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An investigation by The Wall Street Journal finds that the popular video-streaming app TikTok compiled a list of users who were being monitored after watching gay-themed content on the app.According to former company employees in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, TikTok compiled a list of users who watched clips tagged as “LGBT” and stored it on a dashboard.Lists were also compiled for users who perused videos dealing with other topics, but the employees didn’t believe that those lists raised the same level of concern for users’ safety and privacy.The former employees, who objected to the policy, were worried that the users’ information would be shared with outside parties or could be potentially used to blackmail users.They brought their concerns to top executives at the company in 2020 and 2021.Typically, many social media companies compile data on users based on their online behavior, with the intention of using it to select content or advertisements that a user might be interested in seeing while using the app.But best practices among social media companies generally discourage tracking traits such as sexuality, especially in parts of the world where homosexuality is criminalized or where LGBTQ people can be harassed or assaulted for their identities. Last year, the LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD urged tech companies to take greater steps to safeguard user data and privacy, including stopping targeted surveillance advertising, over concerns that such information could harm LGBTQ people if it fell into the wrong hands.According to the former TikTok employees, the app organizes all the videos its users post into a web of clusters, sorted by topic.The clusters are labeled with identifiers, including ones

RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars winner, Michaels started dressing up as Cher nearly 30 years ago “kind of on a fluke,” he once told Metro Weekly.Since then, he’s met and interacted with the diva on multiple occasions, including at her concert at Las Vegas’s Coliseum where he sat in the front row. “She’s real fun,” Michaels recounted years ago.

Falsettos (★★★☆☆).Having provided DMV theatergoers — and the region’s working talent — an adventurous, LGBTQ-led arts and entertainment outpost in Howard County these many years, Rep Stage goes out with a show conveying the galvanizing point that everyone walks through this world both on their own and inextricably connected to whatever circle of love enfolds them.In Falsettos, that circle includes family and community. And the larger point of connection applies not just to the characters who sing us through two trying years in the lives of Marvin, Whizzer, Trina, Jason, Mendel, Charlotte, and Cordelia.But the company of performers, each on their own landing somewhere between fine to fantastic with their portrayals, together create a compelling makeshift family of gay Jewish dad Marvin (Jake Loewenthal), his ex Trina (Sarah Corey), lover Whizzer (Davon Williams), son Jason (Grayden Goldman), and Trina’s new guy Mendel (Michael Perrie, Jr.).Where any falter, their castmates lift them up, as might the audience should any miss a note (or a few notes) of Finn’s pithy, sung-through score.Never missing a note, in her charismatic solo numbers, nor in the tricky characterization of a woman blindsided by her husband’s coming out, circa 1979, Corey’s Trina gets her story across with clarity and engaging humor.

webpage and present them to gain entry to the park.Gay Day at the Zoo is Sunday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information or to reserve free-of-charge entry passes, call 202-633-2614 or visit thedccenter.org/gay-day-at-the-zoo-2023.

estimates that 29 bills seeking to ban gender-affirming treatments — mostly for youth, though some seek to ban Medicaid and private insurers from covering transition-related procedures — have been passed into law this year.“We should not be in the business of telling low-income or impoverished people that they don’t deserve access to the same level of care that every other Maryland resident has access to,” Del. Kris Fair (D-Frederick Co.), the chair of the Maryland LGBTQ+ Caucus, told The Washington Post.

The Corps follows the story of a gay teenager who has been bullied and decides to enlist in the U.S. Marines.The setting is 1990, a period when being gay in the military was a criminal offense, as underlined by “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.”His straight best friend also signs on to serve in the Marines, and the two navigate through the challenges of basic training camp and their sexual identities in an era when things were not as good as they are now for many in the LGBTQ community.At present, Netlifx describes The Corps, which is a working title, as a dramedy, meaning it expects viewers to become emotionally invested and laugh.

partner with Mulvaney for a promotional campaign, in which the actress and singer appeared in a TikTok video, clad in black gown and gloves, drinking a Bud Light, as part of a “March Madness” promotion during the annual NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournament.Bud Light sent Mulvaney a commemorative can with a picture of Mulvaney’s face on the exterior, celebrating the first anniversary of her “Days of Girlhood” video series documenting her gender transition.Mulvaney also appeared in an online ad where she sat in a bubble bath, clad in a bathing suit, while sipping Bud Light.Even though the commemorative gift can was never made available for sale to the public, the mere use of a transgender spokesperson offended many conservatives, including, apparently, a significant chunk of Bud Light’s loyal consumer base.An informal boycott of Bud Light — and of any products produced by its parent company, Anheuser-Busch — ensued, with some complaining that the company was pushing an “agenda” of “indoctrination” by having a transgender person featured prominently in a marketing campaign.

Olivia Newton-John – Just the Two of Us: The Duets Collection (Vol. 1)Release Date: May 5It’s almost been a year since Olivia Newton-John passed away, but her legacy lives on through her fans and her work. Fortunately for her followers, there is even more to come.

RuPaul’s Drag Race is nothing short of a cultural phenomenon, with fans of all kinds tuning in to watch the show. The latest winner of the series has now even been celebrated in the most unexpected of places – the floor of the U.S.

a lawsuit brought by three families of transgender minors.In the complaint, the Justice Department argues that the law prohibiting access to gender-affirming care discriminates against transgender individuals under the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.As such, the complaint asks the court to issue an order blocking the law from going into effect on July 1.Under the bill, SB 1, which easily passed on a largely party-line vote in the Republican-dominated state legislature, healthcare providers are prohibited from providing puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or surgical interventions to minors diagnosed with gender dysphoria.Those who do, as well as the parents of any minors who allow their children to receive such treatments, can be sued for up to 30 years afterwards if the patient later experiences “regret,” and medical providers can potentially lose their license to practice.In its complaint, the Justice Department argues that the law’s blanket ban on all types of medical interventions to treat gender dysphoria prohibits patients from receiving the most up-to-date, scientifically accurate, and best-recommended treatments, and forces doctors to decide between keeping their licenses or providing the best available care to their patients.The complaint also notes that the blanket ban discriminates against transgender people on the basis of both sex and transgender identity, denying them certain types of treatments, such as hormone therapy, that would otherwise be offered to cisgender individuals experiencing various ailments or conditions where hormonal interventions might be a recommended course of treatment.“SB 1 violates the constitutional rights of some of Tennessee’s most vulnerable citizens,” U.S.

Ain’t No Mo, Cost of Living, Leopoldstadt, Good Night, Oscar, and now, The Thanksgiving Play (★★★★★), a dark and devilish satire by Larissa FastHorse.While gratitude should be a reflection and practice we incorporate into our daily lives, it is a virtue most closely associated with the fourth Thursday of November. That’s when we gather with friends and family, stuff ourselves silly with turkey, watch football, and fall asleep on the couch — all in the name of a long-perpetuated myth.FastHorse is having none of it.

32 Sounds (★★★★☆) aims to unlock the power sound wields over our ears, bodies, and minds. Director Sam Green actually suggests in the film that a pair of good headphones are the best way to experience not only the designated disparate sounds, but the vast world of music, noise, nature, and silence the movie explores with verve and technical prowess.Inspired by the award-winning Thirty-Two Short Films About Glenn Gould, the film also wields a sentimental streak suiting Green’s message that sound connects us to the world.

Tiny Beautiful Things (★★★☆☆), love is the zenith.Like Wild, the 2014 film based on Strayed’s writing starring Reese Witherspoon, this miniseries is also based on Strayed’s experiences.This time, however, Ms. Witherspoon is behind the camera with her Hello Sunshine production company and Liz Tigelaar (Little Fires Everywhere) as the showrunner.

BOY (★★★☆☆). As he tells it, one of his earliest memories is how much he wanted to see his own experiences and desires reflected in the love songs he heard, and now that he is in a position to do something about it, he is going out of his way to make up the difference.Buoyed by a GLAAD nomination and the viral success of his recent single “Story of A Boy,” Jordy is determined to be the queer artist he wished he could have heard on the radio as a kid.Being an openly queer artist is not quite enough for Jordy, who goes out of his way to make BOY an overtly queer album.

Documenting Landscapes: Ukraine’s Vanishing Terrain serve to memorialize the country as the young Kyiv-based artist had always known it — peaceful and free, joyful and beautiful. These are not depictions of today’s Ukraine — a scarred, desolate, bleak, war-torn land, ravaged after a full 15 months and counting of pillaging Russian invaders and prolonged fighting.“I don’t understand this war, I don’t understand why to kill people and destroy the destinies of an entire generation,” Leonets says in a release announcing the series and its run as the premiere exhibition at the new, expanded Amy Kaslow Gallery in downtown Bethesda.Leonets created his works at a time when paint, brushes, and linen were all in short supply in Ukraine.

Doctor Who, which immediately had fans of both Jinkx and the show excited about what’s to come.Though the character Monsoon will play and how it will fit into the ongoing series have not been revealed, the drag queen’s outfit reveals some clues that may hint at the character’s abilities.One of the significant features of the costume is piano keys, which could imply that her character might have some kind of musical skills – just like Monsoon herself.Here is your first look at @JinkxMonsoon in character… as the Doctor’s most powerful enemy yet! #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/HndwI1nhW2— Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) April 19, 2023The original images were initially posted on the show’s Twitter, with two pictures going up at once.The program captioned the snaps by referring to Monsoon’s character as “the Doctor’s most powerful enemy yet!” The images seem to depict Monsoon’s character as particularly evil, as her smile can’t be seen as anything other than devilish.The official Doctor Who Instagram account also shared a video of Monsoon showing off the black and white, musically-themed outfit.In the clip, Monsoon turns around slowly and says, simply, “I’m Jinkx Monsoon, and this is my costume for Doctor Who,” ending the snippet with a sinister laugh.A post shared by Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho)Earlier this month, the news broke that Monsoon had been officially cast in the long-running TV series.Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies expressed his excitement about having Monsoon on board, saying, “In a galaxy of comets and supernovas, here comes the biggest star of all.

The Ultimatum: Queer Love, which takes the format and introduces some very important representation.In a refreshing departure from traditional cisgendered dating reality tropes, this forthcoming season is set to feature five couples from the LGBTQ community. Each couple will navigate the ups and downs of relationships, with brutal honesty, while hitting significant crossroads along the way.In the show, one partner in each couple will be ready for marriage, while the other may have doubts.

American Idol, Katy Perry learned the hard way that just because she’s a Grammy-nominated, chart-topping pop superstar, that doesn’t mean an audience will always love her.The singer drew some serious heat from the crowd at the latest live taping in Hawaii after she gave a piece of her mind to contestant Nutsa Buzaladze, who has developed a following thanks to her must-see, energetic performances.Buzaladze once again delivered an electrifying showing, this time of the song “Paris (Ooh La La)” by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. While those in attendance seemed on board with what the singer showcased, Perry had a bit of somewhat harsh criticism to share.“Nutsa, every time you take the stage, it’s like you glitter bomb the stage,” Perry told the potential star musician.

White House Plumbers (★★★★☆), HBO’s five-episode limited series, different from previous narratives is the ruthlessness with which it mocks that political espionage team. Eschewing the historical tendency to portray E.

Red, White and Royal Blue has been shared.Sure, it’s only a poster, but it still has fans excited and anxious for the end of summer to arrive.The charming teaser, posted on Twitter, gives fans of the story a tantalizing look at what’s to come.The poster features a pair of crossed legs, with one wearing Union Jack socks, while the other dons a pair that are designed with stars and stripes – an easy, visual way to show one is British while the other is American.The poster also confirmed that the movie will be available to stream on Amazon Prime on August 11. A trailer wasn’t unveiled, but that will surely be shared in the coming weeks.The film stars Taylor Zakhar Perez as Alex Claremont-Diaz, the American of the pair, while Nicholas Galitzine will appear as Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor – an excessively British name if there ever was one.The cast is also set to include Uma Thurman as President of the United States Ellen Claremont (Alex’s mother), and Stephen Fry – likely as someone on the British side.Perez is perhaps best remembered for his parts in both of The Kissing Booth sequels.

WUSA9, the office awarded the money to Defend Yourself, an organization that shares skills to help those targeted for harassment, abuse, or assault to feel more safe and confident in their ability to defend themselves.The money from the Office of LGBTQ Affairs will allow Defend Yourself to train up to 10 transgender and nonbinary residents to become “empowerment self-defense teachers,” who can then share their skills and knowledge with others. Defend Yourself claims to have trained more than 35,000 D.C.-area residents to prevent, interrupt, and heal from gender-based violence since its founding in 1997, according to the organization’s director, Lauren Taylor.“Trans people, specially trans women of color, experience some of the most severe and frequent violence, including gender-based violence, of any group in the U.S.,” Taylor told WUSA9. “In the District, 47% of trans women have been sexually assaulted, as compared with 27% of women in the general U.S.

internal and external protests by LGBTQ employees and their allies — to the “Don’t Say Gay” law. “State leaders have not been subtle about their reasons for government intervention,” the company writes in the lawsuit. “They have proudly declared that Disney deserves this fate because of what Disney said.

And Just Like That…, the beloved but imperfect revival of Sex and the City.The official trailer for the upcoming second season has just been released, and those who have been watching since the beginning will see plenty to intrigue them.Set to premiere sometime in June, the new season of And Just Like That… reunites best friends Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Charlotte (Kristin Davis), and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) as they catch up with each other and their new, updated lives in New York City.According to the trailer, as season two begins, Carrie is keeping busy with her new romantic friend Franklyn, who was introduced in the finale of season one of the show.It looks like Miranda has moved in with Che, played by Sara Ramirez, who divided viewers when in the first installment.

secured a marriage license, and some even suggested that the wedding had already taken place, but this is the first real confirmation that the two are now husbands.Gage and Appleton’s wedding was officiated by none other than Kim Kardashian, a friend of the hairstylist.She even introduced him at an award show earlier this week, making jokes about his newfound love.The wedding news comes just a few days after the couple sparked rumors that they had already gotten married by sporting matching rings on their left hands at the Daily Front Row Fashion L.A. Awards.The couple shared a series of stunning photos and videos on their social media accounts, giving fans a glimpse into their intimate wedding ceremony.In one of the pictures, the newlyweds are seen exchanging vows, with Gage’s caption giving a nod to the new ring: “Ring finger where the rock is.”Instead of the more traditional tuxes, the two sported black leather pants, matching black leather boots, and furry black oversized jackets.

Strange Way of Life has finally been released.A quick glance shows that it promises to be the romantic and nostalgic affair many hoped it would be, but it also looks like it will be full of film noir-style violence and intrigue.Starring Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke, the 30-minute film follows the story of Silva, a cowboy traveling on horseback across the desert to reunite with his old friend, Sheriff Jake, after 25 years apart.Once reunited, though, Silva learns that his journey was not just for simple reminiscing between pals.The trailer follows the release of the film’s poster, which showcased Pascal and Hawke in a highly-saturated, colorful Western backdrop, hinting the film may feature a whimsical and playful atmosphere.Though nobody has seen it yet, Strange Way of Life has already been compared to the LGBTQ 2005 blockbuster Brokeback Mountain, a movie that Almodóvar was originally approached to direct but ultimately turned down.In an interview with IndieWire, the director explained that he did not believe he would have complete freedom and independence to make the film he wanted.“I think Ang Lee made a wonderful movie, but I never believed that they would give me complete freedom and independence to make what I wanted,” Almodóvar said. “Nobody told me that — they said, ‘You can do whatever you want,’ but I knew that there was a limitation.”Strange Way of Life is slated to make its world premiere at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in mid-May.

survey by The Trevor Project, more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth reported having seriously considered suicide over the past year, with nearly 1 in 5 actually attempting suicide.)Republicans balked at Zephyr’s speech, arguing that her rhetoric was inflammatory.

American Horror Story has garnered mixed reactions from fans and celebrities alike — and at least one is not shy about sharing her opinion.Broadway legend and three-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone recently shared her thoughts on the casting news during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.When asked if she cared about Kardashian’s casting, LuPone emphatically responded, “Yes, I do.”Cohen clearly knew he was onto something and was about to cause drama, so he furthered the conversation, asking the actress and singer, “You don’t like it, do you?”LuPone didn’t hesitate to comment again, saying outright, “No, I don’t.”LuPone went on to explain her indignation about Kardashian becoming an actor on the program. She addressed Kardashian directly, saying, “Excuse me, excuse me, Kim.

People reports that the White Lotus actor and his celebrity hairstylist beau did obtain a marriage license in Clark County, Nevada.During the awards ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Kim Kardashian presented Appleton with the hair artist of the year award.The reality TV star took the opportunity to make a joke about her friend.“I’m so happy he’s in a relationship right now and that it’s out there,” she began, having cut him off to launch into her short monologue. “Because I’m so tired of all my girlfriends and guy friends asking me if you’re available, and who my hot guy is who is always with me.”A post shared by Chris Appleton (@chrisappleton1)Page Six reports that Gage and Appleton may have secretly gotten married at the Little White Chapel in Las Vegas over the weekend.The report claims they wed in front of only half a dozen guests, including Kardashian.

settled a defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems, which sued the network for allegedly airing false claims about the 2020 election.Fox News ultimately agreed to pay Dominion $787.5 million to resolve the lawsuit, without having to issue an apology for the statements in question.As part of discovery, Dominion sought out internal communications at Fox News, some of which were made public. According to The Washington Post, those communications included text messages from Carlson.

Treasure Coast Newspapers.The bill is designed to block establishments from allowing children to view any “adult live performance,” defined as any show, exhibition, or other presentation in front of a live audience which…depicts or simulates nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or specific sexual activities…lewd conduct, or the lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts.”Violators of the law can potentially have their license to serve liquor yanked. While defenders of drag shows argue that they are not inherently sexual, the fact that some shows are more risqué has led anti-LGBTQ opponents to deem the entire art form inappropriate for children and potentially problematic.And the possible presence of drag queens in public led organizers to cancel the parade, which always had been open to people of all ages. Organizers also restricted admission to Pridefest events based on a separate law prohibiting the sale of alcohol to those under the age of 21.“The city has decided that with the likelihood that the Governor will sign the latest bill into effect this evening, that we will need to be on the side of caution and has required us to make this necessary change,” Pride of the Treasure Coast wrote on its Facebook page.

a fleeting glimpse of two men marrying in an ad.Similarly, the group objected to a 2016 ad from jewelry company Zales, which featured a lesbian couple marrying.The group has also criticized eHarmony for a commercial depicting a gay couple eating toast, called for a boycott of Oreo for selling rainbow-colored cookies during Pride season, balked at a Disney cartoon featuring two gay dads, condemned Whole Foods for sponsoring a Drag Queen Story Hour event, and demanded that the Hallmark Channel yank an ad (one of several versions, including some featuring opposite-sex couples) depicting a lesbian wedding. Watch the full Men’s Wearhouse ad below:

Fans of the beloved Broadway musical Wicked can finally rejoice as the first glimpses of the upcoming film adaptation have been revealed.Even though the (first) movie is still a year and a half away from its release, director Jon Chu took to Twitter to give fans a sneak peek of what they can expect from the highly anticipated film.Chu posted two photos, one of Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and another of Ariana Grande as Glinda, the Good Witch of the South.In the caption, Chu teased fans by stating, “You weren’t told the whole story. What happens when you veer off the Yellow Brick Road? Here is your very FIRST LOOK of #WickedMovie … currently in production in Oz.”You weren’t told the whole story.

Noah’s Arc has just been announced!The groundbreaking show’s creator, Patrik-Ian Polk, confirmed during his Lifetime Achievement Award acceptance speech at the second annual SpeakOut “I AM” Awards in Washington, D.C., that the show will be returning very soon.“I am very pleased to announce that there is more Noah’s Arc coming,” Polk declared. “And it is coming this year.”After the speech, Polk shared a clip of his moment on stage on his Instagram for all to see the joyous announcement.A post shared by Patrik-Ian Polk (@patrikianpolk)Gayle Magazine reported the big news.

pic.twitter.com/8PyLqvS0d7— Don Lemon (@donlemon) April 24, 2023 Chris Licht, the CEO of CNN, said that the network and Lemon have “parted ways,” according to a memo posted on CNN’s official communications Twitter account six minutes after Lemon’s tweet went out.“Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years,” the statement reads. “We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.”Lemon, who was interviewed by Metro Weeklyin 2016, was first hired by CNN in 2006, after a stint anchoring at NBC Chicago and working as a correspondent for NBC News, the TODAY show and the daily NBC Nightly News program.After multiple media outlets quoted Lemon’s tweet, CNN’s communications account issued a follow-up statement accusing Lemon of misrepresenting the facts surrounding his firing.“Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate.

The Confessions of Frannie Langton (★★★★☆) is unquestionably gripping, the spark of well-struck flint that quickly catches fire and burns slowly with great satisfaction all the way through this four-part miniseries based on the 2019 historical fiction novel of the same name by Jamaican-born British-Caymanian writer Sara Collins, her brilliant debut.Like any great mystery, the central question is only answered through the begetting and resolution of numerous other curiosities, some more chilling than others.

A River Running to Your Heart (★★★★☆) is deeply preoccupied with the idea of the places we plant ourselves and what they come to mean to us. This time there is a pronounced sense of immediacy to the songs, leaving little doubt that River is an album about some very particular places as much as it is about “place” as a concept.These are not exactly places that we can go and visit ourselves.