RadioRob

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

Published by DPA A litte over a quarter a century ago, the space ranger Buzz Lightyear became a toy hero to millions of children – on the big screen and in real life. Now Buzz is back with his own real space adventure. Disney/Pixar/dpa For stars Keke Palmer and Uzo Aduba, “Lightyear” takes the “Toy Story” franchise to infinity and beyond by reflecting heroes of all kinds. Disney and Pixar’s latest animated movie serves as an origin story for the fan-favourite Buzz Lightyear, but the actors agree their film’s new characters’ journeys are just as pivotal. “It’s ‘to infinity and beyond’ for all of us,” Palmer told the Daily News. “Leaders, heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and I think that’s the thing that ‘Lightyear’ is also writing for. That is the future. ‘To infinity and beyond’ with that. Yes, Buzz is a hero, but so are all of the faces that you are going to meet along the course of the journey.” Zooming into theaters Friday, “Lightyear” is the first spinoff film in the “Toy Story” series, premiering nearly three decades after the original movie introduced the Buzz action figure as a favourite toy of a child named Andy. The opening sequence of “Lightyear” informs audiences they’re watching Andy’s favorite movie, which depicts the adventures of the human space ranger Buzz Lightyear who inspired the toy. “We’re so familiar with the toy, but very rarely do we ever get to learn the story behind the man, or the toy, and they have a full life,” Aduba told The News. “We get to see Buzz’s full life, along with the full lives of our own characters.” The film picks up with Buzz, voiced by Chris Evans, and his fellow astronauts getting stranded on a strange planet. They work to develop hyperspeed technology to return to Earth, but every time Buzz goes on a test run, multiple years pass without him aging at all. Aduba, 41, voices Buzz’s trusted partner Alisha Hawthorne, while Palmer, 28, portrays her granddaughter Izzy, whom Buzz meets decades in the future. Buzz works alongside people from different backgrounds throughout the film, including Alisha, who is one of Pixar’s first openly LGBTQ characters. Aduba — a three-time Emmy winner for “Orange is the New Black” and “Mrs. America” — praises “Lightyear” for showcasing “faces, ages, sizes and identities in ways that we haven’t seen before, and proving that all of those people can be heroic.” “It certainly makes anybody who gets to see those stories dream differently,” Aduba said. “It certainly makes them dream of their own possibility. Everybody needs to see themselves on screen.” Joining the “Toy Story” franchise delighted Palmer, who grew up a major fan of the previous films that starred Tim Allen as Buzz and Tom Hanks as the cowboy doll Woody. “I always loved Andy’s journey, even as the ‘Toy Story’ franchise continued to grow,” Palmer said. “We were also growing alongside Andy and understanding our relationship with our toys and the experiences that we had and how to transition. “I think that’s why I loved (2010′s) third ‘Toy Story’ so much, because we were all adults at that point. It’s like, how do we make away with those memories and those things of the past? How do we grow and still hold on to that child that still exists in all of us? I love how that franchise continued to grow with us and taught us stuff along the way.” Palmer, who also has the Jordan Peele-directed horror movie “Nope” out next month, loves how “Lightyear” captures the spirit of the “Toy Story” films. “It’s such an original story,” Palmer said, “that still carries that nostalgia.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Kesha is “not gay” and “not straight”. The ‘Praying’ singer told how she “loves people” and doesn’t want to label her sexuality, though she is “open to it all” in a message wishing all of her followers a Happy Pride in recognition of June being LGBTQ+ Pride month. Sharing a selfie, the 35-year-old star wrote in the caption: “Happy pride! In case I haven’t been straight forward enough (LOL) I just wanted to take a sec to tell everyone that you are not only enough, just as you are, but the world is so f****** lucky to have you. “I’m not gay. I’m not straight. I don’t know what I am. I love people. I love people because we are all our own little consciousness journeys, dancing around the sun. How weird and interesting and fun this life is, right? “I refuse to be anything, really, except for open to it all. I know it can be confusing sometimes, but you are so seen and loved. “Love u animals, happy pride [rainbow emoji] see u at stonewall soon!!!!!(sic)” Kesha will headline Stonewall Day 2022 on 24 June in New York City and she recently admitted she is “so honoured” to be involved in the event, which commemorates the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, a series of spontaneous protests from members of the city’s gay community. She previously said: “I am so honoured to be a part of this historic event. As a forever advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, I’m excited to embark on this monumental occasion with my friends at Pride Live and perform for Stonewall Day.” “Stonewall is a special place for the queer community, and I cannot wait to honour and celebrate how far we have come while standing in the conviction that the fight for equality in this country is ever upon us, and I will never back down. Come dance with me!” View the full article

Published by Radar Online ROMA / MEGA Embattled reality star Todd Chrisley was accused of sexually harassing a male employee years before his ex-business partner testified they allegedly had a gay affair during the TV personality’s fraud trial. Radar exclusively broke the news on a bombshell court filing back in 2014, in which three former employees of his company, Chrisley Asset Management, spoke out with claims against the convicted fraudster. MEGA The ex-employees alleged in January 2010 that Todd, 53, regularly “commented on the size of his p—-, invited male employees to ‘jerk off’ with him in the restroom, inappropriately touched employees, and routinely made sexual gestures toward his subordinates.” Some of the employees alleged that those who went into specific detail about his alleged harassment were given the boot from their workplace as retaliation. According to the documents, the Plaintiffs claimed Chrisley once “asked a male employee, in front of other employees, to join him and another male co-worker in the restroom to ‘jerk off.'” “Chrisley’s actions heavily influenced the work environment,” the docs stated. “Employees were made to feel afraid to complain about the offensive sexual behavior for fear they would lose their jobs in those tough economic times.” The case was settled in the end. Curtis Hilbun / AFF-USA.COM / MEGA Years later, Todd’s character came into question again when his former business partner Mark Braddock alleged the reality star cheated on his wife, Julie Chrisley, with him. Not only that, but they supposedly paid off a blackmailer to keep the alleged affair a secret, a claim vehemently disputed as a “fantasy” by Chrisley’s lawyer. Todd previously brushed off rumors about his sexuality, calling the speculation “flattering.” In late May, Braddock testified during Todd and Julie’s federal fraud trial, claiming they were intimate in the early 2000s. He claimed to have allegedly helped the reality TV star commit fraud by creating fake documents and impersonating Todd. After the alleged dalliance ended, Todd reportedly threw his ex-lover and employee out of his Chrisley Asset Management office and threatened to call the cops. Braddock got upset and later decided to report Todd and Julie, 49, to the FBI. ROMA / MEGA In turn, Braddock was given immunity from prosecution in exchange for his testimony. Earlier this month, the Chrisleys were found guilty in their tax fraud trial. They face up to 30 years behind bars at their upcoming sentencing in October. View the full article

Published by The Charlotte Observer A controversial bill restricting LGBTQ instruction in elementary schools might not be taken up by the North Carolina House in the remaining few weeks of the legislative session, Speaker Tim Moore said Wednesday. House Bill 755, also known as the Parents’ Bill of Rights, was approved by the state Senate earlier this month just over a week after being proposed by Republican lawmakers, and was expected to be voted on in the House soon thereafter. But Republicans won’t rush to pass the bill if they don’t have enough Democratic support to circumvent a likely veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, an… Read More View the full article

“ her sexuality isn’t something they discuss. “ Published by OK Magazine @mslyssac/Instagram Wedding bells are ringing! Dog the Bounty Hunter‘s daughter Lyssa Chapman, 35, said “I do” with her partner Leiana Evensen in a gorgeous Hawaiian wedding ceremony on Friday, June 3. @mslyssac/Instagram “Last week Lei and I boarded a boat at 7 in the morning with 7 of our closest family members and we dedicated our love and lives to one another,” Lyssa wrote in a lengthy Instagram post on Tuesday, June 7. “With our feet in the water, we connected ourselves to the power and vastness of the ocean. We were hugged by the majestic Ko’olau mountain range, that will continue hugging us as we live and spend the rest of our lives together at Makaalamihi,” she continued. “There, with uncle David officiating, we stated our declarations of intent, said our vows and began life together OFFICIALLY as wife, and wife. ” LAWSUIT ALLEGES THAT DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER LIED ABOUT INTERACTION WITH PARKLAND SHOOTER’S BROTHER, REFERRED TO HIM AS R-SLUR “It was literally a dream day,” she added of her special moment. “The best part is @leiana13 is my freaking WIFE !! I’m so happy, blessed, filled with love and gratitude. I never thought I was worthy or capable of this kind of love. The vibration I feel in my body hasn’t stopped since I met her and if you’re reading this from a dark place know that your happy beginning is out there somewhere too. ” Lyssa’s daughters, Abbie May, 20, and Madalynn Grace, 12, were in attendance at the ceremony, along with her wife’s parents, Stacy and Carl Evensen. Lyssa’s dad — real name Duane Chapman — couldn’t make it to the wedding, but the newlywed told People that he was there as much as he could be through phone calls and video chat, fully supporting them on their happy day. @mslyssac/Instagram ALL OF DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER’S DAUGHTERS — WHERE ARE THEY NOW? “We FaceTimed him a bunch. He was there in spirit and also electronically,” she continued, explaining that it’s been “really, really hard for him to come back to Hawaii” since the passing of his fourth wife, Beth, in 2019. Addressing the rumors that Dog has made homophobic comments about members of the LGBTQ+ community in the past, Lyssa explained her father “always just loved me” and that her sexuality isn’t something they discuss. “I think it’s really hard for people who are Christian and do have that belief that marriage belongs to a man and a woman,” she noted. “But when your daughter falls in love with someone and you love that person, you can’t just say you don’t believe in it. I don’t want to put words in his mouth because I don’t know what his exact feelings about it are, but he’s never shown me anything other than support.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Beyonce is planning a “thrilling abundance” of new music. The 40-year-old pop megastar – who teased an upcoming project called ‘Renaissance’ on Thursday (16.06.22) alongside a July 29 release date – is said to have used the pandemic to put a lot of thought into her next move, with plenty of material on the way. The ‘Love on Top’ hitmaker met British Vogue’s Editor in Chief Edward Enninful for the magazine’s July issue, and he has given an insight into her plans. Writing about their meeting, Enninful said: “New music is coming – a thrilling abundance of it… “The creation has been a long process, she explains, with the pandemic giving her far longer to spend thinking and re-thinking every decision. Just the way she likes it.” Enninful noted that Beyonce was hands-on with her cover shoot, which turned into a family affair when her husband Jay Z and their children – Blue Ivy, nine, and five-year-old twins Rumi and Sir – visited for the day. He added: “Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, a writer of excellent and lengthy texts, had taken to messaging me as we brainstormed the direction of her Vogue shoot together. “A fashion fantasia spun from the tropes of club life during the last century’s final quarter… “[On set] it was a magical mood and soon B was walking around feeling easy and free to be herself. Her husband and kids came to surprise her on set. It was a family day out – albeit a slightly surreal one.” Last year, Sony label bosses suggested a new Beyoncé record will be released in 2022. The eagerly-awaited LP will be Beyoncé’s seventh solo album and follows 2016’s ‘Lemonade’. Her last big solo tour was ‘The Formation World Tour’ in 2016, while she hit the road again in 2018 to perform with her husband Jay Z on his ‘On The Run II Tour’. See the full feature in the July issue of British Vogue available via digital download and on newsstands from Tuesday 21st June. See more at: https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/beyonce-vogue-cover-new-music View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will inaugurate a task force on Thursday to curb online harassment, fulfilling one of the Biden campaign’s promises in the wake of a mass shooting that highlights a link between online abuse and violence. The group will be tasked with producing within six months a blueprint detailing actions to address the problem, including more support for victims, prevention and greater accountability for aggressors and platforms hosting them. The task force will be co-chaired by the White House Gender Policy Council and National Security Council, according to senior administration officials who previewed the announcement in a call on Wednesday evening. The creation of the task force comes in the wake of a mass shootings in Texas, where the gunman allegedly posted violent online content before carrying out the bloody rampage. According to reports from CNN, the Washington Post and others, Salvador Ramos, who shot and killed 19 children and two adults in an elementary school in Uvalde, threatened to rape girls and shoot up schools on social media app Yubo before the attack. “It’s imperative that we commit to better understanding and addressing the nexus between online misogyny and radicalization to violence,” a senior administration official said. One in three women under the age of 35 and over half of LGBT people in the United States report experiencing sexual harassment and stalking online, according to the White House. Harris will be joined on Thursday by Attorney General Merrick Garland, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and tennis star Sloane Stephens, who publicized a torrent of angry messages she received on social media, including racist and sexist abuse, following her loss at the U.S. Open. (Reporting by Alexandra Alper; Editing by William Mallard) View the full article

Published by Taste of Country Ty Herndon is opening up about an incredibly difficult chapter in his life that nearly culminated in him taking his own life. In a new interview, the country singer reveals that he relapsed in his longtime drug addiction in recent years and nearly ended up dying. The 60-year-old singer tells People he has struggled with addiction to crystal meth for most of the last three decades, and he relapsed in recent years after 16 straight years of sobriety. During that period, he made history by coming becoming the first major-name male country solo artist to come out as gay in 2014. He says he was fir… Read More View the full article