Cher Accused Of Being ‘Racist Against Dancers,’ Sued By Disgruntled Ex-Choreographer

Cher Accused Of Being ‘Racist Against Dancers,’ Sued By Disgruntled Ex-Choreographer

Screen Shot 2014-09-18 at 5.42.07 PMA former choreographer for Cher has filed an absurd lawsuit against the legendary diva, claiming she enforced a “black dancer quota” during her 2014 “Dressed To Kill” tour and openly instructed him to cast primarily white dancers.

Plaintiff Kevin Wilson, who is black, alleged in court papers that Cher told him “we have too much color onstage” after he advised her to cast “a minority female dancer.”

He also claims that Cher instructed him to instead find a white, blonde dancer, and “not to cast anymore dark skinned black dancers on the tour.”

The racial discrimination suit, which is obviously erroneous, was filed after Wilson was fired in June. In it, he also claims he was wrongfully fired, quelle surprise.

TMZ reports:

According to the lawsuit, after a show this past June in Louisville, a male dancer invited a female fan to his hotel room and allegedly got sexually aggressive. The suit claims Cher tried to cover it up … keeping the male dancer in the show and firing the 3 whistle-blowers, including Wilson.

A rep for Cher tells TMZ the allegations are “ridiculous,” and that statements calling Cher racist are “untrue and categorically denied.” “To attribute such a statement to Cher is absurd,” he added.

Wilson’s lawyer says Cher is “intent on covering it up.” He claims that in the case above, Cher favored the “sexual assailant” because he’s “young, white, and has a large social media following.”

Check out clips from the D2K tour below, which as you’ll notice, prominently featured several black dancers.

Queerty Editor

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Liza Minnelli Is A Comic Book Character Now (PHOTOS)

Liza Minnelli Is A Comic Book Character Now (PHOTOS)
The legendary Liza Minnelli gets animated for a new comic book.

The life of the stage and screen icon is the focus of Female Force: Liza Minnelli, which was released this week, featuring text by Michael L. Frizell and illustrations by Rafael Cordeiro.

Calling the creative process “a unique experience,” Cordeiro told The Huffington Post in an email statement, “A biography is a challenge for any artist, because you have to delve into someone else’s life, interpret it and bring those memories back through graphical representations. This task is even more challenging when you’re speaking about a person as legendary as Liza Minnelli.”

Writer Frizell, who has acting experience of his own, added, “She is a singular talent whose body of work is unmatched in musical theater. Her powerful stage presence and talent are things I hoped to capture while writing the book.”

Bluewater Productions, which created the book, previously produced similar titles based on gay icons like Barbra Streisand and Madonna. Publisher Darren G. Davis said Minnelli was a great addition as his team aims “to showcase the strong women in today’s society that have inspired generations and shaped the culture of today.”

You can purchase Female Force: Liza Minnelli on iTunes here, or in a physical print edition here.

www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/18/liza-minnelli-comic-strip_n_5844216.html?utm_hp_ref=gay-voices&ir=Gay+Voices

After 72 Years Together, These Gay Newlyweds Give Love A Good Name

After 72 Years Together, These Gay Newlyweds Give Love A Good Name

Screen Shot 2014-09-18 at 11.57.29 AM“We’ve always been married in our hearts,” says Vivian Boyack at the end of this too-cute-for-words interview.

In case you didn’t catch this story the first time around, Vivian Boyack and Alice “Nonie” Dubes recently tied the knot after an awe-inspiring 72 years as a couple.

The story exploded for obvious and adorable reasons. The couple, who until this point have lived  quiet and private lives, now gets interview requests from around the world. Flowers and letters congratulating them have arrived at their doorstep from strangers who they’ll never meet.

The following is an account from The Des Moines Register of how the two met:

Neither considered romance much back then. Vivian caught the interest of a boy once who became a friend but she cut that short by telling a schoolmate: “I wouldn’t go with him to a dogfight.”

Then Nonie saw Vivian from afar one day, and it changed everything. Both were attending Iowa State Teachers College (now known as the University of Northern Iowa) in 1942.

“I could tell you exactly what she had on,” Nonie said. “A gray dress with black Screen Shot 2014-09-18 at 11.55.19 AMvelvet trim and big pearl buttons.”

That was it. They never spoke.

But after Nonie dropped out of school and returned to Yale to work, she heard the school in town needed a new teacher. “I prayed that night that she would come to Yale,” Nonie said.

By chance, Vivian saw the job there and got it. She soon met Nonie, who asked her to a movie. Nonie had to work that night but told Vivian to go to the show, and she would join her later.

“She was already bossing me around,” teased Vivian, the soft-spoken one in the relationship. “But I had a new friend.”

They hit it off.

“What then?” they were asked.

Silence.

“This is difficult for us to talk about,” Vivian said.

“No one knew what was happening,” Nonie said. “We didn’t even know it was anything special. I was just drawn to her. That’s all.”

“The hand of God was there,” Vivian added. “Suddenly, we were in love.”

From that day forward, they felt like they were in hiding.

Well, they aren’t hiding any more. Here’s a video of them talking about their experience:

Dan Tracer

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Texas Law Enforcement Groups File Brief With Fifth Circuit In Support of Marriage Equality

Texas Law Enforcement Groups File Brief With Fifth Circuit In Support of Marriage Equality

A group of Texas county sheriffs and law enforcement officers have filed a brief with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals this week in support of marriage equality, The Texas Tribune reports:

Texas“Gay and lesbian law enforcement officers and other first responders put on their uniforms, place themselves in harm’s way to protect and defend our communities, and swear to uphold our laws without prejudice or bias,” said the letter, filed by Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia, Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez, more than 50 other Texans working in law enforcement and a coalition of city police departments from around the country.

The brief continues:

They serve our communities with equal distinction, skill, and bravery. But Texas denies these men and women the equal dignity and respect they deserve. Texas does not treat them equally in their day-to-day work, nor, tragically, even when they make the ultimate sacrifice.

Last week, lawyers representing same-sex couples int the case of De Leon v. Perry filed briefs asking the Fifth Circuit to uphold a federal judge’s ruling striking down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. The court is expected to hear arguments in the case in the coming months.

Check out the law enforcement brief below:


Kyler Geoffroy

www.towleroad.com/2014/09/texas-law-enforcement-groups-file-brief-with-fifth-circuit-in-support-of-marriage-equality.html