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GB News A group of professional footballers from Germany will reportedly come out as gay next month before the final weekend of the season. According to German outlet Preussische Allgemeine Zeitung, the players will collectively come out as gay on May 17. The date is significant as it's also the International Day Against Homophobia. The move is part of an initiative in Germany in an attempt to encourage players and others working in football to come out. All clubs involved are said to have been made aware of the imminent announcement. However, the report adds that there are still some players who have…
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Euronews (English) With same-sex unions not legally recognised in their country, members of Poland’s LGBT+ community are travelling abroad to get married. Watch the full Euronews report in the player above.
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AmoMama In a touching moment that beautifully captures the bond between a mother and her son, Barbra Streisand recently took to social media to share a proud maternal moment. Fans quickly responded to her Facebook post praising both the iconic songstress and her son. Barbara Streisand recently posted a photo of her son, Jason Gould, on what appears to be his new album cover. The photo elegantly showcases Gould standing against a wall, his leg bent in a relaxed pose, as he offers a warm smile towards the camera. Overlaid on the image are the words “Sacred Days.” Streisand accompanied the photo with a h…
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Mirror By Sean McPolin The son of an infamous 1980s televangelist couple is set to reveal their family's darkest secrets in an upcoming documentary which is set to lay all bare. Dubbed Better Angels: The Gospel According to Tammy Faye, the series will follow the life of Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Messner. The pair's lives recently came back into the public spotlight thanks to the Oscar-winning film starring Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield. Now, the duo's son Jay Bakker has revealed some of the shocking details which are about to be exposed. The 48-year-old admitted he hopes the documentary can sh…
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[Part 2, Part 3] The last two weeks have seen the first convictions under broad new restrictions on LGBTQ people and their allies in Russia. Not much is known about the first conviction other than a man was fined 1,000 rubles for sharing a pride flag on social media. More details are known about the second, a woman arrested and jailed for 5 days for wearing ‘extremist symbols' — rainbow frog earrings — in Nizhny Novgorod, and she is speaking publicly through her lawyer and Aegis a group.
(Documents and posts translated by Telegram or Google Translate.)
Russian Court Sentences Woman to Five Days for Rainbow Earrings
In a recent and controversial legal decision, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, was the backdrop for a depressing marker of the government's tightening grip on LGBTQ rights and even the most basic expression publicly. Anastasia Ershova faced a five-day administrative arrest for wearing rainbow frog earrings, deemed to fall under recent Russian Supreme Court determinations of “extremist” organization symbols.
The investigation, arrest, handling of the case and Ershova's reactions since the incident January 29, 2024, show just how broad and ambiguous legislators left the definitions making for an environment in which LGBTQ people can easily and quickly find their lives turned upside down if not actually a terrifying nightmare. Ershova's ordeal began in a seemingly ordinary cafe encounter.
Accosted at Cafe With a Friend. Video Sent to Right-Wing Local Sites.
The incident unfolded as Ershova and a friend, at a local cafe, were confronted by two individuals. These accusers demanded the removal of what they called “extremist symbols”: Ershova's rainbow frog earrings and her friend's Ukrainian pin. The confrontation escalated quickly, with threats of police involvement, and was captured on video. This footage, disseminated by the accouters, self-described “civil activists” through Telegram channels and ultra-right bloggers, led to a quick contact by law enforcement.
Summoned for questioning the following day to the “Center for Combating Extremism,” Ershova found herself entangled in a legal nightmare. Despite her defense attorney's best efforts, she was detained pending trial, her earrings—a simple accessory—interpreted as a direct violation of the country's strict regulations against LGBTQ symbols.
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An Investigation, Inquiry, Trial and Appeal Sounding Kafkaesque
Ershova's trial as understood thought her lawyer's comments and release of the court decision here in the article, turned on the nebulous nature of the “prohibited symbols” legislation. Charged under Article 20.3, Part 1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, for publicly displaying symbols of an extremist organization, the court's deliberation focused not on the specific nature of the earrings but on their perceived symbolism. Despite arguments from the defense highlighting the lack of clarity and potential misinterpretation of the law base on the number of colors in the rainbow flag used by LGBTQ activists and other rainbow symbols, the judge sentenced Ershova to five days of administrative arrest.
This decision, Ershova and her defense attorney both said was unexpected and unsettling, leaving them dismayed. The defense's statement, reflecting on the court's reliance on formal references and the Supreme Court's classification of the LGBTQ movement as “extremist,” underscored the trial's arbitrariness and the chilling effect of such broad legislation. That November decision, classifying the entire international LGBT movement to be an “extremist organization” made symbols used by individuals or LGBTQ organizations, and even indirect support of allies totally forbidden in public.
Ershova's Time Incarcerated
Ershova's incarceration brought to light the harsh realities of detention. Her comments and advice were provided again through Aegis. In addition to how unexpected the detention and outcome of the case because, Ershova emphasized the severe conditions and the mental toll of her confinement.
With limited access to basic amenities and a sense of time warped by the monotony and isolation, Ershova found solace only in reading and coloring books provided during her detainment. Her reflections post-release were a mix of relief and disbelief, a personal testament to the surreal and oppressive nature of her ordeal.
“No matter how absurd the situation may seem, it is possible”
Ershova's parting advice, born from her experience, includes increased caution and preparedness, personal composure, and the basics of preparing for potential detention are sobering details.
Complaint Hearing Against the Ruling
As the further story unfolds, with the hearing of the complaint against the ruling scheduled for February 13, the outcome remains uncertain.
Aegis, a local group working digitally in support of LGBTQ people has been vocal about the increasing danger and has been a conduit for separating facts from misinformation about this case. It was formed in December, 2022 when the “the law on propaganda in public was signed.” It is a group of “experienced crisis managers and LGBTQ+ activists, [who] decided to unite to counter the increase in homophobic violence that quite possibly awaits us ahead.”
This is Part 1 of a 4 part report about dramatic turns to crackdown in Russia. Part 2 follows changes and movement over the last few years to get to this point. Part 3 offers what is known about the powerful politician, close to Putin, and the primary architect and advocate for the crackdown, how he connects it to the Ukraine invasion and his direct manipulation of Anastasia's case. and Part 4 is about the evolution of Aegis in their advice, attitude and role over the year as they individually and together have become illegal.
Ershova's case, while singular in its details, looks to be the leading edge of the disturbing crackdown that offers government approval to scapegoating and repression, likely to distract from the war and economy.
Even before the Russian Supreme Court's official classification of the International LGBTQ rights movement as an ‘extremist organization' in November, in fact for 13 months now legislators were churning out restrictive laws impacting trans citizens.
New Russian LGBTQ Crackdow Multi-part
5-Days Jail for Rainbow Earrings? Fined for Posting Gay Flag? Kafkaesque. Russia Launches LGBTQ Crackdown. WTF Russia? Part 1 Draconian: Sochi Olympics-Era “Gay Propaganda” Ban Expands to Forbid All Public LGBTQ Expression. New Russian Crackdown. Pt. 2 Orwellian: Architect of New Russia LGBTQ Crackdown Warns Of LGBTQ Threat in Ukraine War; Manipulates Rainbow Earring Arrest in Pt. 3 Dystopian: TK View the full article

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DPA The cathedral on the Zócalo is considered the largest on the American continent. Philipp Laage/dpa Colonial palaces, the legacy of the Aztecs and Frida Kahlo, kaleidoscopic nightlife and cuisine – plus mezcal – to write home about: Despite its intensity and daunting size, a bold immersion in the best of Mexico City will change your world.
Locals urge you to spend at least a week in this metropolis of 22 million people, but a three-day compact programme also hits the mark.
Tour guide and architecture expert Santiago Garcia de Vinuesa recommends you start in the Centro Histórico – where it all began.
Until the mid-19th century, today’s historic centre covered the entire city. “That’s why there are so many hidden buildings and gems from all eras here,” says Santiago. “It’s a hectic place because everyone comes here to shop. But it’s also very real.”
The city’s birthplace is the mighty Zócalo main square and the vestiges of Tenochtitlán, the former heart of the Aztec Empire. Here, the ruins of the Templo Mayor, the main temple, are overshadowed by the giant Metropolitan Cathedral, once a symbol of the imperial power of the Spanish conquerors.
When the tumult gets overwhelming, head through the archways to the grand colonial courtyards. Maybe take a bite too, for example in the Azul Historico restaurant, located at Isabel La Católica 30, run by renowned chef Ricardo Muñoz Zurita.
Moving west, you pass many impressive sights built under the rule of General Porfirio Díaz in the late 19th century, after Mexico’s independence. The ruling classes then took their cue from France, producing magnificent Art Nouveau buildings like the Palacio de Hierro – now a luxury shopping mall – and the Gran Hotel Ciudad de México, with its spectacular Tiffany glass roof.
The Palacio Postal, the old main post office, is a masterpiece of Neo-Venetian architecture, while the Palacio de Bellas Artes cultural centre is a whirl of architectural styles, from neoclassicism to Art Nouveau and Art Déco.
The cityscape mirrors the many influences pulling at its municipal chiefs over the centuries, says the guide. They sought to become more European, with a yearning also for the lifestyle of the American suburbs and an eye to the pre-Columbian past: “All of this while trying to be modern and cosmopolitan.”
Taking it all in is thirsty work. Come the evening, head to the hip Roma district for at least one drink. Make it a mezcal cocktail with smoky pineapple at Licorería Limantour, which was ranked fourth on the list of the 50 best bars in the world in 2022.
For dancing, head to the Zona Rosa, a party district and magnet for the LGBTQ community, with many bars and clubs. By day, its art galleries and antique shops offer stone lions, Jesus paintings, mahogany secretaries with golden inlays and Louis XIV-style chairs.
Day two is all about art, culture and curiosities. Roma and the equally cool Condesa district, with their brunch bars, boutiques and peeling, dignified house facades evoke Europe, perhaps Barcelona or Rome. Both districts are fully gentrified and very pricey by Mexican standards.
For lunch, try the fish restaurant Contramar at Calle de Durango 200. Another address often recommended is Mercado Roma (at Calle Querétaro 225). This food market hall laden with tacos, paella, ceviche, vegan Italian snacks and smoothies could hold its own in virtually any of the world’s famous hipster neighbourhoods.
From here it’s a short stroll to the huge Chapultepec City Park, where those who prefer to avoid the promenade and its fly traders will find tranquillity on its many set-back trails. Here, fountains splash, squirrels hop in the trees, and traffic sounds are muffled.
Around the park are several cultural highlights, starting with the imposing National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropología). Also worth a visit are the museums of modern and contemporary art (Museo de Arte Moderno and Museo Tamayo) and the Casa Barragán, the former studio of the architect Luis Barragán.
The Castillo de Chapultepec is also worth a visit. Built by the Spanish colonial rulers, the castle was the imperial residence of Maximilian I from 1864. The Austrian was installed as a puppet regent during France’s meddling in Mexico’s affairs and was killed three years later. Today, the site houses a history museum.
From castles to cuisine, with a street food tour in the evening: Guide Clarissa Obregón says the majority of Mexicans eat on the street. Most work six days a week and time is short. “That’s why we need good street food,” she says. And you find it on every corner.
A stop in Condesa brings tortas de cochinita pibil – braised pork sandwiches. On towards San Rafael, once a residential district and now middle class, where a street vendor made famous by YouTube serves succulent tacos campechanos with chorizo and beef.
Then a retreat to a gloomy pulqueria tavern, where the national drink pulque, made from fermented juice, takes some getting used to and is served in three versions. “We say it makes you sociable and a bit frisky,” says Clarissa. “And it heals broken hearts.”
At Mercado de San Cosme it’s fried quesadillas, tamales, stuffed corn dough, and atole, a heavy, hot drink also made from corn. Your stomach is now groaning but you keep eating because it tastes so good. Mezcal helps.
Day three starts with some relaxation at Lake Xochimilco and then up to the cosy southern borough of Coyoacán. Here, tourists flock to the cobalt-blue Frida Kahlo Museum, also called Casa Azul, the birthplace and workplace of Mexico’s most famous artist.
In the afternoon, take a tour through the canals of Xochimilco, built for agriculture but today a popular excursion area, where around 1,500 trajineras – colourful flat-bottomed wooden boats – glide with guests through the network of waterways.
The grotesque highlight is the Isla de las Muñecas, the island of the dolls, where hundreds of them dangle in the trees, eerily weathered over the years. According to legend, a local man who found the body of a drowned girl kept hanging up dolls to honour her lost soul.
It’s an old, colourful story, full of humanity and not nearly so scary when you actually get there – and maybe that’s Mexico City for you too.
Tapas and drinks at Mercado Roma. Philipp Laage/dpa Mexico City’s Azul Historico restaurant. Philipp Laage/dpa Around 1500 trajineras can be found on the canals of Xochimilco. Philipp Laage/dpa Authentic food to go: A street food tour through Mexico City offers a contrast to the city’s high-end cuisine. Philipp Laage/dpa Roma, with its brunch spots and boutiques, is a highly gentrified and comparatively expensive neighbourhood. Philipp Laage/dpa In the posh district of Polanco, the avant-garde Museo Soumaya awaits. Philipp Laage/dpa In the peace and quiet of Chapultepec City Park, even the carousel is at a standstill. Philipp Laage/dpa On the Isla de las Muñecas in Xochimilco, dozens of dolls – some of them eerily weathered – hang in the trees. Philipp Laage/dpa Ruins of the Templo Mayor: This was once the most important and largest temple of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán. Philipp Laage/dpa In the Centro Histórico there are buildings from all eras. Philipp Laage/dpa Centrally located and yet far away from all the hustle and bustle: Chapultepec City Park. Philipp Laage/dpa
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BANG Showbiz English Lil Nas X helped his brother come out as bisexual. The ‘Industry Baby' hitmaker has been open about his sexual identity, which has in turn inspired members of the LGBTQ+ community, including his own brother Tramon Hill. As reported by Entertainment Weekly, he said in new documentary ‘Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero': “My brother really opened doors for a lot of people. Yeah, he opened a door for me. “What I mean by that, like, I'm not gay, though, you feel me? I'm bisexual. “He helped me be real with myself. My brother made me more open to it.” While Tramon was nervous about how various relations…
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OK Magazine It seems like every project Jacob Elordi is in pushes the envelope. In a new interview discussing his flick Saltburn, the actor discussed some of the movie's most scandalous scenes, admitting he had no problem with any of the raunchy material. Elordi, 26, referenced one of the most viral moments in which after his character touches himself while taking a bath, Barry Keoghan's character drinks the bathwater. “I was just really excited when I read that scene because, you know, you don't really see things like that in mainstream movies a lot of the time,” he dished. “So it's just great that [dire…
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Mirror By Darren Wells For much of his life, Michael Gunning has had to become accustomed to standing out from the crowd. A keen swimmer who excelled in the pool from the age of four, Gunning possessed a natural talent and passion for a sport that would eventually take him to new heights. But it wasn’t his ability which immediately separated him from his peers, but the colour of his skin. Few black swimmers have ever broke into the mainstream of a sport still trying to shake some longstanding stereotypes. And as a black boy growing up in Orpington, Kent, with a dream of representing his country, Gunn…
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DPA An undated picture shows Indian President Ram Nath Kovind (L) speaking with Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar. Legendary Bollywood singer Mangeshkar, popularly known as the “Nightingale of India” and one of the country’s top cultural icons, died on Sunday at the age of 92. Shakir Hussain/BERNAMA/dpa Lata Mangeshkar, popularly known as the “Nightingale of India,” at times could move leaders to tears with her mellifluous and soulful singing.
Her seemingly ageless voice was behind generations of Bollywood divas – but she was more than a so-called “playback” singer, recognized from roadside vendors to soldiers on remote frontiers or elites at luxury hotels.
The multibillion-dollar Bollywood film industry has spawned an immensely popular music industry and Lata Mangeshkar was its indisputable queen.
She was a portly Marathi woman, camera-shy and a somewhat lonesome figure in the gregarious world of glamour. But she wielded enormous power in the industry by dint of her mesmerizing talent.
Mangeshkar was born in the central Indian city of Indore on September 28, 1929 to noted Marathi stage personality and classical singer Deenanath Mangeshkar and his wife Shevanti.
Growing up with four younger siblings – Meena, Asha, Usha and Hridaynath, all of whom would become famous singers, music composers and directors in their own right – Lata Mangeshkar received her initial music lessons from her father.
In 1942, she suffered a big blow at the age of 13 when her father passed away. Taking up a career in music to fend for the family, she juggled singing with acting in Marathi films.
Mangeshkar recorded her first song for Marathi film “Kiti Hasaal” that year, though it was dropped from the final version of the movie.
Mangeshkar soon moved to Mumbai, formerly Bombay, where besides establishing her career, she also trained in Hindustani classical music.
In 1949, Mangeshkar had her first major hit song, “Aayega Aanewala” (The one meant to return, will return) in the Hindi film “Mahal,” after which her voice and career would soar to the greatest of heights in the Indian cinema.
Music critics said her unusually high-pitched singing rendered the old trend of heavily nasal voices totally obsolete and changed the face of Bollywood playback singing forever.
Through the 1960s and 1970s, Mangeshkar stamped her dominance in the playback-singing industry even as she faced accusations of monopoly.
The Nightingale of India’s renditions of patriotic songs were particularly popular.
In the late 1940s, as the British rulers intensified censorship, she sang the song “Vande Mataram” (I Bow to You Motherland), raising the spirits of a colonized nation fighting for its freedom.
Years later, in 1963, in a memorable moment of her career, she sang “Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon” (Ye, the people of my land), commemorating Indian soldiers who died in the 1962 war with China, in the presence of then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru on India’s Republic Day in New Delhi.
A moved Nehru wept in public as Mangeshkar sang, according to reports from that time.
The song, an appeal to countrymen to overcome their grief and remember the sacrifice of the soldiers, touched a chord with an entire nation traumatized by the war.
Mangeshkar’s superlative success continued through the 1970s and the 1980s, when she also sang in several of India’s regional languages. She started doing concerts and performed around the world.
Mangeshkar began taking up fewer projects through the 1990s and early 2000s, even though she sang in some of Hindi cinema’s biggest hits during this time, including “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” (1995), “Dil to Pagal Hai” (1997) and “Veer Zaara” (2004).
Through the 1990s, no new voice could challenge or unseat the doyenne from her position as the best female singer in Bollywood.
“When you are talking about Michael Angelo, Beethoven or Shakespeare, the name says it all. Lata Mangeshkar’s greatness is her name itself,” noted lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar said in a 2021 interview with The Hindu newspaper.
Mangeshkar also composed music and produced a handful of films. As a singer, she enjoyed clout that top producers, directors and actors could not even dream of.
Over the decades, she received India’s top civilian awards, the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan, and in 2001, the country’s highest honour, Bharat Ratna, the Jewel of India.
She was bestowed India’s top award in cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, and France’s highest civilian award, Officer of the Legion of Honour in 2007, besides numerous national and international awards.
Despite her fame and fortune, Mangeshkar led a quiet, simple life. She never married and was close to her family and siblings. She loved cooking, cricket, photography and reading.
In recent years, she stopped performing for films but recorded a few devotional and patriotic songs. In a 2018 interview, the veteran singer said she would never stop singing.
“I will continue to sing till my last breath. Music is the essence of my existence,” she said.
Medics transport the body of legendary Bollywood singer Lata Mangeshkar into an ambulance after she died on Sunday at the age of 92. Shashank Parade/PTI/dpa
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Reuters By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York state's attorney general on Friday said Donald Trump may have fraudulently inflated his fortune by far more than previously thought, her latest salvo in preparation for trial in her civil lawsuit against the former U.S. president and his family business. In a filing with a New York state court in Manhattan, Attorney General Letitia James said her valuation and accounting experts believe Trump falsely boosted his net worth by between $1.9 billion and $3.6 billion a year over a decade. That's higher than the $812 million to $2.23 billion range sh…
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Provided by Kaiser Health News
More than four years ago, then-President Donald Trump declared an ambitious goal that had bipartisan support: ending the HIV epidemic in the United States.
Now, that Trump program is one of several health initiatives targeted for substantial cuts by members of his own party as they eye next year's elections.
Pushing a slate of conservative political priorities that also takes aim at sex education for teens, health worker vaccine mandates, and more, Republicans in the House of Representatives have proposed a spending bill that would cut $1.6 billion from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — one-sixth of the agency's budget.
The proposal would zero out the agency's share of the Trump HIV plan, which was more than a third of the program's budget in the current fiscal year. It would also eliminate funding through other channels, such as the Health Resources and Services Administration's Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.
With another budget fight and potential government shutdown looming Oct. 1, the specific proposal is unlikely to clear Congress. Still, former CDC officials said they fear it is the opening bid on what could nonetheless be debilitating reductions to a strained agency that has lost some public support in recent years.
The cuts come on the heels of other recent reductions at the CDC, triggered by the eleventh-hour debt-ceiling deal, to its budgets for childhood vaccination programs and prevention of sexually transmitted infections. And they provide an early opportunity for the CDC's new director, Mandy Cohen, to show how well she can convince members of Congress to protect the agency's interests in a polarized political landscape.
“Public health is being politicized to a point that's never been seen,” said Kyle McGowan, of consulting firm Ascendant Strategic Partners, who served as chief of staff at the CDC during the Trump administration. Cutting public health spending “is not smart,” he said. “These culture wars are now leaking into and harming public health.”
He called the proposed cuts unprecedented in their targeting of bipartisan public health initiatives.
The House Republican spending proposal, which came from members of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education subcommittee, also targets programs that have drawn the ire of conservative lawmakers, such as those that focus on climate change and gun violence research.
“Cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are as outrageous as they are dangerous,” said Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the highest-ranking Democrat on the subcommittee.
But Rep. Kay Granger, the Texas Republican who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, said the bill “works to responsibly fund programs that help improve the health and lives of the American people. It also holds agencies accountable when there has been a history of poor performance or controversial activities.”
Granger and the chair of the subcommittee that drafted the bill, Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), did not respond to requests for further information.
The House Appropriations Committee has yet to mark up and vote on the measure, which would also need the approval of the full Republican-controlled House and Democratic-controlled Senate. The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved its own health spending bill, which largely maintains existing CDC funding for HIV and would require the two chambers to work together to produce a consensus measure.
And any spending measure would also need the signature of President Joe Biden, whose most recent budget proposal included a request for $850 million to reduce new HIV cases.
The CDC declined to comment on the possible cuts, saying it would be premature to do so amid the ongoing budget process.
The Trump administration's HIV program launched in 2019 with the goal of cutting new infections nationwide by 90% by 2030. It has sent more than $1.7 billion, through different federal health agencies, to HIV hot spots around the country.
But the program has run into significant headwinds. The covid-19 pandemic diverted the attention of public health officials. Plus, red tape, along with persistent stigma and discrimination fueled by anti-LGBTQ+ messaging from politicians, have many health officials worried it won't meet its ambitious goals.
House Republicans said the HIV program, well shy of its first main milestone, in 2025, hasn't met its goals.
“This program has demonstrated a lack of performance data based on outcomes, insufficient budget justifications, and vague spend plans. The initiative has not met its original objectives,” the Republican-led subcommittee wrote in a report that KFF Health News obtained but could not independently verify as official. Granger and Aderholt did not respond to requests to verify the document.
Trump's Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative isn't the only Republican-created HIV program being targeted.
A number of key provisions in the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR, are set to expire on Sept. 30. The program, which funds HIV and AIDS prevention around the world, has saved millions of lives, and is widely seen as a public health and foreign policy success. It was launched in 2003 under then-president George W. Bush.
But discussions about reauthorizing the program have been derailed by Republican claims it finances abortion. PEPFAR won't immediately stop its work, but missing the deadline could signal an uncertain future for the program, experts say.
Regarding the Trump HIV initiative, service providers say any budget reductions would slow the progress it has made in the fight against the disease.
“There's a lot at stake here,” said Justin Smith, of Positive Impact Health Centers, an Atlanta-area HIV clinic. Smith has helped Georgia public health officials plan the distribution of Ending the HIV Epidemic funds among the four priority counties in the state.
Smith said the proposed cuts would be “quite devastating” for the work being done in Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties in metropolitan Atlanta. That work has included ramping up HIV testing and PrEP, or preexposure prophylaxis, programs, as well as expanding care for transgender people living with the virus.
The South has the highest rate of new HIV diagnoses in the country, and many Ending the HIV Epidemic target areas are in the region.
In Louisiana, which has two of those HIV priority areas, the program has helped reduce the number of late HIV diagnoses and maintain levels of viral suppression, said Samuel Burgess, the director of the state's STI and HIV prevention program.
Even if the budget cuts don't survive the legislative process fully intact, it's “very concerning” that lawmakers would even propose such a cut, Burgess said.
HIV policy advocates are pushing back on the House Republican proposal. In July, the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership sent a letter to House appropriators warning of its potential impact.
“We are deeply concerned that this bill will not only stop progress being made to achieve the goals set forth by former President Trump in 2019, but will exacerbate the HIV epidemic which has plagued our nation for 40 years,” they wrote.
Cohen, who started with the CDC in July, is familiar with the budget process, having spent time in top leadership positions within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
But she's new to the CDC and, regardless of her inside-the-Beltway experience, will need time to get up to speed, which could potentially leave the agency vulnerable, said McGowan. “It's a difficult time to have a leadership change at the CDC,” he said. But he added that “Dr. Cohen is doing a great job meeting with everyone on the Hill, both Democrats and Republicans.”
The fights over HIV programs concern Tom Frieden, who served as CDC director under former President Barack Obama. He estimated he made more than 250 trips to Capitol Hill over nearly eight years to sell the agency's work to lawmakers.
He called the Atlanta-based CDC's location outside of Washington a “double-edged sword.”
“People used to say to me, ‘Gee, isn't it great, we're not bugged by politicians down here in Atlanta?'” Frieden said.
While the location helps cushion the agency from politics, he said, it also makes it harder to get support from members of Congress.
But the CDC's response to covid pulled it back into the political fray. Frieden said he is hopeful the Democratic-controlled Senate will act as a “hard stop” against the Republican attacks — but he warned that substantial cuts can slip through the cracks.
“It's always a risk that some important stuff at the eleventh hour doesn't happen,” Frieden said.KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.
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 In in amazing revelation, CBS has reported that the GOP (Grand Old Party) was aware of the lies propagated by one of its own candidates. The truth was hidden in a vulnerability report that was internal to the campaign. This report has recently surfaced, shedding light on the red flags that were raised long before the embattled representative was elected. This article delves into the details of this discovery and its implications.
The vulnerability report, as revealed by the sources, highlights a series of concerning findings about George Santos, a GOP candidate. The information contained in this report was crucial and had the potential to influence the outcome of the election had it been made public at the time.
According to the report, Santos had been consistently making false claims and misleading statements during his campaign. The report meticulously outlined these lies and presented evidence to support its claims. It brings to question the integrity and transparency of the GOP's selection process, as these allegations were largely overlooked or ignored.
One of the key findings in the vulnerability report was Santos' embellishment of his professional and educational background. The report reveals that Santos had misrepresented his qualifications and work experience, creating a false impression of his competence and expertise.
Furthermore, the report also raised concerns about Santos' financial dealings, highlighting potential conflicts of interest and questionable financial practices. It disclosed instances where Santos had allegedly received questionable funding from undisclosed sources, suggesting a lack of transparency and accountability.
The fact that the GOP was aware of these issues, as indicated by the vulnerability report, raises serious questions about the party's commitment to ethical conduct and honesty. The report seems to suggest that the party prioritized winning the election over upholding integrity and trust with the voters.
The implications of this discovery extend beyond the individual candidate. It casts doubts on the credibility of the GOP as a whole, as it calls into question the party's ability to thoroughly vet and support its candidates.
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Reuters KAMPALA (Reuters) – A 20-year-old man has become the first Ugandan to be charged with “aggravated homosexuality”, an offence punishable by death under the country's recently enacted anti-gay law, prosecutors and his lawyer said. Defying pressure from Western governments and rights organisations, Uganda in May enacted one of the world's harshest laws targeting the LGBT community. It prescribes life in prison for same-sex intercourse. The death penalty can apply in cases deemed “aggravated”, which include repeat offences, gay sex that transmits terminal illness, or same-sex intercourse with a mi…
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Reuters KAMPALA (Reuters) – A 20-year-old man has become the first Ugandan to be charged with “aggravated homosexuality”, an offence punishable by death under the country's recently enacted anti-gay law, prosecutors and his lawyer said. Defying pressure from Western governments and rights organisations, Uganda in May enacted one of the world's harshest laws targeting the LGBT community. It prescribes life in prison for same-sex intercourse. The death penalty can apply in cases deemed “aggravated”, which include repeat offences, gay sex that transmits terminal illness, or same-sex intercourse with a mi…
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BANG Showbiz English Renée Rapp has reportedly hired a leading Hollywood lawyer to get her off Mindy Kaling’s HBO Max show ‘The Sex Lives of College Girls’. The 23-year-old singer and actress is set to take the lead in Tina Fey’s big-screen version of ‘Mean Girls’ the musical is said to have recruited attorney Bryan Freedman so she can leave her role as openly gay student Leighton Murray on Mindy’s hit series after she announced a music tour without getting permission from her show boss. A source told Page Six: “Both sides have been working to resolve things. There are a lot of egos at play.” An insider also added…
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Reuters By Daniel Wiessner (Reuters) -A conservative legal group on Wednesday urged a U.S. anti-discrimination agency to investigate Kellogg Co over workplace diversity policies that it says are unlawful, and accused the cereal maker of sexualizing its products. This is the second complaint filed this week against a company by America First Legal, a nonprofit run by Stephen Miller, who was an adviser to then-President Donald Trump. America First in a letter to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said Kellogg's hiring, training and promotion practices are designed to achieve a balan…
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Radar Online mega Justin Bieber‘s dad is facing backlash after he posted an offensive anti-LGBTQ message on Instagram, RadarOnline.com has learned. Jeremy Bieber used a graphic image to take a cheap shot at the LGBTQIA+ community — and relay his thoughts about Pride month.
Jeremy said he felt the community should “thank a straight person” for their “existence.”
mega Jeremy took to his Instagram stories to let his 2 million followers know where he stood on June being recognized as pride month. The story featured a black screen with a rainbow flag emoji, a symbolic representation of the community.
In white text over the flag’s image read the line, “Don’t forget to thank a straight person this month for your existence.” He also included two peace sign emojis.
@jeremybieber/Instagram Justin Bieber Looks Disheveled in First Sighting Since Ex-Pastor Carl Lentz Broke His Silence On Shocking Cheating Scandal Justin Bieber’s Ex-pastor Carl Lentz Breaks Silence on Cheating Scandal: ‘I Had Some Major Lies’ Justin Bieber’s Ex-Hillsong Pastor Carl Lentz’s New Church Accused Of Throwing ‘Demonic’ Easter Service The Instagram story followed a tweet from Jeremy the day before, which read, “We need to celebrate families. U know the reason we’re all here! The things this generation glorifies is unbelievable!”
Ironically, The Baby singer’s own family glorified the non-traditional values.
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mega Given his son’s celebrity status, outraged fans flocked to Jeremy’s latest post to condemn his offensive message.
One fan reminded Jeremy where his platform came from and told the father: “dont forget do thank Justin Bieber this month for your paid bills.”
“No one is going to thank a straight person for the existence of the lgbtq+ community. We’ve always existed, y’all just never knew. Stop spreading dumb s—. You’re a father of one of the biggest pop stars. Act like one,” read another scathing reply.
mega Commenters slammed Jeremy as a “deadbeat dad” and “absent father” while they accused him of being a hypocrite.
“You are not in a position to judge ANYONE…so…..HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!” wrote one Instagram user, who added a string of rainbow emojis to the comment. Others joined and simply left Pride flag emojis to get their message across.
RadarOnline.com has reached out to Justin’s rep for comment.

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Euronews (English) A Lufthansa pilot drew a penis-shaped flight path in the sky last week after being diverted from Catania airport in Sicily. The 24-kilometre-long pattern was spotted by amused aviation fans on FlightRadar24. The aircraft left Frankfurt in Germany at 1.45 pm on 28 July and reportedly attempted to land at Catania twice before its course was diverted. It took just over 16 minutes to circle in the sky off the east coast of Sicily – a manoeuvre that created the penis shape – before returning to its original flight path and continuing to Malta. Local Italian media claimed that the disgruntled pilot…
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Euronews (English) A Lufthansa pilot drew a penis-shaped flight path in the sky last week after being diverted from Catania airport in Sicily. The 24-kilometre-long pattern was spotted by amused aviation fans on FlightRadar24. The aircraft left Frankfurt in Germany at 1.45 pm on 28 July and reportedly attempted to land at Catania twice before its course was diverted. It took just over 16 minutes to circle in the sky off the east coast of Sicily – a manoeuvre that created the penis shape – before returning to its original flight path and continuing to Malta. Local Italian media claimed that the disgruntled pilot…
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OK Magazine Some celebrities are notorious for their unique backstage requests, from the story of Van Halen demanding all the brown M&Ms be removed from their bowl of candy to Katy Perry reportedly asking for freeze-dried strawberries and an array of very specific flowers to be in every dressing room — but Beyoncé might take the cake. The “Single Ladies” singer’s team has to have a box of toilet seats shipped around the world while the superstar is on tour so that she never has to sit on a pre-used seat. An outlet reported photos of a large luggage box that was labeled “Beyoncé Toilet Seats” that is repor…
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Radar Online Influential conservative commentator Steven Crowder's shamelessness knew no bounds, claimed former staffers who accused the right-wing podcast star of sending unsolicited photos of his genitals and exchanging drugs in the workplace. RadarOnline.com has learned that five former employees and one source close to Crowder came forward with the explosive claims, opting to keep their identities under wraps due to fear of retaliation. Crowder has long proven to be a controversial figure who speaks his mind with adoring supporters and stern critics — either way, he's been bringing in the views. Follow…
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Reuters UK By Bill Trott (Reuters) -Tony Bennett, the smooth American singer who had an enduring hit with “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and remained perpetually cool enough to win over younger generations of fans well into the 21st century, died on Friday, his publicist said. Bennett was 96. He died at his home in New York City of age-related causes, his publicist Sylvia Weiner said in a statement. No less than Frank Sinatra called the former singing waiter “the best singer in the business” after he became a star in the 1950s. Bennett went on to win 20 Grammy awards, including a lifetime achievement…
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AlterNet A San Bernardino County, California school board president, Sonja Shaw, acknowledging a political grudge, grew angered and agitated in front of parents and students attending a school board meeting Thursday, kicking the State Superintendent of Public Instruction out after publicly berating him, accusing him of “proposing things that pervert children,” “blackmail,” and yelling at him that he had supported her opponent for election. Superintendent Tony Thurmond was at a podium for public speakers at a meeting of the Chino Valley Unified School District school board to weigh in on a controversial…
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New York Daily News Vice President Kamala Harris jetted into Florida Friday to denounce Gov. Ron DeSantis over the state's rewrite of its history curriculum to claim that slaves benefited by gaining valuable life skills from being enslaved. The first Black vice president in American history lambasted the conservative Republican — who is running against former President Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination — for whitewashing the horrors of slavery as part of his effort to push back against so-called “woke” influence in public education. “They decided middle school students will be taught th…
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