LGBT

RELAX ... forcing MLB rookies to wear dresses is no big deal -- despite criticism that it sends a bad message to kids -- so says ex-MLB star Nomar Garciaparra.

As we previously reported, the head of a powerful LGBT group is upset that several MLB teams forced their rookies to dress like women as part of a hazing ritual ... claiming it sends the message that the idea of men who wear dresses is something to be mocked.

But Nomar doesn't think it's a big deal at all -- telling TMZ Sports, "When it's fun and good taste it's all good."

A powerful LGBT group -- backed by some HUGE athletes -- is calling for MLB teams to quit hazing rookies by forcing them to cross-dress ... because it sends a dangerous message to kids.

She's official now ... Caitlyn Marie Jenner's name AND gender change was approved by a judge in L.A. Superior Court on Friday.

Caitlyn was not present, but her attorneys were there for the very brief hearing. The judge quickly gave his stamp of approval for the name change after asking if there were any objections. There were none.

Marlon Wayans wants a partial sex change so he can advertise bras ... but when he put his joking aside he delivered a pretty touching message.

Marlon was leaving the grand opening of Big Boy's new vegan restaurant, 2Good! in North Hollywood Tuesday night, when he started joking about what he would and wouldn't do in the sexual reassignment department.

Waka Flocka Flame says people who change from men to women and vice versa are "evil."

The rapper was on Charlamagne Tha God's Breakfast Club Friday when he was asked about Caitlyn Jenner. Waka says what Caitlyn and others like her have done is "rebuking God," and they've given in to "the devil playing tricks on" their minds.

He's upset that Jenner and others send messages on TV to impressionable kids ... and adults need to be more responsible.

Caitlyn Jenner proved she can keep up with the boys ... by playing from the most difficult tee box on the golf course.

Jenner hit up Sherwood Lake Club in Thousand Oaks, CA earlier this week, and drove her balls from the tee box farthest from the hole. Golfers call it the tips, and it's reserved for the most skilled players.

Caitlyn is a member of the exclusive Sherwood Country Club -- but while that course is under construction -- members have access to the 3-par course at the Lake Club.

As we previously reported -- Caitlyn will have to reestablish her golfing handicap with the USGA now that she's a woman. This oughta help.

TMZ has now obtained the official documents Caitlyn Jenner filed to change her name and gender for legal purposes.

In the docs, she says she wants a judge to sign off on her new name ... Caitlyn Marie Jenner.

She also checks the box to change her gender from male to female. It's interesting ... she signed the documents "Bruce Jenner," presumably because that's her recognized legal name.

TMZ broke the story ... Caitlyn says in her legal docs she wants medical and other info sealed from the public out of fear for her safety. She says in a declaration, "Although public support for my transition has been overwhelmingly supportive, I am also receiving unwelcome negative attention from private citizens, including threats of bodily harm."

Caitlyn attached a physician's declaration to the documents ... but they were not released pending a decision on sealing them.

Mike Huckabee is passing the blame for that whole Kim Davis-"Eye of the Tiger" fiasco, and his point is clear ... DON'T SUE ME!

We spoke to the presidential hopeful about last week's Davis rally where the Survivor hit blared over her entrance. As we reported, the band was pissed and threatened legal action since no one asked for permission.

Sounds like Huckabee's aware of the risk, because you gotta see his reaction when we asked who picked out the song.

As for Davis returning to work at the county clerk's office -- Huckabee told us if he thinks she'll stand her ground on gay marriage, or find middle ground.

Caitlyn Jenner has filed legal documents asking a judge to formally declare her a woman, but she's afraid of providing the necessary information to the court because of physical threats ... TMZ has learned.

The documents were filed in L.A. County Superior Court Tuesday. Caitlyn is asking for an official name change as well as a gender change.

Sources connected to Caitlyn tell us, she filed a declaration saying she's received a lot of support but not everyone is happy with her ... she's received threats of physical harm and she's scared if she has to give up personal info such as medical history, it will escalate.

Caitlyn is asking the judge to keep the private information sealed, but as for gender and name change, it's full steam ahead.

More change for Caitlyn Jenner -- her controversial opinion on same sex marriage has evolved ... dramatically.

Jenner wrote on her blog ... "After hearing from my gay friends and learning more about the hardships they faced because of discrimination, it became clear to me that everyone should be able to marry the person they love."

Caitlyn most likely heard from her gay friends when her appearance on "Ellen" aired last week. On the show, she admitted she was a traditionalist and had opposed gay marriage ... but was now just "ok with it." It was stunning, considering her own crusade for acceptance.

The backlash was immediate, and, apparently, impactful.

Chris Brown and the folks who accused him of bailing on ATL Black Gay Pride Weekend have settled their differences ... and all it took was CB forking over $12,500.

According to our sources, a deal really was in place for CB to perform at the September 7 event, but details of the performance never got to Chris.

We're told the talent agency that booked the gig for Chris believed the event promoters had breached the contract -- by using the wrong pic of Chris on posters -- so they never told him about the deal, which is why he never showed.

Caitlyn Jenner's transition completely blindsided comedian Jeff Dunham -- one of her homies from her Bruce days -- and he's revealing how he finally got the picture.

Dunham was on TMZ Live Thursday ... responding to Caitlyn recently calling him out for avoiding her. Jeff says he doesn't have any issue with Bruce becoming Caitlyn. In fact, he says even though he noticed a few plastic surgeries over the years ... he NEVER suspected what was really happening.

But JD says he finally raised it with Jenner after one particular magazine cover. You gotta hear how the convo went down, and how Jenner broke the news.

As for reconnecting with Caitlyn -- Jeff says it's gonna happen soon, and it's a scheduling issue, and NOT about awkwardness.

Kim Davis may have a fundamental problem with marriage between same-sex couples, but she's certainly not saying all relationships between men and women are good, because she's had an incident violent enough that the courts got involved.

The now-famous county clerk had 2 children out of wedlock with Thomas McIntyre. According to court docs obtained by TMZ, on May 14, 1996, McIntyre went to Davis' home to visit the kids. He saw a bouquet of flowers on her kitchen table, and he got jealous.

According to the docs, McIntyre called Davis a "whore," and she slapped him and ordered him to leave. He challenged her to hit him again, and she said she didn't want to strike him and then picked up the phone to call the cops. She says he then ripped the phone cord out of the wall.

Davis says they began arguing and she slapped him again after he refused to leave the house.

When he finally left he said, "I see you in jail," and she responded, "No, in jail's where you'll be."

Davis went to court and got a restraining order, prohibiting McIntyre from coming within 1,000 feet of her and the kids.

P.S. She married McIntyre in 2007, but divorced him a year later.

Chris Brown claims he never cancelled a show during ATL Black Gay Pride Weekend ... because he was never scheduled to perform in the first place, but the event promoter claims otherwise.

CB's reps tell TMZ ... Brown was in Atlanta for his "One Hell of a Nite" tour last weekend ... in a totally different venue from the Pride event, which was organized by Traxx Girls, a lesbian owned and operated entertainment company.

Traxx claims it paid Brown to perform for the 4,000 women at the Georgia Freight Depot -- and when he no-showed ... Fetty Wap stepped in at the last minute.

Brown's people say the event promoter's story is completely fabricated ... claiming Traxx just slapped Breezy's name on posters and flyers to drum up interest in the show, and now it's just trying to save face with customers.

Traxx reps won't say how much cash they paid Brown ... but they are considering legal action to recover the money.

Caitlyn Jenner stunned a lot of people during a recent taping of 'Ellen,' saying she was opposed to gay marriage for a long time but now she's just ok with it.

Ellen was on her game, challenging Caitlyn who said she was a traditionalist for a long time but eventually decided she had no business standing in the way of someone's happiness.

She sounded very tentative, and Ellen pressed. The best Caitlyn could muster was, "I'm ok with it."

Interesting.

Caitlyn Jenner narrowly avoided disaster Thursday night ... a disaster with possible legal consequences.

Caitlyn was leaving Fig & Olive restaurant in West Hollywood with new best friend Candis Cayne, when she jumped in her car -- engulfed by paparazzi -- and she threw it in gear, briefly losing control as the SUV lurched forward.

She regained control and no one was hurt.