Queer Maximalism x Machine Dazzle is the first solo exhibition dedicated to the genre-defying artist Matthew Flower, better known as Machine Dazzle. A provocateur commanding an expanding repertoire of stagecraft, design, performance, and music, Machine Dazzle is a virtuoso practitioner of queer maximalism’s aesthetic language of gay liberation. https://vimeo.com/748056607 The exhibition brings together more than 80 of the artist’s creations for stage, spectacles, and street theater, alongside a variety of environments, ephemera, material samples, photography, and video. Together they chronicle the metamorphosis of Flower, a closeted suburban kid from Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, into “Machine Dazzle,” the queer experimental theater genius. On…
Author: Robert
A recently released book brings to light the passionate, lifelong love affair between Rose Cleveland, the sister of President Grover Cleveland, and Evangeline Simpson, a wealthy widow who was known for her humanitarian work with the American Red Cross during the First World War. According to the NY Daily News: The new book published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press, “Precious and Adored, The Love Letters of Rose Cleveland and Evangeline Simpson Whipple, 1890–1918″ contains the captivating correspondence between the two women that started in the late 1800s. It recreates “the story of one of the most remarkable love relationships between…
Lil Nas X shares a letter to his younger, closeted self below that looks at the challenging process of coming out, and what he is now trying to express about being gay in his just released new single, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).” Read the letter, watch the provocative video, and congratulate Lil Nas X for coming out and sharing his thoughts and feelings with others. https://youtu.be/6swmTBVI83k
Virgin Atlantic is leading the way as a progressive company with its new gender identity policy. From now on all flight attendants, pilots, and ground workers will be able to dress however they identify. According to the Washington Post: Starting immediately, employees will be able to “wear the clothing that expresses how they identify or present themselves.” The airline also started offering optional pronoun badges for staff members and customers, and updated its ticketing system to better accommodate people who have selected gender-neutral options on their passports. “At Virgin Atlantic, we believe that everyone can take on the world, no…
Protecting LGBTQ rights dosen’t come easy in the USA, but the town of Eureka Springs, Arkansas showed their support in February, 2015 by passing a non-discrimination ordinace. You may think that was enough to change things, but opposition from the Christian right continues. Jordan Klepper visited Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where some “Christians” are continuing their fight to discriminate against the LGBTQ community. This video from The Daily Show With Trevor Noah highlights what the town’s people had to say. To learn more about the wonderful town of Eureka Springs, check out “Ask a Local: Eureka Springs.”
In an historic vote today, the people of Switzerland overwhelmingly approved marriage equality! Nearly two-thirds of voters supported the measure in a national referendum, and it won a majority in each of Switzerland’s 26 cantons. The measure will also allow same-sex couples to adopt unrelated children and married lesbian couples to access sperm donation. Congratuations to the people Switzerland!
Amy Schneider, an engineering manager from Oakland, California, became a Jeopardy! champion this week. As we watched her compete, we celebrated her knowledge and skill, as well as the fact that she is the first trans woman to win during Transgenger Awareness Week. Schneider was thrilled at her win, but she emphasized that she is not the first transgender woman to win on Jeopardy! “FYI, I am not the first out trans person to appear on Jeopardy (a few friends have asked),” she wrote. “There have been a handful before, including one, Kate Freeman, who was the first out trans champion on…
“I love Las Vegas because it always has something going on,” says entrepreneur Eduardo Cordova who changed Las Vegas’ gay nightlife forever when he opened his award-winning LGBTQ lounge, The Garden. Eduardo saw that, while Las Vegas was a spectacular city for nightlife, it was missing one thing: an upscale venue for LGBTQ visitors and residents alike. Part playful and part opulent, The Garden has been wowing visitors and locals for years, cementing itself as one of Vegas’ top spots. They serve signature cocktails like The Cher, which combines Empress gin, fresh lemon, passionfruit, and pineapple juice, before being topped…
The Campaign for Southern Equality has released a statement about the latest attack on LGBTQ rights in Texas. Read it, them make sure to vote in the upcoming elections. Today U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor ruled in Braidwood Management v. Becerra against a provision of the Affordable Care Act that requires employers to provide insurance coverage for PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis), a medication that prevents the transmission of HIV. The judge ruled that the ACA mandate violates employers’ rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Read the ruling in the case (courtesy of Chris Geidner) here. Ivy Hill (they/them pronouns), Community…
According to Dictionary.com the definition of Fascism is: a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism. Individuals and corporations have been calling for extreme measures that seem to move in the direction of fascism in the USA. Today, nbcnews.com reported: “Meta will allow its billions of social media users to accuse people of being mentally ill based on their sexuality or gender identity, among broader changes it made to its moderation policies and practices. The company’s new guidelines prohibit insults about…
In an historic vote, the people of Cuba have voted to allow same-sex marriage. The meausure was approved by 66.9% of the voters and includes provisions to protect people from gender-based violence. The measure had been approved by Cuba’s Parliament, the National Assembly, after years of debate about gay marriage. A major supporter of the measure was Mariela Castro, daughter of former President Raul Castro and niece of his brother Fidel. President Miguel Díaz-Canel promoted passage of the new law which, in addition to approving same-sex marriage, will allow gay couples to adopt and increase the rights of women, the…
The National Center for Transgender Equality has released its 2022 Remembrance Report to honor the 47 known transgender people killed since November 2021. The information in this report has been compiled from a variety of sources, including national and local news outlets; national, state, and local LGBTQ+ organizations; and social media posts. “Transgender Day of Remembrance is a difficult day for our community as we continue to experience violence and discrimination,” said Alexis Vida Rangel, policy counsel for the National Center for Transgender Equality. “This report honors the vibrant lives of our trans siblings. We are not just statistics. We matter.” This report is,…
Our choice for Cocktail Music this week is the song “Gonna Be You” from 80 FOR BRADY. An all-star cast of iconic singers including Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, and Gloria Estefan release the new single “Gonna Be You” from the Paramount Pictures film 80 FOR BRADY. The song “Gonna Be You” (R.A.F/BMG) is written by Honorary Oscar®, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning songwriter Diane Warren and produced by Damon Elliott. Stream, download and share the song by clicking HERE. https://youtu.be/AeNkqcgfjMg
Pope Francis called laws that criminalize same-sex relationships “unjust,” stating that “being homosexual is not a crime.” In an interview with the Associated Press today, the Pope also called for the Roman Catholic Church to play an active role in opposing and repealing those laws. He emphasized that some bishops who advocate for laws that criminalize LGBTQ people and discriminate against the LGBTQ community must undergo “a process of conversion,” and welcome LGBTQ people into the church. Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President & CEO, said Pope Francis’ declaration is an explicit call to keep the momentum for LGBTQ decriminalization and…
The Democratic National Convention has featured many moving and memorable speaches and performances. One of our favorites was Billy Porter performing “For What It’s Worth” with Stephen Stills. This powerful song was written in 1966, and it is still very relevant to the struggle for equality today in the USA.
Film lovers everywhere are mourning the death of director Joel Schumacher who died in New York on Monday at the age of 80. Schumacher’s films included The Lost Boys (1987), The Client (1994), A Time to Kill (1996), Flatliners (1990) and Dying Young (1991), both starring Julia Roberts, and Falling Down (1993), with Michael Douglas. According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Schumacher had an uncanny ability to recognize young talent, and he cast members of “The Brat Pack” — including Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy — in St. Elmo’s Fire (1985). He also boosted the careers of other young actors like Roberts, Kiefer Sutherland, Matthew…
We heard Barbra Streisand and James Corden singing “Enough is Enough” the other night on Carpool Karaoke and we thought: Call Joe Biden and tell him this is our choice for one of his campaign songs! Take a look at the video, read the lyrics, and let us know what you think. via YouTube Cutter If you’ve had enough, don’t put up with his stuff, don’t you do it If you’ve had your fill, get the check pay the bill, you can do it Tell him to just get out Nothing left to talk about Pack his raincoat show him…
Congratulations to Lori Lightfoot on being elected the next Mayor of Chicago! According to the Chicago Tribune: Lori Lightfoot won a resounding victory Tuesday night to become both the first African-American woman and openly gay person elected mayor of Chicago, dealing a stinging defeat to a political establishment that has reigned over City Hall for decades. After waging a campaign focused on upending the vaunted Chicago political machine, Lightfoot dismantled one of its major cogs by dispatching Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, whose candidacy had been hobbled in part by an anti-incumbent mood among voters and an ongoing federal corruption investigation…
If you want to know what make’s Sullivan Catskills such a special place to visit, ask a local—and that’s just what we did. Join us as we explore this beautiful and exciting part of New York State with three LGBTQ individuals who live, work, play, and create here. The Sullivan Catskills are filled with many wonderful things just waiting to be experienced and enjoyed. From unique local business to art galleries, museums, theatre, scenic tours, farm to fork restaurants, and spectacular adventures in nature, there is truly something for everyone in this fascinating part of the USA. Claire Marin Tell…
A Taste of the Past: Revisiting the Titanic’s Food and Drink at Delmonico’s It was snow, not an iceberg, that nearly sunk a special event dedicated to a new book about the Titanic. On Monday, we congregated at NYC’s iconic Delmonico’s restaurant, birthplace of Eggs Benedict and Baked Alaska, for the launch of food writer Veronica Hinke’s “The Last Night On The Titanic: Unsinkable Drinking, Dining & Style.” Alas, an historic mid-April Chicago snowstorm forced the cancellation of Hinke’s flight from her Windy City home to New York, but that didn’t stop guests in Delmonico’s Twain Room from enjoying a…
So you’re shippin’ off to Boston, eh? Well, Boston is easily one of America’s most dynamic cities. With numerous world-class Universities, history dating back to pre-revolutionary America, a beautiful skyline, and an emerging coffee scene dominating by local roasters, Boston is the perfect mix of new and old. If you’re planning a trip, be sure to check out these exciting activities and attractions! By Keith David Langston TAKE IN A RED SOX GAME For starters, if you’re visiting Boston during baseball season, you must attend a Red Sox game. Even if you know nothing about sports, you probably still know…
The 2019 Tony Awards was one of the best shows we have seen all year. The talented Broadway performers who appeared on the broadcast made us laugh, and cry, and rise to our feet in appreciation for their passion, love, and enthusiasm. One of the highlights of the night, however, occurred offscreen. Here is an amazing video, courtesy of James Corden, of Billy Porter singing “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.” https://youtu.be/JCbJwsl-vts
Cafes have become more than just a place to enjoy coffee and treats. They are hubs where colleagues meet, couples date, and friends talk. Whether you’re looking for cool iced coffee, a warm latte, or a tasty treat, there are thousands of coffee emporiums across the USA that are worthy of your next social media post. Here are a few of the best themed cafes that you and your friends should check out. By Jenna Leis Remi Flower and Coffee Remi Flower and Coffee can be found in the middle of the bustling Midtown East of New York City. What…
Chicago is one of the most exciting and fascinating cities in the USA. People from around the world come here to experience and enjoy the food, arts and culture, architecture, sports, and Midwestern hospitality. As someone who has lived in Chicago, I’m here to tell you about some of the best things to do during your next trip. By Keith David Langston EXPLORE LINCOLN PARK Lincoln Park is the neighborhood located directly above downtown Chicago. To get there, hop on the Red, Brown, or Purple lines to any station from Fullerton to Belmont. The neighborhood is awesome because it’s…
In the most reprehensible manner possible, the United States Senate has voted to cover-up the high crimes and misdemeanors of Donald Trump as outlined in the articles of impeachment. In a blatant disregard of the American Constitution and the will of the people, no witnesses will be called to testify before the senate. Make no mistake, these sentors will do anything to retain their power, regardless of the consequences for the American people. It is time to hold them accountable for their actions. The senators responsible for this miscarriage of justice can be contacted here.
We are all trying the best we can to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. For everyone who is quarantined at home, laughter may prove to be the best medicine. Here’s a segment from SpongeBob SquarePants that we saw the other day that made us laugh. We found it very relevant to what we are all going through now. What do you think? https://youtu.be/eUctdVLABgM
Legendary playwright Terrence McNally has died at the age of 81 due to complications from COVID-19. He was 81 years old and living in Sarasota, Florida, at the time. McNally was a lung cancer survivor and lived with chronic inflammatory lung disease. McNally’s first Broadway credit was the short-lived adaptation of The Lady of Camellias, which lasted 15 performances in 1963, but the prolific writer went on to win five Tony Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. Other Tony Award-winning productions include Kiss of the Spider Woman (Best Book of a Musical, 1993), Love! Valour! Compassion! (Best Play, 1995), Master Class (Best Play, 1996), Ragtime (Best Book…
The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus has released a virtual performance featuring 150 members singing together, each from their own homes. The group performs “Truly Brave,” a brilliant and moving mashup of Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors” and Sara Bareilles’ “Brave.” “SFGMC’s first virtual chorus performance is dedicated to the ‘Truly Brave’ healthcare workers and first responders on the frontlines of COVID-19,” the chorus posted with the video. “You are our heroes.” Thank you San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus for honoring the people who are helping others during this pandemic. https://youtu.be/ZZLAaCZVV2g
Join us as we travel from the East Coast to the West Coast and Hawaii to Alaska in search of the best cocktails in the USA. Each of this country’s 50 states is home to amazing art, culture, history, and libations. So join us in a drink or two, and then feel to create these signature cocktails at home for your family and friends. Happy World Cocktail Day! THE BLUE HAWAIIAN What is better to drink in the beautiful state of Hawaii than a Blue Hawaiian? The answer is nothing. It was first created at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki by…
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday that federal law prohibits discrimination against workers for being LGBTQ. The ruling affirms long-sought federal protections for LGBTQ people in the workplace. The 6-3 decision, states that anti-LGBTQ discrimination is a form of sex discrimination, thus prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. “An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex,” Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch stated. “Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what…