Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Hollywood Director Honors Friend Who Was Fatally Shot Over LGBTQ+ Pride Flag Outside Her Store

Paul Feig; Laura Ann Carleton
Phillip Faraone/Getty Images; Mountain Provisions Cooperative/Facebook

Director Paul Feig paid tribute to his friend, 66-year-old Laura Ann Carleton, who was gunned down for displaying an LGBTQ+ Pride flag outside her Mag Pi clothing store in Lake Arrowhead, California, on Friday.

Director Paul Feig took to social media to pay tribute to his friend, Laura Ann Carleton, who was gunned down on Friday for displaying an LGBTQ+ Pride flag outside her store in Lake Arrowhead, California.

According to a press release, deputies responded to a report of a shooting at Carleton's clothing store, Mag Pi, where they found the owner with a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene.


Police later shared:

“Through further investigation, detectives learned the suspect made several disparaging remarks about a rainbow flag that stood outside the store before shooting Carleton."

The armed shooter fled the scene on foot and, when located and confronted by authorities, was killed during a “lethal force encounter.”

Bridesmaids director Feig shared his dismay on Instagram, honoring Carleton and calling for an end to intolerance.

Accompanying a photo of himself with Carleton, he wrote:

"Our wonderful friend Lauri Carlton (seen in this picture) was murdered yesterday in her store @magpi_shop in Lake Arrowhead by a 27 year old man who didn’t like that she had a large pride flag hanging outside of her shop."
"He ripped it down and when she confronted him about it he shot and killed her."
"We are all devastated for her husband Bort and her family and the LGBTQ+ community, for whom Lauri was such a true ally."

Feig continued:

"Her alleged murderer was later shot and killed by the San Bernardino police and so no longer poses a threat to the community. But this intolerance has to end."
"Anyone using hateful language against the LGBTQ+ community has to realize their words matter, that their words can inspire violence against innocent loving people."
"Let’s all keep moving forward with tolerance and love. Let’s not let Lauri’s tragic death be in vain."

People on social media mourned the loss of a friend, a loved one, and an ally of the community, and seconded Feig's call for an end to hate.

@paulfeig/Instagram

@paulfeig/Instagram

@paulfeig/Instagram

@paulfeig/Instagram

@paulfeig/Instagram

@paulfeig/Instagram

@paulfeig/Instagram

@paulfeig/Instagram

@paulfeig/Instagram

@paulfeig/Instagram

The community of Lake Arrowhead is also mourning the loss of an outspoken ally.

Lake Arrowhead LGBTQ+ posted:

"Today was a very sad day for Lake Arrowhead and for the LGBTQ community."
"Our friend and supporter Lauri Carleton @magpi_shop was murdered defending her lgbtq+ Pride flags in front of her store in Cedar Glen California."
"Lauri did not identify as LGBTQ+, but spent her time helping & advocating for everyone in the community."
"She will be truly missed."

Mountain Provisions Cooperative also posted a tribute to Carleton on Facebook, noting that she was 'a pillar in our community, an immovable force in her values for equality, love, and justice.'

They also included photos of the makeshift memorial outside Carleton's shop following her murder.

Such a terrible and senseless loss. Thank you for your support and advocacy, Laura.

More from News/lgbtq

Ted Cruz; Kelvin Sampson
Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images; Alex Slitz/Getty Images

Houston Fans Livid After Ted Cruz 'Curse' Strikes Again At NCAA Basketball Championship

In 2013, 2016 and 2021, Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz was labeled the most hated man in Congress—by members of his own party. In 2023, Florida Republican Representative Matt Gaetz replaced him as the "most hated."

In a 2016 CNN interview, South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said:

Keep ReadingShow less
Harriet Tubman
Library of Congress/Getty Images

National Parks Website Restores Harriet Tubman Photo To 'Underground Railroad' Page After Backlash

Following significant backlash, the National Park Service restored a previously-erased photo of Harriet Tubman from a webpage dedicated to the history of the Underground Railroad, in which she led 13 missions to rescue enslaved people.

A spokesperson said the changes were not authorized by the agency's leadership.

Keep ReadingShow less
screenshot from Fox News of Jackie DeAngelis and Tommy Tuberville
Fox News

Tuberville Now Claims 'Entire Men's Teams' Are 'Turning Trans' To Play Against Women

Alabama Republican Senator Tommy "Coach" Tuberville appeared on Fox News Sunday to again spread unhinged misinformation about transgender athletes.

Speaking with guest host Jackie DeAngelis, Tuberville stated:

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot from Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver/YouTube

John Oliver Epically Calls Out Awkward Truth Behind Former NCAA Swimmer's Anti-Trans Tirades

On Sunday's episode of Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, the outspoken host devoted the entire program to the attack on trans girls and women who play sports by the GOP.

Oliver began the program saying:

Keep ReadingShow less
man in front of computer code
Chris Yang on Unsplash

Conspiracy Theories That Seem Believable The More You Look Into Them

We tend to think of conspiracy theories as a phenomenon of the digital age. But the internet and mobile devices only allow them to be created and spread faster.

Conspiracy theories have likely been around as long as human civilization has. They are, at their root, just another form of rumors and gossip.

Keep ReadingShow less