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Published by NJ.com DEAR ABBY: A dear friend, “Lorraine,” contacted me because her daughter “Gabby” came out to her as bisexual and Lorraine knew I had experience with “this type of thing.” My daughter is bisexual. Lorraine was repulsed by her daughter’s revelation and upset that Gabby expected her to be supportive and wear pride stickers, etc. My friend didn’t understand why she needed to be proud, and she told Gabby that even if she were a murderer she would still love her, and that was all that was important. I’m mortified and unsure how to handle this. We fly my daughter’s flag outside her window. We wear pri… Read More View the full article

Published by DPA A rainbow flag flies outside the Autobahnkirche St. Christophorus on the sidelines of the blessing of same-sex couples. There has been a sharp reaction from the Vatican to a decision by the Catholic Church in Germany to approve blessing ceremonies for homosexual couples. Benedikt Spether/dpa There has been a sharp reaction from the Vatican to a decision by the Catholic Church in Germany to approve blessing ceremonies for homosexual couples. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin told journalists in Rome on Monday evening that a local church cannot make decisions that affect the universal church. Parolin, who is one of the most influential cardinals internationally, said that the Holy See has already expressed itself “clearly and unequivocally” on the subject in the past, and any change required a discussion with the Vatican and the other churches of the world. However Parolin played down suggestions that the move by German Catholics could be seen as a rebellion. “There have always been tensions and different positions in the Church,” he said. The Vatican will now continue the dialogue with the German bishops to clarify how those decisions can be integrated into the so-called Synodal Way of the universal Church, he said. Germany’s synodal assembly on the reform of the Catholic Church decided last week to allow official blessing ceremonies for homosexual couples. A working group is now to be formed to prepare a handout for the blessing ceremonies “in a timely manner.” The handout is to specify how the blessing ceremonies are to take place. As soon as this handout is ready, each bishop can implement the blessing celebrations in his diocese. An evaluation of the experience will be carried out in 2026. View the full article

Published by Reuters UK By Federico Maccioni MILAN (Reuters) – Italy’s right-wing government has told Milan’s city council to stop registering same-sex parents’ children, re-igniting a debate around Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s conservative agenda. Italy legalised same-sex civil unions in 2016, overriding opposition from Catholic and conservative groups, yet it fell short of giving them adoption rights, fearing that it would encourage surrogate pregnancies, which remain illegal. In the absence of clear legislation on the issue some courts have ruled in favour of allowing same sex couples to adopt each others’ chil… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story Mike Pence’s homophobic joke about Pete Buttigieg sparked a brief clash on “The View.” The former vice president mocked the transportation secretary for taking “maternity” leave while U.S. airline travelers faced delays and other issues after he and his husband adopted twins, which Pence said caused Americans to develop postpartum depression, but conservative Alyssa Farah Griffin wasn’t as troubled by his remarks as her fellow panelists. “Pence has been a champion of paternity leave, so I think that’s what was an issue for me with it not landing,” Griffin said. “He knew it was [called] paterni… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine MEGA Diplo is getting candid about his history in the bedroom — but he doesn’t feel the need to put a label on his sexuality. During the Tuesday, March 14, episode of Emily Ratajkowski‘s “High Low” Podcast, Diplo sat down with the stunning model and revealed he’s had multiple sexual encounters with men. MEGA While the famous DJ isn’t “aroused by men that much,” he confirmed, “I’m sure I’ve gotten a blow job from a guy before. … For sure. 100 [percent], yeah.” Despite receiving oral pleasure from a male, Diplo hasn’t “defined” his sexuality, however, he admitted he’s “not not gay.” The My Body author asked the 44-year-old if there was a “specific memory” of his NSFW endeavors, but Diplo was seemingly too shy to share. “I’ve gotten a lot of blow jobs, but I don’t know. I mean, getting a blow job is not that gay, I think,” the music producer quipped, to which Ratajkowski, 31, let out a laugh and responded, “I don’t know. You tell me?” MEGA The mother-of-one wasted no time getting down to business with Diplo during their chat, as she initiated the conversation about the Major Lazer creator’s sexuality. “We should talk about what you said to me last night, which is that you’re a little gay,” Ratajkowski expressed at the beginning of the podcast episode. From Lil Nas X To Halsey, Re-Create The Best Grammys Red Carpet Makeup Looks At The Sephora Sale — Shop Now From Family Squabbles To Expanding Their Young Brood & More: Everything To Know About Joe Jonas & Sophie Turner’s Relationship Diplo Posts Shirtless Airplane Bathroom Selfie As Shocking Sexual Assault Accusations Arise 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! “You want to cut right into that? I was really into the social media [questions],” the father-of-three sarcastically replied. Per Diplo’s request, the dynamic duo began chatting about Instagram and TikTok — which reminded the American DJ about the “sexy” woodchopping men he frequently sees on his For You Page. MEGA “They’re hot guys. I don’t know if that’s gonna be the thing that’s gonna send me over to the gay side totally,” Diplo humorously confessed before asking Ratajkowski if the social media app can “tell you that you’re gay.” “I was on lesbian TikTok for a while, and it was like, ‘OK. Insightful,'” the Gone Girl actress — who previously posted a video hinting she was bisexual — admitted, before bringing the conversation “back to [him] being gay,” a possibility Ratajkowski called “exciting.” “You should be happy. … I could just be talking to you only about your relationships to women. I like that you’re a little flexible,” she joked. Diplo reiterated that he doesn’t “want to define that [he’s] gay. I think the best answer I have is I’m not not gay.” “There are a couple guys … I could date, life partner-wise,” he stated, noting he’s “more of a vibe guy … over gender.” Diplo expressed his appreciation that “the temperature of our culture has changed,” specifically in regard to men being more “fluid.” The Grammy winner thought back to when he was younger, recalling: “You had gay kids at school and gay cousins or whatever, but it was different than it is now.” “I thought it was, like, weird to be gay,” he concluded about the matter. View the full article

Photo courtesy island house If you can manage to tear yourself away from the pool at one of Key West’s famous (and infamous) LGBTQ+ guesthouses, there’s plenty of party awaiting. The vacation hotspot is known for the bustling Duval Street, off-the-wall drag shows, laidback bars, DJs, dancing and … vibrator races? This week’s episode of Towleroad’s new travel miniseries Gay Key West Uncovered takes listeners down Duval. Meet the island’s legendary 801 Girls and learn about the variety of drag shows offered nightly. We pop into a performance of Eyecons at LaTeDa for a taste of Christopher Peterson’s top-caliber celebrity-impersonation cabaret. Finally, we’ll join the throngs of cheering fans at Mary Ellen’s world famous vibrator races and dance the day away at the island’s Sunday tea dance. Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, Stitcher and more. Gay Key West Uncovered is a six-part miniseries hosted by writer, comedian and professional homosexual Bobby Hankinson. Join us as we explore why Key West offers a wild, wonderful, unapologetically queer travel experience like no other. Learn about the island’s unique history, nightlife, restaurants, artists and more straight from the people who make it so special. Well … maybe not too straight. Gay Key West Uncovered is produced by Towleroad.com and sponsored by Key West. Learn more about gay Key West and book your trip today. Puddin’ Taine (left) and Kylie Jean Lucille from 801 Bourbon in Key West.View the full article

Published by AlterNet In 2012, then-Vice President Joe Biden endorsed same-sex marriage as President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign was getting underway. Now, more than a decade later, Biden revealed to The Daily Show what led to his change of heart. “I’m curious what your evolution was like on marriage equality and what the federal government might be able to do to protect LGBTQ Americans, especially trans kids, who are dealing with all these regressive state laws that are popping up right now,” correspondent Kal Penn asked of the president. “I can remember exactly where my, uh, epiphany was,” Biden began. REA… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Michelle Yeoh went there! On Sunday, March 12, the actress, 60, threw Don Lemon under the bus when she accepted her Best Actress award for her role in the hit movie Everything Everywhere All at Once. “For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof that dreams dream big, and dreams do come true,” the star, who made history as the first Asian woman to win in the category, gushed. “And ladies, don’t let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime. Never give up.” mega It’s no coincidence that Yeoh’s comments were in response to when the CNN star, 57, blasted Nikki Haley for being past “her prime” at only 51 years old. “Was this a jab at @donlemon for his recent comments about women ‘being past their prime’ after their 40’s?” one person asked, while another said, “I think Michelle Yeoh just called out DonLemon during her #Oscars acceptance speech.” “Michelle Yeoh coming for Don Lemon was not on my #Oscar bingo card ,” another person quipped. Megyn Kelly Demands CNN Fire Don Lemon After Sexist & Ageist Nikki Haley Remarks: ‘Do Women Matter?’ Conservative Firebrand Candace Owens Defends Don Lemon’s Remarks On Women In Their Prime: ‘He Basically Said Water Is Wet’ More Drama Unearthed: Don Lemon Caused Uproar After Finding Out His ‘CNN This Morning’ Job Wasn’t A Solo Gig As OK! previously reported, the TV personality got himself into trouble when he shared his thoughts on Haley running for president in 2024. “If you Google, ‘When is a woman in her prime?’ it’ll say 20s, 30s and 40s,” he said. “I’m not saying I agree with that, so I think [Haley] has to be careful about saying that [politicians aren’t in their prime].” The remarks quickly went viral, resulting in Lemon taking off some days from work and later apologizing via social media. “I appreciate the opportunity to be back on @CNNThisMorning today,” he wrote. “To my network, my colleagues and our incredible audience — I’m sorry. I’ve heard you, I’m learning from you, and I’m committed to doing better. See you soon.” 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 Lemon will also have to go through “formal training” to avoid further incidents going forward. “I sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation. He has agreed to participate in formal training, as well as continuing to listen and learn. We take this situation very seriously,” Licht said in the memo obtained by Fox News Digital. “It is important to me that CNN balances accountability with fostering a culture in which people can own, learn and grow from their mistakes. To that end, Don will return to CNN This Morning on Wednesday.” View the full article

Published by AFP 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' directors Daniel Scheinert (L) and Daniel Kwan were previously best known for an oddball comedy about a talking corpse — now, their film won seven Oscars Hollywood (United States) (AFP) – Surreal sci-fi film “Everything Everywhere All at Once” dominated the Oscars on Sunday, winning seven golden statuettes including best picture, Hollywood’s most coveted prize. The unorthodox but beloved movie — which features multiple universes, sex toys and hot dog fingers — also won best director, best actress, best original screenplay, best editing, and both the best supporting actor and actress prizes. Michelle Yeoh, who is Malaysian, becomes the first ever Asian woman to win best actress, for her portrayal of an exhausted Chinese laundromat owner embroiled in battle with an inter-dimensional supervillain — who happens to be her daughter. “Thank you to the Academy, this is history in the making!” she said. “Ladies, don’t let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime,” added the 60-year-old, whose career began decades ago with martial arts films in Hong Kong. Brendan Fraser won best actor for playing a morbidly obese teacher in “The Whale,” capping a remarkable career comeback. Fraser was a major action star in the late 1990s with films like “The Mummy,” before largely disappearing from the public view. “I started in this business 30 years ago, and things — they didn’t come easily to me,” he said. He thanked director Darren Aronofsky for “throwing me a creative lifeline and hauling me aboard the good ship ‘The Whale.'” ‘American Dream’ “Everything Everywhere,” comfortably the night’s biggest winner, is a word-of-mouth smash hit that has grossed $100 million at the global box office. In a plot that is not easily described, Yeoh’s heroine Evelyn must harness the power of her alter egos living in parallel universes, which feature hot dogs as human fingers, talking rocks and giant dildos used as weapons. The film, which features a predominantly Asian cast, was directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert — two young filmmakers who were previously best known for an oddball comedy about a talking corpse. Kwan thanked his “immigrant parents,” while his counterpart thanked his mother for never “squashing my creativity,” including when he had dressed in drag as a child. “Which is a threat to nobody,” he added, to enormous cheers. Vietnam-born Ke Huy Quan, 51, who was a major child star in the 1980s with “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “The Goonies,” completed a stunning comeback from decades in the Hollywood wilderness by winning best supporting actor. “My journey started on a boat. I spent a year in a refugee camp. And somehow, I ended up here on Hollywood’s biggest stage… this is the American Dream,” said Quan. After the show, he came bounding into the backstage press room, shouting “Wow, wow, wow… Can you believe I’m holding one of these?” He shared that “Indiana Jones” director Steven Spielberg had grabbed him and said: “You are now an Oscar winner!” Best supporting actress Jamie Lee Curtis paid tribute to her parents Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, both Oscar-nominated actors who never won. – ‘All Quiet’ makes noise – “All Quiet on the Western Front,” Netflix’s German-language World War I, finished the night in second place with four awards. It won best international feature and best cinematography early in Sunday’s ceremony. As the night progressed, it also gathered Oscars for best original score and best production design. But it ultimately could not stop the “Everything Everywhere” juggernaut, and lost adapted screenplay to “Women Talking,” and best sound to “Top Gun: Maverick.” Tom Cruise’s “Top Gun” sequel had been seen as another potential best picture contender, having helped bring audiences back to movie theaters after the pandemic. While Cruise did not attend Sunday’s ceremony, the night began with a thunderous flyover by two US Navy jets, soaring at 345 mph over the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Host Jimmy Kimmel was then lowered onto the stage, and he quickly launched into a monologue which laid into Will Smith’s infamous attack on Chris Rock at last year’s Oscars. The specter of “The Slap” has hung over the Oscars since Smith assaulted Rock on stage for cracking a joke about his wife. Smith was allowed to stay at the gala, and accept Hollywood’s top male acting prize soon after, but has since been banned from Academy events for a decade. “If anyone in this theater commits an act of violence at any point during the show — you will be awarded the Oscar for best actor, and permitted to give a 19-minute-long speech,” joked Kimmel. – ‘Naatu Naatu’ – In the night’s other prizes, “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” won best animated film, and “Avatar: The Way of Water” won best visual effects. “Navalny” — about the imprisoned Russian dissident Alexei Navalny — won for best documentary. Dozens of dancers brought a colorful, energetic performance of “Naatu Naatu,” the showstopper tune from Indian crowd-pleaser “RRR,” which won the Oscar for best original song. Academy bosses hope that Oscars television ratings will pick up from recent years, calling in heavy hitters from the world of music to perform the other nominated songs. A dressed-down Lady Gaga sang an emotional, heartfelt rendition of her song “Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick.” And Rihanna — draped in diamonds, including over her baby bump — sang “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” which won for best costume design. Lenny Kravitz performed the annual “In Memoriam” segment. View the full article

Published by Kaiser Health News When Paula Chestnut needed hip replacement surgery last year, a pre-operative X-ray found irregularities in her chest. As a smoker for 40 years, Chestnut was at high risk for lung cancer. A specialist in Los Angeles recommended the 67-year-old undergo an MRI, a high-resolution image that could help spot the disease. But her MRI appointment kept getting canceled, Chestnut’s son, Jaron Roux, told KHN. First, it was scheduled at the wrong hospital. Next, the provider wasn’t available. The ultimate roadblock she faced, Roux said, arrived when Chestnut’s health insurer deemed the MRI medically unne… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine MEGA The cameras couldn’t catch it all! The 2023 Oscars have come to an end — but there were plenty unforgettable moments that just missed their mark on TV screens nationwide. Between Elizabeth Olsen puckering up for her husband, Robbie Arnett, before making their way into Dolby Theatre and The Fabelmans‘ actor Gabriel LaBelle being starstruck by Bill Nighy on his way into the restroom, there were so many iconic behind-the-scenes interactions that simply can’t go unnoticed. Keep scrolling to see what you missed on TV at the 95th Academy Awards! Lady Gaga Helps Fallen Photographer MEGA Lady Gaga ran over to help a photographer get back on their feet after they took a tumbling fall on the Oscars red carpet prior to the show. The “Bloody Mary” singer displayed a shocked face before her instincts kicked in to assist the fallen fella. She later decided to free her face from all of her red carpet glam and perform her Oscar-nominated song “Hold My Hand” in makeup-free fashion. Cara Delevingne Meets Up With Florence Pugh MEGA But first … let me take a selfie! Cara Delevingne and Florence Pugh was the duo we never knew we needed as they posed for some pics in the orchestra lobby before heading into the awards show venue. Jamie Lee Curtis Post-Oscar Win Excitement Austin Butler Refuses To Talk About Girlfriend Kaia Gerber On Oscars Red Carpet, Brings Agent As His Plus-One Hugh Grant Called Out For Being ‘So Rude’ During Oscars Interview With Ashely Graham: ‘His Eye Roll At The End Was Obnoxious!’ Watch: Angela Bassett Doesn’t Clap As Opponent Jamie Lee Curtis Wins Best Supporting Actress MEGA Jamie Lee Curtis‘ overwhelming joy radiated throughout the entire press room — and all of Dolby Theatre, for that matter. The Everything Everywhere All At Once star called her win for Best Supporting Actress “the thrill of my life.” 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! A$AP Rocky Gushes Over Rihanna MEGA A$AP Rocky was all smiles as he watched his pregnant lady Rihanna‘s awe-inspiring performance of her Oscar nominated song, “Lift Me Up.” The rapper — who shares a 9-month old son with the “Umbrella” vocalist — raised his glass of champagne to Rihanna during her breathtaking ballad. Angela Bassett Supports Halle Bailey MEGA Angela Bassett passed the torch of approval down to the next generation as she flashed Halle Bailey a thumbs-up before the 22-year-old actress took the stage for The Little Mermaid trailer. View the full article

Published by AlterNet Donald Trump Junior this weekend suggested that the person or persons who planted pipebombs at the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters immediately before the January 6th, 2021 Capitol insurrection do not exist. Junior explained that he believes this because there were no arrests or significant coverage of the thwarted attacks in the news. “They had the insurrection narrative. You notice how the, the ‘bombers’ at the DNC and at the RNC – the guy that left pipe bombs there – just sort of disappeared from the news. It’s like, you know what? In case there wasn’t an insurrecti… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Cara Delevingne struggled with being herself and revealing her secrets on ‘Planet Sex’. The model, 30, released the BBC Three series earlier this year, which saw her explore her sexuality and touch herself on camera. She told Vogue magazine’s April issue about its making: “It was super personal and I didn’t really realise how personal it would be. “I’d only really learned how to show emotion when I was acting because I didn’t feel worthy enough to feel those things as myself. “With ‘Planet Sex’, I was just so uncomfortable in front of the camera in the beginning because it was like, ‘Oh, God, I’ve gotta be myself.’” The show sees Cara, who is dating singer Leah Mason, 31, aka Minke, being moved to the point of tears at the end of her first day on location at the Dinah Shore Weekend in Palm Springs, billed as the world’s largest festival for queer women. She says on the first episode of the show: “I still struggle with being open—really open—about just how much I love women.” The couple who directed the docuseries, Jessica Chermayeff and Ana Veselic, told Vogue about being overwhelmed by Cara’s willingness to be open. Jessica said: “I think a lot of celebrities say they’re on a personal journey, but with her it was more than just lip service. “She was scared in all the right ways.” Ana added “Cara was very open. Not everything was this perfect platitude statement, this neat little answer that checks all the boxes. “There were definitely grey areas. As a viewer, I really miss that in conversations like this, because it’s not black and white.” View the full article

Published by PsyPost People who are more engaged with communities that push abstinence from masturbation tend to feel more suicidal after a perceived “relapse,” according to new research published in the journal Sexualities. The authors of the new study sought to investigate potential harms associated with the so-called “Reboot” community, who believe they can reset their body to a healthier state by abstaining from pornography and masturbation. Members of this mostly online community think that masturbation has harmful effects and that abstaining from it can help alleviate conditions such as erectile dysfunction … Read More View the full article

Published by St. Louis Post-Dispatch ST. LOUIS — More than a dozen people gathered Sunday afternoon on the edge of Forest Park to protest the medical treatment of transgender adolescents at a clinic across the street. Washington University’s Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital has been under intense scrutiny since accusations of negligence and malpractice by a former employee were made public last month. Organizer Teresa Folds of St. Louis said she formed her group, the St. Louis Gender Critical Alliance, on Feb. 1. About a week later, the Free Press published an online narrative by Jamie Reed, who was a case mana… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jamie Lee Curtis is “concerned” making awards gender neutral will “diminish the opportunities for women”. The 64-year-old actress – whose child Ruby came out as transgender in 2021 – acknowledged how “very difficult” it is to promote inclusivity with gendered categories but is unsure of how best to tackle the subject without shutting out females. Asked how she felt to have made this year’s list of female nominees, Jamie said backstage at Sunday’s (12.03.23) Academy Awards – where she won the Best Actress in a Supporting Role for ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ – it was a “surreal and proud” experience. But she added to reporters at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre: “Obviously, I would like to see a lot more women be nominated so that there’s gender parity in all the areas, in all the branches. And I think we’re getting there. “We’re not anywhere near there, and of course inclusivity then involves the bigger question which is, how do you include everyone when there are binary choices? Which is very difficult. “As the mother of a trans daughter, I completely understand that. “And yet to de-gender the [categories] also, I’m concerned will diminish the opportunities for more women, which is something I also have been working hard to try to promote.” Jamie Lee reiterated the importance of “inclusivity” generally and of including women specifically, in Hollywood and wider society. She added: “Basically just f***ing more women anywhere, any time.” Earlier in the evening, Jamie insisted winning her first Oscar was recognition for more than just her. She said: “I know it looks like I’m here by myself but I am not, I am hundreds of people, The Daniels, Jonathan, Ley Line, the entire crew, my bae Michelle, Ke, Steph, the group of artists who made this movie – we just won an Oscar. “To my dream team, we just won an Oscars. “To my family, my beautiful husband Christopher Guest, our daughters Annie and Ruby, my sister Kelly, we just won an Oscar. “To all of the people who have supported the genre movies I have made these years, the hundreds of thousands of people, we just won an Oscar together. She then grew emotional as she paid tribute to her famous parents, Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis. She added: “And my mother and father were both nominated for Oscars in different categories. I just won an Oscar.” View the full article

Published by IntelliNews By Tamas Csonka in Budapest The US ambassador in Hungary has warned Viktor Orban’s regime that its equidistant stance between its Nato allies and the Kremlin is unacceptable. ‘Hungary has reached an important moment in determining its future path. As Russia’s unjustifiable war rages next door, the time is now for a stronger relationship between Hungary and its transatlantic allies and partners,’ the US embassy in Hungary said in a statement after a meeting between Ambassador David Pressman and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on March 10. The US has become increasingly worried by anti-America… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP Jorge Bergoglio became pope in March 2013 after Benedict XVI's surprise resignation Vatican City (AFP) – Pope Francis marked 10 years as head of the Catholic Church on Monday with a podcast, a private mass and a series of interviews, one of which triggered a diplomatic spat with Nicaragua. “It seems like yesterday,” the 86-year-old recalled of his election during a podcast for the official Vatican News outlet — after first having to be told what a podcast was. Asked what he would like as a gift for his 10-year anniversary, for which he had no public plans beyond a mass with cardinals, Francis added: “Peace. We need peace.” Jorge Bergoglio was elected pope on March 13, 2013, after his predecessor Benedict XVI stunned the world by becoming the first pope to resign since the Middle Ages. He has said he never expected to be elected, only packing a small suitcase to travel from Argentina to Rome for the conclave on the assumption he would soon be back in Buenos Aires, where he was archbishop. But he had a vision, and over the next decade he would overhaul the governance of the Church, including cleaning up the Vatican books and taking action against clerical child abuse. He also shifted many people’s perception of the papacy by engaging less in theology and more with social issues from migration to the environment. And even while maintaining traditional doctrine on issues such as abortion and gay marriage, he has sought to forge an image of a more open, compassionate Church. Nicaragua row “He is a Pope for this time,” said Italian priest Father Roberto, who travelled to Saint Peter’s Square to hear the pope deliver his weekly Angelus prayer on Sunday. “He managed to grasp today’s needs and to propose them to the whole universal Church… And now he’s giving the Church a push forward for the years to come. He is sowing good for the future.” However, not everyone is enamoured of Francis’ approach, notably the conservative wing of the Catholic Church. One critic, German Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, recently criticised the pope’s “doctrinal confusion”. Francis has never shied away from controversy, regularly using his pulpit to rail against everything from the mafia to consumerism and the arms industry. In one of his anniversary interviews, with Argentine news outlet Infobae, he described the government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega as a “crude dictatorship”. Ortega’s government — which has long had tensions with the Catholic Church — responded on Sunday by saying it was considering suspending diplomatic ties with the Vatican. In another interview, with Swiss broadcaster RTS last week, the pope denounced the involvement of all the “great powers” in the Ukraine war. He prays regularly for the victims of the war, although he has been criticised for failing to squarely put the blame on Russia as the aggressor. ‘It’s not easy’ Pope Francis has sought to improve ties with Islam during his papacy, and Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Cairo’s prestigious Al-Azhar mosque, was one of those who sent their congratulations on his 10-year milestone. In a letter published by Vatican News, al-Tayeb hailed the pope’s efforts to “build bridges of love and fraternity among all human beings”. Messages of congratulations also came in from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, and Anglican leader Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Welby joined Francis on a recent peace mission to conflict-ridden South Sudan, where huge crowds flocked to see the pontiff, as they do everywhere he goes. The pope continues to travel widely, despite his age and health issues. Francis was hospitalised in 2021 for colon surgery and now uses a wheelchair due to knee trouble — something he admitted in one interview he was “a little ashamed” about. The pope has said he would follow Benedict in resigning if he ever became too infirm for the job but insists that is not on his agenda. Asked by Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano what his hopes for the future were, he replied: “That the Lord be merciful with me. Being the pope is not an easy job.” View the full article

Published by Raw Story A Texas lawmaker wants to introduce a bill that would effectively allow bounty hunting against drag performers in the state, reported LGBTQ magazine The Advocate Houston-area state Rep. Steve Toth filed the bill on Thursday. “According to the bill, ‘An individual who attends a drag performance as a minor may bring an action against a person who knowingly promotes, conducts, or participates as a performer in the drag performance that occurs before an audience that includes the minor,'” the Advocate reported. Under this law, attendees could sue for actual damages, attorney’s fees, and statutory … Read More View the full article