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Published by The Kansas City Star WASHINGTON — A day after the Kansas Legislature overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto to prohibit transgender women from participating in school sports, White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre walked to the podium in the press briefing room and said it had been one of the worst weeks for anti-LGBT laws in 2023. That same week, she said, the North Dakota Senate had passed 10 anti-LGBTQ laws in one day. In Idaho, the governor signed a bill banning gender-affirming care for transgender kids, as did the governor of Indiana. “Look, this is awful news. Let’s be very clear about that,” s… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story The May 4 conviction of former Proud Boys national chairman Henry “Enrique” Tarrio and three other leaders on charges of seditious conspiracy and dozens of others was made possible by the Proud Boys themselves. Before, during, and after the Jan. 6 insurrection that briefly stopped the congressional certification of Joe Biden as president, the Proud Boys took credit for storming of the U.S. Capitol that resulted in five deaths. Simply put, the Proud Boys thought they could get away it because … they had almost always gotten away with it. Since crashing on to the political scene in 2016 with a t… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Michael Holden, Kate Holton and Andrew MacAskill LONDON (Reuters) -King Charles III was anointed and crowned on Saturday in Britain’s biggest ceremonial event for seven decades, a display of pomp and pageantry that sought to marry 1,000 years of history with a monarchy fit for a new era. In front of a congregation including about 100 world leaders and a television audience of millions, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, slowly placed the 360-year-old St Edward’s Crown on Charles’ head as he sat upon a 14th-century throne in Westminster Abbey. During the solemn two-hour service, elements of which date back to the time of King William the Conqueror in 1066, Charles’ second wife Camilla was also crowned queen. A huge military procession followed, gun salutes were fired, thousands of soldiers roared three cheers, and there was a scaled-down flypast by military aircraft as the king and queen waved from the balcony of Buckingham Palace to cheering crowds who gathered on The Mall boulevard. While rooted in history, the ceremony – only the second British coronation to be televised – was also an attempt to present a forward-looking institution and to reflect a more diverse country. “I come not to be served but to serve,” Charles said at the start. With Britain struggling to find its way in the political maelstrom after its exit from the European Union and maintain its global standing, the monarchy’s supporters say the royal family provides an international draw, a vital diplomatic tool and a means of keeping it on the world stage. “No other country could put on such a dazzling display – the processions, the pageantry, the ceremonies, and street parties,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said. But despite Sunak’s enthusiasm, the coronation took place amid a cost of living crisis and public scepticism, particularly among the young, about the role and relevance of the monarchy. Charles, 74, automatically succeeded his mother as king of the United Kingdom and 14 other realms including Canada and Australia when Queen Elizabeth died last September. Saturday’s event was on a smaller scale than that staged for her in 1953, but still sought to be spectacular. There was an array of historical regalia from golden orbs and bejewelled swords to a sceptre holding the world’s largest colourless cut diamond. After the service, Charles and Camilla, 75, departed in the four-tonne Gold State Coach built for George III, the last king of Britain’s American colonies, to ride to Buckingham Palace in a one-mile procession of 4,000 military personnel from 39 nations. Meanwhile hundreds of soldiers in scarlet uniforms and black bearskin hats lined the route along The Mall for what was the largest ceremonial event of its kind in Britain since Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. Tens of thousands of people ignored pouring rain to mass on the streets to watch what some saw as a moment of history. “When I was a young girl, I was able to watch (the coronation of) Queen Elizabeth on television in Hartford, Connecticut, at a friend’s house because we had no TV,” said retired U.S. teacher Peggy Jane Laver, 79. “So I’m thrilled to be here for the coronation in person.” Not everyone who came to watch was there to cheer Charles, with hundreds of republicans booing and waving banners reading “Not My King”. The Republic campaign group said its leader had been arrested, among 52 people detained as part of a “significant police operation”. SACRED CEREMONY Inside the abbey, which was bedecked with flowers and flags, politicians and dignitaries from around the world such as U.S. first lady Jill Biden took their seats alongside 2,200 others from charity workers to celebrities, including actors Emma Thompson, Maggie Smith and Judi Dench and U.S. singer Katy Perry. Charles looked solemn as he swore oaths to govern justly and uphold the Church of England – of which he is the titular head. He was then hidden from watching eyes by a screen for the most sacred part of the ceremony when he was anointed on his hands, head and breast by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby with holy oil consecrated in Jerusalem. After being presented with symbolic regalia, Welby placed the St Edward’s Crown on his head and the congregation cried out “God save the King”. Gun salutes were fired at the Tower of London and across the capital, the nation, in Gibraltar, Bermuda and on ships at sea. Charles’ eldest son and heir Prince William, 40, knelt before his father to pledge his loyalty as his “liege man of life and limb”. Much of the ceremony featured elements that Charles’ forebears right back to King Edgar in 973 would recognise, officials said. Handel’s coronation anthem “Zadok The Priest” was sung as it has been at every coronation since 1727. But the service also included an anthem composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, famed for his West End and Broadway theatre shows, a gospel choir, and an “unprecedented” greeting from faith leaders. However, there was no formal role for either Charles’ younger son Prince Harry, after his high-profile falling out with his family, or his brother Prince Andrew, who was forced to quit royal duties because of his friendship with late U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. They sat in the third row behind working members of the royal family and neither appeared on the palace balcony. Camilla’s crowning sealed her rise from a position of deep unpopularity in the period after Charles’ divorced first wife, the popular, glamorous Princess Diana, died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. For the last decade, the royal family has enjoyed massive global media attention, celebrating everything from weddings, births, and significant anniversaries to mourning last year’s death of Queen Elizabeth, and now Charles’ coronation. But, no major event is likely for some years, and with polls indicating a decline in support for the monarchy, especially among the young, commentators say adapting and staying relevant is the greatest challenge to the institution. Neil Edward, 72, a retired salesman who travelled from southwest England to watch, said the experience had been a mixture of pride and nostalgia with a touch of sadness that this might be the last big royal event he attends. “Without them, I don’t know how we would come together to celebrate big events like this,” he said. (Additional reporting by Andrew MacAskill, Sarah Young, Suban Abdulla, Rachel Armstrong, Farouq Suleiman, Muvija M and Paul SandleWriting by Michael Holden and Kate HoltonEditing by Frances Kerry and Janet Lawrence) View the full article

Published by OK Magazine While commentating for CNN’s coverage of King Charles’ coronation on Saturday, May 6, Anderson Cooper made a gaffe regarding Prince George. “We haven’t seen George, but he may be somewhere else,” Anderson said, after he commented on how Prince William, 40, Kate Middleton, 41, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5, had arrived at Westminster Abbey. The 55-year-old was quickly corrected by a Btitish cohost, who clarified that Prince George was already been seen completing his Page of Honor duties. “He’s holding the robes,” they told Cooper. Nick Cannon Shuts Down Vasectomy Talk After Anders… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Yellowstone macho man Kevin Costner allegedly plunged into a forbidden love affair with his leading lady Whitney Houston — just like their characters in their movie hit The Bodyguard — as his first marriage crumbled from his cheating scandal, sources told RadarOnline.com. The 67-year-old star of TV’s hottest drama admits he was a notorious skirt-chaser three decades ago leading to the 1994 divorce from his first wife, Cindy, mom of Annie, 37, Lily, 35, and Joe, 33, three of his seven kids. Their 16-year marriage collapsed just two years after he allegedly fell for 28-year-old pop megastar Whitney — on and off screen — in the 1992 blockbuster. Sources say the attraction between the two A-listers was immediate after meeting on the set of the film, which features Costner as the bodyguard of Whitney’s pop star character. In the movie, they end up sizzling in bed. “He couldn’t keep his eyes off her and went her comfortable in her first film role,” spilled a source. “The chemistry between them was immediate and powerful.” Mega Shots Fired? Kevin Costner’s ‘Yellowstone’ Costar Luke Grimes Highlights His Loving Marriage Amid Oscar Winner’s Second Divorce Kevin Costner’s Estranged Wife Must Vacate Actor’s Homes After ‘Blindsiding’ Him With Divorce Papers Due to Ironclad Prenup Kevin Costner’s Estranged Wife Christine Spotted Out Without Her Wedding Ring After ‘Blindsiding’ Him With Divorce Papers At the time, Whitney was set to wed pop star Bobby Brown and shut down her romance with Kevin when the film wrapped, spies dished. Meanwhile, womanizer Kevin — who later called the late Grammy winner “my one true love” — insisted his marriage to college sweetheart Cindy was already in tatters when he signed on for the film. It wasn’t his forbidden pining for Whitney that ended his first marriage. As RadarOnline.com reported, Costner made an $80 million mistake when his ex-wife discovered he had invited an exotic hula dancer to put on a private show for him while he filmed a movie in Hawaii. He learned from his money mishap before his second marriage, allegedly forcing Christine Baumgartner to sign a prenup before their 2004 wedding — protecting his $250 million fortune. Mega Christine filed for divorce on Monday, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their split — but RadarOnline.com was told Costner’s grueling Yellowstone schedule was a point of contention for the pair. Costner and Christine share three minor children aged 12, 14, and 15. The actor is seeking joint custody of the kids. Mega Costner’s rep confirmed the news, telling TMZ, “It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have transpired which have resulted in Mr. Costner having to participate in a dissolution of marriage action.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Luc Cohen, Jack Queen and Padraic Halpin NEW YORK/DOONBEG, Ireland (Reuters) -Jurors in Donald Trump’s civil rape trial on Thursday saw a video deposition in which the former U.S. president defended private comments he made in 2005 about grabbing women sexually without asking. Trump was asked by a lawyer for his accuser, the writer E. Jean Carroll, about the 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape, where he said on a hot microphone that “when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything… Grab ’em by the pussy.” “Historically, that’s true, with stars… if you look over the last million years,” Trump said in the video deposition taken last October and shown to the jury on Thursday, the seventh day of the rape trial in Manhattan federal court. The “Access Hollywood” tape was first made public in October 2016, a month before Trump was elected U.S. president. Carroll, 79, has testified that Trump, 76, raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan in the mid-1990s, and then tarred her reputation and career by lying about it online. A social media and marketing expert hired by Carroll told jurors on Thursday that the cost to repair the reputational damage of Trump’s statements could range from $368,000 to $2.8 million. Carroll is seeking unspecified damages. Trump’s lawyers rested their case on Thursday without calling any witnesses, paving the way for closing arguments on Monday after a break on Friday. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan said he would give Trump until 5 p.m. ET (2100 GMT) on Sunday to ask to reopen his case for the sole purpose of personally testifying. Trump has not been in the Manhattan courtroom so far, but on Thursday he told reporters during a trip to Ireland that he would probably attend. Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has said he could not have raped Carroll, because “she’s not my type” and has called the case politically motivated. ‘IT’S MARLA,’ TRUMP MISTAKENLY SAYS OF ACCUSER’S PHOTO In an excerpt on Thursday from the October video deposition by Carroll’s lawyer Roberta Kaplan, who is not related to Judge Kaplan, Trump also mistook Carroll for an ex-wife in a black-and-white photograph that shows him speaking to people at an event. “It’s Marla,” he said, referring to his second wife Marla Maples. When Kaplan asked him if he was saying the picture depicted Maples, Trump’s lawyer Alina Habba said, “No, that’s Carroll.” Carroll’s lawyers have argued that the episode, made public in January, undermines Trump’s argument that Carroll was not his type. In the deposition, taken last October at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump reiterated his denials of having raped Carroll, whom he called “mentally sick.” “You know it’s not true too,” Trump said, addressing Kaplan. “You’re a political operative also. You’re a disgrace.” Earlier on Thursday, during a visit to a resort he owns in southwestern Ireland, Trump dismissed what he called untrue allegations “against a rich guy.” “I have to go back for a woman that made a false accusation about me, and I have a judge who is extremely hostile,” Trump told reporters while playing golf at the Doonbeg resort. Judge Kaplan warned last week that Trump could face more legal problems if he kept discussing the case. He did not address Trump’s latest comments before trial resumed on Thursday. The trial is expected to extend into next week. Carroll, a former advice columnist at Elle magazine, said during three days of testimony and cross-examination that Trump slammed her against the wall in either 1995 or 1996, put his fingers into her vagina and then inserted his penis. Two of Carroll’s longtime friends have testified that Carroll told them about the attack shortly after it occurred and said they believed her. Two other women have also testified in support of Carroll, saying Trump sexually assaulted them in separate alleged incidents decades ago. Trump has denied those claims as well. He has accused Carroll of making up the story to drive sales of a 2019 memoir in which she made her claims public. (Reporting by Luc Cohen and Jack Queen in New York and by Padraic Halpin in Dublin; Editing by Noeleen Walder, Jonathan Oatis, Will Dunham and Howard Goller) View the full article

Published by AlterNet Economists once again are praising another strong monthly jobs report, with one calling April’s results “huuuuuge.” Unemployment, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, dropped to tie a more than 50-year low of 3.4%, but it’s the details behind that number that are equally impressive, and some even historic. President Joe Biden, who rarely takes a victory lap, Friday morning tweeted: “We just learned we created 253,000 jobs in April. That’s 12.7 million jobs since I took office, an unemployment rate that is the lowest since 1969, and the highest share of working age people in the workforce s… Read More View the full article

Published by Al-Araby British musician Sam Smith will no longer play a planned show in Tel Aviv after coming under fierce criticism from pro-Palestine groups. Organisers of a two-day series of shows in Tel Aviv’s Park Hayarkon said it was cancelling the entire first day of the event which Smith was headlining, Gay Times reported on Friday. “Due to unforeseeable technical and logistical problems on May 31, the concerts of that evening (including Sam Smith) will not happen,” Gay Times quoted a statement from the organisers as saying. The musician, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, came under f… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story A 17-year-old accused of being part of a mob that kicked, punched, and stabbed a man while yelling homophobic remarks in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood has been arrested, The Villager reported. The teen was charged with assault as a hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon. He is accused of being part of a group that made homophobic remarks to the victim, then attacked him when he confronted his tormentors. The group was believed to be comprised of males in their teens to early 20s. The victim was later treated at the hospital for injuries that included a stab wound to the t… Read More View the full article

Published by Miami Herald MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Lewis Hamilton often races with a rainbow sticker on his helmet and especially when he’s driving in a place where he feels LGBTQ rights are being infringed upon, including at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in April. Florida now qualifies as such a place to the British superstar. Hamilton, who drives the No. 44 car for Mercedes-Benz in Formula One, will don his rainbow sticker once again this weekend at the 2023 Miami Grand Prix, making a statement against the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, often referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill by critics. “It’s not g… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Tilman Blasshofer COLOGNE, Germany (Reuters) – A German artist who is preparing to lay the 100,000th cobblestone commemorating a person who was deported and killed by the Nazis has no intention of giving up making the brass-capped blocks, saying demand is higher than ever. By placing Stolpersteine (“stumble stones”) outside the victims’ last known address, 75-year-old Gunter Demnig aims to draw attention to the fate of individuals in the Holocaust. The project started about three decades ago when Demnig laid the first stones in Berlin and Cologne. Nearly 100,000 cobblestones later, they can be found in 30 countries across Europe, from Finland to Italy, Hungary, Russia and Ukraine. “I never dreamed of this,” Demnig said, saying he had expected a few hundred or maybe 1,000 stones. “I was naive enough to believe that it would have to decrease at some point … but it’s the other way around: interest is getting greater and greater.” He expects to lay his 100,000th stone this year. In his workshop, Demnig embosses the name and date of birth and circumstances of death by hand. He lays most of the stones, which can be requested by anyone, himself, with the costs paid by donations and sponsorship from private individuals as well as companies or institutions. “People ask why I don’t have it done in a factory? I say Auschwitz was a murder factory. That’s why it’s important to me that the writing is hammered into the plaques by hand,” he said. Inspired by the Talmud – a compendium of Jewish thought and commentary – which says a person is only forgotten when his or her name is forgotten, the stones in front of the buildings revive the memory of the people who lived there. They commemorate all groups of the Nazis’ victims, including Jews, Sinti and Roma, political opponents, gay people and “antisocial elements”, or criminals. They have become an integral part of cities across Germany, especially Berlin, where locals and tourists stop to inspect the stones, which shine on grey pavements and sometimes have flowers strewn across them. “Here we have a mother who has been stigmatised for ‘antisocial’. The child was placed in a children’s home. Both were murdered,” said Demnig as prepares to lay two stones outside the house in Cologne where they lived. While determined to continue his work, Demnig is resigned to eventually delegating to colleagues. “As long as my knees are still okay, I’ll keep going,” he said. (Reporting by Tilman Blasshofer; Writing by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Alison Williams) View the full article

Published by St. Louis Post-Dispatch For years, Budweiser was the King of Beers and Anheuser-Busch was the King of Marketing. Its commercials on television, radio and print were the envy of the advertising world. Now, a single promotional initiative gone awry threatens the company’s standing as a marketing machine. Bud Light is the top-selling beer in America, but its frothy sales have taken a massive hit in the past month. A short TikTok video by transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, and a single can of beer with her face on it, has brought the once-mighty A-B marketing machine crashing to the ground. “It basically was a post f… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story A medical group behind the effort to ban the abortion drug mifepristone that describes itself as a “secular, scientific medical association” appears to be far less secular and science-oriented than it claims, according tonew reporting from Wired. The American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds), which is suing the federal government to limit access to the abortion drug, has for years sought to conceal the extent to which its religious views inform its public policy initiatives, according to a cache of leaked documents obtained by Wired. ACPeds advocates for banning abortion and affirmative care … Read More View the full article

Published by NJ.com By Nancy Colasurdo Let’s go here, shall we? This is reportedly the text that got Tucker Carlson fired from Fox News: Tucker Carlson January 7, 2021 — 04:18:04 PM UTC A couple of weeks ago, I was watching video of people fighting on the street in Washington. A group of Trump guys surrounded an Antifa kid and started pounding the living sh- out of him. It was three against one, at least. Jumping a guy like that is dishonorable obviously. It’s not how white men fight. Yet suddenly I found myself rooting for the mob against the man, hoping they’d hit him harder, kill him. I really wanted them to h… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jacqueline Thomsen and Andrew Goudsward WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department asked a federal judge on Friday to sentence Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes to 25 years in prison for his conviction on seditious conspiracy and other charges over the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. The Justice Department is also seeking a sentence of 21 years for another Oath Keepers leader, Kelly Meggs, who was also found guilty in November of seditious conspiracy by a Washington, D.C., jury. Rhodes and Meggs are among 10 members of far-right groups found guilty of seditious conspiracy – a plot to oppose the government with force – for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, which was an attempt to overturn Democratic President Joe Biden’s 2020 election win. If fully imposed, the recommended sentences would be the longest so far for anyone convicted in connection with the Capitol riot. Prosecutors said the defendants “played a central and damning role” in the attack and should be sentenced more severely than other rioters because their conduct was comparable to domestic terrorism. Earlier on Friday, Peter Schwartz, a Pennsylvania man with a lengthy criminal history, was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison for storming the Capitol, the longest prison term handed down so far. Trump, who is now again seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Biden in 2024, continues to falsely claim that his defeat was the result of fraud. Meggs’ lawyer asked for a term of no more than 28 months in prison. Rhodes did not file his sentencing recommendation on Friday. The same Washington jury that convicted Rhodes and Meggs cleared three other co-defendants, Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins and Thomas Caldwell, of seditious conspiracy. But all five were found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding – the congressional certification of the election results – with mixed verdicts on a handful of other charges. Prosecutors said they were seeking 18 years in prison for Watkins, 15 years for Harrelson and 14 years for Caldwell. A lawyer for Caldwell asked the judge to impose no additional prison time and instead credit time he has served in home confinement. A lawyer for Watkins did not make a specific recommendation, but asked the judge to consider Watkins’ personal struggles, including the harassment she said she faced in the U.S. Army for being transgender. Harrelson was given until Monday to file his recommendation with the court. The charges of seditious conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding each carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Sentences are left to the discretion of federal judges and are typically based on factors like past criminal history and the seriousness of the crime. All five are scheduled to be sentenced later this month. Four other members of the Oath Keepers David Moerschel, Joseph Hackett, Roberto Minuta and Edward Vallejo were convicted in January of seditious conspiracy for their roles in the attack. They are awaiting sentence. The Justice Department also filed sentencing recommendations for that group, requesting prison terms of between 17 and 10 years for the four defendants. Another federal jury on Thursday convicted former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and three other members of that far-right group of seditious conspiracy, but acquitted a fifth defendant on that count. Five people including a police officer died during or shortly after the riot and more than 140 police officers were injured. The Capitol suffered millions of dollars in damage. Of the more than 1,000 people who have so far been arrested on charges related to the riot, more than 525 have pleaded guilty and more than 65 have been found guilty, according to the Justice Department. (Reporting by Jacqueline Thomsen and Andrew Goudsward; Writing by Jasper Ward; Editing by Caitlin Webber, Scott Malone, Leslie Adler and Kim Coghill) View the full article

Published by New York Daily News Dee Snider has been dropped from the lineup of San Francisco’s official LGBTQ Pride festivities after the Twisted Sister founding member expressed support for a “transphobic statement” shared on social media by fellow ‘80s rocker Paul Stanley of Kiss. The announcement came just as the organization was getting ready to reveal that a Twisted Sister classic would be featured prominently during the city’s 53rd annual rainbow-powered celebration — one of the nation’s largest Pride events. “San Francisco Pride was on the cusp of announcing Twisted Sister’s ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ as the unofficial… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Anna Wintour is said to have “total control” over the Met Gala guest list. The 73-year-old journalist has served as editor-in-chief of Vogue since 1988 and wants the philanthropic side of the magazine’s annual fashion event to be her “legacy” so she must approve every A-lister on the guest list herself before they are sent an invitation. Amy Odell – author of ‘Anna: The Biography’ – told Grazia: “Anna has told friends she wants her legacy to be for her philanthropy. The Met Gala is the biggest philanthropic endeavour of her career, raising hundreds of millions of dollars for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is also, her friends told me, a fun night for her, even though it is also work. [She has] total control. No one gets into the event unless she approves them.” According to Amy, Anna – who this year invited the likes of Doja Cat, Paris Hilton and Quinta Brunson to the event for the first time, whilst regulars Kim Kardashian, Rihanna and Cardi B also returned to the famous staircase – also likes the “over the top” looks that arrive on the red carpet and noted that even though the celebration has received criticism for becoming something of a “costume party” in recent years, the Vogue editor “enjoys the theatrics” of it all.” She said: “One friend told me that she loves the over-the-top looks! A lot of people have criticised the gala for becoming too much of a costume party versus a black-tie event. But Anna – who remember, is a huge theatre fan – enjoys the theatrics. The first time she left her spot inside the museum where she greets guests was for the Camp Gala – she went outside to watch Lady Gaga come up the steps (her entry involved choreography and several outfit changes).” View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Christina Aguilera is celebrating Pride in the Big Apple. Heritage of Pride — the volunteer-directed group behind the official NYC Pride roster of events — said Wednesday the global music superstar will headline this year’s Pride Island, the traditional dance party and fundraiser that closes LGBTQ Pride festivities in New York City each June. This year, the rainbow-powered party heads to the Brooklyn Army Terminal, a massive warehouse complex in Sunset Park, on the South Brooklyn waterfront. Organizers promise an afternoon of “exuberant dancing, lights and music” — and, of course, t… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Over the past few years, Martha Stewart has reinvented herself into a sex symbol — a title she thinks is “fantastic.” The star dished on her healthy lifestyle, confidence and more in a new interview, explaining she’s proud that people are embracing their beauty at every age. @marthastewart48/instagram “It’s a good example for others, actually,” the 81-year-old told a magazine. “I’m a teacher. I’m trying to teach others that you can look great. There’s no reason to slump around.” The businesswoman said she doesn’t actually “diet,” but she does watch what she eats, and everything the icon chows down on is organic. mega When it comes to her flawless complexion, she insisted, “if you have good skincare, you can have beautiful skin. And it doesn’t have to cost a fortune, you just have to do it.” Last but not least is a fitness routine, to which she revealed she does Pilates three times a week. The mom-of-one also dabbles in self-care regimens like massages and seeing a chiropractor. “These are all things I just do to keep feeling good,” the chef simply stated. Martha Stewart Gushes Over Easter Weekend Visit With Pete Davidson & Girlfriend Chase Sui Wonders: ‘Very Cute Couple’ Martha Stewart Gushes Over Pete Davidson’s ‘Lovely’ New Girlfriend Chase Sui Wonders After Admitting She’d Date the Comedian Serving Looks! Martha Stewart’s Most Iconic Thirst Traps Of All Time: Photos mega Looking just as fabulous is also a plus, and she isn’t afraid to put her body of work on full display when the warm weather arrives. “I love sort of baggy shorts, so I have accumulated a small collection of shorts,” she shared. “I’ve been working on my legs at Pilates, and I’m going to show them off this summer.” 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! The cookbook author began gaining more attention in 2020 when she posted a thirst trap from the pool, though she admitted she wasn’t too surprised by the snap going viral. “People like pretty pictures,” she reasoned to a news outlet. “I don’t think about age.” When asked for her best selfie tips, she replied, “Work your best angles and project the jaw to look up towards the camera. Also, make sure you are optimizing lighting.” While most fans are showering Stewart with praise, others accused her of going under the knife and using filters. “No facelift .. unfiltered,” she hit back at one social media troll, insisting her pore-free face is due to “great” dermatologists and her lifestyle. InStyle interviewed Stewart on being called a sex symbol. View the full article

Published by DPA Trackers like Apple's AirTags are a huge help in finding lost or stolen items, but it has also emerged that they are ideal for stalking. Till Simon Nagel/dpa Bluetooth trackers, the coin-sized tags that have emerged as the ideal tool for finding lost items (as well as stalking people), are set to get a new standard developed by Google and Apple in order to prevent unwanted tracking. The two IT giants, whose smartphone operating systems have made tracking tags possible, have collaborated on a new industry standard for the Android and iOS mobile platforms, the two companies announced at the start of May. The standard is set to support major trackers such as Apple’s AirTags, Samsung’s Smart Tags, Tile, Chipolo, Eufy Security and Pebblebee. Although such trackers have been used to track down lost luggage and stolen items, there have been repeated incidents of Apple’s AirTags and other Bluetooth trackers being used to track people against their will. Apple did introduce some safeguards to prevent stalking by AirTags, and currently if another person’s AirTag stays near another person’s phone the tracker is supposed to emit a warning sound. In addition, potential victims of stalking receive instructions on the iPhone on how to deactivate an unwanted AirTag in their vicinity. However, this anti-stalking protection has only worked if all parties involved use an iPhone. That is now set to change. “This new industry specification builds upon the AirTag protections, and through collaboration with Google results in a critical step forward to help combat unwanted tracking across iOS and Android,” said Ron Huang, vice president of Sensing and Connectivity at Apple. Although the new standard allows various smartphones to identify unwanted nearby trackers, the companies did not mention a means for people without smartphones to tell if they are being tracked. The specification was submitted through the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), a leading standards development organisation for the internet. Interested companies can review and comment on the draft over the next three months. Apple and Google then plan to release an implementation of the standard by the end of 2023, which will then be supported in future versions of the iOS and Android mobile operating systems. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Kate Bush and George Michael are among the stars being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The two pop icons have been included in the list of inductees for 2023 alongside Missy Elliott, Sheryl Crow, Rage Against the Machine, The Spinners and Willie Nelson – and the artists will officially join the coveted club at the induction ceremony which is due to be held in Brooklyn, New York on November 3. John Sykes, chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, said in a statement: “This year’s incredible group of Inductees reflects the diverse artists and sounds that define rock and roll. We are honoured that this November’s Induction Ceremony in New York will coincide with two milestones in music culture; the 90th birthday of Willie Nelson and the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop.” Artists can be nominated to join the Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first single and Bush has previously been nominated in 2018, 2021 and 2022 but missed out on all three occasions. Missy Elliott became eligible in 2023 and managed to win induction with her first nomination while George Michael – who died in 2016 – won a fan vote to help secure his induction. Sheryl Crowe and Willie Nelson both managed to score induction with their first nomination. Other honours will go to superstar Chaka Khan who will receive the Musical Excellence Award alongside songwriters/musicians Al Kooper and Bernie Taupin. DJ Kool Herc and Link Wray have both landed the Musical Influence Award while Ahmet Ertegun Award for non-performing professionals will go to late ‘Soul Train’ creator Don Cornelius. Nominees for the class of 2023 who didn’t make the cut include Cyndi Lauper, the White Stripes and Joy Division/New Order. The 38th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on November 3. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Gwyneth Paltrow revealed which of her famous exes was better in bed! While chatting with Alex Cooper on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, the star, 50, spilled secrets on whether Brad Pitt or Ben Affleck was a better kisser and who was better in bed. “Let me think. Gosh, I have to remember so far back. They were both good kissers,” Paltrow confessed. “Who was better in bed?” Cooper asked. megaa “That’s really hard … That is really hard, because … Brad was sort of major chemistry, love of your life … at the time,” the actress replied. “And Ben was like technically excellent,” she quipped. “I can’t believe my daughter’s listening to this … Am I blushing?” “God bless J.Lo and everything she is getting over there!” Cooper said, referring to Affleck’s wife, Jennifer Lopez. Gwyneth Paltrow Thanks Judge & Jury For ‘Hard Work’ After Being Found Not At Fault In Ski Crash Trial Hilary Duff’s Husband Matthew Koma Reveals His Twitter Account Was Suspended After Gwyneth Paltrow Parody: ‘The Troll Was Worth It’ Gwyneth Paltrow Was ‘Totally Heartbroken’ After Split From Ex-Fiancé Brad Pitt: ‘It Was Really Hard’ As OK! previously reported, the blonde beauty reminisced about her broken engagement to Pitt. mega “I had a lot of development to do, looking back in hindsight. In a lot of ways, I didn’t really fully start to come into myself until I was 40 years old. And I had such a pleasing issue. I didn’t really even understand how to listen to my instincts and act from that place for what was right for me. I was always trying to adjudicate what was right for everyone else,” she shared of why they couldn’t make things work. She continued, “When I look back I really was a kid, really more than most 22, 24 years old I meet now. I really had not explored who I was, what was important to me, what my boundaries were.” 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! The Glee alum and Pitt dated from 1994 to 1997, and she admitted she was totally heartbroken after they split. “It was the right thing at that time, but it was really hard,” she added. “There were a number of things that had happened, he was nine years older than me so he was far more … he knew what he wanted, he was ready to do it and I was kind of all over the place, so it was really one of those difficult things, where I felt like, ‘Oh my God, not only am I not ready, I’m not living up to the standards again.’ It was a familiar refrain I felt about myself.” View the full article

Published by Knewz Talk about being just the tip of the iceberg. A photo on social media has triggered a frenzy, and the fact that it was snapped by a man from an island town named Dildo, is just the tip of the iceberg, literally. Ken Pretty was gazing out to sea when a tall cylindrical iceberg drifted past. At first, he wasn’t sure, so he sent his drone out for a closer inspection and was able to confirm that it did in fact have an uncanny resemblance to a human penis. The runaway iceberg was reported to be at least 30 feet tall, and when Pretty posted it to social media, it was quickly named the “dickie berg.”… Read More View the full article