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Published by The Street By Ian Krietzberg The controversy around the LGBTQ+ support offered up by some major businesses, namely Bud Light (BUDFF) and Target (TGT) – Get Free Report, has sparked national attention in recent weeks, setting off boycotts, sales dips and inciting a national conversation on whether businesses ought to take stances on cultural and political issues. Earlier in June, “Shark Tank” investor Mark Cuban, speaking at a conference, said that diversity is good business. In a June 11 interview with the Post Gazette, Cuban reiterated his stance on the issue, saying: “There is a reason almost all the t… Read More View the full article

Published by The Street By Daniel Kline Most companies avoid taking overt political stands. Many businesses donate money to politicians on both sides of the aisle while others work hard to stay neutral. Some companies, like Chick-fil-A and Hobby Lobby, embrace the politics of the people who own them. In those two cases, both brands have openly embraced the religious faith of their founder/owners. DON’T MISS: Garth Brooks Answers Bud Light Fallout With ‘Woke’ Message Both those companies also have run into issues where their ownership’s stand on LGBTQ+ issues have led to a left-wing backlash. The left, however, has ra… Read More View the full article

Cheap crash pad to luxury suite, Miami has it all, no matter how you slice it: American Heritage or world tour; lazy beach restoration to healthy and scheduled; zen, decadent and much more. The next few weeks we’re posting some of the big thematic ways to think about and plan a great visit that authentically taps more of what Miami and Miami Beach offer LGBTQ travellers in addition to genuinely open arms. Today we have Miami for the art and culture lover. In coming posts we feature best bets for Foodies in Miami; Miami for the active traveler; How to connect with the proud LGBTQ businesses and community; and how to find the very best Miami has to offer for a luxe time that hits all the iconic spots. Of course, the best trips will likely pick from a few lists. (If we miss your favorite or you’ve heard of something great, please comment and help us build each post into a great resource.) Creative Stays W HOTEL Hom e to an expensive, extensive art collection – valued at $100 million, including Warhol, Basquiat & Schnabel. The recent rethink, reboot of the hotel has been well received. The MARLIN HOTEL has a rotating art program, and is right in Miami’s cultural center with many museums and galleries. THE STANDARD SPA Funky culture and design are part of the brand, and the hotel shop is off the charts. Plus there’s currently a Mini Martini Happy Hour. How gay is that? The Betsy Hotel South Beach offers its Writer’s Room, a library, typewriters, and literary events. The Setai, Miami Beach showcases a remarkable collection of Asian art and features a relaxing serene courtyard for relaxation. Luxurious and artistic, the Faena Hotel’s many unique design elements include a gold-covered woolly mammoth skeleton. Go out in Miami THE BAR (VERSACE) Located in the (former) Versace Mansion. With a top shelf array of hand-crated cocktails, including a 24 karat Golden Margarita, this before- or after-dinner stop samples and suggests the gilded life and legacy of Gianni Versace’s South Beach BASEMENT Bowl & Skate & DANCE with international DJs at the Edition hotel LGBTQ friendly all the time. Eat Steak omakaseCOTE MIAMI Chic design & Korean steakhouse in the Design District with 1 Michelin Star https://www.cotemiami.com/ CAFÉ LA TROVA Live music & retro Cuba atmosphere (& a James Beard award-winning chef, Michelle Bernstein) THREE WYNWOOD Local artists on the walls, and a weekly changing menu. Shop Miami MIAMI DESIGN DISTRICT A hub for fashion, art, design, architecture, wellness & dining… Galleries including Opera Gallery, David Castillo Opera Gallery Major Art Gallery (16 galleries worldwide) David Castillo MarjoArt Gallery (Miami only) Included as one of “10 things to do in 24 hours” in Miami, by Time magazine. Acne Studios Stockholm-based fashion house Off-White High street fashion and activewear, founded by Virgil Abloh Kith Upscale clothing; lifestyle brand and progressive retail concept that’s celebrated globally https://www.kith.com Luminaire Lab Upscale, modern designer furniture, lighting & accessories founded by Nasir Kassamali THE STANDARD SHOP Features local designers and craftsman. BOOK & BOOKS A great independent bookstore heavy on diversity, and hosting frequent author events. Sights to See WOLFSONIAN-FIU MUSEUM A museum dedicated to the decorative and propoganda arts, often offering insights into LGBTQ+ history and culture. MARGULIES COLLECTIONS AT THE WAREHOUSE 50,000 sqft warehouse in the Wynwood Arts District – exhibitions & education, open October through April. Established and upcoming contemporary artists – sculpture, painting, photography, multimedia – including Anselm Kiefer, Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Noguchi, Tony Smith, Frank Stella, Richard Serra,… PEREZ ART MUSEUM PAMM – an outstanding collection of contemporary, 20th and 21th century, art. Yoyoi Kusam’s exhibit “Love Is Calling” runs through 2/11/24. MID-CENTURY MODERN LIFEGUARD STATIONS Built post-Hurricane Andrew in the mid-90s, when many original beach structures were lost, these high-on-design technicolor landmarks in South Beach. Art Events MIAMI ART WEEK Contemporary art fair. Second biggest in the world. December 6-10 2023 ART GAYSEL At the Gaythering Hotel December 1-3, 2023 photoMIAMI New this year online – going live in 2024, part of Miami Art Week UNITITLED ART FAIR + OTHER ART WEEK SATELLITES Contemporary art, a program of curated special projects, installations, performances, podcast conversations and more… (December 5-10 2023) EVENTS ART BASEL Major international art fair also held in Basel, Hong Kong & Paris (now in Miami June 15-June 23) Get Outside Walk the WYNWOOD WALLS. Street art on the streets Shepard Fairey, Invader, Kenny Scharf, Okuda San Miguel, Retna, Kobra… STILTSVILLE Within Biscayne National Park, and accessible only by water, Stitsville dates to early last century, a haven for illegal alcohol and gambling during Prohibition, the ghosts of that era are preserved and protected. and some stray eclectic last ideas…. The pastel, iconic buildings of Art Deco Historic District; Famous drag bar, The Palace, for brunch or nightly shows; Lummus Park Beach —not specifically LGBTQ — for people-watching. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had a hilarious reaction when CNN White House correspondent Jeremy Diamond asked if President Joe Biden “would consider pardoning” ex-President Donald Trump. “OK And then, last question. I wonder, as it relates to the case that — that President — the former President Trump is facing: Is there any world in which President Biden would consider pardoning the former President?” he asked. “I’m just not going to speak to that. No comment,” she said before Trump was arrested and arraigned on Tuesday, June 13, in Miami after he was indicted on 37 counts for violating the Espionage Act. Trump pled not guilty through his attorney. mega As OK! previously reported, Trump spoke out about the ordeal and gave an interesting reason why he had boxes all over his bathroom in his Mar-a-Lago home. “Because the sham indictment put forward by the Biden administration included staged photographs of boxes at Mar-a-Lago, many people have asked me why I had these boxes,” Trump, 77, said in a speech at Bedminster, N.J., on Tuesday, June 13. POTUS War: Donald Trump Labels Joe Biden the ‘Most Corrupt President’ After He ‘Tried to Destroy American Democracy’ Donald Trump Appears Unbothered Playing DJ Set at His New Jersey Golf Club Following Arrest Donald Trump Is ‘Scared’ of the Legal Danger He Faces Amid Documents Scandal, Former White House Chief of Staff Claims “The answer, in addition to having every right under the Presidential Records Act, is that these boxes were containing all types of personal belongings. Many, many things. Shirts and shoes and everything. As can be seen in the picture, where someone — not me, I wonder who it might have been — dumped one of the very neatly arranged boxes all over the floor, they were full of newspapers, press clippings, thousands of pictures, thousands and thousands of White House pictures. The White House photographers — some are with us today — they took so many pictures and we saved all of them and they were in those boxes. Clothing, memorabilia, and much, much more,” he continued. Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! mega Though Trump seems cool and collected, Trump’s former White House chief of staff John Kelly believes it’s all an act. “He’s scared s*******,” he told The Washington Post. “This is the way he compensates for that. He gives people the appearance he doesn’t care by doing this. For the first time in his life, it looks like he’s being held accountable. Up until this point in his life, it’s like, I’m not going to pay you, take me to court. He’s never been held accountable before.” View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) -Target’s move to pull some LGBTQ-themed merchandise from stores following customer backlash “is wrong,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a tweet on Tuesday and urged the retailer to reverse its decision. At least 14 New York officials have signed a letter regarding Target’s decision, according to James’s tweet. Target last month said it was making certain “adjustments” to its LGBTQ-themed products linked to Pride Month, citing increased confrontations between shoppers and employees and incidents of products being thrown on the floor. The company has sold LGBTQ-related goods tied to Pride month for years but has faced growing criticism for carrying those products, including from conservative news outlets and Republican politicians, who have claimed certain items at its stores were marketed to children. Target did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. (Reporting by Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D’Silva and Pooja Desai) View the full article

Published by DPA Brain scans show that LSD and other mind-altering drugs impact similar parts of the brain as schizophrenia and depression, raising hopes that they can be used in the developments of treatments. Silas Stein/dpa Mind-altering drugs such as LSD and ketamine are potential narcotic landmarks on a “roadmap” to develop treatments for neurological disorders. According to research published in Science Advances, the effects of such drugs, including ayahuasca and MDMA, show up on brain scans in similar locations to conditions such as schizophrenia and depression, meaning the drugs could prove a help with research into treatments. The research team, led by Andrea Luppi of The Alan Turing Institute at the University of Cambridge, analysed neuroimaging data for over 1,400 people and found that brain activity patterns affected by such drugs to be “associated with brain regions affected by certain psychiatric and neurological disorders.” The team looked at 10 drugs – not just well known substances such as ketamine and LSD – but also so-called cognitive enhancers such as modafinil and methylphenidate and the anaesthetics sevoflurane and propofol. Using what they said were “maps of cortical thickness abnormalities for disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, and autism spectrum disorder,” the scientists found parts of the brain “that were similarly altered by different drugs” were also “often similarly affected by various disorders.” “These drugs alter consciousness by activating specific neurotransmitter receptors – but different drugs can produce similar effects through distinct pathways, making it difficult to disentangle the systems responsible for effects on brain function,” they said. But the research at the same time could “provide a first step to bridge molecular mechanisms and their effects on subjective experience, cognition, and behaviour via their effects on the brain’s functional architecture,” the team suggested. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jenna Jameson has hinted she’s planning to launch a page on OnlyFans. The former porn star gave her Twitter followers a huge clue when she tweeted a message to the saucy adult website declaring she was trying to set up an account but was having technical troubles writing: “Hey @OnlyFans I’m trying to start an account and I need help!” The tweet sent her fans into meltdown and Jenna was bombarded with nasty messages from trolls – but she hit back at the haters by replying with pithy comments. One troll told her:”Maybe in her prime… not the current version” and Jenna replied writing: “Yet, you follow me,” and when another tweeted: “No one wants to see your beat up p****,” Jenna responded by quipping: “Your mom does”. Another of Jenna’s followers acknowledged the fall out, writing: “Omg I’m just here for the comments” and the 49-year-old star said she was aware her tweet would cause some carnage, writing: “I knew it would rattle a few chains.” News of Jenna’s latest project comes just weeks after she settled down with her girlfriend Jessi Lawless. The couple tied the knot in Las Vegas on May 23 after less than six months of dating. Jenna told People after the ceremony: “I found the person that I truly should have always been with.” The couple met via TikTok and started dating in January before getting engaged three months later. Jenna also revealed to People the chapel where they got hitched was the same one her parents used to tie the knot. She walked down the aisle to Johnny Cash’s ‘Ring of Fire’ and wore a white mini dress with a veil and pink platform heels, with pink dyed hair, while Jessi was dressed in a black suit. Their wedding was officiated by a Johnny Cash impersonator and the pair rented a neon green Lamborghini for the day. Jenna said: “I try and go over in my mind why I ever dated or married men, and it’s selfish and bad to say, but I think my driving force were children. “And now that I’ve really found myself, I’m just accepting of everything that I feel inside and don’t shove everything done.” Jenna is mum to twin sons Jesse Jameson and Journey Jette, 14, with ex-partner Tito Ortiz, and daughter Batel Lu, six, with ex-fiancé Lior Bitton. View the full article

Published by The Philadelphia Inquirer Julie Sullivan’s debut novel, “The World is Full of Champions,” takes a critical look at the chasm that exists between a fictional family from the Black elite in Philadelphia and their working-class maid and her family. Part-history, part saga, part Cain and Abel, and part romance novel, “Champions” tells a story that spans three decades of Georgia Smythe’s life. Georgia’s mother works as a maid for the Whitmans, a judge and his wife who live in the Philadelphia suburbs. Georgia grows up playing with the Whitman’s two sons. When she is 6, her father is killed in a mining accident. As a young w… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine Madonna is enjoying the short amount of down time she has left before she kicks off her world tour on Saturday, July 15, in Vancouver. On Sunday, June 11, the “Material Girl” singer shared a selfie to her Instagram Story, where she highlighted her natural hair and rare makeup-free face with her followers. @madonna/Instagram “When you know your only day off isn’t really a day off,” Madonna, 64, wrote across a photo of herself pouting her lips at the camera. The “Like a Virgin” vocalist appeared to have recently washed her hair, as it fell in wet curls around her face. @madonna/Instagram Madonna’s rare flaunt of her natural features comes after the award-winning artist has faced months of backlash for her “unrecognizable” appearance. The mom-of-six was blasted on social media for her “botched” plastic surgery following her attendance at the 2023 Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 5. Madonna Is Getting ‘Ridiculously Close’ to Colombian Singer Maluma Despite Josh Popper Dating Rumors Madonna Flaunts Her Figure in Lingerie as Singer’s Love Life Stars to Get Messy: Photos Madonna Shoves Whipped Cream in Her Mouth During Tour Rehearsal as Rumored Boyfriend Josh Popper Gets Flirty: Photos Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! After receiving incessant backlash, Madonna released a lengthy statement expressing her hurt feelings. “Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny that permeates the world we live in,” the pop star wrote regarding criticism about her cosmetically-enhanced facial features. “A world that refuses to celebrate women past the age of 45 and feels the need to punish her if she continues to be strong willed, hard-working and adventurous. I have never apologized for any of the creative choices I have made nor the way that I look or dress and I’m not going to start.” @madonna/Instagram “I have been degraded by the media since the beginning of my career but I understand that this is all a test and I am happy to do the trailblazing so that all the women behind me can have an easier time in the years to come,” Madonna added. “I look forward to many more years of subversive behavior, pushing boundaries, standing up to the patriarchy and Most of all enjoying my life,” her message concluded. Madonna’s world tour, titled The Celebration Tour, will surely highlight the singer’s famed raunchy persona as she performs four decades of her award-winning music. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Andrew Lloyd Webber was stopped from writing a musical about a foreign country. The 75-year-old composer is behind theatrical hits such as the French-based ‘Phantom of the Opera’ and Evita’ – which focuses on the life of Argentina’s former First Lady Eva Perón and was made into a film starring US pop star Madonna in 1996 – but explained that these days he is discouraged from creating shows that focus on characters that are not from his native Britain. Speaking on the ‘ I Never Thought it Would Happen’ podcast, he said: “There’s another factor that has come in now which is all this business about. I’ll put it to you this way, if I were to be doing ‘Evita’ today – Tim and I were doing ‘Evita’ – I think there would be a lot of people to say well they’re not qualified to do this because they’re not Argentine. This is a factor that is staggering. There was a subject that I really wanted to consider doing, but everybody was saying to me, ‘You can’t do this because you’re not from that country.” The EGOT-winning impresario went on to add that it was suggested to him that he make a musical out of the classic English novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’ but did not seem impressed with the idea and has decided that if he is ever to create another show, it will be with young producer Michael Harrison but insisted that nothing concrete is in the works just yet. He added: “I said, ‘Why would I want to make a musical out of ‘Pride and Prejudice?’ I don’t know whether one has to just sort of plough on regardless. I’m sure I will find something. I have masses of music bursting out at the moment but they’re like homeless waifs and strays. I’m working with Michael Harrison now and the next show I do, if I do one, will be in partnership with him because he’s a very experienced but younger producer. “I always say if, because the word if it is important. Right now I’m looking for a story and I’ve been looking for a story for the last 18 months and I can’t find a story that I think is right. “It might just be that I could go out this afternoon and suddenly think, ‘Wow, there’s the story.’ Without the story I’m nowhere because I’m a musical dramatist at the end of the day and the story is the most important thing.” View the full article

Published by uInterview.com Jennifer Coolidge’s character, Tanya McQuoid, on White Lotus, may get her own prequel. Mike White, the creator of White Lotus, is open to the idea of making a series focused on McQuoid’s backstory. He would want Coolidge to play the character as 20 years younger. He also believes that Coolidge would be open to the idea. White told Deadline at the Vivid Sydney Festival that he “absolutely think[s] that’s possible.” White is currently working on season three of the show which will take place in Thailand. Coolidge will not be in this season of the show due to her character’s death at the end of… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters UK MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, gave its initial backing on Wednesday to legislation that would ban gender reassignment surgery. The move was in line with a drive by President Vladimir Putin to crack down on “non-traditional” lifestyles he has portrayed as evidence of Western moral decay. The legislation would ban state agencies from changing a person’s gender in their personal documents. It would outlaw “any medical interventions aimed at shaping a person’s primary and secondary sex characteristics”, according to a document posted in the Duma’s database. … Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre put her foot down after a reporter asked a question that she believed had “dangerous” implications for transgender youth. The Biden Administration has recently made strides in protecting trans kids’ rights when it comes to organized sports, proposing a change to Title IX — which established the right to “right to fair and equitable treatment” in certain education programs — to make it clear that Title IX is violated when schools “ban transgender students from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity just because of who they are.” mega In response to the recent proposal, EWTN White House correspondent Owen Jensen questioned Jean-Pierre on how parents of students may feel about the change. “Just hours ago, Senator Tuberville tweeted, quote, ‘[H]aving biological males in women’s sports is unsafe, unfair, and wrong,'” he began. “And earlier this year, several — 72 elite female athletes signed an open letter saying, ‘Forcing female athletes… to compete against biological males is not only unfair, it is discriminatory and illegal.'” “So, in the light of this administration’s proposed changes to Title IX,” Jensen continued, “does the White House worry about the physical safety of females directly competing against males in sports?” mega Karine Jean-Pierre Laughs When Asked if President Joe Biden ‘Would Consider Pardoning’ Donald Trump Jean-Pierre called it a “complicated issue” that was subject to a “wide range of views,” noting that that the Department of Education’s proposal will give schools “the flexibility to establish their own athletic policies, while establishing … guardrails to prevent discrimination against transgender kids.” “And what would the President [Joe Biden] say to the parents out there who have daughters — say, in high school, for example — who are worried that their daughter may have to compete against a male, or a person born male, and they — and there could be — or directly in physical athletic competition — and worry about their daughter’s safety?” Jensen pressed. Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! mega However, his question regarding safety of fellow high schoolers around transgender students ruffled Jean-Pierre. “So, look, I — what you’re alluding to is basically saying that transgender kids are dangerous,” she said. “It sounds like that’s what you’re saying.” “I — I didn’t say that. I didn’t say that. I don’t know how that’s —” Jensen argued, to which Jean-Pierre replied, “Well, you’re saying — you’re saying that their safety is — isn’t — is at risk?” “This is strictly a safety question,” Jensen confirmed. “This is strictly a safety question.” “Yeah, but you’re — you’re — you’re laying out a broad — kind of broad example or explanation of what could potentially happen … that is dangerous. That is a dangerous thing to say … that, essentially, transgender kids — we’re talking about — are dangerous. And so, that’s something that I have to call out.” Jensen and Jean-Pierre continued to go back and forth for a moment on whether or not he was implying that transgender youth were a safety concern, before the press secretary referred him to the Department of Education for any further questions. “Just to be clear, this is … about safety,.” the correspondent argued. “I wasn’t insinuating anything.” Quipped Jean-Pierre, “No, I mean you could read your question in a transcript once you get it.” Mediaite reported the transcript of Jean-Pierre and Jensen’s discussion on transgender kids. View the full article

Published by Raw Story Starbucks was accused of “caving” to right-wing activists by banning Pride decorations this week. On Tuesday, Starbucks Workers United revealed that the corporation had moved against LGBTQ+ symbolism. “In the middle of Pride Month, Starbucks BANS Pride decorations in stores across the United States,” the union said on Twitter. “In union stores, where Starbucks claims they are unable to make ‘unilateral changes’ without bargaining, the company took down Pride decorations and flags anyway – ignoring their own anti-union talking point.” The organization noted that Starbucks employs “many queer wo… Read More View the full article

Published by Global Voices Paramee “Juang” Waichongcharoen. Photo from Prachatai This edited article by Patpon Sabpaitoon was originally published by Prachatai, an independent news site in Thailand, and an edited version is republished by Global Voices under a content-sharing agreement. While women have long been considered “ornamental” in Thailand, with the media and public often obsessively focusing on their looks or how they dress and act, LGBTQ+ representation is nearly non-existent. Many in the LGBTQ+ community are subject to the same fate or even worse. A watershed moment for the community came in the last electio… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Three guests at the White House’s Pride party on Saturday have been banned from future events after going topless on the South Lawn, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday. “The behavior was simply unacceptable. We’ve been very clear about that. It was unfair to the hundreds of attendees who were there to celebrate their families,” Jean-Pierre said. Rose Montoya, a transgender activist, posted video to her Instagram and TikTok accounts showing her with her dress pulled down, covering her naked breasts on the White House lawn during the party, standing next to trans men with their shirts off. “Individuals in the video certainly will not be invited to future events,” Jean-Pierre said, adding that the event was intended to celebrate the LGBTQ community and families. Thousands of people were invited to the event. “Going topless in Washington DC is legal,” Montoya said in a followup video on TikTok, addressive conservative critics. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Heather Timmons; editing by Jonathan Oatis) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Bella Ramsey was scared people would think they were “just trying to be trendy” when they came out as nonbinary. ‘The Last of Us’ actress, 19, who uses they/them to describe themselves, added that they had “a lot of anxiety around pronouns” as they told how they believe their sexuality is always changing. They told Vogue’s Pride issue about being nonbinary: “I’ve fought that word for so long. “I didn’t want people to think I was just trying to be trendy. But it’s a very succinct way to describe to people who I am.” Bella added: “I had a lot of anxiety around pronouns. When ‘The Last of Us’ first came out, I was like, ‘Everyone just call me “she” because I look like a “she” to you, so it’s fine.’ “But now I’m able to vocalise it more, being called ‘they’ is the most truthful thing for me. That’s who I am the most. “You never fully know who you are, it’s ever evolving. But I certainly think that people have gathered that I’m not 100 per cent straight. I’m a little bit wavy, you know? That’s what I like to say.” They added the crew on ‘The Last of Us’ have been extremely supportive of their choice, saying: “The costume supervisor would put several different undergarments in my room: a regular bra, a binder, a sports bra. “She’d say, ‘You just pick whatever is most comfortable for you today,’ and in the end it was just a binder. “There was never anyone pressuring me.” Bella added about the prospect of dating being complex: “I’m 19, so figuring that out’s gonna be a part of my life. “Relationships are so complex anyway, and if you’re in the public eye, everyone having an opinion about them adds an extra layer of difficulty. “The fact that the LGBTQ+ community – my community – is supporting me and uplifting me and making me feel cool is such a privilege,” they say. “I feel very protected, and I couldn’t be more grateful.” Bella also told how they are a workaholic. They said: “I’m not very good at relaxing, so I’ll print off a stupid worksheet and do long multiplication for an hour because I miss maths.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Dan Aykroyd has promised a “heartfelt” new ‘Ghostbusters’ movie. The 70-year-old actor is set to reprise his role as Dr. Raymond Stantz in the untitled follow-up to the 2021 film ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ and is convinced that the project will be a hit with fans of the franchise when it is released in December. Speaking to the Metro newspaper, Dan – who created the supernatural franchise with the late Harold Ramis – said: “We’re three-quarters through filming which means it’s got to be edited and mixed and the CGI has to be put into it. “I’m excited about this one. It’s got a beautiful, heartfelt story, a great threat, some scary moments and it brings back Annie Potts and Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray and myself and we’ve handed the torch to new people, Finn Wolfhard and Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon.” The ‘Blues Brothers’ star also waded into the debate about gay roles only being played by gay performers by reflecting on the quality of Michael Douglas and Matt Damon’s performances in the movie ‘Behind the Candelabra’. Dan said: “That was (director) Steven Soderbergh. The true-life story of (gay pianist) Liberace. “Weren’t Michael Douglas and Matt Damon perfect? If I were offered the part of a gay man, I would want to take it but what’s the view in the gay community? “Neither Matt or Michael are gay but they did a wonderful job. I think (only gay actors playing gay roles) is an invalid argument.” Dan previously urged comedians not to turn to “divisive” jokes in order to get laughs. Discussing cancel culture, he said: “There is enough range in humour where you don’t have to go scatological and you don’t have to go pulling any divisive cards to get a laugh. “There is so much in the world to comment on that is outside the realm of offensiveness.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Miriam Margolyes says living apart is the key to her successful 54-year relationship. The 82-year-old ‘Harry Potter’ star has been with her partner Heather Sutherland, 80, since they met while working on a BBC radio drama together in the late 1960s and the romance is still going strong all more than five decades later – and Miriam says the secret to their success is maintaining independent lives. In an interview with British Vogue magazine, she explained: “We were able to lead our lives without diminishing them. I didn’t want her to have to give up anything. And I didn’t want to give up anything. I wanted my cake and I wanted to eat it too. And so far, it’s worked.” She revealed the couple has never lived together, but they have entered into a civil partnership, adding it is “mostly for legal protection”. However, Miriam insists they have no plans to officially marry because she doesn’t like the idea of calling Heather her “wife”. She went on to add: “Gay people have the luck to be able to fashion the relationship they want. It’s much more flexible for us. I think we have more freedom than [straight people] do. Particularly gay boys, they’re always f****** everything. It’s amazing. I don’t know how they get away with it. “I think gay people are very lucky, because we are not conventional, we are a group slightly apart. It gives us an edge. We’re good artists, we’re good musicians.” Miriam stripped off for the magazine’s annual Pride issue – posing naked using a selection of iced buns to cover her privates. She also talked about her body image issues, confessing: “I like my face. I think my face is kind and warm and open and smiley. But I hate my body. I hate big t*** (and) a drooping belly, little twisted legs. I’m not thrilled with that. But you just make the best of it. You have to. You do the best you can.” View the full article

Published by Al-Araby While LGBTQ+ Israeliscelebrate Pride Month this June, Palestinians across the occupied territories continue to suffer the injustice and violence of the occupation. In 2023 alone, Israel has already killed more than 160 Palestinians. In Israel, LGBTQ+ Pride Month has long been a strategy – dubbed “pinkwashing” – to mask the horrors of the occupation. The state’s celebration of LGBTQ+ identities and the excess of publicity that comes with it serve to create a false image of Israel as a democratic and liberal nation. This year, the Israeli government is contradicting this LGBTQ+-friendly image mo… Read More View the full article

Published by The Sacramento Bee Chino Valley Unified School District staff would be required to out transgender children to their parents or guardians, under a proposal being considered by the school board Thursday. If approved, that policy would put the school district at direct odds with the California Department of Education, which has issued guidance to school districts to protect the privacy of transgender students who may not be out at home. A spokeswoman for the CDE said that the department stands by its guidance, “which promotes the goals of reducing the stigmatization of and improving the educational integration of … Read More View the full article

Published by Grazia USA Every issue, GRAZIA USA highlights Game Changers who inspire, educate, and celebrate individuality, beauty and style. Meet Éva Goicochea, the entrepreneur who is revolutionizing the sexual wellness industry with her brand, maude. For too long, sexual health has been marginalized in mainstream discussions wellness. However, maude, an innovative brand dedicated to inclusivity, accessibility and education, has emerged as a catalyst for change in an industry long overdue for transformation. Maude’s founder and CEO, Éva Goicochea, envisions sexual wellness as an essential part of overall well-bei… Read More View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) First woman French football player to sign a professional contract, record-breaking scorer of the French national team with 81 goals in 112 matches, LGBTQ+ icon… Marinette Pichon is nothing short of a sports legend. Her life is now the subject of Virginie Verrier’s biopic, Marinette, which came out in theatres in France on 7 June and recently premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in the US. The release was set at a timely moment, about a month before the start of the Women’s World Cup in July. Garance Marillier (Raw, Titane) plays the football star, who has dedicated much of her life to pro… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Melissa Etheridge is set to make her Broadway debut this fall. The Grammy and Academy Award winning rock musician, known for hits such as “Come To My Window” and “I’m The Only One,” will star in a solo autobiographical show, “Melissa Etheridge: My Window.” Directed by Amy Tinkham, the production, written by Etheridge and her wife, Linda Wallem-Etheridge, is scheduled for a limited nine-week residency at the Circle in the Square Theatre beginning Sept. 14. Tickets are now on sale. Etheridge, 62, joined pop music legend Barry Manilow onstage at Sunday’s star-studded 74th Annual Tony A… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Gender-affirming treatments like reassignment surgery and hormone therapy will now be protected under an executive order Mayor Adams signed Monday. The order prohibits city resources to be used to detain people who provide lawful gender-affirming care and forbids the city from cooperating with out-of-state investigations premised on gender-affirming treatments that are legal in New York State, but unlawful in other jurisdictions. “This executive order reaffirms the fact that hate has no place in our city and that all people deserve the right to gender-affirming care and protection a… Read More View the full article