David Hudson

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Boys In The Band and The Cher Show scoop Tony Awards

The Boys In The Band has won the Tony Award for Best Play Revival at last night’s Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The awards celebrate the best of Broadway.

Mart Crowley’s late 1960s play focuses on a group of gay men who come together for dinner one evening. The groundbreaking play was turned into a film in 1970.

The show returned to Broadway last year to mark its 50th anniversary. Cast members in the new production included Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells and Charlie Carver.

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GLAAD✔@glaad

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Huge congrats to the @BoysBandBway team on the #TonyAwards win for Best Revival of a Play!! 1856:37 PM – Jun 9, 201947 people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacy

Other winners last night included Stephanie J. Block. She won the lead actress in a musical award for her role as Cher in The Cher Show.. In her acceptance speech, she thanked ‘the goddess Cher, and her legacy.’

The show also won best costume designer for legendary designer, Bob Mackie. Mackie is famed for creating many of Cher’s more flamboyant creations in the 1970s.

Both wins prompted jubilation from Cher herself. She tweeted: ‘I cannot stop jumping, crying,laughing,….I feel like I won an award!’ And, ‘I’m so crying … Bob Mackie deserves this award more than anyone will ever know.’

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Cher✔@cher

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I CANNOT STOP JUMPING, CRYING,LAUGHING,….I FEEL LIKE I WON AN AWARD
NOT EVEN SURE IF I CAN USE EMOJIS.
STEPHANIE,BESIDES ME…YOU
ARE THE“ BEST ME”
BOB I LOVED YOU THE MOMENT I SAW YOU
BEST ACTRESS IN MUSICAL =
STEPHANIE J BLOCK
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
BOB MACKIE12K8:40 PM – Jun 9, 20191,483 people are talking about thisTwitter Ads info and privacy

Hadestown wins big at Tony Awards

The biggest winner of the night was the musical Hadestown. The folk opera took home eight awards, including Best Musical and Best Director.

Collecting her award, director Rachel Chavkin noted she’s currently the only woman on Broadway directing a musical. She called on the theatreworld to do better: ‘It is a failure of imagination.’

The Ferryman by British playwright Jez Butterworth won the Tony for Best Play.

Bryan Cranston (of Breaking Bad fame), won his second Tony. This time it was for his performance in the revival of Network, about network news broadcasters.

He dedicated his award for best actor in a play to real-life journalists, saying the media, ‘is not the enemy of the people. Demagoguery is the enemy of the people.’ The remark was understood by the audience as a reference to President Donald Trump, who regularly blasts media coverage of his administration.

Elaine May won the award for best actress in a play for her role in The Waverly Gallery.

Best actor in a musical award went to Santino Fontana for his role in Tootsie – a stage version of the hit 1982 film in which a man pretends to be a women in order to land a role on a TV show. Tootsie also won Best Book.

Rainbow red carpet and Billy Porter

The 73rd Tony Awards, was hosted by James Corden. Before the show, celebrities walked a red carpet against a rainbow backdrop made up of thousands of roses. The rainbow was incorporated into the red carpet in honor of World Pride, which takes place in New York City this month.

‘Focusing the red carpet theme around World Pride marks a seminal moment for New York City, as it hosts both the Tonys and World Pride in the same month,’ event designer Raul Àvila told Vogue beforehand.

‘These two communities have been closely intertwined since the beginning of Pride.’

One of those to make the biggest impression was Pose star Billy Porter. The actor has become a fixture on red carpets with his eye-catching looks. This time he wore a costume by Celestino Couture, created from the velvet curtains from the show Kinky Boots, in which he starred.

Kinky Boots closed in 2018. The curtains were purchased by Scenery Bags, who create bags from retired show material. The brand asked Porter if he wanted to carry a bag made from the curtains, but instead, he worked with Scenery and Celestino to come up with a tuxedo top and tulle skirt combo!

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Lesbian Candidate Satya Rhodes-Conway Becomes Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin

Mayoral candidate Satya Rhodes-Conway has achieved victory in her bid to become mayor of Madison, Wisconsin. In doing so, she becomes the first openly gay mayor of the US city, and only the second woman.

Democrat Rhodes-Conway, 47, a former three-term Madison City Council member, ousts incumbent Paul Soglin.

Soglin, 73, served as mayor from 1973-1979, 1989-1997, and from 2011 until now. He was Madison’s longest-serving mayor and it was his 22nd year in the office.

Rhodes-Conway’s victory was called around 9.25pm local time Tuesday. She had 62% of the vote with 92% of precincts counted (47,915 votes to Soglin ‘s 29,1500).

New Madison mayor: ‘Full of hope for our city’

Rhodes-Conway campaigned on a platform of developing affordable housing, improving Madison transportation with rapid transit, tackling systematic racial inequities and addressing climate change.

In her victory speech at Prism Dance Club, Rhodes-Conway paid tribute to Harvey Milk as an inspiration. She also said, ‘I am full of hope for our city!’

Her victory comes on the same night as another LGBTI candidate made history in Chicago. Lori Lightfoot became the first black, lesbian to be elected mayor of the Illinois city. Lightfoot becomes the highest-ranking LGBTI mayor in American history.

Other LGBTI candidates to achieve success in local elections yesterday included Democrat Jolie Justus in Kansas City. She secured the top spot in the run-off for Mayor. The mayoral election will take place there on June 18.

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All Charges Are Dropped Against Actor Jussie Smollett

Actor Jussie Smollett was summoned to an emergency court appearance this morning in Chicago to be told all criminal charges against him are being dropped by Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx.

Smollett had been charged with felony disorderly conduct for filing a false report. In total, he faced 16 felony charges.

In a statement released after his appearance, his attorneys – Tina Glandian and Patricia Brown Holmes – said:

‘Today, all criminal charges against Jussie Smollett were dropped and his record has been wiped clean of the filing of this tragic complaint against him.

‘Jussie was attacked by two people he was unable to identify on January 29th. He was a victim who was vilified and made to appear as a perpetrator as a result of false and inappropriate remarks made to the public causing an inappropriate rush to judgement.

‘Jussie and many others were hurt by these unfair and unwarranted actions. This entire situation is a reminder that there should never be an attempt to prove a case in the court of public opinion. That is wrong.

‘It is a reminder that a victim, in this case Jussie, deserves dignity and respect. Dismissal of charges against the victim in this case was the only just result.

‘Jussie is relieved to have this situation behind him and is very much looking forward to getting back to focusing on his family, friends and career.’

Shortly after his attorneys issued a statement, Cook County prosecutors issued their own.

‘After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smollett’s volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case.’

January incident in Chicago

Smollett, 36, reported being attacked on in the early hours of 29 January in Chicago. The gay actor and singer said he’d gone out for food when two men attacked him. He said they threw an unidentified liquid at him and put a noose around his neck.

He took himself to hospital and notified police.

Police later arrested two men in connection with the attack. However, after questioning the men and carrying out investigations, they arrested Smollett.

Police alleged he had lied about the assault, suggesting he concocted the incident for publicity purposes.

News of the charges being dropped will inevitably raise questions about why charges were brought in the first place.

UPDATE: Smollett says ‘This has been an incredibly difficult time’

On leaving the court, Smollett gave his own statement to waiting reporters. He said: ‘I want to thank my family, my friends, the incredible people of Chicago and all over the country and the world who have prayed for me, who have supported me and who have showed me so much love.

‘No one will ever know how much that has meant to me and I will be forever grateful.

‘I want you to know that not for a moment was it in vain. I have been truthful and consistent on every level since day one.’

He continued, ‘I would not be my mother’s son if I was capable of one drop of what I’ve been accused of.

‘This has been an incredibly difficult time. Honestly one of the worst of my entire life. But I am a man of faith and I am a man that has knowledge of my history and I would not bring my family, our lives or the movement through a fire like this. I just wouldn’t.

‘Now I’d like nothing more than to get back to work and move on with my life. But make no mistakes, I will always continue to fight for the justice, equality and betterment of marginalized people everywhere.

‘So again thank you for all the support. Thank you for faith and thank you to God. Bless you. Thank you very much.’

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Russia Ignoring Chechnya Torture and Murder, Say European Investigators

Russia is failing to address the gravity of torture use by authorities in Chechnya. That’s the conclusion of the Council of Europe’s anti-torture Committee.

Yesterday, the committee issued a public statement. It urges the Russian Federation to do more to investigate reports of atrocities and an anti-gay purge.

Located in the North Caucasus region, Chechnya is a subject of the Russian Federation.

Its president is Ramzan Kadyrov, who has been in power since 2007. He tends to rule the country in accordance with traditional Islamic social codes, even if these contravene Russian law. Since late 2016, the country has arrested, detained and tortured LGBT citizens. Some men have disappeared, believed murdered.

There has been an international relief effort to help get LGBT people out of Chechnya. Political condemnation led Russian President Vladimir Putin in summer 2017 to say that Russia would investigate the reports. However, no action appears to have been taken.

New wave of atrocities

It was believed that international attention led to Chechnya halting its persecution of gay and bi people. However, late last year reports began to emerge that arrests had recommenced.

The full statement from the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) can be read here.

The CPT has issued statements on the use of torture in Chechnya on three previous occasions: 2001, 2003 and 2007. It returned to the region in November and December 2017 to see if the situation remained the same.

‘Regrettably, it is clear from the information gathered by the Committee in the course of those visits that resort to torture and other forms of ill-treatment by members of law enforcement agencies in the Chechen Republic remains widespread, as does the related practice of unlawful detentions which inevitably heightens significantly the risk of resort to ill-treatment, in particular due to the denial of fundamental safeguards.

‘Further, it remains deeply worrying that, in their responses to the CPT’s visit reports, the Russian authorities have failed to acknowledge the gravity of the situation.’

‘A deep-rooted problem’

The statement says, ‘torture and other forms of ill-treatment of detained persons in the Chechen Republic has remained a deep-rooted problem.

‘This speaks not only to a dereliction of duty at the level of the Republic’s authorities, but also to a failure of effective oversight and control at the Federal level. It is clear that the manner in which law enforcement officials in the Chechen Republic deal with persons in their custody must be subject to far closer and more robust supervision.’

The committee notes widespread reports of an anti-gay purge in Chechnya. This includes, ‘abductions, unlawful detentions, severe ill-treatment and extrajudicial killings of a large number of people – including but not limited to LGBTI persons – by, at the instigation, or with the acquiescence of law enforcement officials at various locations in the Chechen Republic.

‘The facts found during [our] 2017 visit lend credence to those claims.’

‘Impasse’

It says the committee has made repeated requests to Russia to carry out investigations.

‘Regrettably, the CPT’s ongoing dialogue with the Russian authorities on this subject has reached an impasse.’

Russian authorities have failed to show evidence to the committee that it is carrying out any investigation.

The committee says Russia must deliver, ‘a firm and unambiguous message of “zero tolerance” of ill-treatment to all members of law enforcement agencies operating in the Chechen Republic. … As part of this message, it should be reiterated that all forms of ill-treatment are absolutely prohibited, and that both the perpetrators of such acts and those condoning them will be punished accordingly.’

‘Intolerable’

The report was welcomed by human rights advocates. Rachel Denber is a Deputy Director with Human Rights Watch, overseeing Europe and Central Asia.

She describes the report as, ‘powerful and important.’

‘It calls out the widespread practice of torture in Chechnya.

‘The Russian authorities’ failure to cooperate with the committee in no way diminishes the importance of this report. It’s essential for an agency that is as authoritative and expert as the CPT to document this intolerable abuse – for the sake of the victims, and the sake of the facts themselves.’

How you can help

Gay Star News is currently running a fundraiser to help raise money to halt the crisis in Chechnya. Money raised will go directly to the Russian LGBT Network to help tackle the crisis and to aid LGBTI people to flee Chechyna and seek asylum elsewhere.

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10% of HIV Cases in Gay/bi Men Linked to Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Infection

One in ten new cases of HIV in gay and bisexual men are linked to gonorrhea and chlamydiainfection. That’s the conclusion of a modelling study highlighted by the NCSD (National Coalition of STD Directors) in the US.

The journal, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, published the research this week. Both sexually transmitted infections can increase the risk of HIV transmission taking place: a fact known for some time.

However, with rates of both gonorrhea and chlamydia rising in the US, health experts are concerned how this may impact public health advances in tackling HIV.

Between 2013-2017, the US saw a 22% increase in chlamydia. Gonorrhea diagnosis shot up by 67%. By comparison, there has been a 13% drop in HIV diagnosis over the last eight years.

The precise extent to which chlamydia and gonorrhea increase HIV transmission is unknown. Other biological factors may also play an influence. For this reason, parts of the ‘modelling’ study relied on estimates.

However, researchers from Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta say their findings should be used by those working in public health to address the issue of STIs and HIV transmission.

‘The historic levels of STDs imperil our progress towards ending HIV’

‘This study highlights a clear need for a federal investment in the STD field and serves as a stark reminder that HIV and STD prevention must go hand-in-hand,’ says David C. Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD).

‘The historic levels of STDs imperil our progress towards ending HIV. We can’t hope to end HIV without also addressing STDs.’

According to the NCSD, there has been a 40& cut in STD prevention program funding since 2003. It is asking for an additional $70million injection from Congress to help tackle the problem of rising STD rates.

‘STDs lead to serious health problems, and now this study shows two of our most common STDs can cause HIV. This is a wakeup call to our country to respond to the real and growing threat of STDs.’

The importance of regular sexual health check-ups

Ian Howley, Chief Executive of the UK-based LGBTQ HERO, the parent organisation of gay men’s health project GMFA, told Gay Star News: ‘It’s been thought for some time that having an STI increases the chances of contracting HIV. When your body is fighting an STI it becomes more accessible to contracting HIV.

‘If you are HIV-negative and been diagnosed with an STI you should abstain from sexual contact with another person until you’ve been treated and cleared.’

Howley recommends all sexually active men should test for HIV and STIs at least every six months.

‘More if you are having condomless sex and not on PrEP. You should also know what the symptoms of STIs are, such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis. That way you can catch it early and get it treated before it imposes a further risk to yourself and others.’

However, all three infections may present with no symptoms. This is why sexual health workers stress the importance of regular testing, whether you notice symptoms or not.

‘Reducing the levels of undiagnosed STI infection is crucial’

Matthew Hodson, executive Director of NAM/aidsmap, said: ‘The public health emphasis on HIV has often overshadowed concerns about STIs. Considering many STIs will have no symptoms initially, reducing the levels of undiagnosed STI infection is crucial.’

Hodson was also keen to point out the role of STIs in HIV transmission does not detract from the Undetectable=Untransmittable message sexual advocates support.

‘When someone is undetectable on treatment they will not pass HIV on to their sexual partners. Even if other STIs are present. “U equals U” still applies.

‘We know this because the studies that affirmed zero sexual transmission risk when undetectable didn’t find a single case of transmission, even though many people in those studies had STIs.’

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LGBT People More Likely to Go into their Overdraft and Earn Less

A study has found LGBT people in the US more likely to go into their overdraft than the general population.

The study, undertaken by OverdraftApps.com, questioned just over 1,000 people across the US. Around 11% of respondents identified as LGBT.

The study asked people how often they found themselves dipping into their overdraft over the past year: Never; once or twice; three to nine times; or 10+ times.

Key findings include:

• Fifty-four percent of non-LGBTQ people said they ‘never’ went into overdraft. This compares to only 47% of LGBTQ people.

• Eighteen per cent of the LGBTQ population overdrafted three to nine times in the last year. This is against 12% of the non-LGBTQ community.

• When it comes to earnings, a similar number of LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ people earn between $25,000-$50,000 (around 35%). However, differences appear when looking at low and high earners. Around 25% of LGBTQ said they earned less than $25,000 compared to 14% of the general population.

• Of those earning more than $50,000, LGBTQ people were again in the minority. Thirty-two per cent of the general population said they earned $50,000-$75,000, but only 25% of LGBTQ respondents earned this much. This continued in the $75,000-$100,000 bracket (16% of non-LGBTQ against 12% of LGBTQ).

• Ninety per cent of the LGBTQ population doesn’t trust the current administration to help lower bank fees, compared to 76% of those outside the community.

• Ninety-four per cent of the LGBTQ respondents do not believe President Trump specifically will help decrease bank fees. This compares to 83% of those not in the LGBTQ community.

Banks will charge ‘whenever and wherever they can’

The survey found that many people across the population had a lack of knowledge about overdrafts, associated banking fees and options such as overdraft protection. It found LGBTQ people were also slightly less likely to complain to their bank about overdraft fees.

‘Everyone is now aware that fees are a multibillion dollar business for banks. They are going to charge whenever and wherever they can, so it’s really up to people to track their finances, finding alternative ways to borrow money,’ said Paul Golden, spokesperson finance NGO Nefe, the National Endowment for Financial Education, in the report.

Spending in the LGBTI community

Much has been written about the power of LGBTI spending. Many of those who point to wealth in the LGBTQ community highlight the fact that same-sex couples are less likely to have kids.

While it’s true that couples with no kids are likely to have more disposable income, this does not compensate for the fact that LGBTQ people often face barriers to career advancement or have had to overcome challenges in life linked to their sexuality or gender identity.

A spokesperson for Overdraft Apps told Gay Star News: ‘We think that the prejudices that the LGBTQ community suffered in the past and are still going through today are great factors when it comes to their lower income and the amount they overdraft compared to the general population.

‘It just makes sense: When your mind is busy with existential questions, you have less time to focus on your financial well-being.’

Distrust in political leadership

Bob Witeck is the founder of Witeck Communications. The marketing agency produces an annual report on the spending power of the LGBTQ community.

He told GSN he was, ‘not especially surprised’ by the findings. However, as a caveat, he says part of the findings may be down to those identifying as LGBTQ being younger: baby boomers ‘tend to be more closeted based on their lives’ experiences.’

However, he said the study, ‘seems to confirm data I’ve seen over the years that suggests LGBTQ consumers tend to be slightly less savvy about financial services, and tend to distrust or to be wary of financial institutions slightly more than others.

‘There is no surprise at all that LGBTQ respondents express their distrust in our current political leadership too, given the climate fostered by the Trump Administration.’

Male couples discriminated against on mortgage applications

A 2013 study by The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law found though ‘poverty rates for nearly all populations increased during the recession, lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) Americans remained more likely to be poor than heterosexual people.’

Spending power is also complicated by many other factors. Some studies have found that lesbians, on average, tend to earn more over their lifetime than heterosexual women of similar educational standing. However, this is largely due to them being less likely to take career breaks to raise children.

Another recent analysis, by the University of Chicago Law Review, found that gay male couples were more likely to encounter discrimination when applying for a mortgage.

It found white male couples 2.5% less likely to be approved a mortgage than a white, opposite-sex couple. Faring worse were black male couples. They were 7.5% less likely than a white, straight couples to be approved for a similar mortgage.

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Two percent of US High School Students Identify as Transgender

Just under 2% (1.8%) of High School students in the US identify as transgender. That’s the findings of a new survey by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

The CDC surveyed students across 19 states and large, urban school districts. This included Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin. Urban districts included Los Angeles and New York City, among others.

The survey looked at how many youth identify as transgender. It also looked at what risk trans youth were to violence, substance abuse, suicide and sexual risk.

Key findings included:

  • 1.8% of students enrolled in the participating 10 states and nine urban school districts identified as transgender.
  • A further 1.6% responded ‘I am not sure if I am transgender’ – suggesting some will go on to identify as trans.
  • 34.6% of transgender students had attempted suicide in the past 12 months. This compared against 5.5% of cisgender males and 9.1% of cisgender females.
  • Transgender youth were more at risk of substance abuse for all forms of substances – from cigarettes and alcohol through to prescription opioids. The biggest differences came with cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines use. Just 1-2% of cisgender youth had tried heroin and methamphetamine, compared to approximately 25% of transgender youth for each drug.
  • Transgender youth were more likely to be victims of violence – from online bullying to physical violence and sexual abuse.
  • Trans youth were more likely to have had sexual intercourse, and at an earlier age. Approximately 15% of trans youth said they’d had sex before the age of 13, compared with 4.5% of cisgender males and 1.5% of cisgender females. Trans youth were also less likely to have used a condom the last time they had sex.

Not all youth included as some drop out of school

The survey questioned over 130,000 high school students. Researchers noted that as questions explored high-risk activities among high school students, some of the students most at risk may have already dropped out of the school system.

They conclude: ‘Transgender youths in high school appear to face serious risk for violence victimization, substance use, and suicide, as well as some sexual risk behaviors, indicating a need for programmatic efforts to better support the overall health of transgender youths.’

The data comes from CDC’s biannual Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (YRBS). The 2017 survey was the first to include questions about transgender identity.

‘Game-changing’ survey

Amit Paley is CEO and Executive Director of The Trevor Project, a suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people. He welcomed the study.

‘The CDC’s new groundbreaking report shows that transgender youth exist in much greater numbers than researchers previously estimated.

‘By collecting data inclusive of gender identity, the report shows the very real health risks faced by transgender and gender non-conforming youth. The CDC’s findings highlight the need for even more policies to protect transgender and gender nonconforming youth, as well as additional support for LGBTQ-affirming organizations like The Trevor Project.

He said the data is ‘game-changing’ but says more research is needed. He wants more states and urban school districts to ask about gender identity when the survey is next taken. In 2017, the question was optional for states to adopt.

‘Only by understanding who our youth are and how they identify can we craft policies to allow every young person to thrive.’

‘Victimization and discrimination’

Caitlin Clark is a research associate at LGBTQ student advocacy group GLSEN.

‘Trans youth don’t experience poorer mental health or higher suicidality because it’s something that comes with being trans,’ she told NBC. ‘Trans people have poorer mental health because they are at higher risk of victimization and discrimination.’

The CDC results come a week after the Williams Institute at the University of Los Angeles (UCLA) release a study exploring bullying and youth suicide. It found states with anti-bullying laws that had specific LGBTQ inclusions had lower rates of LGBTQ teen suicide.

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Fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld Dies, Aged 85


Fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld dies, aged 85

Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has died, aged 85. The German-born, creative director of Chanel had reportedly been suffering ill health over the past few weeks, although no official cause of death has been revealed.

French magazine Closer broke the news of Lagerfeld’s death. Sources at Chanel have confirmed the news.

The designer missed two Chanel catwalk shows in late January. However, at the time the company said it was due to tiredness.

It was the first time he had ever missed a Chanel catwalk show since taking over the helm in 1983.

Career and controversy

Lagerfeld was born in Hamburg in 1933: the son of a businessman and former lingerie saleswoman. He undertook his secondary schooling in Paris, after which he took up a job as an apprenticeship with the designer Pierre Balmain.

He designed his first haute couture collection, for Jean Patou, in 1958.

Lagerfeld built a name for himself during the 1960s, working extensively with Chloe and Curiel. He also began to collaborate with the Italian fashion house, Fendi.

Lagerfeld was appointed creative director for Chanel in 1983, which is when he truly became a global fashion brand. Instantly recognizable, he became as known for his trademark silver hair, ponytail, sunglasses, large white shirt collars and leather gloves as his clothing and accessory designs.

His career was also not without controversies. He was a frequent target of animal rights groups such as PETA for his use of fur in his designs. He also had to apologize after using a verse from the Qur’an in his spring 1994 couture collection for Chanel.

Dubbed ‘Kaiser Karl’ and ‘Fashion Meister’, he was also known for the occasional his bitchy remarks.

In 2012, he said of the singer Adele, ‘She is a little too fat, but she has a beautiful face and a divine voice.’

Once asked his views on Russia, the designer said, ‘If I was a woman in Russia I would be a lesbian, as the men are very ugly.’

He also looked down upon those who made little effort with their attire: ‘Sweatpants are a sign of defeat. You lost control of your life so you bought some sweatpants.’

More recently, he was criticized for his response to the #MeToo movement after saying: ‘If you don’t want your pants pulled about, don’t become a model!’

‘Elegance is an attitude’

However, he was also known for his craftmanship and vision. He was an accomplished artist, continuing to hand-draw his own designs until late in life, and photographer.

‘Elegance is an attitude,’ is one Lagerfeld quote that fans will fondly remember him for.

Among the first to pay tribute to Lagerfeld is Donatella Versace. The Italian designer posted a photo of her with Lagerfeld and a message: ‘Karl your genius touched the lives of so many, especially Gianni and I. We will never forget your incredible talent and endless inspiration. We were always learning from you.’

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San Francisco Police Issue Sketch of 1970s Serial Killer of Gay Men

Police in San Francisco have released an updated artist’s impression of a serial homicide suspect.

The so-called ‘Doodler’ attacked gay men in the mid-1970s. Police wish to question him in connection with the slayings of five gay men. These occurred in the Ocean Beach area between 1974-1975.

Police believe the murderer could be the same person who attacked two gay men at the Fox Plaza Apartments, 1390 Market Street, in July 1975.

The suspect was dubbed ‘the doodler’ because one victim at Fox Plaza said he first encountered him, prior to being attacked, drawing caricatures at a former all-night diner on the block.

‘Both victims provided a suspect description of a black male, approximately 19-25 years old, 5’11-6’0, lanky in appearance, with a medium complexion and smooth skin. One of the surviving victims provided further information to police, which resulted in a composite sketch of the suspect.’

‘The investigation thus far had led Police to believe the suspect lived in the Bay Area, but outside of San Francisco and would come into the city at night-time on weekends,’ say police in a statement.

‘Information also indicates there is a likelihood of additional victims who may have survived attempted attacks but have not come forward to document the incidents.’

Suspect often drew sketches of his victims before stabbing them

Police commissioned an artist to do a new sketch, over 40 years later, to show what the suspect could look like today.

The Doodler sought out gay men in after-hours gay clubs and restaurants in San Francisco. He would often sketch drawings of them, before stabbing them.

Police detained a man in 1976 but never charged him. He remains a person of interest. Police have recently interviewed him again.

According to newspaper reports from 1977, one of the reasons police felt unable to charge him was because survivors did not want to ‘out’ themselves by testifying. Two survivors of stabbing attacks potentially linked to the suspect included a ‘well-known entertainer’ and a diplomat.

To help solve the case, police have announced a $100,000 reward for information that could help them secure an arrest. They’ve also released an audio file of a call to police on 27 January 1974. The caller had come across a body but didn’t wish to give their name.

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US to Get New National LGBTQ Arts Center Thanks to SF Gay Men’s Chorus

US to get new National LGBTQ Arts Center thanks to Gay Men’s Chorus
The new home of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus on Valencia Street, San Francisco (Photo courtesy San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus)

The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus has announced that is launching its own LGBTQ Arts Center in the California city.

The Chorus has taken over a $9.6million, four-storey, art deco building at 170 Valencia Street. It will be the first time the Chorus has had a permanent home.

The SF Gay Men’s Chorus is arguably the most famous gay choir in the world. It formed in 1978 and is famed for its performances and recordings.

According to the SF Chronicle, besides acting as a home for the Chorus, the building will evolve into a fully-fledged LGBTQ arts center.

The building dates back to 1930. Former occupants include worshippers of the Baha’i Faith. They used it as a place of worship up until 1976.

The Chorus hope to begin programming events from the fall onwards.

‘The way we envision this space is really being a community space, so being able to bring in more LGBTQ arts organizations,’ said Executive Director Chris Verdugo.

‘As we introduce this into the community, a big piece of that will be aligning ourselves with other various LGBTQ arts organizations who need rehearsal space, who need small performance spaces.’

The purchase of the building has been largely thanks to a $5million donation from a former Chorus member: Terrence Chan.

In a statement, Verdugo praised Chan’s generosity.

‘We are so grateful to Terrence Chan and his life partner Edward Sell who will lead our campaign and our board of directors for their most generous support of this remarkable venture. We look forward to working with and alongside other LGBTQ arts organizations while supporting them in their artistic and advocacy endeavors.’

In the same statement, Chan said, ‘I am particularly excited about the vision for a National LGBTQ Center for the Arts. At this time in our nation’s history, it is vital that we in the LGBTQ community have a home for our art and artists.

‘I am confident that great work will be created in our new home – work that will inspire, engage and educate.’

Amongst those to congratulate the Chorus on their new home is San Francisco’s recently elected mayor, London Breed.

‘Congratulations to @SFGMC on their new home at the old Baha’i Temple on Valencia Street!’ she tweeted. ‘This space will serve as a national arts hub for the LGBTQ community, providing workshops and trainings for artists and performers from all around the globe.’

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