LGBT

Michael Cimino says he's catching tons of heat for playing a gay character in "Love, Victor" ... and he claims some haters are even threatening his life.

Michael, who plays the title character in the Hulu romance series, says he's getting ripped by some people in the LGBTQ community for taking a gay role when he's straight in real life.

MC told Attitude -- a gay magazine in the U.K. -- he was expecting to catch flak going into the project, but now says some of the reaction is crossing the line.

The 21-year-old star is fully aware many people have a problem with straight actors getting gay roles while gay actors are often forced to stay in the closet. Michael's promising to be an ally by continuing to fight for LGBT rights ... even after he's done playing the role of Victor.

A woman was dragged down a flight of stairs by her hair at a bar, and the horrific act -- carried out by a security guard -- is sparking outrage and protests.

The ugly incident went down Saturday at Nellie's Sports Bar in Washington, D.C. ... a popular LGBTQ+ bar that had been packed following the city's Pride parade earlier in the day. In the video, you hear bar patron's shocked to see the security guard dragging a Black woman, and that shock quickly turned to anger.

Several bystanders started pummeling the security guard, who is Black, and all hell broke loose. A woman named Keisha Young says she was the victim, and told WUSA9 the trouble started when the bar staff mistook her for someone else.

She said, "[Security was] trying to get some other people out because somebody else brought a bottle in there. Somehow I got mixed up in an altercation because I look like somebody else and I got hit and dragged down the steps."

Protests erupted Sunday outside of Nellie's ... with dozens of protesters seen holding signs. Nellie's released a statement Sunday saying, "We were incredibly upset and disturbed to see the unfortunate event that took place at Nellie’s last night."

Nellie's management says it's going to conduct a full investigation into the matter. They added, "At Nellie’s we foster an inclusive and safe environment, so events like this are completely unacceptable to us."

A spokesperson for Metro PD said they didn't get any calls related to the incident.

A good chunk of Billie Eilish's fandom appears to be disavowing her -- all over what they perceive as queerbaiting ... but, truthfully, it's just A LOT of assumptions and expectations.

If you saw the hashtag "#youlikegirls" trending Sunday evening and dove in ... you probably saw a whole bunch of folks up in arms over Billie's recent social media activity/love life, with many saying they were done with her and her music because they consider her problematic.

Long story short ... Billie has recently been romantically linked to actor Matthew Tyler Vorce, who she's been seen out with on what some took as dates -- including this past week, when they were spotted getting cozy at Disneyland. Some are straight up calling him the BF.

That kinda threw some of her fans for a loop in and of itself, it seems, as there appears to have been some speculation that Billie might've been on the LGBTQ+ spectrum. We can't say why people thought that -- other than good old-fashioned conclusion-jumping.

At any rate ... some of those same fans were even more confused with her latest musical offering, which they say sends mixed signals. It's Billie's music video for her new single, "Lost Cause," which sees her dancing in somewhat suggestive fashion with other women.

The true smoking gun for their queerbaiting case -- as the fandom has insisted -- was a follow-up post Billie threw up after this video, which featured the caption "i love girls."

Some took that as Billie toying with her fans, as well as pre-conceived notions about her sexuality -- which many have called counterproductive/harmfully misleading. Basically, they're suggesting she's doing more hurting than helping in the LGBTQ+ movement ... during Pride months, no less. That, coupled with her apparent interest in men, is causing an uproar.

We're gonna bust out the soapbox here for a minute and just say ... Billie doesn't owe anyone anything when it comes to all this speculation and projecting that's been thrust on her -- not before, not now, and not even in the future (that is, if she doesn't want to).

As many have rightly pointed out, there's nothing inherently sexual about Bilile's dancing in the music vid -- and her caption could've been nothing more than just promoting her single.

Kamala Harris breaks lots of ground ... the latest being she's the first Vice President of the United States to march in solidarity of LGBTQ rights.

The Veep and her husband, Doug Emhoff, took to the streets Saturday in Washington D.C. for the Pride March. There was no advanced notice she would show, so it was a big surprise to marchers when she showed up in a pink blazer. Doug wore a t-shirt with a rainbow inscription. They both marched for a block or so.

Harris spoke at the Capital Pride rally, urging Congress to pass the Equality Act. She said, "We need to make sure that our transgender community and our youth are all protected. We need, still, protections around employment and housing."

The Veep added during the rally at Freedom Plaza, "There is so much more work to do, and I know we are committed."

David Archuleta -- one of "American Idol's" famous runner-ups throughout its history -- just came out as being part of the LGBTQ+ community ... which he explains is especially difficult considering his religious upbringing.

The 'AI' alum -- who placed second during the 7th season of 'Idol,' losing to David Cook -- just shared his truth online, posting a heartfelt IG that revealed he identifies as both bisexual and asexual ... even though he says he initially thought he might've been gay.

David writes, "I came out in 2014 as gay to my family. But then I had similar feelings for both genders so maybe a spectrum of bisexual. Then I also have learned I don’t have too much sexual desires and urges as most people which works I guess because I have a commitment to save myself until marriage." He goes on to explain asexual seems to, at times, describe him best ... while adding he's doing this to help others who might be in similar situations.

Namely, DA says he wants folks who are devoted to their religion and who might also be gay, bi or anything else that they are not alone ... as he explains that he comes from a Mormon background himself. Basically, David says you can both be religious and identify as LGBTQ+.

He says, "[P]lease consider making room to be more understanding and compassionate to those who are LGBTQIA+, and those who are a part of that community and trying to find that balance with their faith which also is a huge part of their identity like myself." DA goes on, "I think we can do better as people of faith and Christians, including Latter-day Saints, to listen more to the wrestle between being LGBTQIA+ and a person of faith."

Kid Rock's hatefulness is showing again, and he seems pretty damn proud of it -- while responding to the video of him hurling a homophobic slur, he's choosing to repeat the word and attack his critics.

The singer publicly addressed the video TMZ posted of him using the epithet at a Tennessee bar last weekend by tweeting this ... "If Kid Rock using the word f***** offends you, good chance you are one."

He attempted to put a friendly spin on it by adding, "Either way, I know he has a lot of love for his gay friends and I will have a talk with him. Have a nice day."

Kid credited the comment to Bob Ritchie -- his legal name -- in what seems to be a warped use of the third person to excuse his behavior or dismiss the backlash he's getting.

Either way, it's an incredibly bad look, but he clearly doesn't care much what anyone thinks.

We broke the story ... Kid was on the mic Saturday night at FishLipz Bar & Grill when he dropped the homophobic slur in the middle of a rant about the crowd recording him with smartphones.

A Tennessee woman busted out some spray paint to cover up a rainbow on a bridge, because as she puts it ... "I'm sick of you all's s***."

The video speaks for itself -- the latest "Karen" was apparently upset that 2 teens painted a rainbow on the spot the community reportedly designates for people to express free speech ... and she made her point in a very bigoted way.

The lady drops the obligatory "I'm an American who works hard and pays taxes" spiel as her reason for painting over the rainbow, which the teens had put there to celebrate Pride Month.

If that wasn't enough, she expresses her disdain for what she feels is the teens' -- and apparently all gay people's -- desire to stand out and get attention, when she just wants them to shut up.

It's unclear exactly where this went down in Tennessee, but it's almost certain to add to the stigma of the name Karen ... which has plummeted in popularity over the past year thanks to incidents like this.

Kid Rock dropped a homophobic slur like it was nothing while rocking the mic at a bar in Tennessee, and ranting about people recording him with their phones.

Seems the singer wasn't feeling the fact audience members had whipped out their iPhone cameras Saturday night when he took the stage at FishLipz Bar & Grill in Smithville, TN. He looked directly into one phone and barked, "F**k your iPhone, yeah!"

Kid then hurled the slur as he screamed, "You f**king f*****s with your iPhones out!!!" He also mocked fans recording him by pointing directly at his crotch, and telling them to post his junk.

We're told security at the joint was going around telling people to put down their phones ... but Kid Rock decided to take matters into his own hands.

Apparently, he hasn't been paying attention to concert crowds for the last 10 years or so -- 'cause it ain't like smartphones just came out. Of course, Kid's got a habit of blurting out whatever he's feeling while onstage.

The USMNT's soccer game against Mexico turned VERY ugly Sunday night ... 'cause fans in the stands yelled anti-gay slurs and also violently threw objects at players.

The disturbing scenes all went down late in the CONCACAF Nations League final in Denver ... when the game actually had to be paused over homophobic chants.

Fans in the stands could reportedly be heard screaming a Spanish word that translates into an anti-gay insult -- and the chanting grew so loud, refs had to halt play until it stopped.

But, the unruly behavior didn't end there ... 'cause throughout the end of the wild soccer match, players were hit by debris thrown from the stands.

Check out footage that the broadcast picked up ... players on BOTH sides were cracked in the face and head by full cups and bottles.

In fact, US player Gio Reyna was hit so hard in the face by one of the objects ... he collapsed to the grass.

It all got so bad, soccer legend Alexi Lalas said, "The crowd behavior in Denver was a disgrace to our sport and our country."

Widow Von'Du's alleged beatdown of a man claiming to be her romantic partner appears to have been fierce and brutal ... at least based on these photos showing the injuries police say he sustained.

TMZ has obtained pictures Von'Du's partner took of the alleged injuries he suffered after the 'Drag Race' star allegedly pummeled him and left him bloodied -- and, frankly, from what we can see here ... yeah, it certainly does look like there was damage done in whatever the hell went down.

As you can see ... there are multiple stitches, from the side of his face to the top of his scalp, which is consistent with what he told cops when he reported the alleged attack.

TMZ broke the story ... Widow Von'Du is accused of punching this guy 4 to 5 times, strangling him, dragging him across the floor and pushing him down to the ground, which he says propelled him into a bed frame that knocked him unconscious.

All of this is supposedly over this guy crashing at Von'Du's pad ... and it doesn't seem like they were on the same page as to whether he was supposed to be there or not. The so-called romantic partner insists he'd given her a heads up -- but Von'Du said differently, on camera.

Remember, we got video of Von'Du being arrested over this ... and she claimed she was simply defending herself against someone who she says was "violating" her and crossing boundaries.

Caitlyn Jenner says it was harder to tell loved ones she's running for governor of California as a Republican than it was for her to be honest about her identity.

Caitlyn revealed her feelings in an interview with FOX 11's "The Issue Is" with Elex Michaelson ... her first media interview since announcing her run for governor in the recall election.

As you know ... Caitlyn came out publicly as a trans woman back in April 2015 and this April she threw her hat in the ring to become the next governor of California.

The Kardashians appear to be aligned with the Democrats ... although Kim and Kanye did interact with Trump over prison releases. And, although Kanye seemed to embrace Trump, he ran for President not as a Republican but as a member of the Birthday Party ... whatever that is.

As we first told you, Caitlyn's sons are embarrassed she's running for governor and the Kardashians won't be hitting the campaign trail to stump for her.

The "RuPaul's Drag Race" star arrested for allegedly pummeling a romantic partner is claiming self-defense, and she let cops know it as she was arrested -- while also blasting white "privilege," and taking a vape.

TMZ obtained this must-see video of Widow Von'Du in handcuffs, shouting that she's getting busted for defending herself in her own Kansas City, MO apartment -- and she clearly thinks it's because the alleged victim is a white man.

According to Von'Du ... she had asked him 5 times to leave her pad. As she put it, "someone else would not understand his privilege does not extend to my apartment." She quickly added, "And, just because his ass got beat up because he would not leave ... I'm being arrested."

You can also see a friend of Von'Du's holding a mic, and she made it clear she wanted all her fans to know about what she sees as a gross injustice. That being said, when someone offered her a vape ... Widow took a break from raging out to inhale deeply.

Things got deadly serious, though as police were loading Widow into their van. She demanded cops strap her down because she didn't want there to be any doubts about her possibly resisting police. She declared for the camera, "I'm not about to be the next one that we march for" ... alluding to Black people who've died in police custody.

Sophie Turner isn't straight ... at least that's what it appears she's trying to tell the world.

The "Game of Thrones" star hinted at some sort of coming out in a social media post celebrating Pride Month. She said, "time isn't straight and neither am i."

Sophie put a ton of other stickers on her post that seem to hint at her truth ... including hearts with text for "BI PRIDE" and "GAY PRIDE" and another sticker saying, "MOVE, I'M GAY."

While the "time" line was cryptic, there's no doubt Sophie's all about celebrating Pride, as she added, "ITS MUTHA****** #pride month babaaaayyyyy."

As you know, Sophie got married to Joe Jonas back in May 2019 in a Las Vegas wedding. They've already started a family ... remember, Sophie gave birth last July to a daughter named Willa.

Tons of celebs have been coming out recently as gay, lesbian, trans and non-binary ... including Colton Underwood, Kehlani, JoJo Siwa, Elliot Page and Demi Lovato ... and it sounds like Sophie's itching to join them.

JoJo Siwa's extravagantly fun Pride Party took a dark turn when cops were called for a possible overdose.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... cops and paramedics responded to the call to JoJo's home in the San Fernando Valley a little after 8 PM Wednesday. We're told someone reported a male around 30 years old might have OD'd on LSD.

Sources connected to the party claim the guy showed up to the party high, and in pretty rough shape. We're told the person was transported to the hospital, and police determined there was no crime committed.

That person's health status is unclear at this time. We've reached out to Siwa's rep for more ... no word back so far.

As we reported ... JoJo threw a huge rainbow-themed bash at her house attended by her GF and a bunch of fellow influencers, including Tana Mongeau. The party featured a bounce house, a decked-out pool and kitchen, a bedazzled piano and a whole lot more.

JoJo Siwa seemingly spared no expense to throw a massive party to celebrate Pride Month ... and inside the event was everything you'd expect from the newly-minted gay icon.

JoJo's rainbow-themed bash had a little bit of everything -- as documented by fellow influencer Tana Mongeau -- a fully loaded kitchen and bar, a rainbow-dyed dog walking around, a hand-bedazzled rainbow piano ... and a JoJo Barbie wall.

Siwa -- who was clearly having a great time with her girlfriend, Kylie Prew -- also revealed she sprung for a bouncy house, because ... why the hell not?

Pretty extravagant stuff all around from the recently-turned-18, mega-rich YouTube and Nickelodeon star, who as you know ... came out as gay earlier this year.

The SF Giants' classic black and orange will be getting a touch of rainbow this weekend ... the team says it will recognize Pride Month by wearing Pride colors on its uniforms.

Giants officials say they'll add a "Pride Patch" on the sleeve of their jersey Saturday against the Chicago Cubs ... and they'll debut a custom cap for the game as well.

"We are extremely proud to stand with the LGBTQ+ community," team prez and CEO Larry Baer said, "as we kick off one of the best annual celebrations in San Francisco by paying honor to the countless achievements and contributions of all those who identify as LGBTQ+ and are allies of the LGBTQ+ community."

Pride Month began Tuesday as the calendar officially rolled over into June ... and the Giants are going all in to make sure they honor the moment.

In addition to the uniform changes ... SF officials also say they'll adorn their scoreboard with Pride colors and wrap Willie Mays Plaza palm trees with the hues as well.

"Very proud that the San Francisco Giants are taking this step," Giants manager Gabe Kapler said Tuesday. "Very proud to be part of it."