News Round-Up: August 15, 2019

Eliad Cohen (via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunks: Papa Party founder Eliad Cohen asks, "What's your favorite fruit?" Talk about a 'loaded question...'

• The Advocate: Democratic White House hopeful Michael Bennet has endorsed a constitutional amendment guaranteeing LGBTQ people equal rights.

• Raw Story: Donald Trump loves to boast, “The stock market has added more than $8 trillion in new wealth,” since he took office. Now that the market is going down, however, he claims it has nothing to do with him. Trump has already blamed the Federal Reserve chairman (whom he nominated), the Democrats, and today blamed - who else? - the media.

The Fake News Media is doing everything they can to crash the economy because they think that will be bad for me and my re-election. The problem they have is that the economy is way too strong and we will soon be winning big on Trade, and everyone knows that, including China!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 15, 2019

• Washington Blade: U.S. Park Police have made at least 26 arrests during the past year in Meridian Hill Park in Washington, D.C. targeting gay men after undercover officers posed as consenting prospective partners interested in a sexual tryst.

• Reuters: Israel has decided to block a visit by U.S. Democratic members of Congress Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar

• Twitter: While former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper ended his presidential campaign today with veiled hints he may run for the U.S. Senate in 2020, former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke (whom many have suggested he run against Republican incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in his state) made clear a Senate run isn't "good enough."

.@BetoORourke: "There have even been some who have suggested that I stay in Texas and run for Senate, but that would not be good enough…we must take the fight directly to the source of this problem..." pic.twitter.com/uUlSnULsJy

— CSPAN (@cspan) August 15, 2019

News Round-Up: August 12, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunks: While I'm working at my desk all day, I take a few seconds to check in with Alex Abramov and Brett Miles (above) whose Fire Island weekend hasn't come to an end yet. How nice for them :)

• Billboard: Out rapper Lil Nas X continues his reign atop the Billboard Hot 100 as his "Old Town Road" notches its 19th week as number one.

• OUT: In 2015, there were 1,400 reported cases of Hepatitis A in the U.S. Over the past three years, the number has spiked to 23,000. Since type A can be transmitted via anal sex, the CDC recommends gay and bisexual men get vaccinated against the disease. Click here to find the nearest pharmacy or clinic that offers Hepatitis A vaccinations. If you've had it, you have built-in immunity now.

• Business Insider: A new study shows that as New York City raised the minimum wage to $15 this year from $7.25, its restaurant industry outperformed the rest of the US in job growth and expansion. Researchers found no negative employment effects due to the city increasing its minimum wage.

• Axios: The federal budget deficit is up 27% from the same period last fiscal year, which begins in October. Spending has continued to outpace revenue, with a 3% rise of revenue overshadowed by an 8% jump in spending. Remember how the Trump tax cuts were going to pay for themselves?

• HBO: In this parody of FX's POSE ball sequences, Bob the Drag Queen channels his version of Billy Porter's 'Pray Tell' as host of "The Basic Ball."

Instead of the kids showing off fabulousness, the categories here are “clinical depression,” “barbecue daddies,” and “running errands,” with competitors giving you neutral colors and family reunion t-shirts.

No 'extra' here, folks. It's all down to 'basic.' Watch below or on YouTube here.

News Round-Up: August 8, 2019

Some guy...

Some news items you might have missed:

• #TBT: The above photo was from one of my last headshot sessions while I was still an actor. I hated having to take headshots. I remember early on in New York City, I was sitting for one photographer. He told me, "Turn away, then look at me and think 'SEXY.' I turned away and then shifted back to the camera...but there was no click as the photographer said, "Umm, no..." And there you have it LOL.

• Splinter: Friends say the Dayton shooter's slain sibling was transgender.

• The Hill: House Republicans in the Illinois delegation are calling for President Trump to not commute the prison sentence of former Democratic Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is serving 14 years on federal corruption charges.

• Advocate: Donald Trump attacked another gay journalist. This time out Fox News anchor Shepard Smith, one of the few Fox personalities willing to criticize him, as worse than “Fake News CNN.” Trump has previously denounced CNN's Don Lemon calling him "dumb."

• Axios: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote a letter to President Trump on Thursday asking him to use his Article II powers to call the Senate back into session in order to consider gun control legislation passed in the House.

• Web Series: Funnymen Matthew Wilkas & Dan Gordh are back with Season two of their absurdist sketch series, Matt & Dan. The comedy duo promises more guest stars, bigger wigs, and more twisted, uncomfortable situations.

Premiering August 15, the eight episodes in Season 2 will include a zombie apocalypse, surviving a plane crash in the Himalayas, and stripping at a bachelorette party.

News Round-Up: July 15, 2019

(image via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk Phillip Evelyn II (above) says 72 hours rest from the gym does wonders. Somehow, my lengthy time from the gym hasn't paid off in the same way LOL.

• Variety: After receiving backlash for comments she made about politically correct casting saying that she should be allowed to “play any person, or any tree, or any animal," Scarlett Johansson clarified the comments saying they were "edited for click bait" and taken out of context.

• NewNowNext: If elected to Congress next November, Dan Baer would the first openly gay man to be seated in the Senate and just the third LGBTQ person elected overall, following Wisconsin’s Tammy Baldwin in 2012 and Arizona’s Kyrsten Sinema last year

• The Guardian: The number of people who said they considered gay sex to be wrong rose for the first time since the AIDS crisis.

• Washington Blade: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has criticized gay adult studio Men.com for an alligator that appears in a scene of its latest porn video.

• Gaily Grind: World War II code-breaker and visionary mathematician who was castrated under Victorian-era anti-gay laws, Alan Turing will be the face of Britain’s new £50 note.

• Billboard Magazine: Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, rules the Billboard Hot 100 for a 15th week, moving to within a week of the record for the most time spent at No. 1 in the chart’s six-decade history.

Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber, and Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” each spent a record 16 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 in 2017 and 1995-96, respectively.

News Round-Up: July 12, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk Max Souza (above) is a study in gorgeous contrast between that gorgeous skin, the blue ocean and his whiter-than-white swimsuit. #Brazil

• Washingtonian: A bisexual man, frustrated he couldn't donate blood, decided to donate a kidney in protest. Current FDA policy bans men who have sex with men from donating blood (but not organs) unless they are refrain from same-sex intimacy for a year.

• Sacramento Bee: California lawmakers have approved a bill that will require presidential candidates to provide five years of tax returns in order to appear on the primary ballot. Gov. Gavin Newsome, who provided six years of his own tax returns for his 2018 gubernatorial race, is expected to sign the bill into law.

• Washington Post: The U.S. House voted Friday to prevent Donald Trump from launching into war with Iran without first getting the approval of Congress. More than two dozen Republicans joined Democrats to include the provision, which includes an exception for cases of self-defense, in the House’s annual defense authorization bill.

• IndyStar: Gay high school teacher, fired for being in a same-sex marriage, sues Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

• TGIF: Groove into the weekend with Dinah Jane and her 'tell-off' video, "Heard It All Before." The R&B diva recently brought her talent and sass to St. Louis PrideFest as well as the BET Awards Experience. DJ

News Round-Up: June 25, 2019

So freaking cute...!

Some news items you might have missed:

• Instagram: Handsome guy + handsome dachshund pup = HotDudesWithDogs

• Politico: Federal prosecutors have accused Rep. Duncan Hunter of improperly using campaign funds to pursue numerous romantic affairs with congressional aides and lobbyists

• The Hill: Donald Trump says he couldn't have raped writer E. Jean Carroll because "she's not my type."

• Reuters: A member of an armed group known for stopping migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border has been arrested after authorities charged him with impersonating a U.S. Border Patrol agent

• AP: Illinois is the 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana

• Emerson Polling: Latest polling shows five Democrats would beat Trump in hypothetical match-ups:

NATIONAL POLL:

General Election Head to Heads

Trump 45% | Biden 55%
Trump 45% | Sanders 55%
Trump 47%.| Warren 53%
Trump 48% | Buttigieg 52%
Trump 48% | Harris 52%

Full Results: https://t.co/PM0ybZf3a2 pic.twitter.com/enP7vGaAZ5

— Emerson Polling (@EmersonPolling) June 25, 2019

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

News Round-Up: June 5, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• Instagram: Out Olympian Gus Kenworthy and company share: "Tired, sore and sunburnt... Welcome to Whine Country!" Team Worthy reached the mid-point of this year's AIDS/LifeCycle ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. #AllForAGoodCause

• NBC News: A Texas school board unanimously voted to fire a teacher who tried to report undocumented students in her school district to President Donald Trump through a series of public tweets — that she thought were private messages to the president.

• NY Times: The leader of La Luz del Mundo, a church headquartered in Mexico that claims to have more than one million followers worldwide, was charged Tuesday in Los Angeles with more than a dozen sex crimes, including allegations that he forced children to have sex and made them pose naked for photos.

• The Guardian: The White House paid nearly $1 million to rent four limos during Donald Trump's two-day trip to Ireland. Four limos, two days. Seriously.

• The Sun: Pop star George Michael left nothing in his will to his past lovers, Kenny Goss and Fadi Fawaz. His estate's estimated worth is $98 million.

• Gay Star News: Sir Ian McKellen has launched a new program, Pride In Ageing, that will work to end the inequalities faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people over 50 in Greater Manchester and ensure that they have access to inclusive housing and care later in life.

• Netflix, which has nearly doubled the number of LGBTQ characters in their shows and movies over the last 12 months, has launched a collection of queer stories on the streaming service.

The streaming giant also launched a brand new Instagram page @Prism today, to spotlight queer stories, characters and talent.

"Love is the most strong and powerful feeling and I think the LGBTQ+ community has got that locked down.”

🌈 Celebrate your power 🌈 pic.twitter.com/uxKSu6VmZO

— Netflix US (@netflix) June 5, 2019

News Round-Up: June 3, 2019

(image via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk The Griffopotamous (above) is feeling fruity and fabulous this gorgeous Monday.

• The valedictorian for the 2019 Sheboygan Lutheran High School senior class says administrators banned him from speaking at commencement because he mentioned being gay in a draft of the speech.

• A federal grand jury charged a pair of Dallas men with conspiracy to commit hate crimes, kidnapping and carjacking. According to the 15-count indictment, suspects used the gay dating app Grindr to create fake profiles and pose as gay men interested in “dates” to lure gay men to an apartment complex in Dallas in order to commit violent crimes against them.

• Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are the first British Royals to 'proudly' celebrate Pride Month on social media.

View this post on Instagram

Continuing with our tradition to rotate the accounts we follow based on causes and social issues that matter to us: For the month of June we “proudly” shine a light on PRIDE. This month we pay tribute to the accounts supporting the LGBTQ+ community - those young and old, their families and friends, accounts that reflect on the past and are hopeful for a deservedly more inclusive future. We stand with you and support you 🌈 Because it’s very simple: love is love. Images above from the accounts we are now following and artist Ruben Guadalupe Marquez

A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on May 31, 2019 at 10:10pm PDT

• A Roman Catholic bishop who admitted last year to being “aware of incidents of sexual abuse” in the church but did nothing to stop them, warns Catholics that LGBTQ Pride Month is “harmful for children.”

• A former West Virginia Republican official who called Michelle Obama an "ape in heels" has been sentenced to 10 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to embezzling $18,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), funds that were intended to help flood victims.

• Don't look now but there are more naked selfies by former Congressman Aaron Schock circulating the inter webs. Whatever you do, don't click here.

This is the most tame photo in the latest raft of Schock selfies

News Round-Up: May 22, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• Well, hello newly-discovered InstaHunk Jefferson Ferreira. Aren't you just a heaping helping of furry goodness...? #woof

• The U.S. federal government has settled a lawsuit for $750,000 with a gay inmate who was threatened by another prisoner over his sexual orientation. Instead of intervening, officials moved the gay inmate into his bully's cell where the aggressor followed through on his promises to repeatedly beat and rape the gay inmate.

• Adult entertainment site XTube surveyed over 3,000 gay and bisexual men about what fetishes turn them on the most. Ranked number one was ‘partialism’, also known as a fetish for a particular part of the body like feet or a hairy chest. Some studies have shown folks who engage in kink are more likely to have positive mental health.

• Out talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has inked a deal to keep her titular chat-fest going three more years taking her through the 2022 season.

• The Trump administration is proposing a rule change to gut protections for transgender people seeking to stay at federally funded homeless shelters.

• The latest music video from Madonna - her collaboration with Swae Lee, "Crave," from her upcoming album Madame X.

I like the song. Hit play below...

News Round-Up: May 21, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• We usually see InstaHunk Ignacio Pérez Rey (above) on a sun-drenched beach somewhere, but it turns out he also likes his pool back home in Madrid.

• The Maine legislature has passed LD 1025 which will protect LGBTQ youth from the harmful practice of so-called conversion therapy, and make Maine the 17th state to do so. The harmful practice is condemned by every major medical and mental health organization, including the American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, and American Medical Association.

• The Philippines Congress launched an online poll this week to gauge support for legalizing same-sex unions.

• Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson didn't know the difference between "REO" and sandwich cookie Oreo. Every nascent real estate agent knows in their first week of training "REO" stands for "real estate owned," another term for a foreclosed property. But this guy is the Housing Secretary...

Rep. Katie Porter: "Do you know what an REO is?"
Secretary Ben Carson: "An Oreo?"
Porter: "No, not an OREO. An REO. R-E-O."
Carson: "Real estate?"
Porter: "What's the 'O' stand for?"pic.twitter.com/9dTw0xtNRm

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 21, 2019

• Several lawmakers are opposing the nomination of homophobic court nominee Howard Nielson, who has made antiquated remarks on same-sex parents, famously lashed out at a gay judge, and helped challenge affirmative action in court.

• An out, gay black man has become a congressional leader in fighting back against the homophobia of Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro.

• Inspired by the books of Armistead Maupin, the new Netflix Limited Series Tales of the City begins a new chapter in the beloved story.

Mary Ann (Laura Linney) returns to present-day San Francisco and is reunited with her adopted daughter Shawna (Ellen Page) and ex-husband Brian (Paul Gross), twenty years after leaving them behind to pursue her career. Fleeing the midlife crisis that her picture-perfect Connecticut life created, Mary Ann is quickly drawn back into the orbit of Anna Madrigal (Olympia Dukakis), her chosen family and a new generation of queer young residents living at 28 Barbary Lane.

Here's the first full trailer for the new incarnation of TOTC which premieres June 7th on Netflix.

News Round-Up: May 13, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk Steve in LA (above) makes baseball much more palatable, no? And - he has the good sense to attend a Yankees game :)

• The Gaily Grind: A Canadian man filmed himself tearing down and burning a neighbor’s Nazi flag, saying he took matters into his own hands because “authorities weren’t going to.”

• Vox: In the new book, Commander in Cheat, sportswriter Rick Reilly explores Trump’s complicated relationship with the game of golf, and herculean efforts he goes to lie about his scores, sabotage his opponents, and generally defraud the sport. Sport reveals, in part, who we are. Golf reveals the cheat that is Donald Trump.

• LGBTQ Nation: Mike Pence whines that America has ‘little tolerance’ for Christians if he can’t be anti-gay.

• Gay Star News: A makeup company is marketing a new brand specifically to 'macho men' with black packaging and the name 'War Paint.' They say male skin is 'different' from female skin, and therefore men need their own manly brand of makeup.

• Instinct: Mr. Ratburn of PBS' Arthur is gay, and married.

• InstaHunks Alex Abramov and Brett Miles hug it out after exploring NYC's 'The Vessel.'

View this post on Instagram

🐻💭☺️ [ this moment when #lilBear is bigger than #bigBear ] 🤪💪🏻 [ finally went to see #Vessel at #HudsonYard ] #weLike #funweekend #goodmemories #myman #theone #boyfriendsbelike #hadfun #gaycouple #nyc #sunset 📸: thanx @mr.scottmartin for capturing #theHug

A post shared by Alexander Abramov (@abramov_lex) on May 13, 2019 at 8:27am PDT

News Round-Up: May 11, 2019

(image via Silverjow)

Some news items you might have missed:

• I never get tired of the fun, whimsy and sexy diversity from graphic artist Silverjow (above). Happy Saturday!

• Over 11,000 people have signed a petition protesting an Indiana high school's plan to deadname a student at his graduation ceremony.

• Trump cultist Brenden Dilley went after Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims after Sims confronted anti-abortion activists at a women's health clinic. In a Twitter video, Dilley asserts that Sims isn't really gay, and just pretending to up his liberal cred.

Dilley calls for Sims to "suck a dick" to prove he's gay. Donald Trump, these are your people.

MAGA activist Brenden Dilley insists that Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims is not really gay and challenges him to "suck a dick" to prove otherwise. pic.twitter.com/qq6YLhAaJA

— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) May 10, 2019

• An 11-year-old rape victim in northwestern Ohio is pregnant, and according to the state's new, highly restrictive law on abortion, a girl in her position must carry and deliver her rapist’s baby. #Seriously

• A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows support for launching impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump has moved up to 45% support.

News Round-Up: May 6, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunk Ignacio Pérez Rey (above) is giving you all kinds of 'true colors.'

• The Trump administration announced that it was weakening offshore drilling rules that were put in place in the wake of the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon explosion that killed 11 people and triggered the biggest ocean spill in U.S. history.

• A new poll from HarrisX shows former Vice President Joe Biden getting 46% support compared to 14% for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who came in a distant second place, and Mayor Pete Buttigieg was in third place with 8%.

• Eagle-eyed 'Game of Thrones' viewers were surprised to see a Starbucks cup left on a table in a scene from last night's episode. HBO issued a statement: “The latte that appeared in the episode was a mistake. Daenerys had ordered an herbal tea.”

• House Democrats will vote on Wednesday whether to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt for missing a deadline for providing a complete copy of the Robert Mueller report.

• Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Monday told House Democrats he would not furnish President Trump’s tax returns despite their legal request. Several legal experts have said it would be unprecedented for Mnuchin to refuse to turn over the tax returns, as a 1924 law specifically gives lawmakers the authority to seek the returns.

• 370 former federal prosecutors who worked in Republican and Democratic administrations have signed a statement asserting special counsel Robert Mueller’s findings would have produced obstruction charges against Donald Trump if he wasn't in the Oval Office.

• There's a new royal in the UK as Prince Harry becomes the Dream Daddy we all knew he was.

Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have welcomed their first child, a baby boy. https://t.co/SheYRzOhtt

— Twitter Moments (@TwitterMoments) May 6, 2019

News Round-Up: April 22, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• This is how InstaHunk Ignacio Pérez Rey welcomed his Monday in Madrid. Who else was excited for the new week?

• After a South Carolina family's Pride flag was found ripped down and burned, neighbors began flying rainbow flags in solidarity.

• Rumors have surfaced that Kevin Hunter, husband for 22 years to Wendy Williams, had an ongoing sexual relationship with R&B singer Aveon Falstar during his marriage to Williams.

• A new University of New Hampshire Granite State Poll shows Sen. Bernie Sanders getting 30% support of likely Democratic primary voters in the Granite State. Former Vice President Joe Biden, who’s expected to announce his White House bid this week, came in at 18%, and Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 15%.

• Nevada is now the 10th US state to allow gender-neutral markers on identification documents. Residents can now choose ‘x’ in addition to’ for male and ‘f’ for female on drivers licenses and birth certificates.

• Randy Report favorite Pink drops the lyric video for the title track of her upcoming album, Hurts 2B Human, featuring Khalid.

The new collection, the pop icon's 8th studio album, will be released Friday, April 26.

News Round-Up: April 19, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• I hear MTV Jersey Shore star Vinny Guadagnino, who joins the Chippendales here in Las Vegas as Celebrity Guest Host April 26 through May 26, is selling a LOT of tickets. And yes, men are always welcome at Chippendales.

• A new Rasmussen Reports national survey finds that 59% of likely U.S. voters say they would personally be willing to vote for an openly gay president; 30% would not, 12% are not sure.

• It's not just adults Donald Trump's transgender military ban is affecting. This college student lost his 3-year ROTC scholarship because of the new policy.

• A 28-year-old man in Mississippi was beaten so severely - his jaw was shattered in two places - because his assailants thought he was gay.

• 1995 drag classic To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar is being re-released for Pride Month on Blu-Ray with special features including deleted scenes.

• Christian home schooling parents, David and Louise Turpin, who beat, starved and held 12 of their children captive inside their home, were sentenced Friday to life in prison.

• The music and the magic of Elton John’s incredible life comes to the big screen in upcoming musical fantasy biopic, Rocketman.

Watch as the team behind the film discusses Elton John’s journey from prodigy to icon in this special look at Rocketman, in theatres May 31.

News Round-Up: April 17, 2019

Ben Zerbst and Donald Romain

Some news items you might have missed:

• InstaHunks Ben Zerbst and Donald Romain took each other to Disneyland for some Hump Day fun. #FutureDILFSofDisneyland

• Brunei has defended its punishment of death by stoning for gay sex in a letter to the European Parliament. Under the country's new law, not only are LGBTQs targeted but adultery garners the same punishment, and thieves and robbers risk amputations.

• Prosecutors plan to seek a sentence of four to 10 months’ jail time for actress Felicity Huffman for her role in the college admissions scandal.

• This year's Time 100 - the 100 most influential people of 2019 - includes Lady Gaga, Indya Moore, Ryan Murphy, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

View this post on Instagram

@speakerpelosi is one of the 100 most influential people of 2019. "Nancy Pelosi is living proof that when it comes to getting the job done, more often than not, it takes a woman," writes @hillaryclinton. See the full #TIME100 list at the link in bio, and swipe for a video interview with Pelosi. Photograph by @paridukovic for TIME. Video by @spencerbakalar, @francescatrianni and @ggarciapardo

A post shared by TIME (@time) on Apr 17, 2019 at 4:25am PDT

• Nevada could soon join the three other states - California, Illinois, and Rhode Island - that ban the 'gay panic' or 'trans panic' defense in cases of assault or murder.

• Folks were wondering why queer rapper Lizzo performed at Coachella Music Festival this past weekend when it came to light owner Philip Anschutz has given his money to anti-LGBTQ organizations.

Lizzo explained:

"Whether we like it or not most major organizations are run by bigoted millionaires that donate to bigoted organizations. I realize my activism is to disrupt those spaces and spread my message to thousands of ppl."

"Y’all may not agree w it and that’s ok. But know that I’m doing what I gotta do to make sure my big black ass voice is heard. Can’t wait to dismantle the hate that funds this country… but until then, imma be putting big, black, femme, lgbtq+ bodies on stages and telling our stories."

Here's Lizzo's latest music video "Juice" featuring a whole bunch of RuPaul's Drag Race queens for added fun. Her new album Cuz I Love You drops Friday.

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.

News Round-Up: April 15, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• Now, y'all know the fab Shoshana Bean is back on the Broad Way starring in Sara Bareilles' Waitress, right? Annnnd, her leading man is the oh-so-talented Jeremy Jordan? Get to the Brooks Atkinson Theater before they be gone. #JustSaying

• A jury sentenced a man to death because they thought he would enjoy being in prison for life because he is gay.

• Dallas police arrested 29-year-old Edward Thomas on a charge of aggravated assault for the brutal beating of a transgender woman. Authorities are investigating whether the brutal attack caught on video should have hate crime charges attached, although gender identity is not a protected class in the state. The video, posted to Facebook, is quite disturbing as Thomas punches the victim over and over as a crowd stood by.

• At Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Missouri, an unnamed student tore down a large hanging sign advertising the school’s Gay Straight Trans Alliance (GSTA). The vandal crumpled up the sign into a ball and dropped it into the crowd below as dozens of students laughed and clapped.

• A 40-year-old man has filed a lawsuit against his parents for throwing away his porn collection that he estimates was worth $29,000.

• Donald Trump has a challenger for the 2020 Republican nomination - former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld has officially declared as a candidate for the Republican nomination for president in 2020.

• Sen. Bernie Sanders has released 10 years of tax returns showing both income and tax rate jumped after presidential campaign, and revealing his millionaire status.

• I could really, really wish to be in Mykonos right now with this guy... :)

View this post on Instagram

Mykonos at its best. @rondorff #blueandwhite #stripes #swimtrunks #rondorff . AD. . Photographer: @pascalpprl

A post shared by KILLIAN (@killian___) on Apr 14, 2019 at 5:46am PDT