LGBT

A new bill proposed in Texas could charge transgender people with a state felony if they lie about their biological sex assigned at birth ... and two lawmakers are defending the harsh punishment.

Texas State Reps. Steve Toth and Nate Schatzline joined us on "TMZ Live" Tuesday and we asked them about the proposed bill that would add a new form of fraud related to gender identity.

As Toth and Schatzline explain, the bill -- Texas House Bill 3817 -- says a transgender Texan would commit "gender identity fraud" if they lie on state records or to employers about their biological sex ... and they would be charged with a state felony, which is punishable by up to two years behind bars.

Armie Hammer says he wanted to try the Grindr lifestyle, so he decided to hook up with a dude ... but when he couldn't get an erection, he bailed on his gay experiment.

The "Social Network" actor was discussing bisexuality on his 'Armie HammerTime Podcast,' when he recalled the time he tried hooking up with a French hunk ... only for him to run into one huge problem facing lots of guys -- a limp noodle.

Armie says he had decided to try something new after coming to the conclusion that "women are the worst" and "gay dudes seem to have it so easy."

Jenna Jameson and her wife Jessi Lawless appear to be splitting up ... 'cause Jenna just filed for divorce -- almost a year after Jessi said she was done with the marriage.

The former porn star turned businesswoman filed in a Nevada court Thursday. The documents don't cite a reason ... but, Jenna says the two have been living separately since April.

Jenna's asking the court to let her keep a series of high-priced items ... including multiple luxury handbags, jewelry, clothes and personal painting.

Khloe Kardashian is willing to live in a lavender haze ... 'cause she raised her hand about taking part in lavender marriage -- a union where a woman knowingly marries a gay man.

Here's the deal ... recently AJ Dronkers -- a social media influencer -- posted a video where he argued the world should bring back lavender marriages. If you don't know a lavender marriage is one where one or both parties are gay but present as heterosexual, and they marry to avoid social stigma or persecution.

You can watch the video for yourself ... but, it seems Khloe's already seen it -- 'cause she posted a bunch of hand-raised emojis.

Hunter Schafer -- a prominent transgender actress and activist -- says the U.S. government has changed one of her major documents ... showing her passport, which now identifies her as male, to her fans.

The "Euphoria" star posted a video after she received her new passport in the mail ... claiming she opened it up and was surprised to see a little "M" instead of an "F" listed under the gender category.

She says she filled out the paperwork the same as always -- identifying herself as a female ... but, she adds she never got her birth certificate changed, and thinks the department that issues the crucial travel document may have cross-referenced her application with the other document.

There has been an onslaught of outrage since it was announced Cynthia Erivo would star in a short run of "Jesus Christ Superstar" in L.A. ... but one former messiah actor says haters need to chill and maybe ask -- WWJD?

Here's the deal ... Cynthia will play Jesus in the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber musical in a three-night stint at the Hollywood Bowl in August ... and some people have gone berserk online over a Black queer woman being cast in the title role.

Ted Neeley, who played Jesus on Broadway and several world tours, as well as in the Golden Globe-nominated film, tells TMZ ... he's sadly not shocked the CE casting choice is getting backlash -- after all, he says the show has been polarizing since it opened decades ago!

Kevin Spacey is vehemently denying Guy Pearce's allegation he was "targeted" by Spacey on a movie set back in the day ... and Kevin's taking shots at Guy too.

The "House of Cards" star just posted a video response to some recent comments Guy made about him ... telling Guy straight up he's not a victim.

Kevin says Guy's claim that Spacey targeted him when they were filming the 1997 movie "L.A. Confidential" is bogus ... and he's ripping Pearce for coming after him in the media.

Elon Musk's daughter's poking fun at her strained relationship with her dad ... releasing a clip about claims that she has a new half sibling -- and, sharing how she found out the news.

Vivian Jenna Wilson -- Elon's 21-year-old daughter with his first ex-wife, Justine Wilson -- posted to TikTok this weekend about the alleged child Ashley St. Clair swears is the tech mogul's.

Watch the clip ... Vivian mouths along to audio from the TV show "Phineas and Ferb" -- basically saying that it's strange she's now learned about two new siblings from Reddit instead of her own family.

Chester Bennington's child has come out as transgender.

22-year-old Draven, the son of the late Linkin Park singer, revealed their decision to transition in an Instagram post on Valentine's Day. They said they privately came out last year and are currently in the process of transitioning.

In their post they shared ... "For a long time, I tried to be someone, someone I truly wasn’t on the inside. Ignoring it worked for a while, but continuously coming to the crossroads of being happy or being complacent was one I couldn’t keep choosing."

Village People lead singer Victor Willis says he got an apology from comedian Jim Jefferies for saying "Y.M.C.A." is code for gay sex, but he cops to the fact the song definitely can be taken 2 ways.

Victor jumped on TMZ's "2 Angry Men" podcast with Harvey and Mark Geragos, and admitted when he wrote the iconic song the lyrics were a double entendre -- straight people could interpret 'hangin' out with all the boys' as maybe playing hoops, while gay people could view it as gettin' down in various places at the facility.

By the way ... we contacted Jim Jefferies, who said Victor's wife Karen called him and said he could call "Y.M.C.A." a gay anthem but not say it's about "sex in the showers." Jim agreed not to keep talking about it -- but says he did not apologize.

Jim Jefferies could be dragged into court by a cop -- correction, The Cop from the Village People -- all because Jim referred to "Y.M.C.A." as a gay anthem ... TMZ has learned.

The comedian received a cease and desist letter from Victor Willis' wife Karen Willis -- who also manages the VP lead singer -- and, the letter rips Jim for his "obscene, derogatory and false description" of the hit song ... in their eyes, at least.

Last month, while doing his 'At This Moment' podcast, Jim bluntly delivered his interpretation of "Y.M.C.A." -- "It's f***ing in showers in a hostel. Right? When you're a young man who's been kicked out of your home, there's a place you can go," paraphrasing that last part from a verse in the song.

Donald Trump just took a huge step toward barring biological men from competing in women's sports ... signing an executive order Wednesday that he said will end the era of watching "men beat and batter female athletes."

POTUS put his pen to the "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" mandate at a ceremony at the White House ... promising it will stop transgender athletes from competing against females going forward.

"It's going to end, and it's ending right now," Trump said emphatically to a room full of his supporters as he signed the document. "And nobody's going to be able to do a damn thing about it, because when I speak -- we speak with authority."

Lady Gaga's using her platform at the Grammys to back the LGBTQ+ community... saying trans people aren't invisible -- and, the queer community needs to be lifted up.

The singer-songwriter and Bruno Mars won the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their song "Die With a Smile" ... and, after thanking her fiancé Michael Polansky, Gaga used her time to defend the trans community.

Check out the clip ... Gaga's says now it the time to have the backs of queer and transgender individuals -- adding that music is all about love.

"Emilia Pérez" star Karla Sofía Gascón’s award-season glory has quickly fizzled after hugely offensive past X posts have come to light -- and with the backlash intensifying, she’s now deleted her account.

Gascón’s X account @karsiagascon was deactivated Friday after people dug up a bunch of posts from 2016 when the embattled first trans Oscar nominee ranted about Muslims, George Floyd, and, ironically, diversity at the Oscars -- despite being part of a minority community herself.

In a deeper breakdown of her comments ... she came for a Muslim family dining at a restaurant, mocking the way women dress in Islamic culture and even suggesting the religion should be banned.

Miguel A Núñez Jr. says if 'juwanna' dress in drag for a role as an actor, that's fine by him ... but, he says Black actors who do it are held to an entirely different standard than their white counterparts.

We caught up with the star, who played the title character in the hit 2002 film "Juwanna Mann" -- a man pretending to be a woman to keep playing pro basketball -- and asked him about Martin Lawrence saying he's not above wearing a dress for a role.

Lawrence said he's comfortable with his manhood, so wearing a dress doesn't bug him ... and, Núñez agrees -- pointing out tons of white actors wear dresses for their roles and they only ever seem to receive praise.