Towleroad Talking Points: Racists, Gay Republicans and 2016

PHOTO OF THE DAY: David Beckham all decked out in his holiday line of bodywear.

BY SAM GREISMAN

A look back at today's top stories

ELECTION 2012

A woman in California has confirmed her spot in the running for one of the worst people in the world by not only posting a slur-laden tirade against Obama on her Facebook, but also by not being sorry about it. She has been fired from her job at Coldstone Creamery. Yes the election has only been over a few days, but that doesn't mean we have to waste any time preparing for 2016. Hilary currently leads in the polls!

Rachel Maddow sat down with Stephen Colbert last night and Colbert wasn't buying her olive branch to conservatives. Also our Ari Waldman takes a look at what the election results mean for gay Republicans. Apparently for GOProud leader Jimmy LaSalvia it means they should maybe start thinking a little differently about equality.

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GAY RIGHTS

Dan Savage has a message for hate group leader Tony Perkins, "I'll see you in court!". Meanwhile Perkins was off spouting some bigotry about a revolution if the Supreme Court passes gay marriage. Speaking of hate, a Christian group in Maine wants to overturn Tuesday's marriage equality victory. Good luck.

Also remember Chick-Fil-A? Well apparently some people still care enough about it to camp overnight there.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Awww! Big Brother Australia's first-ever gay winner proposed to his boyfriend on this week's live finale. On a different note check out Brad Pitt battling zombies (they are so in right now) in the first trailer for World War Z.

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VIDEOS OF THE DAY

To get you all excited to go dancing this weekend take a look at Yale's LGBT Alumni group's salute to gay anthems. And finally the answer to the question why did Nate Silver get so drunk?

The OXD Mirror: New Music for 11.9.12

BY OCCUPY THE DISCO / RU BHATT

The OXD Mirror is a weekly music column brought to you by the boys of OCCUPY THE DISCO (OXD), a New York City based collective created by three music lovers, Ru Bhatt, Josh Appelbaum, and Tadeu Magalhães, who want to share their love for disco, house and dance music with the world. 

Edwin Van Cleef: 'Nala (Summer Best Pals Remix)'

Britain-based Edwin Van Cleef has put together a house tune that is completely mesmerizing in its lush production. Every time i hear this song I literally stop what I'm doing and imagine frolicking in the sun with my friends. Of course, it's my understanding that 'Nala' refers to the Lion King character, and imagine the Summer Best Pals moniker is a nod to Nala and Simba's carefree existence (at least before the wildebeest stampede). Regardless of whether or not you share my theory, this song certainly shows off the fact that lyrics are not necessary to captivate an audience.

 

Kim Ann Foxman: 'Return It (Populette Mix)'

Though Tadeu posted a Kim Ann Foxman track a few weeks ago, I am far too obsessed with this song to not include it in this week's column. The NYC-based producer and DJ's original version demonstrates her expertise over house music (check it out the fantastic video on OXD), and Brookyln-based Populette's haunting remix takes that sound even deeper into the nightclub. The duo, comprised of Max Pask and Andrew 'Wiz' Potter, have stripped down the original in their signature fashion, adding in an almost spooky sound, creating a song that showcases Foxman's suprisingly strong vocal presence as she tells a tale of unrequited love.

 

AlunaGeorge: 'Your Drums, Your Love (Duke Dumont Remix)'

AlunaGeorge is a London-based musical project, comprised of singer Aluna Francis and producer George Reid, that "isn't afraid to do something a bit weird" (by which they're referring to work by The Neptunes and Timbaland). The pair may be heavily influenced by 90's R&B, but leave it to breakout sensation Duke Dumont to turn the original song into an insatiable house anthem. Hot off the heels of 'Giver' (the go-to floor-filling jam by the likes of Aeroplane and The Magician), the UK producer has created yet another house gem that is certain to create quite the sweat-induced sheen on the dancefloor.

MORE TRACKS AFTER THE JUMP...

 

 

Madonna: 'Like A Virgin (Mighty Mouse Re-work)'

The London based producer known as Mighty Mouse, who describes his sound as "intergalactic muppet disco," first came to my attention with his addictive Balearic disco remix of Beyoncé's 'Smash Into You' - which was in very heavy rotation in my Fire Island house in the summer of 2009. Since then, the prolific artist has made quite the impact with his remixes for the likes of Robbie Williams, Gil Scott, and his famous 'Disco Circus' or 'Disco Battle Weapons' mixtapes. With this remix Mighty Mouse revitalizes a gay favorite in a much better fashion than Madonna's most recent attempts and turns it into a cosmic disco tune that will pleasantly surprise everyone on the dancefloor.

 

Justin Bieber - As Long As You Love Me (Louis La Roche Remix)

To be honest I hardly give Justin Bieber any thought, but when Norwich, UK-based producer Bret Ewels, better known as Louis La Roche, decides to remix the teenage sensation then I certainly will sit up and notice. As expected, the remix sounds nothing like cringe-inducing, dubstep-influenced original (sorry Justin, Britney did it better). Instead La Roche has playfully altered Bieber's pitch from very low to incredibly high - almost like a baby - which perfectly complements the escalating pianos and synths of this house tune.

 

Robin Thicke: 'Lost Without You (Dublin Aunts Daytime Sex Mix)'

Robin Thicke has made a career out of creating sensual, "baby-making" R&B songs that showcase his falsetto and celebrate his love for the opposite sex. Somehow Dublin Aunts, the Australian duo comprised of DJ Adam Payhag and songwriter/producer Xavier Mills, has turned the original into an even more lust-inducing jam with their flirtatious daytime disco wash. The team boasts that they "make music to dance and have sex to" and after hearing that description, well, it's hard not to think of either as you bop along to the pulsing bongo rhythm and melodic guitar riffs.

 

Ru-Mix: 'Makes Me Wanna Give It'

While four out of the six songs above are available as a free download, as an added bonus i've also included a link to my latest mixtape, 'Makes Me Wanna Give it' which showcases many of the house music tracks we have included in past columns. Stream it above, or head to Occupy The Disco to see the tracklist and download it.  

OCCUPY THE DISCO (OXD) curates and recommends music events to the gay community in NYC—in an effort to move the focus of the nightlife scene beyond the promoter and venue and to the music itself. OXD's goal is to educate, entertain, engage and empower the gay audience to reclaim their ability to question and experience the unknown. The OXD Mirror will serve to showcase tunes that are definitely off-the-beaten-path but rightfully deserve the attention of the gay ear. It's music that will make you dance, dream, and most importantly, love.

This week's post was written and curated by Ru Bhatt. Check out more of his music picks on his podcast, The Ru-Mix.

For more information on OXD, check out our website and accompanying blog at www.occupythedisco.com, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter: @OccupyTheDisco.

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Hurricane Relief Fundraiser for NYC's Ali Forney Center

As we reported shortly after Hurricane Sandy, NYC's Ali Forney Center, the shelter and drop-in center for homeless LGBTQ youth, was devastated by the storm.

Only a few days ago, the Ali Forney Center suffered a devastating setback: Hurricane Sandy caused irreparable damage to their  Drop-in Center in Chelsea, flooding the venue with 4 feet of water. This facility previously served up to 1,000 homeless LGBTQ youth a year, providing comprehensive health care services, thousands of meals, counseling services, showers, and more.

This facility is now uninhabitable – an unthinkable loss for the AFC and for our community.

AFC Board Member Bill Shea and his Husband Frank Selvaggi have announced they are matching up to $50,000 of all revenue raised for the center at a fundraiser this Sunday at Industry Bar in Hell's Kitchen from 4-7 pm. Tickets are a $20 donation at the door. More details on the fundraiser HERE.

You can also make online donations at this page. Please help if you can.

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1245

RIHANNA: "Diamonds".

DAVE SALMONI: The animal expert visits Jimmy Kimmel. Parts two and three here and here.

WALMART WORKERS: Got fired for this video.

PAT ROBERTSON:On 50 Shades of Grey and "boring mommy porn".

News: Don Lemon, The Moon, Gabby Giffords, Andy Warhol

Apple gives $2.5 million to Hurricane Sandy relief fund.

When can gay couples get married in Maine, Maryland, and Washington?

Don Lemon and Jonah Hill have brief encounter, Twitter dust-up.

Romney 'shellshocked' by loss: "Romney was stoic as he talked to the president, an aide said, but his wife Ann cried. Running mate Paul Ryan seemed genuinely shocked, the adviser said. Ryan's wife Janna also was shaken and cried softly."

Usher infuriates voters after he is ushered to the front of the voting line.

SF Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone releases statement against same-sex marriage victories.

Gay domestic violence homicide in Bed-Stuy: "AVP has learned that Devineil Brown, 25, confessed to killing his ex-boyfriend, Shaun Woolford, 31, on Wednesday, November 7 in the apartment the apartment they shared in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.  The Daily News reports that Brown originally claimed that he had arrived home and found Woolford dead, but eventually confessed to his killing to detectives at the 81st precinct in Brooklyn."

There's a new Les Miserable trailer out!

How global warming made Hurricane Sandy worse...

NASA said to plan manned outpost on the Moon.

Mark Kelly says Gabby Giffords "locked eyes" with Jared Loughner during sentencing: “Inside the courtroom, it was pretty comfortable until the moment that he walked in and then it was pretty intense to be sitting just probably about 30 feet from where Jared Loughner was,” Kelly said Friday on NBC’s “The Today Show.” “Gabby was sitting up in her chair and sitting up straight, spent a lot of time looking at him. It was the first time she really had ever seen him.”

Adam Lambert to host VH1 Divas: “I’m so thrilled to be hosting VH1 Divas this year,” Adam said in a statement. “I have a feeling it’s going to be the most fabulous concert of the year! And LIVE!! Get ready for some amazing performances, killer fashion and fierce divas!”

FOX News' Mike Gallagher: "We're going to beat up on Obama for the next four years."

Karl Rove got a 1% return on his investment of $300 million in the election.

Tom Daley's signature move is the "ghetto slut drop".

The Andy Warhol NARS make-up collection arrives: "Tribute is paid with the Debby Harry Eye & Cheek Palette—a set of daring and demure black, white, and purple shades; the Beautiful Darling Gift Set, named after the drag queen actress Candy Darling and featuring white-shimmer and mint-green eye shadows along with hot-pink lip gloss and nail polish; and the Edie Gift Set, an homage to 60s "It girl" Edie Sedgwick, complete with nude-pink lipstick, sheer peach blush and eye shadow, and the perfect inky-black eyeliner, of course."

VIDEO: A teacup pig and a great dane are BFFs.

Alex Ross on the gay rights transformation of America: "Today, gay people of a certain age may feel as though they had stepped out of a lavender time machine. That’s the sensation that hit me when I watched the young man in Tempe shout down a homophobe in the name of the President-elect. Gay marriage is legal in six states and in Washington, D.C. Gays can serve in the military without hiding their sexuality. We’ve seen openly gay judges, congresspeople, mayors (including a four-term mayor of Tempe), movie stars, and talk-show hosts. Gay film and TV characters are almost annoyingly ubiquitous. The Supreme Court, which finally annulled sodomy laws in 2003, is set to begin examining the marriage issue. And the 2012 campaign has shown that Republicans no longer see the gays as a reliable wedge issue: although Mitt Romney opposes same-sex marriage, he has barely mentioned it this fall. If thirty-two people were to die today in a mass murder at a gay bar, both Obama and Romney would presumably express sympathy for the victims—more than any official in New Orleans did when, back in 1973, an arsonist set fire to the Upstairs Lounge."

Maine Christian Group Threatens to Repeal Marriage Equality

Oh, just give up already.

We are in conversations with the Alliance Defending Freedom, Family Research Council and Citizen Link to provide resources for churches, pastors and Christians who will need legal protections for our religious liberties. We want to discern the possible impact of redefining marriage as well as the remedies. Our priority is to help ensure your opportunity to live out your faith and ministry without interference.

We are exploring the possibility of returning to the ballot again to overturn this egregious new definition of marriage. That may mean another campaign, including a signature drive to get it back on another ballot.

(via good as you)