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LGBTQ+ ‘Swifties’ get emotional Pride month support in Chicago

Swift said that she was inspired to get vocal about LGBTQ activism after having a conversation with her friend Todrick Hall

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Taylor Swift performing at Chicago's Soldier Field Friday night, June 2, 2023. (Screenshot/Twitter)

CHICAGO – The over fifty-thousand Taylor Swift fans packing Soldier Field Friday night as the singer brought her current “The Eras Tour” to the Windy City for a three-day sold-out stop-over were treated to a Vegas-style spectacle. But for her LGBTQ+ ‘Swifties’ she had a special message.

During a pause before performing her song ‘Champagne Problems’ the 33-year-old performer addressed the stadium telling the audience that it was a ‘safe space.’

ā€œIā€™m looking out tonight, Iā€™m seeing so many incredible individuals who are living authentically and beautifully, and this is a safe space for you,” Swift said.

ā€œThis is a celebratory space for you. One of the things that makes me feel so prideful is getting to be with you and watching you interact with each other, being so loving and so thoughtful and so caring.”

ā€œBeing with you during Pride Month, getting to sing the words to ā€˜You Need To Calm Downā€™ where there are lyrics like, ā€˜Can you just not step on his gown?ā€™ or, ā€˜Shade never made anybody less gay,ā€™ and you guys are screaming those lyrics.

ā€œSuch solidarity. Such support of one another and such encouraging, beautiful acceptance and peace and safety. And I wish that every place was safe and beautiful for people of the LGBTQ+ community,” she said addressing the fans.

ā€œWe canā€™t talk about Pride without talking about pain. Right now and recently there have been so many harmful pieces of legislation that have put people in the LGBTQ+ and queer community at risk,” she said acknowledging the flood of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation the first five months of this year. Then she urged her fans to carefully consider their options as the nation moves into another elections cycle.

ā€œItā€™s painful for everyone. Every ally. Every loved one. Every person in these communities. And thatā€™s why Iā€™m always posting, ā€˜This is when the midterms are. This is when these important key primaries are,ā€™ Swift said encouraging fans to vote for legislators that protect the LGBTQ+ community.

ā€œAre they actually advocates? Are they allies? Are they protectors of equality? Do I want to vote for them?ā€ she asked.

The proud recipient of no less than 12 GRAMMY Awards, 14 MTV Video Music Awards, and an astonishing 94 Guinness World Records, Swift has been a vocal ally and supporter of the LGBTQ+ community.

The singer-songwriter and musician revealed in an interview with Vogue, that she was inspired to get vocal about LGBTQ+ activism after having a conversation with her friend, choreographer and ā€œRuPaulā€™s Drag Raceā€ judge Todrick Hall.

Taylor Swift performing at Chicago’s Soldier Field Friday night, June 2, 2023. (Screenshot/Twitter)

ā€œTodrick and I are in the car, and he asked me, What would you do if your son was gay? The fact that he had to ask me shocked me and made me realize that I had not made my position clear enough or loud enough. If my son was gay, heā€™d be gay. I donā€™t understand the question,ā€ Swift says.

She added: ā€œRights are being stripped from basically everyone who isnā€™t a straight white cisgender male. I didnā€™t realize until recently that I could advocate for a community that Iā€™m not a part of. Itā€™s hard to know how to do that without being so fearful of making a mistake that you just freeze. Because my mistakes are very loud. When I make a mistake, it echoes through the canyons of the world. Itā€™s clickbait, and itā€™s a part of my life story, and itā€™s a part of my career arc.ā€

Swiftā€™s LGBTQ activism includes endorsing politicians who promote LGBTQ rights and she started a Change.org petition in support of the Equality Act. The singer also released the pro-LGBTQ single ā€œYou Need to Calm Down,ā€ which featured Hall.

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Ricky Martin to headline World AIDS Day concert in Miami

AIDS Healthcare Foundation event to take place on Dec. 2

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Ricky Martin (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Ricky Martin on Dec. 2 will headline the AIDS Healthcare Foundationā€™s annual World AIDS Day Concert. 

The event will take place at the Watsco Center at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla.

Every year, the AHF, the worldā€™s largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, hosts its World AIDS Day Concert to honor those lost to HIV/AIDS, and bring attention to the global fight against HIV/AIDS. The organization will host the concert one day after World AIDS Day, which takes place on Dec. 1. 

Ricky Martin ā€” known globally as the ā€œKing of Latin Popā€ ā€” has long used his stardom to shed light on issues, having used his platform to advocate for and bring awareness to HIV/AIDS, human trafficking, and LGBTQ rights. The Puerto Rico native came out as gay in 2010. 

ā€œRicky has shown a deep commitment to breaking stigma, educating youth, and empowering communities to take action,ā€ the AHF said on a post on Instagram.

The event will also feature a performance by DJ Spinderella, a DJ and rapper, and the AHF Lifetime Achievement award will be presented to Dr. Julio Frenk, the University of Miamiā€™s outgoing president and chancellor-designate for UCLA. 

In the past, performers from Janet Jackson to Diana Ross to Mariah Carey have taken the stage at World AIDS Day events. Last year, the AHF presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to actor and activist Blair Underwood.

The concert is taking place in Miami, which has been at the center of the HIV epidemic. 

A 2019 study found Miami had the highest rate of new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. Southern states in general continue to be disproportionately impacted by an increase in new diagnoses. 

ā€œThis concert isnā€™t just a celebration of lives saved and advances in treatment, itā€™s a call to action,ā€ AHF said in a statement. ā€œTogether, we can raise awareness and support those affected by HIV/AIDS in Miami and beyond.ā€

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Illinois Supreme Court overturns Jussie Smollettā€™s conviction in hate crime hoax

Ruling cites due process violation, did not address actorā€™s guilt

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Jussie Smollett (Photo by Starfrenzy via Bigstock)

The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday overturned Jussie Smollettā€™s conviction on charges that he staged and lied to the police about being the victim of a homophobic and racist hate crime in 2019. 

The court ruled the actor should not have been prosecuted again after he had already reached a deal with prosecutors to resolve the case. 

However, the ruling did not address whether Smollett was innocent of staging the hate crime, as he has continued to claim, overturning the conviction on the grounds that the second prosecution was a due process violation. 

ā€œWe are aware that this case has generated significant public interest and that many people were dissatisfied with the resolution of the original case and believed it to be unjust,ā€ Justice Elizabeth Rochford wrote in the courtā€™s 5-0 opinion, referring to the initial deal Smollett had reached. ā€œNevertheless, what would be more unjust than the resolution of any one criminal case would be a holding from this court that the state was not bound to honor agreements upon which people have detrimentally relied.ā€

In 2019, the ā€œEmpireā€ star claimed he had been physically attacked by two men in a homophobic and racist hate crime. He told Chicago police that they had put a noose around his neck, yelled slurs, and told him that he was in ā€œMAGA countryā€ during the attack. 

He initially received an outpouring of support, particularly from the LGBTQ+ and Black communities. But police soon charged him with filing a false report, alleging he had staged the attack as part of a hoax.Ā 

Prosecutors controversially dismissed the initial charges in exchange for community service and the forfeiture of his $10,000 bond. After public outcry, a special prosecutor recharged Smollett with the same offenses in 2020. 

The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday found this second prosecution violated the deal initially reached by the state, as well as Smollettā€™s due process rights. 

In 2021, a Cook County jury found Smollett guilty on the charges the special prosecutor had brought against him, and he was sentenced to 150 days in jail and 30 months of probation, along with a $120,000 restitution payment to the city of Chicago for the overtime costs incurred by police investigating his initial hate crime claim.

He only served six days in jail before he was released upon appealing his case. An Illinois Appellate Court upheld his guilty verdict last year, after which he appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court. 

In a Washington Blade interview in September, Smollett addressed his conviction, denying that he had staged the attack.

ā€œI know what happened and soon you all will too,ā€ he told the Blade.

Asked to address the concern among some in the LGBTQ+ community that his case would discredit victims of hate crimes and make it more difficult to report future such crimes, he responded, ā€œIf someone reported a crime and it wasnā€™t the truth, that would actually make it more difficult [to report future crimes], but I didnā€™t. Any belief that they have about the person that Iā€™ve been played out to be, sure, but that person is not me, never has been. So I stand with my community. I love my community and I protect and defend my community until Iā€™m bloody in my fist.ā€Ā 

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GuadaLAjara Film Festival honors Nava Mau at opening night

Emmy-nominated trans, Latina, actress receives Ɓrbol de LA Vida Trailblazer Award

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Nava Mau delivers thank you speech as she accepts her Ɓrbol de LA Vida Trailblazer Award at this year's GuadaLAjara Film Festival at the historic Million Dollar Theatre. (Photo Courtesy of GLAFF)

Emmy-nominated actress Nava Mau, was this yearā€™s honoree at GuadaLAjara Film Festival, receiving the Ɓrbol De LA Vida Humanitarian Lifetime Achievement Award during the opening night at Downtown Los Angeles’ Million Dollar Theatre.

ā€œI think right now, Iā€™m sitting in what it means to be a trans Latina and have the support of my communityā€“beginning, middle and end,ā€ said Mau in an interview with Los Angeles Blade on the carpet at Guadalajara Film Festival. ā€œThere is nothing else like that.ā€ 

Mau is an Emmy-nominated actress known for her groundbreaking performance on the 2024 UK Netflix hit-series, Baby Reindeer. 

Bamby Salcedo, the CEO and co-founder of the TransLatin@ Coalition, presented the award to Mau at the Opening Night Awards Ceremony. Salcedo has been a previous Trailblazer Award recipient and is now passing on the torch to Mau, another trailblazing, trans, Latina.Ā 

ā€œYeah, I think that it’s surreal, because I met her when I was 21 and I was so young and really feeling the weight of the road on my shoulders, and she is somebody who I saw as a beacon of light. I saw her as someone who is self-actualized and as someone who unites people every single day,ā€ said Mau. 

Mau says that she is always in awe of Salcedo and feels that it is humbling to even be considered worthy of receiving the award from her. 

ā€œI am just incredibly honored and grateful that I get to be here in this festival to present Nava Mau with the El Ɓrbol de LA Vida Trailblazer Award, which I have been a recipient of in previous years,ā€ said Salcedo. 

Salcedo was the recipient of the award in 2022 and is now passing the torch to Mau. Salcedo has known Mau since she was very young and takes pride in having seen her grow and blossom into the person she is today. She sees this moment as a full-circle moment in her life and in her career as a trailblazing activist. 

ā€œIā€™ve seen her grow and Iā€™m seeing her talent blossoming in the industry,ā€ said Salcedo. ā€œAnd that is just so beautiful and I am just so grateful and honored that I get to do that.ā€ 

Both trailblazing, trans, Latinas have used their struggles and lived experiences as an opportunity to unite their communities and ignite change. 

ā€œI want to say to all the beautiful people who are listeningā€“particularly young transgender, gender nonconforming, intersex and queer peopleā€“to shine their light and walk their path as they are supposed to,ā€ said Salcedo. ā€œAnd I want them to know that they are not alone. There are organizations like the Trans Latin@ Coalition and other organizations that are doing critical work so you can have a better life and for you to understand that you do have a place in our society.ā€ 

Salcedo urges queer and trans youth to take up the space they are entitled to and to know that there are people like her and Mau, that will not back down from paving the paths that still have yet to be paved. 

GuadaLAjara Film Festival took place this year on Nov 1 through Nov 3, at multiple venues across the city. The opening night for the festival took place at the historic Million Dollar Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles. 

Diane Guerrero was also honored at the opening night. She is known for her roles in Disney’s Encanto, Netflixā€™s Orange is the New Black and Jane the Virgin.

The opening night of the film festival also featured a screening of Sujo, Mexicoā€™s official entry for the 2025 Oscars. 

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Christian writer apologizes for attacking LGBTQ+ ally Dolly Parton

Andersen, who self identifies as a Christian mom & Bible study leader, apologized for her attacking the Country Icon

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Country Icon, singer-songwriter and long time LGBTQ+ ally Dolly Parton. (Screenshot/YouTube Dolly Parton)

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. ā€“ Freelance writer Ericka Andersen, who self identifies as a Christian mom and Bible study leader, in an interview with Yahoo Entertainment apologized for her attacking Country Icon, singer-songwriter Dolly Parton over her allyship and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community.

Indianapolis-based Andersen told Yahoo Entertainment on Saturday that the widespread backlash made her realize she shouldnā€™t have used Parton to press her argument. ā€œI regret using Dolly as the example for the point I was making in the article,ā€ she said.

ā€œAs I wrote in the piece, I love her and think she does some incredible things for the world. We all make poor choices in how to frame things sometimes. This was one of those moments for me! Dolly is one of the few people who is beloved by all and who loves all. The world is lucky to have her.ā€

In a piece for the far-right extremist magazine The Federalist, Andersen had written:

ā€œIn a world where division is the default, she collects fans of every political stripe, refusing to denigrate anyone, and regularly proclaims, ā€œI love everybody,ā€ when asked how she does it. 

This response is usually seen as a nod toward the LGBT alliance during interviews with media folks forever fixated on this particular group.ā€

Andersen then notes:

ā€œWhen asked about her diverse community of fans, Parton always mentions Christianity, saying she does her best ā€œnot to judgeā€ and only ā€œto loveā€ for that reason. 

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But Partonā€™s version of love, which includes condoning immoral sexual behavior (ā€œbe who you are,ā€ sheā€™s said), is unaligned with Godā€™s vision for humanity. Like so many secularized spiritual leaders, Parton equates love with agreement, but the two are not reciprocal. Love doesnā€™t mean we must accept sinfulness as good to avoid hurting someoneā€™s feelings.ā€

The Federalist was widely denounced on multiple social media platforms for its attack of the beloved Country Icon.

Paul Richmond, a Monterey, California-based queer artist and art instructor, who is an acquaintance of the singer and has created a couple of artwork pieces for Parton, was asked by the Blade for his reaction to the homophobic parsing of Partonā€™s character by the Federalist writer.

Richmond said: ā€œThere is nothing that exemplifies how desperate for attention and unhinged the far right has become than by this attack on Americaā€™s sweetheart. Dolly has always shown kindness and empathy for others, which is what all supposed Christians should be striving for.ā€

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Flipping the Script: Chris Colfer on his new book & LGBTQ+ Pride

Actor Chris Colfer, speaks to NBC Newsā€™ Joe Fryer about his latest book, & the importance of LGBTQ+ representation in books and media

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Chris Colfer speaks about his new book and LGBTQ+ representation. (Screenshot/YouTube NBC News)

(NBC News) NEW YORK – Actor Chris Colfer, known for his starring role as Kurt Hummel on ā€œGleeā€, speaks to NBC Newsā€™ Joe Fryer about his latest book, ā€œRoswell Johnson Saves The World!ā€ and the importance of LGBTQ+ representation in books and media.

Watch:

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Far-right publication attacks Dolly Parton over her LGBTQ allyship

“There is nothing that exemplifies how desperate for attention & unhinged the far right has become than this attack on America’s sweetheart”

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Country Icon and superstar singer-songwriter Dolly Parton, chats with Hunter Kelly, the host of PROUD Radio on Apple Music Country featuring music and interviews with LGBTQ country artists and allies last December. (Screenshot/YouTube Hunter Kelly)

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – In an article published Thursday in the far-right anti-LGBTQ+ online magazine The Federalist, Indianapolis-based freelance writer Ericka Andersen, who self identifies as a Christian mom and Bible study leader, attacks Country Music icon and megastar singer-songwriter Dolly Parton.

Parton, a long time ally of America’s LGBTQ+ community, was taken to task by Andersen who wrote:

“In a world where division is the default, she collects fans of every political stripe, refusing to denigrate anyone, and regularly proclaims,Ā ā€œI love everybody,ā€Ā when asked how she does it.Ā 

This response is usually seen as a nod toward the LGBT alliance during interviews with media folks forever fixated on this particular group.”

Andersen then notes:

“When asked about her diverse community of fans, Parton always mentions Christianity, saying she does her best ā€œnot to judgeā€ and only ā€œto loveā€ for that reason.Ā 

But Partonā€™s version of love, which includes condoning immoral sexual behavior (ā€œbe who you are,ā€Ā sheā€™s said), is unaligned with Godā€™s vision for humanity. Like so many secularized spiritual leaders, Parton equates love with agreement, but the two are not reciprocal. Love doesnā€™t mean we must accept sinfulness as good to avoid hurting someoneā€™s feelings.”

When the magazine promoted Andersen’s piece on X (formerly Twitter) it amplified her homo/trans phobias.

Ā 

Paul Richmond, a Monterey, California-based queer artist and art instructor, who is an acquaintance of the singer and has created a couple of artwork pieces for Parton, was asked by the Blade for his reaction to the homophobic parsing of Parton’s character by the Federalist writer.

Richmond said: “There is nothing that exemplifies how desperate for attention and unhinged the far right has become than by this attack on America’s sweetheart. Dolly has always shown kindness and empathy for others, which is what all supposed Christians should be striving for.”

A sampling of reaction on social media platforms from other Parton supporters generally echoed Richmond’s reaction:

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Madonna pays tribute to the queer community for Pride 2024

Pop Diva and superstar musical artist Madonna expressed her gratitude to her legions of LGBTQ+ fans in a Pride Month post

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Madonna speaking at the 30th annual GLAAD Media Awards 2019 in New York City. (Screenshot/YouTube GLAAD)

NEW YORK – Taking to her Instagram account on Thursday, June 6, Pop Diva and superstar musical artist Madonna expressed her gratitude to her legions of LGBTQ+ fans. The singer also urged her fans to embrace Pride and their queer identity.

“When Truth or Dare was released in 1991 I had no idea it was going to cause such a stir šŸŒˆšŸŒˆšŸŒˆ But that could be said of most of the things I do!!
I simply wanted to capture the world. I was living inā€”and share it with the world.
I am forever grateful to the gay community that has always supported me from day one!!!
When I arrived in New York for the first time in 1979 ā€” They made an awkward girl from Michigan feel like she fit in, like she wasnā€™t a freak and. That it was OK to be different. I am forever indebted.
In this increasingly chaotic world, we are living in. I will never stop fighting for diversity, inclusiveness and equal rights for all!!!

DONā€™T HIDE YOUR PRIDE! šŸ³ļøā€šŸŒˆ!
Letā€™s celebrate this month and every month ! šŸ³ļøā€šŸŒˆšŸ³ļøā€šŸŒˆšŸ³ļøā€šŸŒˆšŸ³ļøā€šŸŒˆ.”

The American singer and actress has long been recognized as aĀ LGBTQ+ icon.

According to her biographical entry in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, MadonnaĀ was introduced to the gay community while still a teenager growing up inĀ first Pontiac and then later Rochester Hills, north of Detroit, Michigan.

It was herĀ balletĀ teacher, Christopher Flynn, aĀ gay man, who first told her that she had something to offer the world. He also introduced her to the local gay community ofĀ Detroit,Ā Michigan, often taking her to localĀ gay barsĀ andĀ discotheques.

According toĀ The Hollywood Reporter, Madonna began as one of the first “notable” names in the entertainment industry to publicly advocate in response to theĀ HIV/AIDS epidemicĀ in the 1980s.

More recently the singer was honored at the annual GLAAD Media AwardsĀ in 1991 for ‘Raising Gay Awareness’ and again in 2019 as an ‘Advocate for Change’.Ā 

Read her entire biographical entry here: (Link)

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Oprah sends a message to the LGBTQ+ community for Pride

ā€œI wish for you the continued freedom to rise to your truest, highest expression of yourself as a human beingā€

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In her Instagram Pride post, Oprah Winfrey posted a Pride Month tribute to her gay brother, Jeffrey Lee who passed away in 1989 from AIDS. (Screenshot/Instagram)

MONTECITO, Calif. – Entertainment mogul and longtime LGBTQ+ ally Oprah Winfrey posted an affirming Pride Month message Tuesday to her Instagram, honoring her brother Jeffrey Lee, who died 35 years ago from complications of AIDS.

The 2024 GLAAD Vanguard award winner noted:

ā€œIt was 35 years ago that my younger brother, Jeffrey Lee, died from AIDS,ā€ she said in an Instagram video. ā€œHe was 29 years old. The year was 1989, and the world was an extremely cruel place, not just for people suffering from AIDS, but also forĀ LGBTQĀ people in general.ā€

ā€œI often think if heā€™d lived, heā€™d be so amazed at how much the world has changed, that there actually is gay marriage and a Pride Month,ā€ she noted. ā€œHow different his life might have been had he lived in these times. In a world that saw and appreciated him for who he was rather than attempting to shame him for his sexuality.ā€

Winfrey additionally added that everyone should have the right to ā€œlove who they want to love and be the person they most want to be.ā€

ā€œI wish for you the continued freedom to rise to the truest, highest expression of yourself as a human being,ā€ she said.

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Adele shuts down ‘Pride Sucks’ yell at Las Vegas show

Sitting down on the piano bench bantering with the audience which is routine, the singer eviscerated the unseen audience member

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Adele reacts to 'Pride Sucks' yell from audience. (Screenshot/X (formerly Twitter)

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – British pop megastar and longtime LGBTQ+ ally Adele, reacted to a member of the audience who repeatedly yelled ‘Pride Sucks’ in between songs during her show Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Adele, who is continuing her iconic residency, Weekends with Adele, at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, has been a strong LGBTQ+ supporter. Last year, she celebrated Pride Month during her Las Vegas residency wearing a black dress with a rainbow flag train and Pride-themed confetti. 

Sitting down on the piano bench next to her pianist bantering with the audience which is routine, the singer eviscerated the unseen audience member:

ā€œDid you come to my fucking show to say pride sucks? Are you fucking stupid?ā€ Adele angrily said reacting. ā€œDonā€™t be so fucking ridiculous. If you have nothing nice to say, shut up, alright?ā€

The incident, which was caught on mobile phone footage and posted to X (formerly Twitter), has since gone viral:

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Actor Richard Dreyfuss mocks trans people in misogynistic rant

Dreyfuss ranted about subjects reported to include trans people, Barbra Streisand, the MeToo movement and women in general

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Dreyfuss walked onto the stage wearing a blue floral pattern house dress, pausing to turn away from the audience and shake his hips suggestively, actions that were caught on multiple mobile phone video footage posted online. (Screenshot/YouTube)

BEVERLY, Mass. – Patrons at The Cabot theater in the suburban Boston township of Beverly were all set to celebrate the 49th anniversary viewing of the classic 1975 Steven Spielberg horror film ‘Jaws,’ along with a question and answer with one of the film’s stars actor Richard Dreyfuss, when from the minute Dreyfuss appeared on stage, the event derailed.

Dreyfuss walked onto the stage wearing a blue floral pattern house dress, pausing to turn away from the audience and shake his hips suggestively, actions that were caught on multiple mobile phone video footage posted online. Then two stage hands appeared and tore the dress off the actor who then took his seat opposite the event’s moderator.

According to Variety and the Boston Globe’s reporting, Dreyfuss ranted about subjects reported to include trans people, Barbra Streisand, the MeToo movement and women in general. As attendee Diane Wolfe described it to the Boston Globe, ā€œ[Dreyfuss] said that the parents of trans youth, allowing them to transition, was bad parenting and that someday those kids might change their minds.ā€

Facebook/social media advertisement for the ‘Jaws’ screening by The Cabot.

A number of members of the audience took offense and left the venue. On The Cabot Theater’s Facebook page one attendee wrote: ā€œThis was disgusting. How could the Cabot not have vetted his act better. Apparently (I found out too late), he has a reputation for spewing this kind of racist, homophobic, misogynistic bullcrap.ā€

The Cabot has since limited commenting on its page.

The Cabot’s executive director J. Casey Soward on Sunday apologized in a statement that read:

ā€œWe regret that an event that was meant to be a conversation to celebrate an iconic movie instead became a platform for political views. We take full responsibility for the oversight in not anticipating the direction of the conversation and for the discomfort it caused to many patrons,ā€ Soward said. ā€œWe are in active dialogue with our patrons about their experience and are committed to learning from this event how to better enact our mission of entertaining, educating and inspiring our community.ā€

WBSM News Talk Sports Radio 1420AM in New Bedfordā€“Fall River reported that The Cabot also sent an email, that the station had been forwarded, to those who purchased tickets apologizing.

ā€œDear Cabot Patrons,

I am writing to address an important matter concerning last nightā€™s event with Richard Dreyfuss at The Cabot.

We deeply regret that Mr. Dreyfussā€™s comments during the event were not in line with the values of inclusivity and respect that we uphold at The Cabot. We understand that his remarks were distressing and offensive to many of our community members, and for that, we sincerely apologize.

At The Cabot, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of our community. The views expressed by Mr. Dreyfuss do not reflect our beliefs, and we do not endorse them in any way.

We take full responsibility for the oversight in not anticipating the direction of the conversation and for any discomfort it caused.

We are taking immediate steps to ensure that such an incident does not happen again. This includes more rigorous vetting of our event participants and more proactive communication strategies to keep our audience informed.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support of The Cabot.

We value your feedback and are dedicated to learning from this experience to better serve our community.ā€

The actor has a lengthy record of anti-trans remarks and bigotry. He has directed transphobic rants about trans youth affirming their gender and has taken aim at the Academy of Motion Pictures & Sciences calling out the Academy’s diversity efforts in a 2023 PBSā€™Ā Firing Line broadcast saying that the Academy’s focus on diversity ā€œmakes me vomit.ā€

ā€œWeā€™re so fragile that we canā€™t have our feelings hurt,ā€ he also said. ā€œWe donā€™t know how to stand up and bop the bully in the face.ā€

Deadline reported that Dreyfuss apparently made similar comments at a Friday night Jaws screening at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. ā€œI live in Mass, but the Cabot showing was all booked so I saw him in NH on May 24,ā€ a Facebook commenter wrote. ā€œHe made anti-gay remarks that night too.ā€

The actor has not responded to requests by multiple media outlets for comment.

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