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Published by Reuters By Brad Brooks ANADARKO, Okla. (Reuters) – U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on Saturday met with elderly survivors of Native American boarding schools, her first stop on a year-long tour to hear first-hand accounts of widespread abuses committed at those institutions. Haaland met with survivors at the Riverside Indian School, the nation’s oldest federally operated boarding school for Native Americans, collecting oral histories of the atrocities they faced. In May, Haaland, the first Native American female Cabinet member, released an initial report https://www.reuters.com/world/us/interior-dept-investigation-finds-burial-sites-53-indian-boarding-schools-2022-05-11 from the Interior Department’s continuing investigation into the history the boarding schools. The schools were centers of forced assimilation that began in the early 1800s and continued through the 1970s, with the stated goal of wiping out Native American culture. Haaland told a crowd of about 300 people that federal Indian boarding school policies had touched every indigenous person she knew, and that all Native Americans “carry the trauma in our hearts.” “I’m here to listen. I will listen with you, I will grieve with you, I will believe you and I will feel your pain,” she said. After Haaland’s brief remarks, several elderly survivors of boarding schools took turns telling their accounts of abuses they suffered decades in the past, nearly all saying they were separated from their families by ages 4 or 5 and rarely made it home until they graduated from high school. Conditions at former Indian boarding schools gained global attention last year when tribal leaders in Canada announced the discovery of the unmarked graves of 215 children at the site of the former Kamloops residential school for indigenous children, as such institutions are known in Canada. Unlike the United States, Canada carried out a full investigation into its schools via a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The U.S. government has never acknowledged how many children attended such schools, how many children died or went missing from them or even how many schools existed. Lawrence SpottedBird, the newly elected chairman of the Kiowa tribe, said he’s a veteran and feels as American as anyone. But he said it’s far overdue that the country stops “whitewashing the brutal history” of the boarding school system. “America prides itself on being an advocate of democracy and human rights around the world but was itself one of the worst violators of human rights when it comes to Native Americans,” he said. “They need to be honest about this history so they can heal with us.” (Reporting by Brad Brooks; Editing by Sandra Maler) View the full article

Published by Reuters By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A member of the Oath Keepers extremist group brought explosives to the Washington, D.C., area ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump, according to the U.S. Justice Department. In a court filing, federal prosecutors alleged that Jeremy Brown, an Oath Keepers member from Florida, drove explosives to a Virginia hotel in his recreational vehicle on Jan. 6. A second member of the group, Thomas Caldwell, was later found in possession of a “death list” that included the name of a Georgia election official, according to the document. In a statement forwarded by his attorney, Caldwell denied the allegation against him. “The DOJ’s claim that I sought to assassinate election workers is a 100% false and disgusting lie. Unfortunately, the mountain of exculpatory evidence that exonerates me is being hidden from public view by the DOJ through protective orders,” the statement said. A legal representative for Brown was not immediately available for comment. The 28-page court document, filed on Friday in U.S. District Court in Washington, details evidence that the Justice Department is likely to present later this year at the seditious conspiracy trial of Oath Keepers members, including Caldwell and the group’s leader Stewart Rhodes. It lists Brown as an unindicted co-conspirator. The filing came as the congressional panel investigating the Jan. 6 riot prepared to hold two hearings next week. A hearing set for Tuesday is expected to focus on efforts to assemble Trump supporters including members of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys extremist groups in the Capitol. The Jan. 6 attack took place as Congress worked to certify President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory over Trump. U.S. Representative Liz Cheney, a Republican panel member, has said Trump could be held criminally liable for allegedly encouraging the attack with false claims that the election was stolen from him. More than 840 people been charged with taking part in the Capitol riot, attacking police and sending lawmakers scrambling for safety. About 250 defendants have pleaded guilty, including some members of the Oath Keepers. (Reporting by David Morgan) View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Tom Boggioni Saturday afternoon before he headed off to Alaska to help out former half-term Gov. Sarah Palin (R) with her bid to win a House of Representatives seat, Donald Trump lashed out at Wisconsin State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R) to “RECLAIM the Electors” from the 2020 election and “turn over the Election to the actual winner (by a lot!)” — by which, we must assume, he means himself. Reacting to a ruling to a narrow party-line 4-3 ruling by the Wisconsin state Supreme Court banning the use of ballot drop boxes going forward, the former president insisted the ruling it is retroact… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP A deal for Tesla founder Elon Musk to buy social media giant Twitter was called off, sparking both celebration and frustration Washington (AFP) – Elon Musk’s move to abandon his purchase of Twitter has been greeted with a mix of relief and disappointment across the political spectrum, with many criticizing the Tesla founder but others applauding his “exposure” of the influential messaging platform. The announcement of the deal valued at $44 billion in late April sparked fears the platform would see a surge in abuse and disinformation after Musk — a self-proclaimed free speech absolutist — said he would largely let anyone say anything allowed by law on Twitter. Musk’s announcement Friday that he no longer wants to buy Twitter triggered celebration by advocacy groups that had launched a campaign to stop the wealthiest man in the world from going through with the purchase. “A Twitter under Musk’s leadership would have ripped open Pandora’s box and reopened the floodgates for hate and baseless conspiracy theories — making the platform, and the country a more dangerous place,” said Bridget Todd, communications director at UltraViolet, an advocacy group. The deal breakdown “is a welcome reprieve for women, people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community.” Nicole Gill, co-founder and executive director of the left-leaning watchdog Accountable Tech, slammed Musk’s bid as “a chaotic crusade.” “Our information ecosystem, safety, and democracy cannot remain at the whim of unaccountable billionaires,” she said. But hopes were dashed for others who believed Musk’s stearing of the platform would lead to a decrease in measures aimed at curbing bullying, lies and other abuses deemed politically motivated and anti-free speech. “The party is really over here. The purge is coming,” tweeted conservative commentator Dave Rubin. Donald Trump Jr, the son of the former president, predicted “censorship” at Twitter “will be back tenfold.” “Zero chance of free thought or speech there at this point,” he said on his father’s fledgling Truth Social platform, launched after he was booted from his preferred medium where he’d amassed some 88.7 million followers. The former president was banned from Twitter following accusations he had used it to incite his followers to assault the US Capitol on January 6 last year. While Musk said he would lift the ban on the elder Trump, the fellow billionaire said he would stick to Truth Social — a message he reiterated on Friday. “THE TWITTER DEAL IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE ‘TRUTH’,” he posted on Truth Social. Another conservative Twitter competitor, GETTR, also took the opportunity to tout itself as an alternative platform that would “protect online freedom of expression.” CEO Jason Miller praised Musk “for further exposing the incurable, rotting, politically discriminatory culture” within Twitter. The deal may be off but the Musk-Twitter tug-of-war is far from over, as the company says it will pursue legal action to enforce the agreement. View the full article

Govt’s Halting Response In Ramping Monkeypox Tests, Vaccines May Have Missed Chance to Contain Outbreak Over Last 30 Days.Andy Stone is one of the lucky ones. The New York City resident saw a tweet from a local AIDS activist saying that monkeypox vaccines would be available that day at a clinic in Manhattan. Stone, 35, and his husband booked appointments online right away and got their shots last month. “I want to do what I can to protect myself and others,” said Stone, a marketing consultant living in Brooklyn, who said his primary care doctor advised him to get the vaccine as soon as possible. Hundreds of men who showed up without appointments and waited in a snaking line around the Chelsea Sexual Health Clinic that day weren’t as fortunate. The 200 shots available went quickly, and many people were turned away, according to New York City Council member Erik Bottcher, whose district includes the neighborhood of Chelsea. When people tried to make online appointments for subsequent days, none were available, he said in a letter to state officials urgently requesting additional doses of the vaccine. “…six weeks in, and we’re still having problems with availability of testing and vaccine supply, all these issues that we saw with COVID. Now, the prospects for containment are receding quickly.” Gregg Gonsalves, Assoc. Prof Epidemiology, Yale School Public HealthThe first monkeypox case in the United States was confirmed in mid-May. As the number of monkeypox cases reached 605 nationwide as of July 6, some public health experts saw echoes of covid-19 in the government’s halting response. “We’re six weeks in, and we’re still having problems with availability of testing and vaccine supply, all these issues that we saw with covid,” said Gregg Gonsalves, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health. “Now, the prospects for containment are receding quickly.” Monkeypox is not covid. Covid has killed more than 1 million Americans, but no one has died from a monkeypox infection in the United States during the current outbreak Monkeypox is not covid. Covid has killed more than 1 million Americans, but no one has died from a monkeypox infection in the United States during the current outbreak. People can’t get monkeypox by simply walking into a room and breathing the same air as an infected person. The monkeypox virus, which belongs to the same family as smallpox, typically causes painful, pimple-like sores on people’s face, hands, feet, chest, or genitals, along with fever and swollen lymph nodes. Until the lesions scab over and heal, people can infect others through close physical contact or by touching things like bedding that were in contact with the rash. People generally recover from monkeypox in two to four weeks. Most infections identified so far have been in men who have sex with men, and many of the cases are in Europe. But the World Health Organization reported July 1 that cases are emerging among other groups — in some cases, among people such as household members, heterosexual contacts, and children. Up to 10% of patients have been hospitalized, according to the WHO. Two vaccines are available to protect people against monkeypox, Jynneos and ACAM2000. Federal officials are focused on prioritizing providing Jynneos, given in two doses 28 days apart, because it has fewer side effects and can be administered to people who are immunocompromised, which ACAM2000 cannot. The federal government has distributed more than 800 doses of the ACAM2000 vaccine to date. At the moment, however, vaccine distribution is barely a trickle, and health care providers on the front lines say they need more doses now. In recent days, federal officials have announced a three-pronged response to the monkeypox outbreak: Monkeypox tests, vaccines, education that includes expanded deployment of vaccines, easier access to testing, and a campaign to educate the public and providers about the disease and promote vaccinations among people most at risk, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community. “While monkeypox poses minimal risk to most Americans, we are doing everything we can to offer vaccines to those at high-risk of contracting the virus,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Secretary, Health and Human Services“While monkeypox poses minimal risk to most Americans, we are doing everything we can to offer vaccines to those at high-risk of contracting the virus,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. “This new strategy allows us to maximize the supply of currently available vaccines and reach those who are most vulnerable to the current outbreak.” Initially, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that people get vaccinated only if they were exposed to someone with monkeypox. The federal guidance has been expanded to a much larger group, including men who have sex with men who have recently had multiple sex partners in a place where monkeypox has been reported. On July 1, the CDC said it had purchased additional doses of the Jynneos vaccine, made by Bavarian Nordic A/S, bringing to 4 million the total number of doses that will be available in 2022 and 2023. On July 6, the federal government said that it had distributed 41,520 “patient courses” of the vaccine to 42 jurisdictions. New York City received an initial 1,000 doses that were made available at the Chelsea clinic, but then got nothing more for nearly two weeks. In Washington, D.C., 300 vaccine appointments that were made available at the end of June were reportedly taken in minutes. In Los Angeles, 800 vaccine doses had been distributed as of July 1 to people who are close contacts of people who have the disease. In a news release, Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Health said it would provide more doses to high-risk groups as the vaccine supply increases. In early July, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said it had been approved for nearly 6,000 additional doses of the vaccine, which it would make available at two city clinics. A software glitch halted efforts to make appointments, however. They are scheduled to resume next week. The city health department’s Twitter feed has chronicled its stop-and-go efforts to acquire vaccines and schedule appointments, along with residents’ exasperation. “A sincere apology for the technical difficulties our vendor @medrite_ experienced with today’s monkeypox vaccine appointment rollout,” tweeted New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan. “We pledge to do better in the days and weeks ahead.” “Right now, we don’t have a sense if it is the tip of the iceberg,” Jennifer Nuzzo,Epidemiologist Brown University’s School of Public Health.The city has recorded 141 suspected cases of monkeypox, officials said. The doses for New York will be a drop in the bucket, advocates said. At three clinics in New York City, the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center serves 20,000 primarily LGBTQ+ patients, many of whom are eager for the vaccine, center officials said. “We’re promoting vaccines and working closely with patients to find access,” said Anthony Fortenberry, chief nursing officer at Callen-Lorde. “But right now, there’s a very small amount of vaccine available, and it’s much less than the demand is for it.” The health center has seen 15 patients with monkeypox so far, he said, up from four a week ago. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services didn’t respond to requests for information about vaccine and testing availability. Epidemiologists said that speed bumps in testing for the disease are also hampering the nation’s ability to get in front of the monkeypox outbreak. Without widespread testing and contact tracing, the extent of the outbreak is not clear. “Right now, we don’t have a sense if it is the tip of the iceberg,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at Brown University’s School of Public Health. To date, monkeypox testing has been handled by a network of public health laboratories and requires a cumbersome process that many physicians are not familiar with, according to some critics. “If you’re an average clinician, you may have never sent a sample to a public health lab,” said Dr. James Lawler, executive director for international programs and innovation for the Global Center for Health Security at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. As part of the expanded efforts announced by federal officials, five large commercial labs will begin running tests this month, dramatically increasing capacity. Systemic improvements offer scant comfort to people at risk right now. Charles Rockhill said he has nightmares about getting monkeypox. “I’m pretty worried. I work in a gay bar,” the Manhattan resident said. “I’m around a lot of people all the time.” Rockhill is a bartender at Greenwich Village’s Stonewall Inn, the site of the Stonewall uprising in 1969, considered the birthplace of gay pride. He has been searching for monkeypox vaccination appointments. Unable to get a vaccine, he wears gloves at work and washes his hands more often on the job. In his personal life, he’s erring on the side of caution too. “I’m just trying to make the best decisions for me and hoping that I don’t become infected,” he said.KHN (Kaiser Health News) is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KHN is one of the three major operating programs at KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation. Subscribe to KHN’s free Morning Briefing. View the full article

Published by New York Daily News Marvel’s latest superhero movie is very gay, according to one of its stars, Natalie Portman, and its director Taika Waititi. At a recent preview screening of “Thor: Love and Thunder,” Portman joined Waititi and fellow cast members for a Q&A session with the audience. In a scene that was captured on cellphone video and then shared on social media, an audience member asked the 41-year-old actress how gay the movie was. After a brief pause, Portman, who returns to the franchise as the astrophysicist Jane Foster, responded: “So gay.” Waititi agreed, adding: “super gay.” That wasn’t the first time … Read More View the full article

Published by The Detroit News DETROIT — U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his husband Chasten are officially Michiganians — a move that may help bolster the former South Bend, Indiana mayor’s future political prospects. The couple have moved to Traverse City, Chasten’s hometown, and plan to register to vote there before the midterm election this fall, a U.S. Department of Transportation spokesperson confirmed to The Detroit News. The move will allow the Buttigiegs to be closer to Chasten’s parents, who have helped the couple with child care since they adopted their twins last August, according to the spokesp… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP US President Joe Biden presents US soccer player Megan Rapinoe with the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a ceremony honoring 17 recipients at the White House on July 7, 2022 Washington (AFP) – US soccer icon Megan Rapinoe paid silent tribute Thursday to a fellow sports star — basketballer Brittney Griner, who is detained in Russia — during a White House awards ceremony. As she and several others received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest American civilian honor, Rapinoe wore a white pantsuit with the initials “BG” and a flower embroidered on the lapel. Griner, who has been imprisoned in Russia since February, pleaded guilty to drug smuggling charges earlier Thursday in a case that has further inflamed tensions between Moscow and Washington. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and WNBA champion, detained days before Russia sent troops to Ukraine, faces up to a decade behind bars for bringing vape cartridges with cannabis oil into the country, but insists she did not intend to break the law. US President Joe Biden “is going to do everything he can to make sure she gets home safely,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said in response to criticism from the basketball star’s family on the administration’s involvement. In addition to Rapinoe, who helped lead the US women’s national soccer team to 2019 World Cup victory and advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, Biden also commemorated gymnastics champion Simone Biles for shining a light on mental health struggles. Other award recipients included former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords who is a survivor of gun violence, the nurse who was the first person in the United States to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, and posthumous awards for Apple founder Steve Jobs and Republican senator and war hero John McCain. “This is America,” Biden said of the esteemed group. Also honored was Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington, who could not attend the White House ceremony because he recently tested positive for Covid. View the full article

Published by New York Daily News Like Princess Diana, Emma Corrin is a true standout. The thespian who portrays the late Princess of Wales on “The Crown,” has reportedly made history as the first nonbinary person to grace the cover of Vogue magazine. For the August 2022 edition of the American fashion bible, the U.K. native opened up about their identity and some of the complexities portraying of markedly feminine characters. “In my mind, gender just isn’t something that feels fixed and I don’t know if it ever will be; there might always be some fluidity there for me,” Corrin said. In 2021, the Golden Globe Award winner came … Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Emma Corrin learnt a lot on their first date with a woman revealing “she really gave me the lowdown”. ‘The Crown’ star – who came out as queer last April – has dated men in the past but has now opened up about their first time going out with a female and credited the date with being incredibly helpful even though they didn’t end up in a relationship. In an interview with Vogue magazine, Emma explained: “My first date with a girl, they were like, ‘Oh! You’re a baby queer!’ It was amazing. We actually didn’t end up seeing each other again, but she really gave me the lowdown.” Emma went on to add they felt “pressure” to justify their LGBTQ+ identity – insisting they are still learning and “working (it) out”. They went on: “I’m working out all this complex gender and sexuality stuff. And yet, I’m seeing a guy? That feels very juxtaposed, even if I’m very happy.” Emma used Instagram as a public platform to embrace gender neutral pronouns last year and they are adamant social media can be a useful platform to bring people together. They added: “If you have a platform and you’re able to use it, that’s obviously so important—and I met some incredible people through it.” Emma previously opened up about their journey in an interview which aired on ITV, explaining there is still a “long way to go.” They said: “My journey has been a long one and has still got a long way to go. I think we are so used to defining ourselves. That’s the way society works within these binaries and it’s taken me a long time to realise that I exist somewhere in between and I’m still not sure where that is yet.” View the full article

Published by Stateline.org The U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, but in most states, laws or constitutional amendments would revive the prohibition if the high court decides, as it did with abortion, that such unions are not a constitutionally protected right. Thirty-five states ban same-sex marriage in their constitutions, state law, or both, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures and Stateline research. All were invalidated in 2015 by the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling. But should the now-more-conservative U.S. Supreme Court overturn the right to same-sex marriages, those state l… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Kate Holton and Elizabeth Piper LONDON (Reuters) -Boris Johnson will announce his resignation as British prime minister on Thursday after he was abandoned by ministers and his Conservative Party’s lawmakers who said he was no longer fit to govern. With eight ministers, including two secretaries of state, resigning in the last two hours, an isolated and powerless Johnson was set to bow to the inevitable and declare he was stepping down later on Thursday, a source said. His Downing Street office confirmed that Johnson would make a statement to the country later. After days of battling for his job, Johnson had been deserted by all but a handful of allies after the latest in a series of scandals broke their willingness to support him. “His resignation was inevitable,” Justin Tomlinson, Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, said on Twitter. “As a party we must quickly unite and focus on what matters. These are serious times on many fronts.” The Conservatives will now have to elect a new leader, a process which could take about two months. It was not clear whether Johnson would or could stay on in a caretaker role while the person who would be the new prime minister was chosen. “As well as resigning as party leader the PM must resign his office,” Conservative lawmaker Nick Gibb said. “After losing so many ministers, he has lost the trust and authority required to continue.” Support for Johnson had evaporated during one of the most turbulent 24 hours in recent British political history, epitomised by finance minister, Nadhim Zahawi, who was only appointed to his post on Tuesday, calling on his boss to resign. Zahawi and other cabinet ministers had gone to Downing Street on Wednesday evening, along with a senior representative of those lawmakers not in government, to tell Johnson the game was up. Initially, Johnson refused to go and seemed set to dig in, sacking Michael Gove – a member of his top ministerial team who was one of the first to tell him he needed to resign – in a bid to reassert his authority. One ally had told the Sun newspaper that party rebels would “have to dip their hands in blood” to get rid of Johnson. But by Thursday morning as a slew of resignations poured in, it became clear his position was untenable. “This is not sustainable and it will only get worse: for you, for the Conservative Party and most importantly of all the country,” Zahawi said on Twitter. “You must do the right thing and go now.” Some of those that remained in post, including defence minister Ben Wallace, said they were only doing so because they had an obligation to keep the country safe. There had been so many ministerial resignations that the government was facing paralysis with no one willing to accept the vacant posts. FROM POPULAR TO DESERTED The ebullient Johnson came to power nearly three years ago, promising to deliver Britain’s departure from the European Union and rescue it from the bitter wrangling that followed the 2016 Brexit referendum. Since then, some Conservatives had enthusiastically backed the former journalist and London mayor while others, despite reservations, supported him because he was able to appeal to parts of the electorate that usually rejected their party. That was borne out in the December 2019 election. But his administration’s combative and often chaotic approach to governing and a series of scandals have exhausted the goodwill of many of his lawmakers while opinion polls show he is no longer popular with the public at large. The recent crisis erupted after lawmaker Chris Pincher, who held a government role involved in pastoral care, was forced to quit over accusations he groped men in a private member’s club. Johnson had to apologise after it emerged that he was briefed that Pincher had been the subject of previous sexual misconduct complaints before he appointed him. The prime minister said he had forgotten. This followed months of scandals and missteps, including a damning report into boozy parties at his Downing Street residence and office that broke strict COVID-19 lockdown rules and saw him fined by police over a gathering for his 56th birthday. There have also been policy U-turns, an ill-fated defence of a lawmaker who broke lobbying rules, and criticism that he has not done enough to tackle inflation, with many Britons struggling to cope with rising fuel and food prices. Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour Party, said Johnson’s resignation was good news for Britain. “But it should have happened long ago,” he said. “He was always unfit for office. He has been responsible for lies, scandal and fraud on an industrial scale.” (Writing by Michael Holden and Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Kate Holton, Frank Jack Daniel, Toby Chopra and Mark Heinrich) View the full article

REPORTS, DISPATCHES: WHO To Consider Again if Outbreak is ‘Emergency’; US Public Health Crippled; Adult Star Tells All; TikTok’er says ”This Sh*t Sucks & You Don’t Want It…” ; Reddit AMAs; Folks Want to Be Heard 'I never thought I'd catch monkeypox'July 7, 2022Dan shares his experience of contracting monkeypox at the start of June.SF's LGBTQ Community on Alert After Monkeypox Cases Linked to Pride PartiesJuly 6, 2022submitted by /u/goldmanzaddy to r/sanfrancisco [link] [comments]WHO to consider again whether monkeypox outbreak is public health emergency of international concern – CNNJuly 6, 2022WHO to consider again whether monkeypox outbreak is public health emergency of international concern CNNDaddyland party-goer diagnosed with monkeypoxJuly 6, 2022Dallas County Health and Human Services announced today (Wednesday, July 6) that “an out-of-state visitor who was in town for the Daddyland Festival” held in Dallas over the July 4th weekend has been confirmed to have monkeypox. The individual, who went to an area hospital […]America’s Public-Health Efforts Have Slowed to a CrawlJuly 6, 2022This is an edition of Up for Debate, a newsletter by Conor Friedersdorf. On Wednesdays, he rounds up timely conversations and solicits reader responses to one thought-provoking question. Later, he publishes some thoughtful replies. Sign up for the newsletter here.Question of the WeekI need a […]Matt Ford Came Out Publicly-With Photos-About His Monkeypox DiagnosisJuly 6, 2022Monkeypox Mutating 12 Times Faster Than Expected: “We Haven’t Seen This Before”July 6, 2022USA : June 30th Monkeypox case update: New confirmed cases: 45 Total confirmed cases: 396 1 day growth rate: 13% USA added nearly 200 cases this past 4 days, while it took almost 40 days to add the first 200 cases. Wow. https://t.co/q8HCjttXTa — Monkeypoxtally […]Monkeypox warning issued to queer men ahead of Pride in London as cases continue to surgeJuly 6, 2022UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a warning ahead of Pride weekend following yet another spike in monkeypox infections. The number of confirmed cases of the rare virus has risen by 159 to 1,235 as of Thursday (30 June), up from 1,076 as of […]WHO: Monkeypox not a serious threat at the momentJuly 6, 2022Monkeypox may be spreading across dozens of nations, but doesn't qualify as a global health emergency yet, the World Health Organization said Saturday.Monkeypox cases triple in Europe, WHO says – The HinduJuly 6, 2022Monkeypox cases triple in Europe, WHO says The Hindu‘This … sucks and you don’t want it’: Monkeypox patient opens up about his ordeal – KXAN.comJuly 6, 2022‘This … sucks and you don’t want it’: Monkeypox patient opens up about his ordeal KXAN.comNATIONAL Lambda Legal, N.J. politicians, funding, monkeypox – Windy City Times NewsJuly 6, 2022Lambda Legal issued a statement about the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of a former football coach for a high school in western Washington who lost his job after praying on the 50-yard-line after games. Lambda Legal Acting Chief Legal Officer Jennifer C. Pizer […]#LGBTQ: Gay Man’s TikTok Video Goes Viral After Monkeypox Post –”This Sh*t Sucks & You Don’t Want It…”July 6, 2022A man’s TikTok video in which he shares his experiences with moneypox go viral. Matt Ford, who is openly gay, is a video maker and actor who lives in LA & NYC. He told Buzzfeed, On Friday, June 17 … I received a call from […]does it seem like they're trying to sweep monkeypox under the rug?July 6, 2022They keep saying it only affects the gays and low income people, but I am old enough to remember AIDs and thats the same thing they said back then. True, those groups make up the majority, but a lot of regular folks died from AIDs […]This Week in the Mayonnaise Clinic: MonkeypoxJuly 6, 2022[joshbarro.com] Has COVID made us better at responding at infectious disease outbreaks? Signs point to no.I HAVE MONKEYPOX, AMAJuly 6, 2022Hey gay men — New to this subreddit, but always a lurker. Just wanted to put out a notice that I (22 gay man, Chicago), have just tested positive for monkeypox. I didn't see any posts on here with personal experiences yet, and I know […]Lesions, headaches, debilitating pain: Gay men with monkeypox share their storiesJuly 6, 2022Lesions, headaches, debilitating pain: Gay men with monkeypox share their storiesnbcnews.com MRX is MonkeyPox – Curated tweets by tlrd MPX is MonkeyPox is Everywhere on Towleroad MPX is MonkeyPox is Everywhere; CDC Undercounts Cases; ‘Lesions, Headaches, Debilitating Pain… You Don’t Want This ‘; ROUNDUP July 6, 2022 Read More Labcorp becomes first lab in the U.S. to offer nationwide monkeypox testing July 6, 2022 Read More Monkeypox cases in NYC double in a week, health officials say July 6, 2022 Read More Can I get monkeypox from a contaminated surface? Possibly, says study July 4, 2022 Read More Biden Administration Outlines Monkeypox Strategy, Including Increased Testing, Vaccination And Community Education June 29, 2022 Read More WHO warns ‘sustained transmission’ of monkeypox risks vulnerable groups June 29, 2022 Read More U.S. steps up fight against monkeypox, allocates more vaccines to states June 29, 2022 Read More Monkeypox State-by-State Case Count (CDC and State Health Orgs) & CDC Health Guidelines June 24, 2022 Read More Monkeypox is Real: Most Cases Are Gay/Bi Men (1000+). This Version Seems More Contagious, But Less Lethal. Symptoms, Spread, Origin, Vaccine June 24, 2022 Read More U.S. CDC confirms evidence of local monkeypox transmission; WHO Considers Declaring Monkeypox a Global Health Emergency June 24, 2022 Read More Monkeypox is spreading through sex: Is it an STD? Here’s what to know June 23, 2022 Read More Britain backs offering monkeypox vaccine to broader population June 21, 2022 Read More How Kansas, Missouri and prairie dogs were involved in first US outbreak of monkeypox June 20, 2022 Read More Monkeypox DNA found in semen in handful of cases -researchers say June 14, 2022 Read More View the full article

Published by NJ.com Labcorp is the first lab in the U.S. to offer nationwide monkeypox testing as case numbers grow throughout the country. As the number of cases increase in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are also ramping up public awareness campaigns about monkeypox, a rare virus similar to smallpox that includes flu-like symptoms, swollen lymph nodes and a rash with fluid-filled bumps. “CDC is urging healthcare providers in the U.S. to be alert for patients who have rash illnesses consistent with monkeypox, regardless of whether they have travel or specific risk factors for monk… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Less than two weeks ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which affects access to abortion, and since then, Madonna has continued to raise her voice to support women’s rights. On the Fourth of July, the singer shared an uncomfortable black-and-white video that showed a woman being dragged around a prison by security guards who eventually toss her on the floor. At the end of the video, a quote by Jean Paul Sartre appears on the screen: “Freedom is what you do with what’s been done to you.” mega The superstar, 63, captioned her post, “This is what life looks like if you’re a woman in America………….It’s not Independence Day For Us. Let’s start A Revolution!” Fans were excited to see the Grammy winner expressing her opinions, with one writing, “MADONNA IS A TRUE AMERICAN. ,” while another commented, “Let’s fix #America – Let’s get to work!” The “Like a Prayer” crooner has always been one to make her views known, and just a few months ago, she pushed the envelope when she released a NFT that portrayed her in the nude and giving birth to butterflies. Unsurprisingly, the image ruffled more than a few feathers, but the mom-of-six defended the saucy artwork. “I wanted to investigate the concept of creation, not only the way a child enters the world through a woman’s vagina, but also the way an artist gives birth to creativity,” she reasoned. “Most importantly we wanted to use this opportunity to benefit mothers and children who are most in need right now.” MADONNA’S WILDEST MOMENTS THROUGH HER YEARS OF FAME — SEE THE LEGENDARY PHOTOS mega “But on a more existential level, I’m giving birth to art and creativity and we would be lost without both,” added the star. “I think it’s really important that a lot of thought and conversation went into creating these videos.” Despite her risqué antics, she recently made a plea to try and meet Pope Francis. “Hello @Pontifex Francis —I’m a good Catholic. I Swear! I mean I don’t Swear,” she tweeted. “It’s been a few decades since my last confession. Would it be possible to meet up one day to discuss some important matters? I’ve been ex communicated 3 times. It doesn’t seem fair.” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega He’s just that nice! After Keanu Reeves hopped off his flight, he was approached by an adoring fan, and instead of brushing him off, the actor was nothing but kind. “Keanu Reeves was on my flight from London to NYC today. A young boy asked for an autograph at baggage & then began to fire off a series of rapid-fire questions. Keanu happily responded to every single one…” TV producer Andrew Kimmel wrote alongside a photo via Twitter. “Kid: Why were you in London? KR: Filming a documentary. Kid: I saw online you were at the Grand Prix (pronouncing the x) KR: Yes, the Grand Prix (in a French accent, without correcting him). F1! Race cars! Kid: Do you drive? KR: Not F1, but I like riding motorcycles,” Kimmel said of the conversation. mega “Kid: Do you live in NY? KR: I live in LA,” Kimmel continued. “Kid: How long are you gonna be in New York? KR: Four days! No… five. Five days! Kid: Why are you in NY? KR: Gonna see a broadway show! Kid: What broadway show? KR: American Buffalo! Mamet! Kid: Where are you staying in NY? KR: Midtown! By this time the kid was running out of questions, so Keanu started grilling him Why were you in Europe? What galleries did you go to in Paris? What was your favorite?” Despite the interrogation, the Matrix star, 57, “, especially after an international flight,” Kimmel shared. “I thought I’d share this because the dude is a class act and little moments like this can make such a big difference in people’s lives. We need more Keanus!” mega Of course, people couldn’t help but gush over the sweet interaction. One person wrote, “Keanu Reeves is a wonderful human being. The best part of this interaction is that he also asked the kid questions and listened to his answers. He treated this boy like an equal,” while another added, “This is so keanu! Possibly the most patient, humble, humorous person crossed paths with. He doesn’t take himself seriously & zero ego. You literally can’t offend him if you tried. He could have been a monk ;). You feel at ease around him. Thank u God 4 gifting him to humanity.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By John Shiffman (Reuters) – A former Colorado funeral home owner pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a federal charge of defrauding relatives of the dead by dissecting their family members’ corpses and selling the body parts without permission, a practice exposed in a 2018 Reuters investigative report https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-bodies-funeral. Megan Hess, who operated a funeral home called Sunset Mesa and a human body parts business called Donor Services from the same building, entered the plea to the charge of fraud at a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gordon Gallagher in Grand Junction, Colorado. Gallagher scheduled Hess, who had previously pleaded not guilty, to be sentenced in January, with the prosecution calling for 12 to 15 years in prison. Hess, 45, admitted on Tuesday that through her funeral home, located in the town of Montrose in the western part of the state, she defrauded at least a dozen families seeking cremation services for deceased relatives. Instead of cremating the bodies, court records show, her body broker company harvested heads, spines, arms and legs and then sold them, mostly for surgical training and other educational purposes. Hess had been scheduled to go on trial in three weeks along with her mother, Shirley Koch, who also previously pleaded not guilty. Koch’s change-of-plea hearing is set for July 12. After Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Chaffin made his sentencing recommendation, the lawyer for Hess, Dan Shaffer, urged a lighter sentence of about two years in prison. Hess has been free on bond since her arrest. During the hearing, the judge asked Hess to describe in her own words the crimes she committed. Hess initially called the whole affair a “legal travesty.” When prodded by the judge, Hess agreed with the prosecution that she defrauded her victims, though she declined to go into detail. Two family members and one friend of deceased people whose body parts were sold without permission by Hess spoke at the hearing. They told the judge that while they were still emotionally reeling from the episode and wanted to learn more details about what occurred, they welcomed the news that Hess had decided to plead guilty. To increase sales, Hess targeted poor and vulnerable families as they grappled with a relative’s final days, according to government court filings. “Meeting with hospice on the 4th … opening the floodgates of donors,” Hess wrote to a prospective body-part buyer in 2014. “They have four or five deaths a day. Get ready!!!! … How about a deal on full embalmed spines … $950?” Selling organs such as hearts, kidneys and tendons for transplant is illegal in the United States. But the sale of cadavers and body parts for use in research or education, which is what Hess did, is not regulated by federal law. Few state laws provide any regulation, and almost anyone, regardless of expertise, can dissect and sell human body parts. After the Reuters 2018 investigation, Colorado’s legislature strengthened the state’s oversight. Hess charged families up to $1,000 for cremations that never occurred, prosecutors said, and she also offered others a free cremation in exchange for a body donation. Many families received ashes from bins mixed with the remains of different cadavers, authorities said, and one client received concrete mix instead of a relative’s ashes. FBI agents found that Hess forged dozens of body-donor consent forms. In court documents, a former employee accused Hess of earning $40,000 by extracting and selling the gold teeth of some of the deceased, an allegation first revealed in the 2018 Reuters report. The Reuters series https://www.reuters.com/investigates/section/usa-bodies uncovered the actions of Sunset Mesa and Donor Services. Former workers told Reuters about questionable practices at the facility, including the dismembering of bodies without the knowledge or consent of families. About a month after the Reuters stories, the FBI raided the site and state regulators shuttered the funeral home and crematory. A federal grand jury indicted Hess and Koch in 2020. (Reporting by John Shiffman in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham) View the full article

Published by AFP An art handler looks at a Gorgosaurus Skeleton measuring 10 feet tall (3.04 meters) at Sotheby’s in New York, on July 05, 2022 New York (AFP) – A skeleton of a Gorgosaurus dinosaur is going up for auction for the first time and is expected to fetch between $5 million and $8 million, Sotheby’s said Tuesday. The auction house will put the specimen, which is 10 feet tall (three meters) and 22 feet long, under the hammer in New York on July 28. Sotheby’s described the skeleton as “one of the most valuable dinosaurs to ever appear on the market.” The Gorgosaurus roamed the earth approximately 77 million years ago. A typical adult weighed about two tonnes, slightly smaller than its more famous relative, the Tyrannosaurus rex. Paleontologists say it was fiercer and faster than the T-Rex, with a stronger bite of around 42,000 newtons compared to 35,000. The skeleton was discovered in the Judith River Formation near Havre, in the US state of Montana in 2018. The sale will mark the first time that Sotheby’s has auctioned a full dinosaur skeleton since it sold Sue the T-Rex in 1997 for $8.36 million. “All of the other specimens of Gorgosaurus that have been found are in museums,” Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s head of Science and popular culture, told AFP. “This is the only one that you can actually buy so it’s an exciting moment, both for private collectors and institutions,” she added. Unlike other countries, the United States does not restrict the sale or export of fossils, meaning the skeleton could end up overseas. View the full article

Published by Radar Online APEX / MEGA Already a local hero in Yellow Springs, Ohio, comedian Dave Chappelle has solidified his standing with a most unusual real estate deal. Per the Daily Mail, Chappelle dipped into his own pockets to buy the full 52 acres of land in his community where a 140-home development was being planned. Much like when residents put up signs in their front yards supporting a favored local political candidate, in this case over the July 4 weekend, the signs popping up read simply, “Thanks, Dave!” MEGA When approached by a Mail reporter, Chappelle demured. “’I’d rather not talk about that,” he said. “I’m just out and about in the village, I’ve really nothing to say.” In the minority corner in Yellow Springs are people like Village manager Josue Salmeron. It was Salmeron who confirmed to the newspaper that Chappelle had snapped up the entire plot of land, rather than just the previously reported 19 acres. Photographer Group/MEGA “I’m unhappy on several fronts that this project isn’t going ahead,” the manager said. “We have housing goals that we have been trying to meet for years. There is a national housing crisis problem with the affordability challenge and in Yellow Springs it is even greater.” Unlike the tight-lipped Chappelle, the comedian’s publicist Carla Sims had much to say, suggesting that the move is actually something Salmeron should he happy about. “The houses they were going to build were not affordable to the people who live in the village,” she claimed. “It was going to attract interlopers.” LIROPE / MEGA “Dave was trying to make sure that the people that live in Yellow Springs can stay and afford to live in Yellow Springs,” she added. “This development was not going to do that.” “Dave is not at all against building in Yellow Springs and neither is the community,” Sims stated. “They want to see development that is aligned with maintaining the culture of the village.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is getting a live special, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its Oscar nomination. The beloved 1991 Disney classic was the first ever animated feature to earn an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture in 1992 and the anniversary is set to be celebrated with a two-hour, live-action/animated special, directed by Hamish Hamilton and executive produced by Jon M. Chu. Craig Erwich, president, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment said: “‘Beauty and the Beast’ is a timeless story and we’re so fortunate to work with creative mastermind Jon M. Chu and veteran director Hamish Hamilton to bring a modern twist to this beloved classic for an unforgettable night of Disney magic. “Stacked with unforgettable performances, this will be a must-see special event for fans of the original and for the new generation being introduced to this cherished tale.” The special will feature a new cast and will air on ABC on December 15. It will be available to stream on Disney+ the following day. Chu said: “‘Beauty and the Beast’ was always a game-changing cinematic experience for me. When the animated movie came out, I watched it multiple times in the first weekend. It showed me the outer limits of what animated artists and storytellers could achieve, so the fact that I get to executive produce a tribute to all the creatives that made this masterpiece through our Electric Somewhere company is a dream I didn’t even think was possible. “With world-class creatives and talent to reinterpret the classic musical numbers (with a few surprises), I can’t wait for the audiences, in person and at home, to experience what we have in store for them. It’s a true celebration of creativity.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Brad Pitt suffers from prosopagnosia. The 58-year-old actor has never officially been diagnosed but believes he suffers from the condition, which is also known as face blindness, and he thinks it has led people to have the wrong opinion of him. Speaking to GQ Magazine, Brad explained that he often struggles to remember new people and he worries that people think of him as “remote, aloof, inaccessible and self-absorbed”. When author Ottessa Moshfegh told Brad that her husband believes he has the same condition, Brad said: “Nobody believes me! I wanna meet another.” Brad has struggled with his condition for years and in 2013, he admitted that a lot of people hate him because of it. He previously told Esquire: “So many people hate me because they think I’m disrespecting them. So I swear to God, I took one year where I just said, This year, I’m just going to cop to it and say to people, ‘Okay, where did we meet?’ But it just got worse. People were more offended. Every now and then, someone will give me context, and I’ll say, ‘Thank you for helping me.’ But I p*** more people off. “You get this thing, like, ‘You’re being egotistical. You’re being conceited.’ But it’s a mystery to me, man. I can’t grasp a face and yet I come from such a design/aesthetic point of view. I am going to get it tested.” Prosopagnosia occurs when there is a problem in the Temporo-Occipital area of the right side of the brain and symptoms and treatments vary among patients. View the full article

Justice HornNot Backing Down Kansas City political candidate Justice Horn is currently on the home stretch of a Jackson County Legislature campaign that could make him the only out LGBTQ county official in the state, but the continued defacing of a campaign banner over the last few days has drawn his attention on the campaign trail. Horn shared on Sunday that the banner, which featured a picture of Horn and the Progress Pride flag with the words “Equality,” “Accountability” and “Community,” was spraypainted with a homophobic slur. “I’ll admit, this one hurt,” Horn said in social media posts sharing images of the vandalism. “This word is used to harm us. Either way, I’m not going to back down and I’m going to hold my head high.” On Monday, Horn participated in the “We Are Not Free Freedom March” in Kansas City and shared thanks to those who reached out to him with encouragement in the wake of Sunday’s events. “You all empowered me to get back in the fight with your comments, messages and support,” he said in via Instagram. A Seat At The Table The continued vandalization of his campaign banner has only galvanized him more in his political and community efforts. “This happened in midtown Kansas City, Missouri,” Horn said. “My first reaction is one of shock, anger and energy to prove whoever defaced the banner wrong. It’s lit a fire in me to ensure that our community finally has a seat at the table.” Horn shared that he has received homophobic emails and multiple death threats previous to this week’s events. “It’s a big eye-opener to what it’s like running openly as a queer person,” he said. “This stuff is hard and we’re gonna face push back from folks who don’t change.” “What bothers me the most is that it happened in broad daylight. They were so emboldened to do this,” Horn told the Kansas City Star. “It was specifically a defacing to attack me not based on my policy or my candidacy but on me personally. It was the same as calling me the N-word.” Horn will continue his campaign ahead of the primary election on August 2. Kansas City: Previously on Towleroad FOLLOWING UP: DaBaby Apology Gone From Instagram; First Trans Model for Vogue; Sr. Executives Leave Activision Blizzard: Brian Bell August 10, 2021 Read More Kansas Lawmaker Arrested After Alleged Homophobic Harassment, Battery of High School Student; ‘He should be blocked from being around kids’ Brian Bell May 4, 2021 Read More 14 Victorious LGBTQ Candidates Who Made History in the 2020 Election Andy Towle November 4, 2020 Read More ‘Frat House Karen’ Taunts Motorist After COVID-Defying Partier Threw Drink on Him: WATCH Andy Towle August 24, 2020 Read More Ivanka Trump Rips ‘Cancel Culture’ After Kansas Universities Dump Her as Commencement Speaker: WATCH Andy Towle June 6, 2020 Read More Arsonist Burned Family’s LGBTQ Pride Flag as They Slept Inside Home Andy Towle September 23, 2019 Read More Image via Justice Horn/Twitter View the full article