News Round-Up: April 16, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• Paleontologist Francesc Gascó is giving you serious beard and biceps (above).

• Democratic presidential hopeful Mayor Pete Buttigieg told CNN today he doesn't have a problem with Vice President Mike Pence having religious beliefs, but added, "My problem is when those religious beliefs are used as an excuse to harm other people."

• Sirius XM Radio has announced a new limited-time channel dedicated to the music of Cher.

• Former Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN) said that Donald Trump is the most “biblical” president America will ever have.

Michele Bachmann has never seen "a more biblical president" than Trump: "We will, in all likelihood, never see a more godly, biblical president again in our lifetimes." pic.twitter.com/xnqCZRaq5f

— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) April 15, 2019

• The government of Brunei has defended its gay stoning law as a way to ‘nurture’ their citizens.

• According to reports, it could take up to three years to repair Notre Dame Cathedral after a fire completely destroyed its roof. Over $700 million has been pledged for its repair.

• Out Canadian singer-songwriter Mathew V has released the music video for his latest single, “Catching Feelings." Directed by Gabriel Adelman, the video follows Mathew V through an extraterrestrial adventure set to an extremely danceable track.

"'Catching Feelings' can be counted as one of the first evocatively sun-soaked jams of 2019. Toned, smoothed out & soulful." - EQ Music

His debut album, The Fifth, was released in the spring of 2018 and charted in both Canada and the US. The album earned critical acclaim from press outlets such as Nylon and Billboard, marking Mathew as an artist to watch.

His catalogue is now approaching 10 million online streams. Hit play below.

SiriusXM To Cancel LGBT Channel OutQ

Michael Musto is reporting over at OUT that SiriusXM's lone LGBT station - OutQ - will end this Friday.

Last June, Sirius OutQ — SiriusXM Satellite Radio’s LGBT channel — bid farewell to the Derek and Romaine show after 12 years of news and banter.

Well, that was just the tip of the gay iceberg. I hear that as of this Friday, the channel is deader than the animals worn by Sir Elton John.

Tragically, they’re canceling the whole thing! Funnyman Frank DeCaro’s show is being forced to end after, yep, 12 years. (Fortunately for DeCaro, he has a burgeoning career as a writer and comic and has been opening for Lisa Lampanelli all over the place).

Meanwhile, though Morning Jolt host Larry Flick is staying aboard, they axed his sidekick Keith Price and are moving Larry to their EW Radio channel. And even some non OutQ gays are being shown the door. Lance Bass’s show on Radio Andy (Andy Cohen’s channel there) is bye-bye-bye, baby, ain’t no lie.

I originally subscribed to SiriusXM for the programming on OutQ.

I couldn't stomach Derek and Romaine (I once called in and Derek hung up on me mid-sentence), but enjoyed Frank DeCaro, Larry Flick and Michelangelo Signorile (before his show was moved to the Progress channel).

I listen to SiriusXM's CNN and MSNBC streams during my drives to and from LA from Vegas, so I'll continue to subscribe.

But I'm sad to see the end of something what that should have thrived. Clearly there wasn't enough traffic to justify the expense on SiriusXM's part.

LOGO TV leaves the LGBT programming behind, and now SiriusXM does the same.

I wonder if it's another case of LGBTs not supporting their own? Should they? Should they not? Leave your comments below. I'd love to know what you think.

Andy Cohen's Parent To Offer "Free Advice" On His SiriusXM Radio Channel

(photo credit: Maro Hagopian)

This Sunday marks National Coming Out Day 2015, and to acknowledge the day Radio Andy, Andy Cohen’s exclusive SiriusXM channel, will premiere “Free Advice with Ev & Lou Cohen” where Andy and his parents answer listener questions about a range of topics, share Andy’s coming out story, and more.

“Free Advice with Ev & Lou Cohen” premieres this Sunday at 8am ET/PT on Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM channel Radio Andy.

If you don't currently subscribe to SiriusXM (I do) you can sign up for a free trial for SiriusXM Radio by clicking here.

Click below to hear Andy Cohen and his parents share Andy's coming out story:




Click below to hear Andy Cohen's parents on their involvement in the LGBT community:

Caller To Radio Show: SCOTUS Marriage Decision Made Me Feel That I Matter As A Person Now

From the Michelangelo Signorile Show on Sirius XM Radio:

On Friday, the Supreme Court handed down it's historic ruling on marriage equality in the US.

Michelangelo Signorile took calls from listeners and Robert in Wisconsin told him how his parents left him money is their will for him to finally get married.

Robert said during the call that the SCOTUS decision "Made me feel that I was valued, and that I matter as a person now."

Barbra Streisand at SiriusXM Radio Town Hall Q&A

SiriusXM announces The Barbra Streisand Channel

SiriusXM Radio has announced that Barbra Streisand will be getting her own limited-run channel beginning this Friday, September 12 at 5pm ET.

Via press release:

SiriusXM announced today that it will launch The Barbra Streisand Channel, an exclusive channel featuring the works of Grammy, Oscar, Emmy and Tony award-winning artist Barbra Streisand.

The Barbra Streisand Channel, the exclusive, limited-run channel, will feature music spanning Streisand’s legendary career, from her 1963 debut through her newest album, Partners, scheduled to be released on September 16.

The channel will be fully dedicated to Barbra Streisand’s extensive body of work and will include selections from her live and studio recordings. The channel will also include Streisand’s personal song selections from her catalog, spanning 50 years.

The Barbra Streisand Channel will also feature an exclusive “Town Hall” special with Barbra Streisand. Streisand will sit down for an intimate Q&A session with a select group of listeners in the SiriusXM studios in New York City. Moderated by her longtime colleague, music industry executive Jay Landers, “SiriusXM’s Town Hall with Barbra Streisand” will air onSunday, September 14 at 12:00 pm ET on The Barbra Streisand Channel.

The limited-run channel will run through Friday, October 10, via satellite on Sirius channel 69 and XM channel 73. The Barbra Streisand Channel will also be available online on channel 69 and through the SiriusXM Internet Radio App.

SiriusXM Radio to launch gay sports show - The Outfield

SiriusXM's OutQ channel has announced the radio network will launch a gay sports show called The Outfield. Via press release:

The Outfield will be a place where sports fans, regardless of sexual orientation, will be encouraged to share their perspectives on events and issues happening on and off the field.

Guests for the debut program include: Sheryl Swoopes, the head coach of the women's basketball team of Loyola University Chicago, three-time Olympic Gold Medalist and three-time WNBA MVP; Dakota Cochrane, professional MMA fighter; and Howard Bragman, noted public relations expert credited with advising numerous celebrities and athletes on “coming out,” including All-American college football star Michael Sam, who is widely considered a prospect to become the first openly-gay player in the NFL.

Also joining will be Cyd Zeigler, editor and co-founder of Outsports.com, and Hudson Taylor, the Founder and Executive Director of Athlete Ally. In the coming weeks, guests will include Ciaran O'Lionaird, Summer Olympian and track star, among others.

The show will debut this Sunday at 11AM on OutQ 109.

Michelangelo Signorile, of SiriusXM, married today

Michelangelo Signorile, of SiriusXM Radio, just tweeted this announcement.

Congrats to the happy couple!

Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta at SiriusXM

Olivia, John doing Townhall at SiriusXM with Didi Conn hosting