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Gay Tiktok on Towleroad Police Unions Sabotage Police Reform. Senate Never Voted on House Bill That Would Ban Immunity, No-Knock, Chokeholds More Kevin Spacey Hired Psychologist To Examine Accuser Anthony Rapp, Expert Found Alleged Victim ‘Perpetuated A False Memory’ For Financial Gain & Showed Signs Of ‘Narcissistic Personality Traits’ More Kevin Spacey’s Sexual Assault Accuser Anthony Rapp Fires Back After Being Accused Of Fabricating Story To Be Apart Of #MeToo More George Floyd police reform bill doomed as US Senate talks collapse More Prosecution details R. Kelly sex crime ‘universe’ in closing arguments More Debra Messing questions why Kim Kardashian is hosting Saturday Night Live More Model Evangelista says fat-reduction left her deformed More Biden scrambles between multiple political fires More U.S. special envoy to Haiti quits over ‘inhumane’ migrant deportations More Cassandra Peterson, Horror Icon Elvira, Comes Out, Reveals 19-Year Relationship in New Memoir More LISTEN: Lil Nas X Album and Live Cover of ‘Jolene’ Live; Plus Gaga/Tony Bennett First Hits; BTS and MTStallion, Really; ABBA;Drake, Ed, VMAs, ABBA More Load More View the full article

By Isaiah Poritz, opensecrets.org September 23, 2021 1:06 pm Formal talks on bipartisan police reform legislation broke down on Wednesday after the two parties failed to put forward any joint legislation on the issue. That underscores the political power of police unions, which have rallied against reform. The talks began last year amid national outrage after George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was killed by police in Minnesota. Negotiators from both parties took aim at each other for the failed talks, with Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), President Joe Biden and other Democrats arguing that Republicans rejected even the most minimal reforms, while Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said Democrats walked away from a clear comprise. But Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), the lead negotiator for House Democrats, blamed the disintegration of negotiations on police unions. Chief among the issues that forced the stalemate was qualified immunity, the legal principle that protects police officers from facing civil lawsuits. The money spent on lobbying does not capture the full extent of police union power. Endorsements by police unions can hold sway over the votes and campaign contributions of hundreds of thousands of law enforcement officers. The National Fraternal Order of Police, which represents over 355,000 members, is against legislative efforts to end qualified immunity. The organization’s president, Patrick Yoes, said in a Senate Judiciary hearing last year that “police officers need protection in order to perform discretionary functions fundamental to law enforcement.” The organization and its subsidiaries spent $90,000 on federal lobbying expenditures in the first half of 2021, and spent $270,000 in 2020. The group’s five lobbyists reported lobbying on 28 different bills this year including the Qualified Immunity Act of 2021, introduced by Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) to put qualified immunity for police officers into federal law. Other police unions spent similar amounts on lobbying. The National Association of Police Organizations spent $80,000 on lobbying through the first half of this year and $160,000 each year since 2008. The International Union of Police Associations spent $40,000 so far this year and $80,000 each year since 2005. The effort to stop police reform legislation has worked. Congress hasn’t been able to push through any reform despite legislative proposals from both parties. In 2020, the House passed the George Floyd Justice in Police Act, a sweeping police reform bill that would have ended qualified immunity and only provided federal money to police forces that banned chokeholds and no-knock warrants. The bill didn’t receive a vote in the Senate. In 2020, the National Fraternal Order of Police PAC gave 83% of its contributions to Republicans, the first year the PAC gave more to Republicans than Democrats since 2004. In June 2020, Scott introduced his own bill that Democrats argued didn’t go far enough. The New York Times reported that Scott met with the president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, Larry Cosme, and former Attorney General William Barr while he wrote his legislation, and Cosme and Barr lobbied against an end to qualified immunity. Scott’s bill didn’t address qualified immunity or provide incentives to ban chokeholds and no knock warrants. The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association spent $70,000 on lobbying so far this year and $120,000 last year. The money spent on lobbying does not capture the full extent of police union power. Endorsements by police unions can hold sway over the votes and campaign contributions of hundreds of thousands of law enforcement officers. Data compiled by OpenSecrets shows that current and retired police officers gave at least $1.5 million to candidates in both parties during the 2020 election. Fifty-five police union and law enforcement PACs have donated over $1.1 million to congressional campaigns in both parties since 1994. Many of the biggest recipients of police union campaign contributions are Democrats, including Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), who co-chairs the House Law Enforcement Caucus, House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), and Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). OpenSecrets data shows that Pascrell received $43,000 from police unions and law enforcement PACs since 2004 and Hoyer has received $35,500 form those groups since 2005. Over their careers, Leahy received $21,250 from those groups and Klobuchar received $15,000. In 2020, the National Fraternal Order of Police PAC gave 83% of its contributions to Republicans, the first year the PAC gave more to Republicans than Democrats since 2004. Police Unions on Towleroad Kevin Spacey Hired Psychologist To Examine Accuser Anthony Rapp, Expert Found Alleged Victim ‘Perpetuated A False Memory’ For Financial Gain & Showed Signs Of ‘Narcissistic Personality Traits’ More Kevin Spacey’s Sexual Assault Accuser Anthony Rapp Fires Back After Being Accused Of Fabricating Story To Be Apart Of #MeToo More George Floyd police reform bill doomed as US Senate talks collapse More Prosecution details R. Kelly sex crime ‘universe’ in closing arguments More Debra Messing questions why Kim Kardashian is hosting Saturday Night Live More Model Evangelista says fat-reduction left her deformed More Biden scrambles between multiple political fires More U.S. special envoy to Haiti quits over ‘inhumane’ migrant deportations More Cassandra Peterson, Horror Icon Elvira, Comes Out, Reveals 19-Year Relationship in New Memoir More LISTEN: Lil Nas X Album and Live Cover of ‘Jolene’ Live; Plus Gaga/Tony Bennett First Hits; BTS and MTStallion, Really; ABBA;Drake, Ed, VMAs, ABBA More Dear Abby Bisexual Visibility Day is Tomorrow; More Bi Stories to Balance Todays Bi-sex Cheater Hubby and ‘Heartbroken Wife’? More Load More View the full article

Published by Radar Online Kevin Spacey hired a professional psychologist to examine his sexual assault accuser, Anthony Rapp, who claims the 49-year-old suffers “narcissistic personality traits” and has an “excessive need for admiration.” In legal documents obtained by Radar, the expert outlines all the reasons they believe Rapp “generated and perpetuated a false memory” about the alleged incident with Spacey. “Diagnostically, Mr. Rapp displays narcissistic personality traits, in that he has an excessive need for admiration, has a grandiose sense of self-importance, and believes that he is special (i.e. saved his family’s life on several occasions),” the psychologist alleges. mega Claiming Rapp perpetuated his allegations against Spacey because he was “apparently moved by the #MeToo movement and wanted very much to be a part of it,” the expert adds, “Openly disclosing this alleged incident that occurred with Mr. Spacey became an effective vehicle to move the movement’s spotlight onto himself.” The medical expert says Rapp has “enjoyed the attention, praise and sympathy his allegations have given him.” Adding that Rapp had “resentment towards closeted gay actors,” the expert claims, “Mr. Spacey was just such an actor and his tremendous success made him a focus of Mr. Rapp’s resentment.” Upon examining Spacey’s accuser, the psychologist concludes, “Obviously, as with any civil lawsuit involving a claim of psychological damage, one cannot ignore the lure of a substantial financial settlement as a motivating factor for making such a claim either. In other words, in my psychiatric opinion, there are both external (financial reward) and internal (emotional gratification and public support) reasons for advancing Mr. Rapp’s claim against Mr. Spacey.” As Radar reported, Rappaccused Spacey of making a sexual advance on him in 1986 when he was just 14 years old. mega The actor, along with one other male, sued Spacey for sexual assault in September 2020. These aren’t the only allegations made against Spacey. After Rapp came forward with his allegations against the American Beauty actor, Spacey offered an apology but insisted he “does not remember the encounter.” In his statement, Spacey said, “But if I did behave then as he [Rapp] describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years.” mega View the full article

Published by Radar Online Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp rushed to court days after an expert Kevin Spacey hired as part of their legal battle accused him of displaying “narcissistic personality traits” and creating his allegations. According to court documents obtained by Radar, Rapp is demanding the court allow him to call witnesses who he told about the incident to the stand. He claims Spacey continues to cast doubt on his memory of events. As a result, Rapp says his close friends should be allowed to testify that he did indeed share details of the alleged assault years before filing suit. His attorney writes, “Mr. Rapp was sexually assaulted by defendant, Kevin Spacey, when he was only fourteen years old. Since the first time that Mr. Rapp disclosed the abuse to someone – while he was in high school, a few short years after the abuse occurred – he has never wavered from his description of the sexual assault.” mega In court, his attorney reveals, “In the thirty-five years since he was sexually assaulted by Spacey, Mr. Rapp has disclosed the assault to friends, work colleagues, and family members.” Rapp claims during the case Spacey’s team has demanded he answer questions about how much money he has in the bank and how much debt he owes. He believes Spacey plans to not only question his memory but try to paint him as being motivated by money. He is demanding the court allow him to call witnesses who will back up his story. A judge has yet to rule on the matter. As Radar previously reported, Rapp is suing Spacey of making a sexual advance on him in 1986 when he was just 14 years old. mega In the suit, Rapp says he met the actor when he was working on Broadway in Precious Sons. Spacey allegedly invited Spacey back to his Manhattan home. Rapp says while at his pad Spacey, without consent, made a move on him and grabbed his butt. He claims Spacey proceeded to lift him up and then laid on his body. In his suit, he says he rushed to the bathroom while Spacey tried to convince him to stay at his home. He is suing for alleged psychological injuries and severe emotional distress Spacey denies all allegations of wrongdoing. He released a statement denying Rapp’s claims shortly after he came forward. He said, “I have a lot of respect and admiration for Anthony Rapp as an actor. I’m beyond horrified to hear this story. I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago. But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years.” mega At the moment, Spacey is making moves to dismiss the claims. He recently hired a psychologist to examine his sexual assault accuser. The expert claims Rapp “generated and perpetuated a false memory” about the Spacey incident and “Diagnostically, Mr. Rapp displays narcissistic personality traits, in that he has an excessive need for admiration, has a grandiose sense of self-importance, and believes that he is special.” Further, Spacey’s expert claims Rapp created the allegations because he was “apparently moved by the #MeToo movement and wanted very much to be a part of it.” The expert claims Rapp has “enjoyed the attention, praise and sympathy his allegations have given him.” He also found Rapp had “resentment towards closeted gay actors” and “Mr. Spacey was just such an actor and his tremendous success made him a focus of Mr. Rapp’s resentment.” The case is ongoing. mega View the full article

Published by AFP A bipartisan effort to pass a police reform bill in Congress named after George Floyd has collapsed Washington (AFP) – A bipartisan effort spurred by the death of George Floyd to pass a police reform bill in Congress has collapsed, US lawmakers said Wednesday, in a setback for President Joe Biden. The George Floyd Justice in Policing Act was approved by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives in March but has been stalled in the Senate. Democratic and Republican senators had been seeking to hammer out a compromise and bring the bill to the floor of the Senate for a vote but they said on Wednesday that they have given up. The failure of the negotiations is a blow to Biden, who was elected last year with strong African-American support and has pledged to make police reform a priority of his administration. Biden accused Republicans of rejecting even “modest reforms” while “refusing to take action on key issues that many in law enforcement were willing to address.” “I still hope to sign into law a comprehensive and meaningful police reform bill that honors the name and memory of George Floyd, because we need legislation to ensure lasting and meaningful change,” he said in a statement. Biden said the White House will consult with members of Congress, law enforcement, civil rights groups and victims’ families to “define a path forward,” including potential executive actions. Democratic Senator Cory Booker had been engaged in months of negotiations with Republican Senator Tim Scott in a bid to reach agreement on the legislation. “It remains out of reach right now,” Booker said. “The time has come to explore all other options to achieve meaningful and common sense policing reform.” Scott said the two sides had reached agreement on numerous areas including banning chokeholds, limiting the transfer of military equipment to police and increased mental health resources. “Democrats said no because they could not let go of their push to defund our law enforcement,” he said, adding that they have “squandered a crucial opportunity to implement meaningful reform.” The House bill was named after George Floyd, the 46-year-old African-American man who was murdered by a white Minneapolis police officer in May 2020, sparking protests against racial injustice and police brutality across the United States. Ben Crump, a lawyer for the Floyd family, expressed “extreme disappointment.” “In the last year and a half, we have witnessed hundreds of thousands of Americans urging lawmakers to bring desperately needed change to policing in this country so there can be greater accountability, transparency, and ultimately trust in policing,” Crump said. Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP civil rights organization, said it was “disheartening that there is a lack of courage and bravery to bring about true reform.” “But one thing is clear, the battle for police reform is far from over,” Johnson said. “It will remain a top priority for us because innocent lives are at stake.” View the full article

Published by AFP Closing arguments in the Brooklyn federal trial of R. Kelly, shown here in Chicago in May 2019, began September 22, 2021, as the lurid trial approached its end New York (AFP) – Singer R. Kelly used “lies, manipulation, threats and physical abuse” to operate an “enterprise” enabling him to commit decades of sex crimes, the prosecution said during marathon closing arguments Wednesday. In ushering the lurid trial towards its finish, assistant US attorney Elizabeth Geddes kicked off the first two hours of her lengthy summation by telling the jury the once-dominant R&B artist “used his money and public persona to hide his crimes in plain sight.” The government is tasked with proving the 54-year-old singer operated a criminal ring of associates who facilitated his abuse of women and teenagers, alleged victims whom, according to six weeks of testimony, the artist preyed on sexually, physically and emotionally. “Without them at this service, the defendant could not have carried out his pattern of crime for nearly three decades,” Geddes told the jury, standing before a poster board displaying images of members in his orbit, photos that revolved around Kelly’s mugshot. Describing the “Robert Kelly-centric universe,” the prosecutor said his employees and entourage either directly carried out criminal activity or “enabled” it when they “didn’t ask questions” and “effectively enforced the defendant’s rules.” “They were a means to his criminal ends,” Geddes said. The prosecution’s closing arguments followed three days of disjointed questioning and testimony from the singer’s defense, which called five witnesses including former employees and a childhood friend who said they hadn’t personally seen the harrowing abuse Kelly, now 54, is accused of inflicting. The artist opted against taking the stand. The mere hours of defense evidence came after more than a month of graphic testimony presented by the prosecution. With 45 witnesses including 11 accusers — nine women and two men — government attorneys vied to illustrate systematic abuse by Kelly, and the coterie of associates he orchestrated. Jury deliberation approaches Women said they were raped, beaten, drugged, imprisoned and sometimes denied food or access to bathrooms. Six of the alleged victims were underage when Kelly initiated sex with them. Many victims also said the singer routinely filmed the encounters, which in several of the cases would constitute child pornography. One woman said Kelly coerced her into getting an abortion when she was a teenager. Four said they contracted herpes after sexual contact with the singer, who they said did not disclose that he carried the incurable virus. The charges center around six women: Jerhonda, Stephanie, Faith, Sonja and a woman who testified under a pseudonym, along with Aaliyah, the R&B singer who died in a plane crash in 2001 but whom Kelly illegally married when she was 15. Several more victims alleging abuse who are not included in the indictment were allowed to testify as part of the prosecution’s bid to detail a criminal pattern. During cross-examination, defense lawyers aimed to cast accusers as aggrieved superfans who became “spiteful” when relationships with the superstar ended. The artist born Robert Sylvester Kelly faces one count of racketeering and eight violations of the Mann Act, which bans transporting people across state lines for sex. He denies all charges. In addition to his Brooklyn trial, Kelly faces prosecutions in three more jurisdictions, including in Illinois federal court on child pornography and obstruction counts. His New York trial is the first time the singer, who ruled the pop and R&B charts in the late 1990s and early 2000s with hits including “I Believe I Can Fly,” has faced federal prosecution. He was acquitted after a controversial state trial in Chicago in 2008, on charges of child pornography. Following closing statements in the Brooklyn federal courthouse, which are expected to continue at least into Thursday, the jury of seven men and five women will begin deliberating Kelly’s fate. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Debra Messing has questioned why Kim Kardashian West is to host ‘Saturday Night Live’. The ‘Will & Grace’ star asked fans if she was “missing something” after it was revealed the 40-year-old reality star is to guest present the comedy showcase, because she insisted that while Kim is a “cultural icon”, those who front the programme are usually “performers”. She wrote on Twitter: “Why Kim Kardashian? I mean, I know she is a cultural icon, but SNL has hosts, generally, who are performers who are there to promote a film, TV show, or album launch. Am I missing something?” Confirming the news, Kim tweeted: “OMFG no turning back now!!!! LOL I’m hosting SNL!!!!!! @nbcsnl (sic)” Debra’s tweet comes after it was revealed Kim, Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis and Rami Malek will all front NBC’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ during the next series, which will be livestreamed on Peacock for the first time. Owen will host the first episode of the season, and the musical guest will be Kacey Musgraves. Kim is to make her presenting debut on the show on October 9th, when Halsey will provide the music. Rami will host on October 16th, just days after the release of James Bond movie ‘No Time To Die’, in which he portrays Lyutsifer Safin, and Young Thug will be the musical guest. Jason is no stranger to ‘SNL’, having been part of the cast from 2005 to 2013. But the ‘Ted Lasso’ star will be back for his first appearance as the show’s presenter on October 23rd, during which Brandi Carlile will provide the tunes. The late-night sketch and variety show – which was created by Lorne Michaels – has aired since October 1975. View the full article

Published by AFP Canadian model Linda Evangelista, seen here at a Paris fashion show in 1995, says a cosmetic procedure gone awry has left her permanently difigured Washington (AFP) – Former supermodel Linda Evangelista says she has been permanently disfigured by a fat-reduction cosmetic procedure that backfired and caused her to look bloated and unrecognizable. Evangelista, 56, said she underwent “CoolSculpting” five years ago and that it had the rare side effect of causing her fat cells to increase rather than decrease. Evangelista, a 1990s modeling icon from Canada who starred on catwalks with colleagues like Cindy Crawford and Naomi Campbell, said in an Instagram post Wednesday that she was never warned of the procedure’s risks and is now filing a lawsuit. She said her current appearance — the result of a condition called paradoxical adipose hyperplasia — explained her absence from the public spotlight in recent years. “To my followers who have wondered why I have not been working while my peers’ careers have been thriving, the reason is that I was brutally disfigured by Zeltiq’s CoolSculpting procedure which did the opposite of what it promised,” Evangelista wrote. “It increased, not decreased, my fat cells and left me permanently deformed even after undergoing two painful, unsuccessful, corrective surgeries. I have been left, as the media has described, ‘unrecognizable,'” she added. The cosmetic sculpting procedure is supposed to freeze and kill the cells in fat deposits so that the body can eliminate them. Evangelista said the botched job has turned her into a depressed recluse ridden with self-loathing, her livelihood destroyed. “I am moving forward to rid myself of my shame, and going public with my story,” Evangelista wrote. “I’m so tired of living this way. I would like to walk out my door with my head held high, despite not looking like myself any longer.” View the full article

Published by AFP US President Joe Biden faces a political storm at home and abroad Washington (AFP) – President Joe Biden cut a beleaguered figure Thursday as he raced to extinguish political fires on the left and right, at home and abroad, in an attempt to save his hopes of transforming the United States. Whether it’s war, diplomatic incidents, economic shocks or an obstructionist Congress, all presidents feel the heat sooner or later. Biden’s feeling all those flames at once. To the south, there is the human and national security drama of thousands of Haitian migrants abruptly appearing across the border from Mexico and camping under a Texas bridge. To the east across the Atlantic there is a disgruntled ally in France, furious at losing a conventional submarines contract when Australia accepted an offer for US nuclear submarines. All over the United States there is the fight against Covid-19, which Biden declared on the way to being defeated in July, only to see it roar back with the Delta variant. And right in Washington, the 78-year-old president faces the mind-boggling task of juggling a Republican opposition eager to wreck his presidency and a Democratic Party flirting with self-destruction. “I’ve been here for cliffs and crises and wars, and this is going to be the biggest mashup we’ve ever had since I’ve been here,” Democratic congressman Peter DeFazio, from Oregon, told NBC News. Debt default? DeFazio was talking about the perfect storm brewing in Congress, where Republicans are fighting Democrats over Biden’s agenda and Democrats are fighting themselves. Put simply, Republicans and Democrats did agree earlier this year — back when Biden’s presidency seemed to be going far better — to pass a roughly $1 trillion infrastructure bill. This was good news for America’s crumbling bridges — and for Biden’s promise that he could heal national divisions. However, the real prize was Biden’s push for a separate, mammoth $3.5 trillion social spending bill that he argues will redress gross inequalities by reforming taxes, reinforcing education and resisting climate change. On this, he never had Republican support, yet with Democrats holding a narrow majority in Congress he didn’t have to worry. That was the theory. Fast forward to this week and both the smaller and bigger packages are on life support, with conservative Democrats insisting on whittling down the $3.5 trillion figure and leftist Democrats threatening to reject the $1 trillion version if the bigger version isn’t passed first in its entirety. Gleefully watching the infighting, Republicans have upped the tension now by refusing to join Democrats in authorizing more government debt. In previous years this has been a largely uncontroversial, bipartisan decision that simply allows the government to keep borrowing so it can pay its bills. This time, hardball-playing Republicans are forcing the Democrats to take the decision by themselves, apparently to try and portray them as spendthrifts. Democrats so far refuse to cave in, insisting that Republicans join them. Worst case scenario? Paralysis in Congress. Current debt limits max out some time in October. The borrowing spigot dries up. The government shuts down. And the United States defaults on debts, sending stock markets into a panic. “I have no idea how it all works out,” DeFazio said. Biden remains sunny The mess — especially the Covid rebound and the ugly Afghanistan withdrawal — has made Biden deeply unpopular. His latest Gallup approval rating of 43 percent is at Donald Trump levels and marks a plummet from 56 percent in June. Yet for now, the veteran Democrat has not lost his trademark sunny optimism — or belief in his vaunted experience as a lifelong Washington insider. On Wednesday, he got on the phone with French President Emmanuel Macron to bury the hatchet in the submarine spat. Then he spent hours in the White House with different Democratic factions to air out differences on the spending packages. Biden is “rolling up his sleeves,” Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, brushing off doomsayers by describing the congressional impasse as “a messy sausage-making process.” But even Psaki, master of the half-glass-full narrative, acknowledges that her boss is up against it. “Well, I think the country is going through a lot right now,” she replied when asked about his plunge in the polls. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Daina Beth Solomon and Doina Chiacu CIUDAD ACUNA, Mexico/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. special envoy to Haiti resigned in protest on Thursday in a letter that blasted the Biden administration for deporting hundreds of migrants back to the crisis-engulfed Caribbean nation from a camp on the U.S.-Mexican border in recent days. Daniel Foote, a career diplomat named to his post in July, said conditions in Haiti were so bad that U.S. officials were confined to secure compounds. He said the “collapsed state” was unable to support the infusion of returning migrants. “I will not be associated with the United States’ inhumane, counterproductive decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees and illegal immigrants,” Foote said in a letter addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken that circulated publicly on Thursday. The United States has returned 1,401 migrants from the camp to Haiti and taken another 3,206 people into custody, the Department of Homeland Security said on Wednesday. Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, has gone through profound instability in recent weeks, including a presidential assassination, gang violence and a major earthquake. Filippo Grandi, the head of the U.N refugee agency, warned that this week the U.S. expulsions to Haiti might violate international law. Foote submitted his resignation to Blinken on Wednesday, a State Department spokesperson said, adding that Washington was committed to the long-term well being of Haiti, as well as offering immediate help to returning migrants. The resignation follows growing pressure on the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden from the United Nations and his fellow Democrats over the treatment of Haitians in a sprawling impromptu migrant camp in Texas near the Mexican border. Biden’s handling of what Republicans portray as a crisis at the border – including record numbers of migrant detentions this year – has led to growing disillusionment from advocates who hoped for an end to deterrent measures brought in by his predecessor Donald Trump. A State Department spokesman said Foote resigned on Wednesday and gave no indication of a change in policy, saying the United States is working with the International Organization on Migration to ensure that returning Haitian migrants are met at the airport and provided with immediate assistance. “We are working to identify ways to provide more comprehensive assistance going forward,” the spokesperson said. As well as the Haitians, the United States frequently deports Central American and other migrants caught crossing the border. Foote’s decision to leave was interpreted and welcomed by rights groups as a stern criticism of the administration’s immigration strategy. “A big bold move. And a big deal,” said William O’Neill, a lawyer specializing in humanitarian, human rights and refugee law. “He will be missed.” MEXICAN PRESSURE As many as 14,000 people gathered in the camp en Del Rio, Texas last week. The population has been reduced by expulsion flights and detentions. Others have left the dusty riverbank on the Rio Grande for Mexico to avoid being sent home. There were 3,671 migrants in the Del Rio camp as of Thursday morning, according to Val Verde County Judge Lewis Owens. Wade McMullen, an attorney with the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization, said several hundred people, mostly pregnant women and parents with children, had been released in Del Rio, Texas, over the past several days. Images of U.S. border guards on horseback using long reins to whip at Black migrants at the weekend caused outrage within the White House and from rights groups and prompted Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday to seek answers from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon in Ciudad Acuna and Doina Chiacu in Washington, Additional reporting by Lizbeth Diaz, Humeyra Pamuk and Kristina Cooke, Editing by Heather Timmons, Laura Gottesdiener and Alistair Bell) View the full article

Cassandra Peterson as Elvira“Safe, Blessed and Truly Loved” Elvira has spooked and soothed as the collective world’s Mistress of the Dark for decades, but the person behind the horror/camp icon, Cassandra Peterson, shared a part of her life that she has held close to her chest for most of her career for the first time. Peterson is a member of the rainbow family and has been in a loving relationship with a woman for the last 19 years. Peterson revealed her truth publicly for the first time in her new memoir, “Yours Cruelly, Elvira,” which came out Tuesday, detailing her relationship with longtime partner Teresa “T” Wierson and growing to understand and embrace her identity. For Peterson, her relationship with Wierson represents the “first time in my life … I’m with someone who makes me feel safe, blessed and truly loved.” Like every good love story, Peterson and Wierson’s started with a meet-cute spiced up with a dash of misunderstanding at, of all places, the gym. I think I was even more surprised…I felt so confused…. I’d been friends with her for so many years and never noticed our chemistry,” “I soon discovered that we connected sexually in a way I’d never experienced. Elvira on realizing How she felt about Teresa Wierson“Often, when I was doing my preworkout warm-up on the treadmill, I couldn’t help noticing one particular trainer — tan, tattooed, and muscular — stalking across the gym floor, knit cap pulled so low over his long brown hair that it nearly covered his eyes,” Peterson writes in the book. “Dark and brooding, he gave off such intense energy that when he crossed the enormous gym floor, the waters parted and people stopped in their tracks to stare.” Love and Discovery Peterson wisened up after meeting Wierson, realizing that she was a woman, and it sparked a close friendship between the two. Other feelings began to develop after a double dose of tumult in their lives. The end of Peterson’s 25-year marriage to her manager, Mark Pierson, coincided with Wierson seeking her out for comfort after her own relationship ended. “There on the doorstep stood my trainer, T, holding a trash bag full of her belongings, looking sad and bedraggled. She’d split from her longtime partner, spent some time in rehab, and now had no place to go,” Peterson writes. Elvira: Previously on Towleroad 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 Kevin Spacey News: Judge Ruled Accuser Had To Go Public For Sexual Assault Case To Proceed. He Refused; Case Likely to be Dismissed. Towleroad May 15, 2021 Read More Photo coutesy of Owen Byrne/Creative Commons View the full article

In case you missed it, a big week for music last week. Enjoy. LISTEN UP: ICYMI Last week was huge — VMAs, Lil Nas X Gave Birth, BTS and MT Stallion, Ed Sheeran, Gaga/Bennett and more. [This post contains video, click to play] View the full article

While no doubt good advice and every word the truth, if all that’s out there of bisexual lives is lying, sexual treachery lies and innocent partners’ lives ruined, we’re not really getting the full LGBTQ story out there. And even caveating the post with acknowledgement that many bisexuals are not like this cheating heart, it would be quite nice to see some other kind of story. It may be that these are the only letters in the Dear Abby bisexual request pile. Certainly it can’t hurt to send on some other requests for advice about different bi lives lived. It’s on us as much as it’s on Dear Abby. Thanks for your visibility and service to the community. Published by NJ.com DEAR ABBY: When I found out a few months ago that my husband of 24 years had been having affairs with several men, it devastated me. I have gone to counseling to try to deal with the pain and depression I now suffer from. He’s in counseling for himself as well, and we are also in couple’s counseling to see if our marriage is salvageable. He tells me it has nothing to do with me but more about his need for attention, and that he didn’t feel it was cheating because it wasn’t with another woman. The problem is, he did this for SIX YEARS. I’m no longer in love with him — and yes, I did love him m… Read More /n Dear Abby Bisexual Questions on Towleroad Virginia capital unveils monument marking end of slavery after removing Confederate statue More Animosity toward minority groups predicts support for Donald Trump, regardless of party alignment More Trump sues niece, New York Times over Pulitzer-winning tax story More Neflix acquires the whole works of Roald Dahl More Carrie’s Gay BF Stanford Blatch Actor Willie Garson Dead At 57 — ‘Sex And The City’ cast More Pay Tribute More Elon Musk reveals toilet ‘challenges’ during SpaceX trip More ‘The Voice’ Producers Looking To Replace Blake Shelton After 21 Seasons More Mexico president tells US ‘time to act’ on migrant crisis More Radar Rachel Maddow Story: Massive New $30 Million Deal Upsetting Savannah Guthrie More President Biden Includes LGBTQI Rights In United Nations Address Calling on Member Countries to Protect ‘Universal Rights of All’ More Gay Veterans Kicked Out Of Service In Witch Hunts and ‘Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell’ Eras Get Full Benefits 10-Years After Repeal More Load More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Joseph Ax (Reuters) – Two weeks after Richmond, Virginia, removed a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee that had prompted protests over racial injustice, the city unveiled a new monument on Wednesday commemorating the end of slavery. The Emancipation and Freedom Monument, designed by Oregon sculptor Thomas Jay Warren, comprises two 12-foot bronze statues depicting a man and a woman carrying an infant, newly freed from slavery. “The enslaved built this city with their hands,” Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney said at a ceremony to mark the occasion. “We will rebuild this city with our hearts.” The new monument is located less than two miles from the site where the towering 61-foot Lee statue had stood for more than a century. Statues honoring the leaders of the Confederacy, the pro-slavery group of Southern states that seceded from the United States and fought in the 1861-65 Civil War, have become targets of anti-racism protests. Richmond was the Confederate capital during the war. Governor Ralph Northam announced the Lee statue’s removal in June 2020, days after George Floyd, a Black man, was killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis, sparking nationwide demonstrations. “Just a couple of weeks ago, one of my proudest days, we took down a statue of a man who led an army to stop the emancipation and freedom these figures symbolize,” Northam said at Wednesday’s ceremony. The pedestal features the names and biographies of 10 Black Virginians who contributed to the fight for liberty before and after emancipation, including Nat Turner, who led a briefly successful slave revolt in 1831 in the state, and Dred Scott, a slave whose unsuccessful lawsuit seeking his freedom led to the infamous U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1857 that people of African descent were not entitled to citizenship. The project began a decade ago as part of the state’s commemoration of the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which abolished slavery in the United States. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Steve Orlofsky) View the full article

Published by PsyPost New research published in the journal American Political Science Review revealed that people who expressed extreme dislike toward Democratically-aligned minority groups were more likely to approve of Donald Trump when he made his way into politics — regardless of their party alignment. Animosity toward these groups did not predict support for other Republican candidates, suggesting the effect is unique to Trump. Study authors Lilliana Mason and her colleagues note that American political parties are becoming further divided on key aspects of identity such as race and religion. It follows that … Read More View the full article

Published by AFP Donald Trump is the only US president since Richard Nixon not to release details of his personal finances New York (AFP) – Former US president Donald Trump on Tuesday filed a $100 million lawsuit against his estranged niece Mary Trump and The New York Times, alleging they engaged in “an insidious plot” to obtain his tax returns for the paper’s Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation of his finances. The lawsuit, filed in Dutchess County, New York state, says that New York Times reporters Susanne Craig, David Barstow and Russ Buettner conducted “an extensive crusade to obtain Donald J. Trump’s confidential tax records.” “The defendants engaged in an insidious plot to obtain confidential and highly-sensitive records which they exploited for their own benefit and utilized as a means of falsely legitimizing their publicized works,” the lawsuit says, alleging they were “motivated by a personal vendetta.” The New York Times and the three journalists won the Pulitzer in 2019 for their investigation of the Trump family’s finances, which the Pulitzer Prize Board said “debunked his claims of self-made wealth and revealed a business empire riddled with tax dodges.” The newspaper’s story alleged that Trump had received more than $400 million in today’s terms from his father’s real estate empire, much of it through fraudulent tax schemes. Mary was the daughter of the eldest Trump brother Fred Trump Jr, who died in 1981 from complications due to alcoholism. In her no-holds-barred 2020 memoir, “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man,” she revealed that she was the primary source for the New York Times investigation. ‘Loser’ Trump’s 27-page lawsuit asserts that the New York Times reporters “relentlessly sought out his niece, Mary L. Trump, and convinced her to smuggle the records out of her attorney’s office and turn them over to The Times.” Times reporter Craig tweeted early Wednesday: “I knocked on Mary Trump’s door. She opened it. I think they call that journalism.” The lawsuit alleges that, by providing information, Mary Trump was in violation of a non-disclosure agreement signed in 2001 after a settlement over the estate of Donald Trump’s father, Fred Trump Sr. The former president is seeking $100 million in compensation and damages, as well as all the proceeds from his niece’s book. In a statement quoted by NBC, Mary Trump called her uncle “a loser.” “It’s desperation. The walls are closing in and he is throwing anything against the wall that he thinks will stick,” she said. “As is always the case with Donald, he’ll try and change the subject.” Trump is under investigation in New York for tax fraud and other alleged wrongdoings relating to the financial activities of his Trump Organization. The Justice Department in August also ordered the Treasury to provide a congressional committee with six years of records that Trump has long refused to make public. US presidents are not required by law to release details of their personal finances, but every US leader since Richard Nixon has done so. Trump repeatedly said he would release them pending an audit but ultimately broke with the tradition. “The Times’s coverage of Donald Trump’s taxes helped inform citizens through meticulous reporting on a subject of overriding public interest,” Danielle Rhoades Ha, a spokeswoman for the paper, said in a statement quoted by US media. “This lawsuit is an attempt to silence independent news organizations and we plan to vigorously defend against it.” View the full article

Published by AFP Roald Dahl was known for such beloved chldren's classics as 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and 'Matilda' San Francisco (AFP) – Netflix said Tuesday it has acquired the whole works of acclaimed children’s author Roald Dahl, creator of such classics as “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Matilda.” The streaming giant said it had bought The Roald Dahl Story Company — the family firm which owns the late British author’s copyright. Netflix in 2018 signed a deal with the company to create animated series based on 16 Dahl books. “This acquisition builds on the partnership we started three years ago to create a slate of animated TV series,” Netflix co-chief executive Ted Sarandos and Luke Kelly, managing director of the RDSC and Dahl’s grandson, said in a joint statement. Under the previous deal, Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi and “Zootropolis” screenwriter Phil Johnston are working on a series based on the world of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and an adaptation of “Matilda the Musical” is underway. “These projects opened our eyes to a much more ambitious venture — the creation of a unique universe across animated and live action films and TV, publishing, games, immersive experiences, live theater, consumer products and more,” Netflix said. Dahl died in 1990 aged 74 after penning several classic titles including “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Fantastic Mr Fox,” “Matilda,” “The Twits,” “The Witches” and “The BFG.” His books have been translated into 63 languages and sold more than 300 million copies worldwide. “These stories and their messages of the power and possibility of young people have never felt more pertinent,” the statement said. “As we bring these timeless tales to more audiences in new formats, we’re committed to maintaining their unique spirit and their universal themes of surprise and kindness, while also sprinkling some fresh magic into the mix.” No financial details of the deal were given. The Hollywood Reporter in 2018 quoted sources as saying the licensing deal covering just 16 Dahl books cost Netflix more than $100 million. Several Dahl works have already been adapted for the big screen, including “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “The Witches,” “Fantastic Mr Fox” and “The BFG.” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Sex and the Citystar Willie Garson has died at the age of 57. According to PEOPLE, Garson passed away on Tuesday, September 21, surrounded by family after a short illness. The outlet noted that he had been suffering from pancreatic cancer. “BE KIND TO EACH OTHER……ALWAYS. LOVE TO ALL. APRROACH KINDNESS,” his last tweet, which was on Sunday, September 5, read. MEGA ‘THE WIRE’ STAR MICHAEL K. WILLIAMS DEAD AT 54 — WENDELL PIERCE, BEN STILLER, MORE REACT “I love you so much papa. Rest In Peace and I’m so glad you got to share all your adventures with me and were able to accomplish so much. I’m so proud of you. I will always love you, but I think it’s time for you to go on an adventure of your own,” his son Nathen posted on Instagram on Tuesday, September 21. “You’ll always be with me. Love you more than you will ever know and I’m glad you can be at peace now. You always were the toughest and funniest and smartest person I’ve known. I’m glad you shared you’re love with me. I’ll never forget it or lose it,” Nathen added. Garson played Carrie Bradshaw’s [Sarah Jessica Parker] friend Stanford Blatch in SATC. He reprised the role in the two SATC films and was slated to appear in the upcoming reboot And Just Like That… SARAH JESSICA PARKER LOOKS PRETTY IN PLAID! THE ‘SEX AND THE CITY’ STAR WEARS FUNKY FASHION-STATEMENT PANTS WHILE FILMING ‘AND JUST LIKE THAT’ — GET THE LOOK MEGA The actor is also known for his role as Mozzie in White Collar. He made appearances in LA Law, The X-Files, Boy Meets World and Friends. SATC coworkers, fans and friends shared tributes to Garson. “Such sad news and a terribly sad loss to the SATC family. Our condolences and RIP dear Willie xo,” Kim Cattrall tweeted. “So deeply, deeply sad we have lost @WillieGarson. We all loved him and adored working with him. He was endlessly funny on-screen and and in real life. He was a source of light, friendship and show business lore. He was a consummate professional— always,” Cynthia Nixon wrote. “I couldn’t have had a more brilliant TV partner. I’m devastated and just overwhelmed with Sadness. Taken away from all of us way soon. You were a gift from the gods. Rest my sweet friend. I love you,” Mario Cantone, who plays Garson’s character’s partner, Anthony Marentino, shared. OK! RECREATES OUR FAVORITE OUTFITS FROM THE FILMING OF ‘AND JUST LIKE THAT…’ AT NORDSTROM’S ANNIVERSARY SALE — GET THE LOOK MEGA “The Sex And The City family has lost one of its own. Our amazing Willie Garson,” SATC executive producer Michael Patrick King said in a statement. “His spirit and his dedication to his craft was present everyday filming And Just Like That. He was there — giving us his all — even while he was sick. His multitude of gifts as an actor and person will be missed by everyone. In this sad , dark moment we are comforted by our memory of his joy and light.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Elon Musk has revealed that there were “challenges” with the toilet during SpaceX’s first private trip. The Tesla boss took to social media to reveal the problems but did not elaborate on what they actually were. Musk did say that future missions will “definitely” include “upgraded toilets” to make sure they don’t happen again. Musk had met with the crew after they touched down in Florida where he was informed of the problems, even though the discussion pre-flight centred on how good the facilities were. They were located just beneath the ‘cupola’, a huge built-in window, allowing the crew to look out into space as they relieved themselves. Jared Isaacman, the billionaire who funded the trip, added that the toilet was covered by a curtain to offer some privacy for those on board. SpaceX hasn’t disclosed much about how the toilet works but training on it was part of the preparation regime that the four-strong crew had to go through prior to the flight. Musk also intends to add other improvements for future voyages, including a “little oven for heating food” after the passengers were forced to eat cold pizza. The tech guru added that the ship will include a WiFi connection through SpaceX’s Starlink satellites. The SpaceX venture concluded on Saturday (18.09.21) and Musk welcomed the crew home with a $50 million donation to the children’s charity St Jude, as the passengers were aiming to raise $200 million for the St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Tennessee. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Ariana Grande’s arrival at The Voice has changed everything, including the future on the show of its only original star, Blake Shelton. “Current top ten artists like Justin Bieber, Lil Nas X, Billie Elish, Olivia Rodrigo, and The Weeknd, were all hesitant about staring on a competition show before Ariana Grande signed on,” a source tells Radar. nbc “Now she has changed everything and opened the flood gates to future relevant talent which isn’t good news for Blake Shelton. Sure, he is a star and people love him, but he doesn’t exactly burn up the charts anymore,” the insider spilled. “After a decade on the show, producer as quietly looking to replace Blake with someone younger and more current. Blake is great but he is not in Ariana’s league.” Sources add that Ariana has brought a whole new level of excitement to the show particularly with younger viewers. “It is time for a shake-up. The only way the show remains fresh is by constantly evolving. Huge stars that wouldn’t even consider joining the show a few months ago are now thinking again, thanks to Ariana,” adds a top Hollywood agent. mega The decision to get rid of Blake is a big one. He helped launch the singing competition show back in April 2011. The original line-up featured the country star, Christina Aguilera, CeeLo Green, and Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine. Christina appeared on the first three seasons and was paid an estimated $20 million a season for her work. The gig wasn’t for the pop star who left for season 4 and then returned for three additional seasons before finally leaving for good after season 10. Adam lasted a full 16 seasons before deciding it was time for him to get back to music and other passion projects. CeeLo was also quickly phased out of the show. nbc nbc Producers tried brining in Blake’s longtime partner Gwen Stefani as judge but that only lasted a couple of seasons spread out over years. The current roster of judges is Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Ariana Grande, and Blake. View the full article

Published by AFP Haitian migrants hoping to enter the United States cross the Rio Grande river to get food and water in northern Mexico Mexico City (AFP) – Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador urged the United States on Wednesday to act quickly to tackle the causes of the migrant crisis affecting the two neighboring countries. “Enough talking, it’s time to act,” Lopez Obrador told reporters as thousands of Haitian and other migrants massed on Mexico’s northern border seeking access into the United States. Mexico and Central American countries were still waiting for several billion dollars pledged by Washington for economic development to reduce the need for migrants to flee poverty, he said. “There was a commitment that they were going to invest four billion — two billion for Central America and two billion for Mexico. Nothing has come — nothing,” Lopez Obrador said. At the same time he added that US President Joe Biden “is interested” in solving the problem and said he was hopeful there would be a regional agreement on economic development. The Mexican leader has repeatedly proposed expanding one of his domestic welfare programs into Central America with the aim of generating 1.2 million jobs in the region. He has also proposed allowing participants to qualify for a US work visa after three years. The US authorities have begun to repatriate Haitians by air from the Texas border city of Del Rio, prompting a warning from the United Nations that people with genuine asylum claims may be at risk. Tens of thousands more migrants are stranded in the southern Mexican city of Tapachula, waiting for documents that would allow them to continue north. View the full article