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Published by Reuters By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A lawyer for Jamie Spears on Thursday denounced a Los Angeles judge’s decision to suspend him as conservator of his daughter Britney Spears’ $60 million estate. LA Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny removed Jamie Spears https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/britney-spears-case-back-court-with-dads-role-line-2021-09-29 from the role on Wednesday and set a November court date to consider whether to terminate the 13-year-old legal arrangement. The judge replaced him temporarily with an accountant suggested by Britney Spears’ attorney. “Respectfully, the court was wrong to suspend Mr. Spears, put a stranger in his place to manage Britney’s estate, and extend the very conservatorship that Britney begged the court to terminate earlier this summer,” Vivian Thoreen, a lawyer for Jamie Spears, said in a statement. The outcome was “disappointing, and frankly, a loss for Britney Spears,” Thoreen said. The “Stronger” singer previously told the court that her father was controlling and that she was afraid of him. After he was suspended, the pop star said that she was “on cloud 9 right now.” Thoreen, however, said Jamie Spears had helped the singer revive her career and re-establish a relationship with her children under the conservatorship, which has governed her personal and financial affairs since she had a mental health breakdown in 2008. Details of the singer’s mental health have not been publicly disclosed. “For anyone who has tried to help a family member dealing with mental health issues, they can appreciate the tremendous amount of daily worry and work this required,” Thoreen said. “For Mr. Spears, this also meant biting his tongue and not responding to all the false, speculative, and unsubstantiated attacks on him by certain members of the public, media, or more recently, Britney’s own attorney,” she added. In a surprise move earlier this month, Jamie Spears asked the court to end the conservatorship https://www.reuters.com/world/us/britney-spears-father-asks-court-end-singers-conservatorship-media-reports-2021-09-07. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) View the full article

Trump’s former Spokesperson Stephanie Grisham doesn’t leave it at Stormy Daniels ‘mushroom’. In her just released book she criticizes the president for not trusting Pence; reveals why he went to Walter Reed that time, describes everything being done for his ego, and that he had a handler known as the “Music Man” who would play Broadway tunes, including Memory from ‘cats’ to calm him down. Published by AFP Stephanie Grisham listens as then president Donald Trump speaks to the media aboard Air Force One in 2019 Washington (AFP) – An aide dubbed the “Music Man” was tasked with playing calming tunes for Donald Trump when he went into rages, according to a scandal-filled book by a former press secretary. Stephanie Grisham, notorious for not giving a single televised press conference while serving as Trump’s chief spokeswoman, writes in “I’ll Take Your Questions Now” that her boss went into “terrifying” rants. The former president and his wife Melania have vociferously condemned the book, excerpts of which appeared Tuesday in The New York Times and Washington Post. Current Trump spokeswoman Liz Harrington branded Grisham a “disgruntled former employee” and said the book is “full of falsehoods.” However, as a longtime insider in the tumultuous Trump years, Grisham’s book is attracting attention ahead of its publication next week. One frequent target of Trump’s anger, the Times quoted the book as saying, was chief White House lawyer Pat Cipollone because he’d warn Trump that he was looking to do things that “were unethical or illegal. So (Trump would)… scream at them.” Sometimes, Trump’s displeasure took bizarre turns, Grisham was quoted saying. On one occasion, she was summoned on Air Force One to hear Trump push back against the unflattering description of his penis as resembling a “mushroom” by pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels. To calm Trump’s moods, a handler known to White House staff as the “Music Man” would play him Broadway tunes, including “Memory” from the long-running hit show “Cats,” the book claims. According to Grisham, the Trump White House revolved around the boss’s outsized ego, even when that meant lying to the public or stirring damaging rumors. An example was Trump’s mysterious visit to the presidential hospital at Walter Reed Medical Center in 2019. The White House’s refusal to explain the nature of the visit led to speculation that he was hiding a serious health problem. Grisham says the visit was merely for a “very common procedure,” which she hints was a colonoscopy. However, Trump refused to go under sedation because that would have meant handing power for a short time over to his vice president, Mike Pence, and he believed this would be “showing weakness,” the Times quoted her as writing. As for her own much criticized performance while holding the office of press secretary — she was often unresponsive to journalists and killed off the traditional daily briefing — Grisham claims she was just trying to stay out of trouble. “I knew that sooner or later the president would want me to tell the public something that was not true or that would make me sound like a lunatic,” she wrote. Stormy Daniels ‘Mushroom’ on Towleroad Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen launch gender-neutral kids’ clothing line More Bethenny Frankel is Begging For Some Andy Cohen Gay Influence (Her Former Boss) To Save Her Show After Transphobic Remarks More HIV Crime Laws: Spreading AIDS Virus Can Carry Penalty in 37 States, Up To Life In Prison; Are Having Unintended Results; Experts Say to Revise More Will Smith wanted ‘harem’ of women including Halle Berry; But Decided Was ‘horrific’. Speaks of His Non-Traditional Marriage More Powerful Bishop Calls Out Catholic Church. Says Ban on the Blessing LGBTQ Couples Was Met With “Indignation…Head Shaking … Open Resistance”; And More More Trump’s presidency coincided with a rise in extreme mental distress among LGBT people, according to a massive new study More Andrew Burnap and Moulin Rouge triumph at 2021 Tony Awards More Two transgender women win seats in German parliament More US warns Americans fake pills contain deadly fentanyl More U.S. President Reagan’s shooter John Hinckley wins unconditional release More Jurors reach verdict in R Kelly sex trafficking trial More Load More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English The Olsen twins have launched a gender-neutral kids’ clothing range for fall. Mary-Kate and Ashely Olsen, 35, have unveiled their brand The Row’s first line of knitwear for youngsters The former child stars said: “The items have to have a sense of practicality, ease, and comfort … We think of this for our main collections, but it’s even more important for kids. Over the past 10 years, we’ve personalised cashmere onesie and blanket sets for our clients and friends who have had kids. We wanted to explore that in a bigger way.” On their decision to make the capsule collection genderless, Ashley added to W Magazine: “Kids are the heart of creativity… They should be able to pick and choose what they want to wear, no matter what.” The extensive collection includes cashmere sweaters, trousers, cardigans, beanies, and velvet shoes, suitable for children aged two to 10. The prices range between $390 to $790, and the pieces are available to purchase via The Row website. The famous twins launched their fashion brand when they were just 18 in 2006, and the ‘New York Minute’ stars recently admitted they didn’t want it to be a celebrity brand. Ashley explained: “We didn’t want to be in front of it, we didn’t necessarily even want to let people know it was us. It was really about the product, to the point where we were like: ‘Who could we get to front this so that we don’t have to?’” The ‘Two of a Kind’ actresses insisted they were “raised” to be “discreet. View the full article

No word yet on whether she is going to be able to leverage some of that Andy Cohen gay influence and celebrity to catch her fall. Published by Radar Online Former Real Housewives of New York star Bethenny Frankel is fighting for her life to save her controversial podcast, Just B after broadcasting “transphobic” comments. “Bethenny has reached out to her old boss Andy Cohen to help save her show. Andy is a major influencer in the LGTBQ community and Bethenny thinks that if he comes out and supports her, others in the community will follow too,” sources tell Radar. “However, so far Andy has said nothing.” MEGA Frankel got herself in hot water again after talking about pronouns, gender identity, and her 11-year-old daughter, Bryn. Before implying that she would not want her daughter to sleep in the same bunk at a summer camp with a transgender girl. Previously, Frankel has suggested that identity could be a “phase.” “The folks at iHeart are appalled. The company is built on a promise of respect and inclusion for everyone. They even have huge quotes about the beliefs and values of the company printed on with massive letters in the reception area,” adds a company insider. MEGA “iHeart took a gamble on Bethenny after passing on several other Real Housewives podcasts. These women have been rewarded for bad behavior for years. Being controversial wrapped in ‘saying it as it is,’ is part of every reality stars’ DNA. However, what works for Bravo doesn’t work for iHeart. Bethenny will be lucky if she survives this. At this point, she is going to need more than Andy Cohen to save her job,” our source added. As Radar previously reported, Bethenny is also trading jabs with Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne. MEGA Earlier this month, Frankel claimed Jayne’s estranged husband Tom Girardi owed her late ex, Dennis Shields, $500,000. On her podcast, she said, “My experience is, especially with the ‘Housewives’ … if someone’s flaunting their money, they don’t really have it.” Shields reportedly told her Girardi owed him “half a million dollars.” She claimed her ex said. “I know this other guy he owes a million and a half dollars. He doesn’t have money. He owes everybody money.” Jayne’s attorney fired back at the claims. He told Page Six, “Erika has no knowledge of the alleged loans or the conversations referred to by Ms. Frankel, which even per Ms. Frankel, didn’t involve Erika.” MEGA Andy Cohen Gay Influencer on Towleroad Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen launch gender-neutral kids’ clothing line More HIV Crime Laws: Spreading AIDS Virus Can Carry Penalty in 37 States, Up To Life In Prison; Are Having Unintended Results; Experts Say to Revise More Will Smith wanted ‘harem’ of women including Halle Berry; But Decided Was ‘horrific’. Speaks of His Non-Traditional Marriage More Powerful Bishop Calls Out Catholic Church. Says Ban on the Blessing LGBTQ Couples Was Met With “Indignation…Head Shaking … Open Resistance”; And More More Trump’s presidency coincided with a rise in extreme mental distress among LGBT people, according to a massive new study More Andrew Burnap and Moulin Rouge triumph at 2021 Tony Awards More Two transgender women win seats in German parliament More US warns Americans fake pills contain deadly fentanyl More U.S. President Reagan’s shooter John Hinckley wins unconditional release More Jurors reach verdict in R Kelly sex trafficking trial More Rep. Liz Cheney: ‘I Was Wrong’ To Oppose Marriage Equality in 2013; Regrets Causing Family Rift; Still Voted Against Equality Act More Load More View the full article

Published by AFP United Airlines Chief Executive Scott Kirby has required all US employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19 New York (AFP) – United Airlines will dismiss nearly 600 employees who refused to comply with a requirement to be vaccinated for Covid-19, company officials said Tuesday. Besides the 593 workers who refused to get vaccinated, another 2,000 employees have also requested a medical or religious exemption to the vaccine requirement, company officials said. That is about three percent of United’s 67,000-person workforce. The big US carrier said it was pleased with the overall impact of the policy. In early August, United announced that all US employees would be required to receive the vaccine and upload their vaccine card into the company’s system. More than 99 percent of the remaining US staff complied with the requirement, according to a memo to employees from United Chief Executive Scott Kirby and President Brett Hart. The airline is working on its policies for employees who have requested exemptions, citing a pending court case on the matter. “This is a historic achievement for our airline and our employees as well as for the customers and communities we serve,” said the memo. “Our rationale for requiring the vaccine for all United’s US-based employees was simple –- to keep our people safe –- and the truth is this: everyone is safer when everyone is vaccinated, and vaccine requirements work.” United said it would follow the requirements of agreements with unions as far as employee dismissals for people who refused vaccines. “For the less than one percent of people who decided to not get vaccinated, we’ll unfortunately begin the process of separation from the airline per our policy,” the memo said. “This was an incredibly difficult decision but keeping our team safe has always been our first priority.” View the full article

Medical experts have recommended that HIV criminal laws be revised. Spencer Platt / Staff / via Getty Images News Robin Lennon-Dearing, University of Memphis Despite the fact that HIV is now a treatable medical condition, the majority of U.S. states still have laws on the books that criminalize exposing other people to HIV. Whether or not the virus is transmitted does not matter. Neither does a person’s intention to cause harm. A person simply must be aware of being HIV-positive to be found guilty. These laws are enforced mainly on marginalized people living in poverty who cannot afford lawyers. The penalties – felony convictions and being placed on sex offender registries – are severe and life altering. It is difficult to know exactly how many people are affected by HIV criminal laws, since a central database of such arrests does not exist. The HIV Justice Network has collected a partial list of 2,923 HIV criminal cases since 2008 based on media reports. I am a professor of social work who studies the impact of HIV criminal laws from the perspective of people who have been arrested. My research shows such statutes are outdated, harm people living with HIV and exacerbate the spread of the virus by driving people into hiding and away from treatment services. The early years of AIDS In 1981, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first cases of what later would be called acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or AIDS. By 1982, researchers had strong evidence the disease could be transmitted through blood and sexual activity. At the time, the death rate for AIDS patients was estimated to be 65%. In 1983, scientists discovered the retrovirus that causes AIDS and named it the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV. Initially, HIV infection was reported mainly in gay men, but as time went on, it was diagnosed in other populations, including women and children. Operators at the National AIDS Hotline run by the American Social Health Association in 1991. AP Photo/Karen Tam In 1994, AIDS was the leading cause of death for all Americans ages 25 to 44. Medical treatment for the disease was in its infancy. Both factors fueled the public’s fear of being exposed to AIDS. A diagnosis seemed like a death sentence. Criminal laws The 1988, Ronald Reagan’s Presidential Commission on the HIV Epidemic recommended that states establish criminal penalties as a way of deterring people with HIV from engaging in behavior likely to transmit the virus. The 1990 Ryan White CARE Act, which provided major funding for HIV services, required states to certify they had adequate laws in place to prosecute individuals who knowingly exposed another person to HIV. In 1990, 14 states had HIV criminal laws. By 2005, 23 states had them – even though the reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act in 2000 removed the criminalization requirement. Today, these laws are on the books in 37 states. Unintended consequences From the outset, experts across many disciplines voiced concern about the effectiveness of using punitive criminal laws as a way of deterring the spread of HIV. Indeed, HIV criminal laws have backfired from a public health perspective. A 2017 study found people living in states with HIV criminal laws are less likely to get tested and know their HIV status than those in states without HIV laws. Stigma and fear of prosecution discourage people from seeking information or help. Minnesota AIDS Project banner at the Twin Cities Pride Parade in Minneapolis in 2013. Tony Webster/flickr, CC BY This lack of knowledge is significant because pharmaceutical treatments, beginning in 1996 with highly active antiretroviral therapy, or HAART, have steadily transformed HIV into a chronic manageable condition. Medical experts have recommended that HIV criminal laws be revised. However, most state legislatures have not done so. These laws are regularly enforced – most often on members of stigmatized groups, including those who are homeless or suffering from an addiction or mental illness. Research has also documented that HIV criminal laws are disproportionately applied to people of color. In fact, the majority of people arrested for an HIV crime are members of multiple minority communities. Being arrested for an HIV-related crime is often devastating for individuals – beginning with the permanent exposure of personal health information to the public. For indigent defendants, felony charges pursued by a county’s district attorney will result in the appointment of a public defender, who will most likely counsel a guilty plea – regardless of whether the individuals believe they are guilty or even understand the consequences of such a plea. Sentences for violating HIV exposure statutes are comparable to sentences for vehicular homicide and can be as severe as life in prison. A 2017 analysis of 393 convictions in Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri and Tennessee found the average sentence for an HIV-related crime was 92 months – or nearly eight years in prison. Incarceration can result in permanent restrictions on employment, housing, education and voting. Additionally, six states currently place people convicted of an HIV-related crime on the sex offender registry, which results in lifetime sex offender status – a relentless and unending punishment. Treatment lowers risk The HIV epidemic in the U.S. has changed tremendously in the past 40 years. Volunteers hold signs promoting free HIV testing and information during the Harlem Pride parade in New York City on June 29, 2019. KENA BETANCUR / Contributor / AFP via Getty Images HIV exposure laws have not kept up with the changes in HIV science and treatment. People with knowledge of their HIV status can receive treatment that makes them unable to transmit the virus. Proven prevention methods such as HIV testing, treatment and preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, are tools that remove the justification for HIV criminal laws. Scientists can identify solutions to public health challenges, but it takes action by politicians to turn solutions into policy. HIV criminal laws are largely ignored because the people they directly affect are not connected to political power. Bipartisan support is needed to replace existing laws with proven public health interventions. [Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.] Robin Lennon-Dearing, Associate Professor of Social Work, University of Memphis This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Page view counter Image Script iframe HIV Crime Laws on Towleroad Will Smith wanted ‘harem’ of women including Halle Berry; But Decided Was ‘horrific’. Speaks of His Non-Traditional Marriage More Powerful Bishop Calls Out Catholic Church. Says Ban on the Blessing LGBTQ Couples Was Met With “Indignation…Head Shaking … Open Resistance”; And More More Trump’s presidency coincided with a rise in extreme mental distress among LGBT people, according to a massive new study More Andrew Burnap and Moulin Rouge triumph at 2021 Tony Awards More Two transgender women win seats in German parliament More US warns Americans fake pills contain deadly fentanyl More U.S. President Reagan’s shooter John Hinckley wins unconditional release More Jurors reach verdict in R Kelly sex trafficking trial More Rep. Liz Cheney: ‘I Was Wrong’ To Oppose Marriage Equality in 2013; Regrets Causing Family Rift; Still Voted Against Equality Act More Stars lend voices to world-spanning concert for climate, vaccines More New York may tap National Guard to replace unvaccinated healthcare workers More Load More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Will Smith dreamed of having a harem of girlfriends including Halle Berry and Misty Copeland. The ‘Men In Black’ actor – who is married to Jada Pinkett Smith – discussed his fantasy with intimacy coach Michaela Boehm and even had her work on the list with him and planned to contact the women, but ultimately realised the idea was “horrific”. He said: “I don’t know where I saw it or some s*** as a teenager, but the idea of travelling with 20 women that I loved and took care of and all of that, it seemed like a really great idea. “And then, after we played it out a little bit, I was like, ‘That would be horrific. That would be horrific.’ I was like, ‘Can you imagine how miserable?’” However, Will still found it helpful to discuss his fantasy in depth. He explained to America’s GQ magazine: ““What she was doing was essentially cleaning out my mind, letting it know it was OK to be me and be who I was. ” It was OK to think Halle is fine. It doesn’t make me a bad person that I’m married and I think Halle is beautiful. “Whereas in my mind, in my Christian upbringing, even my thoughts were sins. That was really the process that Michaela worked me through to let me realise that my thoughts were not sins and even acting on an impure thought didn’t make me a piece of s***.” Last year, Will and Jada candidly discussed the actress’ “entanglement” with singer August Alsina but the ‘Aladdin’ star admitted to the publication that his wife wasn’t “the only one engaging in other sexual relationships” outside of their marriage. However, he declined to go into detail, particularly because his mindset has changed in recent years. He explained: ““It may seem hard to believe, but I would lose sleep over not giving you the answer that I know you could use. “I want to help you, I want you to succeed, I want you to have a headline. “But by the same token, I don’t want to deal with the backlash of that in the world. To say I don’t want to talk about that three years ago would have been f****** excruciating for me.” The 53-year-old star admitted Jada never “believed in conventional marriage” so they spent a long time figuring out their relationship boundaries. He said: “Jada never believed in conventional marriage.… Jada had family members that had an unconventional relationship. “So she grew up in a way that was very different than how I grew up. There were significant endless discussions about, what is relational perfection? What is the perfect way to interact as a couple? And for the large part of our relationship, monogamy was what we chose, not thinking of monogamy as the only relational perfection.” But Will admitted their approach isn’t for everyone. He said: “We have given each other trust and freedom, with the belief that everybody has to find their own way. And marriage for us can’t be a prison. “And I don’t suggest our road for anybody. I don’t suggest this road for anybody. But the experiences that the freedoms that we’ve given one another and the unconditional support, to me, is the highest definition of love.” View the full article

Overall, the top German Bishop calls it a “fundamental breakdown in trust toward the church.” In addition to the ban on the blessing LGBTQ couples, he noted the Churches non participation in abuse allegations and legal actions; the Church refusal to cancel Easter services, when even Christian parties were part of the call. Published by DPA President of the German Bishops’ Conference Georg Batzing (C) speaks during the St Michael 2021 Annual Reception of the German Bishops’ Conference. Fabian Sommer/dpa The president of the German Bishops’ Conference, Georg Bätzing, has admitted a “fundamental breakdown in trust towards the Church.” In a strikingly self-critical address to about 200 guests from the Church, politics and society at the annual reception of the Catholic Office in Berlin, Bätzing said on Monday that the abuse scandal had led to a profound loss of trust. “Withheld testimonies and reluctance to step in reinforce this development and lead to long waiting times for people wanting to leave,” the bishop said. Bätzing was alluding to Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, who withheld an expert opinion on how to deal with abuse allegations due of legal concerns. Bätzing said that the Vatican’s recent renewed ban on the blessing of same sex couples had also caused “indignation and head-shaking.” Open resistance to the directive from Rome had been the result, illustrating the “inner turmoil of the Catholic Church” for all to see. As in so many areas of society, the coronavirus crisis had poured oil on the flames and accelerated developments, he said. The Church’s loss of status had become openly apparent during the pandemic, Bätzing said, citing the fact that even Christian parties had joined calls for the Church to cancel Easter services last spring. The already noticeable decline in church tax revenues would be compounded by knock-on effects of the pandemic, which will necessitate painful cost-cutting measures. German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L) welcomed by President of the German Bishops’ Conference Georg Batzing (R) and Head of the Commissariat of the German Bishops Karl Juesten before the St Michael 2021 Annual Reception of the German Bishops’ Conference. Fabian Sommer/dpa President of the German Bishops’ Conference Georg Batzing (L) and Head of the Commissariat of the German Bishops Karl Juesten arrive before the St Michael 2021 Annual Reception of the German Bishops’ Conference. Fabian Sommer/dpa Blessing LGBTQ on Towleroad Trump’s presidency coincided with a rise in extreme mental distress among LGBT people, according to a massive new study More Andrew Burnap and Moulin Rouge triumph at 2021 Tony Awards More Two transgender women win seats in German parliament More US warns Americans fake pills contain deadly fentanyl More U.S. President Reagan’s shooter John Hinckley wins unconditional release More Jurors reach verdict in R Kelly sex trafficking trial More Rep. Liz Cheney: ‘I Was Wrong’ To Oppose Marriage Equality in 2013; Regrets Causing Family Rift; Still Voted Against Equality Act More Stars lend voices to world-spanning concert for climate, vaccines More New York may tap National Guard to replace unvaccinated healthcare workers More Switzerland votes to make same-sex marriage legal by near two-thirds majority More Molly Bernard of ‘Younger’ married Hannah Lieberman in ‘perfect’ ceremony More Load More View the full article

Published by PsyPost Extreme mental distress among LGBT people increased during Donald Trump’s political rise and presidency, according to new research published in the journal Economics & Human Biology. Trump became the Republican Party’s presidential nominee in July 2016 and that same month he selected conservative Christian politician Mike Pence as his running mate. During his administration, Trump opposed legislation that sought to prevent discrimination against LGBT people by adding sexual orientation and gender identity to federal civil rights law. “I was curious to know whether the average mental health amo… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Andrew Burnap beat Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Hiddleston to the Best Leading Actor in a Play prize, while ‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical’ triumphed at the 2021 Tony Awards. The prestigious ceremony returned on Sunday (26.09.21) and saw the 30-year-old actor honoured for his role as troubled playwright Toby Darling in Matthew Lopez’s ‘The Inheritance’, a play about AIDS, inspired by the novel ‘Howards End’ by E. M. Forster. Andrew beat off stiff competition from movie stars Jake and Tom, both 40, who were shortlisted for their respective roles as Abe in ‘Sea Wall/A Life’ and Robert in ‘Betrayal’, as well as Tom Sturridge, who played Alex in the former play, and Ian Barford for ‘Linda Vista’. ‘The Inheritance’ also scooped Best Play, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play (Lois Smith) and Best Direction in a Play (Stephen Daldry). And Matthew called for more diversity at the theatre awards show. The Puerto Rican writer said: “This is the 74th Tony Awards and yet I am only the first Latinate writer to win in this category. “This must change. We are a vibrant community … We have so many stories to tell. They are inside of us, aching to come out.” ‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical’ scooped the most prizes of the night, taking home a total of 10 trophies. The musical based on the 2001 movie saw Andrew Tevit take home Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, plus top honours including Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical, and Best Direction of a Musical. And emotional Andrew, who won his first Tony of his 15-year Broadway career said: “We are so privileged to get to do this, to be on Broadway, to perform live theatre. “Let’s continue to strive to tell stories that represent the many and not the few, by the many and not the few, for the many and not the few.” Elsewhere, five awards went to ‘A Christmas Carol’, rising star Adrienne Warren won Best Actress in a Musical for playing the legendary Tina Turner in ‘Tina – The Tina Turner Musical’, and ‘Jagged Little Pill’ won Best Book of a Musical. Audra McDonald and Leslie Odom Jr. hosted the ceremony at New York City’s Winter Garden Theatre. The 2020 event had to be postponed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. An abridged list of the Tony Awards winners: Best Musical Moulin Rouge! The Musical Best Play The Inheritance Best Revival of a Play A Soldier’s Play Best Book of a Musical Diablo Cody, Jagged Little Pill Best Direction of a Play Stephen Daldry, The Inheritance Best Direction of a Musical Alex Timbers, Moulin Rouge! The Musical Best Leading Actor in a Play Andrew Burnap, The Inheritance Best Leading Actress in a Play Mary-Louise Parker, The Sound Inside Best Leading Actor in a Musical Aaron Tveit, Moulin Rouge! Best Leading Actress in a Musical Adrienne Warren, Tina — The Tina Turner Musical Best Featured Actor in a Play David Alan Grier, A Soldier’s Play Best Featured Actress in a Play Lois Smith, The Inheritance Best Featured Actor in a Musical Danny Burstein, Moulin Rouge! The Musical Best Featured Actress in a Musical Lauren Patten, Jagged Little Pill View the full article

Published by Reuters BERLIN (Reuters) – Two German politicians from the Greens have made history by becoming the first transgender women to win parliamentary seats in Sunday’s national election. Tessa Ganserer and Nyke Slawik stood for the Greens party, which came third in the election, increasing its share of the vote to 14.8% from 8.9% in 2017 and is set to play a pivotal role in the building of a new three-way coalition government. “It is a historic victory for the Greens, but also for the trans-emancipatory movement and for the entire queer community,” Ganserer, 44, told Reuters, adding that the results were a symbol of an open and tolerant society. Topping the priority list for Ganserer, who was elected to Bavaria’s regional parliament in 2013, is an easier procedure for ratifying a sex change on identity documents. Ganserer, who has two sons, also wants legislative changes to allow lesbian mothers to adopt children. Slawik, 27, said the results were unbelievable. She secured a seat in parliament through the Greens list of candidates in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia. “Madness! I still can’t quite believe it, but with this historic election result I will definitely be a member of the next Bundestag,” Slawik posted on Instagram. Slawik has called for a nationwide action plan against homophobia and transphobia, a self-determination law, and improvements to the federal anti-discrimination law. Homosexuality was decriminalised in Germany in 1969 and same-sex marriage legalised in 2017. But hate crimes against LGBT+ people jumped by 36% last year, according to police figures that highlight a rising trend of homophobia in parts of German society. (Reporting by Riham Alkousaa; Editing by Gareth Jones) View the full article

Published by AFP Fake pills are widely available on social media and e-commerce platforms Washington (AFP) – US authorities on Monday warned Americans to not buy prescription pills online because they increasingly include lethal doses of fentanyl and methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said the advice applied to counterfeit medicine made to look like real Oxycontin, Vicodin and Xanax or Adderall. Fake pills are widely available on social media and e-commerce platforms. “Counterfeit pills that contain these dangerous and extremely addictive drugs are more lethal and more accessible than ever before,” said DEA administrator Anne Milgram in a statement. “In fact, DEA lab analyses reveal that two out of every five fake pills with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose.” The rare public advisory — the first since 2015 — comes as US drug overdose deaths soared to 93,000 last year, the highest ever level. Fentanyl, the synthetic opioid most commonly found in counterfeit pills, is the primary driver of the rise, the DEA said. Overdoses involving methamphetamine, increasingly found to be pressed into counterfeit tablets, are another factor. More than 9.5 million counterfeit pills were seized so far this year, more than the last two years combined. The vast majority were produced in Mexico, with China supplying chemicals for manufacturing fentanyl in Mexico. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jan Wolfe WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. judge on Monday said he would grant “unconditional release” to John Hinckley, who wounded former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and three other people in a 1981 assassination attempt. “I am going to, after all these years, grant unconditional release to Mr. Hinckley,” U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman said during a court hearing in the District of Columbia. In 2016, Friedman allowed Hinckley to move out of a Washington psychiatric hospital, where he had lived for three decades, but imposed restrictions on his travel and internet usage. Friedman said during Monday’s hearing that he planned to lift those remaining restrictions. Hinckley’s mental health problems are “in remission” and that he no longer poses a danger, Friedman said. Friedman said he would issue a written order later this week memorializing his decision. A federal prosecutor, Kacie Weston, said during the court hearing that the U.S. Justice Department agreed Hinckley should be given unconditional release. But Weston argued the restrictions should not be formally lifted until June 2022 so that prosecutors can continue to monitor Hinckley as he transitions to living on his own following he death of his mother. Reagan suffered a punctured lung in the assassination attempt but recovered quickly. Others wounded included White House press secretary James Brady, Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy and Washington police officer Thomas Delahanty. Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity at a 1982 jury trial. That verdict prompted Congress and some U.S. states to adopt laws limiting use of the insanity defense. The shooting helped launch the modern gun control movement as Brady, who was left permanently disabled, and his wife, Sarah, founded what is now known as the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. (Reporting by Jan Wolfe; Editing by Bill Berkrot) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Tyler Clifford and Luc Cohen NEW YORK (Reuters) – R. Kelly was convicted by a federal jury on Monday in his sex trafficking trial, where prosecutors accused the R&B singer of exploiting his stardom over a quarter-century to lure women and underage girls into his orbit for sex. Jurors in Brooklyn federal court deliberated for a little more than one day before voting to convict the 54-year-old Kelly on all nine counts he faced, after a 5-1/2 week trial. Kelly kept his head down as the verdict was read, with his face shielded by a white mask. One woman watching from an overflow courtroom cried as the verdict was read. Deveraux Cannick, a lawyer for Kelly, told reporters outside the courtroom that the defense was “disappointed.” Kelly’s sentencing was scheduled for May 4, 2022. The singer, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, is one of the most prominent people tried on sex charges during the #MeToo movement, which amplified accusations that had dogged him since the early 2000s. Like Kelly, many of his accusers were Black, differentiating the case from recent #MeToo convictions of comedian Bill Cosby and movie producer Harvey Weinstein. Cosby’s conviction was overturned in June. Kelly had been charged with one count of racketeering and eight counts of violating the Mann Act, which prohibits transporting people across state lines for prostitution. Prosecutors said Kelly took advantage of his fame and charisma to recruit victims, including some plucked from crowds at his concerts, with the aid of people in his entourage. Witnesses said some victims had hoped Kelly could jumpstart their careers, only to find he demanded their strict obedience and would punish them if they failed. Trial testimony from government witnesses portrayed, often in graphic detail, an unseemly side to Kelly’s 30-year music career, whose highlights include the 1996 Grammy-winning smash “I Believe I Can Fly.” Kelly has repeatedly denied sexual abuse accusations. His alleged victims included the late singer Aaliyah, who Kelly briefly and illegally married in 1994 when she was 15. Aaliyah died in a 2001 plane crash. Many accusations against Kelly were included in the January 2019 Lifetime documentary “Surviving R. Kelly.” Several witnesses testified that Kelly instilled fear if his victims did not fulfill his every need, sexual and otherwise. Jurors heard how Kelly would compel victims to follow “Rob’s rules,” including that they call him “Daddy” and get permission to eat or go to the bathroom. One witness hoping to interview him for a radio station said he locked her up for at least two days without food or water before assaulting her. Witnesses also said Kelly pressed accusers to write “apology letters” to potentially absolve him of wrongdoing, and concealed before intercourse that he had contracted herpes. The racketeering charge gave prosecutors leeway to offer evidence that might otherwise be too old to prosecute. Kelly did not testify in his defense, which lasted about two days. His lawyers sought, including during cross-examinations of several witnesses, to portray Kelly’s accusers as former fans who felt jilted when they fell from his favor, and that their sex with Kelly was consensual. They also tried to show how some accusers stayed with Kelly long after the alleged abuses began, and questioned why they failed to go to the police or waited years to come forward. On top of the conviction, Kelly still faces federal charges in Chicago on child pornography and obstruction, and state charges in Illinois and Minnesota. (Reporting by Tyler Clifford and Luc Cohen in New York; Writing by Jonathan Stempel; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Howard Goller) View the full article

Rep. Liz Cheney“Freedom Means Freedom For Everyone” Six years after gay marriage was affirmed thanked to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, Republican Rep. Liz Cheney now regrets opposing marriage equality, a decision that led to a rift between her and her sister, Mary, in 2013. In an interview with “60 Minutes” Sunday night, Cheney stated that her previous stance and comments supporting “traditional marriage” and opposing federal protections for LGBTQ people who wished to marry same-sex partners were “wrong.” “I was wrong. I was wrong,” Cheney said. Cheney’s opposition to marriage equality in 2013, while somewhat standard in conservative circles, represented a marked difference from the stance taken by her family, including her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, and sister, Mary, who is a married lesbian. Heather Poe, Mary’s spouse, decried Cheney’s comments at the time, saying, “I always thought freedom meant freedom for everyone,” in a Facebook post. Cheney harkened back to Poe’s 2013 response in stating her shift in position. “I love my sister very much. I love her family very much,” Cheney said. “It’s a very personal issue – and very personal for my family. I believe that my dad was right. And my sister and I have had that conversation.” The Wyoming lawmaker also highlighted the need to combat the increasing amount of anti-LGBTQ sentiments and legislation. “This is an issue that we have to recognize, you know, as human beings,” Cheney said after relaying an anecdote about a trans woman telling her she didn’t feel safe because of her gender identity. “We need to work against discrimination of all kinds in our country, in our state. Nobody should feel unsafe. Freedom means freedom for everybody.” Mary Cheney praised her sister in a Facebook post following her appearance on “60 Minutes,” saying, “It took a ton of courage to admit that she was wrong back in 2013 when she opposed marriage equality. That is something few politicians would ever do.” Words Vs. Actions Cheney’s words speak to the continued need for LGBTQ civil rights protections as a majority of states continue attempts to undermine the rights of LGBTQ individuals. But her actions as a lawmaker stand in opposition to her comments Sunday. In February, Cheney voted against the Equality Act, which seeks to add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes under the 1964 Civil Rights Act. President Joe Biden has called on Congress to pass the Equality Act on multiple occasions since taking office, most recently last week during his address to the U.N. General Assembly. Biden stated that passing the legislation would represent “living up to our highest values of justice and equality for all.” Despite breaking with her party following the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol and voting to impeach then-President Donald Trump, Cheney remains opposed to much of Biden’s policy initiatives. Her dissension against the Republican party’s pro-Trump majority has made her reelection campaign much more tenuous. She is facing a 2022 primary challenge in Wyoming from Trump-endorsed candidate Harriet Hageman, a NeverTrumper attorney and member of the 2016 Republican National Convention Rules Committee who has since become part of the pro-Trump conservative majority in years since. Cheney appears ready for the challenge from Hageman. “A vote against me in this race, a vote for whomever Donald Trump has endorsed, is a vote for somebody who’s willing to perpetuate the big lie, somebody who’s willing to put allegiance to Trump above allegiance to the Constitution, absolutely,” Cheney said Sunday. “I think it’s going to be the most important House race in the country in 2022.” Liz Cheney: Previously on Towleroad Rep. Liz Cheney: ‘I Was Wrong’ To Oppose Marriage Equality in 2013; Regrets Causing Family Rift; Still Voted Against Equality Act Brian Bell September 27, 2021 Read More Gay Marriage, LGBTQ Rights Appear To Be Texas Abortion Ban Architect’s Next Target Brian Bell September 24, 2021 Read More Colorado’s Polis weds longtime partner in first same-sex marriage of U.S. governor Towleroad September 17, 2021 Read More German Catholic Priests Bless LGBTQ Unions in Face of Vatican Ban; ‘We’re going to have the whole diversity of love’ Brian Bell May 10, 2021 Read More First San Francisco Lesbian Landmark; Home of First Same-Sex Married Couple Phyllis Lyon, Del Martin Classified City Landmark Brian Bell May 7, 2021 Read More Alfie Alcuri, Out Winner of ‘The Voice Australia’ and Cam Nacson Release a Romantic Ballad Dedicated to Your Own ‘Handsome Man’ — WATCH Andy Towle February 27, 2021 Read More View the full article

Published by AFP US singer/songwriter Billie Eilish bounded around the stage during her performance at the 2021 Global Citizen Live festival at the Great Lawn, Central Park on September 25, 2021 in New York City New York (AFP) – A “once-in-a-generation” music event circled the world Saturday, with a slew of megastars taking the stage in New York and beyond for Global Citizen Live — 24 hours of shows across the planet to raise awareness on climate change, vaccine equality and famine. Between star-studded sets of some of the biggest names in music — including Elton John, BTS, Coldplay, Lizzo, Jennifer Lopez and Billie Eilish — actors, politicians, company executives, royals, actors and activists made appeals or announced donations to tackle major global challenges. NGO Global Citizen wants one billion trees planted, two billion vaccines delivered to the poorest countries and meals for 41 million people on the brink of starvation. After the show ended in Paris and handed off to New York, Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, took to the stage to advocate for Covid-19 vaccine access to be treated “as a basic human right.” “My wife and I believe the way you’re born should not dictate your ability to survive,” the Duke of Sussex said to cheers from the thousands-strong crowd at Central Park. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex followed pop veteran Cyndi Lauper with a rendition of her “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” dedicated to Afghan women. As night fell, the crowd swelled and attendees roared for shows from headliners, including Eilish, who bounded around the stage in her staple T-shirt and shorts ensemble. Between sets, funding announcements poured in and calls to action were hammered home, even from the International Space Station. USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced in a recorded message the United States would “contribute more than $295 million to countries around the world to stave off famine and extreme hunger, confront gender-based violence and address the urgent humanitarian needs the Covid-19 pandemic is leaving in its wake.” Global Citizen co-founder and CEO Hugh Evans urged the audience to “take action” to help raise $6 billion needed by the World Food Programme, tackle vaccine inequality and pressure leaders ahead of the UN COP26 climate change conference in November. “Charity alone… will never be sufficient to end extreme poverty or tackle climate change,” he said. “The actions of a movement of people is needed to drive lasting change.” ‘Honourable cause’ After an appearance by renowned 92-year-old American biologist Edward O. Wilson, the show moved to Los Angeles, opened by pop band 5 Seconds of Summer at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, with Demi Lovato, Adam Lambert and Stevie Wonder, among others, also billed. Lead vocalist Luke Hemmings celebrated being in their first concert in almost two years “and for an honorable cause.” “This is an amazing thing to witness and be part of.” The broadcast on social media opened with a pre-recorded performance by pop superstars BTS in Seoul before the show kicked off in Paris with Elton John. The “Rocketman” performed hits including “Tiny Dancer” and “Your Song” in front of the Eiffel Tower in a dazzling green suit. “No one should be left behind,” said the 74-year-old pop legend, who appeared despite a hip injury that forced him to cancel the rest of his tour dates this year. Ed Sheeran was the headliner in Paris alongside Black Eyed Peas and Stormzy. The concerts required Covid-19 vaccination proof or negative tests. Pressuring governments Pre-recorded performances were also delivered by Green Day in Los Angeles, DJ superstar Alok in Rio, Kylie Minogue in London and Andrea Bocelli in Tuscany. This week’s comeback gig by The Fugees in New York — their first in 15 years — was also billed as part of the event. Global Citizen has been behind other high-profile charity events, including a concert earlier this year that called for global Covid-19 vaccinations. The organization describes itself as a movement with a mission to end extreme poverty by 2030. Its app uses incentives such as concert tickets to encourage users into pressuring governments on issues around sustainability and equality. The New York event included tributes to other major benefit concerts, with Chinese global superstar pianist Lang Lang performing a medley of Queen’s famed Live Aid performance in 1985. The weekend event also brought charitable pledges from international companies such as Lego, Cisco, Verizon and Pepsico. World Health Organization chief Tedros Ghebreyesus lent his support to the campaign, urging vaccine equality. “We now face a two-track pandemic of haves and have-nots,” he said ahead of the event. “We cannot disregard this gross inequity or become complacent.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Nathan Layne (Reuters) -New York Governor Kathy Hochul is considering employing the National Guard and out-of-state medical workers to fill hospital staffing shortages with tens of thousands of workers possibly losing their jobs for not meeting a Monday deadline for mandated COVID-19 vaccination. The plan, outlined in a statement from Hochul https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/preparation-monday-vaccination-deadline-governor-hochul-releases-comprehensive-plan-address on Saturday, would allow her to declare a state of emergency to increase the supply of healthcare workers to include licensed professionals from other states and countries as well as retired nurses. Hochul said the state was also looking at using National Guard officers with medical training to keep hospitals and other medical facilities adequately staffed. Some 16% of the state’s 450,000 hospital staff, or roughly 72,000 workers, have not been fully vaccinated, the governor’s office said. The plan comes amid a broader battle between state and federal government leaders pushing for vaccine mandates to help counter the highly infectious Delta variant of the novel coronavirus and workers who are against inoculation requirements, some objecting on religious grounds. Hochul attended the Sunday service at a large church in New York City to ask Christians to help promote vaccines. “I need you to be my apostles. I need you to go out and talk about it and say, we owe this to each other,” Hochul told congregants at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, according to an official transcript. “Jesus taught us to love one another and how do you show that love but to care about each other enough to say, please get the vaccine because I love you and I want you to live.” Healthcare workers who are fired for refusing to get vaccinated will not be eligible for unemployment insurance unless they are able to provide a valid doctor-approved request for medical accommodation, Hochul’s office said. It was not immediately clear how pending legal cases concerning religious exemptions would apply to the state’s plan to move ahead and terminate unvaccinated healthcare workers. A federal judge in Albany temporarily ordered New York state officials to allow religious exemptions for the state-imposed vaccine mandate on healthcare workers, which was put in place by former Governor Andrew Cuomo and takes effect on Monday. A requirement for New York City school teachers and staff to get vaccinated was temporarily blocked by a U.S. appeals court just days before it was to take effect. A hearing is set for Wednesday. The highly transmissible Delta variant has driven a surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the United States that peaked in early September and has since fallen, according to a Reuters tally https://tmsnrt.rs/2WTOZDR. Deaths, a lagging indicator, continue to rise with the nation reporting about 2,000 lives lost on average a day for the past week, mostly in the unvaccinated. While nationally cases are down about 25% from their autumn peak, rising new infections in New York have only recently leveled off, according to a Reuters tally. In an attempt to better protect the most vulnerable, the CDC on Friday backed a booster shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for Americans aged 65 and older, adults with underlying medical conditions and adults in high-risk working and institutional settings. On Sunday, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky fleshed out who should be eligible for the booster shots based on their work in high-risk settings. “That includes people in homeless shelters, people in group homes, people in prisons, but also importantly, our people who work…with vulnerable communities,” Walensky said during a TV interview. “So our health care workers, our teachers, our grocery workers, our public transportation employees.” Walensky decided to include a broader range of people than was recommended on Thursday by a group of expert outside advisers to the agency. The CDC director is not obliged to follow the advice of the panel. (Reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut and Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Silke Koltrowitz ZURICH (Reuters) -Switzerland agreed to legalise civil marriage and the right to adopt children for same-sex couples by a nearly two-thirds majority in a referendum on Sunday, making it one of the last countries in Western Europe to legalise gay marriage. According to results provided by the Swiss federal chancellery, 64.1% of voters voted in favour of same-sex marriage in the nationwide referendum that was conducted under Switzerland’s system of direct democracy. “We are very happy and relieved,” said Antonia Hauswirth of the national committee “Marriage for All”, adding supporters would celebrate in Switzerland’s capital Bern on Sunday. Amnesty International said in a statement that opening civil marriage to same-sex couples was a “milestone for equality”. However, Monika Rueegger of Switzerland’s right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and member of the referendum committee “No to Marriage for All” said she was disappointed. “This was not about love and feelings, it was about children’s welfare. Children and fathers are the losers here,” she told Reuters. The amended law will make it possible for same-sex couples to get married, and to adopt children unrelated to them. Married lesbian couples will also be allowed to have children through sperm donation, currently legal only for married heterosexual couples. It will also make it easier for foreign spouses of a Swiss individual to get citizenship. Swiss Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter told a media briefing the new rules would likely come into force on July 1 next year. In a separate referendum, 64.9% of Swiss voters rejected a proposal to introduce a capital gains tax. (Reporting by Silke Koltrowitz; Editing by Angus MacSwan, Kirsten Donovan and Raissa Kasolowsky) View the full article

Molly Bernard on Towleroad Michael K. Williams’ cause of death confirmed: Star died of an accidental overdose More World’s youth take to the streets again to battle climate change More PG&E charged with manslaughter for sparking California wildfire More New Britney Spears’ Documentary Claims Her Dad Had Security Bug Installed In Her Bedroom Which Recorded Her Intimate Moments More LGBTQ School News Roundup: Scotland Adds LGBTQ Education; Texas Students Protest Discrimination; Catholic School Rehires Out Coach; Florida School District Investigating Hate Actions More Billy Eichner’s “Bros” Sets Historic All-LGBTQ Principal Cast, Including Playing Heterosexual Characters; ‘A Long Overdue Dream Come True’ More ‘Tiger King 2′ —-Baskin says not playing —- promises’ more madness and mayhem’ this year. PLUS ‘Britney vs. Spears’, ‘Passing’ and more More Sarah Jessica Parker breaks silence on Willie Garson’s death More Gay Marriage, LGBTQ Rights Appear To Be Texas Abortion Ban Architect’s Next Target More You’ll Fall For Fan of Gay TikTok Jake Barr, Ambiguously-Straight Super-Ally Who Lifts A Kid Coming Out, Destroys his Bully Parents, Entertains Millions: HOT LINKS More Police Unions Sabotage Police Reform. Senate Never Voted on House Bill That Would Ban Immunity, No-Knock, Chokeholds More Load More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Michael K. Williams’ cause of death has been confirmed as an accidental overdose. The actor – who was best known for playing Omar Little in ‘The Wire’ – was found dead at his home in Brooklyn, New York, earlier this month at the age of 54. And according to Variety magazine, the New York City’s chief medical examiner’s office has officially ruled his passing an accident, stating his death occurred as the result of an overdose. The medical examiners also stated Michael had fluorofentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in his system at the time of his death. Marianna Shafran, Michael’s long-time representative, was the one to confirm the sad news of his passing. She said: “It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Emmy-nominated actor Michael Kenneth Williams. They ask for your privacy while grieving this insurmountable loss.” Michael was found face-down in his apartment by his nephew, who had gone to visit him as no-one had heard from him in several days. His nephew raised the alarm and a doorman subsequently called emergency services, reportedly telling the phone operator the ’12 Years A Slave’ star was “unresponsive” and “felt cold”. At the time of his death, it was suspected there were drugs in his system after police allegedly found heroin on his kitchen counter and drug paraphernalia was discovered elsewhere in the apartment. But Staci DuPont – who is married to the nephew who found Michael’s body – slammed the reports as untrue. She said: “That’s not factual. We don’t have anything more to say at this time … “He meant everything to us. He was a wonderful, beautiful, loving person. He’d give you the shirt off his back. He was always there to help anybody who needed him, whether family or friends. It’s a great loss to us.” View the full article