News: News

John Fetterman rallies at Temple University days after halting debate performance

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 18:41:38 +0000

Published by
The Philadelphia Inquirer

PHILADELPHIA — With the neck-and-neck U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania entering its final days, a determined-sounding Democratic nominee John Fetterman took aim at Republican opponent Mehmet Oz at a campaign rally on the Temple University campus Saturday, and also acknowledged his stroke-related language difficulties. “You know the debate wasn’t easy,” said Fetterman, referring to auditory processing difficulties that affected his recent showdown with Oz. “But I was always committed to showing up,” he continued. “After that stroke, I got knocked down, but I got back up. The core value of our c…

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Kamla Harris At HRC Dinner:There’s no place in America for political violence

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 18:41:18 +0000

Published by
The Pavlovic Today

Kamala Harris took the stage at HRC Dinner wearing an all-white suit and pearl necklace. She was introduced by Human Rights Campaign incoming president, Kelley Robinson. The crowd, composed of close to 2700 guests, welcomed Harris with loud cheers from across the room. The Vice President began by addressing the “vicious attack” on Nancy Pelosi’s husband. “I spoke with Speaker Pelosi yesterday morning,” revealed Harris.”She intended to be here with all of us. Many of you know of her long-standing leadership and allyship, and support of HRC. She is a dear friend, she and Paul both, and so I told…

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Seoul crush hits storied Itaewon nightlife district on verge of renewal

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 18:40:28 +0000

Published by
Reuters

By Ju-min Park, Hyonhee Shin and Soo-hyang Choi

SEOUL (Reuters) – With “Hooker Hill” and snaking alleyways of bars with signs like “BADASS” around the local landmark Hamilton Hotel, Seoul’s Itaewon district was a symbol of freewheeling nightlife in the South Korean capital for decades, before tragedy struck.

The crush of partygoers on Saturday night that killed 153 mostly young people could hamper the revival of an area that was just starting to thrive after more than two years of COVID-19 restrictions, as trendy restaurants and shops replaced seedy establishments.

Lee Sang-yoon, who runs a pub in the alley next to the Hamilton where the disaster took place, said it may prove a devastating blow for even those who adapted to change.

“This happened right at the moment when we were about to rebound after being hammered by the pandemic,” said Lee, who has operated Itaewon businesses for three decades. “We could survive the pandemic because we owned this place, but most of our neighbours who had been paying rent here had closed their businesses and left.”

A short walk from the Yongsan U.S. army garrison, Itaewon sprang up after the 1950-53 Korean War as a hangout for American soldiers, with bars, brothels and fashion shops lining both sides of the main stretch running through it.

Itaewon went through decades of rises and falls.

A mysterious killing called the “Itaewon Murder” and other crimes in the late 1990s painted a dark image of the area. But early in this century it became a gourmet spot and place to experience world cultures without a passport.

The district has been a recurrent theme in popular culture, with a recent hit drama “Itaewon Class” and K-pop song “Itaewon Freedom”.

Restrictions placed on U.S. troops after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States prompted a shift to a local clientele, a change accelerated by celebrities opening restaurants that became popular with young South Koreans.

Before 9/11, “Itaewon was full of Americans,” reminisced a 40-year resident who sells flowers on the street. Streets were just getting packed again for the first time since the pandemic, said the woman, who asked not to be named.

“Before COVID, more foreigners than locals, and now lots of local people come from rural areas,” she said. “I can’t believe this tragedy really happened. Holiday or, what’s it called, Halloween?

Early in the coronavirus pandemic, some of Itaewon’s gay bars and transgender clubs become a lighting rod for controversies, with dozens of cases traced to people who were faulted for not disclosing to health authorities that they had spent time there.

Park Geun-ho, owner of the Havana Lounge & Pub, worried the disaster may prove to be greater challenge than anything the area has seen.

“After all this, would people come to Itaewon now? They won’t,” said Park, who has run businesses in the district for nearly 30 years.

Before disaster struck, Halloween festivities had been the leading attraction for years, drawing local people and foreigners to the foothills of the Namsan mountain, just steps from luxury villas occupied by foreign diplomats and heads of chaebol business syndicates, including the late chairman of Samsung Group.

But questions have grown in recent years about the safety of hosting an event that draws up to 100,000 to the cramped and hilly streets, especially without shutting down the main street to traffic to accommodate pop-up stores and kiosks.

“This month should’ve been a good one with the Global Village Festival, Halloween and so forth, but then this accident happened,” said Kim Kyung-mo who works at a convenience store near the alley where the crush happened.

“I bumped into my boss earlier today and chatted briefly, and he obviously didn’t look really good.”

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin, Soo-hyang Choi and Ju-min Park; Writing by Jack Kim; Editing by William Mallard)

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Seoul crush hits storied Itaewon nightlife district on verge of renewal

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 18:40:09 +0000

Published by
Reuters UK

By Ju-min Park, Hyonhee Shin and Soo-hyang Choi SEOUL (Reuters) – With “Hooker Hill” and snaking alleyways of bars with signs like “BADASS” around the local landmark Hamilton Hotel, Seoul’s Itaewon district was a symbol of freewheeling nightlife in the South Korean capital for decades, before tragedy struck. The crush of partygoers on Saturday night that killed 153 mostly young people could hamper the revival of an area that was just starting to thrive after more than two years of COVID-19 restrictions, as trendy restaurants and shops replaced seedy establishments. Lee Sang-yoon, who runs a pu…

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German human rights commissioner won’t be part of Qatar trip

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 18:39:34 +0000

Published by
DPA

German Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Assistance Luise Amtsberg speaks during a debate about a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Games in Beijing. Fabian Sommer/dpa

The human rights commissioner of the German government, Luise Amtsberg, will not join Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on a trip to football World Cup hosts Qatar on Monday.

Amtsberg said in a foreign ministry statement Sunday her decision came after Qatar sharply protested against critical remarks from Faeser and handed the German ambassador a note of protest on Friday.

“The developments this weekend have made it clear to me how difficult it is in the current situation in the run-up to the football World Cup to hold the open and critical talks I planned about the human rights situation in Qatar with the Qatari government,” Amtsberg said.

“Recognizing Qatar’s growing role as a regional and global player, international pressure and our efforts to protect human rights remain central after the World Cup,” she said, adding she planned a visit to Qatar at a later date.

Qatar has been criticised over the treatment of migrant workers in the country, the criminalisation of homosexuality, and sustainability in the run-up to the November 20-December 18 World Cup.

Qatar has said it has carried out labour law reforms and that everyone is welcome to attend the tournament.

Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Than, hit out at the critics recently, speaking of an “unprecedented campaign” against a host nation, fabricated allegations and double standard.

Faeser will visit Qatar together with German Football Federation chief Bernd Neuendorf Monday and Tuesday with talks to centre on human rights.

Faeser angered Qatar when she told public broadcasters ARD that Qatar being elected World Cup hosts was “a totally difficult award” for the German government which believes that human rights and sustainability should be important awarding criteria.

“There are criteria that have to be adhered to, and then it would be better that it (the tournament) wasn’t awarded to such states,” she added.

Qatar said on Friday it was “disappointed” and “totally rejects” the minister’s remarks which were “against diplomatic norms and convention,” according to state news agency QNA.

German Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser begins an international conference on internal security and migration by commenting on the suspected arson attack on a refugee shelter in Gross Stroemkendorf near Wismar. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

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Thousands of people attend LGBTQ Pride marches in South Africa and Taiwan

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 18:38:57 +0000

Published by
Euronews (English)

Some 3,000 people participated in South Africa’s LGBTQ Pride Parade on Saturday, the country’s first after celebrations were cancelled for two consecutive years due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, officials in the US had warned of a possible terror attack in Johannesburg’s Sandton district, an upmarket suburb in the capital. Despite the warning, the festivities went ahead under a large police presence while officials in South Africa advised attendees that it would be safe to march. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa criticised the US for causing unnecessary panic without providing sig…

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Twitter owner Musk tweets conspiracy theory about violent Pelosi attack

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 18:38:29 +0000

Published by
AFP

Twitter owner Elon Musk tweeted a conspiracy theory about the night US Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul was attacked

Washington (AFP) – New Twitter owner Elon Musk tweeted an anti-LGBT conspiracy theory Sunday about what happened the night US Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband was attacked, underscoring concerns about the platform’s future after he vowed it would not become a “free-for-all hellscape.”

Musk, a self-declared “free speech absolutist,” was responding to former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who had tweeted to draw a line between Republicans who promote baseless conspiracy theories and the violent attack on Paul Pelosi in San Francisco.

“There is a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye,” Musk told Clinton, attaching a link to the story, which is no longer accessible, by the conservative Santa Monica Observer.

The weekly outlet has published other conspiracy theories in the past, including that a body double for Clinton was sent to a debate with Donald Trump during the 2016 election campaign, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Musk’s tweet swiftly became a focal point for critics who have been nervous about the direction in which he intends to take Twitter, the leading platform for global discourse and diplomacy.

Musk, whose outspoken and controversial tweets have courted trouble in the past, has vowed to dial back content moderation, relying more on computer algorithms than human monitors. Conservatives say past moderation has unfairly targeted their views.

In a message meant to reassure jittery Twitter advertisers on his leadership, Musk said earlier this week that he realizes Twitter “cannot become a free-for-all hellscape where anything can be said with no consequences.”

But detractors warn that without standards, the world’s “digital town square” is at risk of becoming flooded with misinformation, with possibly perilous consequences for democracy and public health.

“Clinton: Conspiracy theories are getting people killed and we shouldn’t amplify them. Owner of Twitter: But have you considered this conspiracy theory?” wrote University of Denver political scientist Seth Masket after Musk’s Sunday tweet.

Masket later tweeted a screenshot suggesting he had complained to Twitter about Musk’s tweet, adding: “Somehow I doubt much will come of this.”

Troll campaign tests Musk

Nancy Pelosi, who is second in line to the US presidency, has said her family is “heartbroken and traumatized” after the intruder broke into the couple’s San Francisco home early Friday and attacked Paul Pelosi with a hammer, fracturing his skull.

The 82-year-old is recovering in hospital.

President Joe Biden has said it appears the assault was “intended for Nancy,” and called out increasingly polarizing political rhetoric.

“The Republican Party and its mouthpieces now regularly spread hate and deranged conspiracy theories. It is shocking, but not surprising, that violence is the result,” Clinton said in her tweet.

Musk’s response came just hours after Twitter said that the site was being targeted by a trolling campaign testing its moderation policies under the billionaire’s leadership.

“Twitter’s policies haven’t changed… And we’re taking steps to put a stop to an organized effort to make people think we have,” tweeted the platform’s chief of safety and integrity, Yoel Roth.

Roth said that a “small number of accounts” had posted “a ton” of hate content — including 50,000 tweets using a particular slur made by just 300 accounts.

“Nearly all” of the accounts are inauthentic, he said.

Roth also retweeted a Musk post in which the Tesla chief reiterated that “we have not yet made any changes to Twitter’s content moderation policies.”

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Russian Appeals Court Upholds Brittney Griner’s Nine-Year Prison Sentence

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 18:38:12 +0000

Published by
uInterview.com

A Russian appeals court upheld Brittney Griner‘s nine-year drug smuggling sentence. President Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a statement, “the President has demonstrated that he is willing to go to extraordinary lengths and make tough decisions to bring Americans home.” The White House has made little headway, however, since Griner was arrested in February at a Moscow airport for her alleged possession of vape cartridges containing hashish oil. In August, she was sentenced to nine years in Russian prison after being convicted of possession and smuggling of cannabis oil…

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DeSantis lauds his record as Crist blasts it in Florida governor’s race

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 18:32:03 +0000

Published by
Orlando Sentinel

ORLANDO, Fla. — The campaign for governor in Florida is all about Ron DeSantis’ record. His opponent, former Democratic U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, has slammed the Republican governor and promises to roll back almost everything he’s done. DeSantis continues to tour the state touting his agenda and the controversial laws he pushed for during his four years in office. DeSantis has become a celebrated figure among conservatives for his self-described “freedom” from COVID-19 protection measures and his culture war battles. At the same time, progressives have derided him for what they consider his aut…

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Fortune Feimster on learning she’s not a butch lesbian, Netflix comedy special ‘Good Fortune’

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 16:48:29 +0000

Published by
uInterview video

Fortune Feimster on learning she’s not a butch lesbian, Netflix comedy special ‘Good Fortune’ Join the uInterview channel as a member to get access to exclusive celebrity videos – and your chance to submit questions for our celebrity guests! Check it out: https://bit.ly/3wtQc7W — SUBSCRIBE for more entertainment videos! Check out https://uinterview.com. The world’s most interesting people tell their own stories. LEAVE A COMMENT OR A REACTION so we know how you really feel! Follow us: IG: @uinterview Twitter: @uInterview Facebook: @uInterview

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Duncan James was ‘really scared’ to come out in the early days of Blue

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 16:24:08 +0000

Published by
BANG Showbiz English

Duncan James was “really scared” to come out as gay in the early days of Blue.

The 44-year-old pop star shot to fame in 2001 alongside Antony Costa, 41, Simon Webbe, 43, and Lee Ryan, 39, as part of the chart-topping boyband but admitted he hid his sexuality during their heyday because they had a “predominantly female” fanbase and he was reluctant to let anyone down.

Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, he said: “I think going back to 20 years ago when I was secretly in the closet and at the height of my career with Blue, I was really frightened and really scared because we had a predominantly female audience so I didn’t wanna let the boys down, I didn’t wanna let the record company down. I think I just didn’t wanna let anybody down and get gay-bashed. In the 1970s and 80s, there were awful horrible stories of gays getting queer-bashed and even 20 years ago when I was in the closet I was just worried about all these things. I put my own mental health on the back burner because I didn’t want to think about it.

“I wanted to put my career first, my bandmates, and my family first. I just thought ‘Well I can deal with my sexuality myself’ But by suppressing it, I really built up a lot of issues and I couldn’t even speak to the boys about it.”

The ”One Love’ hitmaker – who has been in a relationship with Rodrigo Reis, 28, since 2021 – went on to add that while he is “really happy” these days, he wishes he was “brave enough” to come out because he “didn’t enjoy” the success they were having but believes the group’s latest outing will give him the opportunity to feel “comfortable” in his own skin.

He said: “But fast forward 20 years, I’m out and proud and I’ve got a boyfriend and I’m really happy. I just wish I’d had the ability to be brave enough to come out earlier. I would have enjoyed Blue the first time around a lot more than I did I was living in fear and I was waking up every day feeling frightened and scared so it made me not necessarily enjoy it. This time I don’t wake up in the morning with a dark cloud or a worry over me. I wake up feeling happy and excited to go to work.

“Getting on stage with the boys and I don’t have to pretend somebody I’m not or act that I’m a straight guy who loves girls. I don’t have to have that pretence anymore that I thought to for many years. For me, it’s come full circle. I can be really comfortable in my own skin and that’s something I haven’t been able to do with Blue for a really long time. This is an opportunity for me to be my authentic self and travel the world and be on stage without having to be fake. “

Blue’s new album ‘Heart and Soul’ is out now and they tour the UK in December.

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Intruder seeking U.S. House Speaker Pelosi at her home beats husband with hammer

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 16:23:34 +0000

Published by
Reuters

By Carlos Barria and Kristina Cooke

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -An intruder demanding to see U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi broke into her San Francisco home and attacked her husband with a hammer early on Friday, officials said, in an assault that stoked fears about political violence ahead of the Nov. 8 midterm elections.

Paul Pelosi, 82, was taken to a San Francisco hospital where he underwent surgery for a skull fracture and injuries to his right arm and hands, a spokesperson for the House speaker said in a statement. Doctors expect her spouse to make a full recovery, the statement said.

The man arrested at the scene was identified as David Depape, 42, who was also taken to a hospital.

Online sheriff’s records showed he was booked into the San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, elder abuse, battery, burglary, and other felonies. The booking may have been conducted in absentia, as San Francisco Police Chief William Scott later told reporters Depape was still hospitalized.

The Democratic speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, who is second in the constitutional line of succession to the U.S. presidency, was in Washington with her protective detail at the time of the assault, according to the U.S. Capitol Police.

Authorities were still investigating a motive for the predawn attack, which was witnessed and interrupted by police officers dispatched to the Pelosi home for an “A-priority wellbeing check,” Scott said.

The incident came less than two weeks before midterm elections that will decide control of the House and U.S. Senate, in the midst of a highly polarized political climate.

CNN reported that Paul Pelosi had called emergency-911 and spoke in “code,” not saying directly that he was under attack but leading the dispatcher to conclude something was wrong.

Politico, citing a person familiar with the situation, reported separately that Pelosi had told the intruder he needed to use the bathroom, and then furtively called 911 from there, where his cellphone had been charging.

The police chief credited the 911 operator with using her experience and intuition to “figure out that there was more to this incident than what she was being told” by the caller, leading her to dispatch the call at a higher priority than normal. Scott called her decision “life-saving.”

‘WHERE IS NANCY?’

The intruder shouted “Where is Nancy?” before attacking her husband, a person who was briefed on the incident told Reuters, on condition of anonymity.

A statement from Nancy Pelosi’s spokesperson, Drew Hammill, said her husband had been attacked “by an assailant who acted with force, and threatened his life while demanding to see the Speaker.”

Little was immediately known about the suspect.

In recent posts on several websites, an internet user named “daviddepape” expressed support for former President Donald Trump and embraced the cult-like conspiracy theory QAnon. The posts include references to “satanic paedophilia,” anti-Semitic tropes and criticism of women, transgender people and censorship by tech companies.

Older messages promote quartz crystals and hemp bracelets. Reuters could not confirm that the posts were created by the man arrested on Friday.

The San Francisco Chronicle posted a photo of a man the newspaper identified as Depape dancing at the 2013 wedding of two nudist activists in San Francisco, though he was fully clothed. Depape, then a hemp jewelry maker who lived with the couple in a crowded home in Berkeley, was the best man at the wedding, the newspaper reported.

Scott, the police chief, said the intruder forced entry into the Pelosis’ three-story red brick townhouse through a rear door. Aerial photos showed shattered glass on a door at the back of the house, located in the city’s affluent Pacific Heights neighborhood.

Scott said police were called to the house at 2:27 a.m. Pacific time (0927 GMT), and from the front door caught their first glimpse of Depape and Paul Pelosi inside struggling over a hammer. As the three officers yelled at both men to drop the tool, Depape yanked the hammer away and was seen striking Pelosi at least once, the chief said.

The officers then tackled, disarmed and arrested Depape and took both men to a hospital, Scott said.

BIPARTISAN REACTION

President Joe Biden called Pelosi to express his support, according to White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre. Speaking at a campaign event in Pennsylvania, Biden said the House speaker was en route back to San Francisco to be with her husband.

“Every person of good conscience needs to clearly and unambiguously stand up against violence in our politics, regardless of what your politics are,” Biden told the crowd.

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy also said he reached out to Pelosi, while Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said he was “horrified and disgusted” by the attack.

The Capitol Police, responsible for protecting Congress, said it was working with the FBI and San Francisco police on the investigation.

New York City police warned on Thursday that extremists could target politicians, political events and polling sites ahead of the midterm elections.

As a Democratic leader in Washington and a longtime representative from one of America’s most liberal cities, Pelosi, 82, is a frequent target of Republican criticism and is often featured in attack ads.

Her office was ransacked during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of Republican then-President Donald Trump, some of whom hunted for her during the assault.

In January 2021, her home was vandalized with graffiti messages saying “Cancel rent” and “We want everything” painted on the house and a pig’s head left in front of the garage, according to media reports.

McConnell’s home was also vandalized around that time.

Representative Adam Kinzinger, one of two Republicans on the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack, condemned the rise of incendiary campaign rhetoric vilifying political opponents and promoting falsehoods about widespread voter fraud.

“When you convince people that politicians are rigging elections, drink babies blood, etc, you will get violence. This must be rejected,” he wrote on Twitter, calling on Republican candidates and elected officials to “speak out, and now.”

In a politically polarized climate, threats against Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been on the rise. Capitol Police said they investigated 9,625 incidents in 2021, nearly a threefold increase from 2017.

A gunman angered by Trump shot and wounded five Republican members of Congress at a baseball practice in 2017, and Democrat Gabby Giffords was shot in the head at a public appearance in 2011.

Paul Pelosi, who owns a real estate and venture capital firm, was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol after becoming involved in an auto accident in May. He was sentenced to five days in jail in Napa County, California, but his term was offset by community service and credit for time already served immediately following his arrest.

(Additional reporting by Brendan O’Brien, Jonathan Allen, Doina Chiacu, Rich McKay, Rami Ayyub, Tim Ahmann and Gram Slattery; Writing by Andy Sullivan and Steve Gorman; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Alistair Bell, Daniel Wallis and Jacqueline Wong)

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Taiwan celebrates diversity, equality in east Asia’s largest Pride march

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 16:22:39 +0000

Published by
Reuters UK

By Yimou Lee and Fabian Hamacher TAIPEI (Reuters) – About 120,000 people, many carrying rainbow flags, marched through Taiwan’s capital Taipei on Saturday to celebrate LGBTQ+ equality in east Asia’s largest Pride march. Taiwan legalised same-sex marriage in 2019 in a first for Asia, and is proud of its reputation as a bastion of LGBTQ+ rights and liberalism. The rainy streets of central Taipei were packed for the annual parade, the 20th since it began and including go-go dancers and drag queens on the back of colourfully decorated trucks, joined by several senior members of the ruling Democrat…

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Man arrested in attack on U.S. House Speaker Pelosi’s spouse faces charges

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 16:22:00 +0000

Published by
Reuters UK

By Carlos Barria and Kristina Cooke SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – A man who clubbed U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband over the head with a hammer, shouting, “Where is Nancy?”, faced charges of attempted murder and other felonies a day after the violent break-in at the couple’s San Francisco home. Police initially declined to offer a motive for Friday’s attack on Paul Pelosi, 82, who according to his wife’s office underwent surgery for a skull fracture and injuries to his right arm and hands, though doctors expect a full recovery. But the assault stoked fears about political violence less t…

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Thai transgender businesswoman buys Miss Universe Organization for $20M

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 18:54:59 +0000

Published by
New York Daily News

A prominent Thai businesswoman has purchased the Miss Universe Organization for $20 million, her company announced Wednesday. Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip is the founder and CEO of the Thailand-based media company JKN Global Groups, which acquired the rights to the pageant from IMG Worldwide, a sports and event company headquartered in New York City. She’s also a social media influencer with nearly 19 million followers, a reality television personality who has appeared on Thai versions of “Project Runway” and “Shark Tank” and a transgender rights advocate who started a foundation that fights for…

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Watch: Kari Lake ad features pastor who frames LGBTQ people as sex-obsessed violent criminals

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 18:52:23 +0000

Published by
AlterNet

By David Badash,The New Civil Rights Movement In two weeks Arizona voters could elect a Trump-endorsed Republican and former TV news reporter who just approved an ad featuring what many would assume is a mild-mannered small business owner who apparently was thinking of voting for Democrat Katie Hobbs for governor but says she’s just “too liberal” so he has to vote for Kari Lake because of “President Biden’s” inflation. Lake is a far-right extremist who says Democrats are pushing a “demonic agenda.” She is also anti-immigrant, an election denier, and an anti-science Christian nationalist who op…

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Dear Abby: Dad’s discomfort with transgender coach could derail daughter’s fun

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 18:51:56 +0000

Published by
NJ.com

DEAR ABBY: My 9-year-old daughter, “Kennedy,” plays volleyball. One of the assistant coaches is a transgender woman. I had known about the coach before Kennedy started playing. Although I’m okay with a transgender person coaching my child (I feel their gender identity is absolutely none of my business), my husband is not. He wants our daughter to quit a sport she loves so she won’t be “exposed” to something he doesn’t agree with. He is not transphobic, just very conservative, and he doesn’t want Kennedy growing up around it. We’re trying to steer her in the right direction with our Christian b…

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‘The most Prideful house in the city’: Chicago couple responds to anti-LGBTQ harassment incidents with message of love, positivity

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 18:51:35 +0000

Published by
Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO — Erica Hungerford and Peter Charnley’s garage is not just any garage. For months, it’s been the repeat target of political vandalism that has damaged the couple’s Jefferson Park neighborhood home. But now, the defaced garage has newly embellished bright rainbow colors with a large mural reading, “Love Wins.” For them, their garage is now a symbol of their community’s creativity and support. Since May, the homeowners say they have experienced five separate incidents of anti-LGBTQ harassment. In the latest incident, an unidentified individual spray-painted “MA” across their garage. Due …

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Democrats warn Trump using midterms to seize power he failed to on Jan. 6

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 18:50:04 +0000

Published by
Raw Story

By Matt Laslo WASHINGTON, DC — If at first, you don’t succeed (at the ballot box, in court or by an armed mob) try, try again (by controlling elections themselves). That seems to be Trump’s new plan, which has many observers, including Jan. 6 committee members, worried that America’s on the verge of a revolution. While many are braced for another violent insurrection, some fear a quiet takeover of American elections has already taken root on the right. And they’re afraid it’s going to bear fruit soon. “I am concerned that the same language, on the very same channels, at the same level— maybe e…

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‘No worse than drag queens’: Arizona GOP stands by candidate after purported blackface pics leak

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 18:48:48 +0000

Published by
Raw Story

By Matthew Chapman On Wednesday, ABC 15 reported that Arizona Republicans, including Rep. Debbie Lesko, are standing by their endorsement of a state legislative candidate who was exposed for having dressed in blackface — and one associate defended her by claiming that blackface isn’t really any worse than drag performances. “Political allies are defending Mary Ann Mendoza, a Republican Arizona House candidate from Mesa, after photos of her in blackface and brownface surfaced on social media,” reported Melissa Blasius. Mendoza, who gained prominence as one of former President Donald Trump’s “An…

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Supreme Court’s Alito says abortion draft leak made justices ‘targets’

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 18:47:53 +0000

Published by
Reuters

By Andrew Chung

(Reuters) – U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito on Tuesday denounced the ongoing debate over the institution’s legitimacy amid a backlash over its decision on abortion last June, saying such criticism focuses on “character” rather than the court’s rulings.

Alito, speaking at an event organized by the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington, also condemned the leak last May of his draft opinion overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide, saying it made the justices “targets.”

The justice, who authored the ruling formally overturning Roe in June, made the comments amid heavy scrutiny of the court since the abortion decision, as well as others powered by the court’s conservative majority widening gun rights and curbing the government’s power to tackle climate change.

The legitimacy of the court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, largely depends on its acceptance by the public as an institution whose actions are based on the law, not the justices’ political preferences. Polls show that the court’s public approval has reached record lows.

Alito did not name liberal Justice Elena Kagan, but she has repeatedly expressed concerns in recent weeks, including in September at an event in Chicago when she said the court’s legitimacy could be imperiled if Americans come to view its members as trying to impose personal preferences on society. She echoed those comments in a discussion at the University of Pennsylvania last week.

Everyone is free to strongly criticize the court’s decisions or the reasoning behind them, Alito said. “But to say that the court is exhibiting a lack of integrity is something quite different. That goes to character, not to a disagreement with the result or the reasoning.”

Alito added: “Someone also crosses an important line when they say that the court is acting in a way that is illegitimate. I don’t think anybody in a position of authority should make that claim lightly.”

In blunt terms, Alito also commented on the man who was charged with attempted murder after being arrested near the Maryland home of conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh in June.

Alito said the leak of his draft opinion made the conservative justices who at the time were thought to back overturning Roe v. Wade “targets for assassination because it gave people a rational reason to think they could prevent that from happening by killing one of us.”

The conservative majority has shown an increasing willingness to take on divisive issues as it steers the court on a rightward path.

The court’s new term, which began on Oct. 3, promises to be just as consequential. Potential rulings in major cases could end affirmative action policies used by colleges and universities to increase campus racial diversity, hobble a federal law called the Voting Rights Act, and make it easier for businesses to refuse service to LGBT people based on free-speech rights.

President Joe Biden’s recent appointee Ketanji Brown Jackson has joined Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor in the court’s liberal bloc.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung; editing by Richard Pullin)

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Bad Bunny and Harry Styles lead nominations for the 2022 People’s Choice Awards

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 18:45:34 +0000

Published by
BANG Showbiz English

Bad Bunny and Harry Styles lead the nominations for the 2022 People’s Choice Awards.

The 28-year-old Puerto Rican rapper – real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio – is up for seven accolades, while the ‘Late Night Talking’ singer is up for six prizes.

The pair will battle it out for Male Artist of 2022, Song of 2022 for ‘Me Porto Bonito’ and ‘As It Was’ respectively, Album of 2022 their respective LPs ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’ and ‘Harry’s House’ and the Concert Tour of 2022 for Bad Bunny’s ‘World’s Hottest Tour’ and Harry’s ‘Love On Tour’.

Bad Bunny is also nominated for Latin Artist of 2022, the Collaboration Song of 2022 for ‘Party’ – which also features Rauw Alejandro – and Social Celebrity of 2022.

Alternatively, Harry has been named in the categories for Music Video of 2022 for ‘As It Was’ and Drama Movie Star of 2022 for his performance in ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ – which was directed by his girlfriend Olivia Wilde.

Other notable nominees include Luke Combs, Selena Gomez, Lizzo and Charlie Puth, who all received four nominations each.

The 2022 People’s Choice Awards takes place on December 6 and will be held at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.

The star-studded ceremony will air simultaneously on E! and NBC and will be hosted by comedian Kenan Thompson for the second consecutive year.

Kenan, 44, is also nominated in the Comedy TV Star of 2022 for his work on ‘Saturday Night Live’, the sketch show that he has contributed for 20 seasons in a row making him the longest-running cast member.

Speaking about his hosting role, he said: “I’m beyond excited to host the People’s Choice Awards again this year and celebrate the incredible talent and fans that this show unites. I’m so grateful to be nominated – shout out to the fans and congrats to all the nominees. Get ready for round two!!”

Voting for the 2022 People’s Choice Awards is now open and will close on November 9. Fans can vote for the winners either online at VotePCA.com or via Twitter.

Complete list of nominees for the 2022 People’s Choice Awards:

The male artist of 2022:

Bad Bunny

Charlie Puth

Drake

Harry Styles

Jack Harlow

Kendrick Lamar

Luke Combs

The Weeknd

The female artist of 2022:

Beyoncé

Camila Cabello

Doja Cat

Lady Gaga

Lizzo

Megan Thee Stallion

Nicki Minaj

Taylor Swift

The group of 2022:

BTS

5 Seconds of Summer

Blackpink

Coldplay

Imagine Dragons

Måneskin

OneRepublic

Panic! At The Disco

The song of 2022:

About Damn Time – Lizzo

As It Was – Harry Styles

Break My Soul – Beyoncé

First Class – Jack Harlow

Hold My Hand – Lady Gaga

Me Porto Bonito – Bad Bunny Chencho Corleone

Super Freaky Girl – Nicki Minaj

Wait For U – Future Featuring Drake Tems

The album of 2022:

Dawn FM – The Weeknd

Growin’ Up – Luke Combs

Harry’s House – Harry Styles

Midnights – Taylor Swift

Mr. Morale The Big Steppers – Kendrick Lamar

Renaissance – Beyoncé

Special – Lizzo

Un Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny

The country artist of 2022:

Carrie Underwood

Kane Brown

Kelsea Ballerini

Luke Combs

Maren Morris

Miranda Lambert

Morgan Wallen

Thomas Rhett

The Latin artist of 2022:

Anitta

Bad Bunny

Becky G

Shakira

Karol G

Rauw Alejandro

Rosalía

Sebastián Yatra

The new artist of 2022:

Chlöe

Dove Cameron

Gayle

Latto

Lauren Spencer-Smith

Muni Long

Saucy Santana

Steve Lacy

The music video of 2022:

Anti-Hero – Taylor Swift

As It Was – Harry Styles

Left and Right (feat. Jung Kook of BTS) – Charlie Puth

Let Somebody Go – Coldplay X Selena Gomez

Oh My God – Adele

Pink Venom – Blackpink

Provenza – Karol G

Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment) Official – BTS

The collaboration song of 2022:

Left and Right – Charlie Puth Featuring Jung Kook

Bam Bam – Camila Cabello Featuring Ed Sheeran

Do We Have a Problem? – Nicki Minaj X Lil Baby

Freaky Deaky – Tyga X Doja Cat

Hold Me Closer” – Elton John Britney Spears

Jimmy Cooks – Drake Featuring 21 Savage

Party – Bad Bunny Rauw Alejandro

Sweetest Pie – Megan Thee Stallion Dua Lipa

The concert tour of 2022:

BTS Permission to Dance on Stage

Bad Bunny: World’s Hottest Tour

Billie Eilish: Happier Than Ever, The World Tour

Dua Lipa Future Nostalgia Tour

Ed Sheeran Tour

Harry Styles Love on Tour

Lady Gaga: The Chromatica Ball

Luke Combs: The Middle of Somewhere Tour

The social celebrity of 2022:

Bad Bunny

Charlie Puth

Doja Cat

Lil Nas X

Lizzo

Reese Witherspoon

Selena Gomez

Snoop Dogg

The movie of 2022:

Bullet Train

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Elvis

Jurassic World Dominion

Nope

The Batman

Thor: Love and Thunder

Top Gun: Maverick

The comedy movie of 2022:

Fire Island

Hustle

Hocus Pocus 2

Marry Me

Senior Year

The Adam Project

The Lost City

Ticket to Paradise

The action movie of 2022:

Black Adam

Bullet Train

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Jurassic World Dominion

The Batman

The Woman King

Thor: Love and Thunder

Top Gun: Maverick

The drama movie of 2022:

Nope

Death on the Nile

Don’t Worry Darling

Elvis

Halloween Ends

Luckiest Girl Alive

Scream

Where the Crawdads Sing

The male movie star of 2022:

Brad Pitt – Bullet Train

Chris Hemsworth – Thor: Love and Thunder

Chris Pratt – Jurassic World Dominion

Daniel Kaluuya – Nope

Dwayne Johnson – Black Adam

Miles Teller – Top Gun: Maverick

Ryan Reynolds – The Adam Project

Tom Cruise – Top Gun: Maverick

The female movie star of 2022:

Elizabeth Olsen – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Gal Gadot – Death on the Nile

Jennifer Garner – The Adam Project

Jennifer Lopez – Marry Me

Joey King – Bullet Train

Keke Palmer – Nope

Queen Latifah – Hustle

Viola Davis – The Woman King

The drama movie star of 2022:

Austin Butler – Elvis

Daniel Kaluuya – Nope

Florence Pugh – Don’t Worry Darling

Gal Gadot – Death on the Nile

Harry Styles – Don’t Worry Darling

Jamie Lee Curtis – Halloween Ends

Keke Palmer – Nope

Mila Kunis – Luckiest Girl Alive

The comedy movie star of 2022:

Adam Sandler – Hustle

Channing Tatum – The Lost City

Jennifer Garner – The Adam Project

Jennifer Lopez – Marry Me

Julia Roberts – Ticket to Paradise

Queen Latifah – Hustle

Ryan Reynolds – The Adam Project

Sandra Bullock – The Lost City

The action movie star of 2022:

Chris Hemsworth – Thor: Love and Thunder

Chris Pratt – Jurassic World Dominion

Dwayne Johnson – Black Adam

Elizabeth Olsen – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Joey King – Bullet Train

Tom Cruise – Top Gun: Maverick

Viola Davis – The Woman King

Zöe Kravitz – The Batman

The show of 2022:

Abbott Elementary

Better Call Saul

Grey’s Anatomy

House of the Dragon

Obi-Wan Kenobi

Saturday Night Live

Stranger Things

This Is Us

The drama show of 2022:

Better Call Saul

Cobra Kai

Euphoria

Grey’s Anatomy

Law Order: Special Victims Unit

Ozark

The Walking Dead

This Is Us

The comedy show of 2022:

Abbott Elementary

Black-ish

Only Murders in the Building

Never Have I Ever

Saturday Night Live

The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window

Young Rock

Young Sheldon

The reality show of 2022:

90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

Jersey Shore: Family Vacation

Love Hip Hop: Atlanta

The Kardashians

The Real Housewives of Atlanta

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Selling Sunset

The competition show of 2022:

America’s Got Talent

American Idol

Dancing with the Stars

RuPaul’s Drag Race

The Bachelorette

The Masked Singer

Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls

The Voice

The male TV star of 2022:

Dwayne Johnson – Young Rock

Ewan McGregor – Obi-Wan Kenobi

Ice-T – Law Order: Special Victims Unit

Jason Bateman – Ozark

Noah Schnapp – Stranger Things

Norman Reedus – The Walking Dead

Oscar Isaac – Moon Knight

Sterling K. Brown – This Is Us

The female TV star of 2022:

Millie Bobby Brown – Stranger Things

Ellen Pompeo – Grey’s Anatomy

Kristen Bell – The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan – Never Have I Ever

Mandy Moore – This Is Us

Mariska Hargitay – Law Order: Special Victims Unit

Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary

Selena Gomez – Only Murders in the Building

The drama TV star of 2022:

Ellen Pompeo – Grey’s Anatomy

Jason Bateman – Ozark

Mandy Moore – This Is Us

Mariska Hargitay – Law Order: Special Victims Unit

Norman Reedus – The Walking Dead

Sterling K. Brown – This Is Us

Sydney Sweeney – Euphoria

Zendaya – Euphoria

The comedy TV star of 2022:

Bowen Yang – Saturday Night Live

Dwayne Johnson – Young Rock

Kenan Thompson – Saturday Night Live

Kristen Bell – The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window

Maitreyi Ramakrishnan – Never Have I Ever

Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary

Selena Gomez – Only Murders in the Building

Tracee Ellis Ross – Black-Ish

The daytime talk show of 2022:

Good Morning America

Live with Kelly and Ryan

The Drew Barrymore Show

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

The Jennifer Hudson Show

The Kelly Clarkson Show

The View

Today with Hoda and Jenna

The nighttime talk show of 2022:

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Late Night with Seth Meyers

The Daily Show

The Late Late Show with James Corden

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

The competition contestant of 2022:

Charli D’Amelio – Dancing with the Stars

Bosco – RuPaul’s Drag Race

Gabby Windey – The Bachelorette

Mayyas – America’s Got Talent

Noah Thompson – American Idol

Selma Blair – Dancing with the Stars

Teyana Taylor – The Masked Singer

Willow Pill – RuPaul’s Drag Race

The reality tv star of 2022:

Chrishell Stause – Selling Sunset

Garcelle Beauvais – The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Kandi Burruss – The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Kenya Moore – The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Khloé Kardashian – The Kardashians

Kim Kardashian – The Kardashians

Kyle Richards – The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino – Jersey Shore: Family Vacation

The bingeworthy show of 2022:

Bridgerton

Bel-Air

Dahmer-Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

Inventing Anna

Severance

The Bear

The Boys

The Thing About Pam

The sci-fi/fantasy show of 2022

House of The Dragon

La Brea

Moon Knight

Obi-Wan Kenobi

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law

Stranger Things

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

The Umbrella Academy

The social star of 2022

Addison Rae

Brent Rivera

Charli D’Amelio

Jay Shetty

Khaby Lame

Mikayla Jane Nogueira

Mr Beast

Noah Beck

The comedy act of 2022

Amy Schumer: Whore Tour

Chris Rock Ego Death World Tour 2022

David Spade: Nothing Personal (Netflix)

Jo Koy: Live from the LA Forum

Kevin Hart: Reality Check

Steve Martin Martin Short You Won’t Believe What They Look Like Today

Wanda Sykes – Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration (Netflix)

Whitney Cummings – Jokes (Netflix)

The game changer of 2022

Chloe Kim

LeBron James

Megan Rapinoe

Nathan Chen

Rafael Nadal

Russell Wilson

Serena Williams

Steph Curry

The pop podcast of 2022

Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain

Archetypes

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Call Her Daddy

Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend

Not Skinny But Not Fat

SmartLess

Why Won’t You Date Me? with Nicol

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‘We Are Setting The Record Straight’: ‘RHOC’ Alum Alexis Bellino Reveals Her Teen Son Is Transgender

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 18:44:41 +0000

Published by
Radar Online

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Real Housewives of Orange County alum Alexis Bellino is “setting the record straight,” introducing her transgender son, Miles, to the world, RadarOnline.comhas learned.

The former reality star proudly showed off her almost 15-year-old in a loving Instagram post on Tuesday evening, revealing her son asked her to share the news.

Posting a sweet selfie with Miles, Alexis began her heartfelt message by writing, “Hey world, this is Miles. My transgender son. He’s now a month shy of 15 yrs old, so he’s seen the questions and comments made about him on my IG. Miles now has a voice and has asked me to do this post.”

@alexis_bellino/Instagram

The ex-RHOC star, 45, said she had “stopped posting for the past few months due to this transition in Miles’ life, but he’s now ready to ‘come out’ and to use this platform to stop any hate or questions.”

Alexis was truthful with her 350k followers, telling them, “I refused him for a while, but now I know Miles truly wants this. He’s tired of the misgendering and confusion people have, so we are setting the record straight and hopefully bringing clarity.”

The mom of three praised her teenage son for his courage, revealing he began transitioning more than 16 months ago.

“I cannot imagine the strength and courage it took for my baby to do this, but I’m extremely proud of him and I want everyone to understand that love doesn’t change in these situations,” she wrote. “Miles came out as a transgender boy to me over 16 months ago. He hid it from everyone else for a while, but eventually he got to where we are right now. TO HIS FREEDOM! My son has now flourished!! My son now smiles naturally for the first time in years!”

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Alexis described the feeling Miles gets every time someone correctly identifies him as he.

“My son can breathe knowing he can be his true self. My son lights up every single time a stranger calls him ‘he.’ My son runs with the boys. My son can actually FEEL. My son can live life now with his true self,” she continued.

“I’m so proud of Miles for wanting to stop the hate, and for being brave enough to step forward at such a young age. He now has his entire life to live the way he should.”

Alexis concluded her post by warning that anyone who has something negative to say about her child will be “instantly blocked.”

“We are all human and we are ALL equal. I am 100% fully supportive of my son. I hope you will be too,” she added.

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Alexis has three children with her ex-husband Jim Bellino. They finalized their divorce in 2018 after 13 years of marriage. She is currently engaged to boyfriend Andy Bohn.

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Lil Nas X thanked Adam Lambert for his public support

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 18:39:25 +0000

Published by
BANG Showbiz English

Lil Nas X appreciates “all the love” that Adam Lambert has shown him.

The 23-year-old star has revealed that he actually reached out to Adam, 40, to thank him for his complimentary comments.

He said: “I know Adam, we’ve met a couple of times. I did thank him in person, actually.

“I really appreciate all the love that he’s shown me and I definitely don’t take it for granted. And I appreciate all the doors that him and people like him opened.”

Despite this, the ‘Old Town Road’ hitmaker never considered following in Adam’s footsteps by competing on a show like ‘American Idol’.

He told Heavy: “I mean, I started doing music in 2018, and by that time I realised the only thing you really needed to become successful in the music industry is the internet, you know?

“For me, I use what works best for me. I’ve always been an internet baby. And what better place than to blow up in my home? Yeah, that’s what works for me.”

Nas also admitted to being surprised by the success that he’s already managed to achieve.

He said: “When I was little, I loved music a lot, but I was very afraid to ever actually jump into that.”

Meanwhile, Adam previously hailed Nas for “pushing boundaries” in the music industry.

The singer – who starred on ‘American Idol’ in 2009 – also praised Nas for kissing a male dancer at the 2021 BET Awards.

Adam said: “I thought it was hot. He’s really giving it to us.

“I think he is definitely like the gay pop star that is 2021 – he’s bold, he’s controversial, he’s pushing boundaries. That’s what we want our pop stars to do. It’s just taken this long to have it be a gay one.”

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President Biden Reveals U.S. In ‘Constant Contact’ With Russia Over Brittney Griner’s Release, Claims Little ‘Positive Response’

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 18:38:43 +0000

Published by
Radar Online

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President Joe Biden told White House reporters that despite communication with Russian authorities to bring WNBA star Brittney Griner, the efforts have not yielded positive results, RadarOnline.com has learned.

Griner has been detained in Russia over a drug smuggling charge for possession of a cannabis oil smoking device that was found in her luggage at the airport. Griner admitted to possessing cannabis oil but claimed she was unaware that it was still in her bag at the time it was found. Griner was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison for the charge.

This week, Griner’s appeal was rejected. Many believe Griner is being used as a political pawn by Vladimir Putin. There is also a concern for Griner’s safety as a publicly out queer person.

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“We are in constant contact with Russian authorities to get Brittney and others out,” Biden told White House reporters about the ongoing efforts to bring Americans back to the United States. “And so far we’re not meeting with much positive response,” Biden continued.

“But we’re not stopping,” the president added, attempting to bring a sliver of positivity to the bleak message.

Griner made her final plea for an appeal on Tuesday. She addressed the Moscow Regional Court via video call and issued a statement.

@brittneyyevettegriner/instagram

“This has been a very traumatic experience, waiting for this day … getting nine years for the crime,” Griner said. “People with more severe crimes have gotten less than what I was given.”

The court refused to adjust her sentencing. Griner is now expected to carry out her nine years in an eleven-foot cell with two other inmates.

The brutal sentence for the talented athlete has brought support from activists globally; however, Russia claimed Griner’s detention and release are not a priority.

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According to an advisor to Putin, Yury Ushakov, Griner’s imprisonment is not at the top of mind for Russian authorities, despite claims that Griner’s detention could potentially be an effort to exchange the American athlete for a top Russian arms dealer in U.S. custody.

Ushakov served as Russia’s ambassador to the United States from 1998 to 2008 and has called Biden’s efforts to bring Griner home nothing more than a political PR stunt ahead of the November midterm elections.

“In this tense situation, I think that he is thinking first and foremost about the upcoming midterm elections so he keeps emphasizing the need to bring back home the basketball player who was detained for drug smuggling,” Ushakov said. “However, it’s not the main issue that we are concerned about.”

Griner’s attorney, Alexandr D. Boykov, previously revealed to the New York Times that his client is “struggling” in custody, saying, “She has not been in as good condition as I could sometimes find her in.”

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