News Round-Up: July 30, 2019

Michael Caprio

Some news items you might have missed:

• Hottie of the Day: Prior to last week's red carpet at Chippendales in Las Vegas when 'Jersey Shore' star Vinny Guadagnino returned as celebrity guest host, my hubby Michael (longtime publicist for Chipps) helped photographers get their light settings right standing in for the reality star. This was his 'back of the dress' pose.

• Tennessee: A group of over 300 lawyers says Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcutt should have his law license suspended after admitting he doesn't prosecute domestic violence crimes involving married same-sex couples. "I don’t prosecute them because I don’t recognize it as marriage. There’s no marriage to protect."

• Sun Sentinel: The South Florida newspaper had an 'oopsie' when it tweeted out a headline about moving a 100-year-old house, but instead featured a hot guy and a link to a story about an 'adult-themed' party in Key West.

How a nearly 100-year-old house will be saved by moving it across town https://t.co/F1vqJgJTEv pic.twitter.com/K9VZ876Vnt

— South Florida Sun Sentinel (@SunSentinel) July 28, 2019

• Lambda Legal: Military leaders, medical associations, public health groups, and HIV advocates joined three friend-of-the-court briefs which argue the Pentagon’s exclusion and discharge of HIV-service members is outdated, irrational and discriminatory given the advancements made in HIV medicine.

• Newsweek: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell got his panties in a wad when #MoscowMitch began trending on Twitter after he refused to allow a vote on new election security measures to stop interference in U.S. elections. What he's not keen on admitting is he received campaign donations from voting machine lobbyists before blocking the vote.

• Out Music: Earlier this month, I interviewed out singer/songwriter Tom Goss about his latest single, "Quayside," from his upcoming album, Territories.

The song is born out of Goss's own experience exploring a polyamorous relationship after his husband asked to open their marriage. It was a journey he'd not previously considered.

“I really wanted the video to reflect the uncomfortableness of my situation,” Goss recently told Parade. “I want the viewer to feel the uncertainty and fear that I did visiting the Quayside for the first time."

"That said, we were very conscious to make sure that my actions were still my own," he added. "Nobody ever forced me through the door, I was, and am, a person who chooses his own path. The final decision, to walk into the Quayside and to completely submerge, represents the most complicated and uncharted path of them all — polyamory.”

Interview: Singer/Songwriter Tom Goss On Open Hearts & Open Relationships

Acclaimed singer/songwriter Tom Goss (photo: LafamosPR)

Out singer/songwriter Tom Goss drops this chill summer single, “Quayside,” from his upcoming album, Territories. The song shares the delicate story of entering into a polyamorous relationship.

In a departure for the ‘guitar-toting troubadour,’ Goss explores new musical territory in “Quayside” (pronounced ‘key-side’). The track, featuring acclaimed songwriter Gregory Douglass and produced by Ian Carmichael, finds Goss shifting into a contemporary synth-pop vibe.

I recently chatted at length with Goss about the new track and how his own perceptions of love and relationships shaped the narrative of the upcoming album.

“‘Quayside’ explores an entirely new set of boundaries that I encountered when visiting my lover at his home on a quayside in London for the first time,” explains Goss. “I was concerned about being respectful to him, and his public (or daily life with his husband) while still being respectful to my own husband, and the love we've fostered for so many years.”



“It’s been a tumultuous three years or so for me, in that my husband and I opened our relationship, which is very difficult for me,” shared Goss in our candid interview. “I spent a lot of time struggling with that, and a lot of time just being really introspective.”

“This has all been an evolution trying to understand my role in helping my husband find the thing he was searching for and support him in the changing man that he was becoming,” explained the singer.

“And I was a little lost in knowing where I fit in along those lines," added Goss. "So, I think that that definitely made me very introspective and I think changed the ways in which I tell stories because it was painful for me.”

“There’s a whole world out there that’s very frightening because you we live in a society that tells us what sex is, and what relationship is, and what monogamy is and what this is,” said Goss. “And when you come out as gay, a whole bunch of that falls to the ground and you have to learn how to live with that.”

“And when you open your relationship, it does the same exact thing”, he added. “A whole bunch of those internal constructs that you believe are innate to you, you start questioning. Are these innate to me or are these something that’s learned? Is this a learned behavior?”

“And this is a learned thought,” says Goss with a sense of resolution.

(photo: LafamosPR)

To make sure everyone is on the same page here, the discussion is not about cheating on one’s spouse or partner.

Polyamory is described as the practice of intimate relationships with more than one partner, with the consent of all partners involved. It has been called ‘consensual, ethical, and responsible non-monogamy.’

That said, Goss is clear that seeking purely physical connections are not in his wheelhouse.

“I want to have really impactful emotional experiences,” shares the singer. “I think, for me, the, the idea of physicality and openheartedness is very important, and I want my intimate experiences with my husband, or with another person, to be really open and connective.”

Shifting the conversation to the music, Goss is upbeat, saying, “The whole record is really me trying to understand how I engage with the world at large in a positive, honest way.”

“And it really puts a spotlight on the openness of the opening of the relationship, and the falling in love with another person, and the wanting to be respectful of that person, and wanting to be respectful of my husband, and wanting to be respectful of me, and wanting to be respectful of my lover,” he says. “It has been all of these things and it just becomes a mind f*ck very quickly.”

“I’m so proud of this record – I’ve never heard anything like it. And, I’ve never shied away from saying something ‘different’ in my career,” says the man who put the bear community front and center in his music video celebrating the furry form.

(photo: Daren Cornell)

A veteran musician of seven albums, Goss has played over a thousand shows in over a hundred cities around the globe, and his music has been featured on ABC, HBO and Univision.

A college wrestler turned Catholic seminarian turned polyamorous gay songwriter, Goss is well-known in the LGBT world for his music videos for “Bears,” “Round in All The Right Places,” and his cover of the Dusty Springfield classic “Son of a Preacher Man,” which reimagines the video as a poignant ballad about two gay teens.

Racking up more than 12 million views of his music videos, Goss has been praised by press outlets such as The Washington Post, The Advocate, The Daily Beast, Huff Post, Billboard and more.

“Quayside” is now available now on all digital download sites.

For more info about Tom and his future tour dates, click over to TomGossMusic.com.

You can listen to our full chat below.

Pride Music: Tom Goss "Bears"

Pride Month includes all of our diverse communities, so I love sharing this music video.

Back in 2013, over 200 “bears” joined together to make guitar-toting Tom Goss’s super-fun music video for "Bears."

Complete with lots of robust, hirsute men playing with Super Soakers, careening down a slip and slide, and dancing in a club (usually in slow motion), the video celebrates all the furry goodness.

Prominent figures in the “bear” and LGBTQ community star in the film including model and Bear World Magazine’s “Bear of the Month,” Miles Windsor (a.k.a. Lumberjack Bear), Charger Stone (DC Bear Crue), and well-known drag queen, B’Naka.

Aside from his personal tastes (his husband since 2010 is a self-professed Bear), Tom wanted to showcase the diversity of the gay community in a high caliber production.

“We are overrun with images of perfect men, in perfect clothes and perfect bodies, and as a result, many people doubt their self-image,” says Goss.  “This video showcases what it means to be beautiful and sexy, regardless of size,” he continues.

Even before it's formal release, the buzz both online and through the production had already resulted in Goss receiving dozens of emails from men thanking him for boosting their self-image.

All things Tom Goss can be found at his official website here.

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Pride Music: Tom Goss "Son Of A Preacher Man"

Back in 2016, out singer/songwriter took a look at the Dusty Springfield classic, "Son of a Preacher Man," as part of his 'Music Videos That Tell Our Stories' series.

As we celebrate Pride Month, it's interesting to see how out artists find our stories in classic songs.

In exploring the tune, Tom found a new, deeply personal context for the 1968 hit.

Tom explains:

"Ultimately, we wanted to show two boys falling in love. We worked hard to show young love authentically, as innocent and pure as it truly is. When two gay kids fall in love, it's often unknown by the participants themselves. They are in love, they know they want to be around each other, and they know they are attracted to each other, but they don't know how to put a label on it. All the messaging tells the kids that homosexuality is wrong, and is something to be hated, so they don't perceive that label to apply to themselves. That's what happens in this story.

"These two boys fall in love and they don't really know it until they kiss. That moment of realization also happens to be the preacher's moment of realization. His suspicions are confirmed, his son is gay, and the fallout is swift.

"We show the turmoil that families have as a result of this judgmental Christian messaging and how it goes beyond the church, following them home and into all aspects of their life. Coming to the realization of who you are and who you love in the context of that hate speech can be so demoralizing, to the point that you could consider taking your own life."

New Music: Tom Goss "Wake Alive"

Indie singer/songwriter Tom Goss shares his latest music video, “Wake Alive.”

Directed by Goss and acclaimed Baltimore-based artist Scott G. Brooks, the video literally visualizes the concept that we put ourselves in boxes.

And in doing so, find ourselves trapped in restrictive perceptions others have of us.

Says Goss, “Only by bursting out can we live the free, vibrant lives we’re meant to.”

From “Wake Alive:”

There's no sense fighting who you are

So release your ghosts and reveal your soul

You find the time and means to tell your story

Cause in the end it’s all that will live on

Do you put yourself in a box?

The energetic, upbeat pop track comes from Goss’s album, What Doesn’t Break, which was recorded during an emotionally turbulent year of transition after his cross-country move from Washington DC to Los Angeles.

But turbulence and tension can lead to artistic achievement as evidenced by What Doesn’t Break.

Reviewing the album, Killian Melloy of Edge Media Network, praised the collection:

“The ten tracks on Tom Goss' new album "What Doesn't Break" have a richer and more complex sound, while still being recognizably Goss in style -- though in some cases, the new songs take darker lyrical turns, coupled with equally dark (though compelling) musical ideas.”

In addition, NewNowNext has called Goss’s music “dazzling,” and The Daily Beast says his work is “moving and beautifully composed.”

Check out the latest from Goss, “Wake Alive,” below.

Christmas Music: Tom Goss & Liz DeRoche Celebrate #SilentNight200

Acclaimed singers Tom Goss & Liz DeRoche celebrate 200th anniversary of 'Silent Night'

For a song to cross borders and oceans, cultures and languages, epochs and genres, one might imagine complex melodies and immense lyrics, not a lullaby for a troubled world.

An internationally recognized masterpiece would certainly be the work of profound composers, not a humble assistant priest and school teacher who played guitar.

And yet, this is the origin of one the world’s most cherished carols, “Silent Night,” celebrating its 200^thanniversary on Christmas Eve, 2018.

Reminiscent of our own troubled times today, “Silent Night” was written in 1816 as a poem by Joseph Mohr under Austria’s oppressive rule, limited freedom of expression, and despair.

Two years later, Mohr asked Franz Gruber to set his words to music as an expression of solace, hope, and peace to be performed in Oberndorf near Salzburg, Austria.

Accompanied only by the guitar, during Christmas Eve mass at St Nickola Church in 1818, the pair performed their composition, “Silent Night.”

Over the last 200 years, “Silent Night” become known as ‘the song of peace,’ having been translated into more than 300 languages and dialects

It’s the holiday hymn which brought a “day of peace” to the Western Front of WWI on Christmas 1914.  It reminded soldiers of home and inspired the liberation of Austria from the Nazis during WWII.

Bing Crosby’s iconic recording of the song, released in 1935, is the 3^rd best-selling recording of all time.

Recognized and listed by UNESCO as a work of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011, “Silent Night” has become a gentle anthem for world peace. Now, and for our future.

As part of the worldwide ‘Silent Night 200’ celebration, acclaimed out singer/songwriter Tom Goss and indie artist Liz DeRoche, have recorded their own rendition of the song to share with the LGBTQ community.

“I feel most inspired by being around those I love,” says Goss. “I wanted to honor the holidays, family, friends and love with Liz DeRoche, someone who's musical light and tender heart always inspire me. And, of course, what better way to do that then with ‘Silent Night?’ A song that has been moving people for 200 years.”

Tom Goss & Liz DeRoche celebrate 200th anniversary of 'Silent Nig

Tom and Liz bring their considerable musical powers to bear on the quintessential Christmas song in classic ‘Goss’ style.

Never veering from thoughtful, pensive attention to the lyrics, the two artists blend their voices in quiet homage that is sensitive, yet simultaneously brimming with emotion.

Ethereal and light, Tom and Liz find the heart of a delicate melody that is literally celebrated around the world without resorting to heavy-handed production or studio trickery.

The musical duo echo here the same peaceful sentiment born 200 years ago in Austria.

Speaking of 'around the world,' you can be a part of a global sing-a-long of “Silent Night” by clicking over to www.stillenacht.com on the 24^thof December (5.00 p.m. MEZ; 4.00 p.m. UTC; 11.00 a.m US EST - east coast; 8.00 a.m. US PST - west coast).

Thanks to my friend and fellow blogger Larry at the LGBTQ blog, theOUTfront.com, for collaborating on this post.

Tom Goss's Body-Positive Music Video "Round In All The Right Places"

Tom Goss (photo: Daren Cornell)

Out singer/songwriter Tom Goss is one of the most popular artists of the modern indie gay recording landscape, and for good reason.

Since his 2009 debut album, Back To Love, Goss has developed a loyal fan base who have come to know him through his wide-ranging, intimately-personal songs and music videos.

From the serious tenor of his acclaimed cover of the Dusty Springfield classic, “Son of a Preacher Man,” to his fun-filled, rollicking romp in “Bears,” Goss has consistently given fans music they can relate to that presents a diverse view of the queer community.

For example, the aforementioned “Bears” music video came out of a desire to share his appreciation for plus-size men.

Goss admits that he didn’t really have much of a sex drive until, at the age of 22, he discovered his attraction for big, beefy bears.

That revelation ultimately led to his 2010 marriage to husband, Mike Briggs.

View this post on Instagram

I am so fucking lucky. . . . . . #love #husband #bear #lgbt #lovewins #grateful #lucky #luckyme #husbands #cute #forever #california #beach #newlywedsforever #youngloveforever #passion #kisses #xoxo #gay #gratefultobegay #truelove #ocean #pacific #romance #instaselfie #instalove #instagay #selfie

A post shared by Tom Goss (@tomgossmusic) on Aug 30, 2018 at 8:54am PDT

Released in 2013, the “Bears” music video is an upbeat fantasy romp for Goss that’s earned him a ‘big’ following in the bear community.

But it seems Goss didn’t quite get his message out as articulately as he thought.

“Even after ‘Bears,’ people would constantly ask me if I really had a thing for large men,” says Goss. “I used to get annoyed by the question, but then I started to reflect on it and I came to the conclusion that I hadn’t done an adequate job of describing what is so intoxicating to me about men of size.”

“For this one, I wanted to write something that was more specific and mature,” he explains. “I wanted to be direct, honest and graphic; to really convey the shape, the allure, the seduction of big men.”

The result is Goss’ new music video, “Round in All the Right Places,” released October 12.

The song, written with a nod to the style of 60s doo-wop, is the first single from his upcoming 2019 album, Territories.

(Photo: Nathaniël Siri)

Directed and co-produced by Goss, with additional production and cinematography by Nathaniël Siri, the video for “Round in All the Right Places” features a several friends plus some men he approached online.

“I couldn’t be happier with the visuals, and the beautiful men behind the visuals,” Tom shares. “Yes, I absolutely objectify the men, but I’m careful to do it in a way that is respectful, artistic and focused on that which makes them beautiful and unique.”

“Too often in media, large men are painted as villains or buffoons; the butt of a joke,” says the guitar-toting troubadour. “The goal here was to uplift and empower men of size and embrace their beauty.”

And, for Goss, that body-positive message isn’t limited to just plus-sized men. “Everyone should see the beauty in themselves and love every inch of their bodies.”

Watch “Round in All the Right Places” below and find more info about Goss & his music at his official website here.

Podcast: Emma Gonzalez's Stunning Silence At The March For Our Lives, Trump Tries Trans Ban Again, Singer/Songwriter Tom Goss In Concert

In this week's podcast:

• Out Parkland high school senior Emma González stunned the nation at the March for Our Lives with her powerful closing speech

• Donald Trump tried again this week with his ban on transgender soldiers in the US military

• Celebrities are buying out showings of the new coming out movie "Love, Simon" which has now grossed $24 million at the box office

• My review of out singer/songwriter Tom Goss live in concert

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

Hit play below.

If you enjoy catching up on the week’s LGBTQ headlines with my 15 minute podcast newsmagazine, I’d appreciate it if you would share The Randy Report with your friends.

I like to think of this podcast as the 60 Minutes of gay news — only shorter :)

Podcast: SCOTUS Refuses Houston Same-Sex Marriage Benefits Review; "Call Me By Your Name" Racks Up More Awards; Tom Goss Has A Musical Message For Christmas

In this week’s podcast:

• The US Supreme Court denied the city of Houston’s request to review a court decision saying marriage equality doesn’t mean equal benefits.

• Bermuda is the first nation to legalize then repeal marriage equality.

• Gay coming of age movie "Call Me By Your Name" continues to rack up awards and nominations

• My suggestions for end of the year charitable donations.

• New music from Tom Goss "Gay Christmas"

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

Out Music: Tom Goss "Gay Christmas"

A Randy Report favorite, singer/songwriter Tom Goss drops his latest single - "Gay Christmas" - just as many of us are making plans (or not) to head home for the holidays.

The track is classic Tom Goss as he trusts his solid melody and taut, sober lyrics to convey what many LGBTs feel during the holiday season.

Via press release:

The song, which comes out as millions of people head home for the holidays, was inspired by the pain many LGBT people feel while struggling to be accepted by their families and childhood friends.

"Too many of us have had to learn to accept less from our families when it comes to fully embracing us for who we are," says Goss, who hails from Wisconsin but now lives in Los Angeles with his husband. "It's become even worse since the election, due to the sense of betrayal we felt when we learned how family and friends voted. Yet we are expected to be the ones to forgive, to 'move on' and pretend everything is okay, even as the current administration and GOP keep supporting anti-gay politicians and policies."

Though the song is somber -- weary vocals set against a toy piano and music-box chimes -- it ends with a redemptive and powerful decision: the narrator refusing to accept less by going home, choosing instead to spend Christmas in a better place.

The accompanying music video, directed by Nathaniël Siri, brings that positive ending to life. The camera follows five people who feel alienated from the Christmas spirit, but who redeem the day by gathering for a "Friendsmas" picnic.

"Gay Christmas" is available on iTunes, Spotify, and CD Baby.

New Music Video From Tom Goss: "Click - The Interactive Love Story"

Singer/songwriter Tom Goss takes you into the party with his new interactive music video, "Click - The Interactive Love Story."

"Click" is the first "choose-your-own-love-story" music video.

After introducing you to the folks enjoying his Hollywood Hills party, you get to pick who you want to party with (Hallway Hooligans, Bar Flies, Water Babes, or Dancing Dolls).

The good news is they are all into you. And, if you find you're not happy with your choice, you get to pick again on and on as you play out your interactive party date.

And, as always with Tom, the music is way catchy.

Watch below.

Out Music: Tom Goss "More Than Temporary"

Randy Report favorite Tom Goss shares this uber-romantical music video just in time for Valentine's Day - "More Than Temporary" from his album, What Doesn't Break.

In telling the story of blossoming young love, Tom spotlights senior LGBT couples as guiding inspiration.

From Tom: "If you let it, love will blossom. Look to these LGBT seniors for inspiration. Their example will light the way."

“I’m grateful to those that have come before me. They have paved the way for the rights and privileges that I take for granted,” he told The Huffington Post. “Hopefully this video can highlight the beauty and inspiration of LGBTQ seniors, and in turn, give an example to those that are hesitant to dive into love.”

The video was directed by Christopher Turner, who makes a cameo appearance with his other half, author Armistead Maupin, well-known for his Tales of the City series of novels.

Click here for past posts where I've featured Tom's music on The Randy Report.

News Round-Up: November 30, 2016

Fitness model Nick Sandell

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Who can ever get enough of fitness model Nick Sandell?

• After closing all LGBT charities and legally banning sexual lubricants (because they "promote" homosexuality) earlier this year, the government of Tanzania has now banned all HIV/AIDS outreach programs.

• After years of physical and verbal bullying, 13 year old Tyrone Unsworth of Australia committed suicide last week. "Faggot," "fairy," and "gay boy" were daily taunts Tyrone heard at school until he took his own life.

• Donald Trump's pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Rep. Tom Price, opposes same-sex marriage, opposes protections for transgender folks, says LGBT rights cost too much and wants to completely cut off all federal funds for Planned Parenthood. Sounds like a great guy, huh?

• Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham is prepping legislation to extend legal protections for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. This is in anticipation of Donald Trump revoking the executive orders by President Obama which has protected over 700K young people to avoid deportation.

• More from calendar season! Today, we've got out singer/songwriter Tom Goss offering up his "beefcake" calendar. Head over to his official website to order.

Music Video: Tom Goss feat. Matt Alber "Breath And Sound"

Randy Report fave Tom Goss has a gorgeous new music video with Matt Alber "Breath and Sound" featuring three couples of dancers interpreting Tom's words and music.

From Tom's Huffington Post interview regarding the point of the video:

I want them to understand the boundlessness of love. There's a reason the first verse focuses on the straight couple alone -- that's what they are used to seeing. I want straight people to be drawn into a familiar story, one they understand and relate to.

Once there, I want to show them that this exact same story is being lived by the LGBTQ community.

As a gay man, I don't want special privilege. I just want to love - passionately, fearlessly and completely.

New Music: Tom Goss "Wait"

Singer/songwriter Tom Goss drops this new video as his answer to the ins and outs of the music industry's obsession with "image development."

When Four Gay Indie Artists Covered John Mayer's "St. Patrick's Day"

Out indie artists Tom Goss, Jeb Havens, Dennis Hensley and Matt Zarley unite (kinda like the Avengers, but not...) to bring you this cover of John Meyer's "St. Patrick's Day."

Favorite shot has to be Tom Goss shirtless in the middle of this wintry tune.

I'm a fan of all four, so follow them on their respective YouTube channels:

Tom Goss

Jeb Havens

Dennis Hensley

Matt Zarley

New Music Video: Tom Goss "What We've Found"

The newest music video from Randy Report favorite Tom Goss - "What We've Found" from his latest album Wait.

Love Tom, his music videos and his very unique sense of humor. His previous videos have tackled DADT, marriage equality, and have been featured in Upworthy, HuffingtonPost, Univision, The Advocate, Out, LOGO, Towleroad and After Elton.

His music single and video, "Illuminate The Dark" stars injured war hero turned underwear model Alex Minsky and challenges the way we see beauty.

2014's dance/pop single "Bears" became an instant cult hit, garnering attention worldwide.

Today he serves up some light, silly fun to make us smile.

Tom's a touring machine, so check out his official website for upcoming tour dates.

Music Video: Tom Goss & Amber Ojeda "Festivus"

Talented hottie Tom Goss and Amber Ojeda help you celebrate "Festivus for the rest of us."

Comedy Short: Tom Goss & Dennis Hensley "Black Friday - A Gay Love Story"

New comedic short from Tom Goss and Dennis Hensley - "Black Friday - A Gay Love Story"

From the YouTube description: "Black Friday is a time for consumerism, long lines and most especially, gay drama."

New From Tom Goss - "Hard To Breathe"

Randy Report favorite Tom Goss dropped this new video today, from the feature film Out To Kill.

Buy the DVD of the film on Amazon.