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Published by Radar Online Jose Perez/Bauergriffin.com / MEGA; Steven Bergman/AFF-USA.COM / MEGA; RCF / MEGA Kathy Najimy took fans by surprise by showing support to Kim Cattrall after her Hocus Pocus 2 costar Sarah Jessica Parker spoke out about the Sex and the City drama in a rare interview. SJP opened up about her “painful” rift with Cattrall on the Awards Chatter podcast, revealing her former SATC costar’s remarks over the years have been tough to hear, adding, “There just isn’t anybody else who has talked about me in this way.” Jose Perez/Bauergriffin.com / MEGA Hours after the interview made headlines, Najimy entered the conversation by tweeting directly to Cattrall, despite reprising her iconic role inHocus Pocus alongside SJP. Najimy and SJP portray two of the three Sanderson sisters in the spooky films. “@KimCattrall Sending you alll the love and support in the WORLD today!! One of the best, most authentic humans in the ‘business’ and maybe the world! dinner soooon my love!” she wrote on Thursday, also writing in a separate tweet, “Sending love to my brilliant authentic talented beautiful hilarious [@KimCattrall] today … miss you.” Eagle-eyed fans were keen to notice that Najimy also doesn’t follow SJP on Instagram but does follow Cattrall. “Hocus Pocus 2 press tour ’bout to be real fun!!!!” one social media user quipped. ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA Najimy’s praise of Cattrall comes after SJP finally addressed her longtime feud with Cattrall as well as why her character Samantha Jones was not brought back, claiming it was more of a studio decision than Cattrall’s — contradicting her costar’s claims. SJP, known for her role as Carrie Bradshaw in the hit HBO series, said, “The studio, when we were going to do the third movie, there were things she requested that they were not able to do — they didn’t feel comfortable meeting where she wanted to meet.” In a May interview with Variety, Cattrall had said that she was never asked to return for the reboot after making her feelings clear on a possible third movie, stating she felt confident in her choice to say no after hearing where her plotline was going. SteveSands/NewYorkNewswire/MEGA “She did not ask her to be part of this because she made it clear that it wasn’t something she wanted to pursue and it no longer felt comfortable to us, so it did not occur to us,” SJP, in turn, said about why they didn’t reach out to Cattrall regarding the reboot. “It’s so painful for people to keep talking about this catfight,” Parker continued, adding that Cattrall was essential to the show’s success. “I’ve never uttered fighting words in my life about anybody that I’ve worked with ever.” View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Parents of victims killed in recent mass shootings in New York state and Texas, as well as a fourth grader who survived last week’s attack, will speak before a congressional panel next week as U.S. lawmakers consider new measures to curb gun violence. The mother of one of the 10 people killed at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, will join the parents of one of the 19 children gunned down at a Uvalde, Texas, elementary school at the House of Representatives Oversight and Reform Committee’s hearing on June 8, the panel said in a statement on Friday. Miah Cerrillo, a fourth-grader at the school, will also appear. The public hearing comes after the United States, which has a higher rate of gun deaths than any other wealthy nation, has seen a spate of especially horrific mass killings in recent weeks, including the largest mass school shooting in nearly 10 years. Two teachers were also killed May 24 at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde by an 18-year-old gunman who was fatally shot by law enforcement officers. Two weeks earlier, 10 Black people were killed in Buffalo by an 18-year-old avowed white supremacist who was subsequently arrested. More shootings have occurred since then, including at a medical building at a Tulsa, Oklahoma, hospital and at an Iowa church this week. Democratic President Joe Biden, in a prime-time address to the nation on Thursday, called for sweeping gun reforms and urged Congress to act. Next week, the Democratic-controlled House is expected to vote on a bill approved this week by the House Judiciary Committee that would raise the minimum age for purchasing semi-automatic weapons to 21 from 18. No Republicans on the panel voted for the measure, which would also outlaw high-capacity ammunition magazines for civilian use and crack down on gun trafficking and so-called straw weapons purchases. (Reporting by Susan Heavey and Richard Cowan; Editing by Katharine Jackson and Jonathan Oatis) View the full article

Published by AFP US President Donald Trump (L) and then trade adviser Peter Navarro in 2020; Navarro was indicted by the Justice Department for refusing to testify to the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021 assault on Congress by Trump backers Washington (AFP) – Former White House trade director and close Donald Trump ally Peter Navarro was indicted Friday for contempt of Congress after rejecting subpoenas by the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021 assault on Congress. Navarro, 72, was charged with refusing to appear for a deposition and for refusing to supply documents to the House Select Committee investigating the attack by hundreds of Trump supporters seeking to block congressional certification of Joe Biden as the 2020 presidential election winner. Navarro was taken into custody and was to appear in court Friday afternoon, according to the Washington federal district court. The committee, which is examining whether Trump, top aides and other senior Republicans instigated or directed the attack, believes Navarro could have information pertinent to the probe, the Justice Department said. The committee said it had information showing that Navarro worked with former Trump political advisor Steve Bannon “to delay Congress’s certification of, an ultimately change the outcome of, the November 2020 presidential election.” After collecting documents and interviewing hundreds of witnesses in private, the committee plans to hold public hearings on its findings beginning June 9. In a book Navarro published in November, he described creating a plan after the election, called the “Green Bay sweep” in a reference to American football, to reverse Biden’s victory by blocking confirmation in the House. He wrote that Trump was “on board with the strategy.” Navarro, an economist, was subpoenaed in early February but did not supply documents requested or appear for questioning scheduled for March 2. On Tuesday he sued the committee in Washington federal court alleging its investigation is illegal and it has no power to subpoena him. But on Thursday a judge found procedural problems with the suit and ordered Navarro to refile it. In convicted, Navarro faces 30 days to one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 on each contempt charge. He was the second Trump aide after Bannon to be charged with contempt for rejecting committee subpoenas. However, the Justice Department has not charged former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, even though he was found in contempt by the House of Representatives in December for refusing committee subpoenas. Meadows has claimed that as a former top advisor of the president he has immunity from being compelled to testify to the committee. But some believe Meadows, whose emails and text messages show he had numerous contacts and discussions with people linked to the January 6 violence, could be cooperating with the Justice Department’s own investigation. Another Trump aide, former social media manager Dan Scavino, was found in contempt by the House in April but has not been charged, either. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega While Queen Elizabeth and the rest of the royal family celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, news anchors on Russian state TV mocked Elizabeth and suggested she was the reason for the “collapse” of the British Empire. Rossiya-1, a Russian news channel directly controlled by Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin, aired a report this week claiming Britain’s “opulent” celebration and commemoration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is a ruse to mask the country’s alleged recent and sudden decline. Mega “The UK, which as a consequence of its sanctions against Russia is bracing for power cuts, has found the money for an opulent celebration of the Queen’s platinum jubilee,” the channel said in a recent evening report from straight out of London. The bizarre report also claimed that Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign saw the “final collapse” of the British Empire, citing examples like the recent independence of former-British colonies and the recent election of Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland as a “threat to the realm.” Mega “The imperial functions of the Anglo-Saxon world long ago passed to the United States, even though Boris Johnson is trying to revive British influence on the European continent by actively interfering in events in Ukraine,” the Russian news report continued. “[The aim is to] deflect attention from domestic problems like Downing Street parties during lockdown and a general decline in living standards.” As RadarOnline.com reported, this is just the latest report broadcasted by the Kremlin-controlled Russian state TV and comes as the country’s war against Ukraine hits its 100th day. In April, the same Russian state TV channel claimed that World War 3 had already begun, and Russia was under attack by NATO for invading Ukraine. Mega “What it’s escalated into can safely be called World War 3,” Olga Skabeyeva – who is widely considered to be one of Russia’s leading propagandist presenters – said during the propaganda-filled broadcast at the time. “That’s entirely for sure.” “Now we’re definitely fighting against NATO infrastructure, if not NATO itself. We need to recognize that,” she added. Despite Russia’s claims of WW3, and the alleged “collapse” of the British Empire under Queen Elizabeth, she and the royal family continue to celebrate her 70 years on the throne, servicing the people of the United Kingdom. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega NeNe Leakeslaughed off accusations she stole her boyfriend from his wife, with the former Real Housewives of Atlanta star saying that’s not in her DNA. As Radar reported, the 54-year-old was hit with a lawsuit by Malomine Tehmeh-Sioh, who claimed NeNe started a romance with Nyonisela Sioh when he was still married. NeNe isn’t allowing speculation to swirl — she’s taking action, as usual. She responded to the lawsuit with shade, taking to social media to deny the rumors. Posting a video of herself, NeNe addressed the lawsuit. MEGA; @NYONI_COUTURE/INSTAGRAM “I’m already out here a husband stealer. This is too much,” she said, referencing the accusations. “Ain’t nobody out here stealing husbands. I would never!” NeNe added. She didn’t stop there. “Nobody want to steal anyone else’s problem, honey!” NeNe said bursting out in laughter with her boyfriend seemingly reacting the same in the background. She later doubled down on her stance. @neneleakes/Instagram NeNe also took to her Instagram Stories to troll Nyonisela’s ex. “Yours, mine, ours,” she posted three clips showing her in the car with her man. The three words are lyrics from a Muni Long song. NeNe was slapped with the lawsuit in North Carolina last month. According to court documents, Malomine claimed she “enjoyed a genuine happy marital relationship” and had an “active sexual relationship” with Nyonisela until he met the RHOA alum. She also alleged her husband and NeNe “engaged in an ongoing romantic, uninhibited, and adulterous affair” without her knowledge or consent. Mega Malomine went on to claim she faced “embarrassment, humiliation, and disgrace” when NeNe shared “intimate pictures” with Nyonisela online. In the docs, she listed their date of separation as December 17, 2021, noting that NeNe first shared photos with Nyonisela two days before. “As a result of the adulterous relationship between [Leakes] and [Sioh], the love and affection which existed between [Tehmeh-Sioh] and [Sioh] was alienated, estranged, and destroyed,” she alleged. Malomine wants $100,000 in damages from NeNe for “alienation of affections” and “criminal conversation.” NeNe’s reaction makes it clear how she feels about the lawsuit. Of course, this isn’t the only legal woes NeNe is facing. As Radaronline.com reported, she’s suing Andy Cohen and Bravo, claiming she faced discrimination from the network and RHOA producers. View the full article

Published by AFP Elon Musk's bid to buy Twitter appears to be moving slowly forward despite his tweet that the deal is on hold. San Francisco (AFP) – Advocacy groups on Friday launched a campaign to stop Elon Musk from buying Twitter as the proposed purchase cleared review by US antitrust authorities. Twitter said that the deal for Musk to acquire the company was a step closer to being sealed with the passing of a deadline for it to be challenged under a US antitrust law. The Tesla chief’s $44 billion deal to take the one-to-many messaging platform private still faces review by other regulators and must be approved by shareholders. A “Stop The Deal” campaign launched by a coalition of nonprofit groups aims to stop the takeover. “Elon Musk is a wolf in expensive sheep’s clothing whose Twitter takeover is motivated by ego and grievance,” Accountable Tech executive director Nicole Gill said in a release. “If we don’t stop this deal, he’ll hand a megaphone to demagogues and extremists, who will cheer him as they incite more hate, harm, and harassment.” The campaign will involve pressing the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other agencies to closely scrutinize everything about the takeover deal. The coalition will also work to convince Twitter shareholders and advertisers to oppose Musk buying the San Francisco-based tech firm. The list of more than a dozen organizations involved in the campaign includes MoveOn, SumOfUs, Media Matters for America, and the Center for Countering Digital Hate. Musk became a major Twitter stockholder following his purchase of 73.5 million shares in early April, and less than two weeks later he launched a hostile takeover bid. The SEC has asked Musk to explain why he didn’t disclose within a required 10-day time period his increased stake in Twitter, especially if he planned to buy the company. “Your response should address, among other things, your recent public statements on the Twitter platform regarding Twitter, including statements questioning whether Twitter rigorously adheres to free speech principles,” regulators said in a letter. Musk also faces a lawsuit filed by shareholders accusing him of pushing down Twitter’s stock price in order to either give himself an escape hatch from his buyout bid or room to negotiate a discount. The suit alleges the billionaire Tesla boss tweeted and made statements intended to create doubt about the deal. The claim seeks class action status and calls on a federal court in San Francisco to back the validity of the deal and award shareholders any damages allowed by law. Musk is a frequent Twitter user, regularly firing off inflammatory and controversial statements about current events or other public figures with remarks that are whimsical or business-focused. He has sparred repeatedly with federal securities regulators, who cracked down on his social media use after a purported effort to take Tesla private in 2018 fell apart. View the full article

CJ Temple and Madeleine Kelson are not Cris Williamson. The new Olivia Records‘ first acts in their new assault on country music with talented artists. Stunning vocals, and Kelson just may be the Megan Stalter of Country Music. Enjoy, and mind the release dates… –Editor [This post contains video, click to play] Published by The Boot Sometimes, if you want to do it right, you have to do it yourself. It’s no secret that Nashville’s country music scene is stymied by sexism, but Erin Olivia Anderson of Olivia Management has an answer for that: get creative. Anderson launched the woman-led company in 2012, initially working with artists like Jill Andrews, Smooth Hound Smith, Amanda Shires, The Secret Sisters, Matthew Perryman Jones and Hush Kids. In March 2022, Anderson launched an offshoot record label: Olivia Records. LGBTQ+ music history fans may have an itch in the back of their brains: the Olivia Records of the ‘70s is fa… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Michael Holden and Kate Holton LONDON (Reuters) -Horse-loving Queen Elizabeth was thanked for being “in the saddle” for 70 years as head of state at a service on Friday to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee, an event she missed due to ongoing mobility issues. Other senior members of the royal family joined a congregation of politicians, charity figures and groups the queen has supported for the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral in London to pay tribute to the sovereign’s record-breaking reign. Four days of celebrations began on Thursday, when a beaming Elizabeth waved to crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after a military parade and Royal Air Force flypast, and later led the lighting of the Principal Platinum Jubilee Beacon at her Windsor Castle home. The 96-year-old, who has been forced to cancel a series of engagements recently due to “episodic mobility problem”, reluctantly pulled out of Friday’s service after experiencing “some discomfort” the previous day. Elizabeth, who is a devout Christian and also the titular head of the Church of England, watched the service on television at her Windsor Castle residence near London. Her son and heir Prince Charles, 73, represented her, while much attention was focused on her grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, who were making their first public appearance together in Britain since stepping down from royal duties two years ago. The couple moved to the United States to lead a more independent life, and have since delivered some stinging attacks on Buckingham Palace and the royal family. They were greeted by cheers and a few boos on their arrival. ENDURANCE Noting the queen’s well-known love of horse-racing, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell said in his sermon that her reign reflected the distance of the Grand National, the famous, gruelling steeplechase, rather than the Epsom Derby sprint. “But with endurance through times of change and challenge, joy and sorrow, you continue to offer yourself in the service of our country and the Commonwealth,” he said. “Your Majesty, we are sorry that you’re not here with us this morning, but we are so glad that you are still in the saddle. And we are glad that there is still more to come. So thank you for staying the course.” Also absent from Friday’s service was her second son, Prince Andrew, 62, who has tested positive for COVID-19. That potentially spares the royals some awkwardness, with Andrew’s reputation shattered after he settled a U.S. lawsuit in February in which he had been accused of sexually abusing a woman when she was underage, claims he denied. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who delivered a reading, was met by a mixture of cheers and boos from the crowd outside the cathedral, reflecting recent public anger over his conduct in office. After the service, a reception was held at the Guildhall hosted by the Lord Mayor of the City of London and attended by some of the royals and politicians. Thursday marked not only the start of the Jubilee, but also the 69th anniversary of the coronation of Elizabeth, who became queen on the death of her father George VI in February 1952 and is head of state of 14 other countries including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. She has now been on the throne for longer than any of her predecessors in 1,000 years, and is the third-longest reigning monarch ever of a sovereign state. Opinion polls show she remains hugely popular and respected among British people. Tributes have poured in from across the globe, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un adding his own congratulations to those from the likes of U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and Pope Francis. Roxie Kishore-Bigord, 51, who was outside St Paul’s to see the guests arriving, said it was disappointing the queen had been unable to attend. “We want her well, we want her to keep going,” she told Reuters. “We’re happy that she will probably be watching from home and hopefully she will see how much she’s loved and appreciated.” (Reporting by Michael Holden and Kate Holton in London, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien and Gareth Jones) View the full article

Published by Al-Araby Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday summoned the United States embassy’s acting chargé d’affaires over tweets the embassy published that “support homosexuality”, the ministry said in a statement. The US Embassy in Kuwait tweeted earlier on Thursday: “All human beings should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear no matter who they are or whom they love.” “@POTUS is a champion for the human rights of #LGBTQI persons.” Kuwait said it handed the chargé d’affaires a memorandum stating its rejection of what was published and stressing what it said was the need… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters UK (Reuters) – American former world number one Billie Jean King was awarded the Legion of Honour, France’s highest civilian award, on Friday. The multiple major winner and LGBTQ rights activist was presented the award at the Elysee Palace by French President Emmanuel Macron, 50 years after her 1972 singles triumph at Roland Garros. King, 78, was also honoured at the French Open on Thursday, a day before the award ceremony in Paris in recognition of her fight for women’s sport, gender equality and the rights of LGBTQ people in sport. “I am prouder of what I have done off-court than as an athlete,… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story By Sky Palma A Maryland school board candidate claims she checked out all of the books from an LGBT pride month display at a local library in order to make it a “safe place for children,” The Frederick News-Post reports. Heather Fletcher, who’s running for a seat on the Frederick County Board of Education, told the News-Post that she checked out the book to prevent other patrons from reading them. “This has nothing to do with the gay community,” Fletcher said. “It has to do with the preservation of innocence.” She said that although she hasn’t yet returned the books, she plans to do so, but sh… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By James Oliphant WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Fed-up Democrats in San Francisco and Los Angeles, liberal-leaning California cities reeling from COVID-era spikes in homicides and gun violence, may punish their own party at the polls next week over its criminal justice policies. San Francisco’s progressive district attorney, Chesa Boudin, is likely to be pushed out of office in a recall vote, while voters in Los Angeles will be choosing a new mayor – with an ex-Republican as a leading candidate. The results could send a blinking-red warning to Democrats ahead of November’s midterm elections. In congressional and local races across the United States, Republicans have seized upon calls by progressives to reduce police department budgets and other liberal criminal justice policies to paint almost all Democratic candidates as lenient on crime. Democrats have struggled to formulate a persuasive rebuttal, even as a new wave of moderates, such as New York Mayor Eric Adams, has urged them to take a more tough-on-crime approach. In April, the pollster Gallup found concern over crime was at its highest level since 2016, with 53% of Americans saying they worried “a great deal” about it. An ABC/Washington Post poll in May showed Americans trusted the Republican Party over Democrats to handle crime by 12 percentage points. But focus groups also show Americans increasingly worried about the proliferation of firearms. That is an issue that Democratic consultants said the party’s candidates could hone in on, shoring up their support with suburban and Black voters by explicitly tying lax gun laws to surges in crime. “It is absolutely something Democrats can and should be using to combat against the increasing narrative of their being soft on crime,” said Angela Kuefler, a strategist who advises Democratic candidates on gun issues. Kuefler noted there is widespread public support for enhanced background checks of gun purchasers and actions to decrease the flow of illegal guns into cities. A series of mass shootings – including last week’s at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, which left 19 children and two teachers dead – has reignited the U.S. debate over policing and guns. President Joe Biden has tried to balance a push for changes in policing from the more radical wing of his party with voters’ concerns about security. An executive order last week, for instance, established guidelines for the use of deadly force by federal law enforcement officers. Boudin, on the other hand, embraced a strong progressive agenda in San Francisco – and appears to be paying the price. COVID CHAOS Boudin was elected in San Francisco in 2019 after pledging a series of reforms, saying he would not try juveniles as adults, would not push for sentencing enhancements for certain crimes that can add years to prison sentences, and would not seek cash bail for any defendant. He largely followed through on his promises, which also included diverting low-level offenders away from incarceration to reduce the city’s jail population. But after the pandemic began, the city saw increases in homicides, gun violence and property crime. Hate crimes against Asian Americans rose. Videos of large-scale “smash and grab” retail theft went viral. Residents, including some deep-pocketed Republicans, blamed Boudin’s policies and launched a recall petition. “It is a radical ideology that has upset everyone: left, right, gay, straight, young, old, male or female,” said Richie Greenberg, a local independent activist and spokesperson for the recall effort. Boudin’s supporters say robberies and other crimes shifted from tourist areas to residential ones as a result of the pandemic, creating the perception of a crime surge. They point to data that shows a more nuanced reality, with assaults and rapes decreasing during the period, even as homicides and shootings increased. Still, said Lara Bazelon, a law professor at the University of San Francisco and a Boudin defender, “People are feeling less safe regardless of what the stats say.” Opinion polls show Boudin likely to be recalled on Tuesday. A replacement would be chosen by the city’s mayor, London Breed, a Democrat who has criticized Boudin but has not taken a stance on the recall. In Los Angeles, Rick Caruso, a billionaire developer and former Republican, is battling U.S. Representative Karen Bass and a host of other liberal candidates in the mayoral election. Caruso, who has spent more than $30 million of his own money in the campaign, made crime the centerpiece of his candidacy in a city that saw homicides reach a 15-year high in 2021. That forced Bass, a longtime progressive champion in Congress, to move to the center and pledge to put more police on the streets. Caruso and Bass could be headed to a runoff, polls show. Republicans think crime could be a winning political issue in a number of congressional races, including in the suburbs of Minneapolis, New York City and Portland. The party has already gone after Democratic Senate candidates in battleground states on crime, with Cheri Beasley in North Carolina an early target. Republican-funded TV ads have assailed Beasley’s record, saying in one that she “failed to protect” child crime victims. Beasley, the former chief justice of the state Supreme Court, on Twitter called the ad “misleading” and warned more were to come. She answered with an ad of her own, touting her efforts as chief justice to keep human traffickers off the streets. “I’ll never stop fighting to make North Carolina safe,” she says. (Reporting by James Oliphant; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Rosalba O’Brien) View the full article

Rainbow Xbox Pride ControllerPlay With Pride LGBTQ Xbox players will have a new way to celebrate Pride this year thanks to a brand new Pride-inspired rainbow Xbox controller from Xbox Design Labs. The video game giant announced the new offering in a blog post Wednesday as part of the company’s wider commitments toward supporting queer populations during June. The controller itself features 34 different Pride flags representing most of the LGBTQ spectrum woven together into a tapestry celebrating a wide span of the community. Many other parts of the controller are customizable as well, including distinct colors and finishes and personal engravings. “This isn’t just a controller. It’s a symbol of the LGBTQIA+ communities that inspired it, and a call to continue efforts toward inclusion and representation across all gaming spaces,” said Kate Rayner, vice president and technical director at Xbox development studio The Coalition. “We continue to work on creating safe spaces in gaming where all LGBTQIA+ people are welcome and belong, where everyone is invited to play as their authentic self and enjoy a community that welcomes self-expression.” The company introduced a version of the Pride rainbow Xbox controller last June, but didn’t make it available to the general public, choosing instead to distribute a limited number to LGBTQ online creators, media and developers. That has changed this year as the controller will be available for anyone purchase starting June 9 through Xbox Deisgn Lab and will be available year-round rather than limiting sales to June alone. Donations, Fundraisers And “Tell Me Why” Is Free Again The new Pride controller is only one facet of how Xbox says it is honoring the LGBTQ community during Pride month. The company also announced a $170,000 donation to a collection of LGBTQ advocacy and support organizations, including U.K.-based trans advocacy group Mermaids, OutRight Action International and the National Center for Transgender Equality. Players with Microsoft Rewards accounts can also earn points by playing games which can be donated to these organizations as well. Xbox is again making the game “Tell Me Why,” recognized as a groundbreaking title for trans representation in video games, free to download throughout the month of June. The move is accompanied by the donation of an additional $25,000 to the Transgender Law Center and Trans Lifeline in what Xbox said is “to acknowledge that this year has seen a sharp rise in anti-trans sentiment in the United States.” Additionally, the company will host a charity live stream of the game on June 23 to benefit Trans Lifeline. Other titles are getting in on the rainbow Xbox action as well. Both “Halo Infinite” and “Forza Horizon 5” are adding Pride-themed in-game content, including giving Master Chief a fun rainbow visor player icon. Rainbow Xbox : Previously on Towleroad 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 ‘Frat Boy’ Culture at Activision Blizzard: Groping, Junk-Grab ‘Gay Chicken’ Game, ‘The Cosby Suite,’ Cited in California Suit. Employees Walk Out Brian Bell July 28, 2021 Read More Image via Microsoft/Xbox View the full article

Published by The Seattle Times As Amazon prepared Wednesday to kick off Pride Month at its Seattle headquarters, a group of people holding transgender pride flags dropped to the ground. The individuals — most of whom identified themselves as Amazon employees — were staging a “die-in” to protest Amazon’s decision to offer books on its platform that activists say are transphobic, like “Desist, Detrans & Detox: Getting Your Child Out of the Gender Cult” and “Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters.” The books, activists say, are prominently displayed on Amazon’s website, particularly when users search… Read More View the full article

Published by Knewz By David Wetzel New York (Knewz) — During Donald Trump’s presidency, Kellyanne Conway did plenty of talking. How many people believed her pro-Trump spin is up for political debate. What’s not up for debate is the fact that apparently not many people are interested in what she has to say these days. Kellyanne Conway’s book, “Here’s the Deal,” sold just 25,000 copies in its first week on the market, according to showbiz411.com. The site also notes that book has already dropped to No. 126 on Amazon’s best-seller list. Still, it was the fourth in most sales on Amazon in the past week and received … Read More View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel ORLANDO, Fla. — After a three-year coronavirus-induced hiatus, Gay Days returns to Orlando today as Pride Month begins nationwide and debate continues over the Florida’s so-called “don’t say gay” law. The annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, which traditionally includes a visit to Walt Disney World,takes on a new meaning this year after Disney attracted widespread criticism for its response to legislation that banned discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation in schools. As Gay Days brings over 150,000 people to Orlando and its theme parks, some LGBTQ+ people drawn here remai… Read More View the full article

Published by DPA A couple embrace while attending the raising of the Pride flag at the city hall in St. Petersburg, Florida, to mark the start of Pride Month. In the US, Pride Month is celebrated annually in June, to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, when police stormed the Stonewall Inn bar on Christopher Street and triggered a riot by gays, lesbians and transsexuals that lasted several days. Martha Asencio-Rhine/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press/dpa Guides to Pride can be a complicated endeavour these days, as the annual celebration of LGBTQ+ identity now regularly involves the very forces — corporations, cops — it once stood against. And don’t even get us started on our mixed feelings about celebrating queer stories from Hollywood networks and studios that too often waver when their courtship of LGBTQ+ audiences becomes politically inconvenient. And yet. At a moment when LGBTQ+ people and their civil rights are under fire from conservative groups and right-wing politicians, it’s important to be reminded of our vibrant presence in every nook and cranny of society, real and fictional, past and present. So we’ve pulled together a list of eight new TV series — or returning TV series with new seasons — to catch up with this Pride Month. After all, the old saying never really gets old: We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it. “Book of Queer” The most appropriate way to kick off Pride Month is with a celebration of LGBTQ+ history, honouring the heroes who likely never imagined there would be a month-long explosion of rainbow merchandise and corporate statements. With the help of queer historians and experts, “The Book of Queer” aims to shed light on historical figures whose contributions have been overlooked, or their queer identities erased, by mainstream society. Narrated by queer icons and featuring an entirely LGBTQ+ ensemble cast, the five-episode series will include stories about Abraham Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, Bayard Rustin, Josephine Baker, Harvey Milk, Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson and more. As conservative lawmakers across the US attempt to ban educators from even acknowledging the existence of queer and trans people in classrooms, this series, infusing facts with comedy and musical fun, is a vital reminder that LGBTQ+ people have existed throughout history. How to watch: Premiered on Discovery+ “Dead End: Paranormal Park” Fans of queer cartoons should make sure to clear their schedules for the arrival of “Dead End: Paranormal Park.” The animated horror-comedy, based on creator Hamish Steele’s graphic novel series “DeadEndia,” follows trans teen Barney (voiced by Zach Barack) who gets a job at the local haunted theme park where an encounter with a demon gives his dog Pugsley (Alex Brightman) the ability to talk. The coming-of-age story will see Barney, along with his pal Norma (Kody Kavitha), encounter zombies, ghosts and other supernatural beings while also navigating family, identity and even crushes. The current political climate is especially hostile toward queer and trans youth, so an LGBTQ+-inclusive kids and family series in which a young trans protagonist (voiced by a trans actor) finds a space and friends that let him embrace his true self and laugh along the way cannot premiere soon enough. How to watch: Premieres June 16 on Netflix in the US “First Kill” If you’re dying for a dose of delicious supernatural queer teen angst, look no further than “First Kill.” Based on a short story by V.E. Schwab, the series puts a young lesbian twist on the classic forbidden romance between a vampire and a slayer. Teenage vampire Juliette Fairmont (Sarah Catherine Hook) has hit vamp adolescence and is finally expected to kill and feed on actual humans. Although she has been pushing back against this rite of passage for as long as possible, Jules can’t help but be drawn to her crush, Calliope Burns (Imani Lewis). Cal, a recent transfer student, has a secret of her own: She’s the youngest daughter of a family of monster hunters. Cal is eager to prove that she can take down a demon by herself, but she quickly discovers that killing Juliette is as impossible as denying her feelings for her. The series should appeal to anyone who thought “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” or “Twilight” would have been better if it were gay. How to watch: Premieres June 10 on Netflix “GentlemanJack” Based on the experiences of a landowning Yorkshire woman of the 19th century, “Gentleman Jack” stars Suranne Jones as Anne Lister, often called “the first modern lesbian” for the intimate relationships with women she recorded in her queer-coded diaries. Along with my beloved “Dickinson” (Apple TV+), the series — which just concluded its second season — offers a richly detailed portrait of the ways that queer people managed to live, and love, long before there were modern terms for our sexuality or gender identity. Plus, Anne’s sheer, decisive capable-ness as a business-minded lesbian in a patriarchal society might be the “Move. I’m gay” meme of Georgian England. How to watch: Seasons 1-2 streaming on HBO Max “Motherland: Fort Salem” The ambitious “Motherland: Fort Salem” is set in an alternate US where witches ended the persecution of the Salem witch trials by agreeing to be conscripted into the military. The series follows Raelle Collar (Taylor Hickson), Tally Craven (Jessica Sutton) and Abigail Bellweather (Ashley Nicole Williams), a trio of witches who initially clash but grow close as they train as a combat unit. The “just enough” world building and unique rules of magic open the doors to questions the show doesn’t always answer, but the appeal of the series really stems from the characters and their relationships. The central romance of the show is between Raelle and a fellow student named Scylla (Amalia Holm) whose secrets bring drama to their relationship. “Motherland: Fort Salem” is a good guilty pleasure. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. How to watch: Season 3 premieres June 21 on Freeform; Seasons 1-2 on Hulu “Queer as Folk” The men, the sex and the city are hotter than Hades in Peacock’s multicultural, New Orleans-set remake of the pioneering soap, this time without the same over-reliance on white, cis men to propel the narrative. (Whether you see its depiction of a mass murder reminiscent of the Pulse nightclub shooting as a strained device or an apt reflection of current affairs and LGBTQ history is another matter.) Still, carving out new terrain by moving Babylon to Frenchmen Street, and queer Southerners — especially queer people of color — to the foreground, this “Queer as Folk” conjures its share of carnal pleasures. As Brodie’s (Devin Way) move home upends the lives of his ex (Johnny Sibilly) and a talented young drag artist (Fin Argus), you can have your bourbon ginger and drink it too. As for the rest, painfully earnest and more than a little pained do not read, in this particular political moment, as terribly far off the mark. How to watch: Premieres June 9 on Peacock “This Is Going to Hurt” In the annals of the medium’s brilliant, dissolute medical professionals (Gregory House, Jackie Peyton), few have had quite so harrowing a job as Adam (Ben Whishaw), the blood-splotched National Health Service OB-GYN of “This Is Going to Hurt.” The audacious black comedy, based on the memoir by Adam Kay, finds its workaholic protagonist at the center of a bureaucratic, medical and personal maelstrom, each indignity matched by a wry comment to the viewer (or to his boyfriend at home), and, ultimately, by Adam’s own desperation. Anchored by what may be Whishaw’s finest screen performance, equal parts bruising and bruised, the series turns a very recognizable queer life into the the kind of television straight people typically get to carry: Adam is the gay antihero we deserve. How to watch: Premiered Thursday on AMC+ “Umbrella Academy” “Brothers & Sisters” with an adoptive set of mutant siblings, or perhaps a crime-of-the-century adventure from the perspective of time-traveling superheroes, “Umbrella Academy,” at its best, is an indescribable alchemy of family, history and damaged adult children: In other words, a perfect metaphor for growing up queer in America. (I kid.) (Sort of.) Better yet, the long-awaited third season features Elliot Page’s character coming out as transgender. How to watch: Season 3 premieres June 22 on Netflix; Seasons 1-2 also on Netflix View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Barry Manilow’s ex-wife Susan Deixler is “glad that he’s found love” with his husband Garry Kief. The ‘Copacabana’ crooner and Susan were high school sweethearts and they married in 1964. However, the union quickly unravelled and they split just a year after they tied the knot, with Susan having the marriage annulled in 1966. They have remained friends over the years, and Barry went on to wed for a second time in 2014 – exchanging vows with his longtime partner Garry. Susan has now told America’s Closer magazine she is thrilled her ex found the love of his life, saying: “What happened between us, our relationship is ancient history. “I wish him well. I’m happy for him. I’m glad he’s found love and happiness.” Barry struck up a romance with Garry in 1978 but they kept their relationship a secret for years and quietly tied the knot in 2014 in a private ceremony at their home in Palm Springs after same-sex unions were legalised in California. However, they waited another three years before going public with their love. After coming out publicly in 2017, Barry admitted he kept his personal life private for so many years because he was worried about disappointing his fans. The ‘Mandy’ hitmaker explained: “I’m so private. I always have been. I thought I would be disappointing them if they knew I was gay. So I never did anything.” On the positive reaction the news, he added: “When they found out that Garry and I were together, they were so happy. “The reaction was so beautiful – strangers commenting, ‘Great for you!’ I’m just so grateful for it.” View the full article

Published by The Kansas City Star The arch conservative Liberty Alliance has unveiled its new “Woke Heat Map” of Missouri, dotted with “hot spots” where it says the “the Woke agenda … is permeating all across” the state. Click on one, and you’ll see the spots tie to instances where someone has raised a stink about one of the right-wing culture war outrages of the day: diversity training, a lesson about George Floyd, “gingerbread person” cookies. What ties all these hot spots together? Each one targets a school. And what reason could there be to drop pins on a map other than to mark the sites for protest — or worse? If there’s … Read More View the full article

Published by Miami Herald Kerlie Leonce wasn’t always proud to be Haitian. A first-generation American, Leonce doesn’t speak Creole and, a times, felt ostracized because of it, as if she always had to prove herself to other Haitians. At one point, Leonce even began introducing herself as “Kelly” because she was ashamed of her birth name. In college, however, something changed: between Florida International University’s robust Caribbean community, her own research and just genuine maturation, Leonce eventually began to embrace her heritage. “Not anybody else can say that they have the history that my blood has,” Leonce … Read More View the full article

Published by SI Swim By Evan Nachimson The SI Swimsuit rookie kicked off the month-long celebration of the LGBTQ community by posting a photo of herself wearing a “Love is Love” T-shirt. “HAPPY PRIDE MONTH. June is Pride Month. SI Swimsuit rookie and social media editor-at-large Olivia Ponton kicked off the month-long celebration of the LGBTQ community by posting a photo of herself wearing a “Love is Love” T-shirt. “HAPPY PRIDE MONTH. Pansexual and proud.” Ponton writes. Pansexuality means a person can feel a sexual, romantic or emotional attraction towards people regardless of their sex or gender identity. View t… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Maria Caspani (Reuters) – North Carolina lawmakers advanced legislation on Wednesday that would prohibit classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for some public school students, a move decried by opponents as harmful to LGBTQ youth. The “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” a broad piece of legislation that opponents say mirrors Florida’s so-called “Don’t say gay bill,” cleared the state’s Republican-led Senate and will head to the House of Representatives, which also has a Republican majority. It could reach the desk of Governor Roy Cooper as soon as this week. Cooper, a Democrat, has spoken against the bill and is all but certain to veto it. Advocates and civil rights groups have tracked hundreds of bills this year across state legislatures directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, including many that target transgender youth specifically. Florida’s “don’t say gay” bill was signed into law in March. In April, the governor of Alabama signed a bill prohibiting classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grades, and similar measures are being considered in Louisiana and Ohio. The North Carolina measure would prohibit mention of sexual orientation or gender identity in curricula for students from kindergarten through third grade. Schools would also have to notify parents if a student requests to be addressed by a different name or pronoun. Supporters of the Republican-sponsored measure say it would allow greater involvement of parents in their children’s education and well-being. Those opposing the legislation warned it could result in youth being outed to their families. If enacted, critics said, it will put an unnecessary burden on teachers and create a more hostile school environment for LGBTQ children who already face marginalization and are at greater risk of suicide. “We’re disappointed but not surprised. And we will continue to fight for the rights of LGBTQ youth,” the ACLU North Carolina chapter said on Twitter. Shortly after senators cast their votes, opponents of the measure in the gallery erupted in chants of “We’re here, we’re queer, we’re not going anywhere.” (Reporting by Maria Caspani, Editing by Aurora Ellis) View the full article

Published by Reuters UK By Natalie Grover LONDON (Reuters) -Monkeypox appears to be spreading from person to person in England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Wednesday. The usually mild viral disease, which is endemic in west and central Africa, is understood to spread through close contact. Until early May, cases rarely cropped up outside Africa and were typically linked to travel to there. “The current outbreak is the first time that the virus has been passed from person to person in England where travel links to an endemic country have not been identified,” the agency said. According to the UKHSA, … Read More View the full article

Published by XXL Mag Lil Nas X has called out BET for excluding him from their list of 2022 awards nominees. On Wednesday (June 1) Lil Nas X hit up Twitter to let his 7.7 million followers know he definitely feels he’s been snubbed for the second straight year. In the since-deleted tweets, the Montero artist sarcastically acknowledged being left off the list of BET Awards nominees, throwing shots at the media brand’s longstanding mantra of Black excellence accompanied by a heart and folded hands emoji. “Thank you, BET Awards,” Lil Nas X wrote. “An outstanding zero nominations again. Black Excellence.” Among the 42… Read More View the full article

Published by Orlando Sentinel ORLANDO, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis hasn’t had any problem pushing his firebrand conservative agenda through the Florida Legislature, scoring national headlines that have propelled him to the top of potential GOP contenders for president in 2024. But some of hisbiggest priorities — combating what he calls Big Tech censorship, creating a new “anti-riot” law and banning so-called sanctuary cities — have hit a wall in the courts with key provisions being blocked. More courtroom battles loom. DeSantis, a Harvard law graduate, is defending legal challenges to his congressional redistricting map, his … Read More View the full article