Source: Kim Rogerson / Getty Trans Woman Wins In Court After Brooklyn Landlord Humiliates Her After being humiliated during the apartment hunting process, Giana Desir is finally getting a tiny bit of justice. According to reports, Desir is a trans woman who began transitioning back in 2013. Two years later, her landlord all but kicked her out when he refused to renew her lease in October 2015. Another Brooklyn landlord, then told Desir he could maybe find a BASEMENT apartment somewhere …because, according to him, she shouldn’t be around “people and children.” From The NYDailyNews : At the same time, Desir’s friend “Jazz,” who lived in a different building, told her apartments were available. Yet when she finally spoke in person to Walter, the landlord there, he balked, [law judge John] Spooner wrote. Showing up at his office, he seemed “shocked and surprised” and asked, “‘Why didn’t you tell me you were transgender? Thank God, I had you come here at night. What would people have thought if they had seen you,’” he said, Spooner wrote of the humiliating exchange. Walter then said he couldn’t possibly rent Desir an apartment “around people and children,” but could find her a place “in a basement somewhere with its own entrance” and not “around too many people.” He also worried he’d be thought of as allowing a sexual encounter with Desir if he were to rent to her, and even suggested she stop the transitioning until she landed an apartment, telling her that she “’would look really crazy,’” Spooner wrote. Desir ultimately found an apartment through welfare benefits, but said her sense of independence was shattered and that Walter’s comments were “devastating.” Walter wasn’t the only one to treat her that way — at least 5 landlords refused her housing. In a moment of victory, however, she’s been awarded $25,000. Spooner recommended a compensatory fine of $15,000 and a civil penalty of $10,000, and ”that respondents be ordered to undergo anti-discrimination training” in his decision. “Based on the trial trial evidence, I find that respondents violated … (the City Human Rights Law) by discriminating against the complainant by denying her rental apartments because she is transgender,” Spooner wrote. Desir says folks like to put trans people under a “huge umbrella of negativity,” adding that it “felt good” to do something. “I didn’t realize how difficult it would be … emotions fade, memories fade, and it’s unfair the process and the length of the process you have to go through,” she said, according to the site. We’re wishing her the best of luck. Salute!!
Source: Bennett Raglin / Getty Dream Doll Shows Off Her Natural Hair Under Her Wigs It’s always interesting to see how stars look under their hair and makeup! Rapper Dream Doll tossed her wig last week and wore her naturally popping hair. It’s a big deal for the rapper who uses her lace front to protect her edges and hair length. If you peep her bob in this freestyle video, it might look like a weave but look again… View this post on Instagram New Coming soon Outfit: @fashionnova Hair cut & colored by @arrogant_tae123 A post shared by The Original DreamDoll (@dreamdoll) on Jun 8, 2019 at 1:32pm PDT In a recent vlog, Dream Doll gives us the step by step process of her getting her hair styled by celebrity hairstylist Arrogant Tae (one of Nicki Minaj’s stylist ). She grew her curls down to her back before chopping it into a bob. The end result is SEXY. Hit play to see it.
Alexandra Shipp & Other Baddies Talk Their Superpowers In the spirit of Dark Phoenix ( also known as X-Men: Dark Phoenix, in theaters now ), one of the movie’s stars, Alexandra Shipp , has solicited an amazing array of influential women, taking their respective industries by storm to show their FIERCE side. Curated specifically for two of the hottest digital kingdoms on the net, BOSSIP & Madame Noire , the ladies took their talents to The Los Angeles Roosevelt to give you a little DRIP. If you thought Girl Power was just a phrase you’re wrong—it’s a movement—a F I E R C E one! We curated a shoot about these real-life superheroes. Like to see it? Here it go… Alexandra. Alexandra Shipp, Actress, Dark Phoenix. On The Gram. 1. What brings out your Dark Phoenix (superhuman abilities) and what are they? Whenever I see someone being mistreated or some type of injustice happening in front of me, I always want to jump in and fight for the victim. I’ve been this way since I was a kid on the playground fighting everyone else’s battles for them. 2. What does women empowerment feel/look like to you? I think it feels like gratitude! Just being thankful that you’re seen! 3. 5 things that help you feel empowered. Family Friends Food Fashion Rest 4. How do you plan to empower other women? I think that support of my fellow women is the best way I can empower them! Letting them know that I see their greatness and even celebrate it is key to our joined feminine success! Ashley. Ashley Everett, International Dance Star. On The Gram 1. What brings out your Dark Phoenix. (superhuman abilities) and what are they? When it’s go time! I thrive when it’s time to show up and show out. Whether its performing live, on tv, on film, during photo shoots, teaching, or public speaking, I tap into “go mode” and give my all for the audience to receive. At the end of the day, I am human, but I am also a performer and I believe all performers have somewhat of an alter ego that we have an on & off switch for. When my switch is on that’s when my Dark Phoenix comes out… and she’s a BEAST! 2. What does women empowerment feel/look like to you? I’m all for women empowerment! We are so much stronger together than we are individually. I have truly been supported by women from all different walks of life and it is so amazing to see how we connect. I always do my best to reciprocate and support my ladies however I can! 3. 5 things that help you feel empowered. Five things that help me feel empowered are 1. Performing 2. Genuine love & support 3. Accomplishing something for the first time. 4. Taking risks & stepping out of my comfort zone. 5. Most importantly, loving myself and others, flaws & all! 4. How do you plan to empower other women? I always look to empower other women through supporting their dreams and endeavors. I help guide with relevant advice and positive reinforcement, while giving back and sharing knowledge from my own from life experiences. Kayla. Kayla Brianna, Songstress. On The Gram. 1. What brings out your Dark Phoenix (superhuman abilities) and what are they? When I push myself to do something I’ve never done before that challenges me is when I feel my “Dark Phoenix” is brought out. I am forced to push myself to reach new heights. 2. What does women empowerment feel/look like to you? Women empowerment feels like women supporting other women and genuine friendship. 3. 5 things that help you feel empowered Five things that help me feel empowered are: working out, performing, recording in the studio, being with my family and helping others. 4. How do you plan to empower other women? I plan to empower other women by supporting them, lifting them up and encouraging them to be the best version of themselves. Angela. Angela C. Styles, Emmy Award-winning hairstylist. On The Gram 1. What brings out your Dark Phoenix (superhuman abilities) and what are they? When I’m under pressure or when I’m being my most creative self. My superhuman abilities are being able to think quickly on my feet and making something out of nothing. 2. What does women empowerment feel/look like to you? Women empowerment feels like sisterhood. It feels like honesty, trust, and respect for other women. It looks like every situation when you just needed to get advice or support and another woman was there to help. That feeling of protection is like none other. 3. 5 things that help you feel empowered. 1. Sharing experiences with other like-minded women 2.Learning something new 3.Making a woman look and feel her best 4. Giving love and encouragement to the youth 5. Helping someone in need 4. How do you plan to empower other women? I do it daily by helping guide women into more healthy hair care practices and styling tips. Great hair gives the ultimate confidence. Also focusing more on self-love and the beauty of what we are born with is a message that I can’t say enough. I plan to continue to share my love for textured hair and all its incredible facets. Miryam. Miryam Lumpini, international tattoo artist and Global Creative Director for BodyMark by BIC. On The Gram 1. What brings out your Dark Phoenix? (superhuman abilities) and what are they? My superhuman abilities are healing with Art! I am Art! creating Art with and on other people has been my passion and also has been my way of surviving which also became my career path. what brings it out of me is my passion for different cultures, nature, animals, traveling, space, things that are healing to us when we view it from a bigger picture. we can compose and express ourselves through these elements and therefore help create healing images in our forms that we can carry with us. 2. What does women empowerment feel/look like to you? Women empowerment to me is anything that inspires mental freedom as sexual freedom, economical freedom and independence and freedom to love and control your own body and appearance. Uplifting women without having to put another woman down! 3. 5 things that help you feel empowered. 1. I feel empowered listening to other women who don’t give a f*ck! It is very refreshing because you actually realize how simple it is, how we know we allow our minds to get blocked with so much bullshit just because we want to fit into a cute society frame whatever that is, and we end up living in invisible cages. 2. being a woman in 2019 is also very empowering I feel like women now are finally starting to really understand each other‘s value and support each other and therefore I also feel like men are starting to respect women more as well even though we have a long way to go still. 3. I feel very empowered when people value my opinions in corporate/business meetings and when people really respect and listen to me when I do business no matter what type of culture they come from. 4. I feel empowered when a man cares about my sexual pleasures 5. I feel empowered being around other women when we get to really just open up and laugh about things that we feel that we have in common 4. How do you plan to empower other women? I have always been the type of person who practices never preaches! so what I usually do is empower through my actions of spreading as much positivity in general because this world needs love, needs healing, needs kindness, needs compassion, needs to rid itself of ego. The world is mother nature, the world is healing female energy. there are so many negative energies that I don’t want to even associate myself with in order to inspire to live a life far away from destructiveness so that we can fully evolve and grow into our true self and be who we authentically were born to be… to live a limitless life! Photography via Mad Works Photography.
Source: STRINGER / Getty Police Report Deems Shooting At Willie McCoy 55 Times “Reasonable” F**k the police . First and foremost. Now that we have that out of the way. We’ve been reporting on the police shooting death of Willie McCoy since February when Vallejo, California police found him asleep in a Taco Bell drive-thru…then killed him. According to USAToday , Willie’s family is pushing back against an janky-a$$ “independent report” that the cops drummed up in an attempt to absolve themselves of any trigger-happy wrongdoing. The report released this week found that six officers fired 55 times at 20-year-old Willie McCoy in the span of 3.5 seconds shortly after he woke up from sleeping in his car in the drive-thru lane of a Taco Bell restaurant. Attorney John Burris told USA TODAY he believed the report was irrelevant, particularly since the hired expert also deemed police had probable cause in the fatal 2018 shooting of Stephon Clark. Let that sink in. The cops went and got the SAME GUY, David Blake, who said the Stephon Clark shooting was all-to-the-good. “Officers are not required to wait until a weapon is pointed at them to take the necessary steps to save their own lives,” Blake wrote in the report, adding that their actions were “reasonable based upon my training and experience as a range instructor as well as through applied human factors psychology.” This is the system that Black and brown people are up against in America. Do anything to save a cop’s a$$. SMFH.
Source: ATL Pics / Radio One Digital Da Baby Performs At #BirthdayBashATL2019 Da Baby a.ka. “the prettiest chocolate n***a alive” brought his charm to Hot 107.9’s #BirthdayBashATL2019. The Charlotte rapper whose known not only for his tracks “Suge” and “Baby Sitter” but for being your girlfriend’s celebrity crush , was spotted backstage at Atlanta’s Statefarm Arena where he chatted with BOSSIP’s Alex, Sammie Always and Dish Nation… View this post on Instagram We just ended but pics are coming in Check em out @atlpics Presented by @att #ItsA404Thing A post shared by Hot 107.9 Atlanta (@hot1079atl) on Jun 15, 2019 at 9:55pm PDT before hitting the stage for a high-energy performance. View this post on Instagram @dababy on that #BirthdayBashATL stage @atlpics Presented by @att #ItsA404Thing A post shared by Hot 107.9 Atlanta (@hot1079atl) on Jun 16, 2019 at 7:52am PDT We’re still going baby on baby for Da Baby. Source: Prince Williams/ATLPics.net / Radio One See more of Da Baby at Birthday Bash on the flip.
Source: SplashNews / Splash News Blue Ivy Steals The Show At Dance Recital It’s no secret that Blue Ivy has every ounce of her mom and dad’s swag so we had to share this video that TMZ posted of Blue Ivy getting DOWN to mom Beyoncé’s remake of Frankie Beverly and Maze’s classic “Before I Let Go”. TMZ reports that 7-year-old Blue took the stage three times during the recital for the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in L.A. for their annual Spring Concert, which was titled “Colors” this year. Baby girl hit that split too! Go head Blue.
Source: Paras Griffin / Getty T.I. Set To Star In Film About Flint Water Crisis According to Deadline , T.I. has just signed on to star in the Will Smith-produced film depicting the tragedy that was the Flint, Michigan water crisis. Flint will be produced by Overbook Entertainment and will reportedly follow the story of a spiritually reformed ex-convict who finds himself in the midst of a murder mystery while his hometown of Flint deals with the consequences of the water crisis. Executive producers for the film include late director John Singleton , Caleeb Pinkett and James Lassiter from Overbook, T.I., and Brian Sher from Grand Hustle Films. T.I. is no stranger to the big screen. Having flexed his acting chops in a bunch of films over the last few years, this is set to show the legendary rapper’s acting range by tackling the serious role.
Source: Gabriel Olsen/WireImage/Raymond Hall/GC Images) / Getty Rob Kardashian Refuses To Allow Dream On Blac Chyna Show Rob Kardashian isn’t really here for Blac Chyna’s clout-chasing shenanigans. According to TMZ , Chyna wants to put her 2-year-old daughter Dream on full reality TV blast and Rob ain’t trying to hear it. Chyna sent Rob release forms to sign and his lawyer Marty Singer replied with a letter threatening major legal action if Chyna tries to proceed without Rob’s consent. Rob and Chyna have 50/50 custody of Dream and there is absolutely nothing that Chyna can do without his blessing. Outside of the drama that he has already gone through with his buxom, blonde, baby mama, Rob’s own experience with reality TV hasn’t exactly been 5-stars. He doesn’t want his daughter exposed to the long days of shooting, staging lights, and everything else that comes along with f***ery production. “Should The Zeus Network proceed with releasing any episodes of the Series or related materials containing Dream’s likeness, it will be acting at its own peril and exposing itself to significant liability.” Can’t really blame Rob. Chyna just fought her mother and hairdresser in just a matter of weeks.
Beyoncé on #TheLionKing , her mother Ms. Tina, being Black and supporting young Black artists in an interview for the 2019 #WearableArtGala . pic.twitter.com/6VbgxJ3qCB — BEYONCÉ LEGION (@BeyLegion) June 12, 2019 BeyHive Goes Crazy Over Queen Bey’s First Interview In YEARS Queen Bey shocked literally everyone when she gave an extremely RARE interview–her first in SIX years–in support of Mama Tina’s star-studded Wearable Art Gala where she touched on “ The Lion King ,” supporting young Black excellence and more in a genuinely surreal moment that sent the BeyHive into a starry-eyed FRENZY. BEYONCÉ DID AN INTERVIEW?? pic.twitter.com/sVcT6BFgK0 — Carmen (@Miss_CarmenP) June 12, 2019 Peep the hilarious hysteria over Queen Bey’s first interview in YEARS on the flip.
