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Published by City AM By Adam Bloodworth From Rebel Spending to Modern Family Travel, a new report from travel trend forecasting agency Globetrender has revealed a vision of what travel will be like in the year ahead, where people will be going to and what will be motivating their booking decisions. Download the full report here, but read on for the seven biggest takeaways. CHINA BOOMGlobetrender’s number-one travel trend for 2023 is “China Boom”. After three years of closure during the pandemic, the country has finally dropped its ‘zero Covid’ restrictions and opened its borders to international travel. This promi… Read More View the full article

Published by ValueWalk Guaranteed income plans have gained prominence since the COVID-19 pandemic. Several states and local governments have come up with similar programs targeting specific groups over the past couple of years. Last year, the city of San Francisco also introduced a guaranteed income program for eligible transgender residents. The program offers guaranteed stimulus checks to transgender residents for 18 months, and the first check under the program goes out this month. Q4 2022 hedge fund letters, conferences and more GIFT Program: What Is It?In November, Mayor London Breed announced the Guaranteed In… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters UK (Reuters) – Three men were arrested following reports of alleged homophobic chanting at the goalless draw between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield, Merseyside Police said on Tuesday. The men, aged 23, 37 and 49, were arrested on suspicion of homophobic intentional harassment alarm and distress in Saturday’s game, the police said in a statement to Reuters. In three separate incidents, two arrests took place outside the stadium on Anfield Road and one inside the ground, it added. “Merseyside Police will not tolerate hate crime of any form, and we will bring to justice anyone found responsible fo… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Diane Bartz and Moira Warburton WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee opened a hearing Tuesday on ticket industry competition issues after lawmakers raised concern about the disrupted sale of Taylor Swift concert tickets. The president of Ticketmaster parent Live Nation, Joe Berchtold, told the committee in written testimony that “industrial-scale ticket scalping” was to blame for the company’s problems late last year in the Swift sale. Ticketmaster, which has been unpopular with fans for years, has drawn fresh heat from U.S. lawmakers over how it handled ticket sales for Swift’s “Eras” tour, her first in five years. Experts say that Ticketmaster commands more than 70% market share of primary ticket services for major U.S. concert venues. “In hindsight there are several things we could have done better – including staggering the sales over a longer period of time and doing a better job setting fan expectations for getting tickets,” Berchtold said. SeatGeek Chief Executive Jack Groetzinger said in written testimony that “innovation in live event ticketing has been stunted” because Live Nation “controls the most popular entertainers in the world, the ticketing systems, and even many of the venues.” Groetzinger added that 12 years after the merger “Ticketmaster’s stranglehold on the primary ticketing market endures, insulated from meaningful competition despite a highly unpopular product offering whose failings have become front page headlines.” Ticketmaster has argued that bots used by scalpers were behind the Taylor Swift debacle, and Berchtold is expected to ask for more help in fighting bots that buy tickets for resale, sometimes at astronomical prices. Other witnesses include Jerry Mickelson, president of JAM Productions, who has been among critics of Ticketmaster. In November, Ticketmaster canceled a planned ticket sale to the general public for Swift’s tour after more than 3.5 billion requests from fans, bots and scalpers overwhelmed its website. Senator Amy Klobuchar, who heads the Judiciary Committee’s antitrust panel, has said the issues that cropped up in November were not new and potentially stemmed from consolidation in the ticketing industry. In November, the company denied any anticompetitive practices and noted it remained under a consent decree with the Justice Department following its 2010 merger with Live Nation, adding that there was no “evidence of systemic violations of the consent decree.” A previous Ticketmaster dispute with the Justice Department culminated in a December 2019 settlement extending the consent agreement into 2025. (Reporting by Diane Bartz, Moira Warburton and David Shepardson) View the full article

Published by Wayarc Daily MET Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley last night admitted hundreds of officers from his own force should be “thrown out” for criminal and nefarious conduct. Sir Mark spoke of his “disgrace” after a landmark report released today revealed how police officers got away with breaking the law and keeping their jobs. reports revealed how 1,800 serving police officers and staff were allowed to continue despite multiple misconduct rapes. Baroness Casey of Blackstock’s report branded the London Armed Forces’ system of misconduct as racist, misogynistic and unfit for purpose. It revealed how 1,800 serving po… Read More View the full article

Published by Chicago Tribune Romantic comedies have been in a slump for the last decade-plus, but a small batch featuring recognizable stars are set to premiere over the next few weeks. This seems as good a time as any to take a state-of-the-union look at the genre. This week, “Shotgun Wedding” starring Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel premieres on Amazon. It’s an action rom-com about a couple’s destination wedding in the Dominican Republic that turns chaotic when they and their guests are taken hostage. Feb. 10 is something of a mini-bonanza with “Your Place or Mine” on Netflix (Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher as lon… Read More View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) Beyoncé performed her first live show in more than four years in an exclusive, invite-only concert in Dubai. The Grammy-winning star, who last performed live in December 2018, gave a 1 hour+ performance on Saturday (21 January), complete with fireworks, to help launch the city’s new luxurious hotel: The Atlantis Royal. Attendees included her parents, husband Jay-Z and her three children, as well as celebrity guests (Kendall Jenner, Ellen Pompeo, Winston Duke, Letitia Wright), influencers and business people. Attendees were not allowed to record video or take photos of the concert. Nevertheless… Read More View the full article

Published by California Healthline For Tammy Rainey, finding a health care provider who knows about gender-affirming care has been a challenge in the rural northern Mississippi town where she lives. As a transgender woman, Rainey needs the hormone estrogen, which allows her to physically transition by developing more feminine features. But when she asked her doctor for an estrogen prescription, he said he couldn’t provide that type of care. “He’s generally a good guy and doesn’t act prejudiced. He gets my name and pronouns right,” said Rainey. “But when I asked him about hormones, he said, ‘I just don’t feel like I know enough … Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet “Too bad George Santos is not a drag queen. Might be the only way Republicans would express outrage and demand his ouster,” quipped dissident Republican pundit Ana Navarro on Twitter last month. Navarro’s theory was put to the test last week when RuPaul of Brazil revealed that Santos was once a mediocre drag queen known as Kitara Ravache. Santos flatly denied having performed in drag, but the gig is up. A newly surfaced video shows Santos, clad in a black dress, claiming to perform in various Rio drag clubs. When Rubert Murdoch’s New York Post drops the pretense that the person in that footage… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Madonna took to Instagram on Sunday, January 22, to confront recent backlash the Queen of Pop has received ever since tickets for her world tour became available for purchase two days prior. “I just want to say thank you to all of my fans of all of your love and support over the last few days,” the 64-year-old said during the close-up video. “I don’t take any of this for granted.” “I feel like I am the luckiest girl in the world and I am so grateful for all of your support,” Madonna continued in the compassionate clip. MADONNA ADMITS BEING A MOTHER ‘HAS BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT & HARDEST BATTLE’: ‘IT’S EXHAUSTING’ “I can’t wait to put the show together and have a moment with each and every one of you on the stage to celebrate the last four decades of my journey,” the award-winning artist expressed of her word tour, set to kick off later this year. “I don’t take any moment for granted. Thank you,” Madonna reiterated, as friends and fans of the mother-of-six quickly jumped to her defense in the post’s comments section. “You better book me for afterparty,” Diplo jokingly remarked, as an admirer of the pop sensation stated, “Congratulations Love! There is only one Madonna and thank you for your art and contribution to music and culture .” “Thank YOU Madonna. Thank you for standing up for trans people, for queer people, for talking about HIV/AIDS when no one else really would, for fighting against purity culture and showing us we all had a right to our own bodies and could express ourselves,” an emotional fan of the icon added. “Truly, thank you.” Others couldn’t seem to accept Madonna’s words of gratitude, as they continued to slam the “Material Girl” singer for her limited and high-priced tour ticket prices. “Seriously?! Thank you for being a life long fan that can’t get a ticket in the UK as the venues have over inflated the prices to extortionate prices….yeah thanks,” one disappointed user quipped. JENNIFER LOPEZ REVEALS SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF MADONNA & BRITNEY SPEARS’ 2003 VMAS KISS “You might want to chat with the people behind your tour regarding ticket prices! Life long fan here! But won’t be attending due to the price of a ticket! A shame really. @madonna might be worth a conversation with the ones who are meant supporting you as an artist (not a cash cow), just saying my love x,” another noted. Madonna’s widespread fanbase clapped back at the critics, with one individual asking, “You guys do know that any artist have control over ticket prices right?” “The producer, the venue and the seller are responsible for those. If you want to blame someone, blame Live Nation and TicketMaster, as they are the ones to infamously hold tickets to increase demand so they can boost prices,” the defensive supporter concluded. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Prince Andrew is reportedly making plans to take legal action against former accuser Virginia Giuffre in an attempt to overturn the pricey settlement they made out of court early last year. mega “I can tell you with confidence that the Prince Andrew team is now considering legal options,” a source spilled. GHISLAINE MAXWELL REVEALS SHE FEELS ‘SO BAD’ FOR PRINCE ANDREW AS SHE BLAMES ‘CANCEL CULTURE’ FOR RUINING HER FRIENDS’ LIVES The source confirmed that the disgraced royal, who had several of his titles stripped from him during the shocking sexual assault lawsuit, is consulting with attorneys by the names of Blair Berk and Andrew Brettler with hopes of eventually forcing a public apology out of the 39-year-old. mega As OK! previously reported, Virginia filed a lawsuit against the royal in August 2021, alleging that she’d been sex trafficked by both Ghislaine and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and later forced to have sex with Andrew on several occasions when she was only 17-years-old. One of the primary pieces of evidence was a photograph of Andrew and Virginia standing beside each other with the royal’s arm slung around her waist. However, according to the Duke of York’s old friend and rumored ex lover, Ghislaine Maxwell, the picture is a fake. In a clip from her upcoming TalkTV interview that was conducted from behind bars, the socialite claimed she has “no memory” of the pair ever meeting and that she doesn’t “think that picture is real.” mega “There is no original of that photo, (just) copies of copies and parts of it, according to some experts, look like it has been photoshopped,” she said in the interview. “I don’t remember her in my home. I know that Virginia travelled with Jeffrey, and so it’s entirely possible.” PRINCE ANDREW & GHISLAINE MAXWELL WERE ‘VERY CLOSE’ & FLIRTY WHILE ON JEFFREY EPSTEIN’S PRIVATE ISLAND, EX-MAID CLAIMS “It wasn’t something so outrageously out of left field that it couldn’t have happened,” she continued. “But the photo doesn’t appear to be real. And I don’t recall it being taken.” The source spoke with The Sun on Andrew’s alleged plot to overturn the settlement. TalkTV released clips of Ghislaine’s interview. The full sit-down will air on Monday, January 23. View the full article

Published by uSports.org Tony Dungy‘s actions have sparked some ire amongst fans and social media. The NBC football analyst attended and spoke at the annual March For Life rally, which primarily opposes abortion. One of the biggest issues fans and social media users had was Dungy using Buffalo Bills’ safety Damar Hamilton‘s near-death experience injury to support the cause. “An unbelievable thing happened that night, with millions of dollars of ticket money and advertising on the line,” the former Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach said at the rally. “Why? because a life was at stake and people wan… Read More View the full article

Published by Athlon Sports By Mitchell Forde Former NFL coach Tony Dungy has found himself making headlines for the wrong reasons this week. Dungy, who now works as a studio analyst for NBC’s Sunday Night Football, drew quite a bit of criticism for an anti-transgender tweet earlier this week. Responding to Minnesota Rep. Sandra Feist, who advocated for menstrual products to be included in all restrooms, Dungy wrote, “That’s nothing. Some school districts are putting litter boxes in the school bathrooms for the students who identify as cats. Very important to address every student’s needs.” The tweet has since been delet… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English A star-studded concert will form part of King Charles’ three-day Coronation celebrations. The 74-year-old royal became monarch on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, last September but will formally be crowned on 6 May and now details have been revealed for the events planned across the weekend, which will bring the UK together in a modern, multi-cultural series of festivities. A source told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper the celebrations will represent Britain “as it is today” while maintaining the best traditions of pomp and pageantry “for which we are rightly known”, with the coronation set to be “majestic” but “inclusive”. The weekend will begin on 6 May with the formal coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, a “solemn religious service” which will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury and, according to Buckingham Palace, will reflect the monarch’s role now, as well as looking ahead to the future. Charles – who has opted to wear military uniform instead of the traditional breeches and stockings worn by his ancestors – and Queen Consort Camilla will arrive at the Abbey in The King’s Procession from Buckingham Palace. After the service, they will return to Buckingham Palace in a larger Coronation Procession, accompanied by other members of the royal family, and they will late appear on the balcony of the building to greet the thousands of wellwishers expected to gather on the Mall. On 7 May, Windsor Castle will play host to a Coronation Concert and “global music icons and contemporary stars” will perform to thousands of members of the public, who will be able to apply for pairs of free tickets through a national ballot, as well as volunteers from the charities the King and Queen Consort are patrons of. A world-class orchestra will accompany some of the biggest entertainers as they perform well-known classic songs, and stars of stage and screen will present spoken word sequences. One highlight of the concert will be the Coronation Choir, which will bring together singers from community choirs throughout Britain, including refugee choirs, NHS choirs, LGBTQ+ singing groups and deaf signing choirs. They will be accompanied by a Virtual Choir of singers from across the commonwealth. The BBC will broadcast the concert and also a documentary about the formation of the choir. During the show, iconic landmarks across the country will be lit up. On the same day, friends and neighbours will be urged to join up for street parties to celebrate the Coronation Big Lunch while on 8 May – an extra bank holiday – people will be encouraged to donate a few hours for The Big Help Out, a volunteer scheme designed to pay tribute to Charles’ own years of public service and desire to create lasting change. Michelle Donelan, the Culture Secretary, said: “The weekend of events will bring people together to celebrate our monarchy and the mixture of tradition and modernity, culture and community that makes our country great. “Everyone is invited to join in, on any day, whether that is by hosting a special street party, watching the Coronation ceremony or spectacular concert on TV, or stepping forward during The Big Help Out to help causes that matter to them.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sam Smith thinks it is “a shame” there are no women nominated for Best Artist at the BRIT Awards. The ‘Unholy’ hitmaker – who is non-binary and uses gender neutral pronouns – was one of the first musicians to call for the ceremony to be “reflective”, resulting in organisers making the event the first major UK awards to abolish gendered categories but they still think there is a “long way to go” after the shortlist for this year’s prestigious prize only featured male nominees. Sam said of the controversy: “It is a shame. “Things are moving forward, but it’s obvious it’s not there yet. From seeing that [best artist] list, there is still a long way to go. “It’s incredibly frustrating. “It feels like it should be easy to do. “[The BRITs] just have to celebrate everyone because this is not just about artists getting awards. Awards are for kids watching on TV, thinking, ‘I can make music like this.’ When I was young, if I’d seen more queer people at these awards it would have lit my heart. Awards are there to inspire.” The 30-year-old singer thinks there are a lot of female artists who should have made the shortlist, instead of just Harry Styles, Stormzy, George Ezra, Central Cee and Fred Again being left to contend for the prize. Asked which women should have been shortlisted, they said: “Cat Burns. Anne Marie. Florence Welch. There’s so much incredible female talent in the UK — they should be on that list.” Meanwhile, while Sam believes their new album ‘Gloria’ is their most authentic record to date, they insisted they were never “inauthentic”, just not as at ease with themself. Sam said: “I’ve always been authentic. “I just think asking a 24 year old to be their 100 per cent self in front of 20,000 people was never going to happen. I showed 70 per cent of who I was then and a lot of that has to do with me being gay. As I got older, though, I realised there’s no shame. I wasn’t being inauthentic — you just keep some things to yourself until you’re ready.” View the full article

Published by The Moderate Voice If this cartoon looks familiar, it’s because it’s a sequel. Ron DeSantis gave us “don’t say gay.” Now, he’s giving us “don’t say black.” Officially titled the Parental Rights in Education law, the measure enacted last year bans Florida public school teachers from engaging in classroom instruction related to sexual orientation and gender identity. It’s nicknamed the “Don’t Say Gay” law, which really triggers right-wingers when you say it. Don’t say gay, don’t say gay, don’t say gay, don’t say gay, don’t say gay. One of them should be along any second now. Now, DeSantis’ administration is reject… Read More View the full article

[This post contains video, click to play] Published by Radar Online Mega Footage of GOP House Rep. George Santos dressed as a drag queen surfaced this week just a few hours after the embattled congressman denied the sex swap allegations against him, RadarOnline.com has learned. The surprising footage of Santos dressed as a drag queen leaked on Thursday and captured the 34-year-old Republican politician speaking in Portuguese during a Pride march just outside Rio de Janeiro in 2005. Mega According to the video, which has since been uploaded to YouTube, Santos is seemingly spotted at the 4:19 mark dressed in a black dress and wearing dark sunglasses. He also appeared to have long hair dressed in a ponytail. “I do presentations at 1940 in Jacarepagua, I do Cascadura, I also did Cabaret Casanova in Gloria and I did one at Le Boy,” Santos said in the video, apparently referencing some of Rio’s most well-known drag bars. “The event is good, well-organized,” he continued. “I really love it.” Mega As RadarOnline.com previously reported, the newly resurfaced footage of Santos dressed as a drag queen in Brazil nearly two decades ago came shortly after Eula Rochard – also a drag queen and alleged former friend to Santos – spoke out to claim she and the New York House Rep. dressed as drag queens together in 2008. “I think I met him when he was around 16 or 17 years old,” Rochard revealed on Wednesday. “He used to hang out in my house while his mom was playing Bingo.” “The picture was taken in 2008 at the Pride Parade at Icarai Beach in Niteroi,” she continued, referencing a picture she found and uploaded to social media featuring her and Santos. “George had disappeared for a little while, and then returned to Brazil with a lot of money, and that was about the same time when the picture was taken.” “He did not have what it takes to be a professional,” Rochard added. “George did not have the glamour for that.” Mega Following the drag queen allegations against him, Santos rushed to Twitter to shoot down and deny the newfound rumors. “The most recent obsession from the media claiming that I am a drag Queen or ‘performed’ as a drag Queen is categorically false,” the New York Republican wrote. “The media continues to make outrageous claims about my life while I am working to deliver results.” “I will not be distracted nor fazed by this,” he added. Mega Santos’ alleged history as a drag queen, and his denial regarding the matter, comes after the GOP congressman came under fire when it was revealed he lied about a number of aspects connected to his college, professional, and family history. In December, just days before Santos was officially sworn in as Long Island’s House Rep., Santos admitted he lied about graduating from Baruch College in 2010. He also admitted to lying about working for Goldman Sachs and Citigroup on Wall Street, as well as his “Jew-ish” heritage, and claims he was “half Black.” Members of Congress have since called for Santos to resign as a result of his fabricated past, and at least two separate fraud investigations are currently underway into the GOP politician. View the full article

Published by Loudwire Every now and then, we see something that makes us scratch our heads and question our existence, and then feel the need to share it with you. Now, people are mad about Pink Floyd‘s new social media logo, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of The Dark Side of the Moon, because it has a rainbow in it. Spoiler alert — the cover of The Dark Side of the Moon, which came out in 1973, also has a rainbow on it. Pink Floyd officially confirmed a box set for the 50th anniversary of The Dark Side of the Moon yesterday, which will be available March 24 (see more details here). Thus, the banner on the… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Newly engaged Cher flaunted her new diamond ring from fiancé Alexander “AE” Edwards during a night out on the town, despite concerns from her inner circle over the eyebrow-raising relationship, RadarOnline.com has learned. Cher shocked fans when she shared a snap of a blinding diamond ring from the music producer, 36, on Christmas Eve. However, sources told RadarOnline.com that those in the 76-year-old’s inner circle aren’t on board with the fast-paced romance. mega Her friends’ concern appeared to be the last thing on Cher’s mind when she and her new fiancé were spotted in Beverly Hills on Thursday. The lovebirds began their evening with dinner at the upscale eatery Avra — and weren’t bashful when the paparazzi asked them to give a big kiss for their cameras. mega The couple looked chic as could be in matching head-to-toe black outfits. Cher wore a spicy black top that featured cut-out designs with pants and a long overcoat. Her iconic locks were down and tousled for a soft, romantic contrast to her edgy outfit. AE sported a similar look with a leather button-down top and pants. Most noticeable among their attire was Cher’s massive new bling, which she proudly wore for all to see — and comment on. AE with ex Amber Rosemega In the video, Cher was happy to speak to photogs, telling them that so far, their engagement is going well. The statement confirmed what the singer’s pals’ feared — their relationship could be legally-bound soon. Sources close to the singer told RadarOnline.com that Cher’s friends are concerned about the amount of money the singer’s spent on AE since they began dating months ago. mega With a net worth of over $400 million and a significant 40-year age gap, Cher’s inner circle is extra protective of their friend’s heart — and her assets. “He’s barely paid for anything since he and Cher met in Paris last September,” the insider told RadarOnline.com. The source claimed that since getting together, Cher allegedly instructed her music producer beau to “put all his living expenses on her Amex.” In addition to picking up the bill, AE has allegedly been sent limos by his fiancé so that he can be chauffeured around. Before shacking up with Cher, AE dated Amber Rose — and admitted that he was unfaithful to her by cheating with 12 women. View the full article

Published by AlterNet White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre blasted Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis for banning public schools from teaching AP African American history, while not banning a similar class on European history. DeSantis, who is expected to launch a run for President, has been using his office to build a collection of authoritarian edicts that he frames as pro-parent. Calling the ban “the latest in a series of actions to keep conversations and lessons about race, sexuality and gender identity off the state’s school campuses,” The Guardian reports DeSantis defended his decision by clai… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Gabrielle Union is not amused by what her haters have to say about her comments on infidelity in her previous marriage. The actress addressed the criticism she received on Thursday, January 19, following her recent appearance on Dax Shepard‘s “Armchair Expert” podcast. mega Talking to a reporter during her appearance at the Season 3 premiere of Apple TV+’s drama series Truth Be Told, Union said: “If your gonna get your panties in a twist about something I’ve been talking about since 2005 — in not one but two New York Times best-selling books — at least listen to the whole thing.” THE HOTTEST CELEB BIKINI BODIES: SEE PHOTOS OF DUA LIPA, BELLA HADID, SALMA HAYEK & MORE! “Just so you know where your anger actually is,” she added, rolling her eyes over the heat she’s gotten. mega Making her peace with the backlash, Union said the criticism she is receiving is an example of unequal gender expectations. “I think people really felt anger that a woman would dare be just as dysfunctional as a man,” Union joked to the reporter. “Because that’s what I called it. And stupid!” During the podcast episode in question, Union — who is now married to Dwyane Wade — reflected on her past tumultuous first marriage to former Jacksonville Jaguars player Chris Howard. mega Dubbing their union as “just dysfunctional from day one,” the 50-year-old admitted she felt “entitled” to cheat because she was making more money than Howard, whom she wed in 2001 and split from four years later. The exes first met in 1999. “I was paying all the bills, I was working my a** off and I felt like that’s what comes [with it],” Union remembered, calling infidelity “the spoils of riches.” She continued: “Like my dad before me, whoever has the most gets to do whatever the hell they want, is what I thought.” DWYANE WADE OFFICIALLY FILES TO CHANGE NAME & GENDER OF TRANSGENDER DAUGHTER ZAYA Union candidly described herself as “horny for validation” at the time, admitting she wanted to have “certain kinds of guys like me and want me,” as it made her feel like she was “worthy and good and valuable and deserving.” However, Union emphasized that now, she is her “own motherf**king validation … and prize.” Union spoke to an Entertainment Tonight reporter on the backlash she has received. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Janelle Monáe says the response to coming out as non-binary has been extremely positive. The ‘Knives Out: Glass Onion’ star – who uses she/her and they/them pronouns – came out as non-binary last year and has had a great reaction from the general public. Monáe told PEOPLE: “It’s been great. “And I say that because I think that there are a lot more discussions, and that’s so important. I think that all of us want to walk in our truth. We’re just trying to find a name to put with how we feel. And I think that’s always great. “I try to challenge people to listen. Yeah, you may not necessarily understand. But listening is such a free thing we can do. I think that by listening you can give somebody more compassion, more empathy, and that’s just one more step [to] bridging that gap between us. “Being non-binary has opened up my mind in terms of the type of art I can make and where I can go, who I can be. I’m all about surprising myself and discovering something new.” At the Critics Choice Awards earlier this month, the star accepted the seventh annual SeeHer Award, for actors who advocate for equality, defy stereotypes and push boundaries. Monáe said in the acceptance speech: “I try to make an effort in my work … to highlight the ones who have been pushed to the margins of society, who’ve been outcast or relegated to ‘the other’. This is a deeply personal choice for me because I grew up to working-class parents: My mother was a janitor, my father was a trash man, and my grandmother was a sharecropper in Aberdeen, Mississippi. “And it’s personal because I am non-binary, I am queer, and my identity influences my decisions and my work. “So to anyone out there like me watching right now. I just want you to know that I see you—but I challenge you to see you.” View the full article

Published by The Spun By Andrew McCarty Earlier this week, former NFL head coach Tony Dungy made headlines when he decided to respond to a statement from Rep. Sandra Feist that argued menstrual products should be available in all school bathrooms. “There are a lot of schools that are moving towards gender-neutral bathrooms, and if we add ‘female,’ we might become obsolete very quickly,” Feist said. “Second, not all students who menstruate are female. We need to make sure all students have access to these products. There are obviously less non-female menstruating students and therefore their usage will be much lower… Read More View the full article

Published by Global Voices Screenshot of Trinidadian-British author Anthony Joseph, who won the 2022 T.S. Eliot Prize for Poetry, taken from the YouTube video ‘Calling England Home – New Beacon Books Session,’ posted by Heavenly Sweetness. The T.S. Eliot Prize, arguably one of the most prestigious in the poetry world, honours “the best collection of new verse in English first published in the UK or the Republic of Ireland.” Back in 2020, Trinidadian-British poet Roger Robinson won this prize for his poetry collection “A Portable Paradise.” A mere three years later, on January 16, fellow Trinidadian Anthony Joseph has fo… Read More View the full article

Published by NJ.com NEW YORK — Less than six months ago, mpox was an exploding health crisis. What had been an obscure disease from Africa was ripping through European and U.S. gay communities. Precious doses of an unproven vaccine were in short supply. International officials declared health emergencies. In Hudson County, where the first case in New Jersey was diagnosed, concerned health officials in Jersey City and Hoboken announced vaccination clinics. The Hyacinth Foundation partnered with Jersey City on the vaccination clinics. “I think the partnership worked really well together,” said Kathy O’Brian, Hyacin… Read More View the full article