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Published by Radar Online Tom Cruiseshocked the world when he made a rare appearance — with what appeared to be a brand-new face. The 59-year-old looked puffy when he was spotted in the stands at the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants game with his 26-year-old son, Connor Cruise, over the weekend. MEGA Many barely recognized theTop Gun actor when he was caught on the Jumbotron during Saturday’s MLB rivalry face-off. Radar has spoken to two plastic surgeons who explain what Cruise could be doing to that beautiful mug of his. Tom Cruise Looks Puffy, Almost Unrecognizable During Outing At LA Dodgers Vs. SF Giants Game It’s worth noting that neither doctor has worked on Cruise personally, but they are experts in their field — meaning, they know what they are talking about. According to Pam Agullo, MD, it could be a “filler abuse.” “Shocked to see how much Tom Cruise has changed. He had managed to look so good for such a long time,” she tells us. “Definitely seems like he has gained a lot of weight, or is a case of filler abuse.” MEGA Agullo adds, “If that’s the case, it is the perfect example of how under inexperienced hands, fillers actually make you look older.” While she just saw a close-up of the actor, she says it “would be interesting to see if the rest of his body shows weight gain as well though.” Our plastic surgeon expert also points out that Cruise “seems to be suffering from thinning hair too” and “his skin would also benefit from microneedling treatment, or radio frequency procedure to tighten skin and stimulate collagen production.” Agullo advises Cruise to “take an aggressive anti-aging approach asap!” Dr. Frank Agullo aka Dr. Worldwide seems to agree with Agullo. “Tom Cruise has always seemed to defy aging, but in this photo it seems like he has gained facial weight or had too much fillers to the cheeks,” he tells Radar. “He has excess upper eyelid skin and wrinkles around the eyes which would benefit from a blepharoplasty and skin tightening. He is also showing jowls and loose neck skin which would benefit from skin tightening or a lower facelift,” Dr. Worldwide adds. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jesy Nelson is “open” to dating a woman. The ‘Boyz’ singer – who has previously dated Chris Hughes, Sean Sagar, and Harry James – would rather date a “masculine” female than a “girly girl” but thinks her options are limited. Speaking on an Instagram Live with Nicki Minaj, the ‘Super Bass’ hitmaker asked her if she’d consider dating a woman and Jesy replied: “With the way my love life’s going I’d be open to it, to be honest. “My sister is gay and I’d say my sister’s the more masculine one in the group and her wife is the more feminine one…if I was dating a girl I wouldn’t want a girly girl, I’d want more masculine, there aren’t many masculine girls that I can say…” And the former Little Mix star thinks Nicki – who has a 12-month-old son with husband Kenneth Petty – is “so sexy” and was blown away by her “sex appeal” when they shot the video for ‘Boyz’. She gushed: ““You’re sexy, even when I was on set with you I was like ‘Jesus Christ this woman is so sexy.’ You ooze sex appeal.” When she dates a guy, Jesy, 30, likes to find a man who is “big” because they make her feel “cute and small”. She said: “When’s someone big I feel looked after and I am a curvy girl so when the man is bigger it makes me feel cute and small.” The IG Live session also saw Nicki launch an attack Leigh-Anne Pinnock, branding her a “jealous clown” following reports the singer had slammed Jesy in leaked text messages, criticising her former bandmate for allegedly “blackfishing” and darkening her skin with fake tan for the ‘Boyz’ video. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Rajesh Kumar Singh and Sanjana Shivdas CHICAGO (Reuters) – Rebuffing the Texas governor, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines said on Tuesday they would comply with U.S. President Joe Biden’s executive order to require that their employees be vaccinated for COVID-19 by a Dec. 8 deadline. The two Texas-based carriers said the federal mandate superseded an order by Republican Governor Greg Abbott barring https://www.reuters.com/world/us/texas-governor-bars-all-vaccine-mandates-state-2021-10-11 COVID-19 vaccine mandates by any entity, including private employers. Southwest said it “would be expected to comply with the President’s Order to remain compliant as a federal contractor.” American said while it was reviewing Abbott’s executive order, “this does not change anything” for the company. Both carriers have asked U.S.-based employees to submit proof of vaccination by Nov. 24. Biden issued his mandate last month as his administration struggled to control the pandemic, which has killed more than 700,000 Americans. It covers all federal contractors. While supporters of vaccine mandates see them as necessary to pull the country out of the nearly two-year-old pandemic, critics are calling them unconstitutional and authoritarian. Six employees of United Airlines, which became the first U.S. carrier in August to require vaccinations for all domestic employees, have filed a class action in federal court in Texas claiming that workers who sought exemptions from the vaccine mandate were subjected to intrusive inquiries about their medical conditions or religious beliefs, including a requirement that they obtain letters from pastors. The court, which is due to hear the case on Wednesday, issued an order on Tuesday restraining the airline until Oct. 26 from placing on unpaid leave any employee who receives religious or medical exemptions from the company for COVID-19 vaccinations. The court also temporarily restrained United from denying any late requests for religious or medical accommodations. In his executive order, Abbott said the Biden administration was “bullying” many private entities into imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, causing workforce disruptions. In its response, the White House said on Tuesday that Abbott’s order was out of step with businesses in the state. Press secretary Jen Psaki said the governor’s decision was motivated by politics, not science. (Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago and Sanjana Shivdas in Bengaluru; Editing by Howard Goller and Sandra Maler) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Tan France says he received DMs “filled with such venom” after sharing an ad about formula feeding. The ‘Queer Eye’ star and his husband Rob welcomed their first child, Ismail, into the world on July 10 via a surrogate, and the new father has revealed he was shamed for choosing formula to feed the newborn as opposed to breast milk. The ad posted on Instagram read: “It’s National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, where one type of feeding is put on a social pedestal and those who can not or chose not to are made to feel second best for formula feeding. “No one should ever feel guilty for feeding their baby formula. ‘How is feeding going?’ as opposed to ‘How is Breast Feeding going.’ A fed baby is what matters most.” Tan insisted he and his spouse would much prefer their son to be breastfed but it just wasn’t an option for them. Speaking on Parents’ ‘We Are Family’ podcast, he said: “Our surrogate wasn’t able to pump for us, and we didn’t want to use donor milk. We did a lot of research into donor milk, and for us, it just wasn’t right for us. “I want to make it clear to everyone listening: I 100 per cent believe that breastmilk is the gold standard, so does [Rob]. We all understand that. If I could breastfeed my child, 100 per cent I would. I can’t. Therefore, I need to not be shamed for that.” The 38-year-old star says shaming parents for how they choose to feed their child needs to stop. He continued: “Of course they should be given every support they need. We also need to not shame the people who cannot breastfeed their child or give their child breastmilk and have to formula feed, or just choose to formula feed.” And while he received plenty of nasty comments, Tan’s DMs were also filled with “positivity between moms” and “beautiful support”. He added: “There was absolutely a lot of hate. It didn’t bother me, because there was also so much love between women, between moms on these comments … One of them would say, ‘I felt such guilt. I struggled with this for so many years.’ And other women would comment such beautiful support. “There are thousands of comments on that post. If ever you just wanna feel like there’s some good in the world and that there is some positivity between moms, please just look through those DMs. It’s actually quite beautiful.” View the full article

Published by DPA Netflix's "Squid Game" has now won over more fans than "Bridgerton" since launching. How is it that a show about a violent rat race where people are murdered every few minutes now trumps Netflix's cheerful period romance? Youngkyu Park/Netflix/dpa After weeks of hype, headlines and memes, the South Korean show “Squid Game” is now officially the most successful show Netflix has ever launched. “‘Squid Game’ has officially reached 111 million fans — making it our biggest series launch ever,” the streaming platform said on Twitter on Wednesday. The brutal show, about several hundred people competing in a gameshow-like fight to the death for a pile of cash, managed to break this record in just 27 days since its premiere on September 17. The previous record holder was the British drama “Bridgerton”, which was streamed by 82 million viewers in the 28 days after its launch in December 2020. If you aren’t one of the 111 million to have watched: The show centres on around 500 people from a wide variety of backgrounds – all of them apparently in debt and all competing against each other in what appear to be harmless children’s games to win millions in prize money. But soon it turns out that the losers won’t make it out alive. So how is it that a show about a violent rat race where people are murdered every few minutes now trumps Netflix’s cheerful period romance? In its home country, “Squid Game” struck a chord primarily because of its overt social criticism. “One reason why Netflix’s record-breaking hit drama resonated with so many people is that it is also a social commentary on real-life incidents in Korea,” writes the daily Korea Herald. Growing inequality, discrimination against social minorities and extreme pressure to perform: almost all major social problems are addressed in “Squid Game.” In an interview, director Hwang Dong Hyuk said he wanted to portray the “survival game as a metaphor, a parable for modern capitalist society.” It’s no coincidence that this year’s most successful show comes from South Korea, of all places. Since the end of the 1990s, the government in Seoul has been specifically promoting cultural exports as an economic growth industry. Most recently, the country has produced major international successes, above all with the boy band BTS. Internationally, the series has attracted a huge audience, not only in the West, but also in China. On the online platform Weibo, a microblogging service comparable to Twitter, more than 2 billion users have clicked on the hashtag for “Squid Game,” according to media reports. This is despite the show not being officially available on China’s strictly regulated internet. This betrays the levels of content piracy with “Squid Game” in China, something that has turned into something of a diplomatic dispute between Beijing and Seoul. Jang Ha Sung, South Korea’s ambassador in Beijing, has demanded that the Chinese authorities intervene against file-sharing sites that illegally distribute the series, according to Korean broadcaster KBS. Globally, the Netflix series has also led to a significant increase in interest in learning Korean. In early October, the company “Duolingo,” which offers online language courses, announced that since the series launch of “Squid Game” in September, it had registered 40 per cent more users for Korean language courses in the United States than in the same period last year. However, the show is also making waves in schools, and students at a school in Erquelinnes, Belgium, reportedly acted out their own version of the series, with the losers getting downright beaten up. The school administration eventually had to turn to the students’ parents on Facebook. View the full article

Jon GrudenHomophobia Has Consequences Longtime NFL coach Jon Gruden resigned from his position as Las Vegas Raiders head coach Monday after homophobic, racist and misogynist statements from Gruden were unearthed by The New York Times. Gruden’s comments came in the form of emails between himself and former Washington Football Team president Bruce Allen between 2011-18 that were discovered during the NFL’s investigation into the Washington Football Team. In the emails, Gruden calls NFL commissioner Roger Goodell a “faggot” and “clueless anti-football pussy. Goodell’s younger brother is gay and Goodell has stated that he used to protect him from bullies when they were kids. Emails also show Gruden calling former NFL draftee Michael Sam, the first out gay man ever chosen in the NFL draft, a “queer” and criticizing Goodell for supposedly pressuring the then-St. Louis Rams to draft Sam. The emails also include passages where Gruden makes fun of Caitlyn Jenner for her trans identity after she won an ESPY award. While it would’ve been monumental if increased LGBTQ visibility in comic books started “20 years ago,” that doesn’t mean that doing so in 2021 holds less significance. Cain also shared his idea for how Superman could be “bold and brave.” “Brave would be having him fight for the rights of gay people in Iran where they’ll throw you off a building for the offense of being gay,” Cain said. He also suggested the character focus on fighting “the injustices that created the refugees whose deportation he’s protesting” or “for the rights of women to attend school and work and live and boys not to be raped by men under the new warm and fuzzy Taliban.” “There’s real evil in this world today, real corruption and government overreach,” Cain added. “It’d be great to tackle those issues.” Notably absent from Cain’s critique and storyline offerings were domestic threats LGBTQ face from lawmakers supported by Fox News and its audience. Cain himself spoke at noted anti-LGBTQ organization the Family Research Council’s Voter Values Summit in 2018 despite saying he was an LGBTQ ally. Homophobia: Previously on Towleroad Tom Cruise’s Shocking New Face, Plastic Surgeons Weigh-In Towleroad October 13, 2021 No Comments Published by Radar OnlineTom Cruiseshocked the world when he made a rare appearance — with what appeared to be a brand-new face. The 59-year-old looked puffy … Read More Jesy Nelson ‘open’ to dating a woman Towleroad October 13, 2021 No Comments Published by BANG Showbiz EnglishJesy Nelson is “open” to dating a woman. The ‘Boyz’ singer – who has previously dated Chris Hughes, Sean Sagar, and Harry … Read More Rebuffing Texas governor, American Airlines, Southwest stand by vaccine mandate Towleroad October 13, 2021 No Comments Published by ReutersBy Rajesh Kumar Singh and Sanjana Shivdas CHICAGO (Reuters) – Rebuffing the Texas governor, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines said on Tuesday they would … Read More Tan France shamed for formula feeding newborn son Towleroad October 13, 2021 No Comments Published by BANG Showbiz EnglishTan France says he received DMs “filled with such venom” after sharing an ad about formula feeding. The ‘Queer Eye’ star and … Read More 111 million views: ‘Squid Game’ has set a new Netflix record – why? Towleroad October 13, 2021 No Comments Published by DPANetflix's "Squid Game" has now won over more fans than "Bridgerton" since launching. How is it that a show about a violent rat race where people … Read More Raiders Coach Resigns Over Homophobic Emails; NC Lt. Gov. Calls LGBTQ People ‘Filth;’ Dean Cain Bummed at Bi Superman: Homophobia Newsletter Brian Bell October 13, 2021 No Comments Jon Gruden Homophobia Has Consequences Longtime NFL coach Jon Gruden resigned from his position as Las Vegas Raiders head coach Monday after homophobic, racist and misogynist statements … Read More View the full article

Netflix“We Are Not Offended” Criticisms of Netflix have continued this week in the media, among Netflix writers and partners and internally among employees over the latest Dave Chappelle Netflix special “The Closer.” One writer has announced she won’t work for the platform in this state, internal communications boards are full of questions and employee concerns. A transgender Netflix employee who tweeted serious concerns about the special, tried to enter a senior meeting without an invitation and was suspended with two others. Netlfix software engineer Terra Field criticized and offered commentary on Chappelle’s special, the morning after it aired a week ago, calling out the comedian’s transphobic jokes, his defense of J.K. Rowling and rapper DaBaby’s homophobic and transphobic comments, and his defense of his own history of transphobic comments and bits in past stand-up specials. “Yesterday we launched another Chappelle special where he attacks the trans community, and the very validity of transness – all while trying to pit us against other marginalized groups. You’re going to hear a lot of talk about ‘offense.’ We are not offended,” Field wrote. “We aren’t complaining about ‘being offended’ and we don’t have ‘thin skin.'” “What we object to is the harm that content like this does to the trans community (especially trans people of color) and very specifically Black trans women,” she added. “Promoting TERF ideology (which is what we did by giving it a platform yesterday) directly harms trans people, it is not some neutral act. This is not an argument with two sides. It is an argument with trans people who want to be alive and people who don’t want us to be.” Field listed the 38 trans people that have been killed in 2021 according to statistics gathered by the Human Rights Campaign. “That these 38 people died for the crime of being themselves? That actually does offend me,” Field said. Dave Chappelle Netflix: Previously on Towleroad New Dave Chappelle Netflix Special ‘The Closer’ Causing Internal Rift at Company; Trans Employee Suspended After Public Criticism of Transphobic Content Brian Bell October 12, 2021 Read More Notorious Founders Of ‘Conversion Therapy’ Group Exodus Never Did ‘Pray Away’ the Gay; Come Out Again, Slam Similar Programs in Netflix Doc Brian Bell July 13, 2021 Read More Robin Wright Says She and Spacey Could ‘improvise and laugh our asses off, but I Didn’t Know The Man’; Scandal won’t Hurt ‘Cards’ Legacy Towleroad May 28, 2021 Read More Charlize Theron Says Idea For ‘Die Hard’ Reboot With Lesbian ‘on a rampage to save her wife’ is ‘brilliant’; Teams to Produce Surfer Equality Netflix Project Towleroad May 27, 2021 Read More All 5 Episodes of ‘Halston’ Drop Today; Updates, Issues, and Insights on the Glittering Rise – and Notorious Fall – of a Fashion Icon Towleroad May 14, 2021 Read More Update With Colton Underwood TikTok Tease: Panic From Blackmail Over Gay Spa Visit Spurred Coming Out; Bachelor Responds to Legal, Netflix Controversies Brian Bell May 12, 2021 Read More Image by John Bauld/Creative Commons, Netflix logo added View the full article

Indigenous Peoples’ Day or Columbus Celebration honoring Italian Americans? Published by Reuters By Maria Caspani NEW YORK (Reuters) – Christopher Columbus Day drew crowds on Monday with U.S. city parades marking the explorer’s voyage and Italian-American culture, as the focus increasingly turned to the heritage and plight of indigenous people subjugated by European settlers. At the White House, where U.S. President Joe Biden had declared Oct. 11 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, community activists held protests on climate change, fossil fuels and the coronavirus which disproportionately affect Native Americans. In New York City, crowds gathered along Fifth Avenue to watch traditionally the nation’s largest Columbus Day parade, which was canceled last year due to the pandemic. Despite the cool, dry weather, the turnout seemed smaller than before. In 2019, the event, which features bands, politicians and marchers from Italian-American groups, drew about 1 million spectators, organizers said. “I love it. Missed it last year,” Alphonse Vecchione, a resident of New York’s Queens borough. “We love our Italian heritage.” Columbus Day parades were also held in Chicago and Cleveland. But a growing number of cities https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-columbusday/in-los-angeles-columbus-day-is-out-indigenous-peoples-day-is-in-idUSKCN1MJ016, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver and Portland, Oregon, have replaced Columbus Day with – or added – a holiday honoring indigenous people. States from Alaska and Hawaii to Wisconsin and Vermont have done the same. Beginning in 1492, Columbus led three voyages across the Atlantic to the Caribbean in service of the Spanish throne. Many indigenous peoples encountered by the Europeans were enslaved or died of diseases introduced by the newcomers. “We must never forget the centuries-long campaign of violence, displacement, assimilation, and terror wrought upon Native communities and Tribal Nations throughout our country,” Biden wrote last week in a proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day. He also issued a proclamation recognizing Columbus Day. A few dozen people, many in traditional Native American garments, gathered at sunrise on Monday on New York City’s Randall’s Island and waded into the waters of the East River to mark the day. “The only reason we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day today is because it is Columbus Day,” said Cliff Matias, one of the event’s organizers. “We celebrate the survival of indigenous people despite Columbus.” The White House on Monday issued an executive order to help strengthen tribal colleges and universities and boost economic and educational opportunities for indigenous people. “For more than a century, the United States imposed educational policies designed to assimilate Native peoples into predominant United States culture that devastated Native American students and their families,” the order said. The order creates a government initiative chaired by three of Biden’s cabinet members to focus on improving the education system for Native Americans. (Reporting by Maria Caspani, Shannon Stapleton and Mike Segar in New York; Additional reporting by Jeff Mason in Washington; Editing by Richard Chang) Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Towleroad The term alien is offensive to extraterrestrials, says Demi Lovato More Gossip Girl revival star Jason Gotay ties the knot with longtime partner More Biden Recognizes National Coming Out Day, Condemns Against Anti-LGBTQ Bills and Again Calls For Passing Equality Act More Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s the first bisexual Superman More Timothée Chalamet Refuses To Answer Questions About Co-Star Armie Hammer’s Rape & Sexual Assault Allegations More Hand-Picked Drag Race Alums Head Back To The Provinces Bearing Gifts of Gab, Glamour and Guurl Power In ‘We’re Here’ Season 2 More New York’s Metropolitan to open massive exhibition on Surrealism More Alan Cumming: I love true insults More UK police: no further action over Prince Andrew, Epstein allegations More California oil pipeline could have been leaking a year: investigators More Haiti condemns Trump’s ‘racist’ comments toward migrants More Load More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Demi Lovato thinks the word “alien” is offensive to extraterrestrials. The 29-year-old pop star – who came out as non-binary earlier this year and now uses them/they pronouns – has described the word as “derogatory” and thinks “ETs” ought to be used instead. The singer – who stars in the new Peacock series ‘Unidentified’ and claims to have seen a UFO – told PEDESTRIANtv: “I think that we have to stop calling them aliens because aliens is a derogatory term for anything. That’s why I like to call them ETs! “So yeah, that’s a little tidbit. A little information that I learned.” Demi previously claimed that humans have “nothing to fear” from UFOs. The ‘Cool for the Summer’ hitmaker actually urged people to have “an open mind and heart” when it comes to extraterrestrials. Demi explained: “I want people to have an open mind and heart and to realise that these beings are looking out for our best interest. There’s nothing to fear. If they wanted to hurt us, they would’ve hurt us.” The chart-topping star thinks humans ought to be more conscious of the damage they’re doing to the universe. And Demi suggested that extraterrestrials are actually “just looking out for us”. They said: “Honestly, what people don’t realise is when we send out nuclear waste into our atmosphere, it doesn’t just stay there. It goes out into the universe. Nuclear waste goes out into other possible civilisations. “So I think that we have to be careful of what we’re doing on this planet, and I think that they’re just looking out for us.” Demi also claimed to have had an encounter with a UFO on their 28th birthday. The pop star appears in the Peacock series alongside their sister Dallas – who “loves paranormal stuff” – and their friend Matthew Scott, who Demi describes as a UFO “sceptic”. Discussing the series, Demi said: “They came along for the journey, and my sister loves paranormal stuff, so she was already into this, and then my best friend, he’s more of a sceptic, even though he was with me on my birthday when we saw those lights.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jason Gotay has tied the knot with his longtime partner Michael Hartung. The ‘Gossip Girl’ star – who plays teacher Rafa Caparros on HBO Max’s revival series – got married in upstate New York on Monday (11.10.21). Little details are known about the pair’s special day, however, pictures were taken in the woods with Jason and Micahel donning matching suits. The show’s producer Sarah Schechter shared one snap of the newlyweds on Instagram and wrote: “Jason and Michael – there is no better example of love I could have chosen for my girls’ first wedding than this. “That was by far the most beautiful ceremony I have ever witnessed. Wishing you both a lifetime and beyond of love and happiness.” The 32-year-old Broadway star had teased their nuptials days before, writing on his page on the social media app: “I marry this man in 10 days. I think I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.” The loved-up couple got engaged earlier this year, and they first became acquainted working on NBC’s ‘Peter Pan Live!’, after meeting in the elevator – and it was love at first sight. Jason recently recalled: “As I entered the rehearsal studios and stepped into the elevator, I greeted a couple of friends who were also part of the Lost Boy band. As the elevator door began to close, one more boy jumped in just in time. I turned around and saw the most beautiful smile I’d ever seen, accompanied by bright blue eyes and a joy that lit up the room (well, elevator). This was Michael, the boy I was told to look out for, as we had a mutual friend who told us we would be working on ‘Peter Pan’ together. I shook his hand and introduced myself, excited to get to know him. “My friend, Sara, had told us that we were going to ‘just love each other.’ I didn’t realise until later just how on-the-nose she was about that.” View the full article

President Joe BidenNational Coming Out Day President Joe Biden commemorated National Coming Out Day by condemning the array of anti-LGBTQ legislation circulating through state governments while continuing to offer words of encouragement to the nation’s LGBTQ citizens. Biden reiterated previous supportive statements toward LGBTQ Americans in a statement Monday celebrating “the courage of LGBTQ+ people who live their lives with pride” on the 33rd celebration of National Coming Out Day. “Today and every day, I want every member of the LGBTQ+ community to know that you are loved and accepted just the way you are regardless of whether or not you’ve come out,” Biden said. “To LGBTQ+ people across the country, and especially those who are contemplating coming: know that you are loved for who you are, you admired for your courage and you will have a community – and a nation – to welcome you,” he added. “My administration will always have your back, and we will continue fighting for full measure of equality, dignity and respect you deserve.” The president also made reference to multiple out LGBTQ officials currently working in his administration in the statement, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Assistant Health Secretary Rachel Levine. “I am proud to lead an administration with LGBTQ+ officials serving openly at the highest levels of government – and prouder that together we have made historic progress advancing protections and equal opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community,” Biden’s statement read. “My administration has been clear that we will continue to champion dignity, equality and wellbeing of the LGBTQ+ community,” he added. Biden’s words echo previous statements made by himself and members of his administration meant to bring higher visibility to the LGBTQ community and the issues it faces, including remarks made during a June speech recognizing LGBTQ Pride month. “Above all, Pride month stands for love. Being able to love yourself, love who you love and love this country enough to make it more fair and more free and more just.” “More Work To Do” As he did in June, Biden took aim at the widespread collection of anti-LGBTQ, and specifically anti-trans, legislation that a majority of state legislatures have introduced over the last calendar year. Much of those policies focus on undercutting gender-affirming medical care and participation in sports for trans individuals- particularly trans youth. Those attitudes have trickled into local political structures as well, with multiple school districts across the nation instituting bans on LGBTQ iconography on campus under the guise of policing political statements. Biden called for those bills and laws’ defeat while acknowledging that there is “more work to do.” “Despite the extraordinary progress our nation has made, our work to ensure the full promise of equality is not yet done. Anti-LGBTQ+ bills still proliferate in state legislatures. Bullying and harassment — particularly of young transgender Americans and LGBTQ+ people of color — still abounds, diminishing our national character,” Biden said. “We must continue to stand together against these acts of hate, and stand up to protect the rights, opportunities, physical safety, and mental health of LGBTQ+ people everywhere.” Biden also once again called for the passage of the Equality Act as part of that call. “From defeating discriminatory bills to passing the Equality Act, we have more work to do to ensure that every American can live free of fear, harassment and discrimination because of who they are or whom they love.” The Equality Act would add protections under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for individuals facing discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Despite multiple calls from The White House for the bill to pass, the Equality Act’s advancement has been stalled in the Senate for months after it passed in the House of Representatives earlier this year. National Coming Out Day: Previously on Towleroad Biden Recognizes National Coming Out Day, Condemns Against Anti-LGBTQ Bills and Again Calls For Passing Equality Act Brian Bell October 11, 2021 Read More Biden To Restore Boundaries, Protections for 3 National Monument Nature Reserves, Protecting 3.2 Acres Slashed by Trump Towleroad October 9, 2021 Read More President Biden Includes LGBTQI Rights In United Nations Address Calling on Member Countries to Protect ‘Universal Rights of All’ Brian Bell September 21, 2021 Read More Biden Responds to ‘Hundreds Of Anti -LGBTQ bills’ across States; White House Reviewing Trans Protections Across Nation Orion Rummler, The 19th July 1, 2021 Read More President Biden Names Jessica Stern U.S. LGBTQI+ Special Envoy, Signs Pulse National Memorial into Law Brian Bell June 25, 2021 Read More Longshot LGBTQ Pride Flag Ban Gains GOP Supporters as President Biden Acknowledges Pride Month Brian Bell June 4, 2021 Read More Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Creative Commons View the full article

Published by AFP A member of the LGBTI community wearing a Superman costume at a protest in the Dominican Republic in July 2021 New York (AFP) – Superman fell for a reporter and now his son is doing the same, although this time the superhero’s love interest is a man called Jay. DC Comics announced on Monday that the new Superman, who is the son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, will have a romantic relationship with a male friend. Jon Kent and budding journalist Jay Nakamura struck up a friendship in a story released in August. They will share a kiss in a story to be published next month. “Following a scene where Superman mentally and physically burns out from trying to save everyone that he can, Jay is there to care for the Man of Steel,” DC comics said in a statement. The storyline line will feature in “Son of Kal-El” issue five, due to hit shelves on November 9. DC Comics described the new Superman as “bisexual” in its press release, which is headlined “Jon Kent finds his identity.” “Today, more people can see themselves in the most powerful superhero in comics,” said Tom Taylor, who writes the series. In the “Son of Kal-El” series Jon Kent has been fighting a number of social justice issues, including tackling widlfires and protesting the deportation of refugees. The coming out of America’s most famous superhero comes as more comic books embrace diversity. “Aquaman” introduced a Black, gay superhero earlier this summer, while the latest Robin in the Batman comics came out as bisexual in August. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Timothée Chalamet refused to react to his former co-star Armie Hammer‘s sexual assault allegations during a recent interview. The 25-year-old actor has not commented on the subject since it first made headlines earlier this year. He had previously professed his admiration for Armie after the two worked together on the movie Call Me By Your Name. mega The interviewer brought up the disturbing allegations against Armie during his interview with Time. Timothée responded gracefully but didn’t give up much. “I totally get why you’re asking that,” the Beautiful Boy actor said. “But it’s a question worthy of a larger conversation, and I don’t want to give you a partial response.” As Radar previously reported, Armie has been under scrutiny after a woman named Effie Angelova claimed he raped her. The alleged victim says theRebecca actor “violently raped” her in addition to “slamming my head against a wall” and “bruising my face” during an alleged attack in 2017. During her testimony, Effie also accused Armie of committing “other acts of violence against” her that she “did not consent,” including beating her feet with a crop and holding her hostage to the point she believes “he was going to kill” her. mega Armie had denied all the allegations claiming their interactions were “completely consensual.” Following the allegations, Hammer checked himself into a rehab facility just outside of Orlando, Florida. His estranged wife, Elizabeth Chambers, reportedly helped him throughout the process. Hammer allegedly called Chambers to inform her about his decision to seek treatment. The former duo seemed to be in agreement over treatment despite their ongoing custody battle over their two children, Harper, 6, and Ford, 4. Chambers filed for divorce from the actor in July 2020. mega Last month, Radar reported that despite Armie facing an investigation over the sexual assault allegations, his current girlfriend, Lisa Perejma, is still supporting him. “They are still together, she has been around the island recently and I believe she’s planning to see him when he leaves rehab, she’s been a big support for him,” an insider told The Sun. “They have a strong bond and a lot of mutual friends, she’s glad he’s getting the help he urgently needs for the sake of his children and his future.” According to the source, the actor also had extended his stay in the facility. Armie is reportedly sober and “thriving.” View the full article

We’re Here hosts Eureka, Shangela and Bob the Drag Queen. Photograph by Connie Chornuk/HBOJust in time for National Coming Out Day, HBO’s masterful docuseries We’re Here returns for a second season of trauma, triumph and, of course, tucking. Hosted by RuPaul’s Drag Race alums Shangela, Eureka and Bob the Drag Queen, the series sends the queens to small towns across America to empower the local queer community with an All Stars-worthy drag performance. It’s much more than wigs and lashes, though. The first season took an unflinching look at suicide, drug use and multiple forms of discrimination and isolation facing queer people. The tone is resolutely positive, but the show leans into nuance in a way few conventional reality-TV shows dare. Moments of intersectionality between queerness and race or income are brought to the forefront, rather than glazed over, and tidy, happy endings are never guaranteed. ‘We’re Here’ is no frivolous “yas, queen!” kiki to pop in between episodes of Untucked. … it’s a heavy watch…but the show’s signature style really keeps it all from becoming too bleak. There’s something deliciously ironic about the notion of mining for authenticity in an art form dedicated to artifice. It’s certainly not impossible — RuPaul’s Drag Race has sashayed across that tightrope to great success, but, remember, that show started as much more biting satire. Instead of weaponizing drag’s ability to skewer or stun, We’re Here focuses on drag’s role as a crucial meeting place for the queer community and its supporters. It’s less about drag as an art form and more about the powerful feeling of being at a drag show, drink in hand, wagging your finger, shrieking in unison with the crowd as a queen slams the floor. It’s not just their drag children’s empowering embrace of a character; it’s about being witnessed performing as that character. …there’s no trace of any of the cheesy reality-TV (or makeover) cliche’s from basic cable’s earlier forays into the format. Don’t be mistaken: We’re Here is no frivolous “yas, queen!” kiki to pop in between episodes of Untucked. Despite the presence of the (dependably charming and hilarious) hosts, it’s a heavy watch. (Though, don’t worry, there are plenty of lewks to gag over.) Bob, Shangela and Eureka can’t help but inject some humor into the proceedings, but it’s the show’s signature style that really keeps it all from becoming too relentlessly bleak. Peppered with high-impact, neon title cards and featuring music from queer artists and iconic favorites, there’s no trace of any of the cheesy reality-TV (or makeover) cliche’s from basic cable’s earlier forays into the format. The resulting product blends some of TV’s strongest storytelling with a compellingly cool stylistic package. We spoke to co-creators (and real life couple) Johnnie Ingram and Stephen Warren about their approach and what makes We’re Here so special. See what they had to say below, and don’t miss the second season of We’re Here tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern on HBO. We’re Here co-creators Stephen Warren and Johnnie Ingram. Photograph by Greg Endries/HBOWhat really strikes me about ‘We’re Here’ is that it has very carefully considered tone. How did you go about establishing that early on? Johnnie Ingram: I think, personally, the tone of the show is pretty heavy if you take out all the fun sort of cards and you take out the drag show and the entrance. I equate it to queer life. Sometimes, for some people, it can be very heavy. But what is really great about queer life, if you go to the gay bar, you see a drag show and then like [claps] you get the moment of being able to brush off the day and just be able to celebrate yourself, put your hands in the air and be your authentic self. In carefully crafting this show, we really wanted to ground these are real people, they’re real lives, we want that authenticity, but the authenticity, if you watch it wall to wall, is a hard watch. What it’s like is these beats in between, and the opening and then the drag show. It’s almost like queer life; you need a beat of levity to get through all the hard stuff. Stephen Warren: All our song choices, wardrobe choices, the tone overall of what we’re trying to communicate, we are not being angry confrontational television. We are television that is led by our desire, and our showrunners’ desire, to try to show that people can connect that wouldn’t otherwise be able to connect. The show is not afraid to leave things unresolved or not deliver what might be the expected ending. What was it like accepting that not every story would be neatly wrapped up? SW: We are so careful about not pushing, ever. If we don’t get a story we expect, then we don’t get a story we expect. We’re going to tell the story of these people’s lives. That’s what our mission is. Going back to the first season, when we were really putting the whole show together in Gettysburg, all of us were hoping there would be a hug between [formerly homophobic mom] Erica and [daughter] Hailey. There was no hug, and then Eureka brilliantly is outside talking with Erica afterward with half their clothes on, and says, “You know, sometimes it’s just showing up that’s the first step.” That was a seminal moment for the show, because when that happened, it gave us the freedom to be able to, for the rest of the series, hopefully for years and years, people will not expect you’ve got to get that tight ending. We’re Here host Shangela. Photo courtesy HBO.You’ve said the three queens were your first and only choices to host, because of their talent, intelligence and most of all empathy, but what’s something special each queen uniquely brings to the show? SW: I’ll start with Shangela. Shangela brings an effervescence and a charisma and a star power that light up a room and get everyone excited, everyone excited. Whether it’s a performance, which you naturally expect, or whether it’s providing insight you wouldn’t think about. What Shangela does is she lights up a room, she just lights it up. We’re Here host Bob the Drag Queen and series co-creator Johnnie Ingram. Photograph by Greg Endries/HBOJI: And Bob, Bob is just a wonderful light that loves to listen, is thoughtful, is exactly what you see on screen. It’s Bob. Bob’s drag artistry — all of them are world class, but Bob has a really unique way of telling a story unlike the others that is incredibly special, it’s intelligent, it’s thoughtful. Bob just has access to all these amazing people, and they all love Bob so much, and you just get the best drag. They all care incredibly about their drag kids. You don’t even get the whole story how they put these looks together. Bob is just a creative, intellectual, warm soul. SW: And then Eureka, I think Eureka is probably the biggest surprise. Eureka is able to connect with an audience, a rural audience, an audience that’s not necessarily in the city. And Eureka’s grammar isn’t always perfect, and when Eureka just talks, they’ll say things that are just so wildly appropriate and insightful. It’s shocking to hear, but they say it in a way I wouldn’t say it, but only Eureka would say it. It’s so intelligent, yet it’s so relatable. The other characteristic about, particularly Eureka and Shangela but also Bob, they can all laugh at themselves. They do not take themselves too seriously. We’re Here co-creator Stephen Warren and host Eureka. Photograph by Greg Endries/HBOJI: They’ve all lived, they’ve navigated life. And it hasn’t been easy. I think they bring a rich experience to these places as they’ve already fought those battles. Yes, they’re not fairy godmothers, they’re not Oprah — even though sometimes I might see a little of that. It’s just people with life experience that have overcome so much and their ability, for someone who might be stuck in it and can’t get through it, they’re able to just sit down and say it gets better. We talk a lot about representation in front of the camera, but I’d love to hear your experience behind the camera. How does your experience enhance a project like this, as members of the LGBTQ community? SW: We have an incredibly diverse group, and it’s obviously by design. It’s many, many queer people, many women, many people of color. It’s important for us to make sure we’re doing something that is reflective of our values. JI: I think it’s important you see a reflection of who you are behind the camera as well as what you’re seeing in front of the camera. That is something we fight for, we make sure it is very well known. If there is something that someone may or may not understand, for example, if we are telling a lot of trans stories in this particular episode, we may have some people that we don’t know exactly where their education level is on the subject matter. So, we bring in resources to make sure we all understand them as human beings. We’re talking thoughtfully, using the right pronouns, and understanding why we’re using the right pronouns. Between race, sexuality, gender, we have a full spectrum behind the scenes, of course in front of the camera, as well. It’s incredibly important to us. How has working on We’re Here changed you personally? JI: We’re just so grateful to have created a platform for other people to tell their stories. Getting to know a lot of these people across the country, it’s created a family. We’re already family, because we’re part of the LGBTQ community, but it’s nice to actually see some of our family members and connect with them and expand our family. Social media and things have made it a little harder for us to feel as connected. I think sometimes it sort of forces us in silos. It’s been a real, true experience to get out of that, and get out of the chaos of opening your phone and everyone is screaming at the top of their lungs at whatever it is they’re trying to scream and actually talk to people and really, truly connect is life-changing for us, because you just get the reward of feeling human again, versus being controlled by your device. It has been incredibly life-changing. View the full article

Published by DPA “Two Children Frightened by a Nightingale” (1924) by the artist Max Ernst is among the many works in the Met exhibition “Surrealism Beyond Borders”. Christina Horsten/dpa Surrealist art from five continents is being celebrated by New York’s Metropolitan Museum with a major exhibition that shifts the focus away from the familiar European masters of the movement. Rather than teasing big-name Western artists like Dali and Magritte, the show takes a big-picture approach including surrealist works from Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, Asia, North Africa, Australia and Latin America. The movement, which “asserted the unconscious and dreams over the familiar and every day” according to the museum, emerged in Paris in the 1920s and has often been represented with European masterpieces. However this exhibition shows the exciting Surrealist movements happening elsewhere. “Surrealism is inherently dynamic and has travelled and evolved from place to place and time to time,” exhibition curator Stephanie D’Alessandro said. “Its scope is (and always has been) international and, more specifically, transnational—extending across national borders to unite ideas and people, while also remaining specific and local in its liberatory drive.” The sprawling exhibition is spread across eight galleries, with one entire gallery dedicated to the topic of “The Work of Dreams.” The exhibition features works from 45 countries and some 8 decades and is intended to “recast appreciation of this most revolutionary and globe-spanning movement,” the curators say. The “Surrealism Beyond Borders” show is scheduled to open on October 11 and run until the end of January 2022. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Alan Cumming loves “true” insults. The 56-year-old actor has revealed he considers the perfect insult to be something that’s “true as well as accurate”. Discussing the perfect diss in a Q&A for Graydon Carter’s Air Mail, Alan shared: “I like it when they’re true as well as accurate. “Like, ‘You are a disgrace’ or ‘You are unprofessional and disrespectful.’ I like when you don’t have to be mean, but are so much more hurtful because it is actually true.” “Conversely, I really don’t like when someone says something true like ‘You are a w*****’ as an insult when, of course, we all are.” Asked for his best piece of career advice, Alan replied: “Don’t f*** the talent.” Alan previously admitted that he’s already exceeded his own career expectations. The acclaimed actor – who has enjoyed success on stage and on screen – thought his options were fairly limited when he was a young performer on the Scottish theatre scene in the 1980s. He recalled: “I was told that things were not available to me because of my Scottishness. “America was never a thing. London was maybe a possibility. The idea that I would be doing what I’m doing now or have the opportunities that I have now, there was no one I knew who’d had that trajectory … those things didn’t happen to Scottish people.” Alan also doubts that his sexuality harms his career prospects. He explained: “The constant question I used to get was: ‘Do you think that coming out is bad for your career in Hollywood?’ It’s such a ridiculous question. I don’t think people in Basingstoke or Idaho are not going to go and see a movie because someone in it is gay. I really don’t think they care.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) -British police said on Monday they would be taking no further action after conducting a review of evidence relating to sex crime allegations against Queen Elizabeth’s son, Prince Andrew, and the late U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein. London’s police chief, Cressida Dick, said in August that detectives would look at the allegations for a third time although they would not start an investigation, after Virginia Giuffre filed a U.S. lawsuit accusing the prince of sexual assault, which he has always denied. Cressida Dick had said at the time that “no one is above the law”. “As a matter of procedure MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) officers reviewed a document released in August 2021 as part of a U.S. civil action,” the police said in a statement on Monday. “This review has concluded and we are taking no further action.” In her civil lawsuit, Giuffre, 38, has accused Andrew of forcing her to have sex when she was underage at the London home of Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Giuffre also said Andrew, 61, abused her at Epstein’s mansion in Manhattan, and on Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The British royal, the ninth in line to the throne, has always denied those allegations or having any relationship with Giuffre. He was forced to step down from royal duties over his friendship with Epstein, who committed suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while being held on sex-trafficking charges. “It comes as no surprise that the Met Police have confirmed that, having reviewed the sex assault claims against the duke for a third time, they are taking no further action,” a source close to the prince said. “Despite pressure from the media and claims of new evidence, the Met have concluded that the claims are not sufficient to warrant any further investigation. The duke has always vigorously maintained his innocence and continues to do so.” The Sunday Times had reported this week that London police had spoken to Giuffre regarding her allegations. “The Metropolitan Police Service continues to liaise with other law enforcement agencies who lead the investigation into matters related to Jeffrey Epstein,” the police said in their statement. Last week, lawyers for Andrew, the queen’s second son, were given permission to examine a confidential 2009 agreement between Epstein and Giuffre which they hope will absolve him from all liability in the case. (Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Timothy Heritage and Andrew Heavens) View the full article

Published by AFP The clean-up has shuttered long stretches of coastline to the soth of Los Angeles, in an area known for its surfing Los Angeles (AFP) – A fractured pipeline that spewed crude oil off the coast of California could have been leaking for a year, US investigators said Friday. Tens of thousands of gallons of oil are feared to have leeched into waters that are home to whales, dolphins and otters since a leak was discovered last weekend. Stretches of prime surfing coastline have been shuttered as clean-up crews raced to prevent the spoiling of beaches, and rescue animals caught up in the slick. US news outlets reported that a ship’s anchor could have been responsible for dragging the pipeline along the seabed and splitting it open. But Coast Guard officials investigating the incident said Friday the rupture might not be new, and could have happened as long as a year ago. Captain Jason Neubauer said multiple ships’ anchors may have contributed to the displacement of the pipe, and it was not initially clear when the leak began. Underwater video of the damaged pipeline shows “marine growth” around the 13-inch crack that is leaking oil — something that would not have appeared overnight. This discovery “has refocused the … timeframe of our investigation to at least several months to a year ago,” Neubauer said. A routine inspection by pipeline owner Amplify Energy which took place last October showed no damage, he said. “We’re going to be looking at every vessel movement over that pipeline and every close encroachment over the past year,” Neubauer said. That will include examining satellite images, radio broadcasts and vessel traffic patterns. The nearby container ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are among the world’s busiest. A pandemic-sparked logjam has left dozens of huge vessels at a time anchored at sea while they await a berth. Captains ordered to wait outside the port are given specific places to set anchor, but investigators will look to see if any anchors have been dropped in the wrong place. They will also look to see if a storm that tore through the area in January could have moved any of the ships. Martyn Willsher, the chief executive of Amplify Energy, said this week that underwater observations revealed that 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) of the pipeline were not where they should be. “The pipeline has essentially been pulled like a bowstring,” he told a press conference on Tuesday. “At its widest point it is 105 feet away from where it was,” he said, adding the break in the pipeline was at the apex of this bend. Willsher refused to speculate on the cause of that displacement and whether a ship’s anchor could be responsible, but said: “It is a 16-inch steel pipeline that’s a half inch thick and covered in an inch of concrete. “For it to be moved 105 feet is not common.” Officials involved in the clean up originally said well over 100,000 gallons of crude could have been spilled. But on Thursday they said the actual amount could have been around 25,000 gallons. View the full article

Published by AFP Haitian migrants queue in Tijuana, Mexico on October 6, 2021 Port-au-Prince (AFP) – Haiti has denounced what it said were “racist” remarks from former US president Donald Trump that migrants from the island nation entering the United States would put Americans at risk of contracting AIDS. “So we have hundreds of thousands of people flowing in from Haiti. Haiti has a tremendous AIDS problem,” Trump said in a Thursday interview on Fox News. “Many of those people will probably have AIDS, and they’re coming into our country and we don’t do anything about it, we let everybody come in,” he said. “It’s like a death wish for our country.” According to World Bank data, HIV prevalence in Haiti has been steadily declining for the past 15 years, and is now estimated at a rate of 1.9 percent among Haitians aged 15 to 49. The Haitian embassy in Washington condemned the “racist and baseless statement about Haitian migrants, in particular, and the Haitian population, in general, of Donald J Trump.” “These vile comments aim only to sow hatred and discord against immigrants,” the embassy said in a statement Friday. The mid-September arrival of more than 30,000 migrants, mostly Haitians, who camped out for days under a bridge on the border between Mexico and Texas, has brought US President Joe Biden’s administration under fire from Republicans. They accuse the president of having caused the surge by relaxing the hardline migration policies implemented by predecessor Trump. Over the course of less than three weeks, more than 7,500 Haitian migrants — 20 percent of them children — have been deported by US migration services, which have chartered 70 planes to the capital Port-au-Prince and to Cap-Haitien, the island’s second-largest city. After Trump’s comments, the Haitian embassy said that “civilized people… should not remain indifferent to this umpteenth denigration of the Haitian people by former President Trump.” During a private meeting in January 2018, Trump had referred to Haiti and several African nations as “shithole countries.” View the full article