Saturday, June 25, 2011
Remembering Michael Jackson
It is exactly two years today that we lost the king of pop Michael Jackson. He may be dead , but he is still alive through his works and influence on this generation of artists.
Senate Passes Marriage Bill Allowing Same marriage in New York
Senators said “I do” to gay marriage last night in a narrow 33-29 vote — making New York the sixth and largest state to allow same-sex couples to wed.
The groundbreaking vote set off a roar of approval from supporters in the Senate gallery — and a massive street
party around the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, the birthplace of the gay rights movement.“I can’t believe this is happening — no words can say how I feel right now,” said an elated Eugene Lovendusky, 26, a Queens teacher who joined nearly 600 champagne-swilling, rainbow flag-waving celebrants in the streets around the bar.
At least one man wore a wedding gown — and more than few couples said they’d walk down the aisle as soon as possible.
“It’s great to no longer feel like a second-class citizen,” said an exuberant Tom Selty, 31, of Astoria, Queens.
At a party at the nearby Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Community Center, Martin Everall, 48, said the bill reflected that “We want what everyone else wants.”
Gov. Cuomo signed the bill into law at 11:55 p.m. last night. It will go into effect July 24.
The vote came after four members of the Senate’s GOP majority sided with 29 Democrats in a public roll call allowed by Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Nassau) after two weeks of intense pressure by Cuomo and gay-rights groups.
“I’ve very proud of New York and the statement it’s making to the nation today,” the governor told lawmakers in an unusual post-vote speech on the Senate floor.
But Diocese of Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio quickly blasted the bill last night, saying Cuomo and lawmakers had “deconstructed the single most important institution in human history.”
He said he asked all Catholic schools to refuse any “distinction or honors” from the governor or lawmakers who voted for the bill — and that schools “not invite any state legislator to speak or be present at any parish or school celebration.”
“They’re entitled to their religious beliefs, but they can’t use them to prevent someone else’s rights,” countered bill supporter Jeff Rutsky, 53, of Midwood, Brooklyn.
Only three of the city’s senators — Ruben Diaz Sr. (D-Bronx), Martin Golden (R-Brooklyn) and Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) — voted “no.”
Revisions were added to exempt religious-based institutions from having to participate in a gay-marriage event — and protecting them from discrimination lawsuits.
After the vote, celebrities quickly weighed in on Twitter.
Lindsay Lohan declared: “Proud to be from NY!”
Her ex-girlfriend, DJ Samantha Ronson, added: “Divorce lawyers all over New York State are celebrating tonight! YAY!”
Africa Repping at BET's Social Parley
Rihanna falls while performing (Video)
Top Five African Models in the world
African fashion is the rave of the moment in the international fashion community. From her designers to indigenous fabrics and even her models , there has not been a higher fascination with her indigenous fashion than now.
ATL Journal Constitution recently profiled the top five African models blazing the trail internationally. Check out the list and find out who made the cut.
The Super Woman: Liya KebedePeople toss the word “supermodel” around flippantly, but true “supers” boast an enviable resume that includes covers, contracts, and campaigns—coupled with the honor of opening and
more after the jump
closing key runway shows. Ethiopian supermodel Liya Kebede has done it all from covering Vogue, Essence, Harper’s Bazaar, and i-D to starring in campaigns for Gap, Lord & Taylor, and Ann Taylor, plus nabbing a lucrative Estee Lauder contract. She is now the face of L’Oreal, and in ’08 earned a Forbes shout-out as the 15th highest-paid model.
The Boss: Oluchi OnweagbaSince winning the premiere 1998 “Face of Africa” competition sponsored by African cable giant M-NET, the Nigerian has gone on to hit pretty much every high a model aspires to. Cosmetics contract/ad campaign? Check. Onweagba was a CoverGirl — and has appeared in campaigns for L’Oreal, Gap, and Macy’s. Vogue cover? Check — she’s fronted Vogue Italia. Appearance in SI Swimsuit Issue/Victoria’s Secret Show? Check. Check. Now married to designer Luca Orlandi and mother to their son, Onweagba still works the runways, but her focus is on the next generation. Having launched O Model Management in South Africa, Onweagba told Modelinia.com: “I wanted to do more than the usual charity. I wanted to empower young adult women to make a living at an early age, so they can have a voice of their own even if they do not make it to the Western countries like I did.” Zandile Bay admires her for “being an advocate for the rise of the modeling and fashion industry in her native Nigeria
The Super-in-Training: Nyasha MatonhodzeDiscovered in 2009, the Zimbabwe-born, Britain-raised model was introduced to the world on London’s catwalks, sashaying for Jonathan Saunders, Emanuel Ungaro, and Louis Vuitton, among others. Just two years later, now 16, Nyasha has racked up editorial tearsheets in Harper’s Bazaar, V, and Teen Vogue. Amazingly, she has just been announced as a face of Louis Vuitton. Look for her in the brand’s fall campaign, which will be shot by star maker Steven Meisel.
Pics from Charley Boy's 60th birthday bash
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