starobserver.com.au - 1 323 Showbiz News and Updates

The National Union of Students’ Queer/LGBTQIA+ department has launched a national campaign to stop the deadnaming of trans, non-binary and gender diverse students. The campaign, My Records, My Rights: Stop Deadnaming at Universities!, aims to prevent the use of deadnames of students across tertiary education.A survey conducted in April 2022 by the NUS Queer/LGBTQIA+ department found that every single respondent had experienced some form of deadnaming at universities.  Around 83% of students said there was a persistent deadnaming issue at their university, with 20% saying they were dead named by staff. “What students are trying to do is make sure that universities are aware of their chosen name, but the systems in place just don’t allow it,” Jordy Duffy, the National Queer/LGBTQIA+ Officer for the NUS told Star Observer. “Universities have said ‘Oh, it’s an IT issue,’ and we’re trying to basically say no, it’s about validating a person for who they are.”Jordy mentions that on top of the disappointing statistics from the survey, they’ve listened to a lot of shocking individual stories.The NUS said it has been in contact with a variety of departments and student unions throughout the country, which has only made it more apparent how widespread the issue is.

A gay former marine is being hailed as a hero for his timely intervention that averted a tragedy after an agitated man brought a grenade into a popular gay bar in Florida. The tense moments were captured on the bar’s closed circuit camera TV videos. The incident occurred on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, around 9.26 pm, when a man walked into Corners Pub in Wilton Manors, Florida, and placed a grenade on the bar counter. Bartender Joseph Shakespeare told local news station  WPLG that the the man said he had guns in his car.  Darryl Darling, a gay former marine, overheard the conversation and stepped in to help.

The Bookshop Darlinghurst, Australia’s oldest LGBTQI bookstore, turns 40 this month.In recent years, The Bookshop has weathered the impacts of COVID, economic and political uncertainty and inclement weather, and for a while its future was precarious.

A Queensland-based dancer and cabaret performer is hoping to spread awareness about testicular cancer after months of facing down the disease. Jared Mifsud, 30, cabaret star and dancer, who lives in Gold Coast has been documenting his treatment.He continued, “I found a growth on my left testicle. I booked an appointment to see my GP and he referred me immediately to get an Ultra Sound.“The following Tuesday I got the news that the growth was suspicious and I was referred to see a specialist that very next day.

Former NRL player Brett Finch on Tuesday pleaded guilty to sharing child sexual abuse material on an adult gay sex phone chat service. Trigger Warning: This story discusses child sexual abuse, 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.The former State of Origin star pleaded guilty to one count of using a carriage service to transmit or publish child abuse material, reported ABC.

The 10th Bingham Cup, known as the Gay Rugby World Cup, is scheduled to start later this week in Ottawa, Canada. Over 1,700 LGBTQI players from over 150 teams and 20 participating countries, including Australia, will participate in the tournament from August 17 to August 21, 2022, hosted by the local team Ottawa Wolves. The world’s largest amateur rugby union tournament is named after Mark Bingham, a hero of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  Australia’s favourite gay rugby team, Sydney Convicts are the current holders of the Bingham Cup.

Mr Gay World Foundation has sued former winner Louw Breytenbach, asking him and his publicist to “retract and apologise” for allegedly defamatory comments they made last year. South African human rights activist and TV presenter Breytenbach, was the winner of the Mr Gay World 2021 title, but resigned two months into his reign citing “value differences”. In a statement released to local media Breytenbach’s lawyer Quintin Steyn confirmed the legal action launched by the organisation.   A post shared by Louw Breytenbach (@louwbreytenbach02)Breytenbach told The Citizen that he had participated in the competition not for the title, but to use the platform to be a voice for the LGBTQI community. “There are real problems out there and we, as winners, need to get our hands dirty and work. My reason for resigning was never to tarnish the reputation of the organisation, but rather because of value differences,” Breytenbach said. Steyn revealed that he had submitted a supplementary affidavit on behalf of both Breytenbach and Prins.  A post shared by Louw Breytenbach (@louwbreytenbach02)Breytenbach had detailed his disagreements with the Foundation when he resigned as Mr Gay World in 2021, after refusing to sign a contract which said that the organisation would be his exclusive agent. Breytenbach at the time said that he already had an agent to manage his TV and acting gigs.

US actor Anne Heche has been declared legally brain dead a week after being involved in a car crash that left her critically injured. The Six Days, Seven Nights actor was taken to the hospital on August 5 after her car crashed into a Los Angeles home and caught on fire. “Anne will be deeply missed but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic body of work, and her passionate advocacy. Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact.”Heche’s family had kept her on life support to allow time for OneLegacy Foundation to find recipients who would be a match, as it had been “her wish” to donate her organs.

Australian Special Forces veteran, founder of the Australian Values Party, and OnlyFans model Heston Russell has pleaded not guilty to assaulting a man at a private party in January 2022.Russell, 36, received a summons to Downing Centre Local Court in May, after a five-month police investigation.In a statement at the time, Russell explained that “the allegations are completely unfounded, which I have no doubt the police will discover in due course.”Police state that on January 2 Russell attended a private pool party in Potts Point, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.According to witnesses that talked with the Sydney Morning Herald, Russell allegedly made “unwanted advances” toward a man at the party.Russell allegedly threatened to throw the man of the balcony at which point the man told Russell to leave his boyfriend and him alone. At this point, according to Sydney Morning Herald, Russell struck the man in the face and was then escorted out of the party by security. At the time, Russell told the Sydney Morning Herald, “That’s an outrageous lie. I didn’t hit anyone.

A 74-year-old Long Island man, who had sent over 60 letters to LGBTQI persons, organisations and businesses, including the Stonewall Inn in New York, threatening to “kill, shoot, and bomb” them, was sentenced to 30 months in prison last week. Between 2013 and 2021, Robert Fehring, a retired high school teacher, had terrorised LGBTQI individuals and businesses in New York by sending them letters threatening violence. His eight-year long reign of terror came to an end in 2021 when he was arrested by the FBI. Trigger Warning: This story discusses threats of violence against LGBTQI persons, 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.In his letter threatening the owners of Stonewall Inn, Fehring wrote, “we will blow up/burn your establishments down.

Many observers in the LGBTIQ community were stunned by the recent acquittal of two young men in the murder trial of 56 year old gay man, Peter Keeley.Trigger Warning: This story discusses killings of LGBTQI people, 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.It was a shocking crime where the perpetrators allegedly lured him to a coastal NSW town using the gay dating app Grindr.

Out gay Australian footballer Josh Cavallo is on a fitness journey and he now has the abs to prove it. Cavallo recently shared a shirtless bathroom selfie video with his chiselled abs on full display.  “Your body is simply a result of your mind’s thoughts.

Seven years after property developers closed down one of London’s beloved gay bars, former patrons are rallying around to raise funds to open UK’s first community-run LGBTQI venue. Joiners Arms on Hackney Road in East London, counted late fashion designer Alexander McQueen and actor Sir Ian McKellen among its regulars. Property developers shut down the bar in 2015, after they bought the plot to turn it into apartments and offices. The developers promised to fund a new LGBTQI venue at the same spot but plans stalled after pandemic hit work on a planned hotel. “I’m so proud to share the work we’ve done to turn this utopian idea into a real space – one that can survive as a viable business, will create opportunities for queer people to work, perform, create, socialise and just ‘be’ on their own terms,” Amy Roberts, Chair Friends of the Joiners Arms said in a statement. Actors Stephen Fry and  Mawaan Rizwan and comedian Joe Lycett are among those who have supported the campaign. The campaign offered shares in the new bar to supporters, with each share worth £ 25.

Salt Lake City Police are investigating a hate crime against a gay couple in Sandy, Utah.According to the Associated Press, Christian Peacock, 18, and his boyfriend Jacob Metcalf, 18, were attacked by a group of young men outside Peacock’s family home just after midnight on August 6.Peacock told one of the young men,“You’re probably also gay and acting out because of it.”This is when Peacock was punched in the side of the head.  According to the Salt Lake Tribune, the punch was “so hard that he’s still got teeth marks indented inside his cheek from the impact.”He can then be heard on the video saying “You think you can just hit people?”According to Sandy Police Sgt. Greg Moffit,  a 17-year-old was arrested for assault.  Charges have not yet been filed.Moffit is looking into including a hate crime enhancement to the charges because he says, “it was very obvious that the suspect knew (Peacock) was a gay man and he was targeted for that.”He continued “We want our residents to know and we want the public to know that if this happens in our city we’re not going to tolerate it.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, Australia’s only out gay head of state, has an important message for public health authorities dealing with the monkeypox outbreak. Barr said that it was important to get the message out that this was not some “niche disease” that only impacted gay men. Barr was speaking to the media following Thursday’s National Cabinet meeting where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, state premiers and territory chief ministers met to coordinate the national response to COVID-19, foot and mouth disease and monkeypox. Barr said that some of the commentary around monkeypox was “concerning”.  “This monkeypox is not a gay man’s disease. Monkeypox is transmitted by close, personal contact.