JVN speaks out on queerbaiting claims following launch of new business

The National Museum of African American History and Culture held “A Speakeasy Evening: Welcome Home” on Friday, Oct. 14 highlighting the ballroom scene. Famed comic Sampson McCormick performed and served as the emcee, music was provided by DJ MIM and a panel discussion on “Ballroom and Beyond” featured Tracey Africa Norman, Rayceen Pendarvis, Kevin Aviance, and Twiggy Pucci Garçon.

Sarah Ferguson turns 63 today Saturday (15 October) and in beautiful new pictures, she is seen playing with the Queen's corgis, after she and her ex-husband Prince Andrew took them into their care following Her Majesty's death on 8 September.Taking to Instagram, the Duchess of York labelled the corgis as the "presents that keep giving" as she was pictured lying on grass in the sun with the dogs. The celebratory update on the Queen's beloved companions, Sandy and Muick, has delighted royal fans. In the photos, Sarah could be seen stroking one of the corgis beneath the chin as she wore a dark green velvet coat and a green and red scarf.The Duchess also wore her auburn locks loose as he enjoyed the company of her new playful pooches.

She’s vaxxed, she’s waxed, and she has more attitude than ever. Bianca Del Rio, everyone’s favourite “queen of mean” is returning to Cape Town and Johannesburg this October with her new comedy tour, Unsanitized.

Good is one of the most intense plays we’re ever witnessed. Set in Germany during the 1930s, this ethical drama introduces us to Professor Halder (David Tennant), who initially appears to be a good man. Well educated and respected, with a loving wife (Sharon Small) and children, and a Jewish best friend Maurice (Elliot Levey), he’s opposed to much of what the rising Nazi party stands for, but understands why their populist policies are enjoying some support. Over the course of a couple of hours, under the direction of Dominic Cooke, we explore how a ‘good’ man can become corrupted.

Via Mr. Man:

By now we’ve all heard of the “inappropriate behavior” Bill Murray has been accused of on his new movie — leading to complaints which shut down the entire production in April. As more time passes, more stories are coming out about the darker side of his unpredictable comic genius.

(Image via Falcon Studios)

Happy Queer History Month, and happy weekend!Things got pretty wild this week. A pro athlete came out (and immediately said “jk”), Ed Sheeran gave Sam Smith that super horny gift, and a killer doll named “M3gan” came out of nowhere and slayed the gays.This week in queer music history was somehow even wilder; so wild, in fact, that we can’t even show half of the “age-inappropriate” music videos.From nude biking poses to iconic roses, here’s your weekly bop rewind:With the world’s most thinly veiled metaphor, Queen decided to drop the biconic track the world didn’t know it was waiting for.

Be warned: Minor spoilers for Halloween Ends ahead.After 44 years, the iconic, game-changing horror franchise Halloween comes to its conclusion this weekend with the aptly named Halloween Ends.Now, whether that’s actually true, or whether the franchise—like its masked antagonist—will rise again, remains to be seen (where there’s money and recognizable IP, there’s a way). But it seems almost certain that Jamie Lee Curtis is taking her final bow as Laurie Strode, the victim-turned-survivor role that made her a star and a definitive scream queen for the ages.Related: Every ‘Halloween’ movie ranked from least to most gayIn any event, David Gordon Green’s Halloween Ends is now playing in theaters and simultaneously streaming on Paramount+, and the reception has been wildly mixed.

President Joe Biden says he’ll meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at next month’s G-20 Summit only if Putin’s willing to discuss the release of out American WNBA star Brittney Griner.“Look, I have no intention of meeting with him, but look, if he came to me at the G-20 and said, ‘I want to talk about the release of Griner,’ I would meet with him, but that would depend,” Biden told Jake Tapper on CNN Tuesday.Griner's attorney told the New York Times that Griner is not optimistic at the moment. “She is not yet absolutely convinced that America will be able to take her home,” Alexandr Boykov said. He told the Times that he had spoken to Griner on Tuesday.

Mary Trump appeared on CNN last night to talk with Don Lemon about her uncle’s flailing reelection campaign, his increasingly erratic behavior, and his terrible dancing skills.Asked how Donald Trump might react if he loses his reelection bid, Mary Trump said it will be a “rough ride” for the nation but especially for her uncle.“He’s not going to take it well,” she said. “Losing is not an acceptable thing in my family.”“My grandfather set his business up and his family up as a zero-sum game, and that meant only one person could win and everybody else needed to lose, and in order to win, Donald was trained to do whatever it took, whether it was lying, cheating, or stealing.”Mary Trump on @donlemon was an entire mood tonight.

Lily Collins is teasing a dreamy and dramatic third season of her hit Netflix series, “Emily in Paris”.

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Aussie heartthrob Hugh Sheridan, known for their leading roles in the show Packed to the Rafters and its sequel series Back to the Rafters, just revealed a long-term relationship that spent nearly a decade under wraps.In an interview on The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show, the star opened up about their identity, their personal life, and a nine-year-long marriage to an apparently well-known entertainer.“I can’t say their name because they were in the same industry, so. Couldn’t really be specific about that, but I was married,” Sheridan says.“We were solidly together for about seven, and then the last couple we were traveling a lot and it got too hard,” they explain, adding, “We’re still very good friends.”  A post shared by Hugh Sheridan (@hugh_sheridan)While they kept most of the details redacted — including the ex’s identity — they detailed that they’d gotten married all the way back in July of 2011.Sheridan has spoken for a couple years now on their identity as, as they put it in a since-deleted Instagram post, “nonbinary/bi/me/Hughman”.

Y'all trying a negroni sbagliato with proseccoBartenders this weekend when somebody orders a negroni sbagliato with Prosecco in itstrolling around brooklyn during brunch to watch bisexuals violently spit negroni sbagliatos out onto their eggs benedicts.gays finding out that a Negroni sbagliato with prosecco has less alcoholoh you’re bi? spell negroni sbagliato right nowSexual orientation:

Gemma Collins has had a year of soaking up the sunshine as she jetted off on many breaks where she showed off her incredible weight loss.The former TOWIE star, 41, may be back - for now - but it hasn’t stopped her from continuing to flaunt herself and as she got a new ‘do put in, she gave fans a glimpse of her natural beauty.Taking to Instagram on Friday, Gemma’s glossy blonde locks were getting a trim as she wrote: “Fringe vibes, good morning I’m loving the Crisp weather @iamjamesjohnson always a pleasure first thing happy Friday”. Many were quick to comment on her natural beauty as one fan wrote: “Lovely hair beautiful with out make up”.

A 22- year-old aspiring gay medical student was tortured and killed by Taliban fighters two months ago after being stopped at a checkpoint in the Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul.

CitizenGO Africa, a Catholic activist organization, has launched a boycott campaign against Netflix over its pro-LGBTQ content.

hopelessly gross." Vulture wrote of the play, "We recoil from his bulbous grunt, his sweat-stained pits, his rippling excesses." Reviews like these, though anti-fat in and of themselves, point to the inherent anti-fat bias in the show's original staging.The number of people who describe this premise as "humanizing" is so disheartening.

Everyone is crushing on Nancy Pelosi today after the January 6 committee played seven minutes of never-before-seen footage of her remaining cool as a cucumber while taking charge during the deadly Capitol attack.Related: Everyone’s gagging over January 6 hearing’s mysterious “Clark Kent”–was his identity just revealed?The dramatic recording was captured by Pelosi’s daughter, journalist and filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi, who happened to be at the Capitol that day recording a documentary for HBO.The AP reports:The recordings offer a rare glimpse into the real-time reactions of the most powerful members of Congress as they scrambled to drum up support from all parts of the government, including from agencies seemingly ill prepared for the chaos, and vented anger over a president whose conduct they felt had endangered their lives.In the videos, Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer negotiate with governors and defense officials to try to get the National Guard to the Capitol as police were being brutally beaten outside the building.The deployment of the Guard was delayed for hours as Trump stood by and did little to stop the violence of his supporters.Take 7 minutes to watch House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and others respond to the Capitol insurrection in previously unseen footage.

Gay adult film star and OnlyFans content creator Lawrence Morningstar died. He was 31 years old.In late September, Morningstar’s friend gay adult performer and go-go dancer Damien Cruz posted the news on Twitter.“It gives me the utmost sadness to have to tell you all, my soulmate, my brother, and my best friend [Lawrence Morningstar]has passed away this morning,” Cruz wrote on Twitter.

Michigan is the latest state seeking to criminalize gender-affirming care for young people.State Rep. Ryan Berman, the same legislator seeking to ban drag shows in schools — not that any Michigan school has been known to host a drag show — introduced a bill Tuesday under which parents and guardians would be charged with felony child abuse if they allow their children to undergo gender-confirmation procedures. Medical professionals who provide the care would be charged as well.

Young Royals, is just around the corner. And we can barely stand the wait!The series—which has been described as The Crown meets Gossip Girl—concerns itself with Swedish prince Wilhelm (Edvin Ryding) who is enrolled at a prestigious boarding school after he brings some bad press to the family name.

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is getting criticized on social media for saying that her massive wealth is enough to keep her happy as she devotes her life to opposing equal rights for transgender people.She shared a screenshot of a tweet from an unknown person that read: “How do you sleep at night knowing you’ve lost a whole audience from buying your books?”“I read my most recent royalty cheques and find the pain goes away pretty quickly,” she responded.I read my most recent royalty cheques and find the pain goes away pretty quickly.

League of Legends has finally revealed its newest Champion, and the prideful warrior is a historic queer first for the franchise.The Shuriman hunter K’Sante is set to become the franchise’s first Black queer warrior, and the first character to be openly marketed as queer upon release.His first teaser trailer is ambiguously titled “The Hunter’s Pride”:“Pride” takes on a triple-meaning here: the obvious queer Pride, the hero’s storied hubris, and his apparent connection to a lion-like creature shown in the teaser.The hunter was officially announced to be queer on Twitter by his voice actor, DeObria Oparei, following the release of the teaser.The actor specifies that he’s “portraying the first LGBTQ black Champion Warrior”:I’m excited to give life and voice to K’Sante and make history portraying the first LGBTQ black Champion Warrior @LeagueOfLegends pic.twitter.com/yCVvtZXCTe— DeObia Oparei (@DeObia) October 13, 2022Related: Lil Nas X is taking over the world-of League of Legends, that isK’Sante’s addition to the roster has been teased for weeks. The new champion was spotlighted by the League of Legends team last month in their collaboration with fellow Black LGBTQ+ champion, Lil Nas X.The singer was announced to be collaborating with the team on developing an exclusive Prestige skin for the upcoming hero, in addition to his releasing his “Star Walkin’” League Worlds anthem.A new animated trailer titled “Defeat Your Monster” introduces the hero locked in an epic battle with a gargantuan beast — and explains how he faced the monster inside himself.Featured in K’Sante’s backstory is the tale of how he lost his love, only addressed as “The Archer”.

Out For Good series, and—for a little while there—we thought we had one more celebrity to add to our ranks!But forgive us for forgetting that sometimes “coming out” doesn’t always mean “out of the closet.”The star in question is the fabulous Allison Tolman, an actress best known for her Emmy-nominated work in the first season of FX’s Fargo, and the second season of Marc Cherry’s dark Paramount+ drama Why Women Kill.Related: LGBTQ staff at White House post photo to mark National Coming Out DayThis past Tuesday—October 11—Tolman posted two photos with a woman named Kate. The pair looked happy (joyful, even!) with drinks in hand. Now, sweet photos like these, you might just tap a quick “like” and keep scrolling, but it was Tolman’s caption that stopped us in our tracks:“We’re doing it we did it we’re together we’re out!,” she wrote.Together? Out? On National Coming Out Day?? The post had us jumping for joy: “Welcome to the family, Allison!,” we thought.

For anyone who’s been shipping Emily Ratajkowski and Brad Pitt together, this might be some disappointing news for you!

Democratic representatives seeking re-election this fall in Virginia remain silent after cozying up with a delegate in the state legislature whose new bill would make it a punishable crime for parents not to affirm their LGBT children. On Thursday, Delegate Elizabeth Guzman told WJLA that at the start of the new legislative session, she will introduce a bill that would penalize, with a misdemeanor or felony charge, parents who do not affirm their LGBT children.The bill would expand the state's definition of child abuse and neglect to include parents who do not affirm their LGBT children's gender identity or sexual orientation. "Well, we first have to complete an investigation," Guzman told WJLA about the new bill.

Jamie Lee Curtis looked sensational as she attended the Halloween Ends premiere in Los Angeles with her two daughters Annie and Ruby earlier this week. 63 year old Jamie, who struck up an unlikely friendship with Eurovision’s Sam Ryder, stepped out with her daughters to promote her new thriller movie in what was Ruby’s first red carpet appearance since publicly coming out as transgender in 2021. For the occasion, Freaky Friday star Jamie embraced the Halloween theme as she opted for a dazzling sequined red bardot gown.To finish off the outfit, the actress wore a pair of statement diamond earrings and wore a stunning pink-toned smokey eye look.

The saddest chapter and the most empowering our community experienced was in the wake of the California ballot initiative, Proposition 8, that took away marriage rights same-sex couples had gained only months previously.  It was Prop 22, which we’d lost years earlier and that made its way through the courts and resulted in a court ruling that codified our right to marriage yielding the “Summer of Love.”  However, with a very hurtful and divisive campaign led in Los Angeles mostly by the Catholic church, voters approved the removal of our rights at the ballot box. Among these voters were Latinos who heard from the local Cardinal to vote against us.  In L.A., representing the majority vote in California, the Latino vote matters – as the mainstream LGBTQ+ community learned the hard way.When HONOR PAC opened the first openly gay campaign office in East L.A.

(CNN) — It might be the most famous kiss ever caught on camera — the US sailor wrapping his arms around a woman in a white medical uniform in Times Square, her body folded dramatically into his. Taken amid the jubilation of V-J Day, which effectively brought World War II to an end, Alfred Eisenstaedt's black-and-white image was first published in Life magazine in 1945 and has since become a fixture in popular culture.It eventually made its way into artist Amy Sherald's studio, where the celebrated painter draws upon different visual touchstones in American history to inform her portraits of everyday Black life — representation that has been largely excluded from art history.In her new painting "For love, and for country," Sherald co-opts Eisenstaedt's image to make a bold statement of love: two Black male sailors sharing a deeply passionate kiss, their eyes closed as they become lost in the moment.

Mexico’s most populous state, State of Mexico, overwhelmingly voted to legalise same-sex marriage on 11 October.

Victoria Scone caught up with GAY TIMES about what the year since being on Drag Race has been like for her and her hopes for the future of the franchise.

Grindr.At least, that’s what’s being said by people who have left reviews for the app.“It’s a good app but there’s no women?” one reviewer, Douglas Roop wrote in his review. “I don’t know, maybe the app is bugged? I tried switching my preference to men (just to make sure it was working) and loads of handsome men came up.

The Walk In.Now in its third season, The Walk In finds the once-and-forever Drag Race All Star exploring the wardrobes of some of the music world’s biggest pop stars, getting the tea on all of their most unforgettable looks straight from the musicians themselves. Mo has kiki’d with everyone from Lil Nas X to Charli XCX, and, in the latest episode, she’s talking outfits that are “2 Die 4” with Scandinavian pop princess Tove Lo.

It’s been a super crappy week for Donald Trump.In addition to the January 6 committee subpoenaing him at the end of its final televised hearing yesterday (drama!), New York state attorney general Letitia James filed a junction to appoint an independent monitor to keep an extra close eye on the Trump Organization as her civil fraud case against the ex-president prepares to go to trial. And on top of all that, the Mar-a-Lago mole is making headlines again.Related: Looks like another one of Trump’s lawyers has had to hire her own lawyer after the Mar-a-Lago messOn Wednesday, The Washington Post reported that someone from within Trump’s inner circle told the feds that they were specifically ordered by the ex-president himself to move several boxes of documents into his private residence inside Mar-a-Lago.The Post also reported that the FBI undercovered CCTV footage showing longtime Trump aide Walt Nauta carrying boxes out of a storage room at Mar-a-Lago after the Justice Department had already issued a subpoena demanding the ex-president immediately return of all classified documents.Related: Everything keeps getting worse for Donald Trump and his Mar-a-Lago mess39-year-old Nauta previously served as a White House valet before going to work for Trump at Mar-a-Lago after he left office.

Get your tissues ready! The first trailer for Jim Parsons and Ben Aldridge’s new LGBTQ+ dramedy Spoiler Alert has arrived. 

Amy Schneider, who demonstrated she’s “just a normal person like we all are,” except really smart; White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the first out LGBTQ person to be the face of the White House; Jo Acker, a security guard who gave her life to defend others; teen activists who stood up against Florida’s Don’t Say Gay bill who we’re calling The Say Gay Teens; and whose music and video art brought gay culture to mainstream audiences; and George M. Johnson, one of the most banned authors of the year who became an outspoken critic of the right’s war on inclusive literature.The five nominees for LGBTQ Nation 2022 Hero of the Year represent the best that we can be and how we can confront the worst.

Maren Morris just launched a new T-shirt in support of trans rights groups, especially LGBTQ youth. 

With her hair tied in a high ponytail, Bruna bends over a client, using her vibrant and outgoing personality to keep them comfortable and amused during their time together.The services offered at the Inkspace Studio in New Delhi’s bustling Hauz Khas neighborhood are similar to those provided by other tattoo studios in the area. But the artist is unique. 27-year-old Bruna has two lives. When catering to clients in her studio, she is a woman with an outgoing personality.

Victor I. Cazares declares over cups of Prosecco in the dressing room of New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW).

LGBTQ Nation Celebrity who Made Us Proud nominees are teen pop sensation JoJo Siwa, who became one-half of the first same-sex pairing in 30 seasons of Dancing With the Stars; reality television host RuPaul, who used his platform to speak out for LGBTQ rights and became the Black entertainer to win the most Emmys ever; actor Elliot Page, who brought transgender inclusion to both Hollywood and state legislatures; comedian and actor Joel Kim Booster, who put gay Asian Americans front and center with his movie Fire Island; and actor Ariana DeBose, the first queer woman of color to win an acting Oscar after she wowed the world with her performance in West Side Story.The nominees for LGBTQ Nation‘s 2022 Celebrity who Made Us Proud have us shouting: “Hooray for Hollywood!” Vote now for LGBTQ Nation’s 2022 Celebrity who Made Us Proud.JoJo SiwaAt 10, little JoJo Siwa with the big ponytail Dance Mom’d her way into America’s hearts.At 18, she melted them by coming out on Insta with a family member’s support: her t-shirt read “Best. Gay.

LGBTQ Nation nominates five such people for our 2022 Social Media Hero.The nominees are Olivia Julianna, a teen who stood up to a powerful Republican lawmaker and raised millions for reproductive freedom; Dexter Mayfield, an Instagramer who showed us that big is beautiful after he got on the cover of Out magazine; Korynn Dickey, who came out and stood up to her Republican lawmaker dad; Taylor Blake, who educates her followers about wildlife and whose emu stole the show; his followers on TikTok and Instagram about life as a trans dad and promoted protests against anti-trans laws; and Blair Imani, who uses her large platform on to show what it’s like to be Black, queer, and Muslim.The nominees for LGBTQ Nation’s 2022 Social Media Hero stood out from the crowd and kept us scrolling for more. Vote now for LGBTQ Nation’s 2022 Social Media Hero.Olivia JuliannaIn one of the most shocking, hilarious and ultimately satisfying Twitter feuds of the summer, 19 year-old queer activist Olivia Julianna truly got back at Rep.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor Welcome to this week’s “Just for Variety.” Somewhere over the rainbow, indeed! Kenya Barris tells me that LGBTQ representation will be featured in his “Wizard of Oz” remake. “The original was an allegory and a reflection of the way the world was at the time with things like the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl,” says Barris, who will write and direct the reimagining for Warner Bros. “Now we’re going to turn a mirror on where we’re at right now and take disparate characters from the LGBTQ community, from different cultural communities and socioeconomic communities, and tell a story that reflects the world. I think this is the best time to do that.”

B. Pagels-Minor, a former Netflix employee who organized protests of Dave Chappelle’s transphobic comedy special; Barbra Seville, a drag queen that stood up to a GOP politician and brought receipts; Maia Kobabe, a nonbinary author who found emself at the center of the right’s book-banning craze; Adrian Jawort, who sued a pastor who lied about her and misgendered her… and won; and HRC legal director Sarah Warbelow, who testified in Congress about LGBTQ people’s rights in the wake of Roe being overturned and stood up to a Republican Congressman who was erasing bisexual people.The nominees for Hero who Stood Up with Dignity came out, fought back, and stood tall.

Virginia’s Department of Education released its new guidelines Friday that require school administrators, faculty and staff receive written permission from parents regarding embracing or recognizing a transgender student’s gender identity.

Freeform has finally launched one of their three unscripted series of the year, The Come Up.

TAMMYE NASH | Managing EditorNash@dallasvoice.com It was Friday, Aug. 8, 1969 — less than two months after