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Published by Global Voices Graphic from the EuroPride 2022 website announcing that the event in Belgrade, Serbia has not been canceled. This story is based on original coverage by Meta.mk, as part of the regional initiative Western Balkans Anti-Disinformation Hub. An edited version is republished here under a content-sharing agreement between Global Voices and the Metamorphosis Foundation. EuroPride is a pan-European international LGBTQ+ event hosted by a different a European city every year. In 2022 it is scheduled to take plac place in Belgrade from September 12–18 and includes a film festival, conferences, and a Prid… Read More View the full article

Published by DPA Ten years ago, the love lives of millions was changed by one movement of a finger. The biggest sexual revolution of a generation came in the form of a swipe. Johannes Schmitt-Tegge/dpa Twenty years ago, the idea that almost everyone would be carrying a computer to find potential partners might have seemed shocking, or at least unlikely. Then along came Tinder and taught us all to swipe. Ten years since its inception, Tinder has people in 190 countries swiping left and right (saying yes or no) to singles in their vicinity. “Tinder is the world’s most popular app for meeting new people,” is how the service is described by parent company Match Group, which also owns OkCupid, Hinge, Pairs, OurTime and is based in Dallas, Texas. Since its launch in September of 2012, the app has been downloaded more than half a billion times and has led to more than 75 billion matches, the company says. Some 1.5 million people meet up for dates every week, it says, thanks to Tinder, available in more than 40 languages. One of its biggest competitors is Bumble, a similar app differing only in the fact that mainly only women can start a chat after the match is made. Lovoo is also a strong rival, with an icebreaker function that “is your chance to write to a special someone right away without having to wait for a match,” the company says. “With your Icebreaker, which needs to be original and personalized, you can literally break the ice between you.” Before Tinder, apps like these were mainly used in the queer community, after Joel Simkhai came up with Grindr, the first dating app based on GPS data in 2009. Grindr, mainly used by gay men and a portmanteau of “guy” and “finder,” based on the verb “to grind,” focused less on finding you a potential partner based on shared interests and more on who was nearby. Simkhai tried to create Blendr, a similar app for the straight community in 2011, but it failed to take off. Online dating only became a mass phenomenon beyond the queer community in 2012 when Tinder came along with its infamous swipe. But how far is it helping us – or has swiping left and right on people’s faces made us all superficial? “In terms of ‘openness,’ Tinder has certainly done a lot for straight people,” says Nicole von Wagner, who hosts a podcast about sex and relationships. “Tinder has triggered the sexual revolution of eternal availability. All you have to do is swipe right on your phone and arrange to have sex.” Almost everyone there has several irons in the fire, seeking the best partner they can find. That vast range of possibilities is also making many people superficial, according to author Nicole von Wagner. “We judge a person within seconds based on a photo and swipe left if we don’t like the nose.” Women often contact her saying they are ashamed of dating online, feeling it’s a sign they are unable to attract a partner in real life. “They often feel devalued by those around them for doing so. As if a flirt at the supermarket checkout till is worth more than one online.” Sociologist Thorsten Peetz, of Bamberg University in Germany, also takes a nuanced view of finding love online. “The cliché that it is a more superficial form of getting to know someone and an economization of intimate life does not do justice to the phenomenon.” People are highly reflective when seeking a partner online, he says. “Many use tests and images to create whole stories, and spell out exactly what they want and don’t want.” Peetz says looking for a partner online is not just like shopping for someone in a department store, as some imply. He is dismissive of reports of people who say they use Tinder like a catalogue to browse. “There are a number of studies in which people describe how they feel Tinder is like a catalogue to flip through or even a meat market where you look and choose, but in reality, it isn’t like that,” says Peetz. “You can’t just want to have someone, and have that work out.” The process is like a game where everyone tries to “bring their own intimate value to bear,” he says. People on Tinder and other apps present a socially acceptable version of themselves, says Peetz. We all do that every day anyway, in terms of how we present ourselves, what we wear, how we look and move, he adds. Dating apps present sophisticated challenges around identity and interpretation, he says. “The task at hand is to assess what kind of person you are looking at, beyond the screen. How do they fit into the game I want to play here? What kind of person can I actually expect to meet there real life one day?” In other words, he says, Tinder is about way more than a quick hook-up. A tap and a swipe is all that might separate you from the love of your life, Tinder would have us believe. Marijan Murat/dpa View the full article

Published by Reuters By Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission wants to see more action from Hungary on stepping up anti-corruption safeguards before Brussels agrees to unlock EU funds, EU sources said. One source called Budapest’s efforts to secure funds a “charm offensive” but said there had been no “immediate breakthrough” in talks on the issue last week between EU officials and Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga. The European Commission has been withholding its approval for Hungary to draw on money meant to help lift economies from the COVID-19 pandemic, accusing nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government of undermining the rule of law. Ahead of Varga’s talks in Brussels last Wednesday and Thursday, Hungary announced that it will create an anti-corruption authority and a working group involving non-government organisations to oversee the spending of European Union funds. The European Commission said after the meetings that it would consider Budapest’s proposals. Varga told EU officials last week that Budapest’s promise to set up a new anti-graft agency should be enough for Brussels to unlock some 6 billion euros ($6.08 billion) in COVID stimulus funds, and refrain from clawing back even more from money earmarked for Hungary from the bloc’s 2021-27 shared budget, according to EU sources. But the sources, familiar with Varga’s discussions, voiced caution. “Let’s call it a charm offensive,” one EU official said. “But the devil is in the detail.” A second EU official said that Hungary’s proposals were a step in the right direction but that implementation was key. Orban has come under increased pressure to strike a deal with the Commission as a weakening forint exacerbated economic woes in Hungary in recent weeks. But after years of increasingly bitter EU feuds with Budapest over democratic standards, corruption, migration and LGBTQ rights, a third EU official said: “There is little trust in Hungary.” Hungary had irregularities in nearly 4% of its spending of EU funds in 2015-2019, according to the bloc’s anti-fraud body OLAF, the highest among the 27 EU countries by far. EU lawmakers will likely call on the Commission not to let Hungary off the hook when they debate the state of democracy and fundamental rights in the ex-communist country on Wednesday. The Commission then has until Sept.21 to assess if the latest proposals from Budapest are enough to ease its concerns. If not, Brussels would recommend to the other EU countries punishing Budapest under the bloc’s “money for democracy” scheme that affects all of the bloc’s joint funding worth 1.8 trillion euros in 2021-27. EU Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn has proposed that some 70% of EU funding envisaged for Hungary could be at risk, according to a July document published by the Commission. ($1 = 0.9872 euros) (Additional reporting by Jan Strupczewski, Writing by Gabriela Baczynska, Editing by Susan Fenton) View the full article

Published by California Healthline Last year, Tim Chevalier received the first of many coverage denials from his insurance company for the hair removal procedure he needed as part of a phalloplasty, the creation of a penis. Electrolysis is a common procedure among transgender people like Chevalier, a software developer in Oakland, California. In some cases, it’s used to remove unwanted hair from the face or body. But it’s also required for a phalloplasty or a vaginoplasty, the creation of a vagina, because all hair must be removed from the tissue that will be relocated during surgery. Chevalier’s insurer, Anthem Blue Cross, tol… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ director Anne Fletcher is “open” to another sequel. The 56-year-old filmmaker is at the helm of the upcoming comedy horror movie – which is a follow-up to the original 1993 classic and set to launch on Disney+ on September 30 – and she won’t rule out a third film if Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker all want to return as the Sanderson sisters. Speaking to SFX magazine, she said: “I have definitely left it WIDE open for any sequel. Now it’s really up to them if they want to do it. “I can’t say anything other than yes, it is left open. Will they do it? I don’t know, they haven’t even talked about it, that I can be honest with you.” Producer Lynn Harris also refuses to rule out the possibility, noting that the fantasy themes will always be popular with fans. She added: “There’s always potential. It’s a movie about magic and witches. Those things are timeless aren’t they? A multiverse of witches!” The prospect of a third film could be decided by Midler, Najimy and Parker – who play sisters Winne, Mary and Sarah respectively – with the trio also playing a huge role in making the upcoming sequel a reality. Harris recalled: “We approached the women and said, ‘Hey, guys, it’s time to get the band back together’. They were all amenable and excited and had great notes on the scrip, which we took into account, because each of them as such a deep awareness of their character. “Even though it had been 27 years, when we first started talking. They really remembered and understood who they were as Winnie, Sarah and Mary. They clicked right back into character, and it was magic.” For Fletcher, it was a dream to see the three stars interacting on set, particularly as it came to the chemistry between their characters. She said: “It is truly as though they had not been out of costume for 27 years. They went right back into character. “When I say character, not just their own individual character, but the way in which they relate to one another, which is very specific, in terms of the familial squabbles in birth order. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Lea Michele is taking a break from ‘Funny Girl’ after being hit with “early signs” of COVID-19. The 36-year-old actress has been playing the part of Fanny Brice on Broadway, but Lea has confirmed via Instagram that she’s taking a step back from the production after feeling ill. She wrote on the photo-sharing platform: “I’m devastated to say that due to early signs and symptoms of COVID and an inconclusive test result — due to the production’s safety protocols I’m not allowed to perform for today’s shows.” Lea is planning to take another test and expects to soon know whether she’ll be able to return on Sunday (11.09.22). The actress added: “Julie [Benko] is going to crush it today as Fanny – as are all of our amazing understudies who have stepped up so incredibly this week while we battle a very intense covid outbreak in our theater (sic)” A source close to production told PEOPLE: “[There is] an outbreak among the crew and cast, so they’re obviously putting safety first.” Earlier this month, Lea revealed that she broke down in tears after being cast in ‘Funny Girl’. The former ‘Glee’ star was getting brunch with her two-year-old son Ever when she learned that she’d been cast in the Broadway production. She said: “Funny story, I got the call from my agents that I got the part. I had no idea. “I was literally sitting out at Bubby’s with my child, feeding him buttered pasta and broccoli. And I get a call from my agents, and they said, ‘You are going to be Fanny Brice in ‘Funny Girl’. And as I looked up, I start hysterically crying, and I’m like, oh my God.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s team may not have returned all the classified records removed from the White House at the end of his presidency even after an FBI search of his home, U.S. prosecutors warned on Thursday, calling it a potential national security risk that needs investigation. That revelation came in a Justice Department court filing asking U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon to let it continue reviewing about 100 classified records seized by the FBI at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate while it investigates whether classified documents were illegally removed from the White House and improperly stored there. Trump is under investigation for retaining government records, some of which were marked as highly classified, at the resort in Palm Beach, Florida, his home after leaving office in January 2021. The 100 documents represent a fraction of the more than 11,000 records and photographs seized, most of which the government said Trump may review because they are not classified. “This motion is limited to … the seized classified records because those aspects of the order will cause the most immediate and serious harms to the government and the public,” the department said in its court filing. The prosecutors also asked the judge not to allow an independent arbiter, called a “special master,” to review classified materials seized from Trump’s property. Trump, in a posting on his Truth Social platform, described the request as a waste of money. The Justice Department on Thursday suggested there could be more classified records that were removed from the Trump White House that investigators have not yet located. This revelation comes about a week after the Justice Department released a detailed list of property seized from Trump’s home which showed the FBI located 48 empty folders labeled as classified and another 42 which indicated they should be returned to a staff secretary or military aide. Legal experts were perplexed as to why the folders were empty, and it was not clear whether records were missing. “Without a stay, the government and the public will also suffer irreparable harm from the undue delay to the criminal investigation,” prosecutors wrote. “The injunction against using classified records in the criminal investigation could impede efforts to identify the existence of any additional classified records that are not being properly stored – which itself presents the potential for ongoing risk to national security,” they added. READY TO APPEAL Prosecutors asked Cannon for a ruling by Sept. 15. If she denies their request, they intend to file an appeal to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where six of the 11 active judges are Trump appointees. In an order on Thursday evening, Cannon gave Trump’s lawyer’s until Monday morning to respond to the government’s request. Cannon, also a Trump appointee, on Monday ordered prosecutors to pause reviewing the more than 11,000 recovered records while a special master is appointed to review the material. The Justice Department said it will on Friday provide the court a list of possible special master candidates in a joint filing with Trump’s attorneys, as Cannon has requested. The Justice Department is also investigating possible obstruction of justice, after it uncovered evidence showing that records may have been removed or concealed from the FBI when it sent agents to Trump’s home in June to try to recover all classified documents through a grand jury subpoena. Cannon granted Trump’s request for a special master, despite prosecutors’ objections. The judge said the special master will review documents not just covered by attorney-client privilege, but any records possibly covered by executive privilege as well. Executive privilege is a legal doctrine that can shield some presidential records from disclosure. The Justice Department has challenged the logic of using executive privilege because Trump does not own the records and is no longer president. Cannon’s reasoning has also been criticized by Democratic and Republican legal experts. “No potential assertion of executive privilege could justify restricting the executive branch’s review and use of the classified records at issue here,” the Justice Department wrote in its Thursday filing. In Cannon’s Monday order, she allowed U.S. intelligence officials to review all of the seized materials as part of their ongoing national security damage assessment. But the Justice Department said there is no way to wall off the criminal investigation and the national security review. “The ongoing Intelligence Community classification review and assessment are closely interconnected with — and cannot be readily separated from—areas of inquiry of DOJ’s and the FBI’s ongoing criminal investigation,” the prosecutors said. Some legal experts on Thursday lauded the Justice Department’s approach to Cannon’s order, saying it carefully preserves its right to appeal broader concerns about a special master appointment, while at the same time asking Cannon for a much narrower solution for bigger concerns. “I think the government has embarked on a shrewd tactical strategy,” said David Laufman, an attorney who previously served as chief of the department’s counterintelligence section. He said the department’s legal strategy takes “a scalpel” to Cannon’s order by seeking immediate relief from its worst parts, while still preserving its right to appeal in the future. “They are focusing on what is most critical and most time-sensitive, both with respect to protecting the national security interests of the United States and with conducting follow-up investigative action,” he said. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; additional reporting by Jacqueline Thomsen; Editing by Scott Malone, Alistair Bell and Josie Kao) View the full article

Published by PsyPost Monkeypox’s effect on the skin – the disfiguring rashes – and the flu-like symptoms have been well described, but few have investigated the neurological and psychiatric problems the virus might cause. There are historic reports of neurological complications in people infected with the related smallpox virus and in people vaccinated against smallpox, which contains the related vaccinia virus. So my colleagues and I wanted to know whether monkeypox causes similar problems. We looked at all the evidence from before the current monkeypox pandemic of neurological or psychiatric problems in people w… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English ‘Weird’ Al Yankovic taught Daniel Radcliffe how to play the accordion. The 33-year-old actor plays the musician in the biopic ‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’ and recalled how Yankovic taught him how to play the instrument in preparation for the part. Daniel told IndieWire at the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of Eric Appel’s film: “Honestly, the thing that we worked on the most together was the accordion. “He gave me some accordion lessons, which is something that I can take to my grave that I had that moment. I don’t need anything else.” Daniel does not expect audiences to take “a moral” from the film but hopes the spoof helps people delve into their own “weirdness”. The ‘Harry Potter’ star said: “This is not a movie that we expect you to sit down and take a moral from the story. “But if there’s something to it, it’s about leaning into your own weirdness and that being a way of finding your own happiness.” Radcliffe continued: “(Yankovic) is so authentically himself and that has led to this wonderful film, as well as his incredible career.” Evan Rachel Wood portrays pop icon Madonna in the film but doubts the singer will react to the movie. She said: “I don’t think she’s going to respond at all. She has other things on her mind and other things to do.” The 35-year-old actress continued: “I love Madonna. I’ve met her before. We’ve been very friendly. So I think we’re cool. I’m hoping we’re cool. And the good news is nothing in this movie actually happened, so I’m a little safe there.” View the full article

Published by DPA Costumed revellers take part in the rainbow train and solidarity march, organized by the Oslo Pride, two and a half months after the mass shooting in Oslo. Originally, Oslo Pride was to hold its traditional parade on 25 June 2022, but on the night of this Saturday, two people were killed and several injured in the shooting at a pub in central Oslo. Beate Oma Dahle//dpa Tens of thousands of people marched though the Norwegian capital Oslo on Saturday in a show of solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community following a fatal shooting at a gay bar in June. A large Pride parade was originally supposed to take place in Oslo on June 25, but the night before an attacker suddenly fired shots outside the popular venue. The march on Saturday was not meant to replace the cancelled parade, but rather be a colourful parade dedicated to love, organizers said. The organizers spoke of an estimated 60,000 participants in the march, which also passed by the bar in question, Norwegian radio reported. The crowd included Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, several of his Cabinet members and other politicians. “We’re taking back the streets,” Støre told the NTB news agency. The 43-year-old perpetrator is remanded in custody under suspicion of terrorism. The attacker opened fire outside the London Pub, an LGBTQ+ nightclub, as well as other venues, in the early hours on June 25. Many were gathered on the street in expectation for the Oslo Pride parade. Two people died and 21 others were injured. Norwegian intelligence agency PST classified the incident as an Islamist terrorist attack. The man, a Norwegian with Iranian roots, was arrested just minutes after the first shots were fired. Police are investigating, among other possibilities, the theory that the attack was explicitly directed at the gay community. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store (C) takes part in the rainbow train and solidarity march, organized by the Oslo Pride, two and a half months after the mass shooting in Oslo. Originally, Oslo Pride was to hold its traditional parade on 25 June 2022, but on the night of this Saturday, two people were killed and several injured in the shooting at a pub in central Oslo. Beate Oma Dahle//dpa People take part in the rainbow train and solidarity march, organized by the Oslo Pride, two and a half months after the mass shooting in Oslo. Originally, Oslo Pride was to hold its traditional parade on 25 June 2022, but on the night of this Saturday, two people were killed and several injured in the shooting at a pub in central Oslo. Beate Oma Dahle//dpa View the full article

Published by DPA US director Laura Poitras holds the Golden Lion for Best Film for “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” during the closing ceremony of the 79th edition of the Venice Film Festival. Gian Mattia D’alberto/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed,” a documentary by US filmmaker Laura Poitras, has won the the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, the jury announced Saturday evening. The film centres on the life and work of photographer Nan Goldin. Poitras, 58, is best known for “Citizenfour,” an Oscar-winning documentary about whistleblower Edward Snowden. Poitras is the seventh woman to win the Golden Lion since 1949. “All the Beauty and the Bloodshed” tells of Goldin’s life, her artistic work and her fight against the Sackler family, which is known for marketing the addictive opioid OxyContin. Goldin herself has said she was addicted to OxyContin. The 68-year-old became famous with intimate photographs that deal with topics such as sexuality, illness, desire or violence. This year’s Grand Jury Prize went to Frenchwoman Alice Diop for “Saint Omer.” Jailed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi was honoured with the Special Jury Prize for “No Bears.” Italian director Luca Guadagnino received the Silver Lion for Best Director for “Bones and All,” while the Best Actress award went to Cate Blanchett for her role in “Tár.” Colin Farrell won Best Actor for the black comedy-drama “The Banshees of Inisherin.” The Venice Film Festival, which opened on August 31, is one of the three most important in the world, alongside the Cannes Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival. In this year’s competition, 23 works competed for the prizes. The awards were presented by an international jury chaired by US actress Julianne Moore. British director Martin McDonagh holds Osella award for Best Screenplay during the closing ceremony of the 79th Venice International Film Festival. Gian Mattia D’alberto/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa Australian actress Cate Blanchett holds the Coppa Volpi award for best performance during the closing ceremony of the 79th Venice International Film Festival. Gian Mattia D’alberto/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa View the full article

Published by The Philadelphia Inquirer PHILADELPHIA — The last weekend of August, party promoter Jeremy Taylor hosted a dance at a Broad Street club in Philadelphia featuring tracks from Beyonce’s latest album and cards telling guests where to get monkeypox vaccinations. Protecting people from a new virus spreading rapidly over the summer was a priority for Taylor, who hosts events under the name JayLaTay. His dances draw many people who identify as Black and LGBTQ — a population in Philadelphia that’s more likely to contract monkeypox, and less likely to be vaccinated against it. Warnings about the virus transmitting through sust… Read More View the full article

Published by Taste of Country Country legend Dolly Parton is paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sending prayers to the British royal family in the midst monarch’s death on Sept. 8, 2022. In a post, shared Friday (Sept. 9), Parton recalls meeting the Queen and performing for her on a trip to London in 1977. She also including a photo of momentous day, showing herself smiling brightly as she meets the Queen. “I had the honor of meeting and performing for Queen Elizabeth II on my trip to London in 1977. She carried herself with grace and strength her entire life. May she rest in peace. My thoughts are prayers are with h… Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet By David Badash,The New Civil Rights Movement Mike Pence is being mocked and highly criticized for attacking President Joe Biden and the primetime speech he delivered more than a week ago. Pence, who is clearly positioning himself for another run at the White House, this time on the top of the ticket, went after the President’s remarks in which he urged Americans to “defend” and “protect” democracy, while warning them that “MAGA Republicans” are a threat to the republic. Despite what the pundits, CNN and Fox News hosts, and far right wing media say, President Biden was very clear in his commen… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP In the wake of Matthew Shepard's infamous murder, the city of Laramie, Wyoming has become an unexpected haven for the LGBTQ community Laramie (United States) (AFP) – Nearly 25 years ago, the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard — a gay college student in Wyoming who was beaten, tied to a fence and left to die — shocked America. Today, the small city of Laramie — the scene of the infamous hate crime — has become an improbable refuge for sexual minorities in the ultra-conservative mountain state. “It’s always funny to say that I didn’t come out until I came to Wyoming, because people just don’t think that’s possible,” says 27-year-old Ray Kasckow, a transgender person living in the city of 30,000, nestled between two mountains. In Wyoming, a state known for being the least populous in the nation and for giving Donald Trump a thunderous victory in 2020, Kasckow’s story seems anomalous. For many Americans, the city is forever known as the place where Shepard was killed. On October 6, 1998, the 21-year-old University of Wyoming student was driven away from a bar to a secluded area by two young men. They savagely pistol-whipped him before leaving him for dead. Shepard was found 18 hours later by a cyclist who initially mistook him for a scarecrow. He never regained consciousness and died in hospital a few days later. ‘Support system’ Shepard’s killing served as a wake-up call, shining a cold light on homophobic violence in America. In 2009, a federal law named for Shepard went into effect, expanding existing hate crimes legislation to include crimes motivated by a victim’s gender or sexual orientation. But in Laramie, people did not want to wait around for change. “Folks in Laramie left — professors left, students left, residents left out of fear,” recalls Judy Shepard, Matthew’s mother. With husband Dennis at her side, Judy founded the Matthew Shepard Foundation “to try to make life better for Matt’s friends and peers in the community.” A New York theater troupe came to town multiple times to develop “The Laramie Project,” a play that recounts how the sleepy city became a scene for murder, depicting a fatal brew of toxic masculinity, cowboy mentality and isolation. In Laramie, where life is punctuated by the passage of long freight trains, the local LGBT activist network sprang up little by little. Then in 2015, the city was the first in the state to adopt an ordinance banning workplace or housing discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation. Two years later, Laramie held its first Pride parade. Rainbow flags fly in front of most businesses in Laramie, and all around the bar where Shepard was kidnapped. Young people walk in the streets with buttons reading “they/them” — pronouns used by those who do not identify as a man or woman. “People come here to Laramie because they know that there are communities present, and they know that they have friends and they have a support system,” Kasckow says. ‘Lots of stigma’ The welcoming atmosphere in Laramie is in stark contrast to how LGBTQ people feel they are treated in the rest of the state, according to Tyler Wolfgang, member of the Laramie Pridefest group. “Wyoming has a long way to go as a LGBTQ-friendly state,” Wolfgang says, explaining that local legislatures have attempted to push through so-called “anti-trans bills” affecting transgender people over school athletics and bathroom usage. “We see lots of stigma and a lot of transphobic thoughts or comments,” the non-binary activist adds. Beyond Wyoming, other conservative-leaning US states have seen what activists say are efforts to single out transgender people, with primarily Republican lawmakers redoubling their efforts as national midterm elections set for November draw near. “We’re right back where we started, essentially, in the community,” Judy Shepard says, slamming what she calls the “terrible attitude of ignorance and hate directed at the gay community, as is being directed at all the marginalized communities ” across the country. But since 1998 and Matthew’s death, Judy Shepard says the community is organized. “So many more people are out and comfortable as who they are… I think that we’re making attempts to erase us more difficult,” she says. Matthew Shepard’s ashes were interred at the National Cathedral in Washington to mark the 20th anniversary of his death. In Laramie, a bench was erected in the middle of the University of Wyoming campus where he studied political science. The plaque on it reads: “He continues to make a difference.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Kelly Clarkson thinks Dolly Parton is “an inspiration to all women”. The 40-year-old singer has joined forces with Dolly, 76, to record a brand-new duet version of ‘9 to 5’ – which Dolly first released as a single in 1980 – and Kelly has heaped praise on the music icon. She shared: “I am so honoured that Dolly asked me to re-imagine this iconic song, ‘9 to 5’, with her! She is so talented, an inspiration to all women, and one of the sweetest people you will ever meet!” Kelly relished the experience of working with the award-winning country singer. In a statement, she joked: “I hope y’all like what we did, but even if you don’t, remember I got to sing a duet with the magical Dolly Parton, and now have bragging rights til the end of time!” Similarly, Dolly also loved the experience of working with Kelly, admitting that she can make any song “come alive”. She said: “Nobody sings like Kelly Clarkson. She makes any song come alive. I love her voice on ‘9 to 5’ and I am so proud I got to sing with her on it.” Meanwhile, Kelly recently revealed that she plans to explore her split from Brandon Blackstock on her new album. The ‘Behind These Hazel Eyes’ hitmaker confirmed that some of her new material will focus on the breakdown of her marriage. Kelly – who has River, eight, and Remington, six, with her ex-husband – said: “When my ex and I first separated, there were many emotions. It was hard. My producer and I were laughing yesterday because I was like, ‘Remember that time we wrote, like, 25 songs in a week?’ “A lot of those are the ones that are on the album. I literally wrote most of these almost two years ago. Then I told my label, ‘I can’t talk about this until I’ve gone through it’, and it’s just taken some time to do that.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The leaders of two congressional committees want a federal probe into whether airlines used government pandemic money to fund pilot buyouts and early retirements that may have fueled current pilot shortages, according to a letter released on Friday. Congress approved $54 billion in three rounds covering much of U.S. airline payroll costs for 18 months that ended in September 2021. Airlines accepting government assistance that funded payroll costs were prohibited from furloughs or firing workers and faced limits on executive compensation and bans on stock buybacks and dividends. Major airlines, after losing thousands of employees during the pandemic, now have more pilots than before COVID-19 and are flying fewer flights but face higher absentee rates driven by COVID cases. Regional airlines are still struggling to hire enough pilots, while airlines cut back on flights this summer to improve performance. “As a result of pilot shortages, thousands of flights have been delayed or canceled, wreaking havoc on travel plans for millions of American taxpayers,” House of Representatives’ Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and Coronavirus Crisis Committee Chairman James Clyburn wrote in a Sept. 8 letter to the Treasury Department’s inspector general. The committee wants the inspector general to “complete a thorough review of the federal funding Treasury has disbursed to airlines to sustain their operations during the coronavirus pandemic, including an accounting for how the funds were disbursed and used by each airline recipient.” A group representing major airlines did not immediately comment. Out of $54 billion, airlines must repay $14 billion, or 26.2%. American Airlines received $12.6 billion, Delta Air Lines $11.9 billion, United Airlines $10.9 billion and Southwest Airlines $7.2 billion, according to a U.S. Senate panel. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg faces pressure from Congress to do more to hold airlines accountable for tens of thousands of flight cancellations and delays this summer. A group of 36 state attorneys general on Aug. 31 called on Congress to give them new authority to investigate passenger complaints. Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Alex Padilla have urged the Department of Transportation to fine airlines that delay or cancel flights because of staffing or operational issues. (Reporting by David Shepardson; writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Jonathan Oatis) View the full article

Published by Al-Araby The United Nations voiced alarm Friday at thedeath sentences issued by Iran against two female gay rights activists on charges of promoting homosexuality, in unusual verdicts that have alarmed campaigners. The two women, Zahra Sedighi Hamedani, 31, and Elham Chubdar, 24, were sentenced to death by the Islamic Revolution Court in the northwestern town of Urmia, the UN said. “We are deeply concerned at the death sentences issued against twoLGBT activists in Iran,” Liz Throssell, spokeswoman for the UN rights office, told AFP in an email. She lamented that the two had been sentenced “on the vague… Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet By Alex Henderson Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York City hasn’t been shy about calling for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to either be impeached or resign, arguing that the activism of his wife — far-right MAGA Republican and conspiracy theorist Ginni Thomas — presents a major conflict of interest. After the 2020 presidential election, Ginni Thomas was heavily involved in MAGA efforts to get the election results overturned and promoted the Big Lie in a series of text exchanges with Mark Meadows (who served as White House chief of staff under President Donald Trump). Justice… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Andrew Chung and Nate Raymond (Reuters) – U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Friday permitted Yeshiva University to refuse to recognize an LGBT student club that the Jewish school in New York City has said violates its religious values, temporarily blocking a judge’s ruling ordering it to allow the group. Sotomayor put on hold the judge’s ruling that a city anti-discrimination law required Yeshiva University to recognize Y.U. Pride Alliance as a student club while the school pursues an appeal in a lower court. The liberal justice handles certain cases for the court from a group of states including New York. A stay Sotomayor issued of the judge’s injunction will remain in place pending a further order of the Supreme Court. Y.U. Pride Alliance formed unofficially as a group in 2018 but Yeshiva University determined that granting it official status would be “inconsistent with the school’s Torah values and the religious environment it seeks to maintain.” The dispute hinges in part on whether Yeshiva University is a “religious corporation” and therefore exempt from the New York City Human Rights Law, which bans discrimination by a place or provider of public accommodation. New York state judge Lynn Kotler in June determined that the school’s primary purpose is education, not religious worship, and it is subject to anti-discrimination law. Kotler also rejected the university’s argument that forcing it to recognize the club would violate its religious freedom protected under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. After higher state courts in August refused to stay the judge’s ruling, Yeshiva University turned to the U.S. Supreme Court, emphasizing its religious character, including that undergraduate students are required to engage in intense religious studies. “As a deeply religious Jewish university, Yeshiva cannot comply with that order because doing so would violate its sincere religious beliefs about how to form its undergraduate students in Torah values,” the school told the Supreme Court. The Modern Orthodox Jewish university, based in Manhattan, has roughly 6,000 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs. Among the school’s values, according to its website https://www.yu.edu/about/values, are believing in “the infinite worth of each and every human being” and “the responsibility to reach out to others in compassion.” Powered by its increasingly assertive conservative justices, the U.S. Supreme Court in recent years has expanded religious rights while narrowing the separation between church and state. During its term that ended in June, the court backed a public high school football coach in Washington state who refused to stop leading Christian prayers with players on the field after games and ruled in favor of Christian families in Maine who sought access to taxpayer money to pay for their children to attend religious schools. The court has a 6-3 conservative majority. In its upcoming term, which begins on Oct. 3, the court will decide a major new legal fight pitting religious liberty against LGBT rights involving an evangelical Christian web designer’s free speech claim that she cannot be forced under a Colorado anti-discrimination law to produce websites for same-sex marriages. (Reporting by Nate Raymond and Andrew Chung in New York; Editing by Will Dunham) View the full article

Published by Reuters By David Shepardson and Nandita Bose WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House on Thursday outlined six principles to reform Big Tech platforms and said it was encouraged to see bipartisan interest in Congress to rein in major U.S. tech companies. The six principles, entitled “Enhancing Competition and Tech Platform Accountability,” were released after Biden administration officials earlier in the day met with experts to discuss “the harms that tech platforms cause and the need for greater accountability.” The White House said the United States needs “clear rules of the road to ensure small and mid-size businesses and entrepreneurs can compete on a level playing field.” “These principles are the culmination of months of work by the administration and engagement with numerous stakeholders,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. “We’re looking forward to hearing any feedback from the tech companies.” A group of bipartisan lawmakers has introduced antitrust legislation aimed at reining in the four tech giants — Meta Platform’s Facebook, Apple, Alphabet’s Google and Amazon.com — that would bar the companies from favoring their own businesses in search results and other ways. The lawmakers have said they believe they have the 60 Senate votes needed to move forward, but no vote has yet been scheduled. Among issues discussed at Thursday’s meeting, which included numerous senior White House officials, District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine and technology experts, were antitrust, privacy, algorithmic discrimination and other tech policy areas, the White House said. The six principles include promoting technology sector competition; adopting robust federal privacy protections, and tougher privacy and online protections for children; rescinding special legal protections for large tech platforms; increasing transparency about platforms’ algorithms and content moderation decisions; and ending discriminatory algorithmic decision-making. “The rise of tech platforms has introduced new and difficult challenges,” the White House said, “from the tragic acts of violence linked to toxic online cultures, to deteriorating mental health and wellbeing, to basic rights of Americans and communities worldwide suffering from the rise of tech platforms big and small.” (Reporting by Diane Bartz, Nandita Bose and David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler) View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Britney Spears has been offered millions to do interviews following the end of her conservatorship, however, the troubled singer never wants to do an interview ever again, RadarOnline.com has learned. “Britney has always hated doing interviews and has never been happy with the end results. Even when her book comes out, she won’t do a single interview to promote it,” sources tell RadarOnline.com. “After what she’s been through, Britney is still very fragile and doesn’t trust reporters or strangers.” mega Insiders reveal that the press rollout for her book will be very carefully planned out, and does not include a single big tell-all with Robin Roberts, Gayle King, or anyone else. “If you want to know what Britney is thinking buy her book,” said a publishing source. “They are not going to give the content away for free to some TV host. Let’s be honest, Savannah Guthrie needs Britney more than Britney needs her.” Sources close to Britney said her memoir has been completed but the release has been delayed due to the paper shortage. Her publisher Simon & Schuster was aiming for a January release but that has been postponed. As RadarOnline.com, last month, Britney hinted at her disdain for interviews in a 22-minute audio recording where she bared her soul. In the since-deleted clip, Britney told her fans that she had a lot on her mind but wasn’t interested in a sit-down with Oprah. She didn’t like the idea of being paid to express her emotions, Britney said. mega A source close to Oprah told RadarOnline.com, “they 100% did not offer Britney money for an interview. Oprah does not pay.” The insider added, “She didn’t pay Meghan and Harry and wouldn’t pay Britney.” Britney has continued to speak out on her own terms and without the need for a one-on-one interview. After the initial audio recording was deleted, she then posted a second clip days later. The pop star addressed remarks from her ex-husband Kevin Federline and their son Jayden. The singer said, “Like I said, God would not have let this happen to me. I don’t believe in god anymore because of the way my children and my family have treated me. There is nothing to believe in anymore. I’m an atheist y’all.” mega View the full article

Published by Reuters By Gabriella Borter (Reuters) -Michigan’s top court ruled on Thursday that voters should get to decide whether to amend their state constitution to protect abortion rights, handing a win to advocates who petitioned to put the measure on the November ballot. Reproductive Freedom for All, an abortion-rights advocacy group, amassed more than 730,000 signatures in support of putting a state constitutional amendment affirming the right to abortion on the general election ballot. The group appealed to the Democratic-leaning state Supreme Court last week after the state canvassing board deadlocked over whether to allow the issue to go before voters. The two Republicans on the canvassing board voted against putting the amendment on the ballot, while the two Democrats supported it. Anti-abortion groups objected to the ballot measure largely on technical grounds, saying the language of the petition contained multiple errors. Michigan abortion rights advocates began a campaign to put the issue on the 2022 ballot months before the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June that overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case that granted nationwide constitutional protection for abortions. (Reporting by Gabriella BorterEditing by Chris Reese and Bill Berkrot) View the full article