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Published by Orlando Sentinel The Seminole County School Board scrapped a plan Tuesday to put stickers over yearbook photos of students protesting against Florida’s so-called “don’t say gay” bill, responding to a public backlash against the move. The school board voted 5-0 not to obscure the photos and captions of a walkout protest featured in Lyman High School’s yearbook. Instead, a sticker will be placed on the page that explains the protest was student-led and not sponsored by the school. Amy Pennock, the school board chair, and other board members said they would purchase the new stickers that wouldn’t cover the yearbo… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jennifer Aniston will appear on the last ever episode of ‘the Ellen DeGeneres Show’. The former ‘Friends’ star coming on the finale on 26 May will bring her time on the show full circle as she was interviewed on the debut episode of the week day talk show hosted by Ellen DeGeneres in 2003, nearly 20 years ago. The 53-year–old actress will be joined by the pop singer Pink, who penned the series’ Emmy-winning theme song, one of 61 won throughout its 19 seasons. In the run up to their appearances, a star-studded list of people is expected to grace the legendary daytime sofa that includes Zac Efron, Kate McKinnon, Justin Timberlake, Keith Urban, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Luke Bryan, Kerry Washington, Brad Paisley, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Oprah Winfrey, Mila Kunis, and Bruno Mars. The cute cousins Sophia Grace and Rosie – who gained traction after their cover of Super Bass’ by Nicki Minaj – went viral – will also appear on the show after Ellen featured them on the show in 2011. News of the show’s end was shared by Ellen in May 2021, calling the show “the greatest privilege of my life”. The 64-year-old comedian – who is gay – said: “When we started this show in 2003, the iPhone didn’t exist. Social Media didn’t exist. Gay marriage wasn’t legal. We watched the world change, sometimes for the better, sometimes not.” “But whatever was happening, my goal was always for the show to be a place where we could all come together and laugh for an hour,” she added. “Being invited into your lives has been the greatest privilege of my life and has brought me incredible joy. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” Last month, Ellen reflected on her 90s eponymous sit-com’s coming-out episode, which led her to being blacklisted in Hollywood for a couple of years. In the show’s opening monologue, she said: “When I came out, people warned me that it was going to ruin my career, and they were right for a while. Actually, for exactly three years, I lost my career. But look at me now.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Cait Fairbanks is “honoured” to be involved with ‘The Young and The Restless’ first same-sex wedding. The 28-year-old actress – who brings to life Tessa Porter on the CBS soap opera that has since ran since 1973 – says she cherishes “the importance” of the plot point that sees her character tie the knot to her girlfriend of five years Mariah Copeland because of its historical significance and how it shows an unrepresented community. Cait told PEOPLE magazine: “I feel especially honored to be a part of this moment because I understand the importance of it.It’s like the best coffee you could ever have going into a scene because you know what this isn’t just a couple talking, it’s also representing on screen so many people who haven’t really had that opportunity to be themselves, and every time I come to work I am reminded of that.” She added: “This is a really proud moment for the show, and I hope there will be some really juicy storylines to keep the connection going strong on screen.” Camryn Grimes – who plays Mariah – gushed about being involved in the story was “such a joy” due to being a fan-favourite couple. The 32-year-old actress said: “Our relationship has been incredibly supported by the fans so far, and that’s what makes this such a joy.” She added: “We feel like we get to give this gift back to them, and they get to watch our characters just be happy and in love, and it’s a huge culmination of their relationship’s journey.” Camryn – who came out as bisexual in 2019 – says her experiences have made her “understand the weight” of moments such as these. She said: “I’ve been so moved over the years about how many different stories I’ve heard — that a fan had a family member watch ‘Teriah’ and now they are able to explain their own relationship to them better, or our love helped them come out. It has been really beautiful and humbling because you really understand the weight of what you do.” View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Days before James Ijames’ “Fat Ham” makes its off-Broadway debut at the Public Theater, the play is the recipient of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The award honoring an exceptional American play staged in the last year was announced Monday by the Columbia University-based organization that has celebrated excellence in journalism and the arts since 1917. “Fat Ham,” which had its world premiere as a streaming production via Philadelphia’s Wilma Theater, is a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” with a queer Black college student named Juicy as its protagonist. The two othe… Read More View the full article

Published by Al-Araby The UK Home Office acknowledged that asylum seekers who identify as LGBTQ+ are more likely to face discrimination in Rwanda, but has not ruled out the deportation of vulnerable people to East Africa. In a 101-page report published last week, the British government set out a “Review of Asylum Processing” as part of its plans, formally announced in April, to sendindividuals trying to seek UK refuge to Rwanda. The paper documented incidents of LGBTQ+ individuals facing discrimination in employment, health and the justice sector in the East African country. “In relation to Rwanda…there are conce… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday said eliminating women’s access to abortion would have “very damaging effects” on the U.S. economy, keeping some women from completing their educations and reducing their lifetime earnings potential and participation in the labor force. Yellen’s comments at a Senate Banking Committee hearing came just over a week after the leak of a draft Supreme Court decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that established a constitutional right to abortion. The pending decision has raised fears that many more states would enact far-reaching abortion restrictions. The issue dominated a hearing about Treasury’s Financial Stability Oversight Council annual report. Yellen, the first female Treasury secretary, said in response to a senator’s question that research has shown that Roe v. Wade had a favorable impact on the well-being of children and that denying women access to abortions increases their odds of living in poverty or on public assistance. “I believe that eliminating the rights of women to make decisions about when and whether to have children would have very damaging effects on the economy and would set women back decades,” Yellen said. Yellen’s comments drew a rebuke from Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who said her framing of the economic consequences of the abortion debate were “harsh” and inappropriate for such a painful social issue. “I think people can disagree on the issue of being pro-life or pro abortion. But in the end, I think framing it in the context of labor force participation, it just feels callous to me,” said Scott, adding that he was raised by a Black single mother in poverty. Yellen responded by saying that reproductive rights allow women to plan “fulfilling and satisfying” lives, which includes having the financial resources to raise a child. “In many cases, abortions are of teenage women, particularly low-income and often Black, who aren’t in a position to be able to care for children, have unexpected pregnancies, and it deprives them of the ability often to continue their education to later participate in the workforce,” Yellen said. “So there is a spillover into labor force participation, but it means the children will grow up in poverty and do worse themselves,” Yellen said. “This is not harsh. This is the truth,” she added. Fellow Democrats came to Yellen’s defense, including Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, who admonished Scott not to “impose your experience and your circumstances on others until you walk in their shoes.” Senator Tina Smith, a Minnesota Democrat and another member of the banking panel, told CNN that Yellen was expressing a fundamental truth about women’s autonomy. “She was expressing what I believe almost every woman knows: If you don’t have control over your reproductive life, you don’t have control over any aspect of your life, including your economic opportunity,” Smith said. (Reporting by David Lawder, additional reporting by Susan Heavey;Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Bill Berkrot) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Halsey has revealed they have been newly diagnosed with numerous health conditions. The ‘Control’ hitmaker – real name Ashley Frangipane -has discovered they were being made unwell in part by undetected Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Sjogren’s syndrome, mast cell activation syndrome, and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome after they “started getting really, really, really sick” from allergies. The 27-year-old pop star – who has nine-month-old son Ender with Alev Aydin – told fans via her Instagram Story: “Obviously my health has changed a lot since I got pregnant and gave birth. I started getting really, really, really, sick… I was hospitalized for anaphylaxis [a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction] a few times and I had some other stuff going on.” Halsey said that after “basically, after seeing a hundred thousand doctors” she was given the news. These conditions add to the ‘Closer’ hitmaker’s well-documented journey with health complications surrounding their endometriosis but Halsey has “been looking for answers” to what was causing the problems for a long time. Halsey said: “I’ve been looking for answers to the root cause of some of these things, which may be an autoimmune disease. And I know I’ve had autoimmune issues for most of my life, especially having endometriosis.” Halsey says “worrying” about her was not necessary as she shared that she was in rehearsal for their upcoming ‘Love and Power’ tour. They said: “I don’t want anybody to be worrying,” before detailing that “I’m really excited and I’m really confident that I’ll be able to do it in a way that’s healthy where I can perform my best for all of you.” Halsey quipped: “I’m here, I’m ready to go. The tour is going to be f****** crazy.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Patricia Zengerle, Idrees Ali and Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Russia’s war in Ukraine is at a “bit of a stalemate” and Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be preparing for a long conflict, top U.S. intelligence officials said on Tuesday. Russia, which calls the invasion “a special military operation,” poured more troops into Ukraine for a huge offensive last month in the eastern part of the country but its gains have been slow. Russia’s assault on Kyiv was beaten back in March by Ukrainian resistance. “The Russians aren’t winning and the Ukrainians aren’t winning and we’re at a bit of a stalemate here,” Lieutenant General Scott Berrier, the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said before the Senate Armed Services Committee. He added that so far, between eight and 10 Russian generals have been killed. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that while Russia had made no major gains in Donbas, its troops were making incremental progress. The war has claimed thousands of civilian lives, sent millions of Ukrainians fleeing and reduced cities to rubble. Moscow has little to show for it beyond a strip of territory in the south and marginal gains in the east. Putin exhorted Russians to battle in a defiant Victory Day speech on Monday but was silent about plans for any escalation in Ukraine despite Western warnings that he might use his Red Square address to order a mobilization. During the same hearing, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said a Russian victory in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine might not end the war. “We assess President Putin is preparing for a prolonged conflict in Ukraine during which he still intends to achieve goals beyond the Donbas,” Haines told lawmakers. She said the United States had indications that Russia wanted to extend a landbridge to Moldova’s breakaway region of Transdniestria. “Combined with the reality that Putin faces a mismatch between his ambitions and Russia’s current conventional military capabilities … the next few months could see us moving along a more unpredictable and potentially escalatory trajectory,” Haines said. TACTICAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS Western concern at the risk of nuclear war increased after Putin launched the invasion on Feb. 24 with a speech pointedly referring to Moscow’s nuclear forces and warning that any attempt to get in Russia’s way “will lead you to such consequences that you have never encountered in your history.” Russia said last month it plans to deploy its newly tested Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles, capable of mounting nuclear strikes against the United States, by autumn. Asked about the prospect of Putin using tactical nuclear weapons, Berrier said: “Right now, we do not see that.” Haines said earlier that the intelligence community believes Putin would authorize the use of nuclear weapons only if he perceived an existential threat to the Russian state. U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday said he was worried Putin did not have a way out of the Ukraine war. Biden said he was trying to figure out what to do about that. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle, Idrees Ali and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Mark Porter and Howard Goller) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Tom Allard JAKARTA (Reuters) -The decisive victory of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Philippines’ presidential election on Monday is set to re-shape the Southeast Asian country’s relations with China and the United States as he seeks closer ties with Beijing. Marcos, the son and namesake of the country’s former dictator, has long-standing ties with China and is seeking a new deal with Chinese ruler Xi Jinping over the contested waters of the South China Sea. Marcos’s relations with the United States, on the other hand, are complicated by a contempt of court order for his refusal to co-operate with the District Court of Hawaii, which in 1995 ordered the Marcos family to pay $2 billion of plundered wealth to victims of Marcos Sr.’s rule. The Philippines is a fulcrum of the geopolitical rivalry between the U.S. and China, with its maritime territory encompassing part of the South China Sea, a strategic and resource-rich waterway over which China also claims sovereignty. In 2016, an arbitral tribunal constituted under the International Law of the Sea ruled in favour of the Philippines over China’s claim, a decision seized upon by other claimant states, as well as the U.S. and its allies concerned by China’s construction of military installations on islands in the waters. But in interviews during the election campaign, Marcos said the ruling was “not effective” because China did not recognise it. He would seek a bilateral agreement with China to resolve their differences, he said. “If you let the U.S. come in, you make China your enemy,” he told DZRH Radio. “I think we can come to an agreement (with China). As a matter of fact, people from the Chinese embassy are my friends. We have been talking about that.” Antonio Carpio, the former Supreme Court Judge who led the Philippines’ legal team at the arbitral tribunal, said Marcos’s stance was a “betrayal”. “He’s taken the side of China against the Philippines,” he said. Rommel Banlaoi, a Manila-based security expert, said Marcos, also known as Bongbong, wanted friendlier ties with China but not at the expense of ceding territory. “He’s open to direct consultations and bilateral negotiations with China to settle their differences,” he said. “He is willing to explore areas of pragmatic co-operation with China, including the development of natural gas and oil in the West Philippines Sea.” The West Philippines Sea is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, but is also claimed by China. There have been repeated clashes between vessels belonging to the two countries in the area in recent years. ‘FOND MEMORIES’ Marcos is also keen to attract investment from China for his ambitious infrastructure agenda, said Banlaoi. “The Marcoses have very fond memories of their trips to China.” Marcos’s father ruled the Philippines for 20 years until 1986 and was a close U.S. ally but began engaging with China after diplomatic relations were established in 1975. A year earlier, Marcos Jr., then 18, accompanied his mother Imelda to Beijing in a historic trip that paved the way for the diplomatic detente. Footage of the trip shows the beaming youngster meeting Chinese leader Mao Zedong. It was the first of many visits. In a cable sent to Washington D.C. in March 2007, obtained by WikiLeaks, the U.S. embassy reported that Marcos “travelled frequently to the PRC in 2005 and 2006 to drum up business”. A month after the cable was written, China opened a consulate in Laoag City, capital of the family’s fiefdom in the province of Ilocos Norte, where Marcos was governor. Laoag City has a population of just 102,000 in a country of almost 110 million people and is one of two consulates outside the capital Manila. ‘COERCION AND AGGRESSION’ The United States has upped its engagement in Southeast Asia, and the Philippines, in recent months, to combat China’s “coercion and aggression” in the region. In March and April, more than 5,000 U.S. military personnel undertook exercises with their Philippine counterparts, the largest in seven years. Renato Cruz De Castro, an international affairs analyst at De la Salle university in Manila, said the manoeuvres highlighted how strategic imperatives had forced outgoing Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to build strong relations with Washington despite his hostility to the country’s former coloniser. Soon after he was elected, Duterte called for the Philippines’ “separation” from the U.S. and courted China. “Duterte realised that, whether you appease or challenge China, it doesn’t matter. They are still going to try to take your maritime territory,” he told Reuters. “Marcos might have some issues with the United States (but) he will face constraints from his bureaucrats and the armed forces who really value the alliance.” U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said during a press briefing on Tuesday it was too early to comment on the results of the Philippines election or the impact it might have on relations, but said “we look forward to renewing our special partnership” and working with a new administration in Manila. “As friends, as partners, as allies we’ll continue to collaborate closely to advance a free and open, connected, prosperous, secure and resilient Indo-Pacific region,” Price said. “We’ll also continue…to promote respect for human rights and the rule of law, which is fundamental to U.S. relations with the Philippines.” Marcos hasn’t visited the United States for 15 years, fearful of the consequences given he and his mother are facing a contempt of court ruling and a $353 million fine. That’s on top of the $2 billion payout he and his mother have been ordered to pay to 9,539 human rights victims, of which only $37 million has been recovered, according to the lawyer who launched the class action, Robert Swift. “Somebody might think and say, ‘OK, Let’s jail this person’. They can do that,” Marcos told a Philippines journalist, Anthony Taberna, in August. “We don’t take that risk anymore.” A spokesman for Marcos did not immediately respond to requests for comment on his U.S. travel plans as president. The U.S. State Department and Department of Justice did not respond to requests for comment about whether Marcos would be granted diplomatic immunity if he visited. Swift, for his part, expected that he would get the customary immunity. “Bongbong Marcos’s apparent victory will be met with disappointment among many in Washington,” said Greg Poling, director of Southeast Asia Studies at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. “But it doesn’t change the fact that the U.S.-Philippines alliance is more vital than ever and the United States needs to continue working to deepen it.” Banlaoi said Marcos would seek to preserve the U.S. alliance but keep his options open. “Depending on how the bilateral relationship of the Philippines and the U.S. proceeds under BBM, renegotiating the mutual defence treaty remains an option,” he said, using another nickname for Marcos. (Reporting by Tom Allard; additional reporting by Daphne Psaledakis in Washington; Editing by Nick Macfie) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Sheila Dang (Reuters) – Billionaire Elon Musk said Tuesday he would reverse Twitter’s ban on former U.S. President Donald Trump when he buys the social media platform, the clearest signal of Musk’s intention to cut moderation of the site. Musk, the world’s richest person and chief executive of Tesla Inc, has inked a $44-billion deal to buy Twitter. He has called himself a “free speech absolutist” but given few specific details of his plans. Musk is expected to become Twitter’s temporary CEO after closing the deal, Reuters previously reported according to a source familiar with the matter. The question of reinstating Trump has been seen as a litmus test of how far Musk will go in making changes. Musk, speaking to the Financial Times Future of the Car conference, added that he and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey believe permanent bans should be “extremely rare” and reserved for accounts that operate bots or spread spam. Musk said the decision to ban Trump amplified Trump’s views among people on the political right, and he called the ban “morally wrong and flat-out stupid.” The suspension of Trump’s account, which had more than 88 million followers, silenced his primary megaphone days before the end of his term and follows years of debate about how social media companies should moderate the accounts of powerful global leaders. Trump was permanently suspended from Twitter shortly after the Jan. 6 riot on the U.S. Capitol. Twitter cited “the risk of further incitement of violence” in its decision. Musk has also said the platform must limit speech as required by law, and he told a European Union official on Monday that EU policy was “exactly aligned” with his own thinking, referring to a new law that levies hefty fines on companies that do not control illegal content such as advertising aimed at children. ‘OUGHT TO BE EVERYWHERE’ Conservatives, who have accused San Francisco-based Twitter of bias against right-leaning views, have cheered the prospect of Trump’s return. “He (Trump) ought to be everywhere he can,” Republican Senator Rick Scott told reporters when asked about Musk’s comments. “We shouldn’t have social media companies that are restricting people’s ability to get their message out.” Democrats have said Trump’s potential reinstatement could constitute a threat to democracy, although some hope that a frequently-tweeting Trump could upset their base and rev up turnout in the November midterm congressional elections. Twitter declined to comment. Trump had previously told Fox News that he would not return to Twitter if allowed, preferring his own social media app, Truth Social, a Twitter-like platform that launched on the Apple app store in lat February and in which users post “truths” instead of tweets. Trump has revved up his messaging on the new platform after a slow start, posting about 50 times, mostly in the last week, to his 2.7 million followers. He averaged 18 tweets a day when he was president. There was no immediate comment from a Trump spokesperson. Trump is chairman of the company that owns Truth Social, which is merging with blank-check acquisition firm Digital World Acquisition Corp. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Tuesday Twitter’s ban on Trump was a matter for the company to decide. The Biden administration wants online platforms to protect freedom of speech but also ensure they are not forums for disinformation, she said. During the conference, Musk said the deal to acquire Twitter could be done in two to three months in the “best case scenario.” Earlier on Tuesday, Twitter shares fell to a level that indicated the stock market believed it was unlikely that Musk would make the acquisition for $44 billion, as he originally agreed. Musk’s decision to go after Twitter has concerned some Tesla investors and put pressure on the stock. Musk on Tuesday added that he would stay at Tesla “as long as I can be useful.” (Reporting by Sheila Dang in Dallas; additional reporting by Alexandra Ulmer, David Morgan, Eva Mathews, Jeff Mason, Nandita Bose, Greg Roumeliotis and Peter Henderson; Editing by Nick Zieminski) View the full article

Published by Knewz By David Wetzel New York (Knewz) — More than 100 members of Congress are calling for ending the filibuster as abortion rights are in jeopardy. In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, members of Congress are urging the elimination of the filibuster, which would eliminate a minority party’s ability to essentially veto legislation through endless debate. The request comes after a leaked Supreme Court draft suggested the high court is poised to reverse the historic Roe v. Wade decision that allows abortion and protects other women’s rights. “This decision has given people safer a… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Jesse Williams is baring it all on stage in “Take Me Out,” but one theatergoer decided to share it with the world. Video and photos taken from inside the Hayes Theater leaked online Monday, showing the “Grey’s Anatomy” star fully naked in the Broadway play about a gay professional baseball player. The images are not just an invasion of privacy but also against the rules: “Take Me Out” requires its audience to lock up their phones in felt pouches with magnetic security tags to protect its stars, including Williams, who was nominated for a Tony for the role Monday, and Patrick J. Adam… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Dave Chappelle’s Hollywood Bowl show won’t be included in Netflix’s upcoming comedy specials. The 48-year-old comedian appeared to be tackled to the ground as he performed as part of the ‘Netflix Is A Joke’ festival, with LAPD officers later confirming they were holding 23-year-old Isaiah Lee in custody in connection with the incident. The controversial performance isn’t set to appear on the streaming platform, although The Hollywood Reporter notes this isn’t down to the alleged attacked. Before the festival, the company explained the four sold-out shows wouldn’t be filmed for a special. However, Chappelle did have his own cameras there to shoot the set – which comedians often do when it comes to testing new material – so it’s likely professionally shot footage of the incident does exist. n Thursday (05.05.22), the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed Isaiah Lee has been charged with battery, possession of a weapon with intent to assault, unauthorised access to the stage area during a performance and commission of an act that delays an event or interferes with a performer following the incident during Chappelle’s show. City Attorney Mike Feuer said: “This alleged attack has got to have consequences.” Dave previously insisted he wouldn’t let the “unfortunate and unsettling” attack “overshadow” his history-making Hollywood Bowl show. His spokesperson said: “This run ties Chappelle with ‘Monty Python’ for the most headlined shows by any comedian at the Hollywood Bowl, reaching 70k fans of diverse backgrounds during the first Netflix Is A Joke: The Festival, and he refuses to allow last night’s incident to overshadow the magic of this historic moment. “As unfortunate and unsettling as the incident was, Chappelle went on with the show.” Footage shared online showed a man in a black hoodie rushing toward the stage and pushing the comic before being stopped by security guards and members of the star’s team as he attempted to flee. The would-be attacker was removed from the venue on a stretcher and an LAPD spokesperson said Lee was treated for injuries before being charged and booked. Meanwhile, Netflix has instead announced a roster of specials featuring the likes of David Letterman, Amy Schumer, Pete Davidson and Snoop Dogg, as well as ‘The Hall: Honouring the Greats of Stand-Up’ paying tribute to Robin Williams, Richard Pryor, Joan Rivers and George Carlin. There will also be ‘A Tribute To Bob Saget’, ‘Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration’ and more. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Camila Cabello has launched her Protect Our Kids Fund. The 25-year-old singer has teamed up with Equality Florida and Lambda Legal on the initiative, which will offer resources to students, teachers, and families impacted by Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law – which restricts schools on their teaching of sexual orientation and gender issues in the state – because she is “appalled” by the legislation and insisted “every” family deserves respect. Camila – who launched the fund with a benefit concert at the San Vicente Bungalows in West Hollywood on Sunday (08.05.22) – said: “As someone who grew up and still lives in Florida, I am appalled that my home state is putting the health and lives of young Floridians at risk by passing this law and inviting discrimination into our schools. We must protect every student and respect every family. “I am so grateful to all of our founding partners who are standing in solidarity with LGBTQ+ youth and families, and raising money for the Protect All Kids Fund to help Lambda Legal and Equality Florida stop this hateful law.” Additional founding members of the Protect Our Kids Fund include Lance Bass, Casey Bloys, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and his husband Justin Mikita, Lilly Singh, and Sara Gilbert. The initiative has already raised over $550,000 and further donations can be made at the Fund’s website. Equality Florida insisted there is an “overwhelming” need for the fund as the “chilling effect” of the legislation can already be seen in the state’s schools. Their executive director, Nadine Smith, said: “The need for support is overwhelming — this cruel law is already having a chilling effect on Florida schools. “Anti-bullying resources have been removed by the Florida Department of Education. Books that include gay parents or any LGBTQ+ characters are being challenged and yanked from school bookshelves. Even And Tango Makes Three, the true story of two penguins raising a chick together at a zoo has been challenged as ‘obscene’ because the adult penguins are both male.” “This law emboldens a small, angry cadre of anti-LGBTQ+ adults to intimidate school districts and incentivises them to sue for $10,000 no matter how frivolous or extreme their claims. “As a parent I believe our laws must ensure our children’s safety, protection, and freedom. But now politicians are cynically rejecting those values and advancing legislation that targets LGBTQ+ kids for bullying and mistreatment, just because of who they are. “Our schools should protect all students — including LGBTQ+ students — so they can learn and thrive in a safe environment. These bills will force schools to violate that most basic trust. “We will continue to stand with the families who have fought to be recognised and the students who demanded to be included and respected.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Azealia Banks has claimed Lady Gaga asked her to feud with Nicki Minaj. The ‘Licorice’ hitmaker was unimpressed when a fan suggested she collaborate with the ‘Poker Face’ singer, insisting she has no “respect” for the ‘Star is Born’ actress after she allegedly asked her to get involved with her “beef” with Nicki. She replied in a series of tweets: “Lastly, no. That woman has zero respect for Black women. I cannot ever respect her for literally asking me to beef with Nicki Minaj on her behalf, I refuse and send a less incendiary song, insinuates that were gonna spill Nicki’s *human blood* (f****** eye roll)… “The gays have been falling for her hodge podge pseudo bs for years. At least Lana has the balls to admit that she’s a whites only water fountain confederate sally American lynch-mob romanticist…. “Like her deep deep jealousy and hatred for Nicki Minaj and the sneaky s*** she was saying and trying to do behind the scenes was just gross. If I want to beef or pop s*** about Nicki I will do so on my own accord. I will never do a white woman’s bidding for her. TUH.(sic)” The ‘212’ hitmaker insisted she had proof of Gaga “s*** talking” Nicki written in an old phone. She wrote: “I definitely have those Lady Gaga shit talking Nicki Minaj reciepts in an old phone, telling me she wanted to drink my blood…(sic)” And Azealia hit back at Twitter users suggesting she was just upset the ‘Bad Romance’ singer had rejected her for a collaboration. She replied: “Pfffft . I never EVER sent the girl a collab. She sent me TWO, I turned in ONE , and she will STILL never EVER beat “212,” … Azealia Banks is the Diva who outwhitegirled all the white girls and they are STILL PRESSED.(sic)” View the full article

Published by The Bangkok Post SAN FRANCISCO: Social network Grindr on Monday said it has hooked up with a special purpose acquisition company to become a publicly traded company valued, out of the gate, at $2.1 billion. Los Angeles-based Grindr expected to raise $384 million when it combines with Tiga Acquisition Corp and becomes Grindr Inc. “Grindr is the leading platform focused on the LGBTQ+ community for digital connection and engagement,” said chief executive Jeff Bonforte. “Grindr is well positioned to be a public company and will continue to expand the ways it serves the LGBTQ+ community.” Grindr had an average of 1… Read More View the full article

Published by Chicago Tribune CHICAGO — The city of Chicago will spend $500,000 to support abortion access for residents and people from neighboring states in anticipation of Roe v. Wade being overturned, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Monday. The money will go toward transportation, lodging, care “and, if necessary, safe and legal access to an abortion procedure,” Lightfoot said. Lightfoot’s pledge comes after a leaked draft of a Supreme Court ruling previewed the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion rights case. Reiterating a concern she first expressed after the opinion leaked, Lightfoot said the case’s rep… Read More View the full article

Published by PopCrush Footage of people waving Nazi flags outside an entrance to Disney World has gone viral on TikTok. TikTok user @pcdevv captured a brief clip of what appears to be at least two people holding flags emblazoned with swastikas in front of a sign welcoming visitors into the Disney park in Florida. Another person in the group appears to be holding a megaphone. “Happening right now at Walt Disney World,” text on the video reads. “Things are starting to get crazy,” the TikTok user captioned the 5-second clip. Watch the video below: @pcdevv Things are starting to get crazy.. #SearchForWonderMom #news #d… Read More View the full article

Published by ScreenCrush As evidenced by the fact that Paramount made a sequel more than 30 years later, Top Gunremains one of the 1980s most popular and iconic movies. These days it is remembered as this watershed film for Hollywood. It was the breakthrough role for Tom Cruise, the first big hit for director Tony Scott, and the production that cemented Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson as major hitmakers. It’s easy to forget all these years later that the movie was not a sure thing, and that it very nearly didn’t happen several different times, and for several different reasons. At first, Paramount didn’t even want t… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — The field of the nominees for the 75th annual Tony Awards was set in stone on Monday morning, as the theater industry shakes off the coronavirus pandemic and prepares to celebrate a season packed with powerful plays. “A Strange Loop,” a new, meta musical about a Black gay dramatist creating a musical, led the field with 11 nominations, including a nod in the best new musical category. “Paradise Square,” a new musical spun from a neighborhood of Irish immigrants and African Americans in Civil War-era lower Manhattan, picked up 10 nominations, as did “MJ,” a musical drawn from the son… Read More View the full article

Published by Knewz By Richard Horgan Los Angeles (Knewz) — The fourth annual “National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health” by the Trevor Project is the most expansive one yet, encompassing just under 34,000 LGBTQ youth across the United States ages 13 to 24. The main study findings are harrowing, with 45 percent of respondents saying they seriously considered suicide in the past year and 14 percent (4,760 individuals) stating they made an unsuccessful attempt. The suicide-attempts rate has, sadly, held steady the past few years among LGTBQ youth, registering at 14 percent in 2021 and 15 percent in 2020. Suicide… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Will Young knew he couldn’t “save” his twin brother. The ‘Leave Right Now’ hitmaker’s sibling Rupert took his own life in August 2020 following a long battle with alcoholism and depression and the 43-year-old singer revealed he’d reported his brother as a trespasser and thrown him out of his house just a week before his sad passing but he insisted he’d done all he could to help. Will said: “At the end, he would be drinking 24 hours a day. You’ve got this monster who’s not moving. So the only thing was to throw him out but also to be aware he might end up killing himself. I was OK with everything I’d done to try to help him… “I had a big moment where I realised I couldn’t save him and that brought a whole lot of grief.” Will also revealed he hit Rupert the last time he saw him. He added: “I don’t have a problem with that because he deserved that.” Rupert had moved in with his famous brother in 2016, and the ‘Evergreen’ singer was effectively his carer. He recalled in upcoming Channel 4 documentary ‘Will Young: Losing My Twin Rupert’: “My day would start. Either he was sick or he would have peed on the sofa, so I’d have to clear that up, then go get more beers and codeine because he was addicted to painkillers.” Rupert had managed to get sober for three years, and his brother had his initials tattooed on his arm to mark the milestone and to show how “proud” he was. He added: “I do think it meant a lot to him.” But after breaking up with his girlfriend, Rupert hit the bottle again. Will said: “Rupert piled shame on top of shame because he’d let me down again.” Rupert was admitted to hospital after threatening to jump off Westminster Bridge, but managed to discharge himself before taking his own life at the same location three days later. The former ‘Pop Idol’ winner hopes sharing their story will help other people. He said: “It’s important to tell my story, to tell Rupert’s story, to tell my family’s story and to tell the story of 20 years living with my twin, who was an alcoholic. Other people will be experiencing this and I don’t want them to feel alone.” View the full article

Published by Reuters WILMINGTON, Del. (Reuters) – President Joe Biden’s administration has secured commitments from 20 internet providers including Verizon, Comcast and AT&T to cut prices or increase internet speeds for millions of U.S. families, administration officials said. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will unveil the agreements on Monday at a ceremony with executives from companies that provide internet services. The commitments are part of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which is an aspect of the infrastructure law passed with support from Republicans and Democrats last year. It helps eligible American families reduce their internet bills by as much as $30 a year, the White House said. With the new commitments, tens of millions of households that are eligible for the ACP will receive internet service free of charge, it said. Households with low incomes can qualify for the program. Receiving federal assistance through other programs, such as food subsidies or the Medicaid low-income health insurance programs, also makes a household eligible. A senior administration official told reporters on a conference call that the companies had made the commitments voluntarily. (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Bradley Perrett) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Diane Keaton thinks Reese Witherspoon’s 18-year-old son is “gorgeous”. The 76-year-old actress recently mistook a photo of Deacon Phillippe – whose father is the ‘Legally Blonde’ actress’ ex-husband Ryan Phillippe – for one of the young Leonardo DiCaprio but despite the confusion, she stands by her initial assertion that he’s very attractive. After talk show host Ellen DeGeneres pointed out her gaffe, Diane replied: “Oh I made that mistake, whoops, but look at him. That’s gorgeous. How old is he now?” Ellen quipped: “Too young for you, he’s a child, look at him.” Diane replied: “Maybe he’d like to know me. No, no, no… Shall I leave?” Deacon isn’t the only young man to have caught Diane’s eye as she’s known to be a fan of Justin Bieber and had a great time recently filming the “gorgeous and genius” star’s ”Ghost’ music video. She said: “So much fun, you guys. No, he’s a great man. Young man! Gorgeous and genius. “It was one of the most pleasant experiences of my life. “I loved it. He’s adorable, he’s the greatest guy. Special, sweet.” While the ‘Book Club’ star insisted she isn’t dating at the moment, she suggested she’s previously dated a 20 year old. She said: “The youngest age of a man I’ve gone out with? I don’t go out. “Let’s pretend I have. Probably someone like 20. Not recently! I haven’t been out.” The ‘Poms’ actress – who has two adopted children, Dexter, 27, and Duke, 22 – has previously dated the likes of Woody Allen, Warren Beatty and Al Pacino but never married and doesn’t regret the fact she didn’t. She previously said: “I think I’m the only one in my generation and maybe before who has been a single woman all her life. “[I’m not sad] because I think that I needed more of a maternal aspect. I don’t think it would have been a good idea for me to have married, and I’m really glad I didn’t, and I’m sure they’re happy about it, too.” View the full article