Miami Beach inspires local artist: ‘Being in an environment to freely create is vital’

Miami Beach inspires local artist: ‘Being in an environment to freely create is vital’
Miami Beach Pride takes over Ocean Drive on April 5, 2020, and this Miami Beach artist is excited to “be as proud as ever”

www.queerty.com/miami-beach-inspires-local-artist-environment-freely-create-vital-20200211?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Jussie Smollett Indicted by Special Prosecutor in Chicago

Jussie Smollett Indicted by Special Prosecutor in Chicago

Actor Jussie Smollett has been indicted by a grand jury on six new charges of disorderly conduct in Chicago after an investigation by special prosecutor Dan Webb in connection with the alleged January 2019 racist and homophobic attack.

“Based on the recommendation of the OSP (Office of the Special Prosecutor), a Cook County grand jury returned a six-count indictment charging Jussie Smollett with making four separate false reports to Chicago Police Department officers related to his false claims that he was the victim of a hate crime, knowing that he was not the victim of a crime,” said Webb.

FOX32 first reported the news, and Chicago’s ABC7 confirmed the indictment with the Cook County Clerk’s Office.

ABC7 added: “Smollett had been charged with 16 counts of felony disorderly conduct for allegedly lying to police about the alleged attack, which police say Smollett staged on himself because he was unhappy with his “Empire” salary. Police and prosecutors said Smollett orchestrated the attack with the help of two brothers. One brother was an extra on “Empire” and the other was Smollett’s personal trainer. All charges against Smollett were dropped in late February 2019 in exchange for community service and forfeiture of his $10,000 bond payment.”

Webb was appointed in June 2019 to investigate why charges were dropped. Smollett later sought to overturn that appointment.

Smollett is due in court on February 24.

Statement from attorney of the Osundairo brothers. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/sFB8QX8E63

— Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) February 11, 2020

Press release from special prosecutor Dan Webb on his decision to further prosecute Jussie Smollett. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/poHChFRVMJ

— Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) February 11, 2020

The post Jussie Smollett Indicted by Special Prosecutor in Chicago appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.


Jussie Smollett Indicted by Special Prosecutor in Chicago

GLAAD and The Recording Academy partner on 2020 Grammys week event

GLAAD and The Recording Academy partner on 2020 Grammys week event

Music In Action LBGTQ Voices In Music panelists

Courtesy of the Recording Academy™/photo by Araya Doheny, Getty Images © 2020

On Tuesday, January 21st, in the leadup to the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, the GLAAD Media Institute joined The Recording Academy, THE GRAMMY MUSEUM, and The Ally Coalition for an event titled “Music in Action: LGBTQIA+ Voices in Music,” part of the Museum’s GRAMMY Week Community Paneling series.

The day began with a media training session at Blair High School in Pasadena, where Monica Trasandes, GLAAD’s Director of Spanish Language and Latinx Media, spoke to the school’s GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) about utilizing social media and building the students’ brand power as a way to raise awareness for LGBTQ acceptance. 
Music In Action LBGTQ Voices In Music - Monica and students
GLAAD took on the important task of teaching a future generation of LGBTQ leaders and allies, teaching them about harnessing the power of new media and digital media in an effort to accelerate acceptance for marginalized communities. 

Following the training, a broader audience of students came in for a discussion moderated by Justin D. Joseph from the Recording Academy. The panel was chocked full of power players from the music industry about what it means to be a queer artist working in music today. 
Music In Action LBGTQ Voices In Music - Justin Tranter

Present on the panel were a handful of well-known artists including Justin Tranter, Lauren Jauregui, CHIKA, Carlie Hanson, and Carlos Vera, who spoke about their own experiences expressing their queer identities in the industry.  Each of the artists spoke about what it’s like to be queer in the entertainment and music industry, how it has affected their respective careers (if at all), and also what it’s been like to make the choice not to label themselves.
Music In Action LBGTQ Voices In Music - whole group

February 11, 2020

www.glaad.org/blog/glaad-and-recording-academy-partner-2020-grammys-week-event