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The Golden Globe Awards, best known for celebrating the best of film and television, are entering uncharted territory by adding a podcast category to the event.The best podcast category will feature six nominees chosen from the 25 most-listened-to podcasts. Unfortunately, that means shows like The Joe Rogan Experience, This Past Weekend w/Theo Von, and Call Her Daddy are likely to win before we ever get to see an LGBTQ+ podcast take home a golden statue, despite deserving all the accolades.Alex Cooper may have made headlines recently for interviewing queer stars Chappell Roan, Abby Wambach, and Glennon Doyle on Call Her Daddy, but if a podcast category is getting added to the awards show, then we want see some LGBTQ+ hosts to make it to the podium.Since the Golden Globes have never been as stuffy as the Oscars, weve picked light-hearted comedy podcasts and pop culture shows right alongside political commentary and explorations of gender.So get comfy because youre about to have a whole new list of podcasts to start bingeing!Gender RevealTrans masc journalist Tuck Woodstock hosts the award-winning podcast Gender Reveal , which has been releasing episodes since 2018. The podcast focuses on the trans and nonbinary community, exploring current events and gender. With 13 seasons out already, you have plenty of episodes to binge if youve missed this one. Listen to Gender Reveal.Las CulturistasLas Culturistas is a weekly podcast hosted by Saturday Night Live comedian Bowen Yang and Fire Island star Matt Rogers. These two besties dive into all manner of pop culture, from movies and reality TV to music, and have amazing queer celebrity guests like Chappell Roan, Joel Kim Booster, and Rene Rapp.Listen to Las Culturistas.Vibe CheckOn Vibe check, hosts Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones, and Zach Stafford explore the intersection of news and pop culture, something we could all use these days. The podcast is described as your favorite group chat, come to life, and that is the perfect description of what it feels like to listen to these friends talk about everything from President Donald Trump to Black fashion. Listen to Vibe Check.Keep ItEach week the Princes of Pop Culture chat about the intersection of pop culture and politics through a queer lens. Notable guests have included Tina Knowles, Darren Chris, and Gabrielle Union, but it is the chemistry of hosts Ira Madison III and Louis Virtel that will have you tuning in to every episode. Listen to The Read.Bad With MoneyHosted by trans bisexual NYT best selling author Gabe Dunn, Bad Money brings you a money show for the weirdos and queerdos with an unabashedly radical point of view about finances that will help you fix your life. Podcasts about money and finances are often stale and boring, but Dunn manages to make it entertaining while also interviewing guest experts to give you the best information available. The ReadThe Read is a laugh-out-loud funny podcast hosted by Kid Fury and Crissle West that has been releasing episodes for more than a decade. This hilarious podcast analyzes politics and pop culture from a Black queer perspective while keeping things light and fun. A Bit FruityOn every episode of A Bit Fruity, host Matt Bernstein dives into the current events, culture wars, and people who are shaping the world around us. Recent episodes have tackled everything from Gwen Stefanis slide into conservatism to Elon Musks bizarre brand of family values. Once you start listening, youre never going to want to stop.Listen to A Bit Fruity.We Can Do Hard ThingsWhat makes We Can Do Hard Things so great is that the hosts, lesbian author Glennon Doyle, her soccer star wife Abby Wambach, and Doyles sister Amanda Doyle, are so relatable, and their lives are open books. While talking about relationship struggles, parenting woes, and social justice issues, the women offer up advice and stories from their own lives, making them infinitely listenable.Listen to We Can Do Hard Things.Horror QueersHosted by gay horror experts Joe Lipsett and Trace Thurman, every week Horror Queers delivers witty, smart, and often hilarious commentary on your favorite scary movies from an LGBTQ+ perspective. Its the perfect show if youre a diehard horror aficionado, but their reviews are so accessible that even baby horror fans will enjoy it. Listen to Horror Queers.The MessThe TransLash podcast network tells trans stories to save trans lives, and The Mess, hosted by journalist Imara Jones, is part of that mission. At a time when the trans community is being attacked by conservatives more than ever, Jones offers incisive political analysis while also reminding listeners to keep hope alive. Rachel Maddow Presents UltraLesbian political commentator Rachel Maddows weekly podcast, Ultra with Rachel Maddow, is on its second season. The show explores Americas slide into fascism by focusing on the far-right in the U.S. in the 1930s and 40s. Well researched and fascinating, youll get hooked on this pod despite its dark subject matter.Listen to Rachel Maddow Presents Ultra.The Bald and the Beautiful with Trixie and KatyaOn The Bald and the Beautiful, Drag Race royalty Trixie Mattel and Katya give beauty advice, chat about pop culture, and kiki with fantastic guests. But its really the off-the-charts chemistry between these two besties and the bizarre and hilarious tangents they go off on that will keep you tuning in. Listen to The Bald and the Beautiful.

They read Nietzsche (or at least the Wikipedia summary), know how to s feminism in a sentence, and think that playing you a Phoebe Bridgers song counts as vulnerability. Welcome to the world of softbois.Softbois (sometimes spelled soft boy) are a slippery dating archetype. They're emotional, poetic, deeply into their curated Letterboxd accounts, and often deeply full of it. At first glance, theyre the antidote to toxic masculinity: emotionally intelligent, progressive, and interested in connection. But spend a little more time with them, and you may start to notice performative empathy, sudden ghosting, and low-key negging wrapped in Radiohead lyrics. If youve ever left a situationship feeling like you were emotionally gaslit by a man in a turtleneck who drinks oat milk and owns a copy of Norwegian Wood, chances are, youve met a softboi.But what actually defines a softboi? Where did the term come from? And how do you spot one before you get caught in their web of pseudo-enlightened sadboi energy? We talked to expertsand combed through years of cultural receiptsto break it down.What is a softboi, really?According to Iona David, the creator of the wildly popular Instagram account @beam_me_up_softboi and author of Is This Love or Dopamine?, a softboi is hard to define but extremely easy to spot. They use emotional intelligence, cultural depth, and a carefully curated taste in music, books, and aesthetics to distinguish themselves from so-called basic guys.See on InstagramThink of him as the romantic evolution of the hipster. He knows about feelings. Hell talk about his therapist. Hes not into hookup culturebut somehow youre still crying on a Tuesday morning because he said you were too intense after three months of texting daily.How softbois differ from f*ckboys and nice guysAt first glance, softbois might look like a better, safer option than the traditional f*ckboy. But thats part of the trap.A softboi is characterized by being emotionally connected, often politically correct, being interested in culture, and wanting to come off as intellectual, says Sofie Roos, a licensed sexologist and relationship therapist for Passionerad. They give off the vibe of being empathic and deepeven though many times, theyre calculating, doing it to create a bond, a feeling of safety, and realness to get someone more into them.Nice guys, Roos says, also try to present themselves as a better alternative to other men, but tend to emphasize stability and sweetness, contrasting themselves with bad boys. F*ckboys, meanwhile, rely on overt charm and sex appeal to get what they want and bounce.Softbois are sneakier. Theyre the ones who send you long voice notes about intimacy and connection, then vanish the moment you say you want something serious.The softboi aesthetic: Doc Martens, Mac DeMarco, and the trauma dumpThe term softboi may have entered popular use in the late 2010s thanks to Twitter and Tumblr, but The Guardian traced its modern rise to David's now-iconic Instagram account in 2018. Since then, the look and feel of a softboi has become instantly recognizable: thrifted tees, wireframe glasses, deeply niche music references (bonus points if they accuse you of being a fake fan), and a constant need to be understood.Softbois dont always say Im different, but they want you to know they are. They romanticize mental illness. They treat literature like foreplay. They ghost you but still watch every Instagram story. They send messages like, You remind me of a Sylvia Plath poem, and then ask if youre emotionally mature enough to handle them.Theres also a spectrum: some softbois are harmless, even endearing. Others weaponize their wokeness to manipulate partners into emotional or sexual vulnerability. David calls these types self-awareness-as-a-weapon softboismen who know theyre a walking red flag, but lean into it like its hot.Why softbois hit harder in queer spacesEven though the archetype is most often tied to cishet men, softboi behavior doesnt stop at the binary. In queer spaces, the softboi dynamic can be just as commonand sometimes even more challenging to navigate.Because queer folks are often looking for emotional safety, softbois can feel especially alluring. They give the illusion of a deep connection and shared values, which can make it harder to identify when the relationship becomes manipulative."A person thats a victim to a softboi that uses this stereotype knowingly to manipulate and trick them into something that feels genuine and safe to get sex, closeness or something else from their date can get quite hurt emotionally, leaving feelings of being used, hurt and humiliated," says Roos. This can lead to trust issues "when its difficult to open up again, and/or to know if the person you get shown actually is the real person."This is especially true for those whove experienced emotional invalidation in the past. A softboi can feel like a revelation until they start to guilt-trip you for wanting clarity, use their feelings to override yours, or disappear without a word the moment you assert a boundary.Is it always a red flag? Or just a phase?Not every guy who listens to Mitski or has a dog-eared copy of The Bell Jar is a walking red flag. Some softbois are just softand thats okay.Understanding if its genuine or character play, Roos says, is tricky, because the fake ones playing a role are often so good at it that you wont notice until its too late and youre already hurt.That said, a real softboi won't tick too many of the stereotypical softboi boxes in a way that feels too clich or consciously done, Roos explains.Softbois can evolve. Some grow up. Some dont. Your job isnt to fix themits to protect your peace.So, are you dating a softboi?Ask yourself:Do they constantly talk about being different from other guys?Do they rant about hookup culture but still breadcrumb you?Do they say Im not emotionally available while still seeking intimacy?Do they use poetry and emotional intelligence like a weapon?If the answer to more than two of those is yes, you might be dating a softboi. And if thats the case, we suggest this highly advanced coping strategy: Block. Delete. And go make out with someone who listens when you talk.

Asbury Park celebrated its inaugural Drag Queen Visibility Day on May 7, 2025, with a heartfelt ceremony recognizing the contributions of local drag performer Crystal Envy. The event, held at Paradise nightclub, featured a proclamation from the city and a Asbury Park celebrated its inaugural Drag Queen Visibility Day on May 7, 2025, with a heartfelt ceremony recognizing the contributions of localSource

With her fourth studio album Dreamsicle set to drop Friday, Grammy-winning singer Maren Morris is stepping into a bold new chapterone marked by vulnerability, self-discovery and unapologetic authenticity. In a recent interview with The Zoe Report, Morris opened up about her bisexuality for the first time publicly, reflecting on how the journey has helped her connect more deeply with herselfandSource

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Across the country, Catholics and non-Catholics alike greeted Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV with reverence and satisfaction.

The state law, in Washington, applies to all religions but has outraged Catholics in particular. The Justice Department is investigating.

I can't believe I didn't think of this sooner.READ MORE...

Keely Reardon of Chicago kneels with her hands clasped at Holy Name Cathedral, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)2025-05-08T22:27:28Z CHICAGO (AP) After white smoke billowed Thursday from the Sistine Chapel, signaling that a pope had been chosen, students in every classroom at The Frances Xavier Warde School in Chicago had their eyes glued to TV screens.As the image of the new pope, Chicago native Cardinal Robert Prevost, appeared onscreen, cheers erupted through the hallways. Children jumped out of their seats, pumping their hands in the air.Our students are just beside themselves, said Mary Perrotti, director of advancement at the school. Theyre beyond excited and cant believe a Chicagoan is their new pope. They were in awe.Prevost, 69, took the name Leo XIV and replaced Pope Francis, who died last month. The first American elected pontiff, Pope Leo XIV was born and raised in Chicago before undertaking his ministry in Peru. Catholic Chicagoans gathered in churches and celebrated from their homes as the historic decision was announced. Our young people have a model now of a leader with justice and compassion at the heart of his ministries and who is from their home, Perrotti said. Its such a deep feeling of connection for them. Prevost was born in 1955 in the south side Chicago neighborhood of Bronzeville and grew up in suburban Dolton, where he attended Mass and elementary school at St. Mary of the Assumption.He later studied theology at the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago in Hyde Park and taught in local Catholic schools, including at St. Rita High School, according to the school. Linda Eickmann, 62, was also born and raised in Dalton and attended St. Marys. When she saw the news of the new pope on TV, she screamed with joy.How cool is that? she said. A pope from my elementary school, from my town. Its unreal.Eickmann remembered Prevosts family as being so deeply involved in the St. Marys community that everyone knew their names. They ran sloppy joe sales to raise money for the school, and all their sons were altar boys, including Prevost. Everyone at St. Marys knew Prevost wanted to be a priest one day, Eickmann said. Raul Raymundo, co-founder of a local community advocacy group called the Resurrection Project, said Thursday was a proud day for Chicagoans and hoped Pope Leo XIV will continue Pope Francis legacy and Chicagos legacy of social justice and compassion, especially in welcoming immigrants.Theres tears of joy, of hope, of motivation to rise to this moment and leave this world better than we found it, said Raymundo, an immigrant from Mexico who grew up in Chicagos Pilsen neighborhood.At Holy Name Cathedral, about two dozen people gathered to pray as light filtered in through the stained glass windows.Father Gregory Sakowicz, the cathedrals rector, said that when the new pope was announced, the sun came out in the city a coincidence that he described as Gods way of remaining anonymous. He said he was happily shocked, and that he had a burning question: Whether the new Pope was a White Sox fan?When a journalist in the crowd said shed heard Pope Leo XIV is a Cubs fan, Sakowicz chuckled. God bless him, he said. Social media also erupted with excitement over Pope Leo XIVs Chicago connection and people swapped memes and jokes about Chicago staples deep-dish and tavern-style pizza, the Chicago liqueur Malort and baseball. Many users also proclaimed hope the new pope would represent Chicagos history of social justice.For Catholic Chicagoans, to have a native son who has been born and raised in a city where support and care of all has always been central to who we are as a city, it really speaks volumes, Perrotti said. I truly believe his upbringing in Chicago informs his ministries, his compassion and sense of justice. Now, he can give the world a sense of who we are as a city. CHRISTINE FERNANDO Fernando is a democracy reporter covering misinformation, reproductive rights and state supreme courts for The Associated Press. twitter mailto MELINA WALLING Walling covers the intersections of climate change and agriculture in the Midwest and beyond for The Associated Press. She is based in Chicago. twitter instagram facebook mailto

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth listens during a meeting with Peru's Foreign Affairs Minister Elmer Schialer and Peru's Minister of Defense Walter Astudillo at the Pentagon, Monday, May 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)2025-05-08T21:58:07Z WASHINGTON (AP) The Pentagon will immediately begin moving as many as 1,000 openly identifying transgender service members out of the military and give others 30 days to self-identify, under a new directive issued Thursday.Buoyed by Tuesdays Supreme Court decision allowing the Trump administration to enforce a ban on transgender individuals in the military, the Defense Department will then begin going through medical records to identify others who havent come forward.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who issued the latest memo, made his views clear after the courts decision.No More Trans @ DoD, Hegseth wrote in a post on X. Earlier in the day, before the court acted, Hegseth was more blunt, telling a conference that his department is leaving wokeness and weakness behind. No more pronouns, he told a special operations forces conference in Tampa. Department officials have said its difficult to determine exactly how many transgender service members there are, but medical records will show those who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, who show symptoms or are being treated. Those troops would then be involuntarily forced out of the service.Officials have said that as of Dec. 9, 2024, there were 4,240 troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria in the active duty, National Guard and Reserve. But they acknowledge the number may be higher.The memo released on Thursday mirrors one sent out in February, but any action was stalled at that point by several lawsuits. ___ LOLITA C. BALDOR Baldor has covered the Pentagon and national security issues for The Associated Press since 2005. She has reported from all over the world including warzones in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. twitter mailto

Migrants gather in an area near the Libyan-Tunisia border, as Libyan security forces and Libyan Red Cross workers distribute food aid to them on Sunday, July 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Yousef Murad, file)2025-05-08T20:49:14Z CAIRO (AP) Reports of plans to deport migrants from the U.S. to Libya, a country with a documented history of serious human rights violations and abuse of migrants, have spotlighted the difficulties they face in the lawless North African nation.Migrants in Libya are routinely arbitrarily detained and placed in squalid detention centers where they are subjected to extortion, abuse, rape and killings. A U.N.-backed, independent fact-finding mission found evidence that crimes against humanity had been committed against migrants in Libya. Victims were subjected to enslavement, forced disappearance, torture and murder, among other crimes, the investigators found. Dead migrants have been found in mass graves across the country, while tens of thousands of others have drowned trying to escape Libya on smugglers boats. Its hell on earth for migrants, said Tarek Megerisi, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. All they will have are different forms of abuse if they are lucky enough, they will end up on a rickety boat in the Mediterranean, added Megerisi, who is Libyan. A fractured country ruled by militiasLibya plunged into chaos after a 2011 NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. The country split, with rival administrations in the east and west backed by a web of rogue militias. Their main business model is smuggling, and people smuggling is a major part of that, Megerisi said. Both the Tripoli-based government of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and its rival administration in eastern Libya controlled by military commander Khalifa Hifter have denied signing a deportation deal with the Trump administration. Some 800,000 migrants seeking work or who have fled war in their home countries live in Libya, according to the International Organization for Migration. Each year, thousands attempt the dangerous Mediterranean crossing from the North African country to Europe. Despite documented abuses in Libya, the European Union and Italy have for years funded, trained and equipped Libyan groups, including the coast guard, to stop migrants from reaching European shores. Abuse and extortion in migrant detention centersMigrants intercepted at sea or elsewhere in Libya are subject to arbitrary detention and extortion in centers run by armed groups that are either affiliated with state authorities or are autonomous, said Mehdi Ben Youssef, program lead at Lawyers for Justice in Libya. Those groups extort migrants for money in exchange for release only for them to be captured again by another armed group, detained and tortured.Ben Youssef said those who could be deported from the U.S. to Libya would be highly exposed to cycles of crimes.In detention centers, migrants are tortured and kept in horrific conditions, lacking legal representation and proper access to water and health care, Ben Youssef said. Families outside Libya are blackmailed with cellphone videos of their relatives being tortured to pay varying sums for their release payments that often offer no real guarantee of freedom.A 2019 Associated Press investigation found that huge sums of EU funds meant to improve conditions for migrants ended up in the hands of militiamen, traffickers and coast guard members who exploited migrants in this cycle of catch and release. Restrictions hinder groups in Libya from aiding migrantsLast month, Libyas Internal Security Agency ordered 10 international aid organizations to suspend operations and close offices, accusing the groups of violating local laws by providing aid to African migrants, touting a replacement conspiracy theory and resulting in more targeting of Black migrants. Those groups were already operating in a highly restrictive environment amid numerous crackdowns on civil society, Ben Youssef said.Black migrants, and especially non-Arabs, face abuse such as forced labor and extortion more so than migrants of other nationalities, a humanitarian worker in Libya told The AP.Attorneys said Wednesday that U.S. authorities informed some migrants of plans to deport them to Libya. That is troubling because it sends the message Libya is safe when its not, said the worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. The workers team, which travels to reach vulnerable communities, helps with food distribution and provides psychosocial support, has been hindered since Libya ordered aid agencies to suspend operations.Libya is not a safe country for migrants, and the order made the situation worse, said Claudia Lodesani, who heads Doctors Without Borders programs for Libya. Libyan authorities have ordered private medical clinics collaborating with the group not to respond to migrants health needs.Our organization is very concerned about the consequences these orders will have on the health of migrant people in Libya, Lodesani said. More questions than answersFor now, there are still more questions than answers on whether deportations to Libya would actually take place. A U.S. judge said Wednesday that migrants cant be deported without a chance to challenge such a move in court.What would happen to people once they land in Libya? ... Would they be detained? asked Camille Le Coz, who leads the European branch of the Migration Policy Institute think tank. She noted that Libya has a very restrictive asylum procedure, recognizing refugees from only a handful of nationalities.This type of operation is expensive, its difficult to set up, and so, we can speculate that it might be to show that if you get to the U.S. you might be sent to this place that is extremely dangerous for migrant populations and that this may deter people from coming, Le Coz said. ___Brito reported from Barcelona, Spain.___ Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration RENATA BRITO Brito leads international migration coverage for The Associated Press. She is based out of Barcelona, Spain. twitter instagram mailto

Two days after the College of Cardinals gathered to elect a new pope, a decision has been made. Robert Prevost has been chosen, becoming the first American pope in history. He's adopted the name Pope Leo XIV.Leo's ascension to the papacy comes after Pope Francis, a relatively progressive pope when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, died last month.The new pope is from Chicago and is 69. He earned an undergraduate degree in mathematics from Villanova University in Pennsylvania, then received a diploma in theology at the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago.Related: Ross Mathews says queer people 'will never stop fighting'He previously served as a Catholic missionary in South America, CNN reports. He worked in Trujillo, Peru, for about 10 years and then served as bishop of the Peruvian city of Chiclayo from 2014 until 2023.The outlet states that many believe Leo will continue many of Francis's reforms.In his first speech as pope, Leo said, We have to seek together to be a missionary church. A church that builds bridges and dialogue."Opinion: By selecting an American, the Vatican sends a message to Trump's hostility and global aspirationsThe new pontiff also honored his predecessor.Let us keep in our ears the weak voice of Pope Francis that blesses Rome. The Pope who blessed Rome, gave his blessing to the entire world that morning of Easter. Allow me to follow up on that blessing. God loves us. God loves everyone. Evil will not prevail."While he honored Francis, there are some questions about his support of LGBTQ+ rights. Francis made several pro-LGBTQ+ reforms during his papacy. But the new pope has made some anti-LGBTQ+ statements. In 2012, at a meeting of bishops, he lamented that Western news media and popular culture fostered sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel, The New York Times reports. He specifically mentioned the homosexual lifestyle and alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children. As bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, he objected to a plan to teach about gender in schools, saying, The promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that dont exist.Related: Will the next Pope embrace the LGBTQ+ community and a more modest lifestyle like Pope Francis did?However, he has voiced compassion for the LGBTQ community, according to the Meidas Touch Network. But while he may foster a more welcoming environment, he has not signaled any openness to changing Church teaching on same-sex marriage or the ordination of women, Meidas Touch reports.LGBTQ+ advocacy group GLAAD said it looked forward to working with Leo. The group had previously met with Francis to discuss LGBTQ+ rights.The Roman Catholic Church stands on the threshold of a hopeful and inclusive new chapter. With Pope Leo XIVs leadership, there is an extraordinary opportunity to inspire billions around the world and further embrace LGBTQ people with compassion, dignity, and love," GLAAD's CEO and president Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement provided to The Advocate. "He can build on the progress already made and help create a Church that truly reflects the universal message of acceptance and care for all. We are hopeful to collaborate with Pope Leo, just as we did with Pope Francis, to help ensure the Church continues to grow as a welcoming home for everyone.Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, which works for LGBTQ+ equality in the Catholic Church, released a statement saying it was "disappointing" to hear of the new pope's 2012 anti-LGBTQ+ comment. "We pray that in the 13 years that have passed, 12 of which were under the papacy of Pope Francis, that his heart and mind have developed more progressively on LGBTQ+ issues, and we will take a wait-and-see attitude to see if that has happened," DeBernardo added."We pray that as our church transitions from 12 years of an historic papacy, Pope Leo XIV will continue the welcome and outreach to LGBTQ+ people which Pope Francis inaugurated," he continued. "The healing that began with Who am I to judge? needs to continue and grow to 'Who am I, if not a friend to LGBTQ+ people?'"DignityUSA, another LGBTQ+ Catholic group, issued a press release saying in part, "We note that this [2012] statement was made during the papacy of Benedict XVI, when doctrinal adherence appeared to be expected. In addition, the voices of LGBTQ people were rarely heard at that level of church leadership. We pray that Pope Leo XIV will demonstrate a willingness to listen and grow as he begins his new role as the leader of the global Church."Trudy Ring contributed reporting.

American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became the new pope on Thursday, selecting the papal name Pope Leo XIV. The first pope from the U.S., Leo is thought to continue some of the reforms made by the late Pope Francis, who died last month. Leo's thoughts on the LGBTQ+ community have not been widely reported, but at a meeting of bishops in 2021, he lamented that Western news media and popular culture fostered sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel," The New York Times reports. At the time, the new pope specifically mentioned the homosexual lifestyle and alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children. Related: 'JD Vance is wrong,' new Pope Leo XIV once posted on social mediaMichael O'Loughlin is the executive director of Outreach, a resource organization working and supporting LGBTQ+ Catholics. He told The Advocate in a statement that Leo's choice of name is a sign of what can be expected from the new pontiff. Pope Leo XIII is looked to for his support of labor rights during the Industrial Revolution. "From his choice of name honoring a pope committed to justice, to his call for a church focused on peace and dialogue, early signs show that Pope Leo XIV hopes to continue the pastoral outreach of Pope Francis. While we do not yet know how the new pope will interact with LGBT Catholics, the same was true in 2013 on the night Pope Francis was elected, and his pontificate wound up being inspiring to so many in our community," he said.Related: By selecting an American, the Vatican sends a message to Trump's hostility and global aspirationsFrancis was often perceived as being more accepting of LGBTQ+ Catholics than previous pontiffs. Pope Benedict XVI, Francis's direct predecessor, was staunchly anti-LGBTQ+. When asked by a journalist in 2013 about gay priests being included, Francis said, "If someone is gay and seeks the Lord with goodwill, who am I to judge?" He later upheld that the church should apologize to LGBTQ+ people for mistreating them. Though Francis made several anti-trans statements, he met with trans Catholics on a number of occasions. "As a gay Catholic myself, and one who lived for a decade in Pope Leos home city of Chicago," O'Loughlin said. "Im hopeful for the church and offering prayers for the new pope."

Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, actress Portia de Rossi, are settling into a quieter life in the English countryside following a move that surprised many of their fans. After former President Donald Trump won a second term in office, the couple made the decision to leave the United States and start a new chapter abroad. Their destination? The Cotswolds, a picturesque region in south-central EnglandSource

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by Vernal Coleman and Eric Umansky ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as theyre published. Democratic House members on Thursday blasted the Trump administrations moves to shrink the Department of Veterans Affairs and demanded more transparency from its leaders after a ProPublica investigation revealed widespread disruptions across the agencys health care system.There are real-life dangerous impacts for veterans, said Rep. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, citing the news organizations work.This week, ProPublica reported on dozens of emails sent from staff at VA hospitals and clinics across the country to headquarters warning how cuts could, and in some cases are, degrading the agencys ability to provide for the roughly 9 million veterans who rely on it. Hiring freezes and other edicts from the White House have left medical providers scrambling and short-staffed amid an ever-shifting series of policy moves, including the cancellation of contracts with companies that maintain cancer registries, the emails said. Staffers at VA centers in Pennsylvania warned the cuts were causing severe and immediate impacts, including to life-saving cancer trials.Enrollment in clinical trials is stopping, one wrote, meaning veterans lose access to therapies. Staffers at the hospital warned more than 1,000 veterans would lose access to treatment for diseases ranging from metastatic head and neck cancers, to kidney disease, to traumatic brain injuries.On Thursday, the House members, several of whom are veterans, demanded VA leadership provide more details on how cuts are affecting such work, in which service members often receive treatment they would not otherwise have access to. We all want to cut waste, fraud and abuse, but what we see today is when you cancel a contract, it means the end of a clinical trial thats going to save someones life, Rep. Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire said.Notably, Deluzio, an Iraq War veteran whose Pittsburgh-area district includes a VA facility, and other lawmakers said they had learned about the impact for the first time from ProPublicas reporting. On Thursday, they accused agency Secretary Doug Collins of stonewalling their efforts to find out what positions have been laid off, what contracts have been canceled and what future cuts will look like.We want the country to understand that this administration is hiding what they are doing, not just from us and the Congress, but from veterans and the American people, Deluzio said.And the worst part is, we dont know if anyone has died, he added.President Donald Trump has long said his administration will prioritize veterans and not compromise their care.The disruptions at the VA have come even as the department has laid off just a few thousand staffers a small fraction of the employees it said it ultimately plans to remove. Collins has said the agency is developing plans with Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency to cut at least 70,000 employees a number that he has underscored is a goal. Could be more, could be less, he told lawmakers this week.On Thursday, in a post on X, Collins pushed back on criticism, calling ProPublicas reporting misleading and saying it was based on some outdated reports from the internal system VA uses to quickly identify and fix issues across the department.In a statement, VA press secretary Pete Kasperowicz said that Collins was working to fix a broken bureaucracy that has long had problems with patient safety and access to care, among other issues. Unfortunately, many in the media, government union bosses and some in Congress are fighting to keep in place the broken status quo, he said. Our message to Veterans is simple: Despite major opposition from those who dont want to change a thing at VA, we will reform the department to make it work better for Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors.Kasperowicz previously told the news organization that the issues in Pennsylvania have been resolved, though locals there with knowledge of the issues said thats not the case and that the impact is ongoing. Kasperowicz also said in regard to the contracts to maintain the cancer registries that there had been no effect on patients. He added that the VA is moving to create a national contract to administer them. According to some providers, even the temporary disruptions have hurt the care of veterans. One clinical trial to treat veterans for opioid addiction was hobbled by temporary layoffs. We couldnt give veterans a tool that could save their lives, said Ellie Gordon, the CEO of the startup Behavior, which is testing biosensors to alert veterans to the risk of relapse.Collins touted the cuts in a sometimes-contentious hearing on Tuesday before the U.S Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.Were going to maintain VAs mission-essential jobs like doctors, nurses and claims processors, while phasing out non-mission essential roles like interior designers and DEI officers, he said in an opening statement. The funds saved will be rerouted into direct health care and benefits for veterans, he added.Some Republicans at the hearing defended the administrations proposed cuts. The VA has become a bloated bureaucracy, said Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who represents Alabama. I think most of us will agree with that.But Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., pushed back on Collins statements, saying that laying off such a large portion of the staff will inevitably involve letting go of health care workers, like nurses and doctors. You cannot slash and trash the VA without eliminating those essential positions which provide access and availability of health care, he said. It simply cannot be done.Others at the hearing took Collins to task for a lack of transparency. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, admonished the secretary for refusing to provide a list of the 538 canceled contracts since his appointment. Collins said he would provide the information, but only after its finalized.Were looking at every step we can, but also, Im not going to play it out in a public arena, he said. J. David McSwane contributed reporting.

The conservative ire that has roiled Catholicism during the previous pontificate is likely to continue with this first American pope.

The Fox News personality has known the president for decades and would provide him with a reliable line into a crucial prosecutors office in the Justice Department.

Prosecutors added more charges in the sex-trafficking case against Oren and Tal Alexander, who were known as top brokers in luxury real estate, and their brother Alon Alexander.

The president is said to want to create a new top income bracket for people making more than $2.5 million per year and to tax income above that level at a rate of 39.6 percent.

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Jeanine Pirro arrives at Fox Nation's Patriot Awards, Nov. 16, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)2025-05-08T22:47:03Z WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is naming Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, a former county prosecutor and elected judge, to be the top federal prosecutor for the nations capital after abandoning his first pick for the job.Pirro, who joined Fox News in 2006, co-hosts the networks show The Five on weekday evenings. She was elected as a judge in New Yorks Westchester County Court in 1990 before serving three terms as the countys elected district attorney.Trump tapped Pirro to at least temporarily lead the nations largest U.S. Attorneys office after pulling his nomination of conservative activist Ed Martin Jr. for the position earlier on Thursday. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was naming Pirro as the interim U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., but didnt indicate whether he would nominate her for the Senate-confirmed position on a more permanent basis. Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself, Trump wrote.Trump withdrew Martin from consideration after a key Republican senator said he could not support Martin for the job due to his defense of rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Hes a terrific person, and he wasnt getting the support from people that I thought, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday. He later added: But we have somebody else that will be great. Pirro is the latest in a string of Trump appointments coming from Fox News a list that includes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who co-hosted Fox & Friends Weekend.Martin has served as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia since Trumps first week in office. But his hopes of keeping the job faded amid questions about his qualifications and background. Martin had never served as a prosecutor or tried a case before taking office in January. Martin has stirred up a chorus of critics during his brief but tumultuous tenure in office. He fired and demoted subordinates who worked on politically sensitive cases. He posted on social media about potential targets of investigations. And he forced the chief of the offices criminal division to resign after directing her to scrutinize the awarding of a government contract during Democratic President Joe Bidens administration.Martins temporary appointment is due to expire on May 20.Pirro, a 1975 graduate of Albany Law School, has significantly more courtroom experience than Martin. She led one of the nations first domestic violence units in a prosecutors office. After her elected terms as a judge and district attorney, Pirro briefly campaigned in 2005 as a Republican to unseat then-Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton before announcing that she would would run for New York attorney general instead. She lost that race to Andrew Cuomo, son of former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo.Pirro became an ubiquitous television pundit during O.J. Simpsons murder trial, often appearing on CNNs Larry King Live. During her time on Fox News, she has frequently interviewed Trump. In the final minutes of his first term as president, Trump issued a pardon to Pirros ex-husband, Albert Pirro, who was convicted in 2000 on conspiracy and tax evasion charges. In 2021, voting technology company Smartmatic USA sued Fox News, Pirro and others for spreading false claims that the company helped steal the 2020 presidential election from Trump. The companys libel suit, filed in a New York state court, sought $2.7 billion from the defendants.

American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became the new pope on Thursday, selecting the papal name Pope Leo XIV. The first pope from the U.S., Leo is thought to continue some of the reforms made by the late Pope Francis, who died last month. Leo's thoughts on the LGBTQ+ community have not been widely reported, but at a meeting of bishops in 2021, he lamented that Western news media and popular culture fostered sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel," The New York Times reports. At the time, the new pope specifically mentioned the homosexual lifestyle and alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children. Related: 'JD Vance is wrong,' new Pope Leo XIV once posted on social mediaMichael O'Loughlin is the executive director of Outreach, a resource organization working and supporting LGBTQ+ Catholics. He told The Advocate in a statement that Leo's choice of name is a sign of what can be expected from the new pontiff. Pope Leo XIII is looked to for his support of labor rights during the Industrial Revolution. "From his choice of name honoring a pope committed to justice, to his call for a church focused on peace and dialogue, early signs show that Pope Leo XIV hopes to continue the pastoral outreach of Pope Francis. While we do not yet know how the new pope will interact with LGBT Catholics, the same was true in 2013 on the night Pope Francis was elected, and his pontificate wound up being inspiring to so many in our community," he said.Related: By selecting an American, the Vatican sends a message to Trump's hostility and global aspirationsFrancis was often perceived as being more accepting of LGBTQ+ Catholics than previous pontiffs. Pope Benedict XVI, Francis's direct predecessor, was staunchly anti-LGBTQ+. When asked by a journalist in 2013 about gay priests being included, Francis said, "If someone is gay and seeks the Lord with goodwill, who am I to judge?" He later upheld that the church should apologize to LGBTQ+ people for mistreating them. Though Francis made several anti-trans statements, he met with trans Catholics on a number of occasions. "As a gay Catholic myself, and one who lived for a decade in Pope Leos home city of Chicago," O'Loughlin said. "Im hopeful for the church and offering prayers for the new pope."

Susan Feniger, the celebrated chef, restaurateur and LGBTQ+ advocate, has spent more than four decades shaping the Los Angeles culinary scene. As the co-chef and co-owner of popular restaurants such as Border Grill, Socalo, Alice B., and BBQ Mexicana, Feniger has left a lasting legacy not only through her innovative flavors but through her steadfast dedication to community, inclusivitySource

Lea Michele is setting the record straightand stirring the poton the latest episode of Therapuss, the hit podcast hosted by Jake Shane. In a revealing and surprisingly candid conversation, the Glee alum opened up about her strained relationships with her co-stars, the emotional fallout after the death of boyfriend and castmate Cory Monteith, and, yes, that long-running internet rumor claimingSource

Former NFL defensive end Carl Nassib has shared the emotional and deeply personal story behind his decision to come out as gay while still an active player in the National Football Leaguea historic moment that made headlines around the world. Speaking candidly during a recent episode of The Pivot Podcast, Nassib reflected on the years-long process that led to his public coming out in 2021.Source

Asbury Park celebrated its inaugural Drag Queen Visibility Day on May 7, 2025, with a heartfelt ceremony recognizing the contributions of local drag performer Crystal Envy. The event, held at Paradise nightclub, featured a proclamation from the city and a Asbury Park celebrated its inaugural Drag Queen Visibility Day on May 7, 2025, with a heartfelt ceremony recognizing the contributions of localSource

The Cubs and White Sox paid tribute to recently elected Pope (and Chicago native) Leo XIV amid a fandom debate.

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Before he was chosen, Robert Francis Prevost had the papal seal of approval from his predecessor, Francis, who put him in one of the top jobs in the Roman Catholic Church.

The veteran New York City-born filmmaker also directed the sequels to Fifty Shades of Grey and a dozen episodes of House of Cards.

Robert Prevosts maternal grandparents were married near the French Quarter and later moved to Chicago, where his mother was born, records show.

The private Catholic university in the suburbs of Philadelphia has a new most famous alumnus.

The Education Department accused the school of filing inaccurate reports, adding to the growing list of elite schools it has targeted over foreign funding disclosures.

Host Reba McEntire performs "Okie from Muskogee" during the 60th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)2025-05-08T04:02:32Z NEW YORK (AP) The moment everyone was waiting for arrived right at the top of the 60th annual Academy of Country Music Awards: a 14-minute medley of six decades of country classics, performed by giants of the genre. Host Reba McEntire launched into Merle Haggards Okie from Muskogee, followed by Clint Black with Glen Campbells Rhinestone Cowboy and Wynonna Judd with The Judds Why Not Me. LeAnn Rimes returned to the ACM Awards stage for her 1997 ballad Blue. Little Big Town tackled their 2014 track Girl Crush and Dan + Shay delivered their Tequila. It was an exciting way to kick off the 2025 ACM Awards, live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, just north of Dallas. In her intro speech, McEntire mentioned that it has been 45 years since she received her first ACM Award nomination and this year marks her 18th time hosting the show. The first award of the night was for the coveted song of the year, awarded to Cody Johnson for his radio hit Dirt Cheap, presented by Lionel Richie.Theres a lot more to celebrate. Keith Urban will be awarded the coveted ACM Triple Crown Award, marking the first time an artist has received the trophy on stage since Carrie Underwood was honored in 2010.The ACM festivities actually began ahead of Thursdays event. Before the award show, first-time nominee Ella Langley won the title of female new artist; the male award went to Zach Top. And directly ahead of the ceremony, Lainey Wilson was awarded the artist-songwriter of the year title by host Reba McEntire and Miranda Lambert. And for the second year in a row, Jessie Jo Dillon earned the songwriter of the year award.Langley leads the ACM Awards this year with eight nominations, six of which are from her smash hit You Look Like You Love Me with Riley Green. Cody Johnson, Lainey Wilson and Morgan Wallen closely follow Langleys nominations with seven each. Chris Stapleton has six nominations; Green and Post Malone are tied with five. Johnson, Wilson, Wallen and Stapleton are up for the nights top category, entertainer of the year. Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Combs and Jelly Roll are also nominated for the award.In addition to the star-studded Songs of the Decades performance, Langley, Wilson, Top, Stapleton, Ballerini, Miranda Lambert, Megan Moroney, Blake Shelton and Alan Jackson will perform.There will be a few star-studded duets as well. Backstreet Boys and Rascal Flatts will take the stage together, as will Jelly Roll and Shaboozey. Brooks & Dunn will perform with Johnson.Other 2025 ACM Awards presenters include Shelton, Judd, Green, Black, Carly Pearce, Crystal Gayle, ERNEST, Gabby Barrett, Gretchen Wilson, Jordan Davis, Lee Ann Womack, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Parker McCollum, Rita Wilson, Sara Evans, Sugarland, The Oak Ridge Boys and NASCAR driver Chase Elliott.How to watch the ACM AwardsThe ACM Awards are streaming on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch Live beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern and 5 p.m. Pacific. No Prime membership is required to view the livestream.___For more coverage of this years ACM Awards, visit https://apnews.com/hub/academy-of-country-music-awards MARIA SHERMAN Maria Sherman is the music reporter at The Associated Press. She is based in New York City. twitter instagram mailto