Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) and gay conservative podcaster Tim Dillon repeated transphobic right-wing talking points during an interview over the past weekend, with Vance stressing to Dillon that hes not gay. Dillon claimed that allies of transgender people want nine-year-old girls to have a beard, and Vance also claimed that medical transitioning is conversion therapy to turn gay people trans. During the interview, Vance claimed the medical industry is profiting off of transitioning minors and insinuated that they are trying to convince gay kids that they are, in fact, transgender. Related The GOP is spending millions on transphobic ads. Polls suggest it may backfire. It shows that Republicans are desperate right now. Im not a gay guy, but Ive heard this from gay friends of mine Vance said before Dillon started laughing uproariously at Vances need to say that hes not gay.JD Vance: Im not a gay guy pic.twitter.com/wlGbKlViwX PatriotTakes (@patriottakes) October 28, 2024Ive talked to this about gay friends who feel like, very personally affronted [by gender-affirming care for youth], Vance claimed. They feel like, if they were 14 years old, and maybe theyre confused Would somebody have had them transition? Course, yeah, in some ways its like the new its like the pharmaceutical answer to conversion therapy, right, is, Oh no, you know youre not gay, right? Youre a totally different gender!' Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Vance offered no evidence to substantiate his claim that cis gay kids are being forced to transition. Earlier in their conversation, Dillon dishonestly framed a question about gender-affirming care for trans youth, asking sarcastically, Why cant a seven-year-old consent to a life-altering medical surgery? Is it because you guys are fascist? I dont understand. Like, why wouldnt you allow an eight-year-old to fully transition? Why cant a nine-year-old girl have a beard? Gender-affirming surgeries are never conducted on pre-pubescent children and almost never conducted on minors at all. Gender-affirming care for seven-year-olds involves letting them wear the clothes they want, go by a name that affirms their identity, and play with the toys they want.Vance then claimed that gender-affirming care is being provided by a profit-motivated entity [that] tries to manipulate government policy and has made billions of dollars off of cross-sex hormones for children.Thats kind of weird that the very people who are getting rich off this are also lobbying the American Medical Association [AMA] and the U.S. government to force this on American citizens, Vance added. The AMA is only one of numerous major medical associations that have recommended gender-affirming care as safe, effective, and essential to the well-being of trans youth for decades. In reality, there are only an estimated 300,000 trans people between the ages of 13 and 17 who might require such hormones, according to the Williams Institute. This group represents 0.08% of the entire U.S. population and the money made off of this group pales in comparison to the profit made by the pharmaceutical industry off of cisgender patients.Dillon then said that he and other out gay people are wondering, Why in Gods name would a five-year-old, a seven-year-old, a 12-year-old, a 14-year-old be taking puberty-blocking hormones, be transitioning Leave kids alone Its very simple. A lot of gay people feel that way. There are transgender people that feel that way. There are people all over the spectrum that feel that way. None of them are ever listened to. Yes, it is the most extreme, loudest voices in that movement that are listened to.Vance then said he came out in support of banning gender transition for minors during [his] Senate campaign. He then said that a friend of his who really disagrees with my views on transgender politics and kind of rejected our friendship over his views likely a reference to his transgender former Yale Law School classmate Sofia Nelson, who is transgender claimed that puberty blockers and hormone therapy for trans youth are totally reversible. That is totally and profoundly false, Vance said. While the long-term and side-effects of hormone therapy differ from patient to patient, they have been used safely on children mostly cisgender for decades to prevent early onset puberty and rare cancers. The Mayo Clinics website says that puberty blockers dont cause permanent physical changes. When a person stops taking GnRH analogues, puberty starts again.Dillon said, I think when weve got weve allowed the debate to be defined by a very extreme portion who its not about logic. Its about people throwing tantrums and people going, You have to agree with me.' He then said that nobody supports teaching children about critical race theory or gender theory, asking, Why are we not educating people in math, in reading and science?He was repeating a common and untrue right-wing talking point meant to dissuade taxpayers from supporting public schools. The Republican National Platform threatens to cut federal funding for any school pushing critical race theory, radical gender ideology, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content on our children. The wide-ranging aim seeks to censor and punish any viewpoints that acknowledge institutional racism, misogyny, and queer phobia.Vance called leftist views on anti-racist education bullshit that has made people hate each other, adding, Lets get back to just trying to emphasize that were all human beings. Were all Americans.Earlier in their discussion, while talking about U.S. military presence in foreign countries, Dillon said, Now it seems to be that were shoehorning domestic issues into foreign policy, meaning that you can no longer sell a war by saying were there to democratize a country or we are there to preemptively invade a country before they attack us. But we can say we are there so that drag queens in Russia can have more of a say.Vance replied, You asked why we were in Afghanistan for 20 years, its like because the Afghanis really need to learn about gender studies. Both men were echoing right-wing talking points criticizing the military for embracing drag queens and Russian rhetoric, claiming that the West seeks to push gender perversions abroad. But the U.S. has not invaded Russia and is supporting Ukraine to protect its democracy and its independence, not to protect drag queens in Russia, and the war in Afghanistan was started in the wake of the 9/11 attacks over two decades ago.Vance then claimed, Yeah, [U.S. tax dollars are] funding programs to teach people that there are nonbinary genders out there.The exchange on LGBTQ+ issues starts at the 29:40 mark.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Halloween is here, and that means that gays everywhere are spent this past weekend (and will spend this upcoming weekend) trying to outdo each other with the spookiest, sexiest, campiest, and most fun costumes possible!Every year, queer celebs pull off some of the best Halloween costumes in the country, and 2024 will be no exception!Scroll through to see some of our favorite costume looks so far! And check back throughout the rest of the week as we update this gallery with even more celeb Halloween looks!Bretman Rock and Justice FesterSee on InstagramThis couple dressed as Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy from SpongeBob!Bretman RockSee on InstagramRock also dressed as Willy Wonka.Bretman RockSee on InstagramAnd Rock wasn't done there, also dressing as a haunted nun!Bretman RockSee on InstagramWe know one celeb who loves Halloween! Bretman Rock also dressed as a spooky ghost!Miss BennySee on InstagramGlamorous star Miss Benny dressed as Mother Monster herself, Lady Gaga!Chris ColferSee on InstagramGlee star Chris Colfer dressed as a vampire's snack.Jesse James PattisonSee on InstagramDrag Race pit crew member Jesse James Pattison got his Blade on this Halloween!Courtney ActSee on InstagramCourtney Act dressed as popular Australian rules football player Bailey Smith!Kit WilliamsonSee on InstagramEastsiders creator Kit Williamson and his husband are both slutty Tim Walz!KaosSee on InstagramCanada's Drag Race star Kaos is dressed as a pumpkin!Claire Rehfuss and Derek XiaoSee on InstagramThese Big Brother alums got electric this year.Rebecca BlackSee on InstagramSinger Rebecca Black stuns as a sailor!Janelle MoneSee on InstagramJanelle Mone went all out with this monster costume!Larry SapersteinSee on InstagramHigh School Musical: The Musical: The Series star Larry Saperstein is feeling Wicked this year!Jillian MercadoSee on InstagramThe L Word: Generation Q cutie Jillian Mercado dressed up as Daphne from Scooby Doo.Patti Harrison (@) Comedian and actress Patti Harrison as Michael Jackson.Johnny SibillyJohnny Sibilly looks H-O-T as a cheerleader!Princess PoppyPrincess Poppy dressed as the Declaration of Independence.Joel Kim BoosterJoel Kim Booster as "JD Vance Sleep Paralysis Demon."Jim VerrarosJim Verraros and his partner as Deadpool and Wolverine.Jorge XolalpaStrangelove's Jorge Xolalpa as a skeletal mariachi.Jordan FirstmanComedian Jordan Firstman is a sexy nurse this year!Sebastian Gonzalaz MolinaThis dancer got his sexy Deadpool on!Trixie MattelZoinks! Trixie Mattel kept it lowkey as Shaggy!Jaboukie Young-WhiteWe love a Challengers group costume!Lux PascalModel Lux Pascal as a clown.Kyle KriegerKyle Krieger in full Sand Worm realness from Dune II!Mason MorrowKrieger's boyfriend was Paul Atreides, riding that sand worm all night!Sophia LayneThe Circle star Sophia Layne likes scary movies as Drew Barrymore in Scream!Ice Spice Ice Spice doesn't need a multipass as Leeloo from The Fifth Element!CrystalCrystal got her clown on this year!Gothy KendollPlayboy bunny Gothy Kendoll has us wanting to go trick or treating this year!Matt BernsteinMatt Bernstein did classic spider eye makeup this year.Rajiv SurendraMean Girls star Rajiv Surendra dressed as Aladdin this year.Pedro SampaioBrazilian DJ Pedro Sampaio and his boyfriend Henrique Meinke in the Deadpool and Wolverine spirit!Gottmik and Violet ChachkiWe love these outfits from two of our favorite drag queens!Hari NefHari Nef is looking hot as a devil!

If your joke doesn't land the first time, just repeat it louder. Donald Trump once again referred to CNN's Anderson Cooper as "Allison" at a Friday rally in Traverse City, Michigan when the anchor's town hall with Vice President Kamala Harris came up. The attempt at an insult implies both that gay men are women, and that being a woman is somehow degrading.If you watched her being interviewed by Allison Cooper the other night, hes a nice person. You know Allison Cooper? CNN fake news, Trump said, according to The Associated Press, adding in a mocking tone, Oh, she said no, his name is Anderson. Oh, no.Trump repeated the name at another Michigan rally on Saturday, stating: "They had a town hall. Even Allison Cooper was embarrassed by it. He was embarrassed by it.The former president previously referred to Cooper using a woman's name while attacking the reporter's 2019 interview with writer E. Jean Carroll, who accused Trump of sexually abusing her in 1996. Carroll was later awarded $83.3 million in damages by a New York jury after it found Trump liable for defamation over his public claims accusing her of lying. Cooper addressed Trump's insults in a September segment where he focused in on the former president's accusations that he had swayed Carroll's answers in the interview, calling the claims "unfounded," and only briefly addressing the insult by noting its childishness. He recently referred to me using a female first name, which I guess is like a third-grade gay taunt," Cooper said, adding, "It's not worth replying to." (@) The GOP has heavily relied on attacks against LGBTQ+ people in the past several weeks leading up to the election. Republicans spent more than $65 million on attack ads against the trans community since August, according to a report from The New York Times, and Trump recently singled out transgender people in an interview with pundit Joe Rogan. The anti-LGBTQ+ strategy doesn't seem to be working, as a recent Data For Progress survey found that 54 percent of likely voters believe political attack ads targeting the trans community have become mean-spirited and out of hand.

The city of Odessa, Texas, has placed a $10,000 bounty on any transgender individual who uses bathrooms that align with their gender identity, according to independent journalist Erin Reed.The bounty itself reads that any person besides local and state government officials may sue a trans person using the restroom that aligns with their gender, with payments including injunctive relief sufficient to prevent the defendant from violating the provisions of this ordinance; nominal and compensatory damages if the plaintiff has suffered injury or harm from the defendants conduct; statutory damages in an amount of not less than $10,000 for each violation of this ordinance; and court costs and reasonable attorneys fees. Related Ted Cruz falsely calls 2 cis teen girls boys in desperate search for trans athletes to demonize Theyre minors and he used their pictures without their parents permission, seemingly calling them boys in girls sports. While the bounty is set to a minimum of $10,000, there is no cap on how large the bounty can be. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today In addition, there are criminal penalties for individuals who use bathrooms that align with their gender identity. The provision states that a person violating the provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a Class C misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars and that anyone who refuses to use a bathroom aligned with what the city perceives as their biological sex, even after being asked to leave by a building owner, may be guilty of misdemeanor trespassing.The bounty defines biological sex based on birth certificates, either at the time of birth or corrected if there was a clerical error. This means that any transgender individual who gets their birth certificate updated to reflect their gender identity would still be violating the law if they used bathrooms that align with their gender.This ban lacks any exceptions for disabled people who may be accompanied by a person of a different gender and may open the door to lawsuits targeting anyone who is gender non-conforming. Bathroom bans with criminal penalties have been passed in states like Utah and Florida, while other states like North Dakota have bans without clear penalties or means of enforcement. Reed drew parallels between the Odessa bounty and anti-abortion bounties seen throughout Texas where people can sue anyone who aids someone who is seeking an abortion as they rely on much of the same strategy. That is, instead of having government officials who can be sued preemptively enforce a ban, they authorize private citizens to do the work of enforcing the law as a legal workaround.Johnathan Gooch, communications director for Equality Texas, told the Texas Tribune, Its a very aggressive way to alienate trans people from public life, and I think it is counter to the spirit of friendship that most Texans embody.It enables vigilantes just to target anyone that they dont think matches the type of gender expression they expect to see in the bathroom, and that is truly insane.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Ricky Martin and Bad Bunny are speaking out on politics after a Republican "comedy" set that took aim at Puerto Rico.Donald Trump's rally in New York City's Madison Square Garden on Sunday was a breeding ground for racism. While that may not sound particularly surprising to anyone who's been paying attention for the past nine years, the brazenness may have finally backfired."I don't know if you guys know this, but there's literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now," podcaster and alleged comedian Tony Hinchcliffe said ahead of Trump's appearance. "I think it's called Puerto Rico."The tasteless "joke" swiftly prompted backlash from celebrities such as Martin, Bad Bunny, and Jennifer Lopez, who used their considerable platforms to speak up. (@) (@) (@) They weren't the only celebs who had something to say in direct reaction to this particular rally or Hinchcliffe's racist remarks, which also targeted Black people, Palestinians, Jews, and Latinos in general.See on InstagramSee on Instagram (@) (@) Many of these influential figures had already shown support for Harris, but it felt particularly poignant to see them respond after Hinchcliffe tried to turn Puerto Rico into the butt of a boring joke. (@) (@) (@) (@) Although Trump's campaign advisor later released a statement claiming that Hinchcliffe's "joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign," the damage may already be done.

Anti-LGBTQ+ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) spewed anti-LGBTQ+ talking points to defend a comedian who made numerous racist comments at the New York City rally for Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, held last Sunday.During his speech, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage, said Black people carve watermelons for Halloween, suggested Jews dont like spending money, and thatLatinos love making babies and do not pull out. Hinchcliffe said his critics have no sense of humor,and the Trump campaign said his comments about Puerto Rico [do] not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign. Related Marjorie Taylor Greene outraged that puberty blockers dont do a thing they were never meant to do She said that Big Pharma is lying to people about gender-affirming care. Following condemnation from Democrats and Republicans, Greene defended Hinchcliffe on X, writing, The Democrats choose their outrage. They arent outraged over naked men exposing their genitals to children at Pride parades or biological men literally beating women in womens sports or 325,000+ missing migrant children in America under Kamala Harris or Tim Walz putting tampons in boys bathrooms, actually Democrats support all of these vile things. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today They dont care about Puerto Rico and neither do Democrat activists in the media, Greene added. It took a comedian to force these issues to the forefront. Instead, Democrats and the complicit media are trying to cancel Tony Hinchcliffe as they continue on their communist agenda to destroy free speech instead of fixing anything. We must always fight against cancel culture and constantly defend free speech!In her post, Greene posted a screenshot of Google AI search results discussing Puerto Ricos waste management crisis, an oblique way of referring to garbage in the island U.S. territory. I was at the MSG Trump rally last night and I heard every speech in their entirety including this speech and comments about Puerto Rico.The Democrats choose their outrage. They arent outraged over naked men exposing their genitals to children at Pride parades or biological men https://t.co/wsUfH8t7GE pic.twitter.com/eSGuS2FxZa Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) October 28, 2024In an X post published shortly after his rally speech, Hinchcliffe reposted a video of Puerto Rican Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) criticizing his comments. Walz noted that Puerto Ricans are taxpaying U.S. citizens who have worked hard to restore their island after it was devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017.Ocasio-Cortez said that Puerto Rico is often a testing ground for national policies that harm working-class communities across the United States. When you have some a-hole calling Puerto Rico floating garbage, know that thats what they think about you, she said. Its what they think about anyone who makes less money than them. Its what they think about people who serve them food in a restaurant the people who fold their clothes in a store.Walz and Ocasio-Cortez said they hoped that Puerto Rican voters in swing states see Hinchcliffes comments and vote against Trump and Republicans in the upcoming elections.In his post, Hinchcliffe wrote, Wild that a vice presidential candidate would take time out of his busy schedule to analyze a joke taken out of context to make it seem racist. I love Puerto Rico and vacation there. I made fun of everyonewatch the whole set. These people have no sense of humor. Wild that a vice presidential candidate would take time out of his busy schedule to analyze a joke taken out of context to make it seem racist. I love Puerto Rico and vacation there. I made fun of everyonewatch the whole set. Im a https://t.co/VFxHRcdv5k Tony Hinchcliffe (@TonyHinchcliffe) October 27, 2024Ocasio-Cortez later responded to Hinchcliffe, writing via X, You dontlove Puerto Rico.You likedrinkingpia coladas. Theres a difference.Republican U.S. Representatives Anthony DEsposito, Maria Elvira Salazar and Carlos Gimenez all criticized Hinchcliffes remarks. In response to the remarks, Puerto Rican musicians Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin all reposted a video of Harris condemning Trumps treatment of the territory.I will never forget what Donald Trump did and what he did not do when Puerto Rico needed a caring and a competent leader, Harris said in the video. He abandoned the island, tried to block aid after back-to-back devastating hurricanes and offered nothing more than paper towels and insults.An April 2021 report found that President Trump blocked $20 billion in hurricane relieffor Puerto Rico, instead wishing for the funds to be re-directed to Texas and Florida. Throughout my career, Ive always fought for the people of Puerto Rico. Every chance he got, Donald Trump abandoned and insulted them.As president, I will invest in Puerto Rico's future so that Puerto Ricans can not just get by, but get ahead. pic.twitter.com/jkqOPWBhIy Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 27, 2024Gay Rep. Ritchie Torres also criticized Hinchcliffes comments on X, writing, As a Puerto Rican, Im tempted to call Tony Hinchcliffe racist garbage, but doing so would be an insult to garbage. When casting their ballots at the voting booth, Latinos should never forget the racism that Donald Trump seems all too willing to platform.As a Puerto Rican, I'm tempted to call Tony Hinchcliffe racist garbage, but doing so would be an insult to garbage.When casting their ballots at the voting booth, Latinos should never forget the racism that Donald Trump seems all too willing to platform.pic.twitter.com/Wlrulb5ygq Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorresNY) October 28, 2024Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Seven people in France have been arrested and charged for allegedly cyberbullying the artistic director of the Paris Olympics this summer, French authorities announced last Friday.The Paris prosecutors office said the arrests were the first wave in a series of prosecutions they intend to carry out in the aftermath of a coordinated campaign threatening Thomas Jolly, the mastermind of the opening and closing ceremonies at the XXXIII Olympiad in July and August. Related The Olympics & sports have always been political and we should embrace that Some say sports should transcend politics, but history has shown the power and importance of on-field protests. Jolly and prosecutors say the homophobic and antisemitic abuse online escalated quickly following the opening ceremony set along the Seine River through the heart of the City of Light, which featured drag queens, a performance by Lady Gaga, and a scene that detractors described as a sacrilegious depiction of Jesus Last Supper. Jolly denied that the tableau was based on Jesus final meal, saying instead that it was meant to depict a Dionysian feast. Global perspectives delivered right to your inbox Our newsletter bridges borders to bring you LGBTQ+ news from around the world. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Donald Trump called the ceremony a disgrace and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) labeled it a mockery.The seven individuals charged face counts of death threats, aggravated insults, and cyberbullying, and could face prison time, the Associated Press reports. The individuals range in age from 22 to 79.At a September government hearing addressing the controversy, Jolly made a distinction between constructive criticism and discriminatory criminal intent.Critique, thats my life, he said, but when it involves discrimination, it becomes criminal.Jolly defended his vision as neither meant to offend nor disrespect religion. He also expressed disbelief that it was taken as such.I didnt set out to mock any religion, he said, noting that the ceremonies references to Notre Dame cathedral were an homage to Frances cultural heritage, not a sacrilegious indictment. In another defense, the artistic director said, My wish isnt to be subversive, nor to mock or to shock. Most of all, I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion and not at all to divide.The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, went further in comments after the Olympics concluded in August, saying, F**k the reactionaries, f**k this far-right, f**k all of those who would like to lock us into a war of all against all.The prosecutors office said the online harassment is part of a larger trend in France directed at public figures, highlighting the abuse and death threats against Jolly as an example of other campaigns to intimidate and silence expressions of inclusivity and diversity, and using a highly public and symbolic event to do so. The disturbing pack behavior of attackers acting independently to escalate the harassment, seen in Jollys case, reflects a pattern in other online hate campaigns, they said.The seven accused are scheduled to appear in court next on March 5.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Halloween is just around the corner, but if you and your paramour are still trying to decide what to wear to the parties you've been invited to, fear not because there are a plethora of queer couples from your favorite TV shows who would make perfect costumes.We don't normally think of Spooky Season as being synonymous with love, but celebrating iconic LGBTQ+ TV couples is the perfect way to make any Halloween celebration a little more queer. From animated lovers to pirate boyfriends, there is a couples costume idea for you. So whether you want something simple or are down for an over-the-top fit, there is a TV show couple to match your mood and skill set!1. Ruby and Sapphire ('Steven Universe')You're probably going to need wigs for this one, and a lot of body paint, but it will be so worth it!2. Willow and Tara ('Buffy the Vampire Slayer')This quintessential '90s lesbian couple have the perfect witchy vibes to make a perfect couples costume!3. Will Graham and Hannibal Lector ('Hannibal')Ok, so we know that technically Hannibal Lector and Will Graham weren't a gay couple, but...c'mon! To pull this one off, the person playing Will just needs a tweed jacket, messy hair, and dark circles under their eyes, and the other half of the couple will need to don a suit and maybe hold a faux human heart and a butcher knife.4. Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy ('Harley Quinn')If you're looking for a couples costume idea that will let you be tough as nails and super sexy, look no further than Sapphic duo Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. This one may be a little more complicated to pull off, but with some body paint, wigs, and YouTube makeup tutorials, you'll win every costume contest you go to, hands down!5. Ray Holt and Kevin ('Brooklyn Nine-Nine')These two monotone and sarcastic hubbies would be a blast to embody for a night. You just need a police uniform, a suit, and a corgi!6. Adora and Catra ('She-Ra')Adora and Cara's love story in She-Ra is the kind of Sapphic representation we dream of. Plus, these characters have such iconic outfits on the show that it'll be a blast to put together.7. Ed "Blackbeard" and Stede Bonnet ('Our Flag Means Death')Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet's love story had us swooning through all of Our Flag Means Death because of their epic love story and their fab costumes. Who wouldn't want to dress up like gay pirates?!8. Kurt and Blaine ('Glee')Dress up as your fave Glee couple this year! One half of the couple can wear a Warblers uniform, and the other can wear an ascot and coifed hair la Kurt.9. Charlie and Vaggie (Harbin Hotel)The Sapphic power couple at the heart of Hazbin Hotel make for the perfect couples costume. With matching colors but different vibes (one is in a suit, and the other is wearing a suit, demon wings, and an X over her eye), you'll slay at any Halloween party you go to!10. King James and George Villiers (Mary& George)The sexy historical drama Mary & George gifted us with the sexy romance between King James and George Villiers, and their period costumes are perfect for Halloween. To pull this couple's costume idea off, you may need to learn how to sew or hit up a costume rental shop, but it'll be worth it!

Pedro Pascal is reminding us in the most adorable way that even stars can have their fanboy moments!Pascal and Paul Mescal recently sat down with Entertainment Weekly to chat about Gladiator II, headed to theaters next month. But while doing so, the Game of Thrones actor spotted something...different about his co-star."What are you trying to f**king kill me for?" he demanded. "When did you get that?"A quick explanation revealed that Mescal had gotten a new tattoo, and it was one that was clearly meaningful not only to him, but to Pascal and many other movie fans as well."It says... if I say it out loud, I will burst into tears," Pascal admitted."It says 'Meet me in Montauk,'" his co-star finally said, prompting an overly dramatic wail from Pascal.@entertainment_weekly#PedroPascal cant get enough of #PaulMescals tattoo. #Gladiator #FilmTok #MontaukMany will likely recognize the quote as an iconic line from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet as a couple who decide to erase their memories of one another. (@) As you can see, Mescal's tattoo isn't quite news to fans the way it was to Pascal, but watching the latter melt down over it the same way everyone else did was definitely worth the wait! (@) (@)

One thing about Big Freedia... she means business. You already know!The rapper and entrepreneur is high on life right now as her hit reality show Big Freedia Means Business is making waves for its second season.I was ready! Its time to keep the business rolling. Its a great feeling to see someone of my statute to be in these different spaces. Thats what its about for me just elevating everyone around me and myself, Freedia tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Freedia is keeping those good vibes going when it comes to the upcoming presidential election.The star has had quite a few of twerking videos go viral as shes encouraging everyone to shake their asses as they head to the polls and vote.Its your voice and it needs to be heard! We need to be running our asses to the polls, not only shaking to the pools we need to be running to the poll, honey. We need to make sure that we put somebody in office whos going to represent for all of us and our community. We want to make history!Big Freedia Means Business is streaming now on Fuse. To see the full interview with Big Freedia, check out the video at the top of the page.

Brandi Glanville is out for blood, and she has Caroline Manzo in her sights.The former Real Housewives stars Glanville from Beverly Hills and Manzo from New Jersey have been going at it ever since they filmed the fourth season of the Real Housewives: Ultimate Girls Trip in Morroco. The show wound up never airing after production halted when Manzo accused Glanville of sexual harassment, alleging that Glanville inappropriately touched and kissed her.See on InstagramIts among the Bravo scandals that keep us glued to our seats and has resulted in a whirlwind of allegations and lawsuits flying all over the place at the network.Glanville also recently had to pull out of her lawsuit against Housewives Executive Producer Andy Cohen, seemingly because of the accusations from Manzo. Glanville had tried to pin her own sexual assault allegations on Cohen and the Bravo team, but it doesnt seem like that lawsuit will move forward unless the new team she's put together helps her out more than the last one, that is.See on InstagramOver the weekend, Glanville took to X, formerly Twitter, to air out some of her grievances, and it seems she still has Manzo in her direct line of fire.Happy Sunday funday! she wrote. Its been almost 2 yrs now since a lying, short red haired closeted old lesbian ruined my life.Although she doesnt call Manzo out by name, Glanville dug a little deeper and said, Girl lean into the [rainbow emoji x3] its a beautiful space. When you come out ur family will be able to finally speak their own obvious truths. (@) Manzo, for her part, has largely kept quiet outside of the initial allegations, and has yet to respond to Glanvilles potential libel regarding her sexuality.For what its worth, while I understand Glanville may be hurt in her own regard, I never think this is how people should be outed, regardless of whether it's true or not. At PRIDE, we understand that sometimes topics of sexual orientation can be more fragile for some than others, and never encourage people to out someone who isnt ready. Where this will go from here, none of us know, but we'll let you know as soon as we do.

In The Housekeeper, a romance unfolds in the shadowed halls of Manderville Hall, bringing a stirring story of love, secrecy, and self-discovery to life. This upcoming period drama stars Uma Thurman as Danni, a housekeeper whose life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Du Maurier, a young novelist played by Bridgertons Phoebe Dynevor. Directed by Richard Eyre, this tale dives into the intimate connection between two women caught in a time when their love would be dangerous to reveal.Thurman and Dynevors Powerful ChemistryUma Thurman, known for her fierce roles in Kill Bill and Pulp Fiction, steps into the role of Danni with a depth that reflects the inner conflict of a woman who must conceal her true self. Her character, hardened by life at Manderville Hall, begins to soften as she connects with Du Maurier. Phoebe Dynevor brings her own charm and vulnerability to the role of the young novelist, capturing the thrill and fear of a love that defies convention.Anthony Hopkins, a legendary figure in the film industry, will also star as Lord DeWithers, the wealthy and enigmatic owner of Manderville Hall. A Love That Defies the EraInspired by the works of Daphne Du Maurier, especially Rebecca, The Housekeeper evokes the timeless themes of desire, secrecy, and identity. The film brings a unique depth to period romance by focusing on the forbidden love between two women, adding layers of vulnerability and courage as they navigate their feelings in an environment that forbids them. The narrative reflects on the lengths people go to protect love that society would condemn, all while capturing the thrill and intensity of a hidden romance.Anticipated Impact and LGBTQ+ RepresentationSet to premiere at the American Film Market, The Housekeeper has already garnered attention for its refreshing take on LGBTQ+ representation within a historical setting. Director Richard Eyre, renowned for his work in Iris and Notes on a Scandal, emphasizes the quiet power of love in the face of social constraint. Rose Tremains story grappleswith love, fear, fiction, desire, ambition, death and legacy perhaps epic, whilst providing us with the delicacy of most complex, nuanced characters and unexpected shifts in audience sympathy, he told Variety. The cast and I hold in our palm a story as rich and turbulent as the landscape that it inhabits, with Manderville Hall holdingsecrets and emotional intriguewithin its historic walls.Stay tuned for more updates. More Stories: The Housekeeper: Uma Thurman & Phoebe Dynevor Explore a Forbidden Love in New Period DramaThese Gay Dads Are Helping LGBTQ+ Couples Have BabiesQueer Eye Drops Season 9 First Look Release Date, Jeremiah Brent, and More!10 Intimate Portraits of Handsome Asian Men By Heart PatrickAgatha All Along Confirms More Queer Representation in the MCUThe post The Housekeeper: Uma Thurman & Phoebe Dynevor Explore a Forbidden Love in New Period Drama appeared first on Gayety.

Out Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg summarized the rally of former President Donald Trump held in New York City last Sunday with just two words. The rally has made headlines for its racist and sexist comments as well as Trumps lies about the current presidential administration.Before Trump spoke, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage, said Black people carve watermelons for Halloween, and suggested that Jews dont like spending money and thatLatinos love making babies and do not pull out. Trumps childhood friend David Rem called Harris the Antichrist and the devil, and businessman Grant Cardone insinuated that Harris is a sex worker, saying she has pimp handlers. Related Pete Buttigieg slams a Republican lawmakers hypocrisy in just 1 word She claimed credit for funding she voted against, and Secretary Pete wasnt having it. Hinchcliffes comments led to condemnation by Republicans and Democrats and compelled several Puerto Rican musicians, including gay pop star Ricky Martin and LGBTQ+ ally Bad Bunny, to publicly endorse Trumps political opponent, Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today In Trumps speech, he repeatedly lied about presiding over the most secure border in history and said Harris oversaw historic inflation and a rise in crime. He also pledged to conduct the largest deportation of immigrants using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a law that has only been used thrice during wartimes to place people in internment camps.However, Buttigieg offered his own wisdom about the rally, slimming down its true purpose to just two words: Its bait.The strategy is familiar and predictable by now, Buttigieg wrote in a post on X published Sunday evening. A pile of outrageous statements all to ensure we spend the next days talking about him, not about you and not about how Kamala Harris will make life more affordable and restore the right to choose that he took away.Its bait, he said, summarizing his position succinctly. The strategy is familiar and predictable by now. A pile of outrageous statements all to ensure we spend the next days talking about him, not about you and not about how Kamala Harris will make life more affordable and restore the right to choose that he took away. Its bait. Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) October 28, 2024In a follow-up post, he continued, Its bait. Donald Trump is about tax cuts for the rich and eliminating abortion access. Crime went up and jobs went down on his watch. Kamala Harris is actually focused on expanding rights and freedoms and helping working families & the middle class. Tune out the noise.Its bait. Donald Trump is about tax cuts for the rich and eliminating abortion access. Crime went up and jobs went down on his watch. Kamala Harris is actually focused on expanding rights and freedoms and helping working families & the middle class.Tune out the noise. Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) October 28, 2024 New York Mayor Eric Adams (D) who is currently under investigation for alleged bribery, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations blasted the speakers at Trumps rally, writing, The hateful words that were used by some at todays rally at Madison Square Garden were completely unacceptable. No matter who says it, hate is hate and there is no place for it in our city.As Americans, we always should stand up against racism, antisemitism, and misogyny, Adams continued. Ahead of [the] rally, I talked about how we all need to turn down the temperature that fuels hate and violence. I am once again renewing those calls.The hateful words that were used by some at todays rally at Madison Square Garden were completely unacceptable.No matter who says it, hate is hate and there is no place for it in our city. As Americans, we always should stand up against racism, antisemitism, and misogyny. Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) October 28, 2024Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

On a scorching hot day in Las Vegas, George Escarero was on a water break from knocking on doors in one of the citys sprawling gated communities.The gay, longtime banquet server at the Mirage, whose first language is Spanish, estimated the temperature at 105 but said, Thats how we go, just walk and walk and walk and sweat and drink water, and if they cuss us out, kind of ignore it. Were just there to open up, you know, so people can open up their eyes and just see it. Related Michigans pro-equality progress hangs in the balance. Will voters preserve the wins or turn back the clock? In Michigan, it really does feel like democracy is on the line, says Progress Michigans Denzel McCampbell. Escarero is one of an army of canvassers deployed by the Culinary Workers Union in Nevada and was adamant that its time for a big change. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Instead of taking stuff away and making the rich richer, Escarero shared from his pitch, Kamala is there to help out, and she knows what were going through because she was one of us.Kamala Harris was middle class, like all of us, he said. She was a hard worker, started from the bottom, worked her way up. They cannot, like, say, Well, you know what, Kamala, you got juiced in. No, she worked from the bottom.Escarero said his experience meeting with voters was probably like 50% are really nice, and 50% the ones who cuss him out.Culinary Union George Escarero, banquet server at The Mirage, canvasses on a hot summer day in Las Vegas. | Culinary Union Those numbers track with election polls in Nevada, which show an electorate evenly divided between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump supporters in a swing state that could determine the outcome of a dead-heat presidential election.Nevadans have an unpredictable history at the polls. Out of the last 12 national elections, the state split six to six voting for a Democratic or Republican presidential candidate, while the margin for Democrats has narrowed in every election since Obama won in 2008. President Joe Biden carried the state by just 2 points in 2020. Share your opinion View the article on LGBTQ Nation to participate in our reader poll. While Democrats hold majorities in the State House and Senate, Nevadans chose conservative Republican Joe Lombardo for governor over Democratic incumbent Sisolak in 2022. However, U.S. Sen. Jackie Rosen, a Democrat running for her second term this year, holds a narrow lead over Trump-endorsed Republican Sam Brown.Adding to the voter volatility: an electorate where unaffiliated voters outnumber both Democrats and Republicans in the state.In 2018, Nevada voters approved a new Automatic Voter Registration system, mandating the Department of Motor Vehicles register new voters or those with lapsed party registration as unaffiliated unless they opt out or choose a party.AVR created 142,484 new Nevada voters in 2020; less than a third chose to call themselves Democrats or Republicans.Its a new, mostly young pool of voters open to persuasion and put off by the status quo, said Nevada state Rep. Cecelia Gonzlez (D), who identifies as queer and bisexual and is running for a second term in the Nevada Assembly.Younger voters and people of color really feel alienated by this two-party system, and they really connect with candidates that meet voters on a more personal level, right? she said. The shift reflects a growing frustration with traditional party politics and a desire for candidates who speak to the real issues, and not just these partisan talking points.The 32-year-old, of Mexican and Thai descent, says she feels the same frustrations. Because Im younger, thats where I focus on to try to get out the vote.Cecelia Gonzlez Nevada State Rep. Cecelia Gonzlez (D) speaks with a student in her district in Las Vegas | Cecelia Gonzlez 18 to 34 year olds make up a whopping 30% of registered voters in Nevada and are the largest block after those over 55, who are historically less persuadable but more inclined to vote than their younger peers. Less than half of the youngest cohort claim Democratic or Republican party allegiance.While shes running as a Democrat, Gonzlez says she knows where those voters are coming from when they meet on the campaign trail.They identify with me not just because Im a woman, not just because Im Mexican or Latino or Asian. Its the fact that I resonate with these lived experiences because I come from the same backgrounds.Young people, Latinos, and Asian communities are really whats going to get the vice president and Walz across the finish line, she said.As for canvassing the day we spoke, Gonzlez said door-knocking was off the table.Its so hot. Its literally 114 today, she gasped. Even before the large influx of unaffiliated voters, party loyalty was on the decline in Nevada. The states libertarian live and let live ethos has further blurred the distinction between Democrats and Republicans.Thats reflected in some of the most progressive LGBTQ+ policies and legislation in the country, and its one reason the Human Rights Campaign, the countrys largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group, is targeting equality voters in Nevada, hoping to appeal to Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated voters alike in their swing state efforts to get voters to the polls.But no constituency is a monolith, including the fast-growing Latino population, whose rapid growth has helped transform Nevada into a majority-minority swing state. The minority share of the population in Nevada rose to just over 54% with the last U.S. Census. Meanwhile, the percentage of the non-Hispanic white population in the state continues its historical decline, dropping from over 83% in 1980 to just 46.4% in 2022.Those facts havent translated, however, to guaranteed loyalty to Democrats, who in years past as defenders of civil rights and the working class could count on Latino voters. Their once-uniform support has narrowed and fractured.Biden carried all Latino voters in Nevada 61% to 35% over Trump in 2020, while Harris leads 56% to 40% in 2024, a 5% drop. The shift is even greater among young Latino men in Nevada: 53% of male Latino voters ages 18 to 34 support Trump while just 40% support Harris. Similar numbers among Latino men ages 35 to 49 add up to a major deficit in a key constituency that could tip the election.Its why getting face-to-face with those voters before Election Day is the number one priority for both Gonzlez and George Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer of the Culinary Union and lead organizer of what he proudly calls the largest walk program in the state of Nevada.They come and work for the union, Pappageorge said of the hundreds of canvassers on leave of absence from their day and night jobs, including guest room attendants, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, bartenders, and laundry and kitchen workers from the unions membership. They work six days a week. They have Friday off and theyre out in the heat, getting chased by dogs and knocking on doors to turn out the vote, he said.The Culinary Union and its affiliates represent more than 60,000 workers in the state, with members from 178 countries. Estimates put the number of LGBTQ+ hospitality workers at one in five, and the union is one of the largest healthcare consumers in the state, with coverage provided for more than 145,000 Nevadans.Who is elected in any election locally, statewide, or nationally has a direct bearing on the unions ability to thrive, or survive.A second Trump administration, Pappageorge said, would be a threat to our existence.This is a guy that jokes with his billionaire buddies about firing striking workers, who brags about crossing picket lines and really has a lot of promises, a lot of promises. But the problem with Trump is that he lies, and he lies a lot.Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer of the Culinary Union, speaks with a fellow member at a get-out-the-vote meeting in Las Vegas. Look, if the election was today, we think Trump would win, Pappageorge said, but the election is not today, and our job is to make sure that here in Las Vegas we are contesting every single vote. Were knocking on every single door. Were talking to every single person in that household, to union members and their family members, and were driving the votes.When you have those kinds of conversations with voters, Pappageorge said, you have an opportunity to drive votes and persuade folks. And we think these votes are winnable.But weve got to do the work, he added. Its going to be extremely close.Escarero, the banquet worker, agreed, sharing, I even get goosebumps. But I feel, even though its going to be a tight, I know shes going to win.Asked what Harris pledge to fight for the freedom to love who you love meant to him, the longtime union member paused and asked, To me?Then he started to cry.I was living the life that it wasnt, Escarero said through tears. I had to fake I had to fake who I was, and now we have a freedom. Now we can get married. No discrimination. Do the military.Thats why I get very emotional, because I had a tough life, because I had to act like somebody that I wasnt. You know what I mean? With people cursing and dogs chasing him, Escarero shared what kept him going through the hot days canvassing.He remembered a knock not too long ago when he asked a middle-aged white woman, If you dont mind, I said, What side are you on? I said, Do you have a plan? Are you on the Trump side or?Oh no, no, no, no, honey,' she interrupted, pointing to a small Harris-Walz sign in her car. You see my sign out there in the window? She goes, Give me a big one and Ill put it in the front yard.Lets fight for our rights, Escarero said, before heading back out into the heat.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The controversy around Al Pacinos film Cruising led the actor to donate his earnings to charity.While the 1980 thriller has become something of a cult classic, as Pacino writes in his recently published memoir, Sonny Boy, Cruising faced protests during its production. Members of New York Citys gay community feared the film, about an undercover cop searching for a serial killer targeting men in the gay leather scene, would present gay people unfairly and stereotypically a position with which Pacino writes that he came to agree. Related Out director Todd Haynes gay romance film reportedly dead after star Joaquin Phoenix drops out The films financing reportedly hinged on the straight actors involvement in what would have been his first gay role. At the time, however, the 84-year-old actor wrote that he thought the films script was good. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today I thought it was exploring something and expressing something that had real insight and posed a couple of questions to the world, Pacino, who had previously played queer band robber Sonny Wortzik in 1975s Dog Day Afternoon, writes in Sonny Boy. I was at a place in my life, too, where I was still a little unconscious but interested in pushing the envelope in a way that I hoped would shed light on certain subjects, open the door to more understanding of an ever-changing landscape, and reveal the evolution of our acceptance I was hoping for a kind of enlightenment, for both the audience and for me.Pacino writes that protesters disrupted production nearly every day while Cruising was filming on location in Manhattan during the summer of 1979. According to AfterElton writer Brian Juergenss 2007 reconsideration of the film, demonstrators were so loud that nearly the entire film had to be dubbed in post-production, and Pacino writes in Sonny Boy that he received bomb threats and had to hire bodyguards.Pacino has since defended his involvement in Cruising, arguing, according to Lawrence Grobels 2006 authorized biography, that the film depicted just a fragment of the gay community, the same way the Mafia is a fragment of Italian-American life and insisting that he would never want to do anything to harm the gay community, at the time he felt it was best to say as little as possible about the film.Ive always thought that the best thing to do is to be quiet in those situations, because once you start yapping, it gets worse, he explains in Sonny Boy. You have to take the punches. Its the nature of the beast. Pacino writes, however, that upon seeingCruising, he understood that it was exploitative.When I said yes to it, I thought it was going to be a murder-mystery thriller with some edge to it, he explains. But I was not as sensitive as I could have been about the stigmatization of the gay community and how this material depicted them.Pacino writes that he resisted doing much publicity for the film. I wanted to go somewhere far away from the madness. Id had enough.In fact, he writes that he never accepted the paycheck for the film. I took the money, and it was a lot, and I put it in an irrevocable trust fund, meaning once I gave it, there was no taking it back, he writes. I gave it to charities, and with the interest, it was able to last a couple of decades. I dont know if it eased my conscience, but at least the money did some good.The actor does not specify which charities received money from the trust and writes that the funds were always donated anonymously because I didnt want to make it a PR stunt.I just wanted one positive thing to come out of that whole experience, he adds.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The makers of the upcoming Luca Guadagnino-directed film Queer have been edging us for months. From first-look images to tantalizing movie posters to interviews with the cast who have teased erotic sex scenes, the excitement has been building slowly, and now were dying to see more.Luckily, the first trailer was finally released today, and its just as sexy, emotional, and mesmerizing as we were hoping!Hunky 007 actor Daniel Craig stars alongside Outer Banks heartthrob Drew Starkey as gay lovers in the appropriately titled Queer.Set in 1950s Mexico City and based on a William S. Burroughs novel of the same name, the film follows American expat William Lee (Craig) as he spends his days by himself with only a few members of a small American community for company when he meets former soldier Eugene Allerton (Starkey) who is new to the area, but shows William that it might be possible to establish an intimate connection with somebody, the official synopsis reads.The film also stars Omar Apollo, Lesley Manville, Jason Schwartzman, and Henrique Zaga and features music by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails fame.The two-minute trailer shows a lot of promise. Not only does it look and feel like the 50s, but we get a peek at Williams emotional struggle and obsession with Eugene (portrayed beautifully by Craig), surrealistic moments that have us curious to see more, and a glimpse at the seductive sex scenes weve heard so much about.Queer will have a limited theatrical release starting on November 27, 2024. Watch the trailer below!

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has released a quirky new ad featuring a cardboard cutout of Donald Trump invading the privacy of LGBTQ+ Americans.Enjoy your privacy? the voiceover asks as someone takes a shower. Donald Trump and J.D. Vance do too. The Trump cutout then appears in the shower, and the person in it screams. Related Pete Buttigieg brutally boils Donald Trumps racist New York rally down to just 2 words The rally speakers insulted Latinos and called Vice President Kamala Harris the devil and a sex worker. But Buttigieg said its part of a strategy. The cutout then appears beside a pharmacist as he denies birth control pills to a customer and then beside a barista to intimidate them into denying service to a queer customer. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today And finally, the Trump cutout knocks an engagement ring out of the hand of a person on one knee proposing to their partner. MAGA Republicans want to know all about us so they can ban access to abortion and birth control, let businesses deny you service or fire you for being who you are, and undermine our freedom to love who we love, the voiceover says. Kamala Harris knows our rights and freedoms should stay ours. Keep MAGA weirdos out of your business. As Gov. Walz says, voters want politicians to Mind your own damn business, Sam Lau, HRC Equality Votes PAC spokesperson, toldThe Advocate. But Donald Trump and other MAGA politicians know their plans to interfere in our personal lives are deeply unpopular with voters of all demographics, which is why they are relying on a closing message of hate and division. Our new ad, Cut It Out, uses humor to shine a light on these deeply weird and deeply harmful policies reminding voters that they have the power to protect their own rights and freedoms.The ad is part of the HRC Equality Votes PACs seven-figure digital ad campaign aimed at mobilizing pro-LGBTQ+ voters in four key battleground states. Combined with separate campaigns aimed at getting out the vote generally and supporting Democratic Senate candidates, Equality Votes PAC is spending $2 million to safeguard LGBTQ+ rights in the upcoming election.The goal, according to HRC, is to reach the 1.5 million Equality Voters in these four states who are not habitual voters in each election cycle. Equality Voters, according to the organization, include members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies who prioritize LGBTQ+ equality when voting. These voters are younger, more racially diverse, and include more women than the general voting population. Equality Voters played a key role in electing President Joe Biden in 2020 and in preventing the projected red wave that would have given Republicans control of the U.S. Senate and a larger majority in the House of Representatives during the 2022 midterms.But, the organization says,one-third of these Equality Votersare at risk of not voting in 2024 or at risk of voting for a third-party candidate for president. The campaigns battleground state ads are aimed at getting them to show up to vote for Harris instead.This election is going to come down to the smallest of margins, but the difference between an equality champion like Kamala Harris in the White House or another reign of terror from Donald Trump couldnt be greater, HRCs Equality Votes PAC chief strategist Guy Cecil said in a statement.Cecil said that Equality Voters will once again make the difference in battleground states across the country. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Hundreds of ballots have been destroyed after two Oregon-area ballot drop boxes were lit on fire by incendiary devices attached to the outsides. You think were being hyperbolic when we say our democracy is under attack, wrote Donald Trumps lesbian niece, Mary Trump, on X, along with a video of the burning ballots. This is what we mean. Related Donald Trumps lesbian niece calls him bringer of deathas he spreads nonsense hurricane lies Mary Trump says her uncle will happily let you die if it means he will benefit. Mary Trump, a psychologist, has long been sounding warning bells about her uncle, who she has repeatedly slammed as a vengeful egomaniac with untreated psychiatric disorders. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today You think were being hyperbolic when we say our democracy is under attack. This is what we mean. pic.twitter.com/65Qb1hmG1n Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) October 29, 2024While authorities have yet to identify a suspect, Mary Trump clearly believes the fire starters were inspired by Donald Trumps all-out war on democracy. Officials on both sides of the aisle have warned that another Trump term could be the end of democracy. U.S. Army General Mark Milley, who served under the Trump administration, recentlycalled himfascist to the core.Even four-star Marine general John Kelly, Trumps longest-serving chief of staff, recently expressed the grave dangers of a second Trump term.Mary Trumps post implies her belief that the ballot box fires are a direct result of Trumps fearmongering over election processes specifically ballot drop boxes as well as the permission he implicitly gives his supporters to do whatever it takes for him to win. The fires took place on Monday, one at a Portland, Oregon ballot box and another in nearby Vancouver, Washington, the site of a close and critical House race. Only three ballots were damaged in the Portland box thanks to a fire suppression system inside of it, but hundreds of ballots were lost in the Vancouver box after the fire suppression system failed, according to the Associated Press. Authorities believe the incident is connected to a third ballot box fire in Vancouver earlier this month in which no ballots were destroyed.Heartbreaking, said Clark County, Washington auditor Greg Kimsey. Its a direct attack on democracy. Kimsey said ballots will now be collected more frequently and collection times will now take place in the evenings to prevent ballots from sitting overnight.We dont know the motives behind these acts, sounds like a series of three at this point, but we do know that acts like this are targeted and intentional, Portland Police Bureau Assistant Chief Amanda McMillan told reporters. We are concerned about that intentional act trying to affect the election process. Were dedicated to stopping that kind of behavior and we are working toward that today. The FBI is also investigating, and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) has announced 24-hour enhanced security around ballot drop-off locations. This was a violent attack on democracy, Inslee said, and we will do everything to keep our election system strong and secure in Washington. Our state and local election teams are fully dedicated to making sure every persons vote is counted fairly and accurately.Authorities are encouraging all voters in the area to track their ballots online and obtain a replacement ballot if it has not been marked as received. Inslee urged Vancouver voters to check with the Clark County Auditors office orVoteWA.govfor accurate information about how to obtain a replacement ballot or track their ballot once it has been returned. There are multiple ways for voters to cast their ballot and make sure their voice is heard.Voter intimidation or any criminal act to undermine the upcoming election is un-American and will not be tolerated, Oregons out governor Tina Kotek said in a statement.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Shawn Mendes is, once again, tackling the ongoing, years-long rumors about his sexuality head on. During a recent concert performance on Monday night at Colorado's Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, the 26-year-old singer-songwriter took a moment to explicitly address the pervasive speculation about his sexuality and whether or not he is actually straight. @lewisiana Shawn finally addressing his sexuality! #shawnmendes #friendsandfamily #redrock "I was really young when I started. I was 15 years old," Mendes told the crowd at one point during his show, according to video from the event captured and shared by TikTok user @lewisiana. "I went right into working a lot and traveling, and it was the most beautiful thing, but the truth is that I didn't get to do a lot of 15-year-old things and discover parts of myself that you do at 15."Mendes continued: "Since I was really young, there's been this thing about my sexuality, and people have been talking about it for so long. I think it's kind of silly because I think sexuality is such a beautifully complex thing, and it's so hard to just put into boxes. It always felt like such an intrusion on something very personal to me. Something that I was figuring out in myself, something that I had yet to discover and still have yet to discover."While this is far from the first time Mendes has addressed rumors and gossip (he has talked about them in 2016, 2018, and in 2019), this time feels distinctively different in that his recent speech is probably the most intimate he's ever gone when talking about his sexuality, saying he has "yet to discover" parts about his identity he still hasn't discovered yet.And just earlier this month, during another concert performance (this time in Woodstock, New York), Mendes sang about people questioning if he "likes girls or boys" in his new song "The Mountain," which is set to be released as part of his upcoming fifth studio album Shawn."Some days/I have a change of heart/You can say what you need to say/You can say I'm too young/You can say I'm too old/You can say I like girls or boys, whatever fits your mold," he croons on the track. @theliyahrich THE YOU CAN SAY I LIKE GIRLS OR BOYS?? had me gagged. #shawnmendes #shawnmendesvideos #shawnmendesfan #nyc "I guess I'm just speaking freely now because I just want to be closer to everyone and just kind of be in my truth. The real truth about my life and my sexuality is that I'm just figuring it out like everyone," Mendes can he heard saying later on during his speech. "I don't really know sometimes, and I know other times. It feels really scary because we live in a society that has a lot to say about that, and I'm trying to be really brave and just allow myself to be a human and feel things. And that's all I really want to say about that for now."

This is for anyone looking back with nostalgia at Donald Trumps foreign policy plans and for those who believe he will lead in the best interest of the United States. Lets take a walk down memory lane. Related Mary Trump succinctly summarizes Donald Trumps threat to democracy after ballots were set on fire Mary Trump has long warned voters that her uncle is a vengeful egomaniac with untreated psychiatric disorders. As Vladimir Putin assembled nearly 200,000 Russian troops surrounding three sides ofUkrainein 2022, having already invaded portions of the sovereign nations east and southern regions, the twice impeached former President of the United States continued to heap praise on his alleged friend and fellow narcissistic sociopath in the Kremlin. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Regarding Putins actions, Trump was downright giddy with praise: I said, This is genius, Trump blurted on aright-wing podcaston February 22, 2022.Putin declared a big portion of Ukraine as independent. Oh, thats wonderful. I said, How smart is that? And hes going to go in and be a peacekeeper. We could use that on our southern border. Thats the strongest peace force Ive ever seen. There were more army tanks than Ive ever seen. Theyre going to keep the peace all right. Heres a guy whos very savvy. I know him very well. Very, very well.Then a GOP Senate candidate from Ohio, J.D. Vance said on a 2022 episode of Steve Bannons War Room show: I gotta be honest with you. I dont really care what happens toUkraineone way or another. I do care about the fact that in my community right now, the leading cause of death among 18-45-year-olds is Mexican fentanyl thats coming across the southern border. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley (R) took an isolationist stance onUkraineonTucker Carlsons Fox Network broadcast: And right now, weve got to put American security interests first. And that means weve got to focus on China, and weve got to focus on our own borders. We need to ask our European allies to do more.Trumps pal Carlson spoke on his show about considering Putin a member of his home team: Why shouldnt I root for Russia? BecauseI am! And he dismissed what he considered the hyperbole over Putins intention to gobble up more territory, stating: Whatever [Putins] many faults, [he] has no intention of invading Western Europe.Tucker Carlson just said "its an awful thing" that people are saying he supported Russia and wondered, "Why are they saying it? It doesnt make sense."Felt like a good time to combine these clips from @Acyn from the past few weeks. Never forget it. pic.twitter.com/4PNKIu0vQ1 MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) March 1, 2022Isnt that what British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain suggested following Hitlers takeover of Czechoslovakia?This is the same Tucker Carlson who goes gaga over the mention of Hungarian dictator Viktor Orban, whom he visited when broadcasting his program from the Eastern European country. Useful Idiots Throughout the 2016 presidential election and during the transition, Donald Trump, who had virtually no international relations experience other than business, made policy proposals and placed into nomination key officials, some who themselves had limited credentials for the jobs they were to hold.Trump also encouraged Russia tocyberattackHillary Clintons email server, and when the CIA offered conclusive evidence of Russias hacking into the Democratic National Committee, Trump issued continual denials and challenges to the efficiency and accuracy of U.S. intelligence.Throughout his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump promised thatwhenelected, he would hire only the best and brightest people to serve in his cabinet.For Secretary of State, the most important of all cabinet positions, Trump nominated a man whose international and diplomatic background centered on negotiating oil and natural gas extraction and distribution deals with foreign governments including Russia and many otherrepressive regimeslike Chad to line the pockets of tyrannical dictators. Prior to the U.S. and other Western governments imposing economic sanctions on the Russian government over its invasion of easternUkraineand annexation of Crimea in 2014, Secretary of State-designate Rex Tillerson, CEO of ExxonMobile corporation, negotiated an estimated $500 billion agreement with Vladimir Putin and the Russian petroleum industry. Putin presented Tillerson with the highest honor for a civilian in2013with the Russian Order of Friendship Award.Since taking over the reins of power in Russia after the resignation of Boris Yeltsin on December 31, 1999, Putin has become THErichest personin the world. Both Tillerson and Trump profited enormously from being in Putins favor by eliminating sanctions against his government.The term useful idiots (in Russian: ,tr.polezniye duraki) refers in Russian to a person perceived as a beneficial mouthpiece for policies theydo not fully understand, and who are contemptuously exploited by leaders for a goal or cause. Though often attributed to Vladimir Lenin, controversy surrounds its actual coinage. It seems very clear, however, that Trump and his conservative acolytes have and most likely will continue to serve as Vladimir Putins and other demagogues useful idiots in the scope of international affairs (and domestic issues) if ever allowed back into the Oval Office and Situation Room.The MAGA party either knows nothing or does not fully understand foreign policy issues, and quite possibly it does not want to know. Donald Trump proved this in his refusal as president to take daily intelligence briefings or delve deeply into these issues as president.Now, Trump has promised that if elected in November, he not only will be a dictator on day one, but also that he will end the war between Russia and Ukraine in one day. We all know what his grand peace plans are. Since he previously termed Putins invasion in 2022 as a peacekeeping force, Trump will pressure President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and theUkrainianpeople to surrender large regions of its sovereign territory to the brutal terrorist regime of Putin and his oligarchs.This is not a plan to end a war equitably. It is a formula to embolden Putin to invade and conquer other European nations in his quest to reestablish the former Russian empire.While President Joe Biden has largely been ineffective in persuading Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ultra-right-wing regime to end its mass slaughter of innocent people in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon, he has organized and maintained an efficient alliance against Putins aggression and has keptUkraineafloat and resilient in the face of Putins belligerence. If Harris wins, however, I believe she will chart a new course in the quest for peace through justice in our countrys foreign policy initiatives.We desperately need a better alternative to Trump. Let us, therefore, vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to take the reins.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

I remember watching the Eating Out series as a young queer adult. Its a cute and campy series exploring the fun trysts of a group of young gay men as they explore themselves and their love interests. Chris Salvatore would later join the series.Starstruck? Yes, admittedly. I may have even let out a girlish squeal when we confirmed the interview. But, honestly, Chris is so easy to talk to. Like a friend not seen in years. A singer, actor, and content creator, Salvatore is doing it all. But think again about putting him in one box. Hes a complex, empathetic artist navigating fame, adult content creation, and the ever-evolving world of LGBTQ+ visibility with a quiet confidence thats as intriguing as inspiring. Lester Villarama for Chris SalvatoreBut, first, lets rewind to the start: Chris burst onto the scene in 2009 with his unforgettable role in the third iteration of that series, Eating Out: All You Can Eat as Zack, the love interest for Casey, played by Daniel Skelton. That feels like a lifetime ago, he muses, reflecting on the queer cult classic that became a cornerstone of LGBTQ+ cinema. I had a YouTube channel back then, doing covers of pop songs. But Eating Out really introduced me to a broader audience. Fast forward to today, and while Chris is still very much an artist, his path has taken some surprising and, as he puts it, empowering turns. Enter OnlyFans. Reclaiming His PowerI started OnlyFans in 2020, during the pandemic, Salvatore reflects. My dog has broken his and, and I needed money for his surgery. Whereas creators sometimes feel themselves at the mercy of the entertainment industry, OnlyFans offered Chris something more precious than money. Autonomy. I thought, why not take back the power over my own body and creativity? Why not monetize it on my terms? Lester Villarama for Chris SalvatoreRegaining control of his destiny is a recurring theme in his journey. OnlyFans has been this paradoxical space for me, he admits. Its incredibly empowering, but it also brought some unexpected challenges. One of these challenges came in the form of industry stigma. When MTVs The Real Friends of WeHo premiered, everyone from viewers to a cast member critiqued the show. Salvatore was no exception, and with good reason. Originally cast to appear on the show, he was released shortly after filming began. The reason? Because of his OnlyFans work. Im not just one thing, he says, with a faint laugh that subtly covers the sting of that experience. And I think thats true for everyone. A year after his not-so-subtle tweet, Salvatore is candid about the toll this judgment has taken, especially when it came from someone on the show he had worked with previously. Last year, 3 gays from a certain reality show refused to film with me for having an OF so I was fired by production after filming for only a week. Thats about all I can sayfor now Chris Salvatore (@CSalvatore) January 5, 2023 One of the cast members, Curtis Hamilton, actually blocked me on social media. When I found out, it crushed me. He later called to apologize but also said things like, You chose the low-hanging fruit, Chris recalls, with visible hurt. His tone, however, shifts when he talks about resilience. Ive had to deal with this belief system in the industry that, because Im on OnlyFans, Im somehow less legitimate. But thats part of my journey: breaking down those beliefs and not letting them define me.And his voyage continues. Balancing Art and LifeChris is juggling several creative projects. His single, Starting Something, dropped this month and marks a new music direction. In addition, hes working on a childrens book, My Neighbor Norma, based on his real-life experience caring for an elderly neighbor. Hes also releasing a coffee table book, Desert Dreams, featuring artistic nude photography shoots. Its hard not to admire Chriss ability to wear so many hatsor masks, as his puts it.Sometimes Im the OnlyFan creator; sometimes Im writing a childrens book. Sometimes Im an advocate. Its all me, and thats the beauty of it. We shouldnt have to choose just one box to live in. Lester Villarama for Chris SalvatoreMaybe thats the best thing about being part of our community. After being forced to be in one box, there is queer joy when we break free from it. And perhaps our talents extend from that euphoria. We can be an artist one moment, an entrepreneur the next, and end the night somewhere between a dancer and drag diva. Not to mention doing so with fashionable ease.When we truly love ourselves and love each other, we remind ourselves that were all beautiful, multifaceted beings with limitless potential. So heres to Chris Salvatore and others like him, redefining what it means to be an artist, a writer, a sex worker and, most importantly, a human being. Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ and Allied community. Visit pride.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 PRIDE.com or our parent company, equalpride.

So what exactly is "Gay Halloween?" (@) Alright, someone's gotta ask, what the hell is "Gay Halloween" and why is it so niche?It's no secret that gays love Halloween, and often spend way too much time, effort, and money on costumes that no average person will understand unless they are explained.This year, that includes going as Chappell Roan and a passenger seat, the Blue Pikmin saying "im f*g?" meme, the school lockers from Bottoms, or a specific shot of Charli xcx on a treadmill in the "360" music video.But where did this tradition come from? Why do gays love being so extra? And why do they love to be even more extra on Halloween?Gay Halloween allows people to express themselves (@) Fashion is a great way to express yourself, and on Halloween, there are no rules!Once you put on your costume, you're allowed to act out of character, and you can express yourself in ways you might've been afraid to before.If a boy wants to dress up as a cat from Cats or the Phantom from Phantom of the Opera, he can. If a man wants to dress a woman, he can. If you want to dress as a flamboyant Disney villain like Ursula or Captain Hook, you're allowed to, and you're allowed to act as over the top as they do!Gay Halloween allows you to explore gender (@) Many people (both queer and cishet) dress in drag or crossdress for Halloween. Whether you're trans or gay or gender nonconforming, having fun with the way you dress can be a great way to explore how you feel about gender, sexuality, and self.As a trans woman, the first time I dressed as a woman in front of other people was at a Halloween party. So were the next several times. Eventually, I came out as trans following my third year in a row dressing as a woman. My story is far from unique.Gays love a pop culture deep cut (@) For many gays, pop culture references are also a type of shibboleth for the culture. Oh, you've seen every episode of The L Word? You can quote the Nicole Kidman AMC theater commercial bar-for-bar? You know every scene from Madonna's "Like a Prayer" video? That's such gay culture!Sharing niche pop culture references has long been a way to signal that you're gay without having to come out and say it.This has been a part of gay culture as long as gays have been culturing. In England from the 19th century to the 1970s, gay men and actors would use the language Polari, which incorporated Italian, Cockney Rhyming Slang, and Yiddish, to make a new language exclusive to gay men.In the U.S., a popular phrase used to ask if someone was gay in the mid-twentieth century was "are you a friend of Dorothy?" in reference to the film The Wizard of Oz.If you got this cultural reference, you were seen as safe. Now, gays are doing the same thing, but this time with the tennis ball POV shot from Challengers.Gays love culture! (@) Pop culture will always be an important part of queer culture. Often, seeing a queer or queer-coded character in a book, television, movie, or on stage is the first time a queer person will recognize who and what they are.If you grow up in a community where you don't know or see queer people, you might have to dive deep into pop culture to find people you can relate to.It might not even be an obvious reference. Maybe the first time you felt seen was when you saw a niche meme from an early season of Real Housewives. Maybe the first time you felt seen was when you saw a queer side character in one episode of Law and Order. These references are valid, and make great Halloween costumes!Gays love to show off their skills and taste! (@) Many queers go all-out on Halloween, sewing, gluing, paper macheing, and 3D printing to get the most beautiful and complex costume they can get.Fashion is another world that queers have long led, and a holiday like Halloween is perfect because it specifically asks people to stretch their fashion bona fides.Whether you're picking out the most stylish costume or making it yourself, Halloween is a great way to show off your fashion skills.Halloween IS Gay Christmas (@) Halloween has also become even bigger for the gays as the years have gone on, with many calling it "Gay Christmas."Many of the reasons I've listed here have come together to build Halloween up in the minds and hearts of gays across the country. While Pride Month is technically already our big holiday, we decided that we wanted another one. Christians get Christmas and Easter, don't they? Patriots get 4th of July and Veterans Day. We deserve two holidays!Now that you know a little bit about the history of Gay Halloween, it's time for you to go and make your own super obscure costume and explain it over and over again at every party you go to!

Daniel Craig is captivated by a charming Drew Starkey in A24s highly anticipated film, Queer. What are you so afraid of? The door is already open. You cant close it now. All we can do is look away. Get Ready For QueerIn Luca Guadagninos latest film, Queer, the iconic director brings us a gritty tale of passion, obsession, and self-discovery against the vibrant backdrop of 1950s Mexico City. Based on William S. Burroughs novel, Queer follows William Lee (Daniel Craig), an American expat living a solitary life among an eccentric crowd. Everything changes when Lee becomes captivated by Eugene Allerton, a young American played by Outer Banks star Drew Starkey. This complicated relationship takes them on a journey through Mexico and South America, a turbulent path that unearths Lees buried desires and struggles with identity.Related | Nicole Kidman Heats Up the Screen in Bold New Erotic Thriller BabygirlWatch the First Queer TrailerIn the first trailer for Queer, Craig and Starkey light up 1950s Mexico City with a whirlwind of chaos, adventure, and forbidden desire. The trailer teases moments of longing and intense chemistry as the two leads traverse the city in a haze of lust and passion, their characters exuding styleeven behind their vintage glasses. Expect scenes filled with raw emotion and a touch of danger, capturing a world where love feels both exhilarating and forbidden. https://youtu.be/eknj5_0tF2sFrom Director Luca GuadagninoKnown for pushing boundaries in queer storytelling, Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name) has injected Queer with his signature style and lush visuals. From steamy club scenes to tense jungle encounters, the film is as atmospheric as it is provocative. But its Daniel Craigs performance that is stealing the spotlightdelivering a portrayal thats raw, unhinged, and unforgettable. Craigs Lee is a man driven to the edge of his own sanity by love, in a quest thats both romantic and deeply flawedWith Guadagninos vision and A24s distribution, Queer promises a fresh and intense addition to LGBTQ+ cinema. Set to hit select theaters on November 27, Queer is sure to resonate with audiences looking for a raw, unapologetic exploration of queer identity and longing. More Stories: Daniel Craig Falls Hard For Drew Starkey in New Queer TrailerThe Housekeeper: Uma Thurman & Phoebe Dynevor Explore a Forbidden Love in New Period DramaThese Gay Dads Are Helping LGBTQ+ Couples Have BabiesQueer Eye Drops Season 9 First Look Release Date, Jeremiah Brent, and More!10 Intimate Portraits of Handsome Asian Men By Heart PatrickThe post Daniel Craig Falls Hard For Drew Starkey in New Queer Trailer appeared first on Gayety.

A well-known British TERF and two accomplices staged a provocative silent protest at two London pubs Friday night, stoking resentment among weekenders simply looking to get a drink.It did not end well. Related Vile feminists use collapse of Afghanistan as an excuse to insult trans women online As thousands scramble to save themselves from the Taliban, these womens rights crusaders are worried about men in burqas. Were going now, a police officer told Jean Hatchet, organizer of the anti-trans action, as displeased patrons fled the premises. You can either make your own way out or Ill help you out. Global perspectives delivered right to your inbox Our newsletter bridges borders to bring you LGBTQ+ news from around the world. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Hatchets night on the town began at one bar where she and her two friends set up three small signs reading TRANSWOMEN ARE MEN, NO MEN IN SPORTS ITS NOT SAFE + NOT FAIR, and A MAN IN A DRESS IS A MAN IN A DRESS.And they waited to see what would happen. Last night we decided to do a very quiet and peaceful action. We ended up having tomato ketchup thrown all over us, drinks thrown at us, threatened by bar staff and the police called to arrest us. I wondered how such a quiet thing would go. Here is how pic.twitter.com/xJnYJHKlCL Jean Hatchet (@JeanHatchet) October 26, 2024The idea was to see reactions in a normal bar on truthful statements about the reality of sex versus the nefarious gender, Hatchet recounted in one of multiple posts about the self-aggrandizing action. We werent saying anything. We werent giving our views out loud. We just wondered what people would do if they looked at a quiet truth written on boards.Hatchet claimed she had supporters among the unsuspecting Friday night patrons whom she imposed her views on. A man came up to say he agreed with them, she recounted.There were curious looks, some photos taken from a distance at the first bar, she said. Then a middle-aged man at the side of us got up and called us disgusting and transphobes.'Hatchet took it in stride and moved her protest to another bar, next door.Different crowd, Hatchet said of her second target. Non-binary feelz on the bar staff.The three women set up their signs again, this time in front of a large screen TV showing a football game a noisy gesture despite not giving our views out loud.Thats when the bar manager approached to say hed heard complaints; the women needed to take their signs down. They refused.Minutes later, the three got the Posie Parker treatment and were doused in ketchup the same way the notorious British TERF was while on her hate tour of New Zealand last year.I dont know if it was the same man, Hatchet reported, I think it was, came back over as we sat trying to clean clothes a bit and recover ourselves. He threw a drink at us. And ran off again. At this point the police arrived. A group of women behind had been calling us b***hes. It got loud. At that point, Hatchet started recording, as police asked them to leave the building over their protests that theyd been assaulted.Outside we were told that we were the aggressors. That we had thrown tomato ketchup. That we had thrown drinks. We were the ones covered in tomato ketchup and drinks, Hatchet said of the groups interaction with police.A look at Hatchets video tells a different story of police trying to diffuse a fraught situation. Cops told Hatchet they didnt know who the aggressors were, or at least they werent saying. Badge numbers were recorded.Therere going to be at least two sides of the story, the lead officer reasoned with Hatchet. We didnt do anything, Hatchet replied. There are no two sides.Hatchets transphobia has made headlines before. As the Taliban was poised to take control in Afghanistan three years ago, she inserted herself into the conversation about womens rights under the incoming authoritarian regime.When the Taliban force women to cover up how many men will want to identify as women? she wrote on Twitter. Im curious. (Im not really curious I know).Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

If you don't have anything nice to say, don't go sit by Allen Cumming.In an interview with The New Yorker staff writer Emily Nussbaum last week at the 25th Annual New Yorker festival, Cumming shared his thoughts about reality television prior to hosting his own series.Hosting The Traitors gave Cumming some perspective on the genre, which he was admittedly "a bit judgy" of beforehand. Cumming said, "The thing I dont like about a lot of those shows is that they laud, and then therefore encourage, bad behavior and lack of kindness."See on InstagramCumming then drew parallels between his feelings on reality stars and drag queens, which are more alike in his mind than one might think.I mean, I think all these people on these shows are basically like drag queens and I dont like a mean drag queen," he explained. "I think you dont have to be a mean drag queen. You can be commanding and you can be a star and you can be fascinating without having to be mean.That's what Cumming has loved most about hosting his Emmy award-winning reality series for it's first two seasons (with a third on the way). It's still a reality game show competition at the end of the day, but the culture of the show is one of collaboration. It's competitive, but not mean spirited. It's all a part of the game.It makes people have to work together," he said about The Traitors. Of course, theyre do[ing] terrible things to each other and theyre treacherous, but its not its about the game aspect rather than just being, you know, a meanie and just flinging wine at each other and stuff like that.See on InstagramCumming has described hosting the murder mystery reality game show as "a complete left field, hilarious turn in [his] life and career," but said he "love[s] it" nonetheless. Seasons 1 and 2 of The Traitors can be streamed on Peacock. While season 3 has yet to be given a release date, the cast list is stacked, and includes RuPaul's Drag Race Season 8 winner Bob the Drag Queen.

We will not tolerate offensive costumes!It's officially Halloween season (or as we like to call it, Gay Christmas) yet again! Now that the pandemic is done and dusted, we're so excited that people are getting out there and serving -- and we absolutely live for the "I hate gay Halloween" trend. We're huge fans of any chance to dress up in big, over-the-top, fabulous costumes, but there's one thing you always have to remember when picking out what to wear: DON'T BE OFFENSIVE. It's really not that hard. Unless you want to look like a complete jerk, these 15 problematic costume ideas should be avoided at all costs. Jeffrey DahmerPlease, for the love of all things good, DO NOT EVER dress up as Jeffrey Dahmer! If you're a fan of the Dahmer series with Evan Peters and that's your inspiration, just choose to go as either Evan Peters himself or another character. At least eBay is smart enough to ban this from happening, but just... don't. While we're at it, avoid dressing up like any other serial killer, either.The Menendez BrothersWhile you're at it, you should also avoid dressing up as the Menendez brothers, which seems to be the new trend after the popularity of the Monsters show that focused on them released on Netflix. They may wind up getting released from prison, and it may be a riveting story that's captivated our interest for years, but you should avoid dressing up as someone who murdered their parents.Gypsy Rose BlanchardIt's almost disturbing that we have to caution people away from people who offed their parents, but the glorification and glamification of criminals is getting out of whack. Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released from prison after years serving as the accomplice for her mother's death, and she shot to superstardom with constant coverage in People and multiple reality shows on Lifetime. I've seen people dress up as Blanchard and her mother, and all of that is just a no.A bloody tamponWhy? Just... why? Yes, there's a shock factor to it, and yes it can be funny at a party, it just seems like a very disturbing idea to envision yourself as an object that soaks up blood. Plus, the way that Republicans have turned access to tampons into a partisan anti-trans issue is weird and gross and you don't want any part of that.Donald TrumpUnless you're Alec Baldwin or you're doing a great job making fun of the guy, please never go as Donald Trump. The amount of MAGA who idolize him, the fact this even exists, it all just hurts. May the Trump train end in peace sooner rather than later.The COVID VaccineI mean, but seriously, just don't. No one wants COVID to be a main topic anymore. It still exists, we've sort of gone back to normal, but we don't need the constant reminders, and we certainly don't need to the tacky costumes to boot. Please, just don't.A mentally ill personMental health is really not something to poke fun of or make light of. Suicide is a real issue, and dressing up as any type of mentally ill person may be triggering to someone who is dealing with some serious internal problems. BlackfaceIt's 2023 Mary, do we really have to say this? You should already know by now that blackface (the act of a non-Black person putting on dark face makeup to caricaturize a Black person) is an extremely offensive and racist act that harkens back to 19th-century minstrel shows that used awful racial stereotypes when portraying Black people. Anything that's fat shaming/body shamingMaking light of and poking fun at someone's body size is not just inconsiderate, it's also really lazy and unfunny. Bodies come in all different shapes and sizes, so why are the bigger ones the ones that mostly get made fun of?Anything that's sexistIt's amazing how gendered and sexist seemingly innocent Halloween costumes can be. Take this hospital-themed couple's costume setfrom Party City, for example. Why is the male doctor not sexualized and objectified like the female nurse is? And since when do nurses wear short dresses, fishnet stockings, and high heels?Anything that uses stereotypesDon't use dumb stereotypes to make a costume. More often than not, those stereotypes have real life consequences. There's nothing cute or quirky about a white girl dressing up in clothing she thinks is "gangster" or "urban" or "thuggish," especially when you consider how different Black men are viewed and treated for wearing the same things.Cultural appropriationDon't wear something that has special (and sometimes sacred) meaning to a culture that isn't your own. See! So simple to remember!Anything that's sexualizing/fetishizing One of the few things worse than cultural appropriation is sexualizedcultural appropriation. Reducing a culture and their unique traditions/garments to a singular, fetishized image? That's just plain gross.Anything trivializingYes, someone actually thought an Anne Frank Halloween costume was a good idea. Millions of Jewish people were killed during the Holocaust, including Anne Frank herself. To trivialize and make light of the pain and suffering of so many for the sake of a costume is probably one of the stupidest things you could do on Halloween.Anything that mocks someone's gender identityA trans person's gender identity and their appearance (no matter where they are in their transition) should never be the subject of a Halloween costume.

The Canadian Singer Says Hes Still Figuring It OutRumors about Shawn Mendes sexuality have followed him since he was just 15. Over the years, Mendes has openly discussed the anxiety that comes from living under constant scrutiny, with people not only speculating but sometimes making jokes and insisting that he is gay. Despite his repeated reminders that this kind of speculation can be harmfulnot just to him but to closeted queer individuals everywhereit hasnt stopped. After all this time, Mendes seems ready to speak more openly about it on his own terms.Related | Shawn Mendes Flexes for Flaunt MagazineShawn Mendes Advocates for Queer PrivacyThough there has been plenty of back and forth about Shawn Mendes sexuality, he has been consistent with his messaging throughout the years. Mendes maintained that even if he were gay, it wouldnt make a difference. His art comes first, and he owes no one an explanation.In an interview on Dax Shepards podcast Armchair Expert, Mendes explained that he felt personally offended by the rumors on behalf of other people who are genuinely gay and in the closet. It was so, so frustrating for me because there were some people in my life that I was very, very close to who were gay and in the closet. And I felt this real anger for those people, Mendes explained. There are just so many guys who are gay and in the closet and must be hearing s**t like that and being like, Im terrified to come out.'Delmiro Junior / ShutterstockA Gay Man VibeAnother famous example came in 2016 when fans began commenting on the gay man vibe they sensed from Mendes. In response, he posted a Snapchat story saying, First, Im not gay. Second, it shouldnt matter if I were. The focus should be on my music, not my sexuality.Mendes has since spoken openly about the anxiety this constant scrutiny causes and has sought therapy to cope. Reflecting in an interview with Rolling Stone, he said, I thought, You guys are so lucky Im not actually gay and terrified of coming out. That kind of pressure can be life-threatening; its that sensitive.Related |Harry Styles Tells Nick Jonas Wreck Me DaddyShawn Mendes Tackles Gay Rumors Head OnEverything came to a head this year when Mendes previewed his new song The Mountain during a performance in Woodstock, where he openly addressed the persistent rumors about his sexuality that had followed him since he rose to fame. In the lyrics, Mendes sang, You can say I like girls or boys, whatever fits your mold, directly confronting the speculation. Reflecting on how this scrutiny had once affected him deeply, he shared that he was now at peace, crediting self-exploration and personal growth.Shawn Mendes Opens UpIt was during a performance of The Mountain that Mendes opened up to fans in a way he hadnt before. At his For Friends and Family Tour concert on October 28 at Colorados Red Rocks Amphitheatre, the 26-year-old singer candidly shared how the constant scrutiny of his sexuality had impacted him since he began his career at just 15. The truth is that I didnt get to do a lot of 15-year-old things and discover parts of myself, Mendes admitted, noting how the public speculation had felt intrusive, especially as he was still figuring things out for himself. @shecutex3 proud of @Shawn Mendes for speaking up for himself. let the man live and figure his life out. #shawnmendes #redrocks #themountain #shawn #ffafo #forfamilyandfriends #colorado original sound sof Just Figuring It Out, Like EveryoneReflecting on how sexuality is a beautifully complex thing that resists easy labels, Mendes said writing The Mountain was a meaningful way for him to address these personal experiences in a way that felt authentic. The real truth about my life and my sexuality is that, man, Im just figuring it out like everyone, Mendes explained. I dont really know sometimes and I know other times, he continued and it feels really scary because we live in a society that has a lot to say about that. Mendes finished by saying, Im trying to be really brave and just allow myself to be a human and feel things. And thats all I really want to say about that for now.The post Shawn Mendes Opens Up About His Sexuality On Stage appeared first on Gayety.

For the past several years, the LGBTQ+ movement has had to face a troubling new reality: our opposition has switched its targets in our community from adults to children, introducing hundreds of bills across the country attacking their rights to medical care and an equal education.At the same time, peoples control over their own bodies is facing unprecedented attacks just after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a decision that will affect LGBTQ+ peoples access to reproductive health care. Simultaneously, many corporations are turning their backs on the meager commitments they made to diversity initiatives in 2020. All of this is occurring as anti-LGBTQ+ forces have turned away from the fundamental principles of democracy, and an election looms where the United States could possibly elect as president someone who tried to violently overturn an election.LGBTQ Nation wanted to know how the leaders of the LGBTQ+ rights movement are thinking about these problems and how theyre approaching the future. We convened five executive directors of the largest LGBTQ+ nonprofit organizations for a non-partisan roundtable on the state of the movement.The panelists include Jaymes Black of The Trevor Project, Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen of Advocates for Trans Equality, Alexis Kantor of Family Equality, Kelley Robinson of the Human Rights Campaign, and Imani Rupert-Gordon of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.We hope youll take the time to watch this important discussion. Share your opinion View the article on LGBTQ Nation to participate in our reader poll.

Vivian Jenna Wilson is continuing to use her own platform to try to counter some of the hateful rhetoric her father, Elon Musk, has been helping spread with the Trump campaign. And that includes taking aim at the recent rally held in New York City."Fuck every single one of you motherfuckers who was at that Madison Square Garden rally, and fuck everyone who had anything to do with that racist bigoted bullshit," she wrote on Threads Monday. "This isn't worthy of respect, this isn't worthy of engagement, this is worthy of nothing but shame, humiliation, and contempt."The rally in question was rife with racist and misogynistic remarks from various speakers, with particular attention paid to "jokes" made from the stage by podcaster Tony Hinchcliffe targeting various groups. In fact, the racism was so undeniable that even Trump's allies have been on edge about being tied to it.Musk himself was present at the event, at which he referred to himself as "dark gothic MAGA.""America is going to reach heights that it has never seen before," insisted the guy who is so good at business that his latest venture has lost 80% of its value since he took over.But the hateful rhetoric pushed at the rally is far more important and impactful than Musk's business failures or Trump's, for that matter."The amount of sheer and blatant racism proudly on display was an absolute fucking disgrace, yet it would be a lie to say it was surprising," Wilson said of the event. "You all understood exactly what was being said, and historians will remember who cheered with disdain."

A masculine-presenting cis woman in Scotland was misgendered and mistakenly sent to a mens prison, news outlets in the U.K. report.It was only when the more thorough search was carried out by prison staff that it came to light that the prisoner was missing some vital parts you might expect a man to have, one source shared with The Telegraph. Related Transgender woman brutally abused in jail wins landmark settlement Authorities have been mandated to institute sweeping reforms. The unidentified prisoner appeared in court last week and was remanded to the mens facility instead of the countrys only womens prison. Exactly where the mix-up occurred was unclear. The bungle has sparked a police review. Global perspectives delivered right to your inbox Our newsletter bridges borders to bring you LGBTQ+ news from around the world. Subscribe to our Newsletter today An assumption was made, based on someones appearance and not much else, said a source. Gender in the prison system has become such a hot topic that management will be mortified by this.The source called it an embarrassment for everyone involved.The woman spent the night in the all-male prison after the mistake was uncovered. She was transferred to a womens jail the following day.Police Scotland said the incident was under investigation after incomplete information about their gender resulted in the womans incarceration in the wrong facility. We are reviewing our custody procedure to ensure this does not happen again, they added.Last year the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) was plunged into controversy after backlash over the conviction of trans woman Isla Bryson, who was sentenced to eight years in a womens prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting two women before transitioning. SPS has since instituted guidelines that would remand prisoners found guilty of violent crimes to a facility that aligned with their sex assigned at birth except in exceptional circumstances.There were 23 transgender prisoners in Scotland as of January 2023, 19 of whom are trans women, according to SPS. Prison officials wouldnt comment on the misgendered detainee but said the rights and well-being of all prisoners were a priority for the system.We have procedures in place to keep everyone safe when newly admitted, including keeping them separate from the mainstream population where appropriate, they said.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

(@) This election season has been one of the hardest in recent memory as weve watched Donald Trump and his supporters trade in election denial, racist barbs, xenophobia, and racist ideology, but every once in a while, one of his MAGA followers does something so dumb that we get the much-needed catharsis of laughing at them. Is that petty? Probably, but its one of the only things keeping us sane while we wait for November 5!Today, the PatriotTakes X account (formerly Twitter) posted a photo of a Trump supporter wearing a red MAGA hat and a leather motorcycle vest emblazoned with the slogan, Born to Ride For Donald J Trump, only the for is so tiny that it looks like hes announcing to the world that hes Born to Ride Donald J Trump, which is a way gayer (and ickier!) message than the conservative probably intended. This isnt the first time weve seen a MAGA supporter sport one of these weird vests, but this time, the internet ran to the comment section to roast him for wearing an article of clothing that accidentally announces his carnal desire toride Trump hard and put him away wet. Too far? Fair enough. From jokes about this being the reason Trump fanboys love YMCA to someone quipping that its Putins motto, youll be laughing so hard youll forget for a minute that the fate of our democracy will be decided in one week. Keep scrolling to see the funniest reactions to a Trump lover unintentionally propositioning the former president! (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@)

If you've ever thought, "I love the crisp pine scent, but 'Fresh Balsam' just isn't expressing who I really am as a thirsty homosexual," or if you've ever wanted to bottle your own cologne, "Eau de Locker Room." Or maybe you've posted to social media asking "Sniffies and Bath and Body Works collab when?" then your prayers have been answered.Sports betting company BetUS have released a candle that doesn't just look like a hot football player in a jockstrap, but smells like one too.It's not just straight up locker room (which may relieve some but undoubtedly disappoint others). The main note is yes, sweat, but the candle also boasts a blend of wood, citrus, neroli flower, green lavender, and amber.See on InstagramEven if you don't light it, it's an excellent piece of home decor.The sculpt is supposedly modeled after "the sexiest jockstrap in the NFL", Miami Dolphins wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. "How about those Dolphins?" indeed.The candle is available in two colors, blue or brown, costs $50 plus shipping, and is available for purchase here.See on Instagram

Anti-trans extremist and far-right provocateur Matt Walsh used his podcast to defend racist remarks made at a rally for former President Donald Trump.Last week, Trump held a rally at Madison Square Garden that featured comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. During the rally, Hinchcliffe made numerous racist jokes based on stereotypes, including one that referred to Puerto Rico as a floating island of garbage and one repeating offensive stereotypes about Black people and watermelons. Hinchcliffe also referred to Palestinians as rock-throwers and said that Jewish people dont like to spend money. Related Conservative pundit Matt Walsh compares gay people raising kids to cutting a kids arm off Its far better for a child to be raised lacking one of his arms than to be raised lacking one of his parents. Walsh, in his podcast, said people offended by the jokes were whiny little babies adding, If those jokes are offensive to you, then youre just a whiny, pathetic, ridiculous, sad sack of a human being whose opinion doesnt matter. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Walsh additionally referred to critics of the jokes as being a part of a left-wing pitchfork mob, and said, These are the kinds of jokes that normal people tell, stating that anyone who is offended is abnormal and should be ridiculed. He then said that, with these types of jokes, everyone would think that thats how I talk and thats how my friends talk. He invoked Trump to say that the former presidents wide appeal is because of people talking similarly.Walsh then suggested that widespread discussion about the jokes in news coverage and social media was deliberately planned by the Trump campaign. He claimed that Hinchcliffe was invited as bait for people, and that he doesnt think it hurts Trump at all.Walsh is known for creating anti-trans documentaries and spreading hateful rhetoric online. He has advocated against no-fault divorce, and has compared raising gay children to human trafficking and cutting off arms. He has also been accused of defending people who rape children. Matt Walsh defends Theodore McCarrick (multiple child rapist) and states his victims should have been able to defend themselves. Then says Asia Argento couldn't have a raped a minor because she's a "hundred pound woman and he's a few months away from his 18th birthday" pic.twitter.com/DMU9RgKKZG The Serfs (@theserfstv) November 23, 2022Additionally, Walsh has said that two men shouldnt be allowed to adopt, has opposed any form of diversity in the Republican National Convention, and has stopped at nothing to attack trans people in every capacity.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Hispanic and Latino people are less likely to support politicians who use or are associated with Latinx, the gender-inclusive term referring to Hispanic and/or Latino populations, according to a new study from Georgetown and Harvard Universities. The term which challenges the Spanish languages masculine-leaning gender binary and increases awareness of non-binary Latinos has become used more publicly since 2015, increasingly appearing in internet searches, academic and media language, and speeches by Democratic Party politicians.After analyzing cross-referenced datasets from seven surveys of Hispanics and Latinos, the studys co-authors wrote, Our evidence shows when (Democratic) politicians who are usually more pro-LGBTQ+ than their (Republican) political opponents use gender-neutral group labels like Latinx, they experience backlash from Latinos who would have otherwise supported Democratic party politicians but are negatively predisposed against LGBTQ+ people. Related LGBTQ+ Latino voters could help Nevada go blue. Heres what theyre doing to get out the vote. One gay server who works on the Las Vegas strip is knocking on doors and broke down in tears when explaining why the election is so important. The studys authors found that these biases persist even if politicians dont communicate any policy or symbolic commitments toward genderqueer Latino and Hispanic people. The negative reactions to Latinx found in datasets primarily resulted from conservative and anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes, the authors wrote. These attitudes also indicated a greater likeliness to support Republicans like former President Donald Trump, they added. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today While prior research has shown that the increase of gender-neutral language in the public generates positive attitudes toward women and LGBTQ+ people, the authors also noted that previous studies had never before looked at the effects of such language in politically polarized and partisan settings.The increased [presence] of gender-neutral language may not always produce positive attitudinal shifts in service of the political interests of queer people and gender minorities, the authors wrote. Our evidence is consistent with a [newer] literature suggesting negative predispositions toward LGBTQ+ people may motivate non-whites to adopt increasingly conservative political stances despite their marginalized position on the ethno-racial hierarchy.Amanda Sahar dUrso and Marcel F. Roman An image from the study showing possible anti-LGBTQ+ reactions to people hearing a politician using the term Latinx | Amanda Sahar dUrso and Marcel F. Roman The authors findings led them to coin an explanation called the Identity-Expansion-Backlash Theory. The theory posits that politicians who use inclusive group labels (like Latinx) may experience backlash among relevant group members (like Hispanics and Latinos) who already harbor negative feelings against newly included or salient group members (like genderqueer Latinx people).While Latinx and Latine have both become more publicly prevalent as gender-inclusive alternatives to Latino over the recent past,a 2020 survey by the Pew Research Center found that Latinx is used by just 3% of Latin Americans in the U.S. This is notable becauseother polls showthat most Latin Americans in the U.S. are accepting of LGBTQ+ people.Anecdotally, some Latinos in foreign countries dislike the term Latinx because its not always immediately understood by others. Some Spanish-speaking foreign natives dislike the term because they consider it a form of linguistic colonialism allegedly created by younger activists influenced by Western pro-LGBTQ+ politics. Regardless, the studys co-author Marcel F. Roman wrote via X that he and co-author Amanda Sahar dUrso think that people should still use gender-inclusive language.Ultimately, the solution to the problem weve diagnosed requires thinking beyond electoral politics, [such as] political education meant to root out queerphobia in Latino communities, a very difficult solution for social scientists to develop, evaluate, and put into practice, Roman added.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A new Drag Race contender is getting an early start!Comedian and actress Rachel Bloom captured everyone's attention on TikTok when she recently shared video of her 4-year-old "practicing her drag race werkroom entrance catchphrase."Decked out in rainbow pjs, the kid darted into the room and immediately struck a pose with her hand on her hip."I came here to drink juice and spill tea," she declared. "But I already finished my juice, honey!" @rachelbloomHeres the video of my 4-year-old practicing her drag race werkroom entrance catchphrase - usually I think the child emoji thing is creepy but in this case it looks like I live with a sassy monkey. (Catchphrase coaching by @zo) #werk #dragrace #spillingtea #tiktokcomedyYou just love to see the impact RuPaul's Drag Race has on the culture!Judge Michelle Visage was certainly on board, commenting "LOOK OUT QUEENS" on the video. Season 13 contestant Denali also chimed in with an "OMGGGG."They weren't the only one impressed by this little attitude the kid has going on."Its the 'HuuUunny' for me," @travharrison wrote."Some Queens need to take notes because that's one of the best workroom intro lines I've heard," another viewer added.Several viewers joked that Bloom's daughter is clearly a miniature version of her, which already sounds about right. She previously told People that her kid already loves "making up little parody songs," something Bloom herself was known for even before her Crazy Ex-Girlfriend days.In this particular scenario, the youngster may have had a ghostwriter Bloom credited Zo Kushlefsky for the "catchphrase coaching."And hey, if Drag Race doesn't work out, @kimberniecooley had another idea for a reality show where the kid might fit in just fine, asking, "Is this the opening from Real Housewives of PreK?"

Serenity Birdsong, a transgender student at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), killed themselves on Monday inside the campus James E. Walker Library. Birdsong was vice president of MTSUs student LGBTQ+ organization MT Lambda.The school canceled classes and closed the library on Tuesday but resumed normal operations on Wednesday. Additional details about Birdsongs suicide have neither been made publicly available nor reported by the media. Related Anti-trans laws cause increase in suicide attempts according to massive new study Trans youth in states that enacted anti-trans laws had up to a 72% increase in suicide attempts. Serenity was more than an officer to us; many of us considered Serenity our friend, and her ability to light up a room, paired with her wholesome demeanor, made her welcome anywhere, but especially in Lambda where we are burdened by the darkness of existing in a world so often cruel to us. And it is this darkness that snuffed out Serenitys light, MT Lambda wrote in a Tuesday afternoon Instagram post marking Birdsongs suicide. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The group had planned on hosting a Halloween party on Wednesday but instead will host a discussion and grieving space for people in memory of Birdsong. Additionally, the Student Government Association will hold a vigil on Wednesday at 6 p.m. local time in front of the campus library. The MTSU campus publication has also highlighted the availability of counseling services for students. View this post on Instagram A post shared by MT Lambda @MTSU (@mtlambda)Additionally, an individual calling themselves Zoe Grummonsorganized a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign for Birdsongs partnerDelanie Dempsey.Both Serenity and Delanie have no other close family- they were family to each other. As Delanie grieves this loss she is left reeling with the emotional and financial implications of losing her partner. We want to provide her with the time and space to grieve without the burden of financial stress, the campaign states.As of Tuesday evening, the campaign has raised $12,755 of its $15,000 goal.MT Lambdas post memorializing Birdsong included a poem written by her.The poem read, in part, The trouble of life both big and small / seem to fade as the obstacles falls. / Now we embark on a new adventure / one with which we may joke and gesture. / But all in all, that which I hope most / is that I spend time with those I love, before Im a ghost.Editors note: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at988lifeline.org. TheTrans Lifeline(1-877-565-8860) is staffed by trans people and will not contact law enforcement. The Trevor Project provides a safe, judgement-free place to talk for youth viachat, text (678-678), or phone (1-866-488-7386). Help is available at all three resources in English and Spanish.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Don't read this at work!Brandon Kyle Goodman is the household name known for writing plenty of raunchy jokes on Big Mouth and hosting the very provocative new podcast Tell Me Something Messy.Celebrity guests such as Taylor Tomlinson, Katya Zamolodchikova, Lena Waithe, and more are sitting down with Goodman to dish on their spiciest sexual encounters, kinks, and lessons they've learned in the bedroom."If I'm asking my guests to be vulnerable, then I should be vulnerable with them. You're absolutely going to hear about all of my sexscapades! I'm on my hoe journey with everybody," Goodman tells PRIDE.Since Goodman and his guests are offering insight and plenty of education through all of their sexiest experiences, it only felt correct to ask the host some of the naughtiest questions we could think of.Read below to see all of the steamy stories and answers! See on Instagram Congratulations on this exciting podcast! Let's jump into the naughty content. Are you a top, bottom, or vers?Brandon Kyle Goodman: I'm a vers girlie! I used to be a district bottom girlie, but over the last few years, I've been dipping my toes into the topping waters and I love her! I can give you whatever you want. I'm the full package.What are your thoughts on open relationships?I have a husband and a boyfriend! I'm a polyamorous girlie. I'm open to it all.That's amazing! I know you and your guests are sharing spicy stories on your podcast, but do you have some kinky moments you'd like to share?Last year for the first time, I went to a Beyonc concert and after, I went to an orgy and I got DP'd for the first time. After going to the Renaissance concert, of course you should be double penetrated! I felt powerful. They were quite sizable. Your girl was feeling on top of her game!Talk about an iconic experience! Plus, I'm sure you gave everyone a show.I am a performer first and foremost. There were people watching, absolutely. Get cozy up in this hole! Period.Your conversations on your podcast are really opening people's minds and exposing them to new things. Do you have anything you'd like to try in the near future?Yes! So many things. I want to be tied up. I really want to find me a delicious dom. I feel like sex is a fun place to play with submission. If you can't dom me well, then we're flipping!Are you more into private play or public play?That's a really good question. I love public, but nine times out of ten, I'm probably going to say private.Here's a vital question for you... big or small?I always say the bigger, the better! I'll sit on it. I like a challenge! Extra inches... I want them.Last fun question... are you riding, doing doggy, or laying back in missionary?I'm riding because I feel like my partner needs to see all of this. You need to see how I ride this! I do enjoy having it hit from the back. I also enjoy when my boyfriend is on all fours, because that ass is just perfect and I want to see it.This spicy conversation is just a taste of what you can hear to on the Tell Me Something Messy podcast, which is part of iHeartMedias Outspoken Podcast Network.New episodes air weekly on Thursdays and you can learn more here. To see the full interview with Brandon Kyle Goodman, check out the video at the top of the page.

Jacques Audiards Emilia Prez isnt your typical crime drama. This fever-dream musical, packed with vibrant visuals and audacious storytelling, follows the journey of Emilia, a powerful cartel leader in Mexico, on her path to self-discovery and redemption. But heres the twist: Emilia (Karla Sofa Gascn) enlists Rita (Zoe Saldaa), a fed-up lawyer, to help her fake her own death. Why? To finally live as her true self.With stunning performances from Karla Sofa Gascn, Zoe Saldaa, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, and Edgar Ramrez, this film stands out as a daring exploration of identity, love, and redemptionall through the lens of unapologetic song, dance, and raw emotion. Heres everything that makes Emilia Prez an unforgettable cinematic journey.Related | Queer Creatives Find Friendship in the Search for Mavis BeaconA Plot That Defies ConventionsNETFLIXIn Emilia Prez, Audiard (known for Rust and Bone and A Prophet) blends genre-defying elements to tell Emilias storya character who, after years as a ruthless cartel leader, decides to abandon it all to live life on her terms. This journey, filled with high stakes and hidden romance, allows Emilia to finally embrace her identity. Gascn, who plays Emilia, hopes audiences walk away with a profound sense of empathy and acceptance. I hope that all audiences see that there are people who are different among us who deserve all due respect, Gascn shares.But its not just Emilias transformation that makes the story so compelling. The film highlights Emilias LGBTQ+ relationship with Epifana (Adriana Paz), a love story that radiates tenderness and vulnerability, making it feel both real and quietly revolutionary. Gascn adds, I want people to focus on this beautiful LGBTQ relationship just that its something normal.A Story with Heart, Grit, and Feminine StrengthNETFLIXAudiards female-led cast delivers power-packed performances that range from fierce to tender. Zoe Saldaas portrayal of Rita brings a mix of humor and resilience to the screen, especially during an electrifying musical number, El Mal. Saldaa recalls the intensity of filming it: Im so proud of my work Its a moment in Ritas life where we rehearsed, prepared, discussed, and then just threw ourselves into it.Adriana Paz, who plays Epifana, shines as the grounding force for Emilia. Pazs character radiates warmth, hope, and a softness that contrasts beautifully with the hard edges of Emilias past. She explains, People think being vulnerable is weak, but kindness and tenderness are strengths If we do things with love, the results are always going to be better.NETFLIXThe Power of Music and DanceMusic isnt just an element of Emilia Prezits the soul of the film. Clment Ducol and Camilles original score weaves through the story, elevating emotional moments to new heights. For Adriana Paz, her solo number holds a special place: Its a whole experience, but I really enjoyed watching that part and singing as well. The musical moments capture the tension, release, and passion that define Emilias journey.Selena Gomez also brings her spark to the cast, portraying Jessi, a supporting character who lights up the screen with her own bold energy. Gomez shares that working on Emilia Prez was a learning experience, saying, Im grateful we get to celebrate [our true selves], however it looks.NETFLIXA Celebration of Queer Love and LiberationAt its core, Emilia Prez celebrates love, liberation, and authenticity. Audiards vision turns a crime drama into a transformative journey of self-acceptance. With a diverse cast and themes of queer love, Emilia Prez holds a mirror to societys evolving understanding of identity and respect. Saldaa sums up the films message: I hope people take away that love can conquer anything Its important to just lead with your heart.Emilia Prez is a striking reminder that love, in all its forms, deserves a voice. With its fearless story and powerful performances, this film marks a new era for queer cinema, one where every characters story deserves to be told.Watch the full interview below. Emilia Prez will be in select theaters on November 1 and on Netflix on November 13.More Stories: Emilia Prez: A Bold New Queer Love Story That Breaks All the RulesShawn Mendes Opens Up About His Sexuality On StageDaniel Craig Falls Hard For Drew Starkey in New Queer TrailerThe Housekeeper: Uma Thurman & Phoebe Dynevor Explore a Forbidden Love in New Period DramaThese Gay Dads Are Helping LGBTQ+ Couples Have BabiesThe post Emilia Prez: A Bold New Queer Love Story That Breaks All the Rules appeared first on Gayety.

Adam Ellis, a gay cartoonist whose viral August 2017 real life ghost story was adapted into a feature length horror film named Dear David, recently revealed that he received no payment for the film.The film was based on a Buzzfeed article entitled My Apartment Is Being Haunted By The Ghost Of A Dead Child And Im Not Sure What To Do. Related Ghost screenwriter comes out as gay at age 81 His wife has known for almost 50 years, and theyre still married. The first time I saw him, I was experiencing sleep paralysis and saw a child sitting in the green rocking chair at the foot of my bed, Ellis wrote. He had a huge misshapen head that was dented on one side. Right before he reached my bed, I woke up screaming. 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 first time I saw him, I was experiencing sleep paralysis and saw a child sitting in the green rocking chair at the foot of my bed. Adam Ellis (@adamtotscomix) August 7, 2017Ellis then said that a woman in a dream told him that the child appeared each night at midnight and Ellis could ask him two questions, if the questions began with Dear David. Ellis asked the child how he died, and the child reportedly replied, A shelf was pushed on my head. When Ellis asked who pushed the shelf, David didnt answer.Ellis story went viral, gaining him over a million followers on Twitter (now X) and Instagram. His story was later adapted for film. In October 2023, it was released as a horror film by the entertainment company Lionsgate. The film features actor Augustus Prew playing Adam Ellis, a Buzzfeed cartoonist and writer in New York City who is haunted by the ghost of a murdered child. The film generally received poor reviews for being low-energy with few scares. In a recent social media post, Ellis revealed that he was not paid for the film, despite it being based on his work.Its legal. BuzzFeed owns everything you make there, Ellis explained. They initially sold the project to [the entertainment company] New Line, and I was supposed to get money when the movie was made. I had a contract for the New Line project, but they eventually dropped it and I assumed it was dead. I had long quit my job at BuzzFeed.A couple years later I was informed they had regained rights and sold the movie to Lionsgate and it was going into production in a week, Ellis continued. I was never consulted or paid for this new project, which again is legal because BuzzFeed owns everything you do. It sucks but its all technically above board.In separate posts Ellis revealed that he has never seen the film. He also posted an image of himself wearing a t-shirt containing an image of the films title card with a low 11% rating from the review site Rotten Tomatoes.On April 16, 2024, Ellis published a graphic novel horror anthology called Bad Dreams in the Night. The book became a New York Times bestseller. Damn I really shoulda waited a couple weeks to make this shirt https://t.co/6EBoUqxSzM pic.twitter.com/kyPxhHtXk9 Adam Ellis (@adamtotscomix) August 6, 2024Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

In a tight Senate race in Wisconsin, Republicans are pouring money into GOP nominee Eric Hovdes campaign for ads targeting incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and her longtime partner.Asked by CNN whether she believed Hovde is trying to remind voters that the two-term senator is gay, Baldwin replied, I think he is. Related Ted Cruz falsely calls 2 cis teen girls boys in desperate search for trans athletes to demonize Theyre minors and he used their pictures without their parents permission, seemingly calling them boys in girls sports. After a failed strategy trying to compete with Baldwin on the issues, Hovde turned to tactics intended to galvanize his base and move the needle. Polls show theyre having an effect. Baldwin sat on a comfortable lead for most of the race, but Hovde has narrowed her margin to two points, according to the latest polls. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The ads use Baldwins longtime partner, Maria Brisbane, who runs the Brisbane Group, a private wealth managementdivision of Morgan Stanley, to call Baldwins ethics into question and remind voters along the way that shes gay.Baldwins in bed with Wall Street, a woman sitting in her kitchen saysnot so subtly in oneHovde ad referring to the senators relationship with Brisbane.In others, Brisbane is referred to as Baldwins girlfriend.The ads all share the same dual messages, paid for with a huge influx of cash from Republican party sources and Hovdes own personal fortune.While Democrats will outspend Republicans for the year in the Senate race, Hovde and his allies have booked $51 million on-air from October 1 through Election Day, compared with $39 million for Democrats. Hovdes latest ad uses Baldwins words against her, taken from a 2009 Senate hearing on domestic partner benefits.Married members must file very important information about their spouse income, their investments, gifts, and debts. Surely the public interest would require that these obligations apply also to partners of gay and lesbian office holders, Baldwin says in a clip taken from C-SPAN.But wait, heres Tammy today when asked to disclose the finances of her own partner, the ads narrator says, followed by a quote from Baldwin on stage at a debate with Hovde last week. Baldwin and Brisbane are not married.Stay out of my personal life, Baldwin says bluntly. The senator went on to add a remonstration not included in the clip, addressing reproductive rights: And I think I speak for most Wisconsin women that he should stay out of all of our personal lives, she continued.But the former lawyer has a tough case to make when it comes to financial disclosures concerning her longtime partner. Baldwin told CNN that, unlike a previous domestic partnership she was in, shes not obligated to disclose Brisbanes clients over conflict-of-interest concerns because the two arent in a relationship codified by law. The pair own a condominium in Washington together worth $1.3 million.Baldwin called Hovdes tactics a dog whistle and a distraction from his own financial conflicts as the owner of a $3 billion bank.I disclose everything Im required to, she said. I think hes also trying to distract from his sort of judgmental weaknesses.Think of him on the Banking Committee, setting regulations for banks, she added. I mean, this is a horrifying conflict of interest that I think he wants to deflect attention from.Hovdes ad blitz goes after the transgender community, as well, tying Baldwin to Harris for allowing men to compete in girls sports and funding a clinic that offers transgender therapy to minors without parents consent, a claim proven to be false.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Republican candidate for Senate Eric Hovdes campaigns closing message has turned anti-LGBTQ+ in the final weeks of his campaign to unseat out Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), with the candidate repeatedly saying that Baldwin wants to redefine the family and that she doesnt know what a woman is. The messaging could be an attempt to get voters to think about the sexuality of the first out LGBTQ+ person elected to the Senate.At a meet and greet in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, Hovde said, President Trump and I, what do we want to do? We want to protect the traditional family, support traditional values. What do Harris and Baldwin want to do? Just, yeah, they want to redefine the family. They cant even agree what a woman is and a man is. You talk about insane. Related Fact Check: Did Sen. Tammy Baldwin fund an org that pushed an aggressive LGBTQ agenda on kids? Republicans are claiming that Tammy Baldwin is trying to make gender-affirming surgery legal for kids. Whats the truth? He repeated similar remarks at a meet and greet in Solon Springs, Wisconsin. At a similar event in Plover, he said accepting trans people was crazy, and at another event in Antigo, he referred to Harris and Baldwin as nuts. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today At the Trump Unity Event on Friday, he appealed to his family and children, implying that Baldwin and Harris are against the traditional family and against children.Baldwin and her partner do not have children.What does President Trump want and Eric Hovde? To preserve the traditional family. Im a family man. Im a girl dad, two daughters and three grandchildren. What does Kamala Harris and Senator Baldwin What do the two of them want? They want to redefine the family. Heck, they cant even agree what a woman is versus what a guy is. Its nuts.There is no evidence that either Harris nor Baldwin wants to redefine the family. Both candidates argue for support of LGBTQ+ individuals, allowing people to form the families they desire and be the person they desire without the government restricting them. The only definition of family that is damaged by this is one that excludes LGBTQ+ individuals. At a meet and greet in Shawano, Wisconsin, Hovde said that Harris and Baldwin want to Rip up the Constitution. They want liberal courts to write laws. They want to take away our right of free speech. Look what they did during COVID, with big tech and big media canceling speech, even to the point where a group of virologists and epidemiologists wrote something called the Great Barrington declaration, saying trying to shut down society during a pandemic will not work and will have devastating impacts.The Great Barrington Declaration was made in October 2020 and has been criticized by the World Health Organization and leading epidemiologists for being unscientific and dangerous in its advocacy against lockdowns and masking. The Declaration was sponsored by a climate change-denying libertarian think-tank, the American Institute for Economic Research, and was not an independent scientific document.Hovde continued, And they attacked them, called them climate deniers and had nothing to do with the climate, thats what they did. And they want to take away our right to bear arms. So again, totally different visions of what we want. What do President Trump and I want? We want to preserve the family. Im a family man. You know, most important thing in my life, its God, family and country. You know, preserve and strengthen the family. They want to remake the family. And by the way, they cant even agree what a woman is and what a guy is! I mean, its nuts. Its nuts where they are.Hovde echoed these remarks in an interview with Ted Nugent last Wednesday, where he said, Theyre destroying our country at every single level. I mean, theyre attacking our Constitution. They want to take us down a socialist path instead of our free market system. They want to change and destroy family values.Hovde also appeared in an interview with Fox News Sean Hannity this week, where Hannity referred to Baldwin as a radical terrorist Biden supporter. Hovde echoed the lines hes been repeating at events and claimed that Baldwin wants to rip up the Constitution and rename our families. Last night I joined @seanhannity to discuss the state of play in our crucial battleground race to FLIP WI RED: pic.twitter.com/SHpAvZyVc0 Eric Hovde (@EricHovde) October 29, 2024Hovde is running on a far-right platform, including radically opposing abortion, heavily restricting immigration, and attacking LGBTQ+ individuals. Most recently, he was endorsed by the Campaign for Working Families, a far-right anti-abortion group that believes life begins at fertilization, a belief used to justify opposition to abortion in all cases as well as in vitro fertilization, a fertility treatment that necessarily results in the creation of fertilized embryos that may never develop into living human beings. The group also equates abortion to child sacrifice and claims abortions are baby pesticides.The Hovde campaign did not respond to a request for comment regarding Hovdes prior statements on the traditional family, nor did they respond to an ask of whether Hovde stands by the Campaign for Working Families endorsement.Arik Wolk, Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson, told LGBTQ Nation of Hovde: Eric Hovde has run one of the most divisive and dark campaigns in recent history. From insulting every Wisconsinite young and old, to now attacking Tammy Baldwin for her sexuality, Hovde is a desperate candidate trying to distract from his own out-of-touch agenda to ban abortion, roll back our health care, and cut Seniors benefits.Hovdes campaign and supporting PACs have been running ads in Wisconsin accusing Baldwin of supporting gender-affirming surgery for minors and pushing an LGBTQ agenda on kids. LGBTQ Nation rated those claims false in a fact check.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Alejandra Caraballo is far from enchanted by Kamala Harris, but the prominent trans activist hopes more than anything that the vice president makes it into the Oval Office.Harris has long been an active advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. But her silence on trans issues throughout her presidential campaign has been a disappointment to many, especially as the Trump campaigns anti-trans attacks grow more vicious by the day. Related 2024 Election: Whats at stake for the queer and trans community A closer look at what Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have promised to the LGBTQ+ communities. Caraballo, a civil rights attorney and clinical instructor at the Harvard Law School Cyberlaw Clinic, knows there are a number of strategic reasons the Harris campaign may be avoiding trans issues. While it doesnt necessarily signify a lack of belief in trans rights, she worries it could suggest a growing willingness of politicians to leave trans people behind. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Nevertheless, Caraballo emphasizes that a Harris victory is the trans communitys best (and only) hope for a brighter future, explaining that if voters prove anti-trans platforms wont win, Democrats will undoubtedly feel more empowered to fight for trans rights.Caraballo also knows its not easy to inspire voters by simply saying the alternative is worse, but todays circumstances are so dire that its worth communicating just how much worse that alternative will be.Caraballo spoke with LGBTQ Nation about how in this monumental presidential election, there is only one possible choice.During Harris Fox News interview, she defended her support of gender-affirming care for trans inmates by saying the Trump administration had the same policy. You have criticized her campaign for using this argument in the past. Do you wish she had responded differently?It was better than the way her campaign framed it on Twitter. Because that way is scandalizing trans peoples healthcare, particularly very vulnerable trans people. Years ago, I worked at the New York Legal Assistance Group, providing legal assistance to trans immigrants. I represented people who had been detained, and the stories I heard of abuse by the guards, abuse by fellow detainees, the purposeful withholding of medications, even just basic HIV medication, it was horrendous.Thats where I come from when I hear this. They try to make this a gotcha or scandalize our healthcare instead of defending the principle that if people are held in the custody of the state, the state is responsible for providing healthcare. That is a neutral principle to stand behind.So it could have been a bit better, but she thankfully deflected and did help frame some of this as, people dont care about this issue. The Trump campaign spent 20 million dollars messaging this to try and stir more animosity. People dont care about this. The fact that the campaign is making this a centerpiece is just kind of absurd. It was helpful for her to have brought that up.The campaign handling this was not as great. She hasnt mentioned trans issues, she doesnt have any trans or even broadly LGBTQ policies on her platform on her campaign site. The DNC was the first since 2012 to not feature a trans person.It is kind of this purposeful avoidance of even acknowledging our community or defending our community when weve been subjected to literally the worst of the political backlash over the last two to three years.Why this purposeful avoidance? Do Democrats think they have a better chance of winning if they dont talk about trans people? Its such a low-salience issue. Youre not going to gain any votes and youre not going to lose any votes on it.And I think sometimes politicians like Harris forget that theyre not just barometers of public opinion. They have the ability to shape public opinion. People look to political leaders to orient themselves around whats politically palatable.A classic example of this was Biden in 2012 ahead of the reelection campaign forcing Obama to support marriage equality. Overnight, there was about a 10-point jump in support for marriage equality. Unfortunately, there are probably pollsters and advisers who see the polling on some of this, particularly trans sports, and think, this is political poison, dont even bother. I think theyre just trying to avoid unforced errors.But LGBTQ people are such a huge part of the coalition of the Democratic Party that [its unacceptable to] not even acknowledge us in any real, meaningful way. They think they can minimize attacks on this if they dont bring it up, but they are going to attack us anyway.Fox News brought it up right after immigration [during its interview with Harris]. There was immigration and trans. They clearly view this as a pressure point where they can attack Kamala, and in some ways they can also drive a wedge between her base by forcing her to distance herself from the trans community. The contrast between the intensity with which the GOP talks about it and the silence from the Democrats is becoming more and more apparent. Its completely lopsided.We know this is a political loser. They tried this in 2022, and it was a huge losing issue. But they know it still drives down support for the trans community, so they view it as a win-win. It creates awkward moments for their political opponents, as we saw with Colin Allred and Sherrod Brown, and it also drives up negatives on trans people, which they want to do anyway.Colin Allred out with a response to what's now three GOP TV ads hammering him over trans issues."Let me be clear: I don't want boys playing girls' sports, or any of this ridiculous stuff Ted Cruz is saying." pic.twitter.com/mSEkIq8a6y David Weigel (@daveweigel) October 11, 2024A lot of activists have said Allred and Brown should have just ignored the attacks instead of releasing the ads. Do you think they could have acknowledged it but in a better way?Absolutely.There are ways of talking about this that can reframe the issue and also do the pivot that Harris did to say people dont care about this. They care about how much their groceries cost, the gas bill. They care about housing and how theyre going to make rent. Theyre not really considering a 13-year-old trans girl just trying to play volleyball with her friends.So why do you think that Brown and Allred responded the way that they did or at all?I think Allred is just like, its Texas. I think hes right on the edge of potentially getting there to beat Ted Cruz, and I think he really feels like if [Cruzs anti-trans attacks] even cost him 50,000 votes, that could be the election.But ultimately he still went with a terrible framing, as opposed to just saying, lets focus on what Texans actually care about improving. Theres a deep discomfort among a lot of Democrats because they broadly support trans people, but at the same time, I can almost guarantee you most of these people have not really spoken with trans people. They dont know a trans person, so they dont understand, and theres a deep discomfort about talking about our issues.You mentioned Allred may just be trying to win in Texas. Is there any sort of ends justify the means here? Is there a scenario where its worth doing whatever needs to be done to get hateful Republicans like Cruz out of office?The worry is, if you get a candidate to win an election by throwing the trans community under the bus, does that mean they follow Labour in the U.K., where essentially the Democratic Party sees it as, if we strategically cave on trans issues will that help us in some closer elections? So that means well allow for a federal ban on public funding for any gender-affirming care or a federal sports ban or any number of proposals that are circulating.Theres a real worry that these kinds of caves will really affect people deeply. Those kinds of early warning signs are what started happening with Labour in the U.K. So are these ads from Allred and Brown a warning that could be happening?Potentially. I think it depends how the election shakes out. I think if the Dems overperform and take Congress and keep the Senate, youll see them get a new energy around this.This is now two elections where Republicans have made this a centerpiece issue, and if they lose, it can then show Democrats they can have a spine on this and its not going to cost them votes. Im hopeful, but there have been a lot of warning signs and a lot of strategic ways the Biden administration caved on very key policy issues on the Title IX regulations. Tea leaves are being shown that theyre strategically moving in a certain direction.Obviously, Trump would be horrible for trans rights, but there are a lot of trans people who feel ignored by the Democrats and Kamala Harris. What would you say to those who are feeling disillusioned about the choices that they have?I feel that every day. I would crawl through broken glass to vote for Harris, but that doesnt stop me from calling her out. I can hold two thoughts she needs to do better and she needs to earn our votes, but the alternative is a nightmare. Right now, theres the Skrmetti Supreme Court case, and if we lose that in combination with a Trump administration, its not just health care for trans youth thats going to get banned, but health care for adults will likely be restricted or banned entirely.Were likely going to see full-on public accommodation bathroom bans. Itll be beyond open season without any ability to limit it in the courts because the Supreme Court will likely green-light open discrimination. Youll have an administration that is going to want to just completely go after the trans community in every cruel way imaginable.A Harris administration, while not perfect, at least wont be targeting the community in that way and will be at least attempting in whatever ways they can to limit that at the state level. Granted, you cannot inspire people to vote based on saying the alternative is an eternal hellscape. You have to view it as harm reduction. With Harris theres a possibility to fight for another day and push on these policies. With Trump, there is not, especially in combination with the potential that he replaces another two Supreme Court justices. Were talking generationally, trans people will be lost in terms of our rights.What kind of mobilization needs to happen right now to protect trans people?Everyone needs to phone bank and canvass, especially if you live in a swing state. If you live close to a swing state, drive over if you can.If you cant stomach it for Harris, there are some key Senate races, there are some key House races. So get involved, and if you dont have time, donate as much as you can. If you even have more money to donate, donate to the Campaign for Southern Equalitys trans emergency fund.Just do whatever you can.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) may not have any formal training in mental health, but that didnt stop her from weighing in on a study on the topic, where she claimed that half of young liberal women are crazy and said that abortion and trans rights are to blame.She shared a post from someone else who claimed that half of liberal young women have a mental health condition, calling the statistic very sad. Related Marjorie Taylor Greene outraged that puberty blockers dont do a thing they were never meant to do She said that Big Pharma is lying to people about gender-affirming care. However, it makes sense because these women have tragically been brainwashed to believe abortion killing their baby is the way to be free and that men can replace them as women, she said. There is nothing in the data she was sharing that would suggest that these beliefs are causing mental health issues. Also, trans women dont replace cis women there is no requirement that a cis woman must lose her womanhood when a trans person comes out. 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 Then Greene went a step further and labeled anyone with a mental health issue as crazy.Believing these things are making women go crazy, she wrote. This is very sad.However, it makes sense because these women have tragically been brainwashed to believe abortion killing their baby is the way to be free and that men can replace them as women.Believing these things are making women go crazy. https://t.co/Rh3M0mav0i Marjorie Taylor Greene (@mtgreenee) October 29, 2024While the post she shared didnt say exactly where the statistic came from, the right has been citing a 2020 Pew study for years to attack young liberal women as mentally ill.The survey found that 56% of liberal white women between the ages of 18 and 29 reported having been told by a medical or mental health professional that they have a mental health condition, which could include anxiety, depression, or a learning disability, depending on how participants interpreted the question. Also, while the question isnt asking about a formal diagnosis, which could increase the number of yes responses, it is also dependent on access to health care, which is something that conservative researcher Zach Goldberg admitted to when he first posted about the data in 2020. That is, young white liberal women could just be more likely to seek help for mental health issues.Moreover, the study was conducted in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have had an effect on the results. Young liberals of both genders were more likely than moderates, conservatives, and even older liberals to have said yes to this question among white people. A similar trend was not found for people of other races.While the survey itself didnt provide proof for any explanation of these results, it has become a statistic that often appears in right-wing media to show that liberals especially young women are mentally ill.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

When Kathryn Hahn's Agatha Harkness made her enchanting entrance in WandaVision, little did we know she was orchestrating her spellbinding music manifesto. In the spinoff Agatha All Along, the centuries-old witch and her coven of newfound friends and old enemies take us on a journey down the Witches Road. And along each episode, each trek, a wondrous melody of songs takes us along the way.Here's a song-by-song walkthrough of the soundtrack that keeps us returning for more. An enchanting playlist is a must-have when binge-watching. "Agatha All Along"Okay, let's start with the honorary mention and the show's namesake, initially featured in the seventh episode of WandaVision. A nod to the 60s hit TV show, The Munsters, this song is a wild yet fabulous reveal of Agatha Harkness, Wanda Maximoff's (Elizabeth Olsen) chief rival. "Season of the Witch" by DonovanAs timeless as Agatha herself, this classic brings an edgy, psychedelic vibe to our playlist. Is it Halloween? Is it the 60s? Either way, it's the perfect soundtrack for spell-casting nostalgia. "The Ballad of the Witches' Road" (Sacred Chant Version)A familiar tune throughout the series, the ballad guides the coven on accessing the mystical path. It's a call to action that pulses through each episode. But this sacred chant version hints differently. It's a reminder that magic is not only in power but community. "Heads Will Roll" by Yeah Yeah YeahsThis is a song that casts a spell of its own! Karen O's voice, paired with a beat that screams 'witch on the dance floor,' makes this track a battle cry in Agatha's journey. "The Ballad of the Witches' Road" (Cover Version)A collaborative cover from the show's lead stars that weaves in 70s-influenced tones, a mix of Partridge Family meets Fleetwood Mac. This version is empowering, mesmerizing, and oh-so-catchy."You Should See Me In a Crown" by Billie EilishThis was by FAR the perfect pairing of song and scene! After the "big reveal" of Teen (Joe Locke) as Billy Maximoff/Wiccan in Episode 5, the episode ends with the chorus of Eilish's chilly yet sexy, powerful, and unapologetic song."Dead of Night" by Orville PeckOrville Peck's haunting voice in this number draws us into a moment of Western mystery and intrigue, showing that Agatha's allure is as vast as the dark plains. "Time In a Bottle" by Jim CroceOnce again, this song is a perfect pairing with the episode. Nothing says "reflection" quite like Croce's classic, which reminds us that time is one thing that even witches can't entirely control.Agatha All Along once again showcases Marvel's brilliance in telling stories that leave audiences in awe and wonder. And like any good spell, the music lingers long after the end of each episode. So grab your headphones, take a listen, and maybejust maybefeel a little bit wicked. Agatha All Along is available to watch on Disney+.

From Fun to PurposeWhat started as a quirky side project creating mittens that doubled as predator-prey puppets evolved into Pals Socks when founder Hannah Lavon saw a chance to foster connection."Even if we dont match, lets be Pals," Lavon says, summing up her vision. What began as a fun concept became a line of mismatched socks that celebrate individuality and camaraderie.PALS ORIGINALS SOCKS GIFT BUNDLE (3 PAIRS) Courtesy of The Pride Store Socks That Start ConversationsLavons collaborations with artists like Brooklyns Gabby, known for her Space Cats design, make Pals Socks stand out as wearable statements of inclusivity.Each pair is a way to wear your values, Lavon says. For customers, Pals Socks are more than just sockstheyre conversation starters.2 BE YOUR SOCKS GIFT BUNDLE (3 PAIRS) Courtesy of The Pride Store Inspiring All AgesThough Pals Socks launched for kids, Lavons goal was bigger: to inspire a new generation to value diversity. Now, nearly half of Pals Socks fans are adults drawn to its joyful designs and message of friendship.GABBERCATS SOCKS GIFT BUNDLE (3 PAIRS) Courtesy of The Pride Store Giving BackFrom the start, giving back has been central to Lavons mission. With fundraising programs for schools and nonprofits, Pals Socks has raised nearly $300,000 for causes that align with the brands values. "We wanted to help people support what matters," Lavon says.RAINBOWFACE & MR. GRAY FUN MISMATCHED SOCKS GIFT SET Courtesy of The Pride StorePartnership with The Pride StorePals Socks collaboration with The Pride Store amplifies its reach and impact. The Pride Store helps us connect with a community that values what we stand for, Lavon says. The partnership strengthens Pals Socks mission of inclusivity and self-expression.PAUL FRANK SOCKS GIFT BUNDLE Spreading PositivityLavons journey is sewn into every pair of Pals Socks. Her goal is simple: spark conversations that celebrate kindness, understanding, and uniqueness. Explore Pals Socks at The Pride Store, where each pair is bound to add a little brightness to your day.

Donald Trump has spent this election cycle lying about the state of transgender rights, saying repeatedly that schools are forcibly transitioning students behind their parents backs.But he just told his biggest lie yet about transgender rights during a roundtable discussion that was supposed to be about Social Security and Medicare, hosted by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R). Related Even if Donald Trump loses, he could still steal the election Trumps attempt to steal the 2020 election was just a dress rehearsal for a more organized effort this year. Who would want men playing in womens sports? Trump asked at the Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, event, bringing up a topic that has been a mainstay of his campaign this year even though the only people who want to require men to play in womens sports are generally in his own party. They want it. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Who would want transgender operations for almost everybody in the world? They want that, he said. This is not true. Democrats and trans rights advocates want to keep gender-affirming care accessible for those who want and need it. There are no instances of people being forced by Democrats to transition against their will.This is a sick group of people, he continued. Im telling you, theres a great evil in this. You know, we want to come together as a country, but theres a lot of, theres a lot of evil there. Trump: "Who would want transgender operations for almost everybody in the world? They want that." pic.twitter.com/t9Yl2nkCGN Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 29, 2024Trump has told numerous lies about transgender people and their allies this past year. He claimed that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) allowed the state to kidnap children to change their gender, which is not true. He claimed that a college volleyball player was hurt badly when playing against a team with a transgender player, which the university said wasnt the case and that the player didnt even miss a play. He accused Kamala Harris of supporting taxpayer-funded sex changes for prisoners when thats a constitutional protection that was in place during the Trump administration.But perhaps the lie about trans people that he has been telling the most this year is that schools are transitioning children behind their parents backs, which his campaign even said they could not name one instance where that happened.Can you imagine, youre a parent, and your son leaves the house, and you say, Jimmy, I love you so much, go have a good day in school, Trump said at a Wisconsin rally in September. And your son comes back with a brutal operation. Can you even imagine this? What the hell is wrong with our country?Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

North Carolina state Rep. Vernetta Alston (D) is all buttoned up.That quality is on display in a uniform of pressed white dress shirt and blazer, thorough preparation as a state legislator after years of experience as an attorney, and in considered answers to sometimes vexing questions.The Democratic incumbent, whos running unopposed for a third term in the North Carolina House from Durham, will also laugh at her own expense and light up when shes talking about her kids she and her wife were scheduled for a visit to the North Carolina State Fair with them later that afternoon on a classic fall day in the Carolinas.Alston spoke from her office in downtown Durham just over a week before Election Day. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today LGBTQ Nation: Theres a Jim Crow-era literacy test written into the state constitution of North Carolina. A repeal of that language went to a popular vote in 1970 and it failed. A new ballot measure has been introduced in the state House several years running, including one this year that you sponsored, but it hasnt made it to the ballot. Why?State Rep. Vernetta Alston: Well, I dont know, is the honest answer. To your point, we are long past the time where not only should it be considered as a ballot measure, but that provision should have been repealed ages ago. I think that there are a majority of folks in the Assembly who understand the history of that requirement and agree that it should come out of our Constitution. And as a practical matter, it has no formal function currently.But there isnt adequate political will amongst the current majority and our general assembly to push that through to be considered by both chambers, and ultimately to have that kind of literacy test repeal on the ballot. As you mentioned, Ive supported it, it should have been taken out a long time ago, and hopefully well have an opportunity to consider it again next year.Ive read that some folks are wary it gets rejected again. Do you think thats a legitimate concern? I think its an understandable speculation, particularly given our kind of demographics. Certainly, with any ballot measure, you want to err on the side of being very, very cautious about anything you put before voters thats going to impact the constitution.After law school, you devoted your career to advocating for death row inmates, representing them in a variety of appellate court cases. In 2014, you worked with the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission to get one of your clients exonerated and released from death row. How many similar cases do you think there are in North Carolina?We were fortunate to still have DNA that could be tested, but 90% of the people who are incarcerated dont have the benefit of something as black and white as a DNA result, and so that really begs the question of how many innocent folks are in prison, and we cant know the answer to that, but theyre certain to be there. I take that as an argument against the death penalty.Absolutely. A lot of things kind of fell into place in that case that put us in a position to expose his wrongful conviction, but whether its the death penalty or general population, theres some people who are there that we cannot prove it, and so its absolutely an argument against the death penalty, because we cannot guarantee that we havent or wont execute an innocent person.In 2017, you made a big career change, running for the Durham City Council to represent your hometown. What inspired the switch?This is a town that I think is really special. In 2017, we were really at the front door of a lot of growth and a lot of change, and I saw a really exciting opportunity to bring my perspective and the kind of accountability that is really important to me in my work to the council. Who and what are we going to be as a city? What communities are we going to prioritize? We have to make sure there are certain people we dont forget. How big a role does your identity as a lesbian play in your work as a legislator?On the one hand, it plays as much of a role in my work as a legislator as it does in my role as a as a grocery store shopper, you know? It is that thread thats in everything that I do, and I think that brings great value to the fact that Im in this position, like, demonstratively.On the other hand, it plays an enormous role. I try to take my representation as a real responsibility, and so I try to be a voice for equality issues. I try to make sure that the issues confronting the LGBT community are considered and that the right questions are asked, whether were talking about pro-equality issues or anything in any realm of government making sure that our issues are always being considered and are not forgotten. Ive been a primary sponsor for the Equality for All Act for the last two legislative cycles. Weve had some really unfortunate anti-LGBTQ legislation this past year, and so I made it a point to make sure that the public knew that those bills were being introduced and passed and that the legislators who brought them were being held to account for some really unnecessary and politically driven decisions that really hurt a lot of our communities.There are five out LGBTQ+ representatives and a senator in the North Carolina General Assembly. What do you have in common with those folks, and what sets you apart?Oh, well, great fashion (laughing). Just kidding. I think predictably, like, we just see each other. You know, theres just a level of familiarity and of acknowledgement anytime we have a conversation, whether its about issues that directly affect us because of our identities, or if its, like, about lunch. Theres just a level of community.I will say we are over-represented with lawyers (laughing). I think, I think at least 50% of that group are attorneys, so we have that in common.But I mean, our ages vary. Where were situated geographically varies. Our backgrounds vary. But I think we all care deeply about these issues. And I think to a person, we have all devoted a lot of time to really be vocal and out front on trying to push legislation in the right direction on LGBTQ issues. So yeah, we share that. Its been easy to work together on this stuff.I checked your Insta and youve made all of 75 posts on the platform.Thats a lot. I dont know, I feel like thats a criticism, but listen, Im not good at social media. I do my best. Well, I was going to ask, is communicating with constituents via social a generational thing, and whats your preferred method of interacting with members of your district?(Laughing) Are you telling me Im old? I think, unfortunately, my social media is just a victim of my personality, and its just not a strength. I think its important. I think its valuable. Thats why I do make some effort, but I think we all know and appreciate that social media platforms are very algorithmic, and so I have not made it a number one priority, although it is a tool that I do use.My district is a quarter of my county, so Im in the community. Im downtown now, Im downtown most days, I see my community very regularly. We do a periodic newsletter for the legislature. I have an email list thats much more active when it comes to updates on whats going on in the General Assembly. Historically, Ive done town halls a few times a year, so Im out here. Im just not good on social media. Your district is majority-minority, with a population of about 50% Black, 30% white, 40% Latin, 4% Asian. Youre Black, as well as a lesbian. Do you think you can represent all of your constituents equitably?I think thats for my constituents to judge. I mean, thats certainly my goal, and I certainly think that because of my experience, because of my intersecting identities, frankly, and because of my deep love and commitment to this community, I certainly aim to represent all of my constituents equitably across identities and also across ideologies.You know, I tell folks all the time, I dont just represent people who think the way I do. I represent everybody. And so I work really hard to be accessible to all of my constituents. Frankly, 90% or more of the issues that we confront in the General Assembly, but also just constituent services that we offer to folks in my district, have nothing to do with top-line political issues. Its, How do I access my unemployment insurance? or, I cant get a hold of my doctor. And you know, they may not be issues that we cant directly fix, but theyre issues that we can try to help facilitate answers for. So I always want folks to know that Im here as a resource.You joined the House Environment Committee in your second term. Whats the single most important thing the world should do to address the climate crisis?Top line: transportation. Transportation is the number one emitter of CO2 emissions, so thats electrification of vehicles, thats electrification of the state fleet, thats mass transit, thats a lot of things. Would you support mandatory national service for young people in the military or some other form of public service of their choosing, like the Peace Corps or Teach for America?I dont know that Im prepared to say Id mandate anything in that regard. I think service is incredibly important, and how you come to service can vary and still have very significant impacts on your community.Mark Robinson just filed a lawsuit against CNN for what he describes as false allegations that he made incendiary comments on the porn forum NudeAfrica, calling himself a black Nazi, disparaging Martin Luther King Jr, and supporting a return of slavery. How did a guy like Robinson ever get elected lieutenant governor and nominated by Republicans to lead the state, and who hangs out in porn chat rooms anyway? Mark Robinson is not fit to be governor of North Carolina, and I maintain that hes been unfit to serve as lieutenant governor of North Carolina.Youll leave it at that.Yep.Theres a Republican running for State Superintendent of Schools in North Carolina, Michele Morrow, who posted a few weeks ago that the plus in LGBTQ+ stands for pedophilia. Shes also called for Joe Biden and Barack Obama to be executed. Whats the reaction from North Carolina voters to that kind of bigotry, and could people like her and Mark Robinson be a drag on Trump in swing state North Carolina?I dont know what the outcome of the election will be, but it is my hope that voters will reject those candidates and their message. One fact our readers may not realize about U.S. elections is how many seats go uncontested. In 2022,67 percent of local races were uncontested.37 U.S. Congressional races will only see one candidate running this year, and 35% of all state legislative seats are uncontested in 2024. Yours is one of them, and your primary was canceled, as well. It sounds like you could stay in office indefinitely barring a major scandal, or stepping aside to pursue higher office, or getting out of electoral politics altogether. How long should an uncontested elected representative stay in office before giving someone else a chance?Everyone approaches public service differently. I take the approach that the seat doesnt belong to me, it belongs to the people of Durham County, District 29, and I dont take it for granted. I cant speak for other candidates.The statistic that you shared and I dont know what happens in other states but here, in terms of the Legislature, a lot of uncontested races are due in part to the gerrymandering that we have in our legislative maps that have overly concentrated certain voters of certain registrations in different parts of the state in both directions, and so, in part, because of that youre going to see districts that lean so far in one direction or the other that theyre simply not competitive. Its an outgrowth of an issue that we have been talking about for over a decade, in terms of how Republicans have approached the drawing of these legislative maps; they are extremely gerrymandered, and we should have a different process by which an independent, nonpartisan body draws these maps.Are there term limits in North Carolina?No, not for the legislature.Would you be in favor of term limits? I dont presently have an opinion about it. Honestly, like I said, these seats are not ours. They belong to the people, and thats what elections are meant to determine.Ballot measures this year in Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New York, South Dakota, Arizona, and Missouri will give voters the opportunity to put abortion rights into their state constitutions. In North Carolina, ballot measures need a referral from the General Assembly, and Republicans have blocked an effort to do so in the state this year. Whats the state of reproductive rights in North Carolina right now, and how do you overcome GOP opposition to guarantee reproductive freedom?Well, Republicans passed an abortion ban last year it was devastating over the objections of the governor, and we were unable to sustain our governors veto in order to protect access to abortion care. Things are bad here in that regard, and our hope is that we can break the Republican supermajority and put ourselves in a position to, frankly, prevent even more aggressive bans like those youve seen in some other states from being pursued in the Legislature and passed and enacted into law. The majority of people do not think that Roe v. Wade should have been overturned. Donald Trump is wrong about this and many other things. I will do everything I can, from my perspective as a legislator, as a woman, as a parent, to continue to advocate for the restoration of Roe v. Wade, for the restoration of abortion care here in North Carolina, and also the protection of important technologies like IVF.What can you tell us about your wife, Courtney?Courtney and I have been married now for nine years, and we have two wonderful kids, and we are kind of doing our best to juggle our respective responsibilities and raise smart, healthy, happy kids here at home. So were enjoying life and look forward to the future, hopefully one where they feel that they are themselves. North Carolina could determine the outcome of the presidential election. Are you more nervous about a Trump victory there or excited about the prospect of North Carolina sending Kamala Harris to the White House?Im very excited and hopeful that North Carolina will send Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to the White House. As you mentioned, we have a really important opportunity here to help Kamala win, and also to see some important victories in our statewide races, and certainly in our legislative races. So I think theres very strong momentum towards those outcomes here, and I look forward to seeing this through to the end.Whats the best thing about representing the constituents of North Carolina Assembly District 29?This is a community that cares very deeply for each other and that insists that its elected leaders be responsive and accountable to everyone in this community. Folks dont just look out for themselves. They look out for their neighbors. And I couldnt be more proud to serve a district than I am to serve District 29.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Ugh. Its Wednesday again. Its gotta be the worst day of the week. Youre already exhausted, but it feels like there are so many days left before the weekend.From running errands to working your tail off to family responsibilities, life can be tough, but thats why every week, we collect the hottest pics of the sexiest male celebrities for you to peruse at your leisure anytime you need a hump day pick-me-up.So scroll through to see our fave hump day hunks this week, and let the stress melt away!Lil Nas X (@) Well, hello abs!Australian Fire Fighters@australianfirefightersNobody really knows what we get up to behind the scenes but its a mix of showing off muscles, cuddling puppies, kittens and wildlife.. ohh and a whole lot of laughs!! Link in bio #a#australianfirefighterscalendarf#firemanr#realfirefightersf#fypb#bombeirob#bomberosb#brandweerf#feuerwehrp#pompiere##p#pompierfirefighter #hotmen #laughs #kittens #puppies #btsThis behind-the-scenes video of the Australian fire fighters posing for their annual calendar is making us so hot and bothered we're probably going to need their services!Aaron Pierre (@) We love leg day!oOmar RudbergSee on InstagramSinger Omar Rudberg won our hearts when he was starring on Young Royals, but now that we've seen how hot he looks for his concerts, we really want to see him perform live!Ricky Martin (@) Ricky Martin biting his tongue is doing things to us!Dawn FangSee on InstagramNow the devil in us wants to corrupt this angel version of model Dawn Fang.Jonathan Bailey (@) We're going to need Fellow Travelers actor Jonathan Bailey to release that photo.Dheyle DizonSee on InstagramPit Crew member Dheyle Dizon is making sure we stay tuned for every episode of Drag Race Philippines because we'd be heartbroken if we missed a minute of his body-ody-ody!Chris ColferSee on InstagramWho knew Chris Colfer looked this good under those jackets and bow ties!Jesse James PattinsonSee on InstagramDrag Race Pit Crew member and fitness influencer Jesse James Pattinson can give us workout advice anytime!More Jesse James PattinsonSee on InstagramOh my!Kit WilliamsonSee on InstagramEastsiders creator Kit Williamson and his husband are dressing up as slutty Tim Walz for Halloween this year. Now, this is the kind of political content we're looking for!Johnny Sibilly@johnnysibillyQueer actor Johnny Sibilly should never wear sleeves again!Lina Galore (@) Drag Race Italia star Lina Galore embracing gray sweatpants season is our new favorite thing!Bad Bunny (@) This just proves to us that Bad Bunny looks good enough to eat no matter what he wears!

Aubrey Plaza has never been one to mince words, and she's certainly not going to start now.The Agatha All Along actress is infamous for her wry delivery and acerbic wit, which were on full display at the WSJ Magazine Innovator Awards on Tuesday night. Plaza was there to present WNBA player A'ja Wilson as one of this year's Innovator Award recipients, but had to take a moment to address comments made at a rally for Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump last week.The comment was a joke (in the most liberal sense of the word) made by conservative comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. Hinchcliffe said at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally, I dont know if you guys know this, but theres literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think its called Puerto Rico." The outcries about Hinchcliffe's "joke" being unabashedly racist have been swift and numerous, and now include the public ire of Aubrey Plaza.See on InstagramI just wanted to very quickly respond to the racist joke that was made at that Trump rally about Puerto Rico, where most of my family is from. Thankfully, my sweet abuelita wasnt here to hear that disgusting remark, Plaza said on stage at the Innovator Awards.Plaza wanted to share what her grandmother would have thought had she been around to experience Hinchcliffe's horrible remark. But if she was alive today," she continued, " I think she would say, Tony Hinchcliffe, go fuck yourself." (@) Plaza was explicit in her stance, ending her statement by saying, "And yes, the Wall Street Journal can quote me on that.Much like her abuela before her, Plaza is a very wise woman, and we couldn't share their sentiment more!