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Published by Orlando Sentinel ORLANDO, Fla. — AnitaB.org, an organization of female and nonbinary tech workers, is moving its annual convention out of Orlando and taking its business elsewhere, citing Florida’s political climate and actions taken by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature. And another group of nurses is canceling a 2027 event because of similar concerns, according to the Orange County Convention Center. The cancellations are the latest economic blow to the region, coming in the wake of Walt Disney Co.’s decision to drop plans for a nearly $1 billion corporate campus in Orlando with 2,000 high-paying jobs. An… Read More View the full article

Published by uInterview.com Katherine Matilda Swinton, better known as Tilda Swinton, is a renowned British actress known primarily for her distinct roles in numerous independent films and blockbusters. She is best known for her inspiring performance as a merciless corporate lawyer in Michael Clayton, where she received the prestigious honor of earning an Academy Award for best supporting actress. TILDA SWINTON BIOGRAPHY: AGE, EARLY LIFE, FAMILY, EDUCATIONTilda Swinton was born on November 5, 1960 (Swinton: age 62) in London, England. Her parents are Judith Balfour and Sir John Swinton, the Laird of Kimmerghame House. Sw… Read More View the full article

Published by The Seattle Times Maybe the story of the Sammamish, Washington, planning commissioner was a one-off. Perhaps it was just an aberrant eruption of homophobia, made more bizarre because it came right after a dry discussion on stormwater codes. But that planning commissioner sure sounded comfortable, during a public meeting no less, spewing his beliefs that “LGBT people” are “promoting diseases,” and that Pride month is an “infestation into the minds of our kids in schools.” I wonder where this unknown planning commissioner got all that? As the news has reported, Wassim Fayed was a commissioner on the Sammamish pla… Read More View the full article

Published by Knewz South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has spoken out against Target and urged Americans to stop shopping at the retail chain after she accused it of “fundamentally tearing down this country.” When she appeared on FOX News to discuss the company’s support for an Indigenous organization that calls for the cessation of Mount Rushmore, she also posed the question: “What do they have to gain from dividing America?” In addition to Noem’s criticisms, the American retail giant with over 1,900 stores nationwide, has been facing broadscale backlash from various groups for supporting certain movements includ… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters UK OSLO (Reuters) – Norwegian police could have prevented a deadly rampage at a gay bar last year if they had acted on a tip-off from the foreign intelligence agency, seven experts said Thursday in a report Oslo’s governing mayor described as “devastating”. Two people died, nine suffered gunshot wounds and 25 others were injured after a shooting at the London Pub, a longstanding hub of Oslo’s LGBTQ+ scene, as well as a nearby bar in the centre of the Norwegian capital. “It is possible that the attack could have been avoided after a warning PST received from the e-service five days before the atta… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story A fringe American religious group that initially pushed the so-called “kill the gays” law in Uganda is growing increasingly concerned that their involvement is making them look bad, according to a report. Semafor reported Thursday that groups – including the U.S.-based one – are concerned that the harshness of the law could backfire on them as they continue to press for more anti-LGBTQ legislation at home. The report said that groups initially pushed the country’s government to pass the law but, when a death penalty provision was added, they began to back off. The Ugandan law, which was passed… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP The graphic novel Washington (AFP) – US President Joe Biden has named a government coordinator to handle the thorny issue of book bans in schools — one of a series of initiatives announced Thursday by the White House to support the LGBTQ community during Pride Month. “Across the country, our nation faces a spike in book bans — efforts that disproportionately strip books about LGBTQI+ communities, communities of color, and other communities off of library and classroom shelves,” the White House said. “In fact, 2022 saw the highest number of book bans in 20 years.” The new coordinator, under the auspices of the Department of Education’s office of civil rights, will be tasked with providing new training for schools on how book bans can create a “hostile” environment for students — and possibly violate federal laws. “Book banning erodes our democracy, removes vital resources for student learning, and can contribute to the stigma and isolation that LGBTQI+ people and other communities face,” the White House said. Book bans have moved front and center in the so-called “culture wars” in the United States, reflecting deep societal divisions about race, gender and sexuality. Some US states, many of them led by conservative governors, have removed scores of books from library shelves, claiming they promote homosexuality or are too shocking. Classics such as works by Nobel-winning writer Toni Morrison and Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel about the Holocaust, “Maus,” have been targeted. Other initiatives announced by the White House on Thursday to coincide with Pride Month will help support homeless members of the LGBTQ community, as well as youths in foster care. The US government will also put in place new safety training classes for LGBTQ community organizations, including small business and Pride festivals, as well as provide them with regular briefings on threats. The White House was meant to host an outdoor Pride event on Thursday but was forced to postpone it until Saturday due to the toxic air quality in the US capital, sparked by wildfires in Canada. View the full article

Published by The Street By Colin Salao The anti-LGBTQ+, anti-woke movement has taken shots at another sports-related company. Barstool Sports, the digital media company known for its fraternity-like antics, is on the receiving end of a backlash for releasing merchandise on June 1 to celebrate Pride Month. DON’T MISS: The Bud Light Transgender Controversy and Its Impacts Explained Barstool Sports is one of the most popular sports media brands in the country, with nearly 50 million followers on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter, just for its main accounts. Its podcasts like “Pardon My Take” are also consistently at the to… Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ discriminatory policies and culture war tactics are starting to negatively impact the Sunshine State financially, Orlando Sentinel reports. Two organizations recently decided to remove upcoming conventions from Florida, which Orlando Sentinel notes is “the latest economic blow to the region, coming in the wake of Walt Disney Co.’s decision to drop plans for a nearly $1 billion corporate campus in Orlando with 2,000 high-paying jobs.” This comes after the NAACP issued a travel advisory last month saying, “Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people … Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Nandita Bose and Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden warned Thursday about “ugly” attacks from “hysterical” people who are targeting LGBTQ+ Americans, as he announced new measures intended to curb book bans and rising hate crimes. “We have some hysterical and, I would argue, prejudiced, people” engaged in targeting LGBTQ people, Biden said. “It’s an appeal to fear and it’s an appeal that is totally, thoroughly unjustified, ugly,” he said. Biden also criticized a flurry of Republican bills targeting the community, and particularly transgender youth. “These are our kids, these are our neighbors. It’s cruel, it’s callous. They’re not somebody’s else’s kids, they’re all our kids,” he told reporters during a news conference. The president was expected to deliver remarks on the issue at a White House party on Thursday evening, but the event was pushed back to Saturday due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires. Forest fires continued to burn across Canada on Thursday as the country endured its worst-ever start to wildfire season, sending a smoky haze billowing across U.S. cities and grounding flights. Biden also announced new measures Thursday to help schools and LGBTQ kids navigate book bans, community centers fight threats, transgender youth access better care, and urged Congress to pass the Equality Act. “LGBTQ Americans, especially children, you’re loved, you’re heard and this administration has your back,” Biden said. “I mean it. We are not relenting one single second.” REPUBLICAN BANS Republican-led states have signed a flurry of bills targeting transgender youth. Some states have banned teachers of younger children from discussing gender or sexuality and conservative lawmakers have proposed or passed laws restricting drag performances. In April, the White House warned that bills targeting LGBTQ kids and gender-affirming care for youth set a dangerous precedent. Biden announced a new coordinator to train schools on how to deal with book bans, the impact they have on LGBTQ kids and how they violate civil rights laws. He also said there would be new federal coordination to “better protect Pride celebrations, marches, community centers, healthcare providers and small businesses, and new resources for mental health care providers supporting transgender kids. Florida has been at the forefront of restrictions aimed at the LGBTQ community under Governor Ron DeSantis, who says he is protecting children, and recently entered the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination to challenge Biden. LGBTQ+ EVOLUTION Biden’s own views on gay rights have evolved over his decades in public life. A watershed moment was his endorsement of same-sex marriage in 2012 as vice president, which pushed then-President Barack Obama to express his support for gay marriage a few days later. As president, Biden has overturned a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, issued a new order to stop conversion therapy and signed the Respect for Marriage Act, which federally recognizes same-sex marriages, into law. American support for same-sex marriage has doubled since the late 1990s to more than 70%, Gallup polls show, and the percentage of people who identify as LGBTQ has doubled in the past decade to over 7%. On Tuesday, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest LGBTQ advocacy organization in the United States, declared its first national state of emergency, citing the proliferation of anti-LGBTQ legislation in statehouses across the country. More than 70 bills HRC considers anti-LGBTQ were passed in statehouses this legislative session, double last year’s previous record, and over 500 were introduced. (Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington; Additional reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Trevor Hunnicutt, Heather Timmons, Gerry Doyle and Jonathan Oatis) View the full article

Published by NJ.com The Hanover Township Board of Education voted Tuesday to repeal a controversial policy that would have outed LGBTQ students to their parents and instead replaced it with a new, revised version. The revised policy is meant to address concerns of discrimination raised in a lawsuit filed against the board of education by the New Jersey Attorney General. In a letter addressed to Morris County Assigning Judge Stuart Minkowitz, Matthew R. Marotta, an attorney for the school board, said the state’s order to show cause was “moot” given the board’s repeal and replacement of the contested policy. The At… Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet Former Trump Attorney General Bill Barr, once one of the ex-president’s top defenders, appeared stunned and speechless Thursday afternoon when a Fox News host surprised him by asking why the U.S. Dept. of Justice is pursuing a criminal investigation against Trump over classified documents while he is running again for president. “Why is this process happening so quickly in the middle of a presidential election?” Fox’s Martha MacCallum asked. She neglected to mention that Donald Trump reportedly announced his presidential campaign to avoid being charged. Barr, who is on record stating he oppose… Read More View the full article

Published by Grazia USA Season 1, Episode 1: “Sex and the City” Carrie and Mr. Big meet cute when she spills her purse of condoms on the sidewalk. Later, a lusty Samantha compares Big to “a young Donald Trump.” Throwback! Season 1, Episode 3: “Bay of Married Pigs” Samantha shrieks “Big pepper mill dick!” at a boring couples’ party and flashes Charlotte’s Irish doorman on Fifth Avenue in La Perla and a trench coat. All we can say is, we really like Sam when she’s drunk. Season 1, Episode 4: “Valley of the Twenty-something Guys” Charlotte’s confession that “I don’t want to be Mrs. Up the Butt!” causes Carrie to call a … Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Janelle Monae has always wanted the “approval” of her mum. The 37-year-old star came out as pansexual in 2018, before coming out as non-binary last year, and Janelle feels relieved to have the support of her mother Janet, who worked as a janitor and hotel maid. Asked how important her mum’s support has been, Janelle told ET Canada: “It’s everything… it feels good when your mom supports you. It really does. It really feels good, you know, because she has her life. I have mine. And for us to be able to meet each other on these journeys, her to respect me as non-binary, being pansexual. “Like for her to just in her own way, you know, accept me means the world. You know, she brought me into this world. And I’ve always, I guess, sought out her approval. So it feels good to have that.” Janelle’s mum took “a while” to accept her as queer. But now, the singer is determined to offer her support to other people who are going through similar experiences. The ‘Many Moons’ hitmaker said: “I mean … there was a time where my mom, (it) took my mom a while to come around to accepting me being queer, you know and that was a tough time. “So I just want you to know, if you’re watching right now, I feel you. I see you. I have been you when I haven’t felt supported. “You know, even still, there may be family members in my family who don’t support me in that way. You know, they may smile and ask for tickets at the concert, but deep down, they may have [an] issue with my authenticity. But I want you to know that you can have chosen family. I love you. I love you. I love you just the way you are.” View the full article

Published by Tribune News Service June is Pride Month, a celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride and commemoration of the history of the fight for gay rights. Pride Month was started after the 1969 Stonewall riots sparked a series of gay liberation protests, and unfortunately, more than 50 years later, Pride Month has taken on a new resonance as the civil rights of queer and transgender people are being rolled back at an alarming rate in the United States. It’s an apt time to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community as members and allies, but it’s also an opportunity to learn more about queer history, the origins of Pride and the importance of … Read More View the full article

Published by The Street By Tony Owusu The damage Bud Light has done to its brand may be irreparable. About eight weeks after the company’s partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney went viral sales were down 24% year over year compared to Memorial Day weekend last year. DON’T MISS: Bud Light Outrage Spreads to Miller Lite’s New Ad Campaign It seems at this point that the best the company can hope for is to wait out the controversy until the fury over their misstep subsides, but the company can kiss a certain percentage of its business goodbye permanently, according to a new Bernstein note. Anheuser Busch… Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg blasted Republicans attacking the LGBTQ community on Tuesday, saying the reason right-wing lawmakers have decided to target them is they don’t want to talk about their “radical positions,” including opposing President Joe Biden’s massive infrastructure law and other accomplishments, like $35 insulin. Appearing on MSNBC, Secretary Buttigieg was asked to weigh in on the Human Rights Campaign’s declaration earlier in the day, of a national emergency in the U.S. for LGBTQ people. “We have officially declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in … Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters UK LONDON (Reuters) – The head of London’s Metropolitan Police apologised to the city’s LGBT+ community on Wednesday for the failings of the past, responding to calls from an activist group to draw a line under what they called “homophobic victimisation.” Commissioner Mark Rowley, the country’s most senior police officer, made the apology in a letter addressed to gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell and published by Tatchell’s foundation. “I am sorry to all of the communities we have let down for the failings of the past and look forward to building a new Met for London, one all Londoners can be … Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega Justin Bieber‘s dad is facing backlash after he posted an offensive anti-LGBTQ message on Instagram, RadarOnline.com has learned. Jeremy Bieber used a graphic image to take a cheap shot at the LGBTQIA+ community — and relay his thoughts about Pride month. Jeremy said he felt the community should “thank a straight person” for their “existence.” mega Jeremy took to his Instagram stories to let his 2 million followers know where he stood on June being recognized as pride month. The story featured a black screen with a rainbow flag emoji, a symbolic representation of the community. In white text over the flag’s image read the line, “Don’t forget to thank a straight person this month for your existence.” He also included two peace sign emojis. @jeremybieber/Instagram Justin Bieber Looks Disheveled in First Sighting Since Ex-Pastor Carl Lentz Broke His Silence On Shocking Cheating Scandal Justin Bieber’s Ex-pastor Carl Lentz Breaks Silence on Cheating Scandal: ‘I Had Some Major Lies’ Justin Bieber’s Ex-Hillsong Pastor Carl Lentz’s New Church Accused Of Throwing ‘Demonic’ Easter Service The Instagram story followed a tweet from Jeremy the day before, which read, “We need to celebrate families. U know the reason we’re all here! The things this generation glorifies is unbelievable!” Ironically, The Baby singer’s own family glorified the non-traditional values. Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free. mega Given his son’s celebrity status, outraged fans flocked to Jeremy’s latest post to condemn his offensive message. One fan reminded Jeremy where his platform came from and told the father: “dont forget do thank Justin Bieber this month for your paid bills.” “No one is going to thank a straight person for the existence of the lgbtq+ community. We’ve always existed, y’all just never knew. Stop spreading dumb s—. You’re a father of one of the biggest pop stars. Act like one,” read another scathing reply. mega Commenters slammed Jeremy as a “deadbeat dad” and “absent father” while they accused him of being a hypocrite. “You are not in a position to judge ANYONE…so…..HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!” wrote one Instagram user, who added a string of rainbow emojis to the comment. Others joined and simply left Pride flag emojis to get their message across. RadarOnline.com has reached out to Justin’s rep for comment. View the full article

Published by The Street By Colin Salao The sports world was stunned on June 6 by the sudden announcement of the merger between the PGA Tour and European Tour with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which had already backed the LIV Tour. Saudi Arabia’s focus on sports dates back to 2016 when it first assembled its Saudi Vision 2030 program in an attempt to diversify the country’s economic investments under its Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Saudi Arabian Oil Company or Saudi Aramco is the world’s largest supplier of oil, profiting $161.1 billion in 2022 alone. And it’s mostly owned by the state. DON’T MISS:… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Former CNN anchor Don Lemon is set to celebrate Pride Month by hosting Emil Wilbekin’s 7th annual Native Son Awards at Barry Diller’s IAC building in New York. The ousted host, 57, who was fired from CNN in April following a 17-year stint at the network as part of an apparent shake-up of its image as a liberal station – and who came out as gay in his 2011 memoir ‘Transparent’ – will mark the 16 June event as Emil wants to “shine a light” on black and queer men. Emil said in a statement: “For this year’s awards, we really wanted to shine a light on those who are using their platforms to bring visibility to all the beautiful ways in which black, queer men show up in the world. “Having Don host this year’s award feels like a full circle moment for Native Son. “He is one of the most visible black gay men in media and his presence reinforces the importance and impact of our community.” Page Six highlighted how Don was one of the first figures to be honoured by the awards – which aim to highlight “the achievements of Black gay and queer men who are leaders in their respective industries” – at its first gala in 2016. The organisation stood in solidarity with the reporter when he was ousted from CNN in April, posting: “As one chapter closes, a new one will open. We thank you Don Lemon for speaking truth to power.” Since he was ousted, Don has maintained a relatively low profile, and told Page Six at the Time 100 gala that he plans to “enjoy my summer, spend it on the beach and have a great time… that’s it!” The awards show will also honour Patrik Ian-Polk, Tony nominee Jordan E Cooper, Chester Algernal Gordon, Elegance Bratton, James Cole Jr, Nicco Annan, Bishop O C Allen, Rashad Burgess, Jason Bolden and Adair Curtis. Don’s ousting was widely seen as part of a move by network boss Chris Licht’s campaign to shake up the network’s liberal-leaning image and reinvent it as a down-the-middle and facts-first news organisation. It was last week reported Don’s tensions with Chris, 51, dated back at least to last autumn, when the outlet said a wardrobe dispute erupted during a rehearsal. The Atlantic said in early November, during a final rehearsal before the launch of ‘CNN This Morning’, Lemon baffled producers by arriving back on set from a break wearing a white jacket with fur collar over a turtleneck. Chris is said to have asked in the control room: “What the f*** is he wearing?”, according to a first-hand account from Atlantic staff writer Tim Alberta, who was there working on a lengthy profile of the boss. A junior producer was said to have reluctantly relayed Chris’ concern through Don’s earpiece, which apparently provoked a “miffed” look from the CNN host as he was allegedly told: “Don, uhh, we’re not too crazy about the jacket in here.” Chris took over as chair and CEO of CNN Worldwide in February 2022, following the dismissal of his predecessor Jeff Zucker, 58, over an undisclosed romance with his top lieutenant. View the full article

Published by CIO The lack of diversity in IT doesn’t just leave underrepresented workers feeling alienated; it can also make them feel unsafe. That’s certainly true for the LGBTQIA+ community, with only 76% of LGBTQ+ workers reporting they feel safe in their workplace and 64% of trans and gender nonconforming (GNC) individuals saying the same, according to a report from Blind. Moreover, only 35% of LGBTQ+ and 41% of trans or GNC workers say they feel “represented in upper management at their company.” While the tech industry has made more of an effort to foster greater workplace diversity in recent years, ther… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jennifer Coolidge has “made a lot of mistakes” in life. The 61-year-old actress shot to fame when she was cast as Stifler’s Mom in the 1999 coming-of-age comedy ‘American Pie’ before going on to star opposite Reese Witherspoon in ‘Legally Blonde’ and alongside Hilary Duff in ‘A Cinderella Story’ but started to “pursue guys” rather than drive her career forward at that time. She told Variety: “Now that I’m old enough to really look back at my life and certainly my mistakes, I see a lot of those. But I never had any strategy. I just went job to job. I have to say I made the terrible mistake of not riding the wave that I had early on. It was sort of in the ’90s when I had ‘Legally Blonde’, “Best in Show’ and American Pie’. And then a few years later, there was ‘A Cinderella Story’ and stuff like that. But there was a moment. I started pursuing guys. I wasn’t paying attention. I just thought I had my whole life.” The ‘2 Broke Girls’ actress suffered something of a dip in the years that followed her 2000s comedies but enjoyed an Emmy Award-winning resurgence when she was cast as socialite Tanya McQuoid in HBO series ‘The White Lotus’ and reflected that her “fatal flaw” was that she “didn’t have a plan” in place for her career that she often questions now. She added: ” never said, ;I want to do … ” I did get some jobs, but I didn’t have a plan. And I think that was a fatal flaw of mine, because it took so long to get anything going later. I look back and I go, “What was I thinking?” And then I bought a house in New Orleans, and I was consumed with fixing that up. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine @britneyspears/instagram Britney Spears is trying something new! The princess of pop changed up her look while joining husband Sam Asghari in the gym, opting for a pink, silk dress with lace and tan boots with a heel. @britneyspears/instagram “So I’ve never been to the gym in high heels. So I decided to wear high heels ’cause I saw a girl on Instagram one time and she basically wore a formal dress on the treadmill with high heels,” Spears said in an Instagram video of herself showing off her outfit. She continued, “So, considering I’ve always had a trainer tell me what to do in the gym, I decided…” before Asghari distracted her by coming up behind his wife and flexing his muscles. @britneyspears/instagram “And that’s my hot, crazy husband,” Spears told her more-than 42 million Instagram followers. Getting back on track, the “Toxic” singer added, “I decided to wear a dress to the gym to see what it feels like… and I really like it.” Spears captioned her random video, “Heels on the treadmill … .” Britney Spears ‘Already Toned’ Down Her Tell-All Book ‘a Few Times,’ Says Insider: Pop Star Is ‘Annoyed at All the Delays’ Britney Spears Brags About Gaining Weight While Grinding the Air: ‘At Least I Have a Butt Now’ Britney Spears Posts Throwback Photo Carrying Son Jayden After She Agrees to Let 2 Sons Move to Hawaii With Kevin Federline Her recent time in the gym comes shortly after she bragged about gaining weight. Alongside a dance routine Instagram video posted on Saturday, June 3, Spears revealed: “I gained weight but at least I have a butt now and can move it all day!” In the video, Spears proceeded to grind the air, twerk and roll around on the floor while her dog watched her in clear confusion. @britneyspears/instagram Though she often posts questionable content of herself in barely-there outfits while seductively dancing for the camera, Spears rarely includes her husband in her uploads. Spears’ glimpse of her and Asghari’s time at the gym together comes after a recent documentary, titled Britney Spears: The Price of Freedom, claimed their marriage is in trouble — in addition to other wild allegations about the pop star regarding her life post-conservatorship. 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! Before the documentary aired last month — where managing editor Fabian Garcia said41-year-old “got physical with Sam” — multiple insiders revealed that Spears gets into frequent screaming matches with the 29-year-old to the point where security has had to step in and break the pair up. View the full article