Cell Block Tango - Broadway Backwards 2015

Who Sang It Better? “Do They Know It’s Christmas” Gets A Star-Studded Remake

Thirty years ago, Band Aid, a charity-minded supergroup comprised of the creme de la creme of British pop (Boy George, Sting, Bono, George Michael, Simon Le Bon, to name just a few) met in a London studio to collaborate on a single to raise funds for the decimating famine in Ethiopia. “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, which was the brainchild of musicians Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, became the best-selling British single of all time, a record it held for 13 years, and raised over a million dollars for famine relief. The venerable single was re-recorded in 1989 and 2004, again as a fund-raiser for famine. Cut to 2014 and much of the world is petrified of the Ebola virus so the now Sir Bob Geldof and Midge Ure called up the latest batch of hot new British chart-toppers (members of One Direction, Chris Martin, Rita Ora…Adele was a surprising no-show) and the ever-present Bono to record an update on the classic anthem and combat the deadly virus in Africa. While it’s unfair to compare the two since everyone involved donated their time for a good cause, we can’t help but feel this new breed of singers is lacking in both energy and charisma compared to the magic achieved the first time out.

So watch and listen to both versions below, but, more importantly, be sure to donate here.

Here’s the 2014 version.

Here’s the original from 1984.

Naked Warwick Men's Rowing Team Calendar Makes A Splash To Fight Homophobia

Ready for some tasteful nudity to support a good cause?

The 2015 naked calendar of the University of Warwick men's rowing team is out to combat gay discrimination.

The U.K. squad has been producing a nude datebook fundraiser since 2009. When it discovered that much of its audience was gay, the team figured it should direct its charity toward the LGBT community, according to a video released to promote the new calendar.

So the team has helped established a charity called Sport Allies, "a programme to reach out to young people challenged by bullying, homophobia or low self-esteem," per the Warwick Rowers website.

Previous calendars have raised more than $300,000 and are now sold in 77 countries, the video explains.

The team is reportedly up for a PinkNews Award, which is given out by the European LGBT news service of the same name.

Row, row, row your boats, gentlemen, and keep up the good work.

Those interested in purchasing the calendar or other merchandise can click here. The team pledges to donate at least 10 percent of every purchase to Sport Allies.

Right-Wing ‘Christians’ Would Rather Abandon 2,000 Children Than Support Gay Rights

Not even two days ago, a Christian charity organization called World Vision announced that they would hire gay and lesbian Christian employees, with the caveat that it was, “not an endorsement of same-sex marriage.” Predictably, as with any attempt to recognize gays and lesbians as people, the Religious Right exploded in self-righteous rage.

Conservatives Christians hammered World Vision, claiming that it was, “enabling homosexuality,” and a mass defection began. Never mind that World Vision was helping children. Because if there’s anything we know Conservative Christians care about more than helping living children, it’s… well, it’s everything else, like Benghazi.

Shortly after this announcement, the Assemblies of God urged their members to stop donating to World Vision. John Piper, a McChurch Pastor, called the decision, “tragic.” Franklin Graham, who’s doing everything he can to drag the Graham name through the mud, said he was, “sickened by it.” Some of the sharpest criticism came from compulsive liar Tony Perkins, head of the poorly-named Family Research Council. Writing on their website, Perkins said: 

We cannot and will not support an organization that exalts the approval of the world over the authority of the Word. In the end when Christians desire the praise of man over the glory of God: they earn neither. The church should continue to support Christian aid and humanitarianism, but only through organizations that remain true to the word of God.

The result of this? About 2,000 children lost their sponsorship and the organization took a $840,000 hit because Evangelicals, being the pro-life crowd they are, were happier to see children die than they were to support an organization that gave gays and lesbians jobs. Rachel Held Evans, a progressive evangelical blogger, said:

No official numbers have been released yet, but my contacts at World Vision report that thousands of children lost their sponsorships yesterday as evangelicals withdrew funds in protest to World Vision’s policy of employing people in same-sex marriages. 

…Deliberately cutting off funding to your sponsored child affects that child and her community. If you didn’t think that money was actually making a difference, then why were you sponsoring to begin with?

This sudden desertion from the right resulted in World Vision issuing the following statement, via Religious News Service:

We’ve listened. We believe we made a mistake. We’re asking them to forgive and understand our poor judgement in the original decision.

Meaning they caved to the pressure.

That’s pro-life in action, folks. In the words of Fred Clark, another progressive evangelical blogger at Patheos who has been watching this unfold, “score one for the bullies.”

Prince Harry Reaches South Pole After 200-Mile Trek for Charity

After three weeks of pulling 150-pound sleds, UK's Prince Harry reached the South Pole with his trekking team as part of a charity expedition.

Harry was involved with the three-week-long Walking With the Wounded South Pole Allied Challenge, a charity event during which teams of wounded servicemen were supposed to race against each other. The challenge aimed to show support for wounded soldiers and raise awareness of their strength, but the competitive element was cancelled due to harsh conditions, which organizers thought would place unnecessary strain on the participants.

Harry joined four injured British servicemen on one team; another included four wounded U.S. soldiers; the third and final team was comprised of Australians and Canadians. They arrived at the South Pole at 12:00 GMT on Friday and planted flags to celebrate their achievement, as the video above shows.

"Our aim was to show that, despite injury, young men and women from our armed forces can still achieve great things," said Ed Parker, the expedition's director, according to the BBC. "

We came down here, determined to get 12 men and women, all injured in conflict, to the South Pole, and this is what we have done.

The feeling is incredible."

The challenge was organized to show the public that soldiers wounded in combat are still capable of great achievements. Some of the participants have lost limbs fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq; Walking With the Wounded raises funds for injured veterans and helps them return to normalcy after war and find new careers.

The teams' arrival at the South Pole marked the end of their 200-miles trek across Antarctica in minus 31 degrees Fahrenheit, made even colder by high winds. 

Prince Harry, who also joined Walking With The Wounded's charity trek in the North Pole in 2011, became the first member of the British royal family to ever reach the South Pole.

Boys Town Studios, Gay Porn Company, To Donate Profits To LGBT Charities

Boys Town Studios, an all-male porn company with a charity-based philosophy, will launch this fall as a branch of Monarchy Distribution. All of the profits made from projects by this studio will go to support the advancement of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights.

"100 percent of the profits from all these movies, including DVD sales, video-on-demand, cable and broadcast will be donated to our newly-created non-profit," said Mike Kulich, owner of Monarchy Distribution, in a statement sent to the Huffington Post. 

"Anyone will be able to write Boys Town Studios and tell their stories about how bigotry and homophobia has affected their lives, and we will step into help those victims as much as we can."

Kulich also highlighted that the profits from the studio's first film will go towards helping gay Russian refugees, in an effort to subsidize the cost of their relocation as they seek asylum in other countries in the wake of the country's extreme anti-LGBT violence and legislation.

The studio plans to release two films per month, with the first film, titled "Deep In The Dark," slated to premiere this October.

Fans of Gay 'Big Brother' Contestant Andy Herren Fundraise for Charity Against Homophobia, Racism

Chances are that you've already heard about the controversy surrounding certain Big Brother contestants and their bigoted remarks. You may have even seen the video that compiled all of the various bigoted clips into one.

Now, fans and friends of Andy Herren, an openly gay contestant on Big Brother 15, want to channel the subsequent controversy towards a good cause, and "raise awareness and promote positivity." While Herren himself is unable to contact the outside world, the #FandyNation, have set up Plan G fundraising page, and are using it to raise funds for The Trevor Project.

"While seeing this negativity in the world can cause additional negative emotions, we see it as an opportunity to raise awareness and promote positivity.Those of us at #FandyNation (fans of Andy) home base fully believe that in the face of prejudice we all have an opportunity to change the message into one that makes a positive impact. That's why we're raising money for a cause we and Andy care about, The Trevor Project."

Their goal is to raise at least $25,000 while the current season of Big Brother airs, as well as to promote #BB15Equality across various social media platforms. Anyone wishing to participate in the campaign can check out their page, or track their hashtag on Twitter.

If this doesn't make you smile you're dead

We support GiveOutDay!

It's May 9th, and today Americans across the nation are coming together for 24 hours of unprecedented giving. It's one extraordinary day to support the organizations that work on behalf of the LGBTQ community. And it's your chance to make a real impact!

From 12 am until 11:59 pm EDT today only, every donation you make to your favorite LGBTQ charity gives that organization a chance to win MORE MONEY through awards and prizes.

Whether you have a favorite LGBTQ nonprofit or not, we encourage you to explore the many missions of our participating nonprofits and make your tax-deductible gift today. Thank you for participating in our first national LGBTQ Give OUT Day! 

Links to some of my favorite groups but give to anyone!

• NEW MEXICO GLBTQ CENTERS - a great organization run by some wonderful friends
• EQUALITY NEW MEXICO FOUNDATION - Help make New Mexico number 13!
• The Trevor Project - the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth.
• Matthew Shepard Foundation- works to replace hate with understanding, compassion and acceptance through educational programs & advocacy.  

Please Help Out My Buddy!

Hey Guys! Last year my back exploded a month before achieving my goal of completing the Malibu Triathlon as a part of the Team 2 End Aids. This year I will get there! But I need your help and those living with HIV/AIDS need you even more... please take a few moments to SHARE this, and give even a small amount!!! ~ Chad

Click to donate! 

Now you may remember Chad from Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, Our House, St. Elsewhere or the Donald Strachey Mysteries.