Polari Prize Canceled for 2025 Amid Boyne Controversy
Burbank Mayor Faces Backlash Over Playful
Video, Cites Critics Anti-LGBTQ+ Bias
Organizers Halt
LGBTQ+ Literary Awards After Backlash
Mayor Konstantine Anthony Defends Actions Amid Controversy Over Video
By Dolores Quintana
The Polari Prize, one of the U.K.’s leading LGBTQ+ literary honors, will not be awarded this year following a controversy surrounding the longlisting of author John Boyne, author of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’, organizers announced Monday. This is an update as well as a change in direction by the organization after their previous statement.
of debate and criticism over Boyne’s inclusion, which prompted multiple authors and judges to withdraw in protest.
all in good fun. He went on to reveal that a secretly recorded video was made during the event and subsequently shared with a prominent hate group.
“Polari is not and has never been a trans exclusionary organization,” organizers said. “We condemn all forms of transphobia. What was meant to be a celebration of exceptional LGBTQ+ literature has instead been overshadowed by hurt and anger.”
In a post on his Instagram account, Anthony stated, “For several days, extremist right-wing organizations, including Fox News, have spread misleading information to fuel fear, discrimination, and hate. I will always be a proud supporter of the LGBTQ+ community and drag performers.”
buys twice as many @JohnBoyneBooks, a) because he’s brilliant, and b) to piss off the Gender Taliban.”
reposted the video and garnered over 8 million views.
Moving forward, Polari said it plans to strengthen trans and non-binary representation on all panels, review its governance structure, and open discussions about the balance between freedom of expression and creating inclusive spaces.
In response to the video, the Libs of TikTok account claimed that children were present at the event. Mayor Anthony disputed this assertion, stating that “actually, there weren’t any children at this private 21+ event. But of course, lying is totally on brand for you.”
Burbank Mayor Konstantine Anthony is facing criticism from conservatives following the circulation of a video showing him being spanked by a drag queen during an event on the weekend of September 10. Anthony has responded that some of his critics are motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias and that the incident was harmless.
In a statement, the prize committee said it would pause the 2025 awards to conduct a governance review and expand representation of transgender and gender non-conforming voices on its judging panels. The decision follows two weeks
In the video, posted by the Wisenuts podcast, Mayor Anthony is seen being spanked by a drag artist, backed by the Village People’s “Macho Man.” Anthony described the events as “shenanigans” and emphasized that it was
The statement noted that the organization has long included trans, gender nonconforming and non-binary writers among its honorees, but acknowledged that the nomination of Boyne, who has described himself as a “TERF” and defended J.K. Rowling’s views on gender identity, has left many in the community feeling excluded.
For her part, Rowling reacted with profanity to the initial news of the controversy, “Oh, f*ck off. I hope everyone
He added, “On a busy Saturday filled with various independent gatherings, I attended the Santa Clarita Valley Democrats’ private fundraiser for their organization. Notably, there were no officially endorsed candidates or state and federal political figures present. The event was open to young adults ages 15 and above. However, there were no attendees below 18. Additionally, no children were present.”
While not specifying the particular hate group in question, it is possible that Anthony was referring to the Twitter account, now known as X, called “Libs of TikTok,” which
“We extend our heartfelt apologies to everyone affected this year, for the disappointment and despair this has caused,” the committee said. “We are a tiny operation that has run on goodwill and small pots of funding and sponsorship for 15 years and will endeavour to find a way forwards in good faith.”
While the account correctly pointed out that individuals aged 15 and older were permitted to attend, the event’s organizer, the Santa Clarita Valley Democrats, released a statement clarifying that no individuals under the age of 18 were in attendance.
Mayor Anthony reiterated this point during a City Council meeting and expressed his concern that the video’s circulation had led to city officials receiving “some of the most vile hate speech that I have ever seen.”
The 2025 prize cycle is now canceled, with the awards expected to return next year.
Anthony encouraged those with concerns about his actions to communicate with him directly via email at kanthony@burbankca. gov. He stated, “If you want to talk to me about what happened over the weekend, send me an email. Send me an email. I will talk to
Bomb Threat Temporarily Halts
you about it. There is no reason to involve all of the other people who were not at a public event, not at a government-sponsored event. It
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Santa Clarita Valley Democrats voiced their support for Mayor Anthony and strongly denounced the sensationalized and inaccurate portrayal of their event for political purposes that promoted fear, homophobia, transphobia, and bigotry. The Democrats reaffirmed their commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and drag performers, refusing to engage with what they referred to as “fake outrage.”
Buffalo Wild Wings Facing Discrimination Complaint After Teen Forced to ‘Prove’ Gender in Bathroom
allowed to exit, the filing states.
Minnesota Teen Says Buffalo Wild Wings Worker Blocked Her in Restroom
World Premiere of Documentary Was Screened After 20-Minute
Delay
By Dolores Quintana
The premiere of “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero” at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) faced a momentary setback on Saturday night due to a bomb threat.
A Minnesota civil rights group has filed a discrimination complaint against Buffalo Wild Wings after an 18-year-old biracial high school student said she was harassed by an employee in the women’s restroom. Gender Justice submitted the charge this week to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights on behalf of Gerika Mudra, who is multiracial. According to the complaint, Mudra was dining at the Owatonna Buffalo Wild Wings when a server followed her into the women’s restroom, pounded on her stall door, and accused her of being in the wrong bathroom.
The server allegedly blocked Mudra from leaving until she unzipped her hoodie to prove she was female. Only then was she
Judy Lung, TIFF’s Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications, confirmed to CTV News Toronto via a written statement that the festival was alerted to an investigation “in the vicinity of the red carpet” at Roy
Jane Baldwin, senior staff attorney at Gender Justice, said in a press release, “What happened to Gerika Mudra was not just wrong, it was unlawful. “Minnesota law protects people from exactly this kind of discrimination in public spaces. No one should be harassed, humiliated, or forced to prove themselves just to use the bathroom.”
and women—anyone who doesn’t match narrow ideas of how women should look or behave. When people are harassed just for existing, none of us are truly safe.”
X: Long Live Montero” Premiere
Thomson Hall, where the documentary was set to be screened.
Lung stated, “Our standard security measures remained in place during this time, and the screening commenced with a slight delay. To our knowledge, this was a general threat and not directed at the film or the artist.”
Mudra, who is not transgender, said the incident left her shaken and humiliated. Advocates argue her treatment reflects broader patterns of bias and harassment against people who do not conform to traditional expectations of femininity, patterns often disproportionately experienced by LGBTQ+ people and Black women.
Megan Peterson, executive director at Gender Justice, stated, “Gerika’s story sits at the intersection of anti-LGBTQ+ panic, racism, and rigid gender norms and stereotypes. A growing culture of suspicion and control is targeting trans, gender-nonconforming, and Black girls
Nearly one-third of LGBTQ+ people report being harassed in bathrooms, according to national surveys, while almost 60% of transgender people avoid public restrooms altogether due to fear. The complaint also notes that Black girls and women are frequently subjected to heightened scrutiny and disciplinary actions, both in schools and public spaces, based on how they look or present themselves.
A spokesperson for the Toronto police informed CTV News Toronto that the threat had been conveyed to the festival’s private security by a passerby. “Out of an abundance of caution, the Toronto police and the private
Shauna Otterness, Mudra’s stepmom, said, “We know Gerika was targeted because of how she looks. She didn’t do anything wrong. She just didn’t fit what that server thought a girl should look like.
I was shocked and heartbroken by how many people shared similar stories after I posted about it online. This shouldn’t be normal. We can do better, and we have to.”
The Minnesota Department of Human Rights will review the charge to determine
security swept the scene and cleared it within
Toronto police also clarified that the threat had a general nature and did not specifically
steps. Buffalo Wild Wings has not yet publicly responded to the filing.
City of West Hollywood Honored Will & Harper Co-Star Harper Steele for Transgender Advocacy
Heartfelt Netflix Documentary Follows
Steele
and Will Ferrell on a Cross-Country Trip
Harper Steele, co-star of the Emmynominated Netflix documentary Will & Harper, will be honored Tuesday night by the city of West Hollywood for her
advocacy and work to uplift the transgender community.
The documentary, directed by Josh Greenbaum, follows Steele and longtime friend Will Ferrell on a cross-country road trip after Steele shared her gender transition with him. The two met in 1995 at Saturday Night Live, when Steele joined the writing staff the same week Ferrell was hired as a cast member. Steele went on to become the show’s head writer, while Ferrell emerged as one of its breakout stars.
Will & Harper earned five Emmy nominations this year, tying for the most
of any nonfiction program, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special, directing, cinematography, and picture editing. Actress Kristin Wiig, a friend of Steele and Ferrell, also received a nomination for co-writing and performing the film’s signature song, “Will and Harper Go West,” alongside Greenbaum and Sean Douglas.
In the film, Ferrell proposes a road trip so the two can reconnect, reminisce, and visit the offbeat spots Steele enjoyed before her transition, from dive bars to roadside attractions. The journey mixes humor with
emotional reflection, often over Steele’s favored snacks of Pringles and Natural Light beer.
West Hollywood officials said Tuesday’s proclamation will also recognize the documentary’s role in humanizing trans identity at a time when it remains a contentious political issue.
Steele, who grew up in Iowa City and earned an English degree from the University of Iowa, transitioned years after leaving SNL, telling friends in 2022. She and Ferrell began filming their trip soon after.
Drag Bingo Returns to The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood With “The Bingo Babe” Roxy Wood
will lead multiple rounds, blending humor, quick wit, and showmanship as players compete for prizes.
Located on the hotel’s lobby level, About Last Knife blends steakhouse favorites and gastropub classics with global influences from Executive Chef Olivier Rouselle’s culinary travels. Its retro-glam design nods to Hollywood’s storied past while
maintaining a warm, contemporary atmosphere.
Reservations are available through OpenTable, and attendees are invited to stay for the restaurant’s late-night happy hour from 9:00 p.m. until closing. Valet parking will be available for $10.00 for bingo guests. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with the first game beginning at 7:00 p.m.
NYPD Investigates Fitness Trainer Jacob Zieben’s Death; Court Files Outline Pattern of Alleged Abuse
Charging Documents
Detail Nine Alleged Incidents Since 2022
Former friends and acquaintances of Jacob Zieben say they are still reeling from news of his death in his Harlem apartment and from learning the extent of the alleged abuse he endured in the years before.
Zieben, 34, was found dead on July 31 after his husband, model Donald Hood, called police for help, according to charging documents as reported by NBC News. Officers discovered Zieben slumped over a toilet with a head injury and multiple stab wounds to the back of his leg, one deep enough to damage muscle. The New York City Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet released an official cause of death, but authorities are investigating the case as a homicide. No one has yet been charged pending the results of the autopsy.
Hood, 40, who has more than 67,000 Instagram followers, was arrested the same day on charges including burglary and is being held without bail at Rikers Island. Court records show a history of domestic
violence allegations against Hood dating back to 2022, including nine domestic incident reports and two separate court orders of protection directing him to stay away from Zieben. His attorney has declined to comment.
Friends say they watched Hood isolate Zieben over the years, cutting him off from the social network he built after moving to New York in 2013. Jacob Paulson, who met Zieben shortly after that move, said the pair were inseparable for two years until Zieben began dating Hood.
Charging documents outline a string of nine alleged assaults in the months before Zieben’s death. In February, prosecutors arrested Hood and charged him with strangulation, nearly causing him to lose consciousness, among other charges. The incident left Zieben with swelling and redness on his neck. That case is still pending.
In April, a judge issued another protective order, but prosecutors allege Hood violated it in June by brandishing a knife at Zieben and threatening to attack him. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Zieben, a Texas A&M graduate
who worked as a personal trainer, was remembered by friends as selfless and community-minded. Drag performer Marti G. Cummings, who uses they/them
FBI Hate Crimes Report Shows Nearly 9% Rise in Anti-LGBTQ Hate Crimes in 2024
Advocates Cite Escalating Anti-Trans Rhetoric and Legislation as Cause
Hate crimes targeting LGBTQ Americans rose sharply in 2024, with federal data showing a nearly 9% year-over-year increase, the FBI said in its latest annual report.
The agency recorded 2,805 single-bias anti-LGBTQ incidents nationwide last year, 2,278 based on sexual orientation and 527 based on gender identity. Attacks tied to sexual orientation increased by 8% from 2023, while those motivated by gender identity surged by 12%.
According to the FBI, crimes targeting sexual orientation accounted for 17.2% of all reported hate crimes in 2024, and those based on gender identity made up 4%. Race and ethnicity-based hate crimes remained the largest category at 51.8% of all cases, followed by religion, with sexual orientation the third most common motivation.
The total number of hate crimes nationwide reached the second-highest level since Congress mandated tracking in 1990. Black Americans and Jewish Americans were most frequently targeted, followed by LGBTQ people.
Advocacy groups say the numbers reflect what many LGBTQ individuals already experience. GLAAD’s ALERT Desk documented 932 anti-LGBTQ incidents in 2024, or an average of 2.5 per day, with
more than half aimed at transgender and gender-nonconforming people. The group links the rise to a wave of anti-trans rhetoric and legislation at both the federal and state levels.
The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program only includes incidents reported to law enforcement and meeting strict criteria for classification as a hate crime. That means actions such as online harassment, doxxing, or propaganda flyers may not be reflected in the totals. Civil rights groups also note that LGBTQ people often hesitate to report hate crimes due to fears of retaliation, forced outing, or negative encounters with police.
“The FBI’s 2024 hate crime data has revealed a national emergency hiding in plain sight. Everyone deserves to be safe in this country and have the chance to thrive. But anti-equality politicians continue to spread lies about LGBTQ+ people, trying to push us out of more and more corners of society,” said Kelley Robinson, Human Rights Campaign President. “Those smears come with a cost.
Sarah Moore, of GLAAD, said, “The rise in anti-LGBTQ hate crimes is appalling and must lead to immediate action. We demand the right to live and love safely and freely. Not just for the sake of LGBTQ Americans, but so that all marginalized communities can prosper, from Black and Brown Americans, to Muslim, Jewish, and Sikh people of faith, to the disabled community and immigrants, and to the many others targeted by extremists in the US.”
Welcome to Urban Jungle
Immerse yourself in a sanctuary where nature’s tranquility meets the vibrancy of city life. Urban Jungle is more than a plant store it’s a communitycentered oasis bringing a lush slice of paradise to your urban lifestyle. Here, we passionately believe in the power of plants to transform spaces and elevate well-being.
Supreme Court Will Decide This Fall Whether to Hear Kim Davis Bid to Overturn Marriage Equality
Former Kentucky Clerk Asks the Justices to Scrap Nationwide Marriage Rights
It’s been ten years, and former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis has formally asked the Supreme Court to dismantle federal protections for same-sex marriages and, as predicted, overturn the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges ruling.
Davis, jailed for six days in 2015 after refusing to issue marriage licenses to David Ermold and David Moore and other couples, is appealing a jury’s order that she pay $100,000 in emotional damages plus $260,000 in attorneys’ fees. She later lost her bid for reelection as Rowan County Clerk.
In a petition filed last month, she claims the First Amendment’s free exercise of religion protects her from personal liability and argues the court’s 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges was “egregiously wrong.”
Her case, widely considered a long shot, is seen as one of the few with legal standing to challenge the precedent. It comes as conservative lawmakers and advocacy groups push to outlaw gay marriage in much the same way that they took down Roe v. Wade.
According to Lambda Legal, nine states this year have introduced bills or
passed resolutions aimed at restricting new marriage licenses for LGBTQ couples or urging the Supreme Court to reverse Obergefell.
On Thursday, Davis’ attorney, Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver, argued before the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, framing the appeal as a potential pathway to the Supreme Court. Ermold and Moore’s attorney, William Powell, said he’s "confident the Supreme Court will likewise agree that Davis's arguments do not merit further attention."
The Supreme Court previously denied her appeal in 2020.
Staver told the Kentucky Lantern that his goal is to give the justices an opportunity to reconsider Obergefell on the same legal reasoning the court used in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade. That decision ended the federal right to abortion and returned regulation of the procedure to individual states. He states that he believes it is a matter of when, not if, Obergefell will be reversed.
The 6th Circuit Court dismissed her previous motion, saying in their ruling, "Although Davis's assertions are novel, they fail under basic constitutional principles. Under § 1983, Davis is being held liable for state action, which the First Amendment does not protect—so the Free Exercise Clause cannot shield her from liability."
Public support for marriage equality remains high at 70%, according to Gallup, though Republican support has dropped from 55% in 2021 to 41% in 2025. The share of Americans in favor
has plateaued since 2020 after climbing from 60% in 2015.
The Supreme Court is expected to decide this fall whether to take up Davis’ case, if four of the justices agree to hear her petition. If granted, arguments would likely be scheduled for spring 2026, with a ruling by June of that year. The justices could also decline to hear
the case, leaving lower court decisions against Davis in place.
Even if Obergefell were overturned, existing marriages would remain valid under the 2022 Respect for Marriage Act, which requires all states and the federal government to recognize samesex and interracial marriages performed anywhere in the country.
