New research published in the science journal Nature Human Behavior reveals that economic status impacts the emotional well-being of LGBTQ+ people, compounding the effects of anti-LGBTQ+ prejudice in their lives.A study from the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and UNAIDS, published in December, establishes a link between LGBTQ+-phobia and unfavorable socio-economic conditions by analyzing data from 153 countries in theGlobal LGBTQ+ Happiness Survey, an international review that gathered data from 82,354 participants worldwide. Related Religiosity is keeping HIV-positive Ugandans from getting the care they need The new research reveals that family rejection is the most damaging form of LGBTQ+ prejudice on the well-being of those affected. Unfavorable socio-economic status was found to accentuate the effects: the more economically precarious a person is, the greater the rejection they experience, and vice versa. That correlation grows in countries with the greatest economic inequalities.Participants from the Middle East and North Africa reported the lowest subjective well-being, followed by Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Structural homophobia in societies and family-level homophobia were both clear indicators negatively related to LGBTQ+ well-being. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Individual economic precarity, regardless of the country participants reported from, significantly interacted with the negative association between homophobia and participants well-being, the authors write. But the weight of a countrys homophobic climate on well-being was nearly halved for economically secure participants compared with those economically deprived, meaning that wealthier LGBTQ+ people in anti-LGBTQ+ environments were able to escape a significant part of the hit to their well-being.The study is the first part of a research program aimed at analyzing how the deterioration of well-being can impact an LGBTQ+ persons ability to cope with social risks, such as an increase in unsafe sexual practices and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Controlling for homophobia, participants unaware of their HIV status reported the lowest well-being, the research revealed.The results highlight the need to consider these distinct vulnerabilities when developing public policies aimed at combating discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, the authors write. In a global context where inclusion policies are regularly questioned, LGBT-phobia poses a significant risk to the well-being and mental health of the communities concerned.Public health measures should address homophobic stigma and discrimination, focusing on the lowest socioeconomic strata, the authors advise.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Kat Abughazaleh, who made a name for herself monitoring The Tucker Carlson Show on Fox Newsso you dont have tois running for Congress from the north side of Chicago.If she wins, the 26-year-old would be the youngest woman in history to take a seat in the House. Related Barrier-breaking Kim Coco Iwamoto explains how she took down a powerful Democrat The Palestinian American and bisexual journalist has family ties in the district and recently moved there from Washington with her boyfriend, Ben Collins, the CEO of The Onion.Abughazaleh made headlines in September when she was arrested protesting at an ICE detention facility in Illinois. She and five others face felony charges for their alleged involvement in a confrontation that went viral on social. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights, Abughazaleh said in a video responding to the indictment. Im not backing down, and were going to win.The candidate declined to talk about the ongoing case with LGBTQ Nation (she walked off rightwing podcaster Tara Palmieris show after she wouldnt stop questioning Abughazaleh about the incident), but shes still on the streets; shed just returned home from an ICE watch prior to our interview. LGBTQ Nation: At last count, youre competing against 16 candidates in the Democratic primary for Illinois 9th District. What is it about your candidacy thats going to take you to the general?Kat Abughazaleh: Until very recently, our leaders werent having to deal with people like Stephen Miller, Elon Musk, and Tom Homan on a daily basis. I know who these people are, and I know how to beat them, because Ive been winning against them in my career to this day.Additionally, I am the only true grassroots leading candidate in this race. I dont take any money from billionaires, from corporate PACs, or from Democratic-funded PACs. We are using our resources in a different way as well, to not just reach voters, but materially improve their lives. Our campaign office in Rogers Park doubles as a mutual aid hub. We make sure our events are accessible to everyone, no matter their income, and we try to make sure to help as many community organizations where we can and uplift the community.In a video on your campaign site, you say of Democrats, Unfortunately, this party has become one where you have to look at the exceptions to find real leadership as the majority work from an outdated playbook. Who are some of the exceptions you identify with?Id say some of the exceptions include Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib leaders of the Squad, as many call them. Additionally, Zohran Mamdani, I think, is the most notable exception that weve seen lately, and Democrats should be taking more from his and other progressive populist playbooks, including Bernie Sanders. He and AOC have been packing stadiums in red states rather than moving farther to the right. I recently interviewed a group of student activists, and I asked what they think is the single worst thing Trump has done in his anti-LGBTQ+ crusade. Whats your answer?Thats a horrible question! Look, the attacks on gender-affirming care are horrendous right now, and the insistence of this administration to erase trans people is on par with or is exactly from the same playbook as so many authoritarian leaders.What do you think is behind Trumps demonization of the trans community? Is it just personal antipathy? Is it something generational, or something straight out of that fascist playbook? Oh, this is the fascist playbook. This is what I covered as a reporter, and what my colleagues and I warned Democrats about. I watched as they tried to fish around with critical race theory and DEI to get Americans upset about the woke left, and it didnt work. And so they shifted to trans people, and used them as a cudgel to push their far-right agenda. This is what the right does all the time, where they try to present extreme positions as the norm.This is part of a concentrated playbook from rightwing architects like Russell Vought and other members of the Heritage Foundation, authors of Project 2025, and that entire group. Its horrendous, and it should also be expected. Every fascist regime of the last 100 years has focused on visible minorities and queer people, often as scapegoats for antisemitism, for antisemitic attacks, and were just the next part of this line.Youve forsworn fancy fundraisers for rich donors in your run for Congress. If George Soros, who helped fund your former outlet, Media Matters, came to you tomorrow and offered to foot the bill for a ballroom fundraiser at the Ritz Carlton and bought a table for $100,000, would you turn him down? And why? Well, first off, that sounds boring, so Id turn them down.We dont take any money from billionaires. We also make sure that all of our events are accessible to people, no matter their income. We always say you could donate literally $1, and we will make sure that youll be there.Our events are funk shows, and embroidery events that I teach, and its a lot of fun. So yeah, Im good on the ballroom.Youve also rejected focus groups in your run. Dont they serve some kind of purpose for identifying constituents concerns and testing your message? You know, weve done some polling when it comes to the typical type of tracker polls that campaigns do, and we kind of see just where peoples priorities are.But the reason that we didnt want to focus group test all of our messages is because a lot of this campaign is experimental. And part of our experiment is, Can I win by just saying what I believe? A lot of our political system is built on the idea of, No, thats impossible. So I want people to know who I am. Im not testing to see if this version of me resonates with people more than that version. What you see is what you get.Is part of your message an appeal to voters about trusting your gut, rather than political orthodoxy, maybe in the same way that Trump has done so effectively? I mean, kind of, yeah. There are some similar things. Covering the right has been really helpful, not just because I know their tricks, but because I also know how to use their tricks for good, in a weird way.For instance, they dont feel any shame. I think that you should be ashamed of sexually assaulting people for instance, grabbing them by the pussy. But I dont think that I should have to apologize for a picture of me sitting on a bar that I used to work at in fishnet stockings, which the right always brings out, as if this is something I should be ashamed of. And I feel like a lot of politicians would rush to be like, Oh no, Im not like that anymore. Who cares? How is that hurting anyone? Stop always trying to adjust to their expectations.Thats a great pic, by the way.Thank you. I kept it up for a reason.These are some short-answer questions. Whats the first thing that comes to mind when I say: Kamala Harris.Bored. Not again.Tucker Carlsons replacement, Jesse Watters.Oh, dear Lord. Can that be the answer? Tara Palmieri.(Laughing) Substack.Gaza.Pain.Normal gays.What does that mean?Thats what JD Vance calls them.Oh, right, yeah. All gays. All gays or none of us? I dont know. Do bisexuals count as normal gays? Just asking.The Washington Free Beacon.Do I have thoughts about them?I saw a hit piece they did on you and your boyfriend.Oh yeah, that was fun. They picked really cute pictures of us. Way to show everyone were, uh, cute. So, insecure? You told Buzzfeed, Ive gotten more rape threats than Ive ever seen in my life, in reaction to your Tucker Carlson monitoring, and, If I were a man, I would not get 10% of the comments that I get. Are you getting the same kind of engagement in your campaign for Congress? Oh, 100%. A little bit less, because I dont use Twitter anymore, but its still there.Oscar Wilde said the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about. Roy Cohn said something similar, and they were both gay, for what its worth. If hitting a nerve and getting that negative attention is in service to getting your message out, is the misogyny a plus, a minus, or a wash?I dont think its necessarily a plus. I think that it exists, and so why not use it as a tool?In your online role as a media and political influencer, you were talking for a living Not an influencer, but yeah. Youve taken that talent to videos and in-person appearances as part of your campaign. How are you adjusting to the other important role of a potential US representative, just listening?I mean, I love talking to people. I love listening. And I mean, that was my job as a journalist. You know, I worked for Media Matters, Mother Jones, People for the American Way. I love hearing what people care about. I loved hearing it before the campaign, and I love hearing it now. I like trying to figure out solutions with them.You own the fact that youve posted some mean tweets, and have shrugged off the reaction from figures like Elon Musk, who deposed you over your coverage of him. How would you compare Donald Trumps tweets about Rob Reiner to your own about Elon Musk?I mean, mine were based in truth. I do think that Rob Reiner would have found Trumps tweets funny, but for different reasons. Elon Musk is insecure and fragile, and maybe that guy shouldnt be making all of our decisions. So is the president. So really, a match made in heaven for the two of them.Like fellow progressive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who you mentioned earlier, you were a bartender in your early 20s after college at George Washington University in D.C. What else do you have in common with AOC, and what sets you apart? I dont think youve called yourself a Democratic Socialist.Oh, I have plenty. Im a Democratic Socialist.Ive had people say like, Are you trying to be the next AOC? And I think she is her own thing. She is so unbelievable. She is and has been a huge inspiration for me since she first ran. And one thing that I really appreciate about her is her willingness to embrace new forms of communication and break the mold when a lot of the Democratic Party wont. I think we both understand digital communication in a way that the party doesnt at large, and that we are trying to help people through that. What do you say to critics whove accused you of carpetbagging Chicagos 9th CD?(Laughing) I always joke that I wish I had some sexy, cool answer to explain why Im running in the 9th District, but its boring. Its that I like living here. I like being in Rogers Park. I wanted to live here because its one of the most diverse communities in the country, and its an incredible place to be. I mean, anyone that lives here gets it.I think that one of the coolest things about this primary is how many candidates there are and how much choice people have. But I am one option, and I want people to be skeptical of people running for office, and that includes me. If theres someone else that you want to vote for, thats what a primary is for. So I always encourage people who want to ask any questions, come to the office, or set up a coffee. Well meet.You identify as bisexual, and youve been dating your boyfriend for the last year or two. Have you ever had a girlfriend?I have.Can you tell us anything about that?I mean, Ive had, like, brief, casual relationships with women, and then hook-ups, I guess. Im not sure I want to say that, but I guess I did.Anyways, yeah. I mean, for me, its always been about whats in someones skull, and less about whats in their pants. What does your boyfriend think about that?Really supportive. Hes fantastic. Hes a great partner. And one of the reasons I had a crush on him before I met him was because of how strongly he stood for the queer community. When a lot of people in media were throwing trans kids under the bus, he said, Uh, f**k that, and really focused his reporting on the stochastic terror that has now become ubiquitous around the country, but was really started as attacks on the queer community.Youve raised over $1.5 million in campaign contributions, the most of any candidate in the primary. Your closest competitors in the money race are both Jewish, as is the retiring rep in the district. Is House District 9 a Jewish seat, and if so, how do you convince voters that opposition to the Israeli government doesnt equal antisemitism? Skokie, which is part of this district, had the most Holocaust survivors outside of Israel, I believe. This has been a district with a huge Jewish population over the years, and that is still very true. This is also one of the most progressive districts in the country, and as a Palestinian person, when Im talking with people, I always stress how so many people that arent in our communities, especially the right, want to pit us against each other. Because they see it as an easy way to use trauma to create more hate.My position on Israel and Gaza is the same as how I feel about the rest of the world, and that is, every civilian deserves to live a safe, happy life, no child deserves to go to bed hungry, and every war criminal should be held accountable. And thats the same if its the Netanyahu government or Hamas. None of what I just said is radical, and its not radical to the vast majority of people in America, and certainly not in the 9th District. This is a district that has been impacted inordinately by October 7 compared to a lot of other districts, and at the same time, this is a district that has been fighting for peace and has been represented by someone who has consistently stood against the Netanyahu government. What are you looking forward to most about serving the constituents of District 9 if you win in November?A lot of what this campaign has done has been kind of experimental, and I think it would be really exciting to try something new and figure out how we can make our government work the best it can in the same way. I want to be at a point where the government is something that people dont think about because it works so well.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A conservative hate pastor is now claiming that feminism is a form of transgenderism.In a video about how feminism is destroying America, American Reformed Christian pastor, author, and podcaster Dale Partridge claimed that supporting womens rights is the same as being transgender because women reject their femininity to adopt the characteristics of men if theyre feminist. Related Hate preacher defends unhinged colleagues alleged wife-beating in shocking video Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Instead of submission, they lead, he continued. Instead of a quiet and gentle spirit, they are loud and assertive.This perversion breeds a fractured society where families crumble, birthrates plummet, and communities unravel into dog-park-ridden childless voids.Partridge said that men grow weak and aimless because feminism robs them of their ability to control women. They fear marriage because they fear the feminist divorce courts, he claimed. They fear career because they fear the Karens of the HR department.He went on to connect it to immigration, saying that women suck down birth control pills and they abort their babies so immigrants need to come to the U.S. to replace those children. Partridge claimed that this is bad without explaining why. Its common among the right to claim that more people of color living in the U.S. is a bad thing in and of itself.Feminism isnt just for liberals and lesbians, he concluded. Its also infiltrated conservative and Christian circles. He then denounced Republican women in elected office. While the language of feminism is often used to justify anti-trans discrimination, many on the Christian right agree to some degree with Partridge that violating traditional gender roles is inherently disordered and that being gay, bi, trans, nonbinary, or even just a cishet woman with a career causes harm to a social order that requires absolute conformity to those gender roles.Noted transphobes in the U.S., like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), have used their platforms as cishet women in positions of power to promote the idea that trans people are a threat to cis women, only to face criticism from their fellow Christian conservatives for being women with careers.Partridge appeared in a 2015 Good Morning America episode to argue with his wife that women wearing leggings causes men to think of them sexually or lust after them.Iknow how men think, he said. Its not the womans responsibility. But I appreciate the idea of a woman saying, like, Im going to try to cover up myself in a way that might help you not think of me sexually.In 2020, he was accused of plagiarizing pithy sayings from celebrities and using them on social media without attribution. One of the celebrities he stole a quote from was Latin pop star Ricky Martin, who is gay. He claimed that he used to subscribe to the uncopyright movement, which says that all ideas are Gods ideas.It was wrong and I have repented of it, he said of his plagiarism.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Happy Friday, Out readers!Fans have been speculating about the sexuality of Heated Rivalry stars Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams. While the show's creator, Jacob Tierney, has said the two actors deserve their privacy, and he doesn't "think there's any reason to get into that stuff," fans are still wondering.Storrie and Williams definitely deserve their privacy, and we're not going to speculate about them here. Instead, we've decided to highlight some actors who have actually come out after or while playing gay.These actors say that playing gay, or filming coming out scenes, helped them get the courage and confidence to come out themselves.Our list includes Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp, who came out during his character Will Byers's own coming-out journey.It also includes The Wedding Banquet star Kelly Marie Tran, who came out as queer after playing a lesbian in that film, and Baby Reindeer star Jessica Gunning, who realized she was gay after she kissed Cate Blanchett in a play.9-1-1: Lone Star actor Ronen Rubinstein also makes the list, saying he was nervous to play a role so "specific" to his personal life.However, when not only his fans, but his friends and family embraced the role, he was able to come out as bisexual.Check out our full list!Keep reading to find out all the best pop culture news and the Gayest Song of the Week!- Mey RudeBad Bunny effect? Britney Spears wants to perform, but not in the U.S.Renee Nicole Good's horrific killing demands our action'The Traitors' star Michael Rapaport has a long history of being unlikableFor trans model Bernardo Rabello, Mister Brasil's top 10 is just the startMatt Rogers admits he flirts with boss Andy Cohen and addresses sex rumorsLGBTQ+ officials denounce ICE killing of Minneapolis woman, demand investigationWho was Renee Nicole Good? Remembering the Minneapolis poet and mother killed by ICEGregory Maguire's 'Wicked' novel reportedly banned in Utahfull list hereConnor Storrie once dressed as Miley Cyrus for Halloweenthere's a pic!Gayest Song of the WeekRobyn is back! The Swedish pop star has released two new songs, "Talk to Me" and "Sexistential", check them out!Get Out / The Advocate in your physical mailbox, too!Get print issues of Out Magazine / The Advocate in the mail for just $9.95 a year!

Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang are not afraid to discuss their political beliefs on their podcast, Las Culturistas, and on their most recent episode, Rogers shared his feelings about Texas Democratic U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett's chances of winning a Senate seat: "Don't waste your money."The two got on the topic of politics after Rogers did his "I Don't Think So Honey," the podcast's ritual rant about cultural topics. During the episode, the pair talked about their feelings on different politicians they supported in the early 2010s and how they knew their chances of winning were slim, but still supported them.Rogers shared that he felt it was clear that California Gov. Gavin Newsom is gearing up to run for president in 2028, but feels he won't win, criticizing his strategy of "dunking" on President Donald Trump and Republicans on social media and in speeches without following that up with actionable change. "Anytime a politician is making it about themselves, I'm already done," Rogers said. "Don't waste your money sending to Jasmine Crockett. Do not do it." (@) Yang, who is fresh off his Saturday Night Live exit, chimed in and said, "I must agree." Rogers continued, "You're going to waste your money, take it from someone who sent Sara Gideon a ton of money in Maine. Just don't do it." He added that he felt that if Beto O'Rourke couldn't clinch a seat in the Senate, then Crockett for sure won't. "It's nothing against her, it's just that she is a politician who is very well-defined already, and it is my opinion that we are going to need someone less defined in this moment that rises up," Rogers said. "I'm interested in this [James] Talarico guy from Texas." Rogers is referring to the Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives. The Las Culturistas cohost continued to explain that he feels Crockett's competitor would be harder to define as anything other than what Talarico is: a rising Democratic politician from Texas who can speak to "the middle."Previously, Crockett has found herself as the subject of criticism and national headlines after she and (now former) United States Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene got into a heated exchange, where Crockett said Greene had a "bleach blonde bad built butch body." Crockett also called the Texas governor, Greg Abbott, who is in a wheelchair, "hot wheels," which many felt she was mocking his disability.Rogers went on to clarify that he's not being fatalistic about the Democrats' chances of winning; he felt that there's a chance to "not flop by putting up what everyone said they hated in the beginning, which is an establishment California Democrat [referring to Newsom]. It doesn't work."These comments made their way to social media, and the hosts were criticized. One creator, @2RawTooReal, uploaded a video sharing his counter-argument to Rogers. "What do you mean by too defined? She's only been in Congress for fucking two, three years?" the creator said in his video. "You say that she can't win because she's too defined, too well-known; however, you need to be motherfucking known to win a statewide motherfucking race bitch." (@) Comedian and actress Loni Love quote-tweeted this creator's video and shared her thoughts in a post that reads, "One of the reasons both can sit with their legs crossed making money is due to the work of A LOT of Black women and men that fought for civil rights for us all. If we thought like this (She cant win), we wouldnt have LGBTQ rights today. They dont even live in Texas"

A liberal pundit called out the current presidential administration for its reported plan to send up to $100,000 to each resident of Greenland in order to convince them to support secession, just as the president raised taxes on all U.S. residents last year in the form of tariffs.Wait wait wait, while Americans have to pay hundreds of billions of dollars in new tariffs, Trump is going send over $10,000 to each person in *Greenland*????????? wrote MS NOWs Chris Hayes on Bluesky. This is a joke right ? Related GOP senator slams Stephen Miller as stupid over his comments about Greenland Wait wait wait, while Americans have to pay hundreds of billions of dollars in new tariffs, Trump is going send over $10,000 to each person in *Greenland*?????????This is a joke right ?www.reuters.com/world/europe Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes.bsky.social) 2026-01-08T20:12:53.000ZReuters reports that U.S. officials are discussing sending payments of $10,000 to $100,000 to Greenland residents as a bribe to persuade them to secede from Denmark and possibly join the United States. The president has been obsessed with annexing Greenland, and his administration has pointedly said that military force is not off the table. Greenland, with a population of 57,000, is part of Denmark, a NATO ally. Attacking a NATO member nation would require all NATO nations to join in their defense.A 2025 poll found that 85% of Greenlanders do not want to join the U.S. Tariffs are taxes on imported goods that are ultimately passed along to the consumer. The president has repeatedly claimed that several hundred billion dollars in tariffs have been collected so far, although its not clear if his numbers are reliable.

2025 was one of the most trying years of my life. As an elder millennial, Ive lived through my fair share of bad news over the past four decades, including multiple recessions, pandemics, and wars (both literal and figurative) not to mention an increasingly inequitable economy, progressively more dysfunctional and divisive political system, and an aggressively endangered planet. And yet, with the inauguration of the second Trump administration, things have gone from being a hot mess to a five-alarm dumpster fire. Related When the going gets tough, the queens get going: Why drags rich history should fuel the resistance In this cruel game of 2025, I personally could have called bingo multiple times over from living through the Los Angeles fires, to surviving existential cuts to university funding, to being made the poster-child for Marjorie Taylor Greenes defunding campaign against public media. Ive also witnessed and stood in solidarity with those facing more immediate and violent attacks, including migrant neighbors kidnapped by ICE, Palestinians in Gaza fighting for survival amidst starvation, and trans friends preparing to leave the country. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Unfortunately, this is likely only the beginning. According to multiple organizations tracking Project 2025, approximately 50% of its far-right policy agenda has already been achieved, though we all know the goal posts will only continue to move further as they rack up more wins. If the leaders of this authoritarian agenda truly get their way, I could almost certainly be locked up (or worse) for the queer-affirming work I do with children and families.In the face of fascism, its all too easy to give in to despair. And lets be real: many in the Democratic establishment including many mainstream LGBTQ+ organizations arent giving us a lot of hope. This is especially true as liberal leaders rely on consultant-tested political messaging and organizing tactics that promote respectability (and self-preservation) over systemic change. But its time for us to put aside those tired old rules and start making our own.In 2026 and beyond, its time for LGBTQ+ and other social justice movements to get more playful. Play is serious business AliKofi Bell dances with a bubble gun outside of the Supreme Court to protest LGBTQ+ book bans When I talk about play, Im no Pollyanna. For me, play is a deep practice that, among other things, can help us experiment with ideas, exercise new skills, and develop techniques to beat our opponents. That is, its not all fun and games, but a strategic orientation that deserves to be taken seriously. At the same time, play also reminds me that sometimes were most successful when we allow ourselves to not be too serious.Not surprisingly, I first started thinking critically about play through drag. When I began working with Drag Story Hour, I realized drag is itself a form of play. Incollaborative research on drag pedagogy with education scholar Harper Keenan, I discovered that much of its culture reflects and expands the kinds of play I loved as a child: Creating characters, building worlds, being silly, and making magic with other people. In our ongoing work, Keenan and I have begun to document many aspects of play common to queer cultures, including facilitating structures of communication and consent, humorously addressing shameful or taboo subjects, and creating spaces for mess and mischief. However, as designer Cas Holman notes, many adults have forgotten how to play. Except for in a handful of sanctioned spaces, most adults have suppressed the spirit of curiosity and freedom inherent in play in favor of social conformity and productivity. And that is, in many ways, by design. But leaning into play offers many pedagogical and political opportunities that are not only beneficial but also necessary in our current world.Put simply, play offers us a toolkit or better yet, a toy box for building a more just and joyful world. It does so in multiple ways. Play helps us imagine and experiment with our values, it gives us tactics for advocating for real change, and it offers opportunities for rejuvenation that help sustain our movements. If were going to not only resist the ongoing attacks against LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities but also build a better alternative, were going to have to get more playful. The power of imaginationA large number of protestors hold signs at a No Kings protest at the corner of Daniels Parkway and U.S. 41 in Fort Myers on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. They are protesting President Donald Trumps policies. It is part of a nationwide effort. | Andrew West/The News-Press/USA Today Network / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesOne of the major challenges of combatting fascism is the constant barrage of action and discourse that attempts to shape the terms of debate, forcing the rest of us to occupy defensive positions and fight back against doom-and-gloom, rather than thinking critically and creatively about the kind of world we want to live in. Thats why attacks on educators and cultural institutions including public schools, media, libraries, and museums are not merely distractions from real political issues, but foundational components of historical and contemporary authoritarian playbooks.While it may not seem like it, villains like Trump deeply recognize the power of imagination, so much so that they work overtime to replace it with fear, order, and obedience. This is why a program like Drag Story Hour has been subject to so much backlash: Demonstrating to children (and adults) that we can all play with gender is a crack in the wall, revealing the many ways we can express ourselves outside of strict binaries. If we can do that, we can question all sorts of social norms and test the limits of many different kinds of conventions. This helps us see not only that other worlds are possible but often preferable, because theyre fairer and more fun.Within LGBTQ+ movements, I fear we have too often fallen back into defensive postures. Particularly in discourses around trans rights and especially trans youth many elected and movement leaders have resorted to a born this way argument, suggesting that we are only deserving of liberties because we cannot help being different.In contrast, a playful mindset can remind us that part of the freedom we are fighting for is to be able to express ourselves with complexity, and that we are all worthy, not merely those deemed winners by arbitrary rules. Surprise, delight, disruptA drag queen dances on the sidewalk along Kumpf Boulevard Friday, May 12, 2023 outside the Peoria Civic Center during a rally to protest Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visit to Peoria for the annual Lincoln Day Dinner. | MATT DAYHOFF/JOURNAL STAR / USA TODAY NETWORKBeyond envisioning a better world, play also offers us novel strategies to bring it into existence. Indeed, under repressive regimes like Trump, where traditional forms of protest like petitioning elected leaders and mass demonstrations yield fewer results, I think we need more playful techniques that help us innovate our tactics, keep our foes on their toes, and force real change.In this respect, I look to myriad historic examples of playful queer and trans activism that have made lasting change. For example, in the 1950s, drag icon and soon-to-be-political candidate Jos Sarria led performance-based protests against all-too-common police raids of gay nightlife venues, often parading bar patrons down to the local police precinct to sing a parody, God Save Us Nelly Queens, as both a spectacular demonstration of injustice as well as a serenade to those locked up. In a spirit of camp, Sarria also subverted anti-trans/queer vice laws by having drag performers pin labels stating I am a boy to their costumes, playfully resisting arrest on charges of alleged deception.I also look to activist groups of the 1980s and 1990s like ACT UP, Queer Nation, and the Lesbian Avengers that often demonstrated the power of playful protest and direct action. For example, ACT UP activists notoriously wrapped the home of Senator Jesse Helms in a giant condom to prevent unsafe politics, dressed as Santa Clauses to sing Christmas carols to protest the firing of an HIV-positive Macys worker, and regularly held kiss in demonstrations to combat homophobia and HIV disinformation. The Lesbian Avengers, in a direct adoption of carnivalesque tactics, learned to dramatically eat fire, organized marching bands, and distributed balloons to families outside of elementary schools to advocate for inclusive curricula. As a slightly earlier antecedent, I am also quite fond of the banana cream pie that found its way into the face of notorious anti-gay crusader Anita Bryant, an act committed by Thom L. Higgins in 1977, though I personally would never advocate wasting a good pie.These playful tactics offer multiple opportunities: They not only draw dramatic attention to the absurdity of those in power quite literally ridiculing them for their unjust ridiculousness but in many cases they disrupt business as usual. In so doing, they expose and shift the rules of the bigger game, so that theyre not so stacked in favor of those who already hold the cards. Plus, such playful tactics can invite more people into social movements, highlighting the importance of joy and desire in organizing.In recent months and years, I have been inspired to witness and occasionally take part in similar playful actions.Many student and community actions against the genocide in Gaza often organized by queer/trans people have incorporated diverse religious and cultural rituals, singing, dancing, and other festivities. Like many others, I also took delight in the viral videos of the Portland frog, originated by nonbinary activist Seth Todd, dancing in the face of violent ICE raids. In a particularly beautiful example, a line of geared-up agents timidly retreats as the frog performs a series of simple dance moves. Still, as journalist Talia Jane has noted, there can be limits to such playful actions, particularly when they are not adequately responsive to the urgent stakes of political violence. The dance were fighting for Shaquille Edwards, right, of Green Bay, dances in the street during a No Kings Day protest march on Saturday, October 18, 2025, along Walnut Street in Green Bay, Wis. The march and rally were part of a nationwide day of protest against the Donald Trump administrations policies on a wide range of issues.Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin | Tork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesStill, play can also help sustain social movements by creating moments of joy and delight in otherwise dark times. As disability justice activists like Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha remind us, working ourselves to burnout is detrimental not only to our bodies but also to political organizing. While discourses of care and self-care have become commodified in many ways, play can still offer accessible and meaningful opportunities for personal rest and collective rejuvenation.Earlier this year, I was struck by a comment made by writer Dan Savage on his podcast. Reflecting on the death of Anita Bryant and the second inauguration of Trump, he noted, During the darkest days of the AIDS crisis, we buried our friends in the morning, we protested in the afternoon, and we danced all night, and it was the dance that kept us in the fight because it was the dance we were fighting for. In this way, play is not merely a tactic of imagination, nor of implementation, but also of inception. The moment we start to play, we actually begin to remake the world.So, as we look forward to 2026, its time to mostly ditch our pantsuits for our playclothes, ones that were not afraid to get a little bit messy. In uncertain times, its common to reach for order, but we must be willing to do the opposite, to playfully improvise, to strategically bend the rules, maybe even let our freak flags fly. In so doing, we can discover our sense of solidarity that will allow us to rewrite the rules of the game.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The latest episode of ABC's 9-1-1, titled "Secrets," focused on the dynamics between bisexual character Buck (Oliver Stark) and a married couple with an open relationship played by Dean Geyer and Jillian Murray on the show who happen to be married in real life too.After going on individual dates with each of them, the episode explodes in a steamy supercut of Buck having other one-on-one moments with the couple this time, sleeping with both characters.Needless to say, 9-1-1 fans are gagged and gooped after spending so long yearning for Buck's bisexuality to be fully unleashed in the series (and not just talked about).In the actual scene, which has been re-posted by several fan pages across social networks, Buck is seen having sex with Geyer's character and Murray's character. (@) Given that the married couple introduced on 9-1-1 was played by actors who are also married in real life, Stark revealed that he did feel a bit odd filming those scenes."It made it a little awkward, I can't lie," Stark told Deadline. "And it didn't feel awkward until we were shooting the intimate scenes, and I was like, 'Oh, that's your real-life husband right there,' or, 'oh, that's your real life wife right there.' But they were so great and coaching each other, like, 'Do this a little bit more, arch a little bit more.' And I was like, 'Wow, I wish I had that, somebody to like coach me through this.'"9-1-1 airs weekly new episodes every Thursday on ABC.

A Houston man was detained by ICE at his final asylum hearing for U.S. residency, despite a determination that he had credible fear hed be killed for being gay in his home country.Jorge Amado Hernandez, originally from Honduras, arrived in court in November for what he thought would be the final step on a years-long path to legal residency in the U.S. Related ICE raids uniquely harm queer immigrants, but LGBTQ+ communities are fighting back It was a trap, said his husband, David Torres.Hernandez arrived in the U.S. in 2016, fleeing what he said were death threats by a local MS-13 gang after he was seen spending time with another man, the Houston Chronicle reports. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today He was held by ICE in Pennsylvania that year and sat for a credible fear interview to make a determination on his asylum claim. Hernandez said a gang member warned him they were cleaning the neighborhood of f*gg*ts like you and that he was next.Theyre going to kill me if he returned, Hernandez told the interviewer. Authorities granted Hernandez a positive determination, and he was released to his aunt in Texas, where he met Torres and the two later married.Since then, the couple has worked through the legal process to obtain Hernandezs permanent residency. They opted not to claim it based on their marriage, which would have required Hernandez to return to Honduras and face his tormentors.Last months hearing should have been the culmination of their legal efforts.Instead, Hernandez was arrested and has spent the last month in an ICE detention facility, suffering inhumane conditions, according to his husband.Torres made clear Hernandez has no criminal history.Were pretty vanilla. We just get up, go to work, come home, and hang out with family, Torres said. Thats it. According to an ICE spokesperson, Hernandez was arrested for immigration violations and remains in custody pending disposition of his removal proceedings.ICE falsely claimed Hernandez was unvetted, saying illegal aliens like this individual who have no lawful basis to remain in the U.S. will finally be held to account for violating our nations laws.Hernandez is one of hundreds of asylum seekers ambushed by ICE at court hearings around the country, as the Trump administration sweeps up immigrants with or without any criminal record. At a hearing following his detention, an immigration judge told Hernandez and his lawyer that he was unable to release Hernandez on bond on orders of the Department of Homeland Security. DHS policy adopted in July requires ICE to keep immigrants whove entered the country without inspection in custody during removal proceedings, regardless of criminal record or how long theyve been living in the country.While a federal judge struck down that policy at the end of November, the Trump administration has ignored the order, and Hernandez remains in custody. Hes scheduled for a new court date in January.Hernandez has described bleak conditions at the detention facility, according to Torres, where he and other detainees have been forced to sleep on the floor in cramped holding cells.Torres says his husband was denied anxiety medication in his first weeks in detention. Despite the ordeal, Torres remains hopeful in conversations with Hernandez if anything, just to spare him his own anxiety as he contemplates his husbands suffering.Its been nothing but a month of anguish, Torres said. Theres this feeling in the pit of your stomach, like things arent right. It makes you cry sometimes. Its a travesty.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A Tennessee Republican is aiming to challenge two landmark Supreme Court decisions with a series of proposed anti-LGBTQ+ state laws.As the Nashville Banner reports, state Rep. Gino Bulso (R) filed three anti-LGBTQ+ bills this week, two of which challenge the Supreme Courts decisions establishing the rights of same-sex couples to legally marry and that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects U.S. employees from discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Related Kim Davis tried to get the Supreme Court to stop marriage equality. They just shut her down. Bulso went so far as to title his House Bill 1472 the Banning Bostock Act. The bill, according to the Banner, would explicitly exclude sexual orientation and gender identity from Tennessees definition of sex-based discrimination, in defiance of the Supreme Courts 2020 decision.Tennessee already has a law on the books that critics say could challenge Obergefell v. Hodges. In 2024, Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed H.B. 878, which allows public officials to refuse to solemnize i.e. perform same-sex marriage ceremonies without providing a reason. (Officials are still required by law to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.) Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Bulsos H.B. 1473, meanwhile, purports that Private citizens and organizations are not bound by the Fourteenth Amendment or by the Supreme Courts purported interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment in Obergefell v. Hodges, and thus are not required to recognize a marriage or a purported marriage between individuals of the same sex, notwithstanding any other law.A third bill, H.B. 1474, or the No Pride Flag or Month Act, would do just what its title suggests. In addition to Pride flags, it would ban from state property any object, image or representation that uses the word pride in a manner intended to convey support for or approval of lesbianism, homosexuality, bisexuality, transgenderism, gender non-conforming behavior or individuals who engage in such conduct, and any official recognition of Pride month. As Tennessee Pride Chamber legislative counsel Tom Lee told the Banner, Bulso has tried and failed to push similar legislation through before. Likewise, Dahron Johnson, co-chair of the Tennessee Equality Project, suggested that the bills may be largely political theater aimed at advertising Bulsos positions.However, Johnson warned that Tennessee lawmakers seem to have been emboldened by the Supreme Courts 2025 decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti, which upheld the states ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The states legislature appears to be repeatedly trying to end federal LGBTQ+ rights, according to Johnson, aiming for another case that will bring LGBTQ+ rights before the Supreme Courts conservative super majority.And its not just about the end effect of the bills, but also the damaging language, the rhetoric, the condemning language against a group of people, Johnson told the Banner. And its absolutely a concern when we know that there are willing ears and ready pens at the federal level, who can mimic this in national policy.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

President Donald Trump reportedly told the Secret Service that his one-time cheerleader, now-former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), may have tipped off members of the queer-inclusive feminist activist group CODEPINK that they could find him at a Washington, D.C., restaurant that Greene recommended, Axios reported.The activists publicly heckled Trump last September, along with Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and other officials as they dined at Joes Stone Crab Restaurant. Free D.C.! Free Palestine! the activists chanted before calling Trump the Hitler of our time. In response, the president walked up and smiled at one of the women recording the confrontation on her phone before the activists were subsequently removed by security agents. Related Mess and mischief: Why resisting Trump should look less respectable & more playful in 2026 The president was reportedly embarrassed by the groups ability to get so near him and noted that Greene is friends with CODEPINKs co-founder. While the activists confronted the administration officials to protest Trumps pro-war stances, security officials worried about the presidents safety.While Greene allegedly called the White House to ensure that Trump would be dining at the restaurant on the evening in question, she herself didnt attend the dinner, which White House officials reportedly found odd.Both CODEPINK spokesperson Melissa Garriga and Greene denied having any contact about Trumps restaurant visit. Greene told Axios, The story you should be writing is why didnt the Secret Service sweep the restaurant.

Calling all fans of The Traitors!One of the breakout stars of season 4 has been Love Island alum and snake wrangler Rob Rausch.The 27-year-old Rausch previously appeared on the fifth and sixth seasons of Love Island USA. Now, Rausch has joined queer stars like Johnny Weir, Kristen Kish, Mont X Change, and Colton Underwood (as well as controversial actor Michael Rapaport) on the newest season of The Traitors. His knowledge of venemous creatures will surely come in handy in this treacherous competition in the Scottish Highlands.We already know you're interested in him, so we've collected these hot pics of Rausch. Check out his Instagram for more!See on InstagramRausch handles a green snake in this shirtless video.See on InstagramRausch isn't afraid of getting wet, as evidenced by this video of him wrangling a snake!See on InstagramRausch got his cowboy on in Joshua Tree!See on InstagramShirtless? Check. Snake around his shoulders? Check. This is a classic Rausch photo.See on InstagramSometimes Rausch likes to post shirtless selfies without snakes!See on InstagramThese shirtless selfies give fans a great look at Rausch's snake tattoos!See on InstagramRausch gets up to some snake-handling in the dark!See on InstagramWhether riding a motorcycle or wrangling snakes, Rausch has got you covered!See on InstagramWhile he looks great shirtless, Rausch also knows how to rock some fur!See on InstagramRausch doesn't just love snakes, he also loves to get his hands on a giant lizard!See on InstagramBig or small, Rausch loves to hold all types of snakes!See on InstagramThis Asian Vine Snake looks great on Rausch's shoulders!See on InstagramWe love cowboy Rausch!See on InstagramRausch looks great in a crop top!See on InstagramWe'd love to go to the jungle with Rausch!See on InstagramRausch always looks good with a snake in his hands!

Happy New Year, Michael Cimino!The sexy actor is living his best life as he tackles a slew of exciting music and acting projects as 2026 begins.Cimino is very active on social media, especially Snapchat, and he's showing fans his everyday life by posting a few steamy selfies while recording new songs.Naturally, fans went wild over Cimino's sexy abs, so check out the highlights below. (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@)

After years of rumors circulating that Kendall Jenner is a closeted lesbian, the Kardashian sister is finally breaking her silence.A lot of people think youre a secret lesbian, Owen Thiele told the 30-year-old model and mogul on the Jan. 9 episode of his podcast In My Dreams.Jenner took the opportunity to shut down the rumors once and for all, pointing out that people have been cruel. "You want to know what really bothers me? How mean people are about it, she said. It's not with, like, a welcoming arm of like, 'Hey, if you were, yes, come join.' It's not kind. It's very mean. It's very like, 'What the f--k are you doing?"The supermodel who has dated Harry Styles, Blake Griffin, Ben Simmons, and was even linked to Bad Bunny told Thiele that if she were queer, she would have come out already. (@) "I understand that coming out is not an easy thing for anybody, if not most people," she said. "And I'm not saying that's an easy thing, but knowing, and I can speak for myself here, and knowing myself, I think at this point in my life I'd be out if I was.She continued: "I'm not saying it's an easy thing. Im just saying that knowing me and knowing how I would want to live my life, I would be. I'd have no problem being that.Some of the rumors circulating about her suspected hidden sapphic desires theorize that she cant come out for fear it would hurt the Kardashian-Jenners' family business."I think that there's this whole narrative that I'm hiding this thing," she said. "I've seen really f--ked up things that are like, 'It's bad for business,' and I'm like, 'What? How?' I don't understand it.But Jenner added that shes not opposed to changing her mind about her sexuality in the future. All's to say, as of today, I am not, she said. I don't think I will be, but I'm not closing doors to experiences in life."

Amber Glenn is setting the figure skating world on fire!The pansexual American figure skater just made history at the 2026 U.S. Womens Figure Skating Championships when she not only beat out her competition but also secured a record-breaking score that may land her on the U.S. Olympic team.Glenn was visibly overwhelmed by emotion after her history-making win led to a standing ovation on Jan. 7. The two-time defending champion teared up when her 83.05 point score was announced after she managed to pull off a flawless opening triple axel. I knew that I came here to do my job, Glenn said, according to AP News, and I was happy to see that scores were up, scores were good, and I was able to keep them going up. I felt a responsibility to keep it going better and better and better.See on InstagramGlenn has been on an epic run. She won the same competition the previous year, becoming the first openly queer woman to win, and took home her first career Grand Prix Finale title at the end of 2024, recording the highest-ever score for an American woman in the short program.It has been 20 years since an American woman has won an Olympic figure skating medal, but this 26-year-old LGBTQ+ athlete has the opportunity to change that at the Milano Games next month.Glenn is poised to score a spot on her first Olympic team, which would make her the oldest U.S. Olympic women's singles skater in nearly a century, and the first openly queer woman to make the U.S. figure skating team. Glenn came out in 2019 in an interview with the Dallas Voice after she watched American ice dancer Karina Manta announce she is bisexual."I did not expect it to blow up in the way that it did," she said. "But I'm grateful because they got my message out there. I was able to represent a lot of people that are in skating, especially queer women."

Out Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) had a seemingly heated exchange with House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) in the House congressional chamber on Wednesday, CSPAN video reveals. Craig reportedly confronted Emmer about the recent murder of 37-year-old queer mother of threeRenee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis.The video shows Craig approaching Emmer, forcefully gesturing and pointing at him as she speaks. He speaks over her, also gesturing and leaning towards her. Even after two men separate them, they continue speaking, gesturing, and leaning in passionately. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) eventually pulled Craig back to separate them. Related Angie Craig almost lost her son because shes gay. Decades later that fight still fuels her. Craig told WCCO she wanted to discuss Emmers lack of standing up for Minnesotans, after he madeseveral Facebook postson Wednesday defending ICEs actions in the shooting. Emmers posts accused elected officials of endangering ICE agents by spewing lies and hateful rhetoric. Footage shows Democratic Rep. Angie Craig having a heated exchange with Republican Whip Tom Emmer, both of Minnesota, on the House floor.Craig has strongly denounced the ICE shooting in Minneapolis, while Emmer defended the officers.More on what was said in a story TK. pic.twitter.com/VCDeUK8WA3 Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) January 8, 2026 Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Emmer also shared the Department of Homeland Securitys (DHS) post on X, which accused Good of being a domestic terrorist and trying to run over the ICE agent who shot her. Analysis of multiple videos showing Goods murder, conducted byThe New York TimesandThe Washington Post, showed that the agent was not in the path of Goods vehicle.Im not going to let my Republican colleagues get away with just ignoring the fact that someone,Renee Good, a woman in Minnesota, was killed yesterday because of these political stunts, she told the aforementioned news station. [Emmer] didnt let me get three words out before he went from zero to 60, she added. If you cant have a conversation with someone without it escalating in the first three words, then youre not really ready to have a conversation and youre not listening. And I think thats part of my frustration, is, I want my Republican colleagues to understand and hear me and hear us as Minnesotans that having ICE on the ground in Minnesota is simply not making Minnesota any safer. In fact, its having the opposite effect.Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey echoed Craigs sentiments in a Wednesday press conference, in which he said, I have a message for ICE. To ICE, get the f**k out of Minneapolis. We do not want you here. Your stated reason for being in this city is to create some kind of safety, and you are doing exactly the opposite. People are being hurt. Families are being ripped apart. Long-term Minneapolis residents that have contributed so greatly to our city, to our culture, to our economy, are being terrorized, and now somebody is dead. Thats on you.During a press conference, Gov.Tim Walz(D) called the shooting preventable and unnecessary. [The presidential] administrations dangerous, sensationalized operations are a threat to our public safety, Walz continued. What were seeing is the consequences of governance designed to generate fear, headlines, and conflict. Its governing by reality TV. And today that recklessness caused someone their life.The White House has claimed that Good was part of alarger, sinister left-wing movement that has spread across our country. However, her own mother has challenged this claim, noting that her daughter never attended any anti-ICE protests.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Becca Good, the wife of Renee Good, who was shot and killed by an ICE agent on the streets of the couples Minneapolis neighborhood on Wednesday, is speaking out for the first time since the shooting. Meanwhile, a crowdfunding campaign for Renee Goods wife and son has raised over $1.5 million just 48 hours after the tragedy.Becca Good began by thanking all the people who have reached out from across the country and around the world to support our family, In a statement released by Minnesota Public Radio Friday morning. Related Video shows ICE agents killing queer woman. DHS calls her a domestic terrorist. This kindness of strangers is the most fitting tribute because if you ever encountered my wife, Renee Nicole Macklin Good, you know that above all else, she was kind. In fact, kindness radiated out of her, she wrote.Renee lived by an overarching belief: There is kindness in the world, and we need to do everything we can to find it where it resides and nurture it where it needs to grow, Becca Good continued. Renee was a Christian who knew that all religions teach the same essential truth: we are here to love each other, care for each other, and keep each other safe and whole.Goods comments on the shooting itself were brief.On Wednesday, January 7th, we stopped to support our neighbors. We had whistles. They had guns, she said. Goods account of her wife aligns with those of her family, friends, and colleagues, who describe the out mother of three as generous, a loving mom, and a caring neighbor.Their descriptions stand in stark contrast to Trump administration statements about Good and the circumstances of her death, which have been at odds with the facts since just moments after the shooting. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Vice President J.D. Vance described Good as brainwashed and a victim of left-wing ideology in an appearance at the White House before an investigation into the shooting even began. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called her a domestic terrorist, while department spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin claimed Good was stalking agents all day long, impeding our law enforcement. In reality, only two hours had elapsed between Good dropping her son off at school and the time she was shot. President Trump said without evidence that Good was a professional agitator who violently, willfully, and viciously ran over the ICE officer. But video of the shooting clearly shows that the ICE agent wasnt run over and was out of the path of Goods vehicle when he killed her. Interviews with those who knew Good paint a much different picture of her than the Trump administrations characterization.She was a devoted Christian who took part in youth mission trips to Northern Ireland when she was younger, said her first husband, who spoke on the condition of anonymity with the Washington Post out of concern for the safety of the one-time couples 15-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son. She loved to sing and studied vocal performance in college.She was a great and loving mother, he said. My memory of Renee is how much she tried to connect with her peers and support them, said one of her professors, Kent Wascom, director of Old Dominions MFA and creative writing program in Tennessee. She was a really warm presence but not a show-off. She never made a class about herself, even when her work was the focus of a workshop.Mentor and professional photographer Charles W. Winslowsaid of Good, As a friend, she was kindhearted and always helping others in need. She didnt care of race, creed, color. If she had $10 in her pocket, she would give a homeless person $9 that she passes on the street.In 2023, Goods second husband, Timmy Macklin, a military vet who suffered from PTSD, died at the age of 36. The couple had a son.Joseph Macklin, Goods brother-in-law, said she made an effort to keep her son in touch with his family back in Tennessee.She always brought him to see us. She was so kindhearted, he said.After Macklins death, Good met and fell in love with Becca Good. The couple married and settled in Kansas City, Missouri.They were just such nice people and great parents to their son, neighbor Jennifer Ferguson said. They rarely left the house, except to take their son to school. They were homebodies.The couple wasnt overtly political, she recalled, but decided to leave red-state Missouri after Trumps election in 2024. They moved to Minneapolis in March.Joseph Macklin said Thursday that Goods children are hurting and wondering why this happened, especially the youngest. It is definitely a tragedy no kid should have to go through at such a young age, he said. And to have to see it all over social media and television is sickening.She was a good mother and a good person, and she didnt deserve this, he told the Post.Becca Good doesnt deserve to be without [Renee], her mom doesnt deserve to be without her, and her kids dont deserve to be without her, he said. It truly is a tragedy that not just our family is going through, but our nation.A GoFundMe in support of Renee Goods wife and son has raised a remarkable $1.5 million in the 48 hours after the shooting. A scan of the donations and comments indicates Americans and others around the world are looking for a tangible way not only to support Goods family, but to speak out about the administrations actions that led to her death.Said one couple with their $25 donation, Our family is heartbroken for your loss. This madness MUST end. Renee was a hero, committing good trouble, and all Americans owe her a debt of gratitude. On behalf of all freedom loving, patriotic Americans, we love and thank you. Rest In Power Renee Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Kendall Jenner says the whole side of the internet that thinks Im a lesbian is wrong.While the model, The Kardashians star, and eldest daughter of Caitlyn and Kris Jenner has, over the years, been romantically linked, according to People, with Harry Styles, pro-basketball player Devin Brooks, and Bad Bunny, Page Six reports that Jenner has been dogged for years by social media rumors that she is secretly gay or bisexual. Related Caitlyn Jenner explains why she wants Kylie and Kendall to call her dad Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Jenner even addressed those rumors back in a 2018 Vogue profile, chalking the rumors up to the fact that she is more discreet than the rest of her family when it comes to her relationships with men.I think its because Im not like all my other sisters, who are like, Heres me and my boyfriend! she told the magazine. I dont think I have a bisexual or gay bone in my body, but I dont know! Who knows?! Im all down for experience not against it whatsoever but Ive never been there before. Jenner struck a similar note when the topic came up again during her appearance on the most recent episode of out Adults star Owen Thieles In Your Dreams podcast.Theres the whole side of the internet that thinks Im a lesbian, she told Thiele, adding that what bothers her about the rumors is how mean people are about it.Its not with, like, a welcoming arm of like, Hey, if you were, yes, come join. Its not kind. Its very mean. Its very like, What the f**k are you doing? Jenner claimed.I understand that coming out is not an easy thing for anybody, she conceded. And Im not saying that thats an easy thing, but knowing I can speak for myself here knowing myself, I think at this point in my life Id be out if I was [gay]. Knowing me and knowing how I would want to live my life, I would be [out], she added. Id have no problem being that.Jenner added that shes seen comments suggesting that shes closeted because coming out would be bad for business.Im like, What? How? she said. I dont understand it!Alls to say, as of today, I am not [gay], she joked. I dont think I will be, but Im not closing doors to experiences in life.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

New details emerged about Jonathan Ross, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who lethally shot Renee Good, a 37-year-old queer mother of three, on the streets of her Minneapolis neighborhood on Wednesday morning.Interviews with family and neighbors describe him as a committed Christian, a MAGA supporter, and husband to an immigrant Filipina wife. Related Queer mom killed by ICE is part of a sinister left-wing movement, White House says That information emerged after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed that the officer who shot Good dead was dragged by a car driven by a suspected illegal immigrant whom he was tasked with apprehending last year.While the Trump administration hasnt released his name, on Thursday he was identified in press reports by his name and as a 43-year-old Iraq War veteran and an ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations agent. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The information was repeated on Thursday by Vice President J.D. Vance, who said the ICE officer deserves a debt of gratitude.Records of the case led to revealing Ross identity.In court testimony last year, Ross said he deployed to Iraq from 2004 to 2005 with the Indiana National Guard, serving as a machine gunner, WBUR reports.After two years of college, Ross joined the Border Patrol in 2007 near El Paso, Texas, where he worked until 2015, serving as a field intelligence agent gathering and analyzing information on cartels and drug and human smuggling.Hes served as a deportation officer based in Minnesota since joining ICE in 2015, assigned to fugitive operations and serving as a team leader with the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force.So I develop the targets, create a target package, surveillance, and then develop a plan to execute the arrest warrant, he said in the case.Ross said that he was also a firearms instructor, an active shooter instructor, a field intelligence officer, and member of the SWAT team. In an interview with the Daily Mail, Rosss father described him as a committed, conservative Christian, a tremendous father, a tremendous husband. I couldnt be more proud of him, he said.Asked about his Filipina daughter-in-law, the man said she was a US citizen but declined to say how long shes been in the country. I do not want to go any further than that.The couple married in August 2012, according to posts on her Instagram page.A neighbor of Ross in a suburb on the outskirts of Minneapolis said that, until recently, hed been flying pro-Trump flags and a Dont Tread On Me flag (known as the Gadsen flag) at his home.I think hes in the military. He has a military license plate, one neighbor said. He had a Dont Tread on Me flag, and Trump/Vance stickers up during the election. The wife is polite, very nice, very outgoing, while hes very reserved. They have a couple of kids.Politics appear to have divided Ross immediate family.In since-deleted Facebook comments by Ross, his sister took issue with Ross apparent support of the Proud Boys, an alt-right male chauvinist group that has allied in the past with neo-Nazis in anti-LGBTQ+ protests.His sister Nicole posted a photo on the site in October 2020 of herself and a female friend wearing face masks with the caption, I denounce and condemn white supremacy.Ross replies led Nicole and the friend to clap back at him in a heated exchange about Donald Trumps supportive comments about the Proud Boys during his 2020 debate with Joe Biden, and Bidens condemnation of the white nationalist militia.The Proud Boys heard his denouncement loud and clear! I watched the entire debate and heard every word. I respectfully disagree, wrote Nicoles friend.We have to respectfully disagree, Nicole added. You are my brother and I love you, but we will not engage in a debate on Facebook.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Who was Renee Good, the woman murdered by ICE this last week? She was a mother, a wife, a poet, a creative. She was queer. She was a U.S. Citizen, jus soli (translation: having rights to the soil).She was present during an ICE operation on January 7. And, from a certain standpoint, her very existence as a queer person in America today doesnt just make her an activist; it makes her a voice for the voiceless. On that same day she was killed, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security deemed her a domestic terrorist. Related People all over the world send $1.5 million to help Renee Goods family after ICE shot her There is something deeply unsettling with the many angles of video looped on national and social media clearly showing ICE agents were not in any clear and present danger from Good. The videos show her in the car, non-aggressively signaling for other cars to go around, audibly telling ICE officials to go around and that she wasnt mad at them.How did it end? With at least two shots. A fatal shot (reportedly to the head) took the life of a 37-year-old mother of three with no as-of-yet reported criminal history a citizen, on the soil to which she had rights. She has become the fifth known person to die at the hands of reckless ICE agents since the Trump administrations immigration crackdowns intensified.My reasons for writing this are twofold: First, to acknowledge the senseless violence this administration and its agents pose. This is the violence of a state that sees a citizen on her own soil and labels her a terrorist.Second, to ask one question of the American people: When will it be enough?Its only been eight days into 2026. We no longer stand in individualism. We can no longer hide behind the busy-ness of finishing the holidays. We are confronted with the dry, choking lump of reality.This is our national addiction: We are conditioned to play the love game when the latest album is released, posting on social media with the fervor of a Lady Gaga lyric: Lets have some fun, this beat is sick. In reality, these moments of levity and escapism are a luxury that come at a high expense, and eventually a cost: OUR FREEDOM. When authoritarianism shows itself on the streets, that kind of escape can become surrender. We can no longer whisper when it comes to our rights. Instead, we must use our real, loud voices to emerge from the background. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today We must treat the future of American democracy with the same fervor as we do when those legendary artists drop a new EP, album, or tour!With all that said, America, I leave you with this: When will we allow consumerism, capitalism, and convenience to no longer obscure the clear and present rapid approach of authoritarianism, presenting itself on the very soil we have rights to?Renee Good had rights to this soil. If hers could be voided, so could yours.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

In the column Straight Nonsense, columnist Moises Mendez II takes a queer eye to the insanity of straight culture.Ashley Tisdale-French has kept a relatively low radar over the years and hasn't really made any questionable decisions in her career until now. On New Year's Day, she published an essay inThe Cut about leaving a "toxic mom group" that she described as being akin to a high school friend group that would exclude her from activities and outings. But after the essay was published, a deluge of internet theories spread, and her team seems to be scrambling to try to stamp out all the conspiracies about the other members that appeared to have included Hilary Duff, Mandy Moore, and Meghan Trainor and even one suspicion that she might be a Republican after sharing a head-turning Instagram story.In her essay, Tisdale-French said she connected with a group of women because, like her, most of them were pregnant during the pandemic and missed out on forming connections at social activities meant for pregnant mothers. The group shared similarities in running businesses and having careers while learning how to be mothers for the first time. "By the time we started getting together for playdates and got the group chat going, I was certain that Id found my village," she wrote.But as the group started hanging out more, she realized her place in the group was changing, and she felt distant from the rest of the moms. "When everyone else attended a birthday dinner together, I was met with excuses as to why I hadnt been invited," Tisdale-French's essay reads. "I still dont get why I wasnt at the girl hang that they all planned at my daughters birthday."She then compares the group to high school dynamics and, in a text to the group chat, declares that she is done. "To be clear, I have never considered the moms to be bad people. (Maybe one.) But I do think our group dynamic stopped being healthy and positive for me, anyway," she wrote.Within days, her essay became The Cut's most-read story on the site, a title it still holds at the time of publication, but it's because of the absolute shitstorm that's ensued in its wake. Tisdale-French's team attempted to clarify things by sending a statement to TMZ saying that the group that the former Disney star was talking about isn't the one with Duff, Moore, and Trainor, but a different one (even though the only mom group she's ever been pictured with is the one that includes these three celebrities). Her team also debunked the theory that her falling out with the group was actually because she is a Republican. (@) The theory stemmed from a text post she uploaded to her Instagram Story, where she condemned the killing of Charlie Kirk and compared his death to 9/11, writing, "24 years ago feels very different from today. Where we once were united and grieving together as a country, today we see someone die and blame his politics and opinions."She continued, "It shouldnt be controversial to say this, but even when we disagree or find someones views offensive, violence is never the answer." Tisdale-French also wanted to make her own political viewpoints clear, saying that she "stands for equal rights for everyone womens rights, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights" as well as "protecting reproductive rights and implementing common-sense gun laws.Her team vehemently denied the allegations that she is a secret Republican in their statement to TMZ, saying that she is a registered Democrat, and said that this whole thing was blown out of proportion. Well, it seems some of the women in the group are finding ways to respond without directly commenting on the situation. Duffs husband, Matthew Koma, belittled Tisdale-French's essay and "penned" his own titled, "When You're The Most Self-Obsessed Tone Deaf Person On Earth, Other Moms Tend To Shift Focus To Their Actual Toddlers: A Mom Group Tell All Through A Father's Eyes." (@) Trainor used the opportunity to promote a new song called "Still Don't Care," posting a TikTok in which she is seen typing and looking something up on her computer, with text reading: "Me finding out about the apparent mom group drama." @meghantrainor #stilldontcare There's a small part of me that believes this could all be a PR stunt for Trainor and Duff, who both have new music coming out later this year, with the latter returning to music for the first time in over a decade, so she definitely has a lot riding on this moment. Moore has yet to comment on the drama and has remained silent during the chaos and as of right now, things seem to be subsiding. But drama like this usually doesn't just fade out into the void that is the Internet without at least one more big bang, so we'll all have to keep our eyes peeled for an update on the toxic gossip train, whoops, I mean mom group. Moises Mendez II is a staff writer at Out magazine. Follow him on Instagram @moisesfenty.Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit out.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@equalpride.com. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists, and editors, and do not directly represent the views of Out or our parent company, equalpride.

Here are this weeks most popular positive stories, with some fun social media posts tossed in too. Like seeing uplifting content like this?Sign up for our Good News email.Happy belated New Year, everyone! Did you miss us over the holiday break? Well, worry not, dear readers, because were back with some good news nuggets that are sure to make you smile!But before we get into it, did you hear that British Ice Skating will now allow same-sex partners to compete? Did you know that drag superstar Priyanka announced her engagement in a heartwarming video? And did you see these 5 amazing good news stories from 2025 that will warm your heart & give you hope? Related TV anchor claps back at grinchy viewer who complained about gay Christmas coverage Birds of a feather hug together Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kamoliddin Odinaev (@falcon_almaty)Cardi B celebrates her transgender glam squad: These are the dolls. I cant live without them.There are not a lot of women who would take an opportunity to give credit to the dolls for their undeniable cultural impact, said one drag queen. Zohran Mamdani tapped an iconic transgender New Yorker to narrate his inaugurationNew Yorkjs new mayor has pledged to use significant resources to protect trans New Yorkers. Gender-affirming care helped detect this womans cancer & save her lifeHer care was truly life-saving in more than one way!Did you get a holiday gift as nice as Pee-Wee Hermans? View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pee-wee Herman (@peeweeherman) Former NYC Mayor Eric Adams gave trans people a huge gift just before leaving officeThe financial relief was one of the last acts of disgraced former Mayor Eric Adams. Almost no one is complaining about trans women in womens spaces, study findsThis data pokes some holes in right-wing myths.Boy George gives loving note to a mom who bravely supported her trans sonThe mom decided to give her son the love, safety, and comfort that he deserves. And now dancing dogs??!? View this post on Instagram A post shared by A History of Dogs (@ahistoryofdogs) Latina trans women are celebrating the quinceaeras theyve always dreamed ofEvents in Texas and Mexico City are part of a trend.Studies show how psychedelics can open doors to gender and sexual awakeningPsilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine are loosening fixed notions of ourselves. Trans kids who get hormone therapy are less suicidal, new study findsIts just more evidence that the current standard of care is life-saving. Just a reminder to go out and meet new people! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Truth Route News (@truthroute)From our sibling sites:QUEERTY: This 19th-century male lesbian wrote sapphic smut by the pound & got away with it!INTO: Achieving lasting remission for HIV is a scientific priorityGAYCITIES: This trans woman is taking followers on a journey through New York for a good causeOUTSPORTS: Out pro wrestlers Diamant and Kiera Hogan are engaged

Andrea Jenkins is retiring.The 64-year-old Chicago native was the first out Black and trans official ever elected to public office in the United States when she joined the Minneapolis City Council nine years ago. Related Trans councilwoman Andrea Jenkins explains Obama is the (2nd) coolest motherfker she ever met First and foremost, I identify as a poet and a writer, and being in this job didnt really allow me to focus as much time and energy as I wanted on my creative life, and so I wanted to get back to that while I still had some mental acuity and passion and abilities, she told Minneapolis Public Radio.While Jenkins made history for the trans community with her election in 2017, it was the same year she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The degenerative nerve disease has taken a toll, she said. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Since that time, there has been a visible decline in my mobility and my physical way of navigating and negotiating the world, she said.Shes hoping retirement will allow a return to her true identity.Jenkins came to the council after work with the University of Minnesota on a transgender oral history project, with the schools Jean-Nickolaus Tretter Collection in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies.She attended UM as an undergrad and went on to earn two masters degrees: an MFA in creative writing from Hamline University and an MS in community economic development from Southern New Hampshire University.She was also a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership fellow at HarvardsJohn F. Kennedy School of Government. Jenkins shared the cover of Time magazine in January 2018 with several dozen other women who participated in the Womens March in Washington the year before and, like her, later ran for office.Jenkins described her time on the city council as tumultuous: her tenure coincided with the COVID pandemic and the upheaval following the murder of George Floyd in the ward she represents.That same level of chaos is gripping Minneapolis again after the deadly shooting of a queer woman protesting ICE detentions this week.Jenkins experienced another instance of what she called political violence in 2021, when a group of activists blocked her car for 90 minutes as she was exiting a Pride event in the city. They refused to let her leave until she agreed to sign a document with a list of demands, including supporting the resignation of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and establishing a police accountability commission.Jenkins said she was held hostage by the protesters. Certainly, I was not physically harmed in any way, but emotionally and psychologically Ive had a tumultuous time in office, particularly around race.Asked inan interview withLGBTQ Nationin 2023 if her election as the first Black and out trans official in U.S. history was a burden or a blessing, Jenkins, ever the poet, intoned it was a blessing and an honor. I think it really offers some hope and inspiration to the young people in a time when trans and gender non-conforming people are being unfairly targeted by political attacks that are trying to legislate trans and gender non-conforming people out of public life, she said, three years before many of those efforts came to pass.I think it is an inspiration to trans and genderqueer and gender non-conforming people who want to seek roles in public life, and particularly in elected roles.So, its an honor to be able to speak on behalf of my community, from a position of authority, from a platform that people will listen to. Its a deep honor.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

As the right continues to melt down over California Gov. Gavin Newsoms (D) week of mocking Donald Trump on social media, it seems Democratic voters are all in.Newsom has been trolling Trump on the X account Governor Newsom Press Office by posting messages in Trumps style as a way to mock the president. For example, the account has been posting messages in all-caps with boastful messages that make little sense. Fox commentators continue to complain about Newsoms lack of character and professionalism, seemingly unaware of the irony. Related Fox pundit rages at Gavin Newsom for mocking Trump: Hes a beta male who has to sit to pee! But CNN analyst Harry Enten says the strategy is working and has resulted in a whopping 40-point rise in California voters who want to see him run for president from 35% in 2023 to 75% today.My goodness gracious, Enten said, referencing a rising tide of support for Gavin Newsom. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Enten said the polling is significant despite the election being over three years away. Its one of those benchmarks, the home-state polling for presidential candidates. If they cant win the primary in their home state, they aint going to win anywhere, Enten wrote.So, yes, winning California is not tantamount to winning the nomination, but it is one of those stepping stones that you have to make it to if you, in fact, want to win the nomination historically, and, of course, in California, it has the most delegates out of any of the states that, of course, take part in the Democratic primary, he added.Enten said Newsoms numbers have also risen nationally, from 11% of Democratic voters who wanted him to run for president on June 1 to 27% now. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Born in Monterrey, Mexico and representing New York City on RuPaul's Drag Race season 18, the world has fallen in love with the spicy, showstopping, and wonderful DD Fuego. After introducing herself in episode 1, surviving a "disco-gate" in episode 2, and getting to lip sync for her life to a club banger by Dove Cameron ("Too Much") against her fellow teammate Mandy Mango, DD was asked to sashay away by Mama Ru. Yet, it actually doesn't take too much (pun intended) to see the bright future ahead for this phenomenal queen. During this exit interview with Out, DD Fuego spills the tea about her time in the Drag Race werk room, explains her perspective for that Dove Cameron lip sync, shares the story behind her partnership with Betsey Johnson to create the instantly iconic "Flame Shoes," and proves that she's ready to rule her own queendom no matter what her placement on the show is.Chatting with DD is a truly delightful experience, and we hope you enjoy and support this fabulous queen in her post-Drag Race journey. Below, the Out exit interview with DD Fuego.Out: Between the "Meet the Queens" rollout and episode 2 when you were asked to sashay away how are you feeling, right now, in this moment?DD Fuego: I'm feeling really excited for this new year that I'm having. The Meet the Queens and the promo really kicked off this public appearance to the world But, really, it was getting on Drag Race that started changing my life. I'm so grateful for the place that I'm in right now.You were such an entertaining person to watch, and a good competitor, but I was even more surprised by the number of things that you had already done. So many impressive things you did even before Drag Race.That's right!But let's back up and talk about that "disco-gate."Oh my god. (@) RuPaul loves disco, so everyone wanted disco. How did this play out from your perspective being in the room?For me it was very important to be a part of a song that felt joyful, and that felt historically important. The message behind the song that we were given was about celebrating unity. It's about like celebrating individuality, and also the community as a whole.I was like, 'This is exactly what I want to be saying episode 2.' Since we were the misfit group, let's go all the way with this message of inclusion and acceptance. It felt very important to me.Speaking of which I was surprised by this group of queens that no one chose by the four of you not being picked. There are so many strengths between you, Athena, Darlene, and Mandy. Why do you think that turned out to be the case?I think there were a lot of Well, first of all, I didn't have any issue not being picked. I get what I get because I earn it, not because anyone has ever given it to me. So I was proud to be a misfit! But, yeah, we were underestimated because people didn't know us. There were a lot of alliances out the gate. A lot of people already knew each other, so I understood why people would be selecting each other. But the real gag is Athena not getting picked, because she had, um, 17 other Florida girls in there with her![Laughs.]It's true! So the problem then became My job was not just to create a fabulous verse and help lead us to victory, it also became: 'Let's bring good energy to this group, and elevate the feeling,' which felt very low. I'm proud of both of the things I did there. (@) I think that approach is always a good approach. Just change the vibes. It makes a huge difference.Yes. And the reality is, we're all very good performers. Athena and I have been working in the industry for many years. Mandy is a fabulous dancer. Even though people underestimated us in the group, and the group may not have done well, still come catch us at our shows, because you will not be disappointed.I can attest to that. I've seen some of you in the wild. Well, you better come see me again!Absolutely, count me in.So, as herstory goes, you've auditioned for Drag Race 10 times...And once for Drag Race Mxico!And once for Drag Race Mxico, exactly! [Laughs.] What did it feel like to finally get it?It was the most important moment of my drag life at the time. It allowed me to reach out to all the people that I've always wanted to work with. I've been a very solo artist, but this opportunity meant that I could call up my designer friends that have worked with, like, Lady Gaga, and Beyonc, and work with my friend who's the manicurist of Gigi Hadid And I'm like, let's actually make something happen.Because these people aren't going to make me something for the bars of New York City! [Laughs.] But once I got the call, it allowed me It gave me the gall and the gumption, to be like, "Alright, it's time to elevate the joint." And that's the biggest blessing so far, because no one can take that away from me. The preparation that I did for the show was to win. And I still did it. (@) I saw a post from Jewels Sparkles that really stood out to me. You got to wear a pair of shoes on Drag Race that was a collaboration between you and Betsey Johnson. That's pretty freaking insane and iconic.Yes, right?How did those "Flame Shoes" come about? This is crazy.I've been a friend of Betsey's, and the brand, for many years. I've been fortunate enough to work with the brand on Pride events, and it just grew from there. A lot of the girls from Drag Race have worked with Betsey Johnson before, and when it came time to walk into the werk room, I knew I wanted a "Flame Shoe."So I spoke to the Betsey Johnson team, and I thought, OK, the favor has been completed They gave me a shoe. But then I was like, "Well, the promo is coming. Can I get another favor?" And then I didn't ask for this part but they decided, because they were so excited for me and the partnership, that they decided to produce the shoe and share the "Fuego" with the world.During the episode, you say in a confessional that you didn't think you were the weakest link within the four of you in the group. What did you mean by that? Who would you put in the bottom instead?Bernardo, you are being so shady! You want me to spill the beans.[Laughs.]All I will say is If you really break it down, performance-wise, I don't think I was the weakest. Verse-wise, I don't think I was the weakest. Vocally, I don't think I was the weakest. But it's the combination between all of them. Was I the best at all of the things? Maybe not. But was I the worst at all of the things? Also not. But that's what the Race is all about. You end up in the lip sync, and fair and square, that's what went down.See on InstagramBefore we go, I wanted to talk about the lip sync. We saw Mandy struggling to get out of her outfit, which wasn't something that you had to deal with. What was going through your head in the lip sync, and what vibe were you aiming for?I felt like I was going to make my lip sync be measured and precise, and that my lip sync was going to be like pointed at Dove [Cameron]. Very, like, story-telly. And then, in the moments that mattered, I was really going to turn out the dancing which I know how to do, and I'm good at. You can see it at my shows.But then I realized that the floor was full of the glitter from my outfit, and I was like, "Wait, I can't do all the things I want to do." And then I'm like, "Well, Mandy's falling apart, so maybe let's just be careful. Let me not fall apart as much, and let me just focus on making a really tight, impactful lip sync."But I think the impression that it gave was not iconic and impactful. It didn't give what the judges were looking for, clearly.My last question: You were the only queen representing New York City to compete in season 18. And, with the exception of Dahlia Sin [in season 12] who technically went into the show representing Los Angeles instead you are the first queen representing NYC to go home first.Well, what are you saying by this, Bernardo?![Laughs.] Well, that's herstory, and it's interesting. And do you think about this?I know, I know. [Laughs.] I'll say this: The real prize is being a working artist in New York City. A lot of the girls in this season could not achieve that. I achieved that.You're damn right.So I have to be proud of being from New York no matter what happened on the show.And a fabulous Latina representing me, and so many of us, too.Exactly. And I'm proud of it all.RuPaul's Drag Race season 18 airs new episodes every Friday on MTV. Keep up with DD Fuego on Instagram, X/Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube. You can also support the Drag Race star by buying her merch on DDFuego.com, booking a personalized video on Cameo, and/or sending a cash tip via Venmo.

Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang have responded to backlash over their recent remarks undermining Rep. Jasmine Crockett's Senate bid.In the latest episode of their podcast Las Culturistas, Rogers, discussing the viability of different political candidates, directly told listeners not to support the Texas Democrat. "Anytime a politician is making it about themselves, I'm already done," Rogers said. "Don't waste your money sending to Jasmine Crockett. Do not do it.""I must agree," Yang said. Rogers added that he believed Crockett, who has represented Texas's 30th congressional district since 2023, was too "well-defined" to win the election; he cited Texas State Rep. James Talarico as a lesser-known candidate who may be better poised to speak to "the middle."The remarks sparked a sizable backlash, with critics noting how Rogers and Yang, who are not from Texas and are not political pundits, had strayed outside their lane. Many also took umbrage that they had singled out a Black woman to undermine as a candidate.After the backlash, Rogers released a statement Saturday to Instagram Stories, in which he admitted "my phrasing was not right.""Hey everybody. I hear the response and I am taking every bit of it to heart, I promise," Rogers said. "Transparency and candor matter to me, especially on the podcast. I'm a very progressive person who cares deeply about winning these elections, but my phrasing was not right. I will be more thoughtful! I really do promise.I have great respect and admiration for Rep. Crockett, and I regret that my words suggested otherwise. I just want us to win and I will be better at finding ways to help."Yang, who had briefly turned off his Instagram comments due to the backlash, reposted the statement to his own Instagram Story, adding the caption, "should not have cursorily weighed in on this. understanding the platform and will use it more responsibly."

Ahead of a New Years Eve show in Miami last week, Marlon Wayans joined the We In Miami podcast and shared thoughts about being a dad to his trans son.He called it the natural instinct of a father to protect my child. Related Marlon Wayans slams Elon Musks transphobia against his own daughter People can judge and say what they want, but at the end of the day, thats my child, and Im going to love my baby regardless of what anybody says. And they should be allowed to have anonymity and enjoy their life exactly the way they want to enjoy it.Wayans added, You cant beat the gay out of somebody or hypnotize somebody to not be transgender. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today You just gotta accept and love them. View this post on Instagram A post shared by We In Miami Podcast (@weinmiamipodcast)Three years ago,Wayans came out with complete and conditional love for his trans son Kai on the Breakfast Club podcast, and hes been actively supporting the young man and the LGBTQ+ community ever since.In 2024, he went full taste the rainbow with a photo shoot posted to Insta, wishing all my LGBTQ peeps his love and support.You can be a straight man and still love gay people, he said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Marlon Wayans (@marlonwayans)The Scary Movie stars family has taken a few hits along the way, most notoriously from onetime rapper and record producer Soulja Boy, who baited the supportive dad over Kais identity on X early last year.The Wayans brother bit back with a reminder of his comic bona fides. If @souljaboy had a career, he could get cancelled for this type of slander. Luckily, he aint been relevant since 2007, and Hey @souljaboy my child had top surgery and still has more chest than you.Later in his We In Miami sit-down, Wayans praised fellow parents Dwyane Wade and Gabriel Union for their public support of their own trans kid, Zaya Wade.I think when youve gone through the process, everyone can try and judge, but until youre a parent of a trans child, take a seat, he said.You dont know what youre talking about. You dont understand what we struggle with. Its not instant acceptance, but I call them evolved because thats what youre supposed to do, Wayans said of Wade and Union.Youre supposed to align yourself with your children because you want your children ultimately to be happy and try to make them happy and comfortable in their skin because you want them to live a nice, happy life.Showing up for their childand being a great example for Black people is something hes emulated, Wayans said.Black family is important, he added. And we need more heroes like that.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

James Ross, the controversial former drag performer and RuPauls Drag Race Season 2 winner known professionally as Tyra Sanchez, claims he is suing the shows hosts, RuPaul Charles and Michelle Visage, along with its production company, World of Wonder (WOW).Before my words are twisted. Before blogs attempt to paint me how they see fit. Heres my full transparency regarding my lawsuit against RuPauls Drag Race, James wrote in a January 4 Facebook post, which also includes what appears to be a draft of a legal complaint. Related How this Drag Race winner helped get a shoddy police department shut down According to the post, Ross intends to bring claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, false light, and tortious interference with prospective economic advantage against Charles, Visage, and WOW.For over a decade, Defendants, acting collectively and in concert, have engaged in a pattern of conduct designed to discredit, disparage, and destroy Rosss professional reputation, with reckless disregard for the truth and with the intent to incite hatred, harassment, and ostracization within the entertainment industry and among the public, the post reads. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Tyra Sanchez has outlined her intended lawsuit against RuPaul, Michelle Visage & World of Wonder on Facebook. pic.twitter.com/ZWGQy2p2mA Drag Crave (@Drag_Crave) January 5, 2026Among his claims, Ross accuses Visage of a campaign of discrediting him during her promotional tour for RuPauls Drag Races third season her first as a full-time, permanent judge. Ross claims that by repeatedly stating that, had she been a judge during the shows second season, she would have fought for runner-up Raven to have been named the winner.This deliberate narrative that Rosss Season 2 victory was undeserved fueled years of harassment, blackballing and reputational harm, the post claims.Among the posts other claims, Ross alleges that in 2018, WOW filed a false police report accusing Ross of threatening to blow up DragCon, resulting in media attention which branded [him] as dangerous, further inciting public ridicule, harassment, and threats of violence.According to YouTuber Bussy Queen, who posted a January 8 video deep-dive into Rosss lawsuit, that allegation stems from a 2018 incident in which, as Gay Times reported at the time, WOW banned Ross from attending DragCon in L.A. due to violent threats hed made publicly toward other Drag Race alums. Ross reportedly responded by sharing an illustration of the Los Angeles Convention Center blowing up on social media, as well as several posts warning fans not to attend DragCon. She also reportedly added a timer counting down to DragCon to her website along with the word B.O.O.M. Ross also alleges what he describes in his post as a pattern of defamatory storylines, citing various instances on RuPauls Drag Race All Stars, which he claims were meant to discredit [him] and incite hatred.Finally, Ross accuses Charles of an ongoing campaign of targeted humiliation, citing a single January 8, 2025, social media post in which the Drag Race host shared a video clip showing him slapping Ross as part of a skit on the show.As both Bussy Queen and Attitude note, Charless post appeared to have been in response to an insensitive post Ross shared following the death of fellow Drag Race alum The Vivienne. Ross, who no longer performs drag, claims in his post that Charles, Visage, and WOWs actions have resulted in severe reputational harm, constant harassment, threats, and ostracization from the entertainment industry and the LGBT+ community, emotional distress, trauma, and fear for personal safety, and economic losses in the form of lost wages and diminished earning capacity. According to his post, Ross seeks affirmative relief, including compensatory and punitive damages, as well as declaratory relief acknowledging the Defendants wrongful conduct.However, as Bussy Queen notes in their video, There is no public record of a formal lawsuit being filed in any court. There is no docket number. There is no court filing record and there is no legal reporting regarding this lawsuit, as of January 8. They suggest that Rosss post is AI-generated and describe his claims as delusional fan fiction and wishful thinking.Ross does not appear to have commented further on his intention to sue Charles, Visage, and WOW.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.