MAC Cosmetics is one of the most prominent names in the cosmetic industry, known for its bold colors and edgy appeal. In 1994, MAC launched Viva Glam, a rotating selection of cosmetics where 100% of profits go directly towards nonprofits that help women, the LGBTQ community, and those who are living with HIV/AIDS, including organizations like Broadway Cares. This year’s collection, Viva Glam x Keith Haring takes inspiration from the bright, bold primary colors that Keith Haring was known for in his famed artworks. The highlights of the collection are the electrifying lipsticks that can give any look a beautiful…
Author: Keith Langston
LGBTQ vacation company VACAYA is bringing entertainment to everyone during the coronavirus outbreak. Starting March 28, at 8pm ET, VACAYA will begin their Saturday Night Spotlight. Each weekend, the spotlight will feature a different performer, live from their own home. VACAYA knows that entertainers have suddenly stopped being able to generate any income, so in response, the company decided to create a way where their talent could still perform. Hence, Saturday Night Spotlight was born. VACAYA will be paying their performers per show, and a Venmo tip jar will also be available. To watch, all you need to do is…
Flash Pack, the travel and adventure company for solo travelers in their 30’s and 40’s has just released a list of the best places to take a holiday from the holidays. If you’re the kind of person who would rather travel during this festive time of year, then these great destinations may be perfect for you. Pack you bags, tell your family you’ll see them next year, and head out on an epic journey with a group of other solo travelers. By Keith Langston JORDAN Christmas lights are great and make the season festive, but wouldn’t you prefer to…
Skier Hig Roberts recently revealed that he was gay to the New York Times. Roberts is a two-time national champion skier for the US Ski Team, and was an alternate for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Roberts detailed his struggles with his sexuality, claiming that the mental toll of being in the closest ultimately hindered his performance in the sport, leading him to retire in 2019 at the age of 28. However, according to Attitude, Roberts has a new take on life. He now lives in Norway, working in finance and is much happier. The magazine quoted him saying, “I am…
Adam Berry is having a bit of a moment. His paranormal investigation show Kindred Spirits is one of Travel Channel’s most popular, and is currently filming its fourth season. Adam also participates in Strange Escapes with his Kindred Spirits co-star Amy Bruni, where the two, along with other paranormal professionals, guide participants through ghost hunts at some of America’s most haunted locals. And to top it all off, he’s happily married to his handsome husband, Ben Berry. Seeing as October is here, autumn is in the air, and Halloween in fast approaching, I sat down with Adam to ask him…
Aruba, one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly destinations in the Caribbean, is taking extra steps to provide a sense of security for anyone looking to get married or have a honeymoon on their beautiful Island. With Aruba’s new Happily Ever After Guarantee, anyone who books a destination wedding or honeymoon for 2021, can postpone and reschedule for any coronavirus-related reason for up to a year. The program has a very liberal policy on what counts, as long as it is related to COVID-19. Whether that means a sick family member or a future outbreak that shuts down travel. As long…
As we get closer to graduation season next month, numerous LGBTQ students will be attending their graduations. Some, however, might not feel comfortable, safe, or accepted at their schools and may be wishing they had a space to celebrate their achievements amongst other members of the queer community. That’s why Lavender Graduation was founded in 1995 at the University of Michigan. According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), “The Lavender Graduation Ceremony was created by Dr. Ronni Sanlo, a Jewish Lesbian, who was denied the opportunity to attend the graduations of her biological children because of her sexual orientation.” Sanlo…
Claudia Lopez was recently elected the mayor of Bogota, Colombia, making her the first female and first LGBTQ mayor in the city’s history. Lopez ran on a platform promising to combat political corruption and promoting civil rights for everyone. Upon hearing the news of her election, Lopez said, “This is the day of the woman, we knew that only by uniting could we win. We did that. We united, we won, and we made history!” Lopez received over 1 million votes, beating her opponent by 2.7 percentage points, electing her as one of the most important political figures in Colombia.…
Fans around the world became obsessed with the wild, almost unbelievable feud between big cat activist Carole Baskin and breeder Joe Exotic in Netflix’s popular docuseries, Tiger King. Now, Peacock dives behind the scenes of the lives of both Joe and Carole and explores their escalating conflict, and even the making of Tiger King with the new limited series Joe Vs. Carole. In the show, John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Shortbus) will play Joe Exotic and Kate McKinnon (SNL) will play Carole Baskin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62VFGOJhg8w Based on the podcast “Joe Exotic,” hosted and reported by Robert Moor, the series…
Online dating has come a long way since Match.com first launched back in the 90s. Since then, competitors like eHarmony launched in 2000, and Tinder popularized free online dating back in 2012. However, it’s new brands like Hinge and a resurgence of popularity in OkCupid that are really stepping up for equality and diversity. Both companies have new campaigns aimed at supporting the LGBTQ community. HINGE Hinge is one of the newest dating apps out there. While the site was technically created in 2012, it struggled and almost went bankrupt for years. It wasn’t until 2017 that users gravitated…
Diesel, the fashion brand known around the world for their high-quality clothes and accessories, has just released a video for Pride Week that will surely cause some controversy, as well as inspire many people. The video follows Francesca, who was born male, but transitions to female. At the start of the video, you’re not sure what to think. You see a dark shot of Francesca taking a pill. It tricks the viewer into wondering if this is going to be about drugs. But then, you start to see Francesca’s life, and you realize she’s transgender. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=117&v=535_479z-hM&feature=emb_logo By the end of…
OUTFEST, the world’s premiere LGBTQ entertainment festival, has partnered with the Colin Higgins Foundation to secure grants worth $15,000 to be awarded to young LGBTQ filmmakers. The Colin Higgins Foundation is named after acclaimed LGBTQ screenwriter and director Colin Higgins, who wrote hit films (and queer classics) like Harold and Maude, 9 to 5, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Sadly, Higgins was diagnosed with AIDS in 1985. After receiving his diagnosis, he was determined to help the future of the LGBTQ community in whatever way he could. He then established the Colin Higgins Foundation, which would be used…
Earlier this week Mike Pence attended a homophobic sermon at the Holy City Church of God in Christ in Memphis. Making matters even worse is that the White House officially streamed the sermon and then put it on their YouTube page, giving the republican base a clear expression of where the Trump administration stands. Not only did Pence attend the sermon, but he was invited on stage to give a few words. He, of course, ran the typical dog and pony show, stating how the Trump administration is creating jobs, is good for the economy, especially in the South, as…
What does flight insurance cover? In general, it covers canceling a flight due to things like illness, a death in the family, job loss, severe weather problems, an extreme accident that makes you unable to fly, and so on…but in general, we’re talking about illness. That’s the most common reason you’d need to cancel a flight. Let me explain what happened to me: Back in early May, I booked a flight home for June. By the time June rolled along, it would be around 4 months since I was sick last, so I purchased flight insurance just in case, because…
The 2000s was a decade filled with groundbreaking LGBTQ television and cinema. From Eating Out and Latter Days to Queer as Folk and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. But no piece of media was quite as absurd, offensive, and hilarious as Another Gay Movie. The film set out to parody popular teen comedies like American Pie, but flipped the script, and, unlike your average teen comedy, focused on a group of gay friends instead. The cast included the then-unknown Michael Carbonaro, and supporting roles were filled by some of the queer community’s favorite stars, like Graham Norton, Lypsinka, and…
A draft bill has entered Ghana’s parliament that will imprison everyone in the LGBTQ community and anyone who supports them. According to The Guardian, the bill, tentatively titled the “promotion of proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values bill” states that LGBTQ and intersex people are intrinsically wrong, are against God’s wishes, and are hurting society. The bill is even threatening “violators” with “no less than five years” and “up to ten years” imprisonment. According to BBC West Africa (which is written in Pidgin), the bill states, “Anybody wey go use media, technological platform, technological account or any other…
On June 1st, LEGO’s brand new “Everyone is Awesome” set will go on sale. The 346-piece set presents a rainbow backdrop with a group of friends standing proudly in front of it. The set was designed by LEGO employee, Matthew Ashton, who said he designed the set to be a symbol of positivity and inclusivity for everyone. The rainbow flag combines both the traditional Pride flag with the BLM colors to symbolize the intersectionality of race and sexuality. The product even includes the colors of the trans pride flag, creating an epic backdrop of eleven colors. According to Ashton, while…
The typical rom-com formula will get turned upside down on September 30th when the new movie Bros hits theaters. The movie stars (and was written by) gay comedian Billy Eichner, who many will already know from his hit reality series Billy on the Street. He teamed up with comedic powerhouses Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin) and Nicholas Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) to serve as producer and director. In the film, Billy plays Bobby Lieber, a “typical” gay New Yorker who finds himself falling in love with a masculine, “straight-acting” guy named Aaron. The two initially judge each other based on…
Rolling Stone has reported that Cyndi Lauper is set to receive the first-ever High Note Global Prize. The award, created through a collaboration between the United Nations and the High Note Global Initiative, is designed to celebrate musicians who use their talents to help further human rights around the world. Lauper will receive the award during the 9th annual Home for the Holidays benefit concert, being held at the Novo in Los Angeles on December 10th. The event features a star-studded line-up of musicians, comedians, and entertainers, including, Brandi Carlile, Billy Porter, Lily Tomlin, Marilyn Manson, Margaret Cho, and many…
The new documentary Julia Scotti – Funny That Way explores the life of comedian Julia Scotti, who shot to fame on the talent show America’s Got Talent. Julia, born Rick Scotti, always had a love for stand-up comedy, and despite a good career on the comedy club circuit, Scotti felt something was missing: that he wasn’t who he truly was supposed to be. In his late 40’s, Rick realized he needed to be his true self. After transitioning, Julia not only blossomed into a happier, healthier person, but she rebooted her career as a stand-up comediene. Little did she know…
For Pride this year, queer-owned cookie delivery company Wunderkeks is teaming up with the LOVELOUD Foundation, the LGBTQ nonprofit founded by gay ally and Imagine Dragons frontman, Dan Reynolds. During the month of June, Wunderkeks hopes to raise $30,000 for LOVELOUD’s circle of charities, which include Encircle, The Trevor Project, and the Tegan and Sara Foundation, among others, through cookie sales. To make this happen, the two have partnered together to launch the Wunderkeks x LOVELOUD Pride cookie box. This fabulously festive box comes adorned with all the confetti, sparkles, and shine that Pride month deserves. Inside are some of the…
Peacock’s long-awaited reboot of Queer as Folk is finally headed to the NBC streaming service on June 9th. It’s a fitting release date seeing as it’s Pride Month, and the show’s official trailer shows how Queer as Folk both honors past events and the original US series, while also revamping the show for the modern era. As the trailer reveals, the series picks up right after a tragic shooting at the LGBTQ club, Babylon. This not only harkens back to the tragic Pulse shooting but it also references the original series, which portrayed the Babylon getting bombed in the show’s…
The Salt Lake Tribune reports some (basically) good news today. According to a study from the University of Utah that was published in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility, researchers believe that the coronavirus is NOT spread through bodily fluids like semen, so, therefore, isn’t considered “sexually transmitted.” The article went on to say that the new novel coronavirus (which can lead to the COVID-19 disease) is spread through tiny droplets of moisture, similar to the cold or flu, that spread from coughing, sneezing, breathing, and talking. However, you can also become infected from touching a surface that has these…
A few days ago, Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney did an interview with 60 Minutes. Throughout the segment, many difficult topics were discussed, including Trump’s control over the Republican party, the January 6 insurrection, and Afghanistan. However, in one remarkable moment of the interview, host Lesley Stahl asked Cheney, “How do you defend what you did?” in reference to the fact that Cheney was still vocally against same-sex marriage in 2013, despite having a gay sister. Shockingly, Cheney immediately responded with, “I was wrong.” She then went on to say, “I was wrong. I love my sister very much. I love…
Country singer Brooke Eden became a star a few years ago after releasing her hit song, “Act Like You Don’t”. Since then, Eden has been taking time to find herself and hone her skills as a musician. Part of her journey has been to take her once-secret relationship and make it known to the world. In an interview with People, Eden stated, “How is an artist supposed to be an artist and be completely open…if you can’t be completely open?” Now, Eden is releasing a trilogy of singles that chronicle her relationship and the love she shares with her girlfriend.…
The University of Michigan is renowned for being one of the most prominent universities in the country. The school is also known for being located in the forward-thinking and progressive college town of Ann Arbor, which is consistently regarded as one of the best destinations in all of Michigan. Now, the school has shown off its commitment to diversity and inclusivity with a special halftime show during a game against Rutgers that celebrated the 50th anniversary of the school’s Spectrum Center, a community space for U of M’s LGBTQ+ student body. The center also puts on events and hosts lectures…
This is a tough time for everyone, but especially for the LGBTQ+ community. Many people traveled home to be with family during the pandemic, but for a lot of LGBTQ+ people home isn’t a place where they feel comfortable. Also, large portions of the LGBTQ+ community live in major cities, which have been the hardest hit by the outbreak. LGBTQ+ people also have disproportionate amounts of financial and housing disenfranchisement. For all of these reasons, among many others, it’s easy to see how life in lockdown can make you feel anxious, scared, and frustrated. But you don’t have to go…
On Friday, August 7th, the 11th District Court in Florida handed down their 2-1 decision in-favor of a transgender student, stating that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 includes protections against discrimination based on gender identity. Back in 2018, then-high school student, Drew Adams, won a landmark case against the St. John’s County school board, stating that transgender students should be allowed to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. At the time, it was a monumental victory for civil rights. However, in 2019, the school board appealed the case. During the trials, Adams had help from Lambda…
Nikki de Jager, best known for her popular YouTube channel, NikkieTutorials, has become the first openly transgender celebrity to host the Eurovision Song Contest. Jager began YouTubing over a decade ago, and shot to global fame from her make-up videos. She has even had the honor of doing make-up for celebs like Jessie J and Lady Gaga. In 2019, Jager was even hired by Marc Jacobs Beauty to be their global beauty advisor. However, in early 2020, Jager became the victim of blackmail. Her 14 million+ fan base didn’t know that she was trans, and an unknown assailant threatened to…
The tango, Argentina’s national dance, is seeing a resurgence in an unlikely place…the LGBTQ community. Historically, the tango is an extremely heteronormative and male-controlled dance. Traditionally, a woman could only dance the tango with a man, and the man must be the one who approaches the woman, and the man must be the lead in the dance. In the 90’s, however, a new underground movement formed within Buenos Aires, Queer Tango. Groups of LGBT people, and even tango lovers who simply didn’t want to follow the strict rules, secretly came together to dance and have fun, without the pressure of…