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Republican Govs to blame for high cost, less effective, limited time effective monoclonal antibodies treatments over cheap and effective and tested and approved vaccines. For months, Joelle Ruppert was among the millions of Americans who are covid vaccine holdouts. Her reluctance, she said, was not so much that she opposed the new vaccines but that she never felt “compelled” by the evidence supporting their experimental use. Nonetheless, after she fell ill with covid last month, Ruppert, a Florida preschool teacher, found herself desperate to try an experimental product that promised to ease her symptoms: infusion with a potent laboratory-produced treatment known as monoclonal antibody therapy. “I was in bed; I was feeling so badly, like the longest flu I ever had in my life,” said Ruppert, 54, of Gainesville. “I was, like, whatever, give me whatever.” Ruppert and her husband, Michael, 61, who also contracted covid-19, are among thousands of people in the U.S. who in recent weeks have rushed to receive infusions of the powerful antibody cocktails shown to reduce hospitalizations by 70% when given promptly to high-risk patients. The rush has been fueled in no small part by governors in Southern states, where vaccinations lag and hospitalizations are soaring with delta-variant infections. Republican Govs. Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas are among leaders touting the antibody treatments even as they downplay vaccination and other measures that health officials say can prevent illness in the first place. Together, they have opened dozens of state-sponsored sites where monoclonal antibody therapy is offered, holding regular news conferences to endorse the potentially lifesaving benefits, while continuing to resist wider public health measures such as mask mandates and vaccine passports. “Anyone that has a better-than-average risk with covid, if you do get infected, this is something you can do early and potentially really make a difference,” DeSantis said Saturday at the opening of a monoclonal antibody infusion site in Manatee County. Antibody cocktails, which must be given within 10 days of covid infection or exposure, are effective for many patients, but “this is not a substitute for vaccine, by any means,” Dr. Christian Ramers, chief of population health and an infectious disease specialist at Family Health Centers of San Diego.Since mid-July, delivery of the antibody cocktail made by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has soared from 25,000 doses to 125,000 doses per week, with about half shipped to four states: Florida, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama, said Alexandra Bowie, a company spokesperson. The treatments use laboratory-produced molecules to replace, enhance or mimic the body’s natural antibodies that fight infection. The sudden spotlight on the antibody treatments has whipsawed some public health experts, who have struggled for months to create and sustain sites capable of offering the therapy. The treatment is delivered primarily through a one-dose intravenous infusion that takes about 25 minutes, followed by an hour of observation for reactions. Antibody cocktails, which must be given within 10 days of covid infection or exposure, are effective for many patients, but “this is not a substitute for vaccine, by any means,” said Dr. Christian Ramers, chief of population health and an infectious disease specialist at Family Health Centers of San Diego. “It’s a backwards strategy,” said Ramers. “It’s so much better to prevent a disease than to use an expensive, cumbersome and difficult-to-use therapy. It does not make any medical sense to lean into monoclonals to the detriment of vaccines. It’s like playing defense with no offense.” The cost of Regeneron infusions: about $1,250 a dose. For now, the federal government is covering the cost. The federal government is also covering the costs of covid vaccination, at about $20 a dose. Hospitals and infusion centers also charge for the time- and resource-intensive administration of monoclonal antibody treatment. Medicare has agreed to pay providers between $310 and $450 for performing it in health care settings — and $750 for treatment in a patient’s home. Some patients who receive the treatment may be charged similar amounts for copays and administration fees, depending on what a hospital charges and what their insurance covers. DeSantis has emphasized that the treatment is provided at no cost to patients at Florida’s state-run sites. “What’s amazing to me is that a vaccine we’ve been working on for 10 years, they are deathly afraid of,” Starnes said. “But this highly experimental cocktail? They’re willing to run in there the minute that they’re sick to get this infused into their bodies.” Memorial Hospital Pembroke in South Florida, Chief Nursing Officer David Starnes 2,000 + patients with antibody cocktails, 90% UnvaccinatedThe Food and Drug Administration authorized two monoclonal antibody treatments for emergency use for covid in November, weeks after President Donald Trump credited Regeneron’s product for curing his infection. Since then, use of a cocktail made by Eli Lilly has been halted because it wasn’t effective against some covid variants. In May, sotrovimab, a monoclonal antibody made by the pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline, also received emergency authorization. The treatment is authorized for people newly infected with covid at high risk of hospitalization and for high-risk patients who have been exposed to the virus. Those eligible include a wide swath of the American public: people who are overweight or obese; those who have diabetes, heart disease or other illnesses; and those with compromised immune systems. The covid vaccines also were authorized under emergency-use protocol. This week, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was granted full approval for use in people 16 and older. Christina Pushaw, a DeSantis spokesperson, said criticism of efforts to promote monoclonal antibody therapy amounts to “a false choice.” “Prevention and treatment are not mutually exclusive,” she said in an email. “Both monoclonals and vaccines save lives. The difference is that vaccines are preventative and cannot help someone who is already infected with covid-19.” The cost of Regeneron infusions: about $1,250 a dose. PLUS Medicare agrees to pay $310-450 for administration. ($750 if at home.) The Costs of COVID vaccination, about $20 a dose. Some health officials welcomed the attention to monoclonal antibody therapy generated by DeSantis and others, saying the treatment has been undervalued and underused. The federal government has shipped more than 1.3 million doses of monoclonal products to nearly 6,300 sites, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. So, far, about 637,000 doses — or fewer than half — have been used. “It’s not about vaccination. It’s about a treatment for covid that can keep patients out of the hospital,” said Connie Sullivan, president and chief executive of the trade group National Home Infusion Association. “This isn’t about politics. This is about patients at risk.” Still, some unvaccinated people appear to view the antibody treatments as a backup plan if they get sick, several health officials said. At Memorial Hospital Pembroke in South Florida, Chief Nursing Officer David Starnes has overseen treatment of more than 2,000 patients with antibody cocktails since December. At least 90% of the patients have been unvaccinated — and the numbers keep climbing. “What’s amazing to me is that a vaccine we’ve been working on for 10 years, they are deathly afraid of,” Starnes said. “But this highly experimental cocktail? They’re willing to run in there the minute that they’re sick to get this infused into their bodies.” Even those confounded by the emphasis on monoclonals over vaccination in some states say this new attention to the treatment has helped counter a basic public relations problem: Until recently, awareness of monoclonal treatments, often called mAbs, was low, leaving patients in danger of missing the 10-day window for treatment. Utah, where fewer than half of residents are vaccinated, is among the states hosting an intensive, coordinated effort to reach people in time. Officials at the Intermountain Healthcare system, based in Utah, pulled together a team of volunteer medical professionals, dubbed “the mAb squad,” who scan lists of newly positive covid patients and call those who meet eligibility criteria to connect them with the treatment. Dr. Curt Andersen, a family medicine physician and an associate medical director with Intermountain Healthcare, said he’s seeing lists of 70 to 80 patients every day because of the delta surge. “I talked to this one gentleman who got treated. Then his wife got treated. Then his mother, who was at very high risk,” Andersen said. “On the phone, he broke down in tears because we had this resource and he was so grateful.” Ruppert, the Gainesville preschool teacher, said she, too, was grateful. She and her husband both felt better within days of being treated at UF Health Shands Hospital. The experience has caused her to rethink how to protect herself and her family from covid. “Now that I’ve been there, I have a completely different perspective on this,” said Ruppert, who will be eligible for vaccination in mid-October, 90 days after the antibody infusion. “I most likely will be vaccinated.” Subscribe to KHN’s free Morning Briefing. Republican Govs on Towleroad Republican Govs Shell Game Pushes Regeneron Treatments, Maintains Fog Of Fear for Powerful COVID Vaccine Prevention Read More Maya Rudolph reunites with Andy Samberg to host Baking It Read More Michael Jackson stole my song, says Paul Anka Read More Ed Sheeran gave Elton John a ‘giant marble penis’ for his birthday Read More OnlyFans Accounts Stay Sexy; Consents to Adult Content; Says They Always Loved ‘Inclusion’; Payments Are in Mail; Promise Not To Pull Out Read More Tori Spelling Advice: Life is”Too Short To Be Too Serious”; Soon After Detailing the Harrowing Bullying of Her Daughter Read More ‘Reminiscence’ is Wolverine Meets Bogart in Hugh Jackman’s Big Studio Sci-fi; Skipped in Theaters, It’s No Dud For A Delta Date Night (HBO Max) Read More Elliot Page praises ‘But I’m A Cheerleader’ for helping with ‘isolation and loneliness’; WATCH Full Film and Trailer Read More Lil Nas X New Relationship is Under Wraps; Had ‘Good Boyfriends and Some Bad Ones’; This is ‘Someone Special ‘. It’s ‘effortless’ Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Maya Rudolph is reuniting with Andy Samberg to host a new baking series. The 49-year-old actress and Andy – Maya’s former castmate on ‘Saturday Night Live’ – are poised to host Peacock’s ‘Baking It’ competition series. The six-episode series will be executive produced by Amy Poehler, who also enjoyed success on the long-running comedy show. NBC has revealed that the series will see eight teams of two join Maya and Andy, 43, in their winter cabin to celebrate holiday food traditions. The comedy duo will provide their own take on the exploits of the contestants, according to EW.com. ‘Baking It’ – which is a sister series to the arts and crafts competition show ‘Making It’ – will feature a judging panel that is made up of four grandmothers. However, NBC has not yet confirmed a premiere date for the first episode. Meanwhile, despite finding fame through comedy, Maya previously admitted she has a very serious attitude towards music. The actress thinks people would be surprised to learn about her intense passion for music. Asked what turns her serious, Maya previously said: “Music. Ever since I was a kid, if I fell in love with a musician, I’d daydream that I was them up on stage singing. “If I’m ever watching someone playing live, to this day I have to see their shoes. I get very obsessive about it. It makes them a real person for me somehow.” Maya would love to play music in front of a crowd, but confessed to being “scared” by the idea. She said: “I think I’ve always been too scared to play music and be that vulnerable in front of people, so much so that I’ve always put the idea of seriously doing it on the backburner. But the dream is always there.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Michael Jackson left Paul Anka “beyond p*****” when he stole a recording of a song they worked on together on Anka’s home studio. The 80-year-old crooner and Michael – who died in June 2009 from acute Propofol intoxication at the age of 50 – became friends in the 1970s when the pop star and his family attended Anka’s Las Vegas shows. Eventually, Anka and Michael discussed working together and the ‘Beat It’ hitmaker agreed to be a guest on his 1983 album ‘Walk a Fine Line’, but after being sent the tapes of their recording, Michael decided he wasn’t going to record the track and never sent back the masters. Speaking to the New York Post newspaper’s Page Six column, Anka said: “I got close to them. “I sent the tapes to Los Angeles for him to meet me there so we could put the rest of the band on. They called me from there a couple of days later and said, ‘Mr. Jackson stole the tapes.’ Recalling how he then contacted his lawyers – who also represented Michael – he added: “I said, ‘Guys, am I missing something? We’ve got a contract.’ “Well, Paul, you know he’s got ‘Thriller’ out and it’s taking off. He just doesn’t want anything else out there, blah blah. And we can’t find the contract.’ I said ‘What? OK, boys, I see who’s more important. You’re getting sued. I’m out of here.’” Anka did eventually get the tapes back and hired new lawyers, but he was left stunned in 2009 when Michael – just before his tragic passing – released the song ‘This Is It’ which he immediately recognised as the track the co-wrote back in the 1980s. The ‘Diana’ singer said: “I got a hold of the lawyers, who were the same two lawyers who screwed me in the beginning. I said, ‘Hey guys, that’s my song with Michael. We have a problem here, boys. This ain’t going to fly; you’ve got about two, three hours to fix this.’ “It was very simple. I said, ‘I want half of everything or it’s not coming out.’ And we got what we wanted.” The Michael Jackson Estate also later confirmed that ‘This Is It’ – which was the name of Michael’s planned 50 concert residency at The O2 in London which never took place and the name given to the documentary about the rehearsals – had been “co-written by the legendary Paul Anka”. Despite the legal wrangling, Anka holds no ill-feelings toward Michael as he deserved all his huge success. He said: “Michael went on to be what Michael is, deservedly so as an artist. He was a great artist.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John has revealed Ed Sheeran bought him a “giant marble penis” for his birthday. The ‘Rocket Man’ legend – who is closed friends with the ‘Shape of You’ hitmaker – turned 74 in March and he’s now opened up on the extravagant and memorable gift his pal gave him. Appearing on Hit 109.9’s ‘Carrie and Tommy Show’, he said: “For my birthday this year, he gave me a giant marble penis. “I don’t know if that’s because I’ve always been a p***k or what. It’s really big, it’s beautifully made.” The iconic musician admitted his husband David Furnish wouldn’t let him put the X-rated statue in their garden because of their sons Zachary, 10, and eight-year-old Elijah. He laughed: “It’s hidden in an area in the house where they wouldn’t see it!” Meanwhile, Elton revealed he has had an impact on Ed’s sense of style after giving him some fashion advice and offering him to put him in touch with Donatella Versace. He added: “That’s true. I said, ‘Ed – you’ve worn the baggy shirts and the trousers, it’s got you so far but it’s now time to make a change.’ “ The resulting ensemble was the bright pink suit he wore in the ‘Bad Habits video. Elton continued: “I said, ‘Listen – if you’re making the ‘Bad Habits’ video, you’ve got to look great’. “He loves it, it’s not as if I’m forcing him to [do] anything he doesn’t want to do.” When it comes to raunchy gifts, Ed has history after Courteney Cox previously revealed he’d sent her a “leather gimp mask”. Ed – who is close friends with the 57-year-old actress – revealed how he thought up an X-rated prank when she told him she could buy anything she wanted from her Alexa device. He explained: “So, she walks out the room, and I go, ‘Alexa, order me a leather gimp mask’. “Unbeknownst to me, Courteney’s assistant opened the post, and she finds this mask and instantly goes, ‘Oh, I don’t think I was meant to see that,’ and leaves it on Courteney’s bed.” The 30-year-old hitmaker revealed the ‘Friends’ star found out about his joke, and he’s kept it up by ordering more and hiding them in unusual places. He added: “Anyway, she found out the story, and now every time I go back there, I order her another gimp mask. “And she has maybe 12, and I hide them in people’s bedrooms. So they’ll go in a drawer, and they’ll just find this leather S&M mask.” View the full article

OnlyFansContent-creation platform OnlyFans’ planned porn ban and elimination of existing sexually explicit content was “suspended” Wednesday after days of backlash from sex workers, many of which are LGBTQ, that have OnlyFans accounts OnlyFans Accounts Whiplash on Content About-Face The reversal came Wednesday morning in a statement from the company thanking those with OnlyFans accounts that spoke out against the planned pornography ban for “making your voices heard.” The company announced it would prohibit sexually explicit content on its platform from October 1, 2021 onward on Thursday, effectively deplatforming a multitude of sex workers whose OnlyFans accounts drove the company’s popularity and financial revenues. According to Bloomberg, OnlyFans saw revenues rise to $2 billion in 2020 and are on track to top $4 billion in 2021. OnlyFans Accounts held by sex workers and adult creators will continue, at least for nowOthers have stated their intent to close their OnlyFans accounts regardless of Wednesday’s decision in favor of similar platforms that have been more friendly to sex workers, such as Fansly and PocketStars. Some that appear to plan on continuing to publish sexually explicit content on the site have called on the company to offer better revenue sharing percentages to make up for the loss in subscribers, allegedly 500-plus in one creator’s case, that occurred in response to last week’s news. OnlyFans currently keeps 20% of all creators’ earnings through the site. Still, others are celebrating the news alongside their reservations. “Never underestimate the power of community, together we demanded our voices were heard,” said United Sex Workers, an advocacy group aimed at decriminalizing sex work and unionizing sex workers. “‘Suspended’ is not canceled, and Onlyfans is not to be trusted, but now more than ever, it is time we come together and fight for our rights at work.” On Towleroad: Gay Internet Can’t Stop With Tyler Posey, and his OnlyFans accounts Onlyfans Accounts: Previously on Towleroad OnlyFans Pornography Ban Could Endanger LGBTQ Sex Workers; New Policy Comes After Investigation of Moderation, Pressure From Financial Institutions Brian Bell August 21, 2021 Read More Adult Performers Leave, Want Owner of Helix Studios Investigated for Alleged Culture of Abuse, Sex Harassment, Drugging Brian Bell June 1, 2021 Read More Tom Of Finland and Slava Mogutin’s ‘Sexy XXX Files’ Challenges Tumblr Ban Savas Abadsidis December 21, 2018 Read More Naked Sean Cody Star Attacks Police Officer Outside A Cracker Barrel Michael Fitzgerald March 9, 2017 Read More PoeFinn Fan Fiction Comes to Life in Star Wars Gay Adult Film Parody – WATCH Sean Mandell December 15, 2016 Read More German Spy Agency Arrests Islamist Double Agent Who Also Worked as a Gay Adult Film Actor Sean Mandell November 30, 2016 Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Tori Spelling thinks life is simply “too short to be too serious”. The 48-year-old star believes it’s important to prioritise having fun and to not worry about being judged. She said: “Life’s too short to be too serious, right? So I feel like you have to be a little authentic. And if you like to have fun and you kind of own your stuff when it happens … and you go on to do better things and evolve. “You don’t want to be too messy. I mean, between being too messy and not, always being able to reel it back [is important] I think. Like if you make one little mess the next time you’ve got to be on it.” Tori actually thinks that making “little messes throughout life” isn’t such a bad thing. She told ‘Entertainment Tonight’: “You never want to be like a big mess, you just want to be like [a lot of] little messes throughout life.” Meanwhile, Tori revealed last month that her teenage daughter was bullied so badly that she suffered from panic attacks. The ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’ star took to Instagram to praise 13-year-old Stella for her strength and courage. The actress uploaded a photograph of Stella modelling for Petite ‘n’ Pretty and captioned it: “How Stella got her groove back… thx to @petitenpretty “Her 1st modeling shoot as a teen girl. Stella is an amazing human. Heart of gold & always leads w/kindness. She’s innovative &creative and full of fire. Which is why as a mom it was so painful to see a young woman’s fire dimmed bc of bullying. “Her bullying started in 5th grade in Encino. Sadly, the boy that bullied her and other girls & boys wasn’t stopped. His parents were on the board. They gave the school a lot of $. Sadly$ won out over the emotional care of the kids. I know i’ve talked bullying before. “But, worse than that was the bullying she faced from her own principal. With Stella’s bullying came health issues. She developed headaches, stomachaches, panic attacks,& her asthma increased. Emotions can be pretty powerful & manifest into physical ailments. “She missed alot of school due to this. But, what did remain was her drive & passion for baking, cooking, & crafting. (sic)” Tori Spelling on Towleroad Tori Spelling Advice: Life is”Too Short To Be Too Serious”; Soon After Detailing the Harrowing Bullying of Her Daughter August 25, 2021 Read More ‘Reminiscence’ is Wolverine Meets Bogart in Hugh Jackman’s Big Studio Sci-fi; Skipped in Theaters, It’s No Dud For A Delta Date Night (HBO Max) August 25, 2021 Read More Elliot Page praises ‘But I’m A Cheerleader’ for helping with ‘isolation and loneliness’; WATCH Full Film and Trailer August 25, 2021 Read More Lil Nas X New Relationship is Under Wraps; Had ‘Good Boyfriends and Some Bad Ones’; This is ‘Someone Special ‘. It’s ‘effortless’ August 25, 2021 Read More ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ is The Gay Coming-Of-Age Tale For Everyone With an Inner (and Outer) Drag Queen August 25, 2021 Read More Veteran Atlanta Activist Becomes First Black Trans Woman Ever Named to Presidential HIV/AIDS Council August 24, 2021 Read More View the full article

Published by AFP Hugh Jackman, a versatile Australian actor who has done musicals and superhero movies, takes on the role of a scientist running a backstreet memory lab in the dystopian Miami of ‘Reminiscence’ Los Angeles (AFP) – Hugh Jackman helped pioneer the superhero sequels that dominate modern megaplexes, but the former “X-Men” actor leapt at the chance to star in something more rare these days — a totally original sci-fi from a major studio, in “Reminiscence.” The Warner Bros film, out on Friday, comes from the creators of TV smash hit “Westworld,” and imagines a dystopian near-future Miami in which a rising ocean has flooded the streets. All but the wealthiest live a precarious existence huddled on crime-infested islands and waterlogged back alleys, and the only “superpower” on show is a technology that allows paying customers to revisit cherished memories from better days in vivid detail. “Hey, I’m not one to lecture about sequels, I did nine movies playing Wolverine! But I do think audiences want something fresh and something new,” Jackman told AFP. In the film, which has shades of “Minority Report,” Jackman plays a scientist running one such backstreet memory lab. His life gets turned upside down when a mysterious woman arrives with a seemingly straightforward request for help remembering where she left her keys. The movie was written and directed by Lisa Joy, who along with husband Jonathan Nolan created the similarly dystopian sci-fi/Western “Westworld.” “It was a challenge and it would not have been made had it not been for Hugh’s support of this film,” said Joy. “I’m a first-time feature director, and I had an original (movie) that I wanted to get made that involved sinking Miami! “To take that leap of faith, I think I was really bolstered when Hugh jumped in and said ‘well I believe in her.'” Her husband Nolan — a producer on “Reminiscence” — also has previous form exploring the darker side of our memories, penning neo-noir thriller “Memento,” which was directed by his famous brother Christopher and hit the festival circuit in 2000. That same year saw Jackman’s first turn as Wolverine in “X-Men,” a film credited with launching Hollywood’s superhero era, and paving the way for wildly popular Marvel movies like “Avengers: Endgame” that have smashed box office records. Jackman’s nine “X-Men” films grossed more than $4 billion in total worldwide, including three spin-off movies for Wolverine. Wolverine meets Bogart While “Reminiscence” is a long way from Jackman’s Marvel comic-book adaptation days, its writer-director has described the protagonist as “a P.I. of the mind — think Wolverine meets Humphrey Bogart.” “Probably a little handier with his fists than Bogart ever was!” laughed Jackman, before admitting there is a “little element” of his iconic mutant role in scientist Nick Bannister. A war hero veteran suffering from PTSD, Jackman’s character soon becomes embroiled in a shadowy network of drug dealers and “land barons” who jealously hoard the remaining dry, elevated acres, and has to take matters into his own hands. “Like Wolverine, he’s got that gruff, tough exterior. And like Wolverine, that’s born out of pain, and always is,” said Jackman. “The tougher the exterior, usually, the more broken on the inside.” As well as drawing on Hollywood’s long tradition of Sam Spade-style hard-boiled private detectives, the movie is loosely inspired by the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. The “genre busting” blend of sci-fi, action and romance appealed to the 52-year-old Australian actor, a versatile Tony Award winner known for musicals such as “The Greatest Showman” and “Les Miserables” as well as action blockbusters. “Everything is new for me… even when I was doing Wolverine, it all felt new and exciting to me. I always felt there was more to get from the character,” he said. “But I think doing something like this, that felt very original, was exciting.” [This post contains video, click to play] Reminiscence on Towleroad ‘Reminiscence’ is Wolverine Meets Bogart in Hugh Jackman’s Big Studio Sci-fi; Skipped in Theaters, It’s No Dud For A Delta Date Night (HBO Max) August 25, 2021 Read More Elliot Page praises ‘But I’m A Cheerleader’ for helping with ‘isolation and loneliness’; WATCH Full Film and Trailer August 25, 2021 Read More Lil Nas X New Relationship is Under Wraps; Had ‘Good Boyfriends and Some Bad Ones’; This is ‘Someone Special ‘. It’s ‘effortless’ August 25, 2021 Read More ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ is The Gay Coming-Of-Age Tale For Everyone With an Inner (and Outer) Drag Queen August 25, 2021 Read More Veteran Atlanta Activist Becomes First Black Trans Woman Ever Named to Presidential HIV/AIDS Council August 24, 2021 Read More LGBT+ Afghans desperate to escape amid Taliban takeover August 24, 2021 Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Elliot Page has revealed how ‘But I’m A Cheerleader’ helped him deal with “isolation and loneliness”. The ‘Umbrella Academy’ actor – who came out as transgender in December 2020 – received the Achievement Award at Outfest in Los Angeles, and used his acceptance speech to discuss the impact of the 1999 comedy drama. He said: “[Without representation], I don’t know if I would have made it through the moments of isolation and loneliness and shame and self-hatred that was so extreme and powerful and all-encompassing that you could hardly see out of it.” Elliot was 15 when he was “flipping through the channels” and stumbled on the movie, which starred Natasha Lyonne as 17-year-old cheerleader Megan Bloomfield. Megan’s parents send her to a gay conversion therapy camp in the film, but once there she learns to embrace her sexual orientation. Elliot added: “The dialogue in that film, and scenes in that film just transform your life. “I almost think we don’t talk enough about how important representation is and enough about how many lives it saves and how many futures it allows for.” And although that film made an impact, the 34-year-old star insisted much more needs to be done to make representation more widely seen across film and television. He said: “It’s [Outfest] and organizations like yourself that are completely changing [the amount of representation] and helping get stories out in the world that I know are reaching people in moments where they feel desperately alone and afraid and like they have no sense of community. “It offers somebody a lifeline. And I know that representation has done that for me.” Meanwhile, Elliot previously reflected on coming out as transgender and explained he had adopted a male identity from a very young age. Elliot said: “All trans people are so different, and my story’s absolutely just my story. But yes, when I was a little kid, absolutely, 100 percent, I was a boy. “I knew I was a boy when I was a toddler. I was writing fake love letters and signing them ‘Jason.’ Every little aspect of my life, that is who I was, who I am, and who I knew myself to be.” [This post contains video, click to play] But I’m A Cheerleader on Towleroad Elliot Page praises ‘But I’m A Cheerleader’ for helping with ‘isolation and loneliness’; WATCH Full Film and Trailer August 25, 2021 Read More Lil Nas X New Relationship is Under Wraps; Had ‘Good Boyfriends and Some Bad Ones’; This is ‘Someone Special ‘. It’s ‘effortless’ August 25, 2021 Read More ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ is The Gay Coming-Of-Age Tale For Everyone With an Inner (and Outer) Drag Queen August 25, 2021 Read More Veteran Atlanta Activist Becomes First Black Trans Woman Ever Named to Presidential HIV/AIDS Council August 24, 2021 Read More LGBT+ Afghans desperate to escape amid Taliban takeover August 24, 2021 Read More Stevie Nicks 2021: I Survived My Cocaine; Klonopin ‘Ruined My Life for 8 Years’; Given By ‘Stupid Doctor Making a Groupie Mistake’ August 24, 2021 Read More Cardi B and Lizzo Together Tweak More White Supremacists and Fat Shamers Than Usual. Get Right With ‘Rumors’; Let Them ‘be great’, Offset Urges August 24, 2021 Read More Matching Tattoos for Elliot Page and ‘Feel Good’s’ Mae Martin Who Met 15 Years Ago; Mutually Admiring Friends Came Later August 24, 2021 Read More Planes, guns, night-vision goggles: The Taliban’s new U.S.-made war chest August 23, 2021 Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Lil Nas X’s new romance is “effortless”. The 22-year-old rap star met his boyfriend “around the time” of his ‘Saturday Night Live’ performance in May, and he admits that their romance “just feels natural”. He told VMan magazine: “I feel like this is one of the best [relationships] yet. I’m really happy about it, and it all just feels natural. It’s effortless.” Lil Nas actually had his first boyfriend when he was “maybe 18 or 19”, but he made a concerted effort to keep their romance under wraps. He said: “It was very late, like, in college. I don’t even know if you can say ‘boyfriend’ if it’s very much a ‘nobody knows about it, down low,’ situation.” And while his past romances have helped to inspire his songs “to a certain extent”, Lil Nas insisted he’s resisted the temptation to focus on any particular relationship. He explained: “That sounds like a great song to write, but I haven’t written it yet. “I’ve definitely written about him, but not the basics of starting a relationship with a guy for the first time or anything like that.” Lil Nas also shared that he was “about to go on [a date] right after this interview”. The chart-topping star admitted he usually goes on night-time dates. He added: “This is actually probably the first day-time date I’ve done in a minute.” The rapper – who came out as gay while ‘Old Town Road’ topped the charts – previously suggested that his new boyfriend could be “the one”. He said: “I’ve had some good boyfriends and some bad ones. A lot of them were emotionally unavailable or had a lot of insecurity and whatnot. “I’ve found someone special now. I think this is the one. I can’t explain it – it’s just a feeling.” Lil Nas X New Relationship on Towleroad Lil Nas X New Relationship is Under Wraps; Had ‘Good Boyfriends and Some Bad Ones’; This is ‘Someone Special ‘. It’s ‘effortless’ August 25, 2021 Read More ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ is The Gay Coming-Of-Age Tale For Everyone With an Inner (and Outer) Drag Queen August 25, 2021 Read More Veteran Atlanta Activist Becomes First Black Trans Woman Ever Named to Presidential HIV/AIDS Council August 24, 2021 Read More LGBT+ Afghans desperate to escape amid Taliban takeover August 24, 2021 Read More Stevie Nicks 2021: I Survived My Cocaine; Klonopin ‘Ruined My Life for 8 Years’; Given By ‘Stupid Doctor Making a Groupie Mistake’ August 24, 2021 Read More Cardi B and Lizzo Together Tweak More White Supremacists and Fat Shamers Than Usual. Get Right With ‘Rumors’; Let Them ‘be great’, Offset Urges August 24, 2021 Read More Matching Tattoos for Elliot Page and ‘Feel Good’s’ Mae Martin Who Met 15 Years Ago; Mutually Admiring Friends Came Later August 24, 2021 Read More Planes, guns, night-vision goggles: The Taliban’s new U.S.-made war chest August 23, 2021 Read More Cuomo’s Downfall Spawns Tertiary, Fraught HRC Investigation of Its Leader Who Joined the Gay Rights Group From Governor’s Staff August 23, 2021 Read More View the full article

Max Harwood in “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie”The film adaptation of the celebrated coming-of-age, drag extravaganza of a musical “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” is finally set for release after a planned theatrical run was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The film, led by newcomer Max Harwood in the titular role, is set for a September 17 release on Amazon, but audiences got their first look at LGBTQ film festival OutFest Los Angeles earlier this month. The film and original play are based on the 2011 documentary “Jamie: Drag Queen at 16,” which chronicles the journey of the real-life Jamie Campbell embracing his love of drag and attending his high school prom in full drag regalia. The film pays tribute to its subjects with footage of Jamie and his loving mother Margaret playing over the end credits. Reviews have been pouring in as the public waits for their chance to see the film, with Deadline’s Pete Hammond labeling it a “junior ‘Kinky Boots'” and The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney praising “Jamie for telling an LGBTQ story where “coming out isn’t a factor.” “Jamie has been out and proud for some time, and he responds to the taunts of obnoxious class smartass Dean (Samuel Bottomley) at school by basically saying, ‘Yeah, I’m gay, what of it,'” Rooney wrote. [This post contains video, click to play] Life Imitating Art Harwood has drawn an exceptional amount of praise for his film debut. The LGBTQ actor’s real-life story full of performing dreams mirrors Jamie to an intriguing extent, which, according to Hammond, comes through in his portrayal of the character. “Harwood never had acted before landing this plum gig, and he is thoroughly engaging, confident in his singing and fledgling showmanship and clearly understanding the core of this kid,” Hammond noted. “When I was growing up, I didn’t like playing football. I didn’t like getting muddy. I liked to dress up, and act and dance and sing,” Harwood told Attitude. “I was doing things that were more typically effeminate and I feel like, at the time, growing up, as an effeminate boy, there are opinions and thought that people put on you. I definitely felt othered, in that sense.” Harwood’s feelings of ostracization line up squarely with the experiences Jamie goes through in his journey of self-identity through the glamour of drag. Whether it be Jamie’s homophobic father or teacher who tries to force cultural gender norms upon him, key obstacles to Jamie’s self-actualization feel all too close to Harwood’s own experiences, and, frankly, those of so many others within LGBTQ circles. But having that in his past helped Harwood embrace Jamie’s empowering message. “Jamie is someone who knows who he is, and he’s waiting for everyone else to catch up and get on board,” Harwood said. “I think the whole play isn’t Jamie going, ‘Oh, do I want to be a drag queen? Do I want to do this?’ Jamie knows. he wants to be a drag queen. He is gay.” “I also feel like I’m at a stage in my life that I know who I am and that I know what I want,” he added. “I was navigating, not to prove to myself, but to convince my parents and my friends that I actually could do this.” Stage To Screen A huge part of maintaining the heart of the original stage production through the adaptation process was keeping the production’s creative nucleus intact and involved. Director Jonathan Butterell and writer Tom MacRae reprise their roles despite never working in movies before. Singer-songwriter and the original musical’s composer Dan Gillespie Sells also returns, teaming up with Oscar-winning composer Anne Dudley on the film’s score. Producers Peter Carlton and Mark Herbert, co-founders of Warp Films, actually turned down funding from certain companies in order to keep the musical’s core at the forefront of Jamie’s jump to the silver screen. “What we’ve done a lot in Warp is back really talented people who’ve achieved in one area into another,” Carlton told Variety. To that end, the team also made sure to get Campbell involved in the film as well. His emotion toward the project exuded both on set and during a special preview of the film at the Edinburgh Film Festival earlier this month. “I just love that there’s a big show out there that has got someone who’s camp, feminine and flamboyant fronting it,” Campbell said in Edinburgh. “They’re the star of the show.” Everybody’s Talking About Jamie: Previously on Towleroad ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’ is The Gay Coming-Of-Age Tale For Everyone With an Inner (and Outer) Drag Queen Brian Bell August 25, 2021 Read More Elliot Page Awarded for Prejudice-busting Work and Life On And Off Screen; Sheds Light on Dark Prejudices; Shares Unseen Prides and Joys Brian Bell August 11, 2021 Read More Billy Eichner ‘s ‘Big, Gay Divorce Comedy’ ‘Ex-Husbands’ Headed To Amazon; ‘It’s the Gay ‘War Of The Roses’ You’ve Been Waiting For!’ Brian Bell August 4, 2021 Read More Tommy Dorfman: ‘Some Moved Houses During the Pandemic; Some People Changed Genders;’ ’13 Reasons Why’ Star Comes Out a Trans Woman Brian Bell July 23, 2021 Read More Notorious Founders Of ‘Conversion Therapy’ Group Exodus Never Did ‘Pray Away’ the Gay; Come Out Again, Slam Similar Programs in Netflix Doc Brian Bell July 13, 2021 Read More Bowen Yang, Joel Kim Booster to Star in Gay Rom-Com ‘Fire Island;’ A Gay ‘Pride and Prejudice’ Brian Bell July 2, 2021 Read More Image courtesy of 2oth Century Pictures View the full article

Tori Cooper, first black, trans member of the Presidential HIV/AIDS Advisory Council EverNoted Atlanta LGBTQ advocate Tori Cooper made history earlier this month when she was named to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. Cooper becomes the first Black out trans woman ever named to the council. Voice At The Presidential HIV/AIDS Advsisory Council Table Cooper appears ready to jump right into the thick of the fight against HIV/AIDS, saying that she wants to make sure that “all of our voices are heard and included in every phase of ending the epidemic.” She wants to make sure that the voices of trans populations are heard, but that power and resources are also available to “folks deemed marginalized in society.” “I’m very humbled, very proud,” Cooper told Project Q Atlanta. “There’s a lot of work that needs to be done, so there’s this desire to just dig in and be a part of something that really means a lot to a lot of people in this country.” Cooper was one of eight new members sworn in by another trans trailblazer, HHS assistant secretary Dr. Rachel Levine. Cooper also noted what being the first Black out trans woman to join the council personally meant. “Visibility is important, and representation is important … It’s important that folks see folks whom they feel that they share a community with, Cooper said. “It’s also important for additional communities and additional intersectional identities to be at the table.” Cooper’s Past Activism Her appointment on Aug. 4 is the latest in her long history in advocacy and political advisory roles focused on LGBTQ populations. The current director of community engagement for the Human Rights Campaign’s Transgender Justice Initiative has worked with multiple organizations and political figures in Georgia, including departing Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Sen. Rafael Warnock. Cooper’s activist roots first sprouted through HIV/AIDS awareness work nearly three decades ago. In that time, she has led HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns and programs tailored specifically to trans populations, including the CDC’s Sister to Sister program. “That was the beginning of it, and it’s just been going ever since, full speed ahead,” said Cooper. Cooper has also been entrenched in the community as well. She became the first out trans ambassador to AIDS Walk Atlanta, one of the city’s largest HIV/AIDS fundraising organizations, in 2016. Cooper also co-signed a 2019 letter to Bottoms highlighting the city’s mismanagement of HOPWA funds, a federal housing program specifically focused on aiding low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS. The city of Atlanta was found to be dragging its feet in distributing $40 million dollars in federal funds to local housing organizations. Addressing Trans-Specific Needs Cooper joins a number of leading advocates and medical professionals combatting the continuing HIV/AIDS epidemic, but much of Cooper’s focus lies directly on how policy can aid trans and gender-diverse communities, especially trans people of color, that still receive diminished attention. Speaking to NBC News, Cooper highlights that easier access to gender-validating IDs nationwide is an example of non-medical changes that could ease the barrier to access proper medical treatment. “As a Black trans woman who has an ‘F’ on her ID, what it does is it makes it easier for my provider to write prescriptions for gender affirming health care,” Cooper said. “We have to make sure that providers understand that as trans folks we have the same needs as every other community but also very unique needs as well,” she continued. “Cisgender women don’t need prostate exams; trans women do. Cisgender men don’t need gynecological care; trans men do. And so, true HIV health care, through comprehensive and inclusive health care, includes all of those, and there are a number of different ways to to get to that.” Atlanta LGBTQ: Previously on Towleroad Veteran Atlanta Activist Becomes First Black Trans Woman Ever Named to Presidential HIV/AIDS Council Brian Bell August 24, 2021 Read More Possible HIV Treatment OK’d To expand Phase 1 Human Trials After Stopping HIV in Lab; Brian Bell August 18, 2021 Read More Moderna HIV Vaccine Phase 1 Human Trials to Start as Early as Next Week. Hope to Build on mRNA Learnings Brian Bell August 13, 2021 Read More Covid Booster Shots Likely Offered Soon To People With Compromised Immune Systems — Fauci ; Priority Include People With HIV Towleroad August 5, 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 Photo courtesy of Human Rights Campaign View the full article

Published by Al-Araby It was never easy being gay or transgender in Afghanistan. Now it could be deadly, according to LGBT+ Afghans, whose fear of violence under the Taliban is driving a frantic bid to escape. But how any evacuation might work is another matter, with scant practical support coming from overseas and even less hope that Islamist militants will let them into the airport. “If I find a visa and a country gives me permission to leave, of course, I will risk everything to get out,” said one gay Afghan student, whose name was withheld for his protection. “Any country, but not here. Living here means nothin… Read More LGBTQ Afghans previously on Towleroad: LGBTQ Orgs Alarmed Their Afghanistan Gay Contacts Have Gone Dark; Call On Nations, World to Prioritize LGBTQ Safety As Likely Taliban Target LGBT+ Afghans desperate to escape amid Taliban takeover Stevie Nicks 2021: I Survived My Cocaine; Klonopin ‘Ruined My Life for 8 Years’; Given By ‘Stupid Doctor Making a Groupie Mistake’ Cardi B and Lizzo Together Tweak More White Supremacists and Fat Shamers Than Usual. Get Right With ‘Rumors’; Let Them ‘be great’, Offset Urges Matching Tattoos for Elliot Page and ‘Feel Good’s’ Mae Martin Who Met 15 Years Ago; Mutually Admiring Friends Came Later View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Stevie Nicks insists the only person who “saved” her from a cocaine addiction was herself. The Fleetwood Mac legend went through “some pretty scary moments” during her battle with addiction and only managed to come through the other side by helping herself and checking into rehab. Speaking to Tim McGraw on his Apple Music Country show ‘Beyond the Influence Radio’, she said: “I managed to save myself. I got through some pretty scary moments, but I saved me, nobody else saved me. “I survived me. I survived my cocaine. I survived by myself. “I checked myself into rehab. Nobody did that for me. I did it and that’s like with my whole life. “So I would dance over those parts just to give the wisdom out to people.” Meanwhile, Stevie previously revealed prescription drugs “ruined” her life and are partly responsible for her not ever having a baby. The ‘Dreams’ singer was prescribed Klonopin – which is usually used for seizures and panic disorders – in 1986 after she overcame cocaine addiction and she claimed the substance “ruined” her life for eight years. Stevie, who started taking Klonopin when she was aged 38, said in 2011: “The only thing I would change about my life is walking into that psychiatrist’s office who prescribed me Klonopin. That ruined my life for eight years. “God knows, maybe I would have met someone, maybe I would have had a baby. “That was my prime eight years. That was a big mistake. Everything else was exactly how it should have been.” The 73-year-old music icon blames the doctor who prescribed her the drug for the toll it took on her health. She added: “That was just a stupid doctor making a groupie mistake and just wanting me to come in there, tell him about all my music friends and young Hollywood, and that nearly ruined my life and nearly killed me.” “I think that what I would do first, and only lately have I thought this, I might sit down at some point across the kitchen table with some of my girlfriends who have been there for a lot of it and put on a tape recorder and just start talking from the very beginning.” Stevie Nicks on Towleroad Stevie Nicks 2021: I Survived My Cocaine; Klonopin ‘Ruined My Life for 8 Years’; Given By ‘Stupid Doctor Making a Groupie Mistake’ August 24, 2021 Read More Let Cardi B and Lizzo ‘be great’, Offset Urges Critics; Were You There for ‘Truth Hurts’? Better Show When Racist/Fat Shaming ‘Rumors’ Are True August 24, 2021 Read More Matching Tattoos for Elliot Page and ‘Feel Good’s’ Mae Martin Who Met 15 Years Ago; Mutually Admiring Friends Came Later August 24, 2021 Read More Planes, guns, night-vision goggles: The Taliban’s new U.S.-made war chest August 23, 2021 Read More Cuomo’s Downfall Spawns Tertiary, Fraught HRC Investigation of Its Leader Who Joined the Gay Rights Group From Governor’s Staff August 23, 2021 Read More ‘FREE OnlyFans’ Adult Makers Demand; Company Tries To Reassure, Begs ‘Patience’; Holds Key to Lives, Incomes For Many August 23, 2021 Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Offset thinks critics of Cardi B and Lizzo should just let them “be great”. The 28-year-old rapper and Lizzo, 33, have faced an online backlash after releasing the new video for their collaboration ‘Rumors’, but Offset thinks critics should stop judging them so fiercely. The Migos star – who has been married to Cardi since 2017 and has a three-year-old daughter with the rap star – told TMZ: “Let these beautiful black women be great, stop judging. We work hard to be entertainers for the world. Let us be.” Lizzo recently revealed she’s received lots of hateful comments on social media from body-shamers and trolls since the ‘Rumors’ video was released. The chart-topping pop star fought back tears as she admitted to being “hurt” by the abusive posts. She shared: “I just feel like I’m seeing negativity directed towards me in the most weirdest way. People saying s*** about me that just doesn’t even make sense.” Lizzo also revealed she’d received racists messages via social media. She said: “It’s fat-phobic, and it’s racist and it’s hurtful. If you don’t like my music, cool. If you don’t like ‘Rumors’ the song, cool.” The singer confessed to being shocked by the online hate, and insisted she tries to be as inclusive as possible. She explained: “I make music that I like, that’s important to me, and I make music that I hope helps people. “I’m not making music for white people – I’m not making music for anybody. I’m a black woman making music. I make black music, period. I’m not serving anyone but myself. Everyone is invited to a Lizzo show, to a Lizzo song.” Cardi B has also voiced her support for Lizzo on social media. She recently wrote on Twitter: “When you stand up for yourself they claim your problematic & sensitive.When you don’t they tear you apart until you crying like this. (sic)” Cardi B and Lizzo Cardi B and Lizzo on Towleroad Let Cardi B and Lizzo ‘be great’, Offset Urges Critics; Were You There for ‘Truth Hurts’? Better Show When Racist/Fat Shaming ‘Rumors’ Are True August 24, 2021 Read More Matching Tattoos for Elliot Page and ‘Feel Good’s’ Mae Martin Who Met 15 Years Ago; Mutually Admiring Friends Came Later August 24, 2021 Read More Planes, guns, night-vision goggles: The Taliban’s new U.S.-made war chest August 23, 2021 Read More Cuomo’s Downfall Spawns Tertiary, Fraught HRC Investigation of Its Leader Who Joined the Gay Rights Group From Governor’s Staff August 23, 2021 Read More ‘FREE OnlyFans’ Adult Makers Demand; Company Tries To Reassure, Begs ‘Patience’; Holds Key to Lives, Incomes For Many August 23, 2021 Read More Boy Scouts Lawsuit Settlement Approved By Judge; But Insurers Oppose, Saying Some of 82K Sex Abuse Victims’ Cases May Be Lies August 23, 2021 Read More Tom Daley Diving into Career as Children’s Author After Gold Medal Win in Tokyo 2020 August 23, 2021 Read More Donald Trump Booed At His Own Rally After Endorsing COVID-19 Vaccine: ‘You Do Have Your Freedom’ But ‘It Is Working’ August 23, 2021 Read More Taliban warn of ‘consequences’ if US extends evacuation August 23, 2021 Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Elliot Page and Mae Martin have got matching tattoos of a coffee cup. The pair – who first met around 15 years ago before becoming friends later on – have shown off the new designs after getting inked by Andrew White at Toronto’s Midway Tattoo and Piercing. Mae – who identifies as non-binary – shared the snap on their Instagram, and wrote: “Someone stop us from getting more tattoos. “Thanks @andrewcrutchywhite and @midwaytattooshop for these and @bbeatricebbrown for the [design] (sic)” ‘Feel Good’ creator Mae has the tattoo on their hip, while Elliot’s is on his right arm. He shared a photo with his pal last month as he plugged his friend’s Netflix comedy series and urged fans to tune in. Elliot wrote: “Chilling with this heartthrob @hooraymae. “PS I just finished season 2 of FEEL GOOD on @netflix and if you haven’t watched yet it what are you doing? (sic)” Meanwhile, the 34-year-old actor – who stars in ‘The Umbrella Academy’ – previously reflected on coming out as transgender and admitted he’s now in a better place for his life and career. He said: “In terms of acting, I don’t think I quite know yet. I am just a lot more f****** comfortable and present, so it’s hard to imagine that that’s not affecting the work, because, really, being present’s ultimately what you’re going for—you’re just ultimately trying to crack open and be present and connect to the truth of a moment. “So I’m imagining the more I get to embody who I am and exist in the body I want to exist in, there’ll be a difference.” Elliot also explained he had adopted a male identity from a very young age. Elliot said: “All trans people are so different, and my story’s absolutely just my story. But yes, when I was a little kid, absolutely, 100 percent, I was a boy. “I knew I was a boy when I was a toddler. I was writing fake love letters and signing them ‘Jason.’ Every little aspect of my life, that is who I was, who I am, and who I knew myself to be.” Matching Tattoos on Towleroad Matching Tattoos for Elliot Page and ‘Feel Good’s’ Mae Martin Who Met 15 Years Ago; Mutually Admiring Friends Came Later August 24, 2021 Read More Planes, guns, night-vision goggles: The Taliban’s new U.S.-made war chest August 23, 2021 Read More Cuomo’s Downfall Spawns Tertiary, Fraught HRC Investigation of Its Leader Who Joined the Gay Rights Group From Governor’s Staff August 23, 2021 Read More ‘FREE OnlyFans’ Adult Makers Demand; Company Tries To Reassure, Begs ‘Patience’; Holds Key to Lives, Incomes For Many August 23, 2021 Read More Boy Scouts Lawsuit Settlement Approved By Judge; But Insurers Oppose, Saying Some of 82K Sex Abuse Victims’ Cases May Be Lies August 23, 2021 Read More Tom Daley Diving into Career as Children’s Author After Gold Medal Win in Tokyo 2020 August 23, 2021 Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Idrees Ali, Patricia Zengerle and Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) – About a month ago, Afghanistan’s ministry of defense posted on social media photographs of seven brand new helicopters arriving in Kabul delivered by the United States. “They’ll continue to see a steady drumbeat of that kind of support, going forward,” U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters a few days later at the Pentagon. In a matter of weeks, however, the Taliban had seized most of the country, as well as any weapons and equipment left behind by fleeing Afghan forces. Video showed the advancing insurgents inspecting long lines of vehicles and opening crates of new firearms, communications gear and even military drones. “Everything that hasn’t been destroyed is the Taliban’s now,” one U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters. Current and former U.S. officials say there is concern those weapons could be used to kill civilians, be seized by other militant groups such as Islamic State to attack U.S.-interests in the region, or even potentially be handed over to adversaries including China and Russia. President Joe Biden’s administration is so concerned about the weapons that it is considering a number of options to pursue. The officials said launching airstrikes against the larger equipment, such as helicopters, has not been ruled out, but there is concern that would antagonize the Taliban at a time the United States’ main goal is evacuating people https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/kabul-airport-operations-restarted-evacuation-flights-pentagon-2021-08-16. Another official said that while there are no definitive numbers yet, the current intelligence assessment was that the Taliban are believed to control more than 2,000 armored vehicles, including U.S. Humvees, and up to 40 aircraft potentially including UH-60 Black Hawks, scout attack helicopters, and ScanEagle military drones. “We have already seen Taliban fighters armed with U.S.-made weapons they seized from the Afghan forces. This poses a significant threat to the United States and our allies,” Representative Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, told Reuters in an email. ‘MORE LIKE TROPHIES’ The speed with which the Taliban swept across Afghanistan is reminiscent of Islamic State militants taking weapons from U.S.-supplied Iraqi forces who offered little resistance in 2014. Between 2002 and 2017, the United States gave the Afghan military an estimated $28 billion in weaponry, including guns, rockets, night-vision goggles and even small drones for intelligence gathering. But aircraft like the Blackhawk helicopters have been the most visible sign of U.S. military assistance, and were supposed to be the Afghan military’ biggest advantage over the Taliban. Between 2003 and 2016 the United States provided Afghan forces with 208 aircraft, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). In the last week, many of those aircraft were most useful for Afghan pilots to escape the Taliban. One of the U.S. officials said that between 40 and 50 aircraft had been flown to Uzbekistan by Afghan pilots seeking refuge. Even before taking power in Kabul over the weekend, the Taliban had started a campaign of assassinating pilots https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/afghan-pilots-assassinated-by-taliban-us-withdraws-2021-07-09. Some planes were in the United States for maintenance and will stay. Those en route to Afghan forces will instead be used by the U.S. military to help in the evacuation from Kabul. Current and former officials say that while they are concerned about the Taliban having access to the helicopters, the aircraft require frequent maintenance and many are complicated to fly without extensive training. “Ironically, the fact that our equipment breaks down so often is a life-saver here,” a third official said. Retired U.S. Army General Joseph Votel, who oversaw U.S. military operations in Afghanistan as head of U.S. Central Command from 2016 to 2019, said most of the high-end hardware captured by the Taliban, including the aircraft, was not equipped with sensitive U.S. technology. “In some cases, some of these will be more like trophies,” Votel said. FIGHTING AT NIGHT There is a more immediate concern about some of the easier- to-use weapons and equipment, such as night-vision goggles. Since 2003 the United States has provided Afghan forces with at least 600,000 infantry weapons including M16 assault rifles, 162,000 pieces of communication equipment, and 16,000 night-vision goggle devices. “The ability to operate at night is a real game-changer,” one congressional aide told Reuters. Votel and others said smalls arms seized by the insurgents such as machine guns, mortars, as well as artillery pieces including howitzers, could give the Taliban an advantage against any resistance that could surface in historic anti-Taliban strongholds such as the Panjshir Valley northeast of Kabul. U.S. officials said the expectation was that most of the weapons would be used by the Taliban themselves, but it was far too early to tell what they planned to do – including possibly sharing the equipment with rival states such as China. Andrew Small, a Chinese foreign policy expert at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, said the Taliban was likely to grant Beijing access to any U.S. weapons they may now have control over. One of the U.S. officials said it was not likely China would gain much, because Beijing likely already has access to the weapons and equipment. The situation, experts say, shows the United States needs a better way to monitor equipment it gives to allies. It could have done much more to ensure those supplies to Afghan forces were closely monitored and inventoried, said Justine Fleischner of UK-based Conflict Armament Research. “But the time has passed for these efforts to have any impact in Afghanistan,” Fleischner said. (Reporting by Idrees Ali, Patricia Zengerle and Jonathan Landay; Additional reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Mary Milliken and Daniel Wallis) View the full article