Washington (AFP) – US lawmakers advanced a bill Thursday aimed at banning transgender women and girls from sports teams that match their gender identity, as Congress turned its focus on one of the most polarizing issues in American culture.

The “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act” seeks to narrow 50-year-old civil rights protections against sex-based discrimination to recognize sex as “based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”

The bill — which conservatives say aims to promote fairness while safeguarding women — was passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives education committee, teeing off what is set to be an acrimonious debate in the full House.

“As a mother and past educator, I abhor the increasing prevalence of biological men competing in women’s sports,” said Republican Congresswoman Virginia Foxx. 

Allowing trans competitors to line up against female athletes “denies equal opportunity for women,” Foxx told the committee.

Democrats hit back at Foxx, arguing that that it is discriminatory and hurtful to deprive trans athletes of competition. 

“I should be in chemistry class right now, but I’m here to tell you that kids like me should get to play sports with their friends,” Rebekah Bruesehoff, a 16-year-old transgender hockey player, told a news conference outside the US Capitol. 

The issue has divided classrooms, education authorities, women’s groups and sports associations nationwide, with some districts barring transgender women and girls from competitive sport.

Opponents of inclusivity argue that trans women and girls enjoy an unfair advantage against their non-trans competitors due to generally greater muscle mass and bone density, and other physical factors that boost speed and explosive strength.

But several feminist associations and sports personalities, such as US soccer star Megan Rapinoe, are on the opposite side of the debate, and support including trans women in women’s competitions.

“There are real pressing problems impacting women’s and girls’ sports, including sexual harassment and assault, lack of equal resources and pay inequality,” said Democratic Congressman Mark Pocan.

The bill has little chance of becoming law, as it would have to be green-lit by senators in the upper chamber of Congress, which is controlled by Democrats who oppose the effort. 

But it is part of a broader push by conservatives to provide a check on the promotion of transgender identity, which liberals say marginalizes and discriminates against the community.

Several Republican-led states have recently passed laws banning gender-affirming health care and treatment for teenagers.

President Joe Biden issued an executive order on his first day in office to combat discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation.

Jennifer Coolidge thinks it is hilarious that she has been featured in a gay adult film.

The 61-year-old actress is seen in a clip from ‘Single All The Way’ as models Eli and Tyler watch a scene Netflix’s gay rom-com at the start of their pornographic film for Corbin Fisher Studios and

After being alerted to the appearance by PopCrave, she told the outlet: “I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time that is so f******funny!”

In the clip at the beginning of the X-rated film, Jennifer’s character Aunt Sandy is seen on a screen as she notes that gay men are “always obsessed” with her, in an apparent nod to her own real-life status as a gay icon before the actual film starts.

Her character says: “It’s because the gays just know how to do stuff, you know? They’re survivors and, for some reason, they are always obsessed with me. I don’t know why, I like it.” Eli then tells Tyler, “She’s right, gays do know how to do stuff.”

The ‘White Lotus’ star previously admitted that she has always had a natural rapport with gay men but was never “conscious” of the meaning until later in life.

She said: ” It just started from a very young age. You go with what you’re attracted to. I think that’s really what most of our youth is. And that’s just what I was attracted to in all my friends. I don’t think they had figured it out at the time when we were really, really young, but they eventually figured it out. And yeah, and it was all the gay men and all the gay women in my town, at my school or at camp.

“I think it’s just a mutual thing. I was never conscious of it, ever. It was just the people I was attracted to.”

By John Kruzel

WASHINGTON -The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a Florida city’s bid to fend off a lawsuit by atheists accusing officials of violating constitutional limits on government involvement in religion by staging a prayer vigil following gun violence that wounded three children.

The justices turned away an appeal by the city of Ocala of a lower court’s ruling endorsing the right of the plaintiffs, backed by the American Humanist Association, to sue over legal harms they said they sustained attending the 2014 vigil in which uniformed police chaplains preached a Judeo-Christian message.

The plaintiffs accused Ocala of violating the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment “establishment clause,” which restricts governmental involvement in religion. Ocala had urged the justices to reject the claim that the plaintiffs, as “offended observers” of religious messages, had sustained legally recognizable injuries.

Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, dissenting from the decision to reject the appeal, expressed “serious doubts” about the legitimacy of lawsuits based on injuries sustained by offended observers.

“Offended observer standing appears to warp the very essence of the judicial power vested by the Constitution,” Thomas wrote, adding that “federal courts are authorized ‘to adjudge the legal rights of litigants in actual controversies,’ not hurt feelings.”

Thomas has taken a broad view of religious rights during more than three decades as a justice.

Conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch in a written statement said he agreed that the case should be denied at this stage of the litigation but expressed doubt that the plaintiffs had the proper legal standing to sue.

Ocala city officials helped organize and conduct the one-hour prayer vigil held in response to a series of shootings in which three children were struck by stray bullets. The Ocala Police Department on its Facebook page posted a letter co-signed by the police chief and an activist affiliated with a local Baptist church that promoted the vigil and urged “fervent prayer” to help reduce crime in the community.

At the vigil, police chaplains “preached Judeo-Christian religion to the crowd in a style consistent with revivalist and evangelical religion,” “participated in religious worship” and encouraged the crowd to engage in “responsive chanting,” the plaintiffs said in court papers.

The American Humanist Association, which on its website says it seeks “to bring about a progressive society where being good without a god is an accepted and respected way to live life,” and several of its members sued in federal court.

The plaintiffs said in court papers the police department’s involvement in the vigil “was coercive in that it pressured community members to accept theistic religious views” and treated religion non-believers as “outsiders and second-class citizens.”

A judge in 2018 ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, awarding them nominal monetary damages of $1 each. The Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals threw out that judgment in light of a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling expanding religious rights in the case of a Washington state public high school football coach who had been suspended for refusing to stop leading Christian prayers with players on the field after games.

The 11th Circuit found that at least one of the plaintiffs, Lucinda Hale, had proper standing to sue because the vigil had given rise to a legally recognizable injury. The city then appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Hale has argued that by violating the establishment clause the city injured her by favoring religion and excluding atheists like her from participating in a vigil focused exclusively on prayer. The case has been narrowed to two plaintiffs, Hale and Art Rojas, and a single defendant, the city.

A federal district court will now weigh the plaintiffs’ establishment clause claims in light of the football coach ruling.

The conservative-majority Supreme Court in recent years has chipped away at the wall separating church and state, eroding American legal traditions aimed at barring government officials from promoting any particular faith.

(Reporting by John Kruzel; Editing by Will Dunham)

By Tim Reid

SIMI VALLEY, CA (Reuters) – Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took his fight against liberalism deep into the Democratic territory of California on Sunday, part of a national road show as he lays the ground for an expected White House bid.

DeSantis has been meeting with wealthy donors in recent days and burnishing his national credentials in a series of speeches boasting about his achievements in Florida while lambasting the “woke ideology” of leaders in Democratic strongholds including California and New York.

DeSantis, who is expected to announce a presidential run in the next few months, has made a war on liberalism a central theme of his governorship and a way to appeal to the Republican base.

While he has not yet announced a White House bid, one candidate who has – former Republican President Donald Trump – clearly views DeSantis as a major potential threat as the Republican nominating contest kicks into gear. Trump has already launched personal and political attacks on DeSantis as the race for the Republican Party’s 2024 White House nomination begins to heat up.

DeSantis, speaking at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library about 50 miles north of Los Angeles, made a veiled reference to the chaos of Trump’s presidency and his defeat to Democratic President Joe Biden in 2020.

“You don’t see drama and palace intrigue,” DeSantis said of his governorship in Florida. “You see surgical precision and execution.”

DeSantis, who narrowly won election to the governor’s mansion in 2018, touted his landslide re-election in November.

He attacked Democratic governors and leaders as being infected with a “woke mind virus.” The term “woke” has become shorthand among opponents as left-wing ideology run amok.

He decried their policies on tax, vaccine mandates, and classroom “indoctrination.”

DeSantis also took aim at the Walt Disney Co, which opposes a Florida law that restricts classroom instruction of gender and sexual orientation.

Last month he signed a bill that takes control of a special tax district surrounding Walt Disney World that for half a century allowed it to operate with a high degree of autonomy.

“There’s a new sheriff in town,” DeSantis declared, referring to what he has called the end of Disney’s “corporate kingdom.”

Other candidates expected to jump into the Republican primary race include former Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Nikki Haley, Trump’s former ambassador to the United Nations, declared her candidacy last month.

(Reporting by Tim Reid; Editing by Richard Chang)

Education and creativity are two very valuable things in life and can take effort to strike a good balance between them. There are a lot of challenges for young creators who want to follow their passion while still going to school, whether it’s acting, modeling, online content, or all of the above.

American model, social media star, and actor Marco Donatelli is balancing both. He says combining a love of the spotlight with a promise to his mother is crucial to future success.

“I’m getting a degree because I promised my mother,” he says, “but at the same time, I want to be different. Anyone can go to college, but I want a career that helps me stand out, that helps me stretch the line. I want a career that some people only dream about.”

Marco’s success may be just beginning, but the self-made social media celeb turned-model knows what he wants and will stop at nothing to get it.

Originally from Youngstown, OH, he and his sister were raised by his father Mark, and his late mother, Maria Donatelli. Though his childhood was filled with obstacles, Marco believes this has only made him more resilient and more determined than ever to achieve success.

He moved away for college in his teens before returning in 2020 when COVID lockdowns brought lessons to a halt. During this time, he became interested in online trends and, in turn, fame.

He became an overnight TikTok star by fluke, with his father by his side, when they went to Walmart during the pandemic wearing scuba masks instead of covid masks. The video became viral overnight and 5 million views.

This was the start of Marco’s social media career, allowing him to work with different social media stars and influential people. Over time, he became a well-known face for several brands worldwide and has worked with well-known photographers like Rick Day. More recently, he’s been hitting auditions for roles in TV and film.

Marco says that one of the most important things to remember is time management. He balances an intense study schedule while at the same time allowing himself the chance to do his creative work.

“I want to go to chiropractic school so I can become a chiropractor as my backup plan,” he says. “Right now, I‘m traveling every other weekend [for modeling and castings], so my grades aren’t as high as expected. But I’m not going to give up. I’ll get my degree, and at the same time, I’ll keep pushing content and auditioning.”

It is easy to become overwhelmed when juggling multiple commitments at once, so it is important to break these down into manageable chunks and create a plan outlining what needs to be done first and foremost.

And, of course, having friends and family members who understand your goals and can provide helpful advice or assistance makes all the difference in reaching success.

Outside of his family, Marco Donatelli’s best friend, Isaiah Proctor, is also his manager. Isaiah Proctor has played a huge role in Marco’s rise to success in the industry. Proctor has set up jobs all over the country for Marco, including photo shoots in Miami, Vegas, and New York.

Aside from his best friend, he is also seeking advice from industry professionals. His acting coach is Anthony Corone, known for appearing in films like Bad Boys 2, We Own The Night, and Act of Valor.

“He’s been my coach for a few months now, and I’ve been taking his classes very seriously and doing pretty well.”

Photographer “PhotosbyAlexS” has also been a great support, providing exciting opportunities for photoshoots.

“He invited me out to Vegas to shoot in the desert, so that was pretty cool. He’s a very talented guy,” says Donatelli.

Donatelli says that balancing creative pursuits with academic commitments may not always be easy, but it is achievable with disciplined habits and an understanding support system, and he strongly believes young creators should never feel discouraged from doing what they love.

Prince Harry says marijuana helped him cope with his mental trauma.

The Duke of Sussex, 38, opened up about his life and family in a 90-minute online chat with Dr Gabor Maté, 79, on Saturday (04.03.23) and also admitted cocaine didn’t do “anything” for him when he was struggling mentally.

He said during the £19-a-ticket live-streamed question and answer session: “(Cocaine) didn’t do anything for me, it was more a social thing and gave me a sense of belonging for sure, I think it probably also made me feel different to the way I was feeling, which was kind of the point.

“Marijuana is different, that actually really did help me. It was the cleaning of the windscreen, cleaning of the windshield, the removal of life’s filters just as much as on Instagram, these layers of filters.

“It removed it all for me and brought me a sense of relaxation, release, comfort, a lightness that I managed to hold on to for a period of time.

“I started doing it recreationally and then started to realise how good it was for me, I would say it is one of the fundamental parts of my life that changed me and helped me deal with the traumas and pains of the past.”

Reports say Dr Maté is an outspoken supporter of legalising, and has allegedly used the Amazonian plant ayahuasca to treat patients suffering mental issues.

Harry also used his memoir ‘Spare’ to talk about how he used partying and hallucinogenics to blot out pain, including traumas over the 1997 car crash death of his mother Princess Diana and spending his life in the global spotlight.

He said in the book he and an unnamed actor got so high on a stash of “black diamond mushroom chocolates” they found in ‘Friends’ actress Courteney Cox’s house during a house party he thought her kitchen bin looked like it had developed a head.

Harry said: “My mate and I grabbed several, gobbled them, washed them down with tequila.”

He added about hallucinating over Courtney’s kitchen bin after he downed the drugs: “I stepped on the pedal and the head opened its mouth. A huge open grin. I laughed.”

Courteney recently insisted she never supplied Harry with the magic mushrooms, and added she was still to read his memoir ‘Spare’ as his drugs anecdote had “gotten back to” her.

Washington (AFP) – Marianne Williamson, a self-help author, activist and spiritual advisor, announced Saturday that she is a candidate for the US presidency in 2024, four years after an earlier run for the office drew little support.

Now 70, the iconoclastic author has become the first Democrat to officially enter the 2024 race — even before President Joe Biden — calling on her fellow Americans to reject cynicism and “conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline.”

Other Democrats have held off announcing their candidacies pending a decision from Biden, who at 80 has said he has “the intention” to run again but has yet to formally enter the race.

In her televised announcement, Williamson summarized her candidate positions, denouncing mass incarceration, economic inequity and racial injustice and calling for “an emergency-level transition from a dirty economy to a clean economy.” 

“Government of the people by the people and for the people is perishing,” she said, referring to an Abraham Lincoln quote. “This government is now a government of the corporations by the corporations and for the corporations.”

After her 1992 book “A Return to Love” became a best-seller, Williamson was a frequent guest of talk-show superstar Oprah Winfrey, offering advice on personal development while raising her own profile. 

Then four years ago, the unconventional Williamson took on Biden and some 20 other Democratic candidates for the presidency. 

During televised debates, she drew attention with her denunciations of the “dark psychic force” that she said Donald Trump represented. 

She repeated that sentiment Saturday, with an added caution. “I’m so glad that President Trump did not win the last election. That means we didn’t go over the cliff. But I’ll tell you something, we’re still six inches away from it.”

Before her first run, Williamson vowed that as president she would establish a federal Department of Peace, push for reparations for slavery and “harness love for political purposes.”

But Williamson — at one point among the most Googled Democratic candidates — never managed to rise above low single digits in opinion polls.

She finally dropped out of the race and endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist. 

Rebel Wilson got banned from Disneyland.

The ‘Pitch Perfect’ actress – who got engaged to Ramona Agrum at the California theme park last month – claimed she was asked to stay away from the tourist attraction for a month after taking a photo inside a “secret bathroom”.

Speaking on ‘The Daily Show with Hasan Minhaj’, she said: “I did get banned from Disneyland for 30 days because I took a photo inside a secret bathroom, which is illegal, at Disneyland.”

But Rebel admitted Disneyland bosses worked the punishment around her schedule.

She added: “I got officially banned for 30 days. They called me up and said, ‘Rebel what 30 days did you not want to come to Disneyland because you’re away filming a movie or something?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, well, June would be fine.’ “

As well as teasing the existence of “secret bathrooms”, the 42-year-old actress also claimed the theme park is home to “gangs of adults” with “cool names like the White Rabbits and the Children of Thanos, Coco Locos.”

She claimed: “They wear matching vests and walk around and do gang stuff around Disneyland.

“One of the initiations was you had to steal the apple from the Snow White ride, and the apple kept getting stolen so many times they had to make it a hologram.

“But don’t ask me how I know about Disneyland gangs, because I will not say.”

Rebel recently revealed she asked Disney CEO Bob Iger for permission to propose to her girlfriend – with whom she has three-month-old daughter Royce – at Disneyland.

She said: “He’s the big, big boss and I thought, ‘Well, if he says yes, then it was meant to be, and I was meant to propose that day at Disneyland.’

“I had to get special permission to get a special area roped off and get the topiary trees in and, you know, I had a violinist playing like Disney classics, and it was very, really romantic.”