Page 1 Roundup (01/23)

The Daily News: Lead paint is dangerous to kids -- and careers

Sad to read that Neil Diamond has been diagnosed with Parkinson's, will retire from touring

The real Rosie the Riveter, Naomi Parker Fraley, dead at 96

New York Post: Megyn Kelly: different network, same stupidity

Gee, where would someone ever get an idea to do this?

Page Six: Malia Obama and her British boyfriend, Rory Farquharson, look like they're in love 

The New York Times: Trump appointee Carl Higbie resigns and apologizes for racist comments 

Congress brought an end to a three-day government shutdown on Monday as Senate Democrats buckled under pressure to adopt a short-term spending bill to fund government operations without first addressing the fate of young undocumented immigrants

Elise Mertens embarrasses Elina Svitolina to reach Australian Open semifinals

The Washington Post: George Papadopoulos is the ‘John Dean’ of the Russia investigation, his fiancee says

The New Yorker: Did Chuck Schumer cave on the shutdown?

The Wall Street Journal: Newly online India has become obsessed with sending cheery greetings from smartphones, causing head scratching in Silicon Valley

Transgender Model to Be Featured in Top Indian Fashion Show for First Time

It always feels like one step forward, two steps back for LGBT people around the world -- or maybe the other way around in this case as India voted to recriminalize gay sex in 2013 but then allows THIS.

3 Papers in Indian Refuse Mom's Ad Seeking Groom for Gay Son

The Wall Street Journal reports:

Like many Indian parents, when Padma Iyer wanted to find a spouse for her son Harish Iyer, she decided to place an advert in the matrimonial sections of a few national newspapers. But three of the four publications the Iyers approached, refused to run the advertisement, according to Mr. Iyer.  

The ad read: “Seeking 25-40, well-placed, animal loving vegetarian groom, for my son (36, 5’11) who works with an NGO. Caste no bar. (Though Iyer Preferred).”  

Ms. Iyer was looking for a husband for her 36-year-old son, one of India’s most well-known gay rights activists. The Times of India, Hindustan Times and DNA, did not carry the ad. According to Mr. Iyer, 

DNA and the Times of India refused citing legal consequences, while Hindustan Times didn’t give a reason. Uday Nirgudkar, DNA’s editor-in-chief, told India Real Time that his newspaper hadn’t refused to carry the ad but was seeking a legal opinion on the matter.“This is a sensitive issue, we have nothing against it at all,” Mr. Nirgudkar said. 

Given the country's renewed "ban" on gay sex, I can't say I'm surprised by this. I wonder if she tried to curry favor? (Thank you, I'm here all week!)

India Bizarre

Indian Supreme Court Recognizes Broad Rights for Transgender People

Great news, although  it's a bit an eye-raiser for me. India's high court has no tolerance for gay people, yet all the sympathy in the world for transgenders. Is Eddie Murphy the chief justice?

India's Supreme Court Restores Ban on Gay Sex

In a year that saw so much progress for LGBT rights, I don't think enough can be said about how catastrophic this ruling is, in a country with the second-largest population in the world. Truly disgusting and dangerous. Read HERE.

CitiGripe

With thanks to my brother Bill, who alerted me to this Gothamist story ripping Dad a new one for riding with his daughter like this.

Bill notes: Yes, this is stupid behavior, but are we the only people who remember that this was all anybody ever did, 24 hours a day, throughout the 1960s and '70s? 

And as my Indian coworker points out, this is an everyday occurrence in her homeland!

Belinda Carlisle Is Not a 'Desperate Housewife'

I wrote about Belinda Carlisle's new India-inspired home line on sale at Bergdorf-Goodman recently, but the first look at the related "Belinda Carlisle in India" reality show she has been shopping around -- also called Belindia -- has finally been made public. I won't lie: the part of her memoir, "Lips Unsealed," where she got off drugs and found spirituality in India was my least favorite section -- who wants to imagine Belinda Carlisle as anything but a glamorous star hanging out with other glamorous stars doing glamorous things? -- and a show built around the concept doesn't make me think "must-see TV." Still, the sizzle reel has some cute moments -- Indians think she's Marcia Cross from "Desperate Housewives," and she knows the words to "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" -- so if "Belindia" ever finds a home, I'll probably give it a chance, even if I'm more excited about her new single, "Sun."

Watch the preview for yourself HERE.