LGBT

Tony Rock says Kevin Hart stepping down as Oscars host is a sign of the times, and believes we'd all be better off if we could embrace "jokes" instead of being offended -- and in this case, he's talking specifically about gay people.

The comedian was outside the Hollywood Improv Thursday night after news broke Hart was bailing on the Academy Awards job following backlash over his old homophobic tweets. Tony thinks Kevin should have apologized AND stayed on as host because it's his best opportunity to flip the controversy into something positive.

He also thinks the LGBTQ community needs to be more accepting of jokes. He believes it's a sign of respect and acceptance. We'll let him explain further ... watch the clip.

Now, several of Hart's old tweets weren't really in the style of stand-up comedy -- they were just straight-up homophobic. It's unclear if Tony was aware of that when we spoke, but that might be why he thinks Kevin owed an apology.

Bottom line for Tony ... a society where you can't tell jokes freely isn't a good thing.

Halsey's making it clear, just because she appeared in the annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show ... she's still pissed off about one of its execs disregard for the LGBTQ community.

The singer, who performed in the VS Show, blasted the show as it was airing Sunday night. She called out Ed Razek, the chief marketing officer for VS's parent company.

Last month in Vogue, he was asked about having transgender models in the show and said ... "No, I don't think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy. It's a 42-minute entertainment special. That's what it is."

Halsey's IG post slammed VS for "a lack of inclusivity" ... and added she stands in solidarity with the trans community.

For his part, Razek apologized and walked back his comment, as soon as the backlash began. He said, "To be clear, we absolutely would cast a transgender model for the show."

Razek added, "We've had transgender models come to castings. And like many others, they didn't make it. But it was never about gender. I admire and respect their journey to embrace who they really are."

Halsey seems to want action, not words.

Richard Simmons has struck a deal with "National Enquirer" in his transgender defamation lawsuit that will put the legal drama behind him ... for the most part.

Simmons has agreed to drop his appeal against American Media -- which owns 'Enquirer' -- after a judge ruled against him last year. If you don't remember, the fitness icon sued for defamation over a story published claiming he was in the process of sexual reassignment.

The judge sided with American Media, though, saying being misidentified as transgender does not inherently expose someone to "hatred, contempt or ridicule." Simmons filed an appeal shortly thereafter.

The 2 sides have now come to an agreement to drop it and move on ... but the terms are confidential. So, it's unclear if Simmons is still on the hook for American Media's legal fees.

Not everything related to the case is wrapped up -- he's still got a lawsuit out against the private investigator who allegedly planted tracking devices on him to try and prove the sex change rumors.

Shawn Mendes is once again shutting down rumors he's gay ... adamantly saying he isn't, after years of speculation.

The 20-year-old singer told Rolling Stone so much attention on his personal life has caused tons of stress ... particularly about his sexuality and whether or not he's gay. Shawn told RS, "I'd like to say I don't care about it, but that's not true. This massive, massive thing for the last 5 years about me being gay."

Shawn tells Rolling Stone he often analyzes his own interviews and analyzes his voice and body language to see what vibe he's giving off. He tells RS, "In the back of my heart, I feel like I need to go be seen with someone -- like a girl -- in public, to prove to people that I'm not gay."

He goes on to say, "Even though in my heart I know that it's not a bad thing. There's still a piece of me that thinks that. And I hate that side of me." Shawn, however, did admit he grew up putting glitter on his eyelids to make his parents laugh ... growing up with 15 female cousins he said he would be "braiding hair and painting nails. Maybe I am a little more feminine -- but that's the way it is. That's why I am me."

Remember ... years ago, Shawn addressed rumors about his sexuality, taking to Snapchat and saying, "I noticed a lot of people were saying I gave them a 'gay vibe' ... first of all, I'm not gay. Second of all, it shouldn't make a difference if I was or wasn't."

Jim Obergefell -- the gay man who took his fight to marry the person he loves to the United States Supreme Court and won -- is scared to death gay marriage could be a thing of the past.

We got the plaintiff in the landmark 2015 case, Obergefell vs. Hodges, Tuesday at LAX, and laid it out in clear terms ... Donald Trump has already fundamentally altered the federal court system and there's a chance the declaration that there's a Constitutional right to marry the person of your choice may be overturned.

His fear has some basis in fact. Trump's 2 additions to the U.S. Supreme Court swing the balance of the court to the right. It's especially important because the gay marriage decision was decided by a 5-4 vote.

Caitlyn Jenner is doing a full 180 over her previous support of President Trump, now saying she was wrong about the guy ... this in the wake of mounting backlash from the LGBT community.

In an op-ed piece through the Washington Post, Caitlyn says she has come to realize there is simply no getting through to the Trump administration on issues important to her and the trans community.

She says it in no uncertain terms ... "Despite the criticism I received from segments of the LGBTQ community for engaging with this administration, I remained hopeful for positive change. Sadly, I was wrong."

Caitlyn says she went to D.C. to lobby the educate members of Congress over LGBT issues, which sound like they were outwardly successful, but after reports suggesting the Trump administration wants to strictly define gender across the country ... she says she's given up on him.

She goes in on Trump, saying ... "The reality is that the trans community is being relentlessly attacked by this president. The leader of our nation has shown no regard for an already marginalized and struggling community. He has ignored our humanity."

She adds, "He has insulted our dignity. He has made trans people into political pawns as he whips up animus against us in an attempt to energize the most right-wing segment of his party, claiming his anti-transgender policies are meant to 'protect the country.'"

Caitlyn mentions one last clear sign that she's no longer on Team Trump by saying ... "My hope in him — in them — was misplaced, and I cannot support anyone who is working against our community. I do not support Trump. I must learn from my mistakes and move forward."

Ouch.

President Trump's attack on the transgender community doesn't have retired Navy SEAL Kristin Beck running scared ... she'll continue doing what she does best -- fight for her life without fear.

Beck -- a transgender woman and former SEAL Team 6 member -- tells TMZ, Trump's assault on her community is part and parcel of what she deals with every day. Fact is, she says when she walks out the door she knows there are people who are so filled with hate they want to kill her.

The former SEAL, with a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, tells us Trump's plan -- enacting a new policy that would cement everyone's sexual identity by their genitalia at birth -- is the action of an angry man.

Check out the vid ... Beck's got a message for every race and gender Trump's attacked, and how they can all band together.

9:26 AM PT -- A rep for Costume Agent, which originally created and distributed the controversial Caitlyn costume, tells TMZ they're not yanking it from their own site, and certainly not discontinuing it ... backlash be damned.

We're told the 'stume is one of their best sellers -- it's the #6 overall bestseller. Although they have received multiple threats over it this past week, they're standing by their product. The rep says, "It's a costume. It's funny."

A Caitlyn Jenner costume -- which harkens back to her Olympic glory days as Bruce Jenner -- is getting destroyed by critics who say it's insensitive to transgender people ... and it's already being yanked from at least one outlet.

The getup is called "I Am Cait" ... and features a decathlete's jersey with Bruce's number 935, a gold medal and those teeny tiny shorts -- all of that vintage Bruce from his 1976 decathlon victory. However, it also comes with a long-haired wig that's all Caitlyn.

eBay was flooded with criticism for selling the $44.95 costume -- several transgender charities are calling it out as mocking, instead of being an homage.

The caption for one online promo says, "Show your love for Caitlyn Jenner with this awesome adult costume."

The backlash has been enough for eBay to remove the costume, but as of now ... it's still available on Amazon.

Before President Trump enacts new policies essentially erasing the transgender community ... Carmen Carrera wants one swing -- a diplomatic one -- at convincing him he's dead wrong.

The "RuPaul's Drag Race" star tells TMZ ... she's willing to sit down with POTUS -- despite their huge differences -- and make it clear to him that trans people DO exist and it's their right to self-identify. ICYMI, Trump's administration is reportedly considering a policy that would identify everyone by their genitalia at birth.

That's pissed off the trans community, including actress Candis Cayne who ripped Trump a new one. Carmen, however, comes in peace, and hopes 45 or his peeps are down to start a conversation with her.

Yes, he broke bread with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West with highly publicized Oval Office visits, but let's be honest -- Trump inviting Carmen, Caitlyn Jenner or anyone in the transgender community to the White House seems far-fetched.

Ball's in his court.

Actress Candis Cayne is outraged at President Trump's reported plan to enforce strict new guidelines about transgender people -- because she says his real goal is silencing the community.

Candis -- who is transgender and was featured on her pal Caitlyn Jenner's reality show -- went on "The Morning Beat" with Jai and Mikalah Monday on Out Now Radio ... and ripped Trump. She thinks it's obvious he wants to shut down any national conversation about trans people, and adds ... the policy change could have bigger implications for our democracy.

If you missed it, the Trump administration is considering a plan that would identify everyone by their genitalia ... at birth, according to a NY Times report. The trans community is pissed, as you'd expect.

Although Caitlyn had been a vocal Trump supporter, she's flipped lately -- at least on some issues -- and on Monday afternoon, she made it clear she's lockstep with Candis on Trump's reported new policy.

Billy Eichner cannot contain his rage over Donald Trump, and the most recent trigger is the Trump Administration's move to rigidly define gender.

Eichner's contempt for Trump is palpable ... this in the wake of the administration's move to define gender as a "biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth."

Our photog got the "Billy on the Street" star at LAX Sunday, and he doesn't sound overly confident that a blue wave will sweep the country next month.

Khabib Nurmagomedov rubbed elbows with another powerful political figure Thursday night -- Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov ... a man who's been accused of some pretty horrible stuff.

The two hung out at a Russian MMA gym -- described as a fight club -- where they posed for pics, ate some food and celebrated Khabib's victory over Conor McGregor at UFC 229.

Khabib commented about the meeting saying, "Thank you very much to Ramzan and all brotherly Chechnya."

"The way I am grateful to your support in words not to describe and praise to god who made us all brothers through our religion. And thank you very much for such a generous gift and most importantly respect shown to me."

Kadyrov is a HUGE fan of combat sports -- and recently kicked it with Floyd Mayweather.

This issue surrounding Kadyrov ... dude has a very controversial past -- littered with accusations of human rights violations from kidnapping to torture and murder. He's denied all wrongdoing.

But, what's undeniable ... Kadyrov says he doesn't want gay people in his country and has said on the record he'd ship them all to Canada if he could.

The U.S. State Dept. issued a warning in April 2017 saying it was "increasingly concerned" about the anti-LGBT movement in Chechnya -- after "numerous credible reports" indicating gay people were being detained, tortured and even killed based on their sexual orientation.

Kadyrov's father was appointed to lead Chechnya in 2000 by Vladimir Putin. And, when his dad died, Putin tapped Ramzan to take his place in 2007.

Of course, Khabib just met with Putin earlier this week.

Caitlyn Jenner is being treated more harshly by her own, transgender community than the general public because they think she voted for Donald Trump ... but she didn't, according to her partner.

Sophia Hutchins says a few leaders in the trans community have poisoned them against Caitlyn, and the media just stoked the coals.

Sophia, who sat for an interview with Jim Breslo on his podcast, "Hidden Truth," didn't reconcile something her partner told Diane Sawyer ... that she voted for Trump.

Sophia says Caitlyn has had a hard time winning over the trans community, in part because they unfairly view her as unrelatable because she lives a privileged life. She blasts the media for telling untruths about her partner ... blasts them hard.

Sophia has long been an LGBTQ activist ... noting, when she was at college at the Christian school Pepperdine University, she fought the administration to get an LGBTQ club on campus. It rankles her that the media reduces her to being "a model."

Check out the full episode here.

Caitlyn Jenner and her rumored girlfriend, Sophia Hutchins, apparently have more of a mutual partnership than a true romance ... according to Sophia herself.

TMZ obtained a clip of Sophia -- who is also a transgender woman -- doing an interview with Jim Breslo for his podcast, 'Hidden Truth,' and she tells him she wouldn't call her relationship with Caitlyn romantic.

She tries to backpedal moments later, saying she and Caitlyn aren't going to get into the level of intimacy ... despite just making it clear they're platonic partners in life who do just about everything together, including live together.

Rumors started swirling last year that the 68-year-old Jenner had started dating the then 21-year-old Hutchins. Neither have commented about their relationship at length ... until now.

Breslo's full episode featuring Sophia drops Wednesday.

LeVar Burton is not down with anyone who is not down with Bert and Ernie coming out as gay.

The iconic "Reading Rainbow" host was at LAX when he weighed in on the big revelation his fellow PBS stars are a couple ... according to "Sesame Street" writer Mark Saltzman, anyway.

LeVar says it's hardly news to him -- and millions of others -- but still thinks it's a powerful step for society. And, for anyone bitching about the news, LeVar's got some advice for ya. Our photog also wonders if it's time for Bert and Ernie to ditch the twin beds and, y'know ... come together? Watch LeVar do some 'splaining.

For the record ... Sesame Workshop's official stance is B&E are not gay because "they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation."

11:40 AM PT -- A spokesperson for Sesame Workshop has countered Saltzman, telling TMZ ... "As we have always said, Bert and Ernie are best friends. They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves."

They continue, "Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics (as most Sesame Street Muppets™ do), they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation."

Frank Oz -- longtime puppeteer for the show and hands behind some of the beloved characters, including Bert -- also denounced Saltzman, saying, "It seems Mr. Mark Saltzman was asked if Bert & Ernie are gay. It's fine that he feels they are. They're not, of course. But why that question? Does it really matter? Why the need to define people as only gay? There's much more to a human being than just straightness or gayness."

Bert and Ernie are finally out ... a "Sesame Street" writer is confirming the iconic characters are a gay couple.

Bert and Ernie have been on the show since it started in 1969, and there's always been speculation about the true nature of their relationship. Mark Saltzman, who joined the "Sesame Street" crew in 1984, cleared it all up by telling Queerty he wrote Bert and Ernie as a gay couple.

He says the 'Sesame' duo is a reflection of his own same-sex relationship and not about pushing an agenda.

Mark says he based Bert and Ernie on his relationship with film editor Arnold Glassman -- Mark was Ernie and Arnold was Bert.

Of course, Bert and Ernie have shared a basement apartment at 123 Sesame Street for the last 49 years ... although they've always slept in separate beds. Still, their chemistry -- while playfully arguing and bickering -- was always palpable.

Mark's revelation might be more of a formality -- the fact is, Bert and Ernie are longtime gay icons for many in the LGBT community.