Today I’m speaking with four-time Grammy Award-winner Olivia Newton-John and her daughter, singer/songwriter Chloe Lattanzi who recently released their new duet, “Window in the Wall.”

Produced by six-time Grammy Award-winner Dave Cobb, “Window in the Wall” is not the first time this mother/daughter team has hit the recording studio. Their debut single, “You Have to Believe,” a remake of Newton-John’s #1 single “Magic” from Xanadu, with additional lyrics by Lattanzi, was released in 2015 and reached #1 on the Billboard Dance Club Play Chart.

“I’ve always recording duets and singing harmonies," says Olivia. "I had no plans to record at the time, but I knew from the second i heard the song I wanted to record it with Chloe."

Amid today’s current turbulence and chaos, Olivia and Chloe say they really felt connected with the song and its message of hope, love and understanding.

Join me as I chat with Olivia Newton-John and Chloe Lattanzi.

Link to "Window in the Wall" - https://lnk.to/WindowInTheWall

Link to Olivia's memoir "Don't Stop Believin" - https://amzn.to/37hYFho

Link to my interview with Olivia about her memoir: https://soundcloud.com/randyslovacek/interview-olivia-newton-john

In this week's LGBTQ headlines:

• Country music star TJ Osborne comes out as gay

• Pete Buttigieg becomes first openly gay White House Cabinet member approved by the Senate

• President Biden issues memorandum promoting/protecting LGBTQ rights abroad

• Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi says passing The Equality Act is a "priority"

• A white Florida man shoots and kills his Black lover but only gets one year in prison

• Out singer/songwriter John Duff drops his latest pop bop, "Do It"

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

In this week's headlines:

• Joe Biden becomes president and goes to work for LGBTQ Americans on Day One including reversing the transgender military ban, expanding workplace protections and more

• Pete Buttigieg introduced his husband Chasten at his Senate confirmation hearing for Transportation Secretary

• Dr. Rachel Levine could become the highest ranking transgender official in the U.S. government

• The FDA approved a new once-a-month injectable HIV medication

• The new queer mini-series 'It's A Sin' premieres to rave reviews

• Out singer/songwriter Kisos releases his gorgeous new music video 'He Didn't Want Me'

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

As mentioned in the episode, you can email me at randyslovacek (at) gmail.com

In this week's headlines:

• What can queer people expect from Joe Biden's first 100 days in office?

• Donald Trump takes a final swipe at LGBTQ Americans

• North Carolina begins enacting LGBTQ protections (again)

• Russell T. Davis, creator of the new UK TV drama "It's A Sin" shares his thoughts on casting gay actors in gay roles

• A lesbian former pro golfer speaks up about #3 ranked Justin Thomas's 'faggot' remark during this weekend's tournament of champions

• Plus, two new commercials hit the gay sweet spot:

'Doritos - The Best Gift' https://youtu.be/OouiZHEC9do

'It's the Creme Egg Golden Goobilee!' https://youtu.be/MfykcmIAwx4

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

There was a lot in 2020 that was just heinous and I’m happy to leave it behind. But I did want to take a pause to look at some of the good news and big moments of 2020 for LGBTQ folks.

In this episode, I’m going to revisit some of the best songs, movies, TV and top LGBTQ news stories of the year (at least in my opinion).

I know folks like to make Top 10 lists, but one of the hallmarks of The Randy Report is brevity - Plus, if I’m putting my name on a “Best of…” list I want to feel strongly about them.

So I’m going to try to stick to Top 5’s in this show.

I won't give it all away but I definitely cover:

• the 2020 election cycle and how it impacted LGBTQ folks

• the forward progress of LGBTQ rights around the world

• standing up for transgender people

• films like 'Uncle Frank' and 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

• and music from terrific indie artists like Milahroy, VINCINT, mxmtoon, Robby Hart, and Jakk Fynn

Musician and now-author Branden James first captivated millions as a finalist on Season 8 of 'America's Got Talent' in 2013 where he received high praise from the judges for his emotional, operatic vocals.

During his time in the national spotlight, he hit more than one perfect note as he shared details of his coming out story and his broken ties with his religious family with the TV audience.

In his recently released memoir, LYRICS OF MY LIFE: MY JOURNEY WITH FAMILY, HIV, AND REALITY TV, Branden highlights the conflicts of growing up gay in a world that looked upon his true self and beliefs as an impractical, sinful way of life.

Through it all, he was surprised by one startling realization: how vital it is to be completely authentic in order to help others, as well as continue to heal himself.

LYRICS OF MY LIFE is authentically Branden sparing no details about his lack of stability as a young adult, estrangement from his close-knit family, and, despite it all, his unbreakable will to overcome adversity.

Searching for his own personal freedom, Branden finds reconciliation with his family, rediscovers his faith, and realizes that affliction and hardship are not what define us as human beings

Since his time on America’s Got Talent, Branden has performed for Pope Benedict and The Mandela Family in South Africa. He has also performed at The Metropolitan Opera, Los Angeles Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago.

He currently tours internationally with his husband, Australian cellist, James Clark in a cello and vocal duo called Branden & James.

Join me as I chat with the terrifically talented Branden James.

LYRICS OF MY LIFE: MY JOURNEY WITH FAMILY, HIV, AND REALITY TV is available at all major booksellers including Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Koz1Q8

In this week's headlines:

• More LGBTQ candidates won elections this year than ever before

• US Supreme Court decision upholds high school transgender students' rights

• Switzerland is poised to legalize same-sex marriage

• Adoptions by same-sex couples in the UK has increased for the 3rd year in a row

• Isolated Asian country of Bhutan legalizes same-sex relations

• Emmy/Grammy winner Billy Porter has been announced to help usher in the New Year

• A coming out Christmas song by country artist Aaron LaCombe goes viral 'Uncle Carl (Came Out On Christmas)'

Link to the music video: https://youtu.be/zVIyJ_Psa3E

Link to Aaron's official website: http://www.aaronlacombe.com/ARL_2019/Home.html

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

World AIDS Day is held on the 1st day of December each year, and it is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate people who have died.

World AIDS Day was the first-ever global health day, held for the first time in 1988.

Being diagnosed with HIV today means something very different than it did 20 or 30 years ago. HIV is no longer a death sentence. However, people’s attitudes can make living with HIV really difficult.

Some things from the 1980s and 1990s are worth revisiting, but HIV stigma isn’t one of them. It’s time to end HIV stigma.

During this episode of The Randy Report, I take a look into the history of the day, how the world looks at the ongoing epidemic, and where we are today in terms of treatment.

Take a listen, and feel free to share this show. Together we can make a difference.

What can you do? What is on the horizon in terms of HIV treatment?

Check out these links to find out:

www.worldAIDSDay.org

www.HelpStopTheVirus.com

In this week’s headlines:

• The Biden transition team has named LGBTQ White House veterans to prominent roles in the incoming administration

• The murderer of a transgender teen has been sentenced to life in prison

• High school teachers in New Jersey were caught dissing a queer colleague during a Zoom class

• Award-winning singer/songwriter Justin Utley released his first holiday single, “All is Bright" - https://justinutley.bandcamp.com/track/all-is-bright

• First Lady Melania Trump planned to light the White House in rainbow colors during Pride Month but the idea was shut down

• A new poll shows LGBTQ voters did NOT turn out in record numbers for Donald Trump after all

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

Today I’m speaking with award-winning author and artist Mike Curato, who recently released his debut YA graphic novel, FLAMER, a coming-of-age story that confronts ideas of homophobia, bullying, body image and coming to terms with identity in every sense of the word.

Curato's YA graphic novel follows 14-year-old Aiden Navarro who navigates friendships, deals with bullies, and spends time with Elias (a boy he can't stop thinking about), as he finds himself on a path of self-discovery and acceptance.

Unfolding over the course of the last week of Boy Scout camp in 1995, Aiden's story is heavily inspired by Mike's own experience as a Boy Scout (and eventual Eagle Scout) and his coming out as a teenager.

The Hollywood Reporter called FLAMER “the kind of book that might change its reader’s lives.”

FLAMER is available on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/36UME0B

And at Bookshop.org here: https://bookshop.org/books/flamer/9781627796415