Kylie Minogue performed the second single “Get Outta My Way” from Aphrodite last night on America’s Got Talent. She gave a great performance and the surrounding guys and gals certainly aren’t hard on the eyes. Take a look:
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
This Bulldog Loves The Family Guy
This is a hysterical must-see! This English Bulldog appears to be at-ease relaxing on his couch watching The Family Guy. This video is absolutely adorable and hilarious. Take a look:
Ken Mehlman, Former Republican Party Chair, Reveals He is Gay
In an ironic twist of fate, the former leader of the notoriously anti-gay Republican Party, Ken Mehlman, revealed today, he is a gay man. Mehlman was the steward of the GOP under former-President George W. Bush and spearheaded the Republican leadership while Bush pushed to pass a Federal Amendment to the US Constitution which would’ve banned legal recognition for same-sex couples. Although the Democrats effectively stopped Bush from ever passing the Amendment, Mehlman denied any suggestion he was homosexual. At the 2006 White House Correspondents Dinner, Mehlman was quoted as saying, “Im not gay. But those stories did a number on my dating life for six months.”
By coming out, Mehlman has decided he is going to change his life and is actually working hard to reverse the damage he and his fellow Republicans inflicted on gay and lesbian Americans. He said that he “really wished” he had come to terms with his sexual orientation earlier, “so I could have worked against [the Federal Marriage Amendment]” and “reached out to the gay community.” As Kurby Dick indicated in his fantastic documentary Outrage, about gay politicians who try to hide their sexuality by voting against equality for gay men and lesbians, like most out former anti-gay policymakers, Mehlman has vowed to make his wrongs right.
He will be Co-Chairing a major fundraiser in late September that has already raised over $1 million for the organization battling Prop 8. The fundraiser is co-chaired by prominent Republican donors Paul Singer and Peter Thiel and will be held at Singer’s home. So while Mehlman no doubtfully harmed gay men and lesbians as the leader of the Republican Party, I do give him credit for admitting his sexuality and joining the fight to bring equality to every American.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
UCF Moves into Tier 1 of Top Universities
The US News and World Reports released their annual ranking of the nation’s universities and colleges this week and the University of Central Florida (UCF) has moved into the top tier of the nation’s best universities. While numerous programs at UCF have been nationally-ranked before (for example, UCF’s MBA program, graduate programs in Public Affairs, and undergraduate programs in Nursing and Engineering have all been ranked at-least in the top 50 by surveys of their academic peers), this marks the first-time UCF as a whole has moved into the top tier of the nation’s best universities. UCF ranked #179, which is in the top 5% of all universities in the United States. Harvard, Princeton, and Yale are also top-tier institutions. The only other public university in Florida to be ranked in Tier 1 was the University of Florida, which ranked #53 (down from #47 last year). CONGRATULATIONS UCF!!! This is wonderful news for a young university that has grown to be the 3rd largest in the nation! GO KNIGHTS!!!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Proposition 8 OVERTURNED!
Federal Judge Vaughn Walker (appointed by President George H.W. Bush) has OVERTURNED California’s discriminatory ban on same-sex marriage. Walker’s decision is exquisitely authored and is EXACTLY what was hoped for by the 2 lead Attorneys who worked together to represent the gay plaintiffs in the case (David Boies, a liberal Democratic attorney and Theodore Olson, a conservative Republican attorney both of whom actually squared-off against each other at the United States Supreme Court during the Bush vs. Gore Trial). As Judge Walker indicated: “Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite- sex couples are superior to same-sex couples. Because California has no interest in discriminating against gay men and lesbians, and because Proposition 8 prevents California from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to provide marriages on an equal basis, the court concludes that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.” California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger whole-heartedly agreed with the Judge’s ruling, stating:
“Judge Walker had the great responsibility of deciding whether Proposition 8 violates the Constitution of the United States. He heard in-depth arguments from both sides on fundamental questions of due process, equal protection and freedom from discrimination. There are strong feelings on both sides of this issue, and I am glad that all viewpoints were respected throughout the proceedings. We should also recognize that there will continue to be different points of view in the wake of this decision. For the hundreds of thousands of Californians in gay and lesbian households who are managing their day-to-day lives, this decision affirms the full legal protections and safeguards I believe everyone deserves. At the same time, it provides an opportunity for all Californians to consider our history of leading the way to the future, and our growing reputation of treating all people and their relationships with equal respect and dignity. Today’s decision is by no means California’s first milestone, nor our last, on America’s road to equality and freedom for all people.” While the case is certainly headed to the United State Supreme Court within the next few years, GLBT Americans are at least one step closer to the equality we have fought so very hard for!
It’s Official! Wonderland Headed to Broadway
Playbill reported today that Frank Wildhorn’s musical Wonderland is officially making its way to the Big White Way. Wonderland marks the first show ever produced by the Genesis Project, through the Straz Center at the Tampa Bay Center for the Performing Arts, an initiative created to bring Broadway shows written, designed, and produced in Tampa, Florida to the stages of Broadway in New York City. The show will open in April of 2011 at one of the Nederlander Theaters. Per Playbill: Wonderland, according to press notes, is a “story about a new Alice who has lost her joy in life. Estranged from her husband, alienated from her daughter and in danger of losing her career, Alice finds herself in Wonderland where she encounters strange though familiar characters that help her rediscover the wonder in her life while searching for her daughter.” I was able to catch the show in its final week run in Tampa. It was a lot of fun. The score is very pop-driven and the show is laden with some pretty spectacular special effects. But, there were some casting issues (the leads were weak and had a difficult time carrying the show) and the book could use to be tightened in several spots. There’s probably no doubt the musical will be strengthened before opening on Broadway in April.