The LaLa Ri Experience is evolving!Following his decision to retire from drag, LaLa Ri is stepping into a new direction and focusing on his talents as a queer artist without the corsets, wigs, and makeup."This moment is a feel-good moment! I am loving all of the love that I am receiving for this. I was a little nervous because I was introduced to the world on RuPaul's Drag Race. If I remove the drag, would people still like me? I was nervous, but people are very supportive, so I am loving it," Ri tells PRIDE.In fact, Ri has been receiving so much support from the drag community that even a few Drag Race stars have hinted that they're thinking of retiring, as well."I'm not going to say names, but I've had quite a few queens hit me up and say they're inspired. I'm just going to leave it at that."The entertainer made quite the mark both times he competed Drag Race, even earning the titles of "Miss Congeniality" on season 13 and "Queen of the Fame Games" on All Stars 8."Without RuPaul's Drag Race, I would not even be sitting here. I'm forever grateful for the platform and the opportunities that I have received from being on RuPaul's Drag Race. LaLa Ri is a brand honey! I picked my stage name. The name is not going anywhere!" See on Instagram Although his drag retirement is very recent, LaLa Ri is already gearing up for a slew of exciting projects in the world of entertainment including music, acting roles, and plenty of steamy modeling gigs out of drag."The steam is always going to be there! It's always going to be a sizzling moment. I've been working out too, so you already know! The best part is not having to tuck. I'm just going to put that out there!"Everyone loves a spicy pic on their feed! However, don't expect LaLa Ri to be launching an OnlyFans any time soon."Let me just say... I'm not doing OnlyFans! Even though I'm releasing the tuck, there's no OnlyFans coming. I don't want people to be getting any ideas honey."Fans can keep up with LaLa Ri by following him on Instagram (@misslalari). To see the full interview, check out the video at the top of the page.

We know its technically gray sweatpants season, but were still all about men in short shorts, and apparently, Jeff Goldblum and Jonathan Bailey are too!While promoting their starring roles in Wicked, the co-stars got cheeky in a recent interview with Canadian celebrity news show etalk, where Goldblum talked about his love of Baileys penchant for wearing shorty shorts. We couldnt agree more.The topic came up after the interviewer pointed out that Bailey had started a free the man thigh movement in Canada after he was photographed alongside Goldblum at the Australian premiere of the Broadway play adaptation wearing a pair of tiny shorts that showed off his impressively defined thighs.All Id say is, let your sons dance, and theyll have legs like that. Also, let them play tennis, Bailey quipped before pointing out that Jeffs thighs are seven times the size of mine, and his ankles are 2.3 millimeters.@etalkctvJeff Goldblum is all for Jonathan Baileys shorty short shorts. The duo cant keep a straight face while talking about Wicked Watch the full interview on our YT. #JonathanBailey #JeffGoldblum #Wicked #ArianaGrande #CynthiaErivo #interview #movieIn an adorable display of friendship, Goldblum responded by teasing Bailey right back. I said, when he gets those shorty shorts on, all we can say is release the Kraken, he said.And I always say Im cracking a nut back there when I tense them, Bailey joked about muscular thighs that we now cant stop fantasizing about them.Its not only his thighs, its his well-formed calves and thighs. Thats a fantastic development, Goldblum agreed.The interviewer then suggested that for Wicked 2, Bailey should cut off his character Fiyeros pants to show off the gift god and the gym gave him. Someone contact the costume designer stat!

Its a musical. Its a drag show. Its for chosen family. Its for those who need a touch of queer culture in their lives. And with opening night over a month behind them, the cast and creatives behind hilariously spectacular Drag: The Musical are talk of the town. Starring some of the most beloved queens [...]The post DRAG: The Musical Evolves To Be One Of The Most Important Stories Being Told Off-Broadway As Drag Race Alums Visit The Cast first appeared on GLAAD.

On Thursday, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill that would give authority to the Treasury Department to revoke a 501c non-profits tax-exempt status if theyre believed to support terrorism.House Resolution 9495, also known as the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, was sponsored by Rep. Tenney Claudia (R-NY) and passed through the house in a 219184 vote. It has gone through multiple different forms since it was initially introduced in response to pro-Palestine organizers in the wake of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Related Russia outlaws all LGBTQ+ groups & people as extremist threats The order is the latest attack in Vladimir Putins anti-LGBTQ+ crusade. According to anthropologist and legal scholar Darryl Li, who spoke to Democracy Now, this bill exists exclusively as a means for the right-wing to crush their political opponents, especially those who advocate for the rights of Palestinians, who were recently found by the International Criminal Court to be victims of war crimes enacted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 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 This bill is essentially a civil rights disaster, that would allow the government to shut down nonprofits on the smear of being terrorist-supporting organizations. This law requires an accusation with no evidence, but a tie-in. Its an accusation that nonprofits are supporting a group on one of the existing international terrorism lists The bill is essentially discriminatory by design, he said. Initially, it did have significant bipartisan support, because, of course, anti-Palestinian racism is one of the great bipartisan unifiers in Congress.Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) justified the bill as a plain way to defund terrorism. We, as members of Congress, have the duty to make sure that taxpayers are not subsidizing terrorism. Its very, very simple, he said on the House floor.Smith didnt provide evidence that any major U.S. non-profit group has ever supported terrorism.Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), the only Palestinian-American in Congress, said of the bill, I dont care who the president of the United States is. This is a dangerous and unconstitutional bill that would allow unchecked power to target nonprofit organizations as political enemies and shut them down without due process. The bill doesnt just pose a danger to advocates for war refugees trapped in Gaza, but also possibly to LGBTQ+ nonprofits as well. As the Trump-Vance campaign spent record numbers on anti-trans ad spending, it is increasingly likely that they could use this bill as a pretense to attack the many nonprofits that advocate for LGBTQ+ individuals. Li details that this could be the case for just about anyone who is a political opponent of the ruling administration.With the efforts of civil society groups to ring the alarm and educate members of Congress about the dangers of this bill, not only for Palestine advocacy, but broadly, for any number of causes, and, of course, with the election of Donald Trump, more and more Democrats have awoken to the danger, he said.Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, agrees that this could be used to attack anyone who is a political opponent. This bill is an authoritarian play by Republicans to expand the sweeping powers of the executive branch, to go after political enemies and stifle political dissent, she said on the House floor.Li says it is extremely unlikely for the bill to harm any right-wing conservative groups, who are often the ones lobbying terrorism accusations at their political opponents. Right-wingers and white supremacists in Congress can support this bill, with the assurance that their allies, right-wing extremist groups, are highly, highly unlikely to ever be targeted by this bill, because there isnt going to its much less likely that they will be smeared with an accusation of being tied to an international terrorist organization thats already on one of the government lists, Li said.Groups that could be on the chopping block with this bill include the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, the Human Rights Campaign, as well as nonprofit news outlets like Mother Jones or ProPublica.Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) further agrees that the bill could be extremely authoritarian depending on how it is implemented, especially in the wake of Trumps election. Authoritarianism is not born overnight it creeps in, Doggett said. A tyrant tightens his grip not just by seizing power but when he demands new powers and when those who can stop him willingly cede and bend to his will.Still, opponents of the bill hold out hope that it can be rightfully opposed and defeated in the Senate where it will need 60 votes to become law Democrats have a slim majority in the chamber, though Republicans will hold a 53-seat majority in the 100-member chamber starting in January. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said on BlueSky that activists reaching out to their representatives played a significant role in reducing the bills support in the House.Was there today for the H.R. 9495 vote (bill that would have allowed labeling nonprofits as terrorist supporting organizations). Voted no, of course but I do want to report that the activism DID work and persuaded members. I thought itd be a lonely NO vote, which we take often. It wasnt. Was there today for the H.R. 9495 vote (bill that would have allowed labeling nonprofits as terrorist supporting organizations).Voted no, of course but I do want to report that the activism DID work and persuaded members.I thought itd be a lonely NO vote, which we take often. It wasnt. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@aoc.bsky.social) November 12, 2024 at 10:55 PMIn comparison, a similar bill was brought up before the House earlier this year. There was much less organizing against it and it got further then. Todays vote was a very different story. The attention + organizing played a role. If you can thank your rep for voting NO, please do so. It matters.In comparison, a similar bill was brought up before the House earlier this year. There was much less organizing against it and it got further then.Todays vote was a very different story. The attention + organizing played a role.If you can thank your rep for voting NO, please do so. It matters. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@aoc.bsky.social) November 12, 2024 at 11:00 PMSubscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

What started as two co-stars bonding on set has turned into a full-blown bromance, and were all benefiting from it!Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal became close while starring in Ridley Scotts Gladiator II and have been both incredibly hot and adorable while on the press tour for the film and attending premieres.From behind-the-scenes videos of the hunky men practicing sword fighting together to cute shots together in hair and makeup to a Vanity Fair interview that will forever live rent-free in our minds because Mescal grabbed the Chilean actors thigh, there are countless moments that have us wishing they would play lovers in their next film. There is a 21-year age gap between Mescal and Daddy Pascal just sayin.Their friendship truly transcended the silver screen and entered the real world when the pair started photographing each other while on a trip. There are photos of Mescal shirtless and swimming in Central Morocco, the two soaking in the river together, enjoying picnics, and even being silly while donning beekeeper suits. We honestly cant get enough!Keep scrolling to see the cutest and sexiest pics of this epic bromance! (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) #PedroPascal cant get enough of #PaulMescals tattoo. #Gladiator #FilmTok #Montauk@entertainment_weekly#PedroPascal cant get enough of #PaulMescals tattoo. #Gladiator #FilmTok #Montauk#PedroPascal cant get enough of #PaulMescals tattoo. #Gladiator #FilmTok #Montauk (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) @vanityfairSeventeen points for Pedro! The cast of Gladiator II test how well they know Paul Mescal. #paulmescal #pedropascal #connienielsen #josephquinn #fredhechinger #gladiator #gladiator2 #harrisonford

Unless you're part of the Academy, the answer's probably 'Yes.' It also inspired us to take a look back at the history of the most groundbreaking, intense, and sometimes just plain sexiest kisses between women in film. And trust us, we took a pretty extensive look into all available options when compiling these 50 glorious couplings. Weve even included some moments from as early as the 1930s on here because as long as there have been movies, there have been cute girls kissing in them. We did not include made-for-TV movies, so you won't find Gia or Tipping the Velvet (sorry).Now, we also understand that ranking of these kisses can be fairly subjective, but honestly let's just celebrate all these incredible locking lips on the big screeen. 50. Mandy Musgrave and Gabrielle Christian - Girl Trash: All Night Long (2014)In 2014 no one had baby dykes' hearts in a tighter grip than Mandy Musgrave and Gabrielle Christian (where my South of Nowhere heads at?) so this moment had us screaming.49. Sophia Bush and Brittany Snow - John Tucker Must Die (2006)Sophia Bush has had sapphics in a chokehold for a decade, for many baby dykes that obsession started right here.48. Erin Kelly and Diane Gaidry - Loving Annabelle (2006)Talk about forbidden love. This student/teacher affair had consequences.47. Jordana Brewster and Sara Foster - D.E.B.S. (2004)Who wouldn't fall for this super villain in Angela Robinson's romp of a teen spy flick?46. Alia Shawkat and Laia Costa - Duck Butter (2018)This movie is so hot its hard to pick just one kiss. But we did, and its this one.45. Delphine Seyrig and Danielle Ouimet - Daughters of Darkness (1971)French New Wave luminary and ardent feminist Seyrig wows as the lead in this early vampire story with Sapphic undertones.44. Maria Schrader and Lilly Wust - Aimee and Jaguar (1999)A Jewish woman and the wife of a Nazi officer fall in love at the height of WWII. If that is not devastating enough, it's based on a true story.43. Noomi Rapace and Yasmin Garbi - The Girl Who Played with Fire (2009)Lisbeth Salander is the most totally unapologetic, bad-ass, bisexual cyber wiz to ever grace the big screen, and we really wish there were more.42. Ayo Edebiri and Havana Rose Liu - Bottoms (2023)Ok come on you know you just screamed AWWWW at the screen during this super sweet and steamy kiss. 41. Emily Blunt and Natalie Press - My Summer of Love (2004)The beautiful indie that gave us Emily Blunt... Need we say more?40. Amanda Seyfried and Megan Fox - Jennifer's Body (2009)More self-reflexive exploitation. It's so bad, it's delicious!39. Michelle Krusiec and Lynn Chen - Saving Face (2004)A romantic comedy with a happy ending that explores cultural mores we'll take it.38. Liv Mjones and Ruth Vega Fernandez - Kiss Me (2011)Just simply a crowd-pleaser of a romantic film.37. Guinevere Turner and Cheryl Dunye - The Watermelon Woman (1996)Dunye's art-house film explored gender and race when no one was talking about it. Important, and funny.36. Greta Garbo - Queen Christina (1933)Garbo as a trouser-clad monarch who kisses her subjects like this? Yes, please.35. Naomi Watts and Laura Harring - Mulholland Drive (2001)Do you think you figured out the plot? Who Cares. This scene is super hot, and the film put Watts on the map.34. Nikohl Boosheri and Sarah Kazemy - Circumstance (2011)A contemporary, prescient tale of Iranian friends in love.33. Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci - Monster (2003)Shattering scene because you root for them to make it even though you know what the next 90 minutes of the movie are about.32. Kerry Washington and Dania Ramirez - She Hate Me (2004)Pre-Olivia Pope Washington in a Spike Lee flick is a total win.31. Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis - Black Swan (2010)Was it real? Was it fantasy? Did anyone really care after watching this scene?30. Laurel Holloman and Nicole Ari Parker - The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love (1995)A sweet story of nascent love, featuring Holloman (who would become Tina Kennard on The L Word) as a baby butch. Just a great indie all around.29. Ally Sheedy and Radha Mitchell - High Art (1998)Lisa Cholodenko's first feature gave us a heartrendingly sad and beautiful love story.28. Piper Perabo and Jessica Pare - Lost and Delirious (2001)Obsessive love at a boarding school. This film captivated its generation.27. Olivia Colman and Rachel Weisz - The Favourite (2018)This movie is just so delightfully wicked and naughty thanks in large part to the chemistry between two of our very favorite (make that favourite) leading ladies.26. Salma Hayek and Ashley Judd - Frida (2002)No one tangos like these two in this stunning, Oscar-nominated biopic.25. Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan - Ammonite (2020)We are always seated when lesbians in period costumes make out, and when they are played by Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan our corsets are popping.24. Rachel Sennott and Molly Gordon - Shiva Baby (2020)Sneaking off for a kiss is hot, yes even at a Shiva. Dont @ us.23. Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey - Heavenly Creatures (1994)Peter Jackson's small masterpiece introduced us to a wildly charismatic Winslet, while Lynskey's brooding, obsessive teen was, at times, truly terrifying.22. Uma Thurman and Maria de Medeiros - Henry and June (1990)The first film to be released with the NC-17 rating. We're pretty sure it wasn't for all of the straight sex...21. Traci Dinwiddie and Necar Zadegan - Elena Undone (2010)Nicole Conn's crowd-pleaser boasts the longest kissing scene ever filmed. Go Traci and Necar.20. Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams - Disobedience (2017)We live to see these two swap spit. IYKYK.19. Lilli Palmer and Romy Schneider - Mdchen in Uniform (1958)A remake of the 1931 film of the same name, this one is more audacious mainly for being made during the outrageously repressive '50s.18. Margaret Qualley and Geraldine Viswanathan - Drive-Away Dolls (2024)Even in a basement room full of softball dikes making out, this kiss between our two besties destined to turn lovers had us ready to see the home run.17. Natasha Lyonne and Clea Duvall - But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)Sweet and audacious for the time, Jamie Babbit's satire wins on all levels.16. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Selma Blair - Cruel Intentions (1999)Exploitative, yes? But these were big stars making out in the '90s. We all watched.15. Piper Perabo and Lena Headey - Imagine Me and You (2005)Possibly the greatest romantic comedy ever featuring LGBT characters.14. Whoopi Goldberg and Margaret Avery - The Color Purple (1985)Huge, Oscar-bait by Steven Spielberg with a queer sub-plot. This was a revelation.13. La Seydoux and Adle Exarchopoulos - Blue Is The Warmest Color (2013)Controversy over the interminable sex scenes aside, this is one of the most epic coming-of-age stories out there.12. Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)Cruz won the Oscar for her portrayal of a fiery bisexual artist. Simply sublime.11. Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon - The Hunger (1983)10. Katy OBrian and Kristen Stewart - Love Lies Bleeding (2024)Its like two sapphic titans came together to make our hearts and pants explode.9. Marlene Dietrich - Morocco (1930)Dietrich in a tux and kissing a woman right as the Draconian Hays Code was being implemented.8. Guinevere Turner and V.S. Brody - Go Fish (1994)New Queer Cinema for women hit it's stride with this Turner/Rose Troche gem.7. Julianne Moore and Toni Collette - The Hours (2002)'50s era repression plays out in this beloved modern film. Simply devastating.6. Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon - Bound (1996)Hot, hot, super-talented actresses star in a terrific heist film from the Wachowski siblings.5. Kim Tae-ri and Kim Min-hee - The Handmaiden (2016)Well never fully recover from this literally sweet and oh-so-steamy "instructional" moment.4. Nomie Merlant and Adle Haenel - Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)The looks, the longing, the angst.3. Helen Shaver and Patricia Charbonneau - Desert Hearts (1985)Sexy, passionate, pre-New Queer Cinema, and they got their happy ending!2. Amandla Stenberg and Maria Bakalova - Bodies, Bodies, Bodies (2022)Now this is how you introduce characters. This movie may be a whodunnit, or even a whydunit. But all we really want is for them to do it. 1. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara - Carol (2015)Instantly classic, breathtakingly sensual, and gorgeously shot, the moment when Carol and Therese finally acted on their attraction was one of the most intense scenes in 2015's cinematic year. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara's chemistry emanated right off the screen and into our hearts.

One thing about Kandy Muse? She knows how to make good TV.All of the viral moments from season two of House of Villains are thanks to the RuPaul's Drag Race alum going head-to-head with her deceitful costars.Villains serves as the first reality show (besides the upcoming Slaycation) that Muse has starred in outside of Drag Race and she's feeling even more at home in front of the cameras."I wasn't sure how the audiences would receive me on House of Villains and it has been so different from what Drag Race was for me. It just reminded me of why I would never go back to Drag Race as a competitor. The fans are a little too toxic for me. I'm really in my element here. I'm having too much fun," Muse tells PRIDE. See on Instagram The riveting drama is just one of the reasons people are loving the new season of Villains. Muse promises even more memorable moments are in store, but Drag Race fans will remember that she said the same thing about All Stars 8 before it aired."To be fair, when I said All Stars was giving season 2-3-4-5-6 vibes... what I filmed was 2-3-4-5-6 vibes. What got edited and aired... well, that's out of my control and my hands."In fact, Muse says a fight with Alexis Michelle never even aired. Release the tapes, World of Wonder!"There was a good fight on All Stars 8 that y'all missed with Alexis Michelle. We had a reunion on the couch and it just never aired, but hey."At least House of Villains is filling the void of juicy drama that we're missing on Drag Race.Muse is even taking it into her hands to make sure the next season of Villains is just as good... or even better. How so? She has one particular diva in mind that Villains should cast for season three."I've given a few names. Everyone can agree... Gia Gunn would be the next pick after me! It would have to be Gia Gunn. All Stars 4 would be nothing without Gia Gunn. Gia Gunn is a gem who was put on Earth to make some great television."House of Villains airs Thursday nights on E! To see the full interview with Kandy Muse, check out the video at the top of the page.

Have you held space for "Defying Gravity" lately??If you're still on the hellsite that is X (fka Twitter), you may have noticed a new Wicked-centric meme format pop up in the past 48 hours. (@) Allow us to explain.It all began started thanks to an interview clip from The Advocate Channel, in which EqualPride's own Tracy E. Gilchrist spoke with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande about Wicked's most famous song, "Defying Gravity," and what it means to people."I've seen, this week, people are taking the lyrics of 'Defying Gravity' and really holding space with that, and feeling power in that," Gilchrist says in a clip edited for Instagram. The familiar instrumentals play in the background as Erivo appears to have an emotional reaction."That's really powerful," she replies as Grande takes her hand to seemingly comfort her. "I didn't know that was happening."See on InstagramSoon, the clip was shared to X, where Wicked fans who have been eagerly gobbling up every moment of Erivo and Grande's press tour for the film latched onto the most memorable parts. And there were quite a few.I can't tell what my favorite part of this video is: the solemnity in announcing people have been "holding space" for the lyrics of a 20 year old song, Cynthia acting like she personally wrote it, Ariana holding onto Cynthia's index finger, or the reveal of "a couple of posts" https://t.co/eDDUNcvaRn maya (@irish_goodbi) November 22, 2024 pic.twitter.com/1OGp1iqfu1 sassy cathy (@oohweehuman) November 21, 2024 i want to talk about this video for six hours uninterrupted Ive watched it so many times since yesterday that I have it completely memorized and have been muttering the words to myself alone in my apartment rayne fisher-quann (@raynefq) November 21, 2024 (@) was there a gas leak where they did these interviews. im dead serious should they have checked the carbon monoxide detectors https://t.co/zci9Cf38uv laurinha (@ecto_fun) November 22, 2024 I've come to the conclusion that this clip only make sense if you assume that ariana and cynthia believe they wrote wicked themselves https://t.co/XD3dX1qRaj buzzfeed jenny ITALIA (@buzzfeedjenny) November 22, 2024 Im completely mesmerized by this clip .. its almost like they are speaking a language I dont understand . I cant catch the sense of it for a single moment. Im not understanding the words or the feelings or the energy at all. Its amazing https://t.co/eU35OoMzvf Daniel Liu (@danieldayliuis) November 21, 2024 ariana supporting cynthia as she learns that people are taking the lyrics of defying gravity and holding space with that https://t.co/05twFMfWVH pic.twitter.com/k2JEK5DF0Z Saint Hoax (@SaintHoax) November 22, 2024 watching this makes me feel like im huffing gasoline its so surreal like why is ariana holding her singular finger like that. what does holding space for the lyrics mean. thats exactly what i wanted you didnt write the damn musical and its been out for years https://t.co/cWP8q6753p breakfast (@ouchowwie) November 21, 2024 https://t.co/aqRoP7myAl pic.twitter.com/DQgRVEncTc wiLL (@willfulchaos) November 22, 2024 (@) Granted, it can be difficult to gather context from a short clip, so Gilchrist explained how the whole thing actually came about."When I posed the question to Cynthia about people holding space with the lyrics to 'Defying Gravity,' It was two days after the election, and everyone I knew in the LGBTQ+ community was trying to make sense of what we might be facing," she said.Reasoning aside, the video went viral, and it was ultimately both the idea of "holding space" for the lyrics of "Defying Gravity" and the reaction Erivo had to it (and Grande to Erivo) that made the biggest splash.And thus, a meme was born. (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) You have to be chronically online to understand a number of these, but enough of us are that the meme is working. And, perhaps best of all, it even seems to be doing exactly what the press tour intended in the first place get more people to the theaters for Wicked. (@) "I loved [Erivo's] response, and I love that people are having a laugh, because I know I could use one about now," Gilchrist tells PRIDE. "I never considered Id become a meme, but as an unrepentant showqueen, Im thrilled that its for something this campy in response to a movie I love. Now go see Wicked!"

Here are this weeks most popular positive stories, with some fun social media posts tossed in too. Like seeing uplifting content like this?Sign up for our Good News email.We hope everyones staying safe, warm, bundled up and surrounded by warmth, friends, and comfort as the weather cools off. Here are some bright stories to help keep you happy and warm as well!Also, scroll to the bottom to find two articles about other great queer movies to watch right now.Only in the dark, can you see the lanterns rising View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pubity (@pubity) Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Keith Haring & Betty White get the forever treatment with new stampsThe two gay icons will be honored in 2025.And talking about stamps, check out these10 queer women honored on stamps, these7 history-making LGBTQ+ Latinx artists commemorated on stamps, andthese 10 Black LGBTQ+ heroes who also appeared on stamps! City council votes unanimously to allocate $500,000 to healthcare for trans youthThis vote is not about politics its about protecting lives. Soccer superstars Kristie Mewis & Samantha Kerr are expecting a babyThe post announcing the pregnancy was flooded with a mix of congratulatory comments as well as homophobic ones.If youre feeling under the weather, maybe a cat is the answer View this post on Instagram A post shared by Animal person (@animal_perso9) Trans woman wins historic victory in India in getting a passport for her sonShe secured a passport for her son as a single mother. Democrats are fighting to change an unfair Texas law.Texas is one of several states with this law still on its books.Trans actress Alexandra Billings speaks out about recent attempts to silence her.Some people found her TikToks triggering. But shes not backing down Oh, bluebird of happiness View this post on Instagram A post shared by Max magana (@vjxcmax) Staten Island St. Patricks Day Parade ends 60-year ban on LGBTQ+ groupsThe Staten Island parade was long thought to be one of the only St. Patricks Day celebrations left in the world that still excluded LGBTQ+ people.Sarah McBride explains how she pulled off her historic victoryShes making history as the first-ever out trans Congress member. A church fired its music director for being gay. Then something surprising happened.Church leaders didnt expect congregants to respond as they did. And last, an unexpected musical interlude View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rave Cultur (@ravecultur)From our sibling sites:OUTSPORTS:Lifetime of dance, family and finding acceptance lead Shaun West to international vogue stageGAYCITIES:10 awesome queer road trip movies you have to watch right nowQUEERTY:From stage to screen: 13 of the best movie musicals adapted from Broadway hitsINTO:Walmarts unintentionally gay holiday decorations go super viral

Many are blasting Disney for allegedly tabling a trans athlete plot in an animated series after the election. Derrick Malik Johnson, who worked on the episode ofMoon Girl and Devil Dinosaur which features 13-year-old Lunella Lafayette and her dinosaur sidekick wrote in a since-deleted post on BlueSky that it has been shelved due to which party won the recent election. Related Jen Psaki warns Democrats not to cave to the right on trans rights Psaki emphasized that abandoning trans rights would be falling victim to GOP propaganda. The episode centered on Lunellas trans classmate, Brooklyn, who is banned from the girls volleyball team by the coach. Leaked footage depicts a heartwarming moment in which Brooklyns teammates rally around her in support. 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 entire episode has now been unofficially released on YouTube and depicts a heartwarming story of trans acceptance at a time when trans youth are being attacked across the country. In it, Brooklyn talks about the darkness of me having to play on the boys team and asks, How many doors do I have to break through until they stop locking me out? She wears rainbow knee pads and has a Trans is beautiful sticker on her water bottle. Her teammates assure her she is not a burden. Let us step for you, they tell her. A source from Disney told Polygon that the episode was put on hold over a year ago and has nothing to do with the results of the presidential election. In this case, this decision was based on this specific episode, not because of the character being trans, they said, adding that it isnt banned per see, but rather being held. The source also said the shows target audience is 6 through 12-year-olds and that Disney is respectful of the role that parents play in the discussions they have with their children. Fans on social media have voiced their disappointment with the decision. The cruel irony of this episode about how trans people have to go through so many doors being slammed on their faces, and then this episode also gets a door slammed by Disney themselves, one person wrote on social media. Another added, The fact that Disney actually shelved that episode of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur at a time when LGBTQ+ and trans lives matter the most is deplorable. I know young children are gonna need this episode more than ever and it should be released cause trans lives matter.Someone else also noted the hard work that went into the episode: Disney should be ashamed of themselves for canning this episode. You dont get to approve approve approve something and then destroy it at the last minute, shattering the crews hard work and hopes.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

By Jamie BoothAs Trans Awareness Week highlights the lives and stories of transgender individuals, attention turns to the upcoming Miss International Queen USA pageant. Scheduled for December 10-12 in Las Vegas, this celebrated competition spotlights transgender women nationwide, offering a platform to showcase their remarkable journeys of transformation and resilience.Reigning Miss International Queen USA, Kataluna Enriquez, will lead this years event. A trailblazer in pageantry, Enriquez made history in 2021 as the first openly transgender woman to win the title of Miss Nevada USA, later competing in Miss USA. Most recently, she represented the U.S. at the Miss International Queen competition in Thailand, earning the Best Talent award and placing in the Top Six overall.RELATED: Kataluna Enriquez makes history as out trans pageant winner in NevadaEnriquez is excited to appear at this years Miss International Queen USA pageant, where the countrys leading trans pageant contestants will compete in categories such as evening gown and costumes representing their states, but the heart of the event lies in their compelling stories of perseverance, reflecting the diverse experiences of transgender individuals.On the final night, Enriquez will pass her crown to the next titleholder, someone who will carry forward her legacy of courage and empowerment. We spoke with Kataluna Enriquez from her home in Las Vegas.RELATED: How this trans woman broke barriers at Miss USAHow has your year as Miss International Queen USA impacted your life?Kataluna Enriquez: My year as Miss international Queen USA has offered me the opportunity to connect with people all over the country. It has allowed me to share my story and advocate for mental health. Its also helped me to brush up on my English! English is my third language and the language barrier was a hurdle, especially in the beginning, but Ive managed it pretty nicely.How has your platform helped to advance visibility and advocacy for the transgender community?KE: Simply being a representation of hope and resilience advances the visibility of trans people. Like many trans people of color, I am a survivor of physical, sexual and mental abuse. Many of us are often ashamed of our traumatic experiences, but as Miss International Queen USA, I made it my purpose to be vocal and to share my experiences openly. Its important to tackle trauma, shame and fear head on and my hope is that by standing my ground and finding success on my terms, it will encourage younger generations to know that anything is possible.RELATED: Kataluna Enriquez is an Advocate magazine Champion of Pride 2021 from the Rugged West magazine Champion of Pride 2021 from the Rugged WestWhat were some of the biggest challenges you faced during your reign?KE: There was a lot of pressure in being the first to represent the new USA franchise in the Miss International Queen pageant. Preparations for the international competition were extremely tough. I wanted to make sure that my wardrobe and packaging were more than exceptional. The two weeks I was in Thailand competing for the international crown, I didnt get more than four hours of sleep each night. So many hours went into sewing, finishing gowns, wardrobes, and working on speeches. It was a lot and though I may have not won the crown, I did win everyone's heart.As you prepare to crown your successor, what advice would you give to the next Miss International Queen USA?KE: My advice to the next Miss International Queen USA is to know and love yourself. There will be plenty of naysayers, but what is more important is the love that you have for yourself. Self-love radiates like no other, especially on stage. No one can surpass you when you are fearless and have a great understanding of who you are and your purpose.What do you think the future holds for pageants like Miss International Queen in terms of promoting inclusion and diversity?KE: Miss International Queen USA will continue the legacy of paving the way of what it means to be brave and to be free. What is your next goal?KE: My next goal is to one day compete on RuPaul's Drag Race. I'd like to be the first Miss USA competitor to compete on the show and the first Filipino American to win it! Drag has been extremely influential to my win and reign. It has shaped me and my ability to express myself fearlessly. There are many stories I havent shared with the world yet. Stories from my childhood and from all of the pageants that I have competed in. There were so many things I had to hide to survive and I cannot wait for the world to hear all about it.On the final night, when you place the crown on your successors head, what emotions do you expect to feel, and how will this moment resonate in the history of transgender representation?KE: The emotion I will feel the night of crowning my successor is simple: grateful.Miss International Queen USA takes place December 1012, 2024 in Las Vegas. Tickets are available now at Bethetransformationalchange.org/miq-usa-tickets. Follow on Facebook at Miss International Queen USA and on Instagram @Missinternationalqueenusa.

R&B star Khlaid has come out as gay after being outed by another singer. The 26-year-old posted a rainbow flag alongside exclamation points on X, followed by, "there yall go. next topic please lol." Someone responded, "Wait hope Mr Khalid isn't GHEE." To which Khalid replied "I am! And that's okay." (@) (@) Khalid shared another X post that read:"I got outted and the world still continues to turn. Let's get this straight (lmao) I am not ashamed of my sexuality! In reality it ain't nobodies business! But I am okay with me. love yall." (@) Khalid's coming-out comes moments after internet personality Hugo D Almonte posted a photo of the two together with the caption, "Bitch ass [ninja emoji] lied and said that I broke into his house cause I didnt want him." X (@hugodalmonte)The baffling post comes after a series of tweets seemingly aimed at Khalid. One reads, "One of your favorite gay rappers ate my ass one of your favorite gay R&B singers suck my d--k and it was really bad."Another reads, "One of your favorite gay R&B singers offered me pink cocaine. I decline f--king crackhead stop letting these people in the industry."Another reads, "I was dating this dumb ass singer hes ugly as f--k but he tried to set me up and lie and say I broke into his house because I broke up with him like why would I go to your house and do all that if I broke up with you dumb ass!"His final tweet before sharing the photo of the two reads, "Yall really really want me to blow this s--t up."Khalid is a Grammy-nominated singer with a handful of hit songs including "Young, Dumb, & Broke" and "Love Lies" featuring Normani. He has remained quiet about his sexuality until now. He's already receiving support from his peers. Singer and producer MNEK wrote, "loser Loser LOSER LOSER behaviour @hugodalmonte," followed by a second post that reads, "i dont like that shit, thats so WHACCCCCKKKKKKK."

Give us your rich, your whiteYour Euro-Christian Corporate billionairesNo Blacks, no browns, no Muslims, no poorFor these my lamp is dark for now and evermore.-The Newest Colossus envisioned by Donald TrumpIn the 2007 drama The Visitor, Walter Vale walks robotically and without apparent enthusiasm through his life as a Connecticut College economics professor. He shows little respect or tolerance for his students, to whom he has not given the syllabus well into the new semester for a course he has taught for the past 20 years.When not at the college, he pretends to read a book that he is not even close to finishing. He occasionally takes piano lessons in an effort to retain a part of his late wife, who was a classical concert pianist and recording artist. He just fired his fifth piano teacher. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Related Donald Trumps deportation blitz is coming but advocates are ready to fight him Aaron Morris, executive director of Immigration Equality, explains how to fight Trumps plans to deport 11 million people. Charles, his department chair, requests that he present a paper at a conference at New York University since Walters coauthor cannot attend. When Walter declined by stating that he only gave nominal input into the paper while admitting that he had not even read the completed manuscript, Charles sternly insisted.Walter reluctantly drove the relatively short distance, and upon entering his Manhattan apartment that he and his late wife maintained for decades, he noticed several unfamiliar objects. Hello, he called out with no audible response. He opened the bathroom door to the terrifying screams of a young woman soaking naked in the tub. As he quickly turned around, a young man grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and threw him violently against the wall.I live here. I live here. This is my apartment, Walter tried to get out the words. The man reluctantly released him and stated that an acquaintance sublet this apartment where he and his girlfriend had been living for the past two months. As tempers cooled, the young couple realized they had been swindled.Tarek explained to Walter that he is animmigrantfrom Syria, a musician who performs on a Palestinian-Syrian drum known as adjembe, and Zainab is a Senegalese jewelry designer and street vendor. They both came to the United States for a better life, and they met and fell in love in New York City. Though they packed their belongings to leave, Walter decided to allow them to stay until they had time to ask Zainabs sister if they could stay in her cramped apartment.Over the next few days, Walter developed a friendship with the couple, whom he found out had entered the country undocumented. As they traveled around Manhattan together, Walter saw the city again with fresh eyes through the excitement of his new young friends who showed him things he had never noticed before, cultures that were right in front of him.Tarek taught Walter how to play the drum, and the two of them ventured to Central Park on various occasions to join an ongoing drum circle. While on the subway platform, Tarek tells Walter of his dream one day to perform there underground as travelers enter and leave the trains for their destinations. A sense of joy and youthful wonder returned to Walters spirit, something that had seemed to have died with the passing of his wife years before. On their way back to the apartment from the park, Tareks drum case gets caught in the subway turnstile, and police arrest him mistakenly for attempting to enter without paying. They discover he had entered the country illegally and incarcerate him at a detention facility in Queens for deportation back to Syria.Feeling uncomfortable staying alone with Walter and fearing the police may come for her as well, Zainab moved in with relatives in the Bronx. Walter hired animmigrationlawyer to free Tarek.After being unable to contact her son for some time, Tareks mother, Mouna, traveled from her home in Michigan and appeared at the apartment. Distressed by the news of Tareks arrest, she hesitatingly accepts Walters invitation to stay at the apartment while the legal process is underway. Mouna and Walter soon develop a close friendship. She related her familys difficult life in Syria, where her journalist husband died while serving a long prison sentence for challenging the dictatorial regime in his writing. She is fearful for her son and for herself if they are deported since she also entered the United States without proper documentation.They created a comfortable domestic relationship with Mouna cooking for Walter and Walter treating Mouna to a night on the town at a Broadway production ofThe Phantom of the Opera, a favorite of hers ever since Tarek sent his mother the cast recording.Unfortunately, the lawyers efforts to keep Tarek in the U.S. failed, and without any notification,immigrationofficials deported him back to his native country. Now without any family remaining, Mouna decided to reunite with her son in Syria. During her final night in the United States, Mouna joined Walter in bed for a comforting and calming embrace. The next day, Walter took his new friend to the airport. They shared a poignant moment before Mouna boarded the plane. Leaving the terminal, Walter entered the subway tunnel, took his drum from its case, and played on the platform as commuters traveled on their way.As it turned out, the Visitor in the films title was actually Walter. Tarek, Mouna, and Zainab enriched, excited, enlivened, and reinvigorated Walters perspective on the world. They showed him his own country in ways he never could have imagined if left within his previously monocultural and monochromatic world.Like Dorothys black-and-white Kansas landscape that changed to living color when she was transported to Oz, Walters new friends, through their backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, gave him the means to transport his life from drab to beautiful technicolor. In microcosm, they exemplified the lifeblood that brings sustaining and enhancing cultural nutrition to the U.S. body politic. Like all organisms, nations will wither and die unless they continue expanding their perspectives on how they view this ever-changing world. The United States stands today as one of the most, possiblythemost, innovative nations in the history of humankind, and that is only because of its sustained influx of innovative ideas and solutions to problems coming from its continuingimmigrationpopulations.When Donald Trump first occupied the Oval Office, he signed an executiveorder(royal decree), which partially took effect, that banned entry of residents from six majority-Muslim countries into the United States and suspended admittance of refugees from Syria.His actions posed not only Constitutional issues but also positioned the United States across the world as a discriminatory nation acting contrary to its own ethical and moral standards by stigmatizing entire groups of people based on their country of origin and religious beliefs. Now in advance of his second term, Trump has threatened to mount a massive deportation effort of approximately 11 million people using the United States military to execute his order.Politicians and most other residents of the United States from every rung of the political spectrum generally agree on one issue: Ourimmigrationsystem is severely broken and needs fixing. Seemingly insurmountable gaps in political solutions to repair the system along with Congressional inaction, primarily in the Republican-dominated House of Representatives, to the point of blockage have brought the country to the point of crisis.This year, a bipartisan committee constructed a compromiseimmigrationreform bill that could have gained bipartisan approval in Congress, but Donald Trump asked that the bill be pulled so he could continue his attacks throughout the 2024 presidential election against the Democrats for their supposed open border policies, which were, in fact, never the case. Though politicians and members of their constituencies argueimmigrationpolicy from seemingly infinite perspectives and sides, one point stands clear and definite: Decisions as to who can enter this country and who can eventually gain citizenship status generally depend on issues of race and U.S.immigrationsystems reflect and serve as the countrys official racial policies.Pluralism comprises the philosophy whereby one adheres to a prevailing cultural norm in public while recognizing, retaining, and celebrating ones distinctive and unique cultural traditions and practices in the private realm.The term Cultural Pluralism was coined byHorace Kallen(1882-1974), a Jewish American of Polish and Latvian heritage who believed that ethnic groups have a democratic right to retain their cultures and to resist the ruthless Americanization being forced upon them by segments of the native white Anglo-Protestant population. Social theorist Gunnar Myrdal traveled throughout the United States during the late 1940s, examining its society following World War II. He discovered a grave contradiction or inconsistency, which he termed An American Dilemma. He observed a country founded on an overriding commitment to democracy, liberty, freedom, human dignity, and egalitarian values coexisting alongside deep-seated patterns of racial discrimination and white supremacy.If weve learned anything from ourlegislative history on immigration, we can view the current debates as providing a great opportunity to pass comprehensive federal reform based not on race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, or other social identity categories, but rather, on humane principles of fairness, compassion, and equity. While the diversity of groups in any nation poses great challenges and great opportunities, the way we meet these challenges will determine whether we remain in the abyss of our history or whether we can truly achieve our promise of becoming a shining beacon to the world.With the recent election of Donald Trump, that possibility appears dead on arrival.While I concentrate here on the case of the United States, how each nation constructs itsimmigrationpolicies has direct implications on its standing on the continuum from Vibrant, Revitalized, and Expansive on one end to Static, Stagnant, and Devolving on the other.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A new biography claims that actor James Dean was forced to pay off a former male lover to conceal their affair weeks before East of Eden hit theaters in 1955.According to The Daily Mail, author Jason Colavito details the transaction and the circumstances that led to it including court documents in his just-released book Jimmy: The Secret Life of James Dean. Related Cary Grants daughter denies her dad was queer after years of rumors A new film about the stars career plays coy about his sexuality. This story has never been told before, and all parties involved worked hard to make sure no one ever found out, Colavito told the outlet. And for seventy years, no one did. The only reason we know about it today is that Deans agent secretly kept copies of his papers hidden away for decades. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Per The Daily Mail, Dean met Rogers Brackett while working as a parking valet next door to CBS Studios in Santa Monica, California. Then a radio director for an advertising agency, Bracket was apparently taken with the struggling young actor, helping him get radio roles and even inviting Dean to move in with him.The precise nature of Deans sexuality has long been a matter of debate, with many of his contemporaries providing conflicting perspectives on whether he was gay, bisexual, or merely an opportunistic Hollywood hustler. In his 2006 memoir, Surviving James Dean, screenwriter and author William Bast, who also claimed to have had a sexual relationship with Dean, described the actor as Bracketts kept boy. In his 1996 biography, The James Dean Story: A Myth-Shattering Biography of a Hollywood Legend, Ronald Martinetti quoted Brackett as saying, I loved him, and Jimmy loved me. If it was a father-son relationship, it was also somewhat incestuous.Regardless, according to Colavito, Brackett continued to support Dean even after the actor moved to New York in 1951, paying $450 for Deans hotel bills and giving him more than $700 in gifts and loans.The two drifted apart in the years that followed as Deans star began to rise. But, Colavito says, in the weeks leading up to the premiere of East of Eden, Brackett, then short on cash, asked Dean to repay the money hed spent on the actor when hed moved to New York. According to Colavito, Dean had come to view his relationship with Brackett as exploitative, and told the older man I didnt know it was the w***e who paid I thought it was the other way around. Brackett eventually sent a formal legal demand for Dean to repay him $1,200, which he characterized as a loan.Implicit in the correspondence and conversations between Bracketts team and Deans is the threat that the suit might become public, which both Brackett and Dean knew would destroy Deans career, Colavito told The Daily Mail.With Brackett threatening to file suit, Dean agreed to pay back $800 in weekly installments and even got Warner Bros. to pay Brackett a finders fee to ensure his silence about their relationship.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Four men became the latest victims of anti-LGBTQ+ mob justice in the African country of Nigeria earlier this month, after they were accused of engaging in consensual same-sex sexual activity.As the Los Angeles Blade reports, the four young men were paraded down a street and run out of Edo State capital Benin City on November 17 wearing only their boxer shorts. The angry mob threatened to kill them if they ever returned. Related 76 people arrested in Nigeria for attending an alleged gay wedding Saturdays raid is just the latest in a series of recent mass arrests targeting the countrys LGBTQ+ community. Nigerian LGBTQ+ activist Samson Mikel told the Blade that queer people have become scapegoats in Benin City, which he described as backward and a hotbed of scammers and other crimes. 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 The people are proud of their roughness, they are never concerned about these other crimes or how the government is impoverishing them, but will light gay men on fire the moment they think, Mikel said.LGBTQ+ people he insisted, simply want to live and experience love.They are not the cause of the economic meltdown in the country, neither are they the reason why there are no jobs in the streets of Nigeria, Mikel said.The November 17 incident is just the latest example of the epidemic of mob violence in Nigeria. Between January 2012 and August 2023, Amnesty International recorded at least 555 people who were killed by violent mobs across the country, according to a report released in October. Of those victims, 32 were burnt alive, 2 were buried alive, and 23 were tortured to death.The menace of mob violence is perhaps one of the biggest threats to the right to life in Nigeria, Amnesty International Nigeria director Isa Sanusi said in a statement. The fact that these killings have been happening for a long time, with few cases investigated and prosecuted, highlights the authorities shocking failure to uphold and fulfil their obligation to protect people from harm and violence. As Daniel Anthony wrote for LGBTQ Nation earlier this month, LGBTQ+ people are especially at risk of being targeted: The combination of strict anti-LGBTQ+ laws, social stigma, and a flawed justice system that fails to protect minorities has created an environment where the lives of queer individuals are not only expendable but also actively endangered.Homosexuality is illegal in Nigeria. The countrys Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, which was signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014, makes same-sex relationships punishable by up to 14 years in prison. In predominantly Muslim areas of northern Nigeria, homosexuality is punishable by death under Sharia law, though death penalties passed by Sharia courts must be approved by the state governor. According to Daily Trust, the punishment has never been enforced.According to Anthony, Nigeria saw a dramatic surge in violence and mob attacks against LGBTQ+ in the six years after the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act became law. Homophobic mobs typically operate without fear of legal repercussions, knowing that the public is on their side, he wrote, citing a 2019 Pew Research survey that found that 87% of Nigerians oppose gay rights. These mob attacks are often perceived not as crimes, but as acts of moral policing methods for the community to cleanse itself of perceived corruption.As one man who witnessed the lynching of two gay men in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria, told Anthony, We catch homosexuals all the time and teach them a lesson they wont forget.The November 17 incident also follows another similar mob attack in Edo State last month, in which two men were allegedly caught engaging themselves indecently as fellow men in a car. At least one of the men, 32-year-old Eguabor Precious, was attacked by a mob and beaten unconscious. He was reportedly handed over to police, but managed to escape. Authorities have offered a handsome reward for information leading to his capture.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The trans daughter of a U.S. congresswoman was among the 17 counter-protestors arrested while trying to block an anti-abortion Mens March in Boston last Saturday. Riley Dowell, 24, is the daughter of Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA), the minority whip of the House of Representatives. Along with most of the other counter-protestors, Dowell who was reportedly charged with unarmed assault has been offered a deal to complete 40 hours of community service in exchange for the charges against her being dropped. Related Women & trans people are stockpiling abortion pills & hormones in the wake of Trumps victory One abortion pill finder site saw a 625% increase in traffic after the election. Every American has the right to protest and stand up for their beliefs, but they must do so responsibly and peacefully, Rep. Clark told The Boston Herald in a statement following her daughters arrest. 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 A police report called the counter-protestors unruly for refusing to move out of the way of the marchers and said they began pushing back at officers, elevating their disorderly and unlawful activity to assaultive. Many of those involved in the counter-protest were dressed as clowns as a way to draw attention away from the Mens March while also making fun of its message. The Clown March Boston website also describes its mission as a joyful display of resistance. The Mens March is an out-of-state organization that thinks men dont have enough of a say in womens reproductive autonomy, it continues, so in 2022, 2023, and 2024, they organized a dreary, men-only funeral march to protest access to essential healthcare.Each time, weve upstaged them with a parade of colorful costumes and silly circus music. We clown on them to demonstrate that they are not welcome here and we will not allow their narrative to go uncontested. Dowell was also arrested in 2023 for allegedly assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, and vandalizing a public monument with anti-police messages. The extremist Republican Party is determined to take us back in time and make women second-class citizens, she said in a statement at the time. Their campaign to ban abortion is just the beginning of their assault on all our most sacred rights, and I refuse to stand on the sidelines as their rampage continues. I am furious and heartbroken, and I will proudly fight for our right to abortion. They can arrest me, but we wont allow them to arrest freedom.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Bisexual writer Roxane Gay warns it would be shameful and cowardly to compromise any progressive values because Donald Trump won the election. To suggest we should yield even a little to Mr. Trumps odious politics, wrote Gay, best known for writing Bad Feminist, in an op-ed for the New York Times, to suggest we should compromise on the rights of trans people, for instance, and all of the other critical issues we care most about, is unacceptable We cannot abandon the most vulnerable communities to assuage the most powerful. Related The spirits of Black trans women are unbreakable & no hateful rhetoric can strip us of our worth It has become increasingly clear that true solutions for our community come from within. And so we must save ourselves. Even if we did, she continued, it would never be enough. The goal posts would keep moving until progressive politics became indistinguishable from conservative politics. Were halfway there already. 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 She lamented that Trumps election shows how American tolerance for the unacceptable is nearly infinite and that Trump is successful because of his faults, not despite them, because we do not live in a just world. Trump voters, she said, must be treated like the adults they are, who want to believe anything that affirms their worldview and do not deserve the care and coddling they continue to receive. She added that we must all refuse to participate in the mass delusion of lies from gender-affirming surgeries taking place at schools to babies somehow being aborted after birth. Time and again, we hear the wild lies these voters believe and we act as if they are sharing the same reality as ours, as if they are making informed decisions about legitimate issues. We act as if they get to dictate the term All of us should refuse to pretend that any of this is normal and that these voters are just woefully misunderstood and that if only the Democrats addressed their economic anxiety, they might vote differently. While they are numerous, that does not make them right. Gay contrasted Trumps vision of America as a dark and foreboding place, festering with immigrants and criminality with that of Kamala Harris, who articulated a hopeful vision, a way forward for a fractured country and who positioned herself as a moderate, a leader willing to work with her political opponents, one who embraces diversity and cares about the middle class and recognizes that many people are struggling in one way or another and want those struggles acknowledged.Gay said she thought the last straw would be Trumps rally at Madison Square Garden just before the election, which was a parade of bigotry and included the moment a comedian referred to Puerto Rico as a floating island of garbage. There have been so many occasions when I thought finally, we have reached the apex. Finally, he has revealed too much of what lies behind the mask. Finally, this country will stand up and draw an unbreachable line in the sand. Finally, Americans will say this is not who we are and actually mean it.That time hasnt come.As such, Gay warns that we all must be prepared for the absolute worst over the next four years, that we cannot yet again be enough to believe what Trump has threatened could not actually come true. She says we must confront all of this not out of surrender, but as a means of readying ourselves for the impossible fights ahead. The biggest challenge of our lifetime will be figuring out how to combat the American willingness to embrace flagrant misinformation and bigotry, Gay wrote. But she made clear that giving up is not an option, that we all have no choice but to confront this challenge head-on.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Throughout my 78 years of life, I have felt inspired by the insightful lyrics and melodies of one of my cultural heroes: U.S. folk music singer-songwriter WoodyGuthrie, whose themes include labor rights and organizing, socialism, anti-fascism, and anti-racism.Guthriewas born and raised by middle-class parents inOkemah, Oklahoma. He first married at age 19, but he left his wife and three children at the beginning of the Midwestdust stormsthat signaled theDust Bowlperiod. He joined the thousands ofOkieswho migrated to California looking for employment. Over the course of his life, he married three times and fathered eight children. Related Putting trans people in camps wont look like you think it will: What to watch for under Trump Allies should fight back because its the right thing to do, but also because the erosion of our rights will lay the groundwork for the erosion of theirs. He succumbed to Huntingtons Disease in 1967. His first two daughters also died from this inherited condition. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Most people have heard his most popular song, an anthem of sorts for his United States homeland: This Land is Your Land.This land is your land, this land is my landFrom California to the New York islandFrom the Redwood Forest, to the Gulf Stream watersThis land was made for you and meWoody wrote this song as a subterranean challenge to the notion of the private ownership of land. A stanza that educators of young children often omit in their classrooms goes:There was a big, high wall there that tried to stop meA sign was painted said Private PropertyBut on the backside, it didnt say nothingThis land was made for you and meThe omission of this stanza whitewashes the urgency and scope of his critique at this critical juncture in U.S. history over the purpose and importance of immigration. Taken in its entirety, This Land Is Your Land asks us to reflect on an overarching but yet-to-be-realized mission statement of the United States. It also begs the question of whether the nation embraces the propagandist pablum we are fed and which dominant elites promote around the world that allowing immigration jeopardizes the nations identity.Guthries second wife, Marjorie Mazia, was born Marjorie Greenblatt. Her mother,Aliza Greenblatt,was a well-known Yiddish poet. Woody, the Oklahoma troubadour, and Aliza, the Jewish poet, collaborated through the 1940s in Brooklyn. They interwove Jewish culture with music, modern dance, poetry and anti-fascist, pro-labor, and socialist activism. Guthriewrote songs inspired by this relationship, for he identified the problems of Jews with those of his fellow Okies and other marginalized and subjugated groups.The Jewish Klezmer group,The Klezmatics, releasedHappy Joyous Hanukkahon JMG Records in 2007. The Klezmatics also releasedWonder Wheel Lyrics by WoodyGuthrie, an album of spiritual lyrics put to music composed by the band.Now, in this four-hundredth and sixth anniversary year when European-heritage people abducted, chained, brutally transported, and enslaved Africans on this land we now call the United States of America, the newly-elected president rants and Truths hateful diatribes against Latinx U.S. citizens and others who hope to come here. We as a nation must decide who is welcome on this land. Is it made for you and me, or just them and not us?From the day European explorers and so-called settlers (a.k.a. land thieves who violently displaced and committed genocidal slaughter of native peoples) stepped foot on this land, dominant Protestant Anglo-Saxons set rigid parameters defining who was to be included as my on this land.In her pioneer book,Homophobia: A Weapon of Sexism, Suzanne Pharr describes a series of elements she finds common to the multiple forms of oppression. Such elements include what she refers to as a defined norm and a lack of prior claim, among many others. Pharr explains a defined norm as a standard of rightness and often of righteousness wherein all others are judged in relation to it. This norm must be backed up with institutional power, economic power, and both institutional and individual violence.Another way the defined norm manages to maintain its power and control and is kept exclusive is by what Pharr refers to as the element or system of lack of prior claim.This, according to Pharr, means that if you werent there when the original documents [national Constitutions, corporate founding documents, the Torah, the Christian Testaments, the Quran, for example] were written, or when the organization was first created, she wrote, then you have no right to inclusion Those who seek their rights, who seek inclusion, who seek to control their own lives instead of having their lives controlled are the people who fall outside the norm They are the Other. In the original and unamended version of the U.S. Constitution, for example, since only European-heritage male landowners had the right to vote, all Others, including women and people of color (those outside the defined norm and who lacked prior claim) had to fight long and difficult battles against strong forces to gain access to the voting booth, often under the threat of violence, which was sometimes actually inflicted against them.In fact, the framers of the U.S. Constitution decided Black people only constituted three-fifths of a full human being for census purposes.People of goodwill, people who adhere to the idea that all people are created equal, people who abide by WoodyGuthries vision that this land was made for you and me have reacted with shock, grief, and anger to the domestic terrorism overtaking this land. We place blame on patriarchal Christian white nationalism, the groups and individuals, and a former president and now president-elect who consistently promotes hatred and division, who targets people as invaders, criminals, rapists, breeders, eaters of dogs and cats that are overtaking this land and robbing its good citizens of their livelihoods.Ironically, not having any grounding in history, Trump couldnt possibly understand that we, the people of the United States of America, were the actual invaders trumping (pun intended) up a war to confiscate land from the proud Mexican people.Trumps latest trumped-up war against all Latinx people, whether U.S. citizens or not, represents his cynical reelection strategy to instill fear and loathing, to divide and conquer a strategy with deadly consequences. For this, he must be blamed. But what about the remainder of the citizens on this land? What part do we play in perpetuating the defined norm of patriarchal Christian white supremacy? How do we maintain the notion of a lack of prior claim to equality of opportunity and to human dignity for anyone other than this mythical original white American?WoodyGuthries anthem certainly does not represent the United States at this critical juncture or throughout our history. Guthrie, though, constructed a platform on which he placed a beacon to guide a nation he loved toward a path of righteousness, the likes of which the world has yet to realize.Since Trump and the GOP dominated the election, recurrent echoes have been rambling throughout my mind over Trumps threat to deport millions upon millions of undocumented immigrants from the United States using the National Guard and military to implement his draconian policies. Guthries remarkable and poignant ballads have brought me to tears during my grieving process over the possible demise of our current form of government. His song, Deportee, also known as Plane Wreck at Los Gatos, depicts in clear and stark terms the crash of a charter plane transporting California farm workers back to Mexico, their country of origin. The crash killed 32 people, including 29 deported Mexican workers, on January 28, 1948.Guthriewas specifically skilled at putting real human faces to issues that many people heard about in generalized terminology in the news and casual conversation.For anyone who supports Trumps mass deportation plans, who believes that undocumented immigrants are traveling thousands of miles through harsh conditions many dying on their way northward to take your jobs, to rob your homes and businesses, to rape and mutilate your mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters, to traffic in drugs and in human beings, to eat your dogs and cats, I ask you to listen to Deportee, a few times. It is sung by his son, ArloGuthrieand friend, Pete Seeger. Goodbye to my Juan, goodbye, Rosalita,Adios mis amigos, Jesus y Maria;You wont have your names when you ride the big airplane,All they will call you will be deportees. I also ask you, how many people do you personally know whose field jobs as vegetable and fruit pickers or as new roof installers in the summers sweltering sun were taken by Latinx immigrants?How many people do you personally know whose families have already been or who are frightened will soon be separated and broken by family separation policies to be enacted under the Trump regimes second term?How many people live in your neighborhood that has become vitalized by immigrant-owned and operated small businesses and whose tax dollars are used to improve living and working conditions for all in your community?How many people have learned about cultural and religious traditions different from your own and have made friends from other cultural and ethnic backgrounds to the benefit of all?How many of you who reside in the United States are working for safe and humanitarian immigration policies?Thank you, WoodyGuthrie,for your legacy of intercultural understanding.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Since being named President-elect Donald Trumps pick for Director of National Intelligence, former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is facing new scrutiny for her ties to an alleged cult.As The Daily Beast notes, Gabbard became the first practicing Hindu member of Congress when she was elected to represent Hawaiis 2nd district in 2013. But she is also reportedly connected to a fringe off-shoot of the Hare Krishna movement known as the Science of Identity Foundation. As The New Yorker noted in a 2017 profile, Gabbards parents joined the circle of disciples surrounding the groups founder, Chris Butler, when the family moved to Hawaii in the 1980s. As a child, Gabbard spent two years at informal schools run by followers of Butler. Gabbard has referred to Butler as her guru dev or spiritual master. Related Donald Trumps Cabinet picks are a prelude to his consolidating power in his hands alone As bad as the choices are, what really matters is how Trump is already acting like a dictator. Ive never heard him say anything hateful, or say anything mean about anybody, Gabbard told The New Yorker in 2017. I can speak to my own personal experience and, frankly, my gratitude to him, for the gift of this wonderful spiritual practice that he has given to me, and to so many people. 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 But former members of the Science of Identity Foundation paint a different picture of Butler, with some describing the group as a cult.In a 2017 Medium post, former Science of Identity Foundation member Lalita characterized Butler as an abusive, misogynistic, homophobic, germophobic, narcissistic nightmare. Lalita wrote that as a child she was forced to listen to Butlers taped lectures on topics like how evil and out of control gay people were, how women were inferior and subhuman [sic] and should be controlled by their husbands.Another former member told The Independent in 2022 that new Science of Identity Foundation recruits were taught to be highly homophobic.According to The New Yorker, In the 1980s, Butler excoriated same-sex desire; he wrote, for instance, that bisexuality was sense gratification run amok, and warned that the logical conclusion of such hedonistic conduct was pedophilia and bestiality. However, writer Kelefa Sanneh noted, Butler seems to have demphasized the issue: There is no mention of homosexuality on the foundations website, or in his recent teachings. In 2020, Butler who is also known to followers as Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa addressed his position on homosexuality in a Q&A posted by the Science of Identity Foundations Medium account. I made the decision a long time ago not to put so much emphasis on sexual morality, and rather focus on Gods unconditional love for all of us, regardless of our sexuality, our tendencies, desires, faults, flaws, or sins, he said.However, he added, Every scripture of every religion denounces sexual relations between people of the same sex. And it would be the height of arrogance for me to reject Gods loving guidance on this issue. Butler explained that his combative language around homosexuality in the past was due to his lack of empathy for peoples personal challenges of dealing with their sexual desires, and credited encountering students who he said were struggling with homosexual tendencies for his change in tack.In 2017, Gabbard told The New Yorker that she had discussed same-sex marriage with Butler perhaps a while ago and that they disagreed on the issue.Early in her political career in the late 90s and early 2000s, Gabbard opposed marriage equality and efforts to curb anti-LGBTQ+ bullying in schools. She touted her work with her fathers anti-LGBTQ+ PAC, the Alliance for Traditional Marriage, as one of her qualifications during her 2002 fun for Hawaiis state legislature. But her positions on LGBTQ+ rights shifted dramatically during her 2012 run for Congress. As a House member, she supported the Equality Act and the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, and was a member of the House LGBT Equality Caucus. She apologized for her past anti-LGBTQ+ advocacy both in her 2012 run and during her 2020 presidential campaign.In more recent years, however, shes shifted back to the right. During her 2020 presidential campaign, Gabbard refused to respond toan HRC questionnaire on LGBTQ issues. In her final months in Congress, she co-sponsored the anti-trans Protect Womens Sports Act and endorsed Floridas Dont Say Gay law. In 2022, she announced she was leaving the Democratic party, citing perennial rightwing complaints like wokeness and anti-white racism, and last month she announced that she had joined the Republican party.Gabbards aunt, Sinavaiana Gabbard, told The Independent in 2022, that her nieces 2020 campaign was largely staffed by Science of Identity members and claimed that Gabbards presidential bid was directly related to Chris Butlers pursuit of political influence.Beyond her connection to the group, Trumps selection of Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence has shocked many political insiders on both sides of the aisle. As Politico noted, critics cite her lack of formal intelligence experience as well as her sympathetic views on autocrats like Russias Vladimir Putin and Syrias Bashar al-Assad. One former senior intelligence official told the outlet that the pick was a left turn and off the bridge.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Fox host Pete Hegseth Donald Trumps nominee for secretary of defense not only believes that women should not be allowed to serve in combat roles and not only has been accused of sexual assault, but he also spent his college days at Princeton campaigning against LGBTQ+ rights, a report from Talking Points Memo has revealed.As publisher of the conservative magazine The Princeton Tory in the early 2000s, he oversaw a team that railed against the homosexual lifestyle and, in one 2002 issue, argued that The movement to legitimize the homosexual lifestyle and homosexual marriages is strong and must be vigorously opposed their lifestyle deserves absolutely no special legal status. Related Women accuse Matt Gaetz of having sex with minor at drug-fueled party Gaetzs nomination as Trumps pick for attorney general isnt going so well. In that same issue, Hegseth wrote in his Notes from the Publisher that the glorification of diversity is a problem that plagues most of American academia today. He said Western ideas deserve priority over other areas of study because the fact that the United States is a global superpower demonstrates the[ir] enduring strength. 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 Another slammed the New York Times for its decision to start covering same-sex marriage announcements, calling it dangerous because it could inspire people to want to marry siblings, children, or dogs. The October 2002 issue criticized LGBTQ+ rights protests, declaring that boys can wear bras and girls can wear ties until were blue in the face, but it wont change the reality that the homosexual lifestyle is abnormal and immoral.Hegseth also oversaw an issue that questioned why the university celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. more than Abraham Lincoln, saying King does deserve attention but only alongside Lincoln. In a co-written response to an angry letter, Hegseth and editor-in-chief Brad Simmons also once wrote, Overwhelming majorities of Americans agree with the notion that homosexuality and heterosexuality are not moral equivalents.And in a quote to the Daily Princetonian, Hegseth explained his view: The argument is not that such-and-such is a bad person because theyre gay. Its the lifestyle of homosexuality that we consider immoral.In adulthood and since his nomination for defense secretary, he has repeatedly argued women should not be allowed to serve in combat roles due to the militarys problems with sexual assault yet his lawyer recently confirmed he, himself, paid off a woman who accused him of sexual assaulting her at a California conference in 2017.Hegseths lawyerhas arguedthe encounter was consensual and that the accuser is trying to squeeze Mr. Hegseth for money. He doubled down on this position on women in combat just last week, although this time he more or less abandoned the guise of wanting to protect women.Im straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles, he asserted in a recent CNN interview. It hasnt made us more effective, hasnt made us more lethal, has made fighting more complicated. Weve all served with women, and theyre great. But our institutions dont have to incentivize that in places where, traditionally not traditionally, over human history men in those positions are more capable.In addition to purging women from combat, he also said he wants to get DEI and [critical race theory] out of the military academy so youre not training young officers to be baptized in this type of thinking. Hegseth, 44, served as an Army infantryman in Iraq and Afghanistan and as a member of the Minnesota National Guard. He joined Fox News in 2015 and hosts the networksFox & Friends Weekendprogram, where Trump has been a frequent guest.Rumors have been swirling that Donald Trump may be reconsidering Hegseths nomination for Defense Secretary, but for now he remains the candidate. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Out billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessent will be nominated by Donald Trump to be secretary of the treasury. If confirmed, he will be the first out LGBTQ+ Cabinet secretary ever nominated by a Republican president, and only the second out LGBTQ+ Cabinet secretary at all, after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.Bessent is the founder of the hedge fund Key Square Capital Management. He is also affiliated with George Soros, serving as chief investment officer for Soros fund in the past. Soros is a liberal philanthropist who is also Jewish and is often included in rightwing conspiracy theories. Related Donald Trump would have power to declare LGBTQ+ orgs are terrorist under new House bill The bill would grant the Treasury the unilateral authority to strip nonprofits of their 501c status if theyre deemed terrorists Bessent donated to Trumps campaign and was an economic advisor for the campaign. 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 CNBC reports that Bessent was likely picked because he favors similar economic policies to Trump, including tariffs and deregulation. He donated an estimated$10 million to $15 million to Republicans this election cycle.Bessent literally ran to join Trump onstage at an August 14 rally in Asheville, North Carolina, after Trump called him one of the most brilliant men on Wall Street. In his brief comments, Bessent said, Look, this is a Trump economy. This is aTrump stock market, implying that the economy is thriving in anticipation of Trump winning in November.At the end of the day, Donald Trump wants to have a good economy, and he wont do anything to take the economy off the cliff, Bessent toldBarrons.Scott has long been a strong advocate of the America First Agenda, Trump said in a statement. On the eve of our Great Countrys 250th Anniversary, he will help me usher in a new Golden Age for the United States, as we fortify our position as the Worlds leading Economy, Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurialism, Destination for Capital, while always, and without question, maintaining the U.S. Dollar as the Reserve Currency of the World.Bessent lives with his husband, prosecutor John Freeman, and their two children in Charleston, South Carolina. While it might not seem like the Treasury Department has much to do with LGBTQ+ issues, next sessions Republican Congress appears ready to give Trump the authority to strip the nonprofit status of any organization the administration deems to have supported terrorism without providing evidence, which could include LGBTQ+ and trans organizations. Such declarations would have to be made by the Treasury Department.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Donald Trump is rounding out his Cabinet, and mixed in among the right-wing Catholics and accused sexual predators (theres some overlap there), we now have one gay man: Scott Bessent. Trump chose Bessent, a hedge fund manager, to be his treasury secretary. If approved by the Senate, Bessent would be the first openly gay Cabinet secretary in a Republican administration. You wouldnt know that Bessent was gay from Trumps effusive statement selecting him, since Bessents husband was never mentioned. Nor were the couples two children. Related Gay Trump official Richard Grenell linked to group behind antisemitic ad campaign The ads seem pro-Jewish and pro-Israel until you find out where theyre airing. The selection isnt entirely a surprise. Bessent was angling for the job by sucking up to Trump during the campaign. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Look, this is a Trump economy. This is aTrump stock market, Bessent said in October, suggesting that the reason stocks were rising was because Wall Street was banking on Trumps victory. Post-election, Bessent kept up the audition, writing a column for Fox News defending Trumps obsession with tariffs. Bessent called them a negotiating tool with our trading partners, when in fact by most economists accounts they are an inflationary bomb for which consumers will bear the cost. Setting aside the fact that hes gay, Bessent is not your average pick for other reasons. Bessent used to give to Democrats, even though he donated $3 million to Republicans this cycle. Worse still, he worked for years at George Soros fund. Soros is one of the chief bogeymen on the right because of his support for liberal causes. Soros is frequently the target of wild antisemitic conspiracy theories that flourish in the fever swamps of the right.Trump clearly picked Bessent to signal to Wall Street that he was picking someone reasonably normal for the Treasury job (unlike a lot of other Cabinet choices). Bessent has legitimate credentials, including a degree from Yale. What he doesnt have is any respect for the LGBTQ+ community at large.Its hard to justify a gay man working in the second Trump administration. At the outset of the first administration, you could always argue that Trump was still unknown, but you cant make that claim now. Hes a known, corrosive quantity. Moreover, Trump has surrounded himself with some of the worst anti-LGBTQ+ figures in politics today. Pam Bondi, the attorney general nominee, would have prevented Bessent from marrying his husband if she had had her way. Kristi Noem, the pick for Homeland Security, has signed a Christian Nationalist pledge that would prevent anything LGBTQ+ being taught in classrooms. Sebastian Gorka, Trumps choice for counter-terrorism chief, said that Teletubbies started that whole trans thing. Russell Vought, co-author of the notorious Project 2025, will be in charge of the federal budget office. The list goes on. Then theres Trump himself, who made transphobia a central element in his campaign, insisting schools were bundling children off to gender-affirmation surgery without telling parents.Of course, Bessent is rich, and rich people have protections that the rest of us dont. Just like Peter Thiel, Bessent doesnt have to worry about being discriminated against because he travels in rarefied circles. Hes exactly the kind of normal gay that J.D. Vance predicted would vote for Trump.This years election was all about money. Those who have it want even more of it. They dont care about the collateral damage that Trumps vicious policies are likely to create. Its all about the bottom line. And for Bessent, the bottom line doesnt include his own community. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A shooting at a queer Pennsylvania bathhouse has left one individual hospitalized. Police have charged the suspected shooter. Meanwhile, local LGBTQ+ businesses have increased security to prevent similar attacks.Around 2:15 a.m. last Friday, police responded to reports of a man with a gun threatening people inside of Club Pittsburgh. Officers found a man on the clubs fourth floor with multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and torso, WTAE reported. Officers also found the suspect in some sort of medical distress. Both men went to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Mercy Hospital, and the wounded man was reported to be in critical condition, intubated, and needing multiple surgeries to survive. Related Victims of the Club Q mass shooting are suing the nightclub & the sheriffs office for negligence The surviving victims and the mothers of those killed believe the shooting could have been prevented if county officials had followed the law. After his release from the hospital, police arrested 55-year-old suspect William Samuels and booked him in the Allegheny County Jail. Police have charged him with attempted homicide, terroristic threats, and simple assault. Detectives from the Violent Crime Unit are investigating. 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 Samuels reportedly told police that hes homeless and rented a room at Club Pittsburgh to avoid the cold weather, CBS News reported. He snuck in the gun under his heavy coat. He said he thought he heard his girlfriend calling for help in a nearby room. He then broke into a nearby room, shot a man, and then pointed his gun at six others before police arrived. Its unclear whether Samuels was intoxicated.In a public Facebook post, Club Pittsburgh said it would continue to evaluate its safety, security, and admission policies.Our thoughts are with the victim as they recover, and we extend our sincerest gratitude to our patrons and the greater community for their continued support and understanding as we navigate this challenging time together, the club wrote. We are dedicated to reinforcing Club Pittsburgh as a space where all feel safe and valued.Billy Sharp, an assistant manager at the nearby Blue Moon bar, told WTAE, Were all in shock right now. I think this is devastating to us all. The bar has instituted a no large bag policy since the shooting to help ensure their patrons safety. Alistair McQueen, a bartender at the Blue Moon said that ever since the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, all of the bars staff have had active shooter training. In a public Facebook post, the bar said it would continue to evaluate its security policies for all future events. It also encouraged other local businesses to do the same.Lyndsey Sickler, executive director of Proud Haven, a nearby overnight shelter for LGBTQ+ youth, said, It was surprising to me because Club Pittsburgh is pretty regulated and systematic. I know people get checked, and the fact that this happened is just awful.P*Town Bar, another local drinking establishment, also said it would increase its security measures.Club Pittsburgh is a private club that has been open in the citys Strip District since 2001. The multi-level space includes an underwear and sex shop, a gym, sauna, darkroom, and rooftop deck. The club holds themed, fetish, and sex events as well as nights open to all-gender and transgender members.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-DE) elicited mixed reactions from the trans community when she released a statement saying she would comply with the GOPs vicious ban on trans women using womens bathrooms at the Capitol but the longtime trailblazer seems quite confident in her approach. In a recent appearance on Face the Nation, McBride cautioned Americans not to be deceived by the GOPs obsession with her. Related The GOPs obsession with Congress first trans member has a much uglier purpose The humiliation ritual Republicans put Sarah McBride through is meant to shame all trans Americans and their allies. I think we are all united that attempts to attack a vulnerable community are not only mean-spirited but really an attempt to misdirect, she said. Because every single time we hear the incoming administration or Republicans in Congress talk about any vulnerable group in this country, we have to be clear that it is an attempt to distract.. .from what they are actually doing. 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 McBride emphasized throughout the interview that her focus would remain on serving the people of her district and that she would not let Republicans divert her attention from their attempts to roll back key benefits for the American people. Every single time we hear them say the word trans, look what theyre doing with their right hand. Look at what theyre doing to pick the pocket of American workers, to fleece seniors by privatizing Social Security and Medicare. Look what theyre doing undermining workers. Every bit of time and energy that is used to divert the attention of federal government to go after trans people is time and energy that is not focused on addressing the cost of living for our constituents. There is a real cost for the American worker every time they focus on this. While many have criticized McBride for rolling over to the GOPs hatred, she made it clear that she has no plans to compromise her values while serving in Congress. There are opportunities for us to find common ground, she said, but its also clear that this administration, as it begins to fill its appointments with Project 2025 authors, that a lot of the policies that this president will pursue will likely hurt my constituents and raise prices. And so where I need to fight back, I will. But where I can find common ground, I will certainly seek it. She added that she did not run for Congress to talk about herself or make the bathroom she uses the center of attention. I ran to deliver for Delawareans. And while Republicans in Congress seem focused on bathrooms and trans people, and specifically me, Im focused on rolling up my sleeves, diving into the details, setting up my office, and beginning the hard work of delivering for Delawareans on the issues that I know keep them up at night. At the end of the day, how Im being treated does not matter. What matters is how the American people are being treated and whether were actually focused on the issues that matter to them.The brunt of the attacks on McBride have come from Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who has been obsessed with denigrating her and succeeded at getting Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) toban all trans women at the Capitol from using the womens facilities.It is offensive that a man in a skirt thinks that hes my equal, she said on the right-wing channel Newsmax. Like his challenges are the same as mine! Theyre not! And hes forcing his genitals into womens restrooms, into dressing rooms, into locker rooms. Its sick, its twisted.Mace has called McBride itand misgendered her in televised interviews on the subject. Last week, she posted on X over 300 times about McBride.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

While shooting her upcoming film, The Wedding Banquet, Kelly Marie Tran (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) revealed some truths about the unexpected connection she had with her character, Angela namely that shes queer.The film, directed by Andrew Ahn, is a modern reimagining of Ang Lees 1993 queer rom-com of the same name, wherein Angela (originally Wei-Wei) marries a gay man named Min (originally Wai-Tung) to get herself a green card and appease his conservative parents. The revised plot centers around Angela and her girlfriend, Lee (Lily Gladstone), as they try to have a baby via IVF. They're best friends with Min (Han Gi-chan) and Chris (Bowen Yang), which brings the modern look into chosen families and all the complications that come with it. Tran told Vanity Fair the queer themes from the film were what she connected to the most.See on InstagramI havent said this publicly yet, but Im a queer person, she said. The thing that really excited me about it was I got to play a person that I felt like I knew. I dont feel like Im acting at all in this movie Im here doing this amazing movie with these amazing people. Ive never been in a queer space before. Ive never truly felt this accepted before.In the film, Angelas mother, played by Joan Chen, is a PFLAG-chapter-running ally trying to wrap her head around the fact her gay daughter is marrying a man. This, Tran said, was similar to her own journey.See on InstagramI came out to my mom in a very specific experience. The scenes that I have with Joan Chen in this movie are very similar to the experience that I had.Ahn also told Vanity Fair that they wanted to make a contemporary film in the vein of Fire Island, and that they wanted to honor the original storylines tough and specific insights to recognizing how queer visibility and traditions have changed.See on InstagramTo that effect, Tran said, The spirit is the same, and I think its even more queer.Although the film has yet to receive a release date, its currently slated to debut sometime in spring 2025. Besides that, were just happy to welcome someone else to the family and that someone else in this crazy world is happy to be their authentic self.

In multiple states this election year, voters signaled an overall shift away from parents rights issues, fear mongering, and partisan politics, including the rejection of anti-trans candidate for North Carolina governor Mark Robinson as well as other state and local educational posts. North Carolina voters also rejected Moms for Liberty-endorsed Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate [...]The post Voters Send Powerful Message to Anti-Trans, Moms for Liberty-aligned Candidates first appeared on GLAAD.

The technology sphere is in a need for more representation and data regarding LGBTQ+ people, and there are steps being taken to address that.People who openly identify as LGBTQ+ are currently estimated to make up only 2-3% of the tech sector, a startling 2024 statistic from research done by Women Tech Network. As of 2024, CompTIA reports that the technology industry accounts for 5.8% of the U.S. workforce, well over 12 million people.There is very little available data that expands on differing identities of LGBTQ+ individuals within such an expansive field, such as those who identify beyond traditional gender identities. Two thirds of the tech space is reported to be white, and half of the overall population is reported to be male. In executive positions, more than three quarters of positions are filled by just men.There have been long-standing organizations and individuals who are the exception to data such as this, and who have been campaigning for their voices to be heard in the tech community. Web designer Tracy Levesque is one of these individuals.Tracy Levesque is the director of web development for creative agency karmadharma, a certified B corporation. Levesque, alongside her wife Mia and Tara Maxon, was the cofounder of YIKES Inc., acquired by karmadharma in 2024.YIKES Inc. was a WordPress VIP web development agency in Fishtown, working with businesses and nonprofit organizations. Levesque has a plethora of experience in WordPress software and coding. She has spoken at many different WordCamps including those in Philadelphia, New York City, Montreal, San Francisco and more. She was also a part of contributions to several versions of WordPress core and organized the 2015 and 2016 inaugural WordCamp U.S.conference in Philadelphia.We started doing this in the mid 90s, Levesque says. So me and my wife, Mia, just had an interest in technology in general. But then we were involved in the queer activist community. Kiyoshi Kuromiya set us up with our first email accounts and showed us how to read message boards and things like that. And then when the web came along, before it was graphical, it was just text. We taught ourselves how to make web pages. And then when it became a graphical, we taught ourselves HTML to make websites. And so we were doing this on a volunteer basis for different activist groups. And then we met another woman, also lesbian, and they were a real genius with programming. And so the three of us were just doing this, and were like, Hey, you know, we do this for free. We should start a business!According to data from the Kapor Center, tech employees of all backgrounds reported unfair treatment as their number-one factor in leaving their job. There was a clear distinction in this study in the different experiences faced by employees of color, LGBTQ+ individuals and women. Twenty-four percent of LGBTQ+ employees were reported to face public humiliation, the largest in this regard of any other group in the study. Additionally, 1 in 10 women reported sexual harassment, and 40% of men of color were stated to leave due to unfairness.As owners and founders, we have always chosen to be out, always, Levesque said. We were never closeted as a companyespecially being women in technology, and then lesbians and technology from 1996 until now. We never hid itI always wonder if that lost us work. I mean, it must have, but at the same time, I really dont care.A 2023 study by Deloitte reported that less than half of participants felt comfortable being out with their sexuality or gender identity at work. Exclusive behavior toward transgender participants was found to be 55%, 52% to nonbinary or genderqueer participants, and 42% for all respondents. According to the Human Rights Campaign, while 84% of LGBTQ+ workers are out to at least one person, 35% face harassment from coworkers, with 54% of transgender and nonbinary workers saying they have felt depressed at work.Technology workforces can be incredibly multifaceted; coding, website design, digital marketing and cybersecurity are just a small pool of examples of what tech can encompass. Technology is at the center of so much in our modern society, new investments in AI and more have placed so many people in new positions of everyday reliance for this huge industry.Weve always had a mission to support marginalized people in tech from the outset, Levesque reflected. No one really takes what youre saying seriously until a man says what you just said. I feel like theres been so many times where Im the only woman in the room, and even now you still have to prove yourself every time that you know what youre talking about, because a mediocre man can show up and its assumed that he knows what hes talking about, because its a dude. The default assumption is that someone who is an expert at tech is a white guy. And that is just not true. Its just your bias.She continued, As a human being, Im a pretty intersectional person. My moms from the Philippines. My dads a Jewish guy from the Bronx, and, you know, Im a lesbian. So we always have to keep in mind that some people have more identities that make them an even more marginalized member of society. And then all the unconscious biases that people hold in their brains for people that they encounter just multiply.Weve always had a mission to support marginalized people in tech from the outset.Tracy LevesqueIssues like misinformation lie at the forefront of technological concerns, with problems potentially spreading faster than they can be put out. Misinformation disproportionately affects people who are LGBTQ+, BIPOC and women. Outrage online toward growing inclusivity from popular brands and companies continues to grow, and have a real effect on LGBTQ+ experiences. With these recent developments, there seems to be a bigger question of what responsibility do tech companies and researchers have to address in regards to representation?The Republicans love to throw us under the bus and freak people out with scary queer people whenever they want votes, which is really frustrating that, like, still we are the scapegoats, Levesque continues. How thats presented to people changes. Right now, its really focused on trans folks and I just think its disgusting to sacrifice human human beings and throw them under the bus to gain power, because youre really affecting lives. Youre really hurting people.For many, the answer is building within your own community. There are several tech companies that place LGBTQ+ inclusion at the forefront of their values.Lesbians Who Tech is an organization created to address pay equity for LGBTQ+ women, women of color, and nonbinary people in the workforce. They work to provide education and resources for companies invested in diversity and inclusion. Notable individuals such as actor Elliot Page, Deloittes China Widener, former Georgia State Rep. Stacey Abrams and others have spoken at their events.Out in Tech is the largest nonprofit organization of tech leaders who are LGBTQ+, having around 50,000 members. They have financial support from businesses such as Disney, eBay, Uber, TikTok and many more. Their website can be used as a resource in gaining support from other LGBTQ+ organizations in tech, as well as finding a community. They offer events nationwide in both online and in person formats to connect and assist in networking.In 2023, the organization LGBT Tech was able to provide more than $70,000 to tech students, with 80% of their program participants becoming employed upon graduating. The organization itself exists to provide the research, programs and resources that are sorely needed for LGBTQ+ individuals in tech.These examples show that there are active steps taken within the LGBTQ+ tech community to understand and improve the average experience for the discounted peoples in these workspaces.Levesque looks to the future with positivity.Im an optimist, she said. I always think the future is bright even with backlash and setbacks. Compared to where things were in the 90s and we couldnt even legally be married. Its just a completely different world. Theres also just more organizations now, like Lesbians Who Tech, because of the growing community around it. There was nothing like that when we were starting out in the 90s, and people are just more out in tech. The head of Apple is an out gay guy. I think that open-source communities at least the ones that Im involved with [at] WordPress have diversity and inclusion on their agenda. If you look at the list of folks who have access to WordPress, who can push code to the project themselves, theres a lot of queer people. I know at least in WordPress, the LGBT bench is pretty deep, and were a pretty strong community.This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship lab through News is Out. The lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBCUniversal.The post LGBTQ+ representation and inclusion in the tech sector appeared first on News Is Out.

Fred Karger, the first openly LGBTQ+ candidate for president from a major political party, is still correcting the record regarding his legacy. And while he admits to being grumpy about this oversight on occasion, the 74-year-old pioneer who paved the way for Pete Buttigieg was pleased to play pundit, point fingers, and suggest the emerging resistance could actually harm the queer community when he spoke with LGBTQ Nation from his Laguna Beach, California, home following the election.As a gay activist in the 2000s, Karger was known for his outspoken opposition to Prop 8, Californias anti-marriage equality amendment that was overturned by a federal court but only repealed by a ballot measure earlier this month. Related Republican gay rights activist targets Mormon churchs tax-exempt status Fred Karger, the first openly gay candidate for a major U.S. political party, wants whistleblowers to come forward with damning evidence against the LDS Church. That was followed by his 2012 presidential campaign. As a Republican. 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 But well before Karger was involved in politics, he made a splash on TV and may be best remembered by some for his appearance in a famous shaving cream commercial.Today, Karger continues to enthusiastically support Buttigieg, whom he believes represents the next generation of leaders. Although he favored a Harris-Buttigieg ticket, Karger expressed disappointment that President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.(I did support Biden and went to, like, five or six fundraisers for Biden over the course of the four years. I felt so sorry for him. He got pushed out of the way and I thought he was just a good guy and very confident.)In his retirement, Karger carries on another one of his legacies, crashing parties of the nonpolitical kind. LGBTQ Nation: Youve been involved in politics for 40 years, including as an advisor to Republican presidents. Did you predict a second Donald Trump presidency? Or were you surprised?Fred Karger: I was not surprised. About ten days probably before the election, I said, you know, 50-50 chance, which is what generally happens when its a presidential campaign and its down to the two nominees. But I dont know, I just felt the Trump momentum and something going on. And then something I was involved with 42 years ago, the Bradley Effect, which happened in California, which was when Tom Bradley was running against George Deukmejian, who was our candidate for governor, and a lot of people were not honest with the pollsters.And I think we saw that in 2016, certainly, and then in spades this time around, because, you know, theres the Trump embarrassment factor. A lot of people were not honest with family members, and particularly, I think, if some nice pollster called. And so I just kind of felt something going on there, and it happened. How do you think the policies of the incoming administration will impact the LGBTQ+ community?Hard to say. You know, he was the only president to take office supporting gay marriage, which is kind of hard to believe, but, you know, he was, when he came in in 2017, a supporter. [Ed. note: Trump has never said he supported marriage equality but he has said he opposed it multiple times.] So hes worked in New York, has a lot of, apparently, a lot of gay friends. Im told by some people close to him he felt tremendous hurt during the AIDS crisis, lost a tremendous number of friends, Roy Cohn being certainly one.[LGBTQ+ issues are] certainly not one of his top five priorities, and what hes done, I think, [to] his base is that hes gone aggressively after the transgender community. So the T part of the LGBTQ is, I think, in for a rough ride. His appointments in his first term were pretty good as far as LGBTQ, or L-G-B-Q, I guess. Hes very unpredictable and this is just gonna be a completely different presidency as hes gonna be in charge and not really listening to a lot of other voices in the room, is my guess. And hes been there, done that, knows how to bring people into the administration, knows the world leaders and how to handle them and I dont think hes gonna be taking a lot of direction.I think hes gonna go with his instincts, which have served him well. You cant deny the election results. I mean, its just unbelievable after the last four years, everything thats transpired. How does somebody come back from one of 30 different major events that could just ruin a candidacy for anybody else? But hes managed to survive and prosper.Ive been thinking about the rallying cry of the Harris campaign: Were not going back. And this does feel like a setback for the LGBTQ+ community. What can we learn from pioneers like you about continuing the fight if this is a major setback? Especially for the trans community, for marriage equality, even. You know, one of the things Ive been very upset about is there are national LGBT organizations that are just so partisan. And the leadership there, its amateur hour. Weve got a situation now that many of us have been talking about for years. And its happened before, where Republicans control not just one of the three branches, but really all three, including the Supreme Court and both houses of Congress, and the presidency. And where are these [LGBTQ+] leaders, these brilliant leaders that we put into place? Its amateur hour.They dont understand that youre not gonna have 2021 to 23, where we have the presidency and both houses. That changes. And so they have made themselves so partisan and such an enemy of Republicans. That little Log Cabin Republican club, Ive known them a long time, but theyve always been, you know, one or two people staff, as opposed to the $50 million annual budgetjust the HRC, not even the educational fundand $25 million [for] GLAAD. I mean, these mega, mega organizations that are just so naive, they dont understand that theres a two-party system.And sure, the Democrats are far better and have been practically since the beginning. But the Republicans also have been good, a few of them. Of course, everybodys gonna do the resistance now. Well, thats how the LGBTQ community can really get harmed. And so I think theres some olive branches that need to be extended privately, quietly. Theres plenty of influential donors that are very LGBTQ supportive or LGBTQ. And, you know, those people have the presidents ear, many of them.One of the reasons I ran for president as a Republican was because all the groups I met with and all the individuals and standing on the stage with Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich and all of the many of these, you know, awful people, six of whom had signed a constitutional amendment that year. I mean, a pledge to the National Organization for Marriage for a constitutional amendment they supported to ban same-sex marriage, and suddenly theyre meeting a gay Republican with good credentials, far more liberal than they, on the same stage, and I was pleasant to them.So, you know, we gotta be in the room. And thats what a lot of us have realized. And I think that the leadership of the LGBT community, they need to clean house, and they need to bring in people who are just not 100% partisan in their words and actions, because they need other people now to create relationships or have relationships. I mean, [HRC executive director] Kelley Robinson, November 6, should have been meetingwhich I doubt happenedwith the head of the Log Cabin Republicans, if they would meet with her, because they are very close to Trump, and figure out how we can work with this administration for the next four years, and the House and the Senate.And so thats my beef. And Ive been saying this for a long time. This is nothing new. One of the reasons I stayed in the Republican Party was to try and change it. I failed, and I left the party to vote for Pete, 2020, after 49 years.Returning to marriage equality and Clarence Thomass statement about revisiting certain decisions such as Obergefell v. Hodges after overturning Roe v. Wade. You were a tireless advocate for defeating Prop 8 in California. Do you think Obergefell will be on the chopping block? Well, I think its gonna certainly be up for discussion. I mean, we didnt think Roe was gonna disappear, but it didnt take long. So yeah, that Supreme Court, theyre not just conservatives, theyre religious fanatics. These are Catholics, uber Catholics, who take their orders from Rome.Theres no doubt about it, and thats whats really upsetting. But again, Trump plays to his base, and the Heritage Foundation was crucial in those appointments, everything kind of yielded to them. And theyre very loyal to Trump, as were seeing and Im sure many more are to come. So its frightening, and you got people like Clarence Thomas, who are very scary. But I think worse, or as bad, are these other, the new three Trump appointees.In what ways are you involved in politics today? Do people call you for advice?[Karger laughs]Im fairly toxic, Ellen.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Some same-sex couples are worried about the status of their marriages under a new Donald Trump administration. Legal and financial experts dont see an immediate threat to marriage equality, but they recommend some safeguards to put in place.Trump has gone from supporting domestic partnerships for same-sex couples instead of equal marriage rights (in 2000, a common view at the time) to saying marriage should be left to the states to saying marriage equality is settled law. The kind of allies he has in Congress and those hes appointing to his Cabinet and is likely to appoint to the Supreme Court if he has a chance arent exactly supportive, though. And Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas have said theyd like to overturn the courts 2015 marriage equality ruling, Obergefell v. Hodges. That would take a case getting to the high court.But how worried should same-sex married couples be? I would like to think there is no reason to disrupt something that has worked so well for families, their children and society, Mary Bonauto, senior director of civil rights and legal strategies at GLAD Law, who argued Obergefell at the Supreme Court, recently told The New York Times in response to readers anxieties. It allows people to organize their families and affairs, pool finances, buy property and have kids. In the end, it is popular, and it harms no one.But gay couples concerns arent entirely unfounded, the Times notes. The president-elect already reshaped the Supreme Court during his first term, appointing three conservative justices who are now part of a 6-to-3 majority. Trumps appointees, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh, joined Thomas, appointed by President George H.W. Bush, and Alito and John Roberts, appointed by President George W. Bush. The conservative justices have chipped away at the rights of same-sex couples, with decisions asserting businesses have the right to refuse service to them in Masterpiece Cakeshop and 303 Creative. Legal experts expect to see more right to discriminate cases.With Alito and Thomas favoring the overturn of Obergefell something Thomas reiterated in his concurring opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and its national guarantee of abortion rights Democrats responded with the Respect for Marriage Act, which wrote marriage equality into federal law. A few Republicans joined in its passage, and President Joe Biden signed it in December 2022.The act provides for federal recognition of same-sex and interracial marriages (the latter legalized nationwide in the Supreme Courts Loving v. Virginia ruling in 1967) and requires all states to recognize those performed in other states. It doesnt, however, require any state to offer same-sex marriages, so states could cease offering these unions if Obergefell were overturned. Marriage equality opponent Kim Davis, a former county clerk in Kentucky, is trying to set up a case to overturn it.Federal recognition comes with many benefits health insurance through a spouses employer, Social Security spousal and survivor benefits, estate tax advantages, retirement planning opportunities, pension rights and less cumbersome tax planning, among others, as the Times article explains. In 2009, when marriage equality was limited to a few states, Times reporters Tara Siegel Bernard and Ron Lieber calculated the cost that came with lack of federal recognition, ranging from about $40,000 for a couple in the best-case situation and nearly half a million dollars for those in the worst-case scenario.With uncertainly about the future, Jennifer Pizer, chief legal officer at Lambda Legal, suggests that same-sex couples make sure they have wills, medical and legal powers of attorney, and perhaps second-parent adoption confirmation for their children.It is always a very good idea for people, when they can, to prepare legal documents setting out their wishes for a crisis situation. Take the steps that are within your power to take, Pizer told the Times.

Grammy-nominated R&B singer Khalid came out over the weekend with a push.The singer-songwriter, 26, confirmed for fans on Friday that hes gay after he was outed online. Related An LGBTQ+ student was suspended for rapping an anti-gay slur. Hes suing the school. The 17-year-old says he was reclaiming a word that has been used as a slur against him and the LGBTQ community. There yall go, Khalid posted to X along with a Pride flag and exclamation points. Next topic please lol. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today !!! there yall go. next topic please lol Khalid (@thegreatkhalid) November 22, 2024The singer seemed to take the episode in stride, maybe because his sexuality was already an open secret among fans and the music industry.I was never hiding, he said in one of several posts on the subject.The closet is glass, one fan confirmed.Khalid broke out in 2016 with his debut single, Location, and its 2017 follow-up, Young Dumb & Broke. Both songs peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 Top 20. His 2022 hit, Satellite with the ironic hook, A line that leads me straight, straight, straight to you became an LGBTQ+ anthem at dance clubs.Khalids confirmation came in the wake of angry, since-deleted posts by Instagram-famous content creator Hugo D Almonte just hours earlier. Almonte made accusations inspired by what seems like an ugly breakup.Almonte is an out bisexual Dominican American from New York who posts a lot of VGL selfies. In March 2023, he released a debut album titled El Can Se Acab. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hugo D Almonte (@hugodalmonte)One post claimed, I was dating this dumb a*s singer hes ugly as f**k but he tried to set me up and lie and say I broke into his house because I broke up with him like why would I go to your house and do all that if I broke up with you dumb a*s!Almonte followed this up on Instagram with a pic of himself and Khalid canoodling.The word was out. Khalids maybe-one-time boyfriend followed up with a sort-of explanation.My intentions was never to out someone whos clearly been out already in the community in Los Angeles, he told Vulture.My intention was to share my story and share how he tried to use his power to silence me because I simply ended our relationship, he was afraid of what I might say.Khalid hasnt addressed Almontes accusations.Overwhelming support for the singer online was tempered with anger hed been pushed out of the closet.You shouldve been able to tell the world on your own time, one fan wrote. im sorry people are clout chasers.Khalid was philosophical.I got outted and the world still continues to turn, he wrote. Lets get this straight (lmao) I am not ashamed of my sexuality! In reality it aint nobodies business! But I am okay with me love yall. I got outted and the world still continues to turn. Lets get this straight (lmao) I am not ashamed of my sexuality! In reality it aint nobodies business! But I am okay with me love yall Khalid (@thegreatkhalid) November 23, 2024Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Donald Trump is reportedly planning to reinstate his trans military ban through executive order on his first day in office. Reports say the president-elect will not only bar trans people from joining but also that he plans to medically discharge the 15,000 trans personnel who are currently serving.If carried out this way, the ban will be significantly harsher than the first time he banned trans people from the military in 2017, when trans people already serving were allowed to remain in their positions. Because the military is already experiencing recruitment issues, experts are worried the policy will significantly impair military readiness. Related Trump targets military for woke purge, picks Fox News host for Defense Secretary Fox & Friends Pete Hegseth made a fan of Trump by denouncing socially correct garbage. He also thinks women shouldnt be in combat roles. These people will be forced out at a time when the military cant recruit enough people, an anonymous source told The Times. Only the Marine Corps is hitting its numbers for recruitment and some people who will be affected are in very senior positions. 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 Should a trans ban be implemented from day one of the Trump administration, it would undermine the readiness of the military and create an even greater recruitment and retention crisis, added Rachel Branaman, executive director of Modern Military Association of America, not to mention signaling vulnerability to Americas adversaries.Abruptly discharging 15,000-plus service members, especially given that the militarys recruiting targets fell short by 41,000 recruits last year, adds administrative burdens to war fighting units, harms unit cohesion, and aggravates critical skill gaps, she continued. There would be a significant financial cost, as well as a loss of experience and leadership that will take possibly 20 years and billions of dollars to replace.A trans officer in the U.S. Air Force who also chose to remain anonymous expressed worry about filling highly skilled positions. There are very few members of my career field with this experience, and in the event of a large-scale contingency, it would be difficult to replace the level of experience that I bring to the table. Trump-Vance transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt denied that Trump has any concrete plans to ban trans military members. These unnamed sources are speculating and have no idea what they are actually talking about. No decisions on this issue have been made. No policy should ever be deemed official unless it comes directly from President Trump or his authorized spokespeople.The Obama administration opened up military service to transgender people in 2016, but in 2017, Trump announced a trans military ban via tweet. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail, Trump declared.How the ban would be implemented was unclear, since Trump had given the Pentagon no heads up that his tweet was coming. The announcement was met with immediate opposition from Democrats and even some Republicans. Even the late Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who dragged his feet over the repeal of Dont Ask, Dont Tell, called ita step in the wrong direction. All four service chiefs alsosignaled their support for transgender service members.Federal courtsissued injunctions against the ban.By 2018, the administration went back to the drawing board. This time, then-Vice President Mike Pence and anti-transgender activists Ryan Anderson and Tony Perkinshelped shape a new approach.This time around,the revised policywas able to succeedbecause the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the administration, overturning rulings against the ban from lower courts.As a result, the ban took effect in April 2019. It effectively prohibited trans people from enlisting and put multiple restrictions on trans military personnel who were already serving. Trump consulted no military experts before announcing the ban. Though he claimed that trans healthcare was too expensive for the military, it was revealed that the militaryspends$41.6 million annually on the erectile dysfunction medication Viagra, around five to 20 times what it costs to fund trans-related healthcare.President Joe Biden reversed the ban when he took office in 2021. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Unlike so many readers, I'm not stressing about Thanksgiving. Between my siblings moving between Turkey Day and Black Friday and my mother maintaining her peace after a very long year, I'm most thankful for takeout and a few days off work. But I also know only a few are lucky.Thanksgiving is a time to reconnect with family and friends and give thanks for the things we have. But this holiday season may feel slightly different, thanks to the latest election. Admittedly, I was as surprised by the results as the number of folks in my network who favored Donald Trump. I couldn't imagine how the same people who voted for him, the man at the head of an anti-trans party, could count me as a Black trans woman among those they knew so fondly. How do I break bread at a table with those who vote against my best interests? There's something undeniably electrifying about sitting down with someone like Brit Barron, partly because it was only a week after the election results. Concern and confusion were still settling when I spoke to the writer, speaker, and self-professed advocate. Barron makes you feel like saving the world starts at your dinner table in an increasingly polarized world. And given the topic of our conversation, that feels like a necessary superpower. Joshua Lott/The Washington Post via Getty Images"Depolarization," she says with conviction, "Is going to be some of our most important work moving forward." It's not a casual statement; it's the kind of thesis that feels at home in one of her workshops or keynote speeches. But with Barron, it's clear she's not just practicing for a word. She lives and breathes this philosophy. And lucky for us, she's got the receipts to back it up. From Evangelical Roots to Radical EmpathyTo understand Barron's current mission, you must start with her past. It's a kaleidoscope of identities and experiences that she refuses to distance herself from. "I grew up super religious," she shares. "Very conservative, evangelical Christian. That's informed a lot of the work I do now, even though I'm on the opposing end." Barron doesn't just skim over her history but embraces it as a crucial part of her story. Coming out, marrying her wife, and existing as a queer woman of color have all shaped her work. "I know what it's like to buy into a message, to be indoctrinated, and to now stand on the other side," she explains. She's not interested in shaming the person she used to be. Instead, she uses that understanding to approach others with radical empathy. "Sometimes, as progressives, we forget what it was like before we know what we know now," she affirms. "I call it progressive amnesia. We lose sight of our journeys and how we evolved, making it harder to invite others into that evolution." A Balancing Act in Bridging and Bonding Barron's work often circles back to one central question: How do we connect with people who don't share our beliefs? She recalls the sociological framework of "bonding circles" and "bridging circles," which are vital for a balanced life. Bonding circles are the safe spaces where we exhale and feel seen. Bridging circles, on the other hand, challenge us to engage in tough conversations. "You can't live fully in either," she insists. "If you're always in a bonding circle, you're never challenged. If you're always in a bridging circle, you'll burn out. You need both." For Barron, these circles are as theoretical as they are personal. Existing at the intersection of racial, sexual, religious, and political identities, Brit knows what it's like to feel like you don't fully belong. Her advice? "Find the spaces where you can breathe deeply and the spaces where you can grow. And if you're missing one, go seek it out." SoDo You Still Talk to Grandma? With the holidays approaching, Barron's wisdom feels especially relevant. Her latest book, Do You Still Talk to Grandma?, explores the complexities of maintaining relationships across political divides. The title itself was inspired by a friend's dinner-table anecdote about a beloved grandmother who happened to vote for Trump. Courtesy Penguin Random House"Can you hold deep love and deep disappointment at the same time?" Barron asks, her voice equal parts earnest and inquisitive. "Can you maintain your own integrity and still have relationships with people you disagree with?" Her answer, of course, is yesbut it's not easy. Barron offers this mantra for those dreading holiday conversations: "More than one thing can be true." She explains, "This person picked me up from school and made me spaghetti when I was sick. And this person also voted in a way I find hurtful. Both can be true, and we can sit with that tension." From Cancel Culture to ConnectionBarron's work pushes back against the extremes of cancel culture, which she views as a dead-end road. "What's on the other side of culture culture?" she asks. "How do we move forward in a way that actually gets us where we want to go?" Her approach isn't about sweeping disagreements under the rug but leaning into them with curiosity and courage. She acknowledges that social media, with its penchant for amplifying the most extreme versions of people, doesn't make this any easier. "We consume these stories, and then we convince ourselves that everyone we know is the most extreme version of the thing we just saw online," she says. Her solution? Step away from the noise and engage with the real, flawed, multifaceted humans in your life. A Reminder for the Rest of Us this Holiday Season and BeyondI asked Barron what she hopes readers will take away from her story as they sit at the Thanksgiving table and beyond. "I hope people feel empowered to decide what their 'work' looks like," she says. "It doesn't have to look like your neighbor's work or the person in your newsfeed. It just has to feel true to you." Whether that means diving headfirst into tough conversations, skipping the family gathering entirely, or something in between, Barron's message is clear: Bridging divides starts with each of us in the places where we are most uncomfortable and most loved. shutterstock creativeThese next few years will be increasingly challenging as politicians and pundits continue to thrive in a division between the "us" versus "them" rhetoric. However, the real revolution will not be in the streets or on social media but in sitting at the table. An act so simpleyet so complicatedas staying there, holding space, and discussing how we build a shared community and world with a common destiny.Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit out.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@equalpride.com. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists and editors, and do not directly represent the views of Out or our parent company, equalpride.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) just revealed on X that she is selling shirts to attack Representative-elect Sarah McBride (D-DE), who is the first transgender person elected to Congress.The Left wants to NORMALIZE balls in womens stalls. Hell no. Im NOT backing down, she said. Every purchase will help FUEL MY FIGHT to protect women and girls across America. HOLD THE LINE! Related Sarah McBride warns Americans not to let the GOP distract them with anti-trans attacks Every single time we hear them say the word trans, look what theyre doing with their right hand to pick the pocket of American workers The Left wants to NORMALIZE balls in womens stalls.Hell no. Im NOT backing down.Every purchase will help FUEL MY FIGHT to protect women and girls across America.HOLD THE LINE! https://t.co/rdLd3BygIm Nancy Mace (@NancyMace) November 22, 2024 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 Her website falsely claims that the Left wants to NORMALIZE the idea of a NAKED MAN walking into our private spaces, and alleges, with no evidence, that people are saying I should be KILLED for speaking out against it.There is no evidence that trans people pose a danger to cisgender people in public restrooms. A 2018 study found no link between trans people using the restroom and sexual assault, while a 2019 study showed that transgender people are actually at risk of being sexually assaulted by cisgender people.The shirt shows a womens bathroom sign with the phrase come and take it on the front. The back of it says Mace for Congress, referencing her re-election campaign. Natalie Johnson, a former communications manager for Mace, criticized her attacks on McBride.Tweeting 262 times about a bill that applies to like .00000001% of Congress in 36 hours is definitely about protecting women. Its certainly not just a ploy for media attention, she said.Tweeting 262 times about a bill that applies to like .00000001% of Congress in 36 hours is definitely about protecting women. Its certainly not just a ploy for media attention. https://t.co/m9HhrbmzvJ Natalie Johnson (@nataliejohnsonn) November 20, 2024Mace, meanwhile, recognizes this is an attack on McBride, saying that she doesnt get a say, while misgendering her and claiming she doesnt belong in womens spaces, womens bathrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

After all the amazing Sapphic content we got from Agatha All Along, we are officially seated for what the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and Disney have in store for us. Fortunately, that includes them moving forward into Phase Six of their content, and its shaping up to be an epic year of releases come 2025/2026. Any fan will know theres an army of upcoming projects, but let's be honest its really only the Sapphic stuff were on the lookout for.From bisexual superheroines to lesbian freedom fighters, and epic sapphic team-ups, here is what has our sapphic gaydar pinging. Kate Bishop as a cowboy in "What If...?"What If? Season 3 comes in as the last MCU release of 2024, and the seasons first trailer confirmed that Kate Bishop would be a cowboy alongside Shang-Chi. Kate Bishop in chaps? This is Sapphic culture folks. The first episode lands on December 22, and will have fully released by December 29.Storm as the Goddess of ThunderOn top of Kate Bishop being a cowboy on What If?, were equally, if not more, excited that the third season will make MCU history by including our bisexual queen Storm as the Goddess of Thunder, which makes her the first X-Man to appear alongside any classic MCU heroes.Andor season 2 returnsAndor, a spin-off in the Star Wars universe, also features a lesbian couple with Vel and Cinta. After a few years in between the well-received first and the second season, we finally get to see them reunite in 2025 for season two, which is shaping up to be even more epic than season one. Dear Disney, do NOT bury these gays. Please and thank you. Andor season 2 premieres on Disney+ on April 22, 2025.Riri on 'Ironheart' is our newest bisexual heroine. (@) The second season of Ironheart, a series that follows Riri Williams picking up from where she left off in Blank Panther: Wakanda Forever, will see us explore a storyline that confirms her character is bisexual. Fortunately, early screenings of the first episode had positive reactions to this occurring. It debuts on June 24, 2025, on Disney+.Shuri and She-Hulk team up (@) Avengers: Doomsday, which is slated to release in 2026 and will also star daddy Pedro Pascal, will see a team-up between Shuri from Wakanda and our favorite muscle mommy She-Hulk. What will happen of that team-up, we do not know, but were excited to see how it pans out.Jeri Hogarth isn't returningIn a bit more of a whomp-whomp, one fan-favorite lesbian character, Jeri Hogarth from Jessica Jones, Daredevil, Iron Fist, and Defenders, is not likely to return. Carrie-Anne Moss, the actress behind the role, told The Direct that she loved playing her and that she would, of course, love to play her again, but that she didnt see it happening and didnt feel that coming her way, which would be a super huge bummer for the sapphic community.Young Avengers to become Champions (@) The originally intended movie for Young Avengers, which features Xochitl Gomez as the lesbian Latina superhero America Chavez from Doctor Strange, will instead move forward as a TV show called Champions. Elizabeth Olsen in all the things (@) We have been obsessed with Elizabeth Olsen since Wandavision, and were totally stoked that shes updated her contract with the MCU to include Vision Quest, The Scarlet Witch Movie, Avengers: Secret Wars, The Wiccan series, and Avengers: Doomsday into her upcoming projects, which just means we get to spend all the time with her we wanted and more.'Agatha All Along' season 2 teasesWe just wrapped up the epic first season of Agatha All Along, but showrunner Jac Schaeffer told Backstory Magazine that the writer's room had talked "in great length" about expanding on the Agatha and Rio storyline. Out of anything else on here, this might be what we're most excited for.

It's all about popular!See on InstagramWicked: Part I starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande as Glinda, and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero had a gravity-defying box office performance on its opening weekend. According to Box Office Mojo, the 2024 film directed by Jon M. Chu grossed $164 million globally and $114 million domestically until Sunday, November 24.These numbers are historic in many meaningful ways, and it's even fiercer to think that such an LGBTQ-inclusive cast featuring Erivo and Bailey alongside Bowen Yang (as Pfannee) and Marissa Bode (as Nessarose) can break so many box office records.Scroll through to see all the notable records broken by Wicked: Part I, which is now playing in theaters.1. Fourth biggest opening weekend of all time for a musical film (domestic).Debuting with a domestic box office gross of $114 million, Wicked: Part I is now in fourth place behind musical films such as 2019's live-action The Lion King ($191 million), 2017's live-action Beauty and the Beast ($174 million), and 2019's Frozen II ($130 million), as reported by Deadline.For context, this first Wicked movie has surpassed the very recent 2023 live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, which had an opening weekend gross of $95 million (via Variety).2. Fifth biggest opening weekend of all time for a musical film (worldwide).When it comes to global box office gross for a musical film during its opening weekend, Wicked: Part I now ranks in fifth place.According to The Hollywood Reporter, the 2024 film only trails behind 2019's The Lion King ($446 million), 2017's Beauty and the Beast ($358 million), 2019's Frozen II ($358 million) and 2019's Aladdin ($213 million).3. Third biggest opening weekend for a film released in 2024 (domestic).As shown on Box Office Mojo, Wicked just had the third biggest opening weekend of any film released in 2024 at the domestic box office. The first two spots are occupied by Deadpool & Wolverine ($211 million) and Inside Out 2 ($152 million).4. Biggest opening weekend for a non-sequel movie released in 2024 (worldwide).During an era dominated by sequels and installments for just about any Hollywood release, Wicked: Part I emerges as the highest-grossing non-sequel movie of 2024 in the entire world.With a global box office debut of $164 million, Wicked: Part I has succeeded other non-sequels released in 2024 such as Yolo, a Chinese film that grossed $112 million in its opening weekend, and It Ends With Us, which made $80 million in its global debut (via Deadline).5. 10th biggest opening weekend of all time for a film released in November (domestic).Wicked: Part I and its $114 million domestic debut have also entered the list of top 10 highest-grossing films released during the month of November (via Box Office Mojo).Ranking at no. 10 on the list, Wicked's debut fell behind a top 5 consisting of 2022's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ($181 million), 2013's The Hunger Games: Catching Fire ($158 million), 2009's The Twilight Saga: New Moon ($142 million), 2012's The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 ($292 million), 2011's The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 ($281 million).The list continues with 2019's Frozen II ($130 million), 2010's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 ($125 million), 2017's Thor: Ragnarok ($122 million), and 2014's The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 ($121 million).6. Biggest first day of all time for a film based on a Broadway musical.With an opening day box office gross of $46 million, Wicked: Part I made more money than any other film based on a Broadway musical in its premiere day pulling ahead of both 2023's The Color Purple ($18 million) and 2012's Les Misrables ($18 million), as confirmed by Deadline.7. Biggest opening weekend for a film based on a Broadway show (domestic & worldwide).Wicked: Part I is now the highest-grossing film based on a Broadway musical during its opening weekend having made more money at the global box office than 2012's Les Misrables ($103 million), as reported by Forbes.8. Biggest opening weekend for a film starring Cynthia Erivo (domestic & worldwide).Wicked: Part I had the biggest opening weekend of any film starring Cynthia Erivo, our 2024 Out100 Icon of the Year.Both the domestic and global box office debuts of Wicked Part: I have eclipsed Erivo's past films. Examples include 2018's Widows ($12 million) and 2019's Harriet ($11 million), as verified on Box Office Mojo.9. Biggest opening weekend for a film starring a pop star (domestic).The same can be said about Ariana Grande. In fact, no other film starring a pop star has ever grossed more in its opening weekend than Wicked: Part I.Deadline reports that the $114 domestic gross debut of Wicked: Part I (starring Ariana Grande) has surpassed 2018's A Star Is Born starring Lady Gaga ($42 million), 2022's Don't Worry Darling starring Harry Styles ($19 million), 2002's Crossroads starring Britney Spears ($14 million), 2019's Cats starring Taylor Swift (6 million), and 1985's Desperately Seeking Susan starring Madonna ($1 million).10. Biggest opening weekend of all time for a movie directed by Jon M. Chu (domestic & worldwide).Even director Jon M. Chu is experiencing his highest-grossing opening weekend in history with Wicked: Part 1.The film's domestic and worldwide box office gross have eclipsed 2013's G.I. Joe: Retaliation, directed by Chu, which had a domestic debut of $40 million and a global opening weekend of $132 million per data from Box Office Mojo.

9-1-1? Yes, we would like to report a ROBBERY. Just as Sapphic fans of Arcane have been celebrating the long, long-awaited romance between Hailee Steinfeld's Vi and Katie Leung's Caitlyn coming to fruition in the final episodes of the second (and final) season of the hit animated series. But now weve learned what we saw was actually a dialed back version of what could have been. Series co-creator Christian Linke spilled the tea about his intended vision for the scene during a live stream with League of Legends streamer Necrit94. Linke shared that the tasteful scene that the audience enjoyed was actually the dialed back version," and that initially it was meant to be a longer version. When the Netcrit expressed his surprise, saying that the one we did get went on fairly long, Linke shared "Yes. We got a slap on the wrist. League of Legends [the video game which the show is a spinoff of] is going to be rated mature now." The question this kind of admission always leads to is, is there the possibility of fans ever getting their eyes on the scene in its original uncut version? Linke joked that the extended cut of the scene is "probably on some French hard drive," as a potential director's cut. The chances of that ever being released are likely slim to none, but it hasn't stopped fans from demanding it. (@) Please release the full scene Marie E. | drop some money (@MarieEmie89) November 25, 2024 RELEASE THE DIRECTORS CUT RN lila (@REMNCNTSS) November 25, 2024 WE WANT THE ORIGINAL bludslashy (@Bloodslashy) November 25, 2024 I need the director's cut for educational purposes matteo | festive & (@_matteodev) November 25, 2024 Original cut: pic.twitter.com/z9hDEqCFA2 ithnani (@ithnani301) November 25, 2024 "LEAK" THE FULL CLIP Tellmewhy (@Icewallowcumin) November 25, 2024 RELEASE THE FULL VERSION NOW pic.twitter.com/xUPRbGpJBc Melanie (@toffusks) November 25, 2024

Strap-ons are life.Ask any couple in which both partners have vaginas! Nothing makes you realize how unnecessary flesh penises are like buying a strap-on of your own in whatever color, shape, and size you and your partner desire! What a time to be alive! But in all seriousness, couples of any orientation and gender can enjoy strap-on sex. For people with penises, strapping on another dick has to be one of the hottest types of sex out there. Yet despite the bedroom joys it can bring, becoming besties with a strap-on can take time, practice, experimentation, and even some epic fails. Yes, getting used to having sex with one can feel awkward. So whether you're a strap-on newb or a dildo-wielding vet, these are 10 strap-on struggles that are likely to feel way too real.1. Selecting your dickDicks are bountiful. Which one is right for you? Dildos are available in small, large, black, brown, purple, rainbow, with testicles, and without testicles. Selecting your dildo can be overwhelming. Take your time. Bring your partner with you if youre in a relationship. And if you can afford it, buy more than one. Collecting dildos is so much more fun than collecting stamps.2. Strapping on the harnessWhile some strap-ons come with a harness attached, typically, now that youve picked out your dick, youre going to need a harness to match. Babeland is a great queer-friendly shop to select a harness. From kinky lace-up leather to basic elastic harnesses! Just dont expect it to fit perfectly the first time you slide it on (thats what the straps are for). Take some time alone adjusting your harness, but come (hehehehe) prepared to adjust your harness as needed while getting it on.3. Learning to humpAs a bisexual woman, I always took humping for granted until I started having strap-on sex. (Kudos to people with penises, because maintaining a good rhythm and speed while penetrating your partner is hard work.) Your first few times having sex while wearing a strap-on might be awkward as you find your flow. This is normal and why its crucial to date partners who are understanding. To prepare for your first-time fucking someone with a strap-on, practice humping alone in your bed (I even practiced on a Fleshlight).4. Switching positionsYou finally mastered the missionary position, and all of a sudden your partner wants to get on top. Hot! However, when she tries to flip over, the dick accidentally slips out. It happens, and switching positions becomes easier with practice, so just keep having sex.5. Finding the best pornWatching strap-on porn is a wonderful way to learn how to use yours and watch how its done. That being said, mainstream porn that shows fast and furious strap-on sex between straight women isnt the most accurate teacher. The ethically-made and queer-friendly Crash Pad Series is perfect for viewing realistic and accurate depictions of queer sex with strap-ons.6. AnalSince the rectum isnt self-lubricating, making love to someone in the butt with your strap-on can be more delicate than vaginal or oral sex. A strap-on can indeed feel like part of your body, but since they dont have nerve endings, first-time strap-on anal can be more difficult than other forms of sex. You dont want to accidentally hurt your partner, so communication is crucial.7. Selecting the right lubeWe talk about dildos and harnesses more than we discuss the third part of the equation: lube. Its crucial to remember that different sex toys and situations require different lubricants. For instance, silicone breaks down silicone, so if your dildo is made of silicone, opt for water-based lube. If youre using condoms with your strap-on, avoid anything oil-based, as such lubes arent latex-friendly. That means if youre using condoms, no coconut oil or anything out of your kitchen cupboard for you. Head to your local adult shop for something store-bought.8. Connecting with your cockAsk anyone familiar with using a strap-on. They can become part of you and feel just as real as a flesh penis. It takes a little bit of time to connect with your new cock, but its an important relationship to invest in. After you buy a new strap-on and before you use it with a partner, spend some time wearing it around the house and masturbating with it. Stroke that cock!9. Dealing with breakupsOne of the saddest parts about a break-up (aside from losing the person, of course) is figuring out what to do with your sex toys. Strap-ons often become a vital part of a relationship. When one ends, you may feel conflicted. Do I toss away this beautiful sex toy that feels like a part of me? Or do I keep it, with the understanding that it might bring up emotional memories? Often, new partners are less than excited to use a strap-on thats been a part of a previous relationship. But you know what that means? You get to go shopping!10. To buy, or not to buy a new strap-on with a new partner?So you're over you're heartbreak and now you're heading toward intimacy with someone new. Great! But does that also mean you need to spring-clean your naughty drawer, too? Listen we get it, a good strap ain't cheap. So, here's the real tea. With good hygiene, proper, thorough cleaning, and the use of condoms, you can technically use an old strap-on with a new partner, it's the emotional side, you have to deal with. That means having that awkward conversation about what they want when it comes to your sex toy protocol.

Access to HIV treatment and medication is adversely affected by climate change, a new report finds.Half of people living with HIV in the United States reside in areas disproportionately vulnerable to climate disasters, including hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, according to analysis by the Center for American Progress. Related Biden-Harris administration provides new round of funding for low-income people with HIV The $1.4 billion grant is part of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. The report compared data from the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) program, a federal initiative to reduce the rate of new HIV infections, with the Federal Emergency Management Agencys national risk index. 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 Researchers discovered an overlap in geographical areas most vulnerable to climate disasters with those with the highest new infection rates for HIV.Fifty locations, including 48 counties, Washington, D.C., and San Juan, Puerto Rico, have been designated by EHE as high-priority areas to combat HIV because theyre where more than 50 percent of new HIV cases occur. Those same areas had an average FEMA national risk index score of 96.8 out of 100.That translates to roughly one in two people living with HIV residing in some of the nations most at-risk areas, the authors noted.It is not surprising that those most at-risk live in areas particularly vulnerable to extreme weather and climate events, Kristie Ebi, professor of global health at the University of Washington, who reviewed the analysis, told the 19th. The poor and marginalized are generally at higher risk and often live in less desirable locations that are less desirable because of vulnerability to extreme weather and climate events.Several challenges to those living with HIV in disaster-prone areas are the result. In areas affected by wildfires like those in California, people living with HIV are more susceptible to respiratory infections, such as pneumoniaor severe cases of flu or COVID-19. This puts them at higher risk of worsening health when disasters increase exposure to air pollutants or extreme heat, the authors say. Disasters can also exacerbate the side effects of medications, including antiretrovirals, that people living with HIV take to manage their health.In areas susceptible to hurricanes and flooding, like New Orleans (one of the priority jurisdictions to combat new HIV infections), patients can lose access to care and medications as pharmacies and hospitals close in the interim.Beyond physical health impacts, people living with HIV are also at greater risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, the authors said. Climate disasters are known to increase mental and emotional distress, and HIV stigma contributes to mental stress. Those impacts are only compounded during disaster events when people are displaced.Medications are important, and adherence is important, said Vatsana Chanthala, director of the New Orleans Health Departments Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, a federal initiative that provides funding for clinics and treatments. But if a person needs food, needs a place to stay, thats going to be first on their minds.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

After his political career took a sudden (albeit wholly unsurprising) nosedive, Matt Gaetz has taken the obvious next step for rightwing politicians who need constant attention and validation. He's joined Cameo.That's right, following in the steps of George Santos, Gaetz is now offering personalized videos to anyone who throws money at him across the internet. "I served in Congress," his page reads. "Trump nominated me to be US Attorney General (that didn't work out). Once I fired the House Speaker."For those unfamiliar with Cameo, it allows anyone with a credit card to pay an amount set by a celebrity, internet personality, sports star, etc, in exchange for a video tailored to a specific request. They're often used as gifts, or just as an opportunity to get something personalized from that guy who was in an obscure TV show you loved as a kid. You won't find many A-listers in any industry on Cameo, save for the occasional quick charity fundraiser. The perception of those who offer videos on the site is often that they're folks looking to cash in on old successes or 15 minutes of fame. And while that's all fine and good in a number of scenarios, for a politician... it's never anything but sad. (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) Although Gaetz's Cameo rate reportedly started out at $250 per video, he's since upped it. Now, a video will set you back $500. Which leaves only one question: (@)

HBOs Get Millie Black is a gripping new series that takes audiences on a journey through the complexities of identity, family, and community. Created by Booker Prize-winning author Marlon James, the show centers on ex-Scotland Yard detective Millie-Jean Black, who returns to Kingston, Jamaica, to work missing persons cases while grappling with her own fractured [...]The post WATCH: Exploring LGBTQ Representation and Jamaican Authenticity in HBOs Get Millie Black first appeared on GLAAD.

Queer Eyes Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness, and newest cast member Jeremiah Brent are hitting the road! The quintet from the Emmy-winning and GLAAD Media Award-nominated Netflix reality series are set to go on tour withThe Fab Five Live!, which is the ultimate love letter too fans. The Fab Five will [...]The post The Cast of Netflixs Queer Eye Are Set to Tour and Headed to a City Near You With The Fab Five Live! first appeared on GLAAD.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall joined 23 other states in filing an amicus brief in support of banning trans girls from sports. Specifically, the brief asks the Supreme Court to review and overturn an injunction placed on Arizonas ban on transgender athletes by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Related Federal court overturns transgender sports ban calling it the essence of discrimination Trans kids can participate in school sports in Arizona because of the ruling. Marshall wrote the brief alongside Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin and with support from Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming. 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 court instituted the injunction in September in a 3-0 decision in response to Arizonas Save Womens Sports Act, which enacted a blanket ban on transgender girls in girls sports, regardless of how long they had been transitioning and if they were on puberty blockers. The plaintiffs in the case were two trans girls and their parents suing to overturn the law.Judge Morgan Christen, who wrote the decision, said that [The law] permits all students other than transgender women and girls to play on teams consistent with their gender identities. Transgender women and girls alone are barred from doing so. This is the essence of discrimination.The amicus brief makes several arguments in favor of banning transgender girls from sports. One such claim is that it would be expensive and difficult for schools to implement policies allowing trans girls to participate on girls sports teams an argument that ignores the ease with which many schools across the country have implemented trans-friendly policies. The brief also argues that sex is not equivalent to gender identity under the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution a claim that ignores established precedent from the Supreme Court case Bostock v. Clayton County, which ruled that trans people are subject to sex-based protections due to their gender modality.The Attorneys General then make two legal arguments, claiming that the Circuit Court made its decision on erroneous grounds and that other readings of the law may be more plausible. They also argue that a rational-basis review is required to determine if the plaintiffs claim is underinclusive. This means that an additional overview, informed by constitutional law, would be done to determine if the argument being made is internally consistent with equal protection if not, it would get thrown out.It is unclear whether these arguments will hold up in court. SCOTUS has given no public indication of whether it will take this case. It has already accepted the case of United States v. Skrmetti, which will determine whether states can legally ban gender-affirming care for minors. There is no evidence that transgender girls have a significant biological advantage in sports. Rather, evidence suggests that transitioning levels the playing field.Nevertheless, anti-trans sentiment continues to fuel the fight against trans rights. Our coalition is determined to preserve the 50 years of work that expanded opportunities and leveled the playing field for girls and women in sports, AG Marshall said in a press release. But the left continues to pander to a small minority of their base Parents of daughters are rightfully outraged at the loss of positions on teams and college scholarships. As our multiple briefs to the Supreme Court show, its time to return to fairness in opportunity for sports, Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Queer ladies looking for love have noticed a trend emerging on dating apps a request to start out as friends first. But what exactly does that mean?The topic recently popped up in a lesbian subreddit after one user sought clarification."The way I communicate with a friend is entirely different from how I would communicate with someone I'm interested in romantically," u/MarrsMoon-Mara wrote. "Why join a dating app if there's no initial intent to explore a romantic connection?"She wasn't alone in her frustration and confusion. Other people expressed a similar sentimentthat they act differently when they're interested in someone romanticallyand that they don't want to come across as pushing boundaries or feel like they're being strung along for months by someone who doesn't even want to attempt to pursue a relationship but maybe isn't being honest about that.But other redditors were happy to chime in with their own interpretations of why someone might request starting off as friends first in their dating app bio. The most prevailing theory was that it's coming from people who don't want to hook up or U-Haul on the first date, and instead prefer to take their time determining whether there's a real connection upon which to build a relationship.They need to take it slow to form a connection. from ActualLesbiansOver25They want to make sure there are shared interests, first. from ActualLesbiansOver25Because slow down stranger! from ActualLesbiansOver25Because it reduces some of the pressure of a first meeting. from ActualLesbiansOver25Because they want to know you as a person, not a conquest. from ActualLesbiansOver25Because they really aren't looking for more right now. from ActualLesbiansOver25Although this approach might be valid for some people, it still didn't end with everyone on board. After all, dating apps are most often intended for, well, dating. And if you want to become friends with someone first and see if romance evolves more naturally, there are probably better places to meet women. from ActualLesbiansOver25 from ActualLesbiansOver25 from ActualLesbiansOver25 from ActualLesbiansOver25Fortunately for everyone, if you don't like somebody's approach to dating on an app, you can always just swipe left or go out into the real world and meet people the old fashioned way.

Its Wickeds world, and were just living in it! The Hollywood adaptation of the iconic Broadway musical has swept the globeand the internetoff its feet this week, as fans flood theaters for the highly anticipated premiere.If youre anything like us, then youre way too busy holding space for the lyrics of Defying Gravity to finish off the work week or prepare for the upcoming holidays. But whats really got us spellbound is Jonathan Baileys dazzling portrayal of Fiyerothe Prince of the Vinkus (formerly Winky Town) and the heartthrob caught between Glinda the Good and her bestie Elphaba. Fans are especially thrilled to see Fiyero unapologetically embracing his bisexual energy in the film, making him a more complex and magnetic character than ever before. His effortless chemistry with everyoneGlinda, Elphaba, and even the other Ozianshas audiences buzzing.Holding Space for Jonathan Baileys Fiyero https://twitter.com/JillianChili/status/1859844289876091237https://twitter.com/SWEENEYSTVEIT/status/1854850274176680250Related | Jonathan Bailey Learns About the Word Zaddy With Jeff GoldblumBowen Yang, who plays Glindas hilariously fabulous right-hand gay, Pfannee, shared his thoughts in an interview with Pink News:I think Fiyero is canonically bisexual but I feel like this is something that just like went over my head growing up watchingWicked, being like: Well Fiyero just is so dashing and everybody loves him, but its because he kind of leans into these narcissistic qualities, or these seemingly narcissistic qualities about him, Bowen explained.But no, something about Jonny in this is so enthralling. Its nice. Related | The New Wicked Trailer Has Gay Twitter BuzzingAnd enthralling he is! During his show-stopping dance number, Dancing Through Life, Bailey effortlessly charms Ozians of all gendersincluding Yangs Pfannee. Safe to say, were all under his spell.Wicked is For the GaysYang and his costar Bromwyn James also spoke on why Wicked has always had a special place in the LGBTQ community, beyond the bond between Elphaba and Glinda. Its also a story about reconciling what the world tells you you are, and who you know yourself to be and thats part of being queer too, Yang saidIts just rejecting certain things that people are projecting on to you and youre like, Im me. Im part of this community of other people but also Im individual in a lot ways and thats Elphaba and thats Glinda.Wicked Part One is playing in theaters now. More Stories: Is Benedict Bridgerton Bisexual? Heres What the Fan Theories SaySelena Gomezs Wizards of Waverly Place Character Was BisexualCheck Out the Full Cast of the Wicked MoviesThe post Why a Canonically Bisexual Fiyero is Just What Wicked Needed appeared first on Gayety.

By Paul J. HeneySome say there are three things you shouldnt talk about in polite company sex, politics, and religion. But the free-wheeling, funny, and often deeper-than-expected dinnertime conversations on our first-ever luxury LGBTQ cruise often wove through all three topics. And that was sort of the point queer folks usually must keep societal guards up around these charged topics because of our identities and the inherent intersectionality. So, we truly found it liberating to be able to cast all that aside for a 10-day cruise with Brand g Vacations that included Italy, Croatia, Albania, and Malta. The author (left) and husband (center) make a new friend with help from Brand g VacationsCourtesy Paul J. HeneyThis was our first time traveling with Brand g Vacations, a luxury travel group that creates some incredible itineraries all over the globe, including river cruises, ocean cruises, and land-based adventures. We were aboard the high-end, yacht-like ship the Atlas World Traveller, a stunningly designed vessel that holds fewer than 200 passengers.Aboard our sailing was one of the co-owners of Brand g Vacations, Brian Van Wey. He explained that their customers trust them because they continually provide value and take nothing for granted. Van Wey noted that the company can quickly make adjustments on each individual trip in real time because they always have an owner or executive on each trip.We don't have to sit back and read surveys later [to see if that was] a good trip or not, he explained. We definitively know it was a good trip, and if something fell short. I would much rather be a very good tour operator with our 95.5 percent repeat rate than a good marketer with a 25 percent repeat rate. The Atlas World Traveller near the coast of DubrovnikWe met Michael Amend aboard, who was on his 11th (he thinks) Brand g trip. Amend, a retired IT executive from Palm Springs, said it was mostly the people both the Brand g folks as well as the other passengers that keep him coming back.The people at Brand g are wonderful. They run a very honest, fair business. Ive known lots of cases where they could have kept somebodys money because they had to cancel. Things come up. And theyve always been great about that. They were great during Covid, nobody lost any money, he said. While I came on this cruise by myself, I knew Id know people because Ive just been on so many Brand g trips. Its been nice reconnecting. Plus, I like how Brand g works. Its all-inclusive, so you show up at the airport, and you dont have to think about anything after that, they take care of you.Indeed, Brand g made us feel very well taken care of. The trip included airport transfers to and from the ship (or your local hotel if you were extending things), as well as 1 GB of free WiFi aboard (per person), premium drinks, and excursions every day. You could opt to pay more for some top-shelf liquors (I think I only witnessed this happen with guests once or twice on our trip we were completely happy with the choices) or pay a bit extra for a couple of special excursions, but we never felt we were being nickeled and dimed, as on some cruises. In fact, there were a few problems with the WiFi being intermittent while onboard. Some guests must have said something because several days into the sailing, we received a notice that everyone was getting a second GB of data added to their accounts to make up for it, a thoughtful gesture.Also on our trip was Boston-based IT Director Joo Ferreira and his husband, Ralph DiChiara Jr. This was their third trip with Brand g. Ferreira said that they travel a lot and try to mix it up some with their families and some just the two of them.Sometimes we go on trips that are not exclusively LGBTQ, but we do like the type of tours that were doing right now because you can be yourself, he said. You can have more interactions that are more intimate and thoughtful, like at our dinner table. We think thats a bit different, and we enjoy doing that. If you really want something thats personalized for you, something that's very different and unique, I think Brand g hits the mark on a lot of that. Waterfalls at Krka National Park in CroatiaCourtesy Paul J. HeneyEntertainment!If you didnt know this was a gay cruise by the overwhelming number of men aboard, youd have certainly figured it out by the onboard entertainment. Id heard in advance that Brand g goes all out on the nightly entertainment, and that proved correct. There was a bit of something for everyone. There was British pianist and singer David Papworth, who was often performing in the lounge to adoring fans, with a mix of sing-alongs, show tunes, quizzes, and more. Tony Award-winner Broadway star Levi Kreis also performed several evenings the last with his very talented and award-winning husband Jason Antone. Kreiss wit and down-to-earth personality made him a quick crowd favorite.Also aboard was Meghan Murphy, a Chicago-based performer who could play Jessica Rabbit to a T if ever called upon. Her booming, sensational voice was amazing to witness in person, and her attitude and sense of humor fit the passengers perfectly. We also had to opportunity to hang out with her a bit on some of the excursions, allowing us to see that shes really the genuine, loving person you see up on stage. And rounding out the entertainment on our cruise was Trevor Ashley, an Australian drag performer and singer. Ashley was one of the contestants on the second season of RuPauls Queen of the Universe TV series. Her performances on different evenings varied a good bit, including one where she played a boozy Liza Minelli for the whole show.Our cruise also featured a Tea Dance during our one day at sea, and the gays came out and embraced the Venetian theme, wearing everything from simple masks to elaborate costumes. Plus, we had a Red Party one evening, where guests donned their best crimson attire, making for a fun dinner experience. The author (second from right) mingles with newfound friends on a Brand g Vacations cruiseCourtesy Paul J. HeneyFilling ourselvesWe gays certainly know how to enjoy ourselves, and our 10-day cruise meant consuming ... a lot. We managed to go through 5,700 eggs, 4,300 coffees, 157 bottles of vodka, and 927 bottles of wine! The food aboard was excellent, and we particularly enjoyed Paulas Pantry each day for gourmet coffees, lattes, and assorted sweets.On one of the last nights on the ship, our large dinner table group contained an atheist and a former Episcopalian bishop sitting next to one another. In contrast to the type of rank political discourse that this country has experienced in the last handful of years, the conversation was wonderful. We ventured into a deep and respectful conversation about death and dying. No ones feelings were hurt, everyone was respectful of others very differing views, and I think we all gained some new insight. That kind of meaningful connection with other passengers is what will have us coming back to a Brand g Vacation soon.You can learn more about destinations, itineraries, pricing, and more at www.brandgvacations.com. You can follow Brand g Vacations on Instagram and Facebook @brandgvacations.

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, has tried to build her reputation on a self-proclaimed commitment to protecting womens safety. She has framed her latest crusadea proposed bathroom ban targeting transgender women in the U.S. Capitolas a measure to shield women from harm. But her hiring practices tell a different story.Mace employs Sean Brislin, her legislative director, whose criminal history includes an arrest for unlawfully entering a womans apartment in Washington, D.C., an act that left the victim feeling unsafe in her own home.In January 2020, a woman returned to her Northeast D.C. home to find Brislin, a stranger, asleep in her bed. Brislin, who was intoxicated at the time, had entered the apartment uninvited, according to court documents. Alarmed and frightened, the woman contacted the police, who arrested him on the spot. Brislin was charged with unlawful entry, a misdemeanor, and later entered a deferred prosecution agreement. He avoided trial by agreeing to complete 32 hours of community service, attend alcohol treatment, and stay away from the woman and her apartment, according to court records.During a court hearing in July of that year, the woman described the lingering impact of the incident. I now feel like a stranger in my own dwelling, she told the court, according to a report by DC Witness. She said she did not believe that Brislin faced significant punishment. Despite her objections, the case was dismissed in 2021 after Brislin completed the terms of his agreement. Maces anti-transgender efforts are built on disproven claims.Last week, Mace proposed bathroom bans, which specifically target Delaware Rep.-elect Sarah McBride, the first out transgender member of Congress. Mace claimed that McBrides presence in a congressional bathroom would be a danger to women. Her assertions are rooted in baseless fears of harm in shared spaces.A 2018 study from the Williams Institute at UCLA found no evidence that trans-inclusive bathroom policies lead to safety risks. By contrast, the research shows transgender individuals often face harassment and denial of access when trying to use public restrooms.Neither Maces press secretary nor Brislin responded to The Advocates request for comment.

LGBTQ people and allies are speaking out about the upcoming groundbreaking oral argument at the U.S. Supreme Court regarding access to health care for transgender youth. The case, U.S. v. Skrmetti, challenges Tennessees law banning health care such as hormone therapy and puberty-pausing medications for transgender youth under 18, while the same treatments remain available [...]The post Transgender Americans and Allies Look Ahead to Landmark Supreme Court Oral Argument on December 4 first appeared on GLAAD.

Anti-LGBTQ+ Rep. Lauren Boeberts (R-CO) plans to make some extra cash through Cameo seem to have been foiled. The congresswoman has deleted her account just days after joining after many questioned the ethics of her participation on the app which allows fans to request short, personalized videos from celebrity members while currently serving in Congress.On Saturday, Boebert joined former House colleagues Matt Gaetz and George Santos on Cameo, where she began charging $250 a pop for personalized video messages.But immediately, people began questioning if she was running afoul of House ethics rules. 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 Related Lauren Boebert wins 2 more years in Congress after fleeing her district Boebert switched districts instead of facing her Democratic challenger again. She won. Hey, Cameo, its your girl from Colorado, Lauren Boebert, she said in a welcome video. I am so excited to be joining another platform where I can connect directly with supporters from all over the world.Whether you or someone you know needs an America First pep talk, if you want to surprise friends or family with a message for a special day, or if you just want to know my thoughts on whatevers on your mind, Cameo is the place to connect with me.While both Gaetz and Santos joined Cameo after they left Congress, Boebert won her race for Colorados Fourth Congressional District earlier this month. As a sitting member of Congress, she was wading into some murky ethical territory. Semafor reporter Kadia Goba pointed out on X that U.S. House Representatives and senior staff are limited to making $31,815 in income outside of their Congressional salary. Notably, Boebert lists herself as politician and not a member of Congress. House Ethics Committee allows outside earned limit of up to $31,805 pic.twitter.com/HOqa5S9MgC Kadia Goba (@kadiagoba) November 25, 2024NOTUS reporter Reese Gorman, meanwhile, noted that House members are explicitly prohibited from receiving honoraria, defined in House ethics rules as a payment of money or thing of value for an appearance, speech, or article. Gorman also pointed out that if Boeberts Cameo earnings were going toward her campaign account, that would not violate House ethics rules. However, Cameo explicitly bans users from using the site to promote or solicit contributions on behalf of [their] candidacy for public office, the candidacy of another person seeking public office, any political party or committee, or any other person or organization promoting or soliciting contributions on behalf of any candidate for public office or political party.Boebert appears to have deleted her account Monday night. Ethical concerns aside, Boeberts presence on Cameo also invited another serious question. According to her profile, in addition to birthday, anniversary, and other custom messages, users could request videos of Boebert sharing words of wisdom. Its hard to imagine who might have turned to the scandal-prone Congresswoman for wisdom. She has been engaged in a long-running feud with fellow anti-LGBTQ+ Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), has lobbedhomophobic insults to attack Transporation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and according to a 2022 HRC report, her Twitter account wasthe third biggest sourceof anti-transgender misinformation on the social media platform (now known as X).Boeberts personal life has been as chaotic as her presence in the House. A gun-themed restaurant that she ran with ex-husband Jayson Boebert in Rifle, Colorado, reportedly lost hundreds of thousands of dollars and served tainted pork sliders at a 2017 rodeo, resulting in 80 people getting food poisoning. They were then evicted in 2022. In 2020, The Denver Post reported on the then-Congressional candidates history of arrests for petty crimes between 2010 and 2015. And last year, Boebert was famously kicked out of a performance of the musical Beetlejuice for vaping and groping her date in the theater.Earlier this year, her son, Tyler Boebert, was arrested and charged with five felony counts and several misdemeanors, after he and several other teenagers went on an alleged crime spree that involved breaking into parked cars and stealing credit cards and wallets.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.