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Misgendering: “Using correct pronouns communicates that we see and respect a person for who they are. Especially for trans, non-binary or other non-cisgender people, using the correct pronouns validates and affirms they are a person equally deserving of respect and dignity … when people do not use the right pronouns, that safety is undermined and they are forced to repeat to the world: I exist.” Equality March in Katowice Human Rights Violation As America continues multiple fights for civil rights protections for trans and gender-diverse individuals, a court ruling in favor of Canada trans and gender-diverse communities established precedent for how the nation’s federal government recognizes purposeful misgendering. The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal ruled Wednesday that restaurant worker Jessie Nelson’s rights were violated by their employer’s continued deliberate misgendering of them under Canada’s Human Rights Act. The decision effectively classified such purposeful misgendering as a human rights violation under Canadian federal law. “Like a name, pronouns are a fundamental part of a person’s identity,” said Tribunal representative Devyn Cousineau in the Tribunal’s ruling. “Using correct pronouns communicates that we see and respect a person for who they are. Especially for trans, non-binary or other non-cisgender people, using the correct pronouns validates and affirms they are a person equally deserving of respect and dignity … when people do not use the right pronouns, that safety is undermined and they are forced to repeat to the world: I exist.” The Tribunal ordered a $30,000 judgment for Nelson to be paid by the restaurant and named offenders and ordered the restaurant to implement mandatory diversity and inclusion training alongside a pronoun policy for all employees. The case represents the first real challenge of protections against discrimination based on gender identity or expression approved by Canada’s parliament in 2017. This decision can be appealed through the federal court system. The restaurant has not indicated whether it will or will not pursue one. “A Place In This World” Nelson, who identifies as nonbinary and genderfluid, filed the complaint alleging their employers at Buono Osteria restaurant continually referred to them by gendered nicknames, including “sweetheart” and “honey,” despite Nelson going out of their way to explain why being properly gendered in the workplace was personally important to them. These pronouns aren’t preferred. It’s not a preference. It’s not an option to respect the pronouns that trans people choose for themselves. It’s a legal requirement Adrienne Smith, Civil Rights attorney, Vancouver B.C.According to the complaint, Nelson floated the idea of using non-gendered language for restaurant guests at a 2019 staff meeting but was met with resistance, namely from their manager. He rejected the idea outright, saying he wouldn’t “change how he spoke to guests” without direct orders from his superior. Further attempts from Nelson to speak to him resulted in a confrontation where Nelson’s manager claimed they were trying to “police our language,” a sentiment which he describing as going “against what his grandfather had fought in the war.” Nelson was fired shortly after that conversation took place with the manager claiming that Nelson didn’t “fit in” with the rest of the restaurant’s staff, a number of which had voiced support for Nelson’s suggestions during the staff meeting. “I’ve lived my entire life attempting to self-express and figure out who I am and find a place in this world,” Nelson said in the complaint. “It’s a challenging battle to have on a daily basis, even when people don’t mean it, let alone when somebody is doing it purposely.” “What this decision says is that workers in those situations need to be treated with respect,” Adrienne Smith, Nelson’s attorney, told CityNews following the ruling. “Importantly, what it says is that the correct pronouns for transgender people are not optional. They’re the minimum of courtesy and respect. And they’re a legal requirement.” Similar protections have been outlined for addition to U.S. civil rights laws under the proposed Equality Act, but the bill remains at a standstill in Congress “These pronouns aren’t preferred. It’s not a preference. It’s not an option to respect the pronouns that trans people choose for themselves. It’s a legal requirement to use the pronouns that a trans person uses for themselves and asks to have used in the workplace,” Smith added. Similar protections have been outlined for addition to U.S. civil rights laws under the proposed Equality Act, but the bill remains at a standstill in Congress despite multiple calls from President Joe Biden and other lawmakers to pass the it. Misgendering: Previously on Towleroad Repeated Misgendering Of Employees On Purpose is a Human Rights Violation in Canada. ‘Like a Name, Pronouns are… part of a Person’s Identity’ Brian Bell October 5, 2021 Read More Canada Transgender Pastor Sues Former Church For Being Fired After Coming Out During Pride Month Sermon Brian Bell August 12, 2021 Read More Soccer Star Quinn is First Out Trans Nonbinary Olympic Gold Medalist as Canada Tops Sweden in 3-2 Shootout Brian Bell August 6, 2021 Read More U.S. Extends Severe Travel Restrictions On Land Border Crossings to Canada, Mexico Through Aug. 21 Towleroad July 22, 2021 Read More Meet Your New ‘Canada’s Drag Race’ Queen [FINALE RECAP] Bobby Hankinson September 23, 2020 Read More Man Arrested After Spitting on Asian Skateboarder, Hurling Racist Slur: VIDEO Towleroad July 20, 2020 Read More Photo courtesy of Silar/Creative Commons View the full article

Supreme Court gay rights watchers have their short list of potentially difficult cases in light of the conservative court, but all argue this is neither all the danger nor all that should be of great interest to LGBTQ people. A roundup of Supreme Court gay issues and concerns in the new sessionFirst in the spotlight as the U.S. Supreme Court begins its new session Monday (October 4) is the seemingly precarious state of the right to abortion, an issue LGBT groups have long considered to be of “vital importance” to LGBT people. But there are also several LGBT-related cases petitioning for review and several other cases that involve LGBT issues in some way. Off Docket Concerns Add to this two important off-the-docket concerns: One is the growing anxiety over when 83-year-old liberal Justice Stephen Breyer might vacate his seat; and the other is the unusual step by conservative Justice Samuel Alito to defend publicly the court’s conservative majority increasing use of preliminary procedures to shore up conservative positions on highly controversial issues. Precarious Abortion Rights; LGBTQ Responses and Relevance Most discussions of the court’s new session are focused on abortion cases. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in December about the constitutionality of a new Mississippi law that bans abortion after the 15th week of pregnancy. In that case, Dobbs v. Jackson, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Kyrsten Sinema, along with all nine LGBT House members, signed onto a brief urging the Supreme Court to overturn Mississippi’s ban. Two dozen LGBT groups —including Lambda Legal, GLAD, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the Human Rights Campaign, Equality California, Equality North Carolina, LPAC, and longtime marriage equality activist Evan Wolfson— also filed a brief arguing against the Mississippi ban. The groups’ brief states that the Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v Casey decisions, upholding the right of women to have an abortion, are of “vital importance” to sexual minority women, adding that federal statistics estimates one in 12 women between 18 and 44 is a sexual minority. “Overruling Roe and Casey would have catastrophic effects on sexual minority women,” states the groups’ brief. It notes that, “Lesbian, bisexual, and other non-heterosexual women are at least as likely as other women to experience unintended pregnancies and to require abortion care. Sexual minority women are more likely to experience unintended pregnancies as a result of sexual violence….” In a separate appeal involving an even more restrictive state abortion ban, in Texas, the LGBTQ legal group GLAD issued a press release, criticizing the Supreme Court’s vote in September to deny an injunction to stop the law from taking effect until the court could rule on its constitutionality. GLAD said allowing the Texas ban on abortion to go into effect would “hurt women, LGBTQ people, and families….” “Safe, accessible reproductive healthcare – including abortion care – is a matter of racial, economic, and gender justice,” said GLAD, “and we must all be in the fight to repeal or reverse this ban and stop the erosion of the constitutionally protected human right to reproductive choice.” Steady Wave of Appeals For Right To Discriminate The Alliance Defending Freedom, a law firm dedicated primarily to undermining laws prohibiting discrimination against LGBT people, has, so far this session, asked the Supreme Court to review five cases in which people are seeking the right to discriminate against LGBT people by claiming a free exercise right to do so. The court could announce any day now whether it will take up these cases: Seattle’s Union Gospel v. Woods –Seattle’s Union of Gospel Mission, an evangelical group that provides food, shelter, and religious guidance to people in need, asks the high court to affirm a part of the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) that allows “any” non-profit religious organization an exemption to the law’s prohibition on sexual orientation discrimination in employment. The Mission appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court after the Washington Supreme Court ruled in March that the exemption was unconstitutional as applied to one gay man who applied for a job at the Mission, after first serving there as a volunteer.Gordon College v. DeWeese-Boyd—This appeal brings a question similar to that in Seattle’s Union Gospel case. Gordon College, a private Christian missionary school in Massachusetts, was sued by one of its associate professors after the college refused her a full professorship. The school claimed the teacher failed to subscribe to its statement of religious faith; the teacher said it was because she criticized the school’s policies on LGBT people and same-sex marriage.Dignity Health v. Minton—In this case, a Catholic-run hospital in California refused to perform a hysterectomy for a female-to-male transgender patient. The hospital said that to do so would violate the ethical and religious directives that govern Catholic health care institutions. The patient sued, saying the hospital’s refusal violated the state’s human rights law. So far, the patient has won, but the case has gone only as far as an intermediate state appeals court. The appeal has been on the U.S. Supreme Court’s conference list for more than a year.Arlene’s Flowers v. Washington – This case has been at the Supreme Court since 2018 and involves a florist who refuses to sell wedding arrangements to same-sex couples, claiming a religious belief necessitates the discrimination. The Washington Supreme Court has ruled against the florist twice, and her petition to the U.S. Supreme Court was rejected in July this year. The Alliance has asked the Supreme Court to rehear that appeal, saying it is very similar to another case arriving at the court from Colorado (see below).303 Creative v. Elenis –This is a variation on the Masterpiece Cakeshop case. In this case, a graphic artist who creates websites for couples getting married, refused to create one for a same-sex couple, claiming it was against her religious beliefs. The couple sued, saying the artist violated a state law prohibiting discrimination in public accommodations; the artist appealed and the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled against her. On appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Alliance argues that Colorado’s law violates the artist’s right to free exercise of her religious beliefs.Other cases of LGBT interest In other cases of interest to the LGBT community, the Supreme Court announced on September 30 that it would review a lower court decision from the First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. That court held that the City of Boston’s right to allow some groups, but not a Christian civic group, to raise their flag over City Hall was a legal exercise of “government speech.” According to Liberty Counsel, a legal group promoting religious liberty, Boston allows secular flags, including the LGBT Pride flag, to fly over City Hall but won’t allow a “religious flag.” The city said its policy is “consistent with the well-established First Amendment jurisprudence” against the “establishment of religion.” Liberty Counsel, representing Harold Shurtleff whose camp sought to raise a flag prominently displaying a white Christian cross, says the city’s action violates the First Amendment. The court has scheduled for argument December 8 Carson v. Makin, which is not an LGBT-related case but is yet another case in which religious entities are seeking special dispensation under ordinary law. It’s also a case that echoes the arguments religious entities have been making to avoid complying with non-discrimination laws: that the religious person isn’t discriminating against a gay person, but discriminating against a person because his or her partner is of the same-sex. In Carson, the parents of five children in Maine are fighting a state policy of providing public funding for parents to send their children to private schools that are willing to provide “nonsectarian education.” Maine does not provide funding for parents to send their children to schools providing religious education. The First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said Maine could withhold funding to sectarian schools because the exclusion was not based on any school’s religious affiliation but on “on what the school teaches through its curriculum and related activities, and how the material is presented.” © 2021 Keen News Service. All rights reserved. Image by Adam Zuscik Supreme Court Gay on Towleroad Harry Styles confirms explicit meaning behind Watermelon Sugar More US jury orders Tesla to pay ex-employee $137 million over racism More Clean environment could become U.N. human right. Not so fast, say U.S., Britain More Facebook whistleblower’s allegations should be investigated by regulators – U.S. Senator More China Bans Games With LGBTQ, Effeminate Men or Nazi Characters; Activision Blizzard Settles; ‘Life Is Strange’ Promotion Benefits Community More Upbeat Biden to hit road selling endangered spending plans More ‘The Pride LA’ Owner Calls For Local School Board Recall Over Pronouns, ‘Woke Kids Equal Soft Kids’; Deletes Post When Exposed More Tommy Dorfman loves being at Paris Fashion week as ‘myself’ More Merck pill seen as ‘huge advance,’ raises hope of preventing COVID-19 deaths More Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp hit by outage: tracker More Biden goes on offensive against ‘reckless’ Republicans More Load More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Harry Styles has confirmed the explicit meaning behind ‘Watermelon Sugar’. The 27-year-old pop star revealed during a gig in Nashville that his 2019 single is centred around the subject of female pleasure – as many fans have previously speculated. He said: “This song is about … It doesn’t really matter what it’s about.” Harry – who shot to international stardom as part of One Direction – subsequently claimed that the hit single is about the “sweetness of life”, before he encouraged the crowd to sing some of the lyrics. He then added: “It’s also about the female orgasm but that’s totally different – it’s not really relevant.” Harry’s fans have often speculated about the meaning of the song over recent years. But the pop star has previously remained tight-lipped about the real inspiration for the record. When the fan theory about the song’s meaning was put to him in 2019, Harry simply replied: “Is that what it’s about?” Harry hasn’t released an album since ‘Fine Line’ in 2019, but he’s been busily working on new material and is hoping to surprise his fans in the near future. The singer is “excited” about releasing his next record, after being delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Speaking about the rumoured new record, a source recently explained: “Harry started working on the album in early 2020 and had a few writing sessions under his belt before the pandemic really took hold. “As a result plans were put on ice but most of the record ended up being recorded in the UK. “Right now exact details are top secret but the track listing should be decided soon.” Harry released his debut album in 2017 and he can’t wait for fans to hear his latest effort. The insider added: “Harry is really excited about the album.” View the full article

Published by AFP A US jury awarded a former Tesla employee $137 million over workplace racism at the electric car maker's Fremont plant San Francisco (AFP) – A jury in California on Monday ordered Tesla to pay a Black former employee $137 million in damages for turning a blind eye to racism the man encountered at the firm’s auto plant in Fremont, US media reported. Owen Diaz was hired through a staffing agency as an elevator operator at the electric vehicle maker’s Fremont factory between June 2015 and July 2016, where he was subjected to racist abuse and a hostile work environment, according to the court filing. In his lawsuit, Diaz said African-American employees at the factory, where his son also worked, were regularly subjected to racist epithets and derogatory imagery. Instead of a modern workplace, the plaintiffs “encountered a scene straight from the Jim Crow era,” said the suit, originally filed by Diaz, his son Demetric and a third former employee. “Tesla’s progressive image was a facade papering over its regressive, demeaning treatment of African-American employees,” the court filing said. Diaz alleged that despite complaints to supervisors, Tesla took no action over the regular racist abuse. The jury at the federal court in San Francisco on Monday awarded Diaz $130 million in punitive damages and $6.9 million for emotional distress, Bloomberg News reported, citing one of Diaz’s attorneys, Lawrence Organ of the California Civil Rights Law Group. “We’re just gratified that the jury saw the truth and they awarded an amount that hopefully will push Tesla to correct what people testified about in terms of this widespread racist conduct,” Organ told the Washington Post. “It’s gratifying to know that a jury’s willing to hold Tesla accountable, one of the world’s largest, richest corporations finally is told, ‘You can’t let this kind of thing happen at your factory.'” ‘Not perfect’ Following the verdict, Tesla released a blog post by human resources vice president Valerie Capers Workman, which it said had been distributed to employees. In her post, Workman downplayed the allegations of racist abuse in the lawsuit, but acknowledged that at the time Diaz worked there Tesla “was not perfect.” “In addition to Mr. Diaz, three other witnesses (all non-Tesla contract employees) testified at trial that they regularly heard racial slurs (including the n-word) on the Fremont factory floor,” she wrote. “While they all agreed that the use of the n-word was not appropriate in the workplace, they also agreed that most of the time they thought the language was used in a ‘friendly’ manner and usually by African-American colleagues.” Workman said Tesla had responded to Diaz’s complaints, firing two contractors and suspending a third. She also stressed that Tesla had made changes since Diaz worked at the company, adding a diversity team and an employee relations team dedicated to investigating employee complaints. “While we strongly believe that these facts don’t justify the verdict reached by the jury in San Francisco, we do recognize that in 2015 and 2016 we were not perfect,” Workman said. “We’re still not perfect. But we have come a long way from 5 years ago. We continue to grow and improve in how we address employee concerns. Occasionally, we’ll get it wrong, and when that happens we should be held accountable.” Tesla, a global leader in electric cars, has a market capitalization of around $780 billion and its chief executive, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, is the world’s richest person, currently worth $211 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Emma Farge, Kate Abnett and Valerie Volcovici GENEVA (Reuters) – Britain and the United States are among a few countries withholding support for a proposal brought at the United Nations that would recognise access to a safe and healthy environment as a human right, prompting criticism that they are undermining their own pledges ahead of the Glasgow climate conference. Diplomats say the Geneva-based Human Rights Council is expected to adopt the resolution later this week even if an opposing country calls a vote, as supporters are numerous and include Costa Rica, the Maldives and Switzerland. If adopted, environmental defenders say it will pressure countries to join the more than 100 nations that already recognize a legal right to healthy surroundings. And while the resolution would not be binding, lawyers say it will shape norms and help campaigners develop arguments in climate cases. The World Health Organization estimates that some 13.7 million deaths a year, or around 24.3 % of the total, are due to environmental risks such as air pollution https://www.reuters.com/world/india/pollution-likely-cut-9-years-life-expectancy-40-indians-2021-09-01 and chemical exposure. “At national level, this right has been shown to empower people, particularly those most vulnerable to environmental damage or climate change, to drive change and hold governments to account,” said Marc Limon of Universal Rights Group think tank. “This might explain why some governments like the U.S., Russia and UK don’t like it.” Observers following the discussions have criticised the stance of London as host of the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow next month. “Climate leadership must be reflected across diplomacy commitments – there is more to it than hosting the COP,” said Sebastien Duyck, campaign manager on human rights and climate change at the Center for International Environmental Law. “The UK must join the overwhelming majority of countries in support of this resolution so as to avoid undermining its position,” he added. Yasmine Ahmed, UK director of Human Rights Watch, said she hopes Britain “comes to its senses” because the resolution is supported by “many countries more vulnerable to climate change, the very countries that (Prime Minister Boris) Johnson pledged to support.” “The UK’s leadership on climate action is well documented and our efforts are currently focussed on a successful COP26 in Glasgow,” a spokesperson for the UK mission in Geneva said. “Whilst we have legal concerns about recognising a right to a safe and healthy environment in this way, we continue to engage constructively with the main authors of this resolution at the Human Rights Council.” The U.S. mission did not respond to a request for comment. In discussions about the resolution, Washington also referred to legal concerns as well as worries that recognising new rights could dilute traditional civil and political rights, according to sources following the talks. The United States is not currently a Council member but is vying for a seat and can still join debates as an observer. While the lack of U.S. support clashes with President Joe Biden administration’s promise to play a global leadership role on climate change, Washington has historically been hesitant to add new rights and tends to avoid legally binding treaties that could be difficult to ratify. Brazil and Russia are opposed to the resolution which they say needs amending, sources following the talks say. CHALLENGE TO STATUS QUO For David Boyd, U.N. special rapporteur on human rights and the environment, the U.N. proposal, which was first conceived of in the 1990s, is long overdue. “The evidence is overwhelming that these environmental challenges are directly affecting people’s enjoyment of fundamental human rights,” he said. “There are definitely countries that have a deep-rooted interest in maintaining the status quo and this is a challenge to them,” he added, without naming them. Past U.N. resolutions such as one in 2010 on the right to water and sanitation, have prompted countries like Tunisia to pass legislation enshrining it in domestic law. Aspects of the historic 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights later became law via an international treaty. Globally, the number of climate-related litigation cases has soared in the past few years and more are invoking human rights to support their arguments. Remo Klinger, lawyer for environmental non-profit Deutsche Umwelthilfe, said the resolution represents an example of “soft law” which could be used to make better cases. The group organised a successful legal case https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/germany-must-further-tighten-climate-change-law-top-court-rules-2021-04-29 that in April forced Germany to tighten its climate policies. Dennis van Berkel, legal counsel to the Urgenda Foundation which won a landmark climate case https://www.reuters.com/article/climate-change-netherlands-idAFL8N28U284 against the Dutch government in 2019, said the resolution could help courts interpret the right in future cases. “Although it is enshrined in many constitutions, courts do not have a huge amount of experience in how to apply this right,” he said. The Council’s 47 members are also set to decide this week on a parallel resolution brought by the European Union and others and supported by Britain that would create a new special rapporteur on climate change. Top U.N. rights official Michelle Bachelet opened the Council’s session in September by calling environmental threats “the single greatest challenge to human rights of our era”. (Reporting by Kate Abnett in Brussels and Valerie Volcovici in Washington; Writing by Emma Farge; Editing by Stephanie Nebehay and Lisa Shumaker) View the full article

Published by Reuters By David Shepardson and Diane Bartz WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Facebook took another pounding in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday and a senator called on federal regulators to investigate accusations by a whistleblower that the company pushed for higher profits while being cavalier about user safety. In an opening statement to a Senate Commerce subcommittee, chair Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, said that Facebook knew that its products were addictive, like cigarettes. “Tech now faces that big tobacco jawdropping moment of truth,” he said. He called for Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to testify before the committee, and for the Securities and Exchange Commission and Federal Trade Commission to investigate the social media company. “Our children are the ones who are victims. Teens today looking in the mirror feel doubt and insecurity. Mark Zuckerberg ought to be looking at himself in the mirror,” Blumenthal said, adding that Zuckerberg instead was going sailing. In an era when bipartisanship is rare on Capitol Hill, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agreed on the need for big changes at Facebook. The top Republican on the subcommittee, Marsha Blackburn, said that Facebook turned a blind eye to children below age 13 on its sites. “It is clear that Facebook prioritizes profit over the well-being of children and all users.” Facebook spokesman Kevin McAlister said in an email ahead of the hearing that the company sees protecting its community as more important than maximizing profits and said it was not accurate that leaked internal research demonstrated that Instagram was “toxic” for teenage girls. Frances Haugen, a former product manager on Facebook’s civic misinformation team, said the company keeps its algorithms and operations a secret. “The core of the issue is that no one can understand Facebook’s destructive choices better than Facebook, because only Facebook gets to look under the hood,” she said in written testimony prepared for the hearing. “A critical starting point for effective regulation is transparency,” she said in testimony to be delivered to the subcommittee. “On this foundation, we can build sensible rules and standards to address consumer harms, illegal content, data protection, anticompetitive practices, algorithmic systems and more.” Haugen revealed she was the one who provided documents used in a Wall Street Journal investigation and a Senate hearing on Instagram’s harm to teenage girls. The Journal’s stories showed the company contributed to increased polarization online when it made changes to its content algorithm; failed to take steps to reduce vaccine hesitancy; and was aware that Instagram harmed the mental health of teenage girls. Haugen said Facebook had also done too little to prevent its site from being used by people planning violence. Facebook was used by people planning mass killings in Myanmar and the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump who were determined to toss out the 2020 election results. (Reporting by Diane Bartz, Elizabeth Culliford, David Shepardson and Sheila Dang; Editing by Mark Porter and Grant McCool) View the full article

China bans games with gay characters; Activision Settles, Life Is Strange x mxmtoon JacketActivision Blizzard Settle One Of Many Discrimination Lawsuits After a summer defined by copious allegations of discrimination and sexual misconduct spurred multiple Activision Blizzard lawsuits, the video game developer/publisher took one off the books in quick fashion. The company reached an $18 million settlement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission shortly after the agency filed suit against the company for multiple instances of workplace discrimination. The filing came after a three-year investigation that the EEOC argued found evidence that Activision Blizzard failed to address complaints of sexual harassment, discriminated against pregnant employees and retaliated against employees who filed complaints about such behavior. Activision Blizzard announced the settlement on Wednesday, stating the money would be used to form a fund “to compensate and make amends to eligible claimants.” The company stated that any unclaimed funds would be divided among charities that ‘advance women in the video game industry or promote awareness around harassment and gender equality issues … diversity, equity and inclusion initiative, as approved by the EEOC.” Labor organizers have levied heavy criticism of the settlement following the announcement, pointing to the monetary amount as “pennies” compared to the company’s financial value. “Activision Blizzard is worth $72 billion – an $18 million settlement is mere pennies considering the resources available to this cash-rich corporation,” read a statement from the Communication Workers of America’s (CWA) Campaign to Organize Digital Employees. “Even worse, Activision Blizzard’s management does not acknowledge that their actions harmed their workers, viewing the settlement as a very small price to pay to rid themselves of a ‘distraction,'” the statement continued. Beyond company finances, the amount of the settlement pales in comparison to Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick’s earnings, amounting to $154 million. CWA secretary-treasurer Sara Steffens expounded on that criticism while highlighting what the settlement says to affected workers. “Yesterday’s insufficient EEOC settlement made it clear that the thousands of Activision Blizzard workers who have suffered from years of toxic workplace misconduct on behalf of Activision Blizzard will not receive true justice,” Steffans said. Activision Blizzard was not required to admit to any guilt per the settlement. The company still faces separate lawsuits from the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing and investors as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission launched its own investigation into allegations of workplace misconduct. China Bans Games With “Effeminate” Characters, LGBTQ Stories Amid a sweeping number of policy changes meant to curtail the consumption of video games by Chinese youth, the Chinese government is now pressing Chinese game developers to restrict LGBTQ and “effeminate” depictions of men in future titles. According to a report from the South China Morning Post, Chinese officials communicated the initiative to officials from China-based gaming megacorps Tencent and NetEase last month, who both have financial stakes in multiple game developers based outside of China. The discussion labeled LGBTQ imagery and depictions of “gay love” in games as promoting a ‘wrong set of values.” A separate report published on the official English-language website of China’s State Council included similar sentiments. “The authorities ordered the enterprises and platforms to tighten examination of the contents of their games. Obscene and violent content and those breeding unhealthy tendencies, such as money-worship and effeminacy, should be removed,” read the report. Obscene and violent content and those breeding unhealthy tendencies, such as money-worship and effeminacy, should be removed, Chinese officials on video game contentLife Is Strange Charity Team-Up Game studio Square Enix is celebrating the sucessful release of “Life Is Strange: True Colors,” the latest installment in the popular and very queer series, by offering fans a way to give back to the LGBTQ community and score some sweet, exclusive swag. The company, along with “Life Is Strange: True Colors” developers Deck9, announced a fundraising partnership with LGBTQ advocacy group Outright Action International last month in an effort to support the community which the “Life Is Strange” series provides much needed representation. https://www.instagram.com/p/CUVSsvgIOL4/ The news also came with the first action in the relationship, launching a donation drive where those that provide financial assistance to Outright Action International are entered to win a one-of-a-kind denim jacket adorned with patchees celebrating the organization, the influential game series and its community. The jacket was designed in cooperation with musical artist mxmtoon, who provides the singing voice for “Life Is Strange: True Colors'” bisexual protagonist Alex Chen, and many of the patches were designed by people who work on the game’s development. It also features a patch crafted by a fan of the series. Fans can enter for their chance to win the unique item and donate to Outright Action International here. China Bans Games: Previously on Towleroad China Bans Games With LGBTQ, Effeminate Men or Nazi Characters; Activision Blizzard Settles; ‘Life Is Strange’ Promotion Benefits Community Brian Bell October 4, 2021 Read More ‘Frat Boy’ Culture at Activision Blizzard: Groping, Junk-Grab ‘Gay Chicken’ Game, ‘The Cosby Suite,’ Cited in California Suit. Employees Walk Out Brian Bell July 28, 2021 Read More E3 News 2021 is Gayer Gaming: Romance ‘Boyfriend Dungeon’; Kiss Nonbinary ‘Frogsong’; ‘Just Dance’ with Todrick Hall, And More Brian Bell June 20, 2021 Read More Pride Month Video Games Roundup: Queer Games Bundle; GaymerX; Queer Women of Esports; Xbox; Riot Games Brian Bell June 7, 2021 Read More Powerful Trans Representative Video Game Tell Me Why Available for Free During Pride Month Brian Bell June 1, 2021 Read More Report: Popular Video Game Valorant Rumored to be Adding LGBTQ Pride Items in June Brian Bell April 27, 2021 Read More Image courtesy of Square Enix View the full article

Published by AFP US President Joe Biden says he is confident he can win passage of two huge spending packages that comprise his political legacy Washington (AFP) – President Joe Biden said Saturday he will hit this road this week to sell his mammoth spending plans, which are in jeopardy in Congress amid a fight between centrist and progressive factions of his Democratic Party. Biden struck an optimistic note as he spoke of prospects for passage of a huge infrastructure package and even larger social spending bill that are central to his political legacy. Speaking as he left the White House to travel to Delaware, Biden said he was “going to work like hell to make sure we get both these passed. “And I think we will get them passed,” the president told reporters. “I’m going to be going around the country this week making the case why it’s so important,” added Biden, who has been criticized for not doing more to sell the bills to everyday people. “There’s nothing in any of these pieces of legislation that is radical, that is unreasonable when you look at it individually,” Biden said of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, and the $3.5 trillion “Build Back Better” bill allocating money for education, child care, clean energy and other issues. The impasse on the Democratic side is rooted in political differences over how much the government should spend, but also on the sheer lack of trust between competing factions. But Biden reiterated, “I believe I can get this done. I believe when the American people are aware of what’s in it, we can get it done.” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki added in a statement that Biden and his team would “continue close engagement” with both House and Senate lawmakers through the weekend. On the other pressing issue facing the president — an urgent deadline to raise the national debt limit ahead of a default date of October 18 — Biden called on Republicans to join his party in approving an increase. A US default on its debt would be unprecedented and have catastrophic effects on the US and world economies. Usually this is not a complicated issue. But this year Republicans are refusing to join Democrats in granting authorization, while Democrats argue they should not have to bear responsibility alone. “I hope the Republicans won’t be so irresponsible as to refuse to raise the debt limit and to filibuster the debt limit,” the president said. “That would be totally unconscionable, never been done before and so I hope that won’t happen,” Biden said View the full article

Pride LA, an LGBTQ publisher in Los Angeles said, “In the real world, no one gives a hoot about your gender identity. Woke kids equal soft kids which equal soft adults.” PrTJ Montemer, Owner of ‘The Pride LA’Gay Publisher Makes Anti-LGBTQ Argument The owner of Los Angeles-based LGBTQ publication The Pride LA is in hot water after making disparaging comments toward LGBTQ youth and a Los Alamitos school teacher’s attempts to recognize students’ gender identity. The publication’s owner, TJ Montemer, posted his comments on Facebook amid calls to recall multiple members of the Los Alamitos Unified School District board after a teacher at Oak Middle School sent out a survey asking students to inform him of their preferred name and pronouns. Students told Spectrum News Orange County that the survey was meant to help ensure a welcoming and inclusive classroom, with one student saying “he wanted his students to know that they are in a safe space.” But the survey sparked controversy similar to those that have popped up in other school board meetings nationwide. After last week’s Los Alamitos school board meeting turned highly contentious, Montemer voiced his support for the anti-LGBTQ contingent in a Los Alamitos resident Facebook group. “They should recall the board,” Montemer said. “There is no place in school where this should be a teacher’s place to let kids in middle school decide anything without parents. In the real world no one gives a hoot about your gender identity. Woke kids equal soft kids which equal weak adults. Hope this changes in the right direction before my kids get there.” School board meetings have rapidly become the center of these fights, morphing into powder kegs of conservative commenters decrying support of marginalized communities as propaganda that endangers children. The situation has gotten so bad that the National School Boards Association requested federal assistance in combatting the deluge of “threats and acts of violence” against school board members and students. “America’s public schools and its education leaders are under an immediate threat,” reads the NSBA’s letter to President Joe Biden. “As the threats grow and news of extremist hate organizations showing up at school board meetings is being reported, this is a critical time for a proactive approach to deal with this difficult issue.” Pride LA: Previously on Towleroad ‘The Pride LA’ Owner Calls For Local School Board Recall Over Pronouns, ‘Woke Kids Equal Soft Kids’; Deletes Tweet When Exposed Brian Bell October 4, 2021 Read More ACLU Joins Indiana Gay-Straight Alliance Lawsuit Over Unequal Treatment by Schools; Same District Banned Pride Flags Few Months Ago Brian Bell September 30, 2021 Read More LGBTQ School News Roundup: Scotland Adds LGBTQ Education; Texas Students Protest Discrimination; Catholic School Rehires Out Coach; Florida School District Investigating Hate Actions Brian Bell September 24, 2021 Read More California Teacher Investigated Over Joking Students Could ‘Pledge Allegiance’ to LGBTQ Pride Flag Brian Bell August 31, 2021 Read More Kansas City Christian School Reportedly Tells Teachers to Oust Out LGBTQ Students or Find Another Job Brian Bell May 10, 2021 Read More London’s Highgate School to Allow Skirts For Boys In School Uniform Adam Rhodes May 17, 2017 Read More Screenshot via YouTube View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Tommy Dorfman has relished being at Paris Fashion Week as “myself”. The ’13 Reasons Why’ star, who came out as transgender in July, has “more of an affinity” with skirts and dresses and has loved trying on new designer pieces at various runway shows in the French capital. She said: “It’s been such a fun week to be back – as myself. I’m enjoying going to shows I’ve never gone to before, finally getting to explore different houses in Paris, and to try on different things.” The 29-year-old actress insisted she has never seen fashion as “binary”. Tommy explained: “I never really saw fashion in binary, it’s just a matter of expression. I think about history and men in tunics, men in skirts, men in dresses and to see that sort of re-translated to today is really exciting. It’s fun to be a part of all those things coming together.” The ‘Jane the Virgin’ star loved wearing a power suit for Givenchy, as it made her feel “so powerful and beautiful”. She told WWD: “I really wanted to wear a power suit. I wanted to feel that confidence and Matthew [Williams’] tailoring is so exceptional. I wore a suit of his a couple of weeks ago to an event and I felt so powerful and beautiful at the same time, so when I knew I was coming to the show I wanted to feel the same.” Tommy always saw herself as a woman, and even knew she’d be a “mother or a grandmother” in the future. She said recently: “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.” View the full article

Published by Reuters (Corrects paragraph 22 to women of child-bearing age in the study could not be pregnant) By Deena Beasley and Carl O’Donnell (Reuters) -An experimental antiviral pill developed by Merck & Co could halve the chances of dying or being hospitalized for those most at risk of contracting severe COVID-19, according to data that experts hailed as a potential breakthrough in how the virus is treated. If it gets authorization, molnupiravir, which is designed to introduce errors into the genetic code of the virus, would be the first oral antiviral medication for COVID-19. Merck and partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics said they plan to seek U.S. emergency use authorization for the pill as soon as possible and to make regulatory applications worldwide. “An oral antiviral that can impact hospitalization risk to such a degree would be game-changing,” said Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Current treatment options include Gilead Sciences Inc’s infused antiviral remdesivir and generic steroid dexamethasone, both of which are generally only given once a patient has already been hospitalized. “This is going to change the dialogue around how to manage COVID-19,” Merck Chief Executive Robert Davis told Reuters. Existing treatments are “cumbersome and logistically challenging to administer. A simple oral pill would be the opposite of that,” Adalja added. The results from the Phase III trial, which sent Merck shares up more than 9%, were so strong that the study is being stopped early at the recommendation of outside monitors. Shares of Atea Pharmaceuticals Inc, which is developing a similar COVID-19 treatment, were up more than 21% on the news. Shares of COVID-19 vaccine makers https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/merck-covid-19-pill-success-slams-moderna-shares-shakes-up-healthcare-sector-2021-10-01 Moderna Inc were off more than 10%, while Pfizer was down less than 1%. Jefferies analyst Michael Yee said investors believe “people will be less afraid of COVID and less inclined to get vaccines if there is a simple pill that can treat COVID.” Pfizer and Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG are also racing to develop an easy-to-administer antiviral pill https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/covid-19-pill-developers-aim-top-merck-pfizer-efforts-2021-09-28 for COVID-19. For now, only antibody cocktails that have to be given intravenously are approved for non-hospitalized patients. White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients said on Friday that molnupiravir is “a potential additional tool… to protect people from the worst outcomes of COVID,” but added that vaccination “remains far and away, our best tool against COVID-19.” A planned interim analysis of 775 patients in Merck’s study looked at hospitalizations or deaths among people at risk for severe disease. It found that 7.3% of those given molnupiravir twice a day for five days were hospitalized and none had died by 29 days after treatment. That compared with a hospitalization rate of 14.1% for placebo patients. There were also eight deaths in the placebo group. “Antiviral treatments that can be taken at home to keep people with COVID-19 out of the hospital are critically needed,” Wendy Holman, Ridgeback’s CEO, said in a statement. ‘A HUGE ADVANCE’ Scientists welcomed the potential new treatment to help prevent serious illness from the virus, which has killed almost 5 million people around the world, 700,000 of them in the United States. “A safe, affordable, and effective oral antiviral would be a huge advance in the fight against COVID,” said Peter Horby, a professor of emerging infectious diseases at the University of Oxford. The study enrolled patients with laboratory-confirmed mild-to-moderate COVID-19, who had symptoms for no more than five days. All patients had at least one risk factor associated with poor disease outcome, such as obesity or older age. Drugs in the same class as molnupiravir have been linked to birth defects in animal studies. Merck has said similar studies of molnupiravir – for longer and at higher doses than used in humans – indicate that the drug does not affect mammalian DNA. Merck said viral sequencing done so far shows molnupiravir is effective against all variants https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/merck-says-research-shows-its-covid-19-pill-works-against-variants-2021-09-29 of the coronavirus including the highly transmissible Delta, which has driven the recent worldwide surge in hospitalizations and deaths. It said rates of adverse events were similar for both molnupiravir and placebo patients, but did not give details. Merck has said data shows molnupiravir is not capable of inducing genetic changes in human cells, but men enrolled in its trials had to abstain from heterosexual intercourse or agree to use contraception. Women of child-bearing age in the study could not be pregnant and also had to use birth control. The U.S. drugmaker said it expects to produce 10 million courses of the treatment by the end of 2021. The company has a U.S. government contract to supply 1.7 million courses of molnupiravir at a price of $700 per course. Davis said Merck has similar agreements with other governments, and is in talks with more. Merck said it plans a tiered pricing approach based on country income criteria. The U.S. government has the option to purchase up to an additional 3.5 million treatment courses if needed, a U.S. health official told Reuters. The official asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the contract. Merck has also agreed to license the drug to several India-based generic drugmakers, which would be able to supply the treatment to low- and middle-income countries. Molnupiravir is also being studied in a Phase III trial for preventing infection in people exposed to the coronavirus. Merck officials said it is unclear how long the FDA review will take, although Dean Li, head of Merck’s research labs, said, “they are going to try to work with alacrity on this.” (Reporting by Deena Beasley and Carl O’Donnell; Additional reporting by Josephine Mason, and Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by Lincoln Feast, Kirsten Donovan, Alexander Smith, Bill Berkrot and Sonya Hepinstall) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Anderson Cooper has revealed that his son is obsessed with feet and that his first word was shoes. The 54-year-old broadcaster – who welcomed 17-month-old Wyatt with then-partner Benjamin Maisani via surrogate back in 2017 – joked about his son’s unusual fascination on The Ellen Show. He said: “Wyatt is always showing off his feet. I’m not sure why, but there it is”. Host Ellen DeGeneres smiled at the comment and quipped: “Maybe he’s gonna be aerialist!” Anderson then revealed that Wyatt has recently started to speak his first words. He added: “He’s just started to talk a little bit. One of his first words was ‘shoes’ which I love.” It comes as the CNN presenter shares the cover of People Magazine with his son, which he unveiled on the talk show. He also went on to talk about his new book later in the chat with Ellen. ‘Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty’ tells the story of his famous family, who began a shipping empire in the 19th century with Cornelius Vanderbilt being called ‘America’s first great tycoon.’ Anderson joked about how he was shocked to learn during research that he is far from being the only gay member of his family. He said: “My mom was taken away from her mom as a child by courts and given to an aunt. One of the reasons the court ruled to take my mother away is that her mother was seen kissing a woman in bed who she was having a relationship with. She had been married to a man. My mom’s aunt – who she was given to – also had a secret gay life.” Further research revealed that Cornelius Vanderbilt had a gay son too. He added: “Commodore Vanderbilt – one of his sons, who he hated – was secretly gay and yeah, it didn’t end well but he gave his house to his male lover.” He then quipped: “I was like ‘Wow, it’s chock full of gays!'” View the full article

Published by AFP Facebook was among social media platforms hit by an outage San Francisco (AFP) – Facebook and its Instagram and WhatsApp platforms were hit by a massive outage Monday, impacting potentially tens of millions of users as the social media giant faces fallout over its effect on teens and misinformation. Tracker Downdetector was showing outages in heavily populated areas like Washington and Paris, with problems being reported from around 1545 GMT. “We’re aware that some people are having trouble accessing our apps and products,” Facebook spokesman Andy Stone said on Twitter. Users trying to access Facebook in affected areas were greeted with the message: “Something went wrong. We’re working on it and we’ll get it fixed as soon as we can.” The outage comes a day after a whistleblower went on US television to reveal her identity after she leaked a trove of documents to authorities alleging the company knew its products were fueling hate and harming children’s mental health. Frances Haugen, a 37-year-old data scientist from Iowa, has worked for companies including Google and Pinterest — but said in an interview with CBS news show “60 Minutes” that Facebook was “substantially worse” than anything she had seen before. The world’s largest social media platform has been embroiled in a firestorm brought about by Haugen, with US lawmakers and The Wall Street Journal raising sharp criticism of the network. ‘Make body dissatisfaction worse’ “I think that finally now policymakers, maybe the White House, other leaders can look at someone like Frances Haugen and say… ‘It’s now incumbent upon us, Facebook will not fix itself,'” said Nora Benavidez, a Facebook accountability expert. Facebook’s vice president of policy and global affairs Nick Clegg vehemently pushed back at the assertion its platforms are “toxic” for teens, days after a tense, hours-long congressional hearing in which US lawmakers grilled the company over its impact on the mental health of young users. Haugen, the whistleblower, is herself set to testify Tuesday on Capitol Hill over Facebook and Instagram’s impact on young people. Senators put the social media giant’s Antigone Davis through the wringer last week over damning reports that Facebook’s own research warned of potential harm. Davis told lawmakers that a survey of teens on 12 serious issues like anxiety, sadness and eating disorders showed that Instagram was generally helpful to them. Yet, Senator Richard Blumenthal read aloud excerpts from company documents he said were leaked to lawmakers by a Facebook whistleblower that directly contradicted her. “Substantial evidence suggests that experiences on Instagram and Facebook make body dissatisfaction worse,” he said, adding the finding was not a disgruntled worker’s complaint but company research. The enterprise has been under relentless pressure to guard against being a platform where misinformation, hate and child-harming content can spread. Legislators have struggled to pass new rules that would update online protections in decades-old laws crafted long before social media even existed. View the full article

Published by AFP US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive at the White House at the start of a crucial week with the US debt limit and Biden's spending plans up in the air Washington (AFP) – President Joe Biden went on the offensive Monday with a speech attacking Republicans over a looming threat of US debt default, while pressuring his Democratic Party to enact his stalled multi-trillion-dollar domestic spending agenda. Back from a rare weekend relaxing at home in Delaware, Biden plunged into the most consequential period of his presidency so far. On one side, he faces Republican determination to cripple his momentum and recapture control of Congress in next year’s midterm legislative elections. On the other, Biden is struggling with infighting between Democrats over his infrastructure and social spending bills. With the speech calling out Republicans and a trip to Michigan on Tuesday to promote his domestic spending plans, the 78-year-old political veteran hopes to regain the initiative. While Biden’s legacy may ultimately depend on the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package and a potentially $2 trillion or more social spending package, the entire US and global economies face the imminent threat of a possible debt default. Biden on Monday called Republican opponents “reckless and dangerous” for refusing to join Democrats in raising the debt limit. Republican obstruction could push “our economy over a cliff,” Biden said in a White House speech, warning he cannot “guarantee” that a resolution will be found in time. “If I could, I would,” he said. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warns that from October 18, the United States will not have the funds to meet its obligations to creditors if Congress does not relax the legal debt ceiling. Congress has done this dozens of times over the decades since setting borrowing limits, and the votes are usually bipartisan and drama-free. This year, reflecting the extraordinary acrimony, Republicans are refusing to vote for lifting the ceiling and indicate they will even block Democrats from passing a simple vote by themselves along party lines. Instead, Senate Republicans are attempting to force Democrats to use a complex maneuver called reconciliation to take sole responsibility for the debt hike. Democrats so far are refusing, accusing the Republicans of taking the nation’s financial standing hostage. The standoff means that Democrats, who control the Senate by only one vote, find themselves bogged down in trying to manage the debt crisis while also trying to overcome internal differences over Biden’s spending packages. On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said a debt ceiling lift should be voted through “by the end of the week, period.” “We do not have the luxury of waiting until October 18th, as it is our responsibility to re-assure the world that the United States meets our obligations in a timely fashion,” he said. How much is enough? Meanwhile, Biden is needing every bit of his experience from nearly four decades in the Senate and eight years as vice president under Barack Obama to try and come up with a formula that will unite the left and more conservative wings of his party. His trip Tuesday to a trade union training facility in Howell, Michigan, will seek to highlight the White House’s argument that the big spending plans are popular with voters and that Democrats would be committing colossal self-harm if their squabbling results in the entire legislative agenda collapsing. On Thursday, Biden is also set to fly to Chicago to talk about the Covid pandemic — underlining his argument that the country needs effective government at a time of national crisis. Moderates in the House and most crucially in the ultra-tight Senate are refusing to go along with the progressive wing’s hoped-for $3.5 trillion price tag on social spending. Progressives are rejecting a counter-offer of $1.5 trillion. Biden is now pushing for something in the $2 trillion range. However both camps are playing hardball, with progressives refusing to back even the $1 trillion infrastructure component unless their bigger social spending goals are first guaranteed. On Sunday, Schumer said the goal was “to get both bills done in the next month,” adding yet another deadline to a tense autumn season for Biden’s team. View the full article

Published by Reuters PARIS (Reuters) -The French Catholic Church has had an estimated 3,000 paedophiles in its ranks over the past 70 years, the head of an independent commission investigating the sex abuse scandal said in an interview published on Sunday. The scandal in the French Church is the latest to hit the Roman Catholic Church, which has been rocked by sexual abuse scandals around the world, often involving children, over the past 20 years. The French commission is due to publish its findings on Tuesday, marking the culmination of 2-1/2 years of work, probing allegations of abuse going back to the 1950s. “We have estimated the number (of paedophiles) as standing at 3,000, out of 115,000 priests and religious officials, going back to the 1950s,” commission head Jean-Marc Sauve told the Journal du Dimanche paper. A spokesperson representing the French Catholic Bishops’ Conference declined to comment on Sauve’s remarks. A Vatican spokesperson said it would wait for the full report to be published before deciding on whether to comment. In June, Pope Francis said the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse crisis was a worldwide “catastrophe”. The French Catholic Church posted a prayer on its official Twitter account on Sunday, on behalf of victims, and added it would also hold a prayer on Oct. 5 – the day of the publication of the report. “Dear Lord – we entrust to you all those who have been victims of violence and sexual attacks in the Church. We pray that we will always be able to count on your support and help during these ordeals,” it wrote on its Twitter account. STEPS TO WIPE OUT ABUSE Since his election in 2013, Francis has taken a series of steps aimed at wiping out sexual abuse of minors by clerics. In 2019, the pope issued a landmark decree making bishops directly accountable for sexual abuse or covering it up, requiring clerics to report any cases to Church superiors and allowing anyone to complain directly to the Vatican if needed. This year, he issued the most extensive revision to Catholic Church law in four decades, insisting that bishops take action against clerics who abuse minors and vulnerable adults. Critics have said he has not done enough. The French Church, which has seen dwindling numbers of faithful in recent years, said in March it would propose financial compensation to those who were victims of abuse. Last month, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cologne decided to take a “spiritual time-out” from his duties after committing grave errors in a crisis over clerical sexual abuse. A report published last year in Britain said the Catholic Church received more than 900 complaints involving over 3,000 instances of child sex abuse in England and Wales between 1970 and 2015, and that there have been more than 100 reported allegations a year since 2016. (Reporting by Gilles Guillaume and Philip Pullella;Editing by Frances Kerry) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Paresh Dave (Reuters) – A senior manager on Google’s global security team crudely joked about a company security guard in text messages, part of a pattern of workplace harassment against the gay, Black employee, according to a lawsuit filed by the employee this week. David Brown, who according to the lawsuit is jointly employed by the Alphabet Inc unit and security company Allied Universal, is seeking unspecified monetary damages for alleged physical and emotional harassment at Google’s Los Angeles offices based on his sexual orientation and race, which it says took place between 2014 and last year. Google and Allied Universal did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Many major companies including Google last year stepped up efforts to create more inclusive worksites after social protests calling attention to racism. Some workers at Google, including over 2,000 who signed an open letter on the issue in April, have said the company does not sufficiently hold perpetrators accountable. Brown’s supervisor accounted for much of the alleged problematic behavior, including “grabbing him on the buttocks, kicking him in the groin, throwing him through a window head first and brutally grabbing his nipples,” according to the lawsuit, which was filed in a state court in Los Angeles. The supervisor, Henry Linares, was fired for other reasons this year, according to the filing. A LinkedIn profile indicates he left Google and Allied Universal in July. He did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Google’s senior manager for global community operations, Rus Rossini, “participated in the discrimination and sexual harassment and took no corrective action,” the lawsuit further alleges. During a chat last year about items missing from Google’s offices, which were quiet due to the pandemic, Rossini messaged the supervisor, “Strip searches for all,” according to the lawsuit and a screenshot of the exchange seen by Reuters. After the supervisor responded that, “David is going to love that,” Rossini followed, “Tell David to bend over.” The supervisor, who shared the screenshot with Brown, responded, “hahah I’ll tell him you said Hellooo.” Rossini did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He remains employed at Google, according to a LinkedIn profile. Brown’s attorney V. James DeSimone said Rossini should have addressed the abuse, especially after Brown “turned those screenshots to human resources, implicating Rossini in the harassment.” (Reporting by Paresh Dave, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien) View the full article

Published by AFP White flags marking US Covid-19 deaths — a toll which has surpassed 700,000 — are seen on the National Mall near the White House as part of a September 2021 project Washington (AFP) – US fatalities from Covid-19 surpassed 700,000 on Friday, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University, a toll roughly equivalent to the population of the nation’s capital Washington. The grim threshold comes with an average of well over 1,000 dying each day, in a country where 55.7 percent of the population is now fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After a heavily criticized early response to the pandemic, the United States organized an effective vaccine roll-out — only to see a significant portion of Americans still refusing to get the shots. The United States finds itself having notched the most fatalities in the world, far exceeding other frontrunners such as Brazil and India, and facing a resurgence in cases due to the prominence of the highly contagious Delta variant. While the latest global coronavirus wave peaked in late August, the virus continues to spread rapidly, particularly in the United States. The vaccination campaign launched by US authorities in December — which had reached a peak in April, with sometimes more than four million injections per day — has meanwhile slowed considerably. Coronavirus misinformation has been rampant in the country, and masking remains a political issue, dividing many Americans. Some Republican governors, such as those in Texas and Florida, have sought to ban mandatory masking in their states, citing individual freedoms. The Democratic state of California on the other hand announced on Friday that Covid vaccinations will be compulsory for all students. In Washington, hundreds of thousands of white flags fluttered on the grass on the National Mall, not far from the White House, as somber reminders of those who have died of Covid in the United States. Nearly 4.8 million people worldwide have died since the outbreak began in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally from official sources. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Akriti Sharma (Reuters) -Former U.S. President Donald Trump asked a federal judge in Florida on Friday to ask Twitter to restore his account, which the company removed in January citing a risk of incitement of violence. Trump filed a request for preliminary injunction against Twitter in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, arguing the social media company was “coerced” by members of the U.S. Congress to suspend his account. Twitter and several other social media platforms banned Trump from their services after a mob of his supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol in a deadly riot on Jan. 6. That assault followed a speech by Trump in which he reiterated false claims that his election loss in November was because of widespread fraud, an assertion rejected by multiple courts and state election officials. Twitter “exercises a degree of power and control over political discourse in this country that is immeasurable, historically unprecedented, and profoundly dangerous to open democratic debate,” Trump’s lawyers said in the filing. The filing was reported earlier by Bloomberg. Twitter declined to comment on the filing when contacted by Reuters. At the time of removing Trump’s account permanently, Twitter said https://bit.ly/3FdtfID his tweets had violated the platform’s policy barring “glorification of violence”. The company said at the time that Trump’s tweets that led to the removal were “highly likely” to encourage people to replicate what happened in the Capitol riots. Before he was blocked, Trump had more than 88 million followers on Twitter and used it as his social media megaphone. In the court filing, Trump argued Twitter allowed the Taliban to tweet regularly about their military victories across Afghanistan, but censored him during his presidency by labeling his tweets as “misleading information” or indicating they violated the company’s rules against “glorifying violence”. In July Trump sued https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-he-is-suing-facebook-twitter-google-claiming-bias-2021-07-07 Twitter, Facebook Inc and Alphabet Inc’s Google, as well as their chief executives, alleging they unlawfully silence conservative viewpoints. (Reporting by Akriti Sharma and Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by William Mallard and Frances Kerry) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Julia Harte (Reuters) – Women’s rights advocates will join 660 marches planned around the United States on Saturday to protest against recent efforts to restrict abortion access, including a new Texas law that bans abortions after about six weeks. In Washington, D.C., protesters will march to the U.S. Supreme Court two days before the court reconvenes for a session https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2GR3F4 in which the justices will consider a Mississippi case that could enable them to overturn abortion rights established in the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case. In a 5-4 decision on Sept. 1, the justices denied a request from abortion and women’s health providers to block enforcement of the near-total ban in Texas, the strictest such law in the country. “This is kind of a break-glass moment for folks all across the country,” said Rachel O’Leary Carmona, executive director of Women’s March, the main organizer of Saturday’s demonstrations. “Many of us grew up with the idea that abortion would be legal and accessible for all of us, and seeing that at very real risk has been a moment of awakening,” she said. Carmona said the number of marches scheduled for Saturday is second only to the group’s first protest, which mobilized millions of people around the world to rally against former President Donald Trump the day after his inauguration in 2017. Saturday’s marches will take place from coast to coast, including in cities across Texas, a flashpoint in the nation’s battle over abortion rights. The state’s so-called “heartbeat” law, which went into effect on Sept. 1, bans abortion after cardiac activity is detected in the embryo, usually around six weeks. That is before most women know they are pregnant and earlier than 85% to 90% of all abortions are carried out, experts say. Texas also lets ordinary citizens enforce the ban, rewarding them at least $10,000 if they successfully sue anyone who helped provide an illegal abortion. In the month since the law was enacted, hundreds of women in Texas have driven to other states for abortions, while others have sought abortion-inducing pills by mail or visited “crisis pregnancy centers” that encourage women not to get abortions. Abortion clinics are struggling to survive https://www.reuters.com/world/us/texas-abortion-clinics-struggle-survive-under-restrictive-law-2021-09-30 as patient visits decline and some staff quit. Abortion rights advocates and the U.S. Justice Department have challenged the law in state and federal courts, arguing that it violates Roe v. Wade. A federal judge in Austin on Friday heard the Justice Department’s request https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-administration-urge-halt-strict-texas-abortion-law-2021-10-01 to block the law temporarily while its constitutionality is challenged. (Reporting by Julia Harte; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Donald Trump’s daughter was reportedly not very well-received in the White House. Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner served as senior advisers to the ex-President during his one-term tenure as commander-in-chief. Although the duo had the full support of Donald, staffers didn’t have much respect for them. MEGA “We had all come to call Jared and Ivanka ‘the interns’ because they represented in our minds obnoxious, entitled know-it-alls,” ex-aide Stephanie Grisham wrote in her explosive tell-all, I’ll Take Your Questions Now: What I Saw in The White House, reported PEOPLE. IVANKA TRUMP AND JARED KUSHNER REPORTEDLY DISTANCING THEMSELVES FROM DONALD TRUMP TO ‘REHABILITATE THEIR IMAGE’ The former Press Secretary wrote in detail about the night Ivanka’s dad addressed the nation from the Oval Office on March, 11, 2020, at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic — a speech she deemed a “total clusterf**k.” “An address to the nation is serious stuff, and whenever possible you need plenty of time to prepare properly — unless, of course, you were in the Trump White House, where everything was like a clown car on fire running at full speed into a warehouse full of fireworks,” Grisham explained. She noted that during a meeting of the coronavirus task force including Donald, VP Mike Pence, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Deborah Birx and others, it was Ivanka who was adamant about the speech being televised. MEGA “The women’s rights / small-business / crisis communications / and now Covid expert, just kept repeating, ‘There should be an address from the Oval,’” Grisham recalled. “Finally, Ivanka turned to her most powerful ally besides her father. ‘Jared, don’t you agree?’” ‘IVANKA IS DONALD IN A SUIT’: THE EX-PRESIDENT ‘WOULD CHOOSE’ HIS DAUGHTER OVER WIFE MELANIA, FORMER AIDE CLAIMS When pressed for more detail about the specifics of the speech, Grisham said the 39-year-old mother-of-three, Kushner or former communications director Hope Hicks offered no real answers. “One of my other biggest personal regrets is that I didn’t have the courage to speak out against Jared, Ivanka and Hope about the potential dangers of addressing the nation without any Covid response strategy in place, and what a disservice it could be to the country and the president,” Grisham added. Ivanka isn’t the only target in the explosive upcoming memoir due out next week. Grisham takes aim at Donald, claiming he wanted to “promote” a young female staffer he took an “unusual interest” in. MEGA She also alleged Melania slept through Donald’s 2020 election night defeat to President Joe Biden, 78, and was more interested in partaking in a photo shoot than condemning the rioters that swarmed D.C. on January 6. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Lawrence Hurley and Andrew Chung WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Just before midnight on Sept. 1, the debate over whether the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority will dramatically change life in America took on a new ferocity when the justices let a near-total ban on abortion in Texas take effect. The intense scrutiny of the court will only increase when the justices – six conservatives and three liberals – open their new nine-month term on Monday. They have taken up cases that could enable them to overturn abortion rights https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/mississippi-asks-us-supreme-court-overturn-abortion-rights-landmark-2021-07-22 established in a landmark ruling 48 years ago and also expand gun rights https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-supreme-court-hear-major-case-carrying-handguns-public-2021-04-26 – two cherished goals of American conservatives. In addition, there are cases scheduled that could expand religious rights, building on several rulings in recent years. These contentious cases come at a time when opinion surveys show that public approval of the court is waning even as a commission named by President Joe Biden https://www.reuters.com/business/legal/bidens-supreme-court-commission-meet-abortion-debate-reignites-2021-05-19 explores recommending changes such expanding the number of justices or imposing term limits in place of their lifetime appointments. Some justices have given speeches rebutting criticism of the court and questions about its legitimacy as a nonpolitical institution. Its junior-most member Amy Coney Barrett, a conservative confirmed by Senate Republicans only days before the 2020 presidential election, said this month the court “is not comprised of a bunch of partisan hacks.” “There’s no doubt that the court’s legitimacy is under threat right now,” lawyer Kannon Shanmugam, who frequently argues cases at the court, said at an event organized by the conservative Federalist Society. “The level of rhetoric and criticism of the court is higher than I can certainly remember at any point in my career.” The court’s late-night 5-4 decision not to block the Republican-backed Texas law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy put abortion-rights advocates including Biden on high alert. The justices now have a chance to go even further. They will hear a case on Dec. 1 in which Mississippi is defending https://www.reuters.com/world/us/mississippi-asks-us-supreme-court-overturn-abortion-rights-landmark-2021-07-22 its law banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Mississippi’s Republican attorney general is asking the court to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide and ended an era when some states banned it. In another blockbuster case, the justices could make it easier for people to obtain permits to carry handguns outside the home, a major expansion of firearms rights. They will consider on Nov. 3 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-supreme-court-hear-major-case-carrying-handguns-public-2021-04-26 whether to invalidate a New York state regulation that lets people obtain a concealed-carry permit only if they can show they need a gun for self-defense. CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS Former President Donald Trump was able to appoint three conservative justices including Barrett who tilted the court further rightward, with the help of maneuvering by a key fellow Republican, Senator Mitch McConnell. The Democratic-led Congress has held two hearings in recent months on how the court has increasingly decided major issues, including the Texas abortion one, with late-night emergency decisions using its “shadow docket” https://www.reuters.com/article/legal-us-usa-court-shadow-video/the-shadow-docket-how-the-u-s-supreme-court-quietly-dispatches-key-rulings-idUSKBN2BF16Q process that lacks customary public oral arguments. “The Supreme Court has now shown that it’s willing to allow even facially unconstitutional laws to take effect when the law is aligned with certain ideological preferences,” Democrat Dick Durbin, the Senate Judiciary Committee’s chairman, said on Wednesday. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito in a speech on Thursday https://www.reuters.com/world/us/alito-decries-sinister-portrayal-us-supreme-court-shadow-docket-2021-09-30 objected to criticism that portrays the court’s members as a “dangerous cabal that resorts to sneaky and improper methods.” “This portrayal feeds unprecedented efforts to intimidate the court or damage it as an independent institution,” Alito said. Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas last month said judges are “asking for trouble” if they wade into political issues. Thomas has previously said Roe v. Wade should be overturned, as many conservatives have sought. Liberal Justice Stephen Breyer noted in a May speech https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-justice-breyer-touts-compromise-democracy-adherence-precedent-2021-05-28 that the court’s legitimacy relies in part on avoiding major upheavals in the law when people have come to rely on existing precedents. “The law might not be perfect but if you’re changing it all the time people won’t know what to do, and the more you change it the more people will ask to have it changed,” Breyer said. Abortion rights advocates have cited the fact that Roe v. Wade has been in place for almost a half century as one reason not to overturn it. Breyer, at 83 the court’s oldest member, himself is the focus of attention. Some liberal activists have urged him to retire so Biden can appoint a younger liberal who could serve for decades. Breyer has said he has not decided when he will retire. George Mason University law professor Jenn Mascott, a former Thomas law clerk, said the justices should not be swayed by public opinion. “What the justices have said they want to do is decide each case on the rule the law,” Mascott said. “I don’t think they should be thinking that the perception would be that they are too partisan one way or another.” (This story corrects Justice Breyer’s age to 83, not 82) (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley and Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham and Scott Malone) View the full article

Ben Whishaw as QJames Bond Gets a Good Gay The existence of gay James Bond characters throughout the super spy’s film and book series has been fraught with queerbaiting and homophobic tropes, but Daniel Craig’s final spin as 007 looks to break that trend. The latest Bond film “No Time to Die” includes a scene that appears to signal that Bond’s gadget and gizmo developer Q, portrayed by out gay actor Ben Whishaw, is gay, marking a first for the series. Nearly all other portrayals of LGBTQ or queer-coded characters in Bond-related media have had a villainous twinge, and none of Bond’s major allies have been depicted as LGBTQ. The closest the series came previously to doing so was in creator Ian Fleming’s novel “Goldfinger” where Pussy Galore ultimately helped Bond after originally siding with the baddies. Galore’s portrayal as a lesbian, or coded lesbian in the case of the film adaptation, is rife with problematic ideas about queer female identity. The book portrays Galore as becoming a lesbian after experiencing sexual abuse from a man and the film shows her essentially converting to being a straight woman due to James Bond’s superior boning ability (gross). Making Q gay represents a huge first for the franchise, but the scene itself, like other blockbuster films that have bragged about LGBTQ inclusion, is drawing criticism for playing coy with addressing Q’s identity. The scene, A dinner date interrupted by Bond and Moneypenny’s world-saving quest, only points to Q’s gayness by having Winshaw refer to a “he” who he expecting for the romantic evening. The scene feels like another in a line of scenes that could easily be edited for markets that aren’t kind to media portrayals of LGBTQ people. But it also represents a positive step as the series slowly creeps toward better diversity and inclusion. Winshaw himself has advocated for a gay James Bond as Craig exits the franchise, telling Attitude, “I really believe that we should be working towards a world where anyone can play anything and it would be really thrilling if it didn’t matter about someone’s sexuality to take on a role like this.” Venom Comes Out? “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” is set to hit theaters this weekend with its Spider-Man universe symbiote battle royale, but the film apparently packs some version of a “coming out” scene in between the clash. In an interview with Uproxx, director Andy Serkis detailed that Venom, the alien symbiote that lives within Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock, will have a “coming out party” in a scene where the duo go to a rave that Serkis described as being based on an LGBTQ festival. In the scene, venom gives an impromptu speech to the crowd supporting LGBTQ rights in the only way a cantankerous alien would. “Well, what is interesting is that it’s just like, here he is kind of, he says in the movie, ‘We must stop this cruel treatment of aliens,'” said Serkis. “‘You know, we all live on this ball of rock,’ you know? And so he inadvertently becomes a kind of… he’s speaking for the other. He’s speaking for freedom of the other.” Serkis also stated that the much of the film focuses on the “love affair” between Venom and Brock. “Absolutely they do love each other,” he added. “That’s the kind of the center of the movie is that love affair, that central love affair.” Marvel’s Eternals And Queer Family “Marvel’s Eternals” is poised to offer LGBTQ audiences its most tangible bit of representation yet in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film will feature the franchise’s first out LGBTQ superhero in the form of Brian Tyree Henry’s Phastos, but it purportedly goes deeper than surface-level portrayals Disney properties have included and celebrated amid criticism. Phastos has a husband and children in the film, meaning the film will be the rare blockbuster that depicts an LGBTQ family. Actor Haaz Sleiman, who portrays Phastos’ husband in the film, expressed excitement at being part of what actually feels like a landmark moment for mainstream cinema. “I feel lucky, and I’m grateful,” Sleiman told Out Magazine. “I got to humanize an LGBTQ+ family and show how beautiful they are … I think queer families, personally, are way healthier than regular families, in my opinion. We stay together and there’s so much love.” Sleiman has helmed multiple roles since coming out in 2017 that have served similar purposes. He won a 2021 GLAAD Media Award for his role in an episode of “Little America” titled “The Son” where he portrayed a queer Syrian man seeking asylum in the United States. Sleiman is bullish on the continued expansion of how media portrays LGBTQ individuals. “We’re evolving,” he said. “The most exciting thing is the stories that are being told in television and film about LGBTQ people … A lot of shows are being more thoughtful about portraying queer people in a more fuller way, not so one-dimensional or very stereotyped.” Gay James Bond: Previously on Towleroad Action Roundup: Gay James Bond Character; Venom’s ‘Coming Out Party;’ ‘Queer Family’ of ‘Marvel’s Eternals’ Brian Bell October 1, 2021 Read More Cassandra Peterson, Horror Icon Elvira, Comes Out, Reveals 19-Year Relationship in New Memoir Brian Bell September 22, 2021 Read More LGBTQ Hollywood Roundup: Bragman Establishes Coming Out Fund; Indya Moore Calls Out Met Gala; Dan Levy Signs Netflix Deal; JoJo Siwa Frustrated With Nickelodeon Brian Bell September 17, 2021 Read More Billy Eichner ‘s ‘Big, Gay Divorce Comedy’ ‘Ex-Husbands’ Headed To Amazon; ‘It’s the Gay ‘War Of The Roses’ You’ve Been Waiting For!’ Brian Bell August 4, 2021 Read More Hollywood Skin Doc–and Home Flipper–Alex Khadavi Threatens to Kill Gay Couple In Homophobic Screed Caught on A Lobby Cam; Acquired by TMZ: WATCH Brian Bell July 22, 2021 Read More A ‘Pose’ Is Not Enough. Hollywood Writers Guild’s LGBTQ Group Calls Out Discrimination On and Off Screen In Open Letter Brian Bell June 14, 2021 Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Lil Nas X is still “very much in love” with his ex-boyfriend. The ‘Montero (Call Me By Your Name)’ hitmaker has now confirmed his mystery former partner was Yai Ariza, who appears in his ‘That’s What I Want’ music video, and though he recently declared himself single, he’s admitted it’s possible they will get back together eventually. Speaking to SiriusXM’s Hits 1 LA hosts Tony Fly and Symon, he said: “We were dating, and we are still in very good terms. You know, we may date again I’m sure. “I love him, he is amazing. I wanted to kind of focus on my music right now.” The 22-year-old star described his former partner as “the best person” he has “ever” dated. He added: “I am still very much in love, I’m like trying to manage…If it’s meant, it will happen in the future, life is long.” As well as getting close to Nas in the ‘That’s What I Want’ music video, Yai was also a dancer in the singer’s ‘Industry Baby’ music video and made out with him during his performance of ‘Montero’ at the 2021 BET Awards. The ‘Old Town Road’ hitmaker confirmed earlier this week his relationship had ended. He said: “I was seeing someone. Um, I kind of decided I didn’t want to anymore… “I don’t want to ruin anybody’s perception of [‘That’s What I Want’], but I don’t think I want any guy right now. “Maybe I’m floating around right now. I just want to work on music and every now and then, you know, maybe I’ll kiss a guy, every blue moon, you know.” Just a month ago, Nas gushed about how “effortless” his romance with his boyfriend was. He said: “I feel like this is one of the best [relationships] yet. I’m really happy about it, and it all just feels natural. It’s effortless.” And Nas had previously suggested that his boyfriend could be “the one”. He said: “I’ve had some good boyfriends and some bad ones. A lot of them were emotionally unavailable or had a lot of insecurity and whatnot. “I’ve found someone special now. I think this is the one. I can’t explain it – it’s just a feeling.” View the full article

Pepsi and Shirley, Wham backup singers, think the late George Michael has been sending them messages of support for their new book. The duo – whose full names are Pepsi Demacque-Crockett and Shirlie Kemp – have reflected on their time as Wham! backing singers in their new autobiography, ‘ Pepsi & Shirlie: It’s All in Black and White’… Pepsi and Shirlie in Wham’s Young Guns Published by BANG Showbiz English Pepsi and Shirley think the late George Michael has been sending them messages of support for their new book. The duo – whose full names are Pepsi Demacque-Crockett and Shirlie Kemp – have reflected on their time as Wham! backing singers in their new autobiography, ‘ Pepsi & Shirlie: It’s All in Black and White’, and they believe the ‘Careless Whisper’ hitmaker would have wanted the tome to do well. Pepsi said: “I’m quite emotional actually. I’ve been walking into the hotel foyer and every time one of George’s songs comes on. I think he’s got his fairy dust on our book, wishing us well.” Shirlie had known George – who died in December 2016 – and fellow Wham! singer Andrew Ridgeley since their school days and she paid tribute to her friend for his “empathy and wit”. She told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “I knew George as a friend way before Wham!, way before fame. “He was adorable and his sense of humour, he could laugh at himself. It was his empathy and his wit. “To be that compassionate but that hilarious was a beautiful combination.” The ‘Heartache’ hitmakers – who performed as a duo after Wham! disbanded – are “really proud” of their pop hey days. Shirlie said: “When you meet Wham! or Pepsi and Shirlie fans, you think, ‘Wow, I was actually part of that.” Pepsi added: “I feel really proud of the fact I can look back on so many fond memories. It’s tainted with sadness, but that’s life.” But they admitted it was “really hard work” and they often shunned invites to parties in favour of going straight home after gigs. Pepsi said: “It’s really hard work, coming off stage you’re all sweaty. It seems very glamorous on the outside, cameras going, waving to the fans but Shirlie would be like, ‘Oh my gosh, we’ve got to have a shower, put make-up on, what are we going to wear?’ “We’d look at each other and go, ‘No, I think we’ll go back to the room’.” One of Pepsi and Shirlie Hit Songs on their own Wham Backup Singers on Towleroad Ivanka Trump & Jared Kushner Called ‘Interns’ By White House Staffers Who Felt They Were ‘Entitled Know-It-Alls’: Ex-Aide More In Political Crosshairs, U.S. Supreme Court Will Look at Cases That Include Abortion, Guns, and So-called ‘Religious Rights’ More Action Roundup: Gay James Bond Character; Venom’s ‘Coming Out Party;’ ‘Queer Family’ of ‘Marvel’s Eternals’ More Lil Nas X won’t rule out reuniting with ex-boyfriend More Most U.S. deaths from police violence unrecorded in main database- study More Lady Gaga Fashion is limitless. Her Personal Style ‘A Jazz Singer’; The New Gaga Jazz Album With Tony Bennett Drops LISTEN: Full Album & Live Show More Discussing The Origins of Lizzo Twerking, Her New TED talk, Mainstream Butts and African Origins of Twerking More Dolly Parton Hits the Humble, Generous High Notes: ‘Honored And Flattered’ Lil Nas X Covers ‘Jolene,’ Says It’s ‘Really, Really Good’ More OKCupid’s Full, Inclusive ‘Every Single Person’ Campaign Is Literally Attacked. Dating App: ‘If We’re Pissing Off People … You Can Go Elsewhere’ More ACLU Joins Indiana Gay-Straight Alliance Lawsuit Over Unequal Treatment by Schools; Same District Banned Pride Flags Few Months Ago More New Bishop named in Brooklyn after predecessor retired amid sex abuse scandal More Load More View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) – More than half of all U.S. deaths involving police violence from 1980-2018 were not listed as such in the government’s main database, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Washington and published in The Lancet. The U.S. National Vital Statistics System recorded police violence as playing a role in 13,700 deaths over that period, the study’s authors said. By examining three non-governmental, open-source databases, they estimated the true total was around 30,800. The databases they examined were Fatal Encounters, Mapping Police Violence, and The Counted. The burden of fatal police violence is an urgent public health crisis in the United States, said the study published on Thursday in The Lancet, a major British medical journal. Deaths at the hands of the police disproportionately impact people of certain races and ethnicities, pointing to systemic racism in policing, it added. Protests broke out last year in the United States following the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a police officer knelt on his neck for more than 8 minutes, and other incidents in which police killed Black men and women. “Proven public health intervention strategies are needed to address these systematic biases. State-level estimates allow for appropriate targeting of these strategies to address police violence and improve its reporting,” the study said. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Graff) View the full article