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Published by Reuters By Arriana McLymore NEW YORK (Reuters) – Clothing retailer Kohl’s is offering gray, green and red “Juneteenth 1865” tank tops and t-shirts for juniors and boys for $23.99. JCPenney.com hopes to lure shoppers with dozens of wall hangings featuring abstract graphic designs and silhouettes of Black women, priced at $60 to $160 apiece. In the first big push to commercialize Juneteenth, commemorated by Black people for generations as the day in 1865 when a Union general informed a group of enslaved people in Texas that they were free, a handful of major retailers are rolling out merchandise. But some of the goods, from cotton tank tops with red, yellow and green U.S. flags, to lawn accessories featuring slogans such as “Freedom,” are raising eyebrows among shoppers who accuse retailers of exploiting Juneteenth to cash in on President Joe Biden making June 19 a federal holiday in 2021. In May, Walmart began marketing pints of a new “Celebrated Edition” red velvet and cheesecake Juneteenth Ice Cream until complaints surfaced on Twitter, prompting Walmart to remove it. “Just saw Pride and Juneteenth ice cream at Walmart I think we’re in the bad place,” one Twitter user posted on June 11. Walmart said in a statement in May that the retailer had “received feedback that a few items caused concern for some of our customers.” The retailer apologized and said it will remove items as appropriate. Walmart.com also sells an array of children’s books on the history of Juneteenth, as well as dozens of t-shirts. Dollar Tree also drew criticism on social media for selling Juneteenth party decorations in non-traditional colors in May. The decorations are manufactured by vendors who aren’t descendants of slaves themselves, according to the National Assembly of American Slavery Descendants, an advocacy group that supports reparations for Black American descendants of slavery. Dollar Tree did not immediately return an email seeking comment. PROMOTE BLACK VENDORS Connie Ross, vice president and chair of diversity, equity and inclusion at Empower consultancy, said Walmart and other brands should use the holiday to promote Black vendors. “Juneteenth was not born out of a pretty story, but give it time, and people are going to find a way to associate it with something positive,” Ross said. Ross expects more companies to “soften” the meaning of Juneteenth by avoiding its connections to the history of slavery. Liz Rogers, a Black founder of Creamalicious ice creams which are sold in Walmart, Target and Kroger, said that none of her retail customers contacted her for Juneteenth partnerships or events and that she often has to pitch companies to get on their shelves. JCPenney’s Chief Merchandising Officer Michelle Wlazlo said the company is donating any net profits from the sales of its Juneteenth merchandise to Unity Unlimited, a non-profit that says it helps communities “overcome racial and cultural division.” Wlazlo said JCPenney looks at customer feedback, traditional retail holidays and other factors to determine promotional events. Brian Packer of public relations agency Golin said that brands looking to tap into Juneteenth should find ways to elevate products and services made by people in those communities. He said it is more complex than “putting a Black Power Fist on something.” Alternatively, there also can be drawbacks to messages that are too subtle. In the product questions area of JCPenney.com’s $30 Masterpiece Art Gallery Juneteenth Framed Canvas Art, a series of orange shapes against a white background, one person asked: “What does this have to do with Juneteenth?” Target, whose headquarters are in Minneapolis, where George Floyd was killed by police, first acknowledged Juneteenth in 2020 as an official annual company holiday after the spread of national protests against police brutality. The company has provided internal resources detailing the history of Juneteenth and a list of community events for employees to participate in. Workers also can take the day off or work for overtime pay, it said. (Reporting by Arriana McLymore; editing by Grant McCool) View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Lawmakers remain far apart on the most important gun safety issues now under debate in Congress, a Republican senator said Sunday, casting doubts on hopes that the United States could pass the first federal gun legislation in decades. “The issue that we have here is that we don’t have a bill,” Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee told Fox News Sunday. “I kept asking to see text and it became apparent that they didn’t have a bill and in fact they don’t have a deal at all,” Lee said. Lawmakers have been under pressure to reduce gun violence after two mass shootings last month at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, and an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. Last week, John Cornyn, the lead Republican negotiator in U.S. Senate efforts to craft a bipartisan gun safety bill, walked out of the talks, while the lead Democrat remained optimistic that lawmakers could vote on legislation before leaving for a two-week July 4 recess. A bipartisan group of lawmakers have an agreement on a series of “very broad promises,” Lee said. “But on the most contentious, controversial, potentially impactful provisions there is no language.” (Reporting by Heather Timmons; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. House panel investigating the January 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol will present evidence this week that former President Donald Trump was involved in a failed bid to submit slates of fake electors to overturn the 2020 election, a key lawmaker said on Sunday. “We will show evidence of the president’s involvement in this scheme,” Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff, a member of the House of Representatives Select Committee, said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “We will also again show evidence about what his own lawyers came to think about this scheme, and we’ll show courageous state officials who stood up and said they wouldn’t go along with this plan to either call legislatures back into session or decertify the results for Joe Biden,” he said. Schiff’s comments came as the Democratically-led committee prepares to hold its fourth public hearing on Tuesday on their investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack and Trump’s role in trying to block Congress from certifying Biden’s election victory. Evidence against Trump could potentially be crucial in an ongoing criminal investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) into the alleged fake elector plot. In an interview with CNN earlier this year, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco confirmed the department had received referrals about slates of alternative fake electors that were sent to the National Archives, and said prosecutors were reviewing them. In March, the non-profit watchdog group American Oversight published copies https://www.americanoversight.org/american-oversight-obtains-seven-phony-certificates-of-pro-trump-electors of the phony electoral slates, which had been assembled by groups of Trump supporters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Since then, the DOJ has convened a grand jury to subpoena witnesses and documents as part of the probe, multiple media outlets have reported. Jamie Raskin, another Democratic member of the panel, told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that new information and tips kept coming in. “There are still people who are turning over information to the committee,” he said. “We know things this weekend that we didn’t know last weekend.” Last week, the DOJ renewed a demand that the House Select Committee turn over transcripts of its interviews with witnesses, saying in a letter those transcripts could be relevant to ongoing criminal investigations and prosecutions. The committee’s failure to turn them over “complicates the department’s ability to investigate and prosecute those who engaged in criminal conduct,” the letter said. Asked about the letter on Sunday, Schiff said that usually the two separate branches of government don’t allow one another to “rifle through” each others’ files. However, he added: “When the Justice Department asks for things specifically… We work with them, and we will work with them here.” Trump, meanwhile, has continued to peddle false claims that the 2020 election was stolen. On Friday, he lashed out at former Vice President Mike Pence, saying he “did not have the courage to act” and reject the 2020 election results. On Sunday, Adam Kinzinger, one of the two Republicans serving on the committee, said he received death threats aimed at him, his wife, and their baby. “This threat that came in, it was mailed to my house,” he said on ABC’s “This week.” “We got it a couple of days ago and it threatens to execute me as well as my wife and five-month old child. Never seen or heard anything like that,” he added. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; additional reporting by Kanishka Singh; Editing by Heather Timmons and Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English George Michael was thrilled that Prince George shared his name. The late music legend – who died aged 53 in December 2016 – was still alive when The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge revealed the moniker they had chosen for their first-born son and future king, who was born in July 2013, and he was over the moon that they are both Georges that he jumped on the sofa and cheered. The ‘Last Christmas’ hitmaker’s former Wham! backing vocalist, Shirlie Holliman of Pepsi and Shirlie fame, told OK! Magazine: “I was with George when Prince William and Kate Middleton named their son George. “We had the news on and George just stood up on the sofa and started cheering. “He was so happy he shared the same name.” Shirlie went to school with George, 60, and recalls him being a geek in glasses, the complete opposite of herself. She recalled: “I remember George so distinctly. “He carried his violin case everywhere and wore glasses – he was really geeky. “I didn’t really connect with him because I was fashionable and punky.” Shirlie and Helen ‘Pepsi’ DeMacque were George’s backing vocalists in the 80s, and went on to form the duo Pepsi and Shirlie in 1985. Shirlie was the first person George came out as gay to. She remembered: “We were in Ibiza making ‘Club Tropicana’ at Pikes Hotel and we were walking along the road. “He had his little white shorts on and a little T-shirt and he was going, ‘I really need to tell you something.’ “I was so worried as he’d gone all serious and he said, ‘It’s about my sexuality – I’m gay. I think I prefer me.’ “It didn’t bother me but it was such a big deal for him. I feel guilty sometimes that I didn’t take it more seriously.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Dame Kelly Holmes has come out as gay. The 52-year-old Olympic champion first kissed a woman when she was 17 and admitted her family and friends have known about her sexuality since 1997, so she finally feels free after making the decision to open up publicly about her personal life. She told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: “I needed to do this now, for me. It was my decision. I’m nervous about saying it. I feel like I’m going to explode with excitement. “Sometimes I cry with relief. The moment this comes out, I’m essentially getting rid of that fear.” Kelly confirmed she has a partner but didn’t want to name them. She said: “It’s the first time I’ve had someone who I don’t introduce as a PA or friend.” Speaking about her previous partners, she added: “No disrespect to them, but the relationships have only been a small part of my life. “They haven’t been in this fearful world with me for 34 years.” Kelly came out to her family after leaving the Army to focus on her athletics career and though she was nervous about telling them, they were all supportive. She said: “I was thinking ‘oh s***’, I was in bits about telling them. “But they said they knew anyway. No one’s ever had a problem. They don’t know me any different.” Until 2020, it was illegal for gay, lesbian and bisexual people to serve in the British Army, Royal Navy and RAF and Kelly – who realised she was gay after kissing a fellow female soldier shortly after joining up just before she turned 18 – was terrified of running into trouble because of the relationships she had during her time in the Women’s Royal Army Corps. She said: “I was convinced throughout my whole life that if I admitted to being gay in the Army I’d still be in trouble.” But after battling mental health issues, leading to a breakdown in 2020, the former athlete contacted a military LGBTQ leader to ask if she could still be sanctioned for her Army relationships but was assured she wouldn’t. She reflected: “I felt like I could breathe again. One little call could have saved 28 years of heartache.” View the full article

Published by New York Daily News Police in Oak Harbor, Washington, arrested a 27-year-old man on Friday after he made violent threats against a Pride event in a nearby city, authorities said. Tyler Dinsmoor, of Oak Harbor, was arrested for civil rights malicious harassment with a hate crimes enhancement, the Oak Harbor Police Department said in a news release. Over the last few days, he posted several online comments about killing LGBTQ people on gab.com, a Twitter-like platform popular among far-right extremists, authorities said. He appeared to specifically target Saturday’s Anacortes Pride Parade. An arrest warrant had alr… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Adele and Harry Styles reportedly turned down invitations to perform at Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee. The British superstars are believed to have been approached about taking to the stage at the spectacular Party at the Palace concert to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, but they both reportedly declined. A source told The Daily Mail newspaper’s Eden Confidential column: “They were told [Adele] couldn’t do it. Scheduling issues, or something like that, were given as an excuse. It caused a lot of surprise, particularly as she was awarded an MBE. After all, how many chances will there be to perform in front of Buckingham Palace for the Queen?” And a source close to Harry, 28, told the newspaper: “He was asked. He could not participate because of timing with his schedule.” While Adele, 34, and Harry, did not perform at the concert celebration, a number of stars took to the stage outside Buckingham Palace to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth. Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys, Duran Duran, Diana Ross and Sam Ryder were among the performers at the two-and-a-half hour event. The Queen kicked off proceedings in a pre-recorded clip, where she enjoyed a cup of tea and a marmalade sandwich from her handbag with Paddington Bear. The duo then started tapping their teaspoons to the rhythm of Queen’s song ‘We Will Rock You’ as the British band and Adam Lambert kicked off the concert. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John paid tribute to his loyal fans and thanked them for their “kindness” as he prepares to retire from touring. The music legend has decided to give up life on the road from next year and he stopped his show in Norwich, England on Wednesday (15.06.22) to offer a sweet tribute to all of his followers who have supported him over the years. He told the crowd at the Carrow Road football stadium: “Tonight is the 229th show on the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, we have about 103 shows to do. It’s been quite a journey and it all ends next July. “But I want to thank you because I won’t be playing here again. I want to thank you for all the memories, all the love you’ve sent me, all the loyalty, the kindness, the letters, the dressing up, the costumes, the multiple shows you’ve been to.” The ‘Rocket Man’ singer added: “It means the world to me and I will never forget you guys.” The show marked the opening night of the UK leg of Elton’s farewell tour and he told the audience he will be able to tell his two sons, Zachary, 11, and nine-year-old Elijah, about the experience in his later years. Elton said: “I will take you with me in my heart, in my soul and I can tell my boys all about you when I get old and decrepit. I love you.” The final tour was announced back in 2018 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and due to injury. The shows are now due to run until mid-2023 when the singer will take a step back to spend more time with husband David Furnish and their two boys. Elton will play eight more shows in the UK which include two dates in his hometown of Watford, England in July. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English The Duke of Cambridge wrote to the grieving girlfriend of Capitol riot police officer Brian Sicknick. Prince Wiliam, 39, praised Sicknick for his part in “upholding democracy” following the 43-year-old’s death from a stroke a day after last year’s violent insurrection. The royal’s letter – which breaks from royal tradition of steering clear from politics in Britain and abroad – said:”’Please forgive me if I am intruding but I wanted to write and let you know how sorry I am about the death of your partner, Brian.” He added he had watched the “harrowing events that took place at the Capitol” and wanted to hail Sicknick’s “patriotism” and “selflessness”. His note went on: “By all accounts Brian performed valiantly while on duty and despite suffering injuries continued to do his utmost to protect those inside. “I hope you can take some comfort from knowing that it is thanks to law enforcement officers like Brian that the situation did not escalate further and democracy was upheld.” It is understood to be the first time William has waded into US issues, unlike his younger brother the Duke of Sussex, 37, and his wife the Duchess of Sussex, 40, known as Meghan Markle before she married Prince Harry. William’s letter was revealed by Sicknick’s partner Sandra Garza on CNN on Friday. (17.06.22) She also used her appearance to slate ex-US president Donald Trump, 76, who has been accused of inciting a “coup” after his supporters stormed Congress on 6 January 2021 in a bid to thwart the certification of Joe Biden’s election. Garza fumed: “Trump does not give two c**** about law enforcement or Brian and yet Prince William took the time to honour me and Brian.” Kensington Palace has not yet commented on the letter. The Queen refrained from commenting on the global political row that unfolded globally after the riot. But Prince Harry claimed he battled to warn former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, 45, the platform was being used to “plan a staged coup”. He said last November: “Jack and I were emailing each other prior to January 6, where I warned him that his platform was allowing a coup to be staged. That email was sent the day before and then it happened, and I haven’t heard from him since.” Harry added this January the riot was a “literal attack” on democracy that was only possible as it was arranged by extremists on social media by extremists. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Cher thinks female musicians have been forced to fight their way “through the testosterone curtain”. The 76-year-old icon – who is one of the best-selling artists of all time – has taken to Twitter to heap praise on Kate Bush, after she recently became the oldest female artist to get a number one in the UK Official Singles Chart. Cher – who previously held the record with her 1998 hit ‘Believe’ – wrote on Twitter: “Bravo Kate “Records Are Meant 2 Be BrokenRemember Back In The Day,When Women Had SHORT SELL BY DATESWe Had 2 Fight Our Way Through The Testosterone Curtain,and We Did it So The Girls Who Came After Us Could Sing As Long As They Want To. With Mega Respect [kiss emoji] “Me (sic)” Kate, 63, has topped the charts with her 1985 track ‘Running Up That Hill’, which was recently featured in the hit Netflix series ‘Stranger Things’. Nora Felder – the series’ music supervisor – previously explained that Kate approved the use of her music in the show. Nora said: “I sat with my clearance coordinator, and laid out all the scripted scenes for song uses that we knew of at that point. “Knowing the challenges, we proceeded to create elaborate scene descriptions that provided as much context as possible so that Kate and her camp would have a full understanding of the uses … When we finished, we were on edge, but excited and hopeful.” Nora also explained how Kate’s lyrics were perfectly-suited to the storyline involving Max Mayfield, played by Sadie Sink. She shared: “Kate Bush’s lyrics can mean very different things to different people. “In the face of Max’s painful isolation and alienation from others, a ‘deal with god’ could heart-wrenchingly reflect Max’s implicit belief that only a miracle of unlikely understanding and show of support could help her climb the hills of life before her.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Kate Bush has thanked the makers of ‘Stranger Things’ for propelling ‘Running Up That Hill’ to the top of the UK charts. The 1985 single recently featured in the hit Netflix show, and Kate has thanked the Duffer brothers – who created and serve as executive producers of the series – for her record-breaking chart success. Kate said: “The Duffer Brothers have created four extraordinary series of Stranger Things in which the child actors have grown into young adults. In this latest series the characters are facing many of the same challenges that exist in reality right now. I believe the Duffer Brothers have touched people’s hearts in a special way, at a time that’s incredibly difficult for everyone, especially younger people. “By featuring Running Up That Hill in such a positive light – as a talisman for Max (one of the main female characters) – the song has been brought into the emotional arena of her story. Fear, conflict and the power of love are all around her and her friends. “I salute the Duffer Brothers for their courage – taking this new series into a much more adult and darker place. I want to thank them so much for bringing the song into so many people’s lives. (sic)” Kate has broken the record for the biggest gap between releasing a single and topping the UK chart. The singer has also become the oldest female artist ever to score a UK number one, overtaking Cher and her 1998 hit ‘Believe’. The ‘Wuthering Heights’ hitmaker added on her website: “I’m overwhelmed by the scale of affection and support the song is receiving and it’s all happening really fast, as if it’s being driven along by a kind of elemental force. “I have to admit I feel really moved by it all. “Thank you so very much for making the song a No 1 in such an unexpected way. “Kate (sic)” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) – A wealthy person has bid a record $19 million to eat lunch with Warren Buffett, in the 21st and final time that the billionaire businessman auctioned a private lunch to benefit a San Francisco charity. The winning bid at the eBay auction, which ended on Friday, far surpassed the previous record of $4.57 million paid in 2019 by cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun. Proceeds benefit Glide, a nonprofit in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district that helps the poor, homeless or those battling substance abuse. Glide offers meals, shelter, HIV and hepatitis C tests, job training and children’s programs. This year’s winner chose to remain anonymous. An eBay spokeswoman said the lunch was the most expensive item ever sold on the company’s website to benefit charity. Buffett, 91, the chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, raised about $53.2 million for Glide in the 21 auctions, which began in 2000. “It’s been nothing but good,” Buffett said in a statement. “I’ve met a lot of interesting people from all over the world. The one universal characteristic is that they feel the money is going to be put to very good uses.” No auctions were held in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Buffett began supporting Glide after his first wife, Susan, introduced him to the charity, where she had been volunteering. Susan Buffett died in 2004. Buffett has pledged to give away nearly all of his fortune. Buffett was worth $93.4 billion on Friday, ranking seventh worldwide, according to Forbes magazine. This year’s auction winner and up to seven guests will join Buffett at the Smith & Wollensky steakhouse in Manhattan. Buffett will talk about almost anything, but not where he may invest next. Berkshire owns dozens of companies including the BNSF railroad, Geico car insurance, energy, manufacturing and retail businesses, and stocks such as Apple Inc and Bank of America Corp. Buffett still owns nearly 16% of the Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate, despite having donated more than half of his shares since 2006, including $4 billion on June 14. According to Glide, these bidders have won its auctions: 2000: Pete Budlong, $25,000 2001: Jim Halperin and Scott Tilson, $20,000 2002: Jim Halperin and Scott Tilson, $25,000 2003: David Einhorn, Greenlight Capital, $250,100 2004: Jason Choo, Singapore, $202,100 2005: Anonymous, $351,100 2006: Yongping Duan, California, $620,100 2007: Mohnish Pabrai, Guy Spier, Harina Kapoor, $650,100 2008: Zhao Danyang, Pure Heart Asset Management, China, $2,110,100 2009: Courtenay Wolfe, Salida Capital, Canada, $1,680,300 2010: Ted Weschler*, $2,626,311 2011: Ted Weschler*, $2,626,411 2012: Anonymous, $3,456,789 2013: Anonymous, $1,000,100 2014: Andy Chua, Singapore, $2,166,766 2015: Zhu Ye, Dalian Zeus Entertainment Co, China, $2,345,678 2016: Anonymous, $3,456,789 2017: Anonymous, $2,679,001 2018: Anonymous, $3,300,100 2019: Justin Sun, $4,567,888 2020-2021: No auctions held 2022: Anonymous, $19,000,100 * later became a Berkshire Hathaway portfolio manager (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Additional reporting by Jahnavi Nidumolu in Bengaluru; Editing by David Gregorio, Clarence Fernandez and Frances Kerry) View the full article

Overwatch 2LGBTQ video games have never been stronger or more plentiful. The annual E3 video game conference didn’t occur for the second time in the last three years, but that didn’t mean that the week normally reserved as “E3 season” didn’t include a flood of game news and announcements, including many notabe title infused with distinct brands of queerness. Major publishers, games press outlets and Geoff Keighly’s “Summer Games Fest” stepped into the space vacated by the Electronic Software Association, delivering a week’s worth of updates, and we’ve gathered the best LGBTQ games discussed. The Last Of Us Part 1 Remake “The Last Of Us” franchise is one of the most popular PlayStation exclusives ever, and developer Naughty Dog is going back to the well one more time with a complete, from the ground up remake of the title that started it all in 2013. The remake will feature updated and enhanced graphics and will include the heartwarming LGBTQ “Left Behind” DLC. “The Last Of Us Part 1” remake will release on PS5 later this year and will come to PC at a later date. Saints Row: Boss Factory The upcoming reboot of the “Saints Row” franchise showed off its robust character creation app, “Boss Factory,” which features the most gender-affirming set of tools seen in a major video game release. The app is available to download now and any creations made in it can be imported into the game when it releases on August 23, 2022. Overwatch 2 Goes Free-To-Play The sequel to Blizzard Entertainment’s successful hero shooter “Overwatch” is nearing its early access release, and it noted that moment by announcing that “Overwatch 2” will be free-to-play and will be available on Xbox Game Pass. Fans can get their hands on one of the queerest shooters ever made on October 4, 2022. Thirsty Suitors Outerloop games’ mixture of turn-based combat, skateboarding and cooking places players in an experience that tackles the tough task of mending broken relationships and mistakes of youth. And it does all of that with style for days. Spirit Swap Release Window Announced “Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats To Match-3 To” showed off more of its queer, witchy and cute spin on the match-3 genre, but the big news is that the game finally ha a release window. Fans will get to take a trip into its interesting world in 2023. Boyfriend Dungeon Announces Secret Weapons Update The best game where you can date you’re weapons is adding even more weapons one year after release. The “Secret Weapons” update adds two more characters to romance, which also means that there are two more weapons to woo as you slay throughout the game’s various dungeons. The update also adds a new villain, Mr. Holmes, created by beloved developer Ikumi Nakamura. The update arrives Summer 2022. Kaichu: A Kaiju Dating Sim Who doesn’t love seeing big monsters smash up national moments and then get to smooching? “Kaichu” is an adorably destructive take on the dating sim genre, allowing players to pair off their monster with others as you destroy the world and find love together. The game is currently scheduled for release later this summer. League Of Legends, Valorant Coming To Xbox Game Pass Riot Games’ library of incredibly successful games, including “League of Legends” and “Valorant,” are making the jump to Xbox Game Pass later this year. The move will also make all characters in those games, which were previous sold to players on an individual basis, free for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. Grid Force: Mask Of The Goddess LGBTQ developer and Playtra Games founder Dan Bernardo leads a team building out this fast-paced tactical role-playing game set for release on August 11, 2022. The game’s story mixes plenty of emotion with the frantic action, and Playtra is currently partnered with the It Gets Better Project. Desta: The Memories Between Ustwo Games, the creators behind “Monument Valley,” are back with a new take on the tactical puzzle genre. “Desta: The Memories Between” send players on an emotional journey through a families memories, both happy and painful, through isometric environments where a dodgeball is your main navigation tool. It’s an odd mixture coated in a pleasing art style that looks to be greater than the sum of its parts. Calico: Pawsome Edition Announced “Calico,” the cutesy cat cafe management sim, is back with a number of updates. The “Pawsome Edition” packs in new animals to meet, a large overhaul to its cooking mini-games, changes to the character creation tool and additional content that players will get later this summer. We Are OFK A blend of interactive narrative and music biopic, “We Are OFK” takes players through the journey of indie band OFK, including romance, tribulations and making rad music. The game openly embraces its queer characters and vibes and welcomes players into its musical world later this summer. Cassette Beasts Sticking with the music motif, “Cassette Beasts” takes the open-world turn-based RPG experience made popular by “Pokemon” and adds a new twist. Players use cassette tape recordings of monsters they’ve collected to transform and do battle with other characters, and the game allows for some customization with its Fusion system. Roots Of Pacha “Roots of Pacha” places the tenets of the city-builder genre into the Stone Age, charging players with building a thriving village. The game includes same sex relationships, so you can build your little gay family while farming your way to prosperity. Pen Pal Princess A self-described “queer romantic comedy,” ceschiii’s new visual novel places players in the shoes of a princess locked away in a tower who exchanges letters with dragons, heroes and one buff lady knight. There is plenty of love on display, not to mention the tease of “hot dragons?” Hill Agency: PURITYdecay Who wants a noir mystery game that is looking to lean into queer identities? The moody detective game also places Indigenous identities front and center amid its cybernoir backdrop. Players can jump into its intriguing style on August 31, 2022. ValiDate: Struggling Singles In Your Area This dating sim places BIPOC identities searching for love amid many of the daily struggles we all face in our lives, including vexing jobs and Millennial life crises. The game also features queer romance, letting users of all backgrounds see themselves. LGBTQ video games: Previously on Towleroad The Best LGBTQ Video Games Featured During ‘Summer Games Fest’ and the rest of ‘Not-E3’ Week Brian Bell June 18, 2022 Read More The Sims Pronouns Update Is Here: ‘The Sims 4’ Adds Customizable Pronouns To In-Game Characters Brian Bell May 28, 2022 Read More EA, Paradox Heed Calls For Same-Sex ‘Crusader Kings’ Weddings; And To Keep Them in ‘Sims 4’ Russia Editions; Plus Gayming Award Noms — ROUNDUP Brian Bell February 18, 2022 Read More Writer Of Bisexual Superman Has Perfect Way Of Dealing with Those Protesting Too Much; Also Brockhampton Splits Up; G4 Host Blasts Boys Who Belittle and Sexist Viewers: Entertainment Roundup Brian Bell January 18, 2022 Read More Wonder Woman’s 1st Trans Amazon; ‘Battlefield’s 1st Non-Binary Specialist; ‘Superman’ Colorist Quits Offended By New Motto. Brian Bell October 26, 2021 Read More China Bans Games With LGBTQ, Effeminate Men or Nazi Characters; Activision Blizzard Settles; ‘Life Is Strange’ Promotion Benefits Community Brian Bell October 4, 2021 Read More Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment View the full article

Published by Reuters By Joey Roulette and Eric M. Johnson (Reuters) -Private rocket company SpaceX fired at least five employees after it found they had drafted and circulated a letter criticizing founder Elon Musk and urging executives to make the firm’s culture more inclusive, two people familiar with the matter said. SpaceX did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The New York Times reported on Thursday that SpaceX had fired employees associated with the letter, citing three employees with knowledge of the situation. It had not detailed the number of employees who had been dismissed. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell sent an email saying the company had investigated and “terminated a number of employees involved” with the letter, the New York Times said. The newspaper said Shotwell’s email said employees involved with circulating the letter had been fired for making other staff feel “uncomfortable, intimidated and bullied, and/or angry because the letter pressured them to sign onto something that did not reflect their views”. Reuters could not independently confirm that report. Billionaire Musk is pursuing a $44-billion bid for Twitter and has made clear his support of freer controls on speech on the site. On Thursday, he told Twitter employees the platform should allow “pretty outrageous things” as long as the content is not illegal. The SpaceX letter, headed “an open letter to the Executives of SpaceX,” seen by Reuters, called Musk a “distraction and embarrassment” to the company he founded. In a list of three demands, it said “SpaceX must swiftly and explicitly separate itself from Elon’s personal brand,” “hold all leadership equally accountable to making SpaceX a great place to work for everyone” and “define and uniformly respond to all forms of unacceptable behavior”. Musk, also head of electric automaker Tesla Inc, has been in the headlines and featured in late-night comedy monologues in recent months, including over his quest to take over Twitter, his criticism of Democrats and a reported allegation of sexual harassment, which Musk has denied in a Twitter post. The open letter at SpaceX, first reported by The Verge, was drafted by SpaceX employees in recent weeks and shared as an attachment in an internal “Morale Boosters” group chat that brings together thousands of employees, a person familiar with the matter said, asking not to be named. Musk, also the company’s chief engineer, has been viewed as a central figure in many of SpaceX’s high-profile successes, such as pioneering the re-use of orbital rocket boosters and bringing back routine human spaceflight from U.S. soil after a nine-year hiatus. Shotwell, who leads much of the company’s day-to-day business, has said she will enforce SpaceX’s “zero tolerance” standards against employee harassment. Founded by Musk in 2002, SpaceX has played a central role in the U.S. space program, becoming the only company capable of launching NASA astronauts into space from U.S. soil and planning to send humans to the moon for the space agency within the next decade. SpaceX is also one of two companies on which the Pentagon depends to launch into space the bulk of U.S. military and spy satellites. (Reporting by Joey Roulette, Eric M. Johnson, Baranjot Kaur in Bengaluru; editing by Shailesh Kuber, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Barbara Lewis) View the full article

Published by Hong Kong Free Press By Jerome Yau Marriage equality was once unthinkable, but the world has seen remarkable progress in the past two decades. The number of places that recognise same-sex marriage grew from zero to 31, and the advancement did not lead to the apocalypse – life went on as usual. It is no surprise that the topic of equal marriage elicits strong and emotive views in our society. Yet, these views are often based on fear and misunderstanding. More importantly, culture and religion are not trump cards when it comes to issues that involve the treatment of a minority group. After all, discrimination is une… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Lil Nas X says awards shows have a long way to go before they are fully inclusive. The 23-year-old rapper shared his hope things will improve at the 2022 Songwriters Hall of Fame gala Thursday night (16.06.22) in New York City, where he was honoured with the ‘Hal David Starlight Award’, which pays tribute to young songwriters whose work is impacting the music industry. He said: “I think we have a long way to go in some places, but I feel like the world is definitely trying its best to change in many ways.” The comment came after the Grammy-winner hit out at the Black Entertainment Television network. It announced nominations for this year’s edition of its long-running awards show but he received zero nominations He said in now-deleted tweets: “Thank you BET awards. An outstanding zero nominations again. Black excellence!”, before going on to argue the move highlighted a larger trend of exclusion and erasure of queer black artists by black spheres of power. He also tweeted: “This not over no bet award this is about the bigger problem of homophobia in the black community, y’all can sit and pretend all u want but imma risk it all for us.” Lil Nas X then emphasised the limitations around self-expression often imposed on queer artists and argued other black queer rappers such as Frank Ocean and Tyler, the Creator, were “more respected when they do less feminine things”. In his new track dubbed ‘F*** BET’, Lil Nas X also appears shirtless and raps about being snubbed, while listing his accolades as a chart-topping artist. But in a statement to Entertainment Tonight, the network explained the nomination process while vowing it is committed “to using all of our platforms to provide visibility and inclusion for all of the many intersections of the Black community”. It added: “We love Lil Nas X. He was nominated for a ‘Best New Artist BET Award’ in 2020, and we proudly showcased his extraordinary talent and creativity on the show twice: he performed ‘Old Town Road’ with Billy Ray Cyrus at ‘BET Awards 2019’ and his ‘BET Awards 2021’ performance was a highlight of our show. No one cheered louder that night than BET. “Unfortunately, this year, he was not nominated by BET’s Voting Academy, which is comprised of an esteemed group of nearly 500 entertainment professionals in the fields of music, television, film, digital marketing, sports journalism, public relations, influencers, and creative arts… at BET, we are passionate advocates for the wonderful diversity that exists within our community.” Lil Nas X responded: “These are literally just buzz words placed together.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By David Morgan and Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The day after the latest U.S. congressional hearings on the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol by Donald Trump’s supporters, the former president criticized Mike Pence’s actions that day, saying that his vice president had lacked courage. The hearings have detailed the ways in which Trump urged his supporters to turn on Pence for refusing his requests to reject the November 2020 election results, before they stormed the Capitol, fighting with police as some chanted “hang Mike Pence!” “Mike Pence had a chance to be great. He had a chance to be, frankly, historic,” Trump told an audience of Christian conservatives in Nashville on Friday. “Mike, and I say it sadly because I like him, but Mike did not have the courage to act,” Trump added. Republican Trump repeated his false claims that his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden was the result of widespread fraud, assertions that were rejected by multiple courts, state election officials and members of his own administration. Multiple Trump allies including his daughter Ivanka, former attorney general William Barr and other officials have testified to the committee that they did not believe Trump’s false claims. Pence’s staff were not immediately available for comment. Pence defended his actions, however, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal published on Friday. “Ultimately, I believe that most Americans understand that we did our duty that day under the Constitution and the laws of this country,” the newspaper quoted Pence as saying. Trump attacked the bipartisan nine-member Jan. 6 select committee, which has held three hearings in little more than a week and is building a case that Trump acted illegally by trying to overturn his election loss. “Let’s be clear, this is not a congressional investigation, this horrible situation that’s wasting everyone’s time. This is a theatrical production of partisan political fiction. That’s getting these terrible, terrible ratings and they’re going crazy,” Trump said. On Thursday, former Pence aides told the committee that Trump pressed Pence to overturn the election results in Congress, after being told repeatedly that it was illegal to do so. Democrats on the panel said Trump kept up the pressure even though he knew a violent mob of his supporters was threatening the Capitol, where Pence and lawmakers worked to certify the election results. Trump has protested that the hearings lack “equal representation.” Democrats initially pressed for a balanced bicameral investigation, but Republicans rejected the plan. The committee’s proceedings are taking place in the runup to congressional elections in November, which will determine the balance of power in the Senate and House of Representatives ahead of the 2024 general election. Trump continues to flirt publicly with the idea of running for president again in 2024. But for now, the former president is concentrating on a revenge election campaign this year against his perceived enemies, including 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach him after the Capitol attack, among them Representative Liz Cheney, who is vice chair of the investigating committee. (Reporting by David Morgan, Doina Chiacu and Katharine Jackson; Editing by Scott Malone; editing by Grant McCool) View the full article

[This post contains video, click to play] Published by BANG Showbiz English Samantha Fox is getting married to Linda Olsen on Saturday (18.06.22). The 56-year-old pop star has been in a relationship with the Norwegian tour manager since 2016, and the pair are reportedly set to finally tie the knot this weekend, having delayed their nuptials multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A source told the MailOnline: “[Sam] is set to tie the knot with fiancée Linda Olsen on Saturday.” The former Page 3 girl was previously linked to Australian career criminal Peter Foster, Kiss star Paul Stanley and had a 16-year relationship with Myra Stratton until her death from cancer in 2015 but back in April, Linda shared her excitement at finding her wedding dress back in May with an Instagram post.. Alongside a selfie of the brides-to-be, she wrote: “Our big day is getting closer!” Meanwhile, the ‘Touch Me’ hitmaker – who struck up a relationship with Linda just nine months after Myra had died – previously explained that prior to her tragic death, her late partner had given Samantha her blessing to find someone new when she had passed. Samantha said: “During the time Myra was ill, she always said, ‘I really want you to meet someone when I’m gone as I know you’d hate to be on your own. Myra was terminally ill for two years and she used to tell me, “I never want you to be on your own. I’d love for you to meet someone really nice and trustworthy.” Back in 2020, a source claimed that both Samantha and Linda – who has two children from a previous relationship – were “very happy together” and were hoping to get married “soon.” The insider said: “Sam and Linda are so happy together and want to spend the rest of their lives together. They’re so in love and want to make it official!” View the full article

Disney Delays Moving 2,000 Jobs To Orlando Amid ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Clash With Desantis Published by Orlando Sentinel Amid the feud with Gov. Ron DeSantis over the so-called “don’t say gay” law, the Walt Disney Co. has delayed for more than three years plans to move about 2,000 high-paying jobs to Orlando, Florida, from California. Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler said Wednesday the expected opening date for the Lake Nona campus was pushed to 2026 to “give people more time” and accommodate the construction timeline for the new offices. A Disney representative previously told the Orlando Sentinel the offices were expected to be operating in Orlando by December 2022. The news follows tension between Disney and… Read More Editorial: Republicans love parental Editorial: Republicans Love Parental Choice, But Not When It Comes To Drag Queens Published by Miami Herald There was a time when the only places queer people could congregate and drag queens could perform their female impersonations and lip-syncing were seedy bars and nightclubs on the margins of mainstream society. Today, drag queens are on TV, thanks to shows such as “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” social media and pop culture. Drag Sunday brunches and drag bingo are popular fixtures in South Florida. Turns out that hurts the sensibilities of some Republicans. In the same week that the Jan. 6 committee unveiled its findings on the attack against American democracy, Florida Gov. DeSantis, U.S. Sen. Marco Ru… Read More Surfside Won’t Raise A Pride Flag This Year. Mayor Concerned Satanists May Ask Next Published by Miami Herald MIAMI — A year after Surfside flew an LGBTQ Pride flag for the first time outside its Community Center, the town does not plan to display the rainbow-colored flag for Pride month in June. Surfside Mayor Shlomo Danzinger told the Miami Herald he does not support displaying the flag this year after Town Attorney Lillian Arango advised him that doing so could force the town to accept requests from outside groups to display their flags. Danzinger said he supports LGBTQ Pride month, but fears the town may risk having to fly swastikas or Satanic flags — or risk a lawsuit. He mentioned the possibilit… Read View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Neil Patrick Harris hopes he kids won’t turn out to be terrible teenagers as he’s tried to instil them with “values and humour and agency”. The ‘How I Met Your Mother’ star is dad to twins Harper and Gideon with his husband David Burtka and he’s convinced they’re unlikely to turn into sulky teens after they celebrate their 12th birthdays in October because the couple have tried their best to raise them to be thoughtful. Speaking on E! News’ ‘Daily Pop’ show, he explained: “They are now six graders. They will be 12 years old in October, which will be their golden birthday October 12. They’ll be 12 on the twelfth which means they’ll want some big-ass party.” When asked if he’s worried about them becoming teenagers, he replied: “No, they’re great. You spend a lot of time with kids as parents, trying to instil values and humour and agency with them. Now that they’re older and they don’t like you anymore, you can sort of see how that plays out.” Neil added of the twins: “I really, firmly believe in karma,. I tell my kids a lot, ‘You have opportunities to make good or not-so-good choices. “Hold the door open for someone, not because you want something good to happen to you, but because the person has bags in their hands, and you want to be a nice person’.” Neil previously opened up about his kids in a chat on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’, revealing he was planning to get them a tarantula for Christmas as he needed to up his game after getting them a Golden Retriever puppy named Ella last year. He said: “Now the kids want a hedgehog, an actual hedgehog because they see the videos on TikTok of hedgehog’s being so cute “Santa’s not about to get them a hedgehog! Maybe a tarantula, that’d be cool. They look scary but once I think if you owned one you would realise that they’re cute just misunderstood.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Brendan Pierson (Reuters) -Iowa’s highest court on Friday ruled that the state’s constitution does not include a “fundamental right” to abortion, reversing its own finding from four years ago and reviving a law requiring women to wait 24 hours after an initial appointment before getting an abortion. The 5-2 ruling by the Supreme Court of Iowa overturned a lower court one blocking the law, which had been challenged by a Planned Parenthood affiliate. It comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected in coming weeks to issue a major ruling that could dramatically curtail abortion rights at the national level. Planned Parenthood and the office of Iowa Attorney General Thomas Miller, which defended the law, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, a Republican, signed the 24-hour waiting-period law in 2020. The state Supreme Court had struck down an earlier law imposing a 72-hour waiting period in 2018, finding that the state’s constitution included a fundamental right to abortion. Justice Edward Mansfield, writing for the majority on Friday, said the 2018 decision had been “flawed” and “one-sided” because “having an abortion without delay is deemed more important than preserving unborn life.” Chief Justice Susan Christensen in a dissent said the court was too quick to overturn its earlier ruling. She noted that four of the seven current justices – including herself – had been appointed since 2018 by Reynolds. “The legitimacy of judicial review hinges in part on the public perception that we are applying the rule of law regardless of our personal preferences instead of merely engaging in judicial policymaking,” she wrote. If the U.S. Supreme Court rolls back abortion rights, state-level legal battles over the issue are likely to become more frequent, as Republican-led states move quickly to pass new abortion restrictions. (Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Mark Porter and Alexia Garamfalvi) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) -The wife of Julian Assange vowed to fight using every possible legal avenue after British Home Secretary Priti Patel on Friday approved the WikiLeaks’ founder’s extradition to the United States to face criminal charges. Assange is wanted by U.S. authorities on 18 counts, including a spying charge, relating to WikiLeaks’ release of vast troves of confidential U.S. military records and diplomatic cables which Washington said had put lives in danger. His supporters say he is an anti-establishment hero who has been victimised because he exposed U.S. wrongdoing in conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and that his prosecution is a politically motivated assault on journalism and free speech. His wife Stella said Assange would appeal after the Home Office said his extradition had been approved as British courts had concluded it would not be unjust or an abuse of process. “We’re going to fight this. We’re going to use every appeal avenue,” Stella Assange told reporters, calling the decision a “travesty”. “I’m going to spend every waking hour fighting for Julian until he is free, until justice is served.” Originally, a British judge ruled Assange, 50, should not be deported, saying his mental health meant he would be at risk of suicide if convicted and held in a maximum security prison. But this was overturned on an appeal after the United States gave a package of assurances, including a pledge he could be transferred to Australia to serve any sentence. The Home Office said the courts had not found that extradition would be incompatible with his human rights, including his right to a fair trial and to freedom of expression, and that he would be treated appropriately. The Australian-born Assange has been involved in a legal fight in Britain for more than a decade and it could now go on for many more months. He has 14 days to appeal to London’s High Court, which must give its approval for a challenge, and he could ultimately seek to take his case to the United Kingdom Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights. ‘CHILLING MESSAGE’ “We’re not at the end of the road here,” Stella Assange said, calling Patel’s decision “a dark day for press freedom and for British democracy”. Nick Vamos, the former head of extradition at Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service, said verdicts were regularly overturned by the High Court. Assange would be able to claim again it was politically motivated and use new evidence, such as his allegations the CIA had plotted to assassinate him. The CIA has declined to comment on his claims. “I think he might get some traction,” Vamos told Reuters. WikiLeaks first came to prominence when it published a U.S. military video in 2010 showing a 2007 attack by Apache helicopters in Baghdad that killed a dozen people, including two Reuters news staff. It then released hundreds of thousands of secret classified files and diplomatic cables in what was the largest security breach of its kind in U.S. military history. U.S. prosecutors and Western security officials regard Assange as a reckless enemy of the state whose actions imperilled the lives of agents named in the leaked material. He and his supporters argue that he is being punished for embarrassing those in power and faces 175 years in prison if found guilty, although the U.S. lawyers have said it would be more like four to six years. “Allowing Julian Assange to be extradited to the U.S. would put him at great risk and sends a chilling message to journalists the world over,” said Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s secretary general. The Australian government said it would continue to tell London and Washington that the case had “dragged on for too long and should be brought to a close”. The legal saga began at the end of 2010 when Sweden sought Assange’s extradition from Britain over allegations of sex crimes. When he lost that case in 2012, he fled to the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he spent seven years. When he was finally dragged out in April 2019, he was jailed for breaching British bail conditions although the Swedish case against him had been dropped. He has been fighting extradition to the United States since June 2019 and remains in jail. During his time in the Ecuadorian embassy he fathered two children with his now wife, who he married in Belmarsh high-security prison in London in March at a ceremony attended by just four guests, two official witnesses and two guards. (Additional reporting by Kirtsy Needham in Sydney; Editing by Kate Holton and Alison Williams) View the full article

Published by Al-Araby A contestant of Egyptian and Palestinian origin set to take part in the newest season of Canada’s Drag Race has said she hopes her appearance will prove that Muslims have a space in the drag community. The lineup for the third season of Canada’s Drag Race – a spin-off of the wildly successful RuPaul’s Drag Race – was announced Wednesday, and features Halal Bae, who has made her politics known from the jump. “I didn’t come to slay, I came to free Palestine. That’s right, your locally famous drag queen is on Canada’s Drag Race season 3!”, she tweeted in her announcement. In the show, whose third… Read More View the full article

Published by Al-Araby This Arab is Queer, a heartfelt anthology of essays from the LGBTQ+ Arab community worldwide, made its debut at the Bishopsgate Institute in London on Thursday. Dozens of people gathered at the institute’s library to celebrate the anthology – the “first collection of its kind”, according to editor Elias Jahshan – which contains 18 rich and varied stories about queer experiences and identities. Thursday’s launch event, which featured a panel including Jahshan and three writers – Zeyn Joukhadar, Mona Eltahawy, and Anbara Salam – discussed how the book challenges trauma-driven narratives imposed … Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Brad Reed A Jesuit school in Worcester, Massachusetts can no longer identify as a Catholic institution due to its display of a rainbow “Pride” flag and a “Black Lives Matter” flag. Boston 25 News reports that the Diocese of Worcester has stripped the local Nativity School of its Catholic status over the display of both flags, which it says go against Catholic teachings. “These symbols embody specific agendas or ideologies [that] contradict Catholic social and moral teaching,” Bishop Robert McManus said in justifying his decision. “It is my contention that the ‘Gay Pride’ flag represents sup… Read More View the full article