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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

Published by Reuters UK By Horaci Garcia KYIV (Reuters) – As volunteer fighters Oleksandr Zhuhan and Antonina Romanova pack for a return to active duty, they contemplate the unicorn insignia that gives their uniform a rare distinction – a symbol of their status as an LGBTQ couple who are Ukrainian soldiers. Members of Ukraine’s LGBTQ community who sign up for the war have taken to sewing the image of the mythical beast into their standard-issue epaulettes just below the national flag. The practice harks back to the 2014 conflict when Russia invaded then annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine, “when lots of people… Read More View the full article

Published by DPA A London cyclists wearing a frame shaped like a car to demonstrate how much space car are taking up on the roads. Dott/PA Media/dpa Cyclists wearing frames shaped like cars are taking to the streets of London to demonstrate that vehicles are “hogging” roads. Micromobility firm Dott is carrying out the stunt in Hammersmith, west London, this week. It estimated that reducing the number of cars used in the capital by 20,000 – equivalent to less than 1% – would free up 55 miles (88km) of roads and create enough space for 80,000 bikes. Dott has been one of three operators involved in a trial of rental e-scooters in London since June 2021. It began offering rental e-bikes in the city in March. Dott co-founder and chief executive Henri Moissinac said: “Our latest project highlights the absurdity of single drivers hogging the capital’s roads, when other forms of transport are openly available and so much better for both the individual and the community. “It’s time we reimagined how we travel across our cities, which is why we’re here to unlock London with clean rides for everyone.” View the full article

Published by The Charlotte Observer CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Wake County teacher has resigned amid the controversy over the use of LGBTQ themed flash cards in her preschool classroom. The preschool teacher, who was not immediately identified by the Wake County school system, resigned from Ballentine Elementary School in Fuquay-Varina on Friday, according to Lisa Luten, a district spokeswoman. Some critics on social media had demanded that the teacher be fired, but a parent in that special-needs preschool class praised the teacher as being a caring educator. “She is an amazing teacher who has worked tirelessly in an unpredictable scho… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Simu Liu has been waxing his body for the new ‘Barbie’ movie. The 33-year-old actor appears alongside Margot Robbie in the much-anticipated new film, and Simu admits that getting his body waxed has been a “painful” experience. He shared: “Waxing has been an education to say the least. It was one of the most painful experiences of my life. I have such a newfound admiration for the incredibly brave women who go through this on a monthly basis.” The ‘Barbie’ movie has become a source of much speculation over recent months, and Simu likes that so little is still known about the project and how it’s been approached. He told The Independent: “Honestly, the discourse online is giving me life. With every casting announcement or bit of news, they’re like: ‘What is this?’ And that’s perfect – the less you know about it the better.” Meanwhile, Simu previously revealed he was happy to accept any roles at the start of his career. The ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ star initially pursued a career in accountancy, before he followed his real ambitions in the movie business. He said: “I felt like I was making up for lost time. My perception was that everybody was further ahead than me, so if I stood any chance, I had to catch up.” Simu also discovered that opportunities were limited for actors with an Asian background. He noted that Hollywood wasn’t “having those political conversations” at the time. He said: “In the beginning, if I was a stunt guy who got beaten up by one of the white male characters, I was over the moon. “Survival mode. Figure out a way to get on sets, figure out a way to work, that was it.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega So You Think You Can Dance made headlines after Matthew Morrison revealed he got booted as a judge for “violating production protocols.” Radar has obtained the contract that dancers are forced to sign which lays out the ground rules for the competition series as speculation continues to grow around Morrison’s shocking exit. “Having the opportunity to be a judge on ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ was an incredible honor for me,” Morrison said in a statement on Friday. “Therefore, it is my deepest regret to inform you that I will be leaving the show. After filming the audition rounds for the show and completing the selection of the 12 finalists, I did not follow competition production protocols, preventing me from being able to judge the competition fairly.” He added, “I cannot apologize enough to all involved and I will be watching alongside you all on what I know will be one of the best seasons yet.” Mega In the contract obtained by Radaronline.com, dancers are given clear instructions on what could get them axed from the hit show. We’re told SYTYCD judges are required to sign similar documents. Contestants must abide by all rules of conduct. “I will not harass, intimidate or threaten anyone with whom I am in contact in connection with my participation” on the show, the documents state. The contract outlines that it’s a federal offense “to rig or attempt to rig in whole or in part a quiz show, game show, or contest.” By signing the documents, dancers also agree they will not “give, shall agree to give, have given or have agreed to give anything of value to any member of the production staff, anyone associated in any manner with the television series.” Fox’s policy prohibits payments “or the giving of anything of value to arrange personal appearances on the Program.” Mega Dancers are also forced to acknowledge that it is a federal offense “to accept or agree to accept anything of value to promote any product, service, or venture on the air,” as well as receiving payments “or the giving of anything of value to arrange personal appearances on the Program.” They agree not to “engage in any activity, publicity, speech, social media commentary, blogging, and/or vlogging and/or any other commentary in any and all media and/or any behavior that may be deemed grossly offensive.” This includes “blatant expressions of bigotry, prejudice, homophobia, racism, sexism, harassment and/or any other activity Producer, in its sole discretion, finds to be vulgar, indecent, disrespectful, offensive, hate speech and/or otherwise objectionable.” Mega If any of the contestants violate the contract policies, the documents read the “Producer shall be entitled to take any action that Producer deems appropriate, including, without limitation and as applicable, removing me from consideration as a contestant on the Program.” Fox did not disclose what production policies Morrison violated that caused him to get fired. Radaronline.com was told that Morrison’s violation most likely did not include a dancing pro or contestant. An industry insider told us the pros have not been revealed and will find out if they made the show when America does. If Morrison’s violation involved a contestant, they would have also been fired, which we’ve learned hasn’t happened. Fox is currently scrambling for a replacement judge, who will join JoJo Siwa, 19, and Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss, 39, during the next round of the competition series when it airs on June 15. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Howie Mandel has learned to “agree to disagree” with the ‘America’s Got Talent’ judges. The 66-year-old comedian sits on the show’s judging panel alongside Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara and Simon Cowell, and although they don’t always agree with each other, Howie still loves filming the programme. He shared: “What’s great is, I think we disagree but we agree to disagree. We respect the disagreement. “We don’t have the same taste and that’s what we love about everybody there. That’s what I love about Heidi, Sofia, and Simon.” Howie has particularly enjoyed working with Simon once again, after the outspoken star broke his back when he fell off his electric bike in 2020. Speaking to ‘Entertainment Tonight’, Howie – who joined the show in 2010 – quipped: “Simon, I’m just glad to have him, [because] he keeps falling off his bike.” Meanwhile, Howie recently revealed he went “insane” when he had to quarantine after contracting COVID-19. The ‘America’s Got Talent’ judge – who has previously spoken openly about his struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety – admitted the “mental pain” of being isolated away from his loved ones was far worse than the physical symptoms of the virus. He shared: “I got locked away for 10 days. I’m vaxxed, and I’m boosted, so my symptoms weren’t terrible. But … the mental pain of me being locked in a room for 10 days, not going near anybody … I went insane. “I still feel like I’m recovering from that, the insanity. And I’m not joking. I got incredibly depressed, incredibly neurotic. “My only panacea to my physical health and my mental health is distracting myself. You can’t distract yourself for 10 days alone in a room.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online MEGA A Russian official on state TV made an ominous threat to the U.S. when he claimed that four nuclear weapons could take out the entirety of both coasts, according to reports. The East Coast — from Florida to Maine — has a population of about 188 million, more than half of the U.S. The West Coast has a population of about 54 million. Alexei Zhuravlev, a member of the Russian parliament, said there would be “nothing left” of the coasts if Russia uses its new nuclear weapon, according to The Daily Mail. “I will competently tell you, that to destroy the entire East Coast of the US, two Sarmat missiles are necessary and two missiles for the West Coast,” he said. “Four missiles, and there will be nothing left. They think the mushroom cloud will be taller than a high rise. That mushroom cloud will be visible from Mexico.” MEGA The comments are the latest in a line of nuclear talk by Russian TV and propagandists. While Moscow has downplayed the use of nuclear weapons in connection to the invasion of Ukraine, it’s a conversation that keeps coming up. Russia is one of the nuclear superpowers and the threat of the weapon has led some pundits to believe that is why western countries have been reluctant to get directly involved in protecting Ukraine. MEGA The Ukraine-Russia conflict is now in its third month, lasting longer than many experts predicted. Russian forces have made progress in Eastern Ukraine, taking control of land and cities. Zhuravlev also spoke about Ukraine and estimated that 2 million citizens will have to be de-Nazified,” according to the report. He then added that meant they would have to be “destroyed.” MEGA It’s not the first time Russian officials have talked about de-nazifying Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin made the comments in his justification for the invasion. But it has also led some to decry war crimes. Officials in Ukraine, the U.S. and the European Union have said they are gathering evidence of war crimes during the conflict for possible future prosecutions. View the full article