Democratic Senators hosted a Pride event at the Kennedy Center as a direct rebuke to the presidents takeover of the historic arts institution. The Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) hosted the event called Love is Love on Monday night. Produced by Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller, it included several LGBTQ+ musical numbers as well as four monologues from queer actors/playwrights. Related Pride is a celebration and a protest for Jack Miller He will march, storm, yell, scream, and shout to make my voice heard. The show took place at theKennedy Centers Justice Forum to protest the presidents takeover of the institution, along with his subsequent dismantling of its LGBTQ+ and other diverse programming. 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 While the Senators reportedly reserved the space several weeks ago, they only announced it was a Pride event on Monday. Seller told the New York Times that Hickenlooper called it guerrilla theater.This is our way of reoccupying the Kennedy Center, Seller said. This is a form of saying, We are here, we exist and you cant ignore us. This is a protest, and a political act.Sen. Hickenlooper said the night was about the need to continue to seek out the light even in our darkest hours. Tonight, we honor the role that the freedom of expression and the theatrical arts play in continuing to expand LGBTQ rights in America, he said.Performers at the Love is Love protest Pride event hosted at the Kennedy Center by Democratic Senators | Office of U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper Baldwin, who became the first out gay Senator after she was first elected in 2012, added in a statement, While this administration wont say it, we will: To all LGBTQ members of our community, we see you, we respect you, and we are proud to celebrate you.Warren said the event was meant as a way of meeting bigotry with resilience and joy. Tonight, were celebrating that joy at the Kennedy Center, she continued, with artists and stage workers for a special performance. Ill never stop fighting to make sure every single person is free to live exactly who they are. Performers included the DC Gay Mens Chorus; Broadway stars like Jelani Remy, Brandon Uranowitz, and Javier Muoz; and famed playwrights Tony Kushner and Harvey Fierstein, the latter of whom spoke out against the current administration for ostensibly banning his plays from the Kennedy Center, since the president declared there would be NO MORE DRAG SHOWS there. In a March Instagram post, accompanied by a photo of himself marching in the 1980s, Fierstein listed several of his plays that he said had been banned from the Kennedy Center. Several, including musical adaptations ofLa Cage Aux Folles andHairspray, feature either characters who are drag queens or cis female characters portrayed by male actors in drag. Fierstein also noted that many of his shows have previously been staged at the Kennedy Center.Richard Grenell an out gay man and the Kennedy Centers interim head responded to Fierstein and claimed his comments were a total lie. Alexis Michele performs I Am What I Am from Broadways La Cage aux Folles during a protest Pride event at the Kennedy Center hosted by Democratic senators | Office of U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper You arent banned. In fact, come do Hairspray or La Cage here at the Kennedy Center. This is your personal invite, Grenell wrote, somewhat bafflingly considering both shows feature drag performances. Lets meet. If, however, you can handle diverse opinions and want to be inclusive of everyone, that is.Grenell also put out a statement on Monday after the Senators revealed they had rented the space for a Pride concert. He called the move a political stunt, where, once again, the Kennedy Center was being used by political operatives to larp as victims of intolerance. Grenell claimed that no one has been cancelled by the Kennedy Center and that all are welcome. However, the statement contradicts the administrations actions. In March, Grenell defended the elimination of more than $2.5 million worth of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at the arts center. After the president took over, the Kennedy Center beganquietly canceling LGBTQ+ programming, including a planned Pride performance by the Gay Mens Chorus of Washington DC and a touring production ofFinn, a childrens musical commissioned by the center about a shark who wants to let out his inner fish. The Center also canceled all of its previously scheduled WorldPride events.The Kennedy Center hosts about 2,000 events per year and is a major supporter of the arts in D.C. Usually, it stays out of the political fray, but it has been transformed into the cultural arm of the MAGA movement, which probably explains itsdeclining ticket sales.Subscriptions sales for the coming season of venue programming are down by roughly 36% overall compared with last year.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Oh, theyre so back! With the season 2 premiere of Apple TV+s The Buccaneersstreaming last week, fans are hungry for more, especially fans of the sapphic ship Ma-noria. And theyre in luck! In an exclusive new clip of season 2 episode 2 of The Buccaneers,Mabel and Honoria are reunited and ready to take things to [...]The post GLAAD EXCLUSIVE: Watch a Sneak Peek of #MANORIA in New Episode of The Buccaneers: So Do we live together now? first appeared on GLAAD.

Nature, Published online: 24 June 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-01966-4More scientific leaders need to speak out about anti-science agendas and threats to academic freedom across the world.

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BOCA RATON, FLSitting straight up in bed in a cold sweat as she struggled to shake the horrifying image from her mind, pop superstar Taylor Swift reportedly awoke from a nightmare Tuesday in which her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, won an Oscar before she did. It was horriblethey called his name, and I had to stand up and smile as he kissed me on the cheek before going up to accept the statuette from Lupita Nyongo, said the 14-time Grammy winner, breathlessly recalling the details of a dream wherein Kelce retired from the NFL to pursue acting, was cast in a lead role in a feature film, and turned out a surprisingly sensitive and raw performance that made him a favorite to win the Academy Award for best actor. I know its just in my head. I mean, in real life he can barely read without slowly sounding out the words, but the thought of it still makes me nauseous. Oh God, he got to be directed by Greta Gerwig too, and she called him a generational talent at the ceremony. I think Im going to puke. According to reports, Swift managed to fall back asleep only to return to the nightmare and watch as Kelce ascended the Oscars stage to accept a second Academy Award, this time for best original song.The post Taylor Swift Wakes Up From Nightmare Where Travis Kelce Wins Oscar Before Her appeared first on The Onion.

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In 2014, a year before the Supreme Courts Obergefell v. Hodges decision that legalized marriage equality in all 50 states, the anti-LGBTQ+ hate group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) filed a lawsuit claiming that two pastors, a straight couple named Donald and Evelyn Knapp of Idaho, were being threatened with jail time for refusing to perform marriages for same-sex couples.This was despite the fact that the city said it never threatened legal action at all against the Knapps and instead only responded to questions about a private business the pastors owned. Related Conservative org insisted straight couples would divorce in droves if marriage equality were legal Instead, 10 years since Obergefell, the divorce rate is down. The idea that the government would force members of the clergy to perform marriages is absurd. The First Amendment allows religious leaders to refuse to marry anyone for any reason. Members of the clergy dont have to perform marriages for couples of a different faith, and churches can even set requirements for their own members to be eligible for a wedding in the church and the government cant do anything about that. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today But, according to ADF, the Knapps were living in a constant state of fear that they would be arrested if they declined to perform a same-sex ceremony after a federal court ruled that their state couldnt deny same-sex couples marriage licenses. ADF is a legal organization, and apparently, they never thought to inform their clients that their fears were unfounded.This month, LGBTQ Nation is looking back at some of the predictions made by opponents of marriage equality prior to the Obergefell ruling to see if they came true and, if they were wildly inaccurate, why people were making those predictions at the time. And while there were many resources for religious leaders back then explaining that the government cant force pastors to perform anyones marriage because of the First Amendment, a lot of religious people seemed to fear that they would be jailed for refusing.Several states, from deep-red Texas to true-blue Hawaii, even passed laws to protect pastors from being jailed for not performing weddings for same-sex couples, even though state lawmakers, many of whom were lawyers who presumably knew about the First Amendment, agreed that this was not something that was going to happen. Nevertheless, rumors spread on Facebook at the time about pastors being thrown in jail for refusing to marry same-sex couples, including one that was completely made up about a fictitious pastor in Vermont.This prediction, that pastors would be jailed if they refused to perform same-sex marriages, was made in bad faith. That is, it was just something someone made up to scare people into opposing marriage equality.More than that, it played into many rightwing Christians desire to be oppressed. Despite Christianitys stranglehold on American politics, conservative Christians like to see themselves as a beleaguered minority fighting against a system that wants to force them to change their views, a powerful system that they are bravely standing up to. Instead of just admitting that they face some minor social pressure to change their views and plenty of social pressure from people around them to keep their views they lie and say that theyre truly worried that the government is coming for them. [Televangelist] Jack Hibbs said he will no longer perform any marriages in his church rather than be pressured to marry same-sex couples, NPR reported in 2015, just after the Obergefell ruling was handed down. In that same article, Hibbs attacked other Christian leaders, calling them weak, pathetic hirelings in the pulpits who backed down and went into their little cloisters and hit out.Hibbs needed his actions to feel necessary because he was a true believer, a brave Christian. Thats why he needed to believe hed be arrested for only performing heterosexual marriages otherwise, there would be no stakes and nothing to differentiate himself from those weak, pathetic pastors.A third reason Christians made this prediction, though, might have been legitimate confusion that they brought upon themselves. In the years leading up to the Obergefell decision, one of the actual reasons conservatives opposed marriage rights was that it went against their religious beliefs. The Bible opposes same-sex couples marrying, so it should be illegal, the logic went, usually with no explanation about why public policy should have to follow their private religious beliefs. When LGBTQ+ advocates tried to explain that marriage as a government institution is separate from marriage as a religious rite, they wouldnt listen. Admitting that civil marriage and religious marriage are distinct would be admitting that they didnt have as much power over the government and, therefore, over others as they wished they had. I dont think theres any such thing as a separation of church and state, said David Lane, founder of the conservative Christian American Renewal Project, when presented with the notion that civil and religious marriages arent the same thing. The U.S., he continued, was established by Christians for the advancement of the Christian faith. My goal is to return to restore a biblically based culture and a Judeo-Christian heritage.I think that this outrageous decision [Obergefell] that was made last week just puts an engine on what were doing because I think that Christians in America are going to return to the public square with our values. Somebodys values are going to reign supreme our values or militant homosexuals values. LGBTQ+ advocates never pushed to force pastors to perform anyones marriage. They never pushed to ban anyones marriage, either. The battle was always about conservatives trying to reduce other peoples freedoms, never LGBTQ+ people trying to take away Christians rights to live their lives.But many on the right couldnt see that. They assumed that if they lost the battle, LGBTQ+ people would treat them the way they wanted to treat others. Claiming that they would be thrown in jail for not performing same-sex weddings was a way to make that logic concrete because they just couldnt imagine that other people wanted to live and let live.Needless to say, no religious leader has been arrested for refusing to perform a same-sex couples religious ceremony in the 10 years since Obergefell. But in 2022, the claim reared its head once more and made its way into the Respect for Marriage Act, the federal law that requires federal and state governments to recognize same-sex marriages performed by states if the Supreme Court were to overturn Obergefell. That is, seven years after Obergefell with no pastors having been jailed, Congress still felt a need to add a provision to the bill saying that religious leaders cant be forced to perform weddings for same-sex couples, something that one religious leader at the time called a tremendous win for religious freedom despite the fact that it changed nothing and the First Amendment already existed.Misinformation dies hard.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

28 Years Later star Chi Lewis-Parry is talking about the one big thing that's been on everyone's mind since the film premiered last Friday.The long-awaited follow-up to Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later explores how the zombies have evolved after 28 years wreaking havoc on what's left of Great Britain. This includes a variant known as the Alphas, who have grown into massive, hulking, violent creatures beyond even the original terrifying rage virus infectees.Lewis-Parry plays what he calls the "King of the Infected," an Alpha called Samson. Like the other Alphas, Samson lost any use for clothes years ago and spends the film in the buff. And the film does not shy away from unleashing that full-frontal nudity on screen. (@) During a recent conversation with Variety, Lewis-Parry dug into some of the specifics of those sequences. Namely, the conversation acknowledged the necessity for prosthetics to be used for the benefit of one of 28 Years Later's young stars, Alfie Williams."Theres a law that states, I think, because hes a child, youre allowed to have nudity but it has to be fake nudity," the actor said. "It was to protect him. And, as well, Im really friendly and am always hugging people. I wouldnt have been doing that if I was fully in the nip!"Of course, even if prosthetics are in play, anytime there's full-frontal male nudity in movies or TV, people still end up curious and clamoring for details of a more personal nature. So when the interviewer asked how Lewis-Parry's prosthetic measures up to the real thing, the former MMA fighter had a cheeky answer ready to go."Well, Im 6 8," he replied. "Ill say no more!"

BYU secured its highest-ranked quarterback pledge since 2002 when four-star recruit Ryder Lyons, No. 49 in the 2026 ESPN 300, picked BYU over Oregon.

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The U.S. is dismantling key communications efforts abroad, once a major part of its efforts to build soft power. Its rivals are eager to fill the vacuum.

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Young people have always felt misunderstood by their parents, but new research shows that Gen Alpha might also be misunderstood by AI. A research paper, written by Manisha Mehta, a soon-to-be 9th grader, and presented today at the ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency in Athens, shows that Gen Alphas distinct mix of meme- and gaming-influenced language might be challenging automated moderation used by popular large language models.The paper compares kid, parent, and professional moderator performance in content moderation to that of four major LLMs: OpenAIs GPT-4, Anthropics Claude, Googles Gemini, and Metas Llama 3. They tested how well each group and AI model understood Gen Alpha phrases, as well as how well they could recognize the context of comments and analyze potential safety risks involved.Mehta, who will be starting 9th Grade in the fall, recruited 24 of her friends to create a dataset of 100 Gen Alpha phrases. This included expressions that might be mocking or encouraging depending on the context, like let him cook and ate that up, as well as expressions from gaming and social media contexts like got ratioed, secure the bag, and sigma.Our main thesis was that Gen Alpha has no reliable form of content moderation online, Mehta told me over Zoom, using her dads laptop. She described herself as a definite Gen Alpha, and she met her (adult) co-author last August, who is supervising her dads PhD. She has seen friends experience online harassment and worries that parents arent aware of how young peoples communication styles open them up to risks. And theres a hesitancy to ask for help from their guardians because they just dont think their parents are familiar enough [with] that culture, she says.Given the Gen Alpha phrases, all non-Gen Alpha evaluatorshuman and AIstruggled significantly, in the categories of Basic Understanding (what does a phrase mean?), Contextual Understanding (does it mean something different in different contexts?), and Safety Risk (is it toxic?). This was particularly true for emerging expressions like skibidi and gyatt, with phrases that can be used ironically or in different ways, or with insults hidden in innocent comments. Part of this is due to the unusually rapid speed of Gen Alphas language evolution; a model trained on todays hippest lingo might be totally bogus when its published in six months.In the tests, kids broadly recognized the meaning of their own generation-native phrases, scoring 98, 96, and 92 percent in each of the three categories. However, both parents and professional moderators showed significant limitations, according to the paper; parents scored 68, 42, and 35 percent in those categories, while professional moderators did barely any better with 72, 45, and 38 percent. The real life implications of these numbers mean that a parent might only recognize one third of the times when their child is being bullied in their instagram comments.The four LLMs performed about the same as the parents, potentially indicating that the data used to train the models might be constructed from more grown-up language examples. This makes sense since pretty much all novelists are older than 15, but it also means that content-moderation AIs tasked with maintaining young peoples online safety might not be linguistically equipped for the job.Mehta explains that Gen Alpha, born between 2010-ish and last-year-ish, are the first cohort to be born fully post-iPhone. They are spending unprecedented amounts of their early childhoods online, where their interactions cant be effectively monitored. And, due to the massive volumes of content they produce, a lot of the moderation of the risks they face is necessarily being handed to ineffective automatic moderation tools with little parental oversight. Against a backdrop of steadily increasing exposure to online content, Gen Alphas unique linguistic habits pose unique challenges for safety.

Ric Grenell, the recently installed interim president of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, lashed out at Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and producer Jeffrey Seller on Monday, accusing them of boycotting the institution and refusing to perform for Republicans.In a statement posted to the Kennedy Centers X account Monday, Grenell said he was disappointed to learn that Miranda and Seller are working with Democratic Senators and the New York Times to boycott the Kennedy Center, refusing to perform for audience members who dont share their personal politics, and cosplay [sic] as victims of intolerance. Related Narrator of Harry Potter audiobooks calls transphobic JK Rowling a lost cause She has been radicalised, I fear, renowned gay actor Stephen Fry said of the childrens author. I cannot begin to understand what business it is of Mr. Seller or Mr. Miranda how audience members vote or how it could possibly be relevant to the sacred relationship between performers and ticket holders, but theyve made it clear that they wont perform for audiences that might contain Americans who disagree with them on matters irrelevant to the arts, Grenell wrote. 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 Statement from Ambassador Richard Grenell, President of the Kennedy Center:I'm disappointed to learn that Hamilton Producer @jseller and Hamilton Creator @Lin_Manuel are working with Democratic Senators and the New York Times to boycott the Kennedy Center, refusing to perform The Kennedy Center (@kencen) June 23, 2025Contrary to Grenells statement, neither Miranda nor Seller have indicated that they would not perform for audiences whose politics differ from their own. In March, Seller canceled a planned 2026 run of Hamilton at the Kennedy Center, citing the presidents hostile takeover and politicization of the institution in February and the uncertainty that existing agreements and contracts would be honored under the new regime. In his March 5 statement, Seller specifically noted that political disagreement and debate are vital expressions of democracy.As the Daily Beast notes, Grenells statement came the same day as an invite-only Pride concert produced by Seller and staged by Democratic Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) at one of the Kennedy Centers theaters. According to the outlet, Miranda does not seem to have been involved in the event in any way. While the New York Times reported on the concert Monday, the paper was also not involved in its production, as Grenell suggested. A statement from Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller. pic.twitter.com/yTLlrzFAHW Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) March 5, 2025While Grenell claimed in his Monday statement that No one has been cancelled by the Kennedy Center and that we welcome everyone who wants to celebrate the arts, including our compatriots on the other side of the political aisle, under his leadership, several Pride events and performances have, in fact, been canceled.According to the Times, Hickenlooper invited Seller to produce Mondays concert, which Seller said was meant to celebrate gay characters, gay culture, gay music and gay pride.This is our way of reoccupying the Kennedy Center, Seller told the paper. This is a form of saying, We are here, we exist and you cant ignore us. This is a protest, and a political act. The LGBTQ+ community has long embodied resilience, maintaining joy and creativity in the face of adversity. Its what America and the arts are all about pic.twitter.com/ORShlayibp Senator John Hickenlooper (@SenatorHick) June 24, 2025Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

LeBron James has high praise for Cooper Flagg and thinks being drafted by the Mavericks is a perfect fit.

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Delawares Democratic governor on Friday signed an executive order protecting recipients and providers of gender-affirming care in the state.The order, signed by Gov. Matt Meyer at an LGBTQ+ community center in Rehoboth, makes Delaware a shield state for trans people and bans state agencies from providing medical records, data or billing information, or utilizing state resources that could help any criminal or civil investigation against someone receiving or providing gender-affirming care. Related Democratic Senators host Kennedy Center Pride concert in act of guerilla theater This is a form of saying, We are here, we exist and you cant ignore us. This is a protest, and a political act. California, New York, and 12 other states, and Washington, DC, have similar protections for trans people and their medical providers. Residents, along with patients traveling to shield states, can receive care without fear of retribution. 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 Delaware, we cherish privacy, dignity and the right to make personal medical decisions, Meyer said at the signing ceremony. Everyone deserves the freedom to access healthcare rooted in science and compassion.The governors order follows the Supreme Courts decision last week in U.S. v Skrmetti that upheld Tennessees ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth. Violations of that law can result in fines, professional discipline, and potential legal action against providers.U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE), the first transgender member of Congress, weighed in on that decision Wednesday. This ruling underminesdoctors in delivering care to some of the most vulnerable patients in our country, she posted to X. The ruling in U.S. v. Skrmetti bans health care decisions made by patient and families in consultation with their doctors. Once again, politicians and judges are inserting themselves in exam rooms.This ruling undermines doctors in delivering care to some of the most vulnerable Congresswoman Sarah McBride (@Rep_McBride) June 18, 2025The Supreme Courts decision adds to a climate of fear for trans people in the wake of the presidents crusade against trans identity. Since taking office for the second time, hes signed executive ordersrecognizingonly two genders, called for trans athletes to be barred from play, instituted a military trans ban, eliminated x markers on passports, and worked to eradicate gender-affirming care.Delaware has a history of LGBTQ+ acceptance, including its election of McBride. The state legalized same-sex marriage in 2013 and has implemented anti-discrimination laws in housing, employment, and public accommodations.Fridays signing at CAMP Rehoboth Community Center was followed by the first meeting of Delawares new LGBTQ Commission, which will work to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ Delawareans.Transgender Delawareans and those traveling here for care can now breathe a little easier, said Cora Castle, chair of the new commission. This executive order reflects what science and medical experts have made clear for years: gender-affirming care is lifesaving. It also shows what happens when people with lived experience are trusted to help shape policy we lead with both empathy and evidence. Delaware is proving what it means to protect all its people.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Islanders GM Mathieu Darche said that he will not trade the No. 1 overall pick in the NHL draft, "but you look at everything" and could still make a splash.

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The government concluded its case after 28 days of testimony in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial. Defense attorneys are expected to be more brief.

After the justices let the administration deport migrants to countries with which they had no connection, a federal judge blocked the removal of eight men.

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Lavonnia Moore, a 45-year-old library manager, had worked at the Pierce County Library in Blackshear, Georgia, for 15 years. She was ultimately let go when a Christian extremist group filed a complaint to the library after Moore approved the display of a childrens book about a transgender boy.According to Moore, the display (entitled Color Our World) included the book When Aidan Became a Brother (by trans male author Kyle Lukoff), a story about a family accepting a trans child named Aiden while also preparing for the birth of Aidens sibling. Library volunteers created the display as a part of a regional-wide summer theme featuring books that celebrate diversity. Related Man burns 100 LGBTQ+, Black, & Jewish library books on social media video Republicans have been participating in a digital book burning against these communities nationwide. I simply supported community involvement, just as I have for other volunteer-led displays. Thats what librarians do we create space for everybody I did not tell the parents and children what they could or could not add to the display, just as I do not tell them what they can or cannot read, she wrote in a statement. 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 However, the book caught the attention of a group calling themselves the Alliance for Faith and Family (AFF), not to be confused with the anti-LGBTQ+ legal group Alliance Defending Freedom. The AFF had previously been in the public eye for demanding the removal of a mural in the Waycross-Ware County Public Library, which included a Pride theme declaring, Libraries Are For Everyone.The AFF campaigned on Facebook, urging their followers to pray and take a few moments out of their day to email the Three Rivers Library System and Pierce County Commissioners to put a stop to this and show them the community supports them in taking a stand against promoting transgenderism at our local library,In an update post, the group wrote, The display has been removed, and LaVonnia is no longer the Pierce County Library Manager. Please thank the Pierce County Commissioners and Three Rivers Regional Library System for quickly addressing our concerns.Moore and her sister Alicia confirmed that LaVonnia Moore had been fired. A statement to The Blackshear Times from the Three Rivers Library System Director Jeremy Snell explained that the library board leadership decided to move to new leadership for the Pierce County Library. He specifically cited the display of an inappropriate book as his reasoning. The library holds transparency and community trust in the highest regard, Snell said.Instead of investigating, talking to me or my team, or exploring any kind of fair process, they used the at-will clause in my contract to terminate me on the spot. No warning. No meeting. No due diligence. Just the words poor decision making on a piece of paper after 15 years of service, Moore claimed.I am just heartbroken, she said of her dismissal.According to Moores sister Alicia, She messaged the family group and said I was just fired.'I dont think shes doing emotionally good, because imagine having to pack up 15 years in two days, Alicia Moore told First Coast News.Shes heartbroken that a place she gave so much of herself to turned its back on her so quickly. And yes, shes still in disbelief. She didnt expect to be punished for doing her job with integrity and love for all patrons especially children. the sister explained.The sisters are currently seeking legal counsel, and Alicia is urging people to reach out to the library board and county commissioners.Im hoping the same method will be useful to get her justice, Alicia said.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

This year, the city of Baltimore celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first Pride parade with a huge celebration that proved why its called Charm City. Earlier this month, Baltimore Pride celebrated the contributions of sexual and gender minorities with a Pride parade that brought 150,000 people to the city. Hosted by the Pride Center of Maryland, the week-long celebration featured a parade, performances, and countless Pride parties. This years theme, 50 Shades of Pride honors five decades of resistance, queer joy, advocacy, and liberation.We said the best way to honor that [legacy] is to ensure that we highlight 50 Shades of Pride, to let folks come up in any way that they see is necessary, said Tramour Wilson, Chief Director of Special Projects for the Pride Center of Maryland.Singer-songwriter Durand Bernarr, DJ CO, and gospel legend Kelly Price headlined Baltimores Pride in the Park, while rapper Lola Brooke was the star of the Block Party, and Drag Races Lexi Love was featured at the closing party. Keep scrolling to see the protest signs, drag queens, and rainbow outfits that made Baltimore Pride so rich this year!All photos courtesy of Tonya Caver of @caverimaging.How many of these Pride facts did you know? Pride is for EVERYONE! These vintage photos of Pride prove that it is, was, and will forever be about diversity! If you want to celebrate Pride Month, but youre not sure where to start, check out our Pride 2025 calendar and our lists of every Black Pride event, Dyke March and Trans Pride celebration in the country. Don't forget the first Pride was a riot. Know your Stone Wall Uprising history!Is this your first Pride? Here's 5 essential tips you need to know!Want to celebrate Pride with the whole family? Heres how!Pride is a blast but it can also be awkward! These moments are sadly, too relatable. Looking to get kinky at Pride? Heres how to find your kink scene. Pride Month is a time to let your Pride and kink flags fly. Here's how to do it safely.Looking to find a little love at Pride? Heres how to get your flirt on!There are a lot of flags flying at Pride. Heres what they all mean! Want to get busy at Pride? Heres how to play safely.How many of these Pride facts did you know? Pride is for EVERYONE! These vintage photos of Pride prove that it is, was, and will forever be about diversity! If you want to celebrate Pride Month, but youre not sure where to start, check out our Pride 2025 calendar and our lists of every Black Pride event, Dyke March and Trans Pride celebration in the country. Don't forget the first Pride was a riot. Know your Stone Wall Uprising history!Is this your first Pride? Here's 5 essential tips you need to know!Want to celebrate Pride with the whole family? Heres how!Pride is a blast but it can also be awkward! These moments are sadly, too relatable. Looking to get kinky at Pride? Heres how to find your kink scene. Pride Month is a time to let your Pride and kink flags fly. Here's how to do it safely.Looking to find a little love at Pride? Heres how to get your flirt on!There are a lot of flags flying at Pride. Heres what they all mean! Want to get busy at Pride? Heres how to play safely.How many of these Pride facts did you know? Pride is for EVERYONE! These vintage photos of Pride prove that it is, was, and will forever be about diversity! If you want to celebrate Pride Month, but youre not sure where to start, check out our Pride 2025 calendar and our lists of every Black Pride event, Dyke March and Trans Pride celebration in the country. Don't forget the first Pride was a riot. Know your Stone Wall Uprising history!Is this your first Pride? Here's 5 essential tips you need to know!Want to celebrate Pride with the whole family? Heres how!Pride is a blast but it can also be awkward! These moments are sadly, too relatable. Looking to get kinky at Pride? Heres how to find your kink scene. Pride Month is a time to let your Pride and kink flags fly. Here's how to do it safely.Looking to find a little love at Pride? Heres how to get your flirt on!There are a lot of flags flying at Pride. Heres what they all mean! Want to get busy at Pride? Heres how to play safely.How many of these Pride facts did you know? Pride is for EVERYONE! These vintage photos of Pride prove that it is, was, and will forever be about diversity! If you want to celebrate Pride Month, but youre not sure where to start, check out our Pride 2025 calendar and our lists of every Black Pride event, Dyke March and Trans Pride celebration in the country. Don't forget the first Pride was a riot. Know your Stone Wall Uprising history!Is this your first Pride? Here's 5 essential tips you need to know!Want to celebrate Pride with the whole family? Heres how!Pride is a blast but it can also be awkward! These moments are sadly, too relatable. Looking to get kinky at Pride? Heres how to find your kink scene.Pride Month is a time to let your Pride and kink flags fly. Here's how to do it safely.Looking to find a little love at Pride? Heres how to get your flirt on!There are a lot of flags flying at Pride. Heres what they all mean! Want to get busy at Pride? Heres how to play safely.How many of these Pride facts did you know? Pride is for EVERYONE! These vintage photos of Pride prove that it is, was, and will forever be about diversity! If you want to celebrate Pride Month, but youre not sure where to start, check out our Pride 2025 calendar and our lists of every Black Pride event, Dyke March and Trans Pride celebration in the country.Don't forget the first Pride was a riot. Know your Stone Wall Uprising history!Is this your first Pride? Here's 5 essential tips you need to know!Want to celebrate Pride with the whole family? Heres how!Pride is a blast but it can also be awkward! These moments are sadly, too relatable. Looking to get kinky at Pride? Heres how to find your kink scene.Pride Month is a time to let your Pride and kink flags fly. Here's how to do it safely.Looking to find a little love at Pride? Heres how to get your flirt on!There are a lot of flags flying at Pride. Heres what they all mean! Want to get busy at Pride? Heres how to play safely.How many of these Pride facts did you know? Pride is for EVERYONE! These vintage photos of Pride prove that it is, was, and will forever be about diversity! If you want to celebrate Pride Month, but youre not sure where to start, check out our Pride 2025 calendar and our lists of every Black Pride event, Dyke March and Trans Pride celebration in the country. Don't forget the first Pride was a riot. Know your Stone Wall Uprising history!Is this your first Pride? Here's 5 essential tips you need to know!Want to celebrate Pride with the whole family? Heres how!Pride is a blast but it can also be awkward! These moments are sadly, too relatable. Looking to get kinky at Pride? Heres how to find your kink scene. Pride Month is a time to let your Pride and kink flags fly. Here's how to do it safely.

There has been speculation for years that basketball stars Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd are more than just besties. Fans have analyzed press conferences and video footage of the pair together, read between the lines of interviews, and become more excited with every social media post that seemed to confirm the women being in a sapphic relationship. But it wasnt until a sneaky mirror selfie that their relationship was made Instagram official.And while the two young athletes have yet to make a public announcement that they are dating, they have a rich history of on-court chemistry, supporting each other through injuries, celebrating victories together, and clearly having fun sparking rumors on social media. Oh, and Fudd's phone case literally says they are girlfriends. So, ya know.Regardless of their relationship status, the girlfriends and yes, we mean that in the dating sense, not the BFF way have been joined at the hip for years, inspiring endless fan speculation that has now been all but confirmed. Everyone loves a good friends-to-lovers romance!2017: They meet for the first timeThe start of Bueckers and Fudds relationship was a little rocky, with Fudd thinking that her future GF was no match for her skills. The two met in 2017 when they were still in high school and both trying out for the USA National Team. I watched her play and I was like, Oh, I have nothing to worry about this girl, Fudd recalled. Like, I have a better chance of making it than her.But they both ended up making the team, and Fudd even began visiting Bueckers in Washington, D.C., so the pair could work out together, and thus began the start of a friendshipand possibly morethat has captured the publics attention for years.2019:Fudd got injured and Bueckers was there to support herIn 2019, Fudd tore her ACL and Bueckers raced to her side, sent her a bouquet after her surgery, and supported her through her recovery.Through that whole thing, she came and visited me before my surgery. After surgery, she was the first one to call. She was always texting me, checking up on me, and making sure that my spirits were high throughout the whole thing, Fudd told Slam Magazine.November 2020: Bueckers makes sure they play on the same college team@paigebueckersA non ad post!? #uconn #fyp #boogie #basketball @Azzi FuddIn 2019, Bueckers committed to the University of Connecticut, but didnt want to leave her best friend behind, so she set her sights on making sure they both ended up at the same school. Bueckers started a Twitter campaign with the hashtag #GetAzziToUConn and even made a sweet video to convince Fudds family that UConn was where she belonged. She actually made this one video on Hudl of her high school highlights of her passing to people and she showed it to my family, Fudd said. Like she sat down, airdropped it to the TV and said, This is what Ill be doing to Azzi. All the passes will come to her if she comes to UConn next year, shell get all these open shots. Im just shaking my head, my parents are laughing. But it was a Paige moment.The tactic worked, and on Fudd's 18th birthday on November 11, 2020, the two women finally got the chance to play on the same team again when Fudd committed to UConn.2021 - 2025: Their UConn era@hercampusif someone made me breakfast every morning Id be forced to shower them with compliments too @pbuckets67 #pazzi #wbb #paigebueckers #azzifudd #marchmadnessBoth women ended up tearing their ACLs, which cost them two years of playing together at UConn, but for Bueckers last season at the university, the lovebirds finally got to walk out on that court together.The pair frequently had to do press together, which is when fans clocked their undeniable chemistry and eye contact that many interpreted as flirty.November 2021: Slam Magazine cover (@) While playing together at UConn, Bueckers and Fudd graced the cover of Slam Magazine together and did a full in-depth interview about their friendship and partnership on the court. It was a dream to play here, not even knowing what the future would holdwho I would play with, who I would play against, Bueckers said of her relationship with Fudd. Just me wanting to come here for school and to be able to do it with my best friend, it makes it so much better.April 2025:They won a national championship together@thesportingnewsNATIONAL CHAMPS (via _haileysutton/x) #paigebueckers #azzifudd #uconnwbb #champs #finalfourAfter missing so much playing time together and going three years without taking home the Natty, the star athletes finally won the NCAA National Championship during Bueckers' last season with UConn."I think a lot of us, our mindset is like, yes, we really want to win a national championship," Fudd said to ESPN. "But I think most of us on the team are like, we want to do it for Paige. We've seen everything she's been through and everything that she does for us. ... We want to reciprocate that and do anything for her, and we know how badly she wants it."And the two sparked more relationship rumors when they hugged each other after winning the championship game.April 14, 2025: They attend the WNBA draft togetherAll eyes were on Bueckers at the 2025 WNBA draft, and Fudd appeared right alongside her, walking the orange carpet together. Fans speculated that this was a way for them to soft-launch their relationship since no other players had friends sitting with them at their table, but neither woman confirmed they were dating. Bueckers ended up as the first overall draft pick by the Dallas Wings, and when it was announced, the first person Bueckers hugged was Fudd.May 24, 2025: Princess Treatment TikTok video@azzi35Princess treatment every time Im with her #spoiled @Paige BueckersAfter years of fan speculation and rumors, fans felt like they were finally getting some confirmation that the pairs relationship went beyond friendship when Fudd posted a TikTok video playing off of a viral trend and captioned, Princess treatment every time I'm with her, implying that Bueckers spoils her when they are together. Needless to say, lesbians across social media were in a frenzy after this post went viral.June 21, 2025: Did they hard launch their relationship with a phone case?On June 21, Fudd posted a clever mirror selfie that was as close to an official relationship announcement that weve gotten so far. Fudd posted the photo on her Instagram stories of getting her hair done and showing off her new cell phone case that read, Paige Bueckers girlfriend. Do they really need to be any clearer than that?While neither of the women has publicly come out as LGBTQ+ or officially announced their relationship in the press, fans interpreted this as the pair hard launching their relationship now that Bueckers is out of college and playing professional ball.

So regular cheating isnt enough, now we have to worry about micro-cheating, too? Yep, thats right theres a new kind of dating indiscretion on the block and there is a real possibility that you either have or are doing it, without even realizing it or at least knowing it has a name. Discussions about micro-cheating frequently pop up on social media and have even inspired some catchy ditties. @iamkayleeroseThis is what #microcheating looks like and yes it still counts as #cheating But folks are divided on whether or not it counts as infidelity and ultimately that is up to you and your partner. But if that's a boundary that you require in your romances, then it's a good idea to understand what it means, what the signs are, and what to do about it if it crops up in your relationships. To answer these questions and more PRIDE spoke with the experts. Julia Simone Fogelson, an AASECT certified sex Therapist; marriage and family therapist Layne Baker, and Anthony Canapi, MFT, LGBTQ+ dating expert, and founder & CEO of Best Man Matchmaking. Heres what they had to say about micro-cheating and why LGBTQ+ in particular may need to know about it. What is micro-cheating, and where did the term originate?Have you ever asked for someones number, and saved it in your phone under a different name? Or do you find yourself flirting with friends and then feeling the need to delete it? Even if youve never followed through and gotten physical with the other person, what youre doing are some of the many ways someone can micro-cheat. Micro-cheating is when a partner engages in intimate, non-physical and often online, behaviors with people outside of their relationship that leads to a slow erosion of trust and psychological safety within their relationship, Baker tells PRIDE, adding that the term is credited to Australian psychologist, Melanie Schilling.Ultimately, the real issue with micro-cheating is secrecy, explains Fogelson, It's small, secretive acts that a partner would find emotionally inappropriate, she tells PRIDE. So things like sending or receiving flirty texts, inappropriate pictures with other people or emotional connections outside of the relationship.Is micro-cheating a problem?Most would argue that cheating is a major problem in a relationship, and for the most part, the experts agree that micro-cheating is also detrimental to your relationship. Micro-cheating compromises trust, intimacy, and emotional safety, even when the behaviors involved are subtle or non-physical, Canapi tells PRIDE. Regardless of intent or severity, micro-cheating can deeply affect a partner, particularly when they are someone considered a top priority in one's life.Fogelson recognizes there is some nuance here, It depends on the context of the couple were dealing with, she says. Some people can be very forgiving towards one-off actions that can be passed off as a misunderstanding. However, repeated acts of betrayal or secrecy can make it hard for even the strongest of relationships.The issue here, Baker adds, isn't about the specific behavior itself so much as it is knowingly doing something that would be emotionally harmful to your partner. That is the betrayal, which makes it problematic.Are LGBTQ+ people more likely to engage in or be victims of micro-cheating? While Canapi aknowleges there are no peer-reviewed studies indicating that LGBTQ+ folks are more likely to micro-cheat or be the victims of it, he points out that the dynamics of queer relationships could lead to greater instances of it.Because of the closeness and emotional intimacy of your friendships, flirting may be more commonplace, he explains, and the less rigidly traditional relationship structures can also create more space for micro-cheating to occur. These ethical, nonmonogamous, non-traditional structures can create ambiguity around what constitutes micro-cheating, as the definition often depends on boundaries that are individually and mutually defined, he says. Fogelson largely agrees, explaining that queer folks oftentimes have more complex and nuanced dynamics than our straight and cis counterparts. For one, dating circles can often be smaller. Unless you live in a big city, its quite likely that you could have shared exes or tight-knit friendships that can blur the lines slightly, she explains. Also, LGBTQ+ relationships require stronger communication as we need to define our own norms in a relationship from scratch. Hence, theres more potential for micro-cheating to take place.What are the signs of micro-cheating?So how do you know if your partner is stepping out on you, micro-style? Well, the indicators are not that different from standard cheating signs, just dialed down, says Fogelson.Partners will usually exhibit increased secrecy around phones, social media, and certain people. They might have an over-investment in someone outside of their relationship. Another common sign is getting defensive when asked questions or flipping the blame, she explains. Trust your instincts, says Baker, if you suspect something is up, you may be picking up on subtle sighs. Maybe you observe they have cagey behaviors around their phone use when you're in the room or seem disengaged when you do spend time together. If your gut is telling you that your partner seems to be acting differently, it's important to pay attention to that feeling, she says. Even if your partner isn't micro-cheating, you're concerned that they might be... and that speaks to a deeper trust issue that needs to be addressed for both/all of you.What behaviors qualify as micro-cheating? Canapi breaks down other behaviors to be on the lookout for.Texting or DMing someone in a secretive manner- to the point where the one micro-cheating is hiding these behaviors from their partnerRegularly fantasizing about someone else and emotionally distancing from your partner.Confiding in someone else about your relationship problems instead of your partnerFlirting "just for fun" with someone at work, school, or sociallyLiking old or suggestive photos of someone you find attractiveCommenting flirtatiously or using heart/heart-eyes emojis under someones picturesKeeping a dating app profile active just to see whats out thereDeleting messages or clearing chats to hide interactionsSaving someones contact under a fake name or suggestive nicknameLying about who you're texting or hanging out withGoing out of your way to see or run into someone you're attracted toDressing up more than usual when you know you'll see a certain personDownplaying or denying the importance of another person when your partner asksWhat should you do if you suspect or catch your partner engaging in it?Now that you know what micro-cheating is and what to be on the lookout for, the question becomes what do you do if you believe your partner is engaging in it and you want it to stop?All the experts agree communication is the key, but the approach really matters. Dont start with accusations or detective work, says Fogelson. Approach it with honesty and sensitivity. Explain something that youve noticed and how its making you feel. But turn the focus to restoring connection in the relationship rather than trying to out or punish your partner.Being confrontational will only escalate the action at hand, warns Canapi. Having a sincere conversation about what you saw, how you feel, and talking about how this affects the relationship will go light years.What does it mean if you're doing it?f reading this is making you realize youve been micro-cheating Fogelson says it's a tough thing to put your partner through but don't be too hard on yourself. It doesnt mean that youre a bad person, it usually means youre craving something like attention, validation, or excitement. That being said, the approach to get those things is not healthy, so it's time for some self-reflection and ask yourself what you're missing that is making you behave this way. This level of introspection can help to start the conversations you need to be having with your partner, she adds.What you may discover, says Canapi, is that you are not satisfied in your relationship, that you're not fully committed, or that you're avoiding something deeper in the relationship like having lost the attraction you once had for your partner, or that your needs or boundaries are not being respected. Knowing the why is the first step to understanding what to do next. Is your relationship doomed if one of you is micro-cheating?Heres the good news, if either you or your partner have been micro-cheating it does not mean your relationship automatically ends. Lots of couples bounce back from it once the root cause is addressed, assures Fogelson. The main time when relationships spiral is when theyre dealt with poorly. If handled well with good communication, however, it can make your relationship stronger and give you clarity on what you both want.Really it just comes down to both how you and your partner feel about what has occurred and your desire to work through it. Ultimately, you get to decide your own level of tolerance for micro-cheating in your relationship, says Baker. Some partners may choose to work through the issues that led to those behaviors, and others may decide that micro-cheating is a violation of their core values and cause to end the relationship. It's important to take the time to process the impact of micro-cheating on you and your trust in your partner, and decide for yourself if that rupture is repairable.Experts cited: Julia Simone Fogelson, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist, IAPST Certified Psychosexual Therapist, sex and relationship expert at Private Sugar ClubLayne Baker, Licensed Marriage & Family TherapistAnthony Canapi, MFT, LGBTQ+ dating expert. Certified professional matchmaker, dating coach, and founder & CEO of Best Man Matchmaking

The Pelicans are trading CJ McCollum, Kelly Olynyk and a future second-round pick to the Wizards for Jordan Poole, Saddiq Bey and the No. 40 pick in this year's NBA draft, sources tell ESPN's Shams Charania.

Seven-time French champions Lyon, owned by American businessman John Textor, have been relegated to the second tier of French football due to the club's financial problems.

Oklahoma City fans turned out in temperatures approaching triple digits Tuesday to celebrate the Thunder's first NBA championship.