Latest news with #acceptance
The Guardian
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Children's and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels
I'm Going to Make a Friend by Darren Chetty, illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat, Little Tiger, £12.99When a child moves home, it can be hard to meet potential new pals. Perhaps it's best to make a friend from what's to hand? This warm, witty picture book is perfect for prompting chats about friendship. So Devin Wore a Skirt by Shireen Lalji and Lucy Fleming, Frances Lincoln, £7.99Devin has nothing special to wear for his Nanabapa's big birthday until he spots his sister's shimmery blue skirt. At first he hides it under layers of disguise, but when he finally reveals the skirt, it's Nanabapa who takes Devin for a twirl on the dancefloor in this gentle, adorable picture book about acceptance. Our Pebbles by Jarvis, Walker, £12.99A colourful, almost tangibly joyful picture book about a boy, his grandad and their days on the beach, painting pebbles to mark treasured memories. Ava Spark: Hello, I'm Here! by Alex Field, illustrated by Joanna Bartel, New Frontier, £8.99Ava uses a communication aid to speak, but her friends understand her brilliantly. When she is asked to look after the new Australian girl at school, it's a big responsibility, but Ava pulls it off with panache in this sweet, inclusive story for 6+. The Lucky House Detective Agency by Scarlett Li, illustrated by Sian James, Knights Of, £7.99Felix loves solving mysteries with Isaac, his best friend. When Felix's family takeaway business has a run of misfortune, the newly formed Lucky House Detective Agency is determined to figure out why in this gentle, highly illustrated 7+ crime caper. Choose Your Own Evolution by Jules Howard and Gordy Wright, Nosy Crow, £14.99This original, hugely engaging 7+ take on choose your own adventure books allows the reader to decide their own evolutionary journey, choosing legs, slime or backbones, land or sea, until they either become extinct, like megalodon, or reach the present day as a survivor, like chicken or woodlice. A thrilling blend of story and science. The Lost Book of Undersea Adventure by Teddy Keen, Frances Lincoln, £14.99The third instalment of the Unseen Adventurer's journals – breathtakingly illustrated journeys into wild nature – features a quest for the Bajau sea nomads, an exploration of some of the world's remotest, richest marine environments, and a dangerous battle with the unscrupulous people who despoil them. Heartbreaking and hopeful, this is a book to get rapturously lost in; a must for wildlife and adventure lovers of 8+. Nate Yu's Blast from the Past by Maisie Chan, Templar, £7.99Moving to the big city is hard for Nate, especially fitting in at his new school – and his mums want him to embrace his heritage, but Nate can't even speak Chinese. When he comes across a shell casing engraved with a dragon, he summons a ghost who needs Nate's help as much as Nate needs his. A funny, heartfelt 8+ story about figuring out your place in the world. Riverskin by Mike Edwards, Walker, £7.99Tess lives beneath the River Tees, with her Aunt Peg and her terrifying Unkle Darkwater, but when Aunt Peg's mind begins to slip, Tess must find safety elsewhere, making friends with 'dry-folk' and discovering the truth of her origins as she does so. Written in a rich, sometimes challenging narrative voice, shaped by Teesside dialect and filled with punchy, poetic coinages, this atmospheric 9+ debut brings local legend into the everyday. Heir of Storms by Lauryn Hamilton Murray, Penguin, £9.99Born into a famous fire-wielding family, misfit Blaze almost drowned the world with the storm she raised at birth. Now she and her twin Flint must compete in the Choosing Rite, determining the next rulers of the Empire – could the throne, and a royal suitor, fall within Blaze's reach? Satisfying world-building, high-stakes magical trials and slow-burn, twisty romance combine in this addictive YA romantasy. Augmented by Kenechi Udogu, Faber, £8.99In a climate-changed near-future London, 16-year-olds have their strongest talent artificially augmented, helping to ensure humanity's continued survival. Gifted coder Akaego has recently transferred to a music academy – her voice makes plants grow faster, marking her out as a rare potential Mechsim – but the rebel Freestakers warn her that her powerful ability may be put to deadly use. Udogu's debut is a believable, evocative and compelling teen eco-thriller. The Sleepless by Jen Williams, First Ink, £16.99Elver was saved from death by the bite of a god, but now her skin poisons anyone she touches; Artair shares his body with Lucian, a malign spirit who takes control while Artair sleeps. When Artair is sent on a mission that Elver is determined to thwart, the three of them are drawn into a web of deceitful alliances, furious gods and dangerous magic in this compulsively readable and original YA fantasy. We Are Your Children by David Roberts, Two Hoots, £25Bold, bright and instantly accessible, this illustrated history of LGBTQ+ activism in the US and UK is wide-ranging yet intimate. Detailing key moments, including the Stonewall uprising, the first Pride rally and the passing of Section 28, and sharing the stories of famous figures like Harvey Milk, Marsha P Johnson and Alan Turing alongside those of less well-known activists, it's resplendent, tragic, essential reading for 14+.
Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Times
Jamie Barton: Opera singers are being forced to take Ozempic
When Jamie Barton waved a large rainbow Pride flag as she sang Rule, Britannia! at the Last Night of the Proms, the crowd fell in love with her. The American mezzo-soprano had chosen the flag because it 'represents love, acceptance and tolerance' and because she'd vowed to use her voice and her public profile for good. 'I've rarely heard a bigger cheer in the Albert Hall,' the Times critic Richard Morrison wrote. He continued: 'We may not be a land of hope or glory right now, we certainly don't rule the waves … at least, however, we now cheer sexual and gender liberation. Some progress, then.' That was in 2019. Barton will once again publicly fly the flag for LGBTQ+ rights in July, when she sings at the finale of Classical Pride with the London Symphony Orchestra, an event also heading to the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. But the general mood has changed drastically since that Proms moment, she tells me from her home in Atlanta, Georgia. 'It does feel like a different world, for sure. The screws have been tightened on the queer community in so many ways,' she says. • Read more opera reviews, guides and interviews This year Pride has taken on a different meaning for the 43-year-old opera star, who came out publicly as bisexual in 2014. 'I'm reminded of how Pride started as a riot, as a fight for rights, for liberty, for freedom. We are who we are. We are not going to silence ourselves.' No surprises that Barton is not a fan of President Trump; if the White House invited her to sing, she would say no. She would, however, perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington, even though Trump has made himself chairman and criticised its 'woke' programming. 'I would hands down gladly go there because that's my place. That's ours,' she says. 'I would show up as exactly who I am and do my job to the best of my ability. In and of itself, that would be an act of rebellion.' Some believe the age of identity politics is over. For Barton, talking about being queer, bisexual, body positive and neurodivergent (she was diagnosed with ADHD during the pandemic) has become non-negotiable. 'I can't tell you the number of people who lean in and whisper, 'I'm queer but I can't come out, I don't feel safe, but thank you for validating my existence by telling people this is normal,'' she says. 'That's more important to me than just about any other aspect of what I do. It goes hand in hand with trying to be at the highest level of artistry I can.' As her career has soared — taking her from Wagner at the Metropolitan Opera to Verdi at Covent Garden, Mahler at the Proms to Stravinsky in Paris — so has her resolve strengthened. While she hopes the BBC would still allow artists to wave a Pride flag at the Last Night ('It would be a real shame if they didn't'), she would now think twice about singing Rule, Britannia! and backs artists who believe its time has passed, such as the cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason. 'I fully support the questioning of it. There might be other songs that would be able to celebrate the legacy of Britain… I would be interested in the BBC figuring out a new celebration song, something that would make people feel nationalistic in the best way, not at the expense of others.' The words 'safe' and 'dangerous' crop up a few times during our interview, and it makes me wonder whether Barton fears for her safety. As she puts it to me, with her purple hair and side-shave she no longer 'passes' as a Republican in small-town Georgia, where she grew up. 'Most of the time I feel safe,' she says. 'I will admit that when I was flying back to the States I got a recommendation of a lawyer in case I was held at border control and they searched through social media for any sign of dissent against this administration, because that's been happening. I came back into the US with my face ID turned off on my phone and those numbers written on my arm.' She got home without a hitch — but it made Barton realise her life is far from normal right now. 'Earlier today I was chuckling in this black comedy way, because on my 'to buy' list are laundry detergent, avocados and a go-bag with proper contents just in case society collapses,' she says. Firmly off her shopping list, however, is Ozempic. In 2019 Barton told The Times about her struggles with binge-eating and crash-dieting, and how she has become anti 'diet culture', even though she knows she's missed out on roles because directors have believed she's 'too fat'. But with weight-loss drugs going mainstream, the pressure on opera singers to take them is real, she says. 'I have heard from colleagues of the pressure,' she says. 'I know of one high-level singer who a new opera was being written for. He lost the job because the general director of the house decided this singer wasn't aesthetically pleasing enough to carry the subject. Later he went on Ozempic specifically because of that. He was worried because he didn't want to lose further jobs. It makes me sad. Mounjaro and Ozempic are not easy drugs to be on, which is why I feel they're best left for the people who absolutely need them.' • Nicky Spence: 'Fat shaming still goes on in opera' Barton is speaking from experience. 'I have my own sad tale when it comes to these particular drugs,' she says. 'I have been diabetic for a long time and back in 2011, when those drugs were just starting to enter the market, my doctor at the time put me on an earlier version. Long story short, I ended up with a chronic, never-going-to-go-away condition called gastroparesis, which means every once in a while my stomach doesn't process food. Sometimes it freezes, which is quite literally the effect of that class of drug: to slow your stomach function. I was on it for less than a week before I had my first flare-up.' The condition made her very ill and made working difficult. After trying Trulicity during the pandemic, which resulted in another bad flare-up, Barton concluded that the drugs weren't for her. As a result she now feels 'no pressure whatsoever' to take Ozempic. She's equally accepting of reaching middle age. It is the subject of the new song Or Am I in a Rut? by Jake Heggie, which she'll be premiering at Classical Pride in London before flying over to the US to sing it in Los Angeles as part of the whole song cycle Good Morning, Beauty. 'It's about the moment when you start to clock how time is affecting your body, your desire, your sense of self in so many ways,' she says. 'I love that because I'm very much in that place in my own life right now.' She's long been a fan of Heggie's music and will be singing Sister Helen Prejean in the 25th anniversary production of his death-row opera, Dead Man Walking, in San Francisco next year, as well as appearing on the first recording of his opera Intelligence. 'There's always a point, with putting together a new Jake Heggie piece, when you're sitting at the piano and you dissolve in tears. It's just part of the process,' she says. 'How magical to have a creator of music who knows how to play the heart strings so deftly … there's an indelible truth and visceral honesty to what he does that hooks me.' Words that could have been written about Barton Barton sings at Classical Pride at the Barbican, London, Jul 4. The series runs from Jun 27,
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Irish Times
Natasha O'Brien: Being bullied in school made me intervene in a homophobic attack in Limerick
Fitting in is a mask that I always struggled to wear. My entire childhood, all I ever wanted was to be the same as everyone else; to not be the outcast. But I stood out in the all the wrong ways. Looking back, I've always been outspoken and opinionated, a little bit confident, even when the world tells me I shouldn't be. But I just wanted to be accepted. I spent so many years wishing I wasn't this person. I was 'Natasha the weirdo'; always told the seat was taken. Eyes would roll when I spoke. As a teenager, I locked myself away in the school bathroom, spending my lunchbreaks sitting in a cubicle – that was easier than feeling unwanted. A memory that really stands out is something that happened when I was 14. I was eating my lunch in my usual spot – alone in the bathroom stall – and I noticed a hand coming over the top of the partition. Before I knew it, I was drenched. A bottle of water had been emptied over my head. I was shocked and furious. READ MORE I ran out to confront whoever had done it. That's when she lunged at me and started kicking me. Then she had me in a headlock, and all the girls started laughing, standing around, encouraging her. I just remember feeling being completely alone, in the middle of this group of girls. That was the type of moment that taught me to stand up for the others. The relentless bullying I experienced means I will never be the person who ignores someone else's suffering. My entire childhood I came to learn the impact that silence has. Silence can cause lasting damage. [ Cases like Natasha O'Brien's prompt a sudden, disquieting voice in collective consciousness Opens in new window ] Fast forward to April 2022: I was walking home from work one night when I saw a young man being harassed by a group of men. They were shouting homophobic slurs at him. I could never have just continued walking. It has been coded into my DNA to be the person to speak up, because nobody spoke up for me. I simply said, 'Lads, leave him alone.' I didn't even shout it. All I was trying to do was de-escalate the situation. And then, before I knew what was happening, I was catapulted back to that 14-year-old girl, lying on the street, being attacked all over again. As a relentless beating continued, I began losing consciousness, and all I could think to myself is 'He's not stopping, you're going to die.' Had it not been for the passerby who intervened and pulled my attacker off, I don't believe I would be here today writing this. That night, I truly learned the value of standing up for others. It is beyond clear that looking away is simply not an option. I remember walking into that Limerick Circuit Courtroom 12 months ago, panic coursing through my blood. I knew I was going to see my attacker for the first time since the incident. Every part of me wanted to run, but I felt I had to speak up again. I had a duty to go into the courtroom and ask the judge to hold this attacker to account. I threw everything I could into that victim impact statement. My last words were: 'I am here to seek justice, not just for myself, but to protect others from the violence and malice I experienced.' When the judge handed down the sentence, he explained he was not going to send my attacker to jail because he did not want him to lose his job in the Defence Forces . I left the courtroom that day feeling invisible and worthless. A local reporter approached me and asked whether he could ask me a couple of questions. And I did not care any more. So I answered. Twenty-four hours later, that interview had become national news. From walking out of that courtroom feeling invisible and worthless, to receiving support from what felt like the entire nation – that lit a fire in me. Justice campaigner Natasha O'Brien has said she will continue to campaign for stronger sentences in assault cases. Video: David Raleigh When I spoke out and shared my story, men and women, the people of this nation, all took a stand, and there were protests across the country. They came from North and South, and I met people who had never been to a protest in their lives. I remember walking down Cruise's Street to attend the Limerick protest. I was terrified. I could not believe all these people were there. But I grabbed that megaphone and spoke from the heart. I had been given this platform and I was not going to let it go, for all the people who have been suffering in everyone else's silence. In January 2025, my attacker's suspended sentence was overturned, and he was jailed for two years . When I sat there and heard the decision, I had so many emotions. I felt a lot of guilt that this individual, my attacker, had made a horrible mistake and had become the face of violence. I feel I am the primary victim, but if the justice system had worked in the first place, he would have had the chance to learn, reflect and redeem himself. While my journey this past year has not been easy, I have a newfound confidence and sense of self-worth. I pride myself in the resilience that pulled me through this ordeal. I look back on my teenage years and how badly I wanted to be anyone else, to fit in. Now I stand out, and I'm proud that I do. Over the past year, I've been working on a documentary for RTÉ. It follows my personal journey: navigating the justice system, processing my trauma, and slowly rebuilding myself. I wanted people to see the 90 per cent of me that is hidden away from the headlines. I am not Natasha O'Brien , the victim in the headline, but simply Natasha, proud at last to be authentically myself. I was once that scared little girl hiding behind the door of the bathroom cubicle. Now I walk through every door, strong and unapologetic. Natasha is broadcast on Wednesday, June 25th, on RTÉ One at 9.35pm
CTV News
3 days ago
- CTV News
Suspect sought after Pride flag stolen three times
Windsor police have confirmed a Pride flag has been stolen from a Moy Avenue home three times. CTV Windsor's Chris Campbell has more. Windsor police are asking for the public's help identifying a suspect after three separate thefts of a Pride flag at the same home — incidents the victim said have left her family feeling unsafe and targeted. Officers were first called to a residence in the 200 block of Moy Avenue on May 2 after an unknown male approached the front porch and tore down the home's Pride flag, breaking the flagpole in the process. A similar theft occurred on June 13, when police said a second flag was stolen from the same property. The resident, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear for her family's safety, told CTV News the repeated incidents are 'devastating' noting it happened another time within the last year in July 2024. 'I was just devastated. I don't understand. I don't understand how us doing something as simple as flying a flag can interfere with somebody else's life to the point that they need to damage our property and make a mockery of it,' she said. The woman, who identifies as queer, said at least two of her five children also identify within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and that the flag was meant to be a symbol of pride and acceptance for her household. 'The number one reason to fly the Pride flag for me is because I identify as a queer individual. I, like I said, have five children, and at least two of them identify in some way. The others are maybe a little too young to identify at this point. It's important to me because I see every single day the hate and the ugliness that people all over the world deal with,' she said. The repeated thefts have caused the family to question their safety and whether they're being watched. 'They already face bullying in the public school. My concern is did somebody follow them home? Did somebody follow my teenager to school? They're showing us that we're not welcome, that we're not equal. It's ugly. It's unnecessary,' she said. 'And I can't imagine raising my children to think that they're better than anybody else for something that they believe or don't believe.' The woman explained Windsor police have cautioned her against hanging the flag again, citing a risk of escalation. 'The overwhelming urge to kind of hang it and give the proverbial 'F.U.', it's strong. But Windsor police, my mom, everybody is telling me the window is going to get broken next, and then what? After that it gets more and more violent each time, right?' she said. 'We don't really know where we're at with hanging it. I would fly the flag year-round if it would be left up on my porch. It's not just a June thing, you know? But it is what it is. I don't know yet if we're going to put up another flag.' She said police acknowledged the issue is ongoing in the city, though it's not always reported. 'The police have shared that with me that it's an ongoing problem. Whether other people are really reporting it or pushing for investigations or showing camera footage like I have, I'm not sure. But we're certainly not the only family being targeted. It just happens to be reported because I'm pushing for it,' she said. Despite the situation, the woman said her message remains the same. 'You can take the flag, but you can't take the pride. I'm here. I'm loud. I teach my kids to be loud. That doesn't change anything about who we are and where we are in this world,' she said. 'And what do I hope for the young man who thought that this was funny or whatever his idea about it was? I hope that he grows. I hope that he grows and that his life changes in a good way, in a way that allows him to see the bigger picture. It's shocking in 2025, in progressive Canada that we're here.' Wendi Nicholson, president of Windsor-Essex Pride Fest, said hearing about incidents like these is discouraging. 'It's just, it's disheartening,' Nicholson said. 'We're not doing anything. Just wanting to be equal and showing that, hey, we're here and that we're proud of who we are. Same as anybody with any nationality they are. They fly their national flag. They're proud of who they are. So are we. Tearing down people's flags, taking people's stuff. It's got to stop. It's just ridiculous.' Nicholson said education is the most powerful tool the community has in fighting back. 'The only thing we can do is just educate people. If you see someone, just educate them,' she said. 'Like, why? Why? When I grew up, I was taught, if it ain't yours, don't touch it.' The suspect in the May 2 incident is described as a Middle Eastern male with black afro-style hair and a short black beard and moustache. At the time of the incident, he wore a grey hoodie and black track pants with white stripes. Investigators are asking residents and business owners in the area to check their surveillance or dashcam footage from May 2 and June 13 between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. for anything that may help the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 519-255-6700 ext. 4830 or submit a tip anonymously through Windsor & Essex County Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 (TIPS) or online.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Tiny Love Stories: ‘Receding Hairline and Inner Critic on Full Blast'
'A Memorable Weekend Adventure' People do crazy things for love. That may explain how I ended up on a Pennsylvania back road with a lamb peeing in my Subaru. It was five days before Eid al-Adha and 11 months after our first date. We had picked up the animal from a local sheep farm and were delivering it to a nearby butcher — a memorable weekend adventure. He's a Tunisian merchant's son who likes hosting parties and cooking with farm-fresh ingredients. I'm an American farmer's daughter who knows how to get things done. Just like lamb and couscous, some things (and people) belong together. — Jessica Hibbard Embracing My Reflection Every morning, I look in the mirror and, begrudgingly, decide to like myself. Again. With my impatience, bulging stomach, receding hairline and inner critic on full blast, it's no small feat. My love story? It's with me. It's not a kiss-my-reflection kind of connection. Rather, it's a messy, clumsy journey of learning to accept the quirky, sweet, obnoxious, stubborn guy staring back. Some days it's a shrug. Others, a small smile. But I keep at it. Because one day, I just might find self-love that will stick. — Michael Sussal Peace After Pain When I arrived in the world, my older sister greeted me with a loving hug. Separated by 21 months, she taught me how to do everything from writing my name to riding a bike. The first sibling to navigate adolescence, she was often frustrated, uncomfortable and restless. I admired her but wanted to be nothing like her. I always knew she held a private pain. At 45, my sibling courageously transitioned. I now have an older brother who is finally happy, whole and content. And when I visited him recently in Portugal, he greeted me with the same loving hug. — Linda Bardere The Right Fit We made plans to meet at a mega furniture store in Omaha to shop for a new bed. I arrived first, wandering the aisles, testing mattresses. 'Can I help you find something?' the saleswoman asked just as I looked up and saw my fiancé descending the escalator. Her eyes followed mine. 'Oh, I can see you've already found it,' she said. Yes. At the age of 55, I certainly had. — Eileen Davis See more Tiny Love Stories at Submit yours at Want more from Modern Love? Watch the TV series; sign up for the newsletter; or listen to the podcast on iTunes, Spotify or Google Play. We also have swag at the NYT Store and two books, 'Modern Love: True Stories of Love, Loss, and Redemption' and 'Tiny Love Stories: True Tales of Love in 100 Words or Less.'
