No one makes new movies like Gaston!Following the success of Universal's Wicked, which tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West, Disney is working on a new live-action movie about the villain Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, according to Deadline.Unfortunately for queer fans, this new project does not involve out actor Luke Evans, who played Gaston in the 2017 live-action Beauty and the Beast film. Instead, this new "swashbuckling" film will feature a new and original version of the character played by a new actor.Michele Rejwan is producing the film, and Dave Callaham is writing a script after a previous draft done by Kate Herron (Loki, The Last of Us) and Briony Redman.After the success of the 2017 live-action remake, Disney announced in 2020 that Evans would star in a spinoff Disney+ show alongside Josh Gad as Gaston and LeFou. The show was titled The Little Town and was slated to have six episodes."We feel so lucky to have this talented group of people creating a story about two much-loved and much-hated characters, but that's the excitement," Evans told Collider at the time. "There are a lot of questions about where we will start, what will we tell, who are these people, when you visit them where will they be? So it's going to be a really fun experience. Me and Josh are literally vibrating with excitement to shoot it."Two years later, the show was put on hold "for creative reasons," but Evans said there was still hope the series would be made."We just wanna make sure that it is absolutely the best it can be, and if that means we just have to wait a little longer to finesse certain pieces of it, then that's what we're going to do because this is a very important legacy," Evans said. "We want to honor these characters with the best story we can possibly deliver. It's just on hold. It is gonna happen. We're very excited about it. At some point in the near future, it will happen."In 2024, when Evans was on the cover of Out, he revealed that his Gaston show was "sadly... not on the table" anymore. Now, it seems as though Disney has decided to move on with the character, but without Evans.

There's a chance that Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey take their undeniable onscreen chemistry to the stage. According to Deadline, the Wicked: For Good costars are in discussions to revive Stephen Sondheim's musical Sunday in the Park with George, with the show planned to begin performances in 2027. The report says sources close to the project are "cautiously optimistic" about having the two join the production, and they also said the two "excelled" in early read-throughs of the show.In a recent interview with The New York Times last month, Grande hinted at the possibility of returning to the stage, saying, "Its not on Broadway, but its something that Im very excited about and inspired by.Sondheim penned the music for the Pulitzer Prize-winning show, whereas James Lapine wrote the book. It was inspired by Georges Seurat's pointillist painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, which depicts Parisians of different social classes enjoying a day in the park by the Seine. The show is a fictionalized account of who the people in the painting might be, and one of those people is Seurat's lover, Dot. The roles were originally opened on Broadway with Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters in the lead roles.Grande and Bailey have experience in the theater. The latter recently worked with Marianne Elliott on the 2018 production of Company, whereas Grande made her Broadway debut in the original cast of 13: The Musical. Grande's schedule is about to get much busier after wrapping up press for Wicked and throughout her Oscars campaign. Not to mention her upcoming Eternal Sunshine tour that starts in June 2026. It'll be a miracle if she makes time to secure her role for this new project but the Glinda actress is also no stranger to magic.

Netflix's Boots a series about the coming-of-age story of a gay man in the U.S. Marine Corps. has officially been canceled.Based on The Pink Marine by Greg Cope White, the series featured out gay writers like Andy Parker, Dominic Coln, and White himself. The cast also featured five out queer actors playing a wide range of characters: Miles Heizer (as the protagonist Cameron Cope), Max Parker (as Sergeant Liam Robert Sullivan), Sachin Bhatt (as Major Wilkinson), Angus O'Brien (as Thaddeus Beau Sterling Hicks), and Jack Cameron Kay (as Joshua Jones).It's unfortunate that yet another LGBTQ+ series gets canceled after just one season, but here we are. Below, check out how the Boots stars are reacting to the latest news.Angus O'Brien (Hicks on 'Boots')One of the fan-favorite characters from Boots, Hicks, was brought to life by Angus O'Brien. He acknowledged the show's cancelation with a post that reads:"All I can say right now is thank you to the entire cast and crew for filling my days with so much love and care and support throughout this entire journey from day 1.I started this show, newly sober, nervous as hell, and trying to figure out this next part of my life. You helped me believe in myself. My place in the industry, and my worth as a person outside of the work.To friends and strangers who watched and shared a sweet word, your kindness has meant the world to me. To the family I made in this show, my platoon, my friends, my sister for life, I will always carry your pack. That's a promise!"The actor wrapped up this Instagram Story noting that he might take a break from social media. "I'II probably be off the internet for a bit but I'm always a phone call or text away," O'Brien wrote.Angus O'Brien (Hicks on 'Boots')O'Brien shared another Instagram Story, writing:"Love you all. Happy holidays and see you in the new year! Thank you for everything!"Sachin Bhatt (Major Wilkinson on 'Boots')Starring as Major Wilkinson on Boots, Sachin Bhatt wrote:"Thank you to everyone who watched it and reached out. It touched people of all ages and backgrounds. Sending lots of love to the Boots family."Sachin Bhatt (Major Wilkinson on 'Boots')The actor followed that up with an Instagram Story that reads:"Keep telling your queer stories."Jack Cameron Kay (Joshua Jones on 'Boots')@im.jackkaySAD but happy to be here talking with all of you. You have changed my life :) #bootsJack Cameron Kay discussed Boots's cancelation in a TikTok video addressing the fans. Read below what the actor said."Hello. We just got word that Netflix has canceled Boots; we're not getting another season. And, I mean, I can't lie, I'm sad about it. I'm sad to hear it actually, officially said out loud. It's not really a surprise, per se. We kind of knew it was coming, because it took so long for them to say officially, and just like, you know, people talk. There's like rumors and stuff.But, you know, what makes me the saddest is just like reading everybody's messages. Everyone is in my DMs is absolutely shocked. Absolutely shocked. They can't believe it. It doesn't make any sense to them. And it doesn't really make any sense to me either. Like, there are so many factors that go into these decisions that get made, and I can't even begin to know the basis upon which they came to arrive at this decision.But it does just feel like, no matter how you cut it, the show performed well. It did well. I don't even know if Jones would've showed up [in a second season, but] I just wanted the show to continue. Like, I'm proud of it. I think it's a good show. And, you know, it isn't, for now. Who knows? The unthinkable may occur Who knows?But, for now, it's not happening. I'm just sad for everyone who's put years of their lives into making this show. I'm sad for all those people who fought so hard to get it made in the first place. And, yeah, these things happen. This is this industry that we've all chosen to be part of.So, that all said, I just want to express my deep gratitude for everyone who watched the show, who has supported it, who has supported the cast, who has supported me. I think we, in the cast, could feel that the show was successful. No one can tell me the show wasn't successful.But in this case, it just I guess it wasn't enough. But I will always be so proud of it. I'm proud of my work in the show. And I'm grateful for the experience, nonetheless. And Jones still loves you."Jack Cameron Kay (Joshua Jones on 'Boots')Kay also addressed the Boots cancelation on Instagram, writing:"I loved this show. I'm so grateful to have been a part of it. Thank you all for the love you've changed my life. Oorah 4ever."Jack Cameron Kay (Joshua Jones on 'Boots')Kay's most recent Instagram Story reads:"Ppl asking, 'How is this possible?' I wish I had an answer for you. Not much of what happens in this industry nowadays makes any sense.But I'm so proud of what we did with this show and nobody can tell me it wasn't a success."Dominic Goodman (Isaiah Nash on 'Boots')Dominic Goodman, the Boots actor who brought Isaiah Nash to life, wrote in an Instagram Story:"I gained so much from this show; new brothers, new understanding of my own family history with the Marines and a taste of what I'm capable of as an actor. This job pushed me, it grew me and I'm grateful to have gotten such an amazing experience. Thank you to everyone who's watched! More blessings on the way!"Dominic Goodman (Isaiah Nash on 'Boots')Goodman also shared a screenshot of the Boots scores on Rotten Tomatoes, who are both at 90 percent."One for the books," the actor wrote.Ana Ayora (Captain Fajardo on 'Boots')Ana Ayora, who played Captain Fajardo on Boots, shared an Instagram Story that read:"This is the end of our mission. With great honor, deep gratitude and heart, I salute you all for supporting us and this beautiful much needed story. Captain Fajardo, this experience, these humans, this opportunity Expanded my life. I am forever changed."Greg Cope White (author, 'The Pink Marine')See on InstagramGreg Cope White, author of The Pink Marine memoir that inspired the series, also shared a few words in an Instagram post."Writing this episode of Boots was tough. Swim qualification was the first time I'd ever seen Dale fail at anything. But it represents my entire thesis behind this project. Living this moment in Boot Camp changed my life and 'claim your fucking place' became my mantra."I often think what if I didn't write The Pink Marine. My story wouldn't be available to everyone, and this is insane, in the entire world. I wouldn't have met these wonderful actors or the crew that filmed our beautiful show. As always, I appreciate the time anyone spends with my story whether the book or our show. Time is precious. If you have a story in you, please get it out to the world."Greg Cope White (author, 'The Pink Marine')The author of The Pink Marine wrote in a subsequent Instagram Story:"Our Boots cast & crew ATE Semper Fi."Greg Cope White (author, 'The Pink Marine')Writer James Duke Mason shared a post that reads:"This is so sad and disappointing. #boots became a true cultural phenomenon and was in the zeitgeist for months like few other shows this year have. Sending my love to my friend @eatgregeat and all the people who were part of a show that touched so many people and made a huge impact."White re-shared Mason's post and wrote over it, "Thanks for the love of my story @jamesdukemason."

On Friday afternoon at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the 2025 Walter Cronkite Awards for Excellence in Political Journalism unfolded less like a media victory lap than a reckoning. The journalists honored Rachel Maddow, Jon Stewart, Scott Pelley, Peter Alexander, John Dickerson, Julio Vaqueiro, and a range of local and investigative reporters gathered amid an unspoken understanding: The work being celebrated is also the work now under the greatest strain.Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.Presented biennially by USC Annenbergs Norman Lear Center, the Cronkite Awards recognize political journalism on television and digital platforms that meet the highest standards of rigor and independence. This year, speakers returned repeatedly to the same idea: that journalism is no longer warning about a future democratic crisis. It is documenting one already underway.Maddow received one of the afternoons top honors for MS NOWs (formerly MSNBC) The Rachel Maddow Show episode Everyone, Everywhere, All at Once, a broadcast that captured more than 1,400 Hands Off protests that erupted nationwide on April 7, during the opening months of President Donald Trumps second term. The episode stitched together footage from cities, suburbs, and rural towns, presenting the demonstrations not as isolated expressions of dissent but as a national political response taking shape in real time. Maddow attended the ceremony accompanied by her longtime partner, Susan Mikula.In an exclusive interview with The Advocate at the ceremony, Maddow said she remains convinced that the most important political story in the country is not centered in D.C. Our fate is not going to be determined by what happens in Washington and by what the administration wants to do, she said. Whats going to determine what happens to us is the reaction how the country deals with it and the sort of institutional response.That framework, democracy measured by public resistance rather than executive intent, now runs through much of Maddows work across television and podcasting. Earlier this month, she launched Rachel Maddow Presents: Burn Order, a six-part podcast series examining the U.S. governments incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and the suppressed evidence that revealed it was unnecessary and rooted in racial hatred.Maddow described the project to The Advocate as an effort to resist comforting myths about history. Im trying to not just make us remember what we did there, she said, but trying to make us get real about how we think of that as a very black-and-white moral wrong. The danger, she explained, is assuming that injustice only happens when villains are obvious, and resistance is easy. These decisions are hard in the moment, she said.Burn Order traces how an executive order authorized the roundup of innocent Japanese Americans, how internal dissent was ignored or buried, and how a bombshell document, ordered destroyed, eventually exposed the truth. Maddow said she wanted the podcast to function as what she called a moral mirror, forcing listeners to confront how ordinary institutions and individuals can capitulate even when they know something is wrong.Maddow also spoke at length about the podcasts distinctive score, which she said plays a structural role in the narrative. In this one in particular, I just feel like its so integrated with the vibe of whats going on in the storytelling, she said. The score, she explained, is entirely original and was composed by a young student composer the team recruited for the project. When producers asked for adjustments more tension, a sense of urgency the composer turned around new material within hours, including music with a literal ticking clock embedded in it. Its amazing, Maddow said.The themes Maddow explores in the podcast echo her analysis of the present. Americans, she said, are often encouraged to wait for a singular, unmistakable moment when authoritarianism arrives. That moment is here. Its happening, she said. She pointed to the rise of masked, unidentified law enforcement agents patrolling neighborhoods and pulling people off the streets, and the instinctive backlash she has observed from people encountering it. You dont need to read a lot of academic books on fascism to know what that looks like.Maddows meant to make a statement by attending the awards ceremony, she said. She said that she rarely attends awards events, not out of ideology, but out of temperament. Im kind of allergic to it, she admitted, describing a longstanding personal aversion to the ritual of professional self-congratulation. This day, however, felt different.The Cronkite Award, she said, was not really about her. It recognized coverage of mass protests, work that required building something close to an entirely new reporting apparatus, and she wanted the people who did that work to be seen. I wanted to be here in part just to acknowledge how hard my staff on my show has worked to make that coverage happen, Maddow told The Advocate.Onstage, she used her acceptance remarks to highlight the invisible labor behind that coverage. She described her teams painstaking process of verifying user-generated protest footage, systematically scanning local newspapers and TV broadcasts, and reaching out directly to newsrooms to ask whether any material had never made it to air. There is no standing national infrastructure to support decentralized civic action at scale, she said, and building one would require extraordinary effort.The honor, she added, belonged to producers and associate producers who had reshaped their jobs to track political action outside Washington often without precedent, and with little guarantee the skill set would ever be reusable. That reality, Maddow said, was precisely the problem. In a democracy, she argued, journalism is structurally built to monitor institutions, not movements even when those movements may ultimately decide the countrys fate.There are lots of systems in place to cover the powerful, Maddow said. What we dont have systems for is covering the people especially when they are acting politically.That approach has also translated into audience momentum. According to an MS NOW spokesperson citing Nielsen data, The Rachel Maddow Show has beaten Fox Newss Hannity for five consecutive Mondays among viewers in the key demographic. In the most recent week, the program was up 25 percent in the demo, the spokesperson said.If Maddows award focused on public response, CBSs Scott Pelley confronted institutional pressure head-on. Pelley accepted a Cronkite Award on behalf of 60 Minutes for Rule of Law, an investigation into executive orders targeting law firms deemed hostile to the president. The reporting aired amid corporate upheaval at Paramount, CBSs parent company, which, following a merger with Skydance, appointed controversial queer conservative journalist Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of the venerated news division, prompting concerns about editorial independence.Pelley brought up those anxieties while offering reassurance. Last season, all of our stories got on the air, he said. We got them all on the air with an absolute minimum of interference. He also noted the loss of senior newsroom leaders and warned that fear itself has become a growing obstacle to accountability reporting.NBC News chief White House correspondent Peter Alexander was honored for Holding the Powerful Accountable, with judges praising his persistence in live questioning despite personal attacks from the president. In remarks that drew knowing laughter and sustained applause, Alexander reflected on the costs of that role, and why he believes it remains essential.He rejected the idea that journalisms job is to take sides. Im not an advocate for Republicans or for Democrats, Alexander said. Im an advocate for the facts, even and especially when it isnt easy. He described being shouted down, insulted, and publicly dismissed during press briefings, moments that viewers often ask him about afterward. His answer, he said, is simple: My job is the next question. He added, "Those moments reflect on the other person, not on me."Alexander also shared a personal story about his grandmother, Faye, who lived to be 105 and closely followed his work. After one particularly heated exchange at the White House, a critic attacked him online. Faye responded with three words that Alexander said he has never forgotten: Drop that, Helen. The room laughed, but the point landed.Being a journalist does not mean being popular, he said. It means never giving up.Comedian and activist Jon Stewart received the inaugural Cronkite Award for comedic news and commentary for The Daily Show, recognizing satires role in translating investigative reporting into mass-audience accountability. In a video message, Stewart, who couldnt attend because of his Broadway debut, joked about being placed anywhere near Walter Cronkites legacy, but organizers emphasized that his work rests on deep reporting and has helped reach audiences that traditional news outlets increasingly struggle to engage.

Mariah Carey may hold the crown as the undisputed Queen of Christmas, but during the final moments of her Here For It All Holiday Special, all eyes briefly shifted to the crowd. Nestled among fans at Dolby Live in Las Vegas was Rihanna, visibly enjoying Careys climactic performance of All I Want For Christmas Is You, turning a festive finale into a pop culture crossover moment no one expected, and everyone appreciated.The appearance quickly sparked chatter online after video surfaced showing Rihanna smiling, swaying, and soaking in the holiday anthem like the rest of us. Two icons. One Christmas classic. Zero notes required.A Holiday Residency Ends on a HighThe special, which streamed live through a partnership between Apple Music, TikTok, and gamma., captured the final show of Careys holiday residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM. For fans watching in real time, and those tuning in now on demand, it served as both a celebration and a victory lap for one of pops most enduring seasonal traditions.Careys set balanced her expansive catalog with festive staples, weaving together chart-toppers and Christmas favorites in a way only she can. Songs like Emotions, Always Be My Baby, and Hero landed with the ease of legacy hits, while holiday selections such as Silent Night, Joy to the World, and Here Comes Santa Claus reinforced her annual takeover of the season.Still, the nights emotional peak arrived right on cue.When All I Want For Christmas Hits and Rihanna ReactsAs the opening notes of All I Want For Christmas Is You filled the theater, the energy shifted. Phones went up, voices followed, and somewhere in the crowd, Rihanna was fully locked in. The brief glimpse of her reaction became an instant talking point, blending holiday cheer with star power in a way that felt spontaneous rather than staged.For fans, the moment underscored Careys reach. Even global superstars show up when Mariah does Christmas.A Visual Spectacle, On DemandVisually, Here For It All Holiday Special leaned into classic holiday theatrics, snow-dusted staging, dramatic lighting, and Careys signature sense of scale, without tipping into excess. The production complemented her vocals, rather than competing with them, letting the performance remain the focal point.Apple Music subscribers can now stream the full concert on demand, offering a front-row seat to the residencys final bow. The special also arrives alongside Careys latest album, Here For It All, released via gamma., marking another chapter in her long-standing holiday dominance.A Festive Pop Culture Footnote Worth ReplayingRihannas cameo may have been brief, but it added a layer of joy that fans wont soon forget. In a season built on tradition, it was a reminder that even the most familiar holiday moments can still surprise.Source

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel opened the door to a possible quarterback change Tuesday, saying "everything is on the table," after Tua Tagovailoa's performance in Monday night's loss to the Steelers.

Jake Paul, the social media influencer-turned-boxer, who faces former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on Friday night, is hoping to step in the ring against Terence Crawford or UFC star Alex Pereira in 2026.

Twelve of the ACC's 17 schools will play nine conference football games in 2026, while five schools, with already-scheduled Power Four opponents, will play eight games.

Ex-Alabama football coach and current ESPN college football analyst Nick Saban bought a minority stake in the NHL's Nashville Predators with business partner Joe Agresti.

After determining that a man they had detained was not the killer, Rhode Island officials have searched for more evidence and released photos of a possible gunman.

The doctor, Mark Chavez, who had used fraudulent prescriptions to acquire the drug and conspired to sell it to Mr. Perry at inflated prices, was sentenced to three years of supervised release.

Investigators said they were also looking into a trip to the Philippines that the father-and-son attackers took last month.

The latest proposal is designed to deter future Russian aggression. But Russia is not part of the talks and has shown little willingness to negotiate.

The defense secretary joined the secretary of state on Capitol Hill to deliver the first classified briefings to include all members of the House and Senate on the maritime attacks.

A new study of the longest-acting form of injectable PrEP, lenacapavir, has shown no adverse interactions with hormone therapy for trans women and men.Marketed under the brand name Yeztugo by Gilead Sciences, the twice-annual PrEP injectable was approved by the FDA in June, marking a big advance in long-lasting protection against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Related U.S. ships groundbreaking HIV drug to Africa, but slashed funding threatens progress GlaxoSmithKlines PrEP injectable cabotegravir, known as Apretude and approved for use in 2021, provides two months of protection. Cabotegravir in pill form is marketed as Truvada and taken daily.Results of the lenacapavir study revealed levels of feminizing and masculinizing hormones remained generally comparable before and after its administration, researchers shared at IDWeek 2025, an annual gathering of infectious disease professionals, POZ magazine reports. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today In the most gender-diverse Phase III PrEP trial conducted to date, lenacapavir had no clinically significant impact on feminizing or masculinizing gender-affirming therapy concentrations, researchers said.While trans people make up about 1% of the U.S. population, they accounted for 2% of new HIV diagnoses in 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Compounding that statistic, prior studies indicate some trans people at high risk for HIV transmission are hesitant to take antiretrovirals for HIV prevention over concerns about their impact on hormone therapy. Estimates suggest that just 20% of gender-diverse people have used PrEP, while adherence can be as low as 30%.As of 2023, 45% of gay and bisexual men in the U.S. who are at high risk for HIV have used PrEP, according to the Centers for Disease Control in a report issued last year (which removed by the Trump administration from its website in January.A long-lasting alternative to daily medication could be key to improving those low numbers for trans people. Twice-annual lenacapavir injections are also more affordable compared to alternative HIV prevention options, with an estimated cost of just under $60 annually for the drug, versus $160 for six injections of Apretude, and hundreds of dollars a year for daily oral doses, even with health insurance.The study by Jill Blumenthal, MD, of the University of California San Diego and her colleagues looked at interactions between lenacapavir and hormones, including testosterone and estradiol, a form of estrogen. Those hormones are metabolized by enzymes that Lenacapavir can inhibit, potentially affecting hormone levels. The researchers conducted a pharmacokinetic analysis using blood samples from a subset of participants in an earlier efficacy study of the drug over 52 weeks. Among more than 2,000 participants, 14% identified as trans women, 1% as trans men, and 6% as nonbinary (mostly assigned female at birth). Of those, 253 people reported using gender-affirming hormones. Concentrations of estrogen and testosterone in these users were generally comparable before and after lenacapavir administration. Taken together with our prior findings that gender-affirming hormone therapy had no significant effect on lenacapavir pharmacokinetics, these data support the concurrent use of twice-yearly lenacapavir PrEP and feminizing or masculinizing gender-affirming hormone therapy without dose adjustment in gender diverse individuals, addressing a key barrier to PrEP uptake and adherence in a population that is disproportionately vulnerable to HIV acquisition, the studys authors said.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The Trump Administration has issued a suicide note ending all exposure of Russian influence campaigns, Chinese political manipulation, and Iranian extremist recruitment drives that threaten U.S stability, writes Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anne Applebaum.In September, the U.S. State Departments Global Engagement Center ended its agreements in two dozen countries to jointly expose malicious and deceptive online campaigns originating in Russia, China, or Iran, Applebaum wrote in a recent article in The Atlantic. Related Pam Bondi wants the government to create cash bounties for turning in trans equality activists She also mentions the Trump administrations recently released National Security Strategy, which seeks to end most U.S. involvement in its previous foreign agreements.The [Global Engagement Centers] former head, James Rubin, called this decision a unilateral act of disarmament,' Applebaum wrote. It is a suicide note. If the ideas within it are really used to shape policy, then U.S. influence in the world will rapidly disappear, and Americas ability to defend itself and its allies will diminish. The consequences will be economic as well as political, and they will be felt by all Americans. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Applebaum notes that the National Security Strategy ignores a decades worth of Russian cyberwarfare, political intervention, and sabotage; Chinese attempts to economically influence Africa and Latin America and digitally hack U.S. infrastructure software; and mentions no other rivals or conflicts concerning the United States.In fact the only enemy ideology mentioned in the strategy is European liberal democracy, Applebaum notes, adding, Not coincidentally, these are the same people whom the MAGA ideologues hate and dislike at home, the same people who are fighting to prevent MAGA from redefining the United States as a white ethnostate, who oppose the corruption of Americas democratic institutions, and who object when Trumps friends, family, and tech allies redirect U.S. foreign policy to benefit their private interests. [The people who created this strategy are living in a fantasy world, they are blind to real dangers, she writes. They invent fictional threats. Their information comes from conspiracist websites and random accounts on X, and if they use these fictions to run policy, then all kinds of disasters could await us.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

An LGBTQ+ group in Texas has cancelled its 2026 Pride celebration after the city it's based in rescinded antidiscrimination protections.Arlington Pride, hosted by the HELP Center for LGBTQ+ Health, announced on Friday that it is suspending next year's event in light of the city council's recent vote to remove gender identity and expression and sexual orientation as protected characteristics from the local antidiscrimination ordinance. CEO DeeJay Johannessen said that the decision was made in the name of safety. "We cannot in good conscience invite attendees to an event in a city that refuses to provide even the most basic protections," Johannessen said in a statement. "Pride is about safety, celebration, and community. Without local anti-discrimination safeguards, we cannot guarantee those values for our attendees, performers, or patrons."Related: Texas city votes to overturn LGBTQ+ antidiscrimination protections The clause had been temporarily suspended since August due to threats from Donald Trump's administration. Mayor Jim Ross joined councilmembers Nikkie Hunter, Barbara Odom-Wesley, and Andrew Piel in voting in favor of reinstating the ordinance, but the council ultimately voted 5-4 to permanently repeal it. The rule previously shielded LGBTQ+ people against any direct or indirect exclusion, distinction, segregation, limitation, refusal, denial, or other differentiation in the treatment of a person or persons" in employment, housing, health care, and beyond.Trump officials threatened in August to revoke $65 million in federal grant money from the city if it did not remove language related to diversity, equity, and inclusion from its municipal code. Both Arlington and Fort Worth subsequently voted to end their DEI programs and rewrite ordinances to exclude phrases related to race and gender."By refusing to reinstate the Anti-Discrimination Chapter, these councilmembers knowingly continued to deny all local protections against discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations for everyone in our city," a spokesperson for the HELP Center said following the vote. "Every Arlington resident, visitor and worker is now more vulnerable because of this vote."

The Democratic nominee for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas will most likely be a transgender ally regardless of who wins.It's U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett versus state Rep. James Talarico in the fast-approaching March 3 primary election. Crockett filed her paperwork to run on Monday, setting up a showdown for the future of the Democratic Party in both Texas and the United States at large.Over half (51 percent) of likely Democratic primary voters in the state are already backing Crockett, according to a poll from the Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey center at Texas Southern University, with 43 percent supporting Talarico. Crockett leads among several key demographics, including women (57 percent vs. 36 percent), voters 55 or older (59 percent vs. 34 percent), and Black voters (89 percent vs. 8 percent).Though they differ in background and experience, both candidates share a platform based around affordability and human rights. Here's where Crockett and Talarico each stand on LGBTQ+ issues. What has Jasmine Crockett said about LGBTQ+ rights?After entering the U.S. House of Representatives in 2023, Crockett quickly gained momentum as a rising star within the Democratic Party for her outspoken criticisms of conservatives, including the GOP's obsession with trans people.Crockett first made waves for her feuds with Republican firebrands like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Nancy Mace. When Greene made a comment in May, 2024 about Crockett's fake eyelashes, Crockett hit back that Greene has a bleach-blonde, bad-built, butch body. She later clarified that she did not mean to insult butch lesbians with the comment, writing in a post, "Ive always & will always stand 10 toes down with the community & meant no harm to anyone in the community."Mace threatened Crockett with physical violence during a House Oversight Committee meeting in January after Crockett accused her of harping on anti-trans talking points to make money. Mace responded by telling her, If you want to take it outside, we can do that."Crockett's criticism doesn't stop with Republicans. Beyond sharply condemning the GOP's wave of anti-trans legislation in a March interview with The 19th, Crockett also denounced Democrats for allowing themselves to become "divided" over the issue. In this election, we allowed ourselves to be divided. We allowed them to distract us, and we allowed them to talk about the trans folk," Crockett said. "According to them, the trans kids, they want to play sports. That is the biggest issue that weve had. Since when? Since when? Find the little trans child that is ruining your life. I mean, Im just like, what are we doing? Like, what are we doing?Crockett again went viral in May after using her time during a House Oversight subcommittee hearing to play a game of what she called "Trump or trans." Crockett asked National Womens Law Center President Fatima Goss Graves whether an issue the committee focused on was caused by Trump or trans people, with Graves responding "Trump" each time. Crockett's website, which includes a list of legislation she's supported, states that she is "determined to file and pass safeguards for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community" marriage equality, gender-affirming care, and antidiscrimination policies. What are James Talarico's views on LGBTQ+ rights?Talarico, a former public school teacher, has served in the Texas state House of Representatives since 2018. Despite his Christian background, Talarico has positioned himself as a fierce queer ally, even using the Bible to advocate in favor of LGBTQ+ rights as well as separation of church and state. Talarico went viral in November, 2023 for speaking out against a bill that would have mandated the Ten Commandments be displayed in all state public school classrooms. Talarico asked Republican Candy Nobel, the bill's sponsor, "Why is having a rainbow in a classroom is indoctrination and not having the Ten Commandments in a classroom?"Every time on this committee that we try to teach students values like empathy or kindness, were told we cant because thats the parents role, he said. Every time on this committee that we try to teach basic sex education to keep our kids safe, were told thats the parents role, but now youre putting religious commandments literal commandments in our classroom, and youre saying thats the states role. Why is that not the parents role?Upon entering the race for U.S. Senate in September, Talarico responded to a question about his views on trans athletes during an interview with MSNBC by saying, "We need not only the media, but all of us to focus on the real problem at hand.""I think it's interesting. I've been in this race five days, and I've had a lot of interviews with national media no one's ever asked me about the cost of housing," Talarico said. "No one's asked me about the cost of prescription drugs. No one's asked me about the cost of child care. The only thing the media wants to ask me about are trans athletes.""So, what I would say is that the only minority destroying this country is the billionaires," he continued. "Trans people are one percent of the population. Undocumented people are one percent of the population. Muslims are one percent of the population. We are all focused on the wrong one percent. Trans people aren't taking away our health care. Undocumented people aren't defunding our schools. Muslims aren't cutting taxes for themselves and their rich friends. It's the billionaires and their puppet politicians."

For generations of soap fans, Anthony Gearys name will always be tethered to one unforgettable wedding, Luke and Lauras fairytale moment on General Hospital. Offscreen, though, the actor built a quieter, deeply rooted love story that lasted more than three decades.Geary died Dec. 14 at age 78 following complications from surgery, his husband, Claudio Gama, confirmed. While his television legacy remains towering, those closest to him say his most meaningful chapter unfolded far from daytime drama, in a life shaped by partnership, privacy and reinvention.A Partnership That Began Away From the SpotlightGeary and Gama met in 1995, long before public conversations about queer relationships were common in Hollywood. Their bond formed during the height of Gearys fame, yet the couple largely stayed outside the glare that followed Luke Spencer.The two married in 2019, formalizing a relationship that had already spanned decades. Earlier this year, Gama marked two milestones on Instagram: 30 years since they met and six years of marriage. Posts from that period show celebrations centered on friends, food and time together, a reflection of how the couple approached life.Choosing Amsterdam and a New PaceAfter Geary retired from General Hospital in 2015, the couple relocated full time to Amsterdam. The move wasnt sudden; Geary had spent increasing amounts of time there during his final years on the show. Retirement allowed the city to become home rather than escape.In interviews following his departure from the series, Geary described the shift as liberating. Awards, recognition and long scripts gave way to something simpler, shared routines, a chosen city and a life no longer measured by airtime.Amsterdam became the backdrop for their next chapter. Gama frequently documented daily moments online, from seasonal celebrations like Sinterklaas to quiet nights at home.A Small Family, Fully LovedThe couple shared a cat named Max, whom Gama often described as part of their little family. Max appeared regularly on social media, lounging, dancing through living rooms or curled up beside them.Those posts, lighthearted as they were, offered a glimpse into the domestic calm Geary embraced after decades in front of cameras.Gamas Creative Life and Online WorldGama also maintains a personal blog, MMaxi Travels Around The World, where he chronicles daily life in Amsterdam. The site blends travel notes, cooking projects and reflections on home, often paired with videos on YouTube.Rather than celebrity-focused content, the posts highlight ordinary joys, meals prepared together, walks through the city and the rhythms of living abroad.Confirming a Final GoodbyeGama confirmed Gearys death to TV Insider on Dec. 15, describing the loss as sudden and deeply painful.For more than 30 years, Tony has been my friend, my companion, my husband, he said, adding that the news stunned family and friends.General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini later shared a statement honoring Gearys impact on the series and the genre, while extending condolences to Gama and loved ones.A cause of death has not been formally determined, though reports indicate complications from an operation days earlier.While Luke Spencer will forever remain part of television history, those who knew Anthony Geary best remember a man who found fulfillment not in fame, but in love, built patiently, lived privately and cherished to the end.Source

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Despite initially denying that it would do so, the U.S. Coast Guard has changed its workplace harassment policies to downgrade swastikas and nooses symbols which threaten violence against Jewish people, Black people, and their allies from overt hate symbols to potentially divisive ones. When The Washington Post first reported this changing policy on November 20, the Department of Homeland Security (which oversees the Coast Guard) called the report fake news. Hours after the Posts report, the Coast Guards acting commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday issued a memo denouncing the symbols and saying that they both remain prohibited. Related Video from Republican gala shows actual Nazi getting slapped However, the Coast Guard put the new policy into effect on Monday despite its initial claims. The change comes as numerous instances of antisemitism in the Republican Party. The Trump administration has offered no explanation for the changed policy, though its Department of Defense has backtracked a Biden-era policy removing the names of pro-slavery Confederate generals from military bases.Early into Trumps second term, the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security made huge cuts in their departments eliminating positions focused on tracking racially motivated violent extremism and domestic terrorism, both of which are predominantly white and right-wing. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today .@CNN is spreading FAKE NEWS. It has ALWAYS been forbidden for swastikas or nooses to be displayed in the Coast Guard.There is NO reversal. The 2025 policy is not changingUSCG issued a lawful order that doubles down on our *current* policies prohibiting the display, pic.twitter.com/OEvJZHvFDx Homeland Security (@DHSgov) November 21, 2025 Its worth noting that Adm. Lunday replaced Adm. Linda Fagan, a woman who was ostensibly ousted because of her excessive focus on non-mission-critical diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Whats really disturbing is, at this moment, when there is a whitewashing of Nazis amongst some on the far right, and Churchill is painted as the devil incarnate when it comes to World War II, to take the swastika and call it potentially divisive is hard to fathom, said Deborah Lipstadt, who served as President Joe Bidens special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism. Most importantly, the swastika was the symbol hundreds of thousands of Americans fought and gave their lives to defeat. It is not potentially divisive, its a hate symbol.In October, Republican leaders nationwide were caughtproclaiming I love Hitlerand discussing killing opponents in gas chambers in a private chat. Also that month, U.S. Border Patrol published a video that used a song containing the word, k**e, an antisemitic slur.That same month, MAGA Rep. Dave Taylor (R-OH) was caught witha swastika symbol posted on his congressional office wall. He claimed it was put there as part of a ruse carried out by an unidentified group or individual against Republican Congress members.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Steve Kerr acknowledged a leaked email exchange between Warriors owner Joe Lacob and a fan that illustrated frustrations with the team, but maintained that he and Lacob still have a "great connection."

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Nature, Published online: 17 December 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03489-4A chemist faces a classic early-career dilemma: what should they do next, and how do they start?

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Following their buzzy turn as Glinda and Fiyero in Wicked and the upcoming Wicked: For Good, Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey are quietly circling a potential reunion on the London stage. According to industry buzz, Grande and Bailey are in early conversations to lead a revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapines Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Sunday in the Park With George, with plans tentatively targeting a 2027 run.The production would be directed by Marianne Elliott, the acclaimed theater director whose rsum includes multiple Tony and Olivier Awards. While nothing has been officially announced and several logistical pieces are still in motion, sources suggest theres cautious optimism behind the scenes that the project could move forward.If it does, the revival would likely land at Londons Barbican Theatre as part of its high-profile summer musical slot. The venue has become a home for prestige revivals in recent years, hosting productions that blend classic material with contemporary star power.Sunday in the Park With George explores the inner life of artist Georges Seurat as he creates his iconic pointillist painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. The musical examines art, love, ambition, and legacy, with the central relationship between George and his muse Dot anchoring both acts. The roles were famously originated on Broadway by Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters, while the London premiere starred Philip Quast and Maria Friedman and went on to win the Olivier Award for Best New Musical.For Bailey, the project would mark another collaboration with Elliott, who previously directed him in her groundbreaking, gender-swapped revival of Company. That production proved to be a major career moment for Bailey, positioning him as one of the most exciting stage performers of his generation. Elliott and Bailey also worked together again on Mike Bartletts Cock in 2022.Grande, meanwhile, has openly expressed her desire to return to theater, and a Sondheim revival would mark a major moment in her stage career. The Grammy winner has recently shared that her next tour may be her last for a while, as she steps back from the relentless pace of pop stardom to explore other creative paths. Rather than framing it as a goodbye, Grande has described the moment as an evolution one that allows space for acting, theater, and more character-driven work. If Sunday in the Park With George does move forward, it could mark a natural next chapter for Grande, one that trades stadiums for the stage and spotlights her growing passion for storytelling beyond the pop machine.The timing would also align with a renewed global appreciation for Sondheims work, as theaters continue to mount ambitious revivals ahead of the composers 2030 centenary.Nothing is locked in just yet, but if the pieces fall into place, a Grande-Bailey-led Sunday in the Park With George could become one of the most anticipated theatrical events of the decade and another chapter in their increasingly iconic creative partnership.Source

Connor Claytons photography doesnt ask for permission. It invites the viewer in, then dares them to linger. His images of statuesque male models, muscles taut, skin glowing, bodies unapologetically bare, feel less like standard erotic photography and more like contemporary mythmaking.Across his body of work, Clayton presents the nude male form with reverence and intention. Some images feature models wrapped in cellophane, playing with colorful fans, or partially obscured by shadow. Others strip everything away, leaving nothing but flesh, light, and form. The effect is teasing without being coy, seductive without pandering. The male body is not hidden or softened, its celebrated.Theres a confidence in how these men pose that recalls Greek sculpture. Pubic hair bristles freely. Limbs stretch with purpose. Muscles dont flex for attention; they exist, heavy and real. Whether poolside or indoors, Claytons subjects seem grounded in themselves, comfortable with exposure. Its the kind of work that makes you pause, then swoon, then pause again.When Clayton places his models outdoors, the images take on a different weight. Naked bodies set against nature, trees, water, open air, create a rawness that feels intimate rather than staged. The background doesnt compete with the subject; it completes it. Through Claytons lens, masculinity isnt polished into fantasy. Its textured, present, and alive.From Appalachia to Los AngelesClaytons artistic perspective is shaped by contrast long before it appears in his compositions. Raised in a small town in Eastern Tennessee, he grew up balancing Southern tradition with the reality of queerness in a conservative space. Surrounded by brothers and rigid expectations, he learned resilience early, a quality that now defines his creative discipline.At 14, Clayton relocated to Los Angeles, where self-expression felt less like a risk and more like a possibility. He spent over a decade working as an actor and model, developing an understanding of how still images communicate power, vulnerability, and beauty. Yet creative frustration lingered. The desire for control, over narrative, over vision, pulled him behind the camera.That shift crystallized during a moment of doubt familiar to many artists. Driving home from a job that no longer fulfilled him, Clayton heard Dolly Partons Try on the radio. The message landed. Fear had been in charge long enough. Photography became the answer.Contrast as SignatureClayton doesnt box his work into a single collection or aesthetic. Instead, his portfolio reads as a visual diary, varied in location and concept, yet unmistakably his. Contrast defines everything: color against skin, softness beside strength, vulnerability paired with confidence. Its a language he returns to instinctively.While his images feature nudity, Clayton draws a firm line between art and pornography. His intent isnt arousal. Its discomfort, curiosity, inspiration, sometimes all at once. By stripping his subjects down, he redirects focus to lighting, silhouette, and environment. The body becomes a canvas rather than the conclusion.Clayton also speaks candidly about censorship and the limits placed on artists online. While he understands protective measures on public platforms, hes vocal about how often art, particularly male nudity, is unfairly flagged. His work pushes back against that imbalance, challenging the double standard that still governs whose bodies are allowed to be seen.Ultimately, Clayton creates for himself. Control over his art, his rules, and his vision remains central. If audiences walk away intrigued, unsettled, or newly inspired, thats a bonus.In Claytons world, the male nude isnt taboo or novelty. Its timeless, bold, exposed, and finally allowed to take up space.To see the full gallery and explore more stories like this,Gayetys Substackhas you covered.Source

Three months after her exit interview in which she called for new WNBA leadership, Lynx star Napheesa Collier said that while "nothing has changed" at the league level, she remains confident in the future as the players' union works toward a new CBA.