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James Corden's 'Law & Order' Tonys Bit Was Hilariously On Point

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James Corden showed everyone watching the 70th Annual Tony Awards just how crucial "Law & Order" is to the careers of Broadway stars -- because it can take years for an actor to get his or her big, New-York-rent-paying break.


Considering the original criminal justice drama debuted in 1990 and finally took a bow in 2010, it's no surprise that many of the city's working actors passed through its venerable courtrooms, and those of spinoffs like "Criminal Intent" and "Special Victims Unit." Corden helpfully reminded viewers how many of those in attendance Sunday night showed up in the venerable series.


Claire Danes, a presenter, honed her ugly-cry skills in a 1992 episode of the show, while "Hamilton" co-stars Daveed Diggs and Leslie Odom Jr. shared the screen as a lawyer and a reverend, respectively, for a 2015 "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" episode. 








But the real star of the segment -- and, apparently, "Law & Order" -- was Danny Burstein. The actor is a six-time Tony nominee, most recently for his work on "Fiddler on the Roof." But, let's be real: He's better known for playing a judge, an ADA, and several other characters for the Dick-Wolf-created series. 















Clearly, Twitter loved it, too. 

















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Donald Trump And Hillary Clinton Get The Tonys Treatment

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It took until nearly the end of the 70th Annual Tony Awards for the dystopian reality that is the 2016 election to get a shoutout, but host James Corden wasn't about to let the presumptive Republican and Democratic nominees off scot-free. 


Andrew Rannells, who originated the role of Elder Price in "The Book of Mormon," tweaked his character slightly for "The Book of Moron," starring none other than Donald Trump.


Instead of ringing doorbells to spread the word of Joseph Smith, musical Trump wanted to spread his message about -- you guessed it -- building a wall through your house. He also managed to convey how we feel about this election cycle with a single grimace. 





None other than three-time Tony nominee Glenn Close took on the role of our potential first-ever female president, starring in "A Clinton Line." 


"I really need this job," Close-as-Hillary-Clinton sang. "Oh, god, I need this job." 





Earlier in the night, Clinton received a shoutout from Jake Gyllenhaal while introducing the nominees for Best Featured Actress in a musical. "As Hillary Clinton showed us this week, women can do anything," he said. 


If that includes making this whole choosing-a-president process feel any shorter, we're down. 


Check it out below. 





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Tonys Makes History When Actors Of Color Sweep Musical Categories

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Tonight, the 70th Annual Tony Awards made history when all four musical acting awards went to people of color. The winners include Leslie Odom Jr. for "Hamilton," Cynthia Erivo for "The Color Purple," Daveed Diggs for "Hamilton," and Renée Elise Goldsberry for "Hamilton."


Tonys host James Corden opened the night by describing the award show as "the Oscars, but with diversity." Even a look at the nomination list teased a night to remember -- the selected shows feature actors of color in lead roles and highlight the experiences of women and minorities in the U.S. and beyond, a stark contrast to #OscarsSoWhite.


The history-making winners of the musical acting categories help prove that, as we previously wrote, this year was a different kind of year for the Great White Way.






Mic reported that the Tonys were close to making history in 1982, when the stars of "Dreamgirls" won the Lead Actor, Lead Actress and Featured Actor categories. In 1985, actors of color technically swept the musical categories; however, lead actor and actress in a musical categories weren't given out that year.


Beyond these four acting categories, "The Color Purple" won the award for Best Revival of a Musical and "Hamilton" won for Best Musical. ("Hamilton" won 11 awards total. Lin-Manuel Miranda himself took home trophies for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score.) Overall, 14 individual nominees were actors of color, including Miranda, Sophie Okonedo and Lupita Nyong'o, the latter of whom starred in "Eclipsed," the first play to be written and performed by a cast of all black women.






This year was a landmark for the Broadway community, but only time will tell if the 2017 season will continue to make inclusivity a priority. Here's to more musicals like "Hamilton," and more hashtags like #TonysSoDiverse. 




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Every. Single. Time. 'Hamilton' Won Or Performed At The Tonys

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Sunday night marked an evening of #Tonys4Ham


The musical may not have broken the record for the most Tony Awards for a single production, but "Hamilton" did earn an impressive 11 wins, including three of the four potential acting categories and the coveted Best Musical honor.


Lin-Manuel Miranda himself walked away with statues for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score, while Daveed Diggs, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Leslie Odom Jr., Thomas Kail, Alex Lacamoire, Andy Blankenbuehler, Howell Binkley and Paul Tazewell took home trophies in their respective categories.


And then there were the performances.


"Hamilton" cast members opened the show by propping up host James Corden in song. They introduced a parallel set of #Ham4Ham-esque videos recorded outside the Beacon Theatre, featuring actors from the nominated musicals performing favorites of Broadway past. They performed a medley of hits from their own production near the end of the night. And finally, they closed out the entire ceremony with a scene led by the women of "Hamilton" -- Goldsberry, Phillipa Soo and Jasmine Cephas Jones.


It was a night of celebration, a stark contrast to the horrific act of violence that occurred earlier in the day in Orlando, Florida. As Miranda expressed in the sonnet he read when he accepted his Best Original Score award, "Senseless acts of tragedy remind us that nothing here is promised, not one day. This show is proof that history remembers. We live through times when hate and fear seem stronger. We rise and fall and light from dying embers, remembrances that hope and love last longer."


In honor of the "Hamilton" cast and crew's momentous night, here are all the moments of "Ham"-related wonder you might have missed:


1. When "Hamilton" opened the show like no other production could.





2. When the "Hamilton" cast welcomed a group of this year’s Tony nominees to sing "Tomorrow" from "Annie," and kick off a night of #Ham4Ham-like performances outside the Beacon Theatre. 





3. When Renée Elise Goldsberry tearfully accepted her Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.





4. When Daveed Diggs accepted his Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his two roles as the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson.





5. When Lin-Manuel Miranda accepted his Tony for Best Original Score and recited a sonnet in honor of the victims of the shooting in Orlando.





6. When Thomas Kail accepted his Tony for Best Director of a Musical and lovingly locked eyes with Miranda.





7. When Alex Lacamoire accepted his Tony for Best Orchestration and the "Hamilton" domination only continued.



8. When Miranda accepted his Tony for Best Book of a Musical.





9. When James Corden pointed out the hilarious amount of times Broadway stars have appeared on "Law & Order" -- including that time Daveed Diggs and Leslie Odom Jr. BOTH appeared in the same episode.





10. When Miranda got up and danced during the performance of "On Your Feet."





11. When "Carpool Karaoke" -- featuring Miranda, Audra McDonald, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Jane Krakowski -- aired again during the Tonys.





12. When Andy Blankenbuehler accepted his Tony for Best Choreography.



13. When President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama introduced "Hamilton," remarking on that time seven years ago when Miranda wowed them with a first listen of his historic musical.





14. When "Hamilton" performed without prop guns, in solidarity with the Orlando shooting victims.



15. Still thinking about that performance.





16. When Leslie Odom Jr. accepted his Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Musical, beating out Miranda and sincerely thanking him along the way.





17. When "Hamilton" finally accepted its Tony for Best Musical.





18. And the cast closed the show like this:





And don't forget: Costume designer Paul Tazewell and lighting designer Howell Binkley took home their awards before the Tonys broadcast started.


Congratulations, to everyone on the cast and crew. Long live "Hamilton."




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World Landmarks Light Up In Glowing Tribute To Orlando Victims

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There were more rainbows in the sky than usual Sunday night. 


Dozens of world landmarks lit up in dazzling color to express solidarity and honor victims of the horrific mass shooting in an LGBT nightclub in Orlando on Saturday.


From the World Trade Center in New York to Brisbane's Story Bridge to a local courthouse in Nashville, iconic structures sent their love to a city far, far away.


Their tributes are a powerful reminder that no matter where you travel or where you live, we all share a common story. Take a look:


THE EIFFEL TOWER, PARIS




TEL AVIV CITY HALL, TEL AVIV




SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE, SYDNEY



MICHAEL FOWLER CENTRE, WELLINGTON



WORLD TRADE CENTER AND CITY SKYLINE, NEW YORK CITY











ORLANDO EYE, ORLANDO







METRO COURTHOUSE AND GATEWAY BRIDGE, NASHVILLE










STORY BRIDGE, BRISBANE






ZAKIM BRIDGE AND TD GARDEN, BOSTON














LOWRY AVENUE BRIDGE, MINNEAPOLIS






HENLEY STREET BRIDGE, KNOXVILLE










BOND BRIDGE, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI










DALLAS SKYLINE, DALLAS










BIG FOUR BRIDGE, LOUISVILLE






SOUNDSCAPE PARK, MIAMI BEACH





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Jake Gyllenhaal And Sean Hayes Take Us To 'A Whole New World' For Tony Awards Commercial Karaoke

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The Tony Awards made it clear that it's the only award show worth watching, and the fun didn't stop during the commercial breaks on Sunday night. 


While home viewers were likely watching the trailer to "Maggie's Plan," Jake Gyllenhaal and Sean Hayes belted out "A Whole New World" from Disney's "Aladdin" onstage at the event.





"During commercial breaks at The Tony’s tonight, the amazingly brilliant James Corden started up a Broadway-themed 'commercial karaoke,'" Hayes captioned the video posted on his Facebook page. "He asked for volunteers. Jake Gyllenhaal & I were happy to oblige with our rendition of ‘A Whole New World’ from ALADDIN. ‪#‎TheTonyAwards‬."


Makes you wonder what else you missed during the breaks, right?


And if you are also wondering, "Did I know that Jake Gyllenhaal could sing?" The answer is YES! He made his musical theater debut as Seymour in “Little Shop of Horrors” at New York City Center’s Encores! Off-Center in July 2015. 




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Zayn Malik Reminds Us That Anxiety Can Affect Anyone

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File this under brave honesty.


Zayn Malik was slated to perform a set at the Capital Summertime Ball in the U.K. on Saturday but canceled his show due to issues with anxiety. He opened up about the condition in a raw Instagram and Twitter post, apologizing to his followers for any disappointment.



A photo posted by Zayn Malik (@zayn) on




"Unfortunately, my anxiety that has haunted me throughout the last few months around live performances has gotten the better of me," he wrote in the statement. "With the magnitude of the event, I have suffered the worst anxiety of my career."


Malik's girlfriend, model Gigi Hadid, posted a statement of support for him on Twitter on Sunday after he canceled the show. 






"I’ve seen the battles you go through and the way you fight to get to a place that allows you to get up there for your fans," she wrote. "Your bravery in those times makes me proud, but your honesty last night proved what you’re all about, being real. Human recognizes human. You made the best of the situation and have given your fans an opportunity to understand you better as a performer."


Approximately one in four people globally will experience a mental health issue at some point in their life. Malik's post is a poignant example that psychological disorders can affect anyone, regardless of celebrity, age or gender. It's a necessary reminder given that there's a very real stigma around mental illness, which may prevent people from seeking help. That's why it's so crucial for celebrities to use their public status for awareness.


"I hope those who suffer anxiety will understand, and I hope those who don't can empathize with my situation," Malik wrote.


We certainly do.

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J.K. Rowling Sends Emotional Tweet About Orlando Shooting Victim

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J.K. Rowling sent a heartfelt tweet early Monday morning regarding a victim of the Orlando mass shooting


The post was about Luis Vielma, 22, who happened to be an employee at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Orlando, Florida, Universal Studios theme park. Vielma was one of 50 people who tragically lost their lives at Pulse nightclub on June 12.






Rowling, known for writing the Harry Potter book series, is an avid Twitter user. After expressing her own grief on the platform, she took the time to respond and empathize with others who had also known Vielma. 










Co-workers of Vielma, past and present, as well as those who had met him, also rallied to respond to Rowling's show of appreciation. 















One of his co-workers tweeted at Rowling that another colleague of theirs who worked on the ride, Tony, is still in critical condition following the horrific shooting.








Rowling responded a mere 13 minutes later with her condolences.








Vielma worked on The Forbidden Journey ride in the theme park. The ride was closed on Sunday out of respect to Vielma and his family, as reported by Newsweek.


“We are deeply saddened over the loss of our team member. We are working to support his friends and colleagues here at Universal Orlando. Our thoughts and prayers are with Luis, his family, and all the victims of this tragedy," said a spokesperson for the theme park.


Here's to you, Luis, Tony, and all the other victims.







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How To Help Orlando Shooting Victims And Their Families

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A host of organizations have stepped up to help following the mass shooting on Sunday morning, in which a gunman killed 49 people and injured 53 others at an influential gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Police fatally shot the suspect.


Local and national organizations have mobilized to support the victims and their families following the tragedy, which President Obama called “an act of terror and an act of hate.”


“We will not give in to fear or turn against each other,” President Obama said, as he publicly addressed the nation Sunday. “Instead, we will stand united as Americans.”


As officials piece together the facts and the LGBTQ community -- along with the entire nation -- mourns those lost, here’s how you can help:


Support Victims And Their Families



Local LGBT civil rights organization Equality Florida has set up a GoFundMe page to support the Pulse nightclub shooting victims and their families. More than $1.7 million has already been donated as of Monday afternoon. Donate here.


LGBTQ advocacy nonprofit Planting Peace has launched a CrowdRise campaign to help cover the victims' medical costs, as well as funeral costs. Donate here.


CrowdRise has also launched a larger relief fund supporting a number of charitable causes, both those helping the victims of the Orlando shooting, as well as those working long-term to address issues of inequality and gun safety. Donate here.


A variety of local Central Florida LGBT organizations have partnered to run an emergency hotline and grief counselors at the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida. They have also set up a GoFundMe page, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Orlando shooting victims and their families. Donate here


Support LGBTQ Advocacy Efforts Worldwide



Because this tragic shooting shows yet again that the fight against homophobia is far from over, you can support the Human Rights Campaign to help with its ongoing advocacy efforts for LGBTQ equal rights worldwide. 
Offer your support here


 


Help End The Ban On Sexually Active Gay Men Donating Blood



After the shooting, many local gay and bisexual men wanted to give blood to help the victims -- but they couldn't. According to a decades-old Food and Drug Administration policy, any man who has had sex with another man in the past year is legally banned from giving blood. After the attack on Sunday, a WhiteHouse.gov petition was started calling for an end to the FDA ban. 
Sign the petition here


 


If You're Local, Give Blood 



After the shooting, hundreds lined up to give blood at a local center near the hospital where the victims were taken. 


Florida blood center OneBlood continues to ask for blood donations in the coming days -- specifically from O-negative, O-positive and AB donors. The center is currently open, and you can find your local blood center or donation bus here.


"Thousands of people packed our donor centers and blood drives eager to donate," OneBlood wrote on its site Sunday. "Your immediate response to help patients in need was unprecedented and remarkable. We also want to thank all the people who showed up at our locations with food and water for donors."


To make an appointment to give blood, click here, or call 1.888.9-DONATE. 


 


Work To End Gun Violence



Everytown for Gun Safety advocates for an end to gun violence, and relies on the testimonies of survivors to partake in meaningful campaigns and address public officials to help foster change.


Find out more about Everytown for Gun Safety here.


 


Stand Together To Show That #WeAreOrlando



As people across the country and the world woke up to the tragic news Sunday, they gathered together in community vigils to honor the victims and their families. From Orlando to New York to Rome, people stood together, hugged, sang, lit candles and left flowers in the name of those lost.   


To find a vigil near you, visit weareorlando.org, with a growing list of local events.


 


Reach Out If You Need Support



The LGBT community at large is still reeling from the attack. If you need support, or just someone to talk to, dial any of the national and local hotlines below.


The local GLBT Center of Central Florida has a crisis hotline set up in the aftermath of the attack. Call if you need a shoulder to lean on: 407-227-1446.


The Trevor Project Hotline is always available for LGBTQ youth, and is open to anyone in need of support at this time. You can call them at 866-488-7386.


The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is here to help. Just call: 800-273-8255.


The National GLBT Center has a national hotline, a youth talk-line and an online peer-support chat. For the national hotline, dial 888-843-4564.


 



Locate A Missing Loved One




Facebook has set up a check-in page for those who live in the area, so they can tell loved ones the world over whether they are safe. You can also call the Orlando Mass Shooting Family Hotline at 407-246-4357 if you still haven't located someone who may have been at the Pulse nightclub on Sunday.


If your loved one was near the shooting and is still missing, dial 407-246-4357.


 


Support Nonprofits Helping Victims' Pets



Organizations in Orlando have stepped up to help care for the pets of the shooting victims, or of any community members who will be out of the house supporting family and friends. For instance, the Pet Alliance Of Greater Orlando is offering short-term care, or permanent placement, for any pets that have been affected by the shooting. To arrange for pet care with the Alliance, call 407-418-0906.


To see a full list of local organizations who are providing pet care, click here


 


CrowdRise has listed a number of ways to help. Donate here or through the widget below. 



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There's Now A Magazine Devoted To The Olsen Twins

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A new magazine devoted to the Olsen twins launched this Saturday at the Brooklyn City Reliquary, two days before Mary-Kate and Ashley's 30th birthday on June 13. The same people who founded the Olsen twins museum back in April, Viviana Olen and Matt Harkins, are behind the magazine.


Few stories have achieved the same viral distribution this year as the existence of “The Olsen Twins Hiding From the Paparazzi” museum. The magazine release may very well have a parallel success.


In a joint email, the comedians/curators said that they made sure to celebrate the Olsens' birthday at their event.


"In lieu of a cake we presented a plate full of an envelope of what we imagine to be their favorite thoughts, such as, 'Textures' and 'Vera Farmiga,'" the duo wrote in the email. "We also opted out of the traditional birthday song and instead had a moment of silence where we listened to sounds of buoys in the ocean. It was calming."


Olen and Harkins named the magazine "THNK 1994 Museum Magazine" to tie it to another one of their projects: turning their apartment into a museum of art focused around Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan. They modeled the design of the magazine after a "Skymall theme" and said it's intended "for all the chic jet-setters out there."


Most of their magazine is devoted to write-ups about artist Laura Collins' paintings of the Olsen twins from the original museum exhibit. A sample description from the magazine for a piece titled "An Olsen Twin Hiding Behind Her Hand In A Car" reads, "Here we see an Olsen coming to one of two realizations: that she will have to close a car door herself (for some reason) or that her outfit only works sitting down."


Money from Olen and Harkins' original Kickstarter for the Olsen twins museum funded the new magazine. That Kickstarter campaign raised $9,989, but the Olsen twins were not donors.


You can Venmo "MattandViviana" one dollar for a PDF of the Olsen twins magazine. It is unclear if there will ever be a second edition.


Since news of the museum went viral, Collins has sold almost all of her Olsen twins paintings, but you can purchase what remains on her site.


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Art World Responds To The Devastating Orlando Nightclub Shooting

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Read the original post on artnet News here.


The deadliest mass shooting to take place on American soil has left 50 people dead, including gunman Omar Mateen, at Pulse, a gay night club in Orlando. The world has reacted to the senseless tragedy with shock and grief, holding vigils and offering artistic tributes to the victims, many of whom were young Latinos.


Landmarks around the world, from One World Trade in New York and Los Angeles City Hall to the Story Bridge in Brisbane, Australia, and City Hall in Tel Aviv have been lit up in rainbow colors to commemorate victims of the shooting, while New York's Empire State Building went dark "in sympathy for the victims of last night's attack," as announced on Twitter. The Eiffel Tower has announced plans to follow suit on June 13.




In Red Hook, Brooklyn, Pioneer Works turned its regular Second Sunday event into a last-minute benefit concert for Orlando, featuring performances from the US's first LGBTQI choir, the Stonewall Chorale, which began in 1977 and now has 150 member choruses. They were followed by Alsarah and the Nubatones, who joined "out of a collective love for Nubian music and a genuine belief that Soul transcends all cultural and linguistic barriers," as they state on Second Sundays' Facebook page.



#thestonewallcorale America's First LGBTQI Chorus #orlando

A photo posted by Pioneer Works (@pioneerworks) on




At New York's Japan Society, where curator Michael Changnon was giving the final tour of "In the Wake: Japanese Photographers Respond to 3/11," which closed June 12, he encouraged visitors to hang a message of peace and hope on Yoko Ono's "Wishing Tree."


On social media, the hashtag #TwoMenKissing has sprung up, in defiance of the homophobia that led to the attack.



#twomenkissing #loveislove #orlando

A photo posted by danielmackinnon (@danielmackinnon) on




Artists have also rallied in support of the victims and their families, with Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik taking to the beach in his native country to create a graphic sculpture with the message "OneWorld, One Message, End Terrorism." In West Hollywood, ChadMichael Morrisette recreated the carnage in a shocking piece titled "No One Is Safe," covering the roof of his home with 50 mannequins.



50 DEAD PEOPLE #GunControl #orlando

A photo posted by ChadMichael C. Morrisette (@ohmannequin) on




Hank Willis Thomas updated his Instagram account with an image of a work in progress titled "Thirteen Thousand, Four Hundred and Twentynine," created for gun violence victims who died in the US in 2015. He appended his message with the hashtag #stopthekilling.




Elsewhere, many have gathered to mourn at candlelight vigils. "In the face of hate and violence, we will love one another," said President Barack Obama, addressing the country from the White House. "We will not give in to fear or turn against each other. Instead, we will stand united as Americans to protect our people and defend our nation, and to take action against those who threaten us."


See more photos of the world's response to the tragedy below.






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Twitter Users Get Real About What It's Like Growing Up With Brown Skin

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Brown skin is so lovely.


It isn't always seen this way by society, however. From birth, some people with brown skin, no matter their race or ethnicity, have to combat negative stereotypes and Eurocentric beauty standards that deem their skin color to be worth less than those with fairer skin.


This is why the hashtag #GrowingUpWithBrownSkin exists. Though the hashtag was first used in 2015, @TheMelaninPlug tweeted it Sunday asking people of color to get real about their experiences dealing with their skin color. Shortly after, it began trending.


The hashtag helps to address the negative aspects of living in a world that looks down on darker skin, it also has given people the opportunity to reaffirm their beauty and take pride in their gorgeous melanin.


Read some of the tweets below.





























































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At Orlando Vigils Nationwide, Mourners Sing 'We Shall Overcome’ In Solidarity

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People across the country came together to stand with victims, following Sunday's shooting at popular Orlando gay nightclub Pulse, in which a gunman killed 49 people and injured 53 others. Police fatally shot the suspect.


During vigils that took place across the U.S., members of the LGBTQ community and allies sang "We Shall Overcome," which was popularized during the Civil Rights Movement. 


“The victims look like my family; they look like me,” Lorenzo Cervantes, prevention director at the Pierce County AIDS Foundation, said at a Tacoma, Washington, vigil which ended in the uplifting anthem. “But something has ignited in me, something that has said to me this violence toward anyone must stop.”


 


Seattle Men's and Women's Choruses






Crowd Outside New York City's Historic Stonewall Inn






Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C.






Community Members in Jacksonville, Florida






Crowd in Tampa, Florida






Locals in Tucson, Arizona






Mourners in Jackson, Mississippi







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Neil Patrick Harris Reveals Newly Shaved Head At The Tony Awards

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Neil Patrick Harris is preparing for his most sinister role yet, which may explain the new look he debuted at Sunday night's Tony Awards


The actor, who is set to play Count Olaf in Netflix's forthcoming show "A Series of Unfortunate Events," debuted a newly shaved head at the award show. The haircut either makes it easier for him to wear his windswept Count Olaf wig, or NPH is just going "cool for the summer" like the rest of us. 





In April, photographers snapped pictures of Harris on set in Vancouver, giving fans a first look at their new Count. Wearing a crazy wig, prosthetic nose and some unusual facial hair, the actor is surely going to terrify audiences and those unfortunate Baudelaire children. 



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Common Wants To Bring ‘Peace’ And ‘Hope’ To Chicago Through New Initiative

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Common wants to help heal and enage the residents in his hometown of Chicago with his latest initiative. 


The Oscar winner partnered with the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation for the second installment of the organization’s Park Exchange event series, which took place in Chicago’s Washington Park on June 11.


The celebration of the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary aims to highlight the diversity of America's park experiences. It consists of three events, which kicked off in May in Austin, Texas, and will conclude in August in New York.


Common, who served as the event’s host and honorary grand marshall, said to The Huffington Post prior to the Saturday event that despite Chicago’s ongoing issues surrounding gun violence that he wants to encourage more residents to visit some of the country’s national monuments.


"As we all know, it’s been a struggle here in Chicago with violence. So first and foremost, I just want them to come out and feel good, feel happy and celebrate," he said to HuffPost.


To help eradicate the city’s rampant gun violence, the 44-year-old credits his involvement with the Park Exchange program and his very own Common Ground Foundation as helpful elements to aid in cleaning up Chicago and inspire the youth to stay off the streets.


"If I can bring some peace and some hope, and some dreams through the music and through this whole celebration of the national parks, that’s what I want people to leave with," he said. 



Despite the city’s long-running history dealing with high homicide rates and problems with gangs -- including some reports claiming that social media helped to fuel recent shootings -- Common says when he was growing up there was more structure to Chicago’s gang culture which helped to offset some of the senseless crimes.


"Each year, Chicago is leading the country in murders and it’s real sad. The difference is, when I was younger we didn’t go straight to shooting, we got into a lot of fist fights -- that was a part of growing up. It wasn’t like, 'Man, I wanna take this person’s life.' It was like, 'Man, we’re just gonna box real quick and keep it moving,'" he said. 


In May, more than 60 people were shot across Chicago during Memorial Day weekend -- surpassing the number of people shot during last year’s holiday weekend.



“It’s important that the community, we take our own destiny in our hands and start figuring out programs and things that we can do.”
Common


The rapper-actor wants to encourage local residents to be proactive in creating more programs that will lead to an increase of job opportunities and better education for the youth.


“It’s important that the community, we take our own destiny in our hands and start figuring out programs and things that we can do,” he said. “Schooling our kids, and supporting within our communities which creates finance, which helps get people off the street. 'Cause, if you have money and a job you’re more likely to be productive.”


In regards to the future of his hometown, Common says: "I’m a hopeful guy and I feel like we're about to get better." 


For more info on National Park Service’s Park Exchange event series click here.

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French Artists Pay Tribute To Orlando Shooting Victims

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Artists around the world are sharing artwork as people mourn the victims of Sunday’s mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.


The shooting — which left 50 people, including the gunman, dead — brought back painful memories of the terrorist attacks on Paris in November, and inspired French artists to create heartfelt illustrations that send strong messages of support to the LGBT community. 



I am very optimistic, like the colors I use. I am full of hope, and I believe that solidarity and commitment to a better world will conquer all.
Jean-Charles de Castelbajac


French artist and fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac composed an illustration titled “Under the Rainbow.” 



Under the Rainbow+

A photo posted by @jcdecastelbajac on




“I wanted something strong. And this angel’s face, which looks like the prow of a ship tracing an arc in the sky, appeared to me,” the artist told HuffPost France. “The red heart below is the tail of the star; a shooting star that has been pierced by an arrow. I didn't realize that when I drew it. I discovered it once the drawing was done. These things are intuitive, they come naturally to me through emotion.”


De Castelbajac also created drawings after the Paris attacks to express his pain and show his support for the city. 


“These are shocking things, touching things that affect us all and are taking us to a world of increasing concern,” he said.


"I am a father and grandfather, so I'm very concerned with the future of our society," he added. "A few days ago, I was in Istanbul for a festival. The day after I arrived, there was an explosion in the city. This threat is so overwhelming because it impacts our most carefree moments."


Despite his fears, the artist said he believes there’s still space for hope.


"I am very optimistic, like the colors I use," he said. "I am full of hope, and I believe that solidarity and commitment to a better world will conquer all." 


Soledad Bravi, who created a cover image for Elle France to pay tribute to those killed in the 2015 shooting at Charlie Hebdo's Paris offices, showed support for the Orlando victims with an illustration of a tearful, rainbow-colored heart. 



Soirée sordide à Orlando. Massacre ignoble. 50 morts 53 blessés. Lots of love from Paris

A photo posted by Soledad Bravi (@soledadbravi) on




The designer Louison, who created both poignant and lighthearted artwork after the Charlie Hebdo attack, posted two illustrations after the Orlando massacre. 






"In Paris, no one is picking up trash anymore..."
"...So I'm going to stop drawing it."






Actress and singer Lou Doillon also posted an image on Sunday night with the caption: "My heart and thoughts for all." 



My heart and thoughts for all. #orlando #weshallstandtogether ❤️ #loveisallwehave

A photo posted by Lou Doillon ☕ (@loudoillon) on




An illustration by French-Canadian artist Ghyslain Duguay sends a message of resilience.






One of the most widely shared graphic so far has been this ribbon accompanied by #JeSuisGay, a hashtag reminiscent of those that emerged after the two attacks in Paris, as well as one that shook Brussels earlier this year. 





This post originally appeared on HuffPost France and has been translated into English and edited for clarity.


Donate to the Pulse Orlando relief fund here:




 


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Finally You Can Make Your Own Hillary!

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You've choked down Trump.


You sent back Bernie.


Now it's the moment you've all been waiting for (but not as long as she has): make your own Hillary Clinton tonight!


With this seemingly endless process, YOU can whip up an insanely qualified candidate who also happens to be the first female nominated for a major political party!


Full disclosure: Nothing will stop this recipe from being made. Attempts to stop Hillary have only made her stronger.


FULL RECIPE:


- Extremely Qualified Woman


- Filtered Water


- Unsalted Butter


- Vanilla Yogurt


- Canned Laughter (for Likeability)


- Private Email Server (for "Convenience")


- Hot Sauce (Para Latinos!)


- Power Pantsuit


- Power Pearls


- Speaking Fees


This video, written by Paul Gale and John Trowbridge, shows you how to make your very own Hillary at home! 

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What The Tonys Can Teach Us About Inclusion In Hollywood

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History was made Sunday at the 70th annual Tony Awards when, for the first time ever, all four of the musical acting honors went to black performers: Leslie Odom Jr., Daveed Diggs and Renée Elise Goldsberry for "Hamilton," and Cynthia Erivo for "The Color Purple."


Beyond that, "Hamilton" and its creator Lin Manuel Miranda took home a record 11 awards (it was nominated for 16), while shows with non-white leads and producers like "Shuffle Along" and "Eclipsed" were also recognized with 10 and six nominations, respectively. 


The significance of this moment wasn't lost on organizers of the award show, host James Corden referred to the Tonys as like the Oscars, but "with diversity," during his opening monologue.


Of course, it's important to remember that the Tonys have certainly come a long way but have an even longer way to go when it comes to better inclusion and recognition of people of color. According to an infographic created by Lee & Low Books, while a record number of people of color received acting noms at the Tonys this year, an overwhelming 95 percent of all of the show's nominees were still white: 



It was a landmark time last year on Broadway thanks to shows like "Hamilton" and "The Color Purple." Both of these shows have proven that the concept of telling stories written by, starring and about people of color can not only resonate with audiences, but it can also be incredibly successful


Of course, the powers that be in Hollywood should know that since it's already been established, time and time again, that "diversity" works. So while it's important to celebrate the landmark strides writers, directors, producers and performers of color have made on Broadway this year, it's equally important to remember that institutions like Broadway don't just get to pat themselves on the back for not having a dreadful #OscarsSoWhite moment.


According to theater director Christine Toy Johnson, speaking to Lee & Low, "next season does not look nearly as diverse." However, the true key to diversity is to keep the momentum and the motivation towards inclusion going which is something both Hollywood and Broadway can learn from Sunday night's Tony Awards. Three of the historic musical acting winners at the award show were from "Hamilton."


If Lin Manuel Miranda had never been able to produce and shine in his first Broadway show, "In the Heights" nearly a decade ago, "Hamilton" probably would not exist and neither would these historic wins. The beautiful photo above of four black performers at the peak of their careers would probably not exist if it weren't for the fact that a creator of color was empowered years ago to be a true force on Broadway, and ultimately was able to create opportunities for other people of color to shine. That's the key, and that's what both Hollywood and Broadway still need to work on.   

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Nude Photographs Explore 'Ophelia' As A Symbol Of Women's Oppression

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Warning: This article contains nudity and may not be appropriate for work. 



A woman's body floats through a brook, her gossamer dress ballooned at the sides. Her hair is a tangle of red, as wild as the shrubs and bushland surrounding her. A garland of multicolored flowers -- crow flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples -- rests in her loosened grip. Her pale face is turned upward, as if suspended between life and death, the physical world and whatever is beyond.


She is Ophelia, one of literature and art's most iconic female characters. A symbol of hysteria; driven mad by her lover's violence, she eventually ended her misery by taking her own life. 


Although written into being by Shakespeare in the iconic play "Hamlet," Ophelia's image is perhaps best remembered thanks to painter Sir John Everett Millais. His 1850s painting of Ophelia depicts the unconscious woman in a liminal state, her body almost inseparable from the natural wasteland swallowing her. A pre-Raphaelite artist, obsessed with illustrating the limits of perception as influenced by nature, dreams, drugs and art, he was drawn to her, a character at the nexus of wakefulness and eternal sleep, in a sort of supernatural trance. 



The fetishizing of dead and dying women is a long and troubling trend in the history of both literature and art. There is an eerie misogyny embedded in the artistic obsession with pretty, dead girls, sleeping beauties who never wake up. As Edgar Allen Poe perspicuously phrased it: "The death then of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world." And yet, despite the brazenly disturbing nature of this obsession, there is something oddly magnetic, almost enchanting, about Ophelia's floating form.  


The opening quartets of an Arthur Rimbaud poem perfectly capture the creepy gaze with which centuries of cultural consumers approached Ophelia's dead form:



On the calm black water where the stars are sleeping
White Ophelia floats like a great lily;
Floats very slowly, lying in her long veils...
- In the far-off woods you can hear them sound the mort.


For more than a thousand years sad Ophelia
Has passed, a white phantom, down the long black river.
For more than a thousand years her sweet madness
Has murmured its ballad to the evening breeze.



Sweet madness? Like a great lily? There is something undeniably disquieting about the way Ophelia's madness and death are glamorized, immortalized and exalted. 



For artist Gloria Oyarzabal, Ophelia is the ultimate symbol of women's oppression. She is the embodiment of suffering translated into self-inflicted pain, only then to be objectified as a "hysterical woman." Oyarzabal has been intrigued ever since she saw Millais' painting, then read Shakespeare's play, then began creating Ophelia-centric works of her own. 


"I started drawing and tracing all the Ophelia versions that I could find," Oyarzabal explained to The Huffington Post. But she soon found the project unfulfilling. "I needed something more forthright, strenuous, powerful. I needed to feel uncomfortable." 


Instead of illustrating Ophelia, Oyarzabal resolved to become Ophelia. And to increase the elements of suffering and intensity she hoped to communicate in the work, she got naked while doing so. "I picked up my old Mamiya [camera] and got into nature, into places where I could 'smell' tension," she said. Oyarzabal took nude self-portraits in what she described as "forbidden places" -- locations with high mountains, freezing temperatures, snow. "It was like screaming silently."



In her photographs, Oyarzabal plays with the concept of a beautiful, inanimate woman, inviting viewers to be disturbed, enraptured, or a bit of both. By placing herself behind the camera and in the frame, Oyarzabal subverts the trope of the powerless muse, as valued in death as in life. Instead of floating expressionless through the water, Oyarzabal goes through extreme and strenuous lengths to immerse herself in the surrounding natural landscape, working hard to play dead. 


Oyarzabal considers the photography project a work of "docu-fiction" -- a merging of reality and imagination that seems just in line with pre-Raphaelite artists' concerns. The artist folds herself into Ophelia's long legacy, posing important questions along the way: What changes when a woman artist takes control of her own image? Can an image of oppression become one of empowerment?


"I feel satisfied if I can convey this idea of oppression, anxiety, and the breathlessness of some women," Oyarzabal concluded. "If I can open eyes, I would be pleased."


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Artist With One Arm Inks Clients With Tattoo Gun Prosthetic

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He wears his heart on his sleeve.


Tattoo artist, JC Sheitan Tenet — who lost his lower right arm 22 years ago — worked with artist and engineer Jean-Louis Gonzalez (known as “JL Gonzal”) to create a prosthetic tattoo machine.


According to a Facebook post, Gonzal used pieces of a typewriter, manometer, various pipes, as well as Tenet’s existing prosthesis to give the artist the dexterity to create tattoos. 





On June 4, the two debuted what they claim is the first-of-its-kind prosthetic at Tattoo Motor Show 2016, a convention in Davezieux, France.


A video of Tenet inking his first tattoo with their kickass collaboration was posted to Steampunk Tendencies’ Facebook page on June 7 and the video has since racked up more than 1 million views.





Tenet posted the completed tattoo that he drew with his prosthetic (a woman embracing a skull) on his Facebook page — though he did admit to Mashable he used his left hand for the majority of the tattoo and used the prosthetic mostly for shading. 





Tenet met Gonzal — who is known for making mechanized taxidermies and skulls — at various tattoo conventions. Noticing Gonzal’s unique talent, Tenet asked him if he could mechanize one of his old prosthetics he had lying around the house and thus, the partnership was born.


At the moment Tenet uses his shoulder to move the prosthetic gun, which both artists insist is a prototype, or "kinetic sculpture," and is not practical for everyday use yet. But Tenet told Motherboard that he hopes in the future he’ll be able to incorporate wrist and finger movements while using the prosthetic.


In regards to how Tenet felt using the prosthetic for the first time, he told Mashable: "I had to relearn to use my right hand 22 years after the loss; it's terrifying and amazing at the same time.”

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