The popular San Fransisco LGBTQ+ film festival, Frameline, returns this June in partnership with the Castro Theatre. Because of lockdown restrictions, the event will mostly be digital, with a special premiere taking place at a drive-in. This year, Frameline44 will take place June 25th-28th. The organizers have teamed up with filmmaker HP Mendoza (known for the popular movie Fruit Fly) to work as a creative partner and bring life to the digital festival. The main highlight of this year’s event will be the screening of Ahead of the Curve, which is set to have its premiere at the West Wind…
Author: Keith Langston
For years now, Disney has been accused of purposefully excluding the LGBTQ community from its lineup of characters. Within the last six months alone, the studio faced criticisms for not making Elsa gay in Frozen 2, and more recently, for choosing not to air the highly-anticipated show Love, Victor on Disney+, claiming the show wasn’t “family-friendly.” Now, the streaming platform Disney+ just released the Pixar short film Out, which follows the story of a young man about to move away from his hometown with his boyfriend. His parents don’t know he’s gay, and he prefers it that way. However, when his…
At midnight on May 26, 2020 same-sex marriage became law in Costa Rica, making it the first Central American country to legalize it. As we stated in our previous article, this moment has been a long time coming. The country set the parameters for gay marriage back in 2018, but set the date far in the future in order to give the population time to adapt and adjust. Throughout those two years, the measure was challenged, but at midnight the moment finally arrived and gay marriage is now legal in Costa Rica. Couples around the world held celebrations overnight, but…
AIDS Walk New York, one of the largest fundraisers of the year, won’t be stopping for the pandemic. This year, on June 7th, at 10 am ET, the event will commence online with AIDS Walk From Home! The event will be star-studded with surprise celebrity guests, special performances, and even a live DJ set so you can dance the day away in your PJs. This year, supporting the AIDS Walk and Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) is more important than ever. GMHC has begun partaking in emergency COVID-19 efforts to help the community, especially those suffering from HIV and AIDS.…
Marie Cau made history by becoming the first openly transgender person to be elected as mayor in France. Cau is now the mayor of the village of Trilloy-lez-Marchiennes, a town of just 550 people. Cau’s background was in engineering and she ran on a platform of environmental sustainability and boosting the local economy. On top of being mayor, she will continue running her IT consulting business on the side. The election of Marie Cau also provides a new dynamic to the idea of rural vs. city values. If a small town of just 550 people can vote for a transgender…
Larry Kramer died at age 84 today, leaving behind a body of work that changed not only the LGBTQ community, but the world as a whole. Kramer came to prominence in 1969 when he was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for the movie Women in Love. Almost a decade later, Kramer would make waves again for his shocking and controversial 1978 novel, Faggots, which was based on his own life. The novel focuses on a young man trying to make it in New York City, all while feeling alienated by his fellow gays who partake in the hyper-sexualized, drug-obsessed nightclub…
Betsy DeVos, the US Secretary of Education, is threatening to cut federal funding to Connecticut schools unless they ban transgender girls from playing sports on girl’s teams. The move, which was first reported by the AP, is yet another attack by DeVos against the LGBTQ community. The claim is that trans girls aren’t biologically girls, but boys, and therefore, will have an unfair advantage in the realm of sports. The Alliance Defending Freedom (a conservative Christian organization) backed up the claim by stating, that it “isn’t fair, destroys girls’ athletic opportunities, and clearly violates federal law,” The Department of Education’s…
Shudder, the premiere streaming service for horror and suspense is now streaming the documentary Scream Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street, which delves into the now-infamous 1985 movie, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, which has been called “the gayest horror movie of all time.” The controversy over the film is wide and varied. The movie was written with tons of homoerotic undertones and some very blatant LGBTQ moments (like a visit to a gay bar). However, screenwriter David Chaskin denies deliberately doing so. Secondly, the film’s star, gay actor Mark Patton, was stepping into the role of being…
The popular ABC show What Would You Do? returns with a special episode guest-starring Olympic skater Adam Rippon. The show centers around putting real people in extreme scenarios to see what they do. Do they stand up to bigotry? Do they defend the oppressed? Or do they just stand there and watch? Or partake in the harassment? In the episode with Adam Rippon, a coach is put to the test when a young athlete comes out to her as LGBTQ. The show seeks to find out how she’ll respond, and also aims to help educate the viewer about why inclusivity…
The Trevor Project has long been known as a group that’s dedicated to helping LGBTQ youth and young adults. To help raise awareness of acceptance and diversity during September’s Suicide Prevention Month, the organization has created fun outfits in their signature orange color, accented by the rainbow flag design for Animal Crossing players. According to Mashable, The Trevor Project’s lead designer, Jonathan Silberman, stated, “Our research has found that LGBTQ young people who have a space where they feel affirmed in their identity are significantly less likely to attempt suicide. All of these factors contributed to our decision to design…
To celebrate Gay Pride Week in the Finnish capital of Helsinki, Burger King has launched a new ad that features The King and Ronald McDonald kissing. A caption of the bottom of the ad reads, “Love Conquers All.” The head of Burger King’s Finnish marketing divison, Kaisa Kasila, stated, “Burger King has always stood for equality, love and everyone’s right to be just the way they are.” The ad was designed to show that The King is even willing to show love to his biggest competitor, Ronald McDonald. https://twitter.com/fer_machado123/status/1304040445866053635 Fer Machado, the Marketing Director for RBI (the company that runs…
In the early 90s, photographers Saul Bromberger and Sandra Hoover began documenting life at Seattle’s Bailey-Boushay House. Bailey-Boushay was a hospice care facility for AIDS patients, the first of its kind in the nation. What they discovered was the reality of a devastating pandemic that was being largely overlooked by mainstream society. But, they also discovered hope and community. The two found that close bonds, support, and friendship was being formed between the residents of the house. Now, on September 24th at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT, the two will be taking part in a new monthly series that…
LGBTQ tennis legend, Lisa Raymond, has been nominated for this year’s round of admittees to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. Raymond holds six major titles in women’s doubles, and five in mixed doubles. She also took home a Bronze Medal at the 2012 London Olympics, along with her playing partner Mike Bryan. Raymond even ranked as the #1 doubles player for 137 consecutive weeks. Other members who have been nominated include Lleyton Hewitt, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Jonas Björkman, and Sergi Bruguera. https://twitter.com/TennisHalloFame/status/1308120860881047552 ITHF President Stan Smith. “All five Player Category candidates have achieved incredible results…
A political action group made up of artists has decided to cover Cleveland with billboards featuring Trump quotes prior to tonight’s debates. The billboards are part of the Remember What They Did, #VoteThemOut campaign, aimed at getting Americans to remember the atrocities of the Trump administration. https://twitter.com/KaylaEpstein/status/1310961312298676224 Some of the billboards feature Trump’s notorious comments about the COVID-19 pandemic, including “…that’s going to sort of just disappear, I hope.” Others remind residents of his comments during the BLM uprising in June, where he stated, “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.” Another, a projection onto the side of a building,…
On October 9th, Academy Award-nominated director, Leslie Iwerks, will release her new short documentary, Selling Lies. The film, which was an Official Selection at 11 film festivals, looks at 2016’s rampant spread of fake news through social media and the people of Macedonia who produced the content. The movie is a shocking yet sobering experience. It’s angering to know that people from other countries were directly manipulating America’s election in order to make a profit. However, the film also digs into other aspects that we as Americans need to think about, such as the fact that much of the “information”…
In yet another blow to civil rights during the Trump era, members of the Supreme Court are now declaring that gay marriage is an attack on “religious liberty” and is “hurting people’s lives”. The anti-gay opinions came from justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. after the court declined to hear the case of Kentucky clerk Kim Davis (who was famously jailed for refusing to do her job after gay marriage was legalized.) While the two supported not hearing Davis’ case, they followed up by stating, “Davis may have been one of the first victims of this court’s cavalier…
The alt-right hate group “The Proud Boys” have been fueled by Trump’s hateful words, especially after his call to “stand by” at the first presidential debate. However, Star Trek actor and social media guru George Takei had a brilliant idea for Twitter, posting this: “What if gay guys took pictures of themselves making out with each other or doing very gay things, then tagged themselves with #ProudBoys. I bet it would mess them up real bad. #ReclaimingMyShine” From there, the LGBTQ community took to Twitter and went wild posting everything from photos of their weddings, to their spouses, hilarious…
Martin Jenkins used to play professional football for the Seattle Seahawks. After that, he entered into a career of politics and law, serving as a prosecutor and judge. He now serves under California Governor Gavin Newsom as the Judicial Appointments Secretary, and he’s just been nominated to the California Supreme Court, making him the first gay black man to ever be nominated. According to CNN, at a press conference, Jenkins stated, “I am truly humbled and honored to be asked by the Governor to continue serving the people of California on the Supreme Court. If confirmed, I will serve with…
Ryan Murphy revealed that the cast of his upcoming Netflix film, The Prom, had reunited during the COVID pandemic to finish shooting the movie. He also said that it’s slated for release at Christmastime. The movie is based on the 2016 musical of the same name and follows a group of fading Broadway stars who decide to revamp their careers through an ill-planned publicity stunt. The group decides to head to a small town prom where drama is brewing over a female student who wants to take her girlfriend to prom. The Prom opened in Atlanta before heading to Broadway…
Hey, Chicagoans and visitors to the Second City! Are you looking for a great way to get outside, get some exercise, experience the beauty of your city. and help others? Take part in Chicago’s AIDS Run and Walk! In order to promote social distancing, the event will be taking place in various parts of the city throughout the week beginning September 28th. Event locations include Hyde Park, The Loop, and Lakeview, among others. There are numerous ways to take part – You can walk, run a 5k or 10k, support a participating team, or even simply by sharing the news…
The village of Cap d’Agde in the South of France, the world’s largest naturist colony, has been connected to almost 150 cases of COVID-19, with many more probable cases on the way. During an investigation into a cluster of coronvirus cases, medical professionals realized they all stemmed back to the nudist village. CNN reports that during a test of 490 people, 95 came back positive. That’s 1 in 5 people testing positive. There’s still 310 tests awaiting results, so the number of positive cases is estimated to increase. The village has year-round residents, and visitors can stay in hotels, campgrounds,…
Sports Illustrated features their first transgender model for their famous swimsuit issue. Throughout the magazine’s history (it premiered back in 1964), their swimwear photoshoots have taken place all over the globe, from Cozumel to Australia, and even Bora Bora in Franch Polynesia. But this issue marks a new milestone for the magazine. Model Valentina Sampaio has become Sports Illustrated’s first transgender model, breaking barriers for women and the LGBTQ community, as well as ushering in a new era for the magazine—one that promotes the beauty of diversity. Sampaio was photographed by famed fashion photographer Josie Clough on Scrub Island, in…
You’ve probably heard that The Dixie Chicks have recently changed their name to The Chicks. The band has decided to distance themselves from a word that’s heavily associated with the Confederate South. The change has enraged some conservatives, but this isn’t the band’s first brush with controversy. Back during the Bush era, the band famously received extreme backlash from Americans (including death threats) because of their comments about the sad direction America was moving in. While many thought that incident was going to be the death of the band, The Chicks came back swinging with their manifesto album Taking the…
A new rule from the Department of Housing and Urban Development is seeking to allow federally-funded homeless shelters to decide a person’s sex based on a “good faith belief.” The rule states that employees of homeless shelters are not allowed to turn someone away for being transgender, but are allowed to decide whether they go in a men’s or women’s shelter. Making the measure even crueler, is the process by which how an employee can decide. The rule says that someone’s sex can be determined by their physical characteristics, such as height, the presence of facial hair, or having an…
A new campaign called Well Beings is aiming to help the mental health crisis amongst America’s youth. To launch the project, the organization assembled celebrities and mental health professionals to hold a virtual town hall to address the issue of youth mental health. The event was hosted by numerous celebrities including Billy Porter, Alanis Morissette, Bill Pullman, Jewel, Kid Cudi, and Demi Moore, among many others. One of the main topics was mental health among LGBTQ youth. Trans actor Ian Alexander, star of Netflix’s The OA, spoke about his experience growing up. He said that when he tried to speak…
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…
This year, Provincetown’s famous Carnival celebration is going online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The good news is that now, everyone can watch the show for free from anywhere! On Saturday, August 22nd, at 5 pm, one of America’s most famous Pride events will begin a new chapter by streaming online for free. This year’s carnival is titled FOREVER PROVINCETOWN and will celebrate the past 42 years of the famed PTown event, while also looking towards the future and what’s next for the queer community. The event will include a virtual tea dance, performances by world-renowned talents like Courtney…
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…
The first issue of the new zine 86 Logic has just been released and aims at helping local restaurants, cafes, and bars struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. 86 Logic gets its name from the restaurant phrase “86”, meaning, to run out of something. The publication is created by artists who work in, or got their start in the service industry. It’s filled with short stories, poems, essays, photos, and even comics, all celebrating (and hilariously commiserating) with anyone who has ever been a dishwasher, waiter, or busboy, waiting for their big break. Contributors to the magazine are men and women…
The South China Morning Post has reported that the organization that puts on Shanghai’s long-running pride celebration has declared that they were immediately halting any future events, without giving any explanation. The announcement was made on the popular Chinese social media app, WeChat. Shanghai Pride formed back in 2009, and was initially a small gathering, but has since grown into one of the largest pride celebrations in all of Asia. They even managed to hold in-person events this summer, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. While China decriminalized homosexuality in 1997 and removed it from the list of mental illnesses in 2001,…