DeSantis Defends Disney Call as Poll Shows Voters Reject Company Punishment

In a powerful moment from an interview discussing her journey as a human rights defender for the Trans community in Pakistan, Nayyab Ali shares that while she is the most internationally awarded Transgender person in South Asia, the ‘award’ she is most proud of is her acid scars. While this may sound shocking, Nayyab describes […]

A survey just released by The Trevor Project, a national organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among LGBTQ youth, revealed that little has changed since its previous study in 2021. Trans and queer youth are struggling with mental health issues and, in many cases, not finding the health services or support they need.

No hard feelings! Cardi B and Billie Eilish clear the air about their rumored 2022 Met Gala afterparty feud.

RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Symone, the show’s Season 13 titleholder.DNCE, a Los Angeles-based trio comprised of vocalist Joe Jonas, drummer Jack Lawless, and guitarist JinJoo Lee, first broke through into popular culture in 2016 with the release of the band’s RIAA quintuple-platinum certified single “Cake By the Ocean.”The song landed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number nine in its 19th week on the chart. It spent 46 weeks on the Hot 100 in total.The group’s self-titled full-length debut album, DNCE, released by Republic Records, featured hit singles including the platinum-certified “Toothbrush.” The band closed out 2016 at No.

Human rights groups have urged Romania to reject a bill banning so-called ‘gay propaganda’ in schools, like those introduced in Hungary and Russia.

Last Week Tonight when it came to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his attacks against Disney.The GOP governor signed a bill last month that stripped Disney World of its special self-governing status in response to the company speaking out against that state's “don’t say gay” law.After the bill was signed by DeSantis, the Walt Disney Company was quick to release a statement vowing to help repeal the contentious law. The special status Disney World held started in 1967 and had served to let Disney economically boost central Florida while allowing the company millions in tax breaks and annual fees, according to Vanity Fair.“Yeah, it’s true: In the part of central Florida where Disney World is, the company technically functions as a self-contained government, providing essential services — except, crucially, a morgue,” Oliver joked.

Disney communication executive Geoff Morrell, who helped pen the company’s response to the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, has left after three months.

Ron DeSantis for fighting with Disney over the state's "Don't Say Gay" bill.During an interview on CNN's State of the Union, Hutchinson said he supports Florida's controversial legislation, but said the state should not have punished the entertainment company for disagreeing with it."First of all Disney has handled this very poorly...but I don't believe that government should be punitive against private businesses because we disagree with them. That's not the right approach either," the governor said.

The Only Way is Essex star Gemma Collins blew away fans with her latest Instagram snap.The memeable star has been keeping fans in the loop about her fitness journey on her social media pages, and she showed off the results of her hard work with her latest image.Gemma, 41, looked incredible as she made the most of the Bank Holiday sunshine with a dip in her hot tub at her palatial £1.35m Essex home. Posing with her hand on her hip as she stood in the tub, The GC wowed as she rocked semi-sheer green lingerie, which showed off her gym-honed curves.Looking tanned and toned, Gemma wowed as she gave a sultry look into the distance in the skimpy bodysuit.She styled her blonde locks into larger-than-life Marilyn Monroe curls, which sat delicately atop her shoulders.Gemma captioned the snap: "Sorry if I can't come to the phone right now, I'm chilling in my brand new hot tub."The reality TV star then shared that she was rocking a swimsuit from her own Gemma Collins Collection Swimwear, as she remarked "self confidence is the best outfit".Gemma's fans came out in full force as they showered praise on the stunning photo.One social networker gushed: "Omg you look stunning Queen.

love is in the air.Related: Gay teens are free to be themselves and fall in love in adorable new Netflix series ‘Heartstopper’No wonder we’re so enjoying Heartstopper, the tender new gay love story on Netflix of late. Our recent affection for first love got us thinking: what about other movies about queer, first love?That brings us to today’s roundup.

GEMMA Collins showcased her remarkable weight loss today as the sun came out in Essex. The Towie millionaire, 41, stripped off to a bright green swimsuit and plunged into the hot tub she's had installed in her garden.

It’s Friday, which means we’re almost at the end of this year’s Lesbian Visibility Week. And since this week is all about visibility, we couldn’t miss out on looking at the TV shows that are bringing about some much-needed representation with their awesome lesbian characters. If we think about only a few years ago, we […]

Drag Race is expanding yet again, with Belgian queens getting their shot at the crown in the franchise’s next international spin-off.

We were thoroughly impressed with Jackie Sibblies Drury’s Fairview, the Pulitzer-prize winning drama which played at the Young Vic in 2019, so we were very excited to see she had a new play opening in London this spring. Drury’s new show is a consideration of the life of Mary Seacole – an important story which needs to be told more often – and it’s an ambitious production, although it feels a bit convoluted and overcomplicated.

Ron DeSantis has denied that stripping Disney of its special privileges and tax breaks will mean local residents will have to foot a billion-dollar bill instead.DeSantis signed a bill that revoked Disney's special tax district privileges and its ability to self-govern protected under the Reedy Creek Improvement District on April 22.The move was in retaliation for Disney's objection to the governor-backed HB 1557, the legislation critics have dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill.In a statement to shareholders, Reedy Creek Improvement District said the plan to dissolve the law permitting Disney to run as its own self-governing authority will not work as the 1967 legislation included a pledge by the state of Florida that it would not "impair the rights or remedies" of the holders until all its debts are cleared.Reedy Creek currently has about $1 billion in outstanding bond debt, according to the credit rating agency Fitch Ratings, meaning that residents in counties such as Orange and Osceola may have to cover the shortfall with increased taxes.Speaking to Fox News' Laura Ingraham during a televised town hall in Orlando, DeSantis denied that taxpayers in Florida will have to pay the billion dollars after the legislation dissolving the special purpose district comes into effect on June 1, 2023."Disney will pay its debts. Disney will for the first time actually live under the same laws as everybody else in Florida," the Republican governor said."The bonds will be paid by Disney.

A divided San Francisco Redistricting Task Force approved Thursday a new map for the city's 11 supervisorial districts that critics charged is a gerrymander of the city. It brought to a close an eight-month process marred by racial divisions, bullying of meeting attendees, heated infighting amid the panel members, and repeated hoodwinking of transgender residents of the Tenderloin and Chinese residents of the Portola.The 5-4 vote to finalize a new political map for the city now moves the process to the courts and eventually the ballot box, as it will be used to elect the supervisors over the next decade starting with the even-numbered districts this November.

Carl Paladino, a Republican candidate for governor of New York in 2010. The bloviator bigot said in not so many words that homosexuality was not how God created, that children would be more successful if they were straight and that being gay was a “dysfunction.” He was also caught sending racist emails.Paladino failed to mention that like my former boss, he had a child out of wedlock.

Nick Nelson begins. Innocent, pure and kind. The relationship between these two boys is at the heart of Netflix’s new LGBTQ+ young adult series Heartstopper (minor spoilers ahead).

San Francisco voters will be asked June 7 to decide whether to recall District Attorney Chesa Boudin, who was narrowly elected in 2019 and took office in January 2020, just a couple of months before the COVID pandemic upended everything, including the criminal justice system. While we fully understand and empathize with residents and small business owners who are affected and angered by the perceived uptick in petty crime — smash-and-grab car break-ins, smashed storefront windows, and burglaries — it's unlikely that recalling Boudin will solve those problems.

Originally from El Salvador, Karla Avelar is a Trans woman who has been an activist and human rights defender since the 1990’s, fighting to make life better for the LGBTQ+ community, People Living With HIV, and other marginalised groups. Karla has bravely fought intolerance, brutality, death threats and assassination attempts in order to ensure a […]

Gemma Collins has given fans a sneak peek inside her sprawling back garden at her £1million Essex mansion. The former TOWIE star, 41, has been busy getting ready for summer, having recently hosted her first barbecue of the year over the Easter break, where she could be seen excitedly dancing in a strapless swimsuit before her guests arrived.

Senator Rand Paul is being widely condemned for remarks he made Tuesday during a Senate hearing with Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The comments have been blasted as “propaganda” for Russian President Vladimir Putin.Emphasizing his opposition to Ukraine becoming part of NATO, Paul argued that U.S.

Willow Pill said she “would love to phase a little bit out of drag” after winning the fourteenth season of Drag Race just last week.

GEMMA Collins has shown off the HUGE garden at her million-pound Essex home that's so big it looks like a park. The former The Only Way Is Essex star took to her Instagram stories alongside her fiance Rami Hawash on Tuesday morning.

Disney is reportedly refusing Saudi Arabia’s request to cut “LGBTQ+ references” from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Glee star Lea Michele has revealed she once showed her gay co-star and pal Jonathan Groff her vagina to "satisfy his curiosity about female anatomy".As well as appearing in Glee, the pair starred in steamy musical Spring Awakening 15 years ago.And Lea has revealed in a new HBO documentary about the show that she once let "Groff see her vagina, using a desk lamp" to give him an "illustrative lesson".She told how she decided to flash her privates to enlighten her pal about female genitalia, because as a gay man he had "no practical knowledge of its particulars"."Jonathan and I became so close. We were so intertwined,” Michele, 35, says in the forthcoming HBO documentary – Spring Awakening: Those You’ve Known – according to Entertainment Weekly.“At one point, I literally showed him my whole vagina,” she explained.Groff, 37, then added, “I can confirm that.”Michele continued: “He was like, ‘I’ve never seen a woman’s vagina before.

There are some BIG spoilers ahead for Heartstopper Season 1!

And check out more from their interview with People.

One formerly-secret family recipe for coffee cake involves flour, eggs, butter, sugar, saffron… and now, a heaping dose of revenge.An anonymous hero got back at a bigoted baker in their family by sharing the latter’s secret recipe on Facebook, as seen in a Reddit screenshot.“My mom is racist and homophobic, so I am spite-sharing her secret family coffee cake recipe,” that Facebook user wrote.Related: Man shares homophobic mom’s secret meatloaf recipe as payback for years of abuseReddit user u/SCP423 shared the screenshot and the recipe in the r/gay forum, where the post currently has 1,400 upvotes.In the comments on the post, u/SCP423 specified that the racist, homophobic mother is “fortunately” not their mother; they’re just sharing the “spite cake recipe” with the Facebook user’s blessing.“Petty,” another user commented.“Deliciously so,” u/SCP423 replied.Related: Gay guy ‘cannot be more amused’ after his homophobic brother catches him in the actFor all you sugar fiends out there—or for anyone who just wants to stick it to that miserable mom—here is the recipe.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill into law Friday that disallows special district designations, including the Reedy Creek Improvement District that governs the Walt Disney Company.

The New York Times reports. And flags representing company-approved employee resource groups, such as the LGBTQ+ group, can be flown on corporate flagpoles, and they along with government flags are the only ones approved for such use.“The updated flag protocol is intended to clarify the use of the ExxonMobil branded company flag and not intended to diminish our commitment to diversity and support for employee resource groups,” Tracey Gunnlaugsson, vice president of human resources, said in a statement to Bloomberg News, which was the first outlet to report on the issue.

Related: George Takei takes down Joe Manchin with one tweetTakei followed it up with a second tweet saying, “The only things ‘gay grooming’ will ever do to a straight child will be better hygiene and more desirability from the other sex.”The only things “gay grooming” will ever do to a straight child will be better hygiene and more desirability from the other sex.— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) April 23, 2022Last week, Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D) made headlines after a Republican colleague sent an email to supporters accusing McMorrow of “grooming” children.

Harry Potter stars have spoken out against JK Rowling’s comments on the trans community, Miriam Margolyes has defended her, saying she ‘admires her as a human being’.Last week, the author who created the boy wizard attended a lunch with women’s rights campaigners, fuelling tension with trans equality groups a day after thousands joined a protest at Downing Street calling for a complete ban of conversion therapy in the UK.In 2020, Rowling criticised an article that referred to ‘people who menstruate’, rather than women, going on to make several contentious statements about the trans community over the past couple of years despite denying she is transphobic.Hermione Granger actor Emma Watson recently appeared to make a subtle dig at the writer, saying at the Baftas that she was ‘here for all of the witches’, which several viewers interpreted as a public act of throwing shade.In June 2020, Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe emphasised that ‘transgender women are women’ in a statement shared through LGBT+ suicide prevention charity The Trevor Project, while in January this year, Ron Weasley actor Rupert Grint said: ‘I liken JK Rowling to an auntie. I don’t necessarily agree with everything my auntie says, but she’s still my auntie.

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida and state lawmakers have revoked a 55-year-old arrangement that gave Disney a special tax status and allowed it to essentially self-govern its 25,000-acre Disney World complex. The loss of that designation is the latest development in an ongoing battle between Mr.

Exxon Mobil will no longer allow banners of outside organizations on its flagpoles, angering some employees who in the past had flown a rainbow pride flag. The new policy allows only government flags and those representing Exxon Mobil and its employee resource groups, which are employee-led affinity organizations that are generally blessed by employers. Workers can display the pride flag and representations of other groups like Black Lives Matter on other areas of the company’s properties, including on lawns or in digital spaces.

GEMMA Collins stunned in white as Rami Hawash kissed her on a night out. The 41-year-old star showed off her impressive weight loss in a slimming outfit as her businessman fiance Rami puckered up.

ten queer sports movies to awaken your inner jock, then catch up on the latest from Gay TikTok:Paul recalled his first love.♬ where is my mind – jewel :*The winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race shared some thoughts.Jason Ball and Troy Jones lived their dream.Red Hot shot its 2023 calendar.Cole Newman made a painting.♬ original sound – ColeBrandon Osorio and Richie Eisenberg signed a lease.Scott O’Halloran did a Boomerang.Ralph Rebandt pushed a Bible ban.Rob Anderson talked queer weather systems.And the men of Let’s Get Moving reached the top shelf.

GIG HARBOR, Wash. — Christopher Rufo appears on Fox News so often that he converted a room in his Pacific Northwest house to a television studio, complete with professional lighting, an uplink to Fox in New York and an “On Air” light in the hall so his wife and two children don’t barge in during broadcasts. “I’ll do ‘Tucker’ and then pop out and have dinner,” Mr.

Season 14 RuPaul's Drag Race winner has been revealed.In the first time in Drag Race 'herstory' the top queen received a bumped up prize money of $150,000, with the runner up also pocketing $50,000.The top five stars Willow Pillow, Lady Camden, Bosco, Angeria Paris VanMichaels and Daya Betty all battled it out for one final lip-sync to see who would receive this year's diamante-studded crown.SPOILERS BELOW... Drag Race winner revealed! RuPaul gives out $100,000 prize in stunning finale as Willow Pill, Lady Camden, Bosco and Angeria battle in Vegas on FridayWhile this season boasted a ton of talent, it came down to a two horse race between Willow and Camden on Friday night, with 27-year-old Willow coolly racing through to the finish line.

Exxon Mobil will no longer allow banners of outside organizations on its flagpoles, angering some employees who in the past had flown a rainbow pride flag. The new policy allows only government flags and those representing Exxon Mobil and its employee resource groups, which are employee-led affinity organizations that are generally blessed by employers. Workers can display the pride flag and representations of other groups like Black Lives Matter on other areas of the company’s properties, including on lawns or in digital spaces.

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida on Friday revoked Disney’s special tax privileges in the state, culminating an extraordinary clash between one of the Republican Party’s leading figures and a powerful company with deep historical ties in his state. The move, which reverses 55 years of precedent, came after a weekslong battle with Disney that largely centered on the company’s criticism of an education law Mr.

Disney into a heated fight with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, but the recent feud is not the first time Disney workers have called on the company to defend them.Back in 1995, Disney fielded criticisms related to the company's support for LGBTQ employees after it extended health benefits to the same-sex partners of its employees.In response, conservatives throughout the South attacked Disney for expanding insurances and boycotted the company for promoting what they believed to be a particular agenda. At the time, the Florida Family Association released a statement accusing Disney of showing "outright disrespect and arrogance in their attitude toward the American family."James O'Rourke, a professor at the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business, told Newsweek that the reason the pushback in the 1990s fell by the wayside was that then-Disney Chariman Michael Eisner had spoken out in support of his employees."At the time, Eisner said, 'We're not asking other people to do anything on our behalf or to lead their lives differently.

CHRIS AZZOPARDI | Contributing WriterTwitter: @chrisazzopardi Leslie Jordan and Cheyenne Jackson, co-stars in the Fox sitcom Call Me Kat, are in separate locations on Zo

Piers Morgan has defended Harry Potter author JK Rowling, insisting "she'll survive" the attempts to cancel her following her remarks surrounding transgender issues and the definition of women.The former Life Stories host, 57, was speaking during the press launch of his new TalkTV show, Uncensored, when he insisted that like himself and his TalkTV colleague Sharon Osbourne, the Harry Potter author will survive being a victim of cancel culture.When asked to address the difference between holding someone to account and calling for them to be cancelled, the outspoken TV star was quick to clarify the two.Piers said: "You can hold people to vigorous account, you can be severely critical of people, I'm like that all the time."I write very critical columns of people."I don't call for them to be cancelled."I don't call for their lives to be ruined and then to be basically disintegrated in front of our very eyes," he added.Piers explained: "That is cancelled culture and it's getting worse and worse and worse, and people like Sharon and I will survive."JK Rowling, she'll survive the most appalling abuse and attempts to cancel her for having an opinion that she stands up for women's rights."It's appalling what happened to her, but we know where this line is," he said to Huffington Post and other publications.Earlier this this year, Piers put aside his feud with the author to defend the "cancelled" star amid the transgender row.Piers branded the treatment of the author "an absolute disgrace" amid the backlash she is facing for airing her views on the on sex and gender.He looked to the issue of the US transgender swimmer, Lia Thomas, who is set to become a world champion after having joined the women's team, as an example.The swimmer

Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich has warned the NSW’s minority Dominic Perrottet government that he would withdraw his support if the Premier continued to make comments against the transgender community.The Perrottet government, which does not have a majority in the NSW Parliament, relies on the support of Independents, including out gay MP Greenwich. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Perrottet is likely to meet Greenwich and trans advocates next week. Trigger Warning: This story discusses transphobic comments made by political leaders, which might be distressing to some readers. For 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.Premier Perrottet had earlier this week waded into the debate on trans sportspersons in female sports, while supporting Liberal candidate Katherine Deves.

Amid the ongoing ‘culture wars,’ it has become commonplace for those who are publicly gender critical to talk of the impact of being ‘cancelled’ and claim that they have been attacked online for their beliefs. In a recent interview, Graham Lineham blames these online attacks for the end of his marriage; JK Rowling claimed the address of her home — which is a tourist destination with its own Wikipedia page — was posted online in a purported ‘doxxing’ attack; while former Sussex University lecturer Kathleen Stock claimed she was ‘forced out’ of her position at the university due to tweets.

Slightly Offensive, mentioned last week that someone had told him “there’s this mass genocide happening to trans kids by fascists” in Texas. In the state, Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered that parents who allow their children to receive gender-affirming health care be investigated for child abuse.

A group of gay men in Spain say religious authorities accept their help in traditional religious rites, but refuse to acknowledge their sexuality.The men are members of brotherhoods who create and display ornate floats featuring effigies of the Virgin Mary for Holy Week celebrations in Andalucia.Anthropologist Rafael Cáceres says there has been an unspoken understanding.