Texas Republicans Approve Far-Right Platform Declaring Biden’s Election Illegitimate

In a massive step for LGBTQ+ rights, the US House of Representatives voted in favour of codifying same-sex marriage. 

Reddit forum, earning 5,700 upvotes and 1,100 comments for his post, "AITA for throwing a gender reveal party for my son instead in the same week as my sister's baby shower?"He says that his son, 19, came out as transgender three years ago, and just completed his transition. He told his father that since coming out, he'd wanted to have a gender reveal party.

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) last week attempted to appear supportive of LGBTQ people, but on Tuesday he joined 157 Republicans in voting against protecting existing same-sex marriages should the Supreme Court overturn its own 2015 Obergefell ruling.

Matt Gaetz of Florida said that the Respect for Marriage Act was inspired by "a fit of hysteria" while commenting on his vote against the bill to codify same-sex marriage.The Respect for Marriage Act passed by a vote of 267-157 in the House on Tuesday. The bill prevailed following concerns that federal protections for same-sex marriage could soon be reversed after the Supreme Court's conservative majority eliminated federal abortion rights by striking down Roe v. Wade last month.The concurring opinion by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to overturn Roe suggested that the court should "correct the error" of same-sex marriage by reversing the decision that made it legal, Obergefell v.

Het Amerikaanse Huis van Afgevaardigden heeft een wet aangenomen die het huwelijk voor lhbti-stellen (homo-huwelijk)moet beschermen. De angst bestaat dat het overwegend conservatieve Hooggerechtshof een uitspraak die dat recht garandeert terug zou kunnen draaien.

Kim Garam is no longer a part of LE SSERAFIM, and her recording contract has been terminated.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes—is part of “Queersighted,” Criterion Channel’s Pride month spotlight on queer-coded musicals. Obviously, to me, everything is queer coded. But there’s something a little different about The Pirate, something that makes everything gay people love about both Gene Kelly and Judy Garland undeniably plain.

Roe v. Wade, and with it, longstanding legal precedent.Titled the “Respect for Marriage Act,” the bill would require states to recognize legally valid same-sex and interracial marriages, and prohibit discrimination “based on the sex, race, ethnicity or national origin of the individuals in the marriage.” Couples who believe they’ve been discriminated against because of their LGBTQ identity would be allowed to pursue legal action.The number of House Republicans who defected from the Republican Party’s official position, which opposes legal recognition of same-sex relationships, was much larger than expected by most political observers, reflecting shifting attitudes on the issue of same-sex nuptials, even among Republicans — a majority of whom support same-sex marriage, according to polling.Many of the Republicans who voted in favor of the measure tended to be younger, newer members of Congress, hailing from suburbs or exurbs of large cities, though there were exceptions.For instance, all four members of the Utah congressional delegation voted in favor of codifying same-sex marriage.

Openly gay football player Carl Nassib opened up about his coming-out journey and NFL future in a new interview.

A recent interview answer from Chris Evans on his love life has left folks quaking, and we think we can help him out.When asked whether he was as “laser-focused” on anything as his character is, Evans responded that he’s “trying to find someone that [he’s] looking to spend [his] life with.”Naturally, the internet was flooded with responses from hopefuls ready to assume the position for this heroic hottie (the position of partner, we mean).Recent pics from the red carpet for his new film The Gray Man have served as even further advertisement for the role:chris evans said it’s hot boy summer! pic.twitter.com/5AIYyIy9tt— karolina (@arigcevans) July 18, 2022this user is actually losing her mind over chris evans pic.twitter.com/dMjaaMWhDn— comfort chris ⍟ (@safeevansstans) July 18, 2022Chris Evans’ ass is a work of art

The House of Representatives voted Tuesday to pass the Respect of Marriage Act, which seeks to codify same-sex marriage rights into law. The final tally of 267 – 147 included 47 Republican representatives joining the majority-led Democratic effort.The bill is a direct response to the Supreme Court’s dismantling of Roe vs.

reached record-breaking highs in the UK this week, hitting 40°C for the first time ever according to the Met Office, forcing some stars to evacuate their homes after fires.As a result of the heatwave, extreme weather warnings were issued and ambulance services were put on red alert, as there was said to be a danger to life.Millions of us have been slathering on the suncream and gulping down bottles of water in a bid to stay safe and cool, but there’s also been time for the stars to top up their tans.The GC herself has been living it up in her garden, whacking out the BBQ and enjoying a summer feast with close friends.Not wasting a single moment of the sun, she had the sun loungers out and paraded around her pad in a leopard print bikini from her own clothing collection with New Look.In an Instagram video promoting the swimwear range, the former Towie star said it was ‘amazing for the sun’, also urging fans to ‘please, please, please, put on your suncream’.She went on to show off her beautiful garden plants which are in full bloom, reminding her followers to water their own plants, with hers thriving after being watered at 7am.The reality TV icon wasn’t the only one soaking up those sun rays, with Amanda Holden nailing heatwave living by reclining in a swimming pool with a unicorn float.Topping up her vitamin D, the Britain’s Got Talent judge has been enjoying a getaway in Sicily, complete with boat trips and a whole load of sunbathing.Amanda had us all green with envy as she shared a chilled snap from her trip, showing off the crystal waters of her villa’s pool and green surroundings.While her destination isn’t as hot as it has been in London, she’s certainly living the life of luxury and oh what we’d give to be in a

Taron Egerton can't seem to escape the rumors. The 32-year-old actor denied more theories that he's set to play the iconic character, speaking up on SiriusXM's Pop Culture Spotlight with Jessica Shaw this week. The tidbit marks over two years of speculation surrounding Egerton's potential casting — ET first spoke to him about the rumor at 2019 Comic-Con. «It's really flattering that people think that I'm the guy to do it,» Egerton said this week, «but there's no truth.» In 2019, Egerton voiced an almost identical sentiment.

Respect for Marriage Act passed by a vote of 267 to 157, with 47 Republicans joining all Democrats in supporting it, The Washington Post repors. Whether it will pass the Senate remains uncertain, though, and a vote has not been scheduled in that chamber.Supporters of the legislation intend it as a safeguard if the Supreme Court overturns its 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which established marriage equality nationwide.

Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation has matched the funds raised during the month of June, donating nearly $500,000 towards LGBTQ+ organizations around the United States.

Twitter has given the green light for anti-transgender tweets from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green to remain on its platform.The two tweets reference Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine, who is transgender, and clearly violate Twitter’s rules about hateful conduct.Both tweets were published on Monday.

The U.S. House approved on Tuesday with significant bipartisan support the Respect for Marriage Act, signaling support for ensuring marriage rights for same-sex couples amid fears basic rights are at threat in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.

One day after being introduced, the Respect for Marriage Act has passed the U.S. House of Representatives on a 267-157 vote with bipartisan support, the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus announced today (Tuesday, July 19) in a press release.

Hot Joel Summer continues as the Fire Island star Joel Kim Booster “hosts” Grindr for a cheeky interview where he reveals his favorite position, Britney Spears track, and so much more.While showing off his gorgeous new Los Angeles home (seriously, the view from that balcony is stunning), Booster runs through Grindr and Netflix’s very gay gauntlet of 69 questions that range from “Who’s got the range?’ to “Demon twink or angel twink?” It’s demon twink, obviously.  A post shared by Joel Kim Booster (@ihatejoelkim)Naturally, the actor/writer/comic’s got jokes, but he also shares some pretty surprising personal details. For instance, did you know Booster’s nickname growing up was “Joji Poji?” We didn’t either!Related: A queer Asian revolution is happening in Hollywood and, honestly, it’s about damn timeElsewhere, the star reveals some pertinent info for anyone who might be on the apps: If you see him on Grindr, should you admit you know who he is, or pretend you don’t? “It’s like the cops—if you know who I am, you’re legally required to tell me.” Noted! (By the way, he also says his Grindr tribe is “Discreet”).The whole thing is a blast, expertly riffing on Vogue’s popular “73 Questions” videos with its steadicam house tour and inquisitive, off-camera interviewee.

Out Traveler the job is a “huge responsibility” that involves far more than community outreach. It’s a job he’s proudly cultivated and evolved over the last ten years.Bean says one of his initial responsibilities in the job was “overseeing the program we call Ahead in the Count, which was a group of nine subjects that we bring to every drafted player about off-field, development and life skills, and that encompasses diversity, equity, inclusion, prohibited substances, financial responsibility, continuing education, social media, how to understand and protect yourselves from cyber violations with cyber security, working with the media, and, most importantly, healthy relationships, mental health, and wellness.”Perhaps no one is better suited to this almost paternalistic role than Bean because the game he loves so much left him so battered upon his retirement.

Most Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives voted against the Democrats’ Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that protects current same-sex marriages and partially codifies same-sex marriage into law, but does not make the right to marry for same-sex couples the law of the land.

Twisted Drag Brunch takes place at Twisted, 6520 Cascades Court, The Colony on Saturday, July 23 at 1 p.m. Here’s the link for tickets if you’d like to go and have a good time. Tickets are available here.

Video game creator Nintendo will recognize people in same-sex relationships, just as they had recognized “traditional marriages” — even when the country of Japan doesn’t.Last week the $95 billion company released its corporate social responsibility initiatives (CSRI) with one thing standing out.In the “Introduction of a Partnership System” portion of the CSRI, reports Go Nintendo, Nintendo restated that as of March 2021, the company has had a policy where  “same-sex partners” will have the “same benefits as employees in an opposite-sex marriage.”This policy contrasts with the legal battle ongoing in Japan to get same-sex couples recognized by law. Attempts at national and municipal legal changes have been made, but nothing has come from it. In a recent case on June 20 in Osaka, it was found that “under the constitution, the definition of marriage did not extend to partnerships between people of the same gender.” This effectively bans same-sex marriage in the country.Nintendo’s statement reads simply that if you are in a “common law” marriage, you will be granted the same rights as “traditional” couples.“Although same-sex marriages are not currently recognized under Japanese law, this system ensures employees who are in a domestic partnership with a same-sex partner have the same benefits as employees in an opposite-sex marriage,” the policy reads.

Mothers Against Greg Abbott, grew out of a protest by one mom, Nancy Thompson, last year when the Texas Education Agency put out guidance saying schools didn’t have to inform parents when someone in the school tests positive for COVID-19. She held a protest sign in front of the Texas capitol in Austin, and a picture of her action was shared widely on social media, giving rise to the group.Mothers Against Greg Abbott, with an acronym that gives a twist to Donald Trump’s “MAGA,” has found much more to oppose in the Republican governor’s policies: the “constitutional carry” law that allows Texans to carry a handgun without a license; the failure of the state’s power grid last winter; harsh anti-abortion laws; statewide restrictions on teaching about racism, along with local efforts to keep LGBTQ-inclusive materials away from students; and, of course, his order that parents who allow their transgender children access to gender-affirming care be investigated for child abuse, an order partially blocked while lawsuits against it proceed.As Abbott seeks a third term as governor this year, the mothers’ group has endorsed his Democratic opponent, Beto O’Rourke.

Florida has captured millions’ hearts by documenting life with her emu, Emmanuel, and took the web by storm.Emmanuel has been known to TikTok users for weeks now, thanks to Knuckle Bump Farms’ TikTok account. Since joining the app, Blake, 29, a South Florida farmer and proudly out lesbian, has primarily shared content on TikTok about cattle and adorable miniature cows.

Lab.oratory (the underbelly of Berlin’s Berghain) must rank as the greatest sex space in the history of the universe, the 37-year patina which coats nearly every nook, cranny, and orifice of east London fetish stalwart The Backstreet surely singles out this den of iniquity as unique among the waning number of surviving male-only bars devoted to leather, rubber and the rest.Not even Berlin’s gay ‘ghetto’ Schöneberg has anything to rival it: an atmospherically lit, blackened, and cinematic space coded top to bottom in conventionally manly signifiers (black oil drums, thick festooned chains, dusty boots dangling from the ceiling, camouflage netting, two big cages, stools, dirty everything), playlists that consistently get it just right (sexy but never overly aggressive music), and an unbendingly strict door policy (albeit with waistcoats and boots made available to those guilelessly showing up in mufti). A reassuring brand of sleazy anonymity pervades the bar and one that lends itself to a wet and sticky dream. Sadly, this piece is not merely an unbridled celebration of Backstreet–an establishment that occupies a singular position in the pantheon of gay leather bars that includes both New York’s Mineshaft and Spike, Hamburg’s Toms Saloon, London’s Cellar Bar, Amsterdam’s Argos, Berlin’s Knaast, Paris’s Keller, Munich’s Ochsengarten, Antwerp’s The Boots and various Eagles, nearly all of which are dead or near-dying.

The nomination deadline for the 39th annual Governor’s Volunteer Awards has been extended to Aug. 10. We’re wondering if it’s because no one who does actual work helping other people wants recognition from Gov. Greg Abbott.

La diputada peruana del Partido Morado, Susel Paredes, y su esposa, Gracia Aljovín, anunciaron al Washington Blade que presentarán una demanda internacional contra el Estado de Perú por no reconocer su matrimonio celebrado en 2016 en Miami. 

Saucy Santana channelled Beyoncé in his brand new music video for Booty.

Gemma Collins put on a scorching summer display in a striking leopard print bikini after her 3 stone weight loss.The former TOWIE star, 41, decided to strip down to the strapped bikini so she could soak up the sun during the UK heatwave.However, it was the GC herself who was breaking temperature gauges with her stunning new physique after losing a whopping 3 stone in weight.READ MORE: Gemma Collins shows off her favourite sex toys and urges fans to try them outThe self-confessed diva flaunted her glowing sun tan and newly-trimmed physique in the strapped bikini top, which was tied at the front with a bow.Down below, she wore a pair of matching leopard print bikini bottoms cropped high above her thighs.Gemma took to Instagram with a video showing her strut around her lush Essex mansion in the tantalising two-piece swimsuit, which was from her New Look collection.Plugging her brand deal, the reality star said: "It is absolutely amazing for the sun and basically it is going to be a great day."Please please please put on your sun cream and please remember to water your plants."Check out my plants, they have been watered since 7am, but also check out my bikini range at New Look."The TOWIE alum has been keeping her fans updated during her weight loss journey, which has seen her shed a reported 5 stone over the past four years.Gemma has also been sharing clips of her workouts which see her lifting weights and giving her followers pep talks to motivate them to stay active.One of her weight loss methods involved her braving frozen temperatures of almost -200 degrees in a cryotherapy chamber.She has also been keeping the weight off with healthy home-cooked meals packed full of vegetables.Gemma also lost two and a half to three

A post shared by Luke Prokop (@lukeprokop_)There’s a long-held belief in sports that having an openly LGBTQ player will disrupt a team’s cohesion and create a nuisance in the locker room. It’s been exactly one year since hockey player Luke Prokop, 20, came out as gay, so how’s that going for him?In a sign of how far attitudes have shifted (there’s still a long way to go, of course), it’s going pretty damn well!Since he made the announcement on social media on July 19, 2021 and became the first openly gay active or retired player under NHL contract, Prokop has become an inspiration to other queer athletes the world over.Related: Meet Justine Lindsay, the NFL’s first openly trans cheerleaderHe’s also had an overwhelmingly positive effect on his Edmonton Oil Kings teammates, who recently went on record with NHL.com about what it’s like having a gay player in the locker room.“Luke inspired a lot of guys on the team,” forward Josh Williams said.

2022 total of violent deaths among trans, gender-nonconforming, and nonbinary people in the U.S. to 20.Shawmaynè Giselle Marie McClam, a Black trans woman, was shot to death at her apartment in Gulfport, Miss., June 21, reports the Sun Herald, a local newspaper. Initial media coverage misgendered and deadnamed her.

Lia Thomas, the first transgender woman who has earned a national title in Division 1 athletics, was nominated by the University of Pennsylvania for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year award. The former University of Pennsylvania swimmer has been the center of national debate about transgender athletes in sports.

Hail Mary!A video of a nun stopping by a photoshoot featuring two female models kissing in the street has gone viral, and not because Jesus’ teaching to “love one another” was on display.Italian Models Serena de Ferrari and Kyshan Wilson were posing for the Not Yet Magazine shoot when the nun wandered by and did not like what she saw.Related: Biblical excuse for homophobia shut down in one simple tweetTaking matters into her own hands, the older nun freaked out and physically separated the women, screaming at them. Then the nun turned to address the crowd, but wouldn’t you know it, her condemnation wasn’t very popular.The potentially scary interaction was taken with a giant grain of Italian sea salt given the nun’s old age, tiny stature and overall absurdity.

Maria Bartiromo invented a whole new conspiracy theory about Joe Biden on her show the other day.The Fox Business host had Rep. Ronny Jackson of Florida on as a guest when their conversation quickly unraveled into a rapid-fire validation of some wild conspiracy theories they invented right there on the spot.It all started with Bartiromo suggesting that President Biden is being secretly drugged by, possibly, former President Barack Obama.

Renowned Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue is facing backlash this week after announcing Dave Chappelle will be performing there this Wednesday.Longtime patrons and general audiences alike have responded strongly on social media, denouncing the move from an establishment that was, until now, regarded as very queer friendly.Some are even pointing to the club’s own code of conduct, which outlines “speaking in a discriminatory manner” and “transphobic, homophobic, xenophobic, or other biased language, including intentional misgendering” as unacceptable behavior.Chappelle has famously crossed all of the aforementioned lines, especially over the past couple of years. His transphobic comedy was so inflammatory that it caused a national scandal for Netflix, the streamer that hosted his hateful rhetoric-filled special The Closer.Related: Just when we didn’t think Dave Chappelle could sink any lower, this new audio leaked and… ewResponses to the announcement have been nearly unanimously negative:First Ave as soon as pride month is over pic.twitter.com/aluX0oDKsL— Tarnished Alexander (@MplsAlexander) July 18, 2022Read these comments.

Celebrities such as Jacqueline Jossa, Gemma Collins and Lizzie Cundy have been showing off their bikini bodies on Instagram as they soak up the sun on the hottest day ever on record in the UK today. The highest temperature recorded so far today was 40.2C (104.4F) at London Heathrow Airport at 12.50pm, and it's left many celebrities flocking to their gardens to catch the rays or cool off in a paddling pool.

monkeypox (MPV) outbreak, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on Friday it ordered another 2.5 million doses of the vaccine.The order, placed for Bavarian Nordic's JYNNEOS vaccine, immediately opened up 131,000 doses in local jurisdictions struggling to parse out jabs.Combined with a July 1 order of similar size, the government expects 7 million MPV doses to be part of its available supply by mid-2023.

Lia Thomas has been nominated for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year award by her alma mater. In March, Thomas became the first transgender woman to win a Division 1 title, where she won in the Women’s 500-yard freestyle event.As the first trans NCAA champion in Division I history, Thomas quickly became the face of the ongoing backlash against transgender athletes’ participation in sports — specifically the participation of trans women. Beyond elite competition, the controversy continues to intensify throughout the country — over the past year, 10 states have passed anti-trans legislation banning trans student-athletes from competing in categories that align with their gender identities.“I knew there would be scrutiny against me if I competed as a woman,” Thomas told JuJu Chang on Good Morning America in May. “But I also don’t need anybody’s permission to be myself and to do the sport that I love.”Thomas began her medical transition in 2019, following the NCAA requirements of completing at least one year of hormone therapy prior to competing in women’s sports categories.In her conversation with Chang, the Ivy League swimmer set the record straight on her reason for transitioning, debunking the ludicrous claim that she did so in order to have an “advantage” while competing.Thomas recalled that her swimming career was actually what kept her from transitioning in the first place.“Trans people don’t transition for athletics,” she emphasized.

Two white supremacists who were arrested in Idaho last month are now charged with a crime in neighboring Washington relating to vandalism. Prosecutors say that hate crime charges could be on the way.The men have been charged with defacing a community mural in Olympia, and other arrests are expected, The News Tribune reports. A video of the vandalism taken on October 16, 2021, led police to identify 20-year-old Spencer Thomas Simpson and 23-year-old Colton Michael Brown as suspects.

Elvis might’ve had the box office all shook up this summer, and you know we’re hung up on Madonna’s upcoming movie, but there’s another musical biopic that’s currently got our full attention: Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.Yes, even the curly-haired, accordion-playing king of parody songs is getting his story told in glossy movie form, and it has one ace up its Hawaiian-shirt-sleeve in the form of Daniel Radcliffe as Al—looking hotter than ever, we might add.The former child star of The Franchise That Shall Not Be Named has long proven himself a legit actor in his own right, taking on a number of challenging and strange roles over the last decade. He’s also, it should be said, gotten in great shape, putting those wizarding days far behind him.Thankfully, the marketing team behind Weird seems to be well aware of this, as they’ve repeatedly featured Radcliffe’s taut body in film promo—most recently in this new photo of Al showing off his gold records, shirts, and abs to the one and only Oprah, played here by Abbott Elementary creator/star and Emmy darling Quinta Brunson.This comes a few months after the movie’s trailer dropped, which, among other things, gave us our first glimpse of a ripped Radcliffe as Al, shirtless and downing liquor on stage like a true rock star.What’s going on here? We certainly don’t remember Yankovic being that jacked in real life (No, that Rambo scene in UHF definitely doesn’t count).Well, if we had to guess, the movie about a satirical songwriter is probably in on the joke, playing up its “weird” hero as a total sex symbol, even as it reminds us that Yankovic really did have a pretty wild ride to fame.

Lee Walter as Lola in Uptown Players’ ‘Kinky Boots.’ (Courtesy photo)

Mo'Nique is coming home to Netflix! On Tuesday, the Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning actress and comedian announced she will soon be shooting a fresh original comedy special for the streamer. In a video posted to the streamer’s Twitter account and the Strong Black Lead initiative account, the 54-year-old tells fans that she is «so excited to share that I'll be shooting my first Netflix comedy special.»She also reminds viewers that she will be reuniting with friend and director Lee Daniels for the Netflix film. «You won’t wanna miss either of them, so y'all stay tuned,” the GRAMMY nominee continues.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that close contacts of monkeypox no longer need to isolate if they do not have symptoms.

Friday 15 July marked the one year anniversary of Jodie Harsh’s club night, Feel It.

Broadway musical “Paradise Square,” pours out of star Joaquina Kalukango in a torrent of pain and frustration over the hurt that her character has been forced to endure during the show. That song and its themes have taken on an added resonance with the cast and crew of the production after it closed abruptly on Sunday. “Paradise Square,” which earned Kalukango a Tony and was nominated for nine others, has been overshadowed by a series of lawsuits and allegations that producer Garth H.

It would have taken unbelievable star quality for a Black, gay music act to rise during the Lavender Scare era of the American ’50s. Thankfully, singing duo Charlie & Ray had dazzle to spare.It almost seems Charlie Jones and Ray Williams were renowned not in spite of their flamboyant stylings, but because of them; their catchy songs and undeniably fey voices (along with the entire taboo concept of effeminate men) made for a captivating show for audiences of the time.So captivating, in fact, that the duo won their debut amateur night at the Apollo Theater in the early ’50s — and went on to win for the next four weeks straight.An excerpt from David Bowie Made Me Gay author Darryl Bullock’s accompanying blog quotes music historian C.J.

The Texas GOP adopted a 40-page platform at its biennial convention in Houston over the weekend that pushes the party even further to the right. Even John Cornyn, Ted Cruz and Dan Crenshaw came under fire for not being “conservative” enough from some at event.