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Published by AFP The US Supreme Court has been asked to weigh in for the first time on the controversial topic of transgender girls and women in school sports Washington (AFP) – A transgender child’s desire to join her school’s female running team could be decided by the US Supreme Court after West Virginia on Friday asked the high court to rule on the controversial case. The court was asked to overturn a lower appeals court decision that freezed West Virginia’s 2021 law banning Becky Pepper-Jackson and others like her from competing with other girls because she was born a biological male. It could lead to the Supreme Court’s first-ever intervention in the hot-button issue of trans girls and women in sports. Backed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Pepper-Jackson, 11 at the time, sued in 2021 to block the West Virginia law so that she could join her school’s girls cross-country team. Her case argued that the state law violates guarantees of equal rights under the US Constitution and the 1972 federal law known as Title IX that prohibits discrimination in schools based on sex. She lost that suit in the federal district court early this year, the court ruling that the state law did not contradict federal protections because they all linked equal treatment to a person’s sex as assigned at birth. Pepper-Jackson then successfully asked the regional federal appeals court to put a stay, or freeze, on implementation of the law pending her appeal. On Friday the state, backed by the conservative Alliance Defending Freedom, asked the Supreme Court to overturn the appeals court’s stay. “Biological differences between males and females matter in sports,” they argued. They argued that Pepper-Jackson’s case demands setting new definitions based on gender identity rather than biological sex. That would upend the goal of having clearly separate but equal opportunities for male and female athletes in schools, they said. Heated political issue But Pepper-Jackson’s attorneys have argued that equal treatment should extend to her gender. Her case was buttressed by the fact that she had competed “without incident” with her school team over 2021 and 2022 while the new law was appealed, they said. “Despite regularly finishing near the back of the pack, she has reaped the benefits of school sports: her mother has ‘never seen [her] happier’,” they said in an appeals court filing. Denied the ability to continue competing, Pepper-Jackson would incur “irreparable harm,” her lawyers argued. Trans people in sport has become a heated political issue in the United States, with religious conservatives especially fighting against their inclusion on girls teams. In 2022 a trans woman, Lia Thomas, controversially won the national championship in a university swimming event. In the Pepper-Jackson case, Supreme Court justices could support or overturn the stay without comment, leaving the case to be argued in full in the appeals court. But they could also indicate what they feel about the broader issue and whether they would like to have the West Virginia case argued before them for a more lasting ruling. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Abimbola “Bola” Osundairo revealed how his friendship with Jussie Smollett helped boost his own acting career before his involvement in the Empire star’s shocking staged hate crime that put him behind bars for several months. In a sneak peek for Fox Nation‘s upcoming docuseries, Jussie Smollett: Anatomy of a Hoax, Osundairo shared that he initially became pals with Smollett through friends. mega “My first impression of him was ‘okay, this dude is cool. He’s like everybody else,'” Osundairo explained of their early relationship. “He seemed genuine and authentic as a person.” “We would go out to nightclubs, go to a bar and just chill and relax. There was a few times I came to his house and watched tv,” he continued. “…From nightclubs, we would go to the infamous bathhouses.” mega Jussie Smollett Declares He Did Not Lie About Homophobic & Racist Attack: I’m Not A ‘Piece Of S**t’ Actor Jussie Smollett Attends BET Awards After Hate Crime Scandal, Dishes On What’s Next For His Career Osundairo Brothers Boast They Were ‘Believable White Supremacists’ In Jussie Smollett Hoax Video: ‘We Was In Character The Whole Time’ “He was a lead actor on Empire, which means, being friends with him he could help you out,” Osundairo, who is also an actor, added. “He helped me get a stand-in role on Empire.” “When he directed [an episode], he put me in certain positions while I was a featured background artist, so that was beneficial,” he shared, noting that on set, Smollett was” very personable” and “seemed easily approachable.” mega As OK! previously reported, Abimbola and his brother Olabinjo Osundairo helped Smollett stage a hate crime against himself in January 2019. The brothers were caught on camera appearing to punch and even put a noose around the neck of the Mighty Ducks actor while shouting “this is MAGA country” at him. Smollett was later found guilty of five of six felony disorderly conduct charges, and on March 10, 2022, the now 40-year-old was sentenced to 150 days in prison, 2.5 years of probation and a $25,000 fine for lying to authorities about the faked attack. 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 five-part series, which will explore the “scam that reverberated through the worlds of entertainment, pop culture and politics,” is set to be released on Fox on Monday, March 13. View the full article

Published by Grazia USA Cher and boyfriend Alexander Edwards showed some PDA at the Versace Fall/Winter 2023 runway presentation in West Hollywood on Thursday evening. As they walked the red carpet before the show, the couple shared a kiss for the cameras before taking their front row seats. The legendary songstress opted for a second-skin midnight amethyst jumpsuit with Versace’s signature bondage corseted bodice, embellished with clear crystals and silver studs under an oversized metallic matching cropped moto jacket, encrusted with similar crystals and studs. Cher teamed her rocker chic ensemble with monochromatic… Read More View the full article

Published by Grazia USA While Versace’s starry front row was filled with A-listers like Anne Hathaway, Miley Cyrus, Cher, Dua Lipa, Pamela Anderson, Paris Hilton, Lil Nas X, and more, its runway was just as plentiful with supermodel stars. Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski and the legendary Naomi Campbell fiercely took to the catwalk at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood on Thursday evening. Hadid opened the Italian fashion house’s Fall/Winter 2023 presentation in a sleek, black skirt suit and latex gloves before appearing on the runway for a second look. This time, the Next in Fashion co-host wo… Read More View the full article

Published by Grazia USA New Miley Cyrus music is finally here, and we couldn’t be more excited. Cyrus’s eighth studio album Endless Summer Vacation dropped on Friday, March 10. Following her 2020 pop rock album, Plastic Hearts, the new record marks her first after signing with Columbia Records in early 2021. With 13 tracks, Endless Summer Vacation features musical guests from Sia to Brandi Carlile. The album’s lead single, “Flowers,” has broken countless records, reaching chart-topping success as number one on the Billboard Hot 100 around the world. The songstress commemorated the occasion with an open letter to her … Read More View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) “As we are not married… I’m not protected and my partner is not protected by law… unfortunately I can die at any moment in Ukraine now.” Jul has been living in Kyiv throughout Russia’s onslaught on their country, ever since Putin launched the full-scale invasion over a year ago. Together with partner Olha they recently applied to get married online — a new possibility via the “Diia” (“action”) government website. “Our application was in progress for one day, one business day, and now we have a note of a rejection because unfortunately our constitution position of Ukraine we have this part… Read More View the full article

Published by DPA Reform-oppositioners demonstrate in front of the event building of the fifth Synodal meeting by the Catholic church in Frankfurt am Main. Eva Krafczyk/dpa The Synodal Assembly on the reform of the Catholic Church in Germany adopted a text on dealing with gender diversity by a large majority in Frankfurt on Saturday. Of the 197 assembly members present, 170 voted in favour, eight against and 19 abstained. The bishops’ vote was also strongly in favour, with 38 votes to support diversity, seven against and 13 abstentions. A two-thirds majority of the bishops is needed for passage. During the debate it was agreed that people who are not heterosexual should be accepted by the Church. The Synodal Assembly is made up of archbishops, bishops and auxiliary bishops, as well as lay-members from the Central Committee of German Catholics. The group discusses a range of contemporary theological and organizational questions concerning the Catholic Church, as well as possible reactions to the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church in Germany. Multiple sexual abuse scandals and the Church’s efforts to protect its reputation have shattered the trust of many Catholics. In addition, women and gay communities in particular are demanding reforms to recognize the rights of minorities and to open positions within the Church to women. Numerous delegates gave a standing ovation after the vote results were announced, some waving rainbow flags. “My high, high respect for this bishops’ conference,” said Katharina Kluitmann, a nun. Several bishops expressed resevations during the emotionally charged discussion. A basic text on a similar topic had failed to pass in the fourth Synodal Assembly last autumn because of the bishops’ veto. While some bishops spoke critically of “gender ideology,” others described themselves as learners. There was agreement in the debate that non-binary, trans and intersex people should feel at home and accepted in the Church. A young synod member called for a break with what she called were derogatory traditions in the Catholic Church before the vote. During the debate, Mara Klein, who identifies as non-binary, appealed to the bishops: “If it’s not a yes and it’s not a no, then abstain responsibly.” View the full article

Published by AlterNet Florida Governor Ron Desantis was welcomed with open arms during his recent Davenport, Iowa visit, even receiving gifts from some political adversaries. The potential presidential hopeful posed for a selfie, holding a picture of a snowflake, while standing next to the creator of the art. However, unbeknownst to the governor, the snowflake picture contained a camouflaged message: “Fascist.” @MidlifeMisfit tweeted the selfie, saying, “My friend makes snowflakes to give to politicians who come to Iowa – there are special messages for odious Republicans- please look at the snowflake carefully.” RE… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story A former Maryland school librarian who spray-painted “groomer” on public libraries during Pride Week has been arrested on child pornography charges. Charles Sutherland, of Tacoma Park, was arrested last month on six misdemeanor counts of possession of child pornography and ordered held without bond until his trial, which is scheduled for next month in Montgomery County, and he’s also scheduled to go on trial in August in Prince George County on vandalism and hate crime charges in the library incidents, reported WTOP-TV. The 31-year-old Sutherland was arrested in June after he was caught on vid… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo opened up on their roles in Jussie Smollett‘s shocking staged hate crime that sent the Empire actor to prison in Jussie Smollett: Anatomy of a Hoax. In a sneak peek for the upcoming docuseries set to premiere on the Fox network next week, the pair joked they thought they were “believable white supremacists” in the footage. mega As OK! previously reported, in January 2019, the Osundairo brothers were caught on camera seemingly beating up the 40-year-old actor while shouting “this is MAGA country,” and even putting a noose around his neck. Smollett later told police he had been the victim of a racist and homophobic attack. Former Chicago Police Department Superintendent Eddie Jones claimed he knew something wasn’t right about Smollett’s story when he first saw the video. “When you’ve been a cop for so long, you get certain instincts about certain things,” Jones, who is also Black, explained in the clip. “So I remember the detective that put that footage together, we were both thinking, that don’t look like two white guys walking down the street. Sometimes, they just have different gaits.” “I remember telling the Chief of Detectives, those are two Black guys,” he added. “Those are two Black guys.” mega Jussie Smollett Declares He Did Not Lie About Homophobic & Racist Attack: I’m Not A ‘Piece Of S**t’ Actor Jussie Smollett Attends BET Awards After Hate Crime Scandal, Dishes On What’s Next For His Career See Jussie Smollett’s Plan For A Cash Grab With $10 Million Book Deal After Guilty Verdict However, when the Osundairo brothers were told that Jones suspected they were not white men from the footage alone, they laughed. “Really?” Olabinjo asked. “I feel like he’s just saying that.” “Hindsight is 20/20. Cap! I call cap on that,” Abimbola chimed in, with his brother replying, “We was in character the whole time.” “So you think you guys are believable white supremacists?” the interviewer further clarified, to which Abimbola jokingly quipped, “100 percent! Look at me.” mega According to a press release for Jussie Smollett: Anatomy of a Hoax, the docuseries “takes a deep dive into a scam that reverberated through the worlds of entertainment, pop culture and politics.” The five-part series will be released on Monday, March 13, on FOX Nation. 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! Fox News was first to report the exclusive clips of the Osundairo brothers. View the full article

Published by AlterNet A Denver-based Catholic nonprofit allocated millions of dollars towards spying on priests who use use dating and hookup apps, and leaked the data to bishops, The Washington Post reports. Per The Post, Mark Bauman, John Martin and Tim Reichert — all philanthropists representing Catholic Laity and Clergy for Renewal — are behind the data tracking, which is illegal. The Post reports: The project’s aim, according to tax records, is to ’empower the church to carry out its mission’ by giving bishops ‘evidence-based resources’ with which to identify weaknesses in how they train priests. READ MORE: Th… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Madonna has sealed her fate with a kiss! The Queen of Pop confirmed a romance with her son David Banda‘s boxing coach, Josh Popper, by sharing a photo of the two engaging in a steamy smooch via her Instagram Story. @madonna/instagram “Killers who are partying,” Madonna oddly wrote in text beneath the image of the dynamic duo kissing through their face coverings — which they seemed to be wearing as part of a costume for a Purim celebration. “How my Purim went…” the “Material Girl” singer — who was dressed up as Queen Esther — stated in the first snap of her Instagram Story spam before dropping the lip-locking moment. @madonna/instagram The picture comes after weeks of swirling romance rumors and just days after Madonna sat ringside at her man’s boxing match on Friday, March 3, as OK! previously reported. The 64-year-old showed off her 29-year-old hunk’s muscular physique on Instagram, and she even shared a photo of the pair flashing cheesy smiles after the fight concluded. Madonna Cheers On Much-Younger Fling At Boxing Match As Rumors Swirl About His Intentions Britney Spears’ Biggest Fans: Stars Who Have Stood By Her Side Throughout Conservatorship Drama Madonna Questions What Life Is ‘Without Friends & Family’ After Death Of Brother & Rumored New Romance 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! At the time, however, it was still unclear whether there were sparks flying between the two, as a source claimed: “He’s a good-looking guy, but Madonna isn’t looking for love at the moment.” While this might be just another casual fling for the pop star, the pair’s puckered-up PDA surely seems to speak for itself. @madonna/instagram The insider did note they wouldn’t “rule out any romance in the future,” so it is plausible they are just taking things slow. Madonna’s newest relationship comes after she suffered a “crisis of confidence” following her 2023 Grammys debut. News broke that the award-winning artist had split from her even younger ex-boyfriend, Andrew Darnell, 23, just last month, as an additional insider confessed it was the cherry on top of the incessant hate she’d been receiving on the internet. “It was only a very casual thing [with Andrew] so she’s not broken-hearted. It’s just that it has come at a bad time,” the source spilled. “She had a lot of fun with Andrew but it was never love or anything like that.” Nonetheless, it just seemed to be one final blow after being publicly humiliated for her “unrecognizable” appearance on the Grammy’s stage. “She said no one cared that she was in the room, and it used to be so different for her. She’s never been out of favor for so long,” the insider concluded. View the full article

Published by uInterview.com Cher and Alexander Edwards have been dating since November 2022, and the two are taking the next step by producing music together. Cher, 76, recently revealed to E! News that she is “going to England to make two albums” and “some of the songs Alexander gave me so I’m pretty excited about that. He’s a producer and a writer and he goes everything, so I’m happy about that.” Cher and Edwards, 36, met at the New York Fashion Week shortly after Edwards’ breakup with Amber Rose the previous year. After being caught by the paparazzi leaving a restaurant hand-in-hand, Cher took to social media to make … Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story Far-right activist Jacob Wohl and his associate Jack Burkman violated the Voting Rights Act and the Ku Klux Klan Act when they fired off robocalls to Black voters trying to trick them out of voting, ruled a federal judge on Wednesday. “The Court recognizes that the free exchange of ideas on issues of public concern and the ability to engage in robust political discussion constitute the foundations of a democratic society,” wrote senior District Judge Victor Marrero. “Wohl and Burkman have been tied to multiple political hoaxes targeting perceived rivals of former President Donald Trump, includ… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Lady Gaga will not perform at the Oscars on Sunday (12.03.23). The 36-year-old singer-and-actress’ track ‘Hold My Hand’, from the ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ soundtrack, is nominated for Best Original Song at the ceremony but she will be unable to join the other shortlisted artists at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theater due to scheduling conflicts with ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’, in which she plays Harley Quinn. Oscars producer Glenn Weiss said during the Oscars Creative Team press conference: “We have great relationships with Lady Gaga and her camp [but] she’s in the middle of shooting a movie right now, and here we are honouring the movie industry and what it takes to make a movie. “After a bunch of back and forth, it didn’t feel like she can get a performance to the caliber that we’re used to with her, that she’s used to and all that stuff.” “So she is not going to perform on the show, however, this is all, from our point of view, about someone making a movie and us completely understanding that that’s what is priority in this business, especially when we are honoring movies.” While Gaga – who performed at the 2019 Oscars with Bradley Cooper, when ‘Shallow’ from their movie ‘A Star Is Born’ won Best Original Song – won’t be singing at this year’s ceremony, the other nominated acts are all confirmed to perform, including Rihanna (‘Lift Me Up’ from ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’), Sofia Carson and Diane Warren (‘Applause’ from ‘Tell It Like a Woman’), David Byrne, Son Lux and Stephanie Hsu (‘This Is a Life’ from ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’, and Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava (‘Naatu Naatu’ from ‘RRR’). In addition, Lenny Kravitz will sing during the In Memoriam segment. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine CHER While Cher might be on be back on mommy duty due to her relationship with Alexander Edwards, the latter just received some new best buds. During a recent interview, the 37-year-old opened up about how well things are going for his and the “Believe” singer’s successfully blended family ever since their romance heated up last year. MEGA Edwards confirmed Cher is “amazing” when it comes to being a stepmother to his 3-year-old son, Slash, who he shares with ex-girlfriend Amber Rose. As for the music producer’s relationship with Cher’s children — who are roughly a decade older than Edwards — the father-of-one vowed they are his “guys.” Chaz BonoMEGA “Chaz is my guy… and Elijah,” Edwards expressed of Cher’s sons, Chaz Bono, 54, and Elijah Blue Allman, 46. When asked if he received “Chaz’s permission” before he allegedly proposed to the Goddess of Pop, Edwards kept quiet and avoided confirming or denying both ongoing engagement rumors and whether there would be a wedding in the near future. @CHER/TWITTER Amber Rose Wants To ‘Be Single For The Rest Of Her Life’ After Ex’s Romance With Cher: ‘Pretty Disgusting Out There’ Sofia Vergara Gets Hilariously Starstruck Over Cher At Carol Burnett Event — See The Silly Photos Cher’s Costar Alan Cumming Reacts To Singer’s Startling Age Gap With Boyfriend Alexander Edwards: ‘I’m All For Her Getting Some Action’ Cher left social media users convinced Edwards proposed when she was left speechless by the diamond ring her boyfriend gave to her for Christmas in December 2022. Although it remains unknown whether the record producer got down on one knee, it was quite easy for Edwards to reveal what he loves most about his lovely lady, as he simply stated, “Cher being Cher.” 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! Edwards doesn’t seem to mind the 40-year age gap between himself and the superstar, as he nodded his head in agreement when the reporter asked if there were “a lot of benefits dating an older woman.” As for what exact benefits the age difference may entail, Edwards quipped, “that’s private,” while seemingly unable to keep a huge smile from spreading across his face. MEGA Cher agrees with her lover, as she couldn’t care less how much younger her partner is than her. “I DONT GIVE AFK WHAT ANYONE THINKS. I’m Not Defending us. Haters are Gonna Hate…Doesn’t Matter That we’re Happy & Not Bothering Anyone,” the “If I Could Turn Back Time” vocalist previously expressed via Twitter after the couple received backlash regarding their May-December romance. “Love doesn’t know math,” she concluded. TMZ spoke to Edwards during an interview outside of a restaurant. View the full article

Published by Radar Online @ltgovmcnally/instagram; Tennessee’s Republican Lt. Gov. Randy McNally raised eyebrows by leaving admiring comments on an openly gay man’s Instagram photos, RadarOnline.com has learned, and his office said there will be plenty more where that came from. McNally’s verified IG account with a blue check mark can be seen leaving a handful of comments on the page of 20-year-old Franklyn McClur, who goes by “Finn,” some of which included fire and heart emoji as well as supportive affirmations. @franklynsuperstar/instagram Finn, who goes by Franklyn Superstar on the social media platform, was cheered on by McNally. In response to one photo, he wrote, “I hope you are doing well. You seem super happy. You are like sunshine.” Another showed Finn dancing around in his underwear, to which McNally replied, “Franklyn, you can turn a rainy day into rainbows and sunshine.” It came as a surprise to many considering the state’s Republican majority is pushing through a string of legislation that will impact the LGBTQ+ community. McClur told The Tennessee Holler that he and McNally first connected on Facebook through mutual friends but have never met face-to-face. Finn said that McNally has been nothing but kind and uplifting, adding when asked, “It’s wrong to ban drag, wrong to ban anything that isn’t hurting anyone. I don’t support hate of any kind.” RadarOnline.com should note that McNally has been less publicly supportive of the anti-LGBTQ+ measures than other Republican colleagues, including Governor Bill Lee. Pete Buttigieg ‘Mentored’ Patrick Wojahn, Disgraced Maryland Mayor Who Was Arrested For Possession Of Child Abuse Materials Pete Buttigieg REFUSES To Answer Questions About Ohio Train Derailment After Facing Backlash For Not Visiting State Tennessee Gov. Lee Trolled With Billboard Campaign To Splash His 1977 Yearbook Photo In Women’s Clothes Across The State @franklynsuperstar/instagram “I try to encourage people on my posts. I try to support people,” McNally said. “I have friends that are gay, I have friends with relatives who are gay. I don’t feel any animosity towards gay people. I think that’s fairly clear.” McNally’s spokesperson has since issued a statement about the IG comments, explaining that he “enjoys interacting with constituents and Tennesseans of all religions, backgrounds and orientations on social media. He has no intention of stopping.” Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free. @ltgovmcnally/instagram “Trying to imply something sinister or inappropriate about a great-grandfather’s use of social media says more about the mind of the left-wing operative making the implication than it does about Randy McNally,” added Adam Kleinheider, per The Tennessean. Kleinheider noted that McNally “takes great pains to view every post he can and frequently posts encouraging things to many of his followers. Does he always use the proper emoji at the proper time? Maybe not.” View the full article

Published by AlterNet United States House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) rewarded Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) by naming her as his understudy on Wednesday morning. “The Speaker’s Rooms, Washington, DC, March 8th, 2023. I hereby appoint the Honorable Marjorie Taylor Greene to act as Speaker pro tempore on this day. Signed, Kevin McCarthy, speaker of the House of Representatives,” House Reading Clerk Susan Cole recited from prepared remarks. Sitting in McCarthy’s chair, Greene proclaimed: “Pursuant to the order of the House of January 9th, 2023, the chair will now recogn… Read More View the full article

Published by AFP Costume designer Shirley Kurata is nominated for an Oscar for the movie Los Angeles (AFP) – As a teenager, Shirley Kurata worked in the Aratani Theatre in the Little Tokyo section of Los Angeles. On Sunday, the venue will host an Oscars watch party for her film “Everything Everywhere All at Once” — and she could be one of the winners. Kurata is up for her first Academy Award for best costume design for the mind-bending sci-fi fantasy, for which she dressed Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu and Jamie Lee Curtis. “It feels like coming full circle,” Kurata told AFP in an interview ahead of the Oscars gala. “I’m so honored. I’m in the company of just very, very amazing and talented costume designers.” Kurata is competing against three past winners — Catherine Martin (“Elvis”), Ruth Carter (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”) and Jenny Beavan (“Mrs Harris Goes to Paris”) — and four-time nominee Mary Zophres (“Babylon”). Dressed in a vintage floral jacket and skirt, a turtleneck (her wardrobe staple, she says) and neon green jelly shoes with purple soles, Kurata rocks a retro style, complemented by distinctive round glasses. On her pastel blue fingernails? The zany googly eyes seen throughout the film. “Everything Everywhere,” directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, goes into Sunday’s ceremony as a frontrunner with a leading 11 nominations including for best picture. The movie tells the story of a Chinese American couple that runs a laundromat, is in trouble with the tax authorities and struggles to relate to their depressed lesbian daughter. At the IRS office, Evelyn (Yeoh) and Waymond (Quan) are suddenly thrust into a battle spanning multiple universes — against a sassy all-powerful villain who happens to be one version of their child. Kurata, whose parents also owned a laundromat, felt her collaboration with the Daniels, as the directors are known, was a “match made in heaven.” “I think they encouraged me to sort of just show my creative muscles,” she recalled. Brainstorming with the Daniels Some of the costume ideas were set in the film’s storyboarding, like the bejeweled Elvis-style white pantsuit worn by the evil Jobu Tupaki (Hsu) when she turns policemen into confetti, Kurata explains. But the character’s myriad costume changes were not scripted. “We just sort of brainstormed like, okay, why don’t we have like a golf look for her or like a K-Pop look and we just sort of worked together,” she said. Kurata didn’t even sketch out the more than 100 looks she ultimately prepared for the film. There was no time. “I only had a month and a half to prep this movie, which is very short,” she said. “The entire budget of my movie’s wardrobe was probably the equivalent of one Marvel costume,” she joked about competing with a well-funded blockbuster like “Wakanda Forever.” But her looks, spiced up with dramatic hair and makeup, popped off the big screen — and cropped up all over social media. Especially popular were Jobu’s K-Pop look featuring a Jeremy Scott teddy bear sweater, goddess Jobu in an intricately beaded white dress with a Victorian collar, and Chaos Jobu — featuring a bit of each costume. “There were so many people dressing up” as the film’s characters for Halloween, she said. “I was like, okay, thank God, I succeeded.” ‘Unique, diverse story’ Kurata describes herself as part of Generation X, without offering a specific age. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she says she knew she wanted to be a designer from age 10 or 11, and learned to sew from her mother. After high school, Kurata moved to Paris and trained for three years at the elite Studio Bercot. When she returned to LA, she says there “wasn’t really much of a fashion scene” so she targeted Hollywood, building her resume on low-budget films and TV sets, as well as by working as a stylist on music videos and commercials. She ultimately headed back to the film scene because she enjoyed the “sense of family” that develops on set. Kurata, who will start work on her next project in May, says she prefers to work on films directed by women and people of color, as they offer a “unique, diverse story about the world.” She divides her time between Hollywood work and Virgil Normal, the store she co-founded in Los Angeles with her designer husband Charlie Staunton. ‘A great win’ Kurata — who has worked with music stars like Billie Eilish and Pharrell Williams, himself the new head of menswear for Louis Vuitton — is no stranger to showbiz glamour. But she says she is still a bit stunned by the huge box office and critical success of “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” Kurata, who is of Japanese descent, called the film “a great win for the Asian community.” “It’s long overdue, but it’s so great,” she said. Kurata jokes that she’s “more prepared” for Sunday, after not writing a speech for the Costume Designers Guild awards, where she bested Carter for the prize for excellence in design for a sci-fi or fantasy film. “I’m so happy that I’m just getting nominated. I feel like I’ve already won.” View the full article

Published by AlterNet United States Congressman Tim Burchett (R-Tennessee) claimed to Newsmax on Tuesday that he has LGBTQ+ friends who support his state’s proposed ban on “cabaret” performances. Senate Bill 3, which was signed into law by Republican Governor Bill Lee this week, “forbids performances in those places by topless, go-go or exotic dancers, strippers, or male or female impersonators who, as the law defines it, provides entertainment that is ‘harmful to minors,'” The New York Times explained on Sunday. “The word ‘drag’ does not appear in the legislation,” the Times noted. “And to some legal experts, the … Read More View the full article

Published by IntelliNews By Albin Sybera Retired General Petr Pavel, who will be inaugurated as the fourth president of Czechia on March 9, will mark – and has already begun marking – a clear break with his outgoing predecessor, the pro-Russian political veteran Milos Zeman. Pavel, 61, is thefirst non-politician to become the country’s president and the first who was not involved in the 1989 Velvet Revolution against communism – as well as the first who was actually a Communist Party member in 1989. “Petr Pavel will be very disturbing in many ways,” Novinky.cz columnist Alexandr Mitrofanov told bne IntelliNews. “He wi… Read More View the full article

Published by Raw Story Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, who has been supportive of his state’s new laws cracking down on drag shows, has made a habit of liking and sending compliments to what Daily Beast reporter Will Sommer describes as a “raunchy” gay Instagram account. The Instagram account in question belongs to 20-year-old Franklyn McClur, a resident of Knoxville, Tennessee who frequently posts suggestive photos of himself wearing nothing but underwear. In response to one photo that showed a closeup of McClur’s rear end, for example, McNally enthusiastically wrote, “You can turn a rainy day into rainbows and s… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Dawn Chmielewski (Reuters) – A new board controlling Walt Disney World’s special taxing district in Florida will meet for the first time on Wednesday, as Governor Ron DeSantis’ hand-picked group gets ready to end the entertainment giant’s “corporate kingdom.” What that entails is not clear. Nothing in the language of the legislation creating the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District gives the board of supervisors authority to direct Walt Disney Co’s content. Nevertheless, Republican DeSantis has spoken out against the media company’s “woke agenda.” “The District board members are now in place and will be examining all of the needed actions to get back on track,” Bryan Griffin, a spokesman for the governor, said on Tuesday. Legislators in Florida passed a bill in February giving DeSantis effective control over a board that oversees municipal services and development in a special district that encompasses Walt Disney World resort. State Republicans last year targeted Disney after it publicly clashed with DeSantis, who is widely considered a 2024 presidential candidate, over a law that restricts classroom instruction of gender and sexual orientation. Disney’s then-chief executive officer, Bob Chapek, publicly voiced disappointment with the measure, saying he called DeSantis to express concern about it becoming law. In a move political observers viewed as retaliation for Disney’s criticism of the Parental Rights in Education Act, Florida lawmakers passed legislation that ended Disney’s virtual autonomy in developing 25,000 acres in central Florida where its theme parks are located. The bill, which DeSantis signed into law in February, authorizes the governor to appoint five supervisors to operate the quasi-government entity, overseeing municipal services, such as fire protection, public utilities, waste collection and road maintenance. It also can raise revenue to pay outstanding debt and cover the cost of services. But DeSantis’ agenda reaches beyond operational minutiae. “Leaders must stand up and fight back when big corporations make the mistake, as Disney did, of using their economic might to advance a political agenda,” DeSantis wrote in a recent Wall Street Journal opinion piece. “We are making Florida the state where woke goes to die.” At the bill signing, DeSantis hinted at his cultural concerns, criticizing Disney for allegedly injecting “a lot of sexuality into the programming for young kids.” He did not offer specifics. One Florida resident who spoke at the signing ceremony echoed that sentiment, saying Disney had “crossed the line” when it opposed Florida’s education law, which critics refer to as the “Don’t Say Gay” measure. “Disney has stepped into a ring with mama bears, and that is not a fight they will win,” said Mandy Shafer. “My hope is that Walt Disney’s vision will be restored and the woke ideologies will be removed from Disney forever.” One of the five supervisors appointed to the oversight board, Bridget Ziegler, is a Sarasota School Board member and self-described parental rights advocate, who helped pave the way for the Parental Rights in Education Act. She also criticized Disney last fall when it asked a local high school to cover a logo of the school’s Native American mascot to march on Main Street. The band elected not to perform. “Shameful to see Disney continue to use children as pawns to advance their WOKE political agenda,” Ziegler tweeted. “Kudos to staff for not kowtowing to their demands.” Ziegler could not be reached for comment. Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney parks, issued a statement on Tuesday expressing hope that “the new board will share our commitment to helping the local economy continue to flourish and support the ongoing growth of the resort and Florida’s tourism industry.” (Reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; Editing by Matthew Lewis) View the full article

Published by AlterNet Arkansas Republican Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has signed into law a bill further destabilizing minors in what was once called the “Land of Opportunity.” Her signature comes on the same day lawmakers sent to her desk a sprawling bill revamping Arkansas’ education system to allow wealthy families to remove funds from public elementary and secondary schools and put them into private tuition. On Tuesday, Huckabee Sanders, barely months into her term, signed HB1410, the Youth Hiring Act, which guts child labor protections and removes what the new governor called “arbitrary” and “burdensome an… Read More View the full article

Published by PsyPost Men tend to die earlier in life in countries where the belief that manhood is “hard won and easily lost” is more widespread, according to new research published in Psychology of Men & Masculinity. The findings provide evidence that a basic belief about what it means to be a man could have significant consequences around the world. The new study examined precarious manhood beliefs, which refer to the idea that manhood is something that must be earned and maintained through demonstrations of toughness, control, and dominance. According to this belief, manhood is vulnerable to being lost and men … Read More View the full article