News Round-Up: March 30, 2022

Some news stories you might have missed: • HuffPost: Arizona’s Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed a series of bills Wednesday targeting transgender rights. The measures will  prohibit gender confirmation surgery for minors (which practically never happens) and ban transgender girls from playing on girls and women’s sports teams. • NBC News: Billboards are popping up in some of Florida’s largest cities are encouraging passersby to “say gay” in response to the state’s controversial  “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law Monday.

Billboards popping up in some of Florida’s largest cities are encouraging passersby to “say gay.” https://t.co/nUJKihxuSb

— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 30, 2022

• New York Times: A new large-scale clinical study found ivermectin showed no sign of alleviating COVID-19. The study, which followed more than 1,300 people infected with the coronavirus who received either ivermectin or a placebo, found “no sign of any benefit.” • AP News: The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences said that Will Smith was asked to leave to Sunday’s Oscars after hitting Chris Rock but refused. The Academy also recognized “we could have handled the situation differently.”

Will Smith was asked to leave Sunday’s Oscars after hitting Chris Rock but refused, according to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

The academy’s board of governors met Wednesday to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith.https://t.co/vqdwyJLk6U — The Associated Press (@AP) March 30, 2022

• Out Cinema: The new queer sports drama In From The Side (lead image) made its debut this week at BFI Flare, London’s renowned LGBTQ film festival. In From The Side follows the story of Mark and Warren (Alexander Lincoln and Alexander King, respectively), a pair of rugby players on the same team. The two clash at first but the rivalry quickly morphs into something more, as Mark and Warren find themselves irresistibly attracted to one another. https://youtu.be/ZFqfsxkUf3o