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Published by BANG Showbiz English Facebook is planning on limiting the amount of political content in people’s News Feeds. The social media giant has been testing changes to its algorithm in the US, Canada, Indonesia, and Brazil over the last few months, and has now announced it is ready to expand the update to more countries. According to the site, the change will put “less emphasis” on political content when it comes to pushing news stories to people’s feeds in a bid to slow the rate of misinformation on the platform. Facebook said: “We’re gradually expanding some tests to put less emphasis on signals such as how likely someone is to comment on or share political content. “At the same time, we’re putting more emphasis on new signals such as how likely people are to provide us with negative feedback on posts about political topics and current events when we rank those types of posts in their News Feed.” However, the social media site is receiving backlash for reducing political content, even though they also received criticism for the previous system too. Charlie Angus, a member of the Canadian House of Commons, believes the change will “throttle political conversation” on the platform, while some journalists are concerned about what the update will mean for their content. Journalism scholar Valérie Bélair-Gagnon tweeted: “Yet another example of how platforms regulate/affect journalism with Facebook moves to lower News Feed’s political volume (and could reduce traffic to some news publishers, companies that post lots of political content). (sic)” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Colton Underwood was spotted kissing a man on the beach while on a vacation in Hawaii only months after coming out as gay. The mystery man Colton was kissing has been identified as Jordan C. Brown. His new flame is not a stranger to public figures. Based on his Instagram account, Jordan is a familiar face among celebrities having pictured with Olivia Munn, Sophia Bush, Olivia Wilde, and many others. The Bachelor star’s new man also has an established and impressive career in politics having worked on presidential campaigns for Barack Obama both in 2018 and 2012, John Kerry in 2004 as well as H… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP Toys and teething products will have to be displayed in a gender neutral way — as well as in traditional fashion — in large California department stores, under a bill passing through the state's legislature Los Angeles (AFP) – Gender neutral toy aisles could become compulsory in California department stores, under rules being considered in the state’s legislature. The bill will not ban separate areas aimed at girls and boys, but will mandate there must also be a place where dolls and toy soldiers sit side-by-side without being recommended for a particular gender. The regulations would also apply to pacifiers and feeding equipment, according to California assembly member Evan Low, who drafted the bill. “We need to stop stigmatizing kids and putting them in a box by dictating what they should like based on outdated gender stereotypes,” Low told AFP. Low said he was inspired to frame the legislation by the daughter of a woman who worked in his office. “Britten asked her mom while shopping why certain things in a store were ‘off limits’ to her because she was a girl, but would be fine if she was a boy.” Supporters of the bill, which would only apply to department stores that employ more than 500 people throughout the state, say it would also help to address an unjustified price differential. They note that products marketed to girls are often more expensive than those aimed at boys, even if the items themselves are identical. Opponents say the government has no business telling stores how they should display their goods, and overwhelmed parents find it easier to choose if items are clearly labelled. The bill is expected to pass its final reading in the state’s lower house, before landing on the desk of Governor Gavin Newsom. If enacted, the law will impose fines of $250 to $500 on stores that do not comply, starting in January 2024. Sensitivity to gender issues has grown in recent years across the west, and particularly in the United States, where gender neutral toilets are a common sight in liberal states like California. But it has provoked a backlash from conservatives, who insist gender is rooted in biology, and accuse governments and some companies of pandering to a fad. Many businesses, however, have pressed ahead with changes to long-standing line-ups. This year, toy-maker Hasbro announced the Mr Potato Head brand would be getting a makeover “to promote gender equality and inclusion,” and would be known simply as “Potato Head.” Department store Target, with almost two thousand branches across the country, announced in 2015 that it would establish gender-neutral areas in some dedicated spaces for children and the home. View the full article

[This post contains video, click to play] ‘Soundtrack to the sunrise after that long night” From the press release: “Chromatica was released at the beginning of a global pandemic, a shred of light for many in a dark time. Dawn of Chromatica is the soundtrack to the sunrise after that long night, featuring the works of some of the most forward-thinking artists all over the world,” says BloodPopPicture1.png.”Dawn of Chromatica is truly a collaboration between Lady Gaga, the featured artists, and the community, for the community.” “I invite you to dance to this album in celebration of young artists all over the world. Artists who see the world, feel the world, and put that feeling into something bigger than all of us: music,” says Lady Gaga. Dawn of Chromatica is available for preorder in CD and Vinyl formats, alongside an array of new merchandise at dawnofchromatica.comhttp://dawnofchromatica.com. The physical and digital packaging were created by Sam Rolfes, Andy Rolfes, and S.A Mayer, with merch design by Kristyna Kulikova of Team Rolfes. Today, Lady Gaga released her highly anticipated Chromatica remix album, Dawn of Chromatica, via Interscope Records. A reinvention of Gaga’s sixth consecutive #1 studio album Chromatica, Dawn of Chromatica was executive produced by BloodPopPicture1.pngand features new collaborations and remixes of the original album tracklist from A. G. Cook, Arca, Ashnikko, Bree Runway, Charli XCX, Chester Lockhart, Clarence Clarity, COUCOU CHLOE, Dorian Electra, Doss, Jimmy Edgar, Lil Texas, LSDXOXO, Mood Killer, Mura Masa, Pabllo Vittar, Planningtorock, Rina Sawayama and Shygirl. Many of the collaborative artists were sourced by publicly asking fans who they would like to see on this project. Lady Gaga Chromatica Remix on Towleroad Waiting For The Lady Gaga Chromatica Remix Album? No More: LISTEN to Dawn of Chromatica September 3, 2021 Read More Elton John feels ‘lucky’ to have escaped 80s AIDs crisis September 2, 2021 Read More Black AIDS Groups Meet With DaBaby, Praise Rapper for Participation, While Founder Makes Unrelated Calls for Black AIDS Board to Resign September 2, 2021 Read More Miami Master Class: Deco and Design; Eat Out, Get Outside; Little Havana to Art Basel; Everglades to South Beach; Big Events, With Kids, or Adults Only. LGBTQ+ Edition September 1, 2021 Read More First of R. Kelly Male Victims Testifies; Was 17 When Singer Asked What He ‘Was Willing to do for Music’; Filmed Acts; Told To Call Him ‘Daddy’ September 1, 2021 Read More First Transgender History Month Established in San Francisco; Compton’s Cafeteria Riots Memorialized September 1, 2021 Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John feels “lucky” to have escaped the AIDs crisis in the 1980s. The ‘I’m Still Standing’ hitmaker explained how the Channel 4 show ‘It’s A Sin’ made him realise how lucky he was and he plans to get the cast of the drama over to his house when he’s back in the UK. Speaking on The Official Big Top 40, he shared: “When I come back to England which is going to be soon, I’m going to have a dinner for all the cast of It’s A Sin at our house because I love that programme. It didn’t change my life but it made me realise how lucky I was to escape all that and to be reminded of what happened. Russell T Davies and the cast are going to come to dinner. We’re going to have a laugh.” Last year, Elton launched a $1 million fund to help those with HIV amidst the coronavirus pandemic. The ‘Rocket Man’ singer shared: “Today, I’m proud to announce that my Foundation @EJAF is launching a $1million COVID-19 Emergency Fund to make sure that our frontline partners can respond to the effects of COVID-19 on HIV care for the most marginalised communities around the world. “Now and always, I’m committed to not leave anyone affected by HIV behind. Visit http://ejaf.org/covid19 for more info. Sending love to all of our Foundation’s partners, grantees, supporters, frontline workers and members of our community during this time. Elton x (sic)” A post on the Elton John Aids Foundation website revealed that they are asking for applications that will help give “solutions that have strong potential to address specific challenges that have arisen for people already living with or at severe risk of HIV/AIDS and who are now at heightened risk”. Sharing their plans to support the community, they added: “Such solutions should aim to demonstrably mitigate the threat of COVID-19 on maintaining current levels of access or increasing access to HIV-related prevention, testing, care and treatment adherence services.” Elton AIDS previously on Towleroad Elton John feels ‘lucky’ to have escaped 80s AIDs crisis September 2, 2021 Read More Black AIDS Groups Meet With DaBaby, Praise Rapper for Participation, While Founder Makes Unrelated Calls for Black AIDS Board to Resign September 2, 2021 Read More Miami Master Class: Deco and Design; Eat Out, Get Outside; Little Havana to Art Basel; Everglades to South Beach; Big Events, With Kids, or Adults Only. LGBTQ+ Edition September 1, 2021 Read More First of R. Kelly Male Victims Testifies; Was 17 When Singer Asked What He ‘Was Willing to do for Music’; Filmed Acts; Told To Call Him ‘Daddy’ September 1, 2021 Read More First Transgender History Month Established in San Francisco; Compton’s Cafeteria Riots Memorialized September 1, 2021 Read More Restrictive Texas Abortion Law Takes Effect, Bans After 6 Weeks; Provides Bounties For Those Not Abiding. Blame the Supreme Court September 1, 2021 Read More View the full article

DaBabyThe open call for rapper DaBaby to meet with Black HIV/AIDS activists and researchers was answered by the beleaguered artist last month as fallout from his homophobic and AIDS-phobic comments in July continues to unfold. Positive Impact According to GLAAD, DaBaby met with Black leaders from nine HIV/AIDS organizations, including the Black AIDS Institute and the National Minority AIDS Council, on August 25. The conversation aimed to offer the rapper educational resources on the condition, how the continued stigma of HIV/AIDS affects communities of color – especially in the American South, where DaBaby calls home – and how he can positively impact communities who live with HIV/AIDS positively. “The open letter to DaBaby was our way to extend him the same grace each of us would hope for. Our goal was to ‘call him in instead of calling him out.’ We believed that if he connected with Black leaders living with HIV that a space for community building and healing could be created,” said the meeting’s attendees in a joint statement. “our way to extend him the same grace each of us would hope for. Our goal was to ‘call him in instead of calling him out.” Joint statement of groups attending meeing“DaBaby was genuinely engaged, apologized for the inaccurate and hurtful comments he made about people living with HIV, and received our personal stories and the truth about HIV and its impact on Black and LGBTQ communities with deep respect.” According to those in attendance for the meeting, DaBaby “openly and eagerly participated” in conversations about the dangers of spreading misinformation about people living with HIV/AIDS and the realities of living with HIV/AIDS. “DaBaby’s willingness to listen, learn, and grow can open the door to an entirely new generation of people to do the same,” said Marnina Miller, community outreach coordinator for the Southern AIDS Coalition. “Ending HIV stigma requires doing the hard work of changing hearts and minds, and often that begins with something as simple as starting a dialogue. We hope DaBaby will use his platform to educate his fans and help end the epidemic.” The rapper’s first musical output since the meeting, a freestyle remix of WizKid’s “Essence,” appeared to offer more deflections. In a spoken word portion of the track, DaBaby seems to allude to the public response to his comments, saying “people try to, you know, assassinate your character.” GLAAD and the Gilead COMPASS Initiative’s 2021 State of HIV Stigma Study revealed that only 42% of U.S. citizens know that HIV cannot be transmitted while undergoing proper treatment. The percentage of American adults who say they “feel knowledgeable about HIV” dropped by three points as compared to last year. “For the second year in a row, we are finding that HIV stigma remains high while HIV knowledge remains low amongst Americans,” said GLAAD’s DaShawn Usher. “We have to think critically and intentionally about how we truly equip and engage everyday Americans with the facts, resources, and scientific advancements about HIV if we want to end the epidemic.” The Black AIDS Institute’s Rev. Rob Newells-Newton seconded Usher’s call with specific focus on Black Americans. “Our goal is to make sure that Black people are armed with accurate information so that they can make the best choices for themselves about their sexual health,” Newells-Newton said in a statement. “We call on Black people and our allies to: dismantle anti-Black racism; invest in transforming the socioeconomic conditions of Black people; ensure universal access to culturally-affirming healthcare; and build the capacity and motivation of Black communities to be the change agents for ending HIV.” Black AIDS Institute Petition While the general feeling was positive coming out of the meeting, the leaders’ sit-down with DaBaby came as a group of Black HIV/AIDS activists called for the board of the Black AIDS Institute to step down. The group, which includes Black AIDS Institute founder Phill Wilson, launched a petition claiming that current board members “are disconnected from the HIV community” , are “undermining BAI’s evolution,” and calls for increased diversity in the organization’s leadership The petition was in response to the sudden dismissal of BAI CEO Raniyah Copeland on August 20. Current BAI board chair Grazell Howard gave no reason for her dismissal when he announced the news last month. “BAI can only be saved by the HIV community,” the petition reads. “This generation of leaders and people living with HIV today have to be the change they demand instead of waiting for somebody else to make it happen.” Black AIDS: Previously on Towleroad Black AIDS Groups Meet With DaBaby, Praise Rapper for Participation, While Founder Makes Unrelated Calls for Black AIDS Board to Resign Brian Bell September 2, 2021 Read More FOLLOWING UP: DaBaby Apology Gone From Instagram; First Trans Model for Vogue; Sr. Executives Leave Activision Blizzard: Brian Bell August 10, 2021 Read More AIDS Groups Release Open Letter to DaBaby; Denver Cancels Festival He Was to Headline; IHeartRadio, Austin City Limits Also Drop; WednesDababy Update Brian Bell August 4, 2021 Read More Grounded by Festivals, DaBaby Apologizes; Blames Victims For Not Just Taking His Abuse While He Explained How Much Harder It is Being DaBaby Brian Bell August 2, 2021 Read More DaBaby Homophobia Week Spirals : Madonna, Questlove, Lovato Call Out Rapper. U.K. Festival Removes Him From Lineup Brian Bell July 30, 2021 Read More Elton, Dua, Usher, GLAAD Try to Set Da Baby Straight; Rapper Claims Hateful Comments are Living his ‘Truth’ Just as Queers Come Out to Live Theirs. Brian Bell July 29, 2021 Read More View the full article

Ditch Slack (and sleeves) for an idyllic gay getaway to Miami. Photo courtesy the GMCVB.Whether you’re deciding where to take your first, long-overdue vacation or just deciding your next destination, make sure you’ve got Miami in your travel plans. The always popular locale is brimming with culture, buzzing with nightlife and boasting a variety of activities for all types of tastes, all served up in a one-of-a-kind, stunning, sunny paradise. Of course you’re already familiar with the famous, all-night bar and club scene, the world-class cuisine from some of the most famous chefs on Earth and the vibrant LGBTQ+ plus community that defines Miami, but that’s just the beginning. Obviously, South Beach is a must-see for gay travelers, if not for the gorgeous Art Deco architecture, then for the Speedo-clad buff bodies on the beach. But once you’re done dancing the night away or kicking off your heels at a drag show, Miami still has plenty to explore. Miami’s artsy Wynwood neighborhood draws a hip, eclectic crowd. Photo courtesy the GMCVB.The Wynwood neighborhood, for example, is an art-lover’s dream, full of hip bars, eclectic galleries and the famous Wynwood Walls, more than 35 murals from world-famous artists. And no visit is complete without a taste of Cuban culture in Little Havana (and mouth-watering ice cream from Azucar). Discover more about Miami’s unique neighborhoods here. If you’re looking to escape the din of city life, wild adventure awaits in the region. In less than 60 minutes, you can be transported from one of the world’s most sophisticated cities to one of the most untamed parts of America, the Everglades. The 1.5 million acre ecosystem is home to tons of wildlife, including many birds and the area’s famed gators. They’re best viewed aboard an airboat, a quintessential Everglades experience. (Fear not, my fellow city mice, there are also glamping options available.) Whether on the town or on the water, Miami has the escape you’re looking for. Photo courtesy the GMCVB.That’s far from the only way to soak in the area’s natural radiance. For an outdoor adventure that’s more sand and surf than birds and binoculars, Miami can’t be beat. There’s a bevvy of beaches, notably the widely-known gay beach on 12th Street and the clothing-optional Haulover Beach. Enjoy the eye-candy or get an adrenaline rush from hitting the water on a jet ski, parasailing or windsurfing. Find more ways to enjoy the outdoors in Miami here. As thrilling (and sexy) as Miami can be, it’s also great for LGBTQ+ parents looking for a crowd-pleasing pick for the whole family. Science fans of all ages will find something to geek out about at Philip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, which features a science museum, planetarium and aquarium. The Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) offers children’s programming, or there’s always the Miami Children’s Museum inspiring visitors of all ages. Bring the kids on your Miami holiday for a new twist on the family vacation. Photo courtesy the GMCVB.Let the kids loose at Grapeland, a wet and wild water park that’s aesthetically pleasing for parents, thanks to the design by pop artist Romero Britto. Or, cool off at the Venetian Pool, a massive freshwater pool built inside a coral rock quarry. See more Miami activities for LGBTQ+ travelers with children here. With so many options, it’s possible to make each trip to Miami a unique itinerary. Plus, the calendar is full of special events that transform the area. Of course, there’s Miami Beach Pride this fall, featuring Paulina Rubio. Or, for a funkier take on Pride, watch out for Wigwood, an alternative Pride event based in the Wynwood neighborhood, typically held annually in February. (2022 dates have not yet been announced.) The iconic Art Basel art festival returns this December, drawing artists, influencers and tastemakers from all over the globe. Food takes center stage at the annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival, one of the largest culinary festivals in the world, attracting the best chefs and mixologists, and somehow making the food scene in Miami even better. Explore 15 of Miami’s hottest events here. Figuring out how to enjoy all that haute cuisine while rocking that hot body on the beach is up to you. Miami Master Class previously on Towleroad Miami Master Class: Deco and Design; Eat Out, Get Outside; Little Havana to Art Basel; Everglades to South Beach; Big Events, With Kids, or Adults Only. LGBTQ+ Edition September 1, 2021 Read More 4 Unique Miami Neighborhoods That Have What You Want… and Something to Surprise Every Time You Go Back June 23, 2021 Read More 10 Ways to Get Wet and Wild in Miami’s Wonderous Great Outdoors June 9, 2021 Read More What’s Your Pleasure? Art Circuit? LatinX Foodie? Hot Pride Dance Dad? Pick 2 of 15 Hot Events In Miami Open This Year… to Start June 2, 2021 Read More Miami to Rename Street ‘Moonlight Way’ in Honor of the Oscar-Winning Film April 20, 2017 Read More Where to Sleep: Miami’s Top 12 New Hotels January 22, 2016 Read More Happening Now: Art Basel Invades Miami December 4, 2015 Read More The Perfect Miami Weekend: Go Out, Have Fun August 5, 2015 Read More What’s Gay and Great in Miami: A Travel Guide for Right Now May 30, 2015 Read More View the full article

Published by AFP R. Kelly, shown here in May 2019, is on trial for federal sex crimes and racketeering New York (AFP) – R. Kelly asked a teenage boy what he “was willing to do for music” before sexually abusing him, according to testimony from the first male to speak out against the singer accused of sex crimes. In bombshell testimony Monday, the now 32-year-old man said that he became associated with Kelly’s entourage and pleaded guilty in 2021 to attempting to bribe a woman who would potentially testify against the musician. But more than a decade prior, Louis — using a pseudonym — said he first encountered Kelly in 2006, when he was a 17-year-old working the night shift at a suburban Chicago McDonald’s. He told the Brooklyn federal courtroom Kelly slipped him his phone number. After he and his parents attended a party at Kelly’s home, the singer told him “maybe it would be best some time if I came to the party by myself,” and said he could perform at his studio and maybe get some industry tips. Invited under the guise of working on his music, Louis said at one point he met Kelly at his home and they proceeded to the detached garage, which had a boxing ring and a gym. “He asked me what I was willing to do for music,” the witness said, describing the singer asking if he had “fantasies” before performing oral sex on him. Louis said Kelly told him to “keep it between me and him” saying “we family now, we brothers.” He said Kelly requested Louis call him “daddy” — as multiple women have said the singer demanded they do — and would routinely film their sexual encounters. Louis was testifying Monday as part of a cooperation agreement he entered into in February 2021, under which he hopes to avoid jail time of up to 15 years. He had offered money to a potential witness against Kelly, who was arrested in 2019, hoping the person would “not cooperate” with federal prosecutors. Louis said he was concerned that the unnamed witness possessed sex tapes of him and Kelly. It was unclear where Louis procured the sum of at least $200,000 he hoped to pay the witness off with, but he told the court that Kelly had no knowledge of his bribery attempt. ‘Uncomfortable’ Prosecutors have been presenting searing testimony from accusers to paint a picture of more than two decades of physical, sexual and emotional abuse by Kelly. The 54-year-old denies all charges and faces between 10 years and life in prison if convicted on all counts. Kelly has remained stoic throughout the proceedings but on Monday appeared agitated, rubbing his forehead, clasping his hands at his chin and fidgeting with his mask. Louis recalled an episode of nonconsensual sex involving him and another person, saying Kelly “snapped his fingers” before “a young lady came out from under the (boxing) ring.” “She crawled over to him” before performing oral sex on both Kelly and Louis, the court heard. “It was uncomfortable,” Louis said, describing another instance when he passed out from drinking at a party and woke up alone with the defendant, unsure whether they’d had a sexual encounter. Louis is not identified in the indictment against Kelly, which charges him with racketeering, sexual exploitation of a child, kidnapping, bribery and forced labor between 1994 and 2018. The racketeering count allows prosecutors to present evidence of potential crimes outside the scope of the charges, even if it’s beyond the statute of limitations. Also on Monday a woman identified as Addie, who is not among the alleged victims in the charges, said Kelly raped her in front of her friend backstage at a 1994 concert when she was 17. “I was in complete shock,” she said. “I just went blank.” She said she feared going to the police: “I didn’t even know if they would believe me,” she said, adding that “I didn’t want to be victim-shamed” or “blacklisted” in the industry. The trial, now in its third week, is expected to last at least a month. R. Kelly Male Victims previously on Towleroad First of R. Kelly Male Victims Testifies; Was 17 When Singer Asked What He ‘Was Willing to do for Music’; Filmed Acts; Told To Call Him ‘Daddy’ September 1, 2021 Read More First Transgender History Month Established in San Francisco; Compton’s Cafeteria Riots Memorialized September 1, 2021 Read More Restrictive Texas Abortion Law Takes Effect, Bans After 6 Weeks; Provides Bounties For Those Not Abiding. Blame the Supreme Court September 1, 2021 Read More California Teacher Investigated Over Joking Students Could ‘Pledge Allegiance’ to LGBTQ Pride Flag August 31, 2021 Read More Afghan Gay Men Are Terrified. Taliban Continue to Hunt, Betray, Out, Rape, Beat, Murder, Cause Suicides…And That’s Just the Last 2 Weeks August 31, 2021 Read More Carole Baskin sells Tiger King Zoo She Won in Court from Joe Exotic; New Owners Agreed To Not Use As Zoo 100 Years August 30, 2021 Read More View the full article

San Francisco Mayor London BreedThe latest civic recognition of transgender history and communities and decades of activism and civil rights battles for said communities last week when the city of San Francisco became the first U.S. city to recognize August as Transgender History Month. San Francisco Mayor London Breed signed the declaration during a ceremony last Tuesday. “I am honored to join the transgender community today to declare August as Transgender History Month in San Francisco,” Breed said. “Our transgender community has a rich cultural history in this city and is so important to our diverse identity. San Francisco has been and always will be a place where everyone can seek refuge, sanctuary and safety.” Transgender History Month joins Transgender Awareness Week and the Transgender Day of Rememberance as annual celebrations commemorating the history and legacy of trans communities, experiences and activism. The proposal to decree August as Transgender History Month originated with Jupiter Peraza, social justice and empowerment initiatives director for the city’s Transgender District. Peraza told the San Francisco Examiner that the inspiration for her proposal is rooted in moving past singular narratives of trans existence that focus on “a sense of greif and loss.” “(Transgender Awareness Week) is a very special week, but it’s a week that’s sort of eclipsed by a sense of grief and loss which I think does not do justice the joy and celebration and happiness we should be instilling,” said Peraza. “It’s important to let trans people know that their future is bright, they have potential, they come from lineage of revolutionaries, change-makers, trailblazers. When you remind people of that, it breaks barriers.” Legacy of Compton’s Cafeteria Riots Breed’s decision to recognize Transgender History Month coincides with the 55th anniversary of the 1966 Compton’s Cafeteria Riots. Commonly viewed as one of the first acts of trans rights protest, the Compton’s Cafeteria Riots remains one of the most high profile pre-Stonewall demonstrations of LGBTQ, and specifically trans, activism. Located in the city’s Tenderloin district, years-long harassment of trans denizens at the eatery by staff and the San Francisco Police came to head in August 1966 when a trans customer threw coffee in an SFPD officer’s face during an attempted arrest. A riot ensued, with dozens of trans citizens of the city pushing back against the police presence at the cafeteria. Compton’s was picketed the following night, galvanizing trans resistance to erasure and harassment based on their identity. The area that housed Compton’s was officially renamed the Compton’s Transgender Cultural District by the San Francisco City Council in June 2017 as a means of highlighting the location’s role in trans history and activism. Tuesday’s declaration officially recognized the Compton’s Cafeteria Riots as the first trans rights demonstration in U.S. history and Tamara Ching, a participant in the Compton’s Cafeteria Riots, was awarded a Certificate of Honor. “As we have proven, we are capable of transcending what is imposed on us, to attain lives in which we are authentically and exquisitely us,” Peraza said during Tuesday’s ceremony. “We are our own most prized possessions.” Trans Leaders Weigh In Other prominent local trans leaders praised the mayor’s move as well. “Transgender History Month is so iconic! I don’t think the broader public realizes how many significant contributions to history, culture, social justice, and of course, popular culture that transgender and gender non-conforming people have made,” said Transgender District co-founder and president Aria Sa’id. “On behalf of The Transgender District we are overjoyed to celebrate this incredible milestone.” Breed also announced multiple budgetary initiatives specifically addressing the needs of LGBTQ and trans citizens, including a guaranteed income project for residents impacted financially during the Covid-19 pandemic and equity programming combatting violence and harassment toward trans individuals. Breed also announced announced the city will set aside $12 million to purchase a site for a planned “full-scale LGBTQ museum” in the city. “San Francisco has long been a leader in fighting for trans rights and making critical investments to support our residents,” added Clair Farley, executive director of the Office of Transgender Initiatives. “This historic announcement is an important way to honor those that have paved the way for our movement and address the important work we have ahead to address the ongoing discrimination and violence facing trans and gender nonconforming communities” “We are intelligent. We are compassionate. We are creative. We are determined,” Sister Roma of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence added during the ceremony. Transgender History: Previously on Towleroad First Transgender History Month Established in San Francisco; Compton’s Cafeteria Riots Memorialized Brian Bell September 1, 2021 No Comments San Francisco Mayor London Breed The latest civic recognition of transgender history and communities and decades of activism and civil rights battles for said communities last … Read More Restrictive Texas Abortion Law Takes Effect, Bans After 6 Weeks; Provides Bounties For Those Not Abiding. Blame the Supreme Court Michael Goff September 1, 2021 No Comments c Published by AFP Texas Abortion law opponents protest in the state capitol in Texas, where a new restrictive law on ending pregnancies has taken effect Washington (AFP) … Read More California Teacher Investigated Over Joking Students Could ‘Pledge Allegiance’ to LGBTQ Pride Flag Brian Bell August 31, 2021 No Comments Kristin Pitzin A California teacher is being investigated by a local school district in response to a video showing her joking that her students could pledge … Read More Afghan Gay Men Are Terrified. Taliban Continue to Hunt, Betray, Out, Rape, Beat, Murder, Cause Suicides…And That’s Just the Last 2 Weeks Michael Goff August 31, 2021 No Comments –Very few Afghan gay men have gotten out.–This is a round up of Afghan gay interviewed by western journalists.–Those few speaking for Afghan LGBTQ say … Read More Carole Baskin sells Tiger King Zoo She Won in Court from Joe Exotic; New Owners Agreed To Not Use As Zoo 100 Years Towleroad August 30, 2021 No Comments Published by BANG Showbiz English Carole Baskin has sold Joe Exotic’s zoo. The animal rights campaigner ensured that the exotic animal park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma – which … Read More Taliban Takes Over: Afghanistan’s ‘Gen Z’ Is Used to Cellphones, Pop Music, Social Mixing of Genders, But Fears the Worst Towleroad August 30, 2021 No Comments Published by Reuters Aug. 15, as the Taliban takes over Kabul, 26-year-old Javid rushed home from the university …He deleted all emails and social media messages … Read More View the full article

c Published by AFP Texas Abortion law opponents protest in the state capitol in Texas, where a new restrictive law on ending pregnancies has taken effect Washington (AFP) – A Texas law that bans abortion after six weeks, before many women even know they are pregnant, took effect on Wednesday after the Supreme Court failed to act on an emergency request to block it. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, signed a bill in May that bans abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is usually in the sixth week of pregnancy. The legislation, known as Senate Bill 8, or SB8, makes no exception for rape or incest and would make Texas the hardest state in the country in which to get an abortion. While similar laws have been passed in a dozen Republican-led conservative states, all had so far been blocked in the courts from going into force. The American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, the Center for Reproductive Rights and other groups filed an emergency request with the Supreme Court on Monday, asking it to stop the Texas law from taking effect. The court declined to rule by midnight — although it may still eventually grant the request from rights groups and abortion providers to halt the so-called “heartbeat bill.” Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the US House of Representatives, said the failure of the Supreme Court to act has “delivered catastrophe to women in Texas.” “This radical law is an all-out effort to erase the rights and protections of Roe v Wade,” Pelosi said, in a reference to the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling that enshrined a woman’s right to an abortion. “Every woman, everywhere, has the constitutional and moral right to basic reproductive health care,” Pelosi said. The ACLU said the impact of the bill will be “immediate and devastating.” “Access to almost all abortion has just been cut off for millions of people,” the powerful civil rights association said. “This abortion ban is blatantly unconstitutional,” it said. “We won’t stop fighting until it’s blocked.” According to the ACLU, “approximately 85 to 90 percent” of women who obtain an abortion in Texas are at least six weeks into pregnancy. ‘Cruel, unconscionable, and unlawful’ The other states that have sought to enact restrictions on abortion in the early stages of pregnancy have been barred from doing so by Roe v Wade. That decision allowed abortion so long as the fetus is not viable outside the womb, which is usually the case until the 22nd to 24th weeks of pregnancy. Texas’s law is different from those of other states because it allows the public — rather than state officials such as prosecutors or health departments — to bring legal action to enforce the ban. Everyday citizens are encouraged to report doctors who perform abortions or anyone who helped facilitate the procedure. The Texas law “creates a bounty hunting scheme that encourages the general public to bring costly and harassing lawsuits against anyone who they believe has violated the ban,” the ACLU said. “Anyone who successfully sues a health center worker, an abortion provider, or any person who helps someone access an abortion after six weeks will be rewarded with at least $10,000, to be paid by the person sued,” it said. “Anti-abortion groups in Texas have already set up online forms enlisting people to sue anyone they believe is violating the law and encouraging people to submit ‘anonymous tips’ on doctors, clinics, and others who violate the law,” it said. Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said the Texas bill would force women to “travel out of state — in the middle of a pandemic — to receive constitutionally guaranteed health care.” “Many will not be able to afford to,” Northup said. “It’s cruel, unconscionable, and unlawful.” The Supreme Court is due to hear a case in the coming months involving a Mississippi law that prohibits abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy except in cases of medical emergency or a severe fetal abnormality. It will be the first abortion case considered by the nation’s high court since former president Donald Trump cemented a conservative-leaning 6-3 majority on the nine-member panel. Texas Abortion Law on Towleroad First Transgender History Month Established in San Francisco; Compton’s Cafeteria Riots Memorialized September 1, 2021 Read More Restrictive Texas Abortion Law Takes Effect, Bans After 6 Weeks; Provides Bounties For Those Not Abiding. Blame the Supreme Court September 1, 2021 Read More California Teacher Investigated Over Joking Students Could ‘Pledge Allegiance’ to LGBTQ Pride Flag August 31, 2021 Read More Afghan Gay Men Are Terrified. Taliban Continue to Hunt, Betray, Out, Rape, Beat, Murder, Cause Suicides…And That’s Just the Last 2 Weeks August 31, 2021 Read More Carole Baskin sells Tiger King Zoo She Won in Court from Joe Exotic; New Owners Agreed To Not Use As Zoo 100 Years August 30, 2021 Read More Taliban Takes Over: Afghanistan’s ‘Gen Z’ Is Used to Cellphones, Pop Music, Social Mixing of Genders, But Fears the Worst August 30, 2021 Read More View the full article

Kristin PitzinA California teacher is being investigated by a local school district in response to a video showing her joking that her students could pledge allegiance to the LGBTQ Pride flag. The issue originated from a viral TikTok video from Newport Mesa School District teacher Kristin Pitzen. In the video, Pitzen explains that the Orange County, CA school she works at has students recite the pledge of allegiance during third period and that she allows students to participate in the pledge in any way they see fit. “I always tell my class, stand if you feel like it, don’t stand if you feel like it, say the words if you want, you don’t have to say the words,” Pitzen said in the now-deleted clip. When her students chose to stand but not say the words, they expressed that it was “weird” to do so without an American flag present in the room. Pitzen removed the American flag from her classroom at an earlier date during the Covid-19 pandemic, saying it “made her uncomfortable.” When her students brought up the lack of a flag to pledge to, she searched for it but was unable to find it. Instead, Pitzen joked that her students could recite the pledge to another flag hanging in the room, moving the camera to show a Progress Pride flag displayed on the wall while laughing. The majority of responses to the original video felt in on the joke, but conservative social media users pounced on the clip, claiming it was evidence of Pitzin pushing an “ungodly social agenda” onto minors in her classroom. Pitzin deleted her TikTok account as the school district’s Facebook page became inundated with hateful comments from people calling for Pitzin to be fired. “Send her to Afghanistan,” wrote one Facebook user. One user posted her home address and phone number, a clear doxxing effort meant to encourage harassment. The doxxing continued as another user posted a picture of what they claimed was Pitzin’s home. Investigation Launched The Newport Mesa School District announced Saturday that it launched an investigation into the matter. “On Friday evening, one of our teachers created a personal social media post that caused alarm and concern related to saluting the American flag,” the school district said in a statement. “Showing respect for our nation’s flag is an important value our District instills in our students and is an expectation of our employees. We take this matter seriously and are investigating and addressing it.” The school district’s statement was met with similar vitriol. Commenters continued demanding Pitzin’s firing, framing her tongue-in-cheek video as an attack on American values and patriotism. Numerous users reiterated that she shuld be sent to Afghanistan “to see how women are treated since she is so uncomfortable to the American flag.” Speaking to NBC News, a school district spokesperson didn’t offer further details on what exactly Pitzin was being investigated for, but did state that the school district has a policy requiring daily “patriotic exercises,” including the pledge of allegiance. The policy also states that any person who doesn’t want to participate in the pledge for personal reasons may do so. “While we do not discuss employee related matters, we can tell you that showing respect and honor for our nation’s flag is a value that we instill in our students and an expectation of our employees,” the school district spokesperson said. “We take matters like this seriously and are taking action to address it.” Pitzin has remained silent in the days since her TikTok spawned the uproar. The school district has not confirmed if she is currently subject to any punishment while its investigation continues. California Teacher: Previously on Towleroad California Teacher Investigated Over Joking Students Could ‘Pledge Allegiance’ to LGBTQ Pride Flag Brian Bell August 31, 2021 Read More Caitlyn Jenner California Homeless Visit in Venice Beach: Will Talk “About” but not “To” the Unhoused at Political Launch Towleroad August 13, 2021 Read More ‘Frat Boy’ Culture at Activision Blizzard: Groping, Junk-Grab ‘Gay Chicken’ Game, ‘The Cosby Suite,’ Cited in California Suit. Employees Walk Out Brian Bell July 28, 2021 Read More QAnon, Alex Jones Threats Force San Francisco Gay Chorus Office to Close; Insist Clever Song About Coming to ‘Teach Your Kids Not to Hate’ As Proof of Pedophilia Brian Bell July 9, 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 Trans Community Responds to Caitlyn Jenner Trans Sports Comments; ‘Caitlyn Jenner is Anti-Trans’ Brian Bell May 5, 2021 Read More View the full article

–Very few Afghan gay men have gotten out. –This is a round up of Afghan gay interviewed by western journalists. –Those few speaking for Afghan LGBTQ say it’s bad and getting worse. –Only the Canadians included LGBTQ Afghans in evacuation and visa programs. –The US has avoided any statement about elevated risk . –Only American collaborators and journalists are higher risk profile. All have allies and protectors in and out of the country –Taliban have modified stance on women with world pressure. They’ve not said anything about LGBTQ — Our silence sends the Taliban a clear message to proceed with the terror. Note: All subjects identify as Afghan gay men. There are of course lesbians and trans and bisexual people whose existence is as threatened. They have not been interviewed in reports we have found so far. Only Nemat Sadat, Artemis Akbary, and Tim Shipman are real names in this post. All others have been changed to protect Table of Contents “They will find me because they keep looking for interpreters and people who are gay. This is my fifth location. I don’t know where to go.” –Gabir Taliban are going door-to-door looking for journalists, interpreters and LGBTQ+ people.Airlift Evacuation Is DoneHere’s what we’ve found. It’s not a pretty picture.A Best Friend’s SuicideFamily Will Beat Him if Find Out. An Arranged Marriage if not.For Two Young Afghan gay men, Plans B, C…US Special Forces Sniper Witnessed Taliban KillingsMany Afghan gay men are Hiding. ‘Of course, I will risk everything to get out.‘What Can We do? We’re going to get exterminated’Boyfriend Killed and Chopped; Now Taliban is Calling HimRaped, Beaten, Outed to FamilyTaliban Use Social Media to Lure gay menAhmadulla Goes Into HidingAny Allies? Very Few Stand with Afghan gay menAfghan Gay men previously on Towleroad Taliban are going door-to-door looking for journalists, interpreters and LGBTQ+ people. The longest war the US has ever been in was not won by US. We are hard pressed to explain the amoral economic drivers and it’s obvious the way it is ending is far from graceful or humane. Most Americans agree it is time to leave. As they learn more about what was left and what we left and what seems obvious to those on the ground, it’s already clear our exit was far from well planned , human or graceful. As Nemat Sadat, a Afghan American novelist and LGBTQ activist in the UnitesStates told CBC two days ago Airlift Evacuation Is Done Over the last few days, flights slowed and stopped. The big countries have announced that their refugee efforts are done (after evacuating more than 120,000 people), and that includes the only one to explicitly include LGBTQ refugees, Canada. That the reality sinking in– that the best and quickest chances to get out of the country have eluded many of the most at- risk people– may be why we’re getting some real bits of news from Afghan gay men in Kabul and elsewhere and. we are hearing some terrifying details. Only interpreters, other American collaborators and journalists come close to or surpass the risk profile of gay people in Afghanistan. The others have allies and protectors internally and outside the country. Gay men are likely to be turned in by their families. The Taliban pursue them with a thrill and excitement that is described by many. of these men Afghan gay men as sexualized, politicized, gamified and religious, with video-game style tracking and chases, and either the most summary or most brutal and ceremonial executions. Here’s what we’ve found. It’s not a pretty picture. A Best Friend’s Suicide Daily Mail spoke with a gay man in Kabul, heavily disguised in the video below with intense predictions about what is to come for Afghan gay men folks in Kabul, saying the Taliban will take pleasure in hunting them down. Family Will Beat Him if Find Out. An Arranged Marriage if not. Aziz interviewed by I News in UK described his week. He’s turned 21, ended his schooling just short of the degree he’s worked for. His gay friends are not answering calls, his boyfriend is hiding out in another town and he doesn’t know if they will see each other ever again. If seized, his phone would reveal all in WhatApp messages, songs, and his Facebook chats –that he is gay, has a boyfriend. Aziz is not out to his family, saying “they would beat me and throw me out of the house.” If he is able to maintain his closet and unable to get out of the country, he faces “forced marriage”. For Two Young Afghan gay men, Plans B, C… Towleroad has been in touch, one step removed, with a few young people . Each has good reasons to fear being exposed or reported to the Taliban. We won’t be sharing many details of their stories from the last few weeks since as of 24 hours ago when we last heard, they were not safe or even on their way. We hope they’ll share their stories, but it sounds– though intermediaries at this point–as though it’s sinking in that this could be a much longer and more dangerous course than they’d hoped for even a week ago. They’re making other plans and taking additional precautions. And those who have loosely organized to support them–like the other loosely organized groups supporting others — are getting more organized, redoubling efforts and are getting more tightly organized. They are not pulling out and rejoicing. It’s a nerd energy where folks helping seem certain it’s possible to solve but after some time at it are coming to believe it’s a matter of more hard work and smarts — more contacts to reach out to, more calls to make, more scenarios envisioned and routes plotted, every one of them some sort of Hail-Mary. That’s not a criticism. That is where we are. It’s becoming clear just how many possibilities are not really possibilities any more… if they ever were. And folks are starting to understand that it all could and likely is going to hell and very quickly; and hideously in any of the growing list of possible “negative outcomes” all of which seem more possible. Reports from US special forces on the ground and warnings from the UN are saying it’s already more dangerous and hideous than we might know, and certainly more complicated. The people who thought they might get on a plane now understand — of course with exceptions– that it came came down to a matter of time, lack of preparation, and so many large classes of people, prioritized on their connection to the U.S. We gave no prioritization to to degree of danger there is to LGBTQ lives though there is a to be a general agreement, both in the United States — weirdly even more on the Republican side– and in Afghanistan that the LGBTQ population is likely at the greatest risk after folks who helped American forces. But with that, very little urgency. The Afghan gay men we were in touch with were just not able to crack the right combination of luck, powerful enough diplomatic escort, the correct visa classification for various countries, the right timing to try. to get to the airport, the right Taliban checkpoints of amenable soldiers and the right security forces and then consular officers from which ever country to be in attendance that all together might have gotten them on a plane. Somewhat surprisingly the video they sent was a short by a man they don’t know who had a quite different experience. It’s included at the very end of this postIt’s what it has felt like there.. US Special Forces Sniper Witnessed Taliban Killings On Fox this week, a US Special Forces sniper Tim Shipman, who spent time in Afghanistan and Iraq, said he had witnessed first hand Taliban fighters burning homosexuals alive and throwing them off of roofs, which is in line with an interview. in the German magazine Bind with a Taliban judge who said the islamist movement had declared that Afghan gay men should be stoned or crushed under from a nine meter wall. This week he was there as part of the Pineapple volunteer force extricating key people and escorting them to the airport. His team rescued almost 9,000 people but the description of the situation at the airport for those trying get out was harrowing. Towleroad listened to more Fox coverage than is healthy trying to determine if Tim Shipmen said he had seen gay men thrown off roofs in the last few weeks or during his tours over the last decades and we were unable to verify that he said he’d seen that in the last few weeks as multiple outlets have reported. Other outlets reported that he was referring to his multiple tours of duty. While the latter seems more likely to us, it’s been reported both ways. Nemat Sadat , Afghan American LGBT Gay Rights ActivistMany Afghan gay men are Hiding. ‘Of course, I will risk everything to get out. Novelist Nemat Sadat, gay Afghan-American taught in Afghanistan for a few years in 2012-13 has spent most. of his life in the United States. Since his stint teaching there he has been a vocal advocate for the rights of LGBTQ Afghans and is thought to be the first of the Afghan gay men to come out. He told Reuters He’d been contacted by a 21 year old gay man who was in hiding, paralyzed in his fear who said: ‘What Can We do? We’re going to get exterminated’ Sadat said he’d received more than 100 messages and calls from Afghan gay men trying to get out and in similar situations. That was 8 days ago, August 22. Two days ago, Sadat told CBC that number was more than 250+ LGBTQ+ people, pleading with him to help them escape. “I’m very scared for the [LGBTQ+] community there,” said Sadat. “I believe that they will be annihilated completely.” Disturbingly he says they are using social media and other means to infiltrate groups of Afghan gay men and lure them out and into danger. Boyfriend Killed and Chopped; Now Taliban is Calling Him UK I News spoke in some detail with two Afghan gay men, Aziz who is quoted above, and Gabir. (A reminder that these and the names of all Afghan gay men in this post other than Sadat and Artemis Akbary and any journalists mentioned are entirely fictitious.) Sadat also connected journalists to this, for now the most harrowing story of all. Gabir told Patrick Strudwick of I news how quickly and severely his life went south the day the Taliban rolled in, August 15. In the morning he’d been out with his boyfriend for a meal. “By the afternoon, nothing was working – phone signals were out, the internet was patchy.” Early evening he finally connected with a friend who told him the Taliban had caught and killed Gabir’s boyfriend. A few days later, Gabir received a threatening call from someone who seemed to be a Taliban member. Understandably Gabir is in his 5th hiding spot far from Kabul. He’s alone. His gay friends disappeared. He says he is “100 percent sure i’m going to die”. The Taliban are searching homes and question everyone. “I know they will find me because they keep looking for interpreters and people who are gay. this is my fifth location. I don’t know where to go. “ When asked what he wanted the British Government to do for Afghan gay men he said. ” i just want them to save us.” Raped, Beaten, Outed to Family Over the weekend, ITV journalist Jocelyn Evans reported that another gay man in Kabul was the victim of premeditated and planned attack by Taliban who tricked him into meeting He’d been talking to a man on social media for three weeks before agreeing to meet him. Terrified since the Taliban took control of the country, the man promised safe passage out o f the country. Instead, two members of the Taliban met him and carried out their brutal attack. i”m not crying.; Your’e crying.Afghan Gay men previously on Towleroad View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Carole Baskin has sold Joe Exotic’s zoo. The animal rights campaigner ensured that the exotic animal park in Wynnewood, Oklahoma – which Carole was awarded by a judge in 2020 as part of a trademark lawsuit – will not be used as a zoo again, by including a special stipulation in the sale. TMZ reports that Carole sold the property in June to Francisco and Nelly Vazquez and, according to the paperwork, they are “expressly barred from using the land to house exotic animals of any kind – or as a zoo, wildlife park or menagerie – for 100 years”. Additionally, the new owners cannot use any name related to ‘Tiger King’ for any new business on the property. Netflix’s ‘Tiger King’ documentary featured the bitter rivalry between Big Cat Rescue’s Carole and private zoo owner Joe. Last year, a federal judge in the western district court of Oklahoma ruled that Joe previously fraudulently transferred the property to his mother Shirley Schreibvogel, to avoid paying Carole a settlement in a trademark infringement lawsuit. The zoo had been run by Joe’s former business partner Jeff Lowe since 2016 but he was given 120 days to vacate the property, including removing all of his animals housed there, before Carole seized control. Exotic – whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage – is currently serving 22 years in prison for plotting to murder Carole. Tiger King Zoo on Towleroad Carole Baskin sells Tiger King Zoo She Won in Court from Joe Exotic; New Owners Agreed To Not Use As Zoo 100 Years August 30, 2021 Read More Taliban Takes Over: Afghanistan’s ‘Gen Z’ Is Used to Cellphones, Pop Music, Social Mixing of Genders, But Fears the Worst August 30, 2021 Read More Lourdes Leon new face of Swarovski; People think I’m this talentless rich kid who’s had everything given to her, but I’m not August 28, 2021 Read More JoJo Siwa Will Have First Ever Same-Sex Dance Partner When She Joins Season 30 of ‘Dancing With The Stars’; ‘We’re Making History’ August 28, 2021 Read More Thousands march in Washington, U.S. cities for voting rights August 28, 2021 Read More Demi Lovato Openly Posts Video Smoking Weed Amid Ongoing Recovery From Substance Addiction August 28, 2021 Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters Aug. 15, as the Taliban takes over Kabul, 26-year-old Javid rushed home from the university …He deleted all emails and social media messages he had shared with foreign organizations and governments, especially the United States. He took hard copies of certificates given by U.S.-funded development programs to the backyard of his house and set them on fire. He broke a glass trophy received for that work against the floor. (Reuters) – When 20-year-old Salgy found out last week that she had topped some 200,000 students who took Afghanistan’s university entrance exam this year, she was elated. For months, she had locked herself away in her room in the capital Kabul to study, sometimes forgetting to eat. With her family crowding round their solar-powered TV as the results came in, she realised her hard work had paid off. “That was a moment when I felt someone gifted me the whole world,” Salgy, who like many in the country goes by one name, told Reuters. “My mother cried out of happiness and I cried with her.” That feeling turned almost immediately to worry when she remembered the events of the previous weeks. Following the withdrawal of the bulk of the remaining U.S. forces in Afghanistan, the Taliban began a lightning advance across the country, culminating in the fall of Kabul on Aug. 15. “We are faced with a very uncertain future, thinking what will happen next,” Salgy told Reuters. “I think I am the luckiest and unluckiest person.” Almost two third of Afghans are under the age of 25, and an entire generation cannot even remember the Taliban, who ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until it was toppled by Western-backed militia in 2001. During that time they enforced a strict interpretation of Islamic law, banning girls from school, women from work and carrying out public executions. Since 2001, the militants fought an insurgency in which thousands of Afghans died. Since re-taking power, the group has been quick to reassure students that their education would not be disrupted, also saying it would respect the rights of women and urging talented professionals not to leave the country. But used to a life with cellphones, pop music and mixing of genders, Afghanistan’s “Generation Z” – born roughly in the decade around the turn of the millennium – now fears some freedoms will be taken away, according to interviews with half a dozen Afghan students and young professionals. “I made such big plans, I had all these high reaching goals for myself that stretched to the next 10 years,” said Sosan Nabi, a 21-year-old graduate. “We had a hope for life, a hope for change. But in just one week, they took over the country and in 24 hours they took all our hopes, dreams snatched from in front of our eyes. It was all for nothing.” A Taliban spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions for this article. HARD-WON FREEDOMS On the morning of Aug. 15, as the Taliban neared Kabul, 26-year-old Javid rushed home from the university where he worked after graduating. He declined to give his full name out of fear of reprisals. He deleted all emails and social media messages he had shared with foreign organizations and governments, especially the United States. He took hard copies of certificates given by U.S.-funded development programs to the backyard of his house and set them on fire. He broke a glass trophy received for that work against the floor. Many Afghans working for overseas organisations have tried to flee the country in the last two weeks. With little to go on but stories from parents about the Taliban, some young people said they were afraid, whatever the reality of the situation on the ground. The first time many of them ever saw members of the group was patrolling streets after their conquest of Kabul. Besides safety, young people Reuters spoke to said they worried other hard-won freedoms could be taken away. Secondary school enrolment rose from 12% in 2001 to 55% in 2018, according to the World Bank. From a time when a single state-owned radio station broadcast mainly calls to prayer and religious teachings, Afghanistan now has an estimated 170 radio stations, over 100 newspapers and dozens of TV stations. That’s not to mention smartphones and the Internet – non-existent under Taliban rule – giving young people access to events beyond Afghanistan’s borders, said Elaha Tamim, an 18-year-old who also just passed her university entrance exam. “It is something we all use at all times,” she said. “We use it for entertainment when we want to relax, it’s our way of discovering what’s happening in the rest of the world. I don’t want to lose that.” WOMEN’S RIGHTS Some young women are particularly concerned by the Taliban’s victory. The number of girls in primary school rose from effectively zero under the Taliban to over 80%, according the World Bank. The Taliban has said it will respect the rights of girls to go to school this time around, though Javid said many female students at his university had stopped coming to class out of fear. “I grew up in an environment where we were free, we could go to school, we could go out and about,” Tamim said. “My mother tells stories of her bitter time (under the Taliban). Those stories are frightening.” Ammar Yasir, a member of the Taliban’s political office in Doha, personally congratulated Salgy – the student who topped the university entrance exams – on Twitter for her results, and for gaining admission to medical school. She now hopes to fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor, despite the uncertainty. “If the Taliban allow girls access to higher education and they don’t create barriers for them then that is good, otherwise my whole life’s struggle is at risk,” she said. Despite the assurances, some people Reuters spoke to said they were desperate to leave, but didn’t know how. “If I thought me staying here would bring any hope of a positive change then I would be ready, like the thousands of other young people, to give up my life for it,” Naby said. “But we all know that isn’t a reality.” (Reporting by Islamabad bureau, Parniyan Zemaryalai in London and Zeba Siddiqui in New Delhi; Writing by Alasdair Pal; Editing by Mike Collett-White) ..used to a life with cellphones, pop music and mixing of genders, Afghanistan’s “Generation Z” …now fears some freedoms will be taken away, Taliban Takes Over on Towleroad Carole Baskin sells Tiger King Zoo She Won in Court from Joe Exotic; New Owners Agreed To Not Use As Zoo 100 Years August 30, 2021 Read More Taliban Takes Over: Afghanistan’s ‘Gen Z’ Is Used to Cellphones, Pop Music, Social Mixing of Genders, But Fears the Worst August 30, 2021 Read More Lourdes Leon new face of Swarovski; People think I’m this talentless rich kid who’s had everything given to her, but I’m not August 28, 2021 Read More JoJo Siwa Will Have First Ever Same-Sex Dance Partner When She Joins Season 30 of ‘Dancing With The Stars’; ‘We’re Making History’ August 28, 2021 Read More Thousands march in Washington, U.S. cities for voting rights August 28, 2021 Read More Demi Lovato Openly Posts Video Smoking Weed Amid Ongoing Recovery From Substance Addiction August 28, 2021 Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Madonna’s daughter Lourdes Leon is the new face of Swarovski’s upcoming Collection II campaign. The 24-year-old model-and-actress has been hired by the company to “serve as a platform for representation of people from all cultures and orientations” for the brand. Lourdes – whose father is Carlos Leon – has previously worked with Parade x Juicy Couture, Gypsy Sport, Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs, in which she famously showed off her unshaved armpit hair. The fashion star also was chosen as one of eight models for Vogue’s September issue, which was titled “Generation America: The Models Changing an Industry”. She was joined in the shoot by Bella Hadid, Kaia Gerber, Precious Lee, Anok Yai, Ariel Nicholson, Sherry Shi and Yumi Nu. In the publication, Lourdes spoke about what it is like to be the daughter of the ‘Queen of Pop’ Madonna, one of the most influential female singers in history. Lourdes – who has five siblings – said: “People think I’m this talentless rich kid who’s had everything given to her, but I’m not.” Swarovski on Towleroad Lourdes Leon new face of Swarovski; People think I’m this talentless rich kid who’s had everything given to her, but I’m not August 28, 2021 Read More JoJo Siwa Sashays–With a Female Dance Partner– Onto Milestone Season 30 Of ‘Dancing With The Stars’: ‘We’re Making History’ August 28, 2021 Read More Thousands march in Washington, U.S. cities for voting rights August 28, 2021 Read More Demi Lovato Openly Posts Video Smoking Weed Amid Ongoing Recovery From Substance Addiction August 28, 2021 Read More A Gold Glitter, Rainbow ‘Very Gay Raptor’ Isn’t The Clap Back We’d Expect From Ford When A New Truck Was Called ‘Very Gay’. We’d Be Wrong. August 27, 2021 Read More RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 6 Goes From Final Four to Five and Back Again [RECAP] August 27, 2021 Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Dancing With the Stars just made history! YouTube personality JoJo Siwa was announced as one of the first celebs joining the already historic Season 30 of the ABC dance competition series. MEGA In a series first, the 18-year-old singer — who recently came out as pansexual — will be waltzing with a female professional partner. IS JOJO SIWA HOLLYWOOD’S LATEST WILD CHILD? YOUTUBER’S SECRETS AND SCANDALS REVEALED “We’re making history,” Siwa spilled to USA TODAY. “This has never happened on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ before. It’s always been a boy-girl couple.” ABC/Laretta Houston The bubbly blonde’s dance partner has not yet been revealed, but the dancer admitting that the idea of her having a same-sex partner was discussed up front with producers. “I have a girlfriend who is the love of my life and who is everything to me,” Siwa gushed about main squeeze Kylie Prew. “My journey of coming out and having a girlfriend has inspired so many people around the world. I thought that if I chose to dance with a girl on this show, it would break the stereotypical thing. It would be new, different and change for the better.” The Dance Moms alum dished that she was given the option of if she wanted a male or female partner and she told producers she “actually would love and prefer to dance with a girl,” adding “Why not show the message even stronger that you can love whomever you want to love.” THE MOST MAGICAL DATE ON EARTH! JOJO SIWA & GIRLFRIEND KYLIE PREW LOOK HAPPIER THAN EVER AT DISNEYLAND — PHOTOS As OK! previously reported, In April, the newly-minted LGBTQ+ icon came out as pansexual — not limited in sexual choice with regard to biological sex, gender or gender identity — noting that she is still trying to “figure it out.” “I still don’t know what I am. It’s like, I want to figure it out. And I have this joke. Her name is Kylie. And so I say that I’m Ky-sexual,” Siwa joked at the time. “But like, I don’t know, bisexual, pansexual, queer, lesbian, gay, straight. I always just say gay because it just kind of covers it or queer because I think the keyword is cool.” Siwa’s milestone announcement can’t overshadow that Olympic medalist Suni Lee was also announced as a contestant for the upcoming season. MEGA The 18-year-old gymnast took home three medals at the 2020 Olympics. Lee won gold in the individual all-around event, bronze in the uneven bars competition and silver during the team final. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Merdie Nzanga and Nathan Layne WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Thousands of protesters rallied in Washington and other U.S. cities on Saturday to demand protections for voting rights, aiming to pressure lawmakers to pass legislation to counter a wave of ballot restrictions in Republican-led states. Held on the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic 1963 March on Washington, organizers of the “March On For Washington And Voting Rights” stressed that the moves to curb voting access would disproportionately affect people of color. In Washington, protesters holding “Black Lives Matter” flags and signs calling for federal legislation marched from McPherson Square to the final meeting point at the National Mall, where a series of civil rights leaders delivered remarks not far from where King gave his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech 58 years ago. More than 20,000 people participated in the march, the Rev. Al Sharpton estimated in a Twitter post. Rallies also took place in Phoenix, Miami and dozens of other cities. Activist Carolyn Ruff, 74, said she made the trip from Chicago to Washington to push for the passage of a federal law that would restore key protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed discriminatory voting practices. The bill, named after the late civil rights hero and longtime congressman John Lewis, was approved in the U.S. House of Representatives this week but faces poor prospects in the Senate due to rules that allow a minority to block legislation. Lewis’ youngest brother urged Republican senators to put aside partisanship and pass the law, saying that fundamental rights secured in the 1960’s were at stake. “Just think, 58 years later we are still fighting for those same rights. Something about that just don’t sound right,” said Grant Lewis told the crowd. “It doesn’t matter what side of the aisle you are on. It’s more important to be on the right side of history.” After Democrat Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, Republican lawmakers in many states reined in the use of dropboxes and mail-in voting. The moves came after Republican former President Donald Trump tried unsuccessfully to overturn the election based on unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud. So far this year, at least 18 states have enacted laws restricting voter access, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University. In addition to the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, a more expansive voting reform bill was passed by the House earlier this year, but Senate Republicans blocked it in June, saying voting rules should be left to the states. The lack of meaningful Republican support appears set to doom any legislation in the Senate, which is divided 50-50 along party lines and where filibuster rules mean Democrats need to secure the votes of 10 Republicans to advance measures. Kathleen Kennedy, 27, said she joined the Washington march after reading about a law in Texas that had garnered national attention after Democratic lawmakers fled the state in an effort to deny a quorum needed for Republicans to pass it. The bill, which would outlaw drive-through and 24-hour voting locations and add new identification requirements to mail-in voting, among other restrictions, was approved by the state’s House of Representatives on Friday. “So many of these laws are getting passed. Elections are coming up, elections will be impacted by these laws,” said Kennedy, a resident of nearby Silver Spring, Maryland. “It’s worth ending the filibuster.” Some speakers also promoted the idea of making the nation’s capital the next state. A coalition of groups advocating for Washington, D.C., statehood, called 51 for 51, was one of the leading organizers of Saturday’s event. (Additional reporting by Nathan Layne in Wilton, Connecticut; Editing by David Gregorio, Daniel Wallis, Leslie Adler and Richard Chang) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Demi Lovatoposted a video of themself smoking marijuana from their car despite their ongoing recovery from substance addiction. The 29-year-old singer uploaded the video to their Instagram story on Wednesday, August 25, writing “@ballfamilyfarms Left w some goodies aka MIYAGI DO ” across the clip. MEGA Seeing Lovato smoking a blunt might have taken some of their fans by surprise, considering that the pop star came close to death after overdosing in July 2018. DEMI LOVATO BLASTS RAPPER DABABY AFTER HIS HOMOPHOBIC TIRADE: ‘HIV IS NOT A DEADLY DISEASE’ However, Lovato, has recently been vocal about their decision to be “California sober,” explaining to Glamour in february that they don’t restrict themself from marijuana or alcohol. “I called [my recovery case manager, Charles Cook] and was like, ‘Something’s not right. I’m living one side of my life completely legalizing and this other side following a program that’s telling me if I slip up, I’m going to die,” they told the outlet. They also touched on the topic during an interview with CBS Sunday Morningthat being fully abstinent wasn’t working for them in their recovery. “I am cautious to say that, just like, I feel the complete abstinent method isn’t a one-size- fits-all solution for everybody,” they explained. “I don’t think that this journey of moderation is a one-size-fits-all solution for everybody, too.” The Disney Channel alum, who recently came out as non-binary, also discussed their decision to smoke and drink in moderation during their Youtube docuseries, Dancing With The Devil. DEMI LOVATO STUNS ALONGSIDE ACTRESS ALLIE MARIE EVANS IN EDGY PHOTOSHOOT SHOT BY FAMED PHOTOGRAPHER TYLER SHIELDS In the final episode of the four-part installment, Lovato explained that completely avoiding drugs and alcohol isn’t helpful to their addiction recovery. MEGA “I’ve learned that shutting the door on things makes me want to open the door even more. I’ve learned that it doesn’t work for me to say, ‘I’m never going to do this again,’” they said in the series. “I’ve really, really struggled with this,” they said while welling up in the Youtube clip. “I know I’m done with the stuff that’s gonna kill me, right? But I wish that I could get some relief, maybe through like weed or something, right?,” they continued. “Telling myself that I can never have a drink or smoke marijuana, Iike, I feel like that’s setting myself up for failure,” they tearfully said in the documentary. Lovato also made a point in the documentary to express that their decision does not necessarily mean their method is a fitting choice for others struggling with addiction as well. “It isn’t for everybody,” they explained. View the full article

The 1998 rainbow Ford Ka and 2021 “Very Gay” Ford Ranger RaptorTruck giant Ford showed where it stood regarding the LGBTQ community during Pride month by introducing a “Very Gay Raptor” glow-up version of its Ford Ranger Raptor truck. Now, the “Very Gay Raptor” is hitting the road in real life as part of Christopher Street Day celebrations in Cologne, Germany. According to Motor1, Ford’s German branch, which is also located in Cologne, produced an actual “Very Gay Raptor” for this weekend’s Christopher Street Day Street Festival in Cologne. But the origin of the “Very Gay Raptor” is just as much a case of well-placed shade as much as it is a celebration of the LGBTQ community. The Raptor’s “Very Gay” paint job originated as a response to a homophobic comment directed at the Raptor’s Performance Blue paint color. Ford countered with a video released to social media during Pride month that featured the “very gay” critique and revealed a makeover truly fitting of the moniker. The custom paint job features the colors of the Philadelphia rainbow Pride and transgender Pride flags alongside a glittery, golden finish. The truck also features the Ford logo framed in a sky blue heart on the tailgate and a “#VeryGayRaptor” decal on the rear windshield. The rainbow-clad Ranger Raptor will be on display at Cologne Pride festivities until Saturday, August 28, and will be part of the Christopher Street Day Parade on Sunday, August 29. The truck’s physical debut coincides with the 25th anniversary of Ford’s Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual Employees organization (GLOBE), a company initiative aimed at supporting LGBTQ employees and continued workplace diversity. The “Very Gay” Ford Ranger RaptorThe “Very Gay Raptor” marks the second LGBTQ Pride-themed offering from Ford. The company produced a special Pride flag painted pick-up truck version of its Ka model for Cologne’s Christopher Street Day celebrations in 1998. Other car manufacturers in Europe have contributed Pride versions of their vehicles in recent years. Bentley introduced a rainbow version of its Continental GT V8 convertible as part of North West of England’s virtual Pride event last year. Porsche and BMW USA also produced Pride-themed vehicles for 2020 virtual Pride events as well. Very Gay Raptor: Previously on Towleroad Thousands march in Bucharest Gay Pride Parade; Shadow of Planned Legislation That Will Chip At Rights Gained in 2001 Towleroad August 15, 2021 Read More Record Crowd For Budapest Pride; Attendees Protest Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Anti-LGBTQ Laws Brian Bell July 26, 2021 Read More Billy Porter, Mika, Minogue, Years for Gaga; Pablo Vittar, John Roberts + Beth Ditto, Rufus’ Rainbow; New Diana Ross And More ICYMI Pride Online WATCH Towleroad July 3, 2021 Read More Stonewall to Pour Bud Light Down the Drain, Halt Anheuser-Busch Sales During Pride Weekend in Protest Brian Bell June 21, 2021 Read More Boston Pride President Resigns Amid Boycotts by LGBTQ Activists; Pride Parade Postponement in Question Brian Bell June 10, 2021 Read More For Pride, Split Valuable Allies from Corporate Pandering and ‘pinkwashing’ , Researcher Says. What Do You Think? Kim Sheehan, The Conversation June 6, 2021 Read More Photos courtesy of Ford View the full article

The top four on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season 6 … until it’s not. It’s hard not to be deflated coming off last week’s epic lip sync game-within-a-game on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season six. The thrilling lip sync competition was an easy crowd-pleaser, and it had the built-in narrative of Silky’s dominance and ultimate redemption. Of course, that last lip sync against Eureka landed with a thud, which already left a funky taste in the mouth (and I don’t mean Mexicatassen). All of that said, the rest of the episode didn’t help build momentum. The challenges were meh, the performances were fine and the final result was a bummer. Considering how much I’ve grown to love all these queens, I should’ve enjoyed all this a lot more. Let’s back up. The legendary Silky Nutmeg Ganache on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Fresh off the bat, we need to resolve our little cliffhanger from last week. Ru rightly selects Eureka to return to the competition, but Silky doesn’t miss a beat. She’s firing off jokes, she’s immediately processing to camera how this is still such an achievement. Even Ru extends a LEGENDARY designation to the good doctor. (I wonder if that will become the Paul Hollywood handshake of Drag Race All Stars in future seasons.) Eureka returns, just in time for a Pride-themed mini-challenge. What makes this one strange to watch is it feels like there’s an unspoken aspect of this challenge: The clothing provided, courtesy Levi’s, is hideous. It’s one of those tacky Pride collections with, like, the laziest slogans and iconography. So they’re dragging it up into quick drag, pulling together an outfit that says “Demon Twink and Frankie Grande exploded in a Target,” they look insane. But the eventual winner, Kylie, wins … the whole collection to take home. Um, thanks? It’s the maxi challenge that really starts to go off the rails. This week, the queens will be performing in the Charisma Uniqueness Nerve Talent Monologues. (Think The Moth, but in wigs.) It needs to be entertaining, but not too polished; funny, but not stand-up; it needs to be written, but not feel written. It’s already a tall order. I mean, it’s not like it’s reasonable to ask anyone to basically craft a three-minute version of Nanette on the spot, but all the queens make an admirable effort. On top of all that, there’s that sneaky requirement that it also somehow inspires or reveals some vulnerability. Come on! Look, I’m a big, emotional sucker. I love to be inspired! But how many challenges must these drag queens dance, sew, act, sing AND also be the voice of a generation? Don’t get me wrong, I love hearing queer people’s stories. If there was a channel that played only this, I would watch, and I would shame all my friends and family into watching it or I’d threaten to tell everyone they’re homophobic. When it comes to Drag Race though, sometimes I just want a twirl, not a TedTalk. Even though all five girls do an admirable job with solid stories, the whole thing feels underwhelming. I wish the mainstage did some more dramatic lighting. I know COVID likely limited the number of people on set, having only the judges’ sporadic laughter did a disservice to some of the night’s stronger performances. Trinity, feeling shook by the prospect of potentially being eliminated this close to the crown, is certainly in her head in the work room, crunching numbers, trying to gauge her competitors’ plans and motives. Her story takes a nice little emotional journey from catfish to guardian angel that leaves plenty of room to stroke Ru’s ego as well. There appeared to be reason to be concerned for Ra’Jah, but. after a slight stumble on the mainstage, she takes off. She’s got a wild tale about her tuck coming undone while performing. It’s dynamic, and Ra’Jah has a charm, but she is visibly the least comfortable person up there, struggling to remember her lines early on. It’s another good week for Kylie, whose story is a heartbreaking, but ultimately heartwarming story about how she went from military school to her first night performing drag. She has such a stage presence, and her drawl just slathers everything she says in sweet honey. Plus, she weaves so many jokes into her set. “He was gayer than two guys blowing five guys,” was such a well-placed joke. It’s moving, it’s one of the funnier sets of the night, and she constructs a really satisfying arc. Ginger Minj tells a tale on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Ginger, obviously, slays. It’s a Hallmark-ready story about a little gay boy in Baptist Florida getting caught playing in momma’s heels, only for her to later present a gift-wrapped box with a pair for little Ginger. (Where is that episode of Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings?!) She looks gorgeous, and she commands the stage like a total pro. The only criticism the judges can muster, and it’s a stretch, is, I don’t know, maybe it was too perfect? Um, thanks? Finally, our returning queen knows the pressure is on. Eureka is probably best keyed in to Ru’s sense of humor, and she goes hard on a story about pooping herself. It’s big and baudy, and Ru can’t get enough. Despite rocking a bodysuit, even Michelle has to give props for a chic little Playboy bunny ensemble that may be one of Eureka’s best looks. The judges award her the win. Eureka learned a valuable lesson about corn dogs on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. That means all four other girls are up for elimination, which means we’re destined for heartbreak. There is no good candidate. Crunching the numbers, Trinity has statistically the worst “track record.” There’s a lot of hemming and hawing, but it’s too tight for them to give anything away during deliberations. Back on the mainstage, we have a winner returning in Jaida Essence Hall. So good to see her! She and Eureka turn it out to “Good Golly Miss Molly” by Little Richard, leaving Ru no choice but call it a tie. Both Eureka and the gals picked Trinity, which logically makes sense, but emotionally feels wrong? So where does that leave us? Damned if I know! Trinity was my top pick most of this season, and now it feels like truly anyone’s to lose. Stranger things have happened, but maybe it’ll be Eureka to surprise us all. She’s a great candidate. She was a polarizing queen in her earlier runs; she has an extended platform thanks to HBO’s We’re Here; and it’s a gag for a returning competitor to make it all the way. All these gals are worthy, including Eureka. She needed this win, and it’s a well-timed boost coming into the final stretch. I didn’t think her Fashion Oops was the most clever, but she looked great as someone looking bad.Ginger almost seems too obvious. She’s been steadily stupendous on this run, a consummate professional. She brought so much professionalism and craft to those awful acting challenges. Carson’s comment about being too refined (echoing earlier feedback in rehearsal that she was too pageanty) could be her downfall. Ginger had the showiest Fashion Oops, but she never let the gimmicks distract from her performance as she came down the runway.Did you hear when Ra’Jah said she made ALL OF HER CLOTHES on the mainstage? That’s amazing. Especially tonight’s. I adored the fuchsia half get-up she put on for a Fashion Oops, but it was also the way she performed with the garment. And when she finally put it on at the end, it was just beautiful, even if it only covered half her body. (Especially because it only covered half?) The main challenge sort of performance doesn’t seem to come naturally to Ra’Jah, which is ok! If anything, it made her successful story tonight even more impressive.Don’t get me wrong, I think Kylie still has a real shot at the crown. I have a feeling she’ll do great shooting a music video, and she’s had some real high highs throughout the season. Her story tonight struck a really nice (and difficult) balance, and she had everyone on the edge of their seat. I wish Fashion Oops had just a little something else. (Maybe Michelle was onto something with the glitter.) The corn dog bit was good, but the callback during critiques was GREAT.Sigh. I get it. Someone had to go. Much like I wish I could’ve seen Silky end her dominant lip sync run with a return, I wish we could see Trinity overcome her season six sads, earn a legion of new fans and take her rightful place in the Hall of Fame. Sadly, that’s just not how it’s going down. By all objective measures, it had to be Trinity. She was inconsistent, her outlook was getting grim. The judges thought her performance needed more air, and the Fashion Oops didn’t pop. These are minor critiques, but we are at the penultimate episode of All Stars. Trinity certainly can leave with her head held high. She showed us that she is THE drag Beyoncé, all her lewks were fierce, she showed off comedy drops and inspiring stories. She’s well on her way to legendary.How would you rank the RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars queens this week? Catch up on our RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars coverage. View the full article

Jason YoakamThe Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) is facing a lawsuit from an incarcerated Virginia transgender man after continually denying him “medically necessary” gender-affirming medical treatment for his gender dysphoria. Right To Health Care The lawsuit was filed by LGBTQ legal advocacy organization Lambda Legal on behalf of Jason Yoakam, who is currently serving time at Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women (FCCW) after being convicted of first-degree murder in 2004. Yoakam, who lived as openly as a trans man prior to his conviction, was formally diagnosed as having gender dysphoria in 2017 by medical providers at FCCW. Yoakam started hormone replacement treatment and was provided a binder afterward, but the VADOC denied further treatment for his condition. According to the filing, the VADOC denied Yoakam access to mental health treatment from qualified providers and blocked requests for Yoakam to get a bilateral mastectomy, or top surgery, saying it “was not medically necessary.” “Mr. Yoakim is not seeking special treatment, just access to medically necessary health care and reasonable accommodations for his gender dysphoria,” said Lambda Legal senior attorney Richard Saenz. “Every incarcerated person has a right to basic health care based on their medical needs and should not face discrimination because of their sex.” Multiple medical professionals external to the VADOC, including providers from the University of Virginia, have issued referrals that Yoakam received a bilateral mastectomy as part of his treatment for gender dysphoria since his initial diagnosis. But every request has been denied by VADOC officials despite the requests adhering to the internationally recognized Standards of Care for gender dysphoria established by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. “Defendants knew that denying Mr. Yoakam chest surgery placed him at a substantial risk of serious harm including depression, anxiety, mental impairment, physical self-harm, and suicide, and future harm as his condition worsened,” the filing states. The suit claims that the VADOC’s denial of gender-affirming care violates Yoakam’s Eighth and 14th Amendment rights, characterizing the VADOC’s treatment of Yoakam as cruel and unusual punishment. The filing also cites that Yoakam’s case constitutes violations of the Americans with Disability Act and non-discrimination protections based on sex cited in the Affordable Care Act. “The only thing I am asking is to be treated fairly and have access to the same standard of healthcare that other incarcerated people receive,” Yoakam said. “It has been traumatizing, isolating, and stigmatizing to be denied health care services to treat the gender dysphoria that VDOC’s own providers have diagnosed.” Excessive Binder Use The filing also cites that the VADOC regularly provides “medical treatment and surgical interventions” to other incarcerated individuals at FCCW “based on individual assessment and medical need.” While FCCW provided Yoakam with chest compression binders as a form of treatment, he regularly uses them beyond the recommended daily period of use because of his lack of treatment options. The suit claims that Yoakam “keeps his binder on throughout all hours of the day,” including sleeping in it, only taking it off to shower. According to a 2017 study on the health effects of chest binding conducted by University of Michigan’s Dr. Sarah Peitzmeier, individuals should only wear binders for eight hours a day, should never sleep while wearing a binder and should take at least one day off a week from binding. Longer binding sessions can increase the risk of negative health conditions. According to the suit, those negative health effects are present in Yoakam’s medical records due to excessive binder use. “The binder sometimes is so tight that it cuts into Mr. Yoakam’s skin and causes him to bleed,” the complaint states. “He has also developed scars, rashes and acne from the binder. These injuries have also led to infections from the binder. Unless he receives chest surgery, Mr. Yoakam will have to continue to use the binder and suffer the resulting injuries.” “This is about health care,” Saenz told NBC News. “Mr. Yoakam and other incarcerated people have a right to health care under the Constitution, and here the Virginia Department of Corrections is not providing him with the medical care that his doctors have deemed medically necessary for him.” Virginia Trans: Previously on Towleroad Virginia Transgender Man Sues Department of Corrections for Denial of Health Care; Top Surgery Denial Causing ‘Substantial Risk of Serious Harm’ Brian Bell August 27, 2021 Read More Tennessee Trans Bathroom Bill Alleged to Violate Title IX. Human Rights Campaign Sues on behalf of the the affected children. Brian Bell August 4, 2021 Read More West Virginia, Arkansas Laws That Restrict Trans Rights are Unconstitutional; and Courts Should Strike Down, says Justice Dept. Michael Goff June 19, 2021 Read More Man Alleges New Orleans Police Pulled Job Offer Because He is Trans; Federal Complaint Filed Brian Bell May 20, 2021 Read More Trans Community Responds to Caitlyn Jenner Trans Sports Comments; ‘Caitlyn Jenner is Anti-Trans’ Brian Bell May 5, 2021 Read More President Biden Trans-Exclusionary Legislation Response Reportedly in the Works Brian Bell May 4, 2021 Read More Image courtesy fo Lambda Legal View the full article