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Published by AlterNet Former Trump Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, took a shot at Ron DeSantis while targeting LGBTQ people, saying the Florida GOP governor’s “Don’t Say Gay” law doesn’t go far enough. In a rambling, fast-talking speech the first Republican to challenge Trump told voters at an Exeter, New Hampshire town hall Thursday that schools should not be saying anything about sex or gender until at least seventh grade. The Florida law bans discussion of “inappropriate” conversations, especially related to LGBTQ people, technically until after third gr… Read More View the full article

Published by uInterview.com The 73rd Berlin International Film Festival began on Thursday, at the Berlinale Palast theater and will run until February 26. The event takes place during Russia’s war on Ukraine and the people of Iran’s imprisonment and execution by the government over human rights. This made much of the conversation at the festival about the intersection of politics and art. In the opening ceremony, Berlin jury president Kristen Stewart discussed the inherent political quality of the first film, She Came to Me. IN MEMORIAM 2022: 100 GREAT CELEBRITIES WHO DIED IN 2022 “There are a lot of oppressions against … Read More View the full article

Published by The Street By Luc Olinga The billionaire believes Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will win the Republican primary for the 2024 presidential election. George Soros is not going to fix his already low rating among conservatives. They see him behind all the dysfunctional things and have made him the symbol and the face of the threats to their values. Soros is also the subject of many right-wing conspiracy theories: these theories paint him as the face of a global elite that wants to control the world. Most of these theories are fueled by the fact that the legendary investor is a big donor to the Democratic Pa… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP Jimmy Carter, seen during the years after his presidency, speaks during a trip to Zambia in November 1991 Washington (AFP) – Jimmy Carter, the 98-year-old former US president who led the nation from 1977 to 1981, is receiving hospice care at home, where he will spend his “remaining time,” his nonprofit foundation said Saturday. Carter, the oldest living former president and a Nobel peace laureate, resides in Plains, Georgia, with his wife, Rosalynn. That hamlet is where he was born and worked as a peanut farmer before becoming the governor and later launching his bid as Democratic presidential nominee. “After a series of short hospital stays, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter today decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention,” the Carter Center said in a statement posted to Twitter. During his presidency, Carter placed a commitment on human rights and social justice, enjoying a strong first two years which included brokering a peace deal between Israel and Egypt dubbed the Camp David Accords. But his administration hit numerous snags — the most serious being the taking of US hostages in Iran and the disastrous failed attempt to rescue the 52 captive Americans in 1980. In November of that year, Republican challenger Ronald Reagan beat Carter at the polls, relegating him to a single term. Reagan swept into office on a wave of staunch conservatism. Active post-presidency As the years passed, a more nuanced image of Carter emerged, taking into account his post-presidential activities and reassessing his achievements. He founded the Carter Center in 1982 to pursue his vision of world diplomacy, and he was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless efforts to promote social and economic justice. “The Carter family asks for privacy during this time and is grateful for the concern shown by his many admirers,” the Carter Center said. “He has the full support of his family and his medical team,” it added. Carter said basic Christian tenets such as justice and love served as the bedrock of his presidency, and the ex-president taught Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist, his church in Plains, well into his 90s. In recent years, Carter has received various hospital treatments, including when he revealed in August 2015 that he had brain cancer and was undergoing radiation treatment — an illness he recovered from, seemingly against the odds. Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia, who is the pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church where Martin Luther King Jr preached, wished the Carter family comfort. “Across life’s seasons, President Jimmy Carter, a man of great faith, has walked with God,” Warnock tweeted. “In this tender time of transitioning, God is surely walking with him.” In April 2021, US President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, met with the Carters at their home in Plains. The White House afterward released a photo showing the couples smiling together, although only Rosalynn was seen by the press outside, bidding the Bidens farewell while using a walker. On Saturday, Carter’s grandson Jason Carter, a former Georgia state senator, tweeted that he had seen “both of my grandparents yesterday.” “They are at peace and — as always —their home is full of love. Thank you all for your kind words,” he said. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Pink thinks Madonna was right to complain about “ageism and misogyny”. The 64-year-old pop icon was subjected to criticism and ridicule over her seemingly-altered appearance at the Grammy Awards, and Pink thinks she was perfectly entitled to voice her frustrations. The 43-year-old singer told the Sunday Mirror newspaper’s No Filter showbiz column: “It’s unfair, it’s always unfair, and it’s ageism. The attitude is no longer that person has been amazing for so long, it’s all about bashing them and I hate it. “Let’s just give the people the respect they deserve and have earned, and be a bit nicer. Can we all be a bit nicer? I want to be nicer, to myself and others. “When a person walks out, the first thing I think is not: ‘Holy s*** did you see their face?’ I don’t think like that. I think: ‘Holy s***, that person has been amazing for so long.” Pink made the comments after Madonna claimed that she’s being “punished” for her “strong-willed” ways. Sharing a selection of pictures from the Grammys, Madonna recently wrote on Instagram: “It was an honor for me to Introduce Kim Petras and Sam Smith at the Grammys. “I had wanted to give the last award which was Album of the year, but I thought it was more important that I present the first trans-woman performing at the Grammys- a History making moment!! And on top of that she won a Grammy!! [heart emoji] “Instead of focusing on what I said in my speech which was about giving thanks for the fearlessness of artists like Sam and Kim- Many people chose to only talk about Close-up photos of me Taken with a long lens camera By a press photographer that Would distort anyone’s face!! “Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny That permeates the world we live in. “A world that refuses to celebrate women pass the age of 45 And feels the need to punish her If she continues to be strong willed, hard-working and adventurous. (sic)” View the full article

Published by Radar Online MEGA RuPaul’s Drag Racepersonality Shea Couleé called out Jeffree Star after the YouTuber sparked controversy with a recent interview, RadarOnline.com has learned. Star spoke about several topics during an episode of Taylor Lewan‘s Bussin With The Boys podcast, including the LGBTQ+ community and gender-neutral non-binary pronouns. MEGA The Jeffree Star Cosmetics CEO said he is “not into all the other bull—-,” revealing he was referring to they/them pronouns in particular. “And all that extra s— that we added during the pandemic because everyone was so bored in their f—ing houses.” “That’s why the conservatives like me because I’m just real,” added Star. “You’re not they and them. You’re trans, you’re male, or you’re female. And people get so mad when I say that,” the Turn Off the Lights hitmaker continued. MEGA “How are you a they? What the f— does that mean? It’s stupid is what it is, but you need someone like me that looks like me to say it,” Star added, reasoning that if men were to say it then it can come across as homophobic or transphobic. Star noted it’s not about hating anyone, but rather just about not supporting the pronouns. “Jeffree Star is the grifter who will throw the entire LGBTQ+ community under the bus if it makes him that bag,” one critic tweeted. In response to another angry Twitter post with a clip from that segment, Couleé who appeared in season 9 of Drag Race, issued a response to Star, writing, “No sweetie. Conservatives like you because you wrap yourself in confederate flags.” MEGA Couleé was likely addressing a photo that resurfaced a few years ago, in which Star posed next to a fan wearing a Confederate flag draped over his shoulders. Star admitted the photo was real in 2020 and claimed that he was asked to be in it “for shock value” because he is gay and “obviously not what the flag represents.” “I was mocking the flag but now see how ugly and wrong it is to be next to it. Should I have told them no? Absolutely. But I made the stupid decision to stand there and I’m sorry for my actions,” Star added at the time. Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free. MEGA The beauty guru has since responded to critics speaking out against his latest interview. “Now what we’re not gonna [do] today is lie on Jeffree Star’s name and make up things that I never said!” he started. “So, to anyone that is trying to make it seem like I said that non-binary don’t exist, I never said that … you’re putting words in my mouth.” “I said I don’t like the pronouns and I don’t agree with them. I never said they don’t exist,” added Star. “I’m a freak. I’m a part of the LGTBQ community! B—-, I’m pansexual. I’m bisexual. I’m whatever the f— you wanna call me. I don’t like labels.” Star clarified he is “old school” and doesn’t agree with “all these 30 terms.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Lee Majors is to star alongside Ryan Gosling in ‘The Fall Guy’ movie. The 83-year-old actor starred Colt Seavers in the 1980s action series about a Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a bounty hunter and couldn’t turn down the chance to make an appearance in the upcoming film adaptation following a surprise phone call from director David Leitch as he admitted he is still having a “great time” in the industry almost 60 years after he first started out. He said: “I’ve just filmed a movie called ‘Gettysburg Christmas’. I’m looking forward to another film with the team behind ‘Renegades’ and, here’s an exclusive for you, yesterday I had a phone call from David Leitch who directed ‘Deadpool’ and ‘John Wick’. “I knew he was doing ‘The Fall Guy’ movie in Australia with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt but I was surprised by his call. He asked if I would appear in the movie and so I had to say yes!” Lee – who was married to late Hollywood pin up icon Farrah Fawcett from 1973 until 1982 – is also known for his starring role as ‘former astronaut, USAF Colonel Steve Austin in 1970s TV classic ‘The Six Million Dollar Man’ and went on to tease that a big screen adaptation of that could be in the works and explained he would definitely take up the chance to be in it. He told The Daily Mirror newspaper: ” I know Mark Wahlberg is trying to get ‘The Six Billion Dollar Man’ movie made, it has been put back several times, but if they asked me to take a role in that, sure, why not? I like Mark Wahlberg, he’s a good kid!” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Don Lemon was missing from CNN This Morningone day after causing controversy over remarks he made about newly announced GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley, RadarOnline.com can confirm. In a surprising development to come as Lemon is already in hot water for “screaming” at co-host Kaitlan Collins earlier this month, the 56-year-old CNN host was nowhere to be seen when CNN This Morning aired on Friday morning. Mega Instead, Collins was joined by journalist Audie Cornish who was apparently filling in for Lemon while he “took the day off.” Meanwhile, CNN This Morning c-host Poppy Harlow was also not in the studio because she is currently on location in Salt Lake City, Utah to cover the upcoming NBA All-Star weekend festivities. Mega “Don has the day off,” Collins announced at the beginning of Friday morning’s broadcast, although she did not elaborate on Lemon’s suspicious absence. “Poppy, as you can see, is in Utah for the NBA All-Star Game, so we’ll get to that and much more in a moment,” Collins added before she and Cornish reported on the top news stories of the morning. View the full article

Published by AFP Demonstrators protesting the police killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee Washington (AFP) – Lawyers for five officers said they pleaded “not guilty” Friday to charges they murdered Tyre Nichols, a young Black man who died after a police beating last month in the US city of Memphis, Tennessee. Videos of the incident showed the five officers, who are all Black, repeatedly kicking and punching Nichols during a traffic stop close to his home on January 7, three days before he died in hospital. Attorneys representing the defendants, all of whom were fired by the Memphis Police Department, appeared in a brief initial plea hearing for an explosive trial that has drawn national attention to the issues of police abuse and mistreatment of African Americans. All five were charged with second degree murder. Judge James Jones acknowledged those sensitivities as he warned the defendants and the family of Nichols present in court that the trial could be long and involve “high emotions,” and urged “civility” for those connected to the proceedings. “Everyone involved wants this case to be concluded as quickly as possible. But it’s important for you all to understand that the state of Tennessee as well as each one of these defendants have an absolute right to a fair trial.” “And I will not allow any behavior that could jeopardize that right,” he said. Saying there is a large amount of evidence to be collected, Jones set the next court date for May 1. After the hearing civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents the Nichols family, said the substantial video evidence implicating the officers should enable a speedy trial. “It’s important that we move swiftly towards justice,” Crump said. “When people in our community do something on video, it doesn’t take a long time to prosecute them.” Nichols’ mother RowVaughn Wells said she still feels “numb” over the death of her son. “I know my son is gone. I know I’ll never see him again. But we have to start this process of justice,” Wells said. She added that she plans to attend every court session to ensure the former officers “can know that we’re here.” “I want each and every one of those police officers to be able to look me in the face. They haven’t done that yet, they could even do that today,” she said. Police unit ‘pattern’ Nichols, 29, was stopped by members of a special police anti-crime squad called the Scorpion Unit in Memphis on January 7 for an alleged traffic violation, according to police. The reason the officers stopped him remains unknown. Nichols was beaten viciously by police, in scenes recorded in body camera and security camera footage that triggered national outrage when it was made public late last month. Besides the five officers charged with second degree murder, a sixth one has been fired and other officials, including three firefighters, suspended. Crump flatly rejected media reports and online gossip that motive for the traffic stop involved Nichols’ alleged friendship with a woman who had had a relationship with one of the officers. “All these rumors that are circulating are bogus and untrue,” said Crump. “This ancillary matter has nothing to do with the reason why this happened to Tyre Nichols,” he said. “The Scorpion unit had a pattern and practice of doing this to Black people in Memphis. That’s it.” Nichols was buried February 1 in a ceremony attended by Vice President Kamala Harris, who said his beating “was not in pursuit of public safety.” “This is a family that lost their son and their brother through an act of violence at the hands and the feet of people who had been charged with keeping them safe,” she told the gathering at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. The next day, in a meeting with Black lawmakers, President Joe Biden urged Congress to put through stalled police reforms, citing Nichols’ death. “My hope is, this dark memory spurs some action that we’ve all been fighting for,” Biden said. View the full article

Published by Relaxnews By OSCAR DEL POZO / AFP Spain on Thursday joined a small but growing club of nations that allow people to change their gender on their ID card through a simple administrative declaration. Spain on Thursday joined a small but growing club of nations that allow people to change their gender on their ID card through a simple administrative declaration. Several countries have scrapped requirements for people who want to change the gender registered at their birth to undergo medical or psychological treatment. AFP looks at the situation worldwide: – Early days yet – According to the International … Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet On July 26, 2017, out of the blue, President Donald Trump in a series of tweets falsely claiming he had consulted with his generals, announced all transgender service members would be kicked out of the U.S. Armed Forces. There was no legitimate basis for the Commander-in-Chief’s decision, no scientific basis, no financial basis, and indeed, doing so would have stripped America’s military of some of its experts. As NCRM reported, the nation later learned the abrupt announcement was done after urgings from far-right wing extremists including Ginni Thomas, anti-LGBTQ hate group head Tony Perkins…. Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega John Travolta will always be hopelessly devoted to late wife Kelly Preston. The actress was just 57 when she died from breast cancer in 2020, and since then, the Grease lead reportedly hasn’t been on a single date — and he plans to keep it that way. mega “John still considers himself married and says he will stay loyal to Kelly until the day he dies,” an insider disclosed to Radar. “It’s hands off when it comes to dating. It’s sad, but he’s essentially taken a vow of celibacy for the rest of his life.” The source explained that Travolta, 68, can’t even fathom the idea of “ever falling in love again” since “he says it would be a betrayal of Kelly’s memory.” “He talks about Kelly constantly,” added the source. “Their lives were so intertwined, it’s very hard for him to go on.” mega However, the Saturday Night Fever star has been able to muster up some strength thanks to his children: daughter Ella Bleu, 22, and son, Ben, 12. “The kids are everything to him,” the insider declared. “If it weren’t for them, it’s hard to know what he’d do.” Preston and Travolta also shared son Jett, but he tragically died from a seizure at age 16, having been diagnosed with Kawasaki disease at just a year old. Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! The actor endured more heartache this past summer when costar Olivia Newton-John passed. “My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again,” he gushed in a social media tribute. “Yours from the first moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John.” mega Tragedy struck yet again around four months later when pal Kirstie Alley also perished. “Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had,” Travolta confessed on Instagram alongside a throwback photo. “I love you Kirstie. I know we will see each other again.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Helen Coster and Jack Queen (Reuters) -Fox knew that debunked theories about vote-rigging claims it broadcast were “total bs,” according to election technology company Dominion Voting Systems in a filing made public in Delaware Superior Court Thursday, part of its $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against the media giant. “From the top down, Fox knew ‘the dominion stuff’ was ‘total bs,’” Dominion wrote in its filing. “Yet despite knowing the truth—or at minimum, recklessly disregarding that truth—Fox spread and endorsed these ‘outlandish voter fraud claims’ about Dominion even as it internally recognized the lies as ‘crazy,’ ‘absurd,’ and ‘shockingly reckless.’” Dominion sued Fox News Networks in March 2021, alleging that the cable TV network amplified false claims that Dominion machines were used to rig the 2020 U.S. presidential election against Republican Donald Trump and in favor of his Democratic rival Joe Biden, who won the election. Fox has argued that it had a right to report on election-fraud allegations made by Trump and his lawyers, and that Dominion’s lawsuit would stifle freedom of the press. “The core of this case remains about freedom of the press and freedom of speech, which are fundamental rights afforded by the Constitution and protected by New York Times v. Sullivan,” a Fox spokesperson said in a statement. Dominion filed suit against parent company Fox Corp in November 2021; the case was consolidated in December. As part of discovery, Dominion has sought communications from Fox Corp Chairman Rupert Murdoch, his son, Fox Corp Chief Executive Officer Lachlan Murdoch, and Fox News personnel as it seeks to prove that the network either knew the statements it aired were false or recklessly disregarded their accuracy. That is the standard of “actual malice” that public figures must prove to prevail in defamation cases. Dominion said in its brief that Rupert Murdoch internally described the election claims as “really crazy” and “damaging” but declined to wield his editorial power to stop them. Dominion in January questioned Murdoch under oath. Representatives for Rupert Murdoch did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Other top Fox executives including Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott repeatedly raised the alarm over false election fraud claims but failed to act because they feared losing viewers to Newsmax, Dominion said. “The heart of this is really going to be whether there was false information put on the air, and whether they knew it was false or whether they were reckless in putting it on the air,” said Roy Gutterman, director of the Newhouse School’s Tully Center for Free Speech at Syracuse University. Dominion alleged in its lawsuit that Fox amplified the false theories to boost its ratings and stay abreast of hard-right competitors including One America News Network, which Dominion is also suing. The complaint cited instances in which Trump allies like Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell appeared on Fox News and falsely claimed Dominion software may have manipulated vote counts in favor of Biden. Thursday’s filing reflects the outcome of months of discovery from both sides. Dominion in January questioned Fox Chairman Rupert Murdoch under oath, the most high-profile figure to face questioning in the case. Earlier on Thursday, Fox filed a counterclaim in Delaware Superior Court, alleging that Dominion has no evidence to support its “staggering” damages claim. In its own summary judgment filing made public Thursday, Fox argued that Trump’s claims about the election were “undeniably newsworthy” and that viewers understood they were merely being reported as allegations. Fox also argued that Dominion’s suit advances overbroad interpretations of defamation law, takes quotes from its coverage out of context and ignores its reporting of Dominion’s rebuttals to the false claims. “Dominion’s lawsuit is an assault on the First Amendment and the free press,” Fox wrote in its filing. “The record shows that Dominion’s central allegations are factually unfounded, legally unsound, or both.” A five-week trial in the case is scheduled to begin on April 17. (Reporting by Helen Coster.; editing by Diane Craft) View the full article

Published by Grazia USA The Academy Awards (or the Oscars, as most of us call the awards show) is 95 years old this year. While the show’s red carpet and celebrity couple appearances get plenty of headlines, the biggest night in Hollywood isn’t without its scandals and controversies. Scandal and controversy are intrinsically tied to Hollywood — the place where drama is made is, of course, filled with its own drama behind the scenes. The Oscars is often where those whispers and disagreements become public knowledge, especially if there is an award upset. Ahead of the Academy Awards this year, we’re taking a look back … Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story It didn’t take long for Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to act as surrogate hit woman for former President Donald Trump and attack newly announced presidential candidate Nikki Haley. In a tweet Greene, stated “Nikki Haley is just another George (or Jeb!) Bush,” she continued. “If we wanted a ‘Bush in heels,’ Republicans would vote for Liz Cheney.” Greene’s attack also included comparing and contrasting Haley’s political positions with Trump. “She is weak on the border, doesn’t want a wall,” stated Greene. She also added, “Nikki Haley refused to support a transgender bathroom bill … Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet Nearly 200 past and present contributors to The New York Times have signed on to a damning letter detailing what they say is the paper of record’s “editorial bias” in “reporting on transgender, non⁠-⁠binary, and gender nonconforming people.” The letter follows months of what appears to be heightened criticism, born out of frustration over The Times’ reporting on transgender people. Numerous, eye-opening examples of how the “Old Gray Lady,” as the paper is often called, positions and frames transgender people and the issues they and their families face are packed into the letter, which compares… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Rebel Wilson claims she her ‘Pitch Perfect’ contract prevented her from losing weight. The 42-year-old actress played Fat Amy in the hit film franchise between 2012 and 2017, and Rebel claims that her contract stopped her from shedding weight. She explained: “I couldn’t lose a massive amount of weight, because I was in the contracts for that movie. “I think it’s not more than ten pounds [you can lose] and not gain more than ten pounds. You have to kind of stay at the weight that’s in your contract.” Rebel embarked on a so-called year of health in 2020, as she made a determined effort to lose weight. However, the Hollywood star had been thinking about adopting a healthier lifestyle for years. Rebel – who ultimately managed to lose 60 pounds – told the ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast: “I was stereotyped in playing that fat, funny friend. I love doing those roles, I love those characters, but then I did want to do more things. But then I felt like being the bigger girl, you’re just more pigeonholed.” Meanwhile, Rebel recently revealed that she’s set to launch a dating app. The actress – who is in a relationship with Ramona Agruma – is launching a new dating app named Fluid and Rebel explained how it relates to her own love life. The movie star – who has a three-month-old baby called Royce, who was born via a surrogate – said: “This is the first dating app where you don’t have to actually define yourself or tick a box to say ‘I’m straight, I’m gay, I’m bisexual,’ and you don’t have to describe what you are looking for.” Rebel is one of the app’s founders and she’s proud of its inclusive approach. She shared: “What’s really cool is, it’s open to everyone. “You might just be interested in checking out a wider dating pool like I was. It covers a lot of the LGBTQIA spectrum, but I think even if you’re straight you could use the app and have an amazing time.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Daniel Trotta (Reuters) – Republican legislators across the United States have escalated a campaign to ban certain healthcare for transgender youth, in some cases seeking to charge parents and doctors with child abuse if they provide treatment. This year’s legislative agenda, unprecedented in the number and scope of bills around transgender issues, also includes measures to block teachers from using pronouns that match a student’s gender identity, ban trans girls from playing on girls’ sports teams and require trans people to use the bathroom corresponding to their sex assigned at birth. The aggressive legislative push comes as battles over gender and sexuality increasingly are being fought in U.S. classrooms, courtrooms and political campaigns. Republicans including former President Donald Trump have embraced restricting trans rights ahead of the 2024 White House race, a push that trans advocates fear will harm transgender children. “This issue will be a national debate in the next presidential election,” said Jay Richards, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. “If Republicans in the relevant states handle this properly, it’s actually politically beneficial.” The think tank supports the proposed legislation in several states, though Richards said some bills, such as those that seek criminal liability for doctors and parents, might be “overly draconian.” Republicans have introduced more than 300 bills in 33 states aiming to limit transgender and wider lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) rights this year, more than double the number of such bills filed in 2022, according to Erin Reed, Alejandra Caraballo and Allison Chapman, a trio of transgender rights advocates tracking the legislation. In addition to the familiar legislative efforts targeting sports and bathrooms, the emphasis this year is on banning gender-affirming care, the goal of 97 bills in 27 states. Gender-affirming care covers a variety of treatments, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy and, in exceedingly rare cases for trans people under 18, surgery. Medical associations, which call the bills transphobic, say such healthcare can be life-saving. In many states, transgender children and their parents have testified against the proposed legislation, describing how gender-affirming care changed their lives and fearing the impact of the bills, which have proliferated even as federal courts blocked bans passed in Arkansas in 2021 and Alabama in 2022. But many opponents of trans rights believe that the sex assigned at birth is immutable and distrust the prevailing opinions of medical associations with specialties in pediatrics, endocrinology and mental health. They contend the government must intervene to prevent parents and doctors from permanently harming children. Governors in South Dakota and Utah have already signed into law gender-affirming care bans that state legislatures passed this year. Bills in Idaho, Missouri and Wyoming would criminalize providing such care as felony child abuse, while measures in Tennessee and Texas would categorize it as abuse under family law. The Tennessee bill, which would bar doctors from providing gender-affirming care to anyone under the age of 18, passed the state’s Republican-led Senate on Monday. Transgender advocates say such moves are punitive, especially considering the difficulty of getting treatment due to cost, lack of family support or trouble finding a provider. “The idea that we have a social contagion encouraging people to be trans in a climate that is this hostile to trans people in so unbelievably offensive,” said Chase Strangio, an ACLU lawyer who has litigated against the Arkansas and Alabama laws. Out of 121,884 minors diagnosed with gender dysphoria from 2017 to 2021, fewer than 15%, or an average of about 3,500 per year, received puberty blockers or hormone therapy, according to a data analysis by health technology company Komodo Health Inc in conjunction with Reuters last year. (Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Josie Kao) View the full article

Published by AlterNet Less than one month after the January 6 insurrection Mike Pence made one of his first moves as a former vice president: he joined Young America’s Foundation as a Ronald Reagan Presidential Scholar. YAF, a decades-old youth outreach group designed to influence high school and college-aged conservatives, boasts alumni like Trump architect of child separation policies Stephen Miller. It has received millions from the DeVos family, and has a chapter that was listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Last year far-right Daily Wire political commentator Matt Walsh gave college speec… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Sam Smith was reportedly targeted by hateful harassment while walking in a park in Brooklyn earlier this week. In a video currently circulating on Twitter, the British pop star is seen typing on their phone, when a woman starts yelling vicious homophobic and transphobic insults at the singer. Smith — who’s nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns — then proceeds to walk, apparently unbothered by the attack, while at least one other person appears to join in the chorus of hate. “You belong in hell! Sam Smith belongs in hell! You demonic, twisted, sick bastard,” one woman is heard saying… Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet Jonathan Mitchell, the attorney behind Texas’ vigilante law that acted as an end-run around Roe v. Wade, allowing anyone to sue anyone who even assisted someone getting an illegal abortion, is now reportedly drafting legislation to not only ban “immoral” books in schools, but allow anyone to sue librarians and other school staff over the book, or even if they express support for LGBTQ people. “Draft city ordinances allegedly written by Mitchell could lead to Texans suing librarians and others for their decisions about which books to put on shelves — or for expressing LGBTQ+ support,” Axios rep… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine @fquadrani/Instagram; MEGA Another news room… another scandal? CNN’s executive producer Federico Quadrani was axed from the network after it was revealed he’d allegedly been hooking up with a subordinate. Details are buzzing between staffers at the media company, as one source warned: “It’s going to get out.” @fquadrani/Instagram The longtime staffer at CNN has officially been removed from the company’s list of employees, further sealing his career-ending fate at the famed network, OK! discovers. Quadrani was Jake Tupper‘s executive producer for The Lead and was already under an HR-led “investigation of sorts” for a suspected inappropriate relationship with a senior producer, insiders revealed to a news publication. “There were some complaints. No one had proof, and these things are hard to prove. Jake was aware of the investigation,” another source explained. However, just as HR was about to pull the probe and clear the Emmy-winning producer from further investigation, Tapper was “presented with something that he couldn’t ignore,” last Wednesday, February 8. Quadrani was ousted from CNN by Friday, according to insiders. “Jake was made aware of it and acted quickly. Someone discovered something accidentally, and brought it to Tapper. He delivered it to [human resources], and they were terminated,” the second source confessed. Although Quadrani’s colleagues are shocked by the news, “they’re consenting adults and no one’s particularly feeling like this is some big scandal,” the second insider noted. Both Quadrani and the subordinate he had allegedly been hooking up with were “missing” from CNN’s Washington bureau, the source added. A spokesperson for CNN said the network will “not comment on personnel matters.” Quadrani relocated to Washington, D.C., when he started working for Tapper’s news show in 2013. Prior to his switch from MSNBC to CNN, the TV producer worked at Today from 2003-2009 and at ABC’s Good Morning America from 1998-2003. Page Six spoke to sources after Quadrani was allegedly fired. View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Actress Jennifer Coolidge had a scary situation at her Los Angeles home when an unknown man hopped her fence and walked around her property, RadarOnline.com has learned. Law enforcement sources revealed that Coolidge was reviewing security footage when she came across the man. mega The incident happened last month. On the footage, the unidentified suspect showed up at Coolidge’s pad and attempted to open her security gate. Once that didn’t work, the man hopped over her gate. The suspect didn’t stop there and continued to walk around the property. However, the man did not try to break into the home and left without stealing. After viewing the footage, Coolidge decided to call up the police who took a trespass report and launched an investigation into the situation. Law enforcement sources believe the man involved may be transient. No arrests have been made as of yet. mega The White Lotus star has been on a hot streak for the past couple of years. Last month, the actress won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series for her role on the Mike White-created show. During her acceptance speech, Coolidge praised White for restarting her career by giving her the role of Tanya McQuoid. She told the audience, “I thought I was going to be the queen of Monaco even though someone else did it. But I had these giant ideas. And then you get older and, oh, s— is going to happen.” mega The actress continued, “And, Mike White, you have given me hope. You’ve given me a new beginning. Even if this is the end, because you did kill me off, but even if this is the end, you changed my life in a million different ways. My neighbors are speaking to me and things like that. I was never invited to one party on my hill, and now everyone’s inviting me! I just —you know, it’s to you, Mike White.” “So anyway, I just want to say, Mike White, I love you to death. I just want to say, this is a real fun night, thank you. Thank you!” Coolidge ended. mega View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Though Tom Brady didn’t make it to the Super Bowl in his final year as a quarterback, he offered his take on the game and Rihanna‘s stellar halftime performance during this week’s episode of his “Let’s Go!’ podcast. The dad-of-three also reflected on some of the Super Bowls he has competed in, but he ruffled feathers when talking about the infamous 2004 halftime show, in which Justin Timberlake infamously exposed Janet Jackson‘s breast. Brady, 45, said the Super Bowl concerts are “for the fans, not for the players,” so he didn’t witness the incident go down as it was happening. “[Reporters] were asking me about that, and I couldn’t even understand what they were telling me about,” the athlete explained. “They were like, ‘Did you see the halftime show?’ and I said, ‘Nah, I didn’t see anything.’ I was thinking about the game.” mega The 80 for Brady star then gave a controversial opinion about the moment notoriously dubbed “Nipplegate.” “I think, in the end, it was probably a good thing for the NFL because everyone got to talk about it, and it was just more publicity and more publicity for halftime shows,” he said. “Is any publicity bad publicity? That’s what they say. So, who knows?” Back then, Timberlake and Jackson stayed mum on the situation, but in the a recent documentary, the mom-of-one noted it “shouldn’t have happened,” and the *NSYNC alum issued in apology in 2021, noting he wants to help end the deep-rooted misogyny existing in the music industry. Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! mega “I’ve seen the messages, tags, comments and concerns and I want to respond,” the dad-of-two stated in an Instagram post. “I am deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn, or did not speak up for what was right.” Since Jackson clearly wasn’t fond of the memory, fans attacked Brady for his words. Questioned one Twitter user, “Janet’s career and legacy was DESTROYED due to the incident and the ONLY thing Tom Brady can speak on NOW after 19 years if the publicity of the NFL?” “I think in his whole commentary here he misses how god awful it must have been for Janet,” another person commented, with a third noting, “The only person who suffered the humiliation and consequences was Janet Jackson. I see everyone profited from that.” View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) – The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday said mpox remained a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), its highest level of alert, citing continued transmission in some countries. Mpox – which spreads via close contact and tends to cause flu-like symptoms and pus-filled skin lesions – was declared a global health emergency by the WHO in July 2022. The organisation maintained its alert in November. While the mpox outbreak is effectively over in most of the countries where it began spreading, it continues to be a threat in the parts of west and central Africa where it is endemic, sources close to a meeting of the WHO’s emergency committee said before it began. The committee said there was continued sustained illness in some countries and likely under-reported detection and confirmed cases in others. Numbers of reported cases had declined since its last meeting. “The WHO Director-General … concurs with this advice that the event continues to constitute a PHEIC,” it said. (This story has been corrected to fix attribution to sources close to meeting in paragraph 3) (Reporting by Juby Babu in Bengaluru; editing by John Stonestreet) View the full article