As everyone has likely heard over the last few weeks, the Walt Disney Company has come under fire for a multitude of reasons regarding their response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Here’s a brief timeline of events: ~ Florida’s House and Senate passed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill and it went to DeSantis’ desk. ~ Activists noticed that Disney remained silent through the bill’s passing, and it was later revealed that Disney was even funding the Republican politicians who were pushing the bill forward. ~ Disney came out and claimed that they were “working behind the scenes” to enact…
Author: Keith Langston
Famed designer, Jean Paul Gaultier, can add a new title to his resume, that of a museum curator. With his new exhibit, CinéMode at the Cinémathèque Française museum in Paris, France. Gaultier has long been a fan of film, loving their stories, soundtracks, cinematography, and of course, the costumes. In fact, Gaultier himself has done costuming for numerous big-budget films, such as The City of Lost Children and The Fifth Element, among others. His new exhibit celebrates the movies that have influenced him, the films he’s been a part of, and cinematic experiences that changed Hollywood forever. Just a few of…
In a new video called If Donald Got Fired internet celebrity Randy Rainbow held a debate for Donald Trump and Joe Biden, with the help of his special guest, Patti LuPone. As the debate breaks down into chaos, Rainbow and LuPone break out into song, condemning Trump’s legacy as president and wishing America could go back to the way it used to be. The video mocks Trump’s inability to hold a debate, his horrible tweeting, his campaign’s rampant spread of fake news, and more. Ultimately, the video asks viewers, haven’t you had enough of this administration? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AoY6RRfMZM&feature=emb_logo The video, which…
NYC Pride announced today that tickets are on sale for the opening ceremony of this summer’s epic WordPride. The opening ceremony will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2019, from 7-10 P.M. NYC Pride says the ceremony will be formatted as a benefit concert at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Proceeds from the ticket sales to this historic concert event will support the Ali Forney Center, Immigration Equality, and SAGE. The event is set to be a star-studded who’s-who of New York. EGOT-winning actress, Whoopi Goldberg, is primed to host the event. Goldberg stated, “I’ve been a longtime advocate of the…
The school board of Loudoun County in Virginia passed new rules in a 7-2 vote that will protect LGBTQ students, largely those who are trans and nonbinary. The measure has been hotly debated by the community, with many claiming it infringes on their religious rights (because apparently, Jesus wants people to disenfranchise trans students?) However, the ruling is a very important milestone in the fight for equality because it didn’t take place in a major city. Loudoun county is made up of a collection of small towns over an hour outside of Washington DC. So this wasn’t like Los Angeles…
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…
A new amendment, lead by senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Susan Collins aims at protecting transgender service members from discrimination in the US military. In June, the US Supreme Court offered a huge win to LGBTQ citizens by granting the community protections from harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Now, the Gillibrand-Collins amendment seeks to extend those protections to service members in the US military. When proposing the amendment, Senator Gillibrand stated, “Now that the Supreme Court has ruled that LGBTQ people are protected from workplace discrimination, we must ensure these protections are extended to every American, especially transgender service members…
On December 10th, 2019, Sanna Marin, who previously served as the Transport and Communications Minister, was elected as Prime Minister of Finland with a 99-70 vote. She is now the world’s youngest sitting head of government at 34 years old. Marin is known for her liberal policies and down-to-earth demeanor, which many people relate to and want in their Prime Minister. Furthermore, Marin grew up in what she calls a “rainbow household,” and was raised by two women. Earlier this year, Finland made huge strides in its government. A new female-powered government took control over the summer, promising to lead…
The groundbreaking documentary Gay Chorus Deep South, which followed the San Fransisco Gay Men’s Chorus as they toured through the American South, is set to get a TV premiere on December 20th. The chorus director, Tim Seelig, along with numerous others in the ensemble, all had very personal, deeply moving reasons for partaking in the tour, and without giving anything away…the film proves to be one of the most poignant LGBTQ documentaries ever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nc_VZr3Vdk Gay Chorus Deep South won an Audience Award at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival and currently holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. And with the…
Videos have been circulating online of Republicans harassing patrons at a popular Dallas LGBTQ bar. The bar was hosting a family-friendly drag event that was open to all ages. While a group of people was waiting in line outside, a group of Republicans came up and began harassing them for absolutely no reason. The group claims they’re against “grooming” and were harassing families in order to “save the kids”. At one point, one of the men with a loudspeaker even told the patrons to “repent”. The Alt-Right mob appears to be led by John Doyle, a 22-year-old angry white boy…
During Biden’s first week as president back in January, he signed a wave of executive orders to help undo many of the Trump-era’s harmful policies. One of Biden’s executive orders was to allow trans people to openly serve in the US military. Now, the Pentagon has finally released its revised codes and rulings that will put Biden’s order into effect. According to NPR, the Pentagon’s new policies include allowing military personnel to transition while serving, to be protected from discrimination based on gender identity, and to create new medical guidelines to help trans people who are serving. The new policies…
The Washington Blade, America’s oldest LGBTQ news outlet, has just become the first LGBTQ publication in history to receive a seat in the prestigious White House Briefing Room. Blade reporter Chris Johnson will serve as the White House reporter for the publication. In an article, the Washington Blade says that it will be sharing a seat with the Boston Globe, one of America’s most notable and historic newspapers. Sadly, that seat is right next to The Daily Caller, an alt-right publication so riddled with controversy that it has no place in the White House, and EWTN, a homophobic, anti-LGBTQ right-wing…
As almost everyone has heard by now, Dave Chappelle recently released a new stand-up special on Netflix called The Closer. During his routine, Chappelle blasted the LGBTQ community numerous times. Throughout the special, he made comments such as: ~ Claiming he was on “team TERF” (meaning feminists who reject that trans women are women). ~ He said “gender is a fact” and that trans women have fake vaginas. He went on a diatribe about how trans women’s vaginas are “Beyond Pussy” and “Impossible Pussy,” mocking their bodies by comparing them to brands of meat alternatives. ~ He went on to…
Late last week, the Utah state legislature put forth a bill that would ban trans girls from playing on girls’ sports teams in schools. The bill, which was pushed by Republicans, called trans girls “biological men” and claimed that they couldn’t compete on girls’ sports teams because they had an advantage and made girls feel uncomfortable. During the bill’s debate, Republicans attacked trans girls and made numerous offensive remarks, at one point even comparing trans people with animals. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Republican State Senator, David Hinkins, said, “Even in the equine industry, they don’t run fillies against…
Sherry Vine is a drag legend who was been in the industry for decades. She’s one of the reigning queens from the pre-Drag Race era and knows the industry inside and out. She’s now used her knowledge and talent to assemble a cast of drag superstars for an epic variety show like no other. The Sherry Vine Variety Show harkens back to retro variety shows from the 70s, and on May 25th, Vine will be joined by an all-star cast, including Alaska Thunderfuck, Bob the Drag Queen, Bianca Del Rio, Jackie Beat, Peppermint, Tamie Brown, and more. The broadcast is…
James Hormel served an important role in political history as America’s first openly gay diplomat. During his tenure, he served as the US Ambassador to Luxembourg, and before that, he was part of the US delegation to the United Nations. His rise to the position was tumultuous, as Senate Republicans refused to accept him as Bill Clinton’s nomination as Ambassador on the grounds of Hormel being gay and being pro-gay rights. His confirmation process began in 1997, and it wasn’t until Bill Clinton decided to use his executive powers to sidestep Congress in 1999 that Hormel was able to begin…
Releasing on July 23rd, Joe Bell is a film that will chronicle the true story of Joe and Jadin Bell. In 2013, Jadin Bell attempted suicide by hanging himself on the jungle gym of a local elementary school. He was rushed to the hospital and put on life support. However, as it became clear that Bell wouldn’t be able to survive without the equipment, he was removed from life support, dying only a few weeks after the incident. It was revealed that Jadin Bell was experiencing extreme bullying for being gay, both at school and online. To honor his son’s…
Actor, singer, and queer legend, Alan Cumming is launching a new series of online cabaret shows starting October 14th on the streaming platform, Stellar. His online cabaret venue Club Cumming will be hosting a cavalcade of talented performers, like Sharon Needles, Judy Gold, Catherine Cohen, and more. Performance highlights include: Cabernet Cabaret, with Cat Cohen – a night of comedy and music. Bette, Bathhouse, and Beyond – A hilarious reproduction of Bette Midler’s notorious 1971 concert at the gay Continental Baths on New York City’s Upper West Side. Mask It or Casket – A special Halloween variety show by RuPaul’s…
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…
Being Seen is a new podcast that tackles the struggles, accomplishments, and unique intersectionality of queer black men. The podcast is presented by ViiV Healthcare (a healthcare company dedicated primarily to HIV research) and is hosted by Darnell Moore. Moore is a queer black activist, as well as the author of the bestselling memoir, No Ashes in the Fire, and has been featured in publications like The New York Times, The Huffington Post, Ebony, and more. On December 1st, Being Seen will launch an episode to coincide with World AIDS Day that will address the stigma and shame many in…
The popular 90s sitcom, Friends, has been re-released in China without the LGBTQ content. Most notable was that the plotline about Ross’ ex-wife being a lesbian that was completely deleted. According to The Hollywood Reporter, fans have pointed out that a lot has been changed. At certain points in the show, the Chinese subtitles have been altered to make it say something different. For example, one line of dialogue which says, “Women can have multiple orgasms” was changed to “Women have endless gossip.” What’s even weirder is that many Chinese people speak English, and most of the episodes didn’t change…
Legacy fashion brand, Gap, has launched a new limited collection to help celebrate Pride. The collection, titled GAP x PRIDE features colorful and uplifting images and was designed by Gap’s own LGBTQ employees. Better yet, to help the LGBTQ community, Gap has committed to donating $50,000 to GLAAD, an LGBTQ nonprofit dedicated to making media more inclusive, safe, and welcoming. Check out some of the artists and and their designs below: Artist: Star Casimir, Senior Manager, Product Engineering, Athleta “I am excited to design for Pride because working for Gap Inc, it’s the first time I haven’t had to hide who…
At the popular South by Southwest festival (SXSW) over the weekend, singer Lizzo took the mic to condemn Texas officials for their anti-abortion and anti-trans policies. Recently, Texas Governor, Greg Abbott, told Texans to spy on their neighbors and report anyone they believed might be aiding their child with gender-affirming care. Telling people to spy on and report their neighbors is literally something that was happening in Nazi Germany. Over the weekend at the festival, Lizzo stood up for civil rights. According to NBC News, Lizzo said, “I’m proud to rep Houston, but I’m not proud to rep Texas politics…
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…
Back in July of 2019, the African nation of Gabon criminalized sex between two people of the same gender. The crime was punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of 5 million CFA francs ($8,664 USD), a huge sum of money for Gabon residents. However, the country has now decriminalized same-sex relations less than one year after enacting the law. The motion passed in Gabon’s Lower House 48-24, and received even more support in the Senate, gaining 59 votes. This is a huge moment for Africa, a continent that unfortunately has been historically plagued by colonial-era…
A new organically-made soda brand, Mixwell, isn’t shying away from showing its values. In their new ad, they blatantly make fun of the MAGA crowd by starting their commercial with a burly man in a truck complaining about needing to make America more manly again. The ad finishes by revealing that the man has a husband, and the two then embrace for a long kiss. The spot concludes with the words “If Real Freedom Offends You, Please Don’t Buy Mixwell.” The ad is quick, witty, fearless, and completely hilarious. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7esCe-LhtSY&t=60s The commercial very clearly mocks Trump-era America, which has…
Nevada has just become the first state to recognized same-sex marriage in their constitution. According to NBC News, Question 2 on Nevada ballots asked voters whether they support an amendment recognizing marriage “as between couples regardless of gender.” Nevada voters overwhelmingly supported the measure, with 88% voting yes. According to NBC Las Vegas, the first same-sex couples were married in the state back in 2014 (which, really wasn’t that long ago) and they also pointed out that Las Vegas is the marriage capital of the entire world, so it’s only fitting that the state recognizes marriage in the most inclusive…
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…
Pete Buttigieg, the 2020 presidential candidate that took America by storm, has been nominated to be Joe Biden’s Secretary of Transportation in his Cabinet. If confirmed by the Senate, this would make Buttigieg the first openly-gay Cabinet member to be approved through the Senate. Biden sees many qualities in Buttigieg that would make him perfect for the job. For starters, his time as mayor means he knows how cities function. He knows the transportation issues that many cities face around the country as well as what tactics have and haven’t worked from his own experience. In fact, The United States…
Savvy travelers love the hilarious and irreverent comedian, Pam Ann. She’s known for her hot takes on airlines, the lives of cabin crew, and all the biggest news in the travel industry. However, like everyone else, she’s been out of the skies since the pandemic began. On January 28th, Pam Ann returns for her first new live show, PAMDEMIC! premiering at Hunters Nightclub Wilton Manors in Fort Lauderdale. I was lucky enough to chat with the seasoned comedian to ask about life during the pandemic, and to learn what she has planned for her triumphant return. Before we get to…