LGBT

Portions of Omar Mateen's alleged hookup with at least one gay man were captured on surveillance cameras at an Orlando hotel ... TMZ has learned.

Sources at the Ambassador Hotel tell TMZ, Mateen was seen on camera footage recorded December 14, 2015 around 11 PM. We're told the video bolsters the claims of the heavily disguised man who told Univision he met up with Mateen 15-20 times at the hotel between November and December.

Our sources say the video shows Mateen walk to the front desk, speak to a staffer and then walk around a corner toward the room where the anonymous man says he was staying during their rendezvous.

We're told management showed the video to staffers and asked if anyone recalled seeing Mateen. The only person who noticed him is a guy who works the night shift.

We're told the FBI went to the Ambassador Tuesday night and took a copy of the surveillance footage.

The Bureau wouldn't confirm, but the video could go a long way to figuring out if Mateen attacked a gay club as part of a twisted revenge plot.

Democrats staging a sit-in on the floor of Congress won't go hungry -- we spotted their food order on its way into the Capitol ... and it's pretty damn ironic.

A couple carts full of Chick-fil-A food were toted in by Congressional interns. We get it ... protesters gotta eat, but consider this: The push for gun control legislation was prompted by Omar Mateen's heinous attack on a gay nightclub -- and Chick-fil-A's ownership has a long history of opposing LGBTQ rights.

To be fair, the company's undergoing an image makeover, and has contributed tons of food and money to relief efforts in Orlando.

There are mounting claims that Omar Mateen was gay and looking to hook up on apps and in clubs -- but it appears he was also actively hitting on women ... a strong sign of a possible struggle with his sexuality.

Cord Cedeno says he connected with Mateen a couple years ago on Grindr, but it was hardly titillating. Cedeno says Mateen -- whose profile was a pic of him in a tie -- would only say "Hi" over and over. He says he eventually blocked Mateen, but knows 4 friends who say the Orlando murderer remained active on other apps.

He says Mateen used Adam4Adam to send shots of his penis to men -- but never showed his face. Cedeno says he has no knowledge Mateen was ever successful in hooking up with a man.

On the other hand ... a female user on Plenty Of Fish says Mateen reached out to her 18 months ago. She says he was "nice, normal ... mentioned he had a child, but said he was single and looking for a good woman to marry."

She told us Mateen never said anything about being into men, but did rant about Islam and the Quran ... saying people misunderstood his religion. She says he wanted to meet face-to-face, but she too blocked him because he seemed "emotionally unstable."

Richard Simmons just silenced everyone speculating he's been hiding from the public during a gender transition ... calling the reports lies and focusing attention on the Orlando tragedy.

Simmons addressed the rumors, saying, "Although I am not transitioning, I have and always will be supportive of those who are going through their journey." He continues, "My broken heart and healing thoughts are with the people of Orlando and all other victims of prejudice, bigotry and hate."

Omar Mateen's father is now saying Pulse nightclub should share the blame for his son's massacre of 49 innocent people.

Seddique Mateen made that unbelievable statement after inviting reporters to his home in Port St. Lucie, FL. He believes the club was woefully unprepared for the number of patrons it had that night.

His gall is breathtaking, but watch ... he actually tries to justify his comment during the interview with Orlando's FOX35.

A spokesman for Pulse tells TMZ, "We simply can't find the words to respond to such a callous comment from the father of the man who perpetrated this heinous act."

The last moments before Omar Mateen burst into Pulse nightclub were filled with dancing, boozing and a celebrity performance ... as seen in this video TMZ obtained.

This was the scene inside Pulse early Sunday morning, less than 2 hours before the shooting started. As we've reported ... it was Latin night, and in this video it's clear how packed it was. Clubgoers were taking in a dance contest, cheering, and the MC poured booze freely.

"RuPaul's Drag Race" season 4 contestant Kenya Michaels was there too ... performing onstage.

2:00 PM PST -- Howell just pled not guilty and the judge set bail at $2 million. His attorney argued the chemicals found in his car are often used by gun enthusiasts during target practice but the D.A. says they were similar to those used in the Oklahoma City bombing. He's scheduled to be back in court later this month.

12:35 PM PST -- The D.A. just released more details about what was inside Howell's car. Cops found a black hood, taser, handcuffs a buck knife, security badge and a 5-gallon container of gasoline. The combo of dangerous materials is why the D.A. has asked for an increase in bail.

The man arrested with multiple weapons in his car who planned to hit up L.A.'s gay pride festival was just charged with several felonies.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney charged James Howell Tuesday with possession of an assault weapon, possession of explosives on a public highway and for possessing a high capacity ammo magazine. He was also charged with a misdemeanor for having a loaded firearm in the vehicle.

The D.A. is asking Howell's bail be set at $2 million as they say he's a danger to the community.

The man found with a mini arsenal in his car headed to the L.A. Pride Parade will soon be a wanted man in his home state of Indiana.

James Wesley Howell is currently on probation after copping a plea to pointing a gun at a neighbor last year. Clark County, Indiana Prosecutor Jeremy Mull tells TMZ his office filed paperwork Monday to revoke Howell's probation due to the L.A. arrest.

Mull says he expects a judge to sign an arrest warrant Tuesday -- and once he's released from custody ... he'll be sent back to Indiana in cuffs.

Omar Mateen's ex-wife is dancing around the subject, but her fiance says it flat out -- all the signs pointed to Mateen being gay ... or at least struggling with the fact he was gay.

Amid reports the Orlando mass murderer had been to Pulse nightclub multiple times ... Sitora Yusufiy and her current fiance, Marco Dias, were asked by a Brazilian reporter if Mateen was gay. Dias said Sitora believed Omar had "homosexual tendencies."

Dias also said Sitora told him she witnessed Mateen's father calling him gay several times.

Dias claims the FBI told Sitora to keep mum about Mateen's homosexuality in interviews with "American media" -- which might explain her Monday night appearance on CNN. Sitora said when she and Mateen married in 2009 he "confessed to me about his past ... and he very much enjoyed going to clubs."

She also says there were "pictures of him" -- but paused dramatically when asked if he was gay. Check it out ...

Lady Gaga wept as she read an emotional speech for the LGBT community and victims of the Orlando mass shooting Monday outside L.A.'s City Hall.

Gaga, an outspoken crusader for LGBT rights, called the massacre at Pulse, a predominantly gay club in Orlando, an "attack on everyone." Like Anderson Cooper, she also had trouble getting through the list of victim's names.

It's a moving speech with Gaga pointing out the LGBT community has more lovers than haters around the world. Grab a tissue first.

The "friend" James Howell -- who was arrested with an arsenal before L.A. Pride -- had driven cross-country to meet ... was just a guy he met online, and not an accomplice to a potential crime ... according to law enforcement.

We're told Howell originally told police he was meeting a friend and going to the parade -- leading cops to believe that person could be a threat to the public.

Law enforcement sources say they found the friend and he backs up Howell's story, but is adamant he was clueless Howell's trunk contained 3 assault rifles, high capacity magazines, and a 5 gallon bucket of chemicals cops suspect could have been used as a bomb.

We're told the friend told police he met the Indiana man online recently, and planned to meet in person to attend Pride together ... and that's all.

Cops believed the alibi ... and cleared him of any involvement.

However ... it's still a mystery as to what exactly, if anything, Howell had planned. We're told he's not budging during questioning. He remains in custody on $500,000 bail.

UFC superstar Daniel Cormier has a strong message for the LGBT community -- you are not alone.

Cormier was out in NYC promoting his fight with Jon Jones at UFC 200 -- when he opened up about the terror attack in Orlando.

"We gotta take care of each other," Cormier said ... "We have to be there to support each other in these situations as Americans, as human beings, as people."

James Howell -- the 20-year-old Indiana man who was arrested with an arsenal in his car hours before his planned arrival at the West Hollywood Pride parade was arrested less than a year ago for pointing a gun in a threatening manner ... TMZ has learned.

Howell got in an argument with his Indiana neighbor last October when he pulled a gun in anger. He was arrested and charged with pointing a firearm at another, as well as intimidation.

Howell copped a plea -- the firearm charge was dropped, and he pled to intimidation. Howell is currently on one year probation for that crime.

TMZ broke the story ... Howell was arrested in Santa Monica early Sunday morning after a homeowner reported a prowler. Police found an arsenal in his car, including three assault rifles, high capacity magazines, ammunition, and a 5 gallon bucket with chemicals to make a bomb. He told police he had traveled to California to attend the Pride parade.

TMZ also found this video posted by Howell, who clearly seems to have a fondness for firearms.

2:40 PM PT -- Cops have identified the suspect -- 20 year old James Howell from Indiana. Police say they found, "three assault rifles, high capacity magazines, and ammunition." Also, they found a 5 gallon bucket with chemicals capable of forming an improvised explosive device.

Cops also say as of now, there is no connection between James Howell and the shootings in Orlando.

A man with assault rifles was arrested early Sunday after telling cops his destination was the Pride parade later today in West Hollywood ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ.

Our sources say Santa Monica PD responded to a prowler call and found the man nearby the house that was allegedly targeted.

We're told he informed cops he was on his way to meet a friend for the Pride parade 10 miles away in WeHo. At a point cops searched his car and our sources say they found multiple assault rifles with a number of loaded magazines that were stacked and taped together -- a marker for someone looking to fire multiple rounds in rapid succession. Cops reportedly also found explosives and camouflage gear.

We're told the man has been arrested.

Santa Monica PD will not comment.

The Abbey's ready to burst with boys and vodka when hundreds of thousands descend on West Hollywood this weekend for L.A. Pride.

The Abbey has stocked the place with more than 1,000 liters of vodka, 3,500 cans of Red Bull and 7,500 bottles of beer. And there's plenty of eye candy for the boys AND girls -- 100 go-go dancers.

The Abbey -- once reportedly the largest purchaser of vodka in the world -- is expecting between 30-50k booze-guzzling customers.

Amber Heard's ex-girlfriend, who just claimed Amber's 2009 arrest for domestic violence was bogus because the cop was a homophobe with a hint of misogyny ... couldn't be further off the mark, because the officer is an openly gay woman who also contributed money to a domestic violence organization.

Amber's ex-domestic partner, Tasya van Ree, minimized their altercation at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, saying it was "misinterpreted and over-sensationalized by two individuals in a powerful position." She's referring to the cops who arrested Amber for allegedly grabbing and hitting Tasya.

Officer Beverly Leonard was the actual arresting officer. She proudly posted pics of herself and her partner a few years back. She's also posted pics of herself at Pride weekend.

Leonard also supported an organization in Seattle that helps women who were victims of domestic violence.

A source close to Beverly says the now-retired officer is indignant ... saying the arrest had nothing to do with homophobia ... she was arrested for breaking the law.

Although Tasya claims the incident was minor, police documents show there was actual property damage ... Tasya's pendant was broken during the scuffle, and the documents also show Tasya was extremely upset with Amber for the alleged attack ... so claim the responding cops.