LGBT

Manny Pacquiao doesn't care that he was "banned" from the famous Grove shopping center in L.A. -- the boxer tells TMZ Sports ... I'M STILL GONNA GO ANYWAY!!!

Big day for Caitlyn Jenner ... she just teed off in her 1st golf tournament as a woman -- and SMASHED her first shot right down the fairway.

Jenner is participating in the ANA Inspiration Pro-Am in Rancho Mirage, CA -- playing in the same foursome as U.S. soccer legend, Abby Wambach.

Omarosa is ripping into CNN's Don Lemon over an on-air feud -- but she did it by dropping a word many will take as a homophobic attack.

Omarosa was leaving the Staples Center in L.A. when we asked what she thought of Lemon -- who is gay -- cutting her microphone when she was on his show last week.

At first, she dismissed him as a "drama queen" ... but then she repeats her diss without the word "drama" -- and she did it multiple times.

After this, we're guessing Lemon won't be inviting her back for round 2 -- though it would make great TV.

Andre Berto is adamant he did NOT call Victor Ortiz a "f*g" during a fight at their press conference this week -- telling TMZ Sports, "I respect gay people."

Rosie O'Donnell's brother, New York State Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell, just took the floor of the assembly and claimed mixed martial arts is like gay porn, but without a climax.

O'Donnell opposes a bill that would legalize MMA in New York. He believes the sport is thinly-veiled erotica, telling his colleagues, "Two half-naked hot men rolling around in a cage trying to dominate each other. It's basically gay porn, only with a different ending."

He went on to say his famous sister was for lifting the MMA ban in New York, but he feared it would trigger a rise in violence and gambling among young people, adding he was going home "to take a long shower" after discussing the prospect of legalizing MMA.

The assemblyman, who is gay, went on to call MMA "an alleged sport."

Matthew Titone, another openly gay Assemblyman, cracked a different gay joke during the hearing.

Manny Pacquiao has been banned from the popular L.A. shopping center The Grove -- again -- all because of his "statements of hatred" against gay people ... TMZ Sports has learned.

The Westboro Baptist Church is just a bunch of "awful people" ... and Charles Barkley says he hopes they all get their asses kicked for boycotting an openly gay basketball player.

We asked Sir Charles how he felt about the church targeting Seton Hall's Derrick Gordon -- the first openly gay man to play in the NCAA tournament ... and Chuck went off!!!

"I really hate them sumbitches," Barkley said ... "Hopefully, somebody will beat the hell out of those Westboro people."

Fear not, raging homophobes ... when the first openly gay man to play in the NCAA tournament takes the court in Denver Thursday, the a-holes from the Westboro Baptist Church have vowed to be there to picket.

Looks like there is someone willing to defend Manny Pacquiao's recent anti-gay tirade ... kinda ... fellow Filipino Apl.de.ap of The Black Eyed Peas who says Manny's sentiments were "misunderstood."

Pacquiao made all the wrong kinds of headlines last month when he compared gay people to animals ... then doubled down in bigotry by posting a bible verse suggesting all gays be put to death.

Apl and Manny have been friends for years so when we got Mr. de.ap out on a rainy night in L.A. we had to ask him ... what's wrong with your boy?

Check out the clip -- he stops short of a full scale defense of Pacquiao's statements, but makes it clear the statements Manny made don't really reflect what's in his heart.

Lisa Ling is taking a huge shot at Caitlyn Jenner for shading presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

We asked Lisa, a staunch Hillary supporter, about Caitlyn's comment on her show ... that Hillary cares more about herself than other women.

Caitlyn got all political during the season 2 premiere of "I Am Cait" -- but Lisa thinks Jenner needs to step out of the political arena ... at least where Hillary's concerned.

Watch ... she doesn't just throw shade, she attacks Caitlyn's womanhood.

It's the celebrity couple you never heard about ... 'Queer Eye' star Carson Kressley says he once dated an NFL player ... an 8 year veteran who played in the Super Bowl.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Caitlyn Jenner were almost cheek-to-cheek Wednesday night at an event, proclaiming their undying affection for each other.

The two have crossed paths for years and formed a true bond. Both were world-class athletes in the '70s.

Things change ... but friendships stay strong.

Sam Smith got a fitting thank you for his Oscars LGBT shout-out -- getting serenaded by a famous drag queen at legendary gay bar, The Abbey.

We're told Sam and his crew rolled into the club around 11 PM for their Monday night Lip Service drag show and stayed till about 1:30 AM fueled on vodka.

It’s quickly becoming Sam’s tradition … he hit the same spot after his Golden Globes win, but this time he was singled out by Vicki Vox ... who's a legend in the drag world for her parody hit, "This Boy Is A Bottom."

Vox had some sweet words for Sam during the show ... for a drag queen at least.

Sam Smith suggesting he might be the first openly gay man to win an Oscar ... pissed off screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, who's now calling out Smith.

Not long after Smith won Best Original Song for the "Spectre" theme ... Black, who is openly gay, tweeted a reminder that HE won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay in 2009 for "Milk."

He also claims Smith is infatuated with his fiance, olympic diver Tom Daley.

The "first" argument might seem kinda petty -- especially since Smith didn't state he was first as fact -- but Black tells TMZ, "I think knowing our collective LGBTQ history is important. That's all. We stand on the shoulders of countless brave men and women. We should honor that."

As for the shot about Daley ... Black wouldn't elaborate. We've reached out to Smith, but no word back.

Fun fact: Elton John also won an Oscar, long before Black, in 1994.

Smith has now apologized.

Caitlyn Jenner is officially a makeup queen ... she's going into business with MAC Cosmetics.

The makeup giant is releasing a limited edition lipstick created by Caitlyn. The signature color will be called "Finally Free."

Revenue from the lipstick sales will benefit the MAC AIDS Fund Transgender Initiative.

Caitlyn joins some other heavy hitter celeb chicks -- Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga and Pamela Anderson ... have all released their own signature colors of lipstick or lip gloss.

Story developing ...

Magic Johnson is lashing out at Manny Pacquiao -- saying he'll NEVER watch another Pacman fight after he trashed gays as "worse than animals."

The NBA legend went to Twitter and wrote, "I applaud Nike for terminating Manny Pacquiao's contract after his derogatory statements that gay people are worse than animals."

"Fans of all walks of life including gay fans supported May/Pac fight putting $100M in his pocket. I guess to him their money is still green."

"I won't be watching another one of Manny Pacquiao's fights."