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Published by Raw Story According to a report from the Daily Beast, multiple members of Kanye West’s rightwing entourage have been purged or left their employment with the rapper following a series of “disastrous media appearances” where he has praised Adolph Hitler among other controversial statements. As the Beast reports, conservative demagogue Milo Yiannopoulos is now on the outs with West — also known as “Ye” — following his brief tenure as an adviser to West’s fledgling 2024 presidential campaign. In an interview with the Beast, Yiannopoulos described the chaos surrounding West, but insisted his departure was… Read More View the full article

Published by Kent Online By [email protected] (Charlotte Phillips) A stall at a Christmas market had £10k worth of stock stolen in an overnight break-in. The Gay Glass Stall, which sells handmade items, was broken into at the Dickensian Christmas Festival, in Rochester, at the weekend. Owner Val Clarke arrived to open up at about 8.30am on Sunday and said it was “immediately obvious” there had been a break-in. She said: “This was despite us being assured whilst setting up the previous morning that we didn’t need to pack it all down overnight as there was security in place. “This was made very clear, or so we … Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Another irreverent Black, queer narrative is hitting Broadway. On the heels of the Tony Award-winning musical “A Strange Loop” and the recently opened Lee Daniels-produced “Ain’t No Mo’,” The Public Theater’s production of James Ijames’ “Fat Ham” is getting transferred to the Main Stem next spring. The 2022 Pulitzer Prize-winning play will begin its limited 14-week engagement at the American Airlines Theatre on March 13, 2023, producers announced Monday. Award-winning director Saheem Ali will helm the production, which will include the complete original Off-Broadway cast, including … Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sacha Baron Cohen revived his comedy character Borat to mock Kanye West and Donald Trump at the Kennedy Center Honors. The actor was among the famous faces at the glitzy gala in Washington, D.C. on Sunday night (04.12.22) and he took to the stage in character as part of the tribute to honourees U2 – as Borat, he didn’t hold back when he spotted US President Joe Biden in the audience with First Lady Jill Biden and pretended to mistake him for his predecessor Trump. He joked: “I am told the president of U.S. today is here. Where are you Mr. Trump? You don’t look so good. “Where has your blown a** big belly gone? And your pretty orange skin without fail. I see you have a new wife. Whoa whoa whooo wha! She is very erotic.” Cohen as Borat went on to reference his character’s home nation of Kazakhstan and mock Trump’s theories about the 2020 presidential election as he needled rapper Kanye West over his recent anti-Semitism scandal. He went on: “I must say I’m very upset about the antisemitism in the U.S. today. It’s not fair. Kazakhstan is the number one Jew crushing nation. Stop stealing our hobby. Stop the steal. Stop the steal. Your Kayne. He tried to move to Kazakhstan and even tried to change his name to Kazakhstan-ye West. But we said no. He’s too anti-semitic even for us.” Kanye was recently booted from Twitter and Instagram over a series of anti-Semitic posts. Cohen went on to pay tribute to U2 – referring to the band as “Me Too” – and giving a nod to their 2014 album ‘Songs of Innocence’ which was automatically installed in iTunes accounts without users’ consent. Cohen read a message in Kazakh and then said: “It translates to mean ‘Please remove your wretched album from my new iPhone 6.” Actor George Clooney and singer Gladys Knight were also honoured at the ceremony alongside U2, Tania Leon and Amy Grant. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Frank Ocean insists it was an “easy decision” to use lab-grown diamonds for his Homer brand. The 35-year-old rapper felt it would not have been “in step with the times” to use mined stones in his high-end jewellery range and insisted there is no difference in clarity and colour between the two types of rock. He said: “This was an easy decision. “There are few jewellers who look like me. There are few black jewellers in the space of fine jewellery, black family-owned jewellers. “More than it being a point of difference it also would not have felt in step with the times to extract diamonds from the Earth and to include mined diamonds in our supply chain. “Of course, the value of what we make is not entirely based on the materials we use, no more than this cell phone’s value is captured from adding up the cost of silicone and cobalt and glass etc. “But man-made diamonds are in fact identical to mined diamonds, they are the same arrangement of carbon. Light moves through them at half speed, same as a mined diamond and our standards for clarity and colour are equal to the best in our business except we don’t have to clear forests and send people into the earth to find ours.” The ‘Thinkin’ Bout You’ singer has opened a Homer store in Manhattan, surrounded by traditional watch and jewellery repair workshops and other specialist retailers and Frank thinks people benefit from visiting the shop, rather than just browsing online. He told The Week: “In store, you understand the scale, the weight. “We’ve noticed people coming into the store knowing exactly what they want from seeing it online but they come to see it in person anyway.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Mariah Carey is bringing her festive magic to Roblox. The ‘Hero’ hitmaker has announced a virtual concert on the Livetopia platform called ‘Mariah Carey’s Winter Wonderland’. Taking place between December 21 and 24, from 7pm ET (12am GMT) each night, Mariah will belt out hits old and new and wrap up the set with a special performance of ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’. If that’s not enough, the pop diva’s twins Monroe and Moroccan – whom she has with ex-husband Nick Cannon – have come up with a treasure hunt. The 52-year-old music icon said in a statement: “Christmas is my absolute favourite time of the year! “This year, I wanted to do something different to ring in the holiday season. My kids and I live for Roblox, and we couldn’t be more excited to be creating this festive metaverse experience for everyone!” The ‘We Belong Together’ singer has a two-hour primetime special heading to CBS and Paramount+ on December 20. ‘Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas To All’ will feature her performance at New York’s Madison Square Gardens the week before. Meanwhile, Mariah written a children’s book called ‘The Christmas Princess’. The story centres on a a young girl named Little Mariah, and the chart-topping star has likened the character to “Pippi Longstocking or Harriet the Spy”. She told W magazine: “Little Mariah is a mixed-race girl with no money and no one to come do her hair. She’s like Pippi Longstocking or Harriet the Spy, but she’s biracial. “A lot of people who are my actual fans feel that they are ‘other’, whether they’re white, black, brown, whatever it is — you know, any race, creed, or colour. If you feel ‘other’, it’s just a different thing.” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Amazon Now that Olympian Gus Kenworthy is officially retired, he has a lot of time on his hands, meaning he’s working on a bunch of projects. “I have more control of my schedule which is a learned skill. I’m not good at scheduling my days, but I’m trying to write a book. I’m so bad, though, because I put writing to the side and will do basically anything else. I’ve also been in a few different acting classes and workshops. I’ve been auditioning, and I am pursuing acting and trying to write whenever I have time,” the 31-year-old, who retired from freestyle skiing at Beijing 2022, exclusively tells OK! while talking about starring in Amazon Essentials‘ new Fall / Winter 2022 campaign in which he self-directed. @guskenworthy/instagram Kenworthy’s book will be a memoir but “less formal,” he shares. “It’s all true stories from my childhood and growing up. It kind of lends itself to the theme of coming out and my coming out journey. It’s told through a collection of personal essays, so some of them are a little more somber. There’s definitely some heartbreaking ones, but a lot of them are meant to be funny.” “My dad said the hardest part about writing is cleaning out the fridge, which is very true,” he adds. “I’ll find any chore to do. It’s been cathartic, and I definitely have talked about certain things. There are some essays I haven’t written yet that I know I have to write. I’ve been talking to people like, ‘How do I even approach this? How do I do this?’ There are things that are traumatic from my childhood that I haven’t talked about.” The athlete has dabbled in the TV world before, as he appeared in Colton Underwood‘s Netflix show, Coming Out Colton, in addition to starring in FOX’s Special Forces: The Ultimate Test, which put 16 celebrities through rigorous military-style training. “It was fun, but I want to be doing real acting stuff,” he notes. “The classes I am taking are more traditional acting classes. I’ve been auditioning for regular roles and sitcoms. Growing up my dream — other than skiing — was to be the lead of a rom-com. I think that is still what I would love to do, in addition to comedy.” @guskenworthy/instagram “My focus is on acting, and I would be excited to be back on set,” he gushes. “It would be fun to be a series regular on a comedy and get to have time to develop a character and grow with castmates. That’s definitely my goal.” Since the skier is trying different things, he may even be interested in the fashion world — especially after working with Amazon Essentials on their Fall / Winter 2022 campaign, which also stars two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Chloe Kim, family and lifestyle influencer Alyssa Fluellen and health and fitness influencer Cleopatra Lee. Amazon WATCH: GUS KENWORTHY DISHES ON MEETING CELEBRITY CRUSH SHAWN MENDES: ‘HE HAD HIS SHIRT OFF’ “What I love about Amazon is that I use it in my every day life, and there’s such an ease to it,” he shares. “You can order whatever you need from home, it arrives quickly and it’s easy to return. Everything is so seamless. This campaign was very much the same way. I was kind of in charge of my own creative vision and own styling. I got to pick out a bunch of different stuff from their Essentials line. I organized my own shoot at home and got to have total control over it. It was really fun and felt authentic to my experiences with Amazon.” He adds, “I picked out things that looked exactly like things that are already in my closet or things that I would want. There were a couple of photos that looked like a studio shot and the rest was me on the deck with my dogs wearing a rugby sweater. It felt very natural.” Kenworthy also notes that Amazon Essentials is perfect for anyone’s wardrobe, as they have “simple things that go with everything.” “It makes it super easy to pull together a cohesive look that is indicative of who you are and what you want to put out there,” he concludes. View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Chinese hackers have stolen tens of millions of dollars worth of U.S. COVID relief benefits since 2020, the Secret Service said on Monday. The Secret Service declined to provide any additional details but confirmed a report by NBC News that said the Chinese hacking team that is reportedly responsible is known within the security research community as APT41 or Winnti. APT41 is a prolific cybercriminal group that had conducted a mix of government-backed cyber intrusions and financially motivated data breaches, according to experts. Several members of the hacking group were indicted in 2019 and 2020 by the U.S. Justice Department for spying on over 100 companies, including software development companies, telecommunications providers, social media firms, and video game developers. “Regrettably, the Chinese Communist Party has chosen a different path of making China safe for cybercriminals so long as they attack computers outside China and steal intellectual property helpful to China,” former Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said at the time. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Christopher Bing; Editing by Sandra Maler) View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) Amsterdam has launched a tourism campaign aimed at keeping “nuisance” tourists away. The “discouragement campaign” wants to keep out visitors who come to the city principally for drink, drugs and sex. It is particularly aimed at British tourists, who are considered some of the worst behaved visitors to the Dutch city. The advertising campaign comes after Amsterdam authorities introduced a series of measures to curb disruptive behaviour. Amsterdam wants ‘nuisance’ Brits to stay awayAmsterdam is hoping its new tourism campaign will change the city’s reputation as a destination primarily for drug… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Meghan Markle and Prince Harry‘s Netfix docuseries is just days away. On Monday, December 5, Netflix dropped an extended trailer for the show, which will premiere on Thursday, December 8. The second half of the episodes will premiere on Thursday, December 15. In the new clip, the 38-year-old prince spoke about his brood. “There’s a hierarchy of the family,” he said of the royals. “You know, there’s leaking, but there’s also planting of stories.” “There was a war against Meghan to suit other people’s agendas,” he continued. “It’s a dirty game.” PRINCE WILLIAM & WIFE KATE MIDDLETON ARE ALL SMILES AFTER PRINCE HARRY & MEGHAN MARKLE’S BOMBSHELL NETFLIX TRAILER In a voiceover, the red-headed royal, who shares son Archie and daughter Lilibet with the former actress, 41, also said, “The pain and suffering of women marrying into this institution — this feeding frenzy.” mega PRINCE WILLIAM & WIFE KATE MIDDLETON ARE ALL SMILES AFTER PRINCE HARRY & MEGHAN MARKLE’S BOMBSHELL NETFLIX TRAILER For her part, the Suits star looked visibly upset as she said, “I realized, they’re never going to protect you.” “I was terrified, I didn’t want history to repeat itself,” Prince Harry said, referring to when his mother, Princess Diana, was constantly chased by paparazzi in the ’90s. “No one knows the full truth. We know the full truth,” the Duke of Sussex said in the video. The new reality show will “explore the clandestine days of their early courtship and the challenges that led to them feeling forced to step back from their full-time roles in the institution.” “With commentary from friends and family, most of whom have never spoken publicly before about what they witnessed, and historians who discuss the state of the British Commonwealth today and the royal family’s relationship with the press, the series does more than illuminate one couple’s love story, it paints a picture of our world and how we treat each other,” the description added. Meghan previously shared her thoughts on making the series, as she wants to tell her side of the story. “It’s nice to be able to trust someone with our story — a seasoned director whose work I’ve long admired — even if it means it may not be the way we would have told it,” the podcast host said of director Liz Garbus. “But that’s not why we’re telling it. We’re trusting our story to someone else, and that means it will go through their lens.” Volume one of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s six-episode docuseries, titled Harry & Meghan, will hit Netflix on Thursday, December 8, while volume two will premiere on Thursday, December 15. mega SHADY SIBLINGS? FANS THINK PRINCE HARRY & MEGHAN MARKLE DROPPED NETFLIX TRAILER TO OVERSHADOW PRINCE WILLIAM & KATE MIDDLETON’S BOSTON TRIP For more on the royal family, tune into the critically acclaimed podcast, “The Firm: Blood Lies and Royal Succession.” Listen below. View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Antisemitic hate crimes in New York City more than doubled last month from a year ago, New York Police Department data show — a troubling trend that unfolded against a backdrop of high-profile figures making headlines for remarks targeting Jewish people. The five boroughs had 45 antisemitic crimes in November compared with 20 in November 2021, according to newly released NYPD statistics. The 125% jump came the same month two men were busted for plotting to shoot up a city synagogue. Meanwhile, the musician Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has unleashed a steady stream of antisemiti… Read More View the full article

Published by PsyPost Many people flock to cities, but can urban areas actually be detrimental to mental health? A study published in Nature’s Scientific Reports suggests that traffic sounds may be related to increased depression, while birdsongs may be related to reduced anxiety. Our environments have profound effects on our mental health. While many young people want to live in cities and experience a fast-paced urban lifestyle, there are some significant disadvantages that come with it. One such disadvantage can be hearing the bustle of traffic and people constantly. Past research has shown that man-made soundsc… Read More View the full article

Published by PsyPost A study of UK athletes and their coaches found links between psychopathy and both anger and aggression. Machiavellianism, another dark personality trait, predicted anger. The study was published in Psychology of Sport & Exercise. Emotions are important in sport. This is particularly the case with anger that can both aid and harm performance. Key features of anger are strong feelings of annoyance, displeasure and hostility. A person can become angry when his/her identity or self-esteem are threatened. Anger has the potential to mobilize a person’s energy, but is very difficult to control and ma… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sharon Stone says her AIDS charity work “destroyed” her career. The 64-year-old actress first became involved with amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, back in the 1990s and in 1995 she was asked to stand in for former chairwoman Dame Elizabeth Taylor at the organisation’s annual fundraising event in France – but Sharon has now revealed her devotion to the cause left her without work for eight years. Speaking during a talk at the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia on Friday (02.12.22), she explained: “I had pretty big shoes to fill with Elizabeth Talyor at amfAR … When I was approached in Cannes, I was like, ‘Can I take Elizabeth’s place?’” The actress discussed the role with her former publicist Cindy Berger, with Sharon admitting the PR guru cautioned her against it, saying: “She said, ‘If you do this, it will destroy your career’. At the time you weren’t allowed to talk about AIDS. She got hives on her neck. I said, ‘I know, but I am going to do it, you’re gonna kill me’. She replied, ‘And if you don’t, I am gonna kill you.” Sharon explained she faced a lot of “hate” over her activism on behalf of AIDS/HIV research causes – revealing it harmed her acting career and she even faced death threats. She went on: “I had no idea of the resistance, cruelty, hate and oppression that we would face … “I stayed for 25 years until we had AIDS remedies being advertised on TV like we have aspiri. It did destroy my career. I didn’t work for eight years. I was told if I said condom again, funding would be removed. I was threatened repeatedly, my life was threatened, and I decided I had to stick with it.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Andrew Chung and Nate Raymond WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday began hearing arguments in a major case pitting LGBT rights against a claim that the constitutional right to free speech exempts artists from anti-discrimination laws in a dispute involving an evangelical Christian web designer who refuses to provide her services for same-sex marriages. The justices were hearing Denver-area business owner Lorie Smith’s appeal seeking an exemption from a Colorado law that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation and other factors. Lower courts ruled in favor of Colorado, including the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2021. Smith, who runs a web design business called 303 Creative, contends that Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act violates the right of artists – including web designers – to free speech under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment by forcing them to express messages through their work that they oppose. The case follows the Supreme Court’s narrow 2018 ruling in favor of Jack Phillips, a Christian Denver-area baker who refused on religious grounds to make a wedding cake for a gay couple. The court in that case stopped short of carving out a free speech exemption to anti-discrimination laws. Like Phillips, Smith is represented by attorneys from the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative religious rights group. The Supreme Court did not take up one aspect of her challenge to Colorado law based on religious rights also protected by the First Amendment, focusing on free speech instead. Colorado, civil rights groups and numerous legal scholars have said that endorsing Smith’s free speech arguments could lead to widespread discrimination against LGBT people and others. “It would encompass not only a business’s objections to serving certain customers motivated by sincerely held religious beliefs, but also objections motivated by ignorance, whim, bigotry, caprice and more – including pure expressions of racial, sexist or anti-religious hatred,” the state wrote in a legal brief to the Supreme Court. Public accommodations laws exist in many states, banning discrimination in areas such as housing, hotels, retail businesses, restaurants and educational institutions. Colorado first enacted one in 1885. Its current law bars businesses open to the public from denying goods or services to people because of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and certain other characteristics, and from displaying a notice to that effect. The Supreme Court, with its 6-3 conservative majority, has become increasingly supportive of religious rights and related free speech claims in recent years even as it has backed LGBT rights in other cases. The court legalized gay marriage nationwide in a landmark 2015 decision and in 2020 expanded protections for LGBT workers under federal law. Smith, 38, said she believes that marriage should be limited to opposite-sex couples, a view shared by many conservative Christians. She preemptively sued Colorado’s civil rights commission and other state officials in 2016 because she feared she would be punished for refusing to serve gay weddings. Similar legal fights involving other small business including a wedding photographer and a calligrapher owners have been waged in other states. A ruling in Smith’s case is expected by the end of June. (Reporting by Andrew Chung in Washington and Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Will Dunham) View the full article

Published by Morning Honey When Gus Kenworthy came out as gay in 2015, he wasn’t sure how people would react to the news. Fortunately, the Olympian, who retired this year, feels like a million bucks and has the support of others along the way. “It’s been such a blessing for me to be able to live my life out and be openly gay. I’m proud of that, and I get to celebrate that. I also get celebrated for that when brands want to partner with me. I remember when I came out or when I was thinking about it, I was scared I was going to lose all my sponsors because there had never been anyone out in skiing before,” the 31-year-old… Read More View the full article

Published by Tribune News Service When we want to describe a world that is chaotic and dangerous, few metaphors are more apt than “jungle.” We say, “It’s a jungle out there.” Robert Kagan puts the term to good use in his 2018 book “The Jungle Grows Back.” He argues that the “liberal world order” that we have come to regard as inevitable is actually a mythical seven-decade reprieve from history-as-usual that began after World War II. For thousands of years, the story of humankind, Kagan says, is more accurately described as a “long tale of war, tyranny, and poverty.” These millennia were characterized by repression and disregar… Read More View the full article

Published by TravelPulse Puerto Vallarta, on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, is nestled on one of the largest, deepest and most stunning natural bays in the world, Bahia de Banderas. The title of World’s Friendliest City has been awarded to Puerto Vallarta thanks to the warmth of its people and for welcoming visitors with open arms. For more than 60 years it has established itself as a premier destination for the LGBTQ+ community, and no wonder, because in addition to the warm hospitality, Puerto Vallarta offers a wide variety of attractions, from restaurants and bars to spas and exclusive tours. That’s not to mention almost … Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jeff Mason and Daphne Psaledakis WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Actor George Clooney, singer-songwriter Amy Grant, singer Gladys Knight, composer Tania León and rock group U2 were celebrated on Sunday for their contributions to the arts at a White House reception ahead of the Kennedy Center Honors show. The Kennedy Center event, now in its 45th year, recognizes stars from music, stage and screen for their contributions to American culture. At a reception for the five honorees at the White House beforehand, President Joe Biden addressed each personally, praising their individual talents and said they embodied the spirit of the country. “To see each other, to see ourselves in one another, to unite in common cause – tonight we celebrate a truly exceptional…group of artists,” Biden said. The room was packed with celebrities, the White House’s second star-studded event in recent days. Actors Julia Roberts and Matt Damon were seated next to each other, in front of journalist Katie Couric. In the front row former Washington, D.C. police officer Michael Fanone, who was beaten defending the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was seated next to singer Eddie Vedder. Clooney, an actor and filmmaker who played a doctor on the popular NBC television show “ER” before launching a movie career that earned him two Academy Awards, has also drawn praise for his humanitarian work. Grant rose to prominence as a contemporary Christian music singer who later crossed over to pop stardom, amassing six Grammy Awards. Knight, who has won seven Grammy Awards, is famous for hit songs including “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and “Midnight Train to Georgia” as the lead singer of The Pips, which became Gladys Knight & The Pips in 1962. Cuban-born León is a conductor as well as a composer, whose orchestral piece “Stride” won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize in Music. Irish band U2, with members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr., has won 22 Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Will Dunham, Heather Timmons and Cynthia Osterman) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine @kellyripa/instagram Kelly Ripa never shies away from showing off her hunky husband, Mark Consuelos, on Instagram — and it turns out fans have none other than Madonna to thank for the endless shirtless snaps! Last month, the TV star explained on an episode of the “Everything Iconic” podcast that she purposely started posting sexy photos of her man after finding out the music icon followed her on social media. “I immediately sort of changed everything I posted,” confessed the mother-of-three. “I started posting only shirtless photos of Mark because I was like, ‘Madonna doesn’t want to see my kids. She wants to see eye candy.'” Nonetheless, the actor is guilty of sharing quite a few scantily clad photos himself — scroll down to see some of Consuelos’ hottest pics! @kellyripa/instagram This past August, Ripa shared what she called “a thirsty reminder” to watch her game showGeneration Gap, posting this sultry snap of the Riverdale star. “Objects may be thirstier than they appear ,” she quipped in the caption. Pals like Lisa Rinna couldn’t help but comment on the pic, with the reality star writing, “Thank you Kelly .” @kellyripa/instagram The Ed alum shared a cheeky post as her man worked on his tan poolside, captioning the photgraph, “Adequate sun protection? .” @kellyripa/instagram Oh, la, la! The parents-of-three never worry whether or not their PDA embarrasses their kids, as evidenced by this suggestive swimsuit-clad shot. @kellyripa/instagram Hot stuff! “#Tbt one year ago, when the air conditioner gave up, so did @instasuelos ,” the actor’s wife wrote alongside a photo depicting him sweating through his tank. @kellyripa/instagram Who wears short shorts? The blonde beauty decided to get in on the fun while celebrating a pal’s special day. “Happy birthday @jakeshears thank you for letting us be a part of your new album’s cover art. Coming soon!” she joked of the trio’s poses. @instasuelos/instagram A few years ago, the dad-of-three got to work on cleaning, joking he now has a “love story” with his power washer. “I’m not sure you have to wear these glasses or flex while using but it seemed appropriate,” the former soap opera star added. “I smell a side business.” View the full article

Published by Ultimate Prince Dolly Parton has revealed a few more details about her upcoming rock album, which she decided to make after being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year. She’s previously said that former Journey singer Steve Perry would be heard on the LP and that she was aiming to have Robert Plant and Jimmy Page guest on a new cover of Led Zeppelin classic “Stairway to Heaven.” In a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (video below), she unveiled the record’s title and said it would also include songs by Prince, the Rolling Stones and Lynyrd Skynyrd, along with s… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP The US Supreme Court is to hear a suit filed by a Christian website designer who declines to provide wedding services to same-sex couples Washington (AFP) – Can a business owner cite her religious convictions in declining to provide service to a same-sex couple? The conservative-dominated US Supreme Court is to examine the question on Monday in a case that closely resembles one from just a few years ago, pitting religious liberty and free speech rights against anti-discrimination laws. In June 2018, the nation’s highest court partially ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who had refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple. The latest case involves a suit filed by Lorie Smith, owner of 303 Creative, a website design company also in Colorado. Smith has said that as a devout Christian she cannot produce wedding websites for same-sex couples because it would be “inconsistent” with her religious beliefs. Colorado’s anti-discrimination law prohibits businesses from refusing service to someone on the basis of sexual orientation. An appeals court ruled against Smith and she appealed to the Supreme Court. ‘To speak or stay silent’ In accepting the case, the court said it would examine whether Colorado’s law “to compel an artist to speak or stay silent violates the free speech clause of the First Amendment.” In their brief to the court, lawyers for Smith said she is “willing to create custom websites for anyone, including those who identify as LGBT, provided their message does not conflict with her religious views.” “Forcing artists like painters, photographers, writers, graphic designers and musicians to speak messages that violate their deeply held beliefs fails to comport with the First Amendment’s promise of ‘individual dignity and choice,'” they added. Attorneys for Colorado said the law “simply requires that, once a business offers a product or service to the public, the business sells it to all. “The company can define its service however it wants — including offering only websites that include biblical quotes describing marriage as the union of one man and one woman,” they said. “But the company must sell whatever it offers to customers regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation or other protected characteristic,” they said. ‘Replay of Masterpiece Cakeshop’ David Cole, national legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the latest case is a “replay of Masterpiece Cakeshop,” the earlier case involving the baker. “If the courts were to recognize a First Amendment right of the businesses that sell expressive services to discriminate, then architects could refuse to design homes for Black families,” Cole said. “Bakeries could refuse to make custom birthday cakes for Muslim children. Florists could refuse to provide flowers for a gay person’s funeral.” In the previous case, the justices voted 7-2 that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission had displayed anti-religious hostility toward the baker, thus violating his constitutional rights. The court, however, did not squarely address the issue of whether a business can decline to serve gays and lesbians on religious grounds. The Supreme Court has undergone a radical transformation since that ruling, with two conservative justices nominated by Donald Trump replacing two liberal justices, giving conservatives a 6-3 majority. Trump’s Republican administration defended the position of the baker in the 2018 case, while this time the administration of President Joe Biden, a Democrat, is backing Colorado and its anti-discrimination laws. The Supreme Court is expected to deliver its ruling before the end of June. View the full article

Published by uInterview.com Brad William Henke, who was best known for his role on Orange Is the New Black, has died at 56. His manager issued a statement confirming the news. “Brad Henke was an incredibly kind man of joyous energy. A very talented actor, he loved being a part of this community….and we loved him back,” Matt DelPiano wrote. “Our thoughts are with his wife and family.” Henke reportedly died in his sleep, but the cause of death is unknown. IN MEMORIAM 2022: 100 GREAT CELEBRITIES WHO DIED THIS YEAR! Henke played college football at the University of Arizona and went on to be drafted by the New York Giants in… Read More View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) Anilya Boro may not have won the crown at India’s Miss Trans NE pageant this year, but competing while having her parents there to support her was a validation in its own right. “I must prove to my parents that I can do something as a girl,” said the 22-year-old. “I didn’t win a title, but I am very happy that my parents were at the show to support me. Now they have accepted my decision to live as a girl and undergo surgery, but they don’t want me to rush through.” Twenty transgender women walked on a stage dressed as ethnic and tribal characters in the beauty pageant, drawing rounds of applau… Read More View the full article

Published by uInterview.com Latin pop star Gloria Estefan has spoken about the complicated family dynamics around her daughter Emily‘s coming out. Estefan told CNN’s Chris Wallace about the fact that she was reluctant to allow Emily to come out to her late mother because it is such a “taboo” in the Latin community and the stress may have affected her health. >WATCH: EMILY ESTEFAN’s uINTERVIEW NOW! “In the Latin community, a lot of these subjects aren’t touched,” Estefan explained, though she assured viewers, “Emily, I thought, would feel comfortable coming out to me.” She then later explained that her mother suffered fro… Read More View the full article