Oscar-nominated actor Terence Stamp, best known in queer cinema for his groundbreaking role in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, has passed away at the age of 87.Stamps family confirmed his death on Sunday, August 17, through a statement celebrating the actors long and diverse career. He leaves behind an extraordinary body of work, both as an actor and as a writer, that will continue to touch and inspire people for years to come, the statement read.Though Stamp earned international fame playing General Zod in Superman and Superman II, his portrayal of Bernadette Bassenger in the 1994 Australian cult classic Priscilla cemented his place in queer cinematic history. Bernadette, a trans woman and seasoned performer, embarks on a flamboyant journey across the Australian outback with two younger drag queens, played by Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving. The film became an instant queer staple, known for its celebration of gender expression, found family, and resilience.For his moving and nuanced performance in Priscilla, Stamp received nominations from several major award bodies, including the BAFTA, AACTA, and the Golden Globes. It was not his first brush with critical acclaim Stamps debut performance in the 1962 drama Billy Budd earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, launching a career that would span more than six decades.In the wake of his passing, Stamps Priscilla co-star Guy Pearce shared a heartfelt tribute on social media. Farewell dear Tel, Pearce wrote on X (formerly Twitter). You were a true inspiration, both in and out of heels. We will always have Kings Canyon, Kings Road, and F-ing ABBA. Wishing you well on your way, Ralph.Directed by Stephen Elliott, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert became a cultural phenomenon upon its release. It broke barriers in mainstream cinema by portraying LGBTQ lives with humor, heart, and humanity. The film resonated with audiences around the world and has remained a beloved touchstone for generations of queer viewers.In an interview earlier this year, Elliott confirmed that a sequel to Priscilla is currently in development, three decades after the original film premiered. The original cast is on board. I have a script that everybody likes, we are still working out deals it is happening, Elliott told Deadline. He also reflected on the urgency of the project, stating, People have been screaming for me to do this for 30 years. And suddenly, I had the realization that we are getting older. We are losing people.Stamps passing underscores the poignancy of Elliotts words and the importance of preserving the legacy of artists who have paved the way for greater queer representation in film.Beyond Priscilla, Stamps career included roles in critically acclaimed projects such as The Collector, The Limey, and Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. He was widely respected not only for his striking presence and sharp features, but also for his willingness to challenge expectations and redefine masculinity in cinema.Though his time on screen has come to a close, Terence Stamps impact will live on through the characters he brought to life and the lives he touched through his artistry. His performance as Bernadette Bassenger, in particular, remains a beacon for those seeking representation, compassion, and courage in film.As fans and friends remember Stamps career and his contributions to both queer cinema and mainstream film, tributes continue to pour in from across the globe. He is remembered not just for his talent, but for his grace, his bravery, and his willingness to step into roles that mattered.Source

Nature, Published online: 18 August 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-02659-8Manipulating the microbial communities involved in cocoa bean fermentation could make chocolate even more delicious.

Peak draft season is almost here. Our crew provides a good practice run through a 12-teamer to help you prepare for the real thing.

While the questions surrounding the Browns' Week 1 starter are answered, the clock to begin finding their long-term solution continues to run.

Republicans in Congress managed to recess for the summer without voting on the issue, but it has continued to dog them and awaits them when they return.

Wegovy has been approved for use among the growing number of Americans who have MASH.

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Actor Matthew Perry arrives at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sept. 23, 2012. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)2025-08-18T19:42:04Z LOS ANGELES (AP) A woman known as the Ketamine Queen, charged with selling Matthew Perry the drug that killed him, agreed to plead guilty Monday. Jasveen Sangha becomes the fifth and final defendant charged in the overdose death of the Friends star to strike a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. Having initially pleaded not guilty, her change of plea means shell avoid a trial that had been planned for August. Prosecutors had cast Sangha as a prolific drug dealer who was known to her customers as the Ketamine Queen, using the term often in press releases and court documents and even including it in the official name of the case. A federal indictment charged Sangha with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine and five counts of distribution of ketamine. Sangha will officially change her plea to guilty at an upcoming hearing, where sentencing will be scheduled, prosecutors said. She could get up to 45 years in prison. An email sent to Sanghas lawyers seeking comment was not immediately answered.She and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who signed his own plea deal June 16, had been the primary targets of the investigation. Three other defendants Dr. Mark Chavez, Kenneth Iwamasa and Erik Fleming agreed to plead guilty last year in exchange for their cooperation, which included statements implicating Sangha and Plasencia. Perry was found dead in his Los Angeles home by Iwamasa, his assistant, on Oct. 28, 2023. The medical examiner ruled that ketamine, typically used as a surgical anesthetic, was the primary cause of death. The actor had been using the drug through his regular doctor as a legal, but off-label, treatment for depression, which has become increasingly common. Perry, 54, sought more ketamine than his doctor would give him. He began getting it from Plasencia about a month before his death, then started getting still more from Sangha about two weeks before his death, prosecutors said. Perry and Iwamasa found Sangha through Perrys friend Fleming. In their plea agreements, both men described the subsequent deals in detail.Fleming messaged Iwamasa saying Sanghas ketamine was unmarked but its amazing, according to court documents. Fleming texted Iwamasa that she only deals with high end and celebs. If it were not great stuff shed lose her business.With the two men acting as middlemen, Perry bought large amounts of ketamine from Sangha, including 25 vials for $6,000 in cash four days before his death. That purchase included the doses that killed Perry, prosecutors said.On the day of Perrys death, Sangha told Fleming they should delete all the messages they had sent each other, according to her indictment.Her home in North Hollywood, California, was raided in March 2024 by Drug Enforcement Administration agents who found large amounts of methamphetamines and ketamine, according to an affidavit from an agent. She was indicted that June, arrested that August and has been held in jail since. None of the defendants has yet been sentenced.Perry struggled with addiction for years, dating back to his time on Friends, when he became one of the biggest stars of his generation as Chandler Bing. He starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 on NBCs megahit series. ANDREW DALTON Dalton covers entertainment for The Associated Press, with an emphasis on crime, courts and obituaries. He has worked for the AP for 20 years and is based in Los Angeles. mailto

Terence Stamp, the acclaimed British actor perhaps best known to LGBTQ+ audiences for his role as a transgender woman in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, died Sunday at the age of 87.The actors family confirmed his death, but did not specify a cause, The New York Times reported. Related Priscilla, Queen of the Desert sequel confirmed Stamp, who grew up in Londons East End, made his screen debut playing the title role in the 1962 film adaptation of Moby Dick author Herman Melvilles homoerotic novella Billy Budd. That performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Known for his at times unsettling good looks and arresting blue eyes, Stamp went on to star as the mysterious, sexually omnivorous Visitor in legendary Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolinis Teorema (1968) and as queer poet Arthur Rimbaud in the 1971 biopic A Season in Hell.In 1978, he appeared in a cameo in director Richard Donners Superman playing the villainous General Zod opposite Marlon Brando. He returned to the role two years later, facing off against Christopher Reeves Man of Steel in 1980s Superman II. According to out director Stephen Elliott, Stamp was initially hesitant to take on the role of Bernadette, a trans woman who embarks on a road trip across the Australian outback with two fellow drag performers played by Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce in Priscilla.The honest truth is, he turned it down at first. But out of nowhere, his agent said to him, Well, youre bored. Youve just done superhero movies. Why dont you do something else? Elliott explained in a remembrance published by The Guardian on Sunday. We talked long and hard about why hed initially said no. It was fear. And fair enough you have got to remember we were coming out of the HIV/AIDS mess. It was a taboo subject. I looked at the work that hed done all the way through, like the Italian years when he worked with Fellini and Pasolini, and thought: this was a man who took chances. And I think he was at absolutely the right moment in his life where he was ready for another chance, Elliott added.As Elliott noted, Stamp admitted that his reluctance came from a place of fear.A woman friend of mine just happened to be present when I was getting calls from my agent about the script, and she pointed out to me in a very incisive way that my fear was out of all proportion to the possible consequences, the actor recalled in a 2013 interview with the British Film Institute. Elliott recalled Stamp initially avoiding mirrors and declining to see footage of his performance while filming Priscilla.It wasnt a fun thing, or anything I was looking forward to, Stamp said in 2013. It was, F**k me, this is the last thing in the world I want to do: be in f**king Australia with paparazzi. It was like a nightmare. But it was only when I got there, and got through the fear, that it became one of the great experiences of my whole career. It was probably the most fun thing Ive ever done.Stamps performance as Bernadette earned him a BAFTA and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor, and Priscilla has gone on to become a cult classic. According to Elliott, in the decades that followed the films release, Stamp occasionally grew frustrated that people were still asking him about his role in Priscilla. But as recently as 2019, Stamp continued to reflect thoughtfully about what it was like to play a transgender woman.I was essentially different from Hugo and Guy; they were playing dressing up queens and I wasnt. [My role] was more about what I felt emotionally, he told Reuters at a 2019 screening of the film at the BFI Flare: London LGBTQ+ Film Festival. I had to think about what it would be like to be born into the wrong body and born into a body that wasnt the same as ones emotions.Stamp also told the outlet that continuing to have LGBTQ+ fans tell him how much Priscilla meant to them brought light into my life.I cant think of anything thats more attractive than light, he added.Following news of Stamps passing, Priscilla co-star Pearce posted a tribute to the actor on X.You were a true inspiration, both in & out of heels, Pearce wrote. Well always have Kings Canyon, Kings road & Fing ABBA. Fairwell dear Tel. You were a true inspiration, both in & out of heels. Well always have Kings Canyon, Kings road & Fing ABBA. Wishing you well on your way Ralph! xxxx Guy Pearce (@TheGuyPearce) August 17, 2025Last year, Elliott confirmed that a Priscilla sequel was in the works with Stamp, Weaving, and Pearce all on board. On that front, the director said in his Guardian remembrance, lets just say [Stamp] agreed to do the sequel a few years ago and weve been particularly busy over the past year, adding that the late actor was a wonderful man and hes not done yet.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A Latino LGBTQ+ youth center near Los Angeles is seeking help finding the perpetrators of a nasty form of vandalism directed against it: dog poop bags tossed at their building.For the last several months, employees arriving at the Mi SELA youth center in the city of Bellhave been welcomed with the smell of dog feces emanating from the biodegradable bags lobbed at the buildings entrance and above it. Related This familys house was targeted with hatred. So they turned it around in a surprising way. It smelled really bad yesterday. It was not a pretty sight whatsoever, said Mi SELAs programs manager, Sanva Lojero.Standing over a collection of ten bags of the discarded poop just swept from the buildings awning, Lojero told NBC Los Angeles, This is a youth resource center, so we have clients coming in each day and I dont want them to feel like theyre getting harassed. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today What if it does escalate in the future? she asked.Mi SELA, a partnership between the Los Angeles LGBT Center and the Latino Equity Alliance, provides youth clubs, community-building workshops, and cultural and legal resources to the LGBTQ+ community of South Los Angeles.So far, security cameras mounted on the buildings exterior havent caught the vandals in the act, and police say theyre unable to pursue the perpetrators or identify their motive without more evidence.Weve been checking cameras, weve been repositioning cameras to see if we could catch the person thats doing it. It seems like this person or people are aware of where the cameras are positioned, though, so thats just been making it a little harder, Lojero said. The Latino Equity Alliance, for one, is calling out the vandalism as deliberate and hate-motivated.This senseless harassment is abhorrent and unacceptable. In 2025, it is shocking that young people and community organizations continue to face such targeted hate and intimidation. While law enforcement has emphasized that action cannot be taken without catching the perpetrators in the act, that does not diminish the urgent need for vigilance, awareness, and a public stance against hate in our communities, a statement from the group on Instagram read.LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn condemned the vandalism as well, and pledged a $2500 grant from the county to add more cameras to the buildings security system in an effort to identify who is lobbing the poop bags. The fact that this person is going out of their way to do this says everything about them and nothing about our LGBTQ community in Southeast L.A., Hahn said in a statement.Anyone with information about the vandalism is encouraged to contact the Bell Police Department at (323) 585-1245.Said program manager Lojero: This just proves why we need to do the work we do. Were not going anywhere. Were going to still keep providing resources. It just sucks when we see things like this, but the work goes on.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Bruno Alcantara is building an empire!Yes, many fans know and love him for serving plenty of body as the lead member of The Pit Crew on RuPaul's Drag Race, but he's continuing to explore new business ventures that are proving to be very successful.After hosting two sensual new shows on WOW Presents Plus, the hunk teamed up with photographer Brandon Jameson to capture Alcantara's signature smile and gorgeous body as he strips off a wet dress shirt and white crop top."We played around the idea of 'the business of being Bruno,' where the smile is the marketing, the body is a product, and the personality is the hook that keeps the audience engaged. We wanted to capture the essence of a brand built out of charm, confidence, and hard work that started just as eye candy. Now, between TV, social media, and live events, I get to be my own CEO," Alcantara tells PRIDE.Check out the steamy pictures for yourself below, and don't forget to follow Bruno Alcantara on Instagram here.Alcantara is working harder than ever on himself inside and out, which is reflected beautifully in these new shots by photographer Brandon Jameson."I believe that the better you feel with yourself, the better you look. Life is delicious! It becomes better and better as you accept and embrace all that you are," Alcantara says.The Drag Race model is encouraging anyone in the LGBTQ+ community to stay strong during these challenging times."Dont let fear hold you back! Show up fully imperfect, and start having more fun. No one is coming to save you. You show up and do it for yourself! It not about being perfect. Its about making the best of it."Although many fans are used to just enjoying Alcantara's perfect body, the TV host wants people to see him for what he's truly worth and that he's much more than just a pretty face."I'm ready for business. I feel more powerful, self-aware, and I do things with more intention and purpose that changes everything. In an industry where every appearance matters, where presence is currency, and we all want to be unforgettable, I feel very happy with what I am building."The star also had to show off his million dollar smile as he embraces his best era yet.In typical Alcantara fashion, the model knows how to serve face and body.It wouldn't be a perfect photoshoot starring Alcantara without a little tease.The gorgeous reality star was quick to lose the dress shirt and tie to rock a crop top tank and a tight pair of underwear.Alcantara is ready for his close-up.There really isn't a pose that this handsome stud can't hit.Alcantara means business. Follow him on Instagram here and don't forget to binge Happy Endings with Bruno now on WOW Presents Plus.

OnlyFans star Tate Hoskins just made a TikTok video with two words we thought we'd never want to see paired together: OnlyFans and mom.Hoskins released a video called Mom rates my collabs, where he showed his mom photos of men hes filmed adult content with and asked her to rate their hotness on a scale of one to 10.And yet, instead of he result being weird, theyre incredibly heartwarming. First up is Seattle Dad. Hoskins shows his mom a pic of the bear with his shirt off and asks her opinion. I think he is hot. I put him at eight. I love the hairy chest and I love the thick look, she says to her sons surprise. Like mother, like son, Hoskins jokes.@tatehoskinsMOM RATES MY COLLABS Next, he shows his mom Noah Way Babe, who describes himself as a trans twink.Mom rates him a nine and says, Just love the facial features, the hair. He looks like an angel.When Hoskins points out to his mom that Noah is trans, he asks if his mom knows what that means. When she admits she doesnt, Hoskins responds, So Noah was assigned female at birth and later in life transitioned into who he really is, which is this beautiful angel of a human being.Instead of some of the anti-trans rhetoric you might expect to hear considering Hoskins went viral in 2022 for telling the story of his mom taking him to church for an exorcism after she found out hes gay, she responds, Oh my god, he is so good looking. Daggone.Clearly, things have changed.Last, Hoskins shows his mom a photo of another OF model he collabed with, named Jax. Oh my god, he is a 10. Let me get these glasses a little closer, she quickly reacted.He is sexy. I dated a guy just like that. Looked just like him in high school. And he was an ass, she continued.Hoskins ends by asking his mom what she thinks about his career as an adult film star, and her response is the sweetest thing youll hear all day.I think that its awesome that youve done this because how you used to look at yourself and think that you are ugly, that nobody wanted you, she explained. And now, since people have told you how beautiful and how great you are, I mean, you couldnt ask for a better career. Youre living the life.

In case there was ever any question that Sue Bird is a basketball legend, she's just broken new ground with a statue.A bronze replica of the former Seattle Storm point guard now sits outside of the city's Climate Pledge Arena. Although several other WNBA players have been honored with statues at their colleges, this makes Bird the first WNBA player to have a statue outside of a WNBA arena. (@) "People keep asking me what it feels like to be the first," she said during the unveiling ceremony over the weekend. "The truth is that I never set out to be the first at anything, but if being the first means I won't be the last, if this statue means that 20 years from now there will be statues of other WNBA greats some who are in the audience and players whose names you don't even know yet then I'm proud to be the first." (@) Bird played in the WNBA for 20 years, sticking with the Storm for her entire run before retiring in 2022. She had a truly iconic career, playing on 13 All-Star teams, winning five gold medals in the Olympics, and scoring four WNBA championships during her time with the team.Earlier this year, she was inducted to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, and is scheduled to be inducted to the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in September. Her team also retired her jersey, No. 10. If there's anyone deserving of this permanent honor in the form of a bronze statue, it certainly seems to be Bird. (@) "I hope it tells a simple story," she said. "That greatness isn't about being perfect. It's about being persistent. That you can be true to yourself and still achieve extraordinary things."

When acclaimed artist Amy Sherald pulled her upcoming Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery show, American Sublime, it was not just an isolated decision. Instead, it became the latest flashpoint in a year of cancellations, postponements, and quiet edits to LGBTQ-centered exhibitions across the country.A Year of Abrupt ChangesIn February, Washington, D.C.s Art Museum of the Americas abruptly canceled Natures Wild With Andil Gosine, a group show inspired by Gosines book exploring Caribbean sexuality and activism. No reason was given, and the announcement came only weeks before its scheduled debut.That same month in Arizona, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art made last-minute changes to a traveling exhibition of women, queer, and trans artists. Originally titled transfeminisms, the condensed version appeared under a new name: There are other skies.By April, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art postponed Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art, which was set to open during WorldPride in Washington, D.C. While officials cited funding and scheduling issues, the move followed federal directives that museums strip divisive themes from exhibitions. The timing raised eyebrows in the arts community.Why Sherald Said NoAt the center of Sheralds canceled show was Trans Forming Liberty, her portrait of a Black trans woman embodying the Statue of Liberty. The museum reportedly expressed concern about the paintings reception and suggested adding a video to provide both sides of the issue.Sherald, best known for painting former First Lady Michelle Obamas official portrait, refused to compromise. In a statement, she wrote:At a time when transgender people are being legislated against, silenced, and endangered across our nation, silence is not an option.The cancellation also meant the National Portrait Gallery lost the chance to present its first-ever solo exhibition by a contemporary Black artist.Echoes of the Culture WarsArt historian Jonathan D. Katz sees a troubling pattern. Katz, who curated The First Homosexuals: The Birth of a New Identity, 1869-1939 in Chicago earlier this year, said queer art remains a third rail for many American museums.He links todays disputes to the infamous 1989-90 controversy surrounding Robert Mapplethorpes The Perfect Moment, which featured homoerotic photography and sparked fierce political backlash.Youd think that decades later, this would no longer be a live wire, but it still seems to be, Katz told NBC News.Revising the Past, Avoiding the PresentMuseums are not only canceling LGBTQ-focused exhibits but also reshaping how existing art is framed. At Chicagos Art Institute, a major Gustave Caillebotte exhibition quietly shifted from Painting Men to Painting His World. Wall text downplayed earlier interpretations that explored gender and desire in his work.That one was particularly galling, Katz said, noting he had contributed writing about Caillebottes queer themes for the shows Paris and Los Angeles runs.His associate curator Johnny Willis emphasized that asking museums to acknowledge ambiguity in Caillebottes life is not the same as labeling the artist. Were asking them to leave open the possibility, Willis said.Who Holds the PowerWillis argues that many museums are at the mercy of wealthy board members who see queer sexuality as taboo. Its about trying to pacify a class of oligarchs, he said, pointing out that privately funded institutions often self-censor to avoid donor backlash.One museum director even told Katz privately: Its precisely the exhibition Id like to show, and therefore the one that I cant.Spaces of ResistanceDespite the setbacks, LGBTQ art is still finding platforms. Wrightwood 659, a relatively young Chicago institution dedicated to socially engaged work, embraced The First Homosexuals when others refused. The exhibition drew sold-out crowds and will now travel to Switzerland.Other major museums are continuing to stage queer-centered shows. The Denver Art Museum is hosting Kent Monkman: History is Painted by the Victors, New Yorks Metropolitan Museum of Art is presenting Casa Susanna, and Los Angeles Getty Center is showcasing Queer Lens: A History of Photography alongside $3 Bill: Evidence of Queer Lives.As Getty director Timothy Potts put it, these shows bring visibility to lesser-known histories through the display of art to the public.For curators like Willis, the public hunger for queer narratives is undeniable. There is enormous appetite for these stories right now, he said. And institutions that embrace them dont just serve history, they mark themselves as brave.Source

Toronto-based actor Noah Lamanna is stepping into the spotlight with a breakout role in Season 3 of Netflixs Ginny & Georgia. Playing Tris, a sharp-witted skateboarder and peer tutor, Lamanna adds a fresh energy to the series, which left fans reeling last season with Georgias arrest at her own wedding.Tris quickly bonds with Marcus (Felix Mallard) and Silver (Katelyn Wells), cementing their place in the shows evolving teen ensemble. For Lamanna, the role was an opportunity to dive into a character that balances cool confidence with emotional depth.Everyone was so lovely and welcoming, and the creative team gave me a lot of space to play around with the character, Lamanna told Gayety. Tris is very cool and collected, and they have a wisdom beyond their years. I really enjoy playing confident characters, so this was a fun season for me.From Post-Apocalyptic Romance to Small-Town SecretsLamanna is no stranger to fan-favorite franchises. Before joining Ginny & Georgia, they appeared in Season 2 of HBOs The Last of Us as Kat, Ellies ex-girlfriend. For Lamanna, stepping into that world was surreal.I was a fan of the shows first season, so to suddenly find myself in the mountains working with Craig [Mazin] and Bella [Ramsey] was surreal, they said. I think its cool that the show continues to push queer visibility when it could easily downplay the games queer narrative. It also proves the power of queer audiences, because the fanbase is immense and deeply committed.A Theatre Background That SticksBeyond television, Lamannas theatre work has earned acclaim. Their turn as Eli in Let the Right One In at Berkeley Repertory Theatre landed them a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle nomination for Best Principal Performance in a Play.Preparing to embody a centuries-old vampire took both physical training and heavy research. Playing a 400-year-old 12-year-old vampire takes some figuring out, Lamanna said. I think the whole story is actually a really beautiful allegory for trans identity, so it felt very special to be invited to bring that element of myself into the character.Navigating Identity and RepresentationAs a nonbinary actor, Lamanna has witnessed the industry shift toward more authentic storytelling. They credit the growing presence of queer and trans voices in writers rooms with shaping richer, more nuanced roles.I dont feel strongly about only playing queer or trans characters, but I am always happy to be prioritized for queer projects, theyre usually more fun, Lamanna said.Still, they admit theyd love to expand the kinds of stories theyre offered. Someone please cast me as a cowboy in a queer Western!Building New WorldsLamanna is also stepping behind the camera. Theyre in pre-production on their first short film, a satirical look at the contradictions of being a working artist under late-stage capitalism.Its a cartoonish, slapstick dark comedy, and Im excited to make it, they said. If there are any wealthy gays out there looking to support an independent queer artist, hit me up!Finding Queer JoyAmid the industrys ongoing debates about queer trauma in media, Lamanna is intentional about infusing joy into their work and daily life.I like finding the gays on set and just hanging out, they said. Theres a lot of queer joy to be found at work. Also, no one has asked me to shave my armpits in six years. It brings me joy when crew guys call me bro.As for whats next, Lamanna hopes 2026 brings opportunities to travel, collaborate, and keep creating. I want the job to feel like an adventure, they said.Source

Ethan Coen and Tricia Cookes new noir-inspired lesbian crime caper Honey Dont! might be one of the boldest genre reinventions of the year but even a film that dives headfirst into sexual politics and genre play has its limits. In a recent interview with Gayety, the directing duo opened up about the creative process behind the film, including a behind-the-scenes detail that may surprise audiences: not everything they shot made the final cut, especially when it came to some especially provocative props.Cooke and Coen, known for their unconventional storytelling, revealed during a press day that a few sex toys originally intended for the film had to be left out and it was not due to any objections from the cast or discomfort on set.Margaret Qualley stars as Honey ODonahue in writer/director Ethan Coens HONEY DONT!, a Focus Features release. Photo: Karen KuehnWe cut out a couple of sex toys in the cutting, Cooke said. But not because the actors had a problem. Margaret [Qualley] was all in. She took 10 minutes to sort through every toy in that sink.The sink in question? A prop-heavy centerpiece in one of the films more outlandish scenes. Though the film never shies away from provocation, Cooke explained that editing is sometimes about knowing when to push and when to pull back.There are some things we maybe toned down just a hair, she added. But no, no one ever said they were uncomfortable. The fun of this movie is in going all out. Theres no polite version of Honey Dont!The film, which features Margaret Qualley in the titular role of Honey, reimagines the hardboiled detective genre through a lesbian lens. Qualley plays a guarded, emotionally complicated private eye whose mysterious nature harks back to film noir legends. According to Coen, her character was inspired by none other than Humphrey Bogart.When we asked her to do the movie, we said, Do you want to play Humphrey Bogart? he said. She is kind of masculine and hard to read that classic detective energy.Margaret Qualley in the new Ethan Coen film Honey Dont!. Credit: Karen Kuehn/FOCUS FEATURESCooke agreed, explaining that Honeys past trauma informed her quiet intensity. Shes reserved. She holds something back. She was abused when she was young, and that history made her into someone who has to keep herself contained. Its part of what makes her so compelling.While the film is filled with genre-bending twists and feminist flair, it does not take itself too seriously. There is a comic undertone to even the most intense scenes including one intimate moment in a bar that required some unusual props.Viewers saw the two girls get rather close and sexual in a public place, and lets say that someone licked the frosting from the cake even while seated at the bar. Aubrey [Plaza] had someone from the makeup department standing just out of frame with a mason jar of coconut oil, Cooke shared with a laugh. At the end of the scene, shed dip her fingers in and, you know for the final shot. Its hard not to laugh when thats happening just off camera.Honey Dont! features a powerhouse cast, including Qualley, Plaza, Chris Evans, and rising star Talia Ryder. Each was selected with specific roles in mind, and according to the directors, casting was a smooth process. Qualley had worked with them previously on Drive-Away Dykes, and came on board quickly. Plazas name emerged on the train one day, according to Cooke, after watching Emily the Criminal.We just knew shed be perfect, said Cooke. Same with Chris. We saw him in a play in New York and knew immediately. And Talia I saw her in The Sweet East and I was like, We have to use her.The films approach to genre and gender is what sets it apart. Coen and Cooke deliberately flipped traditional noir roles, turning the seductive femme fatale into the relentless investigator.We thought, what if we made the detective the woman the femme fatale, said Cooke. That felt exciting. And different. And necessary.Despite the provocative subject matter and boundary-pushing scenes, the filmmakers insist the takeaway is ultimately about empowerment.I hope people have a good time, Cooke said. And I hope they think of Honey as a superhero. She kicks ass. Shes amazing. Strong female characters matter, and even though this movie does not take itself too seriously, we want people to leave the theater thinking, She was badass.Whether audiences laugh, gasp, or squirm in their seats, Honey Dont! is clearly a film with no interest in playing it safe even if a few toys had to be left behind in the editing room.Source

Khalid is stepping into a new era. The chart-topping R&B-pop artist has announced his upcoming album, After The Sun Goes Down, set for release on October 10 through Right Hand Music Group and RCA Records. It marks his first full-length project since publicly coming out, and the music already signals a shift in tone.A New Sound, A New ChapterLeading the album rollout is the single In Plain Sight, a glossy, dance-inspired track that leans into house rhythms and New Jack Swing influences. The songs accompanying video, directed by 91 Rules, puts Khalid front and center in a glowing nightclub dreamscape filled with strobe lights, fluid choreography, and, yes, a literal glass closet. The playful imagery makes it clear hes rewriting his narrative with a wink.Khalid said this new phase of his career is about self-expression without restraint. This chapter is about taking my power back, living in my truth, and being able to express myself freely, he shared in a press release. Im excited for my fans to experience this new era with me, not just musically, but personally.First Album Since Coming OutFor Khalid, the project carries personal weight. Its his first album release since another artist outed him publicly, an experience he has since reframed on his own terms. At the time, Khalid made it clear that his sexuality was his to share, posting, I wasnt hiding anything! Its just not any of your business. Now, with After The Sun Goes Down, he appears eager to embrace visibility with confidence rather than defensiveness.In a conversation with Billboard Canada earlier this summer, Khalid explained that hes leaning into sides of himself fans havent fully seen. Not just my moody side, but the fun side. The flirty side, he said.Reclaiming His ArtistryKhalids last project, Sincere (2024), was filled with contemplative ballads. The new album promises a lighter energy, something closer to the artist he once imagined becoming. My new era of music feels like Im finally ready to be the artist Ive always dreamt of being, he said. It goes back to when I was a child imagining myself onstage, and now I feel like I have the confidence to finally be that artist.After The Sun Goes Down will be released October 10, with In Plain Sight available now across streaming platforms.Source

Six days after he underwent surgery on his left thumb, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love returned to practice Monday and took part in everything except 11-on-11 drills.

Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. will not play in Monday night's preseason game against the Bengals, possibly signaling the end of his tenure with the franchise.

Whether there's confetti falling from your team's last title or you're still waiting to see your first, you probably have an idea of how satisfied - or miserable - you are as a fan. But could you put a number on it?

Lionel Messi's return is a huge boost for Inter Miami as they look to take the top spot in the latest ESPN Power Rankings.

It was unclear whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel was on board with the terms, which came as Qatar and Egypt were intensifying mediation efforts.

Immigrants who live and work in the city say they want violent crime lowered but fear that ICE efforts could make it worse.

A journalist of the old school, he covered presidential races and political affairs for several newspapers and in many books, as well as in a long-running column, Politics Today.

Springfield faced a crisis after Donald Trump falsely claimed Haitians were eating pets. Now his policies are driving out workers like Wilford Rinvil, who left for Canada.

The post Trump Negotiates With Zelensky Exclusively Through Pointing appeared first on The Onion.

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A voter drops off their ballot at a dropbox on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)2025-08-18T20:24:31Z President Donald Trump on Monday vowed more changes to the way elections are conducted in the U.S., but based on the Constitution there is little to nothing he can do on his own.Relying on false information and conspiracy theories that hes regularly used to explain away his 2020 election loss, Trump pledged on his social media site that he would do away with both mail voting which remains popular and is used by about one-third of all voters and voting machines some form of which are used in almost all of the countrys thousands of election jurisdictions. These are the same systems that enabled Trump to win the 2024 election and Republicans to gain control of Congress.Trumps post marks an escalation even in his normally overheated election rhetoric. He issued a wide-ranging executive order earlier this year that, among other changes, would have required documented proof-of-citizenship before registering to vote. His Monday post promised another election executive order to help bring HONESTY to the 2026 Midterm elections. The same post also pushed falsehoods about voting. He claimed the U.S. is the only country to use mail voting, when its actually used by dozens, including Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Similar complaints to Trumps, when aired on conservative networks such as Newsmax and Fox News, have led to multimillion dollar defamation settlements, including one announced Monday, because they are full of false information and the outlets have not been able to present any evidence to support them. Trumps post came after the president told Fox News that Russian President Vladimir Putin, in their Friday meeting in Alaska, echoed his grievances about mail voting and the 2020 election. Trump continued his attack on mail voting and voting machines in the Oval Office on Monday, during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The announcement signals yet another way that Trump intends to stack the cards in his favor in the 2026 midterm elections, after he already has directed his attorney general to investigate a Democratic fundraising platform and urged states to redraw their congressional districts to help the GOP maintain its majority in the House of Representatives.Heres a breakdown of Trumps latest election post and why Congress is the one entity that can implement national election rules.Trumps postTrump for years has promoted false information about voting, and Monday was no exception.He claimed there is MASSIVE FRAUD due to mail voting, when in fact voting fraud in the U.S. is rare. As an example, an Associated Press review after the 2020 election found fewer than 475 cases of potential fraud in the six battleground states where he disputed his loss, far too few to tip that election to Trump.Washington and Oregon, which conduct elections entirely by mail, have sued to challenge Trumps earlier executive order which sought to require that all ballots must be received by Election Day and not just postmarked by then. The states argue that the president has no such authority, and they are seeking a declaration from a federal judge in Seattle that their postmark deadlines do not conflict with federal law setting the date of U.S. elections. Trump also alleged that voting machines are more expensive than Watermark Paper. Thats a little-used system that has gained favor and investments among some voting conspiracy theorists who believe it would help prevent fraudulent ballots from being introduced into the vote count. Watermarks would not provide a way to count ballots, so they would not on their own replace vote tabulating machines. While some jurisdictions still have voters use electronic ballot-marking devices to cast their votes, the vast majority of voters in the U.S. already vote on paper ballots, creating an auditable record of votes that provides an extra safeguard for election security.In his post, Trump also claimed that states are merely an agent for the Federal Government in counting and tabulating the votes and must do what the federal government as represented by the President of the United States tells them to do.Election lawyers said thats a misrepresentation of the U.S. Constitution. It also flies in the face of what had been a core Republican Party value of prioritizing states rights. Thousands of elections, none under presidential controlUnlike in most countries, elections in the U.S. are run by the states. But it gets more complicated each state then allows smaller jurisdictions, such as counties, cities or townships, to run their own elections. Election officials estimate there are as many as 10,000 different election jurisdictions across the country. A frequent complaint of Trump and other election conspiracy theorists is that the U.S. doesnt run its election like France, which hand counts presidential ballots and usually has a national result on election night. But thats because France is only running that single election, and every jurisdiction has the same ballot with no other races. A ballot in the U.S. might contain dozens of races, from president on down to city council and including state and local ballot measures.The Constitution makes the states the entities that determine the time, place and manner of elections, but does allow Congress to make or alter rules for federal elections.Congress can change the way states run congressional and presidential elections but has no say in the way a state runs its own elections. The president is not mentioned at all in the Constitutions list of entities with powers over elections.The president has very limited to zero authority over things related to the conduct of elections, said Rick Hasen, an election law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.Courts have agreed no presidential involvementParts of Trumps earlier executive order on elections were swiftly blocked by the courts, on the grounds that Congress, and not the president, sets federal election rules. Its unclear what Trump plans to do now, but the only path to change federal election rules is through Congress.Although Republicans control Congress, its unclear that even his party would want to eliminate voting machines nationwide, possibly delaying vote tallies in their own races by weeks or months. Even if they did, legislation would likely be unable to pass because Democrats could filibuster it in the U.S. Senate.Mail voting had bipartisan support before Trump turned against it during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 election, but its still widely used in Republican-leaning states, including several he won last November Arizona, Florida and Utah. Its also how members of the military stationed overseas cast their ballots, and fully eliminating it would disenfranchise those GOP-leaning voters.The main significance of Trumps Monday statement is that it signals his continuing obsession with trying to change how elections are run. These kinds of claims could provide a kind of excuse for him to try to meddle, Hasen said. Very concerned about that.___Associated Press writer Eugene Johnson in Seattle contributed to this report. ALI SWENSON Swenson covers politics and the information landscape for The Associated Press. She is based in New York. twitter

Five Virginia school districts are refusing to revoke their transgender-inclusive policies that allow trans kids to use facilities matching their gender identity, even though the current presidential administration has frozen the districts congressionally approved federal education funding over the matter.The school districts Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William say that their policies are required by Title IX, the federal law prohibiting educational discrimination based on sex. But while the previous presidential administration interpreted the law as requiring schools to maintain trans-inclusive policies, the current one has claimed that such policies harm cisgender female students. Related Restaurant employee corners lesbian teen in womens toilet, demands proof of her gender In June, the federal Department of Education (ED) ordered the five Northern Virginia school districts to immediately end their trans-inclusive policies, including policies that allow trans students to be addressed by their personal names and pronouns and to play on sports teams matching their gender identity.In a statement announcing the funding freeze, the ED wrote that it had generously granted an extension for the schools to come into compliance with Title IX and follow federal law. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Unfortunately, the additional time did not result in a fruitful outcome, the ED wrote, leading to the suspension or termination of federal financial assistance to these divisions.The Virginia districts will have to defend their embrace of radical gender ideology over ensuring the safety of their students, the ED dishonestly claimed. The ED had claimed that its investigations found that female students had been avoiding the school districts restrooms and locker rooms because of trans-inclusive policies and after witnessing male students inappropriately touching other students and watching female students change in a female locker room.Its unclear how many trans students attend the districts schools to begin with, though an estimated 0.5% of U.S. people above the age of 13 are trans, according to The Williams Institute. Regardless, there is no evidence that trans people are a threat to cisgender girls and women in restrooms. Schools and cities with trans-inclusive restroom policies have found no increase in related assaults. A 2021 study from UCLAs Williams Institute also found that trans people arefour times more likely than cis peopleto be victims of violent crime.Nevertheless, the current presidential administration has instructed all schools to rescind their trans-inclusive policies and to adopt biology-based definition of the words male and female in all practices and policies relating to Title IX. When the Loudoun County school board voted 6-3 last week to maintain its current trans-inclusive policies, the board explained in a statement that the district was following precedent set by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. In 2020,that court affirmed a lower court decision in favor of trans student Gavin Grimm, who had sued his school district after he was told to use the bathroom in a bucket in a converted janitors closet and was called a freak at a school board meeting about his bathroom usage. The court found that Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution prohibited his school district from discriminating against him.In a July letter,Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS)leaders wrote, For families, students and staff concerned about whether or how this decision will impact operations in ACPS, please know that ACPS current policies regarding the rights of all students to use restrooms and locker rooms in accordance with their gender identity will remain in place.A letter published last Friday by the pro-LGBTQ+ regional coalition Equality Arlington praised the schools for standing by their pro-trans policies. The U.S. Department of Educations demands are an illegal attempt to violate the human and civil rights of vulnerable transgender, nonbinary, and gender expansive students, and we know that more discriminatory demands will follow [from] a federal government intent on discriminating against many marginalized groups, the letter states. Thank you for recognizing the critical importance of making sure our schools are safe and supportive environments for all students.The letter notes that over 3,000 Virginia families, teachers, and residents signed letters supporting the districts pro-trans policies in the face of unprecedented federal pressure, adding, These policies and practices foster a culture that affirms the dignity of each student and celebrates our diversity as individuals.Thank you for standing up to federal bullying, for your commitment to following federal and Virginia law, and for your decision to maintain nondiscrimination policies that protect transgender, nonbinary, and gender expansive students, the letter says. Together, we can fight to ensure that all kids have a school environment where they can thrive.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

One newlywed couple just celebrated with what really can only be described as the most lesbian honeymoon ever.First, we have to back up a second. Drag queen Pattie Gonia has been on tour across the U.S. this year. If you have the misfortune of not being familiar with Pattie, she's a devoted environmental defender, previously profiled by Out Traveler for overlapping her loves of both drag and backpacking. A rare combination of loves or so one might think.Over the weekend, Pattie shared a video taken at one of her recent shows featuring a sapphic couple that clearly shares her passions."when i first saw these two in the crowd, i complimented them on their dedication to coming to my show in full hiking outfits and backpacks," she wrote on Instagram. "turns out they literally walked off the PCT (their honeymoon) and into our show. CONGRATULATIONS BABES!"See on InstagramThe PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) is a daunting stretch of land from Mexico up to Canada, through the west coast of the U.S. At 2,653 miles long, it usually takes hikers four to six months to make it all the way across.It didn't take long for commenters to identify these two newlyweds as Lara and Marta, seemingly the same Lara and Marta who got engaged on the PCT back in the summer of 2022. So it stands to reason that they would want to spend their honeymoon doing an activity they love in a place that means a lot to them and everyone is obsessed with the fact that they made a detour to see Pattie in the process."I love when adventure gays find each other," @growlyth commented on the video."Its gotta be the most lesbian thing ever to commit to a honeymoon hiking the PCT and then for the detour to be to a drag showand then for the drag show to be Pattie Gonia," wrote @shanielovesayes. "Im done. Im retiring. Im not gay enough. Not worthy.""They were born in Subarus," joked @lumberjane13.Lara and Marta themselves ultimately chimed in from their shared private Instagram account, writing, "Ahhh best day ever, for sure the highlight of our honeymoon @pattiegonia !! Thank you for picking us up on stage and especially for hosting us in Bend. Cant wait to see you and all your followers at World Pride in Amsterdam next year.""And yes true to the many comments, even we were surprised at just how lesbian this honeymoon was," they added.

A viral clip from Big Brother Season 27 has gay fans, and the internet at large, buzzing about contestant Rylie Jeffries.The CBS reality series, now in its 27th season, is already packed with drama, unexpected twists, and budding showmances. But one moment has managed to overshadow all of that: Jeffries adjusting himself on camera while chatting with fellow houseguest Katherine Woodman.The 27-year-old professional bull rider from Luther, Oklahoma, was caught on the backyard couch with Woodman, 23, when cameras captured him readjusting his shorts. The blink-and-youll-miss-it moment quickly exploded online, earning millions of views and sparking hilarious reactions across social media.While Big Brother fans are no strangers to flirtation and steamy encounters, this particular clip of Jeffries has taken on a life of its own. Many viewers were quick to point out that his big reveal might be the most unexpected twist of the season.Who Is Rylie Jeffries on Big Brother?Jeffries isnt just a viral sensation, hes a devoted fan of the show. The bull rider says hes been watching Big Brother since its very first season in 2000. Landing a spot in the house, he told Parade magazine, is everything Ive always dreamed.Its everything Ive always wanted in life. I never expected to be sitting in the freaking [diary room] right now, but here I am! And everything happens for a reason. I feel so blessed, Jeffries said.Raised in Luther, Oklahoma, Jeffries describes himself as a small-town kid with some big old dreams. He grew up hunting, fishing, and learning how to make the most out of what he had.Thats what my town, my home, really shows me in life, he explained. And my mom and dad, theyve done the best they can to just make me into the man that I am today.Watch Rylie Jeffries Bulge Moment Big BrotherFans React to Rylie Jeffries BulgeAs Big Brother Season 27 continues, one thing is clear: Rylie Jeffries may not have planned to go viral for his bulge, but fans cant stop talking about him.Source

Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler had surgery Monday to remove a blood clot in his upper right arm, and the team says a timeline for his recovery remains uncertain.

Titans rookie QB Cam Ward got into a scuffle with defensive lineman Jeffrey Simmons as the two exchanged shoves.

Jay Clayton, whose Senate confirmation was stalled, could serve for the rest of the Trump presidency. He faced criticism after a prosecutor in his office was fired by the administration.

Israel has broadened its push, so far unsuccessful, to persuade other countries to take in Gazans en masse. Critics say the relocation could violate international law.

Jasveen Sangha will plead guilty to selling the ketamine that killed the Friends star, prosecutors said. She could face decades in prison.

Advertisers are increasingly using generative artificial intelligence to make their commercials.

Welcome to a new era of commercial work fueled by generative artificial intelligence.

WASHINGTONTaking offense that European leaders had, in his view, disrespected the White House by showing up inadequately dressed to Mondays closely watched Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, President Donald Trump reportedly fumed that not a single one of them had arrived in lederhosen and a tiny feathered hat. Its rude and, frankly, very nasty that you would come here today in such inappropriate clothing, said an irate Trump, interrupting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyens pleas for Ukrainian aid as he chastised her decision to forgo painted wooden clogs, a puffy milkmaid dress, and Pippi Longstocking braids. When you think of Europe, you think of the striped shirts with the scarf and beret, the Viking hat with the hornshell, even a bullfighting costume would have been great. Yet you choose to represent your countries at a meeting with the president of the United States in regular suits, without even carrying one of those hexagon accordion things? Disgraceful. Wheres the 20-foot-long trumpet? Keir [Starmer], wheres your monocle? Thats Europe. Thats what people want to see. According to reports, Trump later cut off Zelenskys remarks about the Russian abduction of Ukrainian children to further berate the European delegation for not wearing floral tunics and dancing around in a circle.The post Trump Angry Not A Single Visiting European Leader Wearing Lederhosen, Tiny Hat appeared first on The Onion.

A group of cottontail rabbits in Fort Collins have developed tentacle-like growths caused by a virus, which authorities say pose no threat to other animals or humans. What do you think?Not feeling so special now, are you, squid?Ian Renicks, Potato PeelerI thought I was the only one who could see them.Lea Venter, Planetarium AdvocateI once saw a rabbit with a bowtie.Billy Glenister, Laundry ConsultantThe post Rabbits With Tentacle-Like Growths Seen In Colorado appeared first on The Onion.

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Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson practiced Monday for the first time in 25 days as he continues to recover from the strained left hamstring he suffered last month.

The Dolphins agreed to a one-year contract with outside linebacker Matthew Judon, a source confirmed to ESPN.

The larger outbreak, which spread to New Mexico and Oklahoma, is still ongoing.

At least 660 people have died in rain-related incidents across Pakistan since monsoon season began in late June, and 935 more have been injured.

The chairman of the House Oversight Committee said the department would miss a Tuesday deadline his panel set in a subpoena but would begin sharing some records on Friday.