Former teen actor and anti-LGBTQ+ Christian author Kirk Cameron has announced a new biblically-centered childrens show to combat woke Hollywood programming. Adventures of Iggy and Mr. Kirk is being billed by conservatives as a modern-day Mister Rogers Neighborhoodwith a Christian twist. Cameron has claimed parents are desperate for something that teaches wholesome values and morals, which apparently means denigrating LGBTQ+ people. Related Nancy Mace is selling $35 t-shirts attacking trans rights & Sarah McBride The shirts ask people to come and take it, in reference to womens bathrooms If you watch many of Hollywoods kids shows, you would think that parents want woke instructions for their kids, Cameron told Fox News Digital at the Green Carpet Premiere of the show. But the reality is they dont. Theyre not looking for gay dinosaurs and trans ducks to teach their children morality. 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 Cameron also added his belief that the results of the 2024 presidential election signal that the American people want to end wokeness. There was this wonderful aspect of the last four years, brought to attention where we go when we abandon good, wholesome, American constitutional values, he said. And this has served as a wake-up call for parents and families all over the nation who not only voted, but theyre also looking for an opportunity to lean in to a solution and actually participate by training their kids, and raising them up in the way they should go.Cameron has long positioned himself as an anti-LGBTQ+ activist. He made headlines in 2012 foranti-LGBTQ+ commentshe made on CNNsPiers Morgan Tonight. I think that its unnatural, he said. I think that its detrimental and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization. He has also published multiple childrens books with Brave Books, a publisher of conservative childrens books which has described itself as the antidote to woke culture lies.In 2022, Cameron spoke out against public libraries for hosting LGBTQ+ programs but not his events after claiming that more than 50 rejected his offer to host childrens story time.Publicly funded libraries are green-lighting gender marker and name change clinics while denying a story time that would involve the reading of a book that teaches biblical wisdom. How much more clear can it get? he said. We have to start fighting back, or we will lose our kids and this country.He also raged that Bibles are literally being removed from schools and libraries while being replaced with toxic ideas like transgenderism, CRT [Critical Race Theory], and the 1619 Project. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A federal judge in Denver has rejected a request to ban a college volleyball player who is alleged to be transgender from competing with her team in a conference tournament beginning this week.Earlier this month, San Jose State University womens volleyball team captain Brooke Slusser filed a lawsuit along with SJSU associate head coach Melissa Batie-Smoose and 10 other current and former Mountain West Conference players against the conference. The suit sought an emergency injunction to have an SJSU player who is alleged to be transgender declared ineligible to compete in the tournament. Related Volleyball players sue their coach for accepting a trans teammate The player hasnt caused any unfair advantage or injuries, but the lawsuit claims she has stifled womens free speech. As the Associated Press notes, the player in question has competed at the college level for the past three seasons, including two seasons with the SJSU team. She drew little attention prior to recent allegations about her gender identity. While the defendants in the case have not denied the presence of a transgender woman on the SJSU team, according to the AP, the player in question has not commented on her gender identity publicly. Some media outlets have named the player, but LGBTQ Nation is not doing so. 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 On Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews denied the plaintiffs request on the basis of its emergency nature.The Court finds the movants delay was not reasonable, there is no evidence to suggest they were precluded from seeking emergency relief earlier, and the rush to litigate these complex issues now over a mandatory injunction places a heavy lift on the MWC at the eleventh hour, Crews wrote, according to ESPN.Several teams, including those from Southern Utah University, Boise State University, Utah State University, and Wyoming University, had previously forfeited their matches against SJSU this season over the alleged trans player. The lawsuit also sought to have the losses accrued from those forfeits vacated. Crews, however, said that the teams were aware that those forfeits would amount to losses at the time and denied the request to vacate them and re-seed the tournament.The lawsuit claimed that the plaintiffs Title IX and First Amendment rights were violated by having a transgender woman on the team and that she posed a safety risk to other players. Crews did not address those claims in his ruling. However, he did reportedly note that several recent circuit court decisions have cited the Supreme Courts ruling that discrimination on the basis of transgender status or sexual orientation amounts to sex-based discrimination, which is prohibited under Title IX. In a statement, San Jose State University said that it would continue to support its student-athletes and reject discrimination in all forms.All San Jose State University student-athletes are eligible to participate in their sports under NCAA and Mountain West Conference rules, the statement continued. We are gratified that the Court rejected an eleventh-hour attempt to change those rules. Our team looks forward to competing in the Mountain West volleyball tournament this week.Both ESPN and the AP reported that the plaintiffs had filed a notice for emergency appeal with the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Pip pip da doodly doo!Drake & Josh premiered on Nickelodeon 20 years ago and quite literally raised a generation. Thanks to the show's clever storylines and hilarious humor, Drake Bell and Josh Peck became household names overnight.Fast forward to today, Bell is still keeping himself busy by performing his new music around the world and competing on the current season of The Masked Singer."It was amazing! To get out there and have fun again was real cool. I'm not a dancer, so being able to have that mask on is a really freeing and fun experience," Bell tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Many people have missed seeing Bell on their screens since his days as a young star on Nickelodeon. Although quite a years have passed since his days as a teenage heartthrob, the star is revealing his favorite moment on the classic sitcom."Drake, where's the doorhole?! Any moments where it's just me and Josh trapped in tight quarters, like when we were trapped in the bathroom running away from the dog. It's amazing that I had the opportunity to find my comic partner. I have kids coming up to me and they're quoting the show! The show lives on and keeps going."As one of the most-watched faces on TV for millennials and gen-Z kids, Bell also served as a queer awakening for many young people."I have so many fans from so many walks of life. You hear a lot of stories like, 'You really saved me in this part of my life when my parents weren't accepting me' or 'I feel like I was an outcast in society.' It's just so rewarding to be able to hear that you got to be part of people's journey."The Masked Singer airs Wednesday nights on FOX. To see the full interview with Drake Bell, check out the video at the top of the page.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that outlaws adoption by people from countries where gender-affirming care is legal.The law passed parliament earlier this month after the State Duma (the lower house) unanimously approved the legislation. Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said the bill was aimed at protecting children who cant protect themselves, characterizing the Wests policy towards children as destructive. Related 24 states file an amicus brief to convince SCOTUS to ban trans girls from sports There is no evidence that transgender girls have a significant biological advantage in sports. It is necessary to do everything so that new generations of our citizens grow up oriented toward traditional family values, Volodin wrote in a Telegrampost. 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 State Duma deputies noted that the bill is aimed at preventing members of the LGBTQ+ community from adopting Russian children and that it also effectively bans adoption by citizens of NATO member states.The law will apply to at least 15 countries, mainly in Europe, according to CBS News (people from the United States have been banned from adopting Russian children since 2012).The bill is just the latest in Russias ongoing crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights. In 2013, Putin signed a law banning so-called LGBTQ+ propaganda in the presence of minors. That same year,he signed a law prohibiting adoptionof Russian children by same-sex foreign couples whose homeland recognizes their union as marriage, as well as by single people or unmarried couples from those countries. In late 2022, Putin signed a new law expanding the countrys definition of what constitutes LGBTQ+ propaganda to include any promotion of homosexuality in public, online, or in media. The law also bans the demonstration of homosexuality to children. The 2022 law effectively outlaws any public expression of LGBTQ+ life in Russia.Last November, theRussian Supreme Court declaredthe international LGBT social movement an extremist organization, effectively giving authorities wide latitude to arrest and prosecute members of the LGBTQ+ community. In the year since the courts decree, there have beenmultiple raidsonLGBTQ+ barsandother establishmentsin cities across Russia, andmultiple peoplehave beenarrestedandchargedunder the countrys anti-LGBTQ+ laws.Putin signed the anti-trans bill the same day he also signed legislation to ban the spread of propaganda that promotes not having children. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Cynthia Erivo may be giving drag queens the world over a new version of Defying Gravity to incorporate into their shows, but its co-star Ariana Grande who wants us all to think twice about her Wicked characters sexuality.The two stars embarked on an inescapable full-court press tour ahead of the films blockbuster opening last weekend, and their nonstop media appearances have made for some notable moments, including one interview with U.K. LGBTQ+ outlet Gay Times. Related Excited about Wicked? Check out these other fun queer films PLUS: Some good news from this week that you mightve missed! In the clip, posted November 22, the interviewer asks Grande and Erivo about the queer allegories in the new film, based on the long-running Broadway musical, which in turn is based on gay author Gregory Maguires 1995 novel about The Wizard of Ozs Wicked Witch of the West. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Grande, who plays Glinda in the film, described Oz as a celebration of uniqueness.Everyone is just so beautifully queer, she added.Erivo, who stars as the green-skinned Elphaba, agreed that the film is a celebration of people who feel othered. I do think that both Glinda and Elphaba are just different. Both of them are almost, like, other, you know? she said.Both actresses were fully onboard with fans who ship their characters.Its a relationship, Erivo insisted. It is true love, which is probably why people are shipping it, you know, because what they build with each other is an unbreakable bond and love. And trust and truth and just such a safe space for one another, Grande added. Which is what all relationships should be.The Thank You, Next singer then took it a step further. So, you know, whether its romantic or platonic Glinda might be a little in the closet but if there were a time, you never know. Give it a little more time, she said.Grande isnt the only one who thinks Glinda might be a little in the closet. After E! News picked up the quote and posted it on Instagram, Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the role on Broadway in 2003, chimed in.I thought so too way back when. the Tony winner agreed in a comment. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

These queens are here to sleigh! One of the most tantalizing shows featuring some of the most iconic queens from across theDrag Race franchises has hit the road for their U.S. and Canadian tours in full holiday fashion. The impressive roster features Angeria Paris VanMichaels, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Crystal Methyd, Gisele Lullaby, Jimbo, Lady Camden, [...]The post Some of the Biggest Drag Race Stars Are Touring the U.S. in A Drag Queen Christmas Right Now Heres How to Get Tickets! first appeared on GLAAD.

Donald Trump is planning to implement a total ban on transgender service members and recruits on Day One, according to Defense Department insiders, which will have massive costs that affect both military preparedness and the DoDs bottom line.A total trans ban will cost the Pentagon at least $18 billion, according to Emily Hawking Shilling, president ofSPARTA, a leading trans military advocacy organization. Related Donald Trump will reportedly ban trans people from the military on day one Experts say another ban would be horrific for military readiness at a time when recruitment is already an issue. The group estimates 73% of the 15,000 transgender service members in the U.S. military are senior enlisted personnel with 12 to 21 years of experience. The total operational investment in them is up to $176,000 per year per person, adding up to an $18 billion capital investment. 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 That figure is in addition to a $1 billion estimate to recruit and train replacements for those discharged under a potential ban, according to a study by the Palm Center.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, Shilling told Erin in the Morning. 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.In his first term, Trump issueda memorandumbanning transgender individuals from military service, citing a financial burden.The Biden Administration then overturned the ban. Shilling said savings in healthcare costs per transgender service member would amount to about $650 annually, or $8 million in savings each year.The Pentagons budget for 2023 was $820.3 billion, or roughly 13.3% of the federal budget.Shilling said the most immediate impact of a total trans ban would be on military preparedness in every theater of the world. If it were a fairly fast-moving ban, you would be pulling these individuals out of their units, leaving critical gaps in skill sets, experience, and leadership positions that youre just not going to be able to fill with equivalent people anytime soon, especially given the shortfalls in recruiting, Shilling said.Despite the rumors the Trump transition maintains no decisions have been made on trans service members, campaign promises notwithstanding Shilling is hopeful accommodations for trans personnel will be made.In the meantime, she says, nonprofit organizations are exploring every avenue to help, including job transition assistance, healthcare funding, and legal support.The bottom line is that we are deployed, combat-ready volunteers, ready to do the nations business of supporting and defending it, and every individual in our country, no matter what their opinions or differences are, Shilling said. We fight as one.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A county judge in Missouri has upheld the states ban on gender-affirming care for minors.In a74-page rulingissued Monday, Wright County Circuit Court Judge Craig Carter wrote, If we dont let a 16-year-old buy a six-pack of beer and a pack of smokes, or let an adult buy those items for them, should we allow the same kid/parent team to decide to change a teenagers sex forever? Related Missouri experts defending gender-affirming care ban exposed as quacks One was on the stand defending convicted child rapist Jerry Sandusky. The restrictions on gender-affirming care, passed by state lawmakers in 2023, bar minors from using hormones and puberty blockers and from undergoing gender-affirming surgeries. They also block state funding of gender-affirming care for adults through Medicaid and for prisoners incarcerated by the state. 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 ACLU of Missouri and Lambda Legal promised an appeal of the ruling.Carter acknowledged the ethical minefield the case presented, writing the medical profession stands in the middle of it, with scant evidence to lead it out. The nine-day trial presented witnesses of varying credibility, with the states Solicitor General Joshua Divine dragging partisan politics into the proceedings. Some of his experts introduced research that had been retracted, the plaintiffs argued. He maintained the scientific community had dismissed them because of cancel culture.Carters ruling relies in part on testimony from Jamie Reed, a whistleblower who worked at the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Childrens Hospital. A sworn affidavit from Reed helped inspire the gender-affirming care ban.Reed maintained the hospital treated many patients with mental health problems without comprehensive psychological evaluations; at trial, there was disagreement over whether a licensed therapists evaluation was enough to warrant gender-affirming care or if a psychologist or psychiatrist should be a requirement.The judge found Reed credible. Her testimony does not arise from any ideological or other bias, Carter wrote. In fact, she is married to a transgender individual.Reed is now the executive director of a small advocacy group called the LGBT Courage Coalition, which opposes gender-affirming care for minors. The day before she testified, her partner announced he was stopping testosterone treatments and detransitioning.While Carter found Reed credible despite her advocacy, he didnt extend the same courtesy to some of the plaintiffs witnesses.He wrote he has concerns with deferring to the organizations relied on by plaintiffs, such as WPATH, which self-describes itself as an organization committed to advocacy.The World Professional Association for Transgender Health is a professional organization that sets standards for gender-affirming care. Carters ruling ultimately focused on U.S. Supreme Court precedent that allows lawmakers broad discretion in areas fraught with medical and scientific uncertainty.He judged there is an almost total lack of consensus as to the medical ethics of adolescent gender dysphoria treatment, thereby agreeing the state legislature has the authority to ban the care.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Last week, the Ugandan High Court of the Civil Division awarded $40,000 (the equivalent of 150 million Ugandan shillings) to 20 men who were tortured by police after their 2020 arrests for alleged homosexuality.They assert that on the morning of the said date their residence was invaded by a mob, among which were the respondents, that subjected them to all manner of torture because they were practicing homosexuality, Justice Douglas Singiza reportedly stated. Related One year later, Ugandas anti-LGBTQ+ law is destroying families, lives, & future peace Ugandans explain how the law has reversed decades of progress, and also turned families and neighbors against one another. The alleged actions of torture include beating, hitting, burning using a hot piece of firewood, undressing, tying, biding, conducting an anal examination, and inflicting other forms of physical, mental, and psychological violence based on the suspicion that they are homosexuals, an allegation they deny. 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 torture occurred in the village of Nkokonjeru in the Kyengera Town Council Wakiso District. The plaintiffs worked with the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum, a non-profit human rights organization. They filed a human rights complaint against the Kyengera town council, mayor Abdul Kiyimba, principal officer Philimon Woniala, and the Attorney General.The arrests happened just after the Ugandan government implemented COVID-19 lockdowns.Based on the same suspicion [of homosexuality], the applicants were then arrested, taken to Nkokonjeru B police station, and charged with doing a negligent act likely to spread infection by disease, said Singiza. He noted that there was little evidence given for violations of the countrys anti-homosexuality laws and that the investigations lacked merit.The men were then sent to prison on March 31, 2020, Where they were again allegedly beaten, examined, harassed, and subjected to discrimination.Uganda has strict laws against homosexuality. The 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act, signed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in May 2023, makes what it describes as aggravated homosexuality including same-sex acts that transmit HIV punishable by the death penalty, imposes a life sentence for recruitment, promotion and funding of same-sex activities, and even bans identifying as LGBTQ+ in Uganda. It has been roundly condemned by human rights organizations,members of the U.S. House of Representatives,President Joe Biden, and evenPope Francis.Dr. Frank Mugisha, human rights activist and executive director of Sexual Minorities Uganda, said on X of the ruling: A Ugandan court has awarded Shs150 million to 20 Ugandans who were tortured for alleged homosexuality during the COVID lockdown, marking a significant victory for the LGBTQ+ community. This decision builds on earlier successes, including a 2008 ruling for Victor Mukisa and a favorable judgment against Rolling Stone, a Ugandan tabloid known for its harmful publications. A Ugandan court has awarded Shs150 million to 20 Ugandans who were tortured for alleged homosexuality during the COVID lockdown, marking a significant victory for the LGBTQ+ community. This decision builds on earlier successes, including a 2008 ruling for Victor Mukisa and a Dr. Frank Mugisha (@frankmugisha) November 25, 2024Local leaders and politicians have now been put onnotice that if you beat up people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, you payfrom your own pockets, said Adrian Jjuuko, executive director of Ugandas Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum, in a statement to Barrons.In addition to the brutality experienced by LGBTQ+ people, Ugandas Anti-Homosexuality Act has already cost the country as much as $1.6 billionin the year since it became law, according to a new report by Open for Business, a coalition of global companies dedicated to LGBTQ+ inclusion. It is estimated that in the twelve months following the AHAs passage, Uganda has made an economic loss of between $470 million and $1.6 billion, according to the report, a sum that comprises between 0.93.2% of the countrys gross domestic product (GDP).Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Female sexuality is a mystifying thing at least on the internet. When it comes to porn, "lesbian sex" is everywhere, but its never actually for lesbians. For some reason, its nearly impossible to find "content" where women are having sex with women only for women. (We have some tips for finding good ethical porn by the way!)Where do you go if youre looking for a move or six?Ive gathered up tips from cis and trans queer women of different ages, races, and sexual styles. Of course, you dont have to be a lesbian to have lesbian sex" trans and nonbinary folks can certainly get down Sapphic-style, and too! And all of us, regardless of labels and gender, can learn something here you wont on Onlyfans. Don't be basic, but know your basics1. Forget what you see in porn. Youre not having performative sex intended for a man to watch on his screen. React to what you and your specific partner enjoy and dont try to make it look like Blue Is The Warmest Color (no one screws in perfect symmetry)! 2. Don't worry about shaving too much. It's nice to keep things trimmed and cleaned, but your real life lover isnt looking for a pornstars pussy. 3. Realize that Sapphic bodies come in many forms (including nonbinary folks and pre-op trans women.) Ask your partner how their genitals like to be touched and how you can validate their gender identity in the bedroom.4. Lesbians do more than go down on each other. Your tongue is not the only tool you can put in the box. Youve got fingers, dildos, vibrators, and in case of emergency, fruit.5. Cut your nails!Stay In & Eat Out6. Use your whole mouth when giving oral, not just your tongue.7. Pay attention to her inner thighs. Lick, bite, and blow. The erogenouszone is an often ignored yet extremely sensitive area.8. Delay. Dont be afraid to give her a peck down there and breathe on it until shes practically begging for your tongue.9. When she begs, you can also penetrate her with your tongue.10. Insert your fingers into her while giving head to stimulate both her clit and vagina. Theres a reason The Rabbit gets both areas at once!11. Some people are good with just a fingertip and others want yourwhole fist. Ask what feels pleasurable and always work your way up.12. Once you're inside of a girl, curl your fingers so they're shaped like a hook. Pull towards you and straighten them again and repeat. This will stimulate her g-spot.Position Yourself For Success13. Scissoring is a thing. Some ladies like it, but its more fun to run your pussy over each other during foreplay rather than play sexual twister.14. Tribbing is also a thing. Get into it. 15. Make use of pillows by using them to prop your partner up for an easier angle.16. If you like to be in control, sit on their face. You can change the pressure and movement via your body while receiving oral.Take Care of Woody & Buzz17. Pick a strap-on thats your style. What is a strap-on? Its a phallus you literally strap onto yourself with an easy belt. They come in different shapes, colors, and sizes.18. The first time you wear a strap-on, it can seem weird because you cant feel your own phallus, but your partner definitely will. The more you use it, the more comfortable it will become.198. Clean your sex toys after every time you have sex. Please.20. Use condoms. STIs can be spread through sex toys.21. Get different dildos for different partners. Its the right thing to do.22. Dont buy your sex toys off of Amazon or other unverified online retailers. Theyre not FDA approved and have been linked to causing cancer and infertility. Sex toys can be made with jelly-like plastic sheaths are made with phthalates those nasty chemicals that are in some water bottles and you don't want them to eventually seep into your system. Instead, buy from companies that sell non-toxic sex toys. Fun Factory, Lelo, Jimmy Jane, nJoy, JeJoue Vibratex, Goldfrau, Elemental Pleasures, OhMiBod, and Nob Elements are a few.23. If you're wearing a strap-on and penetrating doggy-style, try using a belt (preferably leather.) Loop it under her stomach/hips and hold the end with one hand and the buckle-end with the other. This will give you more thrust and control.24. If youre too lazy to wear the strap-on, or if it's simply uncomfortable, use the dildo on each other as if it were an extension of your hands.Pillow Talk25. Express what you want and how you want it. Theres no need to qualify your desires.26. If she says dont stop, dont stop!27. Be as honest as possible about where you are in terms of your sexual and gender identity. If you're unsure, say that. Questioning is an identity in itself!28. Treat others the way youd like to be treated in and out of the bedroom.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were reportedly paid the same for their starring roles in Wicked.As the film broke box-office records over the weekend, rumors began swirling about how much the two stars of the film made. Several videos and posts all over social media most notably on TikTok and Reddit alleged that Erivo was paid $1 million while Grande was paid $15 million, which resulted in a huge outrage.Now, Universal Pictures has put the speculation to bed. Reports of pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on internet fodder," a Universal spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter. "The women received equal pay for their work on Wicked." See on Instagram Notably, the spokesperson did not clarify how much money Erivo and Grande were actually paid.The Jon M. Chu-directed musical movie debuted in theaters November 22, 2024 and grossed $164 million globally and $114 million domestically in its opening weekend, cementing it as the current no. 1 movie in the world.Wicked: Part I is now playing in theaters.

Trans TikToker-turned actress Bel Priestley, who stars in the queer teen hit Heartstopper, just shared the results of her vocal feminization surgery, and the video is remarkable. Priestley plays a trans character named Naomi who first appears in the second season of the popular Netflix drama based on Alice Oseman's webcomic.The 21-year-old social media maven has been open about her gender-affirming journey, sharing with her followers since she was a teen, and earlier this month, she broke the news on TikTok that she got vocal feminization surgery, The Pink News reports.In a candid video, Priestley recorded herself speaking for the very first time after getting the surgery, and it's a moment of trans joy that everyone should see.@belpriestleyWhat do we all think so far! #uk #transWhile gender-affirming voice therapy includes speech therapy aimed at making your voice more feminine, gender-neutral, or masculine, vocal feminization surgery changes the length, tightness, or size of your vocal cords to make the pitch of your voice higher, according to the Cleveland Clinic. "Guys, what the fk. That was the hardest week of my life," Priestley said in the video. "I haven't been able to sneeze, cough, or speak for seven days."I can't speak too much I'm also quite congested. This is insane, I'm going to go and cry," she concluded. (Us too, Bel. Us, too.)But what is vocal feminization surgery and does it really work?What is vocal feminization surgery?Vocal feminization surgery also called gender-affirming voice surgery which is used to modify voice pitch. There are two options when thinking about going under the knife to make your voice higher. Anterior glottic web formation is a surgery that creates a band of scar tissue in front of the V of the vocal cords to shorten the vocal cords, which raises the pitch of the patients voice. But it doesnt just raise the pitch of your voice, it also makes it impossible to make lower pitches. The Mayo Clinic says that because the surgery narrows the airway, it may not be a good option for professional singers. Cricothyroid approximation is another surgical option that raises the vocal cord tension, resulting in a high speaking pitch, but only lessens the ability to lower your pitch instead of eliminating it the way that anterior glottic web formation does.There is also a masculinization version of this surgery, called thyroplasty type 3, that lowers the frequency of the voice by decreasing the vocal fold tension.Does vocal feminization surgery work?According to the Cleveland Clinic, anterior glottic web formation surgery can successfully raise the pitch of your voice, but the results of the surgery are largely dependent on how high or low your voice was before surgery. The downside of cricothyroid approximation, however, is that the results are not long-lasting.However, the real success or failure of the procedure depends on your treatment goals. Only 40 percent of how we perceive gender is actually based on speech and communication, while 60 percent comes from things like loudness, resonance, pitch variation, and nonverbal cues, which are all things you can learn in speech therapy.Meeting with a mental health professional and speech therapist is often recommended to help decide whether surgery is the correct option and which one to choose.What are the downsides to surgery?After surgery, youll have to rest your voice for five to 14 days, and it may take six months to a year before your vocal cords completely heal. There are risks involved with the surgery, including a weaker voice, a hoarse or breathy voice, a voice that becomes too high or is changed very little, your voice lowering over time, and potentially needing a second surgery, but these risks will be much lower if you work with a laryngologist who replay performs these surgeries.Priestley isn't the only celebrity TikToker to get this type of surgery; model Aj Clementine shared the results of her vocal feminization surgery last year in a video where she showed off how dramatically her voice had changed. "This is week 5 post-op, but apparently 6 weeks is where your voice should go back to a more natural tone," she said in the video, E News! reports. "That's why up until this point, my voice was very high. Some people saying that I sound like Elmo, but now it's sounding much more natural and I'm loving it like every single day it gets better."In fact, TikTok is full of trans people joyfully showing off the results of their surgeries. From Noicola Lawton showing off the changes in her voice over the course of five months to Shaye Scott showing her journey to get surgery in San Francisco to Serena Daniari sharing her personal pros and cons after getting surgery. @nicolaisnotcoolI cant believe its been 5 months what questions do you have for me? #vocalsurgery #vocalfeminization #vocalfeminizationsurgery #vfs #surgerytiktok #transgender #lgbtqia #fyp@shayescottMy vocal feminization surgery part 1 #trans #lgbt #loveislove #wlw #transjoy @dramandascott@serenajazmineVoice feminization surgery update!! #trans #transgender #tgirl #transwoman #transgirl #mtf #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #queertiktok #foryou #fyp #trending #voicefeminizationsurgery #voicefeminization #surgery #plasticsurgery

Ashlyn Harris is shedding light on the demise of her relationship with fellow soccer star Ali Krieger in a new interview.When news of their impending divorce broke last year, it didn't take long for public scrutiny to shift towards Harris. Accusations of cheating soon followed, as her relationship with actress Sophia Bush was outed not long after. However, those are accusations that both Harris and Bush have repeatedly denied. Most recently, Harris went on the Naked Sports podcast, where the conversation eventually turned to her marriage to Krieger, and how things fell apart between them.Here's what we learned:1. They had stopped being intimate."Its not an easy conversation to have with anyone, to carry the shame of not feeling loved and wanted," Harris said. "I felt so embarrassed and I felt so much shame that I didnt know how to tell people that, like, oh, my wife doesnt want to touch me or doesnt want to be intimate or doesnt want this."2. She suggested an open marriage."I started trying all these things, like, 'Let's do an open marriage,'" she recalled. "And I'm like, that's just not even me, dude. Like a year before we officially called it quits, that was my last attempt of, you know, if Im not getting what I want, we want to keep this together."3. Soccer may have come between them."I think she loved the game so much and all she knew was how to sacrifice her life for the game," Harris said of Krieger. "Then when you add children, which is a whole different layer. I just felt like I wasnt a priority. I didnt feel that sense of connection, whether emotional or physical. It was soccer, job, kids, and then somewhere down the line it was like, okay, but like what about me? What about me?"4. The divorce wasn't sudden.Although Krieger has previously said she was blindsided by Harris filing for divorce, Harris maintains that couldn't have been true. In fact, she says she moved out of their home at the beginning of the summer in 2023."The whole plan was to hold off until the end of the season. And I remember calling and saying, 'You want to jointly file?' like this is going to be whats best. And she said, 'Nah, youll come crawling back in six months,'" she said. "And I filed, and then all of a sudden she was blindsided by it."5. She thought it was what was best for their kids."I became a stranger, not only within myself, but within my relationship, and then the worst thing that you can do is start pushing that on your young children," Harris said. "I didn't wanna do that to my kids. I don't want them I don't wanna project my shame and insecurity and my marriage on them because I wasn't getting what I needed out of it."6. She still insists she didn't cheat."Im constantly pegged as a cheater, which that is so far from the truth and [Krieger] knows it," she said. "And it torched me."7. She wants people to know the divorce wasn't easy for her, either.While sympathies have largely been with Krieger, at least among soccer fans, Harris wants people to remember that they just can't know what actually went on behind closed doors."Its the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life. And I think people miss that. People think only one person was in pain, or people think you have to choose a side that you know, you have to really punish this person because the idea you had through social media didnt manage your expectations," she said. "However, you havent lived my experience. That is one thing Im not willing to compromise after Ive done so for so long, is live my life for other people through this lens of social media, which just I cant do it anymore. It destroys you."

So many amazing things have come out of Wicked hitting theaters. From Jonathan Bailey giving us all spank bank material when he said there is a photo of him wearing nothing but his Fiyero boots to Jeff Goldblum lusting after Baileys thighs while doing press for the film to EqualPrides own Tracy E. Gilchrist going viral for her holding space moment with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.But the film adaptation of the Broadway play is capturing our attention for a whole new reason today: gays being horny on main.We know how much the queer community stans a musical, but we had no clue some men are enhancing their experience of listening to Defying Gravity with poppers.X user @CommeDesHazons posted a story from the Wicked subreddit that has us cackling!The original Reddit posters wrote that while seeing Wicked in the theater, he noticed a man movie his head around a LOT and was confused about what he was doing. I know what youre thinking, but he wasnt bobbing his head up and down, instead he was bopping to the music with a little help from a chemical friend. (@) At this point I was thinking he may have a tick, which is unavoidable and totally fine. While Im thinking that I start smelling poppers of all things. This. Man. Was. Doing. Poppers, the person wrote. But instead of using them to enhance their sexual experience, this man was using poppers to enjoy Wicked even more.I finally put it all together and realized he was sniffing poppers at the start of every musical number and then bobbing his head around while he felt the rush. Troye Sivan would be proud. The first response to the Reddit post is equally as hilarious as the story itself, At the [start] of Defying Gravity that was his butthole actually sining the AHHHAHAHAHAAAAAA part of the song.One of the commenters on the X post correctly and hilariously pointed out that the song should be called Popper-ular. We cant.We know this movie is a huge part of queer culture right now, but you gotta behave in public! (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@)

Jonathan Bennett is here to make the yuletide gay.With the help of Hallmark, the 43-year-old out actor and certified holiday heartthrob is crafting feel-good Christmas-themed fare that keeps viewers entertained while also bringing LGBTQ+ representation to the popular cable network.This year, that comes in the form of Finding Mr. Christmas, a new reality competition series where 10 aspiring actors from all walks of life are vying for the title of Hallmark's next leading man in a holiday film (a.k.a. "Mr. Christmas"). Hosted by the Out100 honoree, who also co-created and executive produced the series, Finding Mr. Christmas is exactly the kind of joyful, heartfelt, and downright fun reality television contest that many will find comforting for years to come. (And it doesn't hurt that it's filled to the brim with men many will consider the perfect holiday eye candy.) Onesie: Hanes Wes and Alex"It's Christmas. It's joyful. It's funny. It's guys that look great in Christmas sweaters," Bennett says, excited for the fun and joy a show like Finding Mr. Christmas can bring folks during turbulent times. "It's just everything you want during the holidays to turn on with your friends and family and just watch it together and root for your favorite hunk."And trust, there are plenty of hunks to choose from. Suit: OrttuWes and AlexOne hunk in particular, Daxton Bloomquist, left quite an impression on LGBTQ+ Hallmark fans, especially in the very first episode of the show, when he and Bennett share a heartfelt moment about being your most out-and-proud, authentic self in this world. Its a moment Bennett says he cherishes and thinks was super cute."When we were casting and finding all these people, whether they were gay or straight, that didn't even become a thing for us, Bennett says. Who's got the sparkle to 'em? And Dax had the sparkle, so he deserves a seat at the table just like everyone else."And what exactly is that "sparkle" Bennett mentions? According to the Mean Girls alum, a Hallmark hottie and the first Mr. Christmas should possess a few qualities to make him a standout worthy of leading his own holiday film (which at the time of writing, the still unrevealed winner of the series already did!). Silk Pajama Set: Fleur du Mal Wes and Alex"First of all, they've got to be funny. They've got to be charming, they've got to be kind. They have to have a great sense of humor and a whole lot of heart," Bennett lists. "Those are the five things that make a Hallmark leading man shine. And I think what makes the winner of Finding Mr. Christmas, Mr. Christmas. He's put through so many different tests and each time all of those five qualities show through.""And looking good in a Christmas sweater doesn't hurt," he adds humorously. "Of course they're going to be hot. They're Hallmark hunks. Of course, they're going to be good-looking. But on top of being good-looking, we need those five qualities." Turtleneck: Todd Snyder; Suit: BurberryWes and AlexThough the most recent entry, Finding Mr. Christmas is far from the only part of Bennett's queer Christmas legacy at Hallmark.In 2020 Bennett starred in the Hallmark Channel's holiday film The Christmas House, where he played the role of Brandon, a gay baker returning to his parents' house for the holidays alongside his husband Jake (Brad Harder). Though at the time it faced some calls for boycotts from overzealous homophobes on social media, the Hallmark Channel stood firm in its release of the film, making history on the network for being the first movie to prominently feature a same-sex couple. The success of The Christmas House even led to the release of a sequel the following year, The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls, where Bennett was able to reprise his role."It's important that we have amazing LGBTQ+ representation on America's most-watched cable network," Bennett says of his ongoing relationship with Hallmark. "At the end of the day, Hallmark wins the ratings for movies. They just do. They're the top of their game when it comes to movie ratings. No one watches more cable television movies than people that watch Hallmark. They're the highest-rated. So when you have an audience like that, that's that broad and it's all walks of life, it's all ages, it's from all the different states. It is very diverse, their fan base. So it's important to keep doing what I'm doing, which is telling LGBTQ+ storylines in movies on that network, so that way we have representation in that way and so our LGBTQ+ fans that watch [Hallmark] feel seen and they feel like they're having their stories told." Silk Pajama Set: Fleur du Mal Wes and AlexAnd the legacy doesn't end there. Bennett, who says that he has played at least six queer roles in the past five years where the characters actually get to kiss another man onscreen, led 2023's The Holiday Sitter, the very first LGBTQ-centered film ever broadcast by the Hallmark Channel."I'm very proud of what I've done at Hallmark by being the first same-sex kiss on the network, being the first gay-led Christmas rom-com, and having the first same-sex wedding on the network, all leading roles with lead storylines," Bennett says. "That's a huge deal, and I am very proud to have done that. It's something I'll always cherish." Bow tie: Gucci; Jacket: Ralph Lauren; Dress Shirt: Zegna; Pants: OrttuWes and AlexAnd in true holiday spirit, Bennett's energies aren't all just focused on his own life and career. By crafting shows and projects like Finding Mr. Christmas, where folks who have little experience in the industry vie for a spot in a Hallmark production that will be seen by many, Bennett makes it a point to help uplift the next generation of stars at Hallmark and beyond."The big thing that I believe in life, and especially in show business, is I don't shine if you don't shine," Bennett says. "No matter how good I'm doing, unless I'm turning around and pulling people up with me, what's the point? You don't want to be the lonely person on the top of a mountain. You want to be on the top of a mountain with a ton of people who are awesome. And so I always have believed that there is plenty of pie for everybody. You don't have to fail so that I can succeed. I can succeed, and you can succeed. I think that's something that in queer culture is very rare. You see it sometimes, but you don't see it a ton. And I think having the ability to know that the more I help other people fulfill their dreams, the more my dream gets fulfilled."Finding Mr. Christmas airs new episodes on The Hallmark Channel each Thursday. Santa Suit: Pro Santa Shop; Leather gloves: Orttu Wes and AlexPhotographers: Wes and Alex @wesandalexStylist: Gabriel Langenbrunner @langyMakeup artist: Sabrina Ozuna @sabrinaozuna

When the Interview with the Vampire movie came out back in the '90s, the only thing it was really missing was some hot on-screen action between Antonio Banderas, Tom Cruise, and/or Brad Pitt in their respective roles as Armand, Lestat, and Louis. Considering the source material from Anne Rice focused more on the homosexual tendencies of these vampires, particularly Lestat, it came as a bit of a letdown not to see them explore their passion in the film.Fast forward to 2022, and we finally got everything we wanted and more with AMC's television reboot of the series, which delves further into Rice's world and gives us a much deeper (hehe) look into all of the beloved characters. Sam Reid and Jacob Anderson's chemistry is palpable as Lestat and Louis, as is Anderson's chemistry with Assad Zaman, who plays Armand.Spoiler alert through the end of the second season, before you go any further.By the end of the first episode, the show sets itself up to be sexy, steamy, intriguing, and full of passion. While it still is all of those things, the sex isn't what's prevalent in the storyline and takes more of a back burner to the focus of the vampire's lust for the kill. This joy of taking life is something they get off on in their own way, but much more sadistically.Instead, the story delves into the convoluted relationship of Louis and Lestat, especially as the two ultimately wind up plotting to kill each other. It also digs deeper into the relationship between Louis and Armand, whom Louis claims is the "love of his life." Their relationship is just as complex in its own way and becomes the central focus of the second season. During that, Louis battles his guilt over the murder of Lestat, who also had his own previous dealings with Armand, as well.Seriously, this is the hottest gay love triangle we wish we could get in the middle of.Still, even though we don't get an insane amount of sex throughout the show, what we did get left us yearning for more, and also left us feeling a little like we wanted to suck on some necks for ourselves. Here's a ranking of the show's current sex scenes through to the end of season two.5. Louis and Lestat make Antoinette jealousIf you've seen the show, you know there's a wild rollercoaster of drama between Lestat and Louis, particularly as the two work out ways to kill the other behind their backs. Along the way, another vampire named Antoinette (Maura Grace Athari) gets Lestat's attention, which only furthers the friction between Lestat and Louis. During one of their reconnections after an argument in the sixth episode of season one, Antoinette watches Louis and Lestat make love to each other from the window sill, which is the exact seat we wish we had for the show. 4. Louis and Armand make love over booksTo be honest, there's a bit of a missed opportunity with the show to explore the connection between Louis and Armand more intimately. It's nice that the show doesn't center around sex and focuses more on the storyline, but the sexual tension between these two would have been great to watch play out a little more (and maybe it still will by season three.) At one point during their time at the theater of vampires, Louis tells Armand to take off his clothes, face down, in a coffin and to read to him while they make love. For all of the heated passion between the two of them throughout the rest of the series, this is one of the few times we actually get a look at how they get it on with each other in the sixth episode of season two.3. Louis' mind is elsewhere with LestatDuring the sixth episode of season one, we get another encounter with Lestat and Louis during their complicated back-and-forth arguments. While it's happening, Louis and Claudia (Bailey Bass) have their own separate side conversation about how they might be able to escape from Lestat's hold. This interaction shows Louis' inner conflict as tensions continue to brew between the two lovers as they work to sort out their feelings for each other, if they ever do.. 2. Louis and Jonah hook up in the woodsIn the third episode of season one, we get the first real look into Louis' jealousy when it comes to Lestat after he goes off and hooks up with another woman. To get his own semblance of revenge, he meets up with his childhood friend, Jonah (Thomas Antony Olajide) and the two spend some time together in the woods. That "time" leads to an encounter that ends with Jonah going down on Louis right out in the open. As Jonah gives Louis head, we also get to see Louis' internal fight against his vampire instincts as he becomes more in line with his newer vampire identity. The depiction of his struggle is also reminiscent of people not wanting to embrace their true selves, and his self-mutilation during the pleasure when he bites himself adds a layer of complexity to the scene.1. Louis, Lestat, and Lily have a bisexual threesomeThe entire first episode revolves around the growing sexual tension between Louis and Lestat, with Louis even telling the reporter to let the story seduce you, as I was seduced. The culmination of all of the passion comes to a head when they finally give in to their passion during an encounter with Lily (Najah Bradley). This is easily the most intense and passionate sex scene thus far in the series, with the most nudity attached. It starts out with Louis going down on Lily at Lestat's encouragement, and as he gives her oral pleasure, Lestat puts her to sleep so he and Louis can bring their attention back to each other. The consummation of their love is also in line with Lestat siring Louis, and as the two float together, naked, in the middle of the room, Louis' life as a vampire begins.

Even if you haven't heard of the dreaded "LBD," you most likely have experienced it. Lesbian Bed Death is a phrase coined by sexologists Pepper Schwartz and Phillip Blumstein in 1983 from a study they conducted on diminished sexual activity in long-term relationships. Basically, its the term used to describe the death knell of the monogamous sex life of a couple. Their study included monogamous lesbian, gay and heterosexual couples. The bad news is that Lesbian Bed Death does happen. The good news is that you can nurture your sex life back to health. Here well look at LBD and things you can do to resurrect the S-E-X part of your relationship.First things first Is Lesbian Bed Death a real issue?LBD is not an issue for every couple, even those who have ceased having sex. There are women who are content with their relationships excluding sexual intimacy. Many feel they have a full connection emotionally and are therefore fine with companionship in whatever form that may take, and also happy with having a rich emotional life with their partners. They do not feel that sex is a necessary part of their relationships.Intimacy without sex includes cuddling, doing outside activities together, reading together, and talking about how deeply they feel about things in and out of the relationship, plus touching including foot massages and back rubs. The point being, there are many ways to be intimate and not all of them include sex. LBD is only an issue if one or both of the women in the relationship feel that it is.If you are in this category, there is nothing wrong with that. After all, it is your relationship, and if you are happy and content it is no ones business other than your own.Emotionally romantic relationships between women that do not include sex are not a new idea. To provide some background on the matter, there is historic precedence for these types of relationships, called Boston Marriages, or romantic unions between women that were usually monogamous but not necessarily sexual. Boston Marriages flourished in the late nineteenth century. The term was coined in New, England, around the time that numerous women's colleges such as Vassar, Smith, and Wellesley and Mount Holyoke emerged. How do you know if you're experiencing LBD?Now, back to LBD. There has been some criticism over the definition of what a healthy sex life is. The main criticisms leveled at studies are the definition of sexual contact orgasm oriented genital contact. Criticisms have been leveled against twists concerning the definition of sex. For instance, why can't a definition include both partners having some form of physical contact that would include things like: masturbating with a partner in different situations, or holding your partner and caressing and kissing her while she masturbates?The truth about diminished libido is that its not just a phenomenon of the Sapphic community. The issue affects heterosexual and gay male relationships as well. Research has also shown that there is just as much -- or little -- sexual contact happening for lesbians as for heterosexual women. (In fact, some studies show lesbians are having a better time sexually than their straight counterparts.)The reality is, if you are in a long-term relationship, eventually even the sex can get routine and feel like a chore. It can get boring, just like doing anything by rote. Its fun and great at first, but then you eventually arent as stimulated as you once were. Again, part of this is going through the stages of a relationshipincluding the neurochemistry and hormones -- and part of it is human nature. We continually seek new experiences in exciting and stimulating ways.What causes LBD?There is much debate over the root causes of LBD , including scientific explanations around the hormone oxytoxin, explained thoroughly in "Lesbian Bed Death Explained by Susan Kuchinskas. "When two women engage in intimate behavior, from hanging out with a friend to wild love-making, it's likely that, with every breath, they take in molecules of estrogen and oxytocin emitted by the other's body -- as well as the testosterone women produce," she writes. "But be aware that the neurochemistry of a lesbian love may nudge the relationship further toward the sedate. You can counteract this tendency by building some -- safe -- danger into your life. An adrenaline rush counters that oxytocin calm nicely."If you have been in a relationship and your sex life was great, but suddenly changed, it could be a physical issue. As weve discussed in previous articles, there can be many reasons for this including: medications, peri-menopause, menopause, decreased levels of testosterone, and adrenal stress. Mental health issues like Depression, Bi-Polar Disorder, or stress or depression from life circumstances can all contribute to a decrease or can cause your sex drive to perform a disappearing act.If there are any changes to your libido, go to a medical practitioner to make sure everything is working correctly. Always advocate for yourself and educate yourself on treatment options before agreeing to any type of treatment. If there are no physical issues and you are in the relationship phase after the first bloom fades, LBD can start. The truth of the matter is that the infatuation stage of a relationship -- also known as limerance is not truly a "love at first sight" type of thing after all. It is a neurochemical response. How do you combat LBD in your relationship?The real and central solution for this problem is communication. Throw the term 'Lesbian Bed Death' away. This issue is a part of life, and as we said before, it can happen to a couple of any sexual orientation as they move into a long-term, live together, monogamous relationship. In order to solve this issue, it will take you and your partner talking openly and honestly about what is bothering you, what you want, like or don't like and what youre willing to try or not try.It may be that you need to throw out the ideas many of us have about sex. "Sex must be spontaneous," "I shouldnt have to masturbate in a relationship," or "We both need to be in the mood at the same time," are some of the misperceptions we may have that keep our sex lives from being what we want.1. Put S-E-X on the calendarIt may not be romantic, but try scheduling a sex date and if you want go out on a romantic date first. It can take the pressure off knowing what the end result will be. It can also be a turn off to schedule sex; just don't totally dismiss it as an option. One way to look at it is, when you first got together you knew you were going to have sex when you got home and that was exciting. Give it a try and if it feels artificial, just keep on and see if something develops.2. Add more masturbation to your routine!Masturbation can help increase your sex drive. Do it together, play with toys and experiment. While one partner masturbates, the other can be kissing and caressing her to add to the experience. The partner who doesn't feel in the mood can be the caresser. An inspiration to reach down and take over for the partner who is masturbating may turn into an extended love-in. Feeling how wet her girlfriend is may be the turn on that's needed.If you do masturbate regularly, stop for a while and see if you become more willing to let your partner do it for you. Give your partner a back rub or a foot massage but don't always expect a sexual pay off for these activities, just do it to do it. Any touching or massage will increase your intimacy and it may also turn on your partner.You don't have to be in the mood at the same time. Let the one who is in the mood be the one who is the focus of the love making, which may get the one whos not quite feeling it fired up and ready to go.3. Explore your fantasiesExplore each other's fantasies. Only do the fantasies you both agree to use. If one of you is uncomfortable with a fantasy, or with a new form of sex play, ensure that you let your partner know in a gentle and loving way that the fantasy or activity she wants to try is not for you, won't turn you on, etc. Don't pressure each other into something one of you is not comfortable with. This can cause resentment and create trust issues. These issues will in turn be tied to issues about sex.4. Orgasms are great but adding pressure about when you have them is a libido killer.When you are making love together, don't put pressure on yourselves to orgasm at the same time, if that is your goal or belief. Just enjoy the sensations; orgasms don't have to be the end result of any sexual activity. Draw foreplay out, over days if necessary. Take turns making one or the other of you the focus of your time together.5. Consider opening up your relationship.Some find polyamory, threesomes, or an open relationship, a solution for their waning love life. Make sure you are using safer sex practices and have set rules and boundaries you both agree to if you go this route, including canceling the experiment at any time up to or during the act itself. Issues of jealousy and fear can raise their ugly heads, so don't agree to opening your relationship up to others unless you feel that you are capable of handling all the emotions that go along with this.The types of solutions depend on the women involved. I've known some who could handle it and some who thought they could but became jealous. And I've known some whose relationships were torn apart by this kind of experimentation. Always leave it an option to revisit the agreement about this type of solution if either of you starts to have second thoughts. If one of you isn't comfortable, you can go back to a monogamous relationship but it may be hard to do after experiencing the thrill of other sex partners. If you feel you want to explore this option with a therapist first, look for one who is open to counseling alternative lifestyles.Always remember that what may work for one partner may not work for the other. What may work one time may not another. Be patient with each other and give yourselves time to work sex into your life. If one thing doesn't work, try something else. If that doesn't work go to the next thing on the list.Tracey Stevens and Kathy Wunder are the co-authors of Lesbian Sex Tips: A Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Bring Pleasure to the Woman She (Or He) Loves and How to be a Happy Lesbian: A Coming Out Guide. Their website, www.amazingdreamspublishing.com, provides more than 1,500 free community services for lesbian and bisexual women worldwide. Contact Tracey & Kathy at www.amazingdreamspublishing.com/contactform.html.

Its the most wonderful time of the queer! The holidays are about love, family, and making memoriesbut whats a cozy Christmas without a feel-good holiday movie? For too long, holiday movies lacked sapphic love stories, but thats changed in recent years. Now, theres no shortage of festive films showcasing lesbians falling in love, finding family, and maybe saving the occasional Christmas tree farm.Whether youre in the mood for heartwarming romance, campy musicals, or snowy dramas, this list has you covered. Grab some hot cocoa, wrap yourself in your favorite blanket, and get ready to spread the holiGAY cheer with these 25 lesbian Christmas movies.Holiday Films to Watch this Season1. Friends & Family Christmas (2023)HallmarkHallmarks first-ever lesbian Christmas movie! Overwhelmed lawyer Daniela recruits her best friend Amelia to play her girlfriend for the holidays. Spoiler alert: fake dating turns into real sparks.2. Looking for Her (2022)Taylor hires an actress to pretend to be her girlfriend for the holidays, only to find herself falling for her stand-in. Sweet, funny, and packed with charm.3. Happiest Season (2020)Kristen Stewart shines in this rom-com about a girlfriend meeting the family only to discover they dont know she exists. Directed by Clea DuVall, its a modern queer Christmas classic.4. Under the Christmas Tree (2021)When Almas yard becomes the site of the governors Christmas tree search, she doesnt expect romance to bloom with Charlie, the tree whisperer. Cheesy, heartwarming, and totally adorable.5. The Christmas Clapback (2022)Family traditions and competitive cook-offs meet a blossoming romance between Tisha and her influencer neighbor. A BET gem celebrating Black love and LGBTQ+ joy.6. A Holiday I Do (2023)Single mom Jane juggles running a horse farm, being the best woman at a wedding, and falling for the wedding planner, Sue. Chaos and cuteness ensue!7. Let It Snow (2019)A snowstorm on Christmas Eve intertwines the lives of small-town friends, including a bold and beautiful lesbian love story. Perfect for cozy vibes.8. Season of Love (2019)This sapphic take on the holiday ensemble movie follows intertwined queer love stories. Its a little cheesy, a lot romantic, and entirely delightful.9. Christmas at the Ranch (2021)City slicker Haley returns to save her familys ranch and falls for rugged cowgirl Kate. A swoon-worthy sapphic romance in cowboy boots.10. Its a Wonderful Knife (2023)Winnies life is less than wonderful one year after saving her town from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve. When she wishes she was never born, she finds herself magically transported to a nightmarish parallel universe. With the murderous maniac now back, she must team up with a misfit to identify the culprit and get back to her own reality.11. A New York Christmas Wedding (2020)What if you could redo the past? Starring Monsters Cooper Koch, this magical movie explores love, second chances, and a sapphic Christmas wedding thatll warm your heart.12. Merry & Gay (2022)High school sweethearts Becca and Sam reunite thanks to meddling moms and holiday magic. A Christin Baker creation thats full of festive feels.13. The Christmas Lottery (2020)Three sisters reunite to hunt for a lost lottery ticket. 14. Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas (2019)Aisha Dee stars in this quirky film about friendship, family, and ghostly romance. Bonus points for its adorable sapphic subplot!15. Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)A zombie musical comedy with a festive backdrop and a tough-as-nails lesbian teen named Steph. Its weird, wild, and wonderful.16. I Hate New Years (2020)Layne realizes shes in love with her best friend during a whirlwind New Years adventure. A holiday rom-com with great music and sapphic love.17. Rent (2005)This iconic musical spans a year in the lives of Bohemian New Yorkers, including a tender love story between lesbian characters Maureen and Joanne.18. City of Trees (2019)Ainsley reunites with an old flame in her small hometown, rediscovering love in the midst of holiday nostalgia. A sweet indie treat.19. Every Time a Bell Rings (2021)A scavenger hunt reunites three sisters and sparks a romance for one with her long-time best friend. Heartfelt and endearing.20. The Syed Family Xmas Eve Game Night (2021)Noor introduces her girlfriend to her Muslim family during their annual holiday game night. A short film thats brimming with warmth and representation.21. Holiday Help Desk (2018)What happens when a woman working on Christmas Eve answers the phone and finds love on the line? This short film is as sweet as a candy cane.22. Whats Cooking? (2000)Thanksgiving drama, family dynamics, and a wonderful lesbian couple make this a perfect addition to your holiday watchlist.23. Lez Bomb (2018)Laurens plan to come out to her family over Thanksgiving goes hilariously sideways in this warm, funny holiday movie.24. Sense8 Christmas Special (2016)Nomi and Amanita steal the show in this beautifully queer Netflix special. Bonus: the holiday party is unforgettable!25. The Postie (2019)A short film about a woman crushing on her local mail carrier. Its awkward, adorable, and so very relatable.Celebrate the season with these fabulous flicks thatll make your heart grow three sizes. From heartwarming rom-coms to quirky shorts, theres no shortage of holiGAY joy on this list. Happy watching and happy holidays! More Stories: Disney Festival of Holidays 2024: Your Foodie Guide to Disneylands Seasonal TreatsHeartwarming Queer Films to Spark Holiday JoyWatch the Gay Cowboy Movie Dashing In December This Holiday SeasonThe post The HoliGAY Spirit Is Here! 25 Must-Watch Festive Lesbian Movies appeared first on Gayety.

2024 has been an exciting year for Scott Hoying!During Pride Month, the Pentatonix frontman released a children's book with his gorgeous husband Mark Hoying and the couple began the process of having a kid of their own.As the year comes to a close, Hoying is now revealing when they're expecting to welcome a baby into the family."We're just getting closer to finding a surrogate! It takes longer for the gays, but we are getting closer. Next year. Definitely next year," Hoying tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Hoying isn't the first member of Pentatonix to have a baby! Kevin Olusola is a father of two and Kirstin Maldonado just announced on the band's current holiday tour that she's pregnant with her second child."I feel great! The shows have been amazing. Everything is super well-polished. We all love the show and the fans have been so amazing, so it's been really great. Obviously it's harder to breathe, but besides that, everything is going amazing," Maldonado says.It's hard to believe that Pentatonix formed all the way back in high school in Arlington, Texas. Fast forward to today, the a capella group has become an undeniable holiday staple and all of the members have grown tremendously in their personal lives."Knowing these two for so long, they've made such huge strides in their lives and accomplished so many amazing things. It's really inspiring. The more we work together, the closer we get and the more we understand each other," Grassi shares. See on Instagram Grassi and Hoying have represented the LGBTQ+ community so beautifully as their mainstream popularity has grown over the years. The two hope their visibility can continue to inspire all queer youth to live as authentically as possible."There's no better feeling than getting to be your authentic self and surrounding yourself with people that love and accept you for who you are no matter what. Young queer kids need to know that they deserve that," Grassi says."Being queer is so incredibly beautiful and amazing. It's something to be super proud of. I love to be as visibly gay as possible! If it helps any queer kid that's closeted or afraid, they can feel less alone in seeing that," Hoying adds."It's so special to be in a place where we can really stand by each other. It's the best feeling in the world. I love them! They're my family. They're like my brothers," Maldonado concludes.Fans can get tickets to see Pentatonix on their Hallelujah! It's A Christmas Tour by visiting the official website here. To see the full interview, check out the video at the top of the page.

(@) The library is open, and drag queens are being read for filth!Curious drag fan Kori King took to X (formerly Twitter) today to ask, "What drag trends need to go away in 2025?"Some people answered with constructive changes that the drag artists could make next year, like staying away from breastplates that don't match you're skin tone, being sure to glue down your wigs, and staying away from 'soft glam' makeup, but other responses were SHADY. Although, to be fair, the OP was setting up the conversation to be diabolical by posting an old photo of RuPaul in basic makeup and a Party City-looking wig.From people commenting "opinions about how a drag artist should do their art" should be a thing of the past to people complaining about too many drag queens not padding enough, with one person writing, the drag trend that needs to go away is "having non-corseted non-padded hog body and calling it realism," no one is holding back. The Drag Race fandom is notoriously shady, so we probably should have expected responses this brutal!Despite how shady some commenters are being on this viral post, there are others who just want everyone to mind their own business and for 2025 to be the end of "non-drag performers contributing to drag discourse." And other people who think that the community's definition of drag is far too narrow, writing that the trend that needs to end is "thinking drag is only about looking feminine." Period.So, regardless of whether you want to see constructive criticism about drag or love a shady read, there is a funny response for you! (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@)

Sir Elton John shared a concerning health update about his vision in a recent interview to promote his new documentary, Disney+'s Elton John: Never Too Late, which is set to premiere next month.In an interview, John discussed his latest collaboration with Brandi Carlile a song titled "Never Too Late," which inspired the name of his documentary and shared heartbreaking details about losing his eyesight in recent months."I unfortunately lost my eyesight in my right eye in July, because I had an infection in the south of France. It's been four months now since I haven't been able to see," John told Good Morning America's Robin Roberts when asked about whether he'd make a new album. "My left eye is not the greatest. There's hope and encouragement that it will be OK, but I'm kind of stuck in the moment."The music legend continued, "I can do something like this [an interview] but going into the studio and recording, I don't know. I can't see a lyric, for a start. We're taking an initiative to try and get it better. But, at the moment, that's really what we're concentrating on. It's never fortunate for anything like this to happen, and it kind of floored me. I can't see anything. I can't read anything. I can't watch anything."John also explained how his latest collaboration with Carlile came about."She [Carlile] wrote this song called 'Never Too Late,' and everything in the lyric encompasses what I've been through," he explained. "She said, 'You're an Iron Man, baby.' And I am a bit of an Iron Man. I've been through so much and I've come out the other side."GMA host Roberts asked John if the lyrics to "I'm Still Standing" are resonating with John even more at this time in his career.The singer replied, "I'm so lucky. I'm the luckiest man in the world. I'm so proud of the documentary. I'm proud of my sons. I'm proud of my attitude towards myself and what's going on.""I'm just very lucky and I'm very grateful," John concluded.Elton John: Never Too Late premieres Friday, December 13 on Disney+.

With President-elect Donald Trump just under two months away from taking office and a slew of troubling cabinet appointments making headlines including anti-vax crank Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary LGBTQ+ Americans are understandably concerned about what a second Trump administration will mean for our rights and healthcare.In a recent interview with the Washington Blade, Human Rights Campaign (HRC) director of HIV and health equity Torrian Baskerville acknowledged the fears many LGBTQ+ people, particularly those who are Black, trans, and/or living with HIV, are experiencing around healthcare in light of both Trumps rhetoric and the proposals laid out in Project 2025. Related Donald Trumps second term regime will be a whos who of corruption & incompetency Donald Trump has always promised the best and brightest for his cabinet. Shockingly, he missed the mark. While we are desiring and hoping for the best, he said, the reality is that things that we have seen, at least the rhetoric, hasnt been hopeful. And so were just hoping that there are guardrails in place that help to maintain and control as best as possible some of the things that may be going on. 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 Speaking prior to Trumps announcement of Kennedy as his pick for HHS secretary, and of Marty Makary and former Rep. Dave Weldon (R-FL) to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), respectively, HRC senior public policy advocate Matthew Rose weighed in on the importance of the incoming Presidents choices for those positions.HHS will be very important for us, Rose told the Blade. Who they put at the Office of Civil Rights at HHS will be incredibly important for us. The Assistant Secretary for Health has, under Democratic administrations, and in Republican administrations, been a champion for us, sometimes. Admiral Brett Giroir, Trumps Assistant Secretary for Health during his first administration, Rose noted, did what he could for us.While Rose said hes less concerned with Trumps pick to lead the National Institutes of Health unless they find someone really, really crazy he said that the FDA appointment is a worry because it could change just how we view drugs and drug regulations and how those get approved. Trumps pick for director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is also a concern, Rose said, because the people who make the budget decide how money gets spent.On Monday, Trump nominated Russell Vought, described as a key architect of Project 2025, for his OMB director. In a recent interview with Democracy Now, ProPublica reporter Molly Redden indicated that Vought is likely to use the position to block funding for programs and organizations like Planned Parenthood that dont align with Project 2025s radical right-wing agenda.When it comes to HIV care and prevention, Rose looked to the first Trump administration: The HIV community has continuously reminded Republicans that Donald Trump did create the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative that has helped move the needle, he said. And so there is some promise there. They arent all full-on, like, anti-PrEP all the time, but they are wary of it. However, Rose predicts potential conflict between efforts to curb the HIV epidemic and Project 2025s anti-LGBTQ+ agenda. Those same people who said, Wow, these HIV numbers are really bad and we should do something about it were like, But we hate all these LGBTQ people and their health, and so were not going to have any non-discrimination [rules], and we dont care if we kick them off their health care, and we dont care if theyre invisible in society, Rose explained. Given where the epidemic has always been in the community, its hard to end the HIV epidemic without talking about LGBTQ people and the resources that we use in the community, and the lives that we live, and the lives that we have.Rose said he also expects greater deference in the new administration to religious exemptions and so-called conscience clauses, which allow healthcare providers to refuse to provide certain services that conflict with their religious beliefs.Rose also noted that every budget produced during the first Trump administration decimated funding for the CDC and HRSA and HHS in all of the HIV line items. He didnt wholesale eliminate anything, but he shaved those things down to bare bones, Rose said.Access to PrEP and other contraceptives under the Affordable Care Acts preventive services coverage requirement could also be in even greater jeopardy. Experts expect the ongoing legal battle in Braidwood vs. Becerra a legal case challenging the Affordable Care Acts requirement for insurers to cover preventative healthcare to eventually reach the Supreme Court, and Rose thinks the new Trump administration could reverse the Biden administrations position supporting the landmark healthcare laws requirement that insurance providers cover PrEP.Were actually very concerned about the government reversing its role, Rose said. Changing the position on Braidwood is pretty quick and easy for them to do. They can pull out of that pretty fast. Its still an active case, he added, and we dont know whats going to happen if the U.S. government switches its position on it. I imagine that state attorneys general, who have been tracking the case, would step in, but well have to see what their capacity looks like.Rose indicated that it will likely take a while for the incoming Trump administration to upend healthcare. Theres just a lot of regulation to get through, he said. While the new administration is ready to implement its immigration policies on day one, Rose said he expects less acute pain in the realm of healthcare in the early day.But even Trumps immigration policies will impact public health, causing a chilling effect for undocumented immigrants or those living in mixed-status families who need to access care. Baskerville also noted that concerns about safety that Trumps rhetoric inspires, particularly among trans people and undocumented immigrants, may be a major roadblock for those communities seeking the care they need in the years ahead. If folks arent feeling safe at home, if theyre not feeling safe in their communities, he explained, theyre not going to access any of the healthcare, or any of the other things, and feel like theyre empowered to do that.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Strap-ons and other sex toys can seem totally intimidating, but they really aren't!Ah, so the time has come. Maybe youve been eying them in secret online. Maybe youve never even thought about them. But its inevitable in a queer relationship, strap-on use is going to come up.While these toys can seem totally intimidating, its not really too complicated to get started. Sex toys dont have to be awkward AF. If you want to give strap-ons a try, check out the following tips so you feel less lost. (Plus, you can even send them to your partner as a little nudge to let them know where your thoughts are headed.)1. Explore the whole wide world of dildosThere are so many dildos in the world. Like, an absurd and exciting! amount.Adventure in your favorite sex shop or go online and find one, or a few, that seem right to you. Starting small could be a good call if your partner has never been penetrated with something other than fingers before, but be sure to talk it out to see what makes the most sense for everyone involved. After all, are you going to go bright and vibrant, or natural tones? So many choices.2. Find a cozy harness that fitsYour second decision is picking a harness. While its appealing to go for something flashy, make sure you find one that fits. A harness thats adjustable is best so that you dont have to buy a new one if you gain or lose a few inches. Focus on comfort, at least for the first time, to avoid squeezing yourself or having it fall off in bed.3. Play around with the strap-on to get comfortable with itStroll around in the strap-on like nothing is even happening. Its totally hilarious, and itll help break the ice so you and your partner(s) feel used to having the strap-on in your lives. Even if it isnt in a non-sexual way, just having the strap-on within your line of sight will help silence some jitters and make you both feel less like you have a strange, foreign object in bed with you.4. Dont worry about getting it perfect the first timeEven though all of us want to be totally perfect in bed 100 percent of the time, you have to be able to give yourself a break. Its your first time trying out a strap-on, and only practice makes perfect. Dont kick yourself if you have to try a few different positions or start and stop. Youre both learning how to do this, together.5. CommunicateCommunication is always key, no matter what kind of sex youre having. Ask your partner how what youre doing feels, as its way more difficult to tell whats going on down there than is if youre using your mouth or hand. Dont just rely on body language to tell you if youre making a mistake!6. Be open about your feelingsMaybe you loved the strap-on, and your partner hated it. Maybe you hated it, and they loved it. Maybe you feel the same way. The only way youll know if the strap-on should become a regular part of your routine or reserved for special occasions (or stored in the drawer with the other sex toys you werent into) is by talking about it.Be open about your feelings, and make it clear that no ones feelings are going to be hurt if you feel differently about your new toy. After all, its you that matters in your sex lives, not just the adventure of trying something new. Plus, theres so much more you can try if you decide a strap-on isnt right for you!

Pop legend Elton John has revealed that he can no longer see very well after a severe infection in his right eye that he experienced over the summer. Despite this, a new song of his will soon premiere in a documentary about his life.Its been four months now since I havent been able to see, he recently told Good Morning America. My left eye is not the greatest Theres hope and encouragement that it will be OK, but Im kind of stuck in the moment. Related Elton John tells lawmakers they have the power to end AIDS by 2030 No matter who wins this election, he wants them to know that they can end this epidemic. Going into the studio and recording I cant see a lyric, for a start. Were taking an initiative to try and get it better. But, at the moment, thats really what were concentrating on. Its never fortunate for anything like this to happen, and it kind of floored me. I cant see anything. I cant read anything. I cant watch anything, he added. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Nevertheless, the singer said, Im so lucky. Im the luckiest man in the world. Im so proud of the documentary. Im proud of my sons. Im proud of my attitude towards myself and whats going on. Im just very lucky and Im very grateful.Johns infection began during his recent time in the south of France. Upon announcing the infection to his social media followers, he mentioned that he was recovering with assistance from an excellent team of doctors and nurses.I am healing, he wrote in a September Instagram post, but its an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye. The aforementioned documentary, Elton John: Never Too Late, was co-directed bby his husband David Furnish and R.J. Cutler. It follows the extraordinary highs and heartbreaking lows of the 77-year-old pop stars 50-year career, including how he overcame adversity, abuse and addiction to become the icon he is today, the films description states.The film will feature a new original song from him and show his final concert in North America at Dodger Stadium, a venue that he played early in his career. The film will be released on the Disney+ streaming platform on 13 December.Music saved me, it also nearly killed me, John said of his experience. Even when I was at my lowest ebb, I always played music and it moved me, so musics been my saviour throughout my life.The legendary pop star retired from touring following his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which concluded in July 2023. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Tuesday that people living with HIV can now receive kidney and liver transplants from other people living with HIV.Such transplants were once restricted only to people participating in research studies. However, the new rule, which takes effect immediately, follows a recent study in The New England Journal of Medicine which showed that kidney transplants between people with HIV had similar high rates of overall survival and low rates of organ rejection as transplants between HIV-negative people, the Associated Press reported. Related Climate change is jeopardizing HIV treatment A new report explains why natural disasters are exacerbating HIV symptoms and medication side effects. This rule removes unnecessary barriers to kidney and liver transplants, expanding the organ donor pool and improving outcomes for transplant recipients with HIV, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a statement. 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 Christine Durand, a professor of medicine and oncology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine who was the lead author of the aforementioned study said, This study really shows without a doubt that theres no differences between receiving a kidney from a donor with HIV versus without HIV In some ways, it was a boring study, but it really emphasized the safety of this: There were no significant differences.In 2013, the U.S. lifted a 25-year ban on HIV-positive organ transplants with the passage of the HIV Organ Policy Equity Act. However, the law only allowed such transplants to occur within research studies and within conditions so strict that most organ donation centers could not follow them.In 2019, a Johns Hopkins University surgical team performed the worlds first kidney transplant between HIV-positive individuals. Durand said she thinks that heart and lung transplants will likely follow. The new HHS rule follows two other recent health policy developments. In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration eased its rules on blood donations from gay and bisexual men, and last spring, a top U.S. pediatricians organization said mothers with HIV can breastfeed if they are taking certain medication, The Washington Post reported.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Tim Pool, a Trump-supporting anti-LGBTQ+ broadcaster who was paid by the Russian government to push Russian propaganda and disinformation to American audiences, has claimed that the 4th, 5th, and 6rh amendments in the U.S. Constitution were all derived from the biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah.In the Biblical story, God rains hellfire upon the two towns of Sodom and Gomorrah for their unrighteousness and unlawfulness after the townspeople threaten to harm two of Gods angelic messengers. Anti-LGBTQ+ Christian fundamentalists repeatedly say the towns were destroyed for tolerating homosexuality, but thats a narrow reading of the entire tale. Related GOP lawmaker celebrates LGBTQ+ History Month with demand that schools teach Sodom & Gomorrah The 22-year-old lawmaker strongly opposes LGBTQ+ rights. Regardless, in a recent broadcast with Milo Yiannopoulos an ex-gay right-wing troll who was largely disowned by conservatives after he said he was personally grateful that a priest molested him as a child because it made him good at oral sex Pool argued that the that United States was founded as a Christian nation. LGBTQ+ news you can rely on Keep track of the ongoing battle against bias and for equality with our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today During his argument, Pool said, Do you know why the Founding Fathers created the 4th, 5th, and 6th [Amendments]? Its the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. It is literally as the spoken word of the Founding Fathers. Benjamin Franklin said, It is better that 100 guilty persons escape than one innocent suffer, which was a play on [The British jurist William] Blackstones formulation; it is better that 10 guilty persons escape than one innocent suffer which is literally the story of Sodom and Gomorrah [where God said] If but one righteous person exists, I will not destroy this land. It was literally the Bible, which is why they said we should enshrine this in the Constitution.The hate speech watchdog group Right Wing Watch called Pools commentslargely incoherent and uninformed. Benjamin Franklin had nothing to do with the writing of the Bill of Rights which occurred around 1789. James Madison drafted out the amendments based on recommendations from other U.S. states that were ratifying their own founding documents. The Bill of Rights largely enumerated protections against certain actions taken against U.S. colonialists by British imperial forces.The 4th Amendment protects U.S. citizens against unreasonable searches and seizure by the government. The 5th Amendment states that no one can be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. The 6th Amendment lays out citizen rights in court trials. None of them have anything to do with the aforementioned Biblical story. Right Wing Watch wrote of Pools comment, One of the defining characteristics of Christian nationalistsis theirwillingnesstomisrepresent history,astimeaftertimetheyspreadblatantfalsehoodsindefenseoftheir right-wing ideology. Often, this is rooted in their own ignorance about the Founding Era and the creation of the Constitution.Pool has made numerous anti-LGBTQ+ comments in the past. He claimed that God uses hurricanes to punish drag queens for dressing like nuns and thatqueer people are child molesters who are responsible for their own murders.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

You've got this!So youre a bisexual woman whos never dated anyone but cis men, or maybe its just been a while. Though some people may act like theres a huge difference in dating people of different genders, at the end of the day, dating is dating. Still, we understand why youre feeling a little nervous. Dating in itself is scary, but its also ridiculously fun and exciting.To help you out, we came up with 5 tips to help you calm your nerves so you can spend less time stressing, and more time getting pumped.1. Dont be afraid to put yourself out there.Dating happens because we put ourselves on the line. We risk rejection, we risk embarrassment, and we meet new people with the hope that well discover that special magic that makes relationships worth all of the hard work and energy. Gather up your courage and prepare to throw yourself into the world of dating women. We promise its not all that different.2. Try not to freak out if things dont happen overnight.So youve decided that you want to hook up with another woman. Awesome! You got all sexy and youre strolling around looking for someone you could be into or, you know, swiping on your phone and youre ready to go. But things may not happen immediately. Try not to be hard on yourself in the face of rejection, and try not to stress if youre just not finding someone youre into. You may be dying to date a woman, but dating is dating, and dating takes time. Try to be patient, and you never know what could happen.3. Let things happen naturally.Remember how we said to be patient? Finding the right person, especially if you want to date (and not just hook up) doesnt happen immediately for good reason. Do you really want to jump into a relationship with someone whos totally not right for you? Let things find their pace and just go with the flow, and youll probably end up surprising yourself when a totally rad woman seems to come out of nowhere.4. Prepare for biphobia.No, not every lesbian or woman who dates women is biphobic. But biphobia, which often presents itself as a complete judgment of bisexual people, is rampant in the queer community, and its better to prepare yourself than to go in totally naive. Some people think that bi women are slutty and greedy, and that they "refuse to pick a side." If you come across a biphobic woman, just keep moving. Find someone who respects who you are and who wont question your identity.5. Know what youre ready for.Maybe youve never had sex with a woman. Maybe youve never even kissed another girl before. Know what youre ready for ahead of time, or be straightforward with the woman youre hooking up with when the time comes. She may have something shes into, like using sex toys, that youve never done before, or she may have sex in a way that just doesnt work for you. If you need to go slow to get used to things, dont be embarrassed! And if you want to jump right in, then do it with no shame. Regardless of the pace you think is right for you, know that its valid, and theres no one way to go about sleeping with women.

Earl Holliman, an actor with dozens of TV and movie credits, including the first episode of The Twilight Zone and an important supporting role on Police Woman, has died at age 96.Holliman died Monday at his home in the Studio City section of Los Angeles, where he had been receiving hospice care, his husband, Craig Curtis, told The Hollywood Reporter.Holliman was born into an impoverished family in Louisiana in 1928. His father died several months before he was born, so his birth mother had to give up seven of her 10 children, and he was adopted as an infant by Henry Earl Holliman and Velma Holliman, an oil-field worker and a waitress, respectively, according to the Internet Movie Database.I had wonderful parents who gave me all the love in the world, Earl Holliman once said of the couple who adopted him, the Reporter notes. They encouraged me to be whatever I can be. I was their only child.While in the Navy in the 1940s, Holliman appeared in theater productions put on by service members, and later he studied acting at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Pasadena Playhouse. He broke into movies by sneaking on to the Paramount lot and meeting a producer, Variety reports.He acted in numerous major films in the 1950s and 60s, including Giant, with Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean; Broken Lance, playing one of the sons of rancher Spencer Tracy; Gunfight at the OK Corral, starring Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas; Forbidden Planet, a retelling of Shakespeares The Tempest in outer space; The Sons of Katie Elder, with John Wayne and Dean Martin; and The Rainmaker, starring Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn. He won a Golden Globe as Best Supporting Actor for The Rainmaker, playing Hepburns amorous younger brother a role for which he beat out Elvis Presley.Eventually, he worked primarily and steadily in television. He starred in the first episode of the science fiction anthology series The Twilight Zone, portraying a man inhabiting what seems to be a deserted world in Where Is Everybody?, which aired in 1959. Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling praised his work in a letter Curtis read to Variety: Your performance was outstanding, full of dimension, shading and a fantastic believability. In short, Holliman, youre one hell of an actor!He had guest roles in many TV series, including The Fugitive, Gunsmoke, The F.B.I., The Streets of San Francisco, and Murder, She Wrote, and appeared in the 1983 miniseries The Thorn Birds, which starred Richard Chamberlain, Barbara Stanwyck, and Rachel Ward. He had his best-known role on Police Woman, playing Lt. Bill Crowley, the boss of Los Angeles undercover officer Sgt. Suzanne Pepper Anderson, portrayed by Angie Dickinson. The series ran from 1974 to 1978.On the show, Shed get into trouble and Id run in and save her, Holliman said in a 2003 interview, according to the Reporter. I would make some smart remark and she would come back at me in some sexy kind of way, and a lot of that was ad-libbed. We had a tacit kind of permission to do that.In his later years, he continued to respond to autograph requests and share anecdotes of his meetings with stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, Variety notes.He ran the Fiesta Dinner Playhouse in San Antonio for a several years and acted onstage there and elsewhere, appearing in plays including Mister Roberts, Arsenic and Old Lace, A Chorus Line, and A Streetcar Named Desire. He played the lead role of Curly in a tour of the musical Oklahoma! in 1963 as well, according to IMDB, and sang on albums for Capitol Records.Although his politics were largely conservative, he was an animal rights activist. He was president of Actors and Others for Animals for 34 years and joined Dian Fossey in her effort to save mountain gorillas in Africa. He once said going up the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda with Dian to help raise awareness for the plight of her gorillas was one of the proudest times of his life, Variety reports.Holliman was a gracious, kind confidant, a consummate host, a man whose indefatigable positivity was evergreen and powered by a 1,000-watt smile, an easy charm and infectious goodwill, Curtis told Variety. A joy and a privilege to spend time with, he was even-keeled and compassionate, possessing a deep sensitivity and mischievous sense of humor which were belied by his stoically handsome countenance.

As transphobic billionaire Elon Musk takes the reigns of his newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in a second Trump administration, he has been confronted with something that didnt matter much in his multi-million-dollar effort to get the former president reelected: the facts.And this time they were delivered by out Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, no less. Related Donald Trump will nominate Scott Bessent, a gay billionaire, for Treasury Secretary The hedge fund manager will be the first Cabinet secretary nominated by a Republican. Remarkably, Musk may be getting the message. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today The lesson began over the weekend when the presidents son, Donald Trump Jr. someone never tethered to the truth in his pursuit of liberal tears reposted a social media message claiming that Buttigieg had squandered billions in federal funds on a failed electric vehicle (EV) charging program.The electric vehicle stations are part of President Joe Bidens signature Inflation Reduction Act, which allocated $738 billion in 2022 to address energy and climate change.Pete Buttigieg will leave his post as Transportation Secretary having spent $7.5 BILLION to build 8 EV charging stations. His legacy will be squandering billions on something nobody wants, while millions struggle to afford the things they need, Rep. Michael Rulli (R-OH), a self-described America First election denier posted.Trump Jr. added, Does not seem like a great return on investment but hey he checked a woke box so its totally worth it. Trump Jr.s comment repeated oft-repeated right-wing claims that Buttigieg was only appointed to his cabinet position because he is gay. Does not seem like a great return on investment but hey he checked a woke box so its totally worth it. https://t.co/VSOYAJgOQV Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 25, 2024What woke and the climate crisis have to do with one another only Don Jr. knows, but, yknow liberal tears.The outgoing Transportation Secretary didnt let the unfounded claim and reply go unanswered.The tweet you quoted is false, Buttigieg posted to the point.Thats when Musk jumped into the conversation, just minutes later.Well, please post the rebuttal. Then, Community Notes will take care of the rest, Musk said, referring the the user-led fact-checking features which has been found to mostly fail against limiting misinformation on Musks social media platform.And so Buttigieg corrected Trump Jr. on the issue.To start with, Buttigieg wrote in three rapid-fire messages, $7.5B has not been spent, nor anything like that. Thats the entire program budget for the NEVI [National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure] program, which is to help build out a national charging network by 2030. Secondly, there are chargers now operational in nine states (which does not mean 9 chargers, to be clear). These are only the first handful though. Most are to be built in the 2nd half of the decade, he added.Third, in this program the chargers are built by the states, not the federal government. And while it takes time to get a novel multi-billion dollar program going across 50 states, the states are on track, he concluded, adding a link with more facts for good measure.What was Musks reaction?While absent a thank you, his reply was actually reasonable.This is helpful to understand. Musks powers of reasoning no ones disputing hes got them, with his aid in developing PayPal, Tesla and Space X to his credit will be sorely tested in his new role as Efficiency Czar. He wants to cut $2 trillion out of $6.75 trillion in total federal spending, which is already burdened by mandatory payments on the national debt plus nondiscretionary spending like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, national defense, and discretionary programs with 538 constituents in Congress. But the DOGE program may be a pipe dream as it isnt an official government office, can only make recommendations, and will recommend cuts that can usually only be passed by a united legislature (something the U.S. hasnt had in years).Add Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to the mix in her oversight role as chair of a Delivering on Government Efficiency Subcommittee (another DOGE acronym), and Musk will be hard-pressed to find helpful counsel like Buttigiegs.His honest reply, though, was a step in the right direction.Bonus points for the worlds richest man: Not a word in reply from Don Jr.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Actress Cynthia Erivo recently opened up during an episode of the Reign podcast about how much "fear and trepidation" she felt when coming out and how much comfort she got from talking to her queer Wicked co-stars.The Elphaba actress who came out as bisexual in Vogue in 2022 and described herself as "Black, bald-headed, pierced, and queer" at the Los Angeles LGBT Center gala earlier this year said on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast that while she used to worry that she would "offend people," she now feels "very powerful.""I feel very powerful. I feel very, very in my skin, in my body. And I love it," she explained, the Daily Mail reported. "And I think the thing that has been really heartening is watching other young people go, 'oh my gosh, She's like me. She gets it.'"Erivo also talked about the importance of young people getting the chance to see good queer representation in media."There's something really wonderful about watching someone who is just living, enjoying her life, working, creating, and just being," she said. "I think that that's something that I don't take for granted at all, but I do think it's important for other young queer people who just are trying to find their way to themselves to see."Despite the joy she's found since coming out publicly, there have still been points when she's worried about using "the word queer" because it may offend people."It's been a really interesting journey also, because sometimes you approach it with a fair amount of trepidation like, 'Are people going to be okay with me? How are people going to be, if I say the word queer, are people going to be offended?' And then you sort of stop caring that much about that cause it's just who I am. It's just part of the tapestry of the human being that is in front of you.'"Erivo also cautioned against letting the things people say about you affect you because "most of those words are just reflections of themselves, of other people" and said that eventually, "you get to a place where you find yourself feeling comfortable enough to take that version of who you see into every room you walk into."She continued, "Don't change them. Don't shift. Don't bend. Just be. I've learned to really enjoy being and like watching people just accept it."The 37-year-old actress explained that having intimate chats with her fellow LGBTQ+ Wicked co-stars Jonathan Bailey and Lena Waithe about the queer experience really helped her."I've had some really good chats with Johnny Bailey. I've had some wonderful chats with Lena Waithe who is a good friend as well just thoughtful deductions of what the world is and I think that's what we end up talking about," she said. "Johnny and I had a really wonderful conversation about queerness and what that means for us and how we move through the world in our own queerness," Erivo recounted."He's so passionate about making sure that there's space for all of us I think it was like an eye opening conversation because it was the first time I really got to know him and I really liked that human being."

After some bitter back-and-forth, actress Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld) has come out on top of the lawsuit filed against her by shock rocker Marilyn Manson.Manson, real name Brian Warner, sued Wood for defamation in 2022 following an Instagram post from the actress detailing the abuse she had undergone at his hand and the grooming he had put her through during their relationship.He started grooming me when I was a teenager and horrifically abused me for years, she wrote at the time. I was brainwashed and manipulated into submission. I am done living in fear of retaliation, slander, or blackmail.For those unaware, Manson and Wood started dating in 2006 and went public with their relationship in 2007. At the time, Wood was 19 and Manson was 36. The two dated for years before Manson proposed to Wood in 2010, though they called off the engagement a few months later.Following Woods Instagram post, Manson filed a defamation lawsuit against her with the accusations detailing the emotional distress it put on him and that Wood was concocting a conspiracy to paint him as an abuser. Four more women also came forward after Wood with similar accusations, Regardless, in May 2023, a judge struck down ten claims Manson made in the suit, which has come in handy for Wood since he has now officially rescinded his lawsuit. Even better, he also agreed to pay more than $300,000 to cover her legal fees.Woods attorney, Michael J. Kump, addressed the triumph in a statement to Entertainment Weekly, saying, [Manson] filed a lawsuit against Ms. Wood as a publicity stunt to try to undermine the credibility of his many accusers and revive his faltering career. But his attempt to silence and intimidate Ms. Wood failed. As the trial court correctly found, Warner's claims were meritless. Warner's decision to finally abandon his lawsuit and pay Ms. Wood her full fee award of almost $327,000 only confirms as much.Today's news feels like a rare moment of justice. We're hopeful that Wood can finally find some well-deserved closure from the painful situation.

Today, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) signed into law a sweeping bathroom ban for transgender students, including even private colleges in the ban.The law, known as Senate Bill 104, says in the bill text: A school shall designate each student restroom, locker room, changing room, or shower room that is accessible by multiple students at the same time, whether located in a school building or located in a facility used by the school for a school-sponsored activity, for the exclusive use by students of the male biological sex only or by students of the female biological sex only. Related Ohio Senate passes cruel transgender bathroom ban The bill applies to all students in the state and will restrict the rights of thousands of trans people if the governor signs it. It has no clear enforcement mechanism, and contains no provisions discussing intersex people, who do not fit into biological sex categories neatly. It is set to take effect 90 days after the signing, and it will allow single-occupancy gender neutral facilities. It does not apply to disabled individuals or children younger than 10 being assisted by someone else. 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 bill does not rely on a definition of gender but rather of biological sex, which it defines as the biological indication of male and female, including sex chromosomes, naturally occurring sex hormones, gonads, and nonambiguous internal and external genitalia present at birth, without regard to an individuals psychological, chosen, or subjective experience of gender.According to Assigned Media, the bill became successful in part because of the trans exclusionary radical feminist group Womens Liberation Front, as well as the Center for Christian Virtue, a far-right Christian organization in Ohio, both of whom have admitted to directly working with and lobbying right-wing politicians to get the bill passed.The Center for Christian Virtue even admitted to being close to the bills sponsors, Republican Reps. Beth Lear and Adam Bird, as they all attended the signing of the bill together. The bill previously existed as House Bill 183, but was merged at the end of last years legislative session with a separate college credit bill into Senate Bill 104 as a last-ditch move to get the bill passed. It passed through at the end of the session.It is expected that the measure will go straight to court. The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio has said previously that they are considering legal action, and Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio said to Assigned Media that she expects it will go straight to court as well, being challenged under Ohios single subject law.It defies the single subject law that the state of Ohio has: It says that when we pass a piece of legislation, its supposed to be on a single subject, Antonio said.The ACLU of Ohio said in a statement on X,Transgender people are part of the fabric of Ohio; our families, our workplaces, and our neighborhoods. We remain steadfast in our commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and are closely considering next steps. @GovMikeDeWine signed the anti-trans bathroom bill into law.Transgender people are part of the fabric of Ohio; our families, our workplaces, and our neighborhoods. We remain steadfast in our commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and are closely considering next steps. pic.twitter.com/34xglRfZtj ACLU of Ohio (@acluohio) November 27, 2024A similar ban was enacted within the U.S. Capitol, after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) reacted to Rep.-elect Sarah McBrides election by requiring bathrooms to be used on the basis of biological sex. All House officials have private restrooms in their offices, and it is expected that this will largely affect anyone who works in or visits the Capitol.Gov. Mike DeWine has not commented publicly on the passing yet.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Walmart, the worlds largest retailer, is rolling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and pro-LGBTQ+ initiatives, the company announced Monday.In the wake of a landmark ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2023 ending affirmative action in college admissions, and a drumbeat of anti-woke messaging culminating in the election of President-elect Donald Trump to second term earlier this month, Fortune 500 companies have been under intense pressure by right-wing activists to publicly ditch progressive and inclusive policies. Related This rightwing activist gets major brands to turn their backs on diversity. How is he doing it? Is he proving that many corporations were only paying lip service to diversity? Among the policy changes announced by Walmart, the company said it will no longer participate in the Human Rights Campaigns Corporate Equality Index, which rates companies based on their LGBTQ+-inclusive policies. 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 Arkansas-based retailer confirmed to the Associated Press that it will also be reviewing grants to Pride events for sexualized content they deem unsuitable for children, and monitor the companys third-party marketplace for sexual and transgender products aimed at minors.As well, the company wont renew a five-year commitment for an equity racial center established in 2020 after the police killing of George Floyd, and will no longer consider race or gender when signing on suppliers.This is the biggest win yet for our movement to end wokeness in corporate America, Robbie Starbuck, a key figure in corporate anti-woke campaigns, posted to X, claiming credit for the decision after alleged consultations with the company. Starbuck claims to have had a hand in decisions by a raft of companies to step back from DEI and LGBTQ+-inclusive policies. Harley-Davidson,Jack Daniels parent company Brown-Forman, Ford Motor Co., Lowes, Tractor Supply Co.,John Deere, and most recently large-equipment manufacturerCaterpillar Inc have all curtailed or eliminated inclusive initiatives with public declarations. Starbuckcalledthem a massive win for sanity.Our campaigns are so effective that were getting some of the biggest corporations on earth to change their policies without me even posting a video first just from the fear they have of being the next company we expose, Starbuck posted after Caterpillars preemptory announcement. The landscape of corporate America is quickly shifting to sanity and neutrality. We are the trend now, not the anomaly.Following Fords announcement of a DEI rollback, HRC president Kelley Robinson said the decision signaled that inclusion and other core values are no longer a priority in the workplace at the carmaker, and characterized Starbuck as a MAGA bully and Republican-reject. A Walmart spokesperson said policy changes at the company have been in the works for some time. Walmart recently dropped use of the term DEI in favor of Belonging.Weve been on a journey and know we arent perfect, but every decision comes from a place of wanting to foster a sense of belonging, to open doors to opportunities for all our associates, customers and suppliers and to be a Walmart for everyone, Walmart said in a statement.Marc Morial, CEO and president of the National Urban League, told CBS Mornings that he was dismayed by this decision.I think what they did is succumb to a smear campaign, to threats, to bullying and to blackmail by a handful of extremists, Morial said.They went from worst to first class when it comes to diversity, Morial said. The idea that they would throw all of that away without any careful consultation with their partners, without any real serious evaluation of the success of these programs, is what dismays me.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Love can be found in the most unlikely places.For the Love of DILFs is back for a spicy third season and the hunky cast is already making a splash just one episode in.Shortly after meeting everyone at DILF mansion, Timmy Hilton is serving main character energy as he has two daddies already looking to pursue a relationship with him "Fans should expect the unexpected. A lot of people are going to end up with people throughout the season that you didn't expect them to end up with. I will just leave it at that. This season is the most explosive, dramatic season yet and it's insane," Hilton tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Hilton is not only turning heads on the popular reality show, but he's grateful to be able to celebrate his sexuality with other LGBTQ+ men on camera."As a kid, there was never a show of gay men openly talking about their sex lives, romance, and different types of relationships, so being able to be a part of that now is really amazing."The influencer is hoping his story, along with the rest of the DILFs cast, can resonate with viewers at home."I hope kids that were in middle school struggling can watch the show and find some sort of peace. It's definitely a fantasy, but it's a hectic fantasy... chaotic for sure."For the Love of DILFs is streaming now on OUTtv. To see the full interview with Timmy Hilton, check out the video at the top of the page.

Thanksgiving is almost upon us. Yay? For some lucky queer folks, this actually is a time of familial fellowship, where youre surrounded by the loving and understanding embrace of your family. But for far too many queer people, this time of year is fraught, especially now in the aftermath of the presidential election. First things first, if youve decided that youre not going home for the holidays this year, particularly if youre feeling unsafe literally or emotionally thats a totally valid choice, as Amie Grant, licensed professional clinical counselor and founder of Take Up Space Therapy Services tells PRIDE. You dont owe anyone your time, presence, or emotional labor especially not family members who have voted against your rights or those of the communities you care about. Choosing to prioritize your mental health and safety by staying away is an act of self-preservation, not selfishness, she says. However, for those who are feeling a lot of understandable trepidation but are still choosing to go home, there are some things you can do to help protect your well-being and take care of yourself after the fact, according to the experts. Name the elephant in the room to yourself.There may be plenty of gaslighting at the dinner table this year, but you can start to set yourself up for success by acknowledging the truth of the situation for yourself beforehand.Before stepping through the door, take five minutes to sit in your car or a quiet space and acknowledge whats happening, advises Grant. Say to yourself: This is going to be hard. Their votes hurt me, and Im allowed to feel angry about that. I dont have to fix it or make them understand right now. I just have to get through this moment. Write it on a note in your phone if you need to revisit it during the day, she recommends. Set your boundaries.Its also totally acceptable to decide what behaviors are not acceptable coming from your family and clearly setting those expectations, Cory Schneider, an MA, LMFT, SPHR, CDE, specializing in LGBTQ+ affirmative psychology, tells PRIDE.Setting boundaries before you arrive is key. Define what topics are off-limits and what behaviors you will not tolerate from others, he advises. You might want to communicate those boundaries ahead of time, or have a script ready for when theyre needed.He continues, Boundaries are a powerful way to protect yourself because they help you stay in control of what youre willing to engage with, reducing emotional vulnerability. And remember, its perfectly okay to step away or take a break from a conversation if its getting too overwhelming.Bring your own comfort items.While we all hope our loved ones will know how to act right, the reality is some dont or wont and in that case having ways to self-soothe will be essential. Grant says that bringing a comfort item from home can be helpful in those moments. Pack a small grounding kit for the trip this could be a stress ball, noise-canceling headphones, a calming essential oil, or a book that makes you feel seen (think something like All About Love by bell hooks). Having these items on hand can help you regulate your emotions and find moments of peace, even in a challenging environment, she advises.Identify your support system.While you may be away from your chosen family, you dont have to go it alone. This is why Schnieder suggests identifying your support system before you go. Think about a few trusted friends or community members you can check in with during your visit, he suggests. Create a plan to text, call, or video chat when things feel tough. Having an external source of affirmation and understanding is grounding and helps counterbalance any negativity you might face.Its a reminder that you are not alone and that there are people who truly see and value you, he adds. LGBTQ Affirmative models emphasize the importance of community care and finding spaces where you can feel validated and supported.Set a small, joyful goal for yourself.You know that saying, its the little things that matter? Yeah, thats true here as well. Sometimes simply having something to look forward to and that you know will make you happy can get you through the hard moments during the holiday. Plan one thing that will make you happy during the trip. Maybe its visiting your favorite coffee shop, going on a walk in nature, or carving out 10 minutes in the evening to rewatch a clip from your favorite comedy, says Grant. These small moments of joy remind you that this trip doesnt define your entire holiday seasonyoure still in control of creating moments that feel good.Schneider calls it creating a self-care exit plan, because it allows you to exit the situation, even if just for a quick reset. It might mean taking a walk, finding a quiet spot to breathe deeply, or retreating to watch a favorite show or read a book, he explains. This exit strategy lets you disengage from stressful situations and refocus your energy on something comforting and affirming. The goal is to give yourself permission to pause, regulate, and recharge when things become emotionally intenserecognizing that stepping back is a way to care for yourself.The best advice for aftercare once you leave.Congrats, you made it through the day! Youve dodged the uncomfortable questions, the political talk, the not-so-subtle digs, and have eaten your last bite of pumpkin pie.Still, its not uncommon to feel an emotional hangover after the get-together. This is why Schneider says aftercare is just as important as preparation. When you leave, make time for intentional aftercare. Take a day or two to decompress if possible reconnect with your support system, return to your favorite activities, and let yourself feel whatever emotions arise without judgment, he says. Heres what that aftercare can look like: Lean into radical rest.Its OK to take a breather when and if you need it, says Grant. Rest isnt just recovery; its an act of rebellion in a world that demands you keep going no matter what, she explains. After enduring harm or invalidation, prioritize activities that nourish you: sleep in, binge-watch queer joy-filled media, or take a day to exist without any expectations. Rest is resistance, and its how we build strength to keep going.Channel your rage into action.Then, because action can be empowering and healing, Grant says to use those post-holiday feelings as motivation. Anger can be exhausting, but its also a tool for transformation, she says. Use it to fuel your next step. Donate to a mutual aid fund, write postcards for progressive candidates, or attend a community meeting. Taking action reminds you that change is possible and that youre part of a larger movement for justice.Reclaim your holiday on your own terms.Its sometimes easy to forget that holidays are about joy and celebration particularly when your family makes it hard to do so. That said, just like how you dont owe them your time, you also dont owe them your queer joy.If the family holiday was draining or disheartening, create a new tradition just for you or your chosen family, says Grant. Host a Friendsmas dinner, bake cookies while blasting a queer holiday playlist, or take yourself out for a hike or coffee. Centering joy and community in ways that feel good to you helps rewrite the narrative of what this season can mean.Lean into your compassion and empathy.Finally and this one may feel a little more tricky Schneider says to try and view others who may disagree with your values and beliefs with compassion.OK, stay with us here, because this isnt any of that when they go low, we go high, stuff. This is about finding healing in compassion, FOR YOU.This doesnt mean accepting harmful behavior or compromising your boundaries, but rather understanding that many people are influenced by their own fears, insecurities, or limited perspectives, continues Schneider. Seeing them through this lens can help reduce the emotional toll of confrontation and keep you from internalizing negative attitudes. Compassion doesnt excuse harmful actions, but it allows you to protect your own peace by not carrying the weight of others biases. Remember, you are deserving of peace and affirmation, always.Experts cited:Amie Grant, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and founder of Take Up Space Therapy ServicesCory Schneider, MA, LMFT, SPHR, CDE, specializing in LGBTQ+ affirmative psychology, mens psychology, emotionally focused couples therapy (EFT), and relationship coaching.

Listen, Glinda the Good Witch is a friend of Dorthy, and its canon now!Some people on social media did all of us who have been shipping Glinda and Elphaba since the original Broadway play a huge favor by pointing out a fact from the OG Wizard of Oz books Wicked is based that proves that Glinda is a big ol lez.A post on X (formerly Twitter) is currently going viral that quotes from the Wikipedia page for Glinda, In Baums final book, Glinda of Oz, we learn that Glinda resides in a castle with 100 of the most beautiful women in Oz at her beck and call, along with the caption this fking dyke. (@) So we got out our deerstalker hat and magnifying glass to solve this case, and it turns out that this social media denizen is not wrong. There is canonical proof that Glinda likes the ladies!The fact that Glinda had a group of gorgeous ladies waiting on her comes from L. Frank Baums 14th and final installment of the Oz books, Glinda of Oz, before his death in 1919. But hes not the only one who thinks of Glinda as being firmly in the lady-loving camp, Wicked star Ariana Grande, who plays the famous character in the new movie, and Cynthia Erivo, who pays Elphaba, both agree that the sparkly witch is queer. In an interview with the Gay Times, Erivo who came out as queer in 2022 explained that Glinda and Elphaba share a true love.They do have a real relationship. It is true love, which is probably why people are shipping it. What they build with each other is an unbreakable bond and love, she said. Grande agreed with Erivo and took it one step further, saying that her character might be a little in the closet. This is a sentiment Kristen Chenoweth, who originated the role in the Tony-winning Broadway play the movie is based on, agreed with. Commenting on an Instagram post featuring Grandes quote, I thought so too way back when.Case closed: Glinda is Mother, and we wont hear any argument!

An Alabama anti-LGBTQ+ organization is trying to get an LGBTQ+ Pride group kicked out of a local Christmas parade because it claims the group will display transgender Pride flags or drag queens in violation of the parades family friendly policies against political messaging and lewd and offensive entries.Prattville Pride was the first local group to pay the fee to join the city of Pratvilles annual Christmas parade. The group also said it will abide by the parades rules. However, when an anti-LGBTQ+ group calledClean Up Alabama found out about the Pride groups inclusion, it sent out an email asking its supporters to pressure the parades organizers to remove Prattville Pride from the event. Related Federal court upholds Alabamas trans care ban citing lack of deeply rooted history of care A dissenting judge called the court out for only supporting medical care that was available in 1868 like blistering, blood-letting, and leeches. The Christmas parade is a celebration of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ the Messiah. It is NOT a time to celebrate someones sexual preferences. And it is certainly not a place for a drag show, Clean Up Alabama wrote in its email, according to the Alabama Political Reporter. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The group, which first formed as a movement to ban LGBTQ+ titles from the childrens and young adult sections of the Prattville Library, urged its members to contact the parades organizing council and demand Prattville Prides removal, writing, The parade rules clearly state that the city reserves the right to reject any parade entry for any reason whatsoever, and to determine participation based on suitability for the occasion.We know this is NOT suitable for the occasion and that you have the power to stop it, its email read. [The display of trans Pride flags and drag queens] would be in violation of parade rules which state that political views are not allowed as decoration, in music, or otherwise by any parade participant, AND it also states that lewd or offensive entries will not be approved by parade officials. Clean Up Alabama wrote that the city must remove Prattville Pride from the parade and pass a city ordinance that protects children in public places.In a statement to the aforementioned population, Prattvilles Prides founders wrote, As the first organization to sign up, we were eager to join in the holiday magic and celebrate alongside our neighbors. In response to recent pushback, we want to emphasize that our participation is rooted in the same spirit of joy and togetherness as any other group. As a pride organization dedicated to fostering inclusivity and support for marginalized communities, our goal is simply to build connection, spread love, and contribute to the festive spirit of the season. We look forward to celebrating the holidays with everyone in Prattville.The towns Mayor Bill Gillespie said the city will ensure all persons are served and respected equally while maintaining a safe Christmas parade event for us all.Prattville has a population of 39,318, 67.74% of its population is white, and 20.93% is Black.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Happy Thanksgiving!In celebration of its 40th anniversary year, Tom of Finland Foundation is presenting the Tom of Finland Art & Culture Festival 2024, Art Speaks Through Us, supported by Diesel. The festival in Los Angeles will take place November 29 to December 1 and, for the first time, is being held concurrently with CLAWs Leather Thanksgiving celebration.The worlds largest erotic art fair, the Tom of Finland Art & Culture Festival will take over the Hotel Indigo. Over 30 artists, galleries and vendors will present their offerings within a socially-friendly setting to socialize as well as buy and sell works of art, design objects, books, and other specialty items.For ticketing and more information, visit tomoffinland.org. And enjoy a sampler of the participating artists ahead.Artist:Oat MontienArtist:Sal SalandraArtist:Lalo UgaldeArtist:Ed FirthArtist:Skim MilkArtist:Matthew HetzneckerArtist:Fausto BerlinArtist:Carlos EnfedaqueArtist:DICKSCOVERIESArtist:Miguel Angel ReyesArtist:Diego De LeonArtist:Nora RachelArtist:Nicholas FadelyArtist: DouglasArtist:Pietro SpiritoArtist:Terry HastingsArtist:Hector SilvaArtist:Marc DeBauchArtist:Rinaldo HopfArtist:S. PonyArtist:Jacob CruzArtist: Ruben EsparzaArtist: Patrick MizumotoArtist:Sung Hwan Bobby ParkArtist:MisterOsborne

Hit animated series Arcane has Sapphics across the internet in a chokehold, and we can see why!Between getting a canonically Sapphic love story with a sex scene that has everyone talking to seeing main character Vi binding her chest to fans being thrilled that the characters were designed for a queer female gaze, Arcane is the stuff Sapphic dreams are made of.But what is the show about, and just how much does it lean into the queer lady love? (@) What is 'Arcane' about?The steampunk fantasy animated series Arcane, which premiered back in 2021, is set in the League of Legends universe. Over the course of two seasons, the story of estranged sisters Vi (voiced by lesbian fave Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Yellowjackets star Ella Purnell) has been explored with the backdrop of the utopian city of Piltover and an impoverished community called Zaun.Who are queer characters Vi and Caitlyn? (@) Piltover enforcers kill Vis parents, and she is later separated from her sister and sent to prison after a heist goes badly, only to be released years later by a recently dismissed enforcer named Caitlyn. Are Vi and Caitlyn in a Sapphic relationship? (@) The first season gave plenty of reason to believe that both Vi and Caitlyn were queer and had the hots for each other. In one scene, Vi asks Caitlyn whether she prefers men or women, and we later get to see Caitlyn looking uncomfortable talking to men but relaxed around women. Vi also tells Caitlyn, Youre hot, cupcake. Queer ladies everywhere were swooning!Despite a palpable chemistry in season one, fans were disappointed that the two didnt share an onscreen kiss, but this all changed in the second (and sadly final) season of the show. On November 23, the final three episodes aired, bringing Vi and Jinxs story to an end and giving fans some much-needed confirmation that fan-favorite ship CatVi is canon.Having Sapphic characters on any show is always a treat, but fans really love Arcane because, despite being based on a video game, these characters are drawn and shot with a queer female gaze in mind instead of making the women on the show into straight male sexual fantasies.Was there a sex scene between Vi and Caitlyn? (@) In episode eight of season two, Vi visits her sister Jinx, who has been arrested and tries to break her out of prison. Sadly, Jinx tricks her sister and locks Vi in the jail cell before leaving on a suicide mission. Caitlyn shows up, telling Vi that she knows she could come and try to help her sister. Sorry to say, youve grown a bit predictable, Caitlyn says before crashing their lips together before the two begin to undress each other while making out, and then the scene turns a little NSFW.Sadly for Sapphic fans, the scene was originally meant to be even more explicit, but it was dialed back after the creators got a complaint. Release the extended version!Too bad there wont be a third season, but were glad the two Sapphic love birds finally got their spicy ending, and it didnt turn into a Bury Your Gays situation like so many shows that came before it.How does the queer fandom feel about the show? Just keep scrolling. (@) (@) (@) (@)

This holiday season may be especially challenging for many of us due to the results of the recent election, so we thought wed bring a little levity to the day by asking AI to help us create some Pride turkeys to wish you a happy Thanksgiving. So if you need a break from family, friends, or football, please enjoy AIs masterful renderings of some happy, confident queer turkeys living their lives out loud. Related Happy Thanksgiving from LGBTQ Nation Were taking a break from the news cycle and handing the reigns to our editors toddler to spread some joy. From turkeys hitting the streets for Prideto queer turkey families spending quality time togetherFrom turkey friend groups celebrating who they areto the turkeys who dont need an audience to wear their Pride on their sleevesHappy Thanksgiving from all of us at LGBTQ Nation! *All of the images in this article were generated with AI software.

In the 1980s and early 90s, AIDS victims and gay and bi men were treated as pariahs, not only by society, but also by health care individuals, and most especially by the federal government. Ronald Reagan ignored the crisis, U.S. Senators condemned gay men, and many doctors wouldn't treat AIDS patients. Nurses left food outside their hospital rooms, and custodians refused to clean their rooms. Homeless shelters refused to admit them. Families disowned them.When I talk to people who lived through those dark days, and who had partners, loved ones, and friends who died, many credit lesbians for stepping in to help when others stepped out. There had always been a perception, true or untrue, that lesbians and gay men didnt always see eye-to-eye, and that was proven false when lesbians, en masse, cared for their stricken queer siblings.Related: Remembering the AIDS Caregivers as They AgeThe LGBTQ+ community isn't homogenous. Right now, our trans siblings need us to step up and help them during these dark days, and what are bound to be ominous days and years ahead.In these past years, writing for The Advocate, I am working to be a better ally to transgender people. I use the word working as opposed to something past tense because I continually am learning more and want to know as much as I can about these special human beings.People are afraid of the unknown, and a majority of Americans dont know a trans person. Few are willing to take the time to get to know them. There are those like House Speaker Mike Johnson who, with a so-called Christian thought, bans trans people from their appropriate bathrooms. He doesnt even consider the person, the indignity, the humiliation. But those of us old enough are familiar with the days when anyone who was queer was burdened with shame.After the election and at the end of a company-wide meeting by equalpride (the parent company of The Advocate, Out, and Pride.com), the floor was opened to share how we felt about the results. I sensed a great deal of pain and worry, and rightly so. Many in the company are younger, and in their short lives, theyve only witnessed success for our community. I raised my hand to speak. As the grandfather of the teams, I shared how dark things used to be. How I had to meet dates in dark street corners. How I lived in fear of being outed. And how two guys I worked with started to look pale and thin, and then one day they just never came back to work. They just disappeared and died.There was so much agony on so many levels. I never dreamed one day I would be proud to be gay, and even more startling and unbelievable, Id be writing for The Advocate. And more emotionally, how happy I am to be part of the G in LGBTQ+.As I reflect on this Thanksgiving, I find myself overwhelmed with gratitude for the beautiful, vibrant, and resilient community I am so proud to be part of. The LGBTQ+ family is not a monolith but a tapestry of interweaving identities, stories, and lives lived authentically and courageously. Far from being a cult, as some would heartlessly paint us, we are bound not by coercion but by love love for ourselves, love for each other, and love for a world where everyone can simply be.We have endured, and we have thrived. Through the searing heartbreak of the AIDS crisis, the silent suffocation of "don't ask, don't tell," the relentless fight for marriage equality, the current fight for gender-affirming care, and the daily courage it takes to live authentically, we have proven again and again that our strength lies in our unity and our unyielding commitment to love. Even as the shadow of Project 2025 looms over us, threatening to unravel the hard-won rights and freedoms that define us, we cannot and will not be defeated. We have weathered dark days before, and we will find our way through these too, side by side, shoulder to shoulder.This Thanksgiving, let us give thanks for the most extraordinary gift of all: each other. When the world tries to dim our light, we shine brighter together. When they seek to divide us, we grow closer. We are a community of love, resilience, and boundless hope. And as long as we have one another, we will continue to fight not just for survival, but for the joyous, loving, and equitable future we know is possible. This season, may we hold that gratitude close, knowing that love will always light our way.

It's getting spicy in here!Dylan Tides and Lane Colten are the two of the hottest newcomers in the adult entertainment industry and they're enjoying all of their success right by each other's sides.The two started dating right after they met each other on set and they're also enjoying all of the perks of being in an open relationship."It's been incredibly easy. We've done collabs separately and together. It's just all about love, acceptance, and encouragement. What makes him happy makes me happy. It's really easy," Tides tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Open relationships are no easy task as jealously and insecurity can become a big issue, but Colten assures that their situation is solid."It works well for us! We're both very sexually and emotionally confident people. It makes sense and it actually makes things very easy. We hold each other accountable. We film each other's videos and share models when they come in!"Whether if it's with each other or with other hot models as part of Carnal Media, both Tides and Colten are cranking out plenty of sexy content you'll want to watch.Follow Dylan Tides on Instagram here and Lane Colten on Instagram here. To see the full interview with Dylan Tides, check out the video at the top of the page.

There are no shortage of sales to be found on Black Friday, but music fans already know exactly where to line up once that tryptophan coma has worn off your local record store.Every year, Record Store Day does its second round of annual special releases, featuring limited quantities of albums that often can't be found on vinyl at any other time. And this year, there are a number of releases by queer artists, allies, and icons for us to get hyped about.While transitioning from a holiday celebrating "thanks" and "giving" to a day centered around capitalistic frenzy has rightly undergone increased scrutiny in recent years, at least this particular version does something other than line the pockets of giant franchises owned by even bigger corporations. Record Store Day sales are always designed to keep small record stores alive by limiting the initial sales to be in person. So while you may be able to snag one or two of the less in demand items online at a later date, your best bet for getting your hands on any of the delicious drops listed below is to hit the store this Friday. You can find a list of stores participating in your area here.Anitta 'Funk Generation'Brazilian superstar Anitta's hit album Funk Generation is getting its first release on vinyl.Quantity: 1,000Angelo Badalementi Music from Film and TelevisionAngelo Badalamenti was a frequent collaborator of David Lynch, creating the familiar themes of Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet, and queer cinema classic, Mulholland Drive, among others. This album collects some of his most prominent works.Quantity: 1,500The Beaches 'Blame Jocelyn'This 7" single features two songs from The Beaches "Jocelyn" and "Blame Brett."Quantity: 1,500Big Brother & the Holding Company 'Live at the Grande Ballroom Detroit; March 2, 1968'Before Janis Joplin went solo, she was part of Big Brother & the Holding Company. This is the first complete release of their live concert at The Grande Ballroom on March 2, 1968.Quantity: 3,500Big Freedia 'Hitz Vol 2 2010-2020'Big Freedia's biggest hits! Need we say more?Quantity: 1,000Dead or Alive 'You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) 40th Anniversary'This special 40th anniversary edition of the iconic single is actually a picture disc one you can watch spin right 'round while you listen.Quantity: 1,000Djo 'DECIDE (Deluxe)'This deluxe album release comes from Djo, better known as Joe Keery of Stranger Things fame.Quantity: 2,000Billie Eilish 'Hit Me Hard and Soft (Isolated Vocals)'If you're a fan of Billie Eilish's third studio album, but really want a version that's vocals only, well, here you go.Quantity: 25,000Garbage 'copy/paste'Compiled for the first time into a single album, copy/paste features Garbage's take on 10 classic songs from other musicians.Quantity: 3,200'Gladiator II' Original Motion Picture SoundtrackI know some of y'all will be buying this picture disc just to look at Paul Mescal.Quantity: 2,000Whitney Houston 'LOVE IS 'Live From South Africa' and more'This double-sided 12" single features various versions of Whitney Houston's "Love Is," as well as several performances recorded in Durban, South Africa.Quantity: 2,000LSD 'Labrinth, Sia & Diplo presents... LSD (The Remixes)'Remixes of songs released by LSD aka Labrinth, Sia, and Diplo, on vinyl for the first time.Quantity: 2,000Joni Mitchell 'Hejira Demos'Listen to all the demos from Joni Mitchell's Hejira, on vinyl for the first time.Quantity: 5,000Kacey Musgraves 'Deeper Into The Well'This particular version of Deeper Into the Well includes seven additional tracks and "a 20 minute woodland sound experience," whatever that means.Quantity: 5,000Stevie Nicks 'The Lighthouse'A 7" disc featuring Stevie Nicks' new single, "The Lighthouse."Quantity: 5,000Bebe Rexha 'Expectations'Bebe Rexha's debut album, Expectations, is getting its first vinyl release.Quantity: 2,500Olivia Rodrigo 'Guts (spilled)'A special edition double disc version of Olivia Rodrigo's GUTS is sure to be a popular contender this year.Quantity: 30,000T. Rex 'Tanx'Check out a picture disc version of the 1973 album Tanx by T. Rex.Quantity: 1,200Tegan and Sara 'So Jealous (20th Anniversary)'This 20th anniversary double LP features all the songs from Tegan and Sara's So Jealous plus a second disc devoted to their demos.Quantity: 3,000'The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie Music from the Movie and More'Gay people love SpongeBob, what can we say?Quantity: 6,000The Veronicas 'Hook Me Up'This release of The Veronicas' Hook Me Up includes a bonus track, "Insomnia."Quantity: 3,000Vitamin String Quartet 'VSQ Performs BTS'Vitamin String Quartet has covered a ton of familiar tunes over the years, and now their take on the music of BTS is coming to vinyl.Quantity: 1,500

Susan Sarandon is looking for love anywhere she can find it.In a feature with The Times of London published over the weekend, Sarandon, 78, revealed that shes open to people from all walks of life, genders, and ages. Related Actress Susan Sarandon announces Im bi on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Her queer fans rejoiced, though her comment was partly a joke. They could be female or male or gender-fluid, Sarandon said. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The comments come as the once-revered actress and liberal activist saw her career dry up in the aftermath of comments she made last November at a pro-Palestinian rally following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.Jews in the United States are getting a taste of how it feels to be Muslim in America,Sarandon told rally-goers.Sarandon was dropped by her Hollywood reps, the United Talent Agency, and her projects were shelved. She later apologized for the comment, calling it a terrible mistake. But the damage was done.In the interview promoting her new low-budget bowling movie, The Gutter which started before her cancellation Sarandon said she thought her politics would never harm her career. Now she thinks she may never act in a big-budget Hollywood movie again.I was dropped by my agency, my projects were pulled, she says. Ive been used as an example of what not to do if you want to continue to work.Her politics havent changed, though. I think theres a revolution happening among unions and among young people who are not born into a party, she says. Im feeling that both parties are owned corporately. I think theres a great difference culturally in what they talk about but not in policy, and so Im supporting humanity.Sarandon an ardent supporter of Bernie Sanders in the 2016 campaign and an outspoken critic of Hillary Clinton, whom she called dangerous didnt weigh in on Donald Trumps election, but shes never explicitly disavowed the former and future president.Some people feel that Donald Trump will bring the revolution immediately if he gets in. Things will really explode, she told MSNBCs Chris Hayes before Trump went on to win his first term.The Thelma and Louise star described her current relationship status as unattached.When asked about her ideal partner, Sarandon said shes open to everyone. There are different people who are, you know, younger but have lived a very full life that are more mature, more interesting, she explained.It has to be somebody who has curiosity, a sense of humor, intelligence, and appetite for life. So God bless you if you manage to find somebody who fulfills any of those things, whether theyre younger, whether theyre older, whether theyre female or male, whether theyre gender-fluid, whatever. Those are just details, Sarandon said.Its important to find someone with an open heart and open mind whos still curious, she added.Sarandon teased the possibility of a same-sex coupling in 2022 when she announced on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Im bi. The admission was partly in jest: She went on to explain she was fluid when it came to cats vs. dogs, although the Rocky Horror Picture Show actress did come out as sexually fluid in 2017.In 2021, Sarandon elaborated on her options on the Uncut & Uncensored podcast, saying of a potential love interest, They could be a school teacher, or they could be a writer, or they could be successful or not successful somebody who owns themselves and isnt gonna be intimated by people coming up to [me] on the street and saying, Oh my God, I love you.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

It felt like everyone I knew and their mother took a trip to Puerto Rico this year. Perhaps it was the endless sunshine (over 300 days of it annually) or the unmatched ease for U.S. travelers: direct flights, no currency exchange, no scrambling for the right adaptor, and the bonus of widely spoken English. With more than 300 miles of stunning coastline and a vacation-perfect climate, Puerto Rico is often called Americas Costa del Sol. Factor in 120 weekly flights from 20 airlines into San Juan, and it's no wonder this island paradise is buzzing year-round!Puerto Rico, the third largest Caribbean Island after Cuba and Jamaica, usually attracts around five million visitors annually with nearly half arriving between December and April. In 2023, that number soared to over 6.1 million passengers arriving at Luis Muoz Marn International Airport (SJU), an impressive 18.6 percent increase from the previous year, signaling the islands ever-growing appeal. Tourism revenue also hit a record-breaking $9.8 billion, reflecting a 13 percent rise year-over-year, cementing Puerto Ricos status as a must-visit destination.But is it safe for LGBTQ+ travelers? Absolutely.A U.S. territory since 1898, Puerto Rico is a captivating fusion of rich culture, vibrant history, and stunning natural beauty. Home to around 3.2 million people, with San Juan, its lively capital, home to approximately 340,000 residents, the island effortlessly blends the charm of the Caribbean with the ease of American conveniences. Despite its predominantly Catholic roots, Puerto Rico is remarkably LGBTQ+-welcoming, offering a progressive atmosphere that fosters inclusivity. The island's LGBTQ+ rights, including same-sex marriage and strong legal protections, make it a safe and inviting destination for queer travelers.During my first visit earlier this summer, I was immediately captivated by Puerto Rico's undeniable charm and magnetic allure qualities that keep visitors returning to its shores time and time again. From the spirited community to the warm hospitality, its easy to see why this island is cherished by so many.Where to stayThe Sheraton Puerto Rico Resort & Casino stands out as one of San Juan's premier urban resorts, blending convenience, comfort, and excitement. This luxurious 4-star property boasts 503 stylish rooms, including 22 modern suites, and is situated just steps away from Distrito T-Mobile, Puerto Rico's top entertainment complex. Guests can indulge in numerous on-property dining options, with many more just a short walk away. The resort features Casino Metro, the largest casino in Puerto Rico, open 24/7 for endless entertainment. If the slots aren't your thing, you can relax on the Rooftop Sun Deck with its stunning infinity pool or unwind at the Zen Spa Retreat, where they offer a wide range of treatments, from soothing massages to rejuvenating facials. The lobby includes two nearly soundproof booths, perfect for working in a quiet space if you need a break from your travel companion. Each booth is equipped with USB and charging ports for your convenience. Additional amenities include a fitness center, daily yoga classes, aqua aerobics, and 24-hour in-room dining. The pet-friendly property also offers a tour desk for planning excursions, and is conveniently located just 10 minutes (7 miles) from San Juan Airport. With its complimentary shuttle to the beach and historic Old San Juan, the Sheraton Puerto Rico Resort & Casino is the perfect home base for exploring the island.Diverse dining delightsPuerto Rico boasts an incredible culinary scene with a diverse array of options that cater to every palate, ensuring an unforgettable dining experience for all. At The Sheraton, you have the pleasure of indulging in a culinary journey where various dining options cater to every craving, right at your doorstep. Start your day at Choices, the lobby-level bistro offering a la carte and buffet-style breakfast. Mutuo Sabor Nikkei offers a mystical fusion of Japanese and Peruvian flavors, creating a captivating dining experience. Their mouth-watering cocktail creations are also a must-try. At Ocean Lounge, savor Nikkei cuisine and more in a relaxed lobby-bar lounge setting. For those seeking a fine dining experience, Texas de Brazil is the property's onsite steakhouse. Enjoy a refreshing tropical drink or a delicious lunch at The Bay Pool Bar & Grille, with options like burgers and sandwiches on their fourth-floor pool deck. Downstairs, The Caf provides a casual spot for fresh Puerto Rican coffee, specialty espresso drinks, wraps, and other grab-and-go items.Energize your stay with fitness and funAt The Sheraton, you can start your day with a yoga class that offers a unique view of the stunning surroundings. The hotel provides daily classes from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. no reservations or mats needed. If yoga isn't your preference, you can join fellow guests for Aqua Aerobics at 10 a.m. in the infinity pool under the tropical sun. Perched four stories high and overlooking the breathtaking San Juan Bay, Sheraton's outdoor pool offers the perfect retreat to unwind in Puerto Rico. For those who prefer a more traditional workout, Sheraton's fitness center is always open and equipped with everything you need, from exercise bikes and treadmills to free weights and weight machines. Or you can simply relax on the sundeck, soak up the Caribbean breeze, and recharge in this serene setting.Pride from the rooftopFor the past five summers, The Sheraton has hosted Viva La Rooftop H2oh! Edition, Puerto Ricos hottest pool party of the season. This annual event closes out Pride Month on the island, making a splash for a great cause. The lounge-inspired pool party, the highlight of my trip, supports the True Self Foundation a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the well-being and social mobility of the local LGBTQ+ communities. This vibrant event is a lively celebration of culture, community, and entertainment. This past summer, the event featured a lively Drag Brunch hosted by Latoya Fruitpunch, live DJ sets, and a spectacular fashion show with stunning designs from House of Laboyx, Rinaldi Droz, and Alma Brava. Guests enjoyed cocktail-style food and beverages while cooling off in the infinity pool and taking in breathtaking views of the San Juan Bay. With ticket sale proceeds benefiting the True Self Foundation, Viva La Rooftop H2oh! Edition is not only a highlight of the summer for queer locals and visitors alike but also a meaningful way to support diversity and inclusion.While Viva La Rooftop is an annual summer event, the hotel recently announced plans to host quarterly Pride-themed brunches.Experience nearby beachesOften recognized as a Blue Flag beach, Escambrn Beach is the perfect spot to gather for a day of fun in the sun. This popular destination is protected by coral reefs, making it ideal for snorkeling and exploring Puerto Rico's vibrant marine life. If snorkeling isn't for you, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll along the scenic shoreline, soak up the sun, or relax under the shade of palm trees. Located just a five-minute drive or a ten-minute walk from the property, the Sheraton provides easy access to Escambrn Beach with a complimentary shuttle service available daily from 9 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, Condado Beach, also known as Atlantic Beach, in the Condado neighborhood, is San Juan's predominantly LGBTQ+ beach and a 30-minute walk from the hotel.Discover the timeless beauty of Old San JuanNo visit to Puerto Rico is complete without exploring the enchanting streets of Old San Juan. This historic district is renowned for its rich history, featuring 500-year-old forts, colorful colonial buildings, and centuries-old city walls that transport you back to the 16th century. Wander along the cobblestone streets and immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere, where you might encounter local musicians playing lively tunes. Old San Juan is also home to several museums that delve into the area's vibrant history, art, and culture. Indulge in exquisite Puerto Rican cuisine at the many cool cocktail bars and restaurants scattered throughout the neighborhood. For guests staying at the Sheraton, a complimentary shuttle service runs daily from 9 am to 6 pm, making it easy to experience this must-visit destination's old-world charm and vibrant energy.Where to eat and drinkMake sure to explore Puerto Ricos premier entertainment hub, Distrito T-Mobile, conveniently located just a two-minute walk from the hotel. This vibrant destination offers the ultimate experience with over a dozen dining options, an urban park, cutting-edge technology, and so much more! Kweens Klub, located in the vibrant heart of Santurce, has quickly established itself as the premier LGBTQ+ nightclub in Puerto Rico since its opening in December 2021. What began as a visionary project to merge nightlife experiences from across the island has transformed an abandoned building into a thriving hub of entertainment and inclusivity. Known for their signature cocktails and a diverse selection of local beers, Kweens Klub truly shines with its weekly drag shows. The club's second floor is a tribute to local drag performers, showcasing their portraits in a space dedicated to celebrating their artistry. And nestled on a vibrant corner in Old San Juan, Deaverdura is an easygoing restaurant that serves traditional Caribbean cuisine in a colorful and welcoming space. The hand-written menu changes daily and is written in Spanish; every dish is fresh and flavorful, with the tostones and hot sauces being particular standouts.LGBTQ+ rights in Puerto RicoThe first thing that pops into my head when planning a trip to a Caribbean island is, "Is it safe?" Or, more specifically, "Will I get murdered for being gay? (Looking at you, Jamaica!)Puerto Rico has made significant strides in LGBTQ+ rights over the years, fostering a more inclusive and welcoming environment. Since 2003, same-sex relationships have been legal, reflecting a commitment to equality and acceptance. The landmark decision to permit same-sex marriage and adoptions further solidified Puerto Rico's stance on LGBTQ+ rights, allowing couples to celebrate their love and build families without legal barriers.Additionally, U.S. federal hate crime laws apply in Puerto Rico, offering legal protection against discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity. These advancements contribute to Puerto Rico's reputation as a progressive destination, attracting LGBTQ+ travelers from around the world to experience its vibrant culture and welcoming spirit.Other important informationCannabis Regulations: Medical cannabis is legal for registered patients with a qualifying condition. However, recreational use remains illegal.Alcohol Consumption: The legal drinking age is 18.Tipping Etiquette: Tipping in Puerto Rico is similar to that in the United States. In restaurants, a tip of 20% of the total bill is customary for good service. For hotel staff, such as bellhops and housekeeping, tipping $1-$2 per bag and $2-$5 per day is appropriate. Taxi drivers typically receive a tip of 10-15% of the fare.Language: While Spanish is the predominant language spoken in Puerto Rico, English is widely understood, especially in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants. Many locals are bilingual, and you'll often hear Spanglisha blend of Spanish and Englishin casual conversations.

Advertising executives remain committed to LGBTQ+ representation in their brands despite right-wing opposition and boycott campaigns, a new report from GLAAD reveals.The media advocacy groups 2024 Visibility Perceptions in Advertising Report finds supermajorities of advertising industry leaders across the board support LGBTQ+ inclusion, but with caveats. Related Brands that bend to anti-LGBTQ+ pressure lose more customers, study says Bud Light called its trans-inclusive marketing campaign a misstep. But that may prove an even bigger misstep. While the study found that 90% of the industry says its very important to feature the LGBTQ+ community in advertising, theyre more fearful of facing backlash from consumers and right-wing groups due to LGBTQ+ inclusion than they are from LGBTQ+ consumers concerned with a lack of it. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Thats wrong-track thinking, according to GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis.We cannot let fear and fringe anti-LGBTQ activists dilute the work that has been done in the name of visibility, acceptance and opportunity, Ellis said in a statement accompanying the report. One path leads to turning your back on millions of new consumers entering the marketplace and workforce, while the other welcomes growth and new business opportunities. The question is notifLGBTQ people should be included, buthow.Despite their concern over manufactured opposition to LGBTQ+ inclusion, industry leaders showed nearly universal commitment to it. Theimportance of transgender representationin advertising among industry leaders increased by 71% compared to 2021, while theimportance of bisexual andnonbinary representation increased by 69% and 34% respectively.The study revealed 90% of respondents completely or somewhat agree that companies should be prepared to stand by their decision to support or include LGBTQ+ people in advertising. Companies that have faced backlash are up to 1.6 times more likely to increase their commitment to feature LGBTQ+ people compared to companies that have not faced backlash. Sticking with LGBTQ+ consumers is a strategy for success, said GLAAD Senior Director of Agencies, Brands and Engagement, Meghan Bartley.This report underscores what GLAAD and many researchers have uncovered in the past few years: LGBTQ inclusion is a future-proofing brand growth strategy. While Gen Z and Millennial consumers are more likely to be, know, and support LGBTQ people, Bartley said, the real argument for inclusion lies with expectations of consumers across demographics. A majority of consumers support pro-LGBTQ brands, are more likely to buy or use brands with demonstrated commitments, and are more likely to support brands facing backlash rather than the critics.The purchasing power of LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. is $1.4 trillion, according to GLAAD.Brands and advertising agencies that step back from a commitment to LGBTQ+ representation do so at their peril. Another, as-yet-unreleased report, GLAADs Advertising Visibility Index, shows that consumers in particular, younger demographics are 51% more likely this year to say the industry is not doing enough to represent the LGBTQ+ community appropriately.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

A massive new report on tobacco use published by the U.S. Surgeon General has found that gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans vape at significantly higher rates than their straight peers.Nearly 40% have tried e-cigarettes compared to 16.5%of their straight counterparts, the report says. That number rose to nearly 50% among bisexual Americans. Conclusive data on transgender users was unavailable, the authors noted. Related LGBTQ+ people are smoking to cope with trauma. Too many anti-tobacco activists are failing them. The stress of being LGBTQ+ in todays climate is fueling addiction, but where is the help? The report classified electronic cigarettes as e-cigars, e-pipes, e-hookahs, vaping pens, and hookah pens. Theyve been the tobacco product of choice among all young adults and youth since 2014. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The younger the LGBTQ+ population, the higher the rate of use, the study found. More than 42% of young adults and 56% of high school students who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual reported vaping, compared with 30.3% and 49.8% among their straight peers. 36 million U.S. adults and 760,000 middle and high school students consume tobacco products in some form, the 837-page report reveals. Thats a 30% drop to 11.5% of all Americans who use tobacco today versus 42.4% in 1965, an indication of the success of anti-tobacco campaigns in the interim.Vapings popularity among certain populations threatens that progress.These and other noncombustible tobacco products such as nicotine pouches have the potential to undermine overall progress in preventing and reducing young peoples use of tobacco products, the reports authors wrote. The studys co-editor, Kristy Marynak, a senior science adviser at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, characterized tobacco use as a singular health threat to LGBTQAI+ communities.This report finds that nearly 1 in 5 of all deaths in the United States are caused by tobacco, and it shines a light on the disproportionate burden borne by certain communities, including LGBTQAI+ communities.Use of e-cigarettes produce a number of dangerous chemicals, including acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde. Like more traditional forms of tobacco delivery, they cause lung and heart disease, according to the American Lung Association. Also common to both cigarettes and the electronic version is the presence of nicotine, an addictive chemical that fuels anxiety and depression and can inhibit brain development in younger users.One factor that contributes to high rates of vaping and other forms of tobacco delivery among the LGBTQ+ community, the report found, is targeted advertising in queer media by tobacco companies promoting those products. The report noted the same corporations donate to organizations focused on promoting LGBTQ+ rights and Pride initiatives.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

When I first sat down with Bradley Kim, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.A former Air Force Academy football player turned queer singer-songwriter living in North Dakota? It sounded more like the makings of a Netflix drama. But by the end of our conversation, I realized Bradley is anything but a movie clich. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bradley Kekoa Kim (@bradleykkim)"Seattle born and raised," Bradley tells me proudly. The youngest of five, his early years included sports and family gatherings. His dad's military background strongly shaped his upbringing, influencing dinner table discussions and Kim's discipline. "I always knew I wanted to attend a service academy," he explains. With a football scholarship to the Air Force Academy, Kim was setting the stage for what seemed like the perfect all-American life. But life, as we know it, isn't always perfect. Growing up closeted in a space that felt hyper-heteronormative wasn't easy. "Music was my escape," he confides. The Fray, indie alternative sounds, and artists who could evoke raw emotion became his lifelines. "I'd listen to songs that hit me where I hurt, and I thought, if they can create this space for me to feel seen, maybe someday I can do that for someone else." Cue his second act: Bradley learns to play guitar, starts experimenting with songwriting, and eventually releases music so personal that it feels like cracking open his journal for the world to see. "20": The Song That Almost Wasn'tWhen I ask about his most vulnerable work, Bradley doesn't hesitate. "Hands down, it's '20.'" The song, currently his most popular on Spotify, is a poignant reflection on a dark time. "For years, I didn't think I'd live past 20," he confesses. "Growing up closeted, combined with other struggles, made me feel like I wouldnt make it." Shelby Evanson for Bradley KimWritten during a work trip at 22, "20" was his way of processing emotions he had long intellectualized but never fully felt. "I didn't think I'd release it," he admits. "But now, seeing it resonate with others has been incredible." He's even promised himself a tattoo of the song title once it hits a million streams. "It's a reminder of how far I've come." From "20" to his lighter, more playful trackshe affectionately calls them his "dumb bitch era"Bradley's music invites listeners to embrace their full spectrum of humanity. "Life is messy," he laughs. "We make mistakes, fall for the wrong people, and that's okay. Sometimes, it's more than okay; it's hilarious." From Cleats to Gigs: A Surprising Journey Kim came out publicly in 2018 while still playing Division I football. "I didn't see anyone like me in sports or the military," he explains. "I wanted to be that person for others." The response was overwhelming. Messages flooded in from closeted athletes and military members who found hope in his story. "It was humbling," he says. "I realized I had a platform not just to represent but to uplift." That same ethos guides his music career. Despite his initial fears about the music industry's reputation, Bradley found a surprisingly supportive community. "It's less scary than you'd think," he tells me. "At the end of the day, everyone's just human. They want to connect." This year, he co-wrote for queer artist Jordy and is featured on a Bentley Robles track. His latest EP, Done for the Summer, dropped in September, showcasing breezy tracks he wrote post-deployment. "It's my way of figuring out life again," he says. Holding Space, One Song at a TimeUltimately, Bradley hopes his music becomes a sanctuary for listeners. "I want my vulnerability to inspire theirs," he affirms. "I want my openness to give them permission to be open, too." And if he could time travel to his younger self, his advice would be on similar grounds. "Do what makes you happy. Be yourself. Life's too short to live it for someone else." Austin Quach for Bradley KimWhether it's through songs about queer love or playful anthems of self-reflection, Bradley's work is a reminder that we all deserve a soundtrack where we feel seen, celebrated, and a little less alone. And with Bradley Kim, there's no doubt the music will keep playing. Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ and Allied community. Visit pride.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@equalpride.com. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists and editors, and do not directly represent the views of PRIDE.com or our parent company, equalpride.

We love a queer villain!Positive LGBTQ+ representation is always wonderful, particularly given the long history of mainstream media depicting people in our community as villains, evil, and/or mean. As we move forward and have more projects that feature LGBTQ-inclusive casts and characters, however, we should hold some space for some of the slimiest, dirtiest, most evil, most fun, and sexiest representation we can get, too!It is obviously fantastic to have queer representation of good guys who are good role models, but that can often constrain characters into tired tropes of being a "gay best friend" or a "magical queer helper" throughout the whole story. The fun really happens when a character can get down and dirty. Queer people are human, and flaws are human, and it is often these flaws that make for great characters.Scroll through to see our list of problematic queer characters who are interesting, exciting, and that make us invested in following their journeys!Boone Clemens 'Scream Queens'Boone Clemens was played by gay-favorite Nick Jonas in Scream Queens, where the hunky gay college student was revealed to be a serial killer who stalked and murdered his fellow students. Problematic, but still hot!Quentin 'The White Lotus'The second season of The White Lotus introduced us to Quentin: a rich gay man on vacation in Italy who meets Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) and immediately becomes her GBF, taking her on all sorts of adventures.It's not until later in the season that we realize that Quentin is having sex with the young man going on dates with Tanya's assistant, Portia (Haley Lu Richardson). Oh, and Quentin is also planning on murdering Tanya, which brings out the iconic quote: "These gays they're trying to murder me!"Craig and Trevor 'Dicks: The Musical'All love is love, even when it's wrong. That's what the hilarious Dicks: The Musical taught us, and we believe it! Craig and Trevor may be assh*les, they may be misogynists, and they may be brothers, but they're also a couple we love.Omar Little 'The Wire' The Wire's Omar Little is one of the greatest TV characters of all time. He's a mastermind criminal, an ominous presence, and a moral guide on a show full of powerful and dangerous people.Working as a stick-up man, Omar is known for carrying a shotgun and bulletproof vest, making him as intimidating as they come. But when he's in private, we can't help but love him.Tom Ripley 'The Talented Mr. Ripley'Created by lesbian author Patricia Highsmith, Tom Ripley is a gay con man and murderer who appeared in five novels, several of which have been adapted into movies. The most famous story is The Talented Mr. Ripley, which was made into a movie in 1999 with Matt Damon as the twisted young man who takes what he wants.Recently, Andrew Scott played him and was nominated for an Emmy in the Netflix show Ripley.Hannibal and Will 'Hannibal'Hannibal and Will, as seen in the NBC series, are absolutely delicious together. Obviously, they're both serial killers. And yes, Hannibal literally tortured and messed with Will's mind and gaslighted him. But beneath it, you can tell it's all because he loves him.Pray Tell 'Pose'Pray Tell, brought to life by the brilliant Billy Porter on Pose, loved to read a girl for filth. He was not one to hold back his opinions on anything, whether it was someone's fashion, body, actions, or beliefs. Yes, he said some very hurtful things to our queen Candy, and he dated much younger men, but we still love him.Sandy Ryerson 'Glee'This former teacher in Glee is what youd call a predatory gay. As soon as we met Sandy, he was being falsely accused of touching a student by Rachel Berry, and as the show went on, we saw that she maybe had good reason to accuse him. But wed be lying if we didnt quote whos Josh Groban? Kill yourself! all the time.Oliver 'Call Me By Your Name'A lot of people consider the Call Me By Your Name film to be deeply problematic for the age gap relationship it shows. In the actual story, the characters are 24 and 17. Oliver, however, played by problematic actor Armie Hammer, looked even older in the film causing many to call out the film for its age gap and underage relationship. Still, it remains one of the most beautiful and relatable gay movies ever made.Mac 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'For much of the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia run, Mac has been one of the most vocal and proud homophobes on TV and that includes moments after he came out!Even if Mac wasn't homophobic and transphobic, he'd still be a complete assh*le, not to mention a racist, misogynist, and xenophobe. And yet, somehow, fans can't stop themselves from loving him.Jack 'Will & Grace'During Will & Grace's original run, Jack made quite a few problematic jokes with his best friend Karen. The two of them would often joke about gay culture, homeless and lower class people, and other races. Still, we can't help but love these chaos agents.HIM 'The Powerpuff Girls'The devil has never looked this good! The Powerpuff Girls introduced us early to the idea of a queer villain, giving us this diabolical drag queen!Ian Gallagher 'Shameless'The entire Gallagher clan is full of f*ck-ups and criminals, and Ian Gallagher is no exception. Ian gets into several problematic relationships, loves to pick a fight, and gets into all sorts of other trouble. Still we do love him.Louis and Lestat 'Interview With the Vampire'Since the premiere of Interview With the Vampire on AMC, Lestat and Louis have become two of the sexiest characters on television human or vampire!They have a very toxic relationship built on blood, manipulation, and power imbalances. But damn are they sexy. We can even forgive all the murder and blood drinking.Armond 'The White Lotus'Armond is the manager of the White Lotus resort in Hawaii and a recovering drug addict. Upon facing a mounting stress from the wealthy clients at his resort, he steals drugs from them, has sex with a young co-worker, and loses control of everything.Disney VillainsWhile these characters aren't canonically gay, so many classic Disney villains were queer-coded that you really can't blame a queer person for loving the bad guys. Villains like Scar, Jafar, and Captain Hook brought sassy feminine energy to their movies, giving us some of the first queer representation we ever had.Andrs 'Los Espookys'Andrs Valdez is the wealthy heir to a chocolate empire from Los Espookys. He loves to sit around all day doing nothing but bask in his family's riches and have whatever he wants served to him on a silver platter. He's self-centered, ridiculous, lazy, and out-of-touch, and hes a total genius.Connor Walsh 'How to Get Away With Murder'Connor is a cocky pretty boy used to getting whatever he wants. He breaks hearts and laws throughout his time on How to Get Away With Murder, but how can you say 'no' to that face?Edward Teach and Stede Bonnet 'Our Flag Means Death'Blackbeard (a.k.a. Edward Teach) is particularly problematic on Our Flag Means Death. We've seen him murder, torture, and pillage, and we were told that most of his worst days were behind him!Stede later joined him and became a murdering, pillaging pirate on his own. Together, though, they're one of our favorite TV couples.Midnighter 'The Authority'On The Authority, Midnighter is basically a gay, ultra-violent BDSM version of Batman.Batman may have a "no kill" rule, but Midnighter definitely does not. Yeah, that makes him problematic, but it also makes him kind of hot!The Corinthian 'The Sandman'The Corinthian is a literal nightmare. Plus, he's one of the most prolific and successful serial killers of all time.On The Sandman, he travels across the country collecting lovers and trophies alike. He's one of the most charming characters you'll ever find, and one of the scariest, too!The Vampires 'What We Do in the Shadows'More vampires! If you live for hundreds of years or even thousands of course you're going to be pansexual and going to have tried just about everything.Unfortunately, that also means you've tried murder, cannibalism, and just about every other sin there is.Twink 'Q Force'Well, according to a bunch of fools on X (formerly Twitter), his name is a slur. But apart from that, Twink is a government agent on Q Force who often seduces men while disguised as a woman. It's pretty problematic but also, he's our favorite character on one of our all-time favorite shows.Elliott Goss 'Search Party'Elliott Goss, brought to life on Search Party by the hilarious John Early, is one of a dozen problematic, but lovable characters on the dark comedy Search Party. Hes a self diagnosed narcissist who lied about having childhood cancer and later became a right-wing talk show pundit. Hes absolutely terrible, and we love him.Alejandro 'Problemista'Alejandro is a young immigrant from El Salvador who has dreams of becoming a toy maker. Throughout Problemista, a film that Julio Torres also directed and wrote, Alejandro repeatedly makes things much harder on himself, refusing to compromise and making rash decisions. He's not as problematic as others on this list, but he still deserves a spot.

Could Drake Von be entering a vers era?It's been an exciting year for the popular pornstar as he earned multiple trophies at this year's GayVN Awards and exclusively signed as a Men.com model.One of his first scenes as an exclusive model has him starring alongside Joey Mills in his first ever bottoming scene. The star quickly shot to fame for his topping videos, so this is a big moment in his career."I'm so excited! It's definitely been anticipated for a while I'm impressed with how well it came out. I'm also very happy with my performance and how well prepared I was for doing something I've never done before," Von tells PRIDE. See on Instagram The scene works as an ideal role reversal as Mills typically bottoms in his spicy videos, so Von is happy he was able to film such a hot video."Joey is a true professional and is very relatable on set. This video is something I've teased for a while, but I never truly committed to it until now! It was a very long awaited trip for the fans that have been dying to see me push this boundary and I've finally delivered."In typical Von fashion, the creator is also teasing fans on future without giving too much away. Perhaps more bottoming scenes could be on the horizon with more Men.com models."We will see! There are no plans as of now. If anyone would know a good pairing in the future it would be the team of Men.com."Fans can keep up with Drake Von by following him on Instagram here. To see his Men.com exclusive interview, check out the video at the top of the page.