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Published by Radar Online The lawsuit filed by a former Scientologist against leader David Miscavige along with the man alleged to have sexually assaulted her lays bare policies written by the church founder L. Ron Hubbard which the victim says allows crimes to be covered up. In the 38-page complaint obtained by RadarOnline.com, Jane Doe claims child sexual assault by a top church executive was hushed up by the controversial religious organization. According to the plaintiff, the Church of Scientology is no exception to the serious problems with child abuse and the sexual exploitation of children that have engulfed rel… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Andrew Chung (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a North Carolina public charter school's defense of its blocked requirement that girls wear skirts – a student uniform policy that its founder explained is aimed at treating women like “fragile vessels.” Turning away an appeal by Charter Day School Inc, the justices left in place a lower court's decision that the dress code discriminated against students based on gender in violation the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment promise of equal protection under the law. Charter schools in North Carolina are tuition-free, ope… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Don Lemon is weighing in on why he thinks he was ousted from CNN. During his first sit-down interview since his bombshell departure in April, the jobless journalist explained he fought for honest reporting rather than giving in to decisions he didn't agree with — such as putting “liars and bigots” on-air. “I have a responsibility as an American — not only as a journalist — to tell the truth and abide by the promises of the Constitution,” Lemon told ABC24 Memphis. “Because the Constitution says a more perfect union — not a perfect union. I'm not perfect. No one is.” The 57-year-old suggested th… Read More View the full article

Published by DPA NEW YORK — To use the Britney Spears catalogue as the material for a musical preaching feminist enlightenment is, to put it mildly, a stretch. The now reclusive pop star's heavily sexualized and self-objectifying body of work includes such fodder as “Baby One More Time,” (”hit me baby …”), “Make Me” (”I just want you to make me move …”) and, of course, the inimitable “Oops! I Did It Again,” wherein the singer declared she was “not that innocent.” To no one's surprise. Sure, there has been the more recent #FreeBritney movement on social media and the long-troubled star, who is in her 40s, n… Read More View the full article

Published by GB News (US) This is the moment the King's Guard paid touching tribute to Elton John ahead of his Glastonbury performance on Sunday. The soldiers broke out into a rendition of the musician's biggest hits to mark what is expected to be his last concert in the United Kingdom. Elton John is nearing the end of a goodbye tour before his retirement, closing Glastonbury with an incredible set last night. Just hours before the concert, the King's Guard played Crocodile Rock and Can You Feel The Love Tonight outside Buckingham Palace. The special tribute was caught on video by videographer Shimmy Socol who happened… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Beyonce and SZA were the big winners at the BET Awards on Sunday night (26.06.23). The 41-year-old RnB superstar and ‘Kiss Me More' hitmaker SZA, 33, both won three gongs each at the Black Entertainment Television Award, with both their respective albums ‘Renaissance' and ‘SOS' being handed Album of the Year. SZA also beat out competition from Beyonce as well as Lizzo, H.E.R and Coco Jones to be named Best Female RnB/Pop Artist whilst the ‘Crazy in Love' singer won both the BET Her Award and the Viewer's Choice Award for her 2022 smash ‘Break My Soul'. SZA also scooped Video of the Year for ‘K… Read More View the full article

Published by The Spun By Andrew Holleran Lance Armstrong announced over the weekend that he'll be having a discussion with Caitlyn Jenner regarding the transgender athletes issue in sports. Many criticized Armstrong for the upcoming conversation, though the seven-time Tour de France winner believes people are misinterpreting his intentions. Armstrong responded to the critics on Sunday evening. “Climb down from the high horse Matthew. I'm actually not lecturing anyone rather bringing all sides to the table and inviting rational and open dialogue. And I might add, having a conversation that almost nobody dares touch…. Read More View the full article

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Published by The Mercury News SAN FRANCISCO — Logan Oretl had known he was gay for as long as he could remember. But as the 20-year-old stood by Market Street — in the thick of waving rainbow flags, dancing drag queens and a flurry of bubbles — on Sunday, he said he’d never felt more accepted. “I’m not used to seeing so much open love, and to finally be able to walk around without feeling afraid,” said Oretl, who had flown — for the very first time — from his small town in Ohio to attend San Francisco’s 53rd pride parade. “It’s nice to be able to just be happy.” Oretl was just one of an expected million attendees at the pa… Read More View the full article

Published by Global Voices Skopje Pride 2023 March, June 24, 2023. Photo by Global Voices, CC-BY-3.0. Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Skopje and thousands more in Sarajevo during the annual Pride events on Saturday, June 24. In the two weeks before that, Pride marches took place in Zagreb, Prishtina, Athens and Sofia, while International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) was celebrated in Tirana on May 17. And while only the Pride in Istanbul faced official government restrictions, these celebrations also came with similar demands in all Balkan capitals: stopping hate speech and… Read More View the full article

Published by Chicago Tribune CHICAGO — Every other weekend or so, if you head up seven floors to The Walnut Room, in the store once known as Marshall Field’s on State Street in Chicago, you’ll feel the music before you see the spotlights beaming from the show. If you planned ahead, you’ll end up seated somewhere around the fountain, where the holiday tree usually hangs. The tree is literally hung from the ceiling, to keep some seasonal weight off the floor, with the priceless Tiffany domed ceiling below. That floor has carried the weight of generations. Families come not just for the winter holidays, but new traditions to… Read More View the full article

Published by Global Voices The Rainbow Kite Festival was held in Colombo by the LGBTQ+ community on June 24, 2023. Screenshot from YouTube video by Newsfirst Sri Lanka. Fair use. The first LGBTQ+ Pride event was held in Sri Lanka privately in 2005 and attended by around 300 people. Over the past decade, Sri Lanka has witnessed a growing movement for LGBTQ+ rights. The community supported by the non-profit organisation Equal Ground started to hold public Pride events in annual intervals and they received good responses despite some resistance. In last year's event, certain streets of the capital Colombo were painted in v… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP Los Angeles (AFP) – A 23-year-old who shot five people dead at an LGBTQ club in the US state of Colorado last year pleaded guilty on Monday and will face life in prison. Anderson Lee Aldrich, who identifies as non-binary, was facing more than 300 criminal counts for the November 19, 2022 rampage in Colorado Springs. Aldrich was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, carrying out bias-motivated crimes and other offenses. The murder charges carry a life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole. The bearded and heavy-set Aldrich appeared in an El Paso County court on Mond… Read More View the full article

Vice-President Kamala Harris takes a stand against the controversial “Don't Say Gay” law in Florida and advocates for LGBTQ+ rights. In an exclusive interview with Advocate magazine, Vice-President Kamala Harris expressed her strong opposition to Florida's “Don't Say Gay” law, describing its consequences as “outrageous.” The law, known as the Parental Rights in Education law, restricts teachers' ability to discuss sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms. The Impact of the Law “You look in Florida, [the] ‘don't say gay' bill and what this has meant for LGBTQ teachers who are now afraid,” Harris said in the interview with Advocate​. She provided an illustrative example of the fear that educators are experiencing: “I'm looking at some 20-something-year-old teacher in Florida who has dedicated [themselves] to one of the most noble professions, which is teaching our children their God-given capacity,” she said. “And that teacher who is in a loving relationship or marriage is afraid to put up a photograph of their family for fear that if the student in their classroom asks, ‘Who is that?' [that] it will raise a conversation about a same-sex relationship, and they could lose their job. Outrageous!”​. that teacher who is in a loving relationship or marriage is afraid to put up a photograph of their family for fear that if the student in their classroom asks, ‘Who is that?' [that] it will raise a conversation about a same-sex relationship, and they could lose their job. Outrageous! — Vice-President Kamala Harris in the AdvocateNationwide Concern Harris also addressed the broader issue of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the U.S. “I hate bullies,” Harris said, adding, “I can't stand it when so-called powerful people intentionally try to strike fear in innocent people,”​. She emphasized the importance of action in the face of these challenges: “We just have to make sure that this moment is motivating people to act and not motivating people to be afraid,” Harris stated​​. United for Equality In addition to discussing the “Don't Say Gay” law, Harris praised President Joe Biden for his commitment to LGBTQ+ rights. She highlighted the Respect for Marriage Act, signed into law by Biden in December 2022, which protects the rights of Americans to same-sex and interracial marriages. Harris also urged Congress to pass the Equality Act to guarantee every LGBTQI+ American the right to live freely and openly. The Equality Act was recently reintroduced in Congress and is a crucial piece of legislation for the LGBTQ+ community. Final Thoughts Vice-President Harris's message is clear: Stand up against those who attempt to marginalize and intimidate others based on their identity. She called for unity and action to protect the rights and dignity of all individuals, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community. View the full article

Published by uInterview.com A viral video has been circulating online that shows an individual in a green Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles costume jumping into the crowd and not getting caught by the audience. Some Twitter users believed the individual to be Sam Smith diving off the stage at their concert in Seattle, causing the pop singer to trend on the social media platform. Others body-shamed the person involved even after the rumor was debunked when a clip from a different angle was shared, revealing that it was not Smith. One fan explained that the video was of a man leaping into a Vanilla Ice crowd in Oregon that same… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters UK By Sachin Ravikumar GLASTONBURY, England (Reuters) -Elton John enthralled a massive Glastonbury crowd on Sunday night in possibly his last show in Britain, delighting loyal fans but disappointing others who had hoped for star guest appearances. The flamboyant British singer's performance followed two sun-drenched days at the famous music festival in southwest England, where tens of thousands of fans heard Guns N' Roses, the Arctic Monkeys, the Foo Fighters, Lizzo, Lewis Capaldi and others. “Oh wow. I never thought I'd ever play Glastonbury. And here I am,” John, who wore a glittery golden jack… Read More View the full article

Published by Socialite Life Hello, hello, hello! Welcome to another week of news and updates from the Drag Race universe. This week, our top five All Stars became a top four with a design challenge that paid tribute to former All Star champions. We also welcomed a new set of queens into the international Drag Race family with the premiere of Drag Race Mexico. In addition, we have Ru-caps of last week’s acting challenge and Miss [insert title here] runway looks from some of your favorite Drag Race alums. We’ve also got new music from some OG queens (including the first to ever wear the crown) and a new Beatdown from Willa… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong has faced some serious backlash after he recently commented about the discussion of “fairness” in sports when it comes to trans athletes competing in women's competitions, RadarOnline.com has learned. Armstrong tweeted, “Have we really come to a time and place where spirited debate is not only frowned upon, but feared? Where people's greatest concern is being fired, shamed or cancelled? As someone all too familiar with this phenomenon, I feel I'm uniquely positioned to have these conversations.” “Of all the controversial and polarizing subjects out there today… Read More View the full article

Published by Benzinga This article was originally published on Weedmaps and appears here with permission. Just like the LGBTQIA+ community, Pride contains multitudes, and cannathusiasm is definitely among them. Cannabis and Pride go way back, woven beside each other in a counterculture tapestry generations in the making. Now, the future of America is queer, proud, and stoned to the absolute bone. But big gay stoner or not, celebrating queer canna-culture is a way all cannasuiers can express allyship this month. Pride is celebration, but it’s foremost a protest. Maintain that energy by skipping the corporate rainbow… Read More View the full article

Published by Chicago Tribune Mark Brandt, 26, and Wes Conkling, 30, got up at 7 a.m. CT to make it to Chicago from Aurora for Sunday’s Pride Parade. They sat on a corner waiting for the procession to start, holding hands. ”I love the oneness of it all,” said Brandt. “I come from a family that’s pretty homophobic, if I’m being honest. I haven’t always been able to be open with myself and who I am.” Brandt and Conkling said they are in a “throuple” but the third member of their relationship wasn’t there. Conkling met Brandt’s boyfriend on Tinder, and the three of them have been together since February. Conkling donned rainb… Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet Mayor Matt Diaz of Baker City, Oregon, is facing backlash from citizens after comparing those who support LGBTQ+ pride to Nazis, Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) reports. The local leader recently shared Facebook post featuring “an image of four Pride flags positioned to look like a swastika,” along with the caption: “When you join four pride flags you become ultra pride.” Per OPB, Diaz's “post came only a few days before Baker City's third annual Pride Walk, an event meant to celebrate the local LGBTQ+ community,” which is led “by Baker County Safe Communities Coalition and New Directions Nor… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Madonna has hailed her twin daughters “Kweens” at their elementary school graduation. The Queen of Pop, 64, marked 10-year-old Stella's and Estere's big day by sharing a photo of the pair on her Instagram stories showing them grinning and holding two bouquets of flowers. Madonna captioned the image of her girls wearing blue caps and gowns: “2 Kweens!!!! Happy Graduation!” Stella and Estere are the ‘Material Girl' singer's youngest children, who she adopted from Malawi six years ago. She also has daughters Lourdes, 26, and Chifundo, 17, and sons Rocco, 22, and 17-year-old David. Madonna adopted… Read More View the full article

Published by Socialite Life Kesha and Dr. Luke have settled their long-running legal battle and released a joint statement about resolving the latter's defamation lawsuit. “Only God knows what happened that night,” Kesha's statement reads. “As I have always said, I cannot recount everything that happened. I am looking forward to closing the door on this chapter of my life and beginning a new one. I wish nothing but peace to all parties involved.” Luke adds, “While I appreciate Kesha again acknowledging that she cannot recount what happened that night in 2005, I am absolutely certain that nothing happened. I never drugged… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jonathan Allen and Hannah Beier DOYLESTOWN, Pennsylvania (Reuters) – On May 12, the library coordinator for Pennsylvania's Central Bucks School District sent an email to colleagues that some conservative parents and Christian advocacy groups had long prayed to see. The email instructed school library staff to remove all copies of two books within 24 hours: “Gender Queer”, a graphic memoir by Maia Kobabe that includes cartoons of sexual encounters; and “This Book is Gay” by Juno Dawson, a guidebook with illustrations intended for LGBT students who feel overlooked by standard sex education cu… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a number of important rulings during its current term that began last October and is expected to decide its remaining cases by the end of June including disputes involving race-conscious college admissions practices, President Joe Biden's student debt forgiveness plan and LGBT rights. Here is a look at some of the rulings issued by the court this term. VOTING RIGHTS The justices on June 8 handed a major victory to Black voters who challenged a Republican-drawn electoral map in Alabama, finding the state violated a landmark law prohibiting racial discrimination in voting and paving the way for a second U.S. House of Representatives district with a Black majority or close to it. The court elected not to further roll back protections contained in the Voting Rights Act as it had done in two major rulings in the past decade. ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION The court on May 25 further limited the regulatory reach of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, embracing a stringent new test for declaring wetlands protected under a landmark federal anti-pollution law in a ruling favoring an Idaho couple who challenged the EPA. The new test could leave wide swathes of sensitive wetlands and tributaries unprotected by the Clean Water Act, the landmark 1972 anti-pollution law. IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT The justices on June 23 gave the Biden administration the green light to move ahead with guidelines shifting immigration enforcement toward countering public safety threats, handing the Democratic president a victory in a legal battle with Texas and Louisiana. The guidelines reflected Biden's recalibration of U.S. immigration policy after the hardline approach taken by his Republican predecessor Donald Trump. ENCOURAGING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION A federal law that makes it a crime for a person to encourage illegal immigration does not violate constitutional free speech protections, the court ruled on June 23, upholding the decades-old measure defended by the Biden administration. A lower court had ruled that the law was overly broad because it may criminalize speech protected by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. PROTECTIONS FOR INTERNET COMPANIES The court on May 18 left legal protections for internet and social media companies unscathed and refused to clear a path for victims of attacks by militant groups to sue these businesses under an anti-terrorism law. In both cases, families of people killed by Islamist gunmen overseas had sued to try to hold internet companies liable because of the presence of militant groups on their platforms or for recommending their content. NATIVE AMERICAN ADOPTION The justices on June 15 upheld decades-old federal requirements that give preferences to Native Americans and tribal members in the adoption or foster care placements of Native American children. The court found that the plaintiffs, including the state of Texas, did not have legal standing to challenge parts of the law they claimed were racially biased against non-Native Americans. LABOR UNIONS The justices on June 1 made it easier for employers to sue over strikes that cause property destruction – handing another setback to organized labor – in a ruling siding with a concrete business in Washington state that sued the union representing its truck drivers after a work stoppage. FEDERAL AGENCY POWER The court on April 14 made it easier to challenge the regulatory power of federal agencies in rulings backing Axon Enterprise Inc's bid to sue the Federal Trade Commission and a Texas accountant's gripe with the Securities and Exchange Commission. CORRUPTION PROSECUTIONS The court on May 11 further restricted the ability of federal prosecutors to pursue corruption cases, overturning the bribery conviction of Joseph Percoco, an ex-aide to Democratic former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and former construction company executive Louis Ciminelli. ANDY WARHOL ARTWORK Andy Warhol's estate lost its copyright fight with celebrity photographer Lynn Goldsmith when the court on May 18 faulted the famed pop artist's use of her photo of Prince in a silkscreen series depicting the charismatic rock star. INTERSTATE COMMERCE The justices preserved a California law banning the sale of pork in America's most-populous state from pigs kept in tightly confined spaces in a May 11 ruling that rejected an industry challenge. PROPERTY TAXES The court on May 25 curbed state and local governments from seizing and selling the homes of people with unpaid property taxes and keeping the proceeds beyond the amount owed, deeming the practice unconstitutional in a ruling in favor of a 94-year-old woman who battled tax authorities in Minnesota. (Compiled by Andrew Chung and John Kruzel; Editing by Will Dunham) View the full article