Apple’s (PRODUCT) RED iPhone, JJ Abrams produces RuPaul TV series, Tickled subject dies at 55 and more: the biggest international LGBT stories in today’s Cuppán Gay

• Star Wars director JJ Abrams will produce a new TV series based on the life of RuPaul. Hollywood Reporter announced that Abrams would be creating “a fictionalised version of RuPaul’s rise from club kid to drag queen, gay icon, and global star.” RuPaul will be an executive producer on the show which is scheduled to hit screens later this year. (Attitude)

• Apple launch a red version of their flagship iPhone, the iPhone 7 with funds going to (PRODUCT)RED. Apple indicate that proceeds from the sale of these red iPhones go to help support HIV/AIDS programs: “Every purchase contributes to the Global Fund to support HIV/AIDS programs and help deliver an AIDS-free generation. (Apple)

https://twitter.com/MatthewSantoro/status/844191507737427968

• The subject of the gay fetish documentary Tickled dies ‘suddenly’ at 55-years of age. David D’Amato, who the film alleged to have tricked young men into performing in porn, has passed away. D’Amato denied the allegations and brought lawsuits against Tickled directors David Farrier and Dylan Reeve. The directors said: “We ask that in comments online, and out there in the world, you treat this information, and this man’s passing, with respect.” (GSN)

• A Freedom of Information request has revealed that the UK Parliament access Grindr more than 250,000 times a month. NewNowNext reported that Grindr had been accessed 272,000 in the month of December last year, while Tinder was accessed only 1,000 times. A spokesperson downplayed the figures: “The data shows ‘requests’ to access websites, not visits to them. Pop-up adverts make up a significant number of these ‘attempts’, which the computer-user would not even have been aware of.” (Attitude)

• YouTube regrets censoring LGBT content, doesn’t change filter policy. YouTube came under fire from LGBT content creators who discovered that their content which was related to the LGBT community, but not explicitly adult-themed, was being blocked with a ‘Restricted Mode’ filter. The Google owned company issued a statement of apology, but failed to alter their filter: “We are so proud to represent LGBTQ+ voices on our platform – they’re a key part of YouTube what is all about […] We regret any confusion this has caused and are looking into your concerns.” (The Gaily Grind)

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— YouTube Creators (@YouTubeCreators) March 20, 2017