitic comments by Rep. Ilhan Omar about a pro-Israel lobby, helped cause the massacre in New Zealand.

“This, right here, is a result of a massacre stoked by people like you and the words that you put out into the world,” the student tells Clinton. “And I want you to know that and I want you to feel that deep down inside. Forty-nine people died because of the rhetoric you put out there.”

“I’m so sorry you feel that way,” Clinton replies in the video. “Certainly, it was never my intention. I do believe words matter. I believe we have to show solidarity.”

Another student snaps at Chelsea: “What does ‘I’m sorry you feel that way’ mean? What does that mean?”

So, now, it's Chelsea Clinton's fault a violent gun massacre took place in New Zealand???

Here is a pregnant Chelsea Clinton being accosted in public by NYU students blaming her for the New Zealand massacre. You are free to have your opinion, but how you express yourself matters. Note how Clinton never shuts down or stops listening, despite not deserving any of this. pic.twitter.com/V6XcC3lWCB

— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) March 16, 2019

@ChelseaClinton, your grace and composure is a lesson for me daily ❤️🙌

— Esther Choo MD MPH 🙋🏻‍♀️ (@choo_ek) March 16, 2019

I know that on my best day I have 1/10 the grace that she has, but damn I aspire to be more like her. And I wish that people would knock it off with the misdirected anger.

— Miranda Yaver (@mirandayaver) March 16, 2019

The girl in the video shut down her Twitter for a while, but apparently reactivated it today.

It seems she's something of a homophobe and racist. These tweets were culled from her account.

She also appears to be a Bernie Sanders supporter which might explain things a bit more.

"There is no proof the young woman who accosted Chelsea Clinton is a Bernie supporter."

Except she is and there are receipts. Whoopsie doodle... pic.twitter.com/8vuvZc4lEz

— Christopher Bouzy (@cbouzy) March 16, 2019

49 Dead In Anti-Muslim Shooting In New Zealand

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

From the New York Times:

Forty-nine people were killed in shootings at two mosques in central Christchurch, New Zealand, on Friday, in a terrorist attack that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described as “an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence.”

• Officials said that one man in his late 20s had been charged with murder, and that two explosive devices were found attached to a vehicle that they had stopped.

• A Muslim leader in New Zealand said the attack was especially shocking as it took place around Friday Prayer. The police urged people to stay away from the mosques until further notice.

• A gunman streamed a live video of the attack on Facebook, and he appeared to have posted a manifesto online.

"You may have chosen us -- but we utterly reject and condemn you."

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern condemned the perpetrators of the terrorist attack in Christchurch, which killed at least 49 people. https://t.co/xkAf3rlO3d pic.twitter.com/hOVwYTlsMU

— CNN International (@cnni) March 15, 2019

More at the NY Times here.

Same-Sex Marriage Proposal At Police Graduation

Constable Erik Meechan proposes moments after graduating from police college

There are important moments you remember all your life like graduating from college or proposing marriage.

New police college grad Constable Erik Meechan experienced both on the same day.

At the graduation ceremony of Wing 315 in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, the class of 78 new police officers marked the end of their initial training with a rousing haka.

But there was one more task for Meechan. He asked if his boyfriend of five years, Matty Judd, would please step forward.

As Judd emerged from the audience, the constable dropped to one knee and asked Judd to marry him.

The happy news is Judd said ‘yes’ and the crowd roared their approval.

Meechan later told the New Zealand Herald he had mulled over the proposal for a month but didn’t decide to pop the question for sure until just days before.

“I wasn’t 100 per cent sure until a couple days out. We actually got his ring customised and that arrived the day before so it was cutting it pretty fine,” he said.

Meechan, who was also honored with the Commissioner’s Award for Leadership, says he chose to propose at the graduation ceremony because, “I just wanted it to be a bit special, a bit different.”

Being on the receiving end of the marriage proposal, Judd said, “I think he wanted to do something extravagant that I would appreciate. And I did.”

“It was a really good time and place, and also it’s quite rare to get all our family together in the same place, so it was good to get them all together,” he added.

Commissioner Mike Bush, who attended the ceremony, was one of the first to congratulate the happy couple. He also expressed pride at how his police department has embraced the diversity of modern New Zealand.

“It was just awesome,” he says. “The fact that Erik felt so safe and supported in that environment was a fantastic demonstration of what our core value of valuing diversity is all about.”

“I wish Eric and Matty all the very best for the future,” he added.

Watch the happy moment below.

An extra special graduation at police college today 👨‍❤️‍💋‍👨💍 #heputaringonit pic.twitter.com/OCyL7KqVaY

— New Zealand Police (@nzpolice) June 28, 2018

(h/t JoeMyGod)

News Round-Up: May 25, 2018

(image via kenneth-in-the-212)

Some news items you might have missed:

• I don't know who this guy is, but Kenneth-in-the-212 found him and I just had to look at him some more... ;)

• Even with the recent announcement that the NFL will fine players who take a knee during the national anthem, New York Jets owner Christopher Johnson says he'll pay any fine levied against his players.

• Out country artist Ty Herndon talks about the upcoming Concert for Love & Acceptance.

• LGBTQ people are leaving hostile countries in Asia for the more accepting lands of New Zealand.

• George Takei says he bears no ill will towards his accuser who has now walked back his accusation that Takei sexually assaulted him almost 40 years ago.

• Here's the setup: On the UK series Celebrity Juice, TV personality Mark Wright and comedian Joel Dommett complete an obstacle course while passing a banana between their mouths because...?

Who cares?

New Zealand TV Host Trolls Australia's "No" Vote Campaign

Jesse Mulligan, host of New Zealand's The Project, has some bitingly satirical "advice" for Australia as the deadline for the current "vote by mail" survey on same-sex marriage grows near.

#GoKiwis

#VoteYes

As the deadline for sending off their "yes" or "no" votes nears closer, Jesse has a quick message for our Aussie neighbours! #TheProjectNZ pic.twitter.com/ttqwsWQLtQ

— The Project NZ (@TheProject_NZ) October 12, 2017

(h/t JoeMyGod)

New Zealand Farmers Have A Hilarious Way To Explain What "Gay" Means

Check out the way cute video from Rainbow Youth, a non-profit supporting LGBT young people in New Zealand, which takes on the tiresome practice of calling anything weak, frustrating or disappointing "gay."

When one of the farmers in the video accidentally drops his meat pie in the dirt, he proclaims the situation “gay.”

But his buddy steps in to explain that "gay" is not a substitution for something bad.

“Actually, Nigel, that’s not gay at all,” he says. “It’s deeply disappointing, but it’s not gay.”

The video was posted with this message: "We're SUPER stoked to finally share with you our very first national ad campaign! We chose to address something small that contributes to much larger issues - homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia."

Watch the clip below.

SUPER stoked to share with ya'll our first national ad campaign addressing something small that contributes to much larger issues! 🌈💕 1/3 pic.twitter.com/oNxAuUEqY1

— RainbowYOUTH (@RainbowYOUTH) October 2, 2017

New Zealand: MP Moves Parliament By Sharing Her Uncle Killed A Gay Man

A powerful and moving speech by Green MP Marama Davidson at the New Zealand Parliament, which is considering legislation that would pardon gay men convicted of homosexual behavior.

Davidson shares an emotional, personal example of the impact on her family of homophobia, remembering a young gay man who was killed by Davidson's uncle in the 1980s.

From the New Zealand Herald:

Her voice breaking, Marama spoke of the man during Parliament's formal apology to the men convicted for consensual acts at a time homosexuality was illegal.

"I want to acknowledge in particular a young man who was murdered for being gay when I was a young girl ... I think about what he lost in his life.

"Maybe he might have chosen to be a father with a lover, with a husband. Maybe he might have been an amazing uncle. Maybe he might have been a grandfather. Who knows, because he lost his life.

"I send my love to his family because the person who stole his life was my family."

Davidson later explained that in the 80s, her uncle had reacted violently when propositioned by a gay man. Her uncle punched the man, who ended up in the water on Wellington's waterfront and drowned.

The uncle was convicted of manslaughter and was killed in prison himself.

The bill of apology passed unanimously in New Zealand's Parliament. The legislation would allow about 1,000 men with convictions for homosexuality to apply for pardons. The families of men who have passed away would be able to apply on their behalf.

Watch MP Davidson speak below. She references her personal connection to the legislation at the 1:30 mark.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

News Round-Up: December 15, 2016

Some news items you may have missed:

• "Cause we need a little Christmas, right this very minute..." via Randy Report fave, Alexander Abramov.

• Could New Zealand approve same-sex marriage before super-gay Australia? Maybe.

• Interesting article from the Indy Star on the closings of gay bars across the country. The writer points to the popularity of gay dating apps as well as the growth in tolerance for LGBTs as causes for the decline of gay watering holes.

• Russian President Vladimir Putin denies he had anything to do with cyber-hacking the DNC during the U.S. presidential race. What a surprise.

• A Louisiana judge has struck down Governor John Bel Edwards’ executive order protecting LGBTQ state workers and contractors from discrimination.

• After 8 years of forward movement for LGBT rights in the U.S., leaders of the movement are preparing to shift back to a defensive stance with the incoming Trump administration.

• Just hours after Vanity Fair gave the Trump Grill a bad review, Donald Trump tweeted an attack on the magazine and it's editor. This is really how it's going to be for the next four years?

New Zealand Anti-Phone Ad Might Be Creepy But It Works

Posted by Omg Lmfao Lol Wtf Videos on Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Over The Top Air Safety Video Featuring Rugby's Hunky All Blacks

Now you know we're all about hunky rugby players here at The Randy Report :)

From the clip description:

At Air New Zealand, we’re #CrazyAboutRugby. So for our latest inflight safety video, we called upon some very special Men In Black to brief our passengers.

Created in partnership with Sony Pictures, the All Blacks take on a new challenge. Buckle up as our boys in black take you through the ins and outs of safety with the help of Stan Walker, Rip Torn and Frank the Pug. Plus, keep an eye out for some inter-galactic rugby cameos from David Campese, Martin Johnson and Agustin Pichot.

Viral Video: New Zealand Students Perform Haka Dance At Teacher's Funeral

Ok, this is awesome. Imminently watchable. The passion these students have is undeniable.

Mashable has the details:

At least 1,700 boys at Palmerston North Boys' High School on New Zealand's North Island participated in the epic performance for their physical education and maths teacher, Dawson Tamatea.

Tamatea, 55, died in his sleep on July 20, according to TVNZ. He had been a teacher at the school for almost 30 years.

"This was a very emotional and powerful performance," the school wrote on its YouTube channel. "We are extremely proud of our boys' performance and we know that Mr Tamatea would be too."

The haka has become renowned internationally due to its prominence in rugby union football, where it is performed as a war cry before matches played by New Zealand's teams.

(h/t JMG)

Two straight best friends get married for all-expense paid trip to 2015 World Cup

I previously wrote about New Zealand's Travis McIntosh and Matt McCormick's quest for a free, all-expense paid trip to the 2015 Rugby World Cup here.

The story has angered LGBT leaders in the country. LegaliseLove Aotearoa Wellington co-chairman Joseph Habgood said the radio show contest mocked the hard-won legitimacy of same-sex marriages.

"The point of this competition is that men marrying each other is still something they think is worth having a laugh at ..."

The two men say they believe the marriage will last two years.

We now BROnounce you husband and husband - http://t.co/vd7lO9hLkX
— The Edge (@TheEdgeNZ) September 12, 2014

New Zealand: Straight Best Friends Will Marry to Win Trip to 2015 World Cup

Travis McIntosh (L) and Matt McCormick (R)

Travis McIntosh and Matt McCormick, best friends since age 6, will marry tomorrow in order to win a radio station competition and a trip to the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.

The men, however, are not gay or in love. They are simply "best mates" looking to win a contest.

The contest, run by radio station The Edge in New Zealand, looked for the best "bromance" couple to win the trip to next year's World Cup.  According to reports, over two hundred straight same-sex couples entered the contest.

"We are not here to insult anyone. We are here to do our own thing and travel our own path." Mr McIntosh said the wedding was not mocking the institution of marriage.

The choice of McIntosh and McCormick has upset gay organizations across New Zealand:

Otago University Students' Association Queer Support co-ordinator Neill Ballantyne, of Dunedin, said the wedding was an"insult" because marriage equality was a"hard fought" battle for gay people.

"Something like this trivialises what we fought for." The competition promoted the marriage of two men as something negative,"as something outrageous that you'd never consider", Mr Ballantyne said.

LegaliseLove Aotearoa Wellington co-chairman Joseph Habgood said the competition attacked the legitimacy of same-sex marriages.

"The point of this competition is that men marrying each other is still something they think is worth having a laugh at ...

Naked rugby in New Zealand

Did someone say "naked rugby?"

New Zealanders apparently love their nude, co-ed rugby games.  From News 3:

The Nude Blacks beat an Invitational 'Aussie' side five tries to four today at Alhambra Union ground in front of a sweltering crowd of 2,500.

But I have to call foul because it’s not really fair that the women get to keep their clothes on.

Can't embed the video, so hit this link to catch the semi-naked match.

New Zealand to begin same-sex marriage tomorrow

New Zealand's first gay weddings are due to take place after the country became the first in the Asia-Pacific region and 14th in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

Thirty-one same-sex couples plan to marry on Monday, according to the Department of Internal Affairs.

It comes after New Zealand's parliament passed a bill in April amending the country's 1955 marriage act.

Congratulations New Zealand! Happy Dance Time!

Check out the video below as the votes were counted and marriage equality was passed.  Very moving.

(via BBC)

New Zealand: Best, best, best speech in parliament in support of marriage equality

New Zealand member of parliament, Maurice Williamson delivers what may be the best (and funniest) speech on behalf of marriage equality ever.

Mr. Williamson has his colleagues in stitches with his reactions to opposition to marriage equality.

'Gay rainbow across my electorate' is sure to be on the short list of new catch phrases of 2013.

Thank you Mr. Williamson!