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,…
Author: Keith Langston
Liquor brand Jägermeister has heralded a campaign throughout the pandemic called the Save the Night Initiative, which has been dedicated to helping keep local bars open during the pandemic. And upon hearing the news that only 15 lesbian bars remain in the US (and that the pandemic is seriously threatening their livelihood), Jägermeister has vowed to extend their campaign by including the Lesbian Bar Project to the lineup. The project is dedicated to educating people about the importance of lesbian bars, preserving their history, and fighting to keep the last remaining ones open for future generations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qW2db4HuqA&feature=emb_logo The campaign released…
The popular gay hookup/dating app Grindr has been fined 65 million Norwegian Krones ($7 million USD) for what Bloomberg Law calls “unlawful sharing of personal data with third parties for marketing purposes.” According to Jusrist.org., The Norwegian Data Protection Authority (DPA) “found that Grindr violated Articles 6(1) and 9(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for disclosing personal data without legal basis and disclosing special category personal data without valid exemptions. Grindr argued it had the consent of its users as a legal basis for sharing personal data, but the DPA disagreed and found that users were not properly…
Today, the onePULSE Foundation, which was created in memory of those who lost their lives in the 2016 shooting, has announced that they have created 49 scholarships – one in honor of each victim – that will be given to students who are looking to pursue higher education. They can be used in universities, in career studies, and technical colleges. Each scholarship is dedicated to the passions and interests of each of the victims. Scholarships are available for a wide range of studies including, nursing, business, cosmetology, journalism, education, and many that are open to any area of study. The…
The Stonewall National Museum and Archives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is believed to be the largest LGBTQ library in the world. The archive is made up of more than six million pages of LGBTQ history. If all the books were stacked up on top of each other, they would equal the height of two Empire State Buildings. However, the Stonewall National Museum and Archives also understands the critical need to enter the digital age and create an online database that can be accessed by anyone, anywhere. Hence how the new In Plain Sight exhibit was born. https://www.stonewallnma.orgThe digital exhibit can…
Brigham Young University is a large college in Utah that’s run by the Mormon church (LDS). It’s long been known how homophobic Mormonism is, but many are probably unaware that BYU actually bans and prohibits LGBTQ relationships, effectively forcing queer students to live in fear and secrecy. Even worse is that this is blatantly enforced and isn’t a secret. Students can be punished if they’re caught holding hands or kissing another student of the same sex, and in an NBC News article, the school shamelessly stated, “BYU is within its rights to enforce the church’s policies against same-sex relationships.” A…
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…
At this year’s Brit Awards, Elton John teamed up with singer Olly Alexander, who performs under the name Years and Years. The duo recreated the controversial and highly popular song “It’s a Sin” which was originally released by the Pet Shop Boys in 1987. The song was written by Pet Shop Boy’s lead singer Neil Tennent and tells of his time growing up in a Catholic school, being told that the way he was is a sin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk4eMIswunQ The video uploaded to YouTube doesn’t show what happened before the performance, but according to Vulture, Elton John’s husband, David Furnish, came…
After the passing of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, New York City has come out swinging with a new ad campaign that will see billboards go up around Florida throughout the months of April and May. In a press conference, New York City’s newly-elected mayor, Eric Adams, stated, “I am the mayor of New York City, but I have a message for Florida’s LGBTQ+ community — come to a city where you can say and be whoever you want. Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill is the latest shameful, extremist culture war targeting the LGBTQ+ community. Today, we say to the…
Richard Branson has gone from the air to the sea with his new venture, Virgin Voyages. Virgin’s maiden ship The Scarlet Lady will set sail from Miami to the Caribbean starting in the spring of 2020. The ship, which is an astonishing 17 stories tall, will include an outdoor yoga studio, fitness bootcamp, VIP sundeck, spa, nightclub, karaoke bar, theater, and much much more. One thing that the Scarlet Lady will have that no other cruise ship does is her very own craft beer. The still unnamed beer will be an Extra Pale Ale that mixes American and English brewing…
From April 26 to 28, the Lexus Culinary Classic will return to the historic Cavallo Point resort in San Francisco. The weekend is going to be filled with great food, wine, and excursions! Now in its fifth year, the event has an exciting lineup of guest chefs and culinary experts. Throughout the weekend guests will be treated to a schedule of exclusive events with highlights including a welcome dinner and reception, multiple cooking demonstrations, uniquely prepared meals, a class on wine blending, and the grande finale, the Lexus Grand Tasting, where some of America’s finest wineries will come together for a…
According to the South China Morning Post, a Judge in Hong Kong just deemed it unconstitutional for the government to deny public housing to same-sex couples. Previously, the government had barred same-sex couples from getting public housing because it wanted to “protect traditional family formations.” The government used the excuse that the parameters for public housing units larger than single-person dwellings are for “husband and wife, parent and child, grandparent and grandchild.” The government also claimed that by allowing same-sex couples to apply for public housing would hurt the chances of “traditional families” from receiving housing by adding more names…
Target is one of the biggest names in retail; not just in America, but across the globe. In honor of Pride Month, the brand has unveiled a huge selection of products, all themed around Pride, acceptance, and diversity. From clothing to accessories, home decor, books, and even gifts for your pets, Target has something for everyone. This year’s collection was designed by LGBTQ designers, like TomboyX and Humankind, giving the community a voice and providing the products with an authentic touch. According to an official statement from Target, the company stated, “We teamed up with LGBTQIA+ designers, entrepreneurs, and Target…
This month is Pride month. However, because of the global coronavirus outbreak, almost every single pride celebration around the world had to be canceled…except for one. Taiwan, which will host its full Pride celebration in October, is putting on a special party and parade on June 28th in Taipei to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the world’s first pride parade in 1970. The festivities will also honor countries around the world as well as the tenacity of the LGBTQ community. On June 20th, WERK!, Taiwan’s biggest gay party, will be putting on a pre-pride celebration where partygoers can dance the…
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…
Every year, New York magazine unveils its annual ‘Reasons to Love New York’ issue. This year’s theme is the ‘Movies Issue’ which will celebrate the movies that spotlight New York City. However, the issue is also setting out to raise awareness about homeless LGBTQ youth. According to a statement from the magazine, “The issue also includes a special advertising project from Havas New York and The Ali Forney Center, who took over 40% of the magazine’s advertising pages to draw attention to the fact that LGBTQIA+ identifying youths make up 40% of New York City’s homeless youth.” Dubbed an ‘issue…
Rachel Levine, who is currently serving as Pennsylvania’s Health Secretary, has been chosen by Joe Biden to be his assistant secretary of health. Levine has a long history of medicine and public service. She’s Harvard educated and attended the Tulane School of Medicine. She was a pediatrician by trade, and later became a Pennsylvania physician general, as well as holding her spot as the state’s Health Secretary. According to NBC News, Biden said of Levine, “Dr. Rachel Levine will bring the steady leadership and essential expertise we need to get people through this pandemic — no matter their zip code,…
Queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race came together in a new motivational and inspirational video to tell viewers that being LGBTQ is not only ok, but is something to be celebrated. The video was released on the official Drag Race YouTube page and is titled, “Everybody Say Gay!” Four queens – Gigi Goode, Kerri Colby, BenDeLaCreme, and Nicky Doll – came together to share their experiences of identifying as LGBTQ and the wonderful lives they’ve been able to live. In the video, Nicky Doll proclaims, “No matter how you look like, no matter who you are, no matter who you love…
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…
The Human Rights Campaign has reported that there have been 10 murders against LGBTQ people in just 15 months in Puerto Rico. Five of those murders happened within the last two months. The HRC confirms that most of the murders have been against trans and non-binary women. In a statement, Pedro Julio Serrano, spokesperson for the Broad Committee for the Search for Equity, says that radical right-wing politicians are to blame. “The violence we are experiencing is rooted in rhetoric and hateful actions on the part of religious fundamentalist politicians who incite their followers to persecute, demonize, and attack LGBTTIQ…
We’ve all heard the story of those pivotal events that took place at a New York City gay bar in the summer of 1969. What you might not know is the surprising events that took place after the notorious Stonewall Riots. As you can imagine, shortly after the riots the Stonewall was closed. A mafia-owned bar that was home to an uprising against cops wasn’t bound to last long. Flash forward fifty years to the present day. I’m standing in Christopher Park with three members from the National Parks Conservation Association. It’s pouring rain and I’m completely soaked because I…
Puerto Rico Governor, Ricardo Rosselló announced his resignation after massive protests erupted on the island’s capital of San Juan. The protests came after offensive messages surfaced between the governor and his inner circle via Puerto Rico’s Center for Investigative Journalism. The messages included homophobic and sexist remarks, as well as jokes about victims of Hurricane Maria. Besides the comments, recent events have set the platform for the massive protests against the governor. Many Puerto Ricans are still suffering after the devastation of the hurricanes, and political corruption has long angered the island’s residents. Furthermore, just one day ago, Rosselló’s Chief…
Karine Jean-Pierre has been chosen by President Biden to become the first openly-LGBTQ White House Press Secretary. Pierre’s background is as a lecturer at Columbia University and a political analyst for both NBC News and MSNBC. She was then named Biden’s Principal Deputy Press Secretary. Her new role as Press Secretary marks two historic firsts. She is the first Black woman to hold the position and the first openly-LGBTQ person to hold the position. Jean-Pierre is an open lesbian and is partnered with former CNN host, Suzanne Malveaux. https://www.instagram.com/p/CdNmDSLqO8i/ According to NBC News, President Biden said in an official statement, “Karine…
According to NBC News, this year, 77 commercials will air during the Super Bowl, bringing in a whopping $400 million dollars in profit for FOX. The Super Bowl is the most expensive time-slot of the entire year, with each commercial costing companies millions of dollars. But this year, a new trend is taking place in a very unlikely space…Inclusivity at the Super Bowl. That’s right, this year’s commercials are filled with LGBTQ personalities and famous females. Here are eight #superbowl commercials you’ll must see! SABRA HUMMUS Starring Miz Cracker and Kim Chi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ex5xnVm2po RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni Miz Cracker…
Palm Spring’s historic INNdulge gay resort is currently for sale. The property has been listed on LoopNet for $10,800,000. The 31-room resort also has a gorgeous courtyard, large pool, manicured grounds, and stunning views of the nearby San Jacinto Mountains. Jon Jackson, the resort’s current owner, has also made it clear that they want the new owners to keep the resort an LGBTQ property. They have also stated that they’ve spent the last decade investing in renovations, creating a balance of modern luxury with retro style. This could be a great opportunity to purchase a resort hotel at a discount.…
The nonprofit SafeHome.org has created a ranking of the best and worst places for LGBTQ people to live. Their rankings took things like population, crime, employment, and marriage/families into consideration when creating the ranking. According to SafeHome, the key takeaways from their findings include: Vermont and California scored the highest for LGBTQ+ safety, while North Dakota scored the lowest. States with higher populations of LGBTQ+ residents also had higher than average rates of hate crime against the LGBTQ+ community, even in states that scored highly on the index regarding protection in the workplace, healthcare, and community. LGBTQ+ focused adoption laws are…
Quibi has announced that on Monday, May 4th, Adam Rippon’s new series Useless Celebrity History will premiere. The show is hosted by figure skater and Olympic medalist, Adam Rippon, and explores the most random events in pop culture history. From Rhianna to Lindsay Lohan and Snooki, Rippon will be digging up everything from the biggest celebrity scandals to the fiercest red carpet moments. The series will combine interviews, reenactments, and skits. https://twitter.com/Adaripp/status/1256327225571282944 Rippon teased the premiere of the show on his Twitter account by taking part in the #MetGalaChallenge which encourages people to try and make their own homemade Met…
Molly Solomon, the president of NBC Olympics Production, raised a few eyebrow recently when she hinted that NBC would have an obligation to address China’s current human rights violations, especially its treatment of the Uyghur Muslims. According to Deadline, Solomon said: “Our coverage will provide perspective on China’s place in the world and the geopolitical context in which these Games are being held. But the athletes do remain the centerpiece of our coverage.” Naturally, none of this sounds too inflammatory. But it’s important to remember the context in which China views the world. Any slight misstep can be seen as…
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…
At the end of May, a whopping 23 queens will partake in a very special live digital drag festival titled DIgital Drag Fest. The event, put on by PEG, is set to include Drag Race newcomers, like Tina Burner, and veteran All-Stars like Sharon Needles and Trixie Mattel. Throughout two weekends, May, 21-23 and May, 28-30, each queen will perform a set of between 45-60 minutes. The performers will all showcase their top talents, including singing, dancing, lip-syncing, comedy, and more. Each performance will have a very limited attendance, allowing for the audience to engage and interact with the performers.…