Monkeypox: International Mr Leather event in Chicago linked to cases

The world-famous video game company Nintendo has enchanted video game players with titles like Super Mario Brothers and The Legend of Zelda, but now it’s helping bring LGBTQ equality to its home country of Japan.In a recent company report, Nintendo announced that it would start offering marriage benefits to employees in same-sex domestic partnerships and common law marriages. This is a big deal considering that same-sex marriage isn’t legal in Japan.The company also said it would create policies against anti-LGBTQ workplace harassment, including outing queer employees.“Alongside the introduction of the Partnership System in Japan, we notified our employees about the issue of gender diversity with a message from our President as a means of raising awareness of what diversity means,” the company announced.“In this message, the President called for all employees to adopt a renewed understanding that even speech and actions, which are not intended to harm, can cause significant emotional pain, asking for understanding and support to create an environment in which everyone can work comfortably,” the announcement added.While Nintendo of Japan only has around 2,270 employees, the move still sets an important standard in the country and sends an important message to other gamers.Nintendo is one of the most famous Japanese companies in the world.

A Maryland man has been indicted on assault charges accusing him of pretending to be a police officer and spraying five men who he believed were gay with a chemical irritant at a park in Washington, the Justice Department said on Thursday. The man, Michael Thomas Pruden, 48, was arrested in Norfolk, Va., and charged with five counts of assault on federal land, one count of impersonating a U.S. Park Police officer and a hate-crimes sentencing enhancement, which could increase his sentence if a jury finds that he targeted the men because of their sexual orientation, the Justice Department said.

Neil Patrick Harris will star in the Netflix series Uncoupled, an upcoming eight-episode series from co-creators Darren Star (Sex and the City, Emily in Paris) and Jeffrey Richman (Modern Family). In the show, Harris plays Michael Lawson, a successful New York City real estate agent who needs to learn how to navigate the single life after his partner of 17 years (played by Tuc Watkins) decides to move out and abruptly dumps him. The series will also star Brooks Ashmanskas, Tisha Campbell, Emerson Brooks and Marcia Gay Harden. The synopsis reads: “Michael Lawson (Neil Patrick Harris) seems to have it all figured out.

Dame Joan Collins is currently 'recovering and doing fine' after suffering from a pinched nerve in her leg earlier this week.The 89-year-old star was 'airlifted' to Princess Grace Hospital in Monaco but is now 'back home in St. Tropez and is walking around,' as reported by Page Six.A rep for Collins confirmed the news, adding that the 'pain has been excruciatingbut fortunately she's dealt with it, and she's OK now.' Recovering:Dame Joan Collins is currently 'recovering and doing fine' after suffering from a pinched nerve in her leg earlier this week; Collins seen in 2021Collins is 'enjoying the rest of her holiday' in St.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL) is calling on President Joe Biden to appoint a Monkeypox Czar to heighten the administration’s response to the “outbreak that is primarily impacting gay and bisexual men.”Congressman Crist, who is running for his former job of governor of Florida, is calling the outbreak an LGBTQ rights issue.

“Pleasing.” The queer ally—who once helped a fan come out as bisexual during a live show and recently dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz in a fashion spread—has been dipping his toes into other artistic realms of late, such as acting (in the upcoming feature My Policeman) and entrepreneurship. Enter “Pleasing,” whose “Hot Holiday” collection titles were just released.

Nintendo Japan announced its new policy that grants queer employees in same-sex partnerships the same benefits as their straight counterparts. 

Center for American Progress report found that it was so difficult that fewer than 500 vets had applied.Last fall, on the 10th anniversary of the repeal of DADT, the VA announced that veterans who’ve been given anything less than an honorable discharge strictly because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status will be eligible for the full slate of benefits unless there’s something else in their record that disqualifies them, and application for the upgrade was unnecessary. The VA said there would be new guidance issued for reviewing benefit claims, but the problem is, it hasn’t been made public, say officials with the National Veterans Legal Services Program.“There was all this attention with the announcement, then we started asking around, and no one had a copy of the policy,” Renee Burbank, the veterans’ group’s director of litigation, told The Washington Post.

(Images via Peloton)

A post shared by Trapped Heroes (@trappedheroes)Everyone’s talking about Thor, his bare butt, and the gay parts of his latest film. But forget about him! Instead, take a gander at the cosplaying, superheroic hunks of @trappedheroes, the thirst-trapping Instagram account filled with musclemen in skin-tight spandex outfits.While the account simply reposts shots of hunky cosplayers showing off their finest spandex, it’s a good reminder of the many reasons that gay guys love superheroes — the muscles and flashy outfits are just part of it.Numerous academics have said that comic book superheroes are a modern form of mythical storytelling.

The Pryde, Boston’s first-ever LGBTQ senior home, currently under construction, was vandalized with threatening hate speech on Sunday, July 10. LGBTQ Senior Housing Inc., a nonprofit that organized construction of the senior housing project, posted images of the graffiti on its Facebook page, which included the phrases “The faggots will die by fire” and “die slow.”On its Facebook page, LGBTQ Senior Housing Inc. condemned the vandalism.“We were heartbroken to wake up this morning to the terrible news that The Pryde was vandalized overnight with hate speech and threats spray painted on virtually every sign,” the statement read.

This Is Going to Hurt premiered today Thursday, July 14th. The show is a film adaptation of a memoir, written by former doctor, Adam Kay.Out British actor Ben Whishaw, from the 007 and Paddington franchises, portrays Kay in the show, and alongside him is, Ambika Mod, who plays Shruti Acharya, and Vampire Academy’s Rory Fleck Bryne, who stars as Harry Muir.Having already aired in the U.K.

Conservative residents of a small Iowa town criticized the local public library’s LGBTQ+ staff and displays of LGBTQ-related books to the point that most employees left. As a result, the library is now closed for the foreseeable future.At first, controversy erupted over the Vinton Public Library's display of books about prominent Democrats and then over its display of LGBTQ+ books and staff members who identify as LGBTQ+.Taking the Vinton job in May 2020, Janette McMahon, who has been library director since 1995, told the Cedar Rapids Gazette that some patrons complained informally about the library’s display of books written by First Lady Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and not enough books on former President Donald Trump.“I can’t buy what doesn’t exist, and there weren’t quality books about Trump,” she told the Gazette.

(Image via Spy)

As more and more photos leak from the set of Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie—featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in life-sized doll drag—it’s getting increasingly difficult to separate the Barbie World from our own.At this point, that line between the two seems to have completely disappeared for Gosling. While making the press rounds for his upcoming Netflix thriller The Grey Man (apparently he’s mockingly called a Ken Doll in the movie), the actor couldn’t help but embody his plastic boy-toy character, giving off major Ken vibes.

Associated Press.The new logo featured several rays of different colors and is predominately blue, which was supposed to represent learning information and sharing it, according to local TV station KTVH.At a commission meeting last month, a representative of Hoffman York, Addie Palin told the group, “People really liked it for the way that it provided clarity. How the prism, like the library, is a vehicle for distributing information in a new and different way.”Several commissioners at that meeting brought up the colors as reminding them of the rainbow and Pride flag.“I think there are two things you can say today to set off a firestorm in the area of information,” Commissioner Tammy Hall, who was appointed by Montana GOP Gov.

Het hoofd van de informatiecommissie van het Russische parlement stelt een algeheel verbod voor op de verspreiding van enlsquo;homopropagandaenrsquo;, ongeacht de leeftijd van de doelgroep. In Rusland is een wetswijziging in de maak die openlijk spreken en schrijven over homoseksualiteit voor alle doelgroepen verbiedt.

Queer Eye star Bobby Berk has opened up about the show’s upcoming seventh season and its “condensed” filming schedule.

Imagine thinking you could tell a queer person how to decorate their home.A Boise homeowner’s association really tried it this week, sending Quail Ridge resident Jordan Hall an order to remove a set of rainbow Pride lights from his home.A Boise resident displays gay pride lights at his house. His home owner’s association says it’s a “noxious or undesirable act.” https://t.co/2o8xDbPqmB— The Idaho Press (@TheIdahoPress) July 14, 2022The order for removal cites the association’s repressive CC&Rs (covenants, conditions and restrictions), as well as calling the display a “noxious or undesirable act.”This particular association doesn’t seem to be judging all light displays equally, however; one neighborhood home reportedly uses “thousands of LED lights” at Christmastime, while another has pure red lights and has never heard a peep out of the HOA against them.Related: Community rallies around queer-friendly church after it gets defaced by homophobic vandalsThis is far from the beginning of Hall’s striving for LGBTQ+ visibility.

ABC News reports.She was married to Donald Trump from 1977 to 1992 and is the mother of three Trump offspring, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. An immigrant from Czechoslovakia, she worked in her husband’s businesses for several years, including Trump’s Castle, the Grand Hyatt Hotel, and Trump Tower.

testified against harmful bills in the state legislature last year, posted on Twitter recently that she and her family have sold their home and most of their belongings and are planning to move elsewhere. They have set up a GoFundMe campaign to help fund the move and help other families as well.

Well, it’s right there in the headline: Showtime’s upcoming drama series American Gigolo has abs and Rosie O’Donnell—what more could a gay possibly want in their television programming?For better and for worse, we’re in the golden age of mining classic films and other old IP for new content. And, yes, all of these remakes and revivals can be a bit tiresome, but, my goodness, we think the premium cable network might be onto something here!Based on Paul Schraeder’s 1980 film of the same name, American Gigolo stars Jon Bernthal as Julian Kaye, a Los Angeles escort to some high-class ladies.

Life is short. Sometimes you just have to go with whatever concept is the funniest.After a week or so of every outlet from TMZ to Variety to the LA Times waffling on whether Call Me By Your Name actor Armie Hammer is really working out of a hotel in the Cayman Islands selling timeshares, the internet has just kind of chosen to believe it.Even with new pictures out that appear to show Hammer hanging around the hotel, wearing the uniform, and sitting at a desk in one of the offices, the hotel still asserts that he doesn’t work there.The hotel’s director of sales told the LA Times that the actor just plays golf with a staff member, and that that employee had invited the actor to “come and see what we do.”The idea that Hammer is just hanging around the offices in uniform for hours and hours is just about as believable as the idea of an alleged cannibal (who comes from money) falling on hard enough times to have to resort to a job in sales, so reports from every side just kind of end up as a wash.Related: Studio fails spectacularly at trying to edit Armie Hammer out of ‘Death on the Nile’ trailerThat all said, much worse has been said about the star.

Kevin Spacey pleaded not guilty to sexual assault charges in London on Thursday.Taking place in London’s Old Bailey, a courthouse known for high-profiled cases, Spacey, 62, replied “not guilty” to the charges, which include four counts of sexual assault and one count of, “causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent,” according to the Associated Press.The charges stem from alleged assaults that took place in London and Gloucestershire over a decade ago, between 2005 and 2013, and were alleged by three men, currently in their 30s and 40s. The alleged assaults happened when Spacey was the artistic director at London’s Old Vic theater.A judge set the trial start date for June 6, 2023.

Rep. Jim Jordan is learning the hard way that deleting a repulsive tweet does not actually make the problem go away.It arguably makes his blunder even worse, as the story becomes about the disturbing thing he said and the desperate attempt at damage control.Jordan is facing harsh criticism for a now-deleted tweet attempting to discredit reports of a 10-year-old rape victim who had to travel to another state to get an abortion.The GOP lawmaker’s comment came after President Biden referenced the case last week and signed an executive order to federally protect abortion access in certain circumstances.

You is probably one of the most psychologically complex shows on TV right now, specifically because it forces us to confront one very dark question: What happens when you find a creepy killer to be very, very hot?Yes, the former Lifetime series made quite the casting coup when it nabbed Gossip Girl‘s Penn Badgley for the lead role of Joe Goldberg, an obsessive serial murderer who compulsively stalks the women he develops crushes on. Again, creepy!The problem here is that Badgley—in real life—is one sexy man.

Related: Roberta Kaplan on the demise of Roe v. Wade and what’s next for equalityLast month, after the Dobbs draft leaked but prior to the final ruling being announced, The Guardian published a bombshell report about People of Praise, an anti-LGBTQ Christian cult where she once served as a handmaid female leader.

FILE – In this July 2018 file photo, The Go-Go’s band members, from left, Charlotte Caffey, Belinda Carlisle, Kathy Valentine and Jane Wiedlin perform at the curtain call for the Broadway musical “Head Over Heels.”  The show was announced as part of Uptown Players new season. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

London’s official Pride march took place on July 2, when a record 1.5 million people showed up, walked and partied into the early hours of the next morning. But last Saturday saw more than 20,000 people, also a record-breaking number, take a stand for trans people specifically in the fourth-ever march of its kind.People met at Wellington Arch, in Hyde Park Corner, and made their way through the capital. This year’s slogan was: ‘Pride is a protest’.Some made a point about trans people being included in the LGBTQ+ community, with signs reading: ‘There is no LGB without the T’.

Andrew Fitzsimons is an extremely talented hairdresser from Ballinteer Co. Dublin. Today, he splits his time between New York City and Los Angeles launching haircare products and styling celebs for big events. He believes that “being yourself should have no limits. Beauty should be bold. Empowering. And unapologetically you.” which just about sums up how […]

In the coming days, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will consider two petitions written and signed by the people of Ukraine – one on the legalisation of same-sex marriage, and one to replace a statue of Catherine the Great with one of gay adult film star Billy Herrington.  In Ukraine, the sitting president has ten days […]

According to a report published by media advocacy organisation GLAAD, all top social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and TikTok are failing to protect their LGBTQ+ users and are “prioritising profit over LGBTQ safety and lives.” GLAAD, the world’s largest queer media watchdog, published its annual Social Media Safety Index (SMSI), a report that […]

I mean, I shouldn’t say it like that. It was an amazing honor, and I think it’s something that you want to do, you do it once, and I don’t know if I would want to do it again.

Eric Cervini leading a discussion with four LGBTQ luminaries about Peter Staley’s memoir Never Silent: ACT UP and My Life in Activism, you know there’s a lot to unpack there.From a closeted Wall Street trader diagnosed with AIDS in the ’80s, Staley went on to become one of the foremost HIV activists of all time, advancing the cause of HIV/AIDS funding and treatment in brilliant acts of defiance that captured public attention.After filming the conversation, we popped a few extra behind-the-scenes questions for guests: podcaster Mike Balaban, Autostraddle cofounder Riese Bernard, trans activist and coach Blossom C. Brown, and author/screenwriter Abdi Nazemian.Happy Pride! How are you celebrating this year?Balaban: As I relocated from NYC to San Diego during COVID and Pride will be celebrated almost normally this year for the first time since 2019, I intend to participate in a variety of San Diego Pride-related events.

Anything’s Possible—featuring a red-carpet roll-out for the stars at the historic Orpheum Theatre—and celebrations wrap up 10 days later with a closing night presentation of the highly anticipated queer slasher, They/Them. And in between, well, where do we even begin???Long story short, Outfest 2022 is going to be major.

ABOVE: Been too long without some Locky.

lawsuit filed in court last month, a former employee of The Q said the popular NYC nightclub regularly discriminated against Black, Latinx, women, and trans folks in an attempt to appeal to “white boys.”In addition to the disturbing charges of racism, misogyny, and transphobia at the club which touted celebrity investors Charlie Carver and Zachary Quinto, the suit brought by Frank “Frankie” Sharp also alleges partner Alan Pikus permitted entrance to underaged patrons and folks selling the GBH date rape drug, and also engaged in acts of sex with customers in front of employees. Sharp is alleging The Q’s ownership unfairly fired and defrauded him in the lawsuit.“Though The Q’s core brand was inclusiveness, Pikus was vocal in his discriminatory beliefs and was hostile to the club catering to any group other than white young men, telling Sharp repeatedly: “Make sure your Latin nights are the good kind of Latins.

awards ceremony, referencing the failed ballot initiative.Newsom was criticizing Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law (commonly known as “don’t say gay”), which restricts how schools can teach about sexual orientation and gender identity. Parents say the law gives them control over their children’s education, but critics call it discriminatory and unnecessary.

This article was republished with permission from My Fabulous Disease , a blog by HIV advocate Mark S. King.

The post UK’s next Prime Minister: Where do the contenders stand on LGBTQ+ issues? appeared first on GAY TIMES.

Gentleman Jack will not be renewed for a third series – and it feels like a kick in the stomach, to say the least.Starring Suranne Jones as the formidable Anne Lister and Sophie Rundle as her wife Ann Walker, Gentleman Jack was unlike any other queer representation we’ve seen on screen, telling the story of the ‘first modern lesbian’ and her courage to live as herself in a society that demonised just that.In a statement, the US broadcaster said: ‘When we began this journey more than five years ago, we knew the series’ creator Sally Wainwright had a uniquely compelling vision, and it’s been tremendously gratifying to see how Anne Lister’s journey has resonated with viewers.’They added that they are ‘incredibly grateful’ to the cast and crew for ‘bringing Anne and Ann’s story to life’, although it begs the question, if this story was so valued by the production team, why does it seem to have been thrown into the trash as though it meant nothing?Audiences could’ve gained so much from further seasons of Gentleman Jack, which makes its cancellation all the more painful because this isn’t a fictional story – it’s the lives of two very real people. Further episodes would offer more insight into the reality of living as a lesbian in the 1800s and continue to remind LGBTQ+ people today that queer has always been here.Fans are outraged and heartbroken following the news and rightly so, because a film or a TV show isn’t just a film or a TV show for many LGBTQ+ people – it’s their life.

No matter where one turns in the culture today, the issues of homosexuality and gender identity are being hotly debated. Many LGBTQ+ people face religious trauma and are turned away in a place that was supposed to be a bastion of grace. It begs the question, can one be both Gay and Christian? Reverend Dr. Neil G Thomas, pastor of the 4500 member congregation of Cathedral of Hope, talks with Brian and Colman about unpacking what the Bible really says.

Sir Tom Jones, 82, sparked fears over his health after rumours circulated earlier this week that he had collapsed on stage.The legendary singer has now addressed the claims after cancelling his Budapest show over a bout of ill health.He has denied claims he had collapsed following the cancellation of his concert at the MVM Dome.Taking to Instagram yesterday, Sir Tom explained that he had been diagnosed with viral laryngitis and therefore was unable to sing.He went on to reveal that following a doctor’s visit he was ordered to stay in and rest up to fully recover.Sir Tom highlighted that the claim about him collapsing on stage was untrue, as he labeled it “pure rumour”.In the post, the musician typed: "Hello to all concerned: I travelled last night from the UK to Budapest and woke this morning with an uncomfortable throat.“A specialist came to visit and diagnosed 'viral laryngitis'. He strongly advised postponing this evening’s show and prescribed medication and vocal rest."I did NOT 'collapse' anywhere at any time, that is pure rumour.“Hopefully the inflammation will calm soon as I am looking forward to continuing my wonderful summer tour."Sir Tom also apologised for cancelling the show at short notice as he thanked fans for their concern.The show, he added, will still take place in the Hungarian capital in just over a month.He continued: "Unfortunately the show had to be cancelled at the last minute, and for that I am very sorry.“However, the show in Budapest has been rescheduled and will take place on August 16.“Thanks again for all your kind concern.TJ."Fans of the It’s Not Unusual singer rushed to the post’s comments section to send him their well-wishes.Carmencat50 said: “So glad you have taken doctor's advice.

The conservative Texan lawyer who laid the groundwork for Senate Bill 8, or the Texas Heartbeat Act, has begun targeting access to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis medications). The private attorney, Jonathan Mitchell, has a long history of defending right-wing religious positions including abortion access, anti-LGBTQ+ rights, anti-union and anti-affirmative action lawsuits. Having previously argued in front […]

An Oregon baker who refused to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple almost ten years ago has received a reduction in financial penalties.Following an appeals court ruling, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported Tuesday that Aaron Klein has been ordered to pay $30,000 instead of the $135,000 fine initially levied.Laurel and Rachel Bowman-Cryer filed a complaint in 2013 against Melissa and Aaron Klein, the owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa. The bakery refused to make the couple a wedding cake, the couple said.Oregon’s Court of Appeals twice upheld a ruling that the bakery discriminated against the couple, the Associated Press reports. The court ruled in January that the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries did not exhibit religious neutrality when issuing the fine and remanded the case to the civil rights division.In the 2018 Supreme Court Masterpiece Cakeshop case, in which the Supreme Court sided narrowly with a Colorado baker who refused service to a same-sex couple on religious grounds and had also been fined, the court wiped out the damages.

Funny Girl producers are attempting to clear the air!

Daily Beast reported that the restaurant faced an uncertain future after a marijuana retailer took over the freehold of the building. The new landlord served Boebert with a notice of termination, saying the restaurant needed to find a new location.At the time, Boebert told the Daily Beast she was weighing up whether to allow the shutdown to happen, or to consider buying the building herself.Related: Lauren Boebert explains why her husband exposed himself in bowling alleyIt now seems she’s gone ahead with the closure. The Colorado Sun says the restaurant shuttered on Sunday, with Boebert lamenting its demise.“We were like a family,” it quoted her saying.

Irish charity ShoutOut published a guide for parents and guardians of LGBTQ+ children focusing on educating families on LGBTQ+ issues. With uncertainties surrounding LGBTQ+ topics that some parents and guardians might face, ShoutOut hopes many will find this guide valuable. A grassroots organization begun in 2012, ShoutOut has worked the last ten years towards its mission […]