LGBT

A federal judge has struck down the 2023 Texas drag ban ... and his decision cites the late, great Dolly Parton.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner ruled Texas Senate Bill 12 -- which could charge drag performers with a misdemeanor and jail time and fine businesses up to $10K -- improperly restricts speech and violates the First Amendment.

He says the law's definition of overly provocative performances is too vague, using Dolly as an example.

Hittner says the late legend's shows could have fallen under the broad ruling because people criticized her "as a voluptuous sex symbol because of her big hair, flamboyant clothes and breast exposure."

Enes Kanter Freedom's WNBA bid has already hit a speed bump ... because one of the league's teams has banned him from its arena following his verbal altercation with a player.

Michael Alter -- the owner of the Chicago Sky -- announced during a news conference Tuesday that the former NBA star has been banned from Wintrust Arena in the Windy City.

Alter reportedly told the media, "He has demonstrated to us, unequivocally, that he has the potential to be a threat."

Before this precious baby rockin' a star crown turned into a celebrity, she was just hitting the beaches of San Diego and jammin' out with her school's Glee Club.

She's a social media personality whose spotlight grew even more after her interview with (then) President Joe Biden.

Need one more clue? Bud Light.

Ex-NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom says his heated confrontation with WNBA guard Natasha Cloud went off the rails after Natasha told him Sophie Cunningham wasn't going to bang him.

Enes sat down with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, and she asked what sparked his viral altercation with Natasha at Sunday's WNBA game, which led to Enes being booted from the arena.

He says late in the third quarter, Sophie checked into the game and attempted a field goal, and he threw up his hands in celebration. He says Natasha noticed and on the next trip down the floor, she scored and then told him, "Sophie's not gonna sleep with you."

The WNBA has no plans to ban former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom from coming to games as a fan ... even though he was ejected from a Chicago Sky game after a heated exchange with Natasha Cloud.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the plan inside the league is to try and move on and let the controversy die. We're told the league felt a ban wasn't warranted because Enes didn't set foot on the court and he didn't do anything else that was egregious.

As TMZ reported ... Natasha was livid with Enes -- who was wearing a black shirt that read "woman noun adult human female" -- when they started jawing during the third quarter Sunday as he sat near the court.

Former NBA player and WNBA hopeful Enes Kanter Freedom may have had an intense run-in with authorities at Wintrust Arena Sunday night ... however, he's welcome back as long as the WNBA approves, TMZ has learned.

A Chicago PD spokesperson tells TMZ ... there have been no reports filed regarding the incident ... even though Enes was seen surrounded by cops after he was removed from the arena for getting in an altercation Sunday with WNBA Chicago Star player Natasha Cloud.

A Wintrust Area spokesperson tells TMZ ... "Based on the incident last night, decisions regarding reprimanding or banning would be the purview of the WNBA."

Ex-NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom got into a heated confrontation with WNBA star Natasha Cloud during a game -- and it ended with Enes getting booted out of the arena!

The drama unfolded in the third quarter of Sunday's matchup between Caitlin Clark's Indiana Fever and Natasha's Chicago Sky. Natasha scored a basket before the Fever called a timeout, and then Natasha started jawing with Enes, who was sitting courtside.

Enes stood up and started jawing back. He stretched out his arms and took a few steps toward the court before security stepped in and ejected him.

Caitlyn Jenner is weighing in on the increasingly heated debate over transgender athletes in the WNBA ... and she's throwing her support behind two former NBA players who say they're planning to enter the league's draft.

Jenner, a former Olympic gold medalist who transitioned in 2015, publicly backed Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White as they challenge the WNBA over its policies surrounding transgender athletes.

"XX are in, XY are out. It's that simple," Jenner told Fox News, arguing that women's sports need to be protected. She also suggested the former NBA players' moves are exposing what she views as contradictions and the "hypocrisy" in the league's approach to the issue.

Saucy Santana is sharing his thoughts on the ongoing debate over transgender women competing in women's professional sports ... calling on the WNBA to make a decision.

We got the rapper in New York City and asked him about the possibility of trans women playing in the WNBA ... and he told us, "trans women are women."

We dug deeper and asked whether a trans woman should be allowed to play in the WNBA ... and Santana told us he believes that decision should ultimately be left to the league and its eligibility rules, which aren't clearly defined.

The WNBA is blasting "bad-faith efforts" to push a narrative about transgender women competing in the league ... after ex-NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White claimed they're women and vowed to enter next year's WNBA Draft.

The WNBA held an anti-hate task force meeting Wednesday to discuss trans athletes ... and afterward, a league spokesperson said general managers and presidents came to the conclusion that there "are no immediate eligibility matters affecting the WNBA," adding ... "we strongly denounce the bad-faith efforts to use these topics to demean or marginalize others."

So, it sounds like Enes and Royce won't be entering the Draft after all.

The WNBA noted they will "continue to engage all league stakeholders in the coming weeks and months" and "will approach these important conversations thoughtfully and in alignment with the values of our league."

James Haven's detailing the phone call with his dad, Jon Voight, after he came out as gay ... and it sounds like it was a conversation James was avoiding.

The former actor appeared on "All Out With Jon Dean" in an interview published Wednesday morning ... explaining he's often felt somewhat dismissed by his famous father. He says Jon called him multiple times before he finally picked up the phone.

James says his father told him, "I finally know who you are" ... and they proceeded to have a "really nice chat."

Cheryl Miller isn't mincing words about Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White ... and the women's basketball great isn't amused.

TMZ Sports caught up with the Hall of Famer at LAX on Tuesday, and she made it clear she's not wasting any energy on the pair's recent comments about the league.

"I'm not giving them, those two, in particular, a whole lot of thought, because there's outsiders looking to hijack our network," Miller said. "It's horrible energy. It's horrible energy."

Angelina Jolie's brother, James Haven, was contacted by his famous dad, Jon Voight, after he publicly came out as a gay man ... TMZ has learned.

Sources close to James tell TMZ ... Jon, who has been open about his conservative views for years, called his son after seeing our report.

Our source said Jon told his son, "I now know who you are" and let out a little chuckle, which was a relief to James.

Jon tells TMZ ... he's very close to his son and loves him dearly.

Enes Kanter Freedom declared for the WNBA Draft, and now he says he's started to "transition" ... but it's not what you think.

The longtime hooper, shirtless and looking SHREDDED, posted video of a workout sesh, where the 6'10" center is ripping bicep curls ... alongside a caption and musical selection that'll drive his critics crazy.

"Let 'The Transition' to the @WNBA begin," the 34-year-old wrote. "Rules Are Rules!"

Kanter ended his tweet with "#LetFreedomPlay".

Ex-NBA player Royce White has announced he's transgender and plans to declare for the 2027 WNBA Draft ... making him the second former pro to do so within a day.

Check it out -- the former pro baller explained it loud and clear during a Friday interview with Fox News, saying ... "I’m transgender ... I identify as sometimes identifying as a woman for purposes of professional basketball, so I will be declaring for the WNBA draft in 2027 as well."

Royce played 3 official NBA games during the 2013-14 season with the Sacramento Kings and is currently a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate.