Florida Showbiz and Celebrity Breaking News

WFTV. A representative for Orange County Public Schools confirmed that district officials held three separate seminars at Apopka High School last week, but disputed the content of the seminars, arguing that the advice provided in the session was not official guidance, but was simply meant to illustrate examples of how the law might be applied.“During the presentation, administrators posed hypothetical scenarios based upon the new statutes and verbal answers were provided based on the limited guidance from the Florida Department of Education,” the spokesman said. “Once further guidance is received from the Florida Department of Education, the district will provide formal guidance to administrators and staff.”A separate OCPS official told WFTV that the district needed to err on the side of caution until the Department of Education develops official guidance.

press release from the EEOC. According to the EEOC complaint, the employee, who is Black and gay, was subjected to near-constant abuse while working at the restaurant, with the two co-workers uttering racial and homophobic slurs and epithets loud enough so he could hear them. They also allegedly cracked homophobic jokes about his sexual orientation.

an out bisexual man who was the 2018 Democratic nominee in the race for Florida governor, has been indicted on 21 counts, including charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, and making false statements.On Wednesday, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Gillum, a former mayor of Tallahassee, and a longtime associate and fellow Tallahassee resident, Sharon Lettman-Hicks.According to the indictment, between 2016 and 2019, Gillum and Lettman-Hicks “engaged in an on-going and evolving scheme to defraud by unlawfully soliciting and obtaining funds from various entities and individuals through false and fraudulent representations and promises that the funds would be used for a legitimate purpose.”Gillum and Lettman-Hicks then allegedly used third parties to divert a portion of those funds to P&P, a communications company owned by Lettman-Hicks, who then provided the funds, disguised as payroll payments, to Gillum for his personal use.Both defendants have been charged with 19 counts of wire fraud, and Gillum is also charged with making false statements to FBI agents investigating the suspected fraud, according to a press release for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.If convicted of the charges against them, Gillum and Lettman-Hicks could face up to 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge, and 20 years for wire fraud.

“ where Tom Cruise trains a new generation of pilots — also starred in “War Dogs”with Jonah Hill. In the “War Dogs” film, Teller and Hill play two arms dealers contracted by the US government to provide weapons to the Afghan army. Teller’s character lives in the penthouse, which is on the 55th floor of Marina Blue, at 888 Biscayne Blvd. The four bedroom, four bath unit is 4,498 square feet and features a corner living room that boasts 20-foot, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami’s skyline. There’s also three balconies, two living rooms, a dining room, an open chef’s kitchen and four parking spaces. It first went on the market for $5.49 million in 2016. The seller is Alain Berdouare — brother of Chicken Kitchen founder Christian de Berdouare — who bought it for $1.73 million in 2008, when the building first launched.Alain, who also sold a $10 million home on Florida’s Venetian Islands for $10 million in 2017, was repped by ONE Sotheby’s International Realty brokers Mirce Curkoski and Albert Justo, while the buyer was represented by Kevin Kavanaugh of Associates Realty.Alain’s brother Christian was in the news in 2020 for selling his Miami mansion, once owned by drug dealer Pablo Escobar, for $11 million.

A Florida police department received a barrage of criticism after rolling out a rainbow-colored cop car to celebrate Pride season.Prior to the Miami Beach Pride Parade on April 10, the Miami Beach Police Department posted a picture of a Pride-themed squad car on their Instagram account. The picture of the car, a white Ford Expedition painted in the colors of the Progress Pride flag, with the words “MIAMI BEACH POLICE” written in rainbow letters, prompted much debate on social media and in the comments section of the Instagram post.Many commenters didn’t like the car, but for varying reasons.Some of the comments took a more homophobic tone.

threatening to cut his microphone if he mentioned his sexual orientation during his graduation speech was able to deliver his preferred speech by using “curly hair” as a euphemism for “gay.”Zander Moricz, the senior class president at Pine View School in Osprey, Florida, and the youngest public plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law, has long been an LGBTQ activist since coming out as gay. Since passage of the law two months ago, Moricz has claimed that teachers have preemptively sought to censor his freedom of expression, saying they will no longer allow him to speak about LGBTQ issues and cannot acknowledge his sexual orientation in class (even if he raises it without prompting).Moricz claimed in a statement posted to Twitter earlier this month that the principal of Pine View School warned him that he was unable to talk about his sexual orientation, his past activism, or his role as a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

GenderCool Project, an organization that promotes LGBTQ inclusion through speaking events, mentorship programs, consulting, and advising for parents of transgender children, to provide a collection of three books — A Kids Book About Being Transgender, A Kids Book About Being Transgender, and A Kids Book About Being Non-Binary — for libraries and community centers to put on their shelves. The book initiative was touted as an effort to “replace misinformed opinions” about transgender, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming youth with positive depictions of the community in the hope of promoting positive real-life interactions between readers and LGBTQ youth they may encounter. The books in question are written promote the idea of inclusion and explain who LGBTQ people, especially transgender and nonbinary individuals, are.“The project’s goal is to increase representation of LGBTQ+ books and support our communities in having challenging, important and empowering conversations with children age 5+,” an email from Jose Soto, State Farm’s Corporate Responsibility Analyst, which was sent to all of the company’s agents in Florida, reads.

threatening to cut his microphone if he mentioned his sexual orientation during his graduation speech was able to deliver his preferred speech by using “curly hair” as a euphemism for “gay.”Zander Moricz, the senior class president at Pine View School in Osprey, Florida, and the youngest public plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law, has long been an LGBTQ activist since coming out as gay. Since passage of the law two months ago, Moricz has claimed that teachers have preemptively sought to censor his freedom of expression, saying they will no longer allow him to speak about LGBTQ issues and cannot acknowledge his sexual orientation in class (even if he raises it without prompting).Moricz claimed in a statement posted to Twitter earlier this month that the principal of Pine View School warned him that he was unable to talk about his sexual orientation, his past activism, or his role as a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

GenderCool Project, an organization that promotes LGBTQ inclusion through speaking events, mentorship programs, consulting, and advising for parents of transgender children, to provide a collection of three books — A Kids Book About Being Transgender, A Kids Book About Being Transgender, and A Kids Book About Being Non-Binary — for libraries and community centers to put on their shelves. The book initiative was touted as an effort to “replace misinformed opinions” about transgender, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming youth with positive depictions of the community in the hope of promoting positive real-life interactions between readers and LGBTQ youth they may encounter. The books in question are written promote the idea of inclusion and explain who LGBTQ people, especially transgender and nonbinary individuals, are.“The project’s goal is to increase representation of LGBTQ+ books and support our communities in having challenging, important and empowering conversations with children age 5+,” an email from Jose Soto, State Farm’s Corporate Responsibility Analyst, which was sent to all of the company’s agents in Florida, reads.

“Art of the Hollwood Backdrop” presents 22 immense canvases from classics like “North by Northwest,” “The Sound of Music” and “Ben Hur” that were were rescued from a musty MGM Studios basement.“The exhibition celebrates Hollywood’s masters of illusion and perspective, who heretofore have received little recognition for their talent or applause for their essential role in making film magic,” the museum said on its site.The backdrops, which are on loan from the University of Texas at Austin, were used in movies from 1938 through 1968, while some have not been tied to specific films.Curators Karen Maness and Thomas Walsh also sought to find and feature the forgotten artists behind each piece. The duo spent hours combing through oral histories and other archives and were able to identify about a dozen of the canvas creators.Maness, a professor at the University of Texas, wrote a book on the history of movie backdrops in 2016 and organized a similar exhibition at the college.That exhibit sold out regularly even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with attendees marveling at the gigantic Mount Rushmore canvas featured in Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic thriller.“I carry it on with both a love of painting but also as an advocate for these artists to help them be seen in history.

3819 Quail St. is on the market for $699,000 — but that price tag could be reduced if Chaillou is allowed to stay. Don’t worry! He won’t be a total freeloader.

Tampa Bay Times the guidance is not enforced by the state, but offers and explains recommendations to families and health care providers.“Physicians may use guidance from different authoritative sources, including government entities and professional associations, in determining the best course of treatment for their patients,” she said in a statement.In March, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued an “information memorandum” urging states to use their child welfare systems to protect and support LGBTQI+ youth, and informing agencies that gender-affirming care is a valid form of medically necessary treatment for transgender youth suffering from gender dysphoria. HHS also released guidance making clear that denials of medically necessary health care based on a person’s gender identity are illegal under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, as is restricting doctors from providing such care or prescribing gender-affirming treatments for youth struggling with gender dysphoria.Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo accused HHS of publishing its guidance for political and not medical reasons.

NBC News. To handle other matters, such as policing or the courts, Disney has partnered with other local governments to share some of the burden.But DeSantis became fixated on the special status granted to Disney after the company spoke out against and called for the repeal of a so-called “parental rights” measure he signed into law limiting LGBTQ content or discussions in schools.The law, which goes into effect July 1, has been dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by critics.

Mansion Global reported.In addition to its swim-up bar (the pool also has a waterfall), the home also offers over 120-feet of water frontage, a two-car garage with driveway, elevator, six-and-a-half baths, a covered patio and dining area and outdoor kitchen — in all there is 3,000-square-feet of outdoor space. The primary bedroom has “his and hers showers,” a walk-in closet and balcony according to the listing, which notes there is also “endless storage.” The main entrance to the house is bordered by palm trees.The 0.39-acre development was completed late last year and has “top of the line finishes,” said Pinero. While reportedly record-breaking for the area, the distinctly modern home’s sales price quickly pales in comparison to other recent Florida sales and listings.

 Tallahassee Democrat. That contradicts earlier reporting that suggested Diaz-Johnston’s body had initially been transported to the Jackson landfill from a dump site in Okaloosa County, more than 150 miles away from his home.Last Thursday, Steven Yinger, a 36-year-old who has a history of burglary and theft convictions, was indicted on first-degree murder and other charges in connection with Diaz-Johnston’s death, including tampering with evidence, theft of Diaz-Johnston’s possessions and fraudulently using his personal information, reports The Washington Post.

Adult film star Steven Miles, AKA Sergeant Miles, was arrested Tuesday for taking part in the January 6 Insurrection at the US Capitol Building. Court documents state that on January 6, Miles, 39, trespassed on Capitol Building grounds, assaulted police officers, smashed windows of the building, and then entered the building briefly. Miles can be seen posing in photographs as well as in CCTV images, wearing a MAGA hat and wearing a desert camo jacket and breaking into the Capitol Building.Nearly 800 people have been arrested in the aftermath of the January 6 Insurrection at the US Capitol, according to the US Department of Justice.

tweet earlier this week that the legislation would not prevent mental health counseling for those struggling with gender dysphoria.“If an adult wants to self-mutilate in pursuit of the fiction they can defy G-d and science, more power to them — as they don’t expect me to pay for it. But no child should be put in the position of making life-altering decisions before they are of the age of majority,” Fine tweeted.“I can say I’m a porcupine, but that doesn’t make it so,” he continued.

feuding with school administrators or school board members over the inclusion of sexually-explicit or graphic novels or books in school libraries, even if the books are not part of the official curriculum, or over LGBTQ-inclusive policies designed to protect LGBTQ children from being discriminated against and bullied or to avoid “outing” students to their parents against their will. The “protect children” rallying cry also appeals to a segment of the Republican base that had embraced part of the QAnon conspiracy, in which a cabal of globalists — all with ties to the Democratic Party or Hollywood elites — run a secretive, worldwide child sex-trafficking ring.The “groomer” label seems to have gained traction amid debate over the Florida bill, when Christina Pushaw, the press secretary for Florida Gov.

Florida passed a so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which bans sexual orientation or gender from being taught to children under 10.“We have to take back control,” Mamet said. “If there’s no community control of the schools, what we have is kids being not only indoctrinated but groomed in a very real sense by people who are, whether they know it or not, sexual predators.“Are they abusing the kids physically? No, I don’t think so.

Florida’s recent, so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill.Roy P. Disney — the great-nephew of Walt Disney and the co-founder of Walt Disney Co — disclosed recently in a statement that his child, Charlee, is trans.Roy revealed the news while also pledging $500,000 to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) alongside his wife, Sheri.Charlee, 30, is a high school biology and science teacher who uses they/them pronouns and came out to their family four years ago.“Equality matters deeply to us, especially because our child, Charlee, is transgender and a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community,” Roy wrote in a statement.Roy’s sister, Abigail Disney, tweeted her praise and adoration for her brother’s gesture. “Today I am busting with pride at what my brother and his wife have done.

not guilty to charges that he engaged in oral sex with a 16-year-old he met on the Growlr gay dating app.If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison for each charge.Under Florida law, the age of consent is 18 years old. Engaging in sex with anyone under 18, even if the victim consents, is considered second-degree “sexual battery.”Parson does not qualify under the state’s “Romeo and Juliet” law, which exempts adults under the age of 24 who have sex with a minor from having to register as sex offenders after serving out their punishment.Broward County Circuit Court Judge Phoebee Francois found probable cause to believe that Parson had committed the crimes he is accused of, and set $25,000 bail for each of the charges.Parson, who was visiting his parents in South Florida in February, turned himself in to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office after learning that a warrant for his arrest had been issued.The 16-year-old claimed he had met Parson on the Growlr app and agreed to meet up at a local gas station after trading explicit pictures.The youth claims he and Parson kissed and engaged in reciprocal oral sex, but that he got nervous about passersby on foot, so Parson agreed to move to another location.The two were driving down a major highway, trailing each other as they looked for a place to turn off.

On Thursday, a group of Florida school-age students, parents of LGBTQ youth, and a teacher filed suit against a recent bill signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis that prohibits LGBTQ-related content or lessons in primary grade classrooms.The lawsuit, filed in U.S.

prohibits instruction on LGBTQ-related content in primary grades. Critics have dubbed it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, saying it will in practice be used by individual teachers and administrators as justification for suppressing all LGBTQ-related speech — regardless of the bill’s actual text.The unveiling of the billboards in certain state capitals is deliberate, as activists behind the project have targeted states where anti-LGBTQ legislation has either become law or is being debated by lawmakers.

all sexually-related or “age-inappropriate” topics from being broached in primary grade classrooms. But Republicans rejected the amendment, choosing to ban only LGBTQ-specific content. LGBTQ advocates also argue that, in enforcing the bill, teachers will send an implicit message to LGBTQ-identifying students that they have no supportive allies and should closet themselves, which may lead some youth to contemplate suicide due to feelings of isolation or depression.DeSantis, who has been roundly criticized for his support of the bill, slammed LGBTQ advocates and Hollywood elites — who mocked the bill and Florida at the most recent Academy Awards on Sunday — for attacking him, saying: “If the people who held up degenerates like Harvey Weinstein as exemplars and as heroes and as all that, if those are the types of people that are opposing us on parents’ rights, I wear that like a badge of honor.“They don’t want to admit that they support a lot of the things that we’re providing protections against,” he said, according to Fox News.

an escalating employee backlash at the Mouse House threatening to spoil the party.Disney is scrambling to contain the fallout over its response to a Florida bill that would bar teachers from discussing LGBTQ topics like sexual orientation or gender identity with students unless they’re in the fourth grade or higher. The issue prompted an internal battle among company employees who are divided on whether Disney should get political.Left-leaning employees staged walkouts this week, arguing the company failed the LGBT community by initially failing to denounce the bill.

A gay police sergeant from Miami, Florida, has claimed that  he is being victimised by the Tallahassee, Florida Police Department for reporting being robbed on a Grindr date. According to the New Times, Sergeant Tommy Reyes pulled his gun on his Grindr date after the man allegedly stole Reyes’s wallet. “I was a victim and I have nothing to hide but I cannot comment on an open investigation. I was a victim of a crime, and Tallahassee PD victimized me again,” Reyes said.Reyes, explaining the situation, said,  “I will stand strong and tell you my brothers and sisters that I was the victim of a crime, and I am once again being victimized by some of our own people.”The two arranged an anonymous or “anon” meeting in which you meet without showing your faces.

WESH that security footage showed that after a verbal exchange between the two, the attacker walked over to the 16-year-old victim and “proceeded to climb onto the victim and punch him multiple times.”The victim reportedly told the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office that the attacker used homophobic slurs during the attack and claimed that the victim “snitched to the staff” about homophobic name-calling. The sheriff’s office also claimed, in a press release, that the attacker was charged with “violating his probation from a previous arrest for battery.”The victim suffered multiple injuries during the attack, including a black eye “that was swollen partially shut,” bruising to his face, and a possible arm injury.

actively censor depictions of, or references to, same-sex affection in films despite touting itself as an LGBTQ-affirming place to work.CEO Bob Chapek initially defended the decision, claiming that the company “unequivocally” stands with its LGBTQ employees in the wake of the bill’s passage but saying he feared that taking a firmer position on the bill could backfire if any statements were “weaponized” by either proponents or opponents of the bill.But following backlash, both internally and externally, Chapek apologized for the company’s silence, saying in a statement sent to employees that he was sorry for the pain caused by Disney’s inaction.“Speaking to you, reading your messages, and meeting with you have helped me better understand how painful our silence was,” Chapek said in the statement. “It is clear that this is not just an issue about a bill in Florida, but instead yet another challenge to basic human rights.

deployment of tear gas against protesters, the shoving of a kneeling protester, the shooting of a woman with a rubber bullet, and controversies stemming from the use of facial recognition technology to identify protestors — which critics have said has difficulty making accurate identifications of people of color.At the time, Scirotto said he wanted to ensure the department fostered better relations with people in the community who have historically been suspicious of, or had fraught relations with, police — a goal that many felt was a positive step. But in the fall, Scirotto promoted a list of minority employees, which led three white officers and one Hispanic officer to file complaints with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that he was promoting people in a biased manner.The subsequent investigation into Scirotto’s actions found that “almost every witness,” out of 21 interviewed, “was dissatisfied” with Scirotto’s approach to promotions and “most believed that Chief Scirotto made clear his intention to promote based on race, gender or sexual orientation.”“Some believed it was about time changes were made, but stated if promotions were based on things such as race it would even hurt or undermine the people promoted,” the report said.The investigation report accused Scirotto of saying that photos on a conference room wall were “too white” and vowing: “I’m gonna change that.” It also alleged that, in a separate incident, Scirotto passed over a white man with 20 years tenure with the department for a promotion, instead narrowing the field down to two candidates of color, saying: “Which one is blacker?”Lagerbloom defended his decision to fire Scirotto, telling The Associated Press: “There’s everything we

has listed for $699,900. But more than just property, a new owner stands to own some pieces of cinematic history.The Tampa Bay Times reports that the home, at 1774 Tinsmith Circle in Lutz, comes with a yard landscaped to replicate how it appeared in the movie — and memorabilia connected to the flick that’s included in the asking price.“Don’t miss the chance to own such a fun and interesting, one of a kind home that comes with ALL the priceless collection of memorabilia from the movie!” said listing representative, Megan Hartnell of Century 21 Affiliated, in the property’s description. Collectibles include authentic and reproduced props, as well as documents.

demonstrate outside Disney theme parks in Florida and California urging the company to denounce the proposed bill, which President Joe Biden has slammed as “hateful.” Further exacerbating the public backlash against Disney was an Orlando Sentinel report that Disney, despite casting itself as an LGBTQ-affirming place, gave money to every single sponsor and co-sponsor of the bill, including the bill’s Senate sponsor, Sen. Dennis Baxley (R-Belleview), who has proposed multiple pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation during his time as a politician in Tallahassee.In response to stories about Disney’s political donations, Abigail Disney, the 62-year-old granddaughter of the company’s co-founder Roy O.

signaled his support for the bill.Under the bill, sponsored by Rep. Joe Harding (R-Williston), teachers would be prohibited from “encouraging discussion” about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels — which in Florida, is defined as preschool through third grade — or broaching the topic “in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.” The bill also allows parents to sue school districts for failing to consult them regarding “critical decisions affecting a student’s mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being.”While supporters largely intend for the bill to discourage teachers from affirming a child’s gender identity or acknowledging sexual orientation without first consulting the parents, during a Senate hearing on a nearly-identical bill proposed by Sen.

“Don’t Say Gay” bill, highlighting the serious harm it could cause to LGBTQ youth.The Republican-backed bill, which is working its way through Florida’s legislature, would ban discussions of LGBTQ issues “in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.”Florida Republicans claim that the bill is a “parental rights” measure which will alert parents to topics that they might otherwise object to. However, Democrats have criticized the legislation, saying it will be interpreted and enforced by school districts in a way that effectively gags any discussion about LGBTQ-related topics, even in passing.Appearing on CNN Newsroom last week, Buttigieg was asked by host Jim Sciutto whether the “Don’t Say Gay” bill is “dangerous.”“Absolutely,” Buttigieg responded.

Facebook Live video in which Wright went on a stream-of-consciousness rant about his campaign signs being stolen, claimed that city officials had “blood on their hands” for their response to an officer-involved dirt bike crash that killed a 13-year-old, the lack of economic opportunity, political corruption, and his hatred of political correctness.As part of the broadcast, Wright expressed horror at opponent Ty Penserga’s “big purple, pink signs,” adding: “He’s gay. He wants to make this a gay city. That’s not Boynton culture.“I’ll call him what I will, and I tell his gay butt this, if you’re gay, you’re gay.

Florida, meaning from preschool up to Grade 3), or “in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.”Buttigieg recently attacked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Twitter over the bill being pushed by DeSantis’ fellow Republicans, claiming that its would “kill kids” by making it harder for LGBTQ children to acknowledge their identities.

nearly identical companion bill has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Dennis Baxley (R-Belleview), using much of the same language.Some parents praised lawmakers for moving to protect parental rights.