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Published by Reuters By Kate Abnett BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Young people around the world took to the streets on Friday to demand urgent action to avert disastrous climate change, in their largest protest since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike takes place five weeks before the U.N. COP26 summit, which aims to secure more ambitious climate action from world leaders to drastically cut the greenhouse gas emissions heating the planet. “The concentration of CO2 in the sky hasn’t been this high for at least 3 million years,” Swedish activist Greta Thunberg told a crowd of thousands of protesters in the German capital. “It is clearer than ever that no political party is doing close to enough.” Demonstrations were planned in more than 1,500 locations by youth movement Fridays for Future, kicking off in Asia with small-scale demonstrations in the Philippines and Bangladesh, and spreading throughout the day to European cities including Warsaw, Turin and Berlin. “Everyone is talking about making promises, but nobody keeps their promise. We want more action,” said Farzana Faruk Jhumu, 22, a youth climate activist in Dhaka, Bangladesh. “We want the work, not just the promises.” A landmark U.N. climate science report in August warned that human activity has already locked in climate disruptions for decades – but that rapid, large-scale action to reduce emissions could still stave off some of the most destructive impacts. So far, governments do not plan to cut emissions anywhere near fast enough to do that. The United Nations said last week that countries’ commitments would see global emissions increase to be 16% higher in 2030 than they were in 2010 – far off the 45% reduction by 2030 needed to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. “We are here because we are saying a loud ‘no’ to what is happening in Poland,” said Dominika Lasota, 19, a youth activist at a protest in Warsaw, Poland. “Our government has for years been blocking any sort of climate politics and ignores our demands for a safe future.” Friday’s strike marked the in-person return of the youth climate protests that in 2019 drew more than six million people onto the streets, before the COVID-19 pandemic largely halted the mass gatherings and pushed much of the action online. Yusuf Baluch, 17, a youth activist in the Pakistani province of Balochistan, said the return to in-person events was vital to force leaders to tackle the planetary crisis. “Last time it was digital and nobody was paying attention to us,” he said. But with access to COVID-19 vaccines still highly uneven around the world, activists in some poorer countries said they would only hold symbolic actions with only a handful of people. “In the global north, people are getting vaccinated so they might be out in huge quantities. But in the global south, we are still limited,” Baluch said. (Reporting by Kate Abnett, Additional reporting by Kacper Pempel and Andrea Januta, Editing by William Maclean) View the full article

Published by Reuters (In ninth paragraph corrects figure to $1.4 billion, not $1.4 million) By Daniel Trotta (Reuters) -Prosecutors in Northern California on Friday charged power utility Pacific Gas & Electric with four counts of manslaughter and other felonies, alleging it failed to cut down a sickly tree that fell onto power lines and sparked a deadly wildfire. The company denied it committed a crime. The Zogg Fire started nearly one year ago when a 100-foot (30-meter) pine tree fell onto an electrical line and started a fire that killed four people, destroyed 204 structures and burned more than 56,000 acres (22,600 hectares), Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett told reporters. That tree, leaning downslope toward the electrical line with a cavity in its trunk, had been identified as dangerous in 2018 and PG&E had a legal responsibility to remove it, Bridgett said. “Their failure was reckless, and was criminally negligent, and it resulted in the death of four people,” Bridgett said, naming the victims as Feyla McLeod, age 8, Alaina Rowe McLeod, 46, Kenneth Vossen, 52, and Karin King, 79. The company was charged with 31 counts in all, including 11 felonies, the latest in a series of criminal accusations in recent years. PG&E accepted the determination by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) that the fire was started when a tree fell on its line, but the company denied it was criminally liable, disputing Bridgett’s characterization that PG&E contractors had marked the tree as hazardous. “We accept that conclusion. But we did not commit a crime,” Chief Executive Patti Poppe said in statement. Two arborists had determined the tree, one of 8 million within striking distance of its lines, could stay, Poppe said. Meanwhile the company will remove 300,000 trees statewide this year, part of a $1.4 billion investment in vegetation management she said. “I came to PG&E to make it right and make it safe,” said Poppe, who was named CEO last year after the company paid a $13.5 billion settlement to resolve claims related to several Northern California wildfires and emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. While no individuals can go to jail when a company is criminally charged, the company faces undetermined fees, fines and remediation costs if convicted. PG&E last year pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of unlawfully starting the Camp Fire, which wiped out the town of Paradise. The Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive fire in the state’s history, Cal Fire said. (Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Aurora Ellis) View the full article

Published by Radar Online Britney Spears‘ documentary revealed more shocking allegations against her dad, Jamie Spears. Testimony from a former security company employee alleged him to have installed a listening device in her daughter’s bedroom and had monitoring access over her text messages, phone calls, and even internet browsing history. MEGA Alex Vlasov, an employee who worked at Black Box Security, a company Jamie hired to monitor her daughter’s daily activities, dropped the bombshell in the new New York Times documentary called Controlling Britney Spears released on Friday. “Their reason for monitoring was looking for bad influences, looking for potential illegal activity that might happen,” he claimed. “But they would also monitor conversations with her friends, with her mom, with her lawyer Sam Ingham. If there’s anybody that should be off-limits, it should be Britney’s lawyer.” The employee also explained the company monitored Britney’s phone via an iPad by logging in to her iCloud account, which gave them access to her communications made from her phone, including text messages and emails. Vlasov claimed that his employer had asked him to encrypt some of the pop star’s text conversations to be forwarded to her father and an employee of a business management firm he had hired. The documentary also revealed the listening bug installed by the company had “captured over 180 hours of audio, including Britney’s interactions and conversations with her boyfriend and her children,” which Vlasov claimed to have kept a copy of it as evidence. “Even in the sacred place, her home, every single request was monitored and recorded. Her intimate relations were closely managed,” he said. MEGA Vlasov had found the situation disturbing and confronted the company he worked for at the time regarding the “legality” of it. His former boss Eden Yemini allegedly responded to him, saying, “Yes, the court is aware of this. Britney’s lawyer is aware of this. This is for her safety. It’s for her protection.” Vlasov also disclosed that Robin [Greenhill of Britney’s management team at Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group] came up with the idea to mirror all her activity via iCloud. However, Yemini’s lawyer issued a statement in the documentary that read, “Mr. Yemini and Black Box have always conducted themselves within professional, ethical and legal bounds, and they are particularly proud of their work keeping Ms. Spears safe for many years.” MEGA Jamie’s attorney didn’t specifically address the alleged surveillance but said his actions “were well within parameters of the authority conferred upon him by the court” and “done with knowledge and consent of Britney, her court-appointed attorney and/or the court.” As Radar previously reported, the pop princess’ dad filed to end the conservatorship over her daughter earlier this month, and a hearing on the case is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Sept. 29. View the full article

MacArthur High School WalkoutScotland Becomes First Nation with In-School LGBTQ Curriculum 41 years after decriminalizing homosexuality, Scotland announced a plan to introduce LGBTQ school lessons and resources throughout all school levels, becoming the first nation in the world to do so. Developed in cooperation with LGBTQ advocacy groups, the curriculum additions will include lessons on LGBTQ history and issues in addition to education on LGBTQ identities aimed at reducing malevolent and/or ignorant attitudes toward LGBTQ students and promoting inclusion. Teachers will also be given additional resources, including specific training in LGBTQ inclusive education and resource tools meant to aid educators in discussing LGBTQ topics and supporting LGBTQ youth. “I experienced bullying and prejudice at school for being gay, and it had a detrimental impact on my confidence and wellbeing for some time,” Jordan Daly, co-founder of advocacy group Time for Inclusive Education, told The Scotsman. “This new website, and the supporting resources, which have been co-developed with teachers across Scotland, will support teachers to take a proactive, educational approach to tackling prejudice. Most importantly, this work will empower young people and provide them with an opportunity I didn’t have at school – to feel valued, confident, and proud of who they are.” Texas Students Protest LGBTQ Discrimination With Walkout Hundreds of students at MacArthur High School in Irving, TX walked out of classes in protest of apparent discriminatory actions against the school’s LGBTQ students and teachers. The students marched out of the school Wednesday in a rainbow wave after multiple rainbow heart stickers placed on classroom doors and windows signifying they were safe spaces for LGBTQ students were mysteriously removed. The stickers and their significance have been a hotly debated topic at the school in recent weeks. An internal staff memo from the school district supported the idea of making “campuses a safe zone for all students,” yet a school district spokesperson told a local CBS affiliate that its policy states that “teachers shall not use the classroom to transmit personal beliefs regarding political or sectarian issues.” Multiple students associated with the school’s Gay Straight Alliance reported being called into meetings with school administration “randomly,” with one student describing the meeting as a 45-minute “long, drawn out interrogation.” Rachel Stonecipher, a teacher who sponsors the school’s Gay Straight Alliance felt targeted after a Safe Space poster outside her classroom was removed. “I was freaked,” Stonecipher said. “I’m the only openly, very obviously gay teacher, lesbian teacher.” Multiple students held up signs displaying support for Stonecipher during Wednesday’s walkout. Chicago Catholic School Reverses Course, Rehires LGBTQ Coach Students put their voices to use in Chicago as well as Benet Academy, a Catholic high school, decided to rehire lacrosse coach Amanda Kammes after initially declining to do so because of her sexual orientation. Kammes was offered the head coaching position of Benet’s girls lacrosse team earlier this month but the offer was rescinded after she listed her wife as an emergency contact on paperwork. A petition signed by 2,200 students, parents and alumni criticized the school’s decision and called for it to be reversed. A collection of students and parents protested near the campus earlier this week pushing for the same requests. Multiple community members came to the students’ defense Monday during the school board meeting. “Does calling for your people to come here and persecute LGBTQ kids for the crime of letting the world know they exist and showing love for one another not fly in the face of what you claim to stand for,” siad parent Justin Kanew. “That video is not a French kiss. It is a quick peck that I had to watch three times to catch and if it were a boy and a girl there is zero chance anyone would have cared.” Some of the students present on the float also spoke about the supportive climate school provides, especially when their homes don’t have the same environment. “To have a community at school for our people is very important and I hope that we can keep this here because I have many firends who fear for their safety,” said Mia Elias, a student who was on the float. “This is the one place we are safe.” Florida School District Takes Action Against Homophobic Students School district officials in St. Johns County, FL are promising action against students at Bartram Trail High School after footage of students stomping Pride flags, lambasting LGBTQ students with anti-LGBTQ slurs and flying a confederate flag circulated around social media. A student who filmed the incident, who is trans and was also targeted during the incident, reported that the group was targeting the school’s Gay Straight Alliance. School district spokesperson Christine Langston told local news outlet News4Jax that the occurrence is actively being investigated alongside the st. Johns County Sheriff’s Office resource deputy and “all those involved will receive consequences which align with our student code of conduct.” “This behavior is not acceptable and is not indicative of the culture and students at BTHS,” Langston continued. Students reported that the school reiterated its firm stance against hate speech during an announcement on the next school day, but some still feel unsafe. The investigation remains ongoing. LGBTQ School: Previously on Towleroad LGBTQ School News Roundup: Scotland Adds LGBTQ Education; Texas Students Protest Discrimination; Catholic School Rehires Out Coach; Florida School District Investigating Hate Actions Brian Bell September 24, 2021 Read More California Teacher Investigated Over Joking Students Could ‘Pledge Allegiance’ to LGBTQ Pride Flag Brian Bell August 31, 2021 Read More Kansas City Christian School Reportedly Tells Teachers to Oust Out LGBTQ Students or Find Another Job Brian Bell May 10, 2021 Read More London’s Highgate School to Allow Skirts For Boys In School Uniform Adam Rhodes May 17, 2017 Read More Pittsburgh Schools Unanimously Approve Transgender Nondiscrimination Policy: VIDEO Michael Fitzgerald June 24, 2016 Read More One In Five British Gay Teens Bullied In School By Teachers Or Other Adults: VIDEO Michael Fitzgerald March 11, 2015 Read More Screenshot via YouTube View the full article

Billy EichnerComedian Billy Eichner’s upcoming gay rom-com “Bros” already holds a historic place in the annals of Hollywood history, but such a move wouldn’t be complete without going just a little bit deliciously extra. The principal cast for the film, the first explicitly gay romantical comedy from a major Hollywood studio, is now set and it is a powerful list of LGBTQ performers. But what puts it over the top is that all principal heterosexual characters in the film will be portrayed by LGBTQ actors, flipping a historic tradition of casting straight actors in queer or queer-coded roles. “I could not be more proud or excited about the historic nature of the all openly LGBTQ+ cast of Bros. After queer actors have spent decades watching straight actors capitalize both artistically and professionally by playing LGBTQ+ characters, it is a long overdue dream come true to be able to assemble this remarkable, hilarious cast,” Eichner told The Hollywood Reporter. The announced cast of “Bros” includes Eichner and Luke McFarlane (“Killjoys”) as the leads, two gay men possibly looking for love in between their busy schedules. Other cast members include “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 13 winner Symone, Guillermo Diaz (“Half Baked,” “Weeds”), gender non-conforming performer Miss Lawrence (“United States vs. Billie Holliday”), trans author/performer TS Madison (“Light Through The Shade: An Autobiography of a Queen,” “Zola”) and former “Billy on the Street” writer Guy Branum (“Talk Show the Game Show”). The chaotic comedian celebrated the historic casting decisions on Twitter. “This is the best thing ever! I could not possibly be more excited to tell you the entire main cast for my rom-com ‘Bros’ will be all openly LGBTQ+ actors,” he said. “Yes, even in all the straight roles … Let’s make history!” He also harkened back to one of the more memorable segments from “Billy on the Street” while celebrating the news. “I have to say this once for my ‘Billy on the Street’ fans: Let’s go lesbians, let’s go,” he exclaimed. Eichner also holds multiple roles behind the scenes, co-writing the script alongside director Nicholas Stoller. The two previously worked together on the Netflix series “Friends From College.” Eichner and Stoller will also executive produce the project alongside Judd Apatow and Josh Church. Eichner’s work on the film makes him the first out gay man to write and star in his own major studio film. First Of Many With “Bros” representing so many firsts for LGBTQ artists working with top Hollywood studios, Eichner wants the film to be the first step in more meaningful openness from film executives to work with LGBTQ artists and phase out sterotypical attitudes toward queer inclusion in film. “While Bros may be the first of its kind in several ways, my real hope is that it is only the first of many opportunities for openly LGBTQ+ ensembles to shine and show the world all we are capable of as actors, beyond just being the wacky sidekick, token queer or a straight movie star’s ‘gay best friend,’” Eichner told The Hollywood Reporter. “And beyond all of that, this cast is fucking hysterical and you’re going to love them.” To that end, Eichner himself is already continuing that push. Along with “Bros,” the former “Parks and Recreation” regular is also working on the film “Ex-Husbands,” a “big, gay divorce comedy’ a la “War of the Roses,” for Amazon and is set to star in the upcoming Fred Lynde biopic “Man in the Box.” “Bros” is slated for an Aug. 12, 2022 release from Universal Pictures. Billy Eichner: previously on Towleroad 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 Billy Eichner to Play TV Icon Paul Lynde in ‘Man in the Box’ Andy Towle July 22, 2020 Read More ‘They’ll Go Great with My Lindsey Graham Condoms’: Billy Eichner Mocks Lady G as Host of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’: WATCH John Wright July 9, 2020 Read More Pete Buttigieg Reflects on How Different Generations of LGBTQ Voters Reacted to His Campaign in Iso-Interview with Billy Eichner: WATCH Andy Towle April 27, 2020 Read More Billy Eichner Reveals His Quarantine Sex Habits and His Greatest Fear When the Pandemic Finally Ends: WATCH Towleroad April 15, 2020 Read More Billy Eichner to Play Matt Drudge in Ryan Murphy’s ‘American Crime Story: Impeachment’ Andy Towle January 22, 2020 Read More Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images for Yahoo News View the full article

Published by AFP Los Angeles (AFP) – A follow-up to “Tiger King,” the documentary series that captivated millions around the world in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, will be released this year, Netflix said Thursday. The original series followed “Joe Exotic,” a gay, mullet-wearing private zookeeper who ruled over a menagerie of big cats, wacky employees and misfit lovers, but ended up in prison for attempted murder. It was watched by 64 million households in its first four weeks alone after its March 2020 premiere. “Tiger King 2” promises “more madness and mayhem,” with a trailer featuring Exotic apparently phoning in from prison, where he is serving his 22-year sentence. The brief teaser also features footage of Carole Baskin — the animal rights activist Exotic tried to have killed — although she told Fox Business she declined to participate after her “false portrayal” in the first series. The original “Tiger King” focused on the rivalry between Exotic and Baskin, who had for years accused the flamboyant businessman of abusing the animals in his park. It also heavily featured wild and unsubstantiated rumors that Baskin fed her husband to their sanctuary’s tigers. Baskin denies any involvement in her husband’s disappearance. The trailer for the sequel series includes a billboard asking “Who murdered Don Lewis” and offering a $100,000 reward for information about the fate of Baskin’s husband. In May, US officials seized 68 lions, tigers and lion-tiger hybrids from the former animal park of Joe Exotic, now run by Jeffrey and Lauren Lowe. The current owners had repeatedly violated laws requiring appropriate care for animals and had not complied with an order to hire a qualified veterinarian, according to Justice Department officials. Directors Eric Goode and Rebecca Chaiklin return for “Tiger King 2,” which Netflix is billing as “the continuation of a cultural phenomenon.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sarah Jessica Parker is “not ready” to publicly mourn the loss of her close friend, Willie Garson. The 56-year-old actress has been left devastated by the death of her ‘Sex and the City’ co-star – who played her character Carrie Bradshaw’s best friend Stanford Blatch in the HBO series and subsequent spin-off movies – and she can’t face writing a tribute to him just yet. Willie died on Tuesday (21.09.21) aged 57 following a short illness, and the majority of the cast have shared touching tributes on social media, including Chris Noth (Mr. Big), who simply posted: “Willie”, with a love heart and heartbroken emoji. Commenting on her on-screen husband’s post, Sarah wrote: “Thank you dearest Chris. I’m not ready yet. Xxx.” Kristin Davis (Charlotte York Goldenblatt) has also been left “bereft” by her co-star’s passing. The 56-year-old actress hailed the ‘White Collar’ actor “smart and funny”, as she reflected on the decades that they have known one another. She wrote on Instagram: “I first met Willie in 1995 on the spooky nighttime set of ‘The X-files’. He immediately made me laugh. “Little did I know that we would have the joy of sharing ‘Sex and the City’ + ‘And Just Like That’ together. Willie is beloved by our entire community. He was smarter and funnier than you ever would have imagined. We are bereft without him.” Kristin has two adopted children, Gemma and Wilson, and she bonded with Willie – who adopted Nathen, now 20, in 2009 – over their shared experience of single parenthood. She added: “I really want to pay tribute to his fearless commitment to single fatherhood. “We spoke about being single parents through adoption often. And nothing gave him more joy and pride than his son Nathen. Nathen’s strength and wisdom beyond his years are evident in his beautiful tribute to his dad. “The outpouring of love is earned dear Willie. I am thankful for all of the time we had and grateful that so much of your bright light is on film forever. Maybe we can do our pod cast the next time around ? We love you forever xoxo.(sic)” Nathen previously shared a touching tribute to his father on Instagram. He wrote: “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. 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.” View the full article

“Lawless” Rulings Jonathan Mitchell, the architect of the controversial Texas abortion ban, now appears to be setting milestone LGBTQ rights, including gay marriage, enshrined by the U.S. Supreme Court as his next target. In a brief filed by Mitchell and coauthor Adam Mortara for a Supreme Court case involving a restrictive abortion law in Mississippi, the Texas lawyer claims that rulings in Lawrence v. Texas and Obergefell v. Hodges “are as lawless as” the Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion in 1973. Deeming the protections these rulings guaranteed as “court-invented rights to homosexual behavior and same-sex marriage” and “judicial concoctions” and “less hazardous to human life” than Roe, Mitchell and Mortata argue that “there is no other source of law that can be invoked to salvage their existence.” The rulings questioned by the lawyers’ brief have been celebrated as major legal victories for LGBTQ communities. Lawrence v. Texas invalidated antisodomy laws used by states to police LGBTQ sexual activity and identites and Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Neither should the Court hesitate to write an opinion that leaves those decision hanging by a thread. Jonathan Mitchell, Adam mortaraThe brief takes special aim at the Obergefell decision, claiming that its basis in the “fundamental right to marry” isn’t applicable because the right to marry a same-sex spouse isn’t “deeply rooted in this Nation’s history and tradition.” “Otherwise long-prohibited conduct can be made into a “fundamental right” that is “deeply rooted in this Nation’s history and tradition,” so long as a litigant is creative enough to define the “right” at a high enough level of abstraction,” the brief argues. “The right to marry an opposite-sex spouse is “deeply rooted in this Nation’s history and tradition”; the right to marry a same-sex spouse obviously is not.” It concludes by stating that the Supreme Court shouldn’t necessarily “announce the overruling of Lawrence and Obergefell if it decides to overrule Roe,” but that it shouldn’t “hesitate to write an opinion that leaves those decisions hanging by a thread.” A Dangerous Pattern The feelings expressed in the brief are concerning, especially given the conservative lean of the Supreme Court following the appointment of Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Cavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett during the Trump administration. Despite there being no case currently circulating challenging to overturn either ruling, signaling them as a legal target has placed LGBTQ advocates on alert. The opinions argued also come with little surprise given Mitchell and Mortara’s connections to previous attempts to undermine the rights of marginalized communities. Mitchell, a former Texas Solicitor General, clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas, one of the most conservative voices on the Supreme Court. Thomas, along with Justice Samuel Alito, have previously expressed a desire to see the Obergefell decision reversed. Texas has shown that states need to adopt a posture of learned helplessness Jonathan MitchellMitchell helped craft the recent Texas abortion ban, which empowers private citizens to sue, and effectively police, anyone who helps a pregnant person get an abortion after “about six weeks” into the preganancy. His law firm has also worked with the Alliane Defending Freedom, an anti-LGBTQ legal organization that has spearheaded numerous legal challenges to the basic rights of LGBTQ people. Mitchell has been brashly open about constructing the Texas abortion ban in a way that makes it difficult to challenge the legal sytem, effectively circumventing the judicial process in an effort to stall pro-choice advocacy groups. A New York Times profile of Mitchell cited a 2018 paper written by Mitchell that described the strategy. “The politcal branches have been too willing to cede control of constitutional interpretation to the federal judiciary, Mitchell wrote. “But there are ways to counter the judiciary’s constitutional pronouncement, and Texas has shown that the states need to adopt a posture of learned helplessness in response to questionable or unconstitutional court rulings.” In the same brief, Mitchell claimed that people who can get pregnant could avoid unwanted prenancies by abstaining from sex or traveling to “welathy pro-abortion” states using “taxpayer subsidies.” Mortara also clerked for Thomas and, like Mitchell, has ties to the Federalist Society, another staunchly conservative legal organization that has supported attacks on reproductive and LGBTQ rights. Gay Marriage: Previously on Towleroad 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 ‘One Million Moms’ is ‘Outraged’ That Mattel’s New ‘American Girl’ Doll Has (Gasp!) Gay Aunts Andy Towle February 10, 2021 Read More Photo courtesy of Enrique Jiménez/Creative Commons View the full article

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