Happy Halloween! Watch President Obama and the First Lady welcome trick-or-treaters to the White House: http://go.wh.gov/Kc4oyf
Posted by The White House on Friday, October 30, 2015
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Tweet Of The Day: Gus Kenworthy
Olympic silver medalist freeskier Gus Kenworthy received what looks to be almost universal support when he recently came out.
But, you know, there's always going to the occasional troll. Check the dumb-ass question posed to Kenworthy on Twitter, and then his oh-so-perfect" answer.
Just to recap - Olympic medalist, handsome, smart, amazing abs and not afraid to go toe-to-toe with an internet troll.
Man, Kenworthy rocks.
Are you the man or the woman in the relationship? That's all I need to know right now. https://t.co/9dvbwLBaCX
— Prexton Vice (@MmmPrexton) October 24, 2015
In a relationship I am the man. As is the other man. I'm gay. Not trying to emulate a heterosexual relationship. https://t.co/AJwyskECWf
— Gus Kenworthy (@guskenworthy) October 24, 2015
A Third Poll Shows Ben Carson Leading Trump In Iowa
Retired Ben Carson now tops a third poll in Iowa as Donald Trump's once dominant lead has evaporated.
A new poll via Monmouth University shows Carson during to a 14 point lead at 32% while The Donald falls 5 points from last month's poll to only 18% support.
The new survey shows Carson with the highest favorability ratings in the current field of GOP contenders with 84% approval. Trump clocks in with only 53% favorability. While that's virtually unchanged over the month, his unfavorability rating has gone up by 5 points.
This is now the third recent poll to show Carson with a healthy lead over the field in the Hawkeye State.
A Des Moines Register-Bloomberg poll released last week showed Carson with a 9 point lead, which led Trump to call the Register “crummy, third-rate newspaper.”
Plus, the most recent Quinnipiac University survey show Carson ahead by 8.
(source)
Ben Carson Takes The Lead From Donald Trump In National Poll
Dr. Ben Carson |
For the first time, Ben Carson has taken a narrow lead nationally in the Republican presidential campaign, bumping Donald Trump to the number two spot for the first time in months, according to a New York Times/CBS News survey released on Tuesday.
According to the new poll results, Mr. Carson garnered 26 percent of Republican primary voters, while Mr. Trump now holds support from 22 percent.
The survey is the first time that Mr. Trump has not led all candidates since the end of July.
Senator Marco Rubio of Florida clocked in at 8%, while former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida and Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard chief executive, received % of GOP primary voters.
(source)
Pat Robertson Doesn't Understand How The Supreme Court Works
Wackjob Pat Robertson told viewers of The 700 Club that this summer's ruling from SCOTUS on same-sex marriage only affects a few couples who were involved in the actual case itself, and that unless Congress passes a law making marriage equality legal, it's not really the law of the land.
Via Right Wing Watch:
“In the legal system, party A sues party B over marriage, ‘I want to get married to them,’ and the court says, ‘Okay, you can get married,’” he explained. “That doesn’t mean that I’ve got to get married to homosexuals, it doesn’t mean that you have to nor does it mean that it’s the law of the land. Congress didn’t pass any law. Your state legislature didn’t pass a law. So you’re not under anything, it’s a decision of the court having to do with a couple of people. Now they would like to make it bigger than that but, in terms of the Constitution, it isn’t.”
Trust and believe, the Obergefell ruling struck down all the anti-gay marriage laws in the U.S. That IS how the law works here.
Ellen DeGeneres Says She Never Thought She'd Come Out
In a new clip for Oprah’s Master Class series, Ellen DeGeneres shares that she never thought she would come out, and certainly never so publicly as on a TV show.
Degeneres shares the story of attending a course at the Esalen Institute near Big Sur, California called “Changing the Inner Dialogue.” After discovering that her fear was that no one would love her or allow her to be famous once they knew she was gay, DeGeneres realized that the shame she was feeling was making her pretend to be someone she wasn’t.
The acclaimed, Emmy-nominated series “Oprah's Master Class” tells the stories you've never heard from the people you thought you knew best.
Find OWN on TV at http://www.oprah.com/FindOWN
(h/t Queerty)
Ford Motor Company Announces Donald Trump Had Nothing To Do With Factory Plans
Word is that Ford Motor, because of my constant badgering at packed events, is going to cancel their deal to go to Mexico and stay in U.S.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2015
Do you think I will get credit for keeping Ford in U.S. Who cares, my supporters know the truth. Think what can be done as president!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2015
Ford Motor Company has issued a press statement debunking the myth Donald Trump has begun spreading in his stump speeches where he "takes credit" for Ford changing plans about building a plant in Mexico.
“Ford has not spoken with Mr. Trump, nor have we made any changes to our plans.
"We decided to move the F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks to Ohio Assembly in 2011, long before any candidates announced their intention to run for U.S. President.
"We are proud that Ford has invested $10.2 billion in our U.S. plants since 2011 and hired nearly 25,000 U.S. employees.
"Overall, more than 80 percent of our North American investment annually is in the U.S., and 97 percent of our North American engineering is conducted in the U.S.”
Monday, October 26, 2015
Tweet(s) Of The Day: Cher
Like the Thanksgiving Turkey…
Stick a fork in Jeb Bush… …..HE’S DONE
— Cher (@cher) October 26, 2015
Nothing against JEB personally ( except 99.9 % of his policies )BUT HIS SHIP HAS SAILED‼️TOO MUCH OF A DOWNER‼️
C’MON,️POTUS CANT B A WHINER
— Cher (@cher) October 26, 2015
New Music: Gwen Stefani "Used To Love You" On ELLEN
The fab Gwen Stefani performs her new single, "Used To Love You," on ELLEN.
Stefani first premiered the track Saturday night in New York during her MasterCard Priceless Surprises concert at Hammerstein Ballroom. The first song of her encore, Stefani returned to the stage to thank the audience for listening as she sings about the “pain and love and my real life.” She continued by saying “this song is really special.”
You Can Play & New York Giants Team Up For Pro-LGBT Inclusive Message
The New York Giants team up with You Can Play for this pro-LGBT inclusion message from the N
"The New York Giants believe that all athletes should be afforded equal opportunity, and judged only by their talent, character and work ethic."
From the You Can Play Foundation:
In addition to the video, You Can Play announced that the Giants will host a special You Can Play tailgate and game day event on December 20 when the Carolina Panthers visit New York. You Can Play has presented several times to Giants players, coaches and management on LGBT inclusion and creating a safe and inclusive locker room environment. The Giants Foundation also has provided a grant to support You Can Play’s work in fighting homophobia.I'll be curious to see two things: how quickly other NFL teams follow; and how this affects the possibility of an NFL player coming out in the near future.
Good start though. Congrats to the NY Giants - currently in first place in their division I might add...
Gallop Poll: Tea Party Support Drops To Lowest Level Ever
According to a new Gallop poll, America is growing even more weary of the Tea Party.
The latest poll shows support for the far-right conservative movement has dropped to the lowest levels ever.
From a November 2010 high of 32% approval, today only 17% consider themselves Tea Party supporters. The biggest drop in support came among Independents who lean Republican.
Here's hoping the whole crazy population of Teabagistan goes the way of the dinosaur so that Washington DC can finally get back to doing the people's work soon. They may have started with honorable intentions, but the whole crazy movement has hurt the country.
Viral Video: Bryan Wilson - The Texas Law Hawk
I will admit up front that I'm originally from Fort Worth, Texas, where it would seem Bryan Wilson - the Texas Law Hawk - has his law firm and runs his outrageous TV ads.
His commercials are somewhere between "Reno 911" and every Steven Segal movie ever made. They're so awesomely bad, we thought they were too good to be true - but Wilson is, in fact, a real lawyer.
"Loud and proud" of his Texas roots, Wilson's extensive use of American flags and screeching hawks could make Stephen Colbert cry tears of joy.
Wilson does wheelies on a minibike, snatches a fish out of a stream, kicks down a door and even jumps out of a moving SUV in an amazing new series of ads.
Wilson was recently featured on Fox News, of course.
What you about to see is real. Uploaded to YouTube only five days ago, the clip has over a million views already.
"Steve Jobs" Bombs At The Box Office
While I'm still planning to see the film, I can admit I haven't had time lately as I'm swamped in rehearsals for HELLO, DOLLY! here in Florida.
But I was surprised to read how badly Aaron Sorkin's new flick Steve Jobs, the biopic about the Apple CEO & iPhone father, did at the box office.
Variety reports:
After racking up the year’s best per-screen average in its opening weekend and doing strong business in limited expansion, “Steve Jobs” hit a stumbling block in its national release. It debuted to a measly $7.3 million, only a little more than the $6.7 million that “Jobs,” a critically derided film about the iPhone father with Ashton Kutcher, made in its initial weekend. Going into the weekend, some tracking suggested that the picture would do as much as $19 million.
“We are going to continue to support the film in the markets where it is showing strength and we’re going to continue to do it aggressively and proactively,” said Nick Carpou, Universal’s domestic distribution chief. “The critics are there for it and the buzz in these markets is strong.”
It’s still hard to see how the film turns a profit. The picture cost $30 million to make and at least as much to market. That means that “Steve Jobs” needs to do at least $120 million in order to break even. Given that the film is dialogue-driven and lacks a major star, its foreign prospects seem bleak. It’s almost entirely a domestic play, and so far it’s only made about $10 million.
Variety goes on to consider the comparisons with Sorkin's film about the creation of Facebook - The Social Network. Interesting to note that timing is everything as that film was released just as Facebook was becoming a part of everyone's daily life, where the Steve Jobs story has been picked over for years now since his return to Apple and then subsequent death.
I'm a fan of Sorkin's writing so I'll still head out to see it.
Has anyone here seen the film? Thoughts?
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Let's Celebrate More Of Newly Out Olympian Gus Kenworthy
Earlier this week, hunky/handsome Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy came out!
Let's celebrate more of the handsome out athlete.
LAW & ORDER: SVU Shares Trailer For Upcoming Duggar-based Episode
NBC has released a short teaser for the upcoming Law & Order: SVU episode based on the Duggar family's recent scandal.
The episode will feature Broadway favorites Chris Sieber and Andy Karl. Here's the clip description:
Law and Order “Patrimonial Burden” – The SVU investigates an unraveling web of secrets when the virtuous 13 year-old daughter of a famous reality TV family discovers she’s pregnant. Starring Mariska Hargitay (Lt. Benson), Ice T (Det. Tutuola), Kelli Giddish (Det. Rollins) and Peter Scanavino (Det. Carisi). Guest starring Andy Karl (Sgt. Mike Dodds), Ryan Devlin (Pastor Eldon), Geneva Carr (Pam Baker), Christopher Sieber (Frank Baker), Victoria Leigh (Lane Baker) and Chris Elliott (Pete Matthews).
(h/t JMG)
Demi Lovato Upstaged By Go-Go Dancer
So, here's how I got the story:
Demi Lovato made an appearance at The Monster, a gay bar in the West Village, to promote her new single. But just as she starts to sing she says she needs someone to dance with while she sings.
And that's when Ms. Lovato got upstaged by a go-go dancer who proved that "monster" wasn't just the name of the club.
It's actually quite funny to watch since it's difficult to pay attention to Demi. NSFW.
(h/t Gaily Grind)
Sunday Showtune: "Hello, Dolly!"
I've been working hard in Boca Raton, Florida, this week where I'm choreographing Hello, Dolly! again with my partner in crime, Lee Roy Reams.
This time will be a little different, though, because Lee Roy is not only directing again but starring - as "Dolly Levi."
This was the first week of rehearsals and this morning we do a crawl through of Act One. The dancers have been great picking up all the choreography, and working with Lewis Stadlen, James Clow and Susan Powell again on this show has made me laugh all week.
Next week we move on to Act Two, including the "big number" itself - "Hello Dolly."
So I was in the mood to throw back to 1995 when I did this fab musical wonder with the original legend herself, Carol Channing.
Take a look below. I'm in there :)
Happy Sunday!
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Legendary Newsman Dan Rather On Hillary Clinton & The Benghazi Hearing
Legendary journalist Dan Rather posted this on Facebook regarding Hillary Clinton's testimony this week at a Congressional hearing investigating the deaths of four Americans in Benghazi:
Hillary Clinton has done a lot in her life. But I think she likely cleared her path to the Democratic nomination for president, and maybe very well the Oval Office itself, by what she didn't do. She didn't lose her cool.
Her performance in a grueling marathon of a Congressional hearing on Benghazi (or more accurately on Clinton herself and maybe Sidney Blumenthal?) was one of poise, stoicism, self-confidence and maturity. Just the sort of attributes her questioners lacked. In the language of poker, she was drawing aces and the committee was drawing deuces. They might not admit it publicly, but even many Republican leaders know it's true. Hillary Clinton is a stronger general election candidate today than she was before the hearing.
It has often been said that you vote for president with your heart more than your head. And I think for all the questions about Clinton's record among the Democratic base, whether she is progressive enough on economic issues or too hawkish on foreign policy, the real sense of unease boiled down to intangible questions about her personality, values and character.
Yesterday assuaged many of those concerns. When combined with her recent debate performance and Biden deciding not to run, this is arguably one of the best stretches of her political career. Where are all those whither Hillary articles now? It is still early and a lot can still go wrong, but I believe this is the Hillary Clinton that so many Democrats wanted to love - tough, smart, unflappable, a woman who is ready to be president.
After Two Losses In Court, Anti-Gay Colorado Baker Goes For Triple Crown
Jack Phillips of Masterpiece Cakeshop |
Not content to be a 2-time loser in court, Jack Phillips, a Colorado baker located in Lakewood, has decided to take his bigotry to the state Supreme Court after refusing to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple which is in direct violation of the state's public accommodation laws.
On Aug. 13, the Colorado Court of Appeals upheld two previous rulings and found that Masterpiece Cakeshop owner Jack Phillips cannot cite his religious beliefs or free-speech rights in refusing to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.
In 2012, Charlie Craig and David Mullins were turned away by Phillips while trying to buy a custom wedding cake. Mullins and Craig planned to marry in Massachusetts and wanted a cake to celebrate in Colorado.
Phillips told the couple that he would not make them a wedding cake because of his religious beliefs.
The petition, filed by Phillips' attorneys on Friday, asks the state's high court to decide whether Phillips' religious beliefs about marriage are being violated. They're also asking the justices to consider whether forcing Phillips to create an "artistic expression" that is against his religious beliefs violates his free speech rights.
"From Masterpiece's inception, he has integrated his faith and work," Phillips' attorneys wrote in the filing. "Phillips also honors God through his creative work by declining to use his artistic talents to design and create cakes that violate his religious beliefs."
Colorado law bans discrimination in a public place on grounds of sexual orientation.
To reiterate - same-sex marriage is not the problem here. A man refusing to serve people based on their sexual orientation, which is against the law in Colorado, is the issue.
The Internet Still Chuckling Over Hillary's Benghazi Hearing Appearance
Click to enlarge pic (via Facebook) |
New York: Gov. Cuomo Will Ban Transgender Discrimination Via Executive Order
Gov. Andrew Cuomo marching in Gay Pride Parade |
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced he will use his executive authority to ban discrimination against transgender people in housing, employment, credit education, and public accommodations statewide.
Currently, the state prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. But after the legislature failed several times to pass a bill protecting transgender New Yorkers, the governor decided to take the apparently unprecedented step of invoking his executive powers on the matter, an administration official said.
Looking for ways to work around the log jam in Albany, lawyers in the governor's office found that under Executive Law 2995, the New York State Division of Human Rights has the authority to promulgate regulations of the state’s Human Rights Law, the administration official said.
The proposed regulations, which the governor's office will soon enter into the state registry for a 45-day comment period, would expand definitions of “sex” and “disability” discrimination to include gender identity, gender expression, and gender dysphoria.
Although the Human Rights Law as passed by the state legislature would not itself be amended, the new additions that apply to the law would grant the New York State Division of Human Rights power to enforce the regulations with the force of law.
In 1990, New York passed the Sexual Non-Discrimination Act which bars discrimination against gays, lesbians and bisexuals but not transgenders. Since that time the state Assembly has passed the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), which would expand the SNDA to include transgender protections, eight times. But the state Senate has refused to pass the legislation.
Cuomo has long been a champion for LGBT rights including marriage equality.
(via Buzzfeed)
President Obama Compares Congressional Republicans To Grumpy Cat
Speaking at the Women’s Leadership Forum yesterday, President Obama playfully wondered aloud at the GOP’s "gloomy" outlook on just about everything, comparing them to Grumpy Cat, complete with making the Grumpy Cat face.
The crowd was thrilled.
On a serious note, I have to say, when the GOP constantly says how "everything" is worse since Obama became president I come to the same list of issues where the country has improved: stock market more than doubled, unemployed down from over 9% to 5.1%, US car industry back from the brink of extinction, real estate market has improved dramatically, Osama bin Laden killed, health insurance premiums have stopped sky-rocketing, gay and lesbian couples can marry the person they love...
Who looks at that list and says "things are worse???"
Houston Texans Owner Rescinds Donation To Opponents Of Houston's LGBT Protections Ordinance
Last week, Houston Texans owner (and billionaire) Robert McNair made a publicly touted $10,000 donation to the anti-gay group opposing Proposition 1 currently in early voting.
Proposition 1, known as HERO (Houston Equal Rights Ordinance) would provide important LGBT protections in terms of businesses that serve the public, private employers, housing, city employment and city contracting. Religious institutions are exempt.
The ordinance also bans discrimination based on sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, pregnancy and genetic information, as well as family, marital or military status.
After huge national backlash against the haters, McNair has now made a statement rescinding his donation.
“I recently made a personal contribution to Campaign for Houston because my thorough review of the HERO ordinance led me to believe that a thoughtful rewrite would provide a better ordinance that would provide strong non-discrimination protections for all Houstonians, which I would support, and would be less divisive of our city.
“It was on these principles that I made my personal contribution to Campaign for Houston. To my great dismay, Campaign for Houston made numerous unauthorized statements about my opposition to HERO in print, broadcast and social media – including attributing certain statements of belief to me. Their actions and statements were never discussed with nor approved by me. Therefore I instructed the Campaign to return my contribution.
“I do not believe in or tolerate personal or professional discrimination of any kind. I also believe that we Houstonians should have an ordinance that unites our community and provides a bold statement of non-discrimination. I encourage all Houstonians to vote on November 3. Robert F. Kennedy once said, ‘Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work together to change a small portion of events, and in the total of those acts will be written the history of our generation.'”
Richard Carlbom, campaign manager for Houston Unites, the pro-HERO group, said McNair's decision makes sense.
"Like Bob McNair, many Houstonians are taking a step back and realizing the opposition's ads on the Equal Rights Ordinance are intended to raise anxiety with outright distortions and quite frankly lies," said Carlbom. "When you take a second look, the Equal Rights Ordinance protects all Houstonians from discrimination and makes Houston a place everyone can be proud to call home."
Houston is the fourth largest city in the country.
Voting continues through October 30.
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