Donald Trump Is America’s President-Elect Now

In the tightest, most stressful and divisive of races, America elected reality-TV star-turned-populist politician Donald Trump as its 45th president tonight. Secretary Hillary Clinton called the man a few minutes ago and conceded the race.

For real.

Time to get to work, people. Mike Pence is our new VP.

While I congratulate the Republicans on their win, and the Trumps and the Pences, I hereby pledge to stand up to any – any – shenanigans, you hear, President-Elect Trump. I will fight for liberty and equality for all. I will not take any notion of abuse lightly, and I will work against it and I will let you know it.

You have big shoes to fill, Donald Trump. Bigly.

Don’t ruin us.

Photo: CNN.com.

Update 1: What did you think of the first speech delivered by President-Elect Trump, an acceptance of the presidency of the United States given late on Nov. 8? I thought it was conciliatory, and I am happy to move away from division as encouraged. I trust he, too, is serious about that piece of business.

Update 2: And now, for the concession speech from Hillary Clinton, delivered before noon on Nov. 9....

With her remarks, the trailblazing Clinton asked that we keep an open mind to President-Elect Trump, and that we fight for what we believe is right and for that which we hold dear.

Are you ready? Are you going to fight for what you believe in?

Good. Because I am.

Update 3: To the Clinton supporters I say quit licking your wounds and wallowing in guilt (that you did not do more) and shock. Completely unnecessary.

What we must do is acknowledge the writing was on the wall all along – it was there in red (it was unmissable). Half this country supported Donald Trump for a reason. I personally failed that side, which I saw and recognized and on whose behalf I barely spoke up. Guilty as charged: I got caught up in the rhetoric, in a desire to make herstory and reassure myself and others that we go high when others go low. I was swept up in my own disdain. And I placed way to much trust in the status quo, which now will go unchallenged in the manner I planned to (time to revise that course of action).

President-Elect Trump ran with scissors – but he did ask us for guidance on Nov. 9. I plan on giving it to him, on reaching out to his supporters. On being the change I want to see in the world. Because I have gotten over his win. You should as well. Fast.

Perhaps, he means it. Maybe, he does want to make us great again.

I know...that is so kinda so Pollyanna. But, to be fair, our priorities, my priorities have been whack as of late. We can and should be doing better – all of us.

We have not. Racism and sexism and xenophobia are real. Black people, black men are incarcerated en masse and shot down with impunity. Women make less money and their health is under siege. Immigrants like myself are vilified. Guns will go unchecked. We know it now. Also real are economic struggle and the feeling that the walls are closing in on ya.

Barack Obama ran on hope, and for many, hope delivered. For countless others yet, it did not.

Hillary Clinton posited that we are stronger together. For sure, we are.

So let us all come together now. Less iLife, more weLife.

That is how we will keep America great.

M’s with Her!

Madonna is with her!

Because Rebel Hearts stick together, the Queen of Pop put on a surprise mini-concert at Washington Square Park in New York City last night, the eve of Election Day 2016, in support of Hillary Clinton, the badass woman who just might become the first female president of the United States later today.

The somewhat-intimate set included acoustic performances of “Express Yourself,” John Lennon’s “Imagine,” and a mash-up of Peter, Paul and Mary’s “If I Had a Hammer,” and M’s own “Rebel Heart.” It was a simple affair, from what I can tell, and a true celebration – an artist using her voice and a guitar to speak her mind and endorse the candidate in whom she most wholeheartedly believes.

Get it, girls!

Photo: Billboard.com.

Stronger with J. Lo

She’s with –H.

Save the date, Miami: Jennifer Lopez is going to perform in town for you on behalf of Hillary Clinton on Oct. 29.

The multi-hyphenate is part of a fun-sounding Love Trumps Hate campaign concert series, which also includes Katy Perry and Jon Bon Jovi, among others.

Bon Jovi will put on a show for the next president of the United States in Pittsburgh on Oct. 27 and in Tampa on Nov. 5, while Perry also will take to the stage on Nov. 5, but in Philadelphia.

The National will perform on Nov. 2, in Cincinnati.

Now...about that J. Lo show in the Magic City...so #jelly!

Photo: iHeart.com.

Herstory Made!

Give it up for Hillary Clinton, who tonight became the first woman ever nominated to run for the presidency of the United States on a major party ticket.

The well-seasoned Democrat – a lawyer by trade, she is a former secretary of state, New York senator, and first lady – is expected to run against that peach Donald Trump (I know...that whole thing still seems rather implausible), who is single-handedly destroying the GOP one move at a time going for it on the backs of the Republicans.

But back to La Clinton.

What a wonderful time to be alive in America, no? Change is finally in the air.

We’ve had two realigning, mostly productive terms featuring Barack Obama – the first black man elected to the office – at the nexus of power, and now a woman with more than sufficient bona fides is set to shatter the ultimate glass ceiling.

History and herstory in the making, and right before our eyes.

As Clinton captioned the photo at right she tweeted earlier today, “To every little girl who dreams big: Yes, you can be anything you want – even president. Tonight is for you.”

Now this...this is what makes America truly great.

White old men, your dominion is over. Time to share.

Time to get to work.

That means you, too, Sen. Bernie Sanders. You gotta get, help unite the party now. The revolution you have started needs you to do the next best thing to becoming nominee for POTUS. It needs you to lead Clinton to victory. Effect change from within; perhaps, even, from right next to our first female president.

Photo: Twitter.com/HillaryClinton.

Update 1: You know who is also with her?

Barack Obama.

The current POTUS officially endorsed Clinton on June 9, shortly after meeting with Sen. Sanders at the White House to talk about the future of the Democratic party in this seemingly never-ending election cycle. Check out what Obama had to say:



Donald Trump, of course, was quick to offer a childish and ludicrous tweet-response that I cannot be bothered to share with ya because he is Donald Trump and he is a clown.

Update 2: Vice President Joe Biden is on board, too.

Update 3: Know who else is on Camp Clinton? Sen. Elizabeth Warren, one of the most sensical, exciting, and effective anti-Trump leaders out there.

Time to get in formation, Bernie!

Obama’s Gay Support...on the Cover of a Magazine

Good for Barack Obama. And good for him.

The most consequential president we’ve had in quite a while, and a more-than-fair supporter of the LGBT community, has become the first commander in chief to grace the cover of a national gay magazine when he posed for Out, which is highlighting him as the Ally of the Year as part of the Out 100.

Beautiful!

Photo: TheDailyBeast.com.

No President Biden for America

Vice President Joe Biden has just announced that he is not running for the presidency of the United States in 2016.

Noting that he looks forward to continue working with President Barack Obama during the rest of their terms and in the future, Biden said, “Though I will not be a candidate, I will not be silent.”

Photo: Minnesota.CBSLocal.com.

America (Ferrera) Trumps Trump

It was only a matter of time until someone expressed a thoughtful, beyond-personal opinion on Donald Trump’s self-made brouhaha.

And that person was America Ferrera.

The Emmy-winning actress wrote an open letter that The Huffington Post published yesterday, in which she thanked Trump for his racist remarks about Mexicans and Latinos in general, for “Remarks like yours will serve brilliantly to energize Latino voters and increase turnout on election day against you and any other candidate who runs on a platform of hateful rhetoric.

“You, Mr. Trump, are living in an outdated fantasy of a bigoted America.

“You may not reduce [Latinos] to drug dealers and rapists. We are moms and dads, sons and daughters. We are valedictorians and honor students. We are college graduates, bankers, police officers, entertainers, teachers, journalists, politicians and we are the future of America.”

Snap! And well put.

Click here to read Ferrera’s letter in its entirety. It’s a must.

Photo: Zimbio.com.

Trump Fired

NBC has done its patriotic duty – just in time for the Fourth of July.

The Peacock has handed Donald Trump his walking papers.

As you probably know, Trump is running for president this election cycle. Seriously. And seriously. And as you also probably know, the Donald has been on a xenophobic rampage lately, saying really dumb things about Mexicans and opposing trade agreements and picking a fight with Univision, which dropped his beauty pageants in the wake of his comments.

Now NBC is cutting ties with the guy, so that means the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants will have to be, I dunno, streamed on Trump’s campaign website or som’in’. This also means his Apprentice franchise is off the Peacock’s schedule.

In characteristical style, though, Trump is vowing to sue NBC for its action.

What else would you expect, right.

Photo: Zimbio.com.

Update: Macy’s announced on July 1 that it, too, is cutting ties with Trump. Literally. The retailer will not carry his line of neckties – or shirts or cuff links – any longer.

Gay Marriage Wins!

Woo-woos for everybody!

The Supreme Court of the United States legalized gay marriage across the nation on June 26, 2015, a day that will go down in history as yet another major win day for the LGBT community, if not humanity. America, for sure – the leader of the free world has got a lot of catching up to do these days.

But back to the news du jour: It was, indeed, very happy news to wake up to this morning.

The Obergefell v. Hodges case that helped settle the matter came down to a 5-4 vote, though. Not terribly surprising. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion, stating, among other things, that, “No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family.

“In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law.

“The Constitution grants them that right.”

Heck yeah it does!

And America will be all that much better because of this day, because equality for all is a beautiful thing. President Barack Obama agrees with me. :)

Photo: TheGuardian.com.

Update: Click here to read reactions from Hillary Clinton and from Hollywood, including Ellen DeGeneres, Neil Patrick Harris, George Takei, Gabrielle Union, Olivia Wilde, Sean Hayes, Shonda Rhimes, Zach Braff, and Ian McKellen, among others.

Presidential Rubio

So like, just – and just – to be fair and s---, Marco Rubio, the Republican junior U.S. senator from Florida, announced earlier today that he, too, is running for president next year.

Whatever (to him, not my dear Magic City).

#Hillary2016!

Photo: Politico.com.

Hillary’s Running!

Do not worry. She is coming soon.

It’s the Hillary Clinton communication we’d all been waiting for: She is running for president of the United States of America in 2016.

This will be Clinton’s second bid for the job.

A former first lady, Clinton’s political acumen includes a New York senatorship and a stint as secretary of state.

Right fackin’ on!

Photo: Politico.com.

Update: Here. Watch her viral announcement, y’all.

A Representative No Mo’

Well. At least he’ll always have his six-pack.

Nah, eventually his abs will quit him.

Aaron Schock, the hottie Republican congressman from Illinois, has resigned as a member of the House of Representatives effective March 31 in the haze of an ethics scandal that just won’t quit him.

Betcha he’s hating that Downton Abbey-inspired office décor now.

Photo: TheBacklot.com.

Somebody Just Earned Himself a Pastelito...

Now this is how you spice things up a bit if you’re the POTUS.

Barack Obama reportedly got back on the phone with Cuban President Raúl Castro yesterday, marking the first time an American president and a Cuban leader have spoken, in a direct manner, in more than half a century.

Did they talk about how Birdman is soaring from coast to coast, landing on the short list of best films of 2014 from Florida to San Francisco?

Of course not.

They talked about restoring full diplomatic relations between America and Cuba and about opening an American embassy in Havana following today’s release of USAID worker Alan Gross from a Cuban prison, as well as that of three Cuban spies (who, btw, were not swapped for Gross – he was released on humanitarian grounds – but for an intelligence agent who had been imprisoned in Cuba for almost 20 years).

While the American embargo on the island nation 90 miles south of Florida will stay in effect for now, the United States will ease up on matters related to banking and travel, for instance. The United States, however, will remain firm on issues of human rights in Cuba

And yes he could and yes he is on the touchy subject of U.S.-Cuba relations.

Who’s a bad president ahora?

Photo: NYTimes.com.

It’s POTUS on the Shutdown, American Troops

And now, a message from U.S. President Barack Obama to his troops and personnel at the Department of Defense regarding the Republican-ensured shutdown of the American government:



#fail, GOP. And #forshame.

Have You Met Sunny?

Move aside, Bo – and hail to the First...Bitch?

I keed, I keed.

Meet Sunny, though: the latest addition to the Obama household, and thus...to Americans’ hearts.

Indeed, President Barack Obama, his wife and daughters, and Bo, of course, introduced their new family member via a special YouTube video yesterday.

Like Bo (pictured at right, at left), Sunny is a Portuguese Water Dog, and from the looks of it, quite the spirited little pup. She has a “cheerful personality,” the first family said. Ergo her name.

Cute!

Hey, Bo – now you have a buddy to try and make “fetch” happen.

Photo: UsMagazine.com.

Hardaway for Gay Florida

Right on, Tim Hardaway. Right on.

In a show of tremendous solidarity and growth, the former Miami Heat star has become the first petition-signer on the Equal Marriage Florida effort to put a proposed constitutional amendment on the November 2014 ballot that will seek to legalize same-sex marriage in the Sunshine State.

The move confirms, ink to paper, how far he’s come on the gay issue.

In 2007, Hardaway infamously said he hated gay people and declared himself an unabashed homophobe after former NBA player John Amaechi came out the closet.

Photo: BleacherReport.com.

R.I.P. DOMA!

The Supreme Court of the United States made history for the LGBT community of America by beginning to rewrite its future: DOMA is dead.

Yes! Equality will prevail!

In a 5-4 decision, SCOTUS struck down the 1996 Defense of Marriage act, which prevented the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriage, by ruling that DOMA is an unconstitutional deprivation of equal liberty, a violation of the Fifth Amendment.

Same-sex couples will now have such federal benefits as tax breaks and insurance for government employees.

Alright...right on! Now, what does this mean for binational same-sex couples and their immigration rights? Gotta know now.

Photo: NPR.org.

Update 1: Got questions about what this means for immigration, like I did? Then check out this comprehensive list of answers from Immigration Equality.

Update 2: Prop 8 has no standing! Right on for California!

Update 3: Click here for Hollywood’s reaction to the awesome news, including that of Kristen Bell, Damon Lindelof, and Sandra Bernhard.

And here for Madonna’s gleeful reaction to the ruling.

Update 4: Check out what Edie Windsor, the woman who filed the original case that led to his watershed moment, had to say about today’s decision.

“We won everything we asked and hoped for,” she said.

Nothing more and, thank goodness, nothing less. Equal.

Thank you, Edie!

Update 5: Barack Obama and the Clintons also have expressed their joy over the SCOTUS ruling in favor of equality.

In the case of Bill Clinton it holds a little extra significance, for he infamously signed DOMA into law back in ’96.

Update 6: So has Macklemore.