New Preschool Video Series Features Love & Diversity Of LGBTQ Families

(screen capture from Rainbow Stories)

Preschool entertainment learning app Hopster teamed up with Diversity Role Models to produce a series of videos showing LGBTQ families called 'Rainbow Stories.'

The video series focuses on teaching preschool kids about diversity among families.

"Our role models are at the heart of our work," shared Adam McCann, CEO of Diversity Role Models. "To see their stories of embracing difference and diverse, loving families come to life and amplified to young children will encourage acceptance around the world."

Miki Chojnacka, Chief Creative and Content Officer at Hopster, shared: "Rainbow Stories focusses on love, family, acceptance, friendship and trust. Finding real life stories and translating them into animated short films for preschoolers has been a hugely powerful experience."

Noting that LGBTQ community is underrepresented in preschool content, Chojnacka added, "We are so proud to have formed this partnership with Diversity Role Models and make the much needed change."

One of the animated videos shares the story of a married gay couple, Mark and Peter, who adopt a young boy, James. The video shows the happiness James finds in his new home with his adopted parents and their cat Einstein.

Check out the short video below as James comes to meet and love his 'forever family.'

(h/t Gay Star News)

News Round-Up: February 2, 2018

Jim Newman (photo via Instagram - Isauro Cairo)

Some news items you might have:

• I loved actor/singer Jim Newman in "Daddyhunt The Serial" - and now I just discovered his Instagram! I had no idea he performs with the Village People as "The Cowboy." #SaveAHorse

• Out transgender actress Candis Cayne will star in "ground-breaking" trans storyline on Grey's Anatomy.

• Tickets went on sale for Elton John's final world tour and sold out in minutes. #NoSurprise

North America will be the first stop on my final world tour, with tickets on sale tomorrow from the bio link. #EltonFarewellTour #USA #Canada #FarewellYellowBrickRoad

A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn) on Feb 1, 2018 at 10:56am PST

• Pride.com shares 13 questions straight people have about gay sex (but are afraid to ask...)

• For her 60th birthday, Ellen DeGeneres gave her studio audience $1 million to split.

• A hater trolled the Pittsburgh Penguins on the announcement of taking part in diversity/inclusion program "Hockey Is For Everyone." And the Penquins clapped back:

In support of the NHL's commitment to diversity and inclusion in hockey, @mattmurray_30 has elected to be the #Pens ambassador for Hockey Is For Everyone.

Full list of ambassadors: https://t.co/wGI8C3BgnY pic.twitter.com/raOPxregO7

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 1, 2018

Unfollow

— Mr. Stew (@bigstewo7) February 1, 2018

Go ahead. If you don't support inclusion in hockey, there is not much reason to follow us anyway.

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 1, 2018

Podcast: Texas' Anti-Trans Bill; Star Trek Discovery; New Jersey's Support For Trans Students

Listen in as I discuss this week’s LGBTQ headlines including:

• The Texas Legislature is on its way to approving an anti-transgender “bathroom” bill

• Rhode Island becomes the 9th state to ban harmful “ex-gay therapy”

• New Jersey passes required guidance for trans students

• Star Trek Discovery will feature its first gay romantic couple

• We may soon find out if Academy Award winner Moonlight opened the door for more mainstream success for queer-themed cinema

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

For past episodes, or to subscribe to the podcast for free, click here.

And, by the way, please feel free to share The Randy Report podcast with friends. It's a great way to catch up on the week's LGBT political, pop culture and entertainment headlines in about 15 minutes :)

New Orleans: We Welcome Everyone

New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation (NOTMC) and members of the New Orleans community gathered together during Mardi Gras 2017 to create a tourism video letting potential visitors know that New Orleans welcomes everyone.

Via press release:

If there ever was a celebration to honor diversity and equality, it is Mardi Gras New Orleans. To emphasize this important message that New Orleans is ‘always open’, New Orleans tourism joined people from all over the community at New Orleans’ famous Bourbon and St. Ann streets to march together in its first-ever Reverse Parade.

Through word of mouth, some four hundred citizens gathered and volunteered their time to create a message of diversity and equality. Donning full make-up, Mardi Gras garb, beads, or just plain clothes, the New Orleans community and its supporters marched backwards in a symbolic gesture shedding colorful clothing and masks along the way. Everything stopped, quiet ensued, then a flag appeared stating “We Are Never Going Back.” Music filled the streets as participants marched forward in celebration.

“New Orleans has a history of welcoming all people all the time,” said Mark Romig, President and CEO of New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation (NOTMC). “The amount of excitement and numbers of citizens who came to participate in the parade and film is a testament to the city’s determination to never relinquish its achievements in human rights.”

House Republicans Celebrate Diversity With Vice President-elect Mike Pence

Look at all that diversity on display as incoming Vice President Mike Pence takes a celebratory selfie with U.S. House Republicans.

No, no - wait. There's a black man in the upper left hand corner, see?

There you go. A virtual melting pot. What a rich tapestry they all are.

Paul Ryan's GOP Capitol Hill Interns Selfie Goes Viral Over Total Lack Of Diversity

Via Speaker of the House Paul Ryan's Instagram account: "I think this sets a record for the most number of #CapitolHill interns in a single selfie. #SpeakerSelfie."

Now, what do you notice about this group of people?

Or rather, what do you notice missing?

#Diversity

Sir Ian McKellen: Concerns About Underrepresented Minorities In Studio Movies Are "A Legitmate Complaint"

Sir Ian McKellen says he "sympathizes" with minorities who feel underrepresented in studio movies

Openly gay Sir Ian McKellen was asked his thoughts about the current brouhaha regarding the lack of diversity in this year's Academy Award nominations.

Via The Press Association:

“I think you have to live in Hollywood where the Oscars means so much more than they do elsewhere to understand why people’s feelings are running so high, and the fact that black people feel underrepresented in studio movies and big movies. Well, it’s what women thought for a long time. It’s what gay people like myself still think. And it’s a legitimate complaint and the Oscars has become the focus of those worries. So I sympathize.”

First Peek At Official Movie Poster For "Stonewall"

We get our first look at the official movie poster for the upcoming "Stonewall."

After all the furor last month about the lack of diversity in the initial trailer, it's interesting to note how very diverse the cast appears here.

Director Roland Emmerich says the look and feel are a conscious design choice to reach back to the time and emotion of the late 1960s:

"This image famously used by the Gay Liberation Front in 1970 was my inspiration for the STONEWALL poster. It perfectly captures the triumphant, jubilant feeling of the time.”​

(via Out)

When Your Son Wants That Little Mermaid Doll

Going viral all over the inter-webs is this clip posted on Facebook by "Dad of the Year" contender, Mikki Willis.

It would seem that Willis' son Azi recently received duplicate presents for his birthday. So, Willis took the tyke to exchange one of the duplicate gifts for something else.

And what was it that Azi chose? A Little Mermaid Princess doll.

Willis described the episode like this:

"I let my boys choose their life. That's how mama and I, that's how we are, right? We just say, 'Whatever.' We say, 'Yea, choose it. Choose your expression. Choose what you're into. Choose your sexuality. Choose whatever.' You have my promise right now, both of you, as we sit in this car, this hot car in this parking lot. You have my promise forever to love you and accept you no matter what life you choose."

How would you feel if your son chose this??
Posted by Mikki Willis on Friday, August 21, 2015

Viral Video: Love Has No Labels

1.5 million views in a day.

From the new campaign for diversity and inclusion at Love Has No Labels:

While the vast majority of Americans consider themselves unprejudiced, many of us unintentionally make snap judgments about people based on what we see—whether it’s race, age, gender, religion, sexuality, or disability.

This may be a significant reason many people in the U.S. report they feel discriminated against. Subconscious prejudice — called “implicit bias” — has profound implications for how we view and interact with others who are different from us. It can hinder a person’s ability to find a job, secure a loan, rent an apartment, or get a fair trial, perpetuating disparities in American society.

The Love Has No Labels campaign challenges us to open our eyes to our bias and prejudice and work to stop it in ourselves, our friends, our families, and our colleagues. Rethink your bias at lovehasnolabels.com.

The campaign works in cooperation with 8 nonprofits that celebrate diversity.  Among them:

• The Southern Poverty Law Center specializes in civil rights litigation for a range of marginalized groups. 

• The Anti-Defamation League combats hate crimes and anti-Semitism.

• The Human Rights Campaign, the country’s largest LGBT civil rights advocacy group.

Texas Sportscaster Dale Hansen Brings Common Sense To Racial Controversy

Last year, veteran sportscaster Dale Hansen of Dallas/Fort Worth's WFAA gained national attention when he addressed the issue of Michael Sam coming out before the NFL draft.

Hansen again brought his common-sense wisdom to the "Hansen Unplugged" segment of his telecast Tuesday in discussing a controversy in the Dallas suburb of Flower Mound.

At a recent basketball game against a rival, more racially diverse school, students were photographed last week holding up signs that read "White" and "Power." Hansen addressed the issue and it's origin.

Hansen chided the Flower Mound students' parents who dismissed the dustup as nothing more than an accidental pairing of signs alongside each other. He shared that his granddaughter recalled attending games at Flower Mound where students would chant "Welfare babies, do you know who your daddy is? Because we know ours."

He also reached back to his own upbringing in Iowa, where he said his mind was "twisted" by the contrast between his father's constant and casual use of the "N-word" with praise for the only black family in the county where Hansen grew up.

"Kids have to be taught to hate and it's our parents and grandparents, and our teachers and coaches, too, who teach us to hate," Hansen said. "Kids become the product of that environment. I was. And they are."

"The kids who hold the signs and chant their racist slurs — and it's not all of them. It never is," he said. "But their ignorance perpetuates the stereotype of all of us in Texas as a racist, ignorant people."

Watch Hansen's take-down below. And bravo once again, Mr. Hansen!

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.

Chevrolet includes LGBT families in new commercials/campaign "#TheNew"

Chevrolet is set to launch a new campaign of eight commercials defined by the them "#TheNew."  Two of the spots feature LGBT families as part of the diversity in today's American life.

This Chevrolet commercial, set to air during the opening ceremonies of the Sochi Olympics, features a same-sex wedding in Cape Cod:

"The New Us" commercial from Chevrolet features several shots of same-sex families:

Breitbart: Coca-Cola Super Bowl commercial featuring diversity was "offensive"

Breitbart columnist Michael Patrick Leahy has his panties all bunched up over last night's multi-cultural, multi-language Coca-Cola commercial featuring "American the Beautiful."

In his article post title, Keahy referred to the commercial as "offensive."

"Executives at Coca Cola thought it was a good idea to run a 60 second Super Bowl ad featuring children singing America The Beautiful – a deeply Christian patriotic anthem whose theme is unity – in several foreign languages. The ad also prominently features a gay couple.

Conservatives instantly lit up social media with objections, with many vowing to boycott the soda company's products. The lyrics of the song, written in 1893 by Wellesley College Professor Katherine Lee Bates, ask God to grant America 'brotherhood / From sea to shining sea.'

As far as the executives at Coca Cola are concerned, however, the United States of America is no longer a nation ruled by the Constitution and American traditions in which English is the language of government. It is not a nation governed in the Anglo-American tradition of liberty.

It is instead a nation governed by some all inclusive multi-cultural synthesis of the various forms of government in the world, as expressed by the multiple languages used in the Super Bowl ad to sing a uniquely American hymn that celebrates our heritage."

Regarding the last line there - that would be "diversity." And that's exactly what America is, Mr. Leahy.

Let me know if I'm going to fast for you here.

Here is the commercial below:

Music video: "Everyone is Gay"

From the YouTube description:

We are so proud and excited to release the new music video for our song "Everyone Is Gay."

A while ago, our friends Kristin and Dannielle (who run a website called EveryoneIsGay.com that offers advice to LGBTQ youth) challenged us to write the "gayest song ever" for a compilation. And this song was the result!

We believe in their mission and stand by all those who live in fear of being their authentic selves. NO ONE deserves to be bullied or treated unfairly based on sexual preference. Diversity should be celebrated!

(h/t JMG)

UCLA: "You Can Play"

University of California, Los Angeles, football coach Jim Mora has made a strong statement that he would welcome openly gay players to his team.

In a video for You Can Play, a campaign aimed at improving the environment for LGBT athletes, Mora says, “At UCLA, we play with integrity and we honor diversity. We respect all athletes and coaches. If you can play, you can play. And if you can coach, you can coach.”

The video is the first in the campaign to feature a head football coach prominently, reports Yahoo! Sports.

(source)