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Published by Reuters (Reuters) – Apple Inc Chief Executive Tim Cook on Friday sent a letter to a group of U.S. lawmakers asking them to pass federal privacy legislation, according to a copy of the letter seen by Reuters. “We strongly urge you to advance comprehensive privacy legislation as soon as possible, and we stand ready to assist in this process in the days ahead,” read the letter, which was sent to a group of law makers in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives working on the legislation. (Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Leroy Leo (Reuters) -The U.S. government expects to receive an additional 300,000 doses of Bavarian Nordic’s Jynneos vaccine against monkeypox in the next few weeks as cases across the country jumped to 45 from 25 four days ago. The United States currently holds about 72,000 doses of Jynneos in its strategic national stockpile, Dawn O’Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told reporters at a news briefing. Earlier on Friday, the United States placed an order for an additional 500,000 doses of bulk vaccine to be delivered later this year. The company said the total U.S. inventory of the vaccine would reach nearly 2 million doses when combined with a 2020 order for 1.4 million doses. The Danish company’s vaccine, which was developed with the support of HHS’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, is approved to treat both monkeypox and smallpox. O’Connell told the briefing the U.S. has agreed to sell about 215,000 doses of the vaccine back to Bavarian Nordic for use in Europe. The U.S. doses were produced on a manufacturing line that is still awaiting U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. The line has already been cleared for U.S. by European regulators. “It didn’t make sense that while we were waiting for FDA to get the inspection done, we sit on doses our international colleagues in Europe could actually use,” she said. O’Connell said she expects the FDA to inspect the manufacturing line in the next few weeks. The United States also has more than 100 million doses of ACAM2000, a smallpox vaccine from Emergent BioSolutions Inc, that is also effective against monkeypox. Together, O’Connell said the United States has more than enough doses to meet U.S. demand. To date, the United States has supplied doses and treatments to 16 states and jurisdictions. Monkeypox, a disease that is endemic in parts of Africa, has been spreading globally in the last month, with more than 1,300 cases reported in countries where it is not endemic, most of them in Europe. The virus is spread primarily through direct contact with bodily fluids or sores of someone who has monkeypox, or through direct contact with materials that have been touched by an infected person. The virus may also spread through respiratory secretions, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky told the briefing. (Reporting by Leroy Leo in Bengaluru and Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago; Editing by David Gregorio) View the full article

Published by New York Daily News A documentary looking at the history of LGBTQ stand-up comedy is coming to Netflix. On Thursday, the streamer announced it had greenlit “Stand Out: The Documentary,” a feature-length film about the oh-so-funny world of openly LGBTQ stand-up comedians, and how they’ve used their craft as an instrument for social progress and increased visibility over the past five decades, “changing the world one joke at a time.” Mixing interviews, original performances, archival material, as well as backstage footage, the documentary is billed as a complement to “Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration,” a night of l… Read More View the full article

Published by Chicago Tribune CHICAGO — Nobody’s Darling opened last year as a cocktail bar in a city full of cocktail bars — but also with a mission. Co-founders Angela Barnes and Renauda Riddle are Black. They’re women. They’re lesbians. They wanted their bar to reflect themselves, their experiences and their social circles. “We wanted this to be a women-centered, women-forward space and a bar where women feel comfortable — but also where everybody is welcome and everyone feels comfortable, as long as there is that respect that this is our space,” Barnes said shortly after Nobody’s Darling arrived on a quiet, leafy stret… Read More View the full article

Published by DPA Police officers secure the annual Gay Pride Parade in Tel Aviv. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa Thousands of people gathered is the Israeli coastal city Tel Aviv on Friday to hold a Pride march to advocate for the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. On a warm day of around 30 degrees Celsius, attendees waved rainbow flags and danced at the roadside as parade floats went by. The city, which is the official organizer, did not immediately give exact numbers for the crowd. In the run-up to the event, a spokesperson had said that they were hoping around 250,000 people would celebrate, taking numbers back to their pre-pandemic levels. Under the motto “Back to Pride,” the parade moved through the city and culminated with a party in a park. Since March, unvaccinated tourists have also been allowed to enter Israel again. Last year, this was only possible for a limited number of vaccinated tourists in groups. In 2020, the parade was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the city administration, Australian rapper Iggy Azalea and DJs, including Boris from the famous Berlin techno club Berghain, were to perform at the closing party. Tel Aviv is considered a stronghold of the LGBT scene in the Middle East. Participants take part in the annual Gay Pride Parade in Tel Aviv. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa Participants take part in the annual Gay Pride Parade in Tel Aviv. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa Participants take part in the annual Gay Pride Parade in Tel Aviv. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Lady Gaga believes that makeup is “not good” for your skin. The 36-year-old pop star launched her cosmetics company Haus Labs back in 2019 but admitted that throughout her time as founder of the company she has learned how “dirty” makeup can be as she aims to find “futuristic formulas” as the brand enters its newest chapter. She said: “In a lot of ways, rebranding Haus Labs felt very similar to reinventing myself as an artist. hat it taught me about makeup, and this informed where we are today, is that a lot of makeup is made with really dirty ingredients. It’s not good for your skin and it’s not good for the planet. [My team and I] really thought about how to go beyond what the industry standards of “clean” were. “ The ‘Bad Romance’ hitmaker went on to explain that with the newest line of Hause of Labs products, she has removed thousands of those “unclean” products from the previous range and hopes to be the “future” of clean makeup. She told Fashion Magazine: “As an artist, you’re always trying to push the boundaries of who you are. When I started as the founder of this company, my knowledge of beauty was much more limited to my own sense of artistry. “We’ve removed 2,600 ingredients from our products. We like to say at our company that we’re the future of clean makeup, and that’s the thing that propels us every day. How do we explore the art of clean? How do we find interesting, innovative, futuristic formulas?” Lady Gaga’s newest line of Haus Labs launched on June 9 exclusively at Sephora. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Judy Garland’s daughters have launched a fragrance in honour of her 100th birthday. The legendary Hollywood actress – who was mother to Liza Minnelli, 76, and Lorna Luft, 69, and is best remembered for her role as Dorothy Gale in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ as well as her iconictorch song ‘Over the Rainbow’ – died of an accidental drugs overdose at the age of 47 back in 1969 and her daughters have created a limited-edition fragrance to honour what would have been her centenary on June 10, 2022. Liza told PEOPLE: “Actually, Lorna came up with the idea for creating a fragrance to honor my mom on what would have been her 100th birthday. I entrusted Lorna with the many details necessary but she kept me informed, and when the time came to smell the final unisex fine fragrance, it definitely smelled like Mama. “ The two sisters have teamed up with renowned cosmetics designer Vince Spinnato to create the fragrance and he went on to explain he has always been a “big fan” of their mother and wants to “preserve [her] memory” with the new fragrance. He said: “I have always been a big personal fan of Judy Garland, and to develop a fragrance for her with her children is beyond the rainbow! My goal was to respect Judy Garland’s memory, help preserve her legacy, and hopefully introduce her to a new generation of fans. It’s been a wonderful, unique, collaborative effort between Ms. Garland’s family, estate and myself. I am honored to be entrusted with this responsibility.” Presented in a ruby red bottle, Judy — A Garland Fragrance was launched with a glitzy event – live-streamed on Instagram – on Thursday (09.06.22) and is described as a “unisex fine fragrance” based on what she would have worn herself and contains hints of the Judy Garland Rose with “the addition of Dark Orchid, Coriander and a medley of sultry Gourmand and spice notes.” Limited-Edition 100th Birthday Bottle View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Ben Platt has joined the cast of the musical comedy ‘Theater Camp’. The Broadway star has been tapped to star in the movie with Molly Gordon, Noah Galvin, Amy Sedaris, Alan S. Kim, Patti Harrison, Owen Thiele, Jimmy Tatro, Ayo Edebiri, Caroline Aaron and Nathan Lee Graham. The movie marks the directorial debut for Molly and Nick Lieberman. The pair have written the film together with Platt and Galvin. The flick follows the eccentric staff of a rundown theatre camp in New York, as they band together with the beloved founder’s son to keep the camp going when she falls into a coma right at the start of the summer season. The project will feature original music from Galvin, Gordon, Liebermann, Platt and Mark Sonnenblick. Erik Feig, Samie Kim Falvey and Julia Hammer will produce for Picturestart alongside Maria Zuckerman and Ryan Heller for Topic Studios. Feig, the founder and CEO of Picturestart, said: “We haven’t stopped giggling over this movie since Gloria Sanchez first showed us the short and seeing the incredible ambition and creativity Molly, Nick, Ben, and Noah have brought to ‘Theater Camp’ has been our big-time happy place. “We are so thrilled to work with Maria and Ryan at Topic and can’t wait to bring audiences along to the hilarious and heartwarming ‘summer session’ at camp.” Topic Studios President Zuckerman added: “When we heard who was coming to this summer camp, we immediately knew we had to join. “This is a true dream team – visionary creators Molly, Nick, Ben and Noah, amazing partners Picturestart and Gloria Sanchez, and an uproarious group of actors. We can’t wait for the show to begin.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Julee Cruise has died. The singer – who was best known for her track ‘Falling’, the instrumental version of which was used as the theme to ‘Twin Peaks’, has passed away at the age of 65, four years after she revealed she had been battling autoimmune condition Lupus. Her husband, Edward Grinnan, wrote on Facebook: “She left this realm on her own terms. No regrets. She is at peace … I played her [B-52’s song] ‘Roam’ during her transition. Now she will roam forever. Rest in peace, my love.” Julie first teamed up with ‘Twin Peaks’ creator David Lynch in 1986 on his film ‘Blue Velvet’, which prominently featured ‘Mysteries of Love’, her collaboration with Angelo Badalamenti In 1990, she appeared alongside Nicolas Cage and Laura Dern as The Dreamself of the Heartbroken Woman in the director’s theatre production ‘Industrial Symphony No. 1’ and also appeared as a singer in ‘Twin Peaks’, as well as featuring in movie spin-off ‘Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me’ and revival show ‘Twin Peaks: The Return’ in 2017. She previously said of their working relationship: “It’s like I’m his little sister: you don’t like your older brother telling you what to do. David’s foppish. He can have these tantrums sometimes. And have you ever seen his temper? Anybody can look funny when they get mad. But I love him.” Julee – who also toured as a member of the B-52s in the 1990s and sang alongside Pharrell Williams on Handsome Boy Modeling School’s song ‘Class System’ – announced in 2018 she had been diagnosed with lupus and was in a lot of pain. She told fans: “I have Systemic Lupus, and right now and I guess for a year, MY Supertar Dr. And he really is, Has tried his best. I can hardly walk. And now it’s difficult to stand. I can’t walk Gracie anymore. “My spine is crumbling , and pinching on nerves… I do t take opiates, But the pain is so bad I cry and snap at people.(sic)” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Robert De Niro has joked he has “all” of Taylor Swift’s albums. The ‘Taxi Driver’ star opened up about the pop star when asked about the upcoming screening of her ‘All Too Well’ short at his Tribeca Film Festival in New York City and hinted he’s a big fan. In a joint interview with Variety alongside film festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal, the pair were asked how the collaboration came about with Jane replying: “First of all, she’s in the neighbourhood.” Robert then asked: “She lives in the neighbourhood?” and Jane went on to say: “Well, I’m not supposed to discuss that … We’re always looking to show artists’ work to show what else they do – the interdisciplinary work. It’s always interesting to watch what artists do when they’re not doing what we think that they should continually do.” They were then asked if they are fans of the singer’s work, and Robert said: “I have all of her albums … I’m not not a fan. I probably hear her music and like it on the radio. My young daughter puts a station on, and it drives me crazy when they chat. When they have music, it’s OK.” Taylor wrote, produced and directed the film and the screening will take place on June 11 at Manhattan’s Beacon Theatre. She will also take part in a special talk to discuss her filmmaking. The Tribeca Film Festival kicked off on June 8 and runs until June 19 and also featured a screening of Jennifer Lopez’s documentary ‘Halftime’. The movie opened the film festival ahead of its debut on Netflix on June 14 and focuses on the singer’s lengthy career and her 2019 performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A police officer who suffered a brain injury at the hands of rioters during last year’s U.S. Capitol attack described the scenes of violence and chaos – including fellow officers bloodied and on the ground – in testimony on Thursday before the congressional panel investigating the assault. U.S. Capitol Police officer Caroline Edwards was one of two witnesses appearing in person during the first hearing of the House of Representatives select committee probing the Jan. 6, 2021, assault. She described how she got hurt and what she found when she finally got to safety behind a Washington Metropolitan Police line. “What I saw was just a war scene. It was something like I’d seen out of the movies. I couldn’t believe my eyes. There were officers on the ground. You know, they were bleeding. They were throwing up. … I was slipping in people’s blood,” she testified. The committee showed a video clip of Edwards getting injured while she was trying to hold back the mob of former President Donald Trump’s supporters with two of the metal bike racks police were using as barricades. “I felt the bike rack come on top of my head and I was pushed backwards and my foot caught the stair behind me. And my chin hit the handrail – at that point I had blacked out. … The back of my head clipped the concrete stairs behind me.” Edwards said she returned to duty after she regained consciousness. More than 100 police officers were injured that day and one died the next day. Four officers later died by suicide. Edwards told the committee she has been proud to put on a uniform and serve her country. But on that day, she was called by rioters House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s dog, incompetent and a villain. “They dared to question my honor,” Edwards said. “They dared to question my loyalty and they dared to question my duty.” (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Will Dunham) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Chelsea Handler has admitted she “wasn’t respectful” to Joan Rivers and didn’t give the late comic the “the kudos she deserved”. The pair fell out prior to Joan’s death in 2014 with Chelsea revealing their feud started because she had “kinda blown her off” when she was “young and arrogant”. Opening up about the bad blood between the pair, Chelsea explained herself during a chat with Joan’s daughter Melissa on the ‘Melissa Rivers’ Group Text Podcast’. Chelsea said: “Your mom approached me a couple times when we were on E! I just felt like a s*** because I had just kinda blown her off. I wasn’t respectful in the way I realise I needed to be now.” The ‘Chelsea Lately’ star was among those who paid tribute to Joan in Netflix special ‘The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up’ and Melissa was furious when she found out about the tribute from Chelsea. Melissa told the TV host she “went f****** bananas” when she was told Chelsea would be honouring Joan, prompting the comedian to explain why she did it. Chelsea said: “(I was) so excited about the opportunity to do it, to go and say those things in front of everybody. To be like, you have to remember that every opportunity that anyone has in this world as a female comedian, you have to thank the people who came before you.” She added: “When I was on E!, I was so young and arrogant and just thought, ‘I did it. I got myself to where I was.’ I didn’t give her the kudos she deserved and so I was eager to like put that in writing.” The comedy special debuted in May and during the show Chelsea admitted Joan actually had a huge impact on her career. She said: “The first time I meet Joan Rivers, we were both on E! – and not the fun kind. It was the basic cable network with the exclamation point, which in hindsight was still a good time. “But, at the time though, I did not realise the enormous impact Joan had on my career.” Chelsea went on to say: “I was too wrapped up in my own world. I was too young, too confident, and too arrogant to believe anyone had a hand in my success but myself. Now, I know that for every success I’ve had it was because someone came before me who was bolder and braver and good luck finding someone else who was as bold and as brave as Joan Rivers.” Joan died on September 4 2014 at the age of 81 after suffering complications during surgery on her throat. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Lauren Boebert was accused of “covering up” an ATV accident involving herself, her son and her sister-in-law just days before an important primary election, Radar has learned. The incident, which reportedly took place in May 2020, allegedly happened in Moab, Utah and involved an out-of-control Jeep ATV that ultimately crashed into the face of a large rock moments after the then 33-year-old Colorado GOP rep “bailed” from the vehicle. Mega That is the shocking revelation from a Daily Mail report that also claimed Boebert left her son, her then sister-in-law and her dog inside the vehicle before the crash despite the danger the entire incident entailed. “It was pretty crazy. [Boebert] got out of the driver’s seat and left Tori screaming and freaking out, and her son and dog in the back seat,” an anonymous source told the outlet, referencing Boebert’s former sister-in-law Tori Hooper. “Tori couldn’t get out of her seatbelt, so she grabbed the steering wheel,” the inside source continued. “She’s steering into a cliff. They hit a rock wall; it struck her whole face. It was bad.” “Lauren begged Tori not to say anything. She tried to use her money,” the anonymous source added. “She said: ‘I’ll pay for it all,’ but Tori had insurance, so she didn’t have to pay for anything.” Mega Making the claim even more shocking is the fact that the alleged ATV incident took place just two weeks before a key Colorado primary, suggesting Boebert potentially covered up the crash in an effort to save her own skin. Hooper, who was married to Boebert’s brother Benjamin Bentz at the time, reportedly sustained severe injuries to her face and chest as a result of the crash. It is not known whether or not Boebert’s son and dog also sustained any injuries from the alleged crash despite being in the back seat at the time of the off-roading accident. “[Tori] got stuck inside of a crevice in the Jeep while Lauren sort of, kind of, took off her belt and slipped out,” Hooper’s mother told the outlet. “You won’t find any reports of a 911 call, but she was really injured for sure,” Hooper’s mother added. Mega Surprisingly, this alleged incident was not the first time Boebert was involved in a car accident. In 2016, the GOP rep was charged with careless driving and operating an unsafe vehicle after driving her truck into a ditch in Garfield County, Colorado. Then, in 2017, Boebert was arrested and temporarily placed behind bars after failing to appear in court in connection to the accident. News of Boebert’s alleged cover up also comes just days before another key primary for the 35-year-old Republican representative, and Boebert’s detractors are suggesting she apologize and come clean about the alleged incident before the primary set to take place later this month. “Our coalition of Republicans, Democrats and Unaffiliated Coloradans are urging all voters and citizens to ask Boebert why she covered up the accident that endangered the life of her son, sister-in-law and dog,” David Wheeler, the president of American Muckrakers PAC Inc, recently said. “Utah officials must investigate this matter immediately, release their findings, and take appropriate actions against Boebert and anyone else that covered-up this matter,” Wheeler added. “We hope voters will fire Boebert in the June 28, 2022, primary election.” View the full article

Published by Fort Worth Star-Telegram FORT WORTH, Texas — The pastor of a North Texas church evicted in February from its building for trying to incite violence against the LGBT community is facing protests again after calling for gay people to be executed. “What does God say is the answer, is the solution for the homosexual in 2022, here in the New Testament, here in the book of Romans? That they are worthy of death,” preacher Dillon Awes of Stedfast Baptist Church in Watauga said in a Sunday sermon. “These people should be put to death,” Awes continued. “Every single homosexual in our country should be charged with a crime, the … Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Donald Trump’s daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump told a congressional panel investigating the U.S. Capitol attack that even she does not believe the former president’s false claims that his 2020 election defeat resulted from widespread voting fraud. Ivanka Trump, one of her father’s most trusted allies during his four years in the White House, appeared in a video deposition shown during the first in a series of congressional hearings by a House of Representatives select committee investigating the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack. “I respect Attorney General (William) Barr. So I accepted what he was saying,” Ivanka Trump told congressional investigators. And what Barr was saying, Ivanka testified, was that his Justice Department had discovered no significant fraud to support President Trump’s claim – one the former president is still making – that massive voter fraud in several key states caused the 2020 election to be “stolen” from him. The committee showed a video of Barr’s appearance before panel investigators. In that video, Barr called his former boss’ fraud claims “bullshit” The former president has been more successful in persuading Republican voters of this view. A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Wednesday found that 58% of Republicans viewed the outcome of the 2020 election to be the result of fraud. Also shown testifying was Ivanka husband, Jared Kushner, another of the former president’s top aides. In the video, the president’s son-in-law mentioned “whining,” referring to top Trump aides threatening to resign because of the Jan. 6 attack. The Jan. 6, 2021, riot followed shortly after Trump gave an incendiary speech to thousands of supporters outside the White House, repeating his false claims of a stolen 2020 election and urging them to march on the Capitol and “fight like hell.” (Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Scott Malone and Will Dunham) View the full article

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Published by New York Daily News “Queer as Folk” is supposed to be a wild, fun, exhilarating peek into a tight-knit queer community in New Orleans. Then there’s a shooting at a gay nightclub. The Peacock series, which premiered Thursday and is labeled as a “reimagining” of Russell T. Davies’ original British show, draws almost immediately from the 2016 shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that left 49 people dead. For showrunner Stephen Dunn, showing the reality of this world was the only way to keep the authenticity he strove for. “This isn’t a show about a shooting. This isn’t a show about a shooter,” Dunn t… Read More View the full article

Performances to include ‘Six,’ ‘Company,’ ‘Music Man’ performers coming to Awards Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — The Tony Awards are rolling out the red carpet for Broadway’s biggest shows. Sunday night’s award show has booked performances from its nominated musicals, including “A Strange Loop,” “Company,” “Girl from the North Country,” “MJ,” “Mr. Saturday Night,” “Music Man,” “Paradise Square” and “Six,” CBS announced Thursday. Among the nominated musicals not listed is “Caroline, or Change,” which is up for best revival but closed in January. Former winners Bernadette Peters (”Annie Get Your Gun,” “Song and Dance” and “On The Town”) and Billy Porter (”Kinky Boots”) will also perform, as will… Read More Jennifer Hudson could become an EGOT on Sunday thanks to ‘A Strange Loop’ producer Barbara Whitman Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Jennifer Hudson may become an EGOT on Sunday. The actress and singer, who is already an Emmy, Grammy and Oscar winner, could add a Tony Award to her achievements for her role as a producer of the hit Broadway musical “A Strange Loop.” Michael R. Jackson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy was nominated for 11 Tony Awards this year, including the grand prize of best musical. Hudson, the “American Idol” castoff turned “Dreamgirls” star is among several celebrities who have thrown their support behind Michael R. Jackson’s show about a Black gay writer who works as an usher at a Broadway mu… Read More ‘A Strange Loop’ creator Michael R. Jackson on The Tony Awards, his love for Liz Phair and his issue with Tyler Perry NEW YORK — Tyler Perry and Liz Phair are two names you’d never expect to hear mentioned in a Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway show marketed as a “big, Black, queer-ass American musical.” But the Hollywood titan and the ‘90s alternative rock queen feature prominently in “A Strange Loop,” which is up for 11 Tonys on Sunday. The brainchild of Michael R. Jackson, “A Strange Loop” centers around the emotional trials and tribulations of an overweight, Black gay writer who works as a Broadway usher. Newcomer Jaquel Spivey makes his Great White Way debut as a mid-twenties character — named Usher — who … Read More View the full article

Published by PopCrush It’s officially Pride Month and many have taken to social media to celebrate the occasion. One such person is actress Rebel Wilson, introduced her girlfriend to the world Thursday (June 9). Taking to Instagram, theSenior Year actress posted a picture of her with her girlfriend, Ramona Agruma. In the caption, alongside a rainbow emoji she wrote she “thought I was searching for a Disney Prince… but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess #loveislove.” See her post and see her new girlfriend below: Until now, Wilson has remained mum about who she was dating. In an interview… Read More View the full article

Sonny KissWrestling Is Gay “Out In The Ring,” the new documentary chronicling the history of LGBTQ identities in pro wrestling, walked away with its own championship belt last week, winning Best Canadian Feature at Canada’s largest LGBTQ film festival, Inside Out Toronto. The film premiered on June 3 after a four-plus yearlong production cycle that felt the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and pro wrestling’s own #MeToo movement, #SpeakingOut. The film’s director, Ry Levey, retired prominent out wrestler Susan “Tex” Green and others featured in the film were in attendance for a panel discussion about the film’s subjects, including pro wrestling’s history of homophobia and the modern advancement of queer people in the medium, following the screening. Susan “Tex” Green and director Ry Levey“Inside Out was the first film festival I attended after coming out 25 years ago,” Levey said. “To have it come full circle and win this prize with my first feature film is a true privilege.” Other major winners at the festival were Amelia Eloisa’s “We Will Never Belong” (Best Narrative Feature), Joseph Sackett’s “Homebody” (Best First Feature) and Jacquie Lawrence’s “Gateways Grind” (Best Documentary Feature). The full list of Inside Out Toronto 2022 winners is available here. Out In The Ring: Previously on Towleroad LGBTQ Pro Wrestling Documentary ‘Out In The Ring’ Wins Best Canadian Feature at Inside Out Toronto Film Festival Brian Bell June 9, 2022 Read More Viola Davis was called by director’s maid’s name Towleroad May 20, 2022 Read More The Week in Pictures: May 13 – May 20 Towleroad May 20, 2022 Read More Nicole Kidman Snubbed! Actress Fails To Be Included In Tom Cruise Tribute Montage At Cannes Film Festival Towleroad May 19, 2022 Read More LGBT Horror Fans Loving Newly Revealed Slasher Title ‘They/Them’ Towleroad May 17, 2022 Read More Paradise restored: How Ko Phi Phi bounced back during the pandemic Towleroad May 13, 2022 Read More Photo courtesy of Out In The Ring View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Tim Burton quit the ‘Batman’ franchise over a nipple costume. The 63-year-old director was at the helm of the 1989 movie ‘Batman’ – which starred Jack Nicholson as the titular DC Comics superhero – and its 1992 sequel ‘Batman Returns’ but explained that he was constantly being told his ideas were “too weird” even though costume designers had created a nipple costume for the movie. He said: “Back then] they went the other way. That’s the funny thing about it. But then I was like, ‘Wait a minute. Okay. Hold on a second here. You complain about me, I’m too weird, I’m too dark, and then you put nipples on the costume? Go f*** yourself.’ Seriously!” The acclaimed director – who is known for directing kooky gothic movies such as ‘Beetlejuice’ and ‘Edward Scissorhands – added that the nipple costume drama was the reason he didn’t return to the franchise to direct a third film. He told Empire: “So yeah, I think that’s why I didn’t end up [doing a third film].” Tim’s comments come shortly after the costume designer Jose Fernandez – who worked on both of the films and designed the nipples aspect of the outfit worn by Val Kilmer – explained that the nipples were not a “fetish” addition to the costume and were more inspired by Roman armour. He said: “With Val Kilmer’s suit in ‘Batman Forever’, the nipples were one of those things that I added. It wasn’t fetish to me, it was more informed by Roman armor, like Centurions. And in the comic books, the characters always looked like they were naked with spray paint on them — it was all about anatomy, and I like to push anatomy. I don’t know exactly where my head was back in the day, but that’s what I remember. And so I added the nipples. I had no idea there was going to end up being all this buzz about it.” View the full article

Published by AFP US Olympian Simone Biles is among gymnasts who have filed a claim against the FBI for alleged mishandling of the investigation into sexual abuse by former team doctor Larry Nassar Washington (AFP) – Simone Biles, Aly Raisman and other star US gymnasts filed a $1 billion claim against the FBI on Wednesday for mishandling of the investigation into sexual abuse by predatory former team doctor Larry Nassar. Nassar, 58, is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty in late 2017 and early 2018 to sexually assaulting athletes while working as a sports medicine doctor at USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University. Hundreds of women — including Olympic gold medalists Biles, Raisman and McKayla Maroney — have accused Nassar of sexually abusing them during his more than two-decade career. Biles, Raisman and Maroney are among the more than 90 women who have filed the federal tort claim against the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the law firms handling the case said in a joint statement. “The majority of claimants consists of over 90 young women and girls who were abused after 2015 due to the FBI’s failure to take required steps to protect them,” they said. The claim against the FBI comes just days after the Department of Justice announced it was not bringing any charges against two now retired FBI special agents who mishandled the Nassar investigation. “My fellow survivors and I were betrayed by every institution that was supposed to protect us — the US Olympic Committee, USA Gymnastics, the FBI and now the Department of Justice,” Maroney said in a statement. “I had some hope that they would keep their word and hold the FBI accountable,” she said. “It is clear that the only path to justice and healing is through the legal process.” ‘Grossly derelict’ The law firms said the FBI received credible complaints in July 2015 of Nassar’s sexual assaults and was “then able to immediately end Nassar’s predation.” “However, the FBI was grossly derelict in their duties by declining to interview gymnasts who were willing to talk about the abuse,” they said. “As a result, Nassar continued his predatory behavior, sexually assaulting approximately 90 young women and children between July 28, 2015, and September 12, 2016,” they added. An FBI spokeswoman declined to comment on the legal claim but pointed reporters to testimony before a Senate committee in September 2021 by FBI director Christopher Wray. Addressing Nassar’s victims, Wray said: “I’m especially sorry that there were people at the FBI who had their own chance to stop this monster back in in 2015 and failed.” “That’s inexcusable,” the FBI director said. “It never should have happened. And we’re doing everything in our power to make sure it never happens again.” Nassar’s victims reached a $380 million settlement with USA Gymnastics last year, one of the largest ever recorded for victims of sex abuse. USA Gymnastics filed for bankruptcy in 2018 after a tidal wave of allegations against Nassar swamped the organization. Michigan State University reached a $500 million settlement with hundreds of Nassar’s victims in 2018. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Trevor Hunnicutt and Jarrett Renshaw Los Angeles (Reuters) – U.S President Joe Biden on Wednesday blamed the lack of any progress on gun safety on intimidation by the gun lobby, and he called on voters to make it a deciding issue come November during his first in-person appearance on a late-night talk show. Biden told late-night host Jimmy Kimmel that the National Rifle Association has bullied Republicans into thinking that “if they vote for rational gun policy, they’re going to be primaried.” Biden, a Democrat, said he is considering additional executive orders, but doesn’t want to emulate his predecessor’s use of the non-legislative strategy, calling it an “abuse of the constitution.” The appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on ABC with a late-night host who has discussed weighty issues like U.S. health care and the mass shooting crisis gives Biden an opportunity to humanize himself with voters and get his message across to millions. Biden has been frustrated by his poor poll ratings amid concerns about high gas and energy prices, baby formula shortages, and lack of progress on several legislative fronts like voting rights and abortion rights, as well as gun safety. His advisers are hoping to retool their messaging in the upcoming weeks, hoping to focus on the positive elements of the economy, such as job and wage growth. “Inflation is the bane of our existence,” Biden said. He criticized U.S. oil major Exxon Mobil for making fat profits but not drilling new wells or refining more gasoline and instead buying back its own stock. “I mean, it’s just ass – excuse me – it’s backwards,” Biden said. Kimmel lightly chided Biden for his continued optimism amid limited progress on his legislative agenda issues, and said how can you play “Monopoly” by the rules with his rival Republicans who don’t. Biden smiled and joked: “We’ve got to send them to jail,” a reference to a punishment in the board game. While former President Donald Trump was absent on late-night television as president, Barack Obama was a regular presence on the shows during his time in office. This Wednesday, however, will mark Biden’s first in-studio late-night spot following pandemic-era Zoom interviews with Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers. Kimmel started his career as a raunchy host of Comedy Central’s “The Man Show” before becoming host of his own late-night show. Kimmel has not been shy about using his platform to address social issues with a personal bent. Kimmel passionately spoke about the health-care debate following the birth of his son, who was born with a serious heart issue. Kimmel also broke down in tears after the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, his hometown, which ultimately killed 60 people. (Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw; Editing by Leslie Adler) View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) – The Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol has been working for almost a year, interviewing witnesses and amassing documents ahead of public hearings set to start on Thursday. Here are some facts about the investigation. MULTIPLE DEATHS Thousands of supporters of Donald Trump attacked the Capitol, the home of Congress, in a bid to stop formal certification by U.S. lawmakers of the Republican then-president’s 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden, causing millions of dollars in damage. Four people died on the day of the attack, and one Capitol Police officer who fought against the rioters died the next day. Four officers have since taken their own lives and 140 others were injured. THE COMMITTEE Nine House members sit on the committee, which Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi created on July 1, 2021, after Republicans prevented creation of a bicameral commission. Its seven Democrats include Representative Bennie Thompson, the panel’s chairperson, as well as Representatives Zoe Lofgren, Elaine Luria, Adam Schiff, Pete Aguilar, Stephanie Murphy and Jamie Raskin. The panel’s two Republicans, Representatives Liz Cheney – the vice chairperson – and Adam Kinzinger, were censured by the Republican National Committee for their participation. The RNC had never before censured any sitting congressional Republican. THE INVESTIGATION The committee and its dozens of investigators have conducted more than 1,000 depositions and interviews. Most people who are interviewed have not been identified, but those known to have appeared include Trump’s daughter and close adviser Ivanka Trump, her husband, Jared Kushner, and attorney Rudy Giuliani. To compel testimony and obtain documents, the committee has announced it has issued 99 subpoenas and is known to have issued more that have not been made public. Some of the most notable known subpoenas have been sent to Mark Meadows, a former congressman who served as a Trump White House chief of staff; Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser; Roger Stone, a long-time Republican operative; Trump’s son Eric; major social media firms; and leaders of the far-right Proud Boys and Oath Keepers groups that have backed Trump. The committee has amassed a trove of more than 140,000 documents and has followed up on 472 tips from its tip line. CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS The House has voted, largely along party lines, to recommend contempt of Congress charges for four Trump associates for refusing to cooperate. Trump has urged former aides to disregard committee subpoenas. The House recommendation referred the four cases – Bannon, Meadows and former top Trump administration aides Peter Navarro and Daniel Scavino – to the Justice Department to decide on whether to bring criminal charges, which bear a penalty of up to a year’s imprisonment and a fine up to $100,000. The Justice Department has pursued charges against Bannon in a case set to go to trial in July, as well as against Navarro. It has not charged Meadows or Scavino. The committee also recommended charges for a fifth person, Jeffrey Clark, who was a senior Justice Department official during the Trump administration. The full House never voted on the charges after Clark agreed to a deposition. CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS Nearly 850 people have been arrested for crimes related to the attack on the Capitol, including more than 250 charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. Over those, about 90 have been charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer. More than 300 people have pleaded guilty to a variety of federal charges, 59 of those to felonies. Sixteen people who were members of or affiliated with the right-wing Proud Boys and Oath Keepers have been charged with seditious conspiracy, which carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years. Six individuals have been found guilty at trials. (Compiled by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Scott Malone, Nick Zieminski and Will Dunham) View the full article