Russia’s foreign minister on Wednesday banned around 121 Australians, including out gay ABC journalist Patricia Karvelas, from entering the country “indefinitely” over what it termed a “Russophobic agenda”. The list included prominent Australian journalists, mining magnates Gina Rinehart and Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest, ABC chairperson Ita Buttrose and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas.The foreing ministry’s statement said that “entry to the Russian Federation for these persons is closed on an indefinite basis in response to the growing sanctions of the Australian government, which apply to an increasing number of Russian citizens – both officials and their families, as well as representatives of the business community and the media.”I’m not sanctioned in Australia so I can bring you @RNBreakfast https://t.co/QT0ZaqAWEd #auspol pic.twitter.com/pYOAxFwRbF— Patricia Karvelas (@PatsKarvelas) June 16, 2022The RN Breakfast host said she woke up to the news of being added to Russia’s ‘stop-list’ early in the morning. “Waking to news of being sanctioned by Russia at 3:30am was a hallucination reality dreamscape I didn’t imagine for my Friday,” Karvelas posted on . Karvelas also posted a video from the ABC studio.
Former Footballer Acquitted Of Beating Gay Man To Death, Claimed Victim Posed As A Woman On Tinder
30.05.2022 - 06:41 / starobserver.com.au
Former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute was acquitted on Friday on charges of beating an openly gay man Jerry Paul Smith to death, who he claimed had posed as a woman on Tinder.A jury found Etute not guilty of the charges of second-degree murder, reported The Roanoke Times.Trigger Warning: This story discusses a murder, which might be distressing to some readers. For 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.Etute, then 18, had received oral sex from Smith (40), when he visited his apartment on April 10, 2021, after matching on Tinder.
Smith had given Etute $50 after the encounter. Etute claimed that Smith was pretending to be a 21-year-old woman and had concealed the fact that he was a man. Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Mike Fleenor had allowed the defence’s motion to exclude the instruction to the jury on the ‘gay panic defence’.Gay/ Trans Panic is legal strategy where a jury is asked to find that a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity is to blame for an accused’s violent reaction.
The defence tries to argue for a lesser sentence or acquittal by blaming the victim’s non-violent sexual advance for provoking the accused to respond with violence. Etute’s lawyers portrayed the former footballer as a “goofy, gullible kid” and the “real victim”. Smith was painted by the defence as “evil” and a ‘deceitful and dishonest man” who had “defrauded young men for his own sexual gratification.”Etute, who admitted to beating Smith to death, claimed it was “self-defence”.
During the trial, Etute said Smith was reaching for something under the bed, which he thought was a gun. The prosecution had found
.
Tom Hanks says he couldn’t play gay role today like he did in ‘Philadelphia’
the New York Times that both “Philadelphia” and his 1994 dramedy “Forrest Gump” were “timely movies, at the time, that you might not be able to make now.”“Let’s address, ‘Could a straight man do what I did in Philadelphia now?’ ” Hanks asked. “No, and rightly so.
Nat Geo’s ‘SharkFest’ Celebrates 10th Anniversary by Adding ABC, ESPN and Hulu for Biggest-Ever Programming Lineup (EXCLUSIVE)
Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterNat Geo’s “SharkFest” is turning 10 and marking the occasion by enlisting sister Disney brands ABC, ESPN and Hulu to help air its largest programming slate ever across the most platforms it has ever been on, Variety has learned exclusively.While “SharkFest” aired during a six-week period last year, making the 2021 edition the longest “SharkFest” ever, that lineup was limited to Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Mundo, Disney XD and Disney+.This time around, Nat Geo is putting out nearly 30 hours of new content and 60 hours of “enhanced” programming over four weeks beginning July 10, its most-packed “SharkFest” schedule on record. And that increased content load is spread out not just across Nat Geo, Nat Geo Wild, Nat Geo Mundo, Disney XD and Disney+, but also broadcast network ABC, cabler ESPN and streamer Hulu, making it an historic occasion for the decade-old fin-tastic event.
Men On Men Gay Art Prize Founder, Marriage Equality Activist, Gay Singer In Queen’s Birthday Honours List
The Queen’s Birthday Honours list this year recognised the contributions of several LGBTQI community members including historian and marriage equality activist Dr Shirleene Robinson, Men on Men Gay Art Prize founder David Allen and gay country music singer Beccy Cole. The 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours list recognised nearly a thousand Australians with 37 recipients of awards in the Military Division of the Order of Australia, 201 Meritorious awards, and 85 Distinguished and Conspicuous awards. Governor-General David Hurley congratulated all Australians recognised in the Honours List.“Recipients share some common traits- including selflessness, excellence, and a commitment to service.
Former Disney+ And Sky Italia Program Chief Kathryn Fink Takes Director of Television Role At Australian Public Broadcaster SBS
Veteran international media exec Kathryn Fink has become Director of Television at public broadcaster SBS in her home country, Australia.
Meet Australia’s Out Gay Members Of Parliament
Australia has elected one of its most diverse Parliaments, as the country voted against attempts by former Prime Minister Scott Morrison to push wedge politics to the national stage for electoral gains. While the media attention was focussed on the ‘teal wave’, this election showed that the ‘pink wave’ was here to stay. There are eight out gay, lesbian and bisexual members of parliament, with Labor Senator and foreign minister Penny Wong emerging as one of the most powerful LGBTQI political leaders in Australia. Some out gay Liberal MPs were voted out, but in good news a more progressive Parliament was voted in.
Bondi Memorial To Victims Of Sydney’s Anti-Gay, Anti-Trans Killings To Be Unveiled
A public launch is being held this Saturday, June 4, 2022, for the Bondi memorial dedicated to victims and survivors of the spate of homophobic and transphobic violence that occurred from the 1970s to 1990s in Sydney and New South Wales.Located in Marks Park in Tamarama, the memorial titled ‘Rise’ was installed through a collaboration with LGBTQ health organisation ACON, Urban Art Projects (UAP) Design Studio and Waverley Council.The memorial is being launched to the community in a commemorative event at Marks Park. In attendance at the event will be representatives from organisations involved, as well as political figures and special guests. Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos said in a statement to Star Observerthat the memorial is “dedicated to the recognition of the recent history of gay and transphobic hate crimes that occurred in Bondi and along the east coast of Australia.”Designed by John Nicholson and UAP, the memorial’s composition is embedded with meaning, as the layers mirror the nearby cliffs but appear instead to be moving towards the horizon. “Each of its six sculpted stone layers represents one of the six bands in the pride flag” Masselos said. “The Bondi Memorial in the public domain provides an opportunity for healing by making space for recognition and confrontation of the past, giving light to changing attitudes, and inviting ongoing reflection.”Some of the victims of gay hate crimes in Sydney.The location of the monument is recognised as a place where a significant number of hate crimes occurred throughout the 1970s to 1990s.
Gently Tender announce debut album, ‘Take Hold Of Your Promise!’
Gently Tender have announced the release of their debut album, ‘Take Hold Of Your Promise!’ – listen to new single, ‘Love All The Population’ below.The band, made up from ex-Palma Violets members Sam Fryer, Will Doyle and Peter Mayhew alongside The Big Moon’s Celia Archer and guitarist Adam Brown, returned last month with new single ‘Dead Is Dead’, after being away for over three years.Due out August 26, ‘Take Hold Of Your Promise!’ was produced by Matthew E. White, who flew over to work with Gently Tender at Rockfield Studios, following initial sessions at Spacebomb in Richmond, Virginia.
Craig Revel Horwood admits men only messaged him on Tinder to meet Strictly pros Aljaž or Gorka
Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood has revealed that before he met his fiancé Jonathan Myring, he was regularly getting messages from people on the dating app Tinder because they wanted to meet the hunky younger professional dancers.The Australian ballroom dancer, 57, who recently got emotional when his family travelled over to the UK, has been a judge and staple on the BBC competition ever since it launched nearly two decades ago. He has seen pros come and go, and other original judge Bruno Tonioli recently announced his permanent departure, but Craig has remained on the panel throughout the hugely-popular show's run. Appearing on The Chris and Rosie Ramsey show on BBC2 with his partner Jonathan, Craig opened up on how they met.
Johnny Depp’s “Victim Blaming” $50M Defamation Trial Against Amber Herd Is All About The First Amendment, Defense Says In Closing Argument
“This whole case is about blaming Amber Heard for things she didn’t do,” the Aquaman star’s lawyer told a Virginia courtroom today in closing arguments in the $50 million defamation trial from Johnny Depp against his former wife.
Ricky Gervais Doubles Down On His Anti-Gay & Anti-Trans Netflix Comedy Special
Comedian Ricky Gervais is doubling down on the transphobic material included in his new Netflix special SuperNature. Trigger Warning: This story discusses homophobia and transphobia, which might be distressing to some readers. For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.Speaking with The Spectator, Gervais, 60, claimed, “My target wasn’t trans folk, but trans activist ideology.
Aussie Cyclist-Turned-Commentator Robbie McEwen Apologises For On-Air Gay Slur
Robbie McEwen, former Australian cyclist-turned commentator and a three-time winner of the Tour de France points classification, has apologised after using a homophobic slur on live television. The incident occurred last week during the broadcast of stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia on Eurosport and GCN+. Trigger Warning: This story discusses the use of a homophobic slur, which might be distressing to some readers. For 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For Australia-wide LGBTQI peer support call QLife on 1800 184 527 or webchat.Cycling is a sport for all & everyone should feel welcome.
Basil Iwaynk’s Thunder Road To Produce ‘The Confidence Men’ Film Based On Margalit Fox’s Novel, With Fox Adapting
EXCLUSIVE: Basil Iwanyk’s Thunder Road Films is developing a film based on the book The Confidence Men, by award-winning former New York Times journalist Margalit Fox—which is billed as the story of the most remarkable P.O.W. escape in history. Fox will adapt the book, in her screenwriting debut, with Iwanyk and Erica Lee producing the film for Thunder Road, and Esther Hornstein serving as exec producer.
Former Police Lockup for Gay Men Now Earmarked As Australia LGBTIQA+ Museum
3 min read Funding has been committed to help establish a long-awaited Australian LGBTIQA+ museum to be based in Sydney.