By Nicole Winfield
Pope Francis endorsed same-sex civil unions for the first time as pope while being interviewed for the feature-length documentary “Francesco,” which had its premiere at the Rome Film Festival on Wednesday.
The papal thumbs up came midway through the film that delves into issues he cares about most, including the environment, poverty, migration, racial and income inequality, and the people most affected by discrimination.
“Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God,” Francis said in one of his sit-down interviews for the film. “What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered.”
While serving as archbishop of Buenos Aires, Francis endorsed civil unions for gay couples as an alternative to same-sex marriages. However, he had never come out publicly in favor of civil unions as pope.
Director Evgeny Afineevsky had remarkable access to cardinals, the Vatican television archives, and the pope himself. He said he negotiated his way in through persistence, and deliveries of Argentine mate tea and Alfajores cookies that he got to the pope via some well-connected Argentines in Rome.
In the past, government agencies have typically taken on the cost of such searches, even when rich people pay thousands of dollars for questionable activities.
Most GOP-controlled states have already imposed bans, including 14 at every stage of pregnancy.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is adding new rules for movies to qualify for Best Picture.
The second season of 'And Just Like That' kicked off amid mixed reviews.
The Paley Center in New York is holding an immersive exhibit to celebrate the 25th anniversary of 'Will & Grace.' Cheddar News took a peek at the exhibit to mark the anniversary and celebrate Pride month.
Owin Pierson, LGBTQ+ activist and mental health advocate, joined Cheddar News which Pride brands and products to purchase that support the LGBTQ+ movement ahead of celebrations this weekend and as anti-LTBGQ+ backlash is on the rise.
San Francisco put up the largest pink triangle on the city's Twin Peaks viewpoint ahead of its Pride celebration this weekend.
Kesha and producer Dr. Luke have settled a legal dispute from nearly a decade ago. Kesha had accused Dr. Luke of sexual assault and he countersued her for defamation.
Randy Wicker, a pioneer in the movement for LGBTQ+ rights and who's serving as the grand marshal for New York City's Pride parade, sat down with Cheddar News to reflect on his years of activism and why he's doing it.
Police officers in South Carolina made sure that a birthday party for one little girl with cerebral palsy was extra special.
