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Published by Reuters By Jonathan Allen (Reuters) – A study published on Friday estimates that nearly 1.64 million people over the age of 13 in the United States identify themselves as transgender, based on an analysis of newly expanded federal health surveys. The study estimates https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/Trans-Pop-Update-Jun-2022.pdf that about 0.5% of all U.S. adults, some 1.3 million people, and about 1.4%, or 300,000, of youth between 13- and 17-years-old identify as transgender, having a different gender identity than the sex they were assigned at birth. The analysis was done by researchers at the Williams Institute, a think tank at UCLA’s Law School focused on gender identity public policy, and concluded that the percentage and number of adults who identify as transgender had “remained steady” since the institute last made estimates in reports in 2016 and 2017. “This report shows trans people live everywhere and their needs and concerns need to be listened to and be addressed in the public policy landscape,” Jody L. Herman, one of the study’s authors, said in an interview. The researchers used data collected between 2017 and 2020 from two different kinds of surveys done by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Jae Sevelius, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved in the study, called it the best population estimate yet using “the best available data that we have currently to make these estimates.” “That being said, even the best available data is not great,” Sevelius said, adding that the findings of the new study, which was not peer-reviewed, aligns with earlier estimates. Sevelius and a colleague conducted a peer-reviewed meta-analysis https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303578 published in 2017 in the American Journal of Public Health that found nearly 1 million U.S. adults were transgender, based on more limited data than in the Williams Institute study. They called it a conservative estimate and concluded in their paper that future surveys would likely find higher numbers of transgender people. The Williams Institute researchers and Sevelius noted the CDC data has limitations. For example, in 2017 the CDC introduced an optional set of questions about gender identity in its Youth Risk Behavior Survey for high school students, but only 15 states have used those questions, the Williams Institute study said. Also, the language used in some survey questions is not ideal, Sevelius said: For example, some CDC questions ask transgender respondents if they consider themselves “male-to-female” or “female-to-male,” terminology some trans people reject. “It’s using a very crude tool to measure something that’s extremely nuanced, especially for youth,” Sevelius said. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen; editing by Nancy Lapid and Aurora Ellis) View the full article

Published by Reuters By David Shepardson and Mike Stone WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Biden administration will scrap a paint scheme for Air Force One proposed by former President Donald Trump, after the Air Force determined the design would create too much heat for the presidential aircraft, a U.S. official said on Friday. The current exterior color scheme on the presidential aircraft, known as Air Force One when the president is on board, is white with two shades of blue and dates back to President John F. Kennedy’s administration. Trump, who left office in January 2021, wanted to change it to red, white and blue. “The Trump paint scheme is not being considered because it could drive additional engineering, time and cost,” an administration official said on condition of anonymity. The Air Force did not immediately comment. A spokesman for Trump, Taylor Budowich, criticized the decision and said, “it’s no surprise (Biden) wants to remove the beautiful red, white, and blue design for Air Force One.” On Wednesday, an Air Force spokeswoman said darker colors, among other factors, on the underside of Air Force One “might contribute to temperatures exceeding the current qualification limits of a small number of components.” In 2018, Boeing Co received a $3.9 billion contract to build two 747-8 aircraft for use as Air Force One by the U.S. president, due to be delivered by December 2024. Boeing is heavily modifying a pair of 747s for the project. The Pentagon said this year that the planes are not likely to be delivered until 2026. A Boeing spokesperson said it was making progress, “while navigating through some challenges.” The Boeing 747-8s are designed to be an airborne White House able to fly in worst-case security scenarios, such as nuclear war, and are modified with military avionics, advanced communications and a self-defense system. Earlier this week, a government watchdog said the planes face further delay risks because of a tight labor market for mechanics and lower-than-expected security clearance rates. The need for Boeing to switch to an alternative supplier for some interior work was also cited by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) as a major schedule risk. In April, Boeing recorded a $660 million charge in its development of the plane. (Reporting by David Shepardson and Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Grant McCool) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The District of Columbia office that polices attorneys for ethical misconduct filed charges on Friday against President Donald Trump’s former attorney, Rudy Giuliani, over baseless claims he made in federal court alleging the 2020 presidential election was stolen. The D.C. Office of Disciplinary Counsel alleges that Giuliani, who is a member of the D.C. bar, made baseless claims in federal court filings about the results of the 2020 presidential election in Pennsylvania. A lawyer for Giuliani did not have an immediate comment. The charges come a day after the U.S. House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol had its first prime-time hearing in which it outlined evidence that Trump and his allies sought to overturn the 2020 election and incite throngs of his supporters to block Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s victory. Giuliani, a former U.S. Attorney in Manhattan and New York City mayor, has been among Trump’s most fervent supporters, and repeatedly claimed without evidence that the election had been stolen. The new ethics charges center on a series of legal challenges Giuliani made in Pennsylvania federal court in 2020. The charges were filed with the District of Columbia Court of Appeals Board on Professional Responsibility. The complaint says Giuliani sought an emergency order to prohibit the certification of the presidential election, an order to invalidate ballots cast by certain voters in seven counties, and other orders that would have permitted the state’s assembly to choose its electors and declare Trump the winner in Pennsylvania. The charges say his conduct violated two professional conduct rules in Pennsylvania that bar attorneys from bringing frivolous proceedings without a basis in law or fact and prohibit conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice. Charges can lead to the suspension of a license to practice law or disbarment. The charges mark the second time that a bar office has taken action against Giuliani. His New York law license was suspended in June 2021 after a state appeals court found that he made “demonstrably false and misleading” statements that widespread voter fraud undermined the election. Giuliani’s DC law license was temporarily suspended after the New York decision. Apart from having two of his law licenses suspended, Giuliani’s reputation has been stained by his dealings with Ukraine and he is being probed by Manhattan federal prosecutors over those business ties. He began representing Trump, a fellow Republican and New Yorker, in April 2018 in connection with then-Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation that documented Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Giuliani has not been charged with criminal wrongdoing. His lawyer has said the federal probe is politically motivated. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch in WashingtonAdditional reporting by Karen Freifeld in New YorkEditing by Noeleen Walder and Matthew Lewis) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Daniel Ramos and Brendan O’Boyle LA PAZ (Reuters) -A Bolivian court found former President Jeanine Anez guilty on Friday of orchestrating a coup that brought her to power during a 2019 political crisis. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison. An former military commander and ex-police general were also convicted. Anez, 54, was convicted of making “decisions contrary to the constitution” and of “dereliction of duty.” The prosecution said Anez, then a right-wing senator, violated norms that guarantee the constitutional and democratic order after Bolivia’s 2019 presidential elections. Anez’s defense said it would appeal to international bodies to seek justice, and several sectors of the opposition planned marches to protest the ruling. Bolivia has been split over whether a coup occurred when then-President Evo Morales resigned in 2019, with Anez ascending to the presidency amid a leadership vacuum left in his wake. Morales’ departure followed mass protests over a disputed election in which he claimed to win a controversial fourth consecutive term in office. Anez maintains she is innocent. The contentious case has further exposed the fault lines in a deeply divided country while also fueling concerns about the judicial process in Bolivia. “We are concerned about how this case has been pursued. And we call on superior courts to examine how the proceedings were conducted,” Cesar Munoz, senior researcher for the Americas at Human Rights Watch, said in an interview before the verdict. Anez was not allowed to attend the trial in person, instead following the hearing and participating from prison. She has been detained since her arrest in March 2021 on initial charges of terrorism, sedition and conspiracy. Members and supporters of Morales’ Movement to Socialism (MAS) party, which returned to power in 2020, say Anez played a key role in what it says was a coup against Morales, Bolivia’s first indigenous president, who oversaw a dramatic reduction in poverty as president from 2005 to 2019. As president, Anez was accused of political score-settling when her administration prosecuted former MAS officials. Anez’s supporters say her trial was illegitimate and political. In her trial, Anez said she was the product of circumstance and that her ascension to the top office helped calm a tense nation and lay the groundwork for elections in October 2020. “I didn’t lift a finger to become president, but I did what I had to do. I assumed the presidency out of obligation, according to what is established in the constitution,” Anez said in her final statement to the judge. (Reporting by Daniel Ramos in La Paz and Brendan O’Boyle in Mexico City; Writing by Brendan O’Boyle; Editing by William Mallard) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Britney Spears had a panic attack before her wedding. The 40-year-old star tied the knot with actor and fitness trainer Sam Asghari on Thursday (09.06.22) and Britney admitted that despite her excitement, she had an attack of nerves before the ceremony. She wrote on Instagram: “Wow !!! Holy holy c*** !!! WE DID IT !!! WE GOT MARRIED !!! Gggggeeeeezzzzz !!! It was the most spectacular day !!! I was so nervous all morning but then at 2:00 pm it really hit me … WE’RE GETTING MARRIED !!! I had a panic attack and then got it together … the crew who created our home into literally a dream castle were fantastic !!! The ceremony was a dream and the party was even better !!! (sic).” This comes after Britney’s ex-husband Jason Alexander was booked for trespassing, vandalism and two batteries after being arrested for attempting to crash the wedding. The 40 year old – who married the ‘Gimme More’ singer in Las Vegas in 2004 for just 55 hours before they had their union annulled – had livestreamed himself sprinting through woods in Thousand Oaks, California, as he approached his former partner’s home, and he managed to get inside the rose-covered wedding area, where Britney was about to marry Sam, before Jason was arrested by police. Meanwhile, Britney made no mention of Jason but praised a number of her fellow celebrities including Selena Gomez, Drew Barrymore, Madonna and Paris Hilton for attending. She wrote: “So many incredible people came to our wedding and I’m still in shock !!! @drewbarrymore my girl crush and @selenagomez who btw is way prettier in person if that’s possible both came !!! I was speechless … I kissed @madonna again and we danced into the night with @ParisHilton … Thank you @donatella_versace for designing my dress … I felt so beautiful … Thank you also to @StephanieGottlieb @CharlotteTilbury and @sofiatilbury for my jewelry and makeup !!! I think we all fell on the dance floor at least 2 times !!! I mean come on … we were all VOGUING !!! @SamAsghari I LOVE YOU !!! (sic).” Sam and Britney also both shared a video of their big day on Instagram with the caption: “Fairytales are real,”, while Sam added: “Out of a movie.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Filming Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer’s ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ reunion was “an emotional day on set”. The pair previously worked together on the 1986 original and bringing their characters – Tom’s Maverick and Val’s Iceman – back together for the sequel, was a huge moment for director Joseph Kosinski. Speaking on The Hollywood Reporter’s ‘Behind the Screen’ podcast, Kosinski said: “To see how much respect they had for each other as actors, and to see a friendship that has evolved over 36 years – it really mirrored what you see on screen in the scene. They are just two actors at the top of their game doing this really beautiful scene for the film that’s so important. It was a very emotional day on set.” Val has previously opened up about the damage to his voice after a tracheostomy in 2014 during his throat cancer battle and Kosinski revealed how they overcame those issues. He said: “Val and Tom performed the scene, and then we enhanced Val’s voice by blending it with another one, mostly for clarity, more than anything else.” And, after previously working with Cruise on 2013’s ‘Oblivion’, Kosinski jumped at the chance to collaborate with him again. He said: “He’s not just an actor in your film. Obviously he’s a producer on this, but it’s really a partnership. He’s involved with every aspect of the filmmaking and that collaboration is what he really feeds off of and enjoys. … He’s just got this energy that is infectious.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Laura Sanicola (Reuters) -The national average price for U.S. gasoline rose above $5 a gallon for the first time on Saturday, according to data from the AAA, extending a surge in fuel costs that are a central feature of rising inflation overall. The national average price for regular unleaded gas rose to $5.004 a gallon on June 11 from $4.986 a day earlier, AAA data showed. Gasoline prices have been a headache for President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats as they struggle to maintain their slim control of Congress with midterm elections coming up in November. Biden has pulled on numerous levers to try to lower prices, including a record release of barrels from U.S. strategic reserves, waivers on rules for producing summer gasoline, and leaning on major OPEC countries to boost output. Yet fuel prices have been surging around the world due to a combination of rebounding demand, sanctions on oil producer Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, and a squeeze on refining capacity. U.S. road travel, however, has remained relatively strong, just a couple of percentage points below pre-pandemic levels, even as prices have risen. Still, economists expect demand may start to decline if prices remain above $5 a barrel for a sustained period. “The $5 level is where we could see very heavy amounts of gasoline demand destruction,” said Reid L’Anson, senior economist at Kpler. Adjusting for inflation, the U.S. gasoline average is still approximately 8% below June 2008 highs around $5.41 a gallon, according to U.S. Energy Department figures. Consumer spending has so far remained resilient even with inflation running at its highest level in more than four decades, with household balance sheets shored up by pandemic relief programs and a tight job market that has fueled strong wage gains, especially for lower-income workers. Gasoline product supplied, a proxy for demand, was 9.2 million barrels per day last week, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, broadly in line with five-year seasonal averages. The high prices for drivers come as major oil-and-gas companies post bumper profits. Shell reported a record quarter in May and Chevron Corp and BP have posted their best numbers in a decade. Other majors, including Exxon Mobil and TotalEnergies, as well as U.S. independent shale operators, reported strong figures that have spurred share repurchases and dividend investments. Numerous companies have said they will avoid excessive investment to boost output due to investors’ desires to hold the line on spending, rather than respond to $100-plus barrel prices that have persisted for months. (Reporting by Laura Sanicola and Shivani Tanna; editing by David Clarke and Jason Neely) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Joseph Ax (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of demonstrators are expected to rally in Washington, D.C., and across the country on Saturday, calling on lawmakers to pass legislation aimed at curbing gun violence following last month’s massacre at a Texas elementary school. March for Our Lives (MFOL), the gun safety group founded by student survivors of the 2018 massacre at a Parkland, Florida, high school, said it has planned more than 450 rallies for Saturday, including events in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. The organization’s 2018 march on Washington, weeks after 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, brought hundreds of thousands of people to the nation’s capital to pressure Congress to take legislative action, though Republican opposition has prevented any new limits on guns from passing the U.S. Senate. This year’s event in Washington has a simple message to political leaders, according to organizers: Your inaction is killing Americans. “We will no longer allow you to sit back while people continue to die,” Trevon Bosley, an MFOL board member, said in an emailed statement. A gunman in Uvalde, Texas, killed 19 children and two teachers on May 24, 10 days after another gunman murdered 10 Black people in a Buffalo, New York, grocery store in a racist attack. The latest mass shootings have added new urgency to the country’s ongoing debate over gun violence, though the prospects for federal legislation remain uncertain. Among other policies, MFOL has called for an assault weapons ban, universal background checks for those trying to purchase guns and a national licensing system, which would register gun owners. In recent weeks, a bipartisan group of Senate negotiators have vowed to hammer out a deal, though they have yet to reach an agreement. Their effort is focused on relatively modest changes, such as incentivizing states to pass “red flag” laws that allow authorities to keep guns from individuals deemed a danger to others. The Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a sweeping set of gun safety measures, but the legislation has no chance of advancing in the Senate, where Republicans have opposed gun limits as infringing upon the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment right to bear arms. Speakers at the Washington rally include David Hogg and X Gonzalez, Parkland survivors and co-founders of MFOL; Becky Pringle and Randi Weingarten, the presidents of the two largest U.S. teachers unions; and Yolanda King, the granddaughter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Members of MFOL have spent the week meeting with lawmakers in Washington to discuss gun violence. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Aurora Ellis) View the full article

Published by Hong Kong Free Press Voguing, or ballroom culture, has taken root in Hong Kong, providing a safe space for the LGBT+ community to express their queerness. In May 2022, the Kiki Ball attracted queer performers and culture lovers to celebrate diversity without judgment. Voguing – which is characterised by highly stylised and flamboyant dance – originated in New York during drag competitions between the 1960s to 1980s. Two passionate performers document for HKFP how they prepared for the show and what the voguing scene means to them. Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Dan Whitcomb (Reuters) – A Texas judge on Friday blocked, at least for now, Governor Greg Abbott’s directive that child protective services investigate medical providers or parents over gender transition treatments for minors. Travis County District Judge Jan Soifer issued a temporary restraining order at the request of the gay rights organization PFLAG, which sued Abbott and the state over his February mandate to the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. “That families will be protected from invasive, unnecessary, and unnerving investigations by DFPS simply for helping their transgender children thrive and be themselves is a very good thing,” Brian Bond, PFLAG executive director, said in a statement. Abbott did not immediately issue a statement in response to an inquiry by Reuters. The Department of Family and Protective Services, which is named as a defendant along with Commissioner Jaime Masters, has said it cannot discuss specific investigations or comment on litigation. The governor’s order marked the latest salvo in an ongoing political battle over transgender issues, including medical treatments on children, participation in girls’ sports and access to women’s private spaces. Abbott called for investigations of health professionals who allow children to be administered hormones to halt puberty or change their bodies or to undergo sex reassignment surgeries. He told DFPS to investigate parents of any child who obtained such treatments. PFLAG argued in the lawsuit, which was supported by the ACLU and Lambda Legal, that transgender children need access to gender-transition hormones and procedures to protect their mental health until adulthood. Opponents of such treatments say children and teenagers are too young to make such life-altering decisions and the long-term effects of puberty-blockers and hormones are not yet fully understood. The Texas Supreme Court found in a previous ruling that the governor could not order the investigations but limited the protection to the specific plaintiffs. The wider case is still pending. (Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by David Gregorio) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English John Stamos has shared the heartbreaking final text message sent to him by Bob Saget. The actor was left devastated by the death of his former ‘Full House’ co-star back in January and he recently took part in a Netflix tribute to the TV star in which he revealed their final conversation was both emotional and light-hearted. During the recording of the show, John said: “I’m going to read my last text from Bob. It said, ‘I love you so much. I will say that God gave me the brother that I wanted’.” John told the audience he responded, saying: “Well, you have a lot of ‘God-given brothers,’ but I’m first, right?” and Bob replied: “(John) Mayer’s an amazing friend, but he’s more fair-weather. You are always there, so you’re number one.” Musician John Mayer was in the audience for the taping of ‘Dirty Daddy: The Bob Saget Tribute’ and was seen laughing at clapping after the text exchange was revealed. The special show debuts on Netflix on Friday (10.06.22). Bob, 65, was found dead in his hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, Florida on January 9 and his death sent shockwaves across Hollywood. John, 58, tweeted: “I am broken. I am gutted. I am in complete and utter shock. I will never ever have another friend like him. I love you so much Bobby.” The actor went on to address mourners at Bob’s funeral and his heartfelt speech was published by the Los Angeles Times. It read in part: “The worldwide ocean of love for him has been unbelievable. Though it’s been hard for me to look at the tributes, stories, magazine covers, millions of social media posts, I feel everyone out there is getting it right, saying the perfect thing, remembering Bob in these remarkable ways. “I just wish he knew how much the world loved him when he was here. I spent many a night trying to convince him of how loved he really was (or maybe it was the other way around – him trying to convince me how loved he was). But that was just Bob bluster. There’s no way he thought his death would have this kind of impact. This is the kind of coverage that speaks to someone who genuinely connected with people, and not just for a moment, but for generations.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Darren Criss has said he “thrives on chaos” as he juggles work with parenting duties after welcoming his first child earlier this year. The ‘Glee’ star became a first-time dad in April when he welcomed daughter Bluesy Belle with his wife Mia Swier and he’s working on a Broadway show as well as hosting the Tony Awards on Sunday (12.06.22). He told People.com he loves being busy: “It’s a blessing to get all these things happening kind of all at once – personal, home stuff happening among the same fun, prosperity and excitement that is existing in my professional life – there’s something that’s very invigorating about that. So I’m rockin’ and rollin’.” Darren added: “Chaos begets chaos,. And I, for better or worse, tend to thrive on a bit of chaos.” He’s currently starring in a production of ‘American Buffalo’ on Broadway and he’s been preparing to co-host the first hour of the Tony Awards alongside Julianne Hough – and they will perform a song he wrote for the occasion. Darren added of the feat: “We’re still figuring it out … (I) wrote this incredible song and we get to perform together.” The 35-year-old actor has been married to film producer and tribute band singer Mia,36, since 2019 and they welcomed their daughter back in March. Darren announced the news on Instagram, sharing a photo of the three of them and captioning it: ” M D made some sweet music. ⁣ ⁣Bluesy Belle Criss⁣⁣⁣ , 4/11/22⁣⁣ Out now.” He emblazoned the post with heart and music emojis. He announced Mia’s pregnancy back in October, where he joked that the “ultimate spring collab” was on its way. He wrote: “We’ve been making music for years.⁣…But this time we made a BEAT. The ultimate collab droppin Spring 2022!” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Former first lady Melania Trump is the real reason behind Ivanka and Donald’s epic daddy-daughter fallout, Radar has exclusively learned. While a hatred between the former president’s wife and his one-time special advisor in the White House had been widely speculated, the true extent of the family’s in-fighting was not exposed until last night. At the first primetime hearing of lawmakers who are investigating the January 6 riot at the Capitol, Ivanka said she “accepted” that former Attorney General Bill Barr had found no evidence of fraud that could overturn the 2020 election, despite her father repeatedly saying there was. It drew an almost immediate stinging rebuke from her dad. MEGA “Ivanka Trump was not involved in looking at, or studying, Election results,” he wrote on social media. “She had long since checked out and was, in my opinion, only trying to be respectful to Bill Barr and his position as Attorney General (he sucked!).” Ivanka Trump Unbothered & Smiling On Vacation With Family After Being Subpoenaed In Ongoing Civil Investigation Against Dad Donald Trump “Even before the hearing, Ivanka had been iced by Melania despite living almost around the corner from each other in Florida,” an insider dished. RadarOnline.com was the first to report how Ivanka Trump had been warned to disassociate from her dad and hasn’t been seen with him in more than 521 days. MEGA What’s more, Melania and Ivanka loathe one another, with Ivanka’s mother-in-law reportedly calling a “snake”. Melania’s former best pal, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, claimed their hatred can be traced back to the Trump administration’s early days. Melania Trump Slept Through 2020 Election Night, Claims Former Press Secretary In New Bombshell Book When the Trumps moved into the White House, “both (Melania and Ivanka) were respectful of one another’s turf”. They could barely stand the sight of each other, it was claimed. “As First Lady, Melania felt Ivanka was trying to take her place,” a snitch whispered during the administration. “For Ivanka, Melania was a hindrance to what she wanted to achieve.” Melania thought her stepdaughter would do “what it takes to get what she wants,” including undermining the first lady by “poaching” staff members and making her “irrelevant.” It angered Melania so much that she labeled Ivanka and her allies as “snakes,” according to Wolkoff. View the full article

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