Sophia Bush's girlfriend is “proud” the actress has opened up about her journey to coming out as queer. The former ‘One Tree Hill' actress, 41, grew close to her partner Ashlyn Harris, 38, while going through a divorce from her now-ex-husband Grant Hughes, 42, to whom she had been married for only a year before their split, and has now written an essay for Glamour magazine detailing how they fell in love. Ashlyn has now reposted a photo of Sophia posing for the cover of the publication's latest issue on her Instagram Story – and added the caption: “Proud of you babe. (Staring face and melting …

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Mel B will “always be open” when it comes to her sexuality. The Spice Girls singer, 48, who reunited with her bandmates including the group's ex-singer Victoria Beckham for the fashion designer's 50th birthday party on Saturday (20.04.24), had a five-year relationship with Christine Crokos, 48, in the early 2000s, and still keeps in touch with the director. Mel – born Melanie Janine Brown – told Attitude magazine about her lesbian romance: “I happened to fall in love with a woman and was with her for five years. We still talk to this day. “I don't want to put a label on it, but I've always tho…

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Megan Thee Stallion is being sued for allegedly creating a hostile work environment and forcing her cameraman to watch her having lesbian sex. The 29-year-old ‘Savage' rapper faces the salacious claims from her ex-employee Emilio Garcia, who says in a claim filed in Los Angeles that emerged on Tuesday (23.04.24) he was made to witness her have sexual relations with a female lover as they rode in a SUV during a stop-off on her tour in Ibiza, Spain, in June 2022. Videographer Emilio, who started working with Megan in 2018, alleged in his claim, seen by Page Six, Megan warned him at the time: “Do…

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Jonathan Bennett's life was “changed forever” by his role in ‘Mean Girls'. The 42-year-old actor starred as heartthrob Aaron Samuels in the 2004 cult classic – which followed Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried and Lacey Chabert as a group of popular girls in a comedy that serves as a parody of the high school clique system – and took to social media on Friday (19.04.24) evening to mark the 20th anniversary of the premiere. Alongside a photo of himself and his on-screen love interest Lindsay, he wrote on Instagram: “20 years ago today, the world met Aaron, Cady, Gretchen, Karen, Reg…

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By Vassia Barba The questionnaire used in the jury selection process for Donald Trump's historic hush money trial is “by far the most exhaustive” the court has ever used, according to New York Judge Juan Merchan. Trump returned to a New York courtroom on Tuesday as the jury selection process for his historic trial, the first-ever criminal trial for a current or former US president entered its second day. The process is proving challenging as no one has been chosen to be on the panel of 12 jurors and six alternates yet, with all jurors excused either after saying they couldn't be impartial or b…

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Sir Elton John sent Lance Bass a gift basket after he came out as gay. The 44-year-old NSYNC star revealed the legendary singer showed his support when Lance decided to reveal his sexuality in a PEOPLE magazine interview in 2006. He told PEOPLE: “The most fun thing I got after I came out was a nice gift basket — I think on my front step — and it was from Elton John basically saying, ‘Welcome to the club'. “I was like, ‘Wow, I got a welcome basket from the king of the gay mafia'. I'm like, ‘I'm in!' I thought that was the most fun, welcoming basket you could ever get.” Lance revealed that altho…

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A recent study published in The Journal of Social Psychology has unearthed intriguing findings regarding sexual prejudice — the negative attitudes people may harbor towards others based on their sexual orientation. The study found evidence that heterosexual women's attitudes towards lesbian women are influenced by whether the lesbians are in a relationship. The findings indicate that heterosexual women tend to distance themselves more socially from single lesbians compared to those in relationships, with this behavior mediated by concerns over unwanted sexual advances. Interestingly, the relat…

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JoJo Siwa hasn't found it easy to cultivate a more adult image. The former ‘Dance Moms' star – who turns 21 next month – has caused controversy with her provocative new music video ‘Karma' and she admitted it has taken some time to work out the best way to “navigate” her previous image as an idol to millions of children and still honour her teenage self while also being able to grow up and move on. She told ‘Entertainment Tonight': “It's been something that we've tried to figure out the best way to navigate. “I do have such a young fan base, and I do have a lot of kids that look at JoJo Siwa a…

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Elizabeth Hurley has insisted that her latest sex scene was an “integral part” of her new movie. The 58-year-old star plays Lily in ‘Strictly Confidential' – which has been directed by her son Damian in his cinematic debut – and defended her intimate scene with Pear Chiravara's character in the movie, insisting that it wasn't just “thrown into” the film to “titillate” viewers. She told TooFab: “Well, it was a very important part of storytelling, when Mia, our protagonist, is on this quest to find out why her best friend [Hurley's character's daughter] killed herself. It was so integral to [the…

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Ed note: As we went to publish this last episode and commentar we got great news about the Don't Say Gay Law:

Roberta Kaplan for another Extraordinary Win

The settlement over Florida's contentious “Don't Say Gay” law, officially termed the Parental Rights in Education Act, has garnered attention for clarifying the scope of discussions allowed within educational settings regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. This settlement, the result of legal challenges led by organizationg across the state and negotiated ultimately by Roberta Kaplan, a renowned advocate for LGBTQ+ rights with a history of significant legal victories, including the landmark United States v. Windsor case and the recent win against Donald Trump.

Teachers can say “gay” but can't “teach” gay…. or something like that

The agreement allows teachers in Florida to discuss LGBTQ+ issues, thereby addressing concerns about the law's perceived restrictions on such conversations, while maintaining the prohibition on explicit instruction about gender identity and sexuality that the law initially set out to enforce.

Both proponents of the law and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have declared the settlement a victory. Advocates for the law argue that it retains its core principles by keeping explicit discussions on sexuality and gender identity out of the curriculum, but LGBTQ+ advocates view the settlement as a win for inclusivity and freedom of speech, sends something of a message to young people about their right to exist and to be seen as it does for LGBTQ teachers and staff.

The broader reaction to the settlement has been mixed, reflecting the deeply polarized views on how sexuality and gender identity should be addressed in schools.

And the good queer folks of Key West have been part of that resistance and are not likely to back down…

Supporting Our Communities Behind Florida Lines

The Keys, particularly Key West, defy the conventional norms of Florida. It's a place where you can say “gay” as freely as the ocean breeze that sweeps through its streets and listen to drag queens spin tales in the heart of town. From its rebellious beginnings to its present-day celebration of life on the fringe, Key West has always welcomed individuality.

Going One Better. Keep Key West Gay is a Movement

While this island paradise may seem off the beaten path, its off-center and off-color charm only adds to its allure. Tennessee Williams, who once remarked, ” we have all kinds in these parts,” encapsulating the diverse and inclusive nature of his community. It remains true today. And we're here to support that spirit. Join us?

Be Yourself. All of You. In Public

ICYMI, no visit would be complete without indulging in some key lime pie, enjoying brunch at any hour, losing your swimsuit for a few hours, or sipping on drinks as the sun dips below the horizon. But in Key West, it's not just about escaping reality; it's about embracing a lifestyle where the only rule is to be yourself.

Whether you're seeking adventure, a little romance, a little less than romance, the perfect place to chill, or a little bit of everything, come experience the magic of Key West and maybe leave as a convert

We hope that you've enjoyed our podcast series Gay Key West Uncovered, exploring and exposing some of the island's many charms. You can listen to the whole series on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, Stitcher and more.

New York (AFP) – Beyonce's new country album features a long-rumored cover of Dolly Parton's beloved “Jolene,” as well as a number of country legend features including Willie Nelson. “Cowboy Carter” — the honkified second act of Queen Bey's “Renaissance” trilogy — was already out in parts of the world where the calendar had flipped to Friday, and will continue its global drop as the clock strikes midnight in each time zone. The 42-year-old megastar also covers Paul McCartney's “White Album” classic “Blackbiird,” which she stylizes with a double-i spelling. McCartney wrote the 1968 song about…

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Washington (AFP) – The US administration of President Joe Biden on Thursday announced further protections for endangered species and their habitats, restoring a set of regulations weakened by Donald Trump. The new rules were touted as evidence of Biden's commitment to tackling climate change, though some environmental groups said the changes fell short of fully resurrecting necessary protections.  “These revisions underscore our commitment to using all of the tools available to help halt declines and stabilize populations of the species most at-risk,” Martha Williams, director of the US Fish a…

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Kathy Griffin said years after she posted a severed head photo of Donald Trump on social media, the ex-president's supporters are still coming for her. Luckily, she's learned to laugh about it. “They're crazed over me!” the comedian, 63, said on ABC's The View. “So there was an actual parade Sunday night at my show in Huntington, New York, and they had all these Trumpers, organize an anti-Kathy Griffin parade. It was kind of funny because they did have a bobbing redhead of me, an effigy, and they had — they were shouting ‘I'm a traitor' and all this other stuff. But the audience came and saw i…

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Nashville (AFP) – “Twenty-three in Music City / With dreams and high-heeled boots / Singin' for a crowd of blue eyes / Will they want me too?” croons Julie Williams at the Blue Room venue in Nashville. The 26-year-old, who is biracial, is one of many Black female artists carving out space in country music's capital, where predominantly white, male gatekeepers dictate who makes it — and who doesn't. Megastar Beyonce's highly anticipated country album, out Friday, has cast a spotlight on efforts by Black performers — a vital part of the genre's history — to create a more inclusive Nashville. …

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Key West's attractions don't stop at its shores, and this tropical paradise is just as friendly, and sometimes just as frisky, outdoors. Join us as we navigate some serene to sensational tropical highlights, exploring more of the island's captivating natural attractions in the upcoming episode of Gay Key West Uncovered.

Butterflies

Let's take a tip from Mother Nature and follow the sun. The Butterfly Conservatory may seem an unlikely outdoor destination, but it holds a special allure and enthusiast group of fans. Founded two decades ago by a gay couple following their dreams, this sanctuary offers a mesmerizing glimpse into the world of butterflies, who magically use the sun for their migration patterns. Whether you're drawn to the saucer-sized blue morpho butterflies, resident flamingos Rhett and Scarlet, or seeing newborn wings emerge from their cocoon, we highly recommend a walk through this fairytale world.

Flamingos Rhett and Scarlett, at the Butterfly Conservatory

Tennessee Williams found inspiration in Key West's setting sun, inspiring a nightly celebration on Mallory Square. Here, street performers, artists, and fortune tellers gather to showcase their talents against the backdrop of the island's famed sunsets. From knife and whip juggling to explanations of the island's “energy vortex,” it should be on every itinerary. But a beautiful way to get the inside story is by reading Drawn to Key West, by artist Theresa Chiechi, who has been attracted to its charms since she was a child.

Sunset Celebration, Mallory Square

Of course, the very best way we found to enjoy the sun was to expose ourselves to its full, unabashed, glory. While veteran sailor Nance Frank, and Captain Karen, from Venus Charters, describe getting out on the water as a reverent meditation, our somewhat less-introspective energies skew to BluQ. Clothing-optional all-male day trips have you sailing free as the breeze, snorkeling and swimming in nothing but Key West's bath temperature water, enjoying hors d'oeuvres and letting it all hang out on a beautiful sandbar with like-minded souls.  

As our host Bobby Hankinson reminds us, a truly memorable vacation lies in the unexpected. Key West consistently serves as a catalyst for a wide range of transformative experiences we never even knew we needed.

Thank you again for tuning in to Gay Key West Uncovered, our six-part miniseries podcast showcasing Key West's locals telling their own story. Whether you seek romance, camaraderie, culinary delights, artistic inspiration, or simply a moment of relaxation in perfect weather, Key West offers an unforgettable and authentically gay getaway. And above all, it's the island's vibrant community that makes it truly special.

Gay Key West Uncovered Transcript

Ricky Martin's dad urged him to come out as gay so he wouldn't teach his children to “lie”. The 52-year-old singer – who had twin sons Matteo and Valentino in 2008 via gestational surrogacy, as well as daughter Lucia, five, and son Renn, four, during his relationship with ex-husband Jwan Yosef – admitted he may not have come out in 2010 if it had not been for his former psychologist father Enrique Morales' advice. He told SiriusXM's ‘Andy Cohen Live' about how his professional team had warned him to hide his sexuality by telling him if he came out it “is gonna be the end of your career”. Ricky…

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Washington (AFP) – Tucked in the massive funding bill signed Saturday by President Joe Biden is a provision banning the flying of LGBTQ Pride flags over US embassies, but the White House has vowed to work toward its repeal. The prohibition was one of many side issues included in the mammoth $1.2 trillion package to fund the government through September, which passed early Saturday shortly after a midnight deadline. As Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, a conservative Christian, scrambled for votes to get the bill passed in his chamber, he “boasted” of the Pride flag ban as a reason his par…

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Luke Evans felt “free” in London as a gay man. The 44-year-old actor left his hometown at 16, moving to Cardiff, then London to study acting, and Luke admits that he relished the anonymity that comes with living in a big city. Speaking to The Independent, Luke shared: “You could almost disappear. “That's the reason London appealed to me when I was a young man. You want to find your community, and often where [gay people] are brought up, there isn't one, or there's shame, or there's secrets. “To feel free, and to feel part of something, you go to a big city where you'll find people like you. It…

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Robbie Williams worried he was “ugly” when people stopped questioning his sexuality. The ‘Angels' hitmaker – who has four children with wife Ayda Field – reflected on how the “top search” for his name was people asking if he was gay, but now that “no one seems to mention it”, he was left wondering if it was because men had stopped finding him attractive. Robbie shared a self-portrait on Instagram, in which he had coloured himself in rainbow stripes, and it bore the words: “For the longest time the top internet search for me was ‘Is Robbie Williams Gay?' No one seems to mention it these days. S…

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Washington (AFP) – US lawmakers moved Thursday toward banning the flying of LGBTQ Pride flags over US embassies, a victory for conservatives in a long-running US cultural battle being played out overseas. The prohibition is one of a slew of side issues tucked away in a $1.2 trillion funding package hammered out by lawmakers early Thursday.  Both the Republican-led House and Democratic-led Senate are expected to approve the plan to keep the government running ahead of a deadline of Friday midnight when three-quarters of the government will run out of funds. The package says that no funding can …

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Chloe Sevigny treated Tom Hollander like her “gay best friend” on the set of ‘Feud: Capote vs. The Swans'. The 49-year-old actress had misconceptions about her co-star – who became a first-time father last year when he welcomed a baby boy with his partner – because of his portrayal of rich gay expat Quentin in ‘The White Lotus' and was horrified when she realised the truth. She told Variety: “I was like, ‘He's my new gay best friend,' until I realised that he had a wife and kids. “And I was like, ‘Oh no!' I'd been pushing up against him. He must have been like, ‘She's the biggest flirt I've ev…

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