If anyone can pull off writing a youngsters’s ebook about being your self in these Trumpian instances, it’s Randy Rainbow.
The Emmy and Grammy-nominated comic, whose musical YouTube spoofs of President Donald Trump and his cronies entertain thousands and thousands, is now telling a less complicated, sweeter story about his younger self to youngsters.
It’s known as “Randy Rainbow and the Marvelously Magical Pink Glasses,” and it covers the comic’s childhood expertise of being totally different and proudly owning it with the assistance of his grandma.
Rainbow identified that younger Randy doesn’t come out as homosexual in the ebook (although he’s open to that chance in a sequel). However the creator nonetheless factored in potential censorship amid the Trump administration’s assaults on range, fairness and inclusion.
“I know this will be at the top of every banned list ― and I take no joy from that, it’s a sad state of affairs ― but I’m so proud to be contributing something like this at this time for that reason,” Rainbow informed HuffPost not too long ago. “Self-expression, expressive freedom, is so under attack now, so I mean, I just think any opportunity we have to impart that message that it’s OK — it’s not only OK, it’s great.”
Whereas Trump typically speaks of exacting revenge on his many perceived enemies, together with entertainers, Rainbow mentioned he hasn’t been instantly focused.
“Never,” he mentioned. “I’m devastated to say I could use the publicity, but he’s never even blocked me on any platform.”
Rainbow acknowledged that he does “get plenty of trolls” on social media, however mentioned, “I don’t ― knock on wood ― get as much hate mail as you would think.”
“I think it has to do with the nature of the content … that I put out,” he continued. “Even though it is talking about polarizing issues, and I clearly am an opinionated person who shares that opinion… I try to be a spoonful of sugar, so to speak. And people who are gonna come for a parody [of] a “Mary Poppins” track, that’s not likely criticism that I care to take too significantly anyway.”
Corine Solberg by way of Getty Photos
Rainbow, nonetheless, is taking significantly the reported downturn in company promoting for Pleasure Month in June. Corporations look like shying away from the annual festivities as Trump and his allies ratchet up anti-trans messaging and even attempt to erase homosexual historical past.
“It’s terribly disappointing, but it all comes down to the almighty dollar, and it’s just disappointing to see how many Johnny-come-latelies there are out there,” Rainbow mentioned. “We need real allies, not these, you know, fair-weather bitches.”
