The committees Republican chairman requested that the documents from the Justice Department and former government officials be delivered by Aug. 19.

A widely overlooked part of a settlement with the two universities could profoundly alter how elite schools determine who gets accepted.

In a major shift, the company is open sourcing two A.I. systems, freely sharing the technology with outside researchers and businesses.

Imports from other countries fell around 4 percent from the previous month as President Trumps steep tariffs discouraged businesses from ordering goods.

The wildfire in the Los Padres National Forest grew to 82,000 acres on Tuesday. Officials are still trying to determine the cause.

If you are up for some popcorn-scented queer 90s nostalgia, then youll want to check out the newly released Australian series, Videoland, now available to stream on YouTube.The six-part series follows 17-year-old Hayley (Emmanuelle Mattana), a video store employee in the late 90s, awkwardly navigating her sexual identity through the queer films she discovers on VHS. With help from her quirky and supportive best friend Tanya (Chi Nguyen), Hayley makes her way down a list of classic queer films like Personal Best, Desert Hearts, The Watermelon Woman and more, while trying to work up the courage to talk (and flirt back) with regular customer Jennifer (Tahlee Fereday). She even daydreams herself into the Doc Martens of Corky from Bound in a particularly charming mid-series moment.Mattana as Hayley nails the excitement and anxiety of discovering oneself during a period of great cultural change, where third spaces like local video stores, became a touchstone for finding queer representation. While not all her customers are being kind and rewinding, the video store is a safe space to grow into her newfound sexuality. The supporting cast is full of up and coming Australian actors who have already been making a splash on stage and screen.Videoland was filmed on location in Moe, Victoria, in one of Australias last remaining video stores, Future Flicks.Created and directed by Jessica Smith and produced by Smith and Scarlett Koehne of Pikelet Pictures, Videoland first premiered on Netflix ANZ and Canal Plus in France, and won Best Series in the Comedy Competition at Series Mania.Smith remembers all too well when it was quite difficult to find representation as a young queer person. As a lesbian who came of age in the 90s, I am all too aware of how disheartening, and ultimately damaging, it can be to not see yourself on screen, said Smith. When almost every television show and film is showing you only heterosexuality, the takeaway can be an isolating one.For Mattana, whose play Trophy Boys is currently running off-Broadway, Videoland is an opportunity to explore history of queer culture on screen, even if you didnt experience it firsthand. I may not have been alive in the 90s, but Videoland is a series about the timeless journey of finding yourself, coming of age and coming out, said Mattana. Its such a joy to work on a project that celebrates the rich history of sapphic cinema, whilst joining the canon itself, and doing it all with playful, heart-warming, pastel-hued nostalgic charm. For tender moments of friendship and blossoming love, incredible 90s references, and laugh out loud moments, check out Videoland now.The post Step back into the 90s with Videoland, a queer love letter to the video store era appeared first on News Is Out.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued policy updates effective immediately to prevent trans women athletes abroad from entering the country to compete in sports competitions. The agency said the updates are in accordance with an executive order against trans athletes that directed the Department of Homeland Security to bar entry to trans women from other countries who want to play sports in the United States. Related American Ninja & runner explain how being trans helps them undercut their competitors machismo Clayton Jay Reeves and Charlie Hoskins both tackle toxic masculinity in the sports arena while redefining their concepts of manhood. The policy change is especially significant since the United States is set to host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The press release, issued on August 4, consistently misidentifies trans women as men. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today USCIS will affirmatively protect all-female athletic opportunities by granting certain athlete-related petitions and applications, that had previously been abused and offered to men, only to women, ensuring that male aliens seeking immigration benefits arent coming to the U.S. to participate in womens sports, it said, explaining the new eligibility policies for extraordinary ability visas. This policy update clarifies that USCIS considers the fact that a male athlete has been competing against women as a negative factor in determining whether the alien is among the small percentage at the very top of the field, the release continued, saying the agency does not consider a male athlete who has gained acclaim in mens sports and seeks to compete in womens sports in the United States to be seeking to continue work in his area of extraordinary ability. Male athletes seeking to enter the country to compete in womens sports do not substantially benefit the United States, the agency claimed, and it is not in the national interest to the United States to waive the job offer and, thus, the labor certification requirement for male athletes whose proposed endeavor is to compete in womens sports.A statement from USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser further emphasized the administrations hostility to trans athletes and its refusal to address them by their actual genders.Men do not belong in womens sports, Tragesser said. USCIS is closing the loophole for foreign male athletes whose only chance at winning elite sports is to change their gender identity and leverage their biological advantages against women. Its a matter of safety, fairness, respect, and truth that only female athletes receive a visa to come to the U.S. to participate in womens sports. He then claimed the administration is standing up for the silent majority whove long been victims of leftist policies that defy common sense.The administration has been targeting trans folks abroad as part of its overall crackdown on trans participation in sports. In February, the State Department told U.S. immigration officials around the world to deny visas to transgender athletes attempting to enter the U.S. and to permanently ban any athletes who misrepresent their birth sex on visa applications. The February 24 message, authored by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, directs U.S. consulates and immigration offices worldwide to ban trans visa applicants under a section of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act that issues a permanent fraud bar for people who lie on their visa applications. In addition to targeting trans athletes abroad, the executive order directs the Department of Justice to prosecute schools that allow trans female athletes in female sports programs. It also threatens to prevent cisgender U.S. athletes from competing in international sports competitions that allow international trans athletes to compete alongside cis athletes.Many educational institutions and athletic associations have allowed men to compete in womens sports,the order states, misgendering trans female athletes.This is demeaning, unfair, and dangerous to women and girls, and denies women and girls the equal opportunity to participate and excel in competitive sports. Therefore, it is the policy of the United States to rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in the endangerment, humiliation, and silencing of women and girls and deprives them of privacy, the order continues. It shall also be the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in womens sports more broadly, as a matter of safety, fairness, dignity, and truth.Trans athletes have arguedthat anti-trans politicians who talk about protecting womens sports never fight to get increased funding or discourage the sexist discrimination and sexual abuse that keep many female athletes from competing in the first place.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Nature, Published online: 05 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02182-wA librarian who claims researchers are gaming the system by using fake profiles and inflated metrics explains how the platform can combat misuse.

President Trump is celebrating deals that lower trade barriers on American staples like cars. Experts question how much of an effect this will have.

It was unclear how the agency would respond. Democratic lawmakers left the state to stop Republicans from redrawing district maps to their advantage.

As a three-term as president, he guided the country toward democracy, but he was called an authoritarian at heart and accused of brutality during the revolt that put him in power.

The disgraced financiers former companion said disclosure would harm her legal rights. Jeffrey Epstein is dead, her lawyers wrote. Ghislaine Maxwell is not.

Dgon is bigger and more polished than its New York cousin, and every bit as ambitious.

Its so modern-looking!READ MORE...

Bretman Rock has officially announced the end of his relationship with Justice Fester noting that this wasn't something he wanted to do, but that he "had to do."As seen on various social media posts, Rock and Fester recently traveled to Japan together, as a couple. Now, the beauty influencer has taken to Instagram stories to update his fans.The social media influencer explained, "This video is extremely hard for me to make, so please bear with me. I understand that I've always shared my life with you guys, my day to day, my family, down to my relationship. Since a lot of you guys have been asking in the comments and DMs where Justice [Fester] is, I just wanted to quickly address that we are no longer together.""It was a mutual breakup; it was amicable," the social media superstar added. "If there's one thing I want to get out of the way, it's that we are still friends. We still have love for each other, and I do believe that in divine timing. If we're really meant for each other, then we will find each other again and that's exactly how we found each other this time anyway."See on InstagramRock reiterated a few times that he and Fester are "still friends" and insisted that everything about their breakup came from a "mutual, mature understanding." For instance, Rock opened up about how they valued their "mental health, self-love, and communication" as a couple."If there's anything I do ask I would just ask for some privacy, [and] some time to process everything. Please don't point the finger at anybody. This was truly just two adults. It really came down to a conclusion that this isn't something that we want to do, but it is something that we need to do for our mental health."Rock concluded, "Who knows what the future will bring? But, right now, I'm locked in on myself. I would say this is my self-love era but, girl, I've always loved myself. Period. So yeah, just give us time. It's all love."As of this writing, Fester hasn't commented on the breakup. You can watch Bretman Rock's breakup announcement re-shared on Reddit below. from Fauxmoi

The Mystics are trading Brittney Sykes to the Seattle Storm in a deal that will also send Alysha Clark and a 2026 first-round pick to D.C.

New Jets quarterback Justin Fields and coach Aaron Glenn said they're not yet concerned about New York's struggles on offense in training camp.

In a major shift, Google, OpenAI, Meta and venture capitalists many of whom had once forsworn involvement in war have embraced the military industrial complex.

It was unclear how the agency would respond. Democratic lawmakers left the state to stop Republicans from redrawing district maps to their advantage.

The Trump administration is engaged in an increasingly wide-ranging campaign against data that contradicts its political agenda.

The man accused of fatally shooting four people in a bar disappeared into a rugged forest. An official said the search for him was law enforcements top focus.

You realize youre being upstaged by an animal thats completely unpredictable: As the Delacorte Theater reopens, actors and others recall their favorite memories.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced it will begin shuttering operations in response to President Trump signing a law which clawed back $1.1 billion in funding for public broadcasting. What do you think?A pissed-off Big Bird with unlimited free time? This wont end well.Randolph Phelps, UnemployedHow could anyone trust a media institution without a profit motive?James Quinn, Microphone AdjusterWhat happened to that $20 donation I made in 2008?Lana McKinney, Butter SpreaderThe post Corporation For Public Broadcasting To Shut Down appeared first on The Onion.

The Trump administration has taken its crusade against gender ideology to the United Nations, upending consensus at the world body on issues as varied as womens rights, science and technology, global health, and toxic pollution.The U.S. delegates stubbornly bullying the U.N. over self-assessed gender identity include Spencer Chretien, the former associate director of the Heritage Foundation and a co-writer of the foundations Project 2025 blueprint for Trumps second presidential term. Related UN votes to renew LGBTQ+ experts mandate just after the US withdrew from Human Rights Council The UNs LGBTQ+ rights expert has been critical of the US president. In at least six speeches before the U.N., Trump administration officials have denounced so-called gender ideology or reinforced the administrations support for language that recognizes women are biologically female and men are biologically male, ProPublica reports. Upon his first day after returning to the White House, Trump issued his gender ideology executive order, which claims there are only two immutable sexes, male and female. The order denies the existence of trans, nonbinary, and intersex people, a stance at odds with reality and consensus at the world body. 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 June, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Trk of Austria, criticized American government officialsfor their statements vilifying transgender and non-binary people.The U.S. is sending the world a clear message, said Ash Lazarus Orr with the nonprofit Advocates for Trans Equality, that the identities and rights of trans, nonbinary, and intersex people are negotiable. Examples of the administrations gender ideology proselytizing include a June meeting on chemical pollution, when the U.S. delegate disputed inclusion of the word gender in a document addressing the protection of human health and the environment.At a session of the Commission on the Status of Women in March, the U.S. delegate disapproved of a declaration supporting the empowerment of all women and girls that mentioned the word gender. The delegate said the document included lapses in using clear and accurate language that recognizes women are biologically female and men are biologically male.During that summit, the U.S. co-sponsored an event with the Center for Family and Human Rights. The centers stated mission is the preservation of international law by discrediting socially radical policies at the United Nations and other international institutions. In April, the U.S. criticized a draft resolution on global health during a meeting of the U.N. Commission on Population and Development, calling it a form of soft global governance and reiterating the administrations unequivocal rejection of gender ideology extremism.The delegate who raised this objection was Spencer Chretien, the former Heritage Foundation staffer. Chretien also renewed U.S. membership in the Geneva Consensus Declaration, an anti-abortion document signed by countries including Russia, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, and South Sudan and the U.S. during Trumps first term.But there is pushback in the world body against the current U.S. administrations gender crusade. During a July forum about a document on sustainable development, the U.S. delegate asked for a vote on several paragraphs about gender and reproductive health, calling the declaration part of a radical agenda.The final vote on retaining those paragraphs was 141 to 2, with only the U.S. and Ethiopia voting no.After the vote, the chamber broke into thunderous applause.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Get ready for a night of big laughs and even bigger stakes! Tune in this Wednesday at 8/7c on ABC (and streaming the next day on Hulu) as Academy Award winner and Community star Jim Rash joins forces with longtime co-star Joel McHale on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. When celebrities take the [...]The post TUNE IN: Jim Rash Plays Who Wants to Be a Millionaire for GLAAD! first appeared on GLAAD.

Republicans may be in power right now, but that doesn't make them immune from criticism even in bright red states like Nebraska and one conservatives constituents took that to a whole new level on Monday night. The GOP is no stranger to being heckled and booed at city council meetings, rallies, and town hall meetings just look at JD Vances propensity for inspiring anger in crowds but House Republican Rep. Mike Flood just faced an onslaught of hostile Nebraskans when he tried to defend President Donald Trumps massive spending and tax bill that contains cut to Medicaid, ABC News reports.Given your full-throated support of the bill, whatever we call it, and your view of the facts, Id like to know how you expect tp pay back a lot of this debt that is going to be layered onto our grandchildren because were not willing to make our rich part of our society pay their fair share, one Nebraskan in the audience asked the congressman to cheers from the crowd. (@) When Flood attempted to explain himself, he was drowned out by the audience chanting, Tax the rich, tax the rich!At other points during the town hall meeting, Flood was met with boos, heckling, and people shouting vote him out so loudly that he had to stop talking, including when he was trying to explain that cutting Medicaid was the answer to cutting healthcare costs, despite the Bipartisan Policy Center reporting that the Trump administrations One Big Beautiful Bill will cost the country $3.4 trillion. (@) But it was one Nebraska citizen who took her opportunity at the podium to ask a question that has probably been on many peoples minds these days. While asking a fiscal question where she referenced ICE spending millions every day to illegally detain people, the makeshift immigration detention facility dubbed Alligator Alcatraz, and FEMA dollars being used to open more concentration camps, one woman asked, How much does it cost for fascism? How much do the taxpayers have to pay for a fascist country? as the crowd erupted in applause. (@) Flood may have just entered the find out stage of f*ck around and find out, but he isnt the only Republican who is facing backlash from their constituents. (@) Iowa Republican Ashley Hinton was heckled and laughed at when she praised Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill and defended his decision to accept a jet from Qatar. (@) Angry constituents didnt hold back when Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) defended Trump and Elon Musks sweeping cuts to the government at a town hall meeting in March. The interaction with the crowd became so hostile that Edwards even had to be escorted from the building. Youre taking away my Social Security, f*ck you! one U.S. Veteran shouted while the crowd cheered him on and applauded. (@) Republican Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall walked out of his own town hall meeting early after people angry about the Trump administrations budget cuts and funding freezes made their voices heard. The senator was booed as he entered the meeting and was quickly asked questions about veterans being fired by Musks Department of Government Efficiency, but instead of answering his constituents questions, he ended the meeting and walked out. (@) Florida GOP Rep. Byron Donalds faced a contentious crowd at a town hall in April. The attendees shouted from the crowd while the congressman kept asking, do you want to yell, or do you want to hear? The crowd erupted into applause when one person asked, Do you approve of Elon and DOGE invading our Social Security files? But Donalds only got boos when he tried to answer. (@) And these are all just examples of Republicans being shut down by their own constituents since Trump took office. We hate to see the damage the Republican Party is doing every day they hold onto power, but it's highly satisfying to see them squirm when their voters hold them accountable!

As expected, quarterbacks were popular early on, which meant some quality wide receivers and players with upside were available in the middle rounds.

Phillies reliever Jose Alvarado, who is nearing completion of his 80-game ban for violating MLB's drug policy, apologized to teammates and fans for his "mistake."

The Royal Ballet and Opera said it was scrapping performances in Tel Aviv next year, after nearly 200 staff members signed an open letter criticizing its stance on the war in Gaza.

New Yorkers of various faiths heaped praise on the incumbent mayor, whose path to re-election appears steep, and compared him to biblical figures.

Very few people know what its like to recover, physically and emotionally, from a shark bite. But some of the ones who do are ready to help.

SYDNEYSaying the ruse began as a harmless prank about the continents mammals having pouches, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese admitted Tuesday that all those animals like wallabies, numbats, quokkas, and bandicoots were completely made up. We just assumed everyone would have caught on by now, because these creatures are clearly imaginary, said Albanese, adding that Australians were shocked that the rest of the world could be so gullible as to think there was actually an animal called a wombat whose poop came out in cubes. I mean, come onkultarrs, bettongs, wambengers? Their names sound like something out of Dr. Seuss. Once we realized people actually believed in kangaroos and koalas, we started making up even crazier stuff, just to see if theyd fall for it. Like the echidna, a spiny egg-laying mammal with a four-headed penis. You thought that thing was really running around in the Australian woods and not just a dumb joke we made up to amuse ourselves?In reality, our wildlife here is pretty boring: squirrels, some deer, a few bears. All pretty normal stuff. At press time, the prime minister acknowledged that Australia had also made up Steve Irwin.The post Australia Admits All Those Animals Made Up appeared first on The Onion.

On Sunday, Texas Democrats denied House Republicans a quorum to approve a new Congressional map redrawn to add GOP seats to the slim majority Republicans hold in the U.S. House of Representatives.They did it by fleeing the state. Related Republicans are redistricting to get more seats in Congress. It could cost a lesbian her district. Rep. Julie Johnsons district will shift to the right if a proposed district map is adopted. While the Republicans gerrymandering power grab was top of mind for Texas Dems, another piece of legislation will also die without a vote if the lawmakers make good on their promise to stay absent from a special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) to push the redistricting plan through the Republican-dominated House.On Monday, Texas Senate Republicans passed a draconian new anti-trans bathroom bill through committee that provides a rigid penalty system for any facility that does not comply. A first offense would trigger a $5,000 fine, while subsequent violations would earn $25,000 fines for each infraction, the Dallas Observer reports. 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 Sponsors added S.B. 7 to the special session agenda at the request of Abbott, who called the discriminatory legislation a priority.If Democrats remain out of state for the next two weeks, the quorum break-up would last through the sessions expiration. That means that even if S.B. 7 passes the Senate, it would be dead on arrival in the Texas House of Representatives.Out state Sen. Venton Jones (D), who made news earlier this year when he proposed to his boyfriend on the Texas House floor, urged the public to testify against the bill regardless of its poor prospects in the Democrats absence, as he stood on a tarmac about to leave the state.Texas, its time to stand up against harmful legislation targeting the LGBTQ community, Jones posted to Instagram. S.B. 7 aims to erase transgender, non-binary, and intersex Texans from public life spaces. We encourage Texans to show up and testify against this bill, and to follow organizations like Equality Texas to stay informed and get involved in the defense of this special session. View this post on Instagram A post shared by State Representative Venton Jones (@ventonjonestx)Venton makes clear that at least for him, and it would seem to be the LGBTQ caucus as well, the quorum break was not only about ending the redistricting plan, but also cutting short these discriminatory bills like SB 7, said a spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality Texas.While the maneuver might have been about redistricting, I think the timing considered what other legislation was still on the table.Over 100 people signed up to testify for and against S.B. 7 at Mondays hearing.I was born female and I continue to identify as a woman, but I get mistaken for a man or a teenage boy when I go to the bathroom. I am who this bill claims to protect, but in execution, I will only be harmed, said Caroline Green, an Austin resident.While the extraordinary, mid-decade redistricting plan wont affect state lawmakers like Jones, it does put the seat of Texas only out member of Congress, Rep. Julie Johnson (D), in jeopardy.The new map would turn Johnsons district from 68% Democratic to 60% Republican,theDallas Voicereports. Texas 32nd Congressional Districtcurrently includes parts of Plano and Dallas. The new district would only include a portion of Dallas and more rural parts of eastern Texas. Johnson called the proposed map a disaster and a desperate move from a party losing its grip on a changing state.In 2021, when Johnson represented Dallas as a state representative, she and her Texas House Democratic colleagues fled the state in another walkout, denying Republicans a quorum, slowing down a right-wing, so-called voting rights bill from passage.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Yeshivat Chovevei Torah an all-male Orthodox Jewish rabbinical school in Riverdale, New York has ordained its first out gay rabbi, Tadhg Cleary.Clearys June 12 ordination ceremony came six years after the school refused to ordain another gay student whose public wedding engagement went viral online, Forward reported. The head rabbi who refused to ordain the gay student, Rabbi Dov Linzer, gave his blessing for Clearys ordination, calling him an enormous [Torah scholar] who is God-fearing, scrupulous in his observance and happens to be gay. Related 21 Jewish American LGBTQ+ people who are making history Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month with these history-making artists and activists. We want to be giving semicha to him for the totality of who he is, not to turn him into a symbol or a statement, Linzer said. If we were interested in making a statement, you would have heard about it from us first.Cleary reportedly informed the school of his sexual orientation before he applied and said that he would only accept admittance if he could live as a fully out gay man. However, his admittance and ordination put the school in a challenging position since it follows Modern Orthodox Judaism, which combines secular ideas with a commitment to Jewish law. The Torah (the central Jewish religious text) explicitly prohibits same-sex intercourse. But progressive Orthodox Jews have long been pushing the denomination to be more inclusive. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Before his ordination, Cleary had spent over 14 years in post-secondary Torah study, including a decade at a prestigious yeshiva in Israel. Originally from New Zealand, he has run youth camps, led high holiday services, and even overseen kosher industrial slaughter, the aforementioned publication reported. While working at the Israeli yeshiva, his superiors told him that he could either keep his job or be an out gay man, but not both. He remained closeted while looking for a new workplace.The idea that I wanted to be a rabbi has been with me for a long time, said Cleary. I came to realize was that it was not a binary choice I did not have to distinguish between my life as a frum [observant] person and my life as a gay man. In fact, to live my life fully as a frum person meant to live my life as a gay man, because if the Torah is to speak to us and uplift us and sanctify us, then it must speak to the real us. Cleary now plans to marry his current partner, something the school asked that he not do during his studies, as it wasnt prepared to ordain a man in a same-sex marriage. Cleary said if he had felt strongly about marrying his partner during his rabbinical studies, he wouldnt have enrolled in the school in the first place.The school changed its prohibition on ordaining out gay students after the schools alumni, students, and former head rabbi criticized the school for choosing not to ordain a gay student in 2019. Following the blowback for its decision, the school created an advisory committee for handling out gay students and decided to consider each gay applicant individually.The number of Orthodox rabbis has been falling in recent years, and The Rabbinical Council of America, which represents Orthodox rabbis, has refused to accredit Clearys rabbinical school, effectively barring its graduates from serving in numerous Orthodox institutions nationwide. Sadly, the recent examples of Orthodox Judaisms anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment are numerous. This year, Yeshiva University, a private Orthodox Jewish school in New York City, finally recognized its on-campus LGBTQ+ student club, following a years-long legal battle.In 2023, the Kehillas Hollywood Hills Orthodox congregation in South Florida banned one of its congregants, social worker Brian Mandel, for being gay. In 2022, a teacher named Talia Avrahami, was asked to leave her Jewish Orthodox school and synagogue because of her transgender identity.Although Jewish Orthodox rabbis have argued that this religious queerphobia stems more from adherence to Jewish law rather than anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment, Orthodox Jewish queer folks and their allies have continually pushed for inclusion as valuable community members rather than accept exclusion from their faith. They point out that Orthodox institutions arent as opposed to people who violate other parts of Jewish law, like people who drive on Shabbat (the day of rest that extends from Friday evening to Saturday evening) or those who violate kosher dietary laws. And at the end of the day, we have to do whats right, Cleary said, adding that he expects some Orthodox Jewish people and organizations to hate his ordination.I guess thats part of the story of the yeshiva, he added. We do what we think is right even if it leads to certain reactions.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

To celebrate National Underwear Day, one intrepid citizen who should honestly win an award for the idea took to social media to ask people to post their best pics, and the results are so hot itll make you feral.@styledinred on X (formerly Twitter) started the post off right with photos of Will Sharpe in a pair of blue boxer briefs from the second season of White Lotus that sent the gays into a tailspin when it first aired.After that initial post, the floodgates opened and people started dropping photos of extremely hot celebs Calvin Klein ads were a particularly popular choice and some devious selfies that are hot enough to melt your brain.Do we need a reason to ogle hot men (respectfully!) on the internet? No. Were not complaining.So happy National Underwear Day, everyone! (@) (@) Taylor Zakhar PerezAmerican actor is one of many reasons to watch Red, White & Royal Blue. (@) Cooper Koch's Calvin Klein ad will go down in history as one of he hottest things put to film. (@) You really can't go wrong with Calvin Klein. (@) Celebrity pics are great, but some commenters decided to gift us with photos themselves, and we'll forever be thankful. (@) Can't get enough of these mirror selfies! (@) Other people didn't share a photo; they just got very...creative with their words. (@) Again, Calvin Klein can do no wrong. (@) He could lose the hoodie, but we're enjoying the view! (@) Listen, this just proves you can be hot and cry at the same time! (@) We could honestly look at Shawn Mendes' Calvin Klein ads all day, every day. (@) The camera could pan a little lower, but we'll take it! (@) Commenters posting their own pics may just be the highlight of National Underwear Day. (@) Yep, definitely the highlight...

If youve ever wondered what would happen if you crossed vintage gay erotica with a cigar-smoking ginger lounging next to a pile of Oscars in the desert, Red Hot XXL is your answer.The latest project from photographer and creative director Thomas Knights is easily his most ambitious to date. Tapping into two pillars of queer erotic fascination, the mythos of the well-endowed man and the redhead: Red Hot XXL is a full-frontal celebration of desire and visibility. Think: more fire and more sensual red-headed glory to celebrate in all of its beauty.A Calendar Thats Anything But ModestLaunching with a 2026 calendar, Red Hot XXL features a striking international cast of redheaded men, captured in images that straddle the line between art and unapologetic eroticism. The calendars visual language pulls from the playbooks of 70s gay magazines but leans into modern-day quality and storytelling.You may be asking what one of the standout series was? A model, alone in a lush, overgrown terrain, gazes into the distance, lost in thought or fantasy. In another frame, he lies across the grass, trousers pooled around his knees, surrounded by his strewn hiking gear. Theres a raw, exploratory mood that runs throughout.And then theres my personal favorite: a pack of ginger men inhabiting a sun-soaked, retro desert home. One is poolside, cheeks out, cleaning the pool. Another slicks his wet hair back with while seductively looking downward. One is casually naked, wiping down an Oscar statue (as one does), while the calmest of the bunch lounges in a chair, smoking a cigar with absolute nonchalance, his mini table of Oscars shining in the sun. Its cheeky, cinematic, and wonderfully surreal.From the Page to the Gallery WallThe project extends beyond the calendar with a large-scale hardcover art book and a globe-trotting exhibition featuring over 100 photographs. The book extends beyond just a series of photos and move into an archive of pure beauty. The work captures alumni from earlier Red Hot editions, cult adult entertainers, and some fresh faces sure to stir attention.Beyond the images, the book includes essays and reflections from queer creatives, academics, and adult film veterans, anchoring the erotic visuals in cultural and historical context.Casting Call: Ginger and Gifted?Red Hot XXL is also putting out the call for the next wave of talent. Submissions are open now at redhotxxl.com, with anonymity an option for those feeling shy but well-qualified. This is an 18+ party, and youll want to bring more than a pretty face.Kickstarter: More Than a Pre-OrderTrue to form, Red Hot XXL is launching via Kickstarter. These campaigns have been the beating heart of the brand since its inception, funding not only production but also keeping the community around the project vibrant and involved. This campaign includes exclusive rewards and early access options, and with the buzz already building, its poised to be Red Hots biggest yet.The Man Behind the MythosThomas Knights has been behind every Red Hot project since 2013, when the original exhibition challenged how redheaded men were viewed in media. That launch exploded into a global movement, redefining ginger desirability and reclaiming the narrative around pale, freckled bodies.Beyond Red Hot, Knights has led powerful LGBTQ+ projects like Purple Reign and PRIDE 50, spotlighting queer pioneers and everyday icons. His work continues to push visibility forward while honoring the diversity within the queer community.A Legacy of HeatWhat began as a cheeky, provocative exhibit has become a cultural touchstone within the gay community. Red Hot has toured internationally, raised more than 72,000 for LGBTQ+ charities, and created space for redhead visibility in a world that often sidelines difference.With Red Hot XXL, the brand enters a new era: bigger, bolder, and more bulge than ever. Whether youre in it for the art or even just cheeks, its one for the books (and the wall).Source

Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison has been suspended for the first three games of the NFL season for violating the league's substances of abuse policy.

The Browns are expected to start rookie Shedeur Sanders at quarterback for the team's preseason opener against the Panthers on Friday, sources told ESPN.

The Celtics moved off Georges Niang's salary in a deal with the Jazz before signing free agent forward Chris Boucher to a one-year deal.

No thoughtful person can be pro-Palestinian without also being anti-Hamas.

The Dragon Bravo fire has been burning for more than a month, fueled by record-low humidity that has hampered containment efforts.

The short-lived effort underscores the mounting pressure on ICE to meet President Trumps aggressive deportation targets.

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She's sickening!Utica Queen slayed the main stage on season 13 of RuPaul's Drag Race and she's now bringing her incredible talents to the workroom on Project Runway.After placing sixth on Drag Race, Queen expanded her skill set of design, sewing, and fashion, which will definitely come to her aid as she tackles weekly challenges on the new season of Runway."I'm so stoked that this journey has taken me all the way to the fashion, design show of the world! I went from the queer, queen TV show of the world and gone to the fashion one? That's wild! I feel very blessed and so excited," Queen tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Project Runway also serves as an introduction to a new reality TV audience for Queen. By competing as Ethan Mundt, he's relying on his stylistic instincts that have helped him curate some of the most iconic lewks that Drag Race fans have seen in recent years.Mundt has created breathtaking outfits for other Drag Race queens, including Canada's Drag Race host Brooke Lynn Hytes."This journey of Drag Race has definitely prepared me for the crazy that is Project Runway. The other designers on this show are so sickening, and they definitely give me a run for my money. I think it's going to be one of the best seasons of Project Runway that we are ever going to get."Although Mundt is focusing his time and energy on Runway for now, the star is still very much interested in competing on Drag Race again on a future All Stars season."Drag Race has changed my life! I would love to do Drag Race again. That is a part of me that is so special, and it's influencing this whole journey. I'd totally be down for that!"Project Runway airs Thursday nights on Freeform and streams the next day on Hulu and Disney+. To see the full interview with Ethan Mundt, check out the video at the top of the page.

Candace Owens, the far-right media personality now facing a defamation lawsuit from French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron, claims President Donald Trump personally intervened to urge her to stop spreading conspiracy theories about the French First Ladys gender identity.Appearing on The Tucker Carlson Show on Friday, Owens said Trump called her in February after President Macron visited the White House. According to Owens, the French president used a diplomatic meeting, ostensibly about the war in Ukraine, to ask Trump to silence her podcast.Emmanuel Macron personally flew to D.C. and asked Trump to ask me to shut up, to just stop speaking about his wife, Owens told Carlson. I was messaged by the intermediary hours after Macron left, maybe even an hour after Macron had left, and said, we need to get on the phone with you.Related: French President Macron sues Candace Owens for defamation over claims his wife is transgenderShe added that the go-between told her someone close to Trump is asking me to ask you to stop talking about Brigittes penis.Owens, who was pregnant at the time, said she initially laughed off the message. But when she called back for clarification, she was told the request had been framed as part of international negotiations. It was presented to him as a condition of ending the Russian-Ukrainian war, she said. Thats how it was presented to me from a third-party person.The Advocate contacted the White House to confirm whether such a conversation took place and whether President Macron raised Owens podcast during his visit. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt did not immediately respond.Owens is part of a broader online phenomenon often referred to as transvestigationa conspiracy theory movement that claims celebrities, politicians, and public figures are secretly transgender. Believers, who call their targets inverts, often pair their accusations with antisemitic, Satanic, or apocalyptic narratives.The claims about Trump come just days after the Macrons filed a 218-page lawsuit in Delaware Superior Court accusing Owens of leading a campaign of global humiliation. The suit cites Owenss eight-part YouTube series Becoming Brigitte, which promotes false claims that Brigitte Macron is a transgender woman who assumed the identity of her brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux.Owens also alleged in the series that the Macrons are blood relatives and that the French president is the product of CIA experimentation. He sounded very confused, Owens said of Trumps reaction to Macrons request. When the leader of France took him aside to inquire about whether or not he knew Candace Owens.The lawsuit accuses Owens of defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.Related: Alex Joness lawyer mocks Candace Owenss chances in Emmanuel Macrons defamation lawsuitEvery time the Macrons leave their home, they do so knowing that countless people have heard, and many believe, these vile fabrications, the complaint states. Owens has dissected their appearance, their marriage, their friends, their family, and their personal historytwisting it all into a grotesque narrative designed to inflame and degrade.The Macrons lead attorney, Thomas Clare, did not immediately return The Advocates request for comment.Even some of Owenss usual allies have questioned her legal prospects. Owens told some of the dumbest, obvious lies one can tell, wrote Robert Barnes, a far-right attorney who previously represented Alex Jones. She has 0% chance of winning in court.During her appearance with Carlson, Owens doubled down on her theory that the Macron lawsuit was meant to intimidate her into silence. A president of a foreign country does not sue a mom that does her podcast in her basement because [she] spoke something that was not true, she said. Theres clearly something that they want hidden.Owens said she reached out to the Macrons legal team before publishing the series, offering to cancel it if they answered basic questions. Was Brigitte the First Lady born a woman? Did she ever live as a person named Vronique before the transition? Owens said she asked. According to her, the response was: She doesnt have to answer your question. [She] doesnt have to prove to you.In France, Brigitte Macron previously won a defamation case related to similar claims, though the judgment was later overturned on appeal. The current lawsuit is the first time the couple has pursued such a case in a U.S. court.For her part, Owens insists the lawsuit is backfiring. This only made the series go viral. Now its going viral in Asia, she told Carlson. People are going, OK, something must be true.

A beloved LGBTQ+ nightlife institution in downtown Los Angeles is warning it may soon be forced to close its doors, citing financial hardship caused by a recent lawsuit filed by a former employee.Precinct DTLA, a popular gay bar located on South Broadway, has long been a safe space for the queer community, known for its high-energy dance floors, drag performances, themed nights, and celebration of queer expression. But in a recent Instagram post, the bars owners revealed the business is on the brink of collapse.Were a couple of slow weekends away from having to close our doors, the post read. Like many small businesses, weve taken hit after hit from COVID shutdowns and ICE raids to citywide curfews and the ongoing decline of nightlife. But what were facing now is even more devastating.The latest challenge comes in the form of a lawsuit filed in May by former employee Jessica Gonzales, who worked at Precinct for eight years. Gonzales alleges she was subjected to discrimination and harassment as a cisgender, heterosexual woman working in what she describes as an unsafe and hostile work environment.Discrimination AllegationsAccording to court documents filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Gonzales claims she was retaliated against for speaking out about inappropriate behavior in the bar. The complaint states she reported that patrons and employees were engaging in sexual acts inside the venue, but was allegedly dismissed by management. Gonzales said she was told to stop complaining by one of the bars owners.The suit also alleges Gonzales was forced to work coat check at a weekly jockstrap/underwear party without compensation. She claims management eliminated the coat check fee, hoping to incentivize more patrons to drop their pants, which she argues made the environment more uncomfortable and sexually charged.In another incident described in the complaint, Gonzales said she began bringing stress balls to work to cope with the anxiety she was experiencing. During one shift, a co-worker allegedly took one of the stress balls from her, leading to a physical altercation in which Gonzales claims two of her fingers were broken.She further alleges that following this incident, she was pushed out of her role and effectively terminated so that the bar could replace her with a gay male employee. Her legal team argues this was discriminatory and retaliatory in nature.Bar Denies AllegationsPrecinct DTLA has strongly denied all allegations made by Gonzales. In its Instagram post, the bar labeled the claims as completely false and accused Gonzales attorney of having a clear anti-LGBTQ agenda.There are multiple reports including from individuals who previously worked with him that he used anti-LGBTQ slurs in written emails while at his former firm, the post stated.Gonzales is represented by attorney John Barber, who was previously a partner at the law firm Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith. In 2023, the Los Angeles Times reported that Barber and fellow attorney Jeff Ranen exchanged numerous internal emails that included racist, sexist, and anti-LGBTQ+ language. The firm later released hundreds of these emails after both lawyers left to start their own firm.In a joint statement issued at the time, Barber and Ranen expressed remorse, saying they were ashamed and deeply sorry for their behavior.Nicole Davidson, Barbers current law partner, issued a statement responding to Precincts Instagram post, calling its characterization of the lawsuit false and the public defense campaign crass opportunism.To debate or even acknowledge these false allegations on social media would distract from what matters: that our client was wrongfully fired, retaliated against, and physically abused while employed by Precinct, Davidson said via email. We will allow the judicial system to serve as the forum for resolution, not social media.A Fragile Nightlife EcosystemThe legal dispute comes at a time when LGBTQ+ nightlife in Los Angeles is facing increasing pressure. Earlier this summer, the historic Mayan nightclub in downtown L.A. announced it would close this fall. Rising rents, shifting nightlife habits, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have left many venues struggling to stay afloat.Precinct DTLA, which opened in 2015, quickly became a cornerstone of the queer nightlife scene in Southern California. Known for hosting iconic drag shows, political fundraisers, and community events, the venue has played a vital role in providing space for self-expression and queer celebration in the heart of the city.Defending ourselves from these allegations is draining us emotionally and financially, the owners wrote in their post. If you love this place and want to see it survive, now is the time to show up. Come to the bar. Buy a drink. Order some food. Tip the staff.The bar has not launched a formal legal defense fundraiser, but the plea has prompted an outpouring of support from patrons and nightlife regulars who see Precinct as more than just a bar but a home.Still, the lawsuit looms large, and the owners have acknowledged that if foot traffic doesnt increase, the venue could be forced to shut its doors for good.It remains to be seen how the legal proceedings will unfold, or whether the communitys support will be enough to keep the doors open. As nightlife continues to evolve, the situation at Precinct DTLA serves as a reminder of the fragile ecosystems LGBTQ+ spaces often operate within, especially in cities where gentrification and cultural shifts are changing the face of entertainment districts.For now, Precinct is open and operating, with events and performances still on the calendar. But for a space that has long thrived on joy, creativity, and resilience, the stakes have never felt higher.Source

Nature, Published online: 05 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02440-xA nanoscopic machine transforms a molecular chain into interlocking loops.

Nature, Published online: 05 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02442-9Experiments identify a bacterium as the cause of sea-star wasting disease, which has devastated populations along the western coast of North America.

Jordan and the Bulls first wore the threads during the 1995-96 campaign when the team went 72-10 and won a championship.