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Published by Reuters By Philip Pullella ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (Reuters) – Pope Francis said on Sunday that laws criminalising LGBT people are a sin and an injustice because God loves and accompanies people with same-sex attraction. Francis, who made his remarks in response to a reporter’s question aboard the plane returning from a two-country trip to Africa, received full backing of his comments from two other Christian leaders on the plane with him. “The criminalisation of homosexuality is a problem that cannot be ignored,” said Francis, who then cited unnamed statistics according to which 50 countries criminalise LGBT people “in one way or another” and about 10 others have laws including the death penalty for them. Sixty-six U.N. member states continue to criminalise consensual same-sex sexual relations, according to data from ILGA World – the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. In several countries where same-sex relations are illegal, punishments can include a possible death penalty. “This is not right. Persons with homosexual tendencies are children of God. God loves them. God accompanies them … condemning a person like this is a sin. Criminalising people with homosexual tendencies is an injustice,” Francis said. He noted that the Catholic Church’s catechism, or book of teachings, says same-sex attraction is not a sin but homosexual acts are. It also says that LGBT people should not be marginalised. Francis mentioned his now-famous phase from soon after he became pope in 2013 that he could not judge people with same-sex tendencies who are seeking God. He also noted that while visiting Ireland in 2018 he said that parents could not disown their LGBT children, but had to keep them in a loving family. SUPPORT FROM CHRISTIAN LEADERS The pope made the trip to South Sudan, the second country on the tour, as a peace pilgrimage with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Iain Greenshields. Both Christian leaders were on the plane returning from there and participated in the pope’s customary news conference with reporters, a first on any papal trip. Both praised the pope’s comments. “I entirely agree with every word he said there,” Welby said, noting that the Anglican communion was itself divided over gay rights and that two resolutions against criminalisation of LGBT people “have not really changed many people’s minds”. Welby added: “I shall certainly quote the Holy Father. He said it so beautifully and accurately”. Expressing his own support of Francis, Greenshields referred to the Bible, saying: “There is nowhere in my reading of the four Gospels where I see Jesus turning anyone away. There is nowhere in the four Gospels that I see anything other than Jesus expressing love to whoever he meets and as Christians that is the only expression that we can give to any human being in any circumstance”. Francis repeated that the Catholic Church cannot permit sacramental marriage of same-sex couples but that he supported so-called civil union legislation giving same-sex couples legal protection in issues such as pensions, inheritance and health care. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Frances Kerry) View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Megyn Kelly ripped into Don Lemon, claiming if he ever would have “screamed” at her in front of colleagues as he did to his CNN This Morning co-anchor Kaitlan Collins, she’d go out of her way to make sure he no longer had a job,RadarOnline.com has learned. The ex-Fox News star didn’t censor her thoughts about Lemon’s off-air tirade, in which he reportedly accused Collins of “interrupting” him following their December 8 broadcast. As RadarOnline.comreported, the alleged altercation left Collins “visibly upset” and CNN staffers “shaken.” Mega “If somebody ever screamed at me to the point where I was visibly upset and ran out of the studio, I would have that person fired,” Kelly said on her SiriusXM podcast Friday. She also warned Lemon he “better be careful” as his morning show with Collins and Poppy Harlow “is on its last legs before it even got on its first legs.” RadarOnline.com told you — CNN is struggling under the watch of boss Chris Licht, with the network recording its worst ratings in nine years last week. Lemon’s new morning show with Collins and Poppy Harlow has brought in fewer viewers than expected, leaving them in last place against their rivals. Mega Kelly doesn’t believe this is the first time Lemon has lashed out at a female co-worker, saying she also had to work alongside men with “big egos.” The news correspondent, 52, stated she “co-hosted more hours than I can count with a lot of guys with big egos … and never have I screamed at a colleague or had him scream at me.” Kelly told her listeners she wouldn’t be shocked if more women step forward to complain about Lemon’s treatment. “I will go out on a limb right now and tell you, that’s not the first time,” she said. “There will be another woman who he’s co anchored with — I guarantee you — who’s going to come out and say, ‘Me too.’” Driving her point home, Kelly added: “Because if you behave like that toward a colleague with whom you share the air and you share the show, this will not be the first time…” Mega The former Fox anchor doesn’t think Lemon and Collins are a match made in morning news heaven, suggesting CNN’s golden boy of having a problem with his co-star’s past. Before taking her job with liberal Lemon, Collins worked for conservative Tucker Carlson’s news site, the Daily Caller. “She’s somebody I wonder whether the politics have anything to do with it,” Kelly said, claiming, “You can sense the tension [between Collins and Lemon].” Kelly ended the topic by stating that one thing is clear: “They don’t have a good rapport at all, and I don’t think CNN is interested in getting rid of her.” Mega Lemon and Collins have yet to address the drama, but she did post a photo hours after the news of their argument broke and appeared not to care that her co-worker’s behavior was exposed. RadarOnline.com has reached out to CNN for comment. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English The ‘Gladiator’ sequel will be released on November 22, 2024. The Sir Ridley Scott-directed sequel to the award-winning drama movie is set to start filming this year, with Paul Mescal, 26, starring. Specific details about the film remain a closely-guarded secret. However, it has been confirmed that Paul will take on the role of Lucius, the son of Connie Nielsen’s character Lucilla and the nephew of Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus from the first film. Russell Crowe has ruled out returning as Maximus in the new movie, and he also explained that it won’t be a “direct sequel”. The 58-year actor – who played the central character in the historical drama film – said: “Yeah we’ve had dinner and talked about it and all that stuff. So I know roughly how he’s shaping the story. “But yeah, if you remember, there was a young kid who wanted to beat the Gladiator, which leads to the ‘My name is’ speech. So that young kid has grown up, and he’s now the Emperor. “I don’t know what else happens at that point, so that’s the idea. So it’s not a remake. And it’s not a direct sequel. It’s not like the day after, you know, 30 years later or something.” David Scarpa is writing the script, while Ridley will produce alongside Michael Pruss via Scott Free, and Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher via Red Wagon Entertainment. A source previously told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column: “This has been building since 2018 and for a long time it looked like it may never see the light of day. “But suddenly late last year the production team really sprung into life after settling on a new script which seemed to inspire them. “A few months later everything was up and running and now it’s well underway. “They should be filming by May, which means there’s every chance the movie will be ready some time in 2024. “Either way, this would be a huge box office draw. “It’s one of the biggest action films of its era and was a massive hit. “People have been asking Ridley about a follow-up for years, so there’s clearly a massive appetite for it.” View the full article

Published by Grazia USA It goes without saying, Beyoncé is an unstoppable force. She leads the way with a whopping nine nominations for her seventh solo studio album Renaissance at the 2023 Grammy Awards, putting her in the running to become the most awarded artist in all of Grammy history. She already earned the accomplishment of being the most awarded woman in the history of the Grammy Awards with 28 trophies under her belt. Beyoncé only needs three more Grammys to tie, and four more to beat the record for the highest number of wins by an artist. The late conductor Georg Solti currently holds the record, with 31 Gr… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Ben Aldridge could “breathe easier” after he came out as gay. The 37-year-old actor – who was raised as an evangelical Christian – announced his sexuality to the world on f National Coming Out Day in October 2020 and reflected that he “underestimated how significant” the move would be to him at the time. Speaking on the ‘Just For Variety’ podcast, he said: ““Oh you’re going to make me cry. It sounds dramatic, but I could just breathe easier. I underestimated how significant that was to me. I really did. I thought, it’s not that I’d played it down, but I didn’t know what it would do to me physically. And just for days afterward I was like, ‘I needed that so badly. I wasn’t aware of how much I needed to do that and how much I’d potentially hung onto, conveniently hidden behind. It felt so powerful to be able to stand alongside and be part of my community.” Ben previously admitted that coming out was not something he thought would ever be “possible” because he feared it may limit his career choices. He said: “I’d been taught and shown throughout my 20s that [coming out] might cost me work and might cost me jobs and I might not get hired to play straight or it just might work against me. It just didn’t feel like something that was possible.” Upon disclosing his sexuality, the ‘Knock at the Cabin’ star – who is currently thought to be single – admitted that he was “incredibly proud” to be a gay man but admitted that his journey had been a “long one.” He said: “The journey to pride was a long one for me. I love the LGBTQ+ community and am incredibly proud and thankful to be a part of it. So much won. So much more to fight for.” View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel ORLANDO, Fla. — The Plaza Live, an Orlando event venue that came under state scrutiny for hosting an all-age drag queen performance in December, could lose its ability to sell alcohol, according to a complaint filed Friday by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The agency claimed The Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation, which oversees the venue, had a responsibility to make sure no minors were in attendance at the Dec. 28 show, but failed and violated Florida statute in the process. Images released in the complaint show adults bringing children into the venue. The… Read More View the full article

Published by Ultimate Classic Rock Nobody expected Rob Halford to come out as gay when he sat down for a fateful MTV interview on Feb. 4, 1998 — least of all the Metal God himself. Six years removed from Judas Priest, Halford had stopped by the station to promote Voyeurs, the upcoming debut album from 2wo, his new industrial metal project featuring guitarist John 5 (who still went by John Lowery at the time). The singer had ditched his signature studded leather attire for a more goth and glam aesthetic, sporting mascara, painted nails and a black fur coat as he sat down to chat. The conversation invariably turned toward Halford… Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet Republicans are resorting to their age-old tactic of manufactured moral outrage to distract from the fact that they have no economic agenda other than to enrich the already wealthy. It would be laughable if their culture wars didn’t have a deadly impact on people’s lives. From attacks on the right to an abortion, to the right to be transgender, to the right to study accurate history, conservative attacks on vulnerable populations have reached a fever pitch. And it’s destroying the nation. This article was produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute. As if overturn… Read More View the full article

Published by NJ.com By Ellen S. Wilkowe There was plenty of good intention but no good fortune — or even a pot of gold — for the Long Valley Middle School students who decorated the school with rainbow-colored safe zone signs in support of their LGBTQ peers. The student-initiated effort resulted in a warrant from the rainbow police and now the symbol of diversity and inclusion is doing hard prism time, in order to appease the concerns of the community and school board. The decision was set in stone by the advice of legal counsel. Mind you, these signs have been a staple of the school since 2019 and many moons and… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters (Refiles to fix typo in par 6) TOKYO (Reuters) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday fired an aide who said he wouldn’t want to live next to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender couples and warned that people would flee Japan if same-sex marriage was permitted. In remarks reported by local media, Masayoshi Arai, an economy and trade official who joined Kishida’s staff as a secretary in October, added he did not even want to look at same-sex couples. “His comments are outrageous and completely incompatible with the administration’s policies,” Kishida said in remarks aired by public broadcaster NHK. Speaking to reporters later in the day, the Japanese leader said he had dismissed Arai, who had earlier apologized for “misleading” comments made on Friday. Arai’s comments had come after Kishida had said in parliament that same-sex marriage needed careful consideration because of its potential impact on the family structure. The incident is an embarrassment for Kishida as he prepares to host other leaders from Group of Seven nations in May. Unlike Japan, which has been ruled by the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) for most of the past seven decades, the rest of the G7 allow marriage or civil unions for same-sex couples. According to recent opinion polls, Kishida’s public support has halved to around 30% since last year following a series of scandal-tainted resignations by senior officials. Among those who stepped down was Mio Sugita, an internal affairs and communications vice minister, who quit in December over controversial comments about LGBT people, and about Japan’s indigenous Ainu community. In a survey published by NHK in July 2021, two months before Kishida became prime minister, 57% of 1,508 respondents said they supported the legal recognition of same-sex unions. Because they are not allowed to marry, same-sex couples can’t inherit each other’s assets and are denied parental rights to each other’s children. In November, a Tokyo court upheld a ban on same-sex marriage, but also said a lack of legal protection for same-sex families violated their human rights. (This story has been refiled to fix a typo in paragraph 6) (Reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) View the full article

Published by Wayarc Daily Chinese surveillance balloon that had been transiting across the country for several days has been shot down by the US Military. In a statement Saturday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said a U.S. fighter aircraft assigned to U.S. Northern Command successfully brought down the balloon at the direction of President Joe Biden. Lloyd said the balloon was being used by the People’s Republic of China “in an attempt to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States.” Biden gave authorization on Wednesday to take down the balloon as soon as it could be done “without undue risk to America… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Rupert Everett has claimed he knows who Prince Harry lost his virginity to. The Duke of Sussex caused a stir when he revealed in his memoir ‘Spare’ that he’d had sex for the first time when he was 17, in a field behind a pub with an older woman, but the ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’ actor has suggested the 38-year-old prince made up the story. He told Telegraph magazine: “By the way. I know who the woman he lost his virginity to is. And it wasn’t behind a pub. And it wasn’t in this country.” After asked if he was suggesting Harry had purposefully told a different story to protect the identity of the woman he really slept with, he simply grinned and added: “I’m just putting it out there that I know.” But a source close to Harry – who has children Archie, three, and Lili, 19 months, with wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex – questioned the actor’s remarks. They said: “Amazing that he would know such a personal detail better than Prince Harry himself.” Meanwhile, the 63-year-old actor admitted ‘Spare’ had changed his perception of Harry – who stepped down as a senior royal three years ago to start a new life in the US – and he felt “particularly bad” when the prince faced a backlash over his revelation in the tome that he had killed 25 people when he was serving in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter pilot. He said: “It’s made me change my view. I was angry before, and now I just feel very sad – sad for Harry. I felt so sympathetic towards him for years and I still do now. “Honestly! As someone who has put his foot in it quite a bit, I feel particularly bad for him about the Taliban thing. That changed everything and loses him the one group that still loved him.” Harry revealed in his memoir that he lost his virginity in 2001, when he was still a student at Eton College in Windsor, South East England. Remembering a lunchtime meeting with one of the royal family’s bodyguards, Harry wrote: “I suspected he was referring to my recent loss of virginity, a humiliating episode with an older woman who liked macho horses and who treated me like a young stallion. “I mounted her quickly, after which she spanked my a** and sent me away. One of my many mistakes was letting it happen in a field, just behind a very busy pub. No doubt someone had seen us.” However, it ultimately transpired that the bodyguard was actually there to discuss another issue. View the full article

Published by AFP Beyonce, shown here attending the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards, has the most chances at Grammy gold this year Los Angeles (AFP) – The brightest stars in pop music will vie for the industry’s top awards at the Grammys in Los Angeles on Sunday, with a Beyonce-Adele rematch set to take center stage. Kendrick Lamar, Harry Styles and Taylor Swift are also among the frontrunners at the gala primed to be the most star-studded in recent memory. The performance-heavy ceremony will include songs from major contenders Styles, Bad Bunny, Lizzo and Mary J. Blige at the 65th annual show, hosted once again by comedian Trevor Noah. Beyonce leads the pack with nine chances at Grammy gold, followed by rapper Lamar with eight. Adele and fellow balladeer Brandi Carlile scored seven nods each. Music’s biggest night follows a year of blockbuster albums, including Beyonce’s “Renaissance” — a pulsating collecting of club tracks — and Adele’s introspective ode to the ugly cry, “30.” Those records will face off in the most prestigious categories, six years after the British artist shut out Queen Bey’s culture-shaking “Lemonade.” Adele’s sweep in 2017 left both women in tears, with the crooner calling Beyonce her “idol” and telling the audience her fellow megastar’s paradigm-shifting record should have won. That contest fueled perennial criticism that the Academy consistently fails to pay Black artists their due. This year, Billboard predicts the Beyhive will rejoice over a best album win for their Queen, while the industry tracker thinks Adele has the top shot at best record — the award for overall performance of a song — for her single “Easy On Me.” But as the shock upsets of Grammys past prove, it’s really anyone’s game. Either way, with this year’s new nominations, Beyonce continues to forge a history-making path: she moved into a tie with her husband, Jay-Z, as the most nominated artists ever with 88 each. Already the woman with the most Grammys, Beyonce could overtake classical conductor Georg Solti for the most wins by any artist, with four victories on Sunday; she’s tied for second place with music power player Quincy Jones. Swift top songwriter? Bad Bunny, indisputably the world’s biggest commercial artist, has three Grammy chances off his major drop “Un Verano Sin Ti,” which is in the running for Album of the Year. It’s the first time an all Spanish-language album has a chance at that coveted award, and it’s the first time the Puerto Rican reggaeton megastar has landed a solo nomination in the major Grammy categories. Styles, Lizzo and Doja Cat all figure among the top nominees, while pop juggernaut Swift could finally win the Song of the Year prize that has evaded her for years. The superstar — who has been making good on a vow to re-record her first six albums to gain control of her rights to them — has a chance at the prestigious award celebrating songwriters for her 10-minute version of “All Too Well.” The original song came out in 2012 on Swift’s album “Red,” but qualified for inclusion because the expanded version contained more than 50 percent new material. TikTok newbies After several Grammy years with clear Best New Artist frontrunners — Olivia Rodrigo, Megan Thee Stallion and Billie Eilish — Sunday’s race is wide open. The category has grown increasingly eclectic and reflective of the internet age’s impact on popular music, and many of the nominees including Brazil’s Anitta, Eurovision rockers Maneskin and rapper Latto have all found viral fame on TikTok. South Korea’s boy band sensation BTS — who last year declared they were taking a hiatus — meanwhile is hoping for a first elusive Grammy. The Academy — comprised of music-makers including artists, composers and engineers — also shortlisted a coterie of the industry’s enduring stars, with Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson and ABBA each garnering a handful of nominations. After wowing audiences with a show-stopping performance at the 2019 Grammys, the big-voiced Carlile will take the stage once more as she competes in the top categories as well as for roots and Americana honors. Asked on a recent red carpet about her slate of nominations, Carlile said she was “ecstatic.” “Those kinds of accolades are life-affirming,” she told AFP. “Especially because the Grammys is my peers, it means other musicians think I did a good job this year. “That’s why it feels so good.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Madonna‘s “greatest hits” would tour will be a family affair — with all of her six children joining her on the stage and off, RadarOnline.comhas learned. “Lourdes, David, Mercy, Stella, and Estere will join their mom onstage, while her son Rocco will help design the tour,” spilled one source — but it will eat into the profits from sales of the $2,583 tickets, with the insider adding Madonna will only make sure her kids get the VIP treatment. Mega “It’s only the best for Madonna and her kids,” the source stated. “That’s seven VIP suites in each city!” The Grammy winner, 64, announced The Celebration Tour last month with the help of several celebrity pals who taunted her with a challenge: “I dare you to do a world tour and play your greatest motherf—— hits.” Mega Madonna promised to feature hits from her entire career, all the way from her 1983’s self-titled debut album to the 2019’s Madame X. “I am excited to explore as many songs as possible in hopes to give my fans the show they have been waiting for,” the singer shared in January. A press release said the tour “will take us on Madonna’s artistic journey through four decades and pays respect to the city of New York where her career in music began.” Mega She first announced she’ll be gracing fans from 35 cities across North America and Europe, only later revealing she added 13 additional dates due to “overwhelming demand.” Madonna’s The Celebration Tour will kick off on July 15 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. Madge will then head to Phoenix, Cleveland, Toronto, New York, Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, London, Barcelona, Paris, Milan, and more cities. She’ll finish the tour on December 1 at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam. But Madonna’s not the only featured star on the tour. Mega She’ll be joined by her dear friend Bob the Drag Queen at all of her scheduled shows. Madonna’s big Celebration tour — which marks the 40th anniversary of her breakout single, Holiday — comes after she was forced to cancel some of her Madame X shows pre-pandemic due to knee and hip injuries. The world tour also comes on the heels of Madonna’s biopic getting scrapped. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Channing Tatum had to cover up a blemish on his bum for ‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’. Make-up artists on the upcoming movie had to spend 20 minutes every day rubbing concealer and powder on the Hollywood hunk’s bare bottom to hide the scar he suffered from a bite while filming his previous flick ‘Dog’. An insider told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column: “Channing is actually quite proud of that scar because of how much the film ‘Dog’ meant to him. “But for ‘Magic Mike 3’ it was case of keeping his assets looking as visually pleasing as possible. “A make-up team had to make sure that the concealer covered his canine teeth marks. “But the team also had to ensure that his skin was smooth. It was a proper 20-minute job working on his bum.” Channing will strip off once again as he reprises his role as Mike Lane in the conclusion to the trilogy and is joined in the cast by Salma Hayek, but a raunchy lap dancing scene between the pair almost ended in tragedy. Salma said: “You know, this one part that’s not in it where I’m upside down, and my legs had to be somewhere. But upside down, one loses sense of direction, and I didn’t do what I was supposed to do, so in the rehearsal, I went like, head down, almost hit my head. “(Channing) held on to my pants, but I was really concerned because my pants were going away, and I couldn’t remember if I had underwear or not in this moment. So, instead of putting my hands to protect my head, I just held onto the pants. He’s like, ‘Put your hands up,’ and I’m like, ‘No, no, no, no.’ “Everybody came in, and kind of took me away from him, and he said, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ I said, ‘What’s wrong with me? You nearly killed me!'” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Fashionably too late? Lourdes Leon was stopped by security and not allowed inside a Marc Jacobs fashion show event on Thursday, February 2, after she showed up exactly as the show was set to begin. The eldest daughter of Madonna arrived at the Park Avenue Armory at approximately 6 p.m., when she was greeted by two bouncers who wouldn’t let her up the stairway into the venue, as seen by OK! in a now-viral TikTok video. @mickmicknyc/tiktok It appeared the doors were shut in preparation for the runway event to begin, as security seemingly had strict orders not to let anymore guests inside — even the famous offspring of the “Material Girl” singer, who “has a long-storied history” with Marc Jacobs,” according to a previous press release once shared by the brand. Lourdes even starred as the face of the designer’s Spring 2021 campaign. The 26-year-old — whom Madonna shares with her ex-boyfriend Carlos Leon — was accompanied by an unidentified man. The duo attempted to plead with the guards, who firmly informed them that the event was “closed.” @mickmicknyc/tiktok The crowd of bystanders jumped to Lourdes’ defense and began to chant “let her in,” while one individual asked the bouncers, “you don’t know who she is?” Security still didn’t budge, causing the brunette beauty to turn around and head back into the car — instead of entering the star-studded event featuring special guests Emily Ratajkowski, Nicky Hilton Rothschildand Ashley Graham. mega Meanwhile, those in the comments section of the video slammed the “nepo baby,” as viewers were glad to see consequences in response to her late arrival. “Some times you have to be humbled and arrive on time to an event,” one user criticized, as another laughingly stated, “Hahaha a little reality check,” and a third person quipped, “she thought she was Beyonce .” “If you ain’t 15mins early… you’re late!” someone expressed, as an additional individual pointed out, “OK… But the show started AT 6. So she’s gonna be getting to her seat as ppl walk,” and another TikTok viewer chimed in noting, “everyone’s time is precious — glad they did not let her in. Show respect and get there on time.” “Some shows are very strict because the designer wants it that way. So that’s why they didn’t just open the doors,” one person explained, as another hater added, “people saying ‘do you know who she is’ in the video… no, nobody does.” View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — One of the stars of the Broadway hit musical “& Juliet” has withdrawn their name from Tony Awards consideration after they were told they would have to “choose between one of two gendered categories.” Justin David Sullivan, a transgender nonbinary singer and actor who’s “passionate about diversity and representation in the performing arts” is currently on Broadway playing one of the main roles in the critically acclaimed musical. On Wednesday, the 23-year-old Broadway newcomer announced they were opting out of the prestigious award, in which the acting awards are divided into catego… Read More View the full article

Published by Knewz For $4.99, comic book fans can channel a whole new level of modern characterization Feb. 14. In the DC Comics release “Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate #1,” there are not one but two non-binary characters: Circuit Breaker and Xanthe. In the case of Circuit Breaker, his non-hero trans identity is Jules Jourdain, whose pronouns are “he/they.” As is the case with many comic book crossovers and new series, a lot of the information has been teased on social media. Circuit Breaker is able to channel a dark energy known as the Still Force. It’s essentially the opposite of The Flash’s Speed Force. “When the … Read More View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel ORLANDO, Fla. — In the days after the 2016 Pulse gay nightclub shooting ―the second-deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history — gay and bisexual men were turned away from donating blood unless they had been celibate for a year. “Our community really wanted to give back in that way. They wanted to be able to donate blood for those who needed it, who were injured that night, and weren’t allowed to. I think that really weighed heavily on (them),” said Brandon Wolf, press secretary for Equality Florida and a Pulse survivor. Currently, men who have sex with men must be celibate for three months to do… Read More View the full article

Published by Miami Herald So, liar extraordinaire George Santos has ties to Florida! Where’s the surprise? To partially quote our illustrious governor, a fibber himself, this is the state where truth “comes to die.” The New York congressman may claim the current title of Most Prolific Liar in the Lot, his biographical whoppers running deep across cities and continents. But lying in Florida has become acceptable political practice for the state GOP. It’s strategy that wins elections all the time. Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, for example, launched her campaign against former University of Miami president Donna Sha… Read More View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) It’s not always easy keeping up with emerging acronyms and new jargon that goes viral on social platforms. Often, words are given new meaning and the latest is “mascara”, which no longer refers to that bristled brush that enhances your eyelashes. The word has taken on a whole new meaning on TikTok, which has a language of its own: “Aglospeak”. “Mascara” refers to someone’s romantic partner and is being used with the hashtag #MascaraTrend as code to describe relationships. As an example, one TikToker joked: “My mascara stuck its wand in another tube.” Another said: “The one mascara I ever reall… Read More View the full article

Published by The Charlotte Observer John Waters knows what makes a “John Waters movie,” but he isn’t sure movie critics do. “I hate those movies, because they just mean they’re gross, or they have one drag queen in it,” Waters tells me over the crackling receiver on his San Francisco landline. Waters has spent years creating universes where people are as bad as cable television cop shows and the latest conservative talking points would have you believe. You’ve almost certainly heard of him through “Hairspray,” his 1988 film staring Ricki Lake as Tracy Turnblad, an overweight teenage girl who helps integrate Baltimore public tele… Read More View the full article

Published by Global Voices People under a rainbow flag at 2019 Pride March in Skopje, North Macedonia. Photo by Global Voices, CC BY 3.0. This story was originally published by Meta.mk. An edited version is republished here under a content-sharing agreement between Global Voices and Metamorphosis Foundation. The amendment to the Family Code went into full force in Slovenia on January 31, 2023, thereby decreeing that marriage is no longer just a union between a man and a woman, but a union between two persons, and same-sex couples are now able to adopt children, Radio-Television Slovenia reported. According to the elabor… Read More View the full article

Published by DPA The cathedral on the Zócalo is considered the largest on the American continent. Philipp Laage/dpa Colonial palaces, the legacy of the Aztecs and Frida Kahlo, kaleidoscopic nightlife and cuisine – plus mezcal – to write home about: Despite its intensity and daunting size, a bold immersion in the best of Mexico City will change your world. Locals urge you to spend at least a week in this metropolis of 22 million people, but a three-day compact programme also hits the mark. Tour guide and architecture expert Santiago Garcia de Vinuesa recommends you start in the Centro Histórico – where it all began. Until the mid-19th century, today’s historic centre covered the entire city. “That’s why there are so many hidden buildings and gems from all eras here,” says Santiago. “It’s a hectic place because everyone comes here to shop. But it’s also very real.” The city’s birthplace is the mighty Zócalo main square and the vestiges of Tenochtitlán, the former heart of the Aztec Empire. Here, the ruins of the Templo Mayor, the main temple, are overshadowed by the giant Metropolitan Cathedral, once a symbol of the imperial power of the Spanish conquerors. When the tumult gets overwhelming, head through the archways to the grand colonial courtyards. Maybe take a bite too, for example in the Azul Historico restaurant, located at Isabel La Católica 30, run by renowned chef Ricardo Muñoz Zurita. Moving west, you pass many impressive sights built under the rule of General Porfirio Díaz in the late 19th century, after Mexico’s independence. The ruling classes then took their cue from France, producing magnificent Art Nouveau buildings like the Palacio de Hierro – now a luxury shopping mall – and the Gran Hotel Ciudad de México, with its spectacular Tiffany glass roof. The Palacio Postal, the old main post office, is a masterpiece of Neo-Venetian architecture, while the Palacio de Bellas Artes cultural centre is a whirl of architectural styles, from neoclassicism to Art Nouveau and Art Déco. The cityscape mirrors the many influences pulling at its municipal chiefs over the centuries, says the guide. They sought to become more European, with a yearning also for the lifestyle of the American suburbs and an eye to the pre-Columbian past: “All of this while trying to be modern and cosmopolitan.” Taking it all in is thirsty work. Come the evening, head to the hip Roma district for at least one drink. Make it a mezcal cocktail with smoky pineapple at Licorería Limantour, which was ranked fourth on the list of the 50 best bars in the world in 2022. For dancing, head to the Zona Rosa, a party district and magnet for the LGBTQ community, with many bars and clubs. By day, its art galleries and antique shops offer stone lions, Jesus paintings, mahogany secretaries with golden inlays and Louis XIV-style chairs. Day two is all about art, culture and curiosities. Roma and the equally cool Condesa district, with their brunch bars, boutiques and peeling, dignified house facades evoke Europe, perhaps Barcelona or Rome. Both districts are fully gentrified and very pricey by Mexican standards. For lunch, try the fish restaurant Contramar at Calle de Durango 200. Another address often recommended is Mercado Roma (at Calle Querétaro 225). This food market hall laden with tacos, paella, ceviche, vegan Italian snacks and smoothies could hold its own in virtually any of the world’s famous hipster neighbourhoods. From here it’s a short stroll to the huge Chapultepec City Park, where those who prefer to avoid the promenade and its fly traders will find tranquillity on its many set-back trails. Here, fountains splash, squirrels hop in the trees, and traffic sounds are muffled. Around the park are several cultural highlights, starting with the imposing National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropología). Also worth a visit are the museums of modern and contemporary art (Museo de Arte Moderno and Museo Tamayo) and the Casa Barragán, the former studio of the architect Luis Barragán. The Castillo de Chapultepec is also worth a visit. Built by the Spanish colonial rulers, the castle was the imperial residence of Maximilian I from 1864. The Austrian was installed as a puppet regent during France’s meddling in Mexico’s affairs and was killed three years later. Today, the site houses a history museum. From castles to cuisine, with a street food tour in the evening: Guide Clarissa Obregón says the majority of Mexicans eat on the street. Most work six days a week and time is short. “That’s why we need good street food,” she says. And you find it on every corner. A stop in Condesa brings tortas de cochinita pibil – braised pork sandwiches. On towards San Rafael, once a residential district and now middle class, where a street vendor made famous by YouTube serves succulent tacos campechanos with chorizo and beef. Then a retreat to a gloomy pulqueria tavern, where the national drink pulque, made from fermented juice, takes some getting used to and is served in three versions. “We say it makes you sociable and a bit frisky,” says Clarissa. “And it heals broken hearts.” At Mercado de San Cosme it’s fried quesadillas, tamales, stuffed corn dough, and atole, a heavy, hot drink also made from corn. Your stomach is now groaning but you keep eating because it tastes so good. Mezcal helps. Day three starts with some relaxation at Lake Xochimilco and then up to the cosy southern borough of Coyoacán. Here, tourists flock to the cobalt-blue Frida Kahlo Museum, also called Casa Azul, the birthplace and workplace of Mexico’s most famous artist. In the afternoon, take a tour through the canals of Xochimilco, built for agriculture but today a popular excursion area, where around 1,500 trajineras – colourful flat-bottomed wooden boats – glide with guests through the network of waterways. The grotesque highlight is the Isla de las Muñecas, the island of the dolls, where hundreds of them dangle in the trees, eerily weathered over the years. According to legend, a local man who found the body of a drowned girl kept hanging up dolls to honour her lost soul. It’s an old, colourful story, full of humanity and not nearly so scary when you actually get there – and maybe that’s Mexico City for you too. Tapas and drinks at Mercado Roma. Philipp Laage/dpa Mexico City’s Azul Historico restaurant. Philipp Laage/dpa Around 1500 trajineras can be found on the canals of Xochimilco. Philipp Laage/dpa Authentic food to go: A street food tour through Mexico City offers a contrast to the city’s high-end cuisine. Philipp Laage/dpa Roma, with its brunch spots and boutiques, is a highly gentrified and comparatively expensive neighbourhood. Philipp Laage/dpa In the posh district of Polanco, the avant-garde Museo Soumaya awaits. Philipp Laage/dpa In the peace and quiet of Chapultepec City Park, even the carousel is at a standstill. Philipp Laage/dpa On the Isla de las Muñecas in Xochimilco, dozens of dolls – some of them eerily weathered – hang in the trees. Philipp Laage/dpa Ruins of the Templo Mayor: This was once the most important and largest temple of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán. Philipp Laage/dpa In the Centro Histórico there are buildings from all eras. Philipp Laage/dpa Centrally located and yet far away from all the hustle and bustle: Chapultepec City Park. Philipp Laage/dpa View the full article