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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

Original Story from Radar Published by Radar Online Rachael Maddow’s massive $30 million deal is $5 million more than disgraced Matt Lauer was earning, making her other stars at NBC very uncomfortable. “There is no way a cable network can pay Rachel this amount of money. She is earning more than Savannah Guthrie and Hoda pick up on NBC, with is making both of The Today Show hosts very uncomfortable,” sources tell Radar. Rachel’s new package through 2024 comes with a great deal of power. She has always been the boss of MSNBC but now she might be taking over NBC too. MEGA “Part of Rachel’s deal is producing more shows and appearing more on NBC. It is NBC that has the real money, clearly, for the amount of money she is making, there will be much more cross-over,” adds an insider. “Savannah started her career as the White House correspondent and still thinks of herself as a political reporter. She has deep sources in DC and being best friends with George W Bush’s daughter, Jenna, is no coincidence. Savannah isn’t going to hand over the political beat to Rachel without a fight. These two are already distant. It’s only going to get worse now that Rachel makes more money.” Gabby Petito’s Fiancé Brian Laundrie Reading A Book About Missing Women In Eerie YouTube Video Unearthed By TikTok Detectives As Unidentified Body Is Found MEGA Rachel’s new deal came after months of extensive negotiations between the anchor and the network. Prior to her signing on the dotted line, sources claimed she was ready to leave MSNBC after 13 years. Insiders claimed Rachel was tired of hosting a nightly show and wanted to spend more time with her family. She hired Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel and President Mark Shapiro to represent her in the contract talks with MSNBC. Eventually, the parties were able to hash out a deal where Rachel worked less but was paid more. MEGA The television source said Rachel was interested in pursuing podcast offers and wasn’t necessarily headed towards another network. The new deal has Rachel doing a weekly show instead of a nightly and will allow her to work on other passion projects under the NBC umbrella. The terms make sense given Rachel has been the highest-rated host on MSNBC for some time. MEGA Radar Rachel Maddow on Towleroad 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 Maddow Deal: Rachel Maddow’s Jaw-Dropping $30 Million Deal With NBC Rubbing Colleague Savannah Guthrie The Wrong Way More Troll, disco ball, melting face: New emojis are coming More Lawsuits against doctor to test constitutionality of Texas abortion law More White House condemns border guard use of whip-like cord against Haitian migrants More George Holliday, who shot video of police beating Rodney King, dies More Billy Porter’s Emmys necklace cost $1 million More U.N. chief grades world on vaccine rollout: ‘F in Ethics’ More Tom Ford’s Husband, Richard Buckley, Dead At 72 From Natural Causes — Fashion World Pays Tribute To The Late Journalist More Michael K Williams, Cecily Tyson among Emmys In Memoriam More Load More View the full article

‘The Future Will Belong To Those Who Embrace Human Dignity,’ President Biden to U.N. President Joe BidenPresident Joe Biden reiterated his commitment to the global recognition of LGBTQ civil rights on Tuesday during an address to the United Nations General Assembly. Biden name checked specifically the continued persecution of LGBTQ individuals in Chechnya and Cameroon, ‘and the rest of the world’ and highlighted America’s commitment to promoting LGBTQ protections throughout the globe. “We must all defend the rights of LGBTQI individuals so they can live and love openly without fear,” Biden said. “As we pursue diplomacy across the board, the United States will champion the democratic values that go to the very heart of who we are as a nation and a people: freedom, equality, opportunity and a belief in the universal rights of all people.” Biden Ends Address Tying The UN Mission to Women, LGBTQ, Ethnic and Religious Minority Rights The LGBT comments followed Biden’s discussion of the recent resolution on Afghanistan. He noted the “more than 100 nations united” in the U.N. Security Council resolution outlining “the expectations to which we’ll hold the Taliban when it comes to respecting universal human rights.” (extended to March 2022 days before the General Assembly convened) He then called on all countries to protect and defend some of the most oppressed groups. “We all must advocate for the rights of women and girls to use their full talents…” and to pursue their dreams free of violence and intimidation, in Central America to the Middle East to Africa to Afghanistan, wherever it appears in the world.” Continuing, “We must all call out and condemn the targeting and oppression of racial, ethnic, and religious minorities whether it occurs in Xinjiang, Northern Ethiopia or anywhere in the world. “ Finishing the section with the LGBTQ comments, he finished addressing that only those who protected the individual would own the future. Biden’s Full Address Biden’s comments packed a bit more of a punch given the timing of his address. Biden took the podium after Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro reiterated his belief that “the traditional nuclear family is the foundation of civilization,” a common, thinly-veiled bit of homophobia that he has stated in the past amid more explicit statements and political actions against Brazil’s LGBTQ population. As LGBTQ rights come under attack in regions throughout the world, including multiple states within the United States, Biden didn’t mince words about the role world leaders play in protecting human rights for marginalized communities. “Let me be clear, I am not agnostic about the future we want for the world,” Biden said. “The future will belong to those who embrace human dignity, not trample it.” Biden’s U.N. address comes one day after commemorating the end of the U.S. military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, which discriminated against LGBTQ servicemembers for nearly two decades before its official end in 2011. The Biden administration also announced policy changes to help LGBTQ veterans discharged under such discriminatory practices receive VA benefits and services. Biden also again proclaimed his support for the Equality Act on Monday, saying passing the legislation would signify “living up to our highest values of justice and equality for all.” United Nations: Previously on Towleroad President Biden Includes LGBTQI Rights In United Nations Address Calling on Member Countries to Protect ‘Universal Rights of All’ Brian Bell September 21, 2021 No Comments ‘The Future Will Belong To Those Who Embrace Human Dignity,’ President Biden to U.N. President Joe Biden President Joe Biden reiterated his commitment to the global recognition … Read 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 Brian Bell September 21, 2021 No Comments LGBTQ Veterans Ceremony Tens of thousands of LGBTQ veterans whose military service ended due to discriminatory policies focused on sexual orientation and HIV status now have … Read More Rachel Maddow’s Jaw-Dropping $30 Million Deal With NBC Rubbing Colleague Savannah Guthrie The Wrong Way: ‘These Two Are Already Distant’ Towleroad September 21, 2021 No Comments Published by OK MagazineShowdown at NBC! After the network was able to secure political talk legend Rachel Maddow for a few more years after tense contract … Read More Troll, disco ball, melting face: New emojis are coming Towleroad September 21, 2021 No Comments Published by DPAOur chat vocab is about to get much richer: A troll emoji is finally on the way, as well as plenty of new … Read More Lawsuits against doctor to test constitutionality of Texas abortion law Towleroad September 21, 2021 No Comments Published by ReutersBy Julia Harte (Reuters) – A San Antonio physician who announced he gave an abortion to a woman in defiance of a new Texas … Read More White House condemns border guard use of whip-like cord against Haitian migrants Towleroad September 21, 2021 No Comments Published by ReutersBy Daina Beth Solomon CIUDAD ACUNA, Mexico (Reuters) -The White House on Monday criticized the use of horse reins to threaten Haitian migrants after … Read More Screenshot from YouTube View the full article

LGBTQ Veterans CeremonyTens of thousands of LGBTQ veterans whose military service ended due to discriminatory policies focused on sexual orientation and HIV status now have an easier path to receiving full VA benefits thanks to new guidelines aimed at righting those wrongs. VA Benefits For All The Department of Veteran Affairs announced the change in policy Monday to coincide with the ten-year anniversary of the repeal of the most well-known of those exclusionary policies, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The decision will give LGBTQ servicemembers who ended their military service with an other than honorable discharge due to prejudiced policies access to a wide array of VA benefits, including health care, housing aid, pensions, burial benefits and the department’s homeless aid program. “Although [Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell] was considered a ‘compromise’ from the previous Department of Defense policy dating back to World War II that empowered the military to pursue – or ‘ask’ – service members suspected of engaging in homosexual acts, DADT nevertheless led to the discharge of an estimated 14,000 service members during the almost 18 years it was in place,” said Kayla Williams, VA Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs assistant secretary for public affairs, in a statement. “Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs is working to reverse the harm done to all LGBTQ+ Veterans.” The new policy allows LGBTQ veterans discharged under previous anti-LGBTQ statutes to apply for VA benefits without undergoing the time-consuming process of applying for a discharge upgrade. According to Williams, the discharge upgrade process also carries an “onerous” reputation. “Given that large numbers of LGBTQ+ Veterans who were affected by previous homophobic and transphobic policies have not applied for a discharge upgrade due to the perception that the process could be onerous, we are hopeful that this policy statement encourages more of them to contact VA to determine their eligibility for care and services,” said Williams. Continued Progress The move is the latest in a series of actions from the Biden administration this year aimed at addressing anti-LGBTQ measures that have persisted in the U.S. military for decades. President Biden ended the exclusion of transgender individuals from the military in an executive order signed shortly after taking office. The VA previously announced that the department would offer gender-affirming care, including gender-affirming surgeries. “[This is] allowing transgender vets to go through the full gender confirmation process with VA by their side,” Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough said during a Pride event at the Orlando VA Healthcare System in June. “We’re making these changes not only because they are the right thing to do, but because they can save lives.” President Biden honored LGBTQ veterans in his administration, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Air Force Under Secretary Gina Ortiz Jones in remarks commemorating the end of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell on Monday. “Ten years ago today, a great injustice was remedied and a tremendous weight was finally lifted off the shoulders of tens of thousands of dedicated American service members,” said Biden. LGBTQ+ Veterans are not any less worthy of the care and services that all Veterans earn through their service. Kayla Williams“The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell … helped move our nation closer to its foundational promise of equality, dignity, and opportunity for all,” he added. “It showed once again that America is at its best when we lead not by the example of our power, but by the power of our example.” Williams’ statement pointed to Monday’s policy change as another step in the military’s reckoning with its homophobic and transphobic past. “Although VA recognizes that the trauma caused by the military’s decades-long policy of discrimination against LGBTQ+ people cannot be undone in a few short months, the Biden administration and Secretary McDonough are taking the steps necessary to begin addressing the pain that such policies have created,” Williams added. “LGBTQ+ Veterans are not any less worthy of the care and services that all Veterans earn through their service, and VA is committed to making sure that they have equal access to those services.” LGBTQ Veterans: Previously on Towleroad Gay Veterans Kicked Out Of Service In Witch Hunts and ‘Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell’ Eras Get Full Benefits 10-Years After Repeal Brian Bell September 21, 2021 Read More Senior Pentagon LGBTQ Noms Get Clear Voice Vote. No Objections. Out Trans, Out Lesbian Confirmed. ‘Ought to look like America.’ Defense Secy. Lisa Keen July 26, 2021 Read More Bi-partisan Effort To Move 20,000+ Sexual Assault Cases/Year Out of Command Chain Gets Surprise Support of Defense Secy. Austin Michael Goff June 24, 2021 Read More Biden Trans Policy Reversals Make Gender-Affirming Surgeries Available to Veterans; ‘VA Must Be Inclusive of All Veterans Who Have Served’ Brian Bell June 22, 2021 Read More Gay Pilot Breaks With Navy After Homophobic Harassment; ‘I don’t feel part of the military anymore’ Brian Bell April 28, 2021 Read More Pentagon Seriously Hid 2 Senior Promotions From Trump. Biden Made Them The 2nd and 3rd Female Four-Star Commanders In Intl. Women’s Day Noms Michael Goff March 9, 2021 Read More Photo courtesy of Charles Edward Miller/Creative Commons View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Showdown at NBC! After the network was able to secure political talk legend Rachel Maddow for a few more years after tense contract negotiations, her new $30 million dollar deal is reportedly rubbing her colleagues the wrong way. MEGA The 48-year-old MSNBC host’s deal is $5 million more than fired Today host Matt Lauer was earning during his heyday, leaving other NBC talent feeling the burn. WHERE IS MATT LAUER NOW? FROM BELOBED ‘TODAY’ HOST TO HAMPTONS HIDEAWAY FOLLOWING SEXUAL ASSAULT SCANDAL “There is no way a cable network can pay Rachel this amount of money. She is earning more than Savannah Guthrie and Hoda [Kotb] pick up on NBC, which is making both of The Today Show hosts very uncomfortable,” a source squealed to Radar. Maddow’s new package through 2024 comes with a great deal of power. She has always been the boss of MSNBC but now she might be taking over NBC, too. “Part of Rachel’s deal is producing more shows and appearing more on NBC. It is NBC that has the real money, clearly, for the amount of money she is making, there will be much more cross-over,” an insider spilled. MEGA Today’s co-anchor Guthrie — who joined NBC News in 2007 — is reportedly the most threatened by the new deal. SAVANNAH GUTHRIE UNDERGOES EYE SURGERY AFTER FREAK ACCIDENT “Savannah started her career as the White House correspondent and still thinks of herself as a political reporter. She has deep sources in DC and being best friends with George W Bush’s daughter, Jenna, is no coincidence,” the source continued. “Savannah isn’t going to hand over the political beat to Rachel without a fight. These two are already distant. It’s only going to get worse now that Rachel makes more money.” After a long back and forth, NBCUniversal ponied up a massive amount to ensure the liberal-leaning talk show host didn’t jump ship. She will take home $30 million per year to stick with the company through the 2024 election, the Daily Beast reported. MEGA As part of the massive deal, Maddow will end her long-running nightly show — which is the highest rated on the cable channel — next year and will transition to hosting a weekly program. She will also reportedly host a series of specials for MSNBC and NBC News. View the full article

Published by DPA Our chat vocab is about to get much richer: A troll emoji is finally on the way, as well as plenty of new facial expressions. Emojipedia/dpa An emoji is worth a thousand words – and our chat vocabulary is about to get far, far richer. Three dozen new emojis are set to appear in our smartphone chats, with a disco ball, melting face and troll among the highlights. The Unicode Consortium, responsible for emoji development, has announced 37 new emojis – mostly facial reactions, hand gestures and icons for nature, food, drink and leisure activities. An “I-can’t-watch” face and a saluting emoji are likely to be some of the most popular additions, as is one face trying to hold back tears and another melting into the ground. There’s also a hand with fingers crossed and a pair of hands forming a heart. The emoji powers-that-be meanwhile assume there will be occasions where you’ll need one of the following: a life preserver, a car wheel, a jar, a troll, a disco ball, a playground slide, an X-ray picture and an identity card. Over in the nature section, there will be a coral, a lotus flower, beans and bird’s nests. Oh, and you can also get that last one with eggs and without eggs. This year, however, only a few people will probably be able to write messages with the new emojis. By the end of the year at the earliest and then in the course of 2022, the new Unicode 14 keyboard standard will have been incorporated into all operating systems. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Julia Harte (Reuters) – A San Antonio physician who announced he gave an abortion to a woman in defiance of a new Texas law was sued in Texas state court on Monday by two plaintiffs from other states who want to test the law’s constitutionality. Alan Braid said in an opinion piece published in The Washington Post on Saturday that he had broken a new Texas law which banned abortions beyond the point where rhythmic contracting of fetal cardiac tissue could be detected. The law leaves enforcement of the ban to citizens, rewarding them at least $10,000 if they successfully sue anyone who helped provide such an abortion and paying their court costs. In the cases filed on Monday, the state would be paying the costs of testing the law. One of the plaintiffs who sued Braid, Oscar Stilley, said in a phone call with Reuters on Monday that he opposes the Texas law and wanted to be the first person to force a court to assess its legality. Texas’ new abortion restrictions violate women’s constitutional rights, Stilley said. “I think it’s a decision between her and her doctor,” he said when asked whether he supported giving women the right to choose abortion access. Stilley, a disbarred lawyer, is on home confinement serving the 12th year of a 15-year sentence for tax evasion and conspiracy. The other plaintiff, Felipe Gomez, a suspended lawyer from Illinois, alleged in his complaint that “the Act is illegal as written and as applied here.” Gomez did not immediately return a call for comment. Monday’s lawsuits are to date the most direct test of the legality of the Texas abortion ban, which is one of the most restrictive such laws in the United States. Abortion rights groups and the U.S. Justice Department have also sued Texas over the law in federal court, saying it violates a woman’s constitutional right to abortion before the fetus is viable. Braid’s office in San Antonio referred requests for comment to the Center for Reproductive Rights, which has pledged to represent Braid in any lawsuit. Asked for comment, the Center forwarded a statement from its senior counsel, Marc Hearron, who acknowledged that the law enables anyone to sue people who aid or abet abortions beyond the prescribed limit. “We are starting to see that happen, including by out-of-state claimants,” the statement read. Texas Right to Life, a state anti-abortion group, did not return a call for comment. (Reporting by Julia Harte and David Thomas; Editing by Stephen Coates) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Daina Beth Solomon CIUDAD ACUNA, Mexico (Reuters) -The White House on Monday criticized the use of horse reins to threaten Haitian migrants after images circulated of a U.S. border guard on horseback charging at migrants near a riverside camp in Texas. The mostly Haitian migrants in recent days have been crossing back and forth between Ciudad Acuna in Mexico and the sprawling camp across the border in Del Rio to buy food and water, which was in short supply on the U.S. side. Reuters witnesses saw https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trapped-migrants-collecting-food-try-evade-law-enforcement-us-mexico-border-2021-09-20 mounted officers wearing cowboy hats blocking the paths of migrants, and one officer unfurling a cord resembling a lariat, which he swung near a migrant’s face. A video showing a border guard apparently threatening migrants with the cords was shared on social media. “I don’t think anyone seeing that footage would think it was acceptable or appropriate,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters. “I don’t have the full context. I can’t imagine what context would make that appropriate,” she added. Some on social media commented that the image of fleeing Black men chased by white officers on horseback had echoes of the historical injustices suffered by Black people in the United States. U.S. Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz said the incident was being investigated to make sure there was not an “unacceptable” response by law enforcement. He said officers were operating in a difficult environment, trying to ensure the safety of the migrants while searching for potential smugglers. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the long reins are used by mounted officials to “ensure control of the horse.” “But we are going to investigate the facts,” he said during a news conference in Del Rio. The camp under a bridge spanning the Rio Grande has become the latest flashpoint for U.S. authorities seeking to stem a flow of migrants fleeing gang violence, extreme poverty and natural disasters in their home countries. The camp was a temporary home to more than 12,000 migrants, though Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the number reached as high as 16,000 on Saturday. Many had traveled from as far south as Chile, hoping to apply for asylum in the United States. On Monday, as temperatures soared to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 Celsius), migrants complained about continued shortages of food and water in the camp. Some of those crossing back into the U.S. could be seen balancing large bags of ice on their heads as they waded through the water. During the day hundreds of migrants had returned to the Mexico side, including families with young children, hoisting backpacks, suitcases and belongings in plastic bags above their heads. “This treatment they are giving is racism, because of the color of our skin,” said Maxon Prudhomme, a Haitian migrant on the banks of the Rio Grande in Mexico. As the sun was setting, about 200 migrants on the Mexican side bivouacked in a field by the river, flattening cardboard boxes and unfurling blankets to sleep under a cluster of trees. Some migrants said they returned to Mexico in search of food and water, while others crossed due to fears they would be deported back to Haiti on flights organized by U.S. authorities. The first flights carrying migrants landed in Port-au-Prince on Sunday from the Del Rio camp arrived in Haiti on Sunday, with at least three more due to make the journey on Monday, according to flight tracking website Flightaware. On Monday, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a phone call spoke to Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry about repatriating Haitian migrants on the U.S. southern border, the State Department said in a statement. The two men “discussed the dangers of irregular migration, which puts individuals at great risk and often requires migrants and their families to incur crippling debt,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price. Blinken said on Twitter that he also spoke to Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard “about our efforts to promote safe, orderly, and humane migration”. Washington has in recent years pressured Mexico into blocking the flow of migrants towards the U.S. border. “THEY CAN’T SEND US BACK” U.S. officials closed the Del Rio border crossing last Friday due to the crush of migrants, and said Monday it remained shuttered, with most traffic re-routed to the Eagle Pass, Texas, border crossing, some 55 miles (90 km) south. The prospect of deportations weighed heavily on the camp’s residents, some of whom traversed continents over months to reach the border. “They can’t send us back to Haiti because everyone knows what Haiti is like right now,” said Haitian migrant Wildly Jeanmary late on Sunday, wearing only boxer shorts and standing on the Mexican side of the river after crossing it. Drenched, he cited July’s presidential assassination as a reason not to return with his wife and their 2-year-old daughter to the poorest country in the Americas. Haiti was also hit by a major earthquake last month. “The government of the United States has no conscience,” said Nerlin Clerge, another Haitian migrant who stood near the riverbank and had traveled to the camp with his wife and their two young sons. He said he is now considering applying for the right to stay in Mexico. Mayorkas said he expects between one to three daily repatriation flights back to Haiti, adding that a surge of 600 border agents and other personnel have been deployed to the area. “If you come to the United States illegally, you will be returned. Your journey will not succeed,” he said at a news conference. While President Joe Biden rolled back many of his predecessor Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policies earlier this year, he left in place a sweeping pandemic-era expulsion policy under which most migrants caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border are quickly turned back. (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon in Ciudad Acuna; Additional reporting by Alexandra Ulmer in Dallas, Lizbeth Diaz in Mexico City, Kristina Cooke in San Francisco and Steve Holland and Jeff Mason in Washington; Writing by David Alire Garcia and Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel, Rosalba O’Brien, Leslie Adler and Richard Pullin) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Kanishka Singh (Reuters) – George Holliday, the plumber who shot video of Los Angeles police officers beating Black motorist Rodney King in 1991, has died at a hospital in California due to complications from COVID-19, a friend said. The video that Holliday captured symbolized police brutality and racial injustice and was an early example of the power of citizen journalism, where a bystander documented a momentous event that might otherwise have been overlooked. Holliday, who was believed to be in his early 60s, was hospitalized with the coronavirus for about a month and died on Sunday, his friend, Robert Wollenweber, said on Monday. The death was first reported by TMZ. Long before the advent of the Black Lives Matter movement, the name Rodney King was synonymous with the use of excessive force in policing minority groups. King, then 25, was battered by a squad of police officers after a traffic stop in March 1991, an incident caught in graphic detail on Holliday’s video. The video of King’s beating, shot in grainy black and white, was played on hundreds of television stations. The acquittal of the four LA police officers by a jury led to riots in Los Angeles over six days in 1992, in which more than 50 people were killed and some $1 billion in damage was caused. The four police officers were indicted later that year on federal civil rights charges, with two found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison. King, who died in 2012 at the age of 47, was awarded $3.8 million in damages. Memories of the King video resurfaced following the 2020 death of George Floyd, an African-American who died after a police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes, a killing that a bystander captured on video, sparking months of protests against police brutality and racism across the world. On March 3, 1991, Holliday stood on his balcony and used his Sony Video8 Handycam to record the police officers beating King. Holliday called the police to find out what had happened. When they declined to share information with him, he rang the KTLA news station. King – who was on parole for robbery – had led police on a high-speed chase through Los Angeles. Later, he was charged with driving under the influence, according to NPR. When police stopped him, King was ordered out of the car. Los Angeles Police Department officers kicked him repeatedly and beat him with batons. The video also showed that several policemen stood by watching and commenting on the beating. King’s injuries resulted in skull fractures, broken bones and teeth, and permanent brain damage, NPR reported. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Robert Birsel) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Billy Porter’s diamond Emmys necklace cost a whopping $1 million. The ‘Pose’ star – who lost out to ‘The Crown’s Josh O’Connor for the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series prize at the weekend – walked the red carpet in an all-black outfit featuring long sleeves, gloves, trousers and dramatic ruffled wings on his arms, topped off with dazzling Lorraine Schwartz diamonds. And the jeweller has since revealed to Page Six Style that the lavish piece – which boasts 49.93 carats of white diamonds and 34.78 carats of emeralds, set in 18-karat white gold – has an epic price tag. The ‘Cinderella’ star also rocked six rings by H.Crowne, one of which dropped off his finger on the red carpet, but was quickly rescued by the actor, plus two diamond bracelets and sparkling ear cuffs. Billy revealed he originally planned for the outfit to look very different. He said: “Interestingly enough, this was supposed to go all the way to the floor, this little piece, and it didn’t. I started just playing with shapes and stuff in the mirror and it was like, ‘Well, they feels like wings.'” But Billy felt the outfit was appropriate for his role in movie musical ‘Cinderella’. He quipped: “You know I am the fairy godmother!” The 51-year-old star – who has gone viral with his bold ensembles at the Oscars, Met Gala, and Tonys – previously admitted he wants to send a “clear” message with his red carpet wear. He said: “You know, I am now working with Ty Hunter who is my new stylist, and we really, through quarantine, have been able to just get a handle on and get in the driver’s seat of the train that took off. “It just took off so quick that like, you know, I just wanted to make sure that what I’m saying as I walk onto these red carpets, into the events – as a walking piece of political art, that’s what I’m trying to be every time – that we’re clear.” View the full article

Published by Reuters (Correct typo in first paragraph) By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reprimanded the world on Tuesday for the inequitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, describing it as an “obscenity” and giving the globe an “F in Ethics.” Addressing the annual U.N. gathering of world leaders in New York, Guterres said images from some parts of the world of expired and unused vaccines in the garbage told “the tale of our times” – with the majority of the wealthier world immunised while more than 90% of Africa has not even received one dose. “This is a moral indictment of the state of our world. It is an obscenity. We passed the science test. But we are getting an F in Ethics,” Guterres told the U.N. General Assembly. World leaders https://www.reuters.com/world/china/world-leaders-return-un-with-focus-pandemic-climate-2021-09-19 returned to New York this year after a virtual event last year during the pandemic. As the coronavirus is still raging, about a third of the 193 U.N. states are again sending videos, but presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers for the remainder have traveled to the United States. Out of 5.7 billion doses of coronavirus vaccines administered around the world, only 2% have been in Africa. Guterres is pushing for a global plan to vaccinate 70% of the world by the first half of next year. The secretary-general, who begins a second five-year term at the helm of the world body on Jan. 1, also warned of rising tensions between the world’s superpowers – China and the United States. “I fear our world is creeping towards two different sets of economic, trade, financial and technology rules, two divergent approaches in the development of artificial intelligence – and ultimately two different military and geo-political strategies,” he said. “This is a recipe for trouble. It would be far less predictable than the Cold War,” Guterres said. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols, Editing by Timothy Heritage) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Richard Buckley, fashion journalist and husband of famed designer Tom Ford, has died at 72 — and the fashion world came together to mourn his loss. According to a statement from Ford’s reps, the well-respected fashion editor “died of natural causes after a long illness” on Sunday night, September, 19. “It is with great sadness that Tom Ford announces the death of his beloved husband of 35 years, Richard Buckley,” the statement read. “Richard passed away peacefully at their home in Los Angeles with Tom and their son Jack by his side,” the statement concluded. MEGA While the statement didn’t specify Buckley’s illness, he was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1989 and underwent surgery after being told his cancer was fatal, the Daily Mailreported. It’s unclear if his cancer diagnosis contributed to his death. A LOOK BACK AT ROBIN WILLIAMS’ SUCCESS, STARDOM & ULTIMATE DEMISE ON WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE LATE COMEDIAN’S 70TH BIRTHDAY Ford, 60, met his late husband in 1986 at a fashion show. “Our eyes locked and within a month we were living together,” the designer recalled in 2016 to PEOPLE of the moment they first met over three decades ago. “We have been together ever since.” MEGA The fashion couple wed in 2014 shortly after same-sex marriage was legalized in the U.S. and welcomed 8-year-old son Alexander John “Jack” Buckley Ford, via a surrogate in 2012. Buckley is a respected figure in the fashion world in his own right, as he began his career as a journalist in 1979 for the New York Magazine. He went on to work for publications such as Women’s Wear Daily and Vanity Fair. The father-of-one became the European editor of Mirabella magazine, contributing editor at Italian Vogue and was then namededitor-in-chief of Vogue Hommes International in 1999. After hearing of Buckley’s passing, those in the fashion and entertainment industry took to social media to express their condolences. Fashion designer Stella McCartney paid tribute to Ford’s husband on Instagram, sharing that Buckley’s passing was “stunning” and brought on the “deepest sadness.” “What a gentle man; grace and charm filled the room when he was in it,” she wrote of the journalist. “His intellect and passion for knowledge always blew me away, and the sparkle in his eyes dove so deep into your heart each time you were blessed enough to feel it.” MEGA McCartney also touched on Buckley’s health issues, writing: “We love you Richard and we will miss you so very much. Your fight has ended but you will always live on in our hearts.” ‘THE WIRE’ STAR MICHAEL K. WILLIAMS DEAD AT 54 WENDELL PIERCE, BEN STILLER, MORE REACT Actress Naomi Watts, artist Cindy Sherman, model Poppy Delevigne, supermodel Helena Christensen, and more shared their own touching messages in McCartney’s comment section. “Such a loss. Sending love,” Watts wrote while Sherman added: “Aww very sad news indeed, I didn’t know him well but the few times we met, he was just as you describe, kind, gentle and compassionate. My heart goes out to Tom and the family.” Delevigne commented three heart emojis, one of which was a broken heart, and Christensen wrote: “He was such a beautiful spirit.” View the full article