LGBT

Mikki Willis doesn't care about raising his kids by "traditional rules" ... so when his son picked out a doll as his new toy, this awesome dad was all for it.

After 4-year-old Azai got two of the same toys for his birthday, Mikki brought him to the store to exchange it for a new gift ... and the first thing he wanted was a Little Mermaid Barbie doll.

Ted Cruz stopped by the Iowa State Fair Friday to cook up pork chops the all-American way, but instead the GOP presidential candidate was grilled by Ellen Page.

Page, who came out publicly last year as a lesbian, confronted Cruz about his views on LGBT rights, specifically people getting fired for being gay or trans in the workplace.

Cruz takes a stand, Page stands her ground, and the 2 get into it.

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Michael Sam should be hailed as a hero in the gay community ... even though his football career is in the crapper -- so says activist Esera Tuaolo, the first NFL player to come out after retirement.

Caitlyn Jenner has undoubtedly opened doors for the transgender community ... including those at the White House.

Raffi Freedman-Gurspan has become the first openly transgender woman hired by the White House.

She'll serve as a recruitment director in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel.

Producers of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" have figured out a way to fill the shoes NeNe Leakes ... and it starts with the first transgender woman to appear on the show.

TMZ has learned ... Amiyah Scott will join the cast next season. Amiyah is a model who was born Arthur and began her transformation 10 years ago when she was 17.

Amiyah has been romantically linked to a number of rappers.

The show is also adding Kim Fields from "Facts of Life."

Milwaukee Brewers 1st baseman David Denson announced he's gay -- the first Major League Baseball affiliated player to do so -- and he says his teammates are showing full support for him.

Michael Sam is worried about his mental state ... so he's leaving football -- again -- one week after he became the first openly gay player in a professional game.

It took her nearly a year, but Margaret Cho has finally filed docs to legally separate from her husband after announcing they were splitting last December.

Cho announced last December that she and hubby Al Ridenour were splitting up, but she filed separation docs in L.A. on Wednesday. In the docs she says they've actually been separated since September, 2014.

Cho and Ridenour got married in 2003, and have no kids.

The comedian announced she was bisexual in 2013, and has also said she and Al had an open marriage.

Chelsea Manning -- the whistleblower currently serving a 35-year sentence for passing classified military documents to Wikileaks -- is facing solitary confinement, partly because of Caitlyn Jenner.

A lawyer for Manning told Buzzfeed News Manning's alleged violations include having an expired tube of toothpaste, disorderly conduct and possessing "prohibited property" ... specifically a number of LGBTQ reading materials, including Jenner's Vanity Fair issue.

Omarion has no problem with gay rapper Milan Christopher appearing on the new season of "Love & Hip Hop Hollywood" ... but he also doesn't want his storyline riddled with homophobia.

Truth is ... Omarion's confusing. He's either saying he doesn't want to shoot scenes with Milan, or he doesn't want to get roped into Milan's claims that other rappers on the show are homophobic.

Caitlyn Jenner is still only into women ... despite what the producers of her show want you to think.

A promo for this week's episode of "I Am Cait" casts doubt on her sexual orientation, but we're told Caitlyn has not wavered an inch -- she's not attracted to men.

Our sources say Caitlyn's family has asked the same question and got an unequivocal answer ... she's into women just as much as Bruce.

It's all academic for now, because Caitlyn has made it clear she's got plenty on her plate and is not ready or interested in dating.

Michael Sam is now the first openly gay player in a pro football game -- he suited up Friday evening and just got his first game action for the Montreal Alouettes.

18 months after he was drafted by the Rams -- Sam lined up at defensive end Friday evening for Montreal's game against Ottawa. He didn't start, but entered the game with about 5 minutes to go in the first quarter.

It's been a long road -- Sam was cut by the Rams and the Cowboys, and believed he never got a fair shake in the NFL because he announced he was gay right before the draft.

As TMZ Sports previously reported ... Sam left Montreal's training camp and returned to the States for "personal reasons" in June. He rejoined the squad a few weeks later, and he's been held out of the first 5 games.

Caitlyn Jenner took a break from her reality TV chaos and hit up the movies to catch a showing of "Mission: Impossible -- Rogue Nation."

Jenner trekked all the way from her home in Malibu to Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas in Westlake Village Tuesday afternoon.

We're told she hit the matinee with friend and fellow "I Am Cait" co-star, Candis Cayne.

Caitlyn was stealthy ... exiting out a side door before the credits rolled.

Gals love their action flicks.

Leslie Jordan says he's never been so scared in his life when he confronted 3 guys after one of them hurled a homophobic slur.

As TMZ reported, Leslie was at Starbucks on Santa Monica Blvd in WeHo this week when 3 guys came up, caused a scene and were asked to leave. One allegedly screamed, "f****** f******" on the way out. Leslie ran out to confront them, he says one raised his fists and Leslie doused him with delicious tea.

You gotta listen to the video ... it's like the cops played "Let's Make a Deal" with the actor as he noodled over whether to press charges.

Two POWERHOUSES in the weightlifting community are offering their support to Janae Marie -- the bodybuilding champ who revealed she's transgender ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported, Janae -- formerly Matt "Kroc" Kroczaleski -- said she's concerned about competing in the future because she's worried about a possible backlash.

But we spoke with bodybuilding legend Shawn Ray -- a 12-TIME Mr. Olympia finalist -- who tells us he's got Janae's back ... and he's not the only one.

"This is a good place for him," Ray said ... "We're a melting pot of people. You cannot go out and discriminate against people."

Ray adds, "He may never be totally accepted with lipstick and a wig at bodybuilding competition. But, honestly, I don't think he's going to have a hard time fitting in with most people if he's jacked."

We also spoke with Brian Shaw -- the 3-time (and reigning) World's Strongest Man -- who says he doesn't completely "understand the issue" but adds, "I'm not in a position to judge. I can't pass judgment, I'm not perfect."

Shaw adds, "[Janae] is a fairly well-known athlete. So to have success in the arena and then come out and be honest, I respect that."

America's Next Top Model star J. Alexander thinks Caitlyn Jenner will top Kim Kardashian in the fashion department by the end of the year, but walking is another story.

Miss J. was shopping on Rodeo Drive in Bev Hills Friday when our photog asked about Caitlyn's style. J. had nothing but praise, but would like to give her some lessons on stride.