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Published by BANG Showbiz English Jonathan Van Ness can be “really hard” on himself. The ‘Queer Eye’ star admitted practising “self-love” is a “conscious decision” he has to make every day and thinks curiosity is “the key” to personal acceptance, though it isn’t something he always manages. He said: “I don’t think it was a lightbulb moment, I think it’s just constantly like a journey. “I think, especially with self-acceptance, self-love, it’s a conscious decision you’ve got to make every day. “And I don’t always feel [it]. There [are] times when I get really hard on myself. There’s times where I don’t always feel that [love]. “But I think we can come back to that relationship with ourself with compassion and a little bit of acceptance and some curiosity. “I mean, really, being curious helps so much with us because when we’re not accepting of ourselves it’s like, ‘Oh, what’s going on?’ Curiosity is such an important part.” The ‘Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness’ host thinks people should embrace the fact they don’t have all the answers to life’s problems in order to grow and learn. He added to ‘Entertainment Tonight’: “It’s OK to not know it all… We don’t know it all. I’m just I’m out here, I’m learning I’m exploring and I want everyone to take from ‘Getting Curious’ that spirit of curiosity, and that it’s OK to go explore and not have all the answers.” In ‘Getting Curious’, the 34-year-old star interviews experts on a range of topics including cooking, insects, sports and architecture and he had a great time broadening his knowledge. He said: “I love curiosity, I love getting to learn about things and [the show] is really you kind of watching me learn about things in real time. “The other fun thing about curiosity is it’s always changing, it’s always fluid, so there’s like endless ways that we could go learn about stuff.” View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) – The former president of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ advocacy group in the United States, filed a lawsuit on Thursday accusing the organization of racial discrimination in his firing last year, the Washington Post reported. Alphonso David was fired on Sept. 6 after a report by New York State Attorney General Letitia James said he had advised former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on how to handle sexual harassment allegations, the organization’s board said at the time. In the complaint, David accused the organization of fostering a “racist, biased culture.” He also said that he was told that he was initially paid less because he was Black and that an organization board member told him to stop mentioning race in public comments, the Post reported. At the time of his firing, David said the Human Rights Campaign board had “unjustly” terminated him, and said it should expect a legal challenge. Reuters was not immediately able to reach the organization for comment. (Reporting by Brendan O’Brien; Editing by Frances Kerry) View the full article

Published by AFP Joe Rogan says he does not intend to promote misinformation but admits he was not prepared for the Washington (AFP) – US podcast star Joe Rogan, who has been called out by music legends Neil Young and Joni Mitchell for spreading Covid-19 disinformation on the huge Spotify streaming service, is as popular as he is provocative. At 54, the former taekwondo champion has millions of fans, who appreciate his outspokenness, his iconoclastic ideas, and the variety of his guests. But he also has many detractors, starting with luminaries Young and Mitchell, who removed their music from Spotify in protest at its hosting of Rogan’s podcast. He has spread disinformation about the coronavirus and other topics on the air. Both musicians said the false claims, and Spotify’s failure to do anything about them, was the reason for their decision. R&B singer India Arie followed suit, citing what she said were Rogan’s “problematic” comments on race. For his accusers, he is particularly dangerous because his show “The Joe Rogan Experience,” which has been broadcast exclusively on Spotify since 2020 under a deal worth an estimated $100 million, attracts a staggering 11 million listeners per episode on average. Often with a glass of whiskey in hand, he chats casually for two to three hours with a guest on topics as varied as flying saucers, psychedelic drugs, red meat and fitness, slipping in an expletive here and there. ‘Megaphone of right-wing lies’ – Rogan, with a tongue as sharp as his arms are tattooed, was already famous when he began the program in 2009. A comedian and martial arts commentator known for tight T-shirts and what critics have branded his “toxic masculinity,” in the 1990s he was a TV actor on sitcoms including NBC’s “NewsRadio.” Later he hosted the popular reality show “Fear Factor.” When he launched the podcast, his ratings quickly took off. People from all walks of life asked to come on. In 12 years, he has hosted nearly 1,000 guests — 88 percent of them male, according to the fan site JRELibrary. They include Tesla boss Elon Musk, who smoked a joint on his set, whistleblower Edward Snowden and film director Oliver Stone. But Rogan has also given voice to climate sceptics, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and, since the start of the pandemic, figures in the anti-vaccine movement, earning him the label of “a veritable megaphone of right-wing lies” by progressive website Media Matters for America. Posing as a critic of political correctness, he has attacked the left for demonising conservatives and flirted with unfounded theories held dear by former president Donald Trump’s supporters — notably about the presence of undercover FBI agents among the US Capitol attackers on January 6 2021. Like the former Republican president, he hates “losers.” “I grew up around a lot of losers and one of them was my dad,” a former police officer who was violent and who left his family, Rogan said in an interview in 2016. “There was a lot of desire to not be like that guy and not be like all of these people around me who had no hope and no future.” ‘Differing opinions’ vs misinformation – Yet he defends himself against accusations of being an ideologue or of voting exclusively on the right. An atheist who supports gay marriage, the decriminalization of soft drugs, and the preservation of gun rights, he calls himself a libertarian and said he even considered supporting self-described socialist Senator Bernie Sanders in the last Democratic primary. As for his guests, “I’m interested in having interesting conversations with people that have differing opinions. I’m not interested in only talking to people that have one perspective,” he said in a video posted on Instagram after Young’s criticism that seemingly conflated misinformation with opinions. “I’m not trying to promote misinformation,” he continued. “I will do my best to try to balance out these more controversial viewpoints with other people’s perspectives.” He said he agreed with Spotify’s announcement in response to Young and Mitchell that Covid podcasts would include links to factual and scientifically sourced information. In a perhaps telling comment for someone who was already famous before launching his podcast, he admitted he had not been ready for the “strange” responsibility of having “this many viewers and listeners.” “It’s nothing that I prepared for, and it’s nothing that I ever anticipated.” View the full article

Published by AFP Authorities have determined that US actor Michael K. Williams, who was found dead in his New York apartment, died of an accidental drug overdose New York (AFP) – New York prosecutors said Wednesday they had charged four men in relation to the drug overdose death of “The Wire” actor Michael K. Williams. Williams, who starred as Omar Little in the widely acclaimed television series, died of an accidental drug overdose in September. The 54-year-old, who played the iconic Baltimore stick-up man in the groundbreaking show, was found dead in his apartment in New York. The men have been charged with conspiracy to distribute the fentanyl-laced heroin that killed Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York said in a statement. The prosecutor named the men as Irvin Cartagena, Hector Robles, Luis Cruz and Carlos Macci. Cartagena allegedly sold the deadly dose, said attorney Damian Williams. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life if convicted. The Emmy-nominated actor died from “acute intoxication by the combined effects of fentanyl, p-fluorofentanyl, heroin and cocaine,” New York’s chief medical examiner ruled. Williams had been hailed for his role in “The Wire,” in which he played a gay armed robber who specialized in holding up drug dealers. He was also well-known for the role of Albert ‘Chalky’ White on the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire.” The actor had spoken openly of his past struggles with drug addiction and had told US media that he had spent much of his earnings from “The Wire” on narcotics. View the full article

Published by AFP Lia Thomas, a transgender woman, swims for the University of Pennsylvania at an Ivy League swim meet against Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on January 22, 2022 New York (AFP) – A transgender American swimmer’s controversial career hung in the balance Wednesday after USA Swimming announced new rules, including testosterone limits, that could impact her ability to race competitively. Lia Thomas has dominated US collegiate women’s swimming as a student athlete at the University of Pennsylvania where, just a few years ago, she competed on the men’s team. Now, amid an uproar fueled by those who say Thomas has an unfair advantage, USA Swimming unveiled guidelines that do not mention the 22-year-old by name but will impact her future in the sport — although exactly how remains unclear. The policy said that because swimming is “an important vehicle for positive physical and mental health,” it remains committed to “greater inclusivity” at the non-elite levels of the sport. But critics said the new policy from the governing body for competitive swimming in the United States might achieve just the opposite. USA Swimming said it had created a new set of guidelines for transgender athlete participation in elite competition that “relies on science and medical evidence-based methods to provide a level-playing field for elite cisgender women, and to mitigate the advantages associated with male puberty and physiology.” It said that a three-member panel comprised of medical experts and a veteran athlete was being established to implement the new policy and to rule on specific cases. A key criterion that the panel will look for is that “from a medical perspective, the prior physical development of the athlete as a male, as mitigated by any medical intervention, does not give the athlete a competitive advantage over the athlete’s cisgender female competitors.” In addition, a swimmer is ineligible “unless the athlete demonstrates that the concentration of testosterone in the athlete’s serum has been less than 5 nmol/L (as measured by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry) continuously for a period of at least 36 months before the date of application.” Doctors measure testosterone in nanomoles per liter (nmol/L). According to New York’s Mount Sinai hospital, the healthy range of testosterone in a woman is 0.5 to 2.4 nmol/L. Thomas followed National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules, undergoing a year-long testosterone suppression treatment. But some organizations, such as the Women’s Sports Policy Working Group, have deemed these rules insufficient, especially in cases where an athlete has begun her transition after puberty. Athlete Ally, an activist organization that combats homophobia and transphobia in sport, swiftly responded that the new USA Swimming policy appears to be targeting Thomas. “These sweeping new restrictions appear to be a direct retaliation against Lia Thomas, a talented, hard-working athlete who has followed all guidelines, is supported by her team, and trains diligently,” said Anne Lieberman, the group’s director of policy and programs. ‘Full support’ The NCAA, which governs US college sports, said in January it would enforce rules set forth by USA Swimming, which has the authority to bar swimmers from competitions. A swim meet for the Ivy League — a grouping of top private northeastern US universities — is scheduled for February, and the NCAA National Championships are in March. “Penn Athletics has been informed of the new USA Swimming transgender participation policy,” the university’s sports department said in a statement. “We continue to work with the NCAA regarding Lia Thomas’ participation in the 2022 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship.” Thomas said she began her transition in May 2019 with hormone replacement therapy — a combination of estrogen and testosterone suppressants. In early December at a meet in Ohio, she notched the best times of the year at the university level in the 200m and 500m freestyle. Her performances have renewed a long-running debate about the fairness of a transgender woman competing against those who were born biologically female. Members of the Penn swimming team and diving team issued a statement supporting their transgender teammate. “We want to express our full support for Lia in her transition,” they said in the statement released late Tuesday, apparently after one teammate spoke out about Thomas. “We value her as a person, teammate, and friend. The sentiments put forward by an anonymous member of our team are not representative of the feelings, values, and opinions of the entire Penn team, composed of 39 women with diverse backgrounds.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Francis Kokoroko KUMASI, Ghana (Reuters) – In a dimly-lit room with racks of women’s clothing, Ghanaian artist and LGBT+ activist Va-Bene Elikem Fiatsi flipped through photo self-portraits illustrating her transition to womanhood. Transitioning is not illegal in Ghana, but it will become so if a new law is passed, intended to tighten already strict anti-LGBT+ regulations which render same-sex relations illegal. Homophobia is pervasive in the West African country and trans people are generally considered to be gay. Fiatsi first exhibited the photographs, dubbed “Rituals of Becoming”, in 2017. Supportive audiences flocked to see the show in Ghanaian galleries. Her work reflects how LGBT+ people in Ghana have navigated legal and social constraints to carve out a space to express their identities. But Fiatsi fears that even that limited space could now be closing with the new bill, which if it passes would see her risk prosecution every time she puts on a dress. “To say I’m afraid is an understatement, but I am what I am,” said Fiatsi, who runs an artist residence in Kumasi, Ghana’s second city. “It feels like waiting to be slaughtered,” she said. Ghana is one of more than 30 African countries that outlaw same-sex relations. Guilty verdicts carry up to three-year prison sentences. A group of lawmakers from Ghana’s opposition introduced what they called a “Family Values Bill” in November, which would impose jail terms of up to 10 years for advocacy of LGBT+ causes and between three and five years for those who “hold out” as lesbian, gay, non-binary, transgender and transsexual, or who undergo or perform surgical procedures for gender reassignment. The bill, which has broad backing among lawmakers but has yet to be voted on, also includes a provision that would force some to undergo conversion therapy. Amnesty International said this could violate Ghana’s anti-torture laws. No politician has come out publicly against it. President Nana Akufo-Addo urged civil debate and tolerance when the bill was introduced but did not take a stance on its content. Opponents say its passage would be a major setback for a country whose reputation as a friendly and stable democracy attracts tourists and investors. Its backers say LGBT+ activities threaten the concept of family which is central to the structure of all Ghana’s ethnic groups. No voting date has been set. “I call it the ‘Anti-Human’ bill,” said Fiatsi, who is a former Christian pastor. “It takes away from our family values of being a tolerant country, and being hospitable and loving.” “WE ARE ALL THE SAME” There have been no national opinion polls on the bill. Advocates say LGBT+ people are often subject to physical abuse and blackmail in Ghana, and those who come out or are outed are frequently ostracised by friends and family. “There are some of my siblings and cousins who, for over five years, we never spoke, even though I love and miss them so much,” said Fiatsi. “Most of them think I’m just a demon.” So do many of her former colleagues. Christian leaders have been among the most outspoken champions of the bill. When public hearings began in November, Abraham Ofori-Kuragu, a spokesperson for the influential Pentecostal-Charismatic council, said he had never seen a law “so bold in its presentation of the Ghanaian agenda.” More than 70% of Ghana’s 30 million people are Christian, and billboards with the faces of popular preachers adorn most street corners in the capital Accra. Some faith leaders condemn advocacy for LGBT+ rights as a Western imposition. No longer welcome at the churches where she used to preach, Fiatsi channels her evangelism into art and activism. Her studio compound, where she hosts LGBT-friendly artist residency programmes, is filled with sculptures carved from tree trunks or shaped from old electronics. Murals and affirmations like “We Are All The Same” line the walls. She has a global network of allies but she insists she will stay in Ghana out of solidarity with those unable to leave. Even as the perils of life as a trans woman rise, Fiatsi takes comfort in small acts of humanity. Shortly after the bill was introduced, she travelled for a funeral to her family’s village, her first time back in 20 years. She stood nervously in her dress and heels. Some people exchanged pleasantries, while others darted their eyes and quietly sniggered. Before too long, the awkwardness gave way to familial warmth. A relative patted her back. Another asked how life was going. When someone made a snide comment, Fiatsi playfully stuck her tongue out before continuing her conversation. “There are many more of us that will be born, even far after I’m gone,” she said. “What I do today is not for me, or even for those living today. It’s for the future generation.” (Reporting by Francis Kokoroko; Writing by Cooper Inveen; Editing by Aaron Ross, Alexandra Hudson) View the full article

NYC Gay PrideSurvivor’s Benefits Expansion The Biden administration is doling out survivor benefits payments to partners of same-sex couples who experienced discrimination under previous unconstitutional bans on same-sex marriage. According to Slate, the Social Security Administration is making sizeable payments to surviving individuals that were prevented from marrying their same-sex partner, thus excluding them from receiving survivor benefits after their partner passed away. Trying to identify individuals who would have been married if laws were different poses another unique challenge to this process. The SSA built out a list of qualifiers that it believes point to a couple’s desire to be married as evaluation criteria. Included in that list are if a couple lived together, raised a child together, held a commitment ceremony or produce evidence of joint bank accounts or mortgages – all similar criteria to how the SSA handles common-law marriages when determining benefits. “Even photos and love letters,” Loewy said. “There are ways to demonstrate that you were in a committed relationship.” Survivor Benefits: Previously on Towleroad Survivor Benefits Payments For Same-Sex Partners Are Being Paid Under Biden, But Many Don’t Even Know They Qualify Brian Bell February 2, 2022 Read More Jim Obergefell, Plaintiff In The Supreme Court Case That Won National Marriage Equality, is Running For Ohio State House Brian Bell January 19, 2022 Read More Canada Conversion Therapy Ban Goes Into Effect; European Court Declines Gay Marriage Cake Case; New Study on Blood Donations By Gay Men Underway: NEWS Brian Bell January 10, 2022 Read More Rep. Liz Cheney: ‘I Was Wrong’ To Oppose Marriage Equality in 2013; Regrets Causing Family Rift; Still Voted Against Equality Act Brian Bell September 27, 2021 Read More Gay Marriage, LGBTQ Rights Appear To Be Texas Abortion Ban Architect’s Next Target Brian Bell September 24, 2021 Read More Colorado’s Polis weds longtime partner in first same-sex marriage of U.S. governor Towleroad September 17, 2021 Read More Photo courtesy of Elvert Barnes/Creative Commons View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday that he opposes leniency for those who pleaded guilty to committing crimes during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. McConnell made his remarks days after Trump said he would consider pardons for people convicted of joining the attack if elected to a second term in 2024. “I would not be in favor of shortening any of the sentences for any of the people who pleaded guilty to crimes,” the top Senate Republican said at a news conference, when asked about Trump’s remarks at a rally on Saturday in Conroe, Texas. “What we saw here on Jan. 6 was an effort to prevent the peaceful transfer of power, from one administration to another, which had never happened before in our country,” McConnell said. A frequent target for Trump’s invective, McConnell also repeated his view that an 1887 law used as the basis for Republican Trump’s attempts to overturn his November 2020 election defeat to Democrat Joe Biden should be changed. Democrats and Republicans in the Senate are moving toward possible enactment of reforms intended to prevent future attacks. Thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in the worst assault on Congress since the War of 1812. They were motivated by Trump’s false claims that the election was stolen from him through fraud. McConnell also took issue with those claims. “The election of 2020 was decided December 14 of 2020, when the Electoral College certified the winner of the election,” he said. At least 165 of the 725 people charged with taking part in the U.S. Capitol riot have pleaded guilty, according to the Justice Department. During Saturday’s rally Trump also called for protests against prosecutors in New York and Georgia investigating him and his company. (Reporting by David Morgan and Caitlin Webber; Editing by Tim Ahmann, Scott Malone and Grant McCool) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Julio Cesar-Chavez and Dan Fastenberg RICHMOND, Va. (Reuters) – A year after George Floyd’s murder sparked the toppling of Confederate statues, the United States continues removing segregationist symbols at an unprecedented rate, according to a Southern Poverty Law Center report released on Tuesday. But the removal of 73 statues, signs and school names in 2021 goes beyond the math, said Lecia Brooks, the center’s chief of staff. Demand for the destruction of symbols such as those honoring Confederate commander Robert E. Lee shows an awakening to the harm inflicted on the American public by honoring racist figures, racial equality advocates say. “We’ve seen tremendous movement with respect to the removal of monuments and memorials dedicated to Robert E. Lee,” Brooks said, noting that more shrines honored him nationwide than any other Confederate leader. “What this tells us is that the public has become educated about these so-called Confederate leaders and are demanding they be removed from public space.” Teardowns included the removal in September of a Robert E. Lee statue from its base in Virginia’s capital city of Richmond after a year-long legal battle over the monument that was the focus of protests over racial injustice. In its report “Whose Heritage?”, the center said the May 25, 2020 murder of Floyd, a Black man killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis, sparked a racial reckoning and removal of symbols at 159 sites across the nation. Teardowns of Confederate symbols in both 2020 and 2021 far outpaced 2019, when just 21 of them were dismantled, the report said. Removal campaigns, often spearheaded by student groups and local officials, face hurdles in six southern states that created or passed so-called heritage bills to outlaw removal of Confederate symbols, Brooks said. In Montgomery, Alabama, the City Council in October renamed Jeff Davis Avenue, which honored Confederate states President Jefferson Davis, to Fred D. Gray Avenue in honor of the lawyer for Rosa Parks, a Black woman whose refusal to give up her seat on a segregated bus helped launch the American civil rights movement. The state attorney general’s office is contesting the renaming. (Writing by Barbara Goldberg in New York; Editing by Richard Chang) View the full article

Published by AFP Smaller artists on Spotify say they'd like to leave the platform — the way Neil Young and Joni Mitchell did — but just can't Washington (AFP) – After music legends Neil Young and Joni Mitchell quit Spotify over a Covid misinformation row, some lesser-known artists have said they simply couldn’t afford to leave the world’s largest music streamer — despite their concerns. The row sparked a discussion about other artists exiting the platform of more than 170 million subscribers in a stand against Spotify’s partnership with podcaster Joe Rogan, who has been accused of promoting vaccine falsehoods on his show. But the opportunity for less well-known artists to reach a large audience and potentially get paid for streams of their music means they feel obligated to stick with Spotify, even though many say the streaming giant unfairly compensates them. “For me, Spotify is kind of a necessary evil,” said Leo Sidran, musician and host of the podcast “The Third Story.” “To leave Spotify would be a decision to eliminate an enormous potential for people to find me.” The music business has always been a tough one for performers, but the decline in major record labels’ absolute power as industry gatekeepers has given rise to a new landscape that has its own pitfalls. Acts with smaller followings have to do a lot of their own promotion, which makes platforms like Spotify or other streaming programs — and their music-hungry audiences — a way to get onto listeners’ playlists. “It’s crucial to be heard,” said New York-based jazz guitarist Michael Valeanu. “I think those platforms are how people consume music these days.” Valeanu had not listened to the Rogan podcasts in question and so was undecided on the controversy at hand — but said he was willing to quit Spotify simply because he says the platform does not fairly distribute revenue among artists. For example, Valeanu said he has been paid only about $500 across platforms, largely from Spotify, for his roughly 10-year-old first album that has been streamed “thousands” of times. Going to be discovered Spotify told AFP that as of 2020, it has paid over $23 billion in royalties to rights holders — including over $5 billion in 2020 alone. Artists’ streaming payments are tied to how in-demand they are, so there will be a financial impact for popular performers such as Mitchell and Young — and for their record companies. Billboard magazine estimates Young’s decision to pull his music from Spotify will cost him personally around $754,000 annually, while the impact will be a roughly $272,000-per-year loss for Mitchell. Young’s Twitter account directed fans to head to Amazon Music to stream his tunes, providing a link and noting “all new listeners will get four months free.” “He is standing up to Spotify… (And) now he’s pointing people to Amazon Music, which actually doesn’t make any difference,” said a singer-songwriter who performs under the name Pilsner Man, noting both are streaming platforms that don’t favor less famous acts. The 29-year-old Pennsylvania-based artist said he makes less than $200 a month via Spotify, noting that losing that money by leaving the app would hurt his professional prospects — but maybe not as much as losing the exposure. “A lot of it has to do with algorithms as well — people find music on playlists,” he added. “So if you’re on (Spotify), you’re going to be discovered by people who aren’t even really looking for you.” Some artists complained that bigger acts like Young, Mitchell and others had stepped away from the platform over misinformation, not in support of criticism of streaming pay rates. Last straw While singer-songwriter India.Arie cited Rogan in her social media post announcing her departure from Spotify, she went a little further. “Paying musicians a fraction of a penny? And (Rogan) $100 million?” she wrote. “This shows the type of company they are and the company they keep.” Sidran, the musician and podcast host, said the only way he sees the current system changing is for the biggest names in music to withdraw their work — and so far, they haven’t. “(If) Adele, or Billie Eilish, or some really big contemporary pop artists were to leave, maybe it would make a difference,” he said. “But for the independent artists to leave, it doesn’t really impact Spotify, it impacts the artists.” But independent performer Miles Blackwood, a 31-year-old known as Baze Blackwood, said the Rogan episode came on top of his concerns about the pay rate, citing other platforms he thinks are more equitable. “I’m in the process of removing all my music from Spotify,” the Boston-based musician told AFP on Monday. “I think this was really more of the final straw.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Rita Moreno has said she tried to “end her life” after being “mistreated” by Marlon Brando. The 90-year-old actress – who is known for playing the role of Anita in original film version of ‘West Side Story’ – claimed that while her eight-year relationship with late Hollywood icon Marlon Brando in the 1950s was “exciting”, he was a “bad guy” towards women. She said: “Ultimately, it was exciting to be with Marlon. Oh, my God, it was exciting. He was extraordinary in many, many ways, but he was a bad guy. He was a bad guy when it came to women. I was such a different person then. I had all the makings of a doormat. “So whenever he lied, I would look at him and I’d say, ‘Marlon, look at me.’ And he’d start to grin this kind of — I don’t want to use the bad word — that poop-eating grin. I could read him like a book and that’s why he loved me, and that’s why he mistreated me in so many ways. I tried to end my life with pills in his house. That’s how I tried to do it.” Speaking to fellow actress Jessica Chastain for Variety’s ‘Actors on Actors’ series, Rita explained that she experienced confusion over wanting to kill the “trod-upon” version of herself. She added: “I didn’t understand that if I was going to kill this pathetic, sad, trod-upon Rita, the rest of Rita was also going to go with me. I really didn’t seem to understand that. But that’s what the attempt was. It was an attempt.” The Oscar-winning star – who was later married to her manager Leonard Gordon from 1965 until his death in 2010 – went on to reveal that Marlon had wanted to reunite after she had settled down. She said: “What’s interesting is that he wanted to renew. I was now married. I had a beautiful child, Fernanda. He was ready to have a go again. I didn’t want that. But he did. He lost a big part of himself, I think. The good part of him, the good Marlon that Rita loved. It was very complicated. Really, really complicated.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Tommy Dorfman’s husband has filed for divorce. The ’13 Reasons Why’ star came out as transgender in July 2021, and now, her husband Peter Zurkuhlen has submitted documents, obtained by TMZ this week, to end their marriage after five years. The pair became engaged in April 2015, after meeting through a mutual friend, and tied the knot a year later. Tommy previously admitted the pair had transitioned into friends rather than lovers. She said: “I was in a nine-year relationship in which I was thought of as a more male-bodied person, with a gay man. “I love him so much, but we’ve been learning that as a trans woman, what I’m interested in is not necessarily reflected in a gay man. So we’ve had incredible conversations to redefine our relationship as friends.” Meanwhile, Tommy previously explained that her “spirit was attuned to whatever it means to be a woman”. She said: “A trans elder asked me what I see myself as when I’m older, when I’m 60, 70, 90. It was so clear, I just saw Cate Blanchett. But I really couldn’t imagine not being a mother or a grandmother. “My spirit was so attuned to whatever it means to be a woman. I’ve walked in the privilege of a male body, but [being a woman] is all I’ve known on the inside. Trans women would clock me all the time and be like, ‘Hey, girl, what’s up?’ because it’s sort of a thing you recognise.” Tommy has received positive reactions from unexpected places since coming out, including from people she grew up with that she thought she would “never see again”. She added: “There are some people that I grew up with in the South who I thought I was never going to see again. So it was nice to get text messages and calls from people I grew up going to NASCAR with or who you would expect to be incredibly conservative and not accepting. But to see me, someone they knew as a child, stepping into this space in a public way helped them wrap their heads around it.” The 29-year-old actress has been taking hormones and is already seeing the positive effects. She said in August: “I just switched my hormones, and I’ve never felt better in my life. I spent 28 years of my life suicidal and depressed and recovering from alcoholism and drug addiction. I don’t think I’ve ever been genuinely happy until this past year. I look at the Internet chronicle of photos of me since I started working, and I can see how f****** unhappy I was in every photo. It’s wild.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Russian viewers are livid with the sequel to Sex and the City, accusing HBO Max & Sarah Jessica Parker of double standards. MEGA “I took great offense to how the Russian women were insulted in the eighth episode of the “And Just Like That.” A woman is called a “Russian Prostitute”, stating that it is a common occurrence among owners of expensive real estate. Turns out later, the neighbor is a successful entrepreneur and not even Russian,” American-Russian radio star Michael Levitis tells Radar. Sarah Jessica Parker Tried To Get Out Of ‘Sex And The City,’ Claims Author Candace Bushnell Mega “As an ex-cast member of the Reality Show, The Russian Dolls, our characters caught a lot of flak for portraying Russians, Russian women in particular for being decadent, uber-fashionable and sexual. However, we have never insinuated that the Russian women do not work hard to achieve their success as business owners or professionals, or that they trade their bodies for money,” he continued. “If Sex and the City characters referred to any other ethnicity as sex workers there would be immediate outcry, calls for boycott and ultimately an apology. I refuse these double standards. On behalf of my Russian speaking mother, sister, daughter and girlfriend – all living in New York and successful in their own right – I demand that HBO apologize for insulting Russian and Russian-speaking women. ‘Livid’ Sarah Jessica Parker Comes Out Of Hiding, Looks Stressed In First Outing Since Chris Noth Sexual Assault Allegations Michael Levitis is currently a host of The Michael Levitis Show on Russian Radio FreedomFM 104.7. MEGA Using the hashtags #metoorussia and #metoorussian, Russian emigrants based in the United States launched a petition on change.org, demanding an official apology. “Rotten ‘tolerance’! They passionately defend one group, but allow themselves to offend and reduce another,” user Petrova Sonya wrote. “In a TV series which is pretending to be feminist, tolerant to all people of color and [the] LGBT community, you said that a young woman living in a good apartment must be a hooker and use national belonging, are you serious? In 2022! Think about what you said, you should apologize to Russians!” wrote Sandra. “Shame on you! You are fighting for women’s rights and freedoms all over the world and producing hurtful racist stereotypes about women in Russia at the same time,” bogoslovskaya_k, commented. HBO Max has yet to react to the scandal and the episode is still available on its streaming service. View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega A man who claims Kevin Spacey made a sexual advance on him when he was only 16 has been ordered to sit for a second deposition. According to court documents obtained by Radar, a federal court judge has ordered Justin Dawes to show up to court and answer additional questions under oath. Dawes recently came forward to testify as part of actor Anthony Rapp’s lawsuit against Spacey. mega Rapp is suing the House of Cards actor for making a sexual advance on him in 1986 when he was 14. Spacey denies all allegations and accuses Rapp of making up the story to be a part of the #MeToo movement. Dawes reached out to Rapp offering to testify under oath. He was recently deposed where he claims he met Spacey in 1988. At the time he was working at a local theater in Connecticut. MEGA Dawes was 16 and Spacey was 29. Under oath, Dawes claimed the actor invited him and his friend over to watch movies at his apartment. They arrived to find the television playing gay porn. He testified that Spacey allegedly made them cocktails and tried to “make a sexual advance on him.” MEGA The accuser said Spacey put his hand on his left leg, just above the knew, for 30-445 seconds. Dawes said it was “mildly uncomfortable” but he never felt threatened. “I thought it was a kind of, you know, probing of a sexual nature to see how comfortable I was with that. I don’t remember really reacting in any way. I just kind of – just kind of froze, just sort of noticed it and continued on,” he said. MEGA Spacey demanded to know the name of the friend who was with them during the encounter but Dawes refused. The actor then filed a motion asking the court to force Dawes to name the friend. He also asked the court to throw out Dawes’ testimony and not allow it to be introduced during the trial due to his refusal to name the friend. The judge in the case sided with Spacey and has ordered Dawes to sit for a second depo, where he will have to name the friend. However, he declined the request to throw out his testimony. View the full article

Key West attracts gay travelers with its offbeat, independent spirit. Photo by Mike Freas/Florida Keys News BureauThe demand for LGBTQ+ travelers has never been higher. As global acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community continues to rise, more and more popular destinations are courting queer tourists. However, it takes much more than a coat of rainbow paint to make a gay destination. When deciding where to spend your dollars on your next gaycation, find a locale with some real queer credentials. While many vacation spots boast “LGBTQ+-friendly” accommodations and experiences, Key West delivers a tropical paradise with gay culture baked into its DNA. You can trace the island’s welcoming, independent spirit throughout its history. Cuban cigar rollers, pirates and marijuana smugglers are among the early influences on Key West’s revolutionary culture. The remote location — the Southernmost point in the United States — and idyllic climate continued to attract artists, writers, free-thinkers and queer people through today, where the island proudly declares it’s “Close to Perfect, Far from Normal.” At its peak, Key West’s fiercely weird streak led to a short-lived cessation from the Union, leading to the formation of the Conch Republic. To this day, Key West prides itself on its offbeat nature, a place for those who gleefully live life on the fringe to come party in paradise. Luminaries like Ernest Hemingway, Judy Bloom and Leonard Bernstein were drawn to the island, along with a long list of queer artists who made Key West their home or regular vacation destination. Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally and Broadway’s Jerry Herman owned homes. Queer, Pulitzer Prize-winning poets James Merill and Elizabeth Bishop also spent time living on the island. James Kirkwood, Key West resident and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of “A Chorus Line,” reportedly once described Key West as “a place for lost people who are a little tilted.” That includes legendary gay playwright Tennessee Williams, who owned a house and completed several works on the island. Key West visitors can take a deeper dive into Williams’ time in Key West at the Tennessee Williams Museum — a an easily-digestible, self-guided collection of memorabilia. With so many creatives drawn to the island, Key West’s politics and policy are much more progressive than one typically associates with Florida. Key West has been at the forefront of inclusivity, extending anti-discrimination law to transgender individuals all the way back in 2003. Key West’s Richard Heyman became the United States’ first openly-gay mayor in 1983. The island’s current mayor, Teri Johnston, is the first openly-gay woman elected mayor in Florida. Key West’s embrace of the LGBTQ+ community is easy to see even with the naked eye. The Key West AIDS Memorial is believed to be one of the first of its kind, honoring more than 1,200 people who died of complications due to AIDS. It sits at the entrance of the Edward B. Knight Pier overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and commemorates in Zimbabwean marble the names of those lost. Even the sidewalks are in on the action. There are four permanent rainbow crosswalks lining the intersection of Duval and Petronia Streets — right in the thick of the city’s gay entertainment district. There you’ll find hotspots like Bourbon Street Bar and Saloon One, as well as drag spots Aqua, 801 Bourbon Bar and, the home of the island’s resident celebrity impersonators Randy Roberts and Christopher Peterson, LaTeDa. Sushi rings in New Year Key West style — in a giant replica of a women’s red high heel. (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau/HO)Lots of places claim a gayborhood flush with nightclubs and drag bars, but Key West drag has the attention of the globe. Instead of dropping a ball on New Year’s Eve, the Key West tradition is to lower an enormous red high-heel shoe with the island’s most famous drag queen, Sushi, inside. The annual event has been broadcast as part of CNN’s yearly coverage of celebrations around the world. That’s not the only way Key West likes to party. Womenfest has been celebrating lesbians, trans women and allies for more than 20 years. While not exclusively an LGBTQ+ event, Fantasy Fest is famously the island’s wildest event, where all types of folks shed their inhibitions (and everyday clothing). Key West’s annual Pride celebration is a legendary party that even earned a spot in the Guinness book of records for showcasing a 1.25 mile rainbow banner, created by the original Pride flag designer Gilbert Baker. The 1.25 mile rainbow banner, created by Pride flag designer Gilbert Baker, on display in 2003. (Photo by Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau.)Of course, it’s no surprise the tropical climate and welcoming atmosphere convinces a lot of gay travelers to stay full-time. Some of the island’s most beloved and unique attractions are gay-owned and operated businesses, like the must-see Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. Gay business owners in Key West span industries, including the world-renowned culinary scene. Take Azur, a Mediterranean-inspired spot and one of our favorite brunches on the island. Gay travelers at one of Key West’s guest houses, Island House. The thriving LGBTQ+ community has created some uniquely Key West experiences. The popularity of the clothing-optional culture in Key West makes it possible for three guest houses on the island to offer all-male, clothing-optional properties. There’s New Orleans House overlooking Duval Street, as well as Equator Resort and Island House in Old Town. Alexander’s Guest House — which is open to all genders, and caters specifically to the LGBTQ+ community and allies — has the option to go au naturale on the sundeck. Exclusively queer (and clothing-optional) experiences aren’t limited to dry land. The BluQ offers all-male, clothing-optional snorkeling and sand bar trips, as well as LGBTQ+ adults-only sunset sails open to all genders. There are so many LGBTQ+ businesses and experiences in Key West, it can be overwhelming. Check back through our previous coverage for more information, or reach out to the Key West Business Guild, which has been promoting LGBTQ+ travel and businesses on the island since 1978. Whether you end up in Key West for short time or a lifetime, it’ll certainly be a gay ol’ time. Start planning your next gaycation to Key West today. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Tyler Clifford NEW YORK (Reuters) – Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will not face criminal charges related to sexual harassment claims that led to his resignation last year after the last county prosecutor investigating allegations from one of several women said he had no legal basis to pursue a case. “To be clear, this decision is based solely upon an assessment of the law and whether the People can establish a legally sufficient case under controlling precedent,” Oswego County District Attorney Gregory Oakes said in a statement on Monday about accusations by Virginia Limmiatis “In no way should this decision be interpreted as casting doubt upon the character of credibility of Ms. Limmiatis, or how harmful the acts she experienced were,” Oakes said. Cuomo resigned in August after an investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James concluded that he sexually harassed 11 women. The Democrat was in his third term as governor. Limmiatis, who works for an energy company, last March accused Cuomo of touching her chest inappropriately at an event in 2017. She said she feared reporting him because he was a powerful figure. The Oswego district attorney’s decision does not mean Cuomo is innocent of abusing his power, an attorney for Limmiatis said in a statement. “Not every violation of law results in a criminal prosecution,” Mariann Wang, the attorney, said. Limmiatis’ claims were included in James’ report, which said Cuomo violated the law and created a “toxic” workplace when he groped, kissed or made suggestive comments to women. Cuomo has said his accusers had misinterpreted his words, gestures and demeanor. Rich Azzopardi, a spokesman for Cuomo, said on Monday that James’ report was a “political hit job”. “As now five DAs have verified, none of the accusations in Tish James’ fraud of a report have stood up to any level of real scrutiny,” he told Reuters. “As we’ve said since the beginning, the truth will come out.” James’ office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. James had declined to charge Cuomo after announcing the findings of her report in August. Oakes’s decision not to charge Cuomo follows similar moves by prosecutors in Manhattan, Nassau, Westchester and Albany counties. (Reporting by Tyler Clifford in New York. Additional reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru and Jonathan Stempel in New York, Editing by Donna Bryson and Angus MacSwan) View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Georgia prosecutor who is conducting a criminal investigation of Donald Trump has asked the FBI for a risk assessment and security protections, citing the former president’s “alarming” rhetoric about prosecutors and the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis, who is investigating whether Trump tried to influence the state’s handling of the 2020 election, told the FBI’s Atlanta field office that her concerns were driven by Trump’s comments in Texas on Saturday, when he attacked “radical, vicious racist prosecutors” and encouraged protests in Washington, New York and Atlanta. In a letter dated Sunday, Willis said her staff has already made security accommodations around the Fulton County courthouse and government offices. “Security concerns were escalated this weekend by the rhetoric of former President Trump at a public event in Conroe, Texas,” she wrote, adding that the event was “undoubtedly watched by millions.” “This rhetoric is more alarming in light of his statements” concerning pardons for those convicted of crimes in last year’s deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol. Willis asked the FBI for an immediate risk assessment and protective resources including intelligence and federal agents. She said it was important the resources were in place well before a special grand jury convenes in the case on May 2. The FBI field office did not return a request for comment. The investigation by Willis, a Democrat, is the most serious probe facing Trump in Georgia after he was recorded in a phone call pressuring Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to overturn the state’s election results based on unfounded claims of voter fraud. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis) View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Rob Lowe, Magic Johnson, and Governor Gavin Newsom were just a few of the big-name people who failed to adhere to the current mask mandates during the Rams-49ers playoff football game this past weekend. According to the Los Angeles Times, Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti are facing backlash after the two California leaders were caught taking pictures with celebrities at Sunday’s game without wearing masks despite the mandate they put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 throughout their state. Mega “Hanging out at SoFi Stadium today!” tweeted Magic, 62, along with photos of Newsom, Garcetti, and San Francisco Mayor London Breed. Although the celebs and politicians looked to be having the time of their lives, other people are not happy that none of the state’s leaders were wearing masks while simultaneously expecting everybody else to mask up. “So, none of the government officials wearing a mask like they ordered everyone else to,” one person posted to social media after the pictures of Johnson and Governor Newsom started spreading. “So glad my son has to wear a mask to school everyday but Gov Newsom doesn’t,” another person also added. Even California State Senator Melissa Melendez took to the social media platform to criticize Governor Newsom for what some people are calling blatant hypocrisy. Mega “Toddlers are being forced to wear masks all day long in school,” she wrote. “Maybe one day they’ll be governor or the mayor of LA and they won’t have the follow the rules they impose on others.” Despite the photographs showing Newsom without a mask, his communications director released a statement Sunday night regarding the maskless governor. “He continues to encourage all Californians to do their part to get through the pandemic and this latest surge, including wearing a mask and getting vaccinated,” Erin Mellon said on behalf of the California governor after Newsom “acknowledged that he took off his mask for a few moments during Sunday’s game.” As of this post, neither Garcetti nor Breed have responded to the current criticism regarding their failure to wear masks at SoFi Stadium. Mega View the full article

Published by Reuters By Tom Hals and Mike Spector (Reuters) – Members of the Sackler family who own Purdue Pharma LP are nearing an agreement to boost their more than $4 billion offer to resolve sprawling opioid litigation after negotiating with states that had objected to terms of the OxyContin maker’s bankruptcy reorganization, according to a court filing. Sackler family members and states objecting to terms of Purdue’s bankruptcy reorganization are “close to an agreement in principle” to contribute additional cash beyond the $4.325 billion they had pledged to settle opioid litigation, according to a mediator’s interim report filed on Monday. An agreement involving members of the Sackler family and several state attorneys general could potentially end a legal challenge that has prevented Purdue from exiting bankruptcy, and clear the way for a plan aimed at helping to abate the opioid crisis. The mediation kicked off in January among Sackler family members and several states after a U.S. district judge overturned the original settlement, which was the cornerstone of Purdue’s bankruptcy reorganization plan. The judge found the reorganization plan improperly shielded Sackler family members, who had not filed for Chapter 11 themselves, from opioid litigation. The mediator, former U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Shelley Chapman, said any additional contribution from the Sacklers would be solely for opioid abatement. She asked that talks be extended to Feb. 7, a request that could be considered at a bankruptcy-court hearing on Tuesday. The report described marathon negotiating sessions held on Jan. 25-26 in New York that ran more than 12 hours each day and involved two unidentified state attorneys general who participated in person and another who joined by Zoom. The settlement agreement had been opposed by at least eight state attorneys general, including Bob Ferguson in Washington state and William Tong in Connecticut. Purdue, the maker of the highly addictive OxyContin opioid painkiller, filed for bankruptcy in 2019 in the face of thousands of lawsuits accusing it and the Sacklers of fueling the U.S. opioid epidemic through deceptive marketing. The opioid abuse crisis has led to nearly 500,000 overdose deaths over two decades, according to U.S. data. Sackler family members have denied wrongdoing. Purdue pleaded guilty in November 2020 to three felonies arising from its handling of OxyContin. Several members of the Sackler family testified during Purdue’s bankruptcy trial that their contribution to the settlement was conditioned on receiving “global peace” from opioid litigation. (Reporting by Mike Spector in New York; writing by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Bill Berkrot) View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Janet Jackson‘s pleas for fans to lay off Justin Timberlake almost 18 years after the pair’s Super Bowl scandal are being ignored. In her Lifetime and A&E documentary, Janet, the titular songstress urged her supporters to finally forgive the former NSYNC frontman for that infamous halftime show wardrobe malfunction that arguably derailed her career. As darn near everyone will recall, it was at the very end of their sultry Rock Your Body performance that Justin ripped off part of Janet’s top, which briefly exposed her right breast. Both the media and the public vilified her, while his reputation remained untouched. Mega “Honestly, this whole thing was blown way out of proportion,” Jackson said of the incident. “And of course, it was an accident that should not have happened, but everyone is looking for someone to blame, and that’s got to stop.” Not only has she reconciled with Timberlake, but she says the two are even “very good friends” who will “always be very good friends.” “We spoke just a few days ago,” she explained. “He and I have moved on, and it’s time for everyone else to do the same.” Mega But Twitter wasn’t having it. “Janet Jackson: I’ve forgiven Justin Timberlake! Please leave him alone!” read one of thousands of tweets that poked fun at fans’ unwavering support. “Black Twitter: .” “Janet really told us to leave Justin Timberlake alone and that she’s in a better place and all of Black Twitter respectfully said no,” read another post. “Janet telling me to not hate Justin Timberlake no more,” tweeted someone else alongside a picture of Real Housewives of Atlanta alum NeNe Leakes turning her head away. Another person simply added, “Janet may forgive Justin Timberlake but I don’t…” “I love & respect Janet Jackson but NAW SIS we do NOT forgive Justin Timberlake!” explained another critic. “He coulda used a pinky’s worth of his privilege to defend you but hid behind you like a lil &%$#@! He needs to do way more to atone than that weak ass apology he gave years too late.” “I don’t care what Janet told Justin Timberlake! That muthaf–ka should’ve insisted to publicly say something on her behalf!” read another message. Sorry, Janet. At least you tried! Mega View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jason Lange and Alexandra Ulmer (Reuters) -Donald Trump’s fundraising slowed in late 2021 but the former leader still amassed more than $100 million in cash that could help Republicans in their bid to win congressional majorities later this year, disclosures released on Monday showed. Trump’s main fundraising committee, known as Save America, took in about $23 million between July and December of last year, down from $62 million in the first half of 2021, according to reports to the Federal Election Commission. Trump, now about one year out of office after losing the 2020 presidential election to Democrat Joe Biden, remains popular among Republicans as he continues to falsely state he lost the election due to fraud. The slowdown in his fundraising raised eyebrows among Republicans. “The further Trump gets away from the White House, the harder it seems to be for him to raise money,” said Dan Eberhart, a prominent Republican donor and the CEO of oilfield services company Canary, LLC. While Trump has strongly hinted he could run for president again in 2024, campaign finance rules forbid him from funding his own candidacy with money raised by Save America. But Trump is spending large sums to hold political rallies that ostensibly support Republican candidates but which feature his own speeches as the main event. “Trump very well may find a way to spend the money he raised in 2021 in support of a 2024 campaign and get away with it,” said Paul Ryan, a campaign finance specialist at Common Cause, a nonpartisan group that advocates for government reform. In the second half to 2021, Save America paid event management company Event Strategies, Inc more than $1.4 million, according to Save America’s financial disclosure. Trump has endorsed dozens of Republican candidates, including several who are mounting challenges against Republicans who voted with Democrats to impeach Trump on a charge he incited a deadly assault on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Save America, which ended 2021 with $105 million in cash, has contributed just $1.35 million to “like-minded causes and endorsed candidates,” according to sums released by Trump’s office. The group in July made a $1 million donation to the Conservative Partnership Institute, which currently lists Trump’s former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows as a senior partner. Trump’s former campaign committee, now dubbed the Make America Great Again PAC, had $6.7 million in cash at the end of the year, with much of its outlays in the second half of the year going to legal expenses, according to a separate financial disclosure. Save America and the former campaign together spent more that $290,000 on rent, catering, meetings and lodgings at Trump properties during the period, the disclosures showed. In addition, Make America Great Again spent more than $52,000 in rental and meeting expenses at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, according to its filing. In the statement about the fundraising haul, Trump spokesperson Taylor Budowich said the former leader’s movement “is set to crash across the midterms and carry forward all the way through 2024.” Democrats, who hold slim majorities in Congress, are bracing for a difficult election season as Biden’s popularity has slumped among voters worn down by the COVID-19 pandemic and its toll on the economy. (Reporting by Jason Lange and Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Stephen Coates) View the full article