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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMThis trans woman was forced into electroshock therapy. She just won a settlement.A 28-year-old trans woman in China has won her lawsuit against the hospital and doctor that subjected her to three months of traumatic and painful electroshock conversion therapy treatments, the Guardian reports.The woman, a performance artist who goes by the name Linger, said she hoped the victory would help others in the LGBTQ+ community protect their rights. Related Conversion therapist sued to be able to convert LGBTQ+ kids. A federal court just said no. She said she has a free speech right to try to turn kids straight. The judges said she doesnt. In China, the situation for transgender people is not very optimistic, she said. Theres a lack of protection for this group. 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 Linger asserted in her suit that the enforced conversion therapy treatments had violated her personal rights. Her victory came with a small award of about $8,000 U.S.Linger was taken to a hospital in Qinhuangdao City in 2022 after coming out to her parents as transgender the previous year. They were very opposed to her gender identity, Linger said, and felt that I wasnt mentally stable. So they sent me to a mental hospital.There, she was tied to a bed with restraints and diagnosed with anxiety disorder and discordant sexual orientation. Linger identifies as heterosexual.She was kept in hospital for 97 days over her objections and subjected to seven sessions of electroshock therapy.It caused serious damage to my body, Linger said. Every time I underwent the treatment, I would faint I didnt agree to it, but I had no choice.Chinese law dictates patients cant be forcibly subjected to psychiatric treatment barring a threat to their safety or others.Lingers hospital physician said in testimony that she might pose a risk to the safety of her parents if they killed themselves because of her gender identity, according to a report in Chinese media.The night before the electroshock treatments, Linger was restricted to a diet of bread and milk. During the treatments, her arms and legs were fixed and something was taped to her hands, Linger recalled. With each session, as soon as the power was turned on, I fainted. She says she suffers from heart arrhythmias in the aftermath.During her internment, Linger was forced to cut her long hair and conform to a male gender identity.For three months, they forced me to wear mens clothes step by step. It was painful and helpless for me, she said. There are a few precedents for Lingers legal victory.In 2017, a gay man in Henan province was awardeda small settlement after he was forced to stay in a psychiatric hospital for 19 days and take medications to treat his homosexuality.In 2014, a judge ruled a facility falsely claimed it could cure a mans homosexuality when he was subjected to hypnosis and electroshock therapy without consent.While China removed homosexuality from an official list of psychiatric disorders in 2001, it retained a diagnosis for sexual orientation distress, leaving the door open for therapies claiming to cure it. After she was discharged and returned home, Linger discovered that her parents had removed her womens clothes and cosmetics and prepared a mens wardrobe for her.Months later, after Lingers parents confiscated her hormone pills, she decided to leave her hometown. She packed a small pink suitcase, she said, found a place to stay for one night, and left by car the next day.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 37 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.PRIDE.COM10 must-watch lesbian movies based on books that celebrate sapphic loveYour read and watch list is about to get longer!Across all of the entertainment world, books included, LGBTQ+ storylines are getting lauded and we're seeing more and more representation as a result. Which is great news. However, oftentimes, there's a lot of focus on men and there isn't always as much love to our lesbian friends within the community.Fortunately, there are still a solid number of books that revolve around lesbian subplots, and plenty of them have also been made into some pretty stellar movies -- and some even have more than one adaptation.Here are 10 lesbian movies you can watch that are based on books, and believe us you're gonna want watch AND read them all! The Color PurpleThere are a lot of reason's Alice Walker's The Color Purple is a classic novel, especially with its depiction of same-sex and bisexual relationships among its main characters. It's gone on to now have two different adaptations of the source text (although as of this writing, the next one comes out in a few days.) The 1985 film stars Whoopi Goldberg in her film debut as Celie, whose story chronicles her abuse as a child and her journey to find her own voice (and Shug Avery, swoon) as an adult later on in life.I Can't Think StraightShamim Sarif's 2008 novel I Can't Think Straight deals with coming to terms with not only your sexuality, but also how to deal with interfaith relationships when they start to push up against the line of tradition and love. Sarif's longtime partner, Hanan Kattan, produced the film version, which stars Lisa Rey as the Christian Tala and Sheetal Sheth as the Muslim Leyla, who must work together in multiple ways to let their love shine. FingersmithAnother novel that has two different adaptations is Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. The book, published in 2002, is a historical crime novel set against the backdrop of Victorian-era Britain. The 2005 miniseries, which stars Elaine Cassidy as Maud and Sally Hawkins as Sue, sticks to the book's plotline. The 2016 South Korean film Handmaiden, on the other hand, takes the murderous plot seen within the main characters and puts it in a more modern-day setting in Japan, where the handmaiden Sook-Hee (Kim Tae-ri) plots to take the inheritance of Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee).The Price of Salt/CarolThe Price of Salt was released by Patricia Highsmith in 1952, originally under the pseudonym Claire Morgan. It's based on a true story from her own life and tells the thrilling tale of Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), a stage designer whose life is turned upside down when she meets Carol Aird (Cate Blanchett). The 2015 film tells the tale on the screen in riveting performances from the main actresses. She SaidHave you ever heard of the #MeToo movement? Yeah, you can thank Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey for breaking the story on Harvey Weinstein and all of the "alleged" assault that's coursed through Hollywood for years. The film, starring Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan, takes the contents of the book and puts it into a heartpounding tale on screen that chronicles the trials, tribulations, and dangers the journalist's faced as they worked to break arguably one of the most important stories in history.Daisy Jones & the SixTaylor Jenkins Reid is a great author with some incredible stories, and Daisy Jones & the Six is no exception. In the book, character Simone Jackson, played by Nabiyah Be onscreen, is not explicitly queer, though she is depicted as such in the film. The plot of the story is influenced by the breakup of Fleetwood Mac, and the adaptation, which is produced by Reese Witherspoon, is set up as a documentary style that blends in with its gritty 1970s backdrop.Tipping the VelvetAnother Sarah Waters classic that's lasted the tale of time is Tipping the Velvet, which is also the author's debut novel. It's set during 1890s England, when a young woman named Nan (Rachael Stirling) falls in love with a male impersonator named Kitty (Keeley Hawes) and follows her to London as she continues to search for herself. The BBC adapted the novel into a three-part miniseries for the small screen. The HoursStephen Daldry's 2002 adaptation of Michael Cunningham's The Hours is arguably a little better than the book, which is rare, but each have their own prospective strengths. Partially influenced by the life of Virginia Woolf, the plot follows three women, Clarissa (Meryl Sreep), Laura (Julianne Moore) and Virginia (Nicole Kidman), who each exist in a different time and place as the story weaves them closer together. Woolf, when she was alive, was famously depressed and bisexual, both of which are examined in the story.Fried Green TomatoesFried Green Tomatoes is an example where the queerness, particularly between Ruth (Mary-Louise Parker) and Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson), is more explicit in the book than it is in the film. That said, both are equally entertaining and follows around a trapped housewife named Evelyn (Kathy Bates) who befriends an elderly woman named Ninny (Jessica Tandy) and shares stories of their lives and exploits, ultimately leading Evelyn to make better decisions for herself.Aimee & JaguarErica Fisher released Aime & Jaguar in 1994 that tells an equally tragic and heartwarming tale of the two Berlin women, Lily Wust (Juliane Khler) and Felice Schragenheim (Maria Schrader), who try to let their love endure during the Nazi persecution of World War II. The plot is based on real events, and the onscreen adaptation from director Max Frberbck puts the weight of the affair they endured front and center on the screen.0 Comments 0 Shares 42 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.PRIDE.COM20 objectively sexy Sapphics who we're obsessed with this week (if you disagree, youre straight)Sexiest Sapphics!This week, we are celebrating all of the sexiest Sapphic celebs who are fueling our spiciest dreams and making us glad we love the ladies! From Aubrey Plaza blowing our minds with her V Magazine cover shoot to Janelle Mone's sassy video while wearing a short pleated skirt to Keke Palmer having fun with Drew Barrymore, there is a queer woman for you to lust after respectfully, of course.So keep scrolling to see this week's most objectively sexiest Sapphics!Aubrey PlazaSee on InstagramThis photoshoot of Aubrey Plaza for V Magazine has us craving an even more Sapphic second season of Agatha All Along.Dove CameronSee on InstagramQueer actress Dove Cameron is proving her face card never declines.Madison BaileySee on InstagramWe can't get enough of pansexual actress Madison Bailey in this Who What Wear ad campaign.Sophia BushSee on InstagramWe've never been more jealous of Sophia Bush's girlfriend, soccer star Ashlyn Harris!Lizzy Bristow@bodybydaddyReplying to @ Hey there cupcake, you lifting today? #viarcane #arcane #leagueoflegendsAnyone helping people look more like Vi from Arcane is our new favorite person!Auli'i CravalhoSee on InstagramCould she be any more stunning?!Janelle MonaeSee on InstagramJanelle Mone in a short pleated skirt acting sassy? Have we died and gone to heaven?Keke PalmersSee on InstagramKeke Palmer looking hot while repeating Sex and the City lines with Drew Barrymore is making our day!Pandora Nox and Liam ChoclitSee on InstagramThis photoshoot real-life partners Pandora Nox the first cis woman to win a season in the Drag Race franchise and Drag king Liam ChoClit did together is so hot we can't stop blushing!LudmillaSee on InstagramWe can't get enough of Brazilian singer-songwriter Ludmilla! Do yourself a favor and scroll through the carousel, you won't be disappointed!Towa BirdSee on InstagramAfter seeing this pic, we're dreaming of Rene Rapp's main squeeze Towa Bird and her amazing shoulders!Cara DelevingneSee on InstagramCalvin Klein never misses when picking their celeb models, and this campaign with queer supermodel Cara Delevingne in a satin dress is no different.Tessa ThompsonSee on InstagramHello cheekbones!Katy O'BrianSee on InstagramWe're not sure anyone has ever looked better in a suit than Love Lies Bleeding star Katy O'Brian.Jasmine Savoy BrownSee on InstagramQueer Yellowjackets star Jasmine Savoy Brown and icon Julianne Moore together? This is the pic we never knew we always needed!TinasheSee on InstagramWe've got to stop falling in love with people on the internet.KeshaSee on InstagramLeather and lace is our fave combo for a reason!Lauren JaureguiSee on InstagramBisexual former Fifth Harmony singer Lauren Jauregui is STUNNING in this green dress!Beth DittoSee on InstagramSinger-songwriter Beth Ditto looking fabulously glamorous in this cover shoot!Gillian AndersonSee on InstagramGillian Anderson is Mother and we'll except no arguments.0 Comments 0 Shares 43 Views 0 Reviews
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GEDMAG.COMHave a Gay Ol ChristmasCHRISTMAS WITH THE CRAWFORDS Palm Springs: This hoot of a gay Christmas extravaganza has been kicking around gay theatres since its NYC premier in 2000 when drag legend Joey Arias played Joan Crawford. The story is based on a true event. By 1944, Joan Crawford had become Box Office Poison. She was actually required []The post Have a Gay Ol Christmas appeared first on GEDmagazine.0 Comments 0 Shares 88 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.PRIDE.COMJD Vance seems to think he's Trump's trad wife and these 25 reactions have us cackling(@) On Thursday, when most Americans were stuffing themselves with turkey and pumpkin pie, Vice President-elect JD Vance was being a huge weirdo, like normal. Only this time, instead of ordering donuts in the cringiest way possible, he was posting a poorly photoshopped image that portrayed him as Donald Trumps wife. No, were not joking. Vance took to X (formerly Twitter) to post Norman Rockwell's famous 1940s Freedom From Want painting of a family gathered around a Thanksgiving table, but he photoshopped Trumps head in place of the husbands and put his own head on the wifes body.So we have photographic proof of Vance once dressing in drag, accidentally misgendering himself during a speech, and now hes happily portraying himself as Trumps dutiful housewife? Somehow Vance doesnt see how hypocritical it is to be vocally anti-trans and anti-drag queen when hes willingly put himself into a dress.Luckily, the internet was happy to point it out for him. From quipping that this is Vances way of letting the world know hes a bottom to someone writing that its good to see you progressing with your transition to another person posing that this explains why Melania isnt moving into the White House, the jokes are writing themselves.Keep scrolling to see the funniest reactions to Vance turning himself into the perfect wife! (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@)0 Comments 0 Shares 49 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.PRIDE.COM10 must-watch lesbian movies based on books that celebrate sapphic loveYour read and watch list is about to get longer!Across all of the entertainment world, books included, LGBTQ+ storylines are getting lauded and we're seeing more and more representation as a result. Which is great news. However, oftentimes, there's a lot of focus on men and there isn't always as much love to our lesbian friends within the community.Fortunately, there are still a solid number of books that revolve around lesbian subplots, and plenty of them have also been made into some pretty stellar movies -- and some even have more than one adaptation.Here are 10 lesbian movies you can watch that are based on books, and believe us you're gonna want watch AND read them all! The Color PurpleThere are a lot of reason's Alice Walker's The Color Purple is a classic novel, especially with its depiction of same-sex and bisexual relationships among its main characters. It's gone on to now have two different adaptations of the source text (although as of this writing, the next one comes out in a few days.) The 1985 film stars Whoopi Goldberg in her film debut as Celie, whose story chronicles her abuse as a child and her journey to find her own voice (and Shug Avery, swoon) as an adult later on in life.I Can't Think StraightShamim Sarif's 2008 novel I Can't Think Straight deals with coming to terms with not only your sexuality, but also how to deal with interfaith relationships when they start to push up against the line of tradition and love. Sarif's longtime partner, Hanan Kattan, produced the film version, which stars Lisa Rey as the Christian Tala and Sheetal Sheth as the Muslim Leyla, who must work together in multiple ways to let their love shine. FingersmithAnother novel that has two different adaptations is Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. The book, published in 2002, is a historical crime novel set against the backdrop of Victorian-era Britain. The 2005 miniseries, which stars Elaine Cassidy as Maud and Sally Hawkins as Sue, sticks to the book's plotline. The 2016 South Korean film Handmaiden, on the other hand, takes the murderous plot seen within the main characters and puts it in a more modern-day setting in Japan, where the handmaiden Sook-Hee (Kim Tae-ri) plots to take the inheritance of Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee).The Price of Salt/CarolThe Price of Salt was released by Patricia Highsmith in 1952, originally under the pseudonym Claire Morgan. It's based on a true story from her own life and tells the thrilling tale of Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara), a stage designer whose life is turned upside down when she meets Carol Aird (Cate Blanchett). The 2015 film tells the tale on the screen in riveting performances from the main actresses. She SaidHave you ever heard of the #MeToo movement? Yeah, you can thank Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey for breaking the story on Harvey Weinstein and all of the "alleged" assault that's coursed through Hollywood for years. The film, starring Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan, takes the contents of the book and puts it into a heartpounding tale on screen that chronicles the trials, tribulations, and dangers the journalist's faced as they worked to break arguably one of the most important stories in history.Daisy Jones & the SixTaylor Jenkins Reid is a great author with some incredible stories, and Daisy Jones & the Six is no exception. In the book, character Simone Jackson, played by Nabiyah Be onscreen, is not explicitly queer, though she is depicted as such in the film. The plot of the story is influenced by the breakup of Fleetwood Mac, and the adaptation, which is produced by Reese Witherspoon, is set up as a documentary style that blends in with its gritty 1970s backdrop.Tipping the VelvetAnother Sarah Waters classic that's lasted the tale of time is Tipping the Velvet, which is also the author's debut novel. It's set during 1890s England, when a young woman named Nan (Rachael Stirling) falls in love with a male impersonator named Kitty (Keeley Hawes) and follows her to London as she continues to search for herself. The BBC adapted the novel into a three-part miniseries for the small screen. The HoursStephen Daldry's 2002 adaptation of Michael Cunningham's The Hours is arguably a little better than the book, which is rare, but each have their own prospective strengths. Partially influenced by the life of Virginia Woolf, the plot follows three women, Clarissa (Meryl Sreep), Laura (Julianne Moore) and Virginia (Nicole Kidman), who each exist in a different time and place as the story weaves them closer together. Woolf, when she was alive, was famously depressed and bisexual, both of which are examined in the story.Fried Green TomatoesFried Green Tomatoes is an example where the queerness, particularly between Ruth (Mary-Louise Parker) and Idgie (Mary Stuart Masterson), is more explicit in the book than it is in the film. That said, both are equally entertaining and follows around a trapped housewife named Evelyn (Kathy Bates) who befriends an elderly woman named Ninny (Jessica Tandy) and shares stories of their lives and exploits, ultimately leading Evelyn to make better decisions for herself.Aimee & JaguarErica Fisher released Aime & Jaguar in 1994 that tells an equally tragic and heartwarming tale of the two Berlin women, Lily Wust (Juliane Khler) and Felice Schragenheim (Maria Schrader), who try to let their love endure during the Nazi persecution of World War II. The plot is based on real events, and the onscreen adaptation from director Max Frberbck puts the weight of the affair they endured front and center on the screen.0 Comments 0 Shares 43 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMWait Donald Trump made gay history this week?!??Here are this weeks most popular positive stories, with some fun social media posts tossed in too. Like seeing uplifting content like this?Sign up for our Good News email.Gobble, gobble and Happy Belated Thanksgiving, everyone! Were grateful the holiday is increasingly focused on Indigenous and First Nation People and were also thankful to have you with us as we wrap up the year.Weve got some delicious dishes prepared for you today, so waddle on up and chow down youre all family here! This 1980s Thanksgiving parade had more rainbows than some Pride parades! 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 View this post on Instagram A post shared by @eightiesgirls We asked AI to create LGBTQ+ turkeys for Thanksgiving. It did not disappoint.We hope you enjoy these masterful renderings of happy, confident queer turkeys living their lives out loud. They make us so proud.Some other bright, holiday- and family-related bright spots: Learn aboutthe tiny market in East Texas thats made for LGBTQ+ people, read aboutthe5 fathers of trans kids who experienced something beautiful after taking a fishing trip together, andlaugh out loud at these hilariously queer Thanksgiving videos that took over TikTok & Instagram. Donald Trump makes history by nominating gay man to his cabinetBillionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessent will be the first out Cabinet secretary nominated by a Republican.Grammy-nominated R&B singer Khalid comes out as gayHe got a push out of the closet, but he was nonetheless proud to share his identity with fans. Whatever holiday theyre celebrating, we want in View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@astraleyez) Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo celebrate Wicked the film as beautifully queerThe pop star and queer singer say it isnt just Glinda and Elphaba that make the land of Oz a celebration of uniqueness.LGBTQ+ Ugandans win an important High Court victoryLife is pretty tough for queer Ugandans, but the nations top court recognized their essential human rights to dignity. People with HIV can now receive organ transplantsIts a big deal that will save lives, thanks to a new rule change from the Biden Administration (and some behind-the-scenes scientific research). Mom is kinda losing her cool in the kitchen this year View this post on Instagram A post shared by Drew Lynch (@thedrewlynch)Susan Sarandon says shes down for love with anybodyIn recent comments, the actress and liberal activist shared that shes a bit more fluid than previously thought. Vote now for the 2024 Best of GayCities AwardsWhats the best hidden gem for queer travelers? Whos the best local drag queen? Whats the best queer bar or beach? Vote and tell us! Advertising executives remain committed to LGBTQ+ representationA delightfully surprising number of advertising executives say its very important to include LGBTQ+ people in brand campaigns. Heres why that mattersDuring the day, these creatures are cute. But at night they go WILD! View this post on Instagram A post shared by JUNIPER WILDLIFE REFUGE (@juniperfoxx) From our sibling sites:OUTSPORTS:These 25 inspiring quotes from out athletes show the best of 25 years of OutsportsGAYCITIES:Divorce parties are becoming popular at male strip clubsQUEERTY:25 celebs who came out after playing LGBTQ+ characters on screenINTO:Lil Nas X has some life advice that everyone could do with hearing0 Comments 0 Shares 24 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMBiphobia among gay men is causing us to close ourselves off to loveI am a Black gay man who has dedicated his career to guiding fellow gay men to navigate the complex world of dating. The truth is, our community is rich with a diverse spectrum of cultures, identities and experiences, yet far too often, I see men avoid worthwhile connections. Bisexual men are a vital part of the LGBTQ+ tapestry. Yet, gay men often close themselves off to the possibility of dating them, shutting the door on opportunities for meaningful connections, as well as contributing to a culture of exclusion and biphobia. Related Queer & trans people have one clear path to a better future: each other We can make it through this. We just need to remember that none of us is alone. In my work on my Dear Black Gay Men podcast, Ive heard numerous concerns from gay men about dating bisexual partners. These worries often stem from deeply ingrained stereotypes that have been pervasive within our culture, within the media, and within ourselves. These unfounded fears ultimately perpetuate stigma that not only affects potential relationships, but also undermines the pillars of our community that champion acceptance. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Many bisexual men feel pressured to remain closeted, fearing judgment from their gay peers, worrying their identities or commitment to their partners will be questioned or stressing that they may no longer be fully embraced by their community. Their identities are reduced to who they are currently dating. According to a study by the UK organization Stonewall, 30% of bisexual men say they cannot be open about their sexual orientation with friends, compared to 2% of gay men. This statistic is heartbreaking.As gay men, it is our responsibility to challenge these stereotypes, be welcoming to all members of our LGBTQ+ community, and confront our own fears so we can be better people and better matches to future partners. We must recognize that biphobia can manifest within our friendships, relationships, and selves, and its essential to confront these biases head-on. As I reflect on my own experiences and unconscious biases, I realize that the stigma surrounding bisexuality is not only harmful to those who identify as bi but also to us as gay men. Ive seen how misguided fear and misunderstanding can close off potential pathways to love.One of the most damaging myths Ive encountered is the idea that bisexuality is a phase, that bisexual men are either afraid to label themselves as gay or just experimenting, but will ultimately identify as straight. This misconception reinforces a binary way of thinking that limits our understanding of love and the vastness of individual human experiences.When we embrace bisexual men and the fluidity of their attractions, we learn to appreciate the beauty and the complexities of attraction itself. Our relationships can flourish when we acknowledge that love is not confined to rigid categories and can look different to every individual. We also can love and accept our partner wholly and embrace their true selves.Another pervasive stereotype is the notion that bisexual people will be inherently unfaithful and are prone to cheating. The idea of a greedy bisexual feeds into harmful narratives that suggest that bisexuality equates to promiscuity.In my experience, fidelity is a personal choice and is not determined by anyones sexual orientation. Throughout my work, I have found that love thrives on trust, regardless of how many genders someone may be attracted to. Whats more, dating bisexual men has compelled me to reflect on my own insecurities and past relationships. Ive had to confront fears of being left for a woman, grappling with the notion that a heterosexual relationship might seem less complicated or more socially accepted. This forced me to challenge my own heteronormative thought processes, which I never realized Id been harboring. Engaging with bisexual partners has illuminated how societal norms can shape our perceptions of love and commitment, pushing me to question why I ever considered my worth as contingent upon the gender of an exs future partner. By acknowledging these fears and embracing the fluidity of attraction, Ive developed a more secure sense of self within my relationships.In my expertise, I have witnessed the vital importance of inclusivity and acceptance in building lasting connections, all through expanding our understanding of the spectrums of gender and attraction. This willingness to embrace diversity in our romantic lives allows us to forge deeper connections that can truly last a lifetime. I urge my fellow gay men to reflect on their own beliefs and attitudes toward bisexuality. Our bisexual brothers are not just our allies; they are potential partners who can offer us insights that enrich our lives and challenge the binary, heteronormative worldviews we have accepted as the status quo for far too long.Lets take this opportunity to celebrate bisexual individuals and recognize their invaluable contributions to our community. By embracing them completely, we not only honor their identities but also create a more inclusive environment where love knows no boundaries.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 32 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMMalaysia court orders return of rainbow watches after anti-LGBTQ+ government raidA Malaysian court ruled against the countrys government after it seized 172 rainbow watches last year because they symbolized the Pride flag. Malaysia now must return the watches to the watchmaker, Swatch.Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Amarjeet Singh Serjit Singh ruled that Malaysia lacked a warrant to confiscate the watches and that the seizure was unlawful because a law prohibiting the watches from being sold was passed after the fact. Related 11 Swatch stores raided & rainbow Pride watches confiscated in Malaysia The company says theyre putting them on display again. However, the watches cannot be sold, only returned. The government has 14 days to do 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 The Swatch shops were raided in May 2023, but the watches were not banned from sale until August of that year. As such, Swatch committed no offense in the eyes of the court.The watches were seized because they featured LGBT elements. Homosexuality is illegal in the country and can result in punishments of up to 20 years in prison.Malaysias Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that the government and its legal team will have to examine the basis of the judgement before giving an indication as to whether they would appeal the ruling. Ismail added that they must respect the decision, or else it would be viewed as contempt of court.Swatch argued in 2023 that the product was not in any way capable of causing any disruption to public order or morality or any violations of the law. They argued that the seizure significantly harmed their business and that the Pride flag is a symbol of humanity that speaks for all genders and races.No damages were granted in the case, however the company can file for damages later if the watches were found to have been damaged in any capacity.Over 170 watches were seized from 11 shopping malls throughout the country across a three-day period. Five outlets were also given a warning for stocking these watches.Law enforcement alleged that the watches had LGBTQ on them.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 24 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMAmericas public schools were created to spread white Christian nationalism. Has anything changed?By an 8-7 vote, the Texas State Board of Education authorized the incorporation of primarily Christian Bible-based lessons in public elementary schools from kindergarten through fifth-grade beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) voiced support for the program, saying in aMay news releasethat it will allow students to better understand the connection of history, art, community, literature, and religion on pivotal events like the signing of the U.S. Constitution, the Civil Rights Movement, and the American Revolution. Related School district bans 400 books in response to anti-LGBTQ state law The list includes Dr. Seuss childrens books and graphic novels that appeal to the prurient interest, according to school officials. This measure stands on very shaky pedagogic and legal grounds by imposing a government standard on religion that directly violates the First Amendments right to religious freedom through the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause. It is also a continuation of a broader trend in Republican-led states seeking tointegrate more religious teachingsinto public education. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Patriarchal White Christian Nationalism in Public EducationIn the famous words of social activist Marcus Garvey: A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.The lives, stories, and histories of marginalized people in the United States have been intentionally hidden by socially dominant individuals and groups through neglect, deletions, erasures, omissions, bans, censorship, distortions, alterations, trivializations, and other unauthorized means.Amidst the backlash and the organized movement to ban books; restrict classroom discussions on topics related to race, sexuality, and gender; censor curricular materials; and pass laws patterned after Floridas notorious Stop Woke and Dont Say Gay laws, we need to place the current counteroffensive on education into historical perspective.Patriarchal white Christian nationalism has been the foundation on which this continuing trend rests. Though some of the terminology may have changed over the intervening years, and the country has made some monumental progressive advancements in education, some conditions remain the same.Throughout the history of this country, schools have reproduced the cultural norms, often with the attendant range of social inequities and dominant group privileges found within the larger society.In Colonial America, few regions aside from the larger New England towns mandated by law the building of schools or the provision of childhood instruction. Schools that were constructed and teachers who were hired were done so only because local citizens decided to pool their resources. During this time, classroom lessons were tied directly to Protestant religions and the Protestant Bible, which the early settlers (a.k.a. land thieves) brought with them from England. School lessons primarily centered on preaching, catechizing, and prayers that called for freedom from the influences of the Devil and from attacks by indigenous native populations.The most frequently used schoolbook wasThe New England Primerto teach reading as well as the Protestant catechism. Several Catholic parishes established parochial or parish schools partly due to the Protestant teachings that pervaded the public school curriculum.Following the Revolutionary War, leaders like Thomas Jefferson called for state-supported and mandated public education, believing that the very survival of the new republic depended on an educated populace. Jefferson, for example, advocated for a three-year publicly supported education for all white children no such guarantees were to be extended to children of enslaved Africans with advanced education provided to a select few males.As Jeffersonwrote, the schools will be raking a few geniuses from the rubbish.Withholding Education as a Tool for OppressionThe first statewide school system was established in Massachusetts in the 1820s, largely due to the efforts of Horace Mann, the first secretary of education of any state in the United States. While traveling throughout Massachusetts, Mann found an unequal patchwork of local schools dependent on the tax base of each community. He proposed a new structure, which he called common schools.These schools were to serve children of all income levels. He hoped they would help to end, or at least reduce, the financial inequities between citizens of the state.Mann and other political and community leaders also supported a homogeneity of opinion. They argued that the main purpose of public education was for the development of good character based on religion. By that, they meant the central teachings of the Protestant Bible.In their attempts to civilize and convert native peoples to Christianity, French, Spanish, and English colonists established Indian Schools, though most native peoples refused to attend. In 1790, the newly constituted United States Congress passed the Naturalization Act, which excluded all nonwhites from citizenship, including Asians, enslaved Africans, and Native peoples, the latter of whom they defined in oxymoronic terms as domestic foreigners, even though they had inhabited the land for thousands of years.The Congress did not grant Native Americans rights of citizenship until 1924 with the passage of the Indian Citizenship Act, though Asians continued to be denied naturalized citizenship status.Many legislators employed scriptural justifications to support the institution of slavery, such as Ephesians 6:5-6: Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ; not only while being watched, and in order to please them, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. And Luke 12:47: That servant who knows his masters will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows.Later, Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy,asserted: [Slavery] was established by decree of Almighty Godit is sanctioned in the Bible, in both Testaments, from Genesis to Revelation it has existed in all ages, has been found among the people of the highest civilization, and in nations of the highest proficiency in the arts.As wisely stated by English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton in his 1839 play,Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy, The pen is mightier than the sword. This adage holds that the written word acts as a powerful tool in the transmission of ideas. Why else would oppressive regimes and other avid enforcers of the status quo engage in censorship and book burning?The United States has been the only nation to forbid educationto those it has enslaved. Except for imposing Christian conversion through religious instruction, legislators enacted laws making it a crime in most Southern states.Following an enslaved peoples uprising led by abolitionist Nat Turner in 1831, some states extended the education ban to free Black people as well. Slavers identified literacy as a direct threat to the institution of slavery and their economic dependency on the labor it provided. An 1831 North Carolinalawof 1831 stated in part: Teaching slaves to read and write, tends to excite dissatisfaction in their minds, and to produce insurrection and rebellion.The Code of Virginiaof1849was passed to prevent those enslaved from assembling for religious or educational purposes, as legislators believed that education would lead to uprisings.If enslaved people developed literacy, they would be able to read the writings of abolitionists about attempts to help people escape to the North or about the 1791-1804slave revolution in Haitiand the end of slavery in 1833 in theBritish Empire. Slavers believed that literacy would make enslaved people angry, dissatisfied, and rebellious. Asstatedby Washington, D.C. lawyer and clerk of the US Supreme Court,Elias B. Caldwell: The more you improve the condition of these people, the more you cultivate their minds, the more miserable you make them, in their present state. You give them a higher relish for those privileges which they can never attain, and turn what we intend for a blessing [slavery] into a curse. No, if they must remain in their present situation, keep them in the lowest state of degradation and ignorance. The nearer you bring them to the condition of brutes, the better chance do you give them of possessing their apathy.With the end of slavery, thelegal exclusionof education to formerly enslaved people, their children, and their descendants did not expire. Throughout the Jim Crow era and through the present day, Black people have facedde jureand thende factosegregation, underfunded schools, implicit bias from educators and school administrators, and public sentiments ripe with myths and stereotypes regarding the intellectual capacities of the African descended mind.Following the Civil War and the passage of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, all citizens born in the U.S. or naturalized were theoretically granted the right to equal protection of the laws since it was now written that no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens The Southern states, though, passed laws codified in the Supreme Court ruling ofPlessy v. Ferguson justifying segregated facilities, including schools. As such, Black students attended woefully underfunded facilities that lacked even basic resources.Central to the patriarchal Christian white supremacist conquest of territory was the concept of Manifest Destiny: Providence destined U.S. expansion from the Atlantic to the Pacific (from sea to shining sea) by the so-called Anglo-Saxon race. In the mind of the European, this idea justified the theft of Indigenous peoples territories and a war with Mexico.During the eighteenth century, public schools throughout the U.S. extensively used theMcGuffey Readers. Though children of several faiths attended the schools, a Protestant character infused these books. So both during colonial times and the early years of public education following the Revolutionary War, a Protestant foundation permeated schooling. In his bookDeculturalization and the Struggle for Equality: A Brief History of the Education of Dominated Cultures in the United States, Joel Spring addresses cultural genocide, which he defines as the attempt to destroy other cultures through forced acquiescence and assimilation to majority rule and cultural and religious standards. This cultural genocide works through the process of deculturalization, which Spring describes as the educational process of destroying a peoples culture and replacing it with a new culture.A historical example of cultural genocide and deculturalization can be seen in the case of European American domination over Native American Indigenous nations, whom European Americans viewed as uncivilized, godless heathens, barbarians, and devil worshipers.European Americans attempted to deculturalize Indigenous peoples through many means: confiscation of land, forced relocation, forced conversion to Christianity, undermining their languages, cultures, and identities, and the establishment of Christian day schools and off-reservation boarding schools where they took youth far away from their people. Under President Rutherford B. Hayes, the U.S. government approved and developed off-reservation Indian boarding schools. The first was in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1879. It was run primarily by white Christian teachers and administered by Richard Pratt, a former cavalry commander in the Indian Territories.At the schools, officials stripped Indigenous children of their cultures. They cut short the young mens hair, forced all to wear Western-style clothing, prohibited them from conversing in their native languages, made English compulsory, destroyed their cultural and spiritual symbols, and imposed Christianity on them.As Pratt relayed to a Baptist audience: [We must immerse] Indians in our civilization, and when we get them under, [hold] them there until they are thoroughly soaked. Local and national standards for teachers, especially female teachers, may seem primitive by current standards, but strong echoes of those times resound today. For example, some districts throughout the country followed these strict rules.1872 Rules for Teachers, from the Blackwell History of Education Museum1.Teachers each day will fill lamps, clean chimneys.2.Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and a scuttle ofcoal for the days session.3.Make your pens carefully. You may whittle nibs to theindividual taste of the pupils.4.Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes, or two evenings a week if they go to churchregularly.5.After 10 hours in school, teachers may spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books.6.Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.7.Every teacher should lay aside from each days pay a goodly sum of his earning for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not become a burden on society. 8.Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool or public halls, or gets shaved in a barber shop will give good reason to suspect his worth, intention, integrity and honesty.9.The teacher who performs his labor faithfully and without fault for five years will be given an increase of twenty-five cents per week in his pay, providing the Board of Education approves.1915 Rules for Women Teachers, from the Knox County Retired Teachers Association1.You will not marry during the term of your contract.2.You are not to keep company with men.3.You must be home between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.unless attending a school function.4.You may not loiter downtown in ice cream stores.5.You may not travel beyond the city limits unless you havethe permission of the chairman of the board.6.You may not ride in a carriage or automobile with anyman unless he is your father or brother.7.You may not smoke cigarettes.8.You may not dress in bright colors.9.You may under no circumstances dye your hair.10.You must wear at least two petticoats.11.Your dresses must not be any shorter than 2 inchesabove the ankle.12.To keep the school room neat and clean, you must sweep the floor at least once daily, scrub the floor at least once a week with hot, soapy water, clean the blackboards at least once a day and start the fire at 7 a.m. so the room will be warm by 8 a.m. Heterosexism in EducationA form of cultural imperialism for LGBTQ+ people, as is true for many ethnic and racial groups, is that they often grow up within an oppressive society that deprives them of a historical context for their lives. The larger society perpetuates the myth that they have no culture or history and that they do not constitute a bona fide community.A crucial point in the psychology of scapegoating is the representation of, in historian John Boswellswords, minoritized others as animals bent on the destruction of the children of the majority and dominant groups have long accused LGBTQ+ people of acting as dangerous predators concentrated on ensnaring, torturing, and devouring primarily children of the dominant group.When demagogues play on peoples fears and prejudices by invoking these images for their own political, social, and economic gains, in more instances than not it results in loss of civil and human rights, harassment, violence, and at times, death of the other.Boswell has documented the various means by which this falsification has been enacted to erase LGBTQ+ history. These sorts of discriminatory actions not only lead to the false conclusion that LGBTQ+ people have made no significant contributions to their societies but also further the isolation and invisibility of these groups. Boswell cites as an example of heterosexist censorship a manuscript ofThe Art of Loveby the Roman author Ovid.A phrase that originally read, A boys love appealed to me less (Hoc est quod pueri tanger amore minus) was altered by a Medieval moralist to read, A boys love appealed to me not at all (Hoc est quod queri tanger amore nihil), and an editors note appearing in the margin informed the reader, Thus you may be sure that Ovid was not a sodomite (Ex hoc nota quod Ovidius non fuerit Sodomita).One of the first instances of a change of gender pronouns occurred when, as Boswell stated, Michelangelos grandnephew employed this means to render his uncles sonnets more acceptable to the public. We know about the figure of Sappho and her famed young womens school on the Isle of Lesbos around the year 580, where we find the earliest known writings of love poems between women. Unfortunately, only one complete poem and several poem fragments have survived after centuries of the Catholic Churchs concerted effort to extinguish the works of these extraordinary women. In 380, an order by St. Gregory of Nazianzus demanded the torching of Sapphos poetry, and the remaining manuscripts were ordered to be destroyed by Papal Decree in 1073.Poet Walt Whitmans book,Leaves of Grass, was published in 1860. The section titled Calamus was clearly homoerotic. Kalamos in Greek mythology turned into a reed in grief for his young male lover, Karpos, who drowned.TheAcorus calamusis the name given to a marsh plant. For Whitman, his Calamus poems represent the kind of love between Kalamos and Karpos. Very soon following the books publication, it was removed from library shelves at Harvard University and placed in locked cabinets with other books thought to undermine students morals. Whitman was also fired from his job at the U.S. Department of the Interior. Radcliffe Halls 1928 novel,The Well of Loneliness, involved a lesbian relationship, but soon after publication it was banned and declared obscene by officials in both England and the U.S.In 1933 Nazi Germany, stormtroopers invaded, ransacked, and padlocked The Institute for Sexual Sciences in Berlin, founded by Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, a gay Jewish sexuality researcher. The Institute conducted early sexuality research, the precursor to the Indiana-based Kinsey Institute in the United States.Stormtroopers torched thousands of volumes of books and research documents, calling the Institute an international center of the white-slave trade and an unparalleled breeding ground of dirt and filth. Education is LiberationHow very ironic that today, several states are either proposing or have passed laws prohibiting the teaching of slavery and other aspects of U.S. history that are not particularly flattering.As philosopher George Santayana reminds us: Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. But this time, we have an opportunity to avoid the mistakes of the past by speaking out against the racism and cultural genocide that surrounds us. The current system in schooling is in opposition to the very meaning of education, which is derived from two Latin roots: e, meaning out of, and ducere, meaning to lead or to draw.True education involves the process of drawing knowledge out of the student or leading the student toward knowledge, rather than putting or depositing information into what some educators perceive as the students waiting and docile mind what the Brazilian philosopher and educatorPaulo Reglus Neves Freiretermed the banking system of education.Freire talks about a culture of silence in the schools and society at large. This is the result of systems of economic, social, and political domination, in addition to paternalism, to which marginalized peoples are the victims. In Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Freire writes, The rightest sectarian (whom I have previously termed a born sectarian) wants to slow down the historical process, to domesticate time and thus to domesticate men and women.Not surprisingly within this current authoritarian climate, legislators in Arizona a few years ago banned Pedagogy of the Oppressed, a pioneering and foundational work in the field of social justice education through liberatory consciousness.A society that exists for the benefit of the corporate sector will fill students minds and deplete their labor before putting them out for collection to be recycled in another form and used up and recycled again in a self-perpetuating loop. What effects have our neo-liberal age of standardization, corporatization, privatization, and deregulation of the educational, business, banking, and corporate sectors had on learning?Standardized curriculum and testing were initially intended to gauge students progress, but have, unfortunately, metastasized into benchmarks for student advancement through the educational levels, for teacher accountability, as well as criteria for school funding from the government.The Neoliberal age education for the corporate sector acts like a postal sorting machine to plug workers into businesses on a conveyor belt of conformity. According to the so-called Allocation Theory of education, schooling has turned into a status competition, which confers success on some and failure on others. Our schools have morphed into assembly-line factories transforming students into workers, and then sorting these workers into jobs necessary for industry and business.In so doing, educational institutions legitimize and maintain the social order (read as the status quo). Schools drive individuals to fill certain roles or positions in society, which are not always based on the individuals talents or interests.Education should be, as affirmed by Freire, a path toward permanent liberation in which people become aware (conscientizao) of their multiple positionalities (identity intersectionality) and learn to perceive social, political, and economic contradictions. Through praxis (reflection and action), they can then transform the world. To be truly effective, educators must spend many years in self-reflection and must have a clear understanding of their motivations, strengths, limitations, triggers, and fears. They must thoroughly come to terms with their positions in the world in terms of their social identities, both the ways in which they are privileged as well as how they have been the targets of systemic inequities.They are not afraid of showing vulnerability and admitting when they are wrong or when they dont know something. They have a firm grasp of their content area, and they work well with and are accessible to students and their peers.Educators must be culturally competent, aware that students come from disparate backgrounds in terms of social identities and that students learn in a variety of ways. They must be informed on the historical and cultural backgrounds of diverse student populations, pedagogical frameworks, theories of cognitive development, personality types, preferred sensory modes of learning, and others. In the ideal classroom, the overriding climate is one of safety. This is not, however, the same as comfort, for very often, comfortable situations might feel fine, but are not necessarily of pedagogic value.Safety, in this case, refers to an environment where educators facilitate a learning process in which one can share openly without fear of retribution or blame, where one can travel to the outer limits of ones learning edges in the knowledge that one will be supported and not left dangling.Very often, a single semester course may not provide the educator sufficient time to fully appreciate the true growth or impact of their endeavors, but it can at least provide the opportunity to plant a seed. Overall, the role of the educator is to excite, motivate, develop or enhance in the student a continuing and life-long quest for learning. In addition to teaching the 3 Rs (Reading, wRiting, and Rithmetic), we need to teach students how to investigate issues around self awareness: how to Read the Self and Solvesocial, emotional, and ethical problems.A goal of education for Freire is also to give students the tools to read the world.But education and schooling, as currently constituted contradict their own methodologies by primarily focusing on grades in the service of eventual jobs and economic security for the educationalconsumer. In so doing, we have diminished in many of our students the joy of learning for learning sake and for the sake of understanding themselves and the world around them. We are witnessing students around the country, individually and in coalitions, resisting and protesting the restraints imposed on their learning by legislative bodies and parents groups. The controversy itself has become a learning experience, a teachable moment that has brought students ever closer toconscientizao.Censorship and the imposition of patriarchal white Christian nationalism stand diametrically opposed to what our schools should practice.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 24 Views 0 Reviews
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GEDMAG.COMJonathan Bennett is Putting the JOY in ChristmasJonathan Bennett has enjoyed an extensive career that spans over two decades. From soap operas to television dramas to iconic films to reality TV to Broadway to the Hallmark Channel, his latest role as the King (or Queen) of Christmas shines bright. He has joined the ranks of Hallmark hunks and has brought queer sensibility []The post Jonathan Bennett is Putting the JOY in Christmas appeared first on GEDmagazine.0 Comments 0 Shares 90 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMBlack trans ballroom performer Quanesha Cocoa Shantel murdered by her ex-boyfriendPolice in Greensboro, North Carolina, have arrested a 31-year-old man for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Quanesha Cocoa Shantel, a Black trans woman who was active in the ballroom and drag scene.Ira Owens, a family friend who described himself as Shantels drag father, remembered her as a loving and caring person in an interview with the Greensboro News & Record. She was just pretty as hell, and a bougie little thing, Owens remembered fondly. Related Anti-trans murderer makes history as first convicted under federal hate crime law His girlfriend called him an anti-gay slur when she discovered his relationship with a trans woman. That upset him According to The NC Beat, Greensboro police responded to reports of gunfire around 9:15 p.m. on Sunday, November 15, and found Shantel dead in her car where she had been shot multiple times through the drivers side window. The News & Record reported that the shooting took place outside the apartment of Shantels ex-boyfriend, Jeremy Reynolds. Police later arrested Reynolds, charging him with first-degree murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling or vehicle. 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 Owens told the News & Record that Shantel and Reynolds had dated for two years, but she had ended their relationship four months ago. He kept bothering her with texts and would want to see her, Owens said.Shantel performed as Quanesha Shantel and went by Cocoa among friends.Shantels mother, Toi NiCole Ratliff, told the Greensboro News & Record that her daughter had come out as trans at a young age. She came to me at age 11 and said, Mama, I want to transition over, Ratliff said. You wouldnt imagine that a young person would know it at that age, but she did. And I told her, Ill support you through it. But if you do it, do it right. And she had it from there!Ratliff described a difficult adolescence for Shantel, who lost her father when she was two years old and was placed in juvenile detention for petty crimes as a teen. But in recent years, shed reportedly come into her own as a performer, competing in ballroom competitions across the Southeast and in Chicago. Shed also recently enrolled in nursing school, which Owens described as the perfect profession for her.She was happy and full of joy, laughing, Ratliff told the New & Observer of her last conversation with her daughter. She didnt mention any problems. According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Shantel is at least the 30th transgender or gender expansive person to die by violence in the U.S. this year. But as the LGBTQ+ rights organization frequently notes, the violent deaths of trans and gender-nonconforming people often go unreported and victims are frequently misgendered and misidentified by police, so this may only be a snapshot of the violence inflicted upon the trans community.Transgender people of color are particularly vulnerable: Of the 32 transgender and gender-expansive Americans whose violent deaths the HRC tracked in 2023, 87% were people of color, while 50% were Black trans women.Black trans women are also disproportionately vulnerable to both intimate partner and gun violence, according to HRC. The organization notes that 26% of the transgender and gender-expansive victims of fatal violence it has tracked since 2013 were killed by romantic or sexual partners. Meanwhile, 62.5% of victims killed by an intimate partner were shot, as were 76.6% of victims who were Black trans women. The boys dont want to love them out loud, Owens said of the epidemic of intimate partner violence faced by transgender women. Thats why so many girls end up dead.Choosing violence against anyone for any reason is unacceptable and inexcusable as is the inaction by those in power who turn a blind eye to gun violence and transphobia to suit their own political agendas, Tori Cooper, HRC Director of Community Engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative, said in a statement. Its time for communities across this country to reckon with the fact that their silence makes them complicit. Hateful stereotypes, rhetoric and legislation fuels violence against transgender people. We must demand better of our elected officials as well as each other.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 30 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMGrowing up in a heteronormative world is enough to cause deep-seated trauma in LGBTQ+ youthThe following is an excerpt from Raising LGBTQ Allies: A Parents Guide to Changing the Messages from the Playground by Chris TompkinsWe cannot fully address the increase in anti-LGBTQ legislation, queerphobia, bullying, shame, and their effects without exploring trauma. When we think of trauma, most of us think of a rape, murder, death, catastrophic event, or natural disaster. And while these are unequivocally traumas, a trauma is also experienced as a daily microaggression, such as queerphobia, bullying, and time spent in the closet. Any child who has experienced the closet has known shame and shame itself is trauma.For years, while working at a gay bar and being a part of a culture where drugs and alcohol were intrinsically connected, I looked at high rates of drug and alcohol misuse in the LGBTQ community through the lens of shame. Having ten years of sobriety myself, I used to attribute my close and personal relationship with drugs and alcohol to shame. It wasnt until a presentation I saw given by Jeremy Treat, LMFT, director of research and evaluation, and his team at Penny Lane, one of Los Angeles largest child welfare agencies, that I discovered how minority stress, daily microaggressions, and the implications for LGBTQ youth living in a heteronormative world are traumatic. Related A county faced a trans suicide crisis. A gay man took drastic measures to make GOP leaders listen. The activist glued himself to the state senate while wearing a sweatshirt that read ASK WHY 5 DIED. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Jeremys presentation completely changed my advocacy and propelled me down a path of learning more about trauma. I contacted him after the conference to see if I could review his research, and what I found was astonishing.In order to understand how living in a heteronormative world, daily microaggressions, minority stress, and the closet can be traumatic for LGBTQ youth, we have to take a few steps back. Each of us, as children, develops physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and personally based on our unique backgrounds and experiences. In other words, what experts consider identity formation. The children in your life, right now, are establishing their own identity formation based on their individual experiences and will develop accordingly. For minorities and marginalized groups (in this case, LGBTQ youth), childhood development comes with what are considered to be barriers to developmentthings in the world that can complicate a childs healthy identity formation.According to Jeremys research, the top four common barriers to development for LGBTQ youth are:Minority Stress.Homonegativity.Anomie (a sense of normlessness, lack of social control, and feeling alienated).Internalized queerphobia. While little t trauma, including bullying, heteronormativity, and queerphobia, may seem less threatening or significant than big T trauma, the symptoms LGBTQ youth experience are often the same as those of someone with post-traumatic stress disorder, including, hypervigilance, blunted awareness, poor concentration, depressed mood, worry or panic, illness, and physical pain.In her book Trauma and Grace, Serene Jones writes, Traumatic events are not necessarily limited to one-time occurrences of cataclysmic proportions; they can also be repeated events of the low-intensity variety, like the constant threat of violence in some forms of domestic abuse or hostile workplace environments. In such instances, the assault on the psyche is no less disabling than a frontal attack; but because it never reaches the explosive level of violence we associate with traumatic harm, its corrosive effects are more likely to go unnoticedand uninterruptedfor years.Addiction rates are higher for LGBTQ people than the overall population. Compared to their straight peers, LGB youth are 90 percent more likely to use substances. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study shows how exposure to emotional, physical, or sexual abuse and household dysfunction during childhood, compared to those who had experienced none, led to a four- to twelvefold increase of the risk of alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, and suicide attempts. Sam Brinton, Head of Advocacy & Government Affairs for the Trevor Project, the worlds largest suicide-prevention and crisis-intervention organization for LGBTQ youth, released a statement in response to the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) report on the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act. He said, Todays FCC report on the National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act recognizes young LGBTQ Americans as an acutely high-risk population for suicide attempts.The report also recognizes a need for specialized services for at-risk populations, specifically LGBTQ youth.Whats more, FCC chairman, Ajit Pai said, There is a suicide epidemic in this country, and it is disproportionately affecting at-risk populations, including our Veterans and LGBTQ youth.Approximately 1.5 to 2 times the general population of youth Ive worked with in the child welfare system identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning. According to a study by the Administration for Children and Families, 39 percent of them were forced from their homes due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Despite large numbers in need, many service professionals receive no training on how to support LGBTQ youth. While there is a disproportionately low number of service professionals trained to work with LGBTQ youth, three important considerations for any professional to make when working with LGBTQ youth are:Awareness of personal bias.Internalized queerphobia, or shame, create a negative self-image and lack of self-worth.Familial, cultural, or communal rejection is no different from grief from losing a loved one.As Im finishing this chapter, I can hear laughter from kids playing on the playground next door to my home. Childrens laughter is the sound of resilience and human dignity. Jeremy Treats final recommendation from his presentation LGBTQ Youth and Trauma is to use humor. He credits humor as an essential part of creating change. While trauma is a serious subject, and naming its effects is no easy feat, my ultimate hope is for LGBTQ youth to have fun while learning to be themselves. A world full of young people living authentically is a world full of laughter and a gift that keeps on giving. Ultimately, each of us is responsible for treating all children with dignity if we want to help raise a resilient new generation without trauma.We dont have to believe in gravity for its effects to work. If we walk off of a bridge, we will fall. The beliefs we have about LGBTQ youth impact how they feel about themselves. As parents, teachers, and caregivers, we can proactively strengthen a young persons self-esteem by affirming their identity.Every parent is meant to bless their child. Building new playgrounds, together and connected versus divided and separate, will create a new world for future generations of LGTBQ youth.Editors Note: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at988lifeline.org. TheTrans Lifeline(1-877-565-8860) is staffed by trans people and will not contact law enforcement. The Trevor Project provides a safe, judgement-free place to talk for youth viachat, text (678-678), or phone (1-866-488-7386). Help is available at all three resources in English and Spanish.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 24 Views 0 Reviews
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GLAAD.ORGWhat Does It Mean To Thrive Decades After An HIV Diagnosis? These Black Gay Elders Remain UnstoppableRev. Elder Claude E. Bowen doesnt recall the month or the day he received his HIV diagnosis over the phone 32 years agobut he does remember the lack of concern in his doctors voice, being told his life expectancy would only be two years, and then living the next two years with reckless abandonment. And [...]The post What Does It Mean To Thrive Decades After An HIV Diagnosis? These Black Gay Elders Remain Unstoppable first appeared on GLAAD.0 Comments 0 Shares 87 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.PRIDE.COMFrom pill fatigue to liberation, how I embraced injectable PrEPI haven't taken my pills in two weeks.I went to my first circuit party recently after starting injectable PrEP. Having the knowledge that I swallowed a pill that morning made hooking up that evening less stressful. But at the time, being fourteen days into taking no medications, I felt exposed. I hadn't considered the psychological transition this would require.After a decade of dedication that rivaled a clingy relationship, it was like breaking free from a habit as ingrained as breathing. Making the switch from daily PrEP pills to injectable PrEP was more than just a routine changeit was like shedding an old boyfriend who had become more of a ball and chain than a comfort.It was an emotional release, a psychic shift, and ultimately, a leap toward a future where I felt liberated.A year after PrEP made its debut into the world, I was dating a man who was living with HIV, and our options for prevention felt limited. Like many, I've never been a fan of condoms as a prevention method; he wasn't either. And like too many still today, I was uninsured. It left me feeling vulnerable and out of the conversation when word of this life-saving drug began to spread.My partner and I both worked as HIV prevention counselors at the time. We knew the potential quality of life this medicine could give us. It could also balance our relationship, ensuring the weight of responsibility was not carried solely by my partner.The only solution I found was because of my boyfriend. One of the rare benefits of being long-distance is that he lived in Houston and found a way for me to access PrEP in his city through his job. I had to make a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Dallas to get my labs done, go home, and anxiously wait two weeks to make the same trip to get my prescription from my provider and the medication filled. And even though the relationship with my boyfriend didn't last, ten years and over 3,000 pills later, something new formed. The daily rhythm of PrEP became an act of self-love, something that stayed constant even when relationships didn't. Men came and went, but my trust in what this medicine could do for me always remained strong. My morning routine was integrated with Truvada and later Descovy, which became indispensable to my life. It felt like a routine at the gym or my morning protein shake. And being surrounded by friends who shared similar routines created a community of accountability. We supported each other through missed doses, insurance changes, and healthcare hurdles, reinforcing our collective resilience against HIV.But I began realizing that in today's world, where life is faster-paced than ever, I may need a prevention strategy that aligns with my evolving lifestyle. I didn't want to be chained down by alarms or have life-altering consequences for a day of forgetfulness. Life comes at you fast and from all directions, and I felt like I was getting slowed down and tangled in the safety net I used to treasure. Enter injectableslike a breath of fresh air in a stuffy room. And, like most bad relationships, your friends see it before you do. My friends had pill fatigue and were tired of the monotony and the exhaustive accountability.The thought of injectables was enticingno more daily reminders, no more pill fatigue. The transition, though, was daunting. I experienced anxiety, wondering if I'd feel less protected without the daily ritual of swallowing a pill. I feared losing that sense of daily protection.Trusting the new therapy was like dating again after a long breakup. I had to learn to trust all over again.I have had to begin shifting my mindset and trusting that I have protection without daily reminders. I have stopped thinking of it as my armor and started thinking of my injectables as a guardian angel, trusting it is there even if I cannot see it. I've begun embracing the time the injectables have given back to me.I wasn't fully aware of the mental load I was carrying around until that weight had been lightened. I can now permit myself to create new routines that give me that same self-care without the anxiety of life-altering consequences if I miss a day. This newfound trust gives me hope for what is still to come in HIV prevention and what the future brings.I look forward to seeing how the science continues to advance when I put my trust in it. I know HIV prevention is on its way to becoming a more generous, symbiotic relationship; all it requires from me is that leap of faith. Jai The Gentleman is the host of the Dear Black Gay Men podcast. Each episode offers a candid, humorous, and always insightful look at life through the lens of Black queer identity. Dear Black Gay Men emerged as Jai's love letter to every hopeful single who yearns for genuine connection and understanding. 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.0 Comments 0 Shares 36 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMNazis killed my great grandparents. Heres what Id tell them about America today.Dear Great-Grandfather Wolf and Great-Grandmother Bascha,Though I have never written to you, I have carried your image and felt your comforting presence ever since that first day when your son,Shimon, told me about you. Related Donald Trumps Cabinet picks are a prelude to his consolidating power in his hands alone As bad as the choices are, what really matters is how Trump is already acting like a dictator. One day, when I was very young, I sat upon Shimons knee. Looking down urgently, but with deep affection, he said to me, Varn, [he always called me Varn through his distinctive Polish accent] you are named after my father, Wolf Mahler. I lived in Krosno, Poland with my father, Wolf, and my mother, Bascha, and 13 brothers and sisters, and aunts, uncles, and cousins. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Shimon talked about all of you with pride, but as he told me this, he seemed rather sad. I asked him if you still lived in Poland, and he responded that his mother had died of a heart attack in 1934, and his father and most of the remainder of his family were no longer alive.When I asked him how they had died, he told me that they had all been killed by people called Nazis. I questioned why the Nazis killed our family, and he responded, Because they were Jews.Those words have reverberated in my mind, haunting me ever since.According to Ashkenazi [European heritage] Jewish tradition, a newborn infant is given a name in honor of a deceased relative. The name is formed by taking the entire name or just the initial letter of the ancestors name. I had the good fortune of being named after you, great-grandfather Wolf.As it has turned out over the years, you not only gave me my name, but you and Bascha also gave me a sense of history and a sense of my identity.Shimon left Krosno with three sisters toward the end of 1912, bound for New York City, leaving you and his remaining family members. Already in this country was one older brother. As he left, a series of pogroms targeting Jews had spread throughout the area. He often explained to me that he could only travel by night, with darkness as his shield, to avoid being attacked and beaten by people who hated Jews. He arrived in the United States on New Years Eve in a city filled with gleaming lights and frenetic activity and with his own heart filled with hope for a new life.Shimon returned to Krosno with my grandmother, Eva, in 1929 to a joyous homecoming. This was the first time he had seen you since he left Poland. He took with him an early home movie camera to record you on film. While in Poland, he promised that once back in the United States, he would try to earn enough money to send for his remaining family members who wished to join him, but history would thwart his plans.During that happy reunion, he had no way of knowing that this was the last time he would ever see you alive. Just ten years later, on September the 1st, 1939, the Nazis invaded Poland. Shimon heard the news while sitting in the kitchen of his home in Brooklyn, New York. He was so infuriated, so frightened, and so incensed that he took the large radio from the table, lifted it above his head, and violently hurled it against a wall. He knew what this invasion meant. He knew it signaled the end of the Jewish population in Europe as he had known it. He knew it meant certain death for people he had grown up with, people he had loved, and people who had loved him.Shimons fears soon became real. He eventually learned from a brother who escaped into the woods with his wife and young son that Nazi soldiers murdered many members of his family either on the streets of Krosno or about 20 kilometers away in a mass grave in the forest. The Nazis dumped others up a small hill in the Krosno Jewish cemetery.The Nazis murdered you, Wolf, in the Krosno ghetto. They eventually loaded other friends and relatives into cattle cars and transported them to Auschwitz and Belzec concentration camps. Shimon never fully recovered from those days. Though he kept the faces and voices from his homeland within him throughout his life, the Nazis also invaded my grandfathers heart, killing a part of him forever. My mother, Blanche, told me that Shimon became increasingly introspective, less spontaneous, and less optimistic about what the future would hold.After the war and continuing through today, virtually no Jews reside in Krosno or all of southwestern Poland.I recently looked up the word holocaust in the dictionary. Among the listings was the definition: genocidal slaughter. As I read this, the same nagging questions came to me as they did that first day Shimon told me about your death questions concerning the very nature of human aggression, our ability for compassion, and, to those generations following World War II, our capacity to prevent similar tragedies in the future. I fear the world is repeating many of the mistakes of the past. With the continuing rise of fascist nationalist movements throughout the world, viral forms of racism persist. Ethnic cleansing, spurred by religious extremism in many forms, has become the sanitized term for hatred, forced expulsions, relocations, invasions, and murder.As you know, I am by no means a very religious person, though I strive to become more spiritual and connected to you. Since Shimon first talked about his family to me many years ago, I knew that before the end of my days, for me to be able to say that I had truly accomplished all I needed to accomplish in this world, I needed to travel back to Krosno.I wanted to walk upon the soil that you once walked upon, to witness the hallowed ground on which you prayed, and to feel the Polish sun nurturing me as it once nurtured and illuminated you that same sun which they eclipsed from you all too soon. So in summer 2008 I traveled to Krosno. I took with me a DVD version of the film Shimon and Eva took of you back in 1929. Upon approaching the town from the bus I took from Krakow, I felt as though I were returning home, even though I had never been. Then I saw it, and as I did, tears came to my eyes. I was at the entrance of Market Square, the same square Shimon filmed in 1929, as happy family members and other residents of Krosno shopped in the open air surrounded by horse-drawn carts and vendors kiosks selling fresh produce and kosher meats.I didnt see any outdoor vendors this time, but I sat down on a small bench and took in the sweet fragrances of flowers and vibrant pines and the delightful foods from cafes wafting around me. The beautiful old buildings transported me back to a happy time when you walked peacefully and unencumbered on these same plaza grounds. I reached down beside me and picked up a small stone, a remembrance of you to take with me wherever I go.I have returned several times to Krosno. My good friend,Katarzyna (Kasia) Krepulec-Nowak from theMuzeum Podkarpackie w Krosnie(Subcarpathian Museum of Krosno) has invited me back to provide a narrated viewing of our family film to museum audiences and local high school assemblies. Echoes from the pastI believe that the world has entered an era where we can make direct and inextricably linked connections between European fascism of the 1920s through the 1940s and U.S., Middle Eastern, and European fascism in the 20thcentury through the current age.German nationalism, for example, which resulted in the Second World War, was constructed by a party and its leader who manipulated a fearful and angry population to scapegoat others primarily Jews, but also homosexuals and Roma for the nations severe economic problems.Donald Trumps march to the White House in 2016 and subsequent attempts to recapture the presidency centered on promoting a form of extreme nationalism (jingoism, chauvinism) intent on exciting xenophobic and racist fears and ideologies. During Donald Trumps three runs for the presidency, he attempted to appease his base of supporters, especially conservative white Christian nationalists, by continually attacking Muslims and scapegoating immigrants of color coming from the southern border and from so-called sh*thole countries, calling them vermin who are polluting the blood of our country.In the closing days of his third run for the White House, Trump argued for locking up the enemies from within, which means anyone who opposed him. He specifically singled out Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the House and current Speaker Emerita.Donald J. Trump scores extraordinarily high on the fascism scale originated by political scientist Lawrence Britt, whoenumerates14 tenets of fascism.His longest-serving chief staff during his first term,General John Kelly, said that he meets the definition of a fascist.Retired Army general and former chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Trump,Mark Milley, told journalist Bob Woodward that Trump is fascist to the core. Adolf Hitler, along with Herman Gring, Ernst Rhm, Erich Ludendorff and other Kampfbund leaders, staged the so-called Beer Hall Putch, a coup dtat in Munich, Germany between November 8 and 9, 1923The insurrectionists arrested members of the Munich City Council, and 600 paramilitary SA (Sturmabteilung)members occupied army headquarters. Others rampaged through Munich, targeting Jewish property.The coup attempt failed, some Nazis were killed, and Hitler was shot in the left arm. SA leader Ernst Rhm was jailed briefly, though soon paroled. Hitler was sentenced to one year in Landsberg Prison and served eight months. There he wrote his manifesto,Mein Kampf(My Struggle). Donald Trump, along with Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), and lawyer Rudy Giuliani, incited a coup dtat at the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. on January 6, 2021, to try to keep Trump in power.Waving American flags, battle flags of the Confederacy, and Dont Tread on Me Gadsden flags, these domestic terrorists smashed windows and entered the building in large numbers, calling for Vice President Mike Pence and House Leader Nancy Pelosi to be hung. They desecrated Congressional offices, stole computers with highly classified information, and forced representatives, senators, and their staffs into dangerous lockdowns.One Capitol Hill police officer was murdered with a fire extinguisher to his head while several others suffered injuries, including one who cried out for his life as the mob held him wedged between a doorway. One terrorist was shot and killed, and three others suffered health-related fatalities. Kristallnacht(The Night of Broken Glass) was a state-sponsored action against Jews, a pogrom planned and executed by SA paramilitary forces and civilians throughout Nazi Germany on November 9 and 10, 1938. Most German law enforcement officials looked on without intervening.Kristallnachmittag(The Afternoon of Broken Glass) was a government-sponsored action against the United States Constitution and the legal transition of power. It was planned at the highest ranks of the U.S. government and executed by cult-following insurrectionists at the Capitol in Washington, DC.Legislative headquartersExactly four weeks after Hitlers swearing-in as Chancellor of Germany, the German Reichstag (Parliament) building was torched in an arson attack. The Nazi government blamed it on a conspiracy by communist agitators.Many historians, however, assert that the German Nazi paramilitary force, the SA, intentionally set the fire to create further backlash toward the communists and shore upNazi control and domination, thereby suspending most civil liberties and public opposition.Likewise, Donald Trump and many American right-wing commentators, media hosts (like Fox News Lou Dobbs and Laura Ingraham), and Republican legislators (like Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL)), put forth with no evidence that the mob was infiltrated by left-wing Antifa protestors who instigated the riot and property destruction rather than the Trump sycophants.Like the Nazis who blamed communists for what seems likely its own acts of destruction on the Reichstag, some ultra-conservative Republicans attempted to assuage blame for the reckless and unconscionable violence of their own supporters. Trump learned well from Nazi chief propagandist, Joseph Goebbels, who advised: Accuse the other side of that which you are guilty.So yes, these are again perilous times, great-grandparents. I feel like a partisan in Nazi-occupied Poland. Rather than carrying loaded rifles, my comrades and I are armed with ideas and ideals in our attempt to rid ourselves of the evil around us. No, this is not hyperbole, for we in the United States stand at an existential moment in our history.Back when Shimon first told me about you and his Polish home, a calm voice called me, a voice grew ever louder and more confident as I grew older. I have answered that call you sent me to fulfill the promise of never again. The knowledge of what happened to you in Poland circulates around my consciousness and soul like blood circulates through my body. The positive actions I and other progressive people are taking to counter the recurrence of the past feels cleansing, healing, and invigorating to my soul. And I am certain we will succeed.I have learned many lessons in my studies of genocides perpetrated through the ages. Strong leaders whip up sentiments by employingdehumanizingterminology and images. They stereotype and scapegoat entire groups while other citizens or entire nations look on, often refusing to intervene.Democracy demands an educated electorate. Democracy demands responsibility on the part of the electorate to critically examine their politicians and the issues of the day so they can make truly informed decisions. Democracy demands us never to relinquish our freedom and authority for some promise of a comfortable security by returning to a fairytale past. Patriarchal Christian white supremacy is a major threat to democracy, and democracy is the primary cure for patriarchal white supremacy.I have returned now on eight separate occasions to study and to present your story to the people of Poland in my effort to understand and work for the Jewish concept ofTikkun Olam, to heal and repair the world.With love forever,WarrenTo see my familys 1929 film of Krosno, Polands Jewish community at the U.S. Holocaust Museum and Memorial website,CLICK HERE.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 24 Views 0 Reviews
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GLAAD.ORGMust-See LGBTQ TV: December Premieres & ReturnsIts a new month, which means new opportunities for queer TV! GLAAD is bringing you some highlights from LGBTQ TV premieres and returns throughout December. Check back on the first of each month for up-to-date coverage of LGBTQ-inclusive programming on television. December 3 Fortune Feimster: Crushing It! (Special Netflix) Fortune Feimster is back for [...]The post Must-See LGBTQ TV: December Premieres & Returns first appeared on GLAAD.0 Comments 0 Shares 95 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMSarah McBride knows what shes doingMany in our community have been quick to criticize Congresswoman-elect Sarah McBride (D-DE), accusing her of capitulating to a new Congressional bathroom rule introduced by Republicans. This rule, which affects only one member of Congress McBride, its first transgender member mandates that members must use the bathroom corresponding to their biological sex at birth. To make matters worse, the rule purportedly extends to all bathrooms in the Capitol. Related Sarah McBride warns Americans not to let the GOP distract them with anti-trans attacks Every single time we hear them say the word trans, look what theyre doing with their right hand to pick the pocket of American workers The rule was introduced by Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC) and sanctioned by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA). While controversial, McBride stated she would honor the rule. This decision led to criticism from some transgender activists who believed she was yielding to bigotry. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today However, what many failed to realize was that Maces rule was a calculated trap and McBride refused to fall for it. So when Maces baited efforts began to backfire and many labeled her a bigot, she escalated the rhetoric, like when someone screams to be heard even though they have nothing useful to say.The transgender community needs a champion in Congress someone visible and eloquent who can speak effectively on trans issues. McBride is poised to become that figure, not just in Congress but on the national stage. Maces rule was an attempt to silence her. Had McBride defied the rule, she risked being accused of breaking Congressional regulations and facing sanctions. These sanctions could include censure, which could prevent her from speaking on the House floor. That was the trap that McBride was too smart to fall for.This game Republicans are playing with our community needs to stop, and the only way to stop it is for us to learn the rules, play strategically, and fight back. Im betting on McBride, and this week, she proven shes not only ready for the fight but also ready to be highly visible. As she eloquently said in her response to the rule, This effort to distract from the real issues facing this country hasnt distracted me over the last several days, as Ive remained hard at work preparing to represent the greatest state in the union come January.To me, Congresswoman Maces rule is reminiscent of how the South segregated Black communities. In many places, signs on bathrooms read, Whites only, or worse, No Blacks allowed, with many using a more derogatory term. Are we now moving toward a Capitol where signs say, No trans allowed? It feels as though theyve already unofficially posted signs reading, Sarah McBride not allowed.So much for the Republican Partys claims of a more friendly and welcoming Congress. The business of bigotry is back in session.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 31 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMUK Supreme Court will soon decide the legal definition of a woman in landmark caseThe UK Supreme Court will soon rule on the legal definition of a woman, having taken up a historic case brought by anti-trans group For Women Scotland (FWS). The outcome will have a massive effect on transgender and nonbinary people in the UK. The case asks, Is a person with a full gender recognition certificate (GRC) which recognizes that their gender is female, a woman for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010? GRCs were created through the 2004 Gender Recognition Act, which allows transgender people to correct their legal gender. Related Judge shuts down volleyball captain who sued to ban trans teammate from playing The player in question has competed at the college level for the past three seasons with no issues. Essentially, FWS is asking the court to decide if the law should define a woman based on biology or based on how someone identifies. The decision will determine whether trans women are protected as women under the Equality Act which provides legal protections based on sex, gender reassignment and sexual orientation, among other characteristics. It could also have a massive impact on trans inclusion in single-gender spaces from sports to support groups to locker rooms. 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 At question is what the Equality Act means when it refers to sex as a protected characteristic.Aidan ONeill KC, who represents FWS in the case, said a GRC is legal fiction when it comes to defining sex and that sex is an immutable biological state, BBC reported. He described the idea of the Equality Act defining trans women as women nonsensical. The controversy began when Scottish Parliament passed the Gender Representation on Public School Boards Act in 2018 as a way to increase the number of women on public boards, and the legislation explicitly included trans women, BBC explained. FWS challenged this, and after several appeals, the group won. The victory required Parliament to alter the wording of the bill, but it also released guidance to explain that the law included women based on definitions in both the Gender Recognition Act and the Equality Act. Judge Lady Haldane ruled against FWSs challenge of this guidance, declaring that sex is not limited to biological or birth sex and that those with a GRC should be considered the sex their certificate states. The Supreme Court is now hearing FWSs challenge to Haldanes decision. For Women Scotland bills its mission as working to protect and strengthen women and childrens rights. It claims on its website that Womens rights are in crisis in Scotland due to trans people gaining more rights. We believe that there are only two sexes, the group states, that a persons sex is not a choice, nor can it be changed. Women are entitled to privacy, dignity, safety and fairness. Our legal rights should be protected and strengthened.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 35 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMWebsite of toxic man-fluencer Andrew Tate hacked with rainbow & transgender flagsAn online money-making course belonging to right-wing manosphere influencer and accused child sex trafficker Andrew Tate has been hacked by pro-transgender hackers. The hack has revealed that the courses users who pay from around $41 to $50 a month to use the site have complained about its chat forums being overrun by spam.The hackers accessed over 794,000 usernames, the contents of 616 public and private chat servers, and 324,382 unique email addresses of former users who stopped paying for the course, according to The Daily Dot. The hackers also changed the courses primary chatroom with emojis that included the trans flag, a feminist fist icon, pictures of Tate draped in the rainbow flag, pics of him with enlarged buttocks, and icons that spelled out Andrew Tate loves kissing femboys. (Femboys is slang for effeminate men and boys.) Related Fight Club is an icon of the alt-right. The director & out author say its not their fault. Im not responsible for how people interpret things. The course which is entitled The Real World but was previously called Hustlers University is a forum with chat channels and instructional videos on health and fitness, finance, and e-commerce. 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 Near the end of last month, hackers reportedly said they were able to access The Real Worlds data through a site vulnerability they described the sites cybersecurity as hilariously insecure. The hackers then gained access to the sites 221 public and 395 private chat servers and also to upload emojis, delete attachments, crash everyones clients, and temporarily ban people, the group said in a statement shared by The Daily Dot.One chatroom users comments complained about the LGBTQ agenda, and others complained that the chat servers are useless due to all the spam. One user wrote, No one is learning anymore. No one puts any effort into anything. Respect to those few who actually do. But most of them, especially the new students here, are literally farming.In his own social media comments, Tate called news reports of the hacking fake news, and claimed, The most advanced hackers in the world have tried to take us down and FAILED. We are too strong THE REAL WORLD is secure and weve only just begun. Yeah @Gadget44027447 THey security was a bit lose a few days ago. haThis was the legit Emoji screen for like 3 hours pic.twitter.com/SqMVPASVPs David Rock (@Davidrockonline) November 24, 2024Despite his claims, The Real World was also hacked last July, according toCybernews. In that case, hackers accessed 968,447 user accounts, including user IDs, email addresses, encrypted passwords, verification statuses, account recovery codes, password expiration dates, and reset tokens, the outlet reported.Tate is currently facing several legal investigations in Romania and the U.K. for rape and child sex trafficking charges. In recent comments, he has said men who enjoy heterosexual sex purely for pleasure (rather than for creating children) are actually gay. He has also said that women belong in the home, are mens property, and bear responsibility for when they are raped.In July, a group of gay furry hackers known as SiegedSec released 200 gigabytes of leaked data from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that authored Project 2025, the blueprint for the second presidency of President-elect Donald Trump/Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 31 Views 0 Reviews
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GLAAD.ORGFACT CHECK: Correcting the Record on HIV/AIDS Misinformation OnlineRecognized as a global epidemic since the early 1980s, HIV/AIDS continues to be one of the worlds deadliest viruses. While there is no vaccine or cure, HIV is preventable and can be managed with medication that slows the course of the virus. As GLAAD and many other experts have noted, two important factors that fuel [...]The post FACT CHECK: Correcting the Record on HIV/AIDS Misinformation Online first appeared on GLAAD.0 Comments 0 Shares 92 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMJ.K. Rowling harasses African soccer player for not being womanly enoughTransphobic billionaire author J.K. Rowling is attacking yet another cisgender African female athlete for not being feminine enough. This time, Rowlings target is Barbra Banda, a 24-year-old Zambian professionalsoccer playerwho plays on theNational Womens Soccer Leagues(NWSL) Orlando Pride team andserves as the captain forZambias national team.After the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) recently awarded Banda the honor of Womens Footballer of the Year, Rowling wrote on X, Presumably the BBC decided this was more time efficient than going door to door to spit directly in womens faces. Rowling wrote this amid allegations that Banda had levels of testosterone that got her banned from competing in the 2018 and 2022 Womens Africa Cup of Nations. Related JK Rowling declares that her religion is now transphobia The author went public in a tweet with what she told the census. Banda was reportedly found to have naturally occurring elevated levels of testosterone, exceeding the permissible level set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), according to iNews, which wrote, The nature of the gender eligibility test she has taken is unclear. Global perspectives delivered right to your inbox Our newsletter bridges borders to bring you LGBTQ+ news from around the world. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The CAF allegedly blamed the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) for Bandas exclusion, and vice-versa, the aforementioned news outlet reported. The BBC reported that Banda took hormone suppression medication to reduce her testosterone levels, but these did not decrease sufficiently, and Zambia pulled her from the tournament.Despite this, the Banda has been declared eligible to play soccer in transcontinental and professional matches by both FIFA (the international body governing professional soccer) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Banda has competed at a World Cup and two Olympic Games, as well as in domestic leagues across four continents, iNews noted.Even if Banda has elevated testosterone levels, that doesnt mean that shes transgender or intersex. Presumably the BBC decided this was more time efficient than going door to door to spit directly in women's faces. https://t.co/JGGdIVxYNB J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) November 26, 2024The feminist website The Mary Sue noted that another X commenter pointed out that the current BBC Director of Sport is an out gay man named Alex Kay-Jelski who had his children via surrogate. Rowling wrote in response to this, Yep, femaleness is just post-modern performance art until they need an incubator.Executive director of the NWSL Players Association, Meghann Burke, defended Banda, writing, The lowest form of discourse is personal insult cloaked with racism and lies, on X no less. Barbra Banda is a proud member of @nwsl_players. She is the best of us. Just so were clear, @jk_rowling: you come for her, you come for all of us. Me first. Lets go.Out womens soccer champion Megan Rapinoe also defended Banda on Instagram, writing, Were with her. The Orlando Pride wrote of Bandas BBC award, We are incredibly proud that Barbra has been voted as the BBC Womens Footballer of the Year, one of many outstanding achievements she has accomplished during this historic 2024 season Barbra is an incredible role model and advocate for soccer in Africa, and we have seen firsthand the influence that her achievements and philanthropy have had on young girls in Zambia, as well as the instant impact she has made on Orlandos soccer community. We are proud to have Barbra Banda as a member of the Orlando Pride pic.twitter.com/GLg5vRYe3c Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) November 27, 2024This isnt the first time Rowling has publicly harassed an African athlete for not being feminine enough for her tastes. During the 2024 Olympic Summer Games, Rowling falsely claimed that Algerian gold medalist boxer Imane Khelifis transgender. Khelif is not transgender, but she is now suing Rowling for making false statements about her, resulting in a wave of cyberbullying and threats.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 30 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.PRIDE.COMElton John's shocking health update: "I've lost my sight"Last week, Sir Elton John disclosed a heartbreaking health update about losing his vision in an interview for his upcoming Disney+ documentary Elton John: Never Too Late. According to new reports and videos from people who attended a West End charity gala night from The Devil Wears Prada musical, the legendary singer delivered a speech in which he got even more candid about his eyesight issues.On Sunday, December 1, the Daily Mail reported on the charity gala night of The Devil Wears Prada musical at London's Dominion Theatre on the West End. John who wrote the music for this stage production attended the event with his husband David Furnish.The couple took to the stage to deliver a speech after the show ended, and John went on to share a very candid update about his eyesight. "As some of you may know, I have had issues, and now I've lost my sight," he explained. "I haven't been able to see the performance, but I have enjoyed it."John reportedly added, "To my husband, who's been my rock, because I haven't been able to come to many of the previews it's hard for me to see it. But I love to hear it, and it sounded good tonight. Thank you for coming."@aeronjamesukElton John and David Furnishs speeches during the curtain call at the gala performance for the musical The Devil Wears Prada (@The Devil Wears Prada Musical) at @Dominion Theatre in Londons West End! {pr invite} #vanessawilliams #thedevilwearsprada #devilwearsprada #stagey #curtaincall #westend #londontheatre #theatre #theater #theatretiktok #theatertiktok #musicaltheatre #musicaltheater #eltonjohn #shainataub @Elton JohnAudience members captured John's speech and shared those videos on social media.The singer first opened up about this health issue while promoting his new Disney+ documentary Elton John: Never Too Late on Good Morning America. He explained:"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. 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."Following those initial remarks, some fans hoped that John's vision wasn't in such a bad state yet. And yet, concerns have only grown after seeing the singer praise The Devil Wears Prada musical while admitting that he wasn't actually "able to see the performance."See on InstagramStarring Vanessa Williams as Miranda Priestly, Georgie Buckland as Andy Sachs, Amy Di Bartolomeo as Emily Charlton, and Matt Henry as Nigel Owens, The Devil Wears Prada musical is one of the most recent projects that had John's involvement.This December 2024, the powerhouse singer and pop culture icon will give the world another peek inside his life in the Disney+ documentary film Never Too Late, which was named after a song of the same name by John in collaboration with Brandi Carlile.The "I'm Still Standing" singer is certainly going through an era that personifies what that hit song is all about. Nonetheless, he continues to be sincere and optimistic, and is still choosing to live as his most authentic self.Elton John: Never Too Late premieres Friday, December 13 on Disney+. For tickets and more information about The Devil Wears Prada musical on the West End, you can visit DevilWearsPradaMusical.com.0 Comments 0 Shares 33 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMGOP Rep. says Nobel Peace Prize lacks credibility since Donald Trump has never wonAnti-LGBTQ+ Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY)questioned the credibility of the organization behind the Nobel Peace Prize because President-elect Donald Trump has never gotten one. Tenney was speaking to Fox News host Jackie Deangelis about her belief that U.S. allies in the Middle East are excited about Trumps return to the presidency because of his policies toward Iran. 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 The Biden administration has appeased the Iranian administration, she said. President Trump is going to stand tough. 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 I thinkIranrecognizes it, and I think the people in the Middle East, all of our allies there, are very excited about the prospects of President Trump being in and bringing back the Abraham Accords really just an incredibly novel concept that President Trump spearheaded. The Abraham Accords signed on September 15, 2020 normalized relations between Israel, Sudan, Morocco, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. While touted as one of the highlights of Trumps foreign policy, experts have identified several flaws with the accords.Yet, Tenney believes the Norwegian Nobel Committees lack of recognition for Trump one of the most divisive, fearmongering, violence-inspiring leaders in United States history merely means the committee itself should be questioned. [The Abraham Accords are] why I actually nominated President Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize, because hes probably the only world leader who came up with an incredible deal who hasnt been nominated, she said. But that just tells you the credibility of that organization. Tenney has made a name for herself with her extremist views. In 2022, she shared a doctored image of the house that supposedly belonged to the man who allegedly beat Paul Pelosi the husband of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (R-CA) with a hammer. The picture of the house was photoshopped to include five white men in shorts with short haircuts which is apparently what she thought gay men look like holding oversized hammers in front of the house. The image was a reference to the right-wing myth that Paul Pelosi was secretly gay and got attacked by a lover.LOL,she wrote when sharing the image.She also voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, claiming that the bill which requires the federal and state governments to recognize marriages performed in other states if the Supreme Court overturns marriage equality would be used to target those with deeply held religious beliefs and faith-based organizations.Last year, Tenney voted for a bill to ban transgender students from participating in school sports, referring to transgender girls as biological menin a statement. She has continued that fight this year as well. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 24 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMThere is no room for denial in resisting the Trump regimeEllen DeGeneres and her wife, actress Portia de Rossi, have placed their Montecito, California mansion up for sale and flown to the United Kingdoms rural posh Cotswolds region, where they have relocated in the wake of Donald Trumps second election as president.I seriously hope they take with them their absurd and irritating Kind Science cosmetics infomercials, where their airbrushed pearly white skin seems to fade into the background. Related Donald Trumps mass deportation plans will decimate American innovation How a nation constructs itsimmigrationpolicies directly affects its standing on the continuum from Vibrant and Expansive to Static and Devolving. And that is actually the point. These two entitled white women with an inordinate amount of wealth can choose to pack up, fly away, and live abroad when the going gets rough here in the United States. Though many other people want to escape the expected onslaught from the second Trump Reich, most of us do not have the privileged means to do so. Besides, many of us do not have an interest in abandoning our country. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Learning to fly The fantasy or even the reality of flying away in hard times is nothing new. The hoped-for escape many of us are dreaming of reminds me of the poignantly identifiable 1992 Hollywood film, Radio Flyer, with Mike (Elijah Wood as the child and Tom Hanks as the adult), his younger brother Bobby (Joseph Mazzello), mother Mary (Lorraine Bracco), stepfather The King (Adam Baldwin), and the boys trusted German Shepard, Shane (Vilos).The adult Mike watches as his two young sons fight over an unkept promise one makes to the other. To teach them about the importance of keeping a promise, Mike tells the boys a story about a promise he made to his younger brother Bobby when they were young. It began in 1969. Following Mike and Bobbys parents divorce, their mother packed the old station wagon with essential belongings, and having very little money, the three traveled the expansive country from their New Jersey home to stay with Marys aunt and uncle in Novato, California. Soon after arriving, Mary met her future husband, a construction worker whom her children called The King. Following the wedding, the four members of this blended family moved to a modest suburban home with green grass on every lawn, a backyard, garbage can-lined alleyways, and plenty of other young children.All seemed idyllic until The King took Mike and Bobby on a fishing trip. Bobby was the first to catch a fish and began to reel it in. The King, who had been consuming large amounts of beer, slapped Bobby in the face for pulling too hard and breaking the fishing line, letting the creature escape.This was the first time the boys had any indication that The King was not the good man he had purported to be. A few days after arriving back home at night in their shared bedroom, Mike noticed dark bruise marks down Bobbys back. Bobby pleaded with Mike not to tell their mom because she was finally happy now with her new husband. So as not to upset Mary, the boys promised to attempt to solve the problem of The King on their own.In his narration of the story, adult Mike told his sons what he refers to as the seven lost secret fascinations and abilities of children, which they have until they enter puberty between their 12thand 13thyears.The fascinations and abilities are that animals can talk; your favorite blanket is woven from fabric so mighty that once pulled over your head, it becomes an impenetrable force field; nothing is too heavy to lift with the aid of a cape; when your forefinger is out and thumb up, your hand actually fires bullets; jumping from any height with an umbrella is completely safe; monsters exist and can be both seen and done battle with; and the greatest, most special and regrettable loss of all is the ability to fly. They see the monster in The King every day when he comes home, reaches into the refrigerator to grab several beers, and retreats into the garage to listen toHank Williamss Jambalaya (On the Bayou) on his record player, all while Mary is working double shifts as a server at a local diner.The brothers ordered an anti-monster potion in the mail to keep The King at bay. When the experiment goes terribly wrong and explodes on the kitchen stove, his stepfather ultimately beats Bobby, hospitalizing him with heavy bruises and cuts. The dog, Shane, took revenge by violently biting the man on his arm.After spending some time in jail for child abuse, he came to Mary pleading to be taken back and promising never to drink or abuse again. But he soon violated his commitment and seriously injured Shane. The boys then devised a plan for Bobby and Shane to escape the monster. Inspired by the story of a boy named Fisher who attempted to fly away on his bicycle over a cliff nicknamed The Wishing Spot, the brothers concocted a plan to transform theirRadio Flyertoy wagon into an airplane in the hopes of uplifting Bobby and Shane away from harm.They draw up an immaculate diagram with wings and an engine made from scavenged junk yard parts and an old lawn mower motor they found in an abandoned shed.They secretly used The Kings tools they found in the garage and assembled all the parts into an elegant flying machine. On the day Bobby and Shane were to lift off, Mike left a farewell letter for their mother on the kitchen table, telling her that Bobby and Shane would be leaving forever. The brothers then took their super-powered Radio Flyer to the cliff by night. The King, however, discovered their plans and drove his truck to the cliff. In his attempt to save his young pals, Shane jumped from the Flyer and ferociously attacked The King.Bobby was then able to speed down the hill alone, knocking out The King with the wing of his plane. Toward the bottom of the hill, Bobby jubilantly soared into the air as Mike and Shane looked on in raptured amazement. Mary arrived at the scene with police officers, who arrested The King.Bobby was never seen again. Occasionally, he sent Mike and his mother postcards announcing his latest travels on his around the world victory excursion.The older Mike concluded his story by telling his sons: Thats how I remember it. So many questions remain, however. How can a couple of young boys build a flying machine that can circumnavigate the globe? Did this really happen? Did Bobby die? Did Bobby ever truly exist?Though the films director,Richard Donner, told the press that the film should be taken at face value, many theories have been put forward claiming that the film can be understood as an allegory for overcoming bullies and tyrants. In addition, it is possible that there was never a younger brother Bobby, and that the stepfather actually brutalized Mike.Being too painful to acknowledge, Mike, in psychological parlance, may have disassociated from the trauma by inventing Bobby, the younger and physically weaker brother, to absorb the brutality. Possibly, Bobby did once exist, but The King had killed him. Mike could have kept the story of the mighty Radio Flyer to preserve his beloved brother alive in his imagination. When monsters are realI see a clear analogy in the plot of this film to the current era. Donald Trump, as the would-be King (monster), has the potential of turning back many of the gains progressive people have made, especially since the end of his First Reich in 2021.I disagree somewhat with the adult Mike character in the film, who concludes that the seven secret fascinations and abilities of children disappear during puberty. Possibly, these can be retained, though transformed, for all of us who are past our adolescence and even past our middle years. I know monsters exist and can be seen and done battle with. Oh, maybe not the kind of ugly creatures in horror movies and science fiction, but instead, the type that attempts to destroy our democratic institutions, the type that bullies us from the religious pulpit and from Congress to the Oval Office to the individual state legislatures.The anti-monster potions, in these cases, are composed of the good people who join together in coalition against much greater powers to save and expand our democracy for we the people.Characters in Radio Flyer represent in microcosm the four subgroups in the larger drama of tyrannies and genocides perpetrated throughout history.1.The King as the perpetrators, the leaders (including the head(s) of state, oligarchs, and kleptocrats) along with their conspiratorial followers who perpetrate the oppression by neglect and/or intent and design.2.Mary as the bystanders who consciously or unconsciously know what the perpetrators are doing but remain in denial and do not intervene.3.Mike as the upstanders who consciously resist the perpetrators by intervening to improve conditions. 4.Bobby as the marginalized, scapegoatedvictimwho alone is powerless to improve his plight.Regarding the Holocaust, the bystanders might not have known at the time that they held the balance of power. If they had the understanding and courage to transform themselves into upstanders, the Holocaust may never have become a reality.I am reminded of a time we had another would-be autocrat in the Oval Office. During Ronald Reagans presidency, in the face of the enormous threat of HIV/AIDS and an intransigent administration that refused to take effective action, we didnt just sit back. Many of us consciously chose not to be among the bystanders. We mobilized. The womens healthcare empowerment movement predates AIDS, as recorded in the ground-breaking work,Our Bodies, Our Selves. By the time the effects of HIV were first felt, a grassroots network of medical, social, political, and informational organizations had already been put in place. Some of us, who under other circumstances would probably not have engaged in political organizing, were spurred into activism by the crisis.Queer and heterosexual people were at the forefront of a coordinated effort to provide care and support for people with HIV/AIDS. Existing womens and LGBTQ+ community service centers expanded their services, and new centers were established to serve the needs of people with HIV/AIDS: people of all races, socioeconomic classes, sexual and gender identities, and their loved ones.In addition, we must not overlook an irony: LGBTQ+ people developed safer sex strategies and educational campaigns, and we remain some of the leaders in prevention efforts. Just think about it: LGBTQ+ people created these strategies, and we continue to teach heterosexual people, all people, how to decrease their risks of infection. We also faulted the very system on which U.S.-American medicine was based, and we declared that clinical drug trials and drug distribution procedures as were then constructed were inhumane and highly exclusionary.Subsequently, by 1986, militant direct-action groups of largely young people known as ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) were organized. A network of local chapters quickly grew in over 120 cities throughout the world. I contributed my efforts to the Boston chapter.Though independently developed and run, the network connected efforts under the theme Silence = Death beneath an inverted pink triangle, turning upside down the insignia the Nazis forced men accused of homosexuality to wear in German concentration camps. We reclaimed the pink triangle, the ultimate stigmata of oppression, and turned it into a symbol of empowerment to lift people out of lethargy and denial and as a call to action to counter the crisis. We cared for the community in an era of government apathy, malevolence, and abandonment.So here we are again, joining to build the bulwarks to thwart the destruction of our democratic institutions as manifested in the ultra-right Project 2025, which takes its inspiration and program from its German edition exactly 100 years ago.Social justice educatorsPat Griffin and Bobbie Harro have created their Action Continuum, listing the full array of positions people take on a scale from Perpetrating Oppression on one extreme to Confronting Oppression on the other: Actively Participatingin the oppressionDenying, which enables the oppressionRecognizingthe oppression but taking no actionEducating Selfto learn more about the oppressionEducating Othersin mutual understanding through dialogueSupportingandEncouragingothers also to become involvedInitiatingpositive change to reduce andpreventfurther oppressionNow, as the Trump regime stands ready to retake power, he has again whipped up destructive Category 5 hurricane-force political winds, and he has left a collective national (possibly worldwide) traumatic stress disorder in its wake.Trumps First Reich was a contentious, divisive, Tweet-storming, scandal-plagued era from which the people of our nation suffer from a collective and all-consuming sense of PTSD (President Trump Stress Disorder).He has twisted the acronym for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to DIE, as in death of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive society. His forces have been readying to launch a newer and fiercer sustained backlash to turn back progressive social change.Not only has Trump threatened to dismantle DEI initiatives, but he has also talked about getting rid of the so-called administrative state,a term describing the power that some government agencies have to write, judge, and enforce their own laws. The far-right, led by Trump, claims that this administrative state has gone after Trump and his cronies throughout the Biden administration.Once referred to by Trump as the swamp, the President-elect and his conspirators allege that thedeep state, a clandestine cabal within the federal government, especially theFBIandCIA), have been plotting, in conjunction with high-levelfinancialandindustrialentities and leaders, to exert extreme power against anyone and any entity not aligned with its agenda. In psychology, we refer to this as projection: accusing others of actions the accusers themselves are guilty of perpetrating.But all is not hopeless. Following a grieving process, we can pick ourselves and others up and organize our defenses. We need not disassociate. We need not enter the realms of denial.For in the immortal words of Benjamin Franklin, We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 27 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMCaitlin Jenner exposes MAGA hypocrisy with implication she uses the womens bathroom at Mar-a-LagoTransgender Trump supporter Caitlin Jenner recently implied that she uses the womens bathroom at Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort, revealing the hypocrisy behind the MAGA partys attitude toward trans people.Jenner responded to a post on X questioning if Caitlyn, Elon and Donald all used the bathroom together, considering the GOPs obsession with banning trans women from using womens bathrooms. Jenner herself replied to the post, plainly stating, We do not. We do not Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) November 27, 2024 Related GOP Rep. says Nobel Peace Prize lacks credibility since Donald Trump has never won Claudia Tenney believes Trump is the key to Middle East peace. 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 The admission follows an all-out crusade by the Republican party and specifically anti-LGBTQ+ Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) against trans Rep.-elect Sarah McBrides (D-DE) bathroom usage. After McBride was elected to Congress, Mace succeeded at getting Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) toban all trans women at the Capitol from using the womens facilities and posted on X about McBride over 300 times in one week. Mace has called McBride itand misgendered her in televised interviews on the subject.And Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) reportedly said that shed fight Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-DE) if McBride tries to use womens facilities in the Capitol.Its pretty aggressive for biological men to be invading our spaces, she said.But this attitude seems to only apply to Democrats and anyone else who does not cozy up to the Trump agenda. As an ardent supporter, Jenner has long been welcome in Trumps inner circle. Funny how trans people become ok when they are at Mar-a-Lago, one post from PatriotTakes declared. Trump and his granddaughter hanging out with Caitlyn Jenner and Elon Musk. Funny how trans people become ok when they are at Mar-a-Lago. pic.twitter.com/KgyZsWuJnZ PatriotTakes (@patriottakes) November 25, 2024Caitlyn Jenner and Trump campaign surrogate Sophia Hutchins, both trans women, with Alina Habba at Mar-a-Lago. In the MAGA movement, trans people magically become ok when they are at Mar-a-Lago.[image or embed] PatriotTakes (@patriottakes.bsky.social) November 27, 2024 at 8:04 AMSubscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 31 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMTrump nominee accused of disturbing misconduct by colleagues & his own motherPete Hegseth a former Fox News host and President-elect Donald Trumps pick for secretary of defense has recently been accused by his own mother of abusing women and by previous coworkers of drinking on the job and sexually pursuing female colleagues. Hegseth had also been previously accused of paying off a woman who accused him of raping her while they attended a Republican conference in 2017.Hegseths mother, Penelope Hegseth, wrote him an email in 2018 that said, On behalf of all the women (and I know its many) you have abused in some way, I say get some help and take an honest look at yourself. I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around and uses women for his own power and ego. You are that man (and have been for years) and as your mother, it pains me and embarrasses me to say that, but it is the sad, sad truth. Related Trump targets military for woke purge, picks Fox News host for Defense Secretary Fox & Friends Pete Hegseth made a fan of Trump by denouncing socially correct garbage. He also thinks women shouldnt be in combat roles. While Penelope Hegseths email was reported on by The New York Times, she told the publication that she immediately sent a follow-up email to her son apologizing for what she had written and that she wrote the original email in anger, with emotion while he and his then-wife were going through a very difficult divorce. 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 Samantha Hegseth filed for divorce after Pete Hegseth impregnated his co-worker, Jennifer Rauchet, an executive producer at Fox News. Pete Hegseths first wife also filed for divorce from him due to his infidelity. Pete Hegseth is a self-described Christian with conservative family values.For you to try to label her as unstable for your own advantage is despicable and abusive. Is there any sense of decency left in you? Penelope Hegseth wrote her son. She did not ask for or deserve any of what has come to her by your hand. Neither did [your first wife].Pete Hegseths co-workers also complained about his behavior while he served as president of the nonprofit organization Concerned Veterans for America (C.V.A.) from 2013 and 2016. In a seven-page whistleblower report compiled by several former C.V.A. employees and recently uncovered the The New Yorker, Hegseth was repeatedly intoxicated during various work events and had to be carried out of events due to his inability to walk while drunk.During another occasion, a drunken Hegseth had to be restrained so he wouldnt join the dancers onstage at a Louisiana strip club, where he had brought his team. The report also accused him and other members of his management team of sexually pursuing female co-workers at C.V.A. Hegseth, who was married at the time, and his pursuing colleagues reportedly divided their female coworkers into two groups: the party girls and the not-party girls.The report also accused him of drunkenly chanting Kill all Muslims at a bar. These allegations follow recent reports that Hegseth paid an unidentified woman who accused him of rape so that she would sign a nondisclosure agreement and agree not to file a lawsuit that might have threatened his employment at Fox News.The woman in question accused Hegseth of raping her while they attended a 2017 Republican conference. The two had been drinking, but Hegseth claimed that their encounter was consensual. Local prosecutors never brought charges against Hegseth because, they said, they didnt have enough evidence to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.It remains unclear if all of the above allegations will endanger Hegseths Senate confirmation to be appointed as secretary of defense.Hegseth believes that women should not be allowed to serve in combat roles in the military and spent his college days at Princeton campaigning against LGBTQ+ rights. As publisher of the conservative magazineThe Princeton Toryin the early 2000s, he oversaw a team that railed against the homosexual lifestyle, andin one 2002 issue, argued that The movement to legitimize the homosexual lifestyle and homosexual marriages is strong and must be vigorously opposed their lifestyle deserves absolutely no special legal status.In that same issue, Hegseth wrote in his Notes from the Publisher that the glorification of diversity is a problem that plagues most of American academia today. He said Western ideas deserve priority over other areas of study because the fact that the United States is a global superpower demonstrates the[ir] enduring strength.AnotherslammedtheNew York Timesfor its decision to start covering same-sex marriage announcements, calling it dangerous because it could inspire people to want to marry siblings, children, or dogs.The October 2002 issue criticized LGBTQ+ rights protests,declaring thatboys can wear bras and girls can wear ties until were blue in the face, but it wont change the reality that the homosexual lifestyle is abnormal and immoral.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 25 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.PRIDE.COMCould JoJo Siwa's rumored relationship with Kath Ebbs be the start of something special?JoJo Siwa has done her part to establish herself as a romantic, in her own way, despite some wild plans to start a family.As is common in the world of entertainment, we've gone on the ride with Siwa for a few of her relationships. She's dated Kylie Prew, Katie Mills, and Avery Cyrus, and earlier in 2024, she was spotted kissing So You Think You Can Dance contestant Madison Rouge Alvarado. That fling wound up becoming a relationship with Dakayla Wilson also from So You Think You Can Dance which ended just a few weeks ago after only dating for three months.None of this seems to have held Siwa back, as new rumors are already swirling around about her and queer Australian actor and writer Kath Ebbs, whos also besties with The Masked Singer Australia judge Abbie Chatfield.See on InstagramDuring a recent trip to Australia, where Siwa joined for the 2024 TikTok Awards, Siwa and Ebbs were spotted together on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Ebbs shared videos of Siwa on her Instagram story showing Siwa attempting to gas up their car and figuring out the differences in how Australians do it.I didnt pay for it, said Siwa. You could just drive off.You could, but they have your number plate, Ebbs responded, noting that Australian gas stations utilize the honor system to make sure everything is paid for.Not long after, Ebbs posted a carousel of photos captioned some people places and things on film, with a photo of she and Siwa together in the third slot. See on InstagramYou can also spot Ebbs hiding in a photo or two of the carousel Siwa also posted from her trip to Australia, which includes the photo of her at the gas pump that could be a subtle nod to the truth behind their relationship.See on InstagramOf course, at the moment, all of this is simply speculation, as neither of the two have publicly admitted (nor denied) anything. Either way, were always here for a budding romance, so heres to hoping this one blossoms through 2025 and beyond.0 Comments 0 Shares 34 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMJared Polis slams Joe Biden for pardoning his own son: No one is above the law.Out Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado (D) reacted with dismay Sunday night after President Biden granted his son Hunter a pardon.Polis called the move bad precedent. Related Colorado officials apologize for accidentally honoring anti-LGBTQ+ hate group Out Colorado Gov. Jared Polis vehemently denied supporting the group after a series of deceptive actions led them to be honored. While as a father I certainly understand President @JoeBidens natural desire to help his son by pardoning him, I am disappointed that he put his family ahead of the country, Polis posted to X not long after the White House issued the announcement. 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 Joe Biden granted the pardon after Hunter Biden was convicted in two separate federal cases earlier this year. The pardon applies to offenses that Hunter Biden has committed or may have committed from January 1, 2014 to December 1, 2024.Today, I signed a pardon for my son Hunter, Biden wrote in a statement issued from the White House. From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Departments decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted.It is clear that Hunter was treated differently, President Biden added.Polis wasnt convinced.This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation, Polis wrote of Bidens decision.When you become President, your role is Pater familias of the nation.Hunter brought the legal trouble he faced on himself, Polis added, and one can sympathize with his struggles while also acknowledging that no one is above the law, not a President and not a Presidents son. While as a father I certainly understand President @JoeBidens natural desire to help his son by pardoning him, I am disappointed that he put his family ahead of the country. This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation. Jared Polis (@jaredpolis) December 2, 2024Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ), the former mayor of Phoenix, also expressed disappointment with the president, joining Polis as one of the few elected Democrats to openly criticize Bidens decision.I respect President Biden, but I think he got this one wrong, Stanton posted to X. This wasnt a politically-motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies, and was convicted by a jury of his peers. I respect President Biden, but I think he got this one wrong.This wasnt a politically-motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies, and was convicted by a jury of his peers. https://t.co/P31d4ILL1P Rep. Greg Stanton (@RepGregStanton) December 2, 2024Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) supported the pardon and admonished Republican critics for their hypocrisy over Donald Trumps cabinet picks and his own felony conviction.They should take a look in the mirror, Crockett told MSNBC. I will say, Way to go, Joe.Polis recently made news when he applauded Trumps pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.Im excited by the news that the President-Elect will appoint @RobertKennedyJr to @HHSGov. He helped us defeat vaccine mandates in Colorado in 2019 and will help make America healthy again by shaking up HHS and FDA, the governor posted to X last week.He later walked back the full-throated endorsement.I was raised in a way where I try to look at the glass as half-full, Polis told CNN on Friday.Last time Donald Trump was president, he appointed a pharmaceutical lobbyist in charge of that agency: Alex Azar, Polis said.He added: I think its important, during the confirmation process to, of course, make sure that this is somebody who wont make his personal utterings and sayings into official policy, but will pursue policies on behalf of the American people, so I try to remain optimistic where I can. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 30 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.PRIDE.COMWatch the first 10 minutes of 'For the Love of DILFs' episode 2 now (exclusive)Things are getting steamy in the DILF mansion, and we cant wait to see more!The third season of For the Love of DILFs premiered last week, and things started off with a bang as the new contestants got to know each other and got a little naughty at a tighty-whities party, and Daddies started staking their claims on the Himbos they were vibing with.Episode 2 starts off with Daddy Nicholas sitting down for a flirty heart-to-heart with Jay when hes interrupted by Daddy Foxx, who also has the hots for the young heartthrob. While Nicholas is all about romance, flowers, and candles, Foxx puts Mardi Gras beads around Jays neck, and then the two get hot and heavy with a very tongue-forward makeup sesh. So will Jay pick the Daddy who will sweep him off his feet or the one who will make his toes curl?But Jay and Foxx arent the only couple playing tonsil hockey. Muscle Daddy Robert went on a date with Samuel in the last episode, but this time, they sit down to talk about the importance of family and how sexual Robert which, of course, leads to the two men kissing.In the first episode, both Victor and David let Timmy know they were interested, but this week Daddy David and Timmy have a frank discussion about sex, where we learn that this Himbo is a bottom who loves being submissive and thrown around and David is more kinky than we would have guessed. We cant wait to see how that convo ends!If youre new to For the Love of DILFs, the reality show follows groups of older Daddies who are vying for the attention of young, hunky Himbos to see if they can make a loving age-gap relationship work. While the show is spicy and fun, its also full of heart and open conversations about sex and dating. Helping the Daddies and Himbos find love is bisexual queen Stormy Daniels, who serves as DILF mansions resident host and house mother, offering up laughs and advice. In the end, one lucky couple will take home $10,000 to start their new relationship together.'For the Love of DILFs' is streaming now on OUTtv. Watch the first 10 minutes of season 2 episode 2 now.0 Comments 0 Shares 26 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.PRIDE.COMGay Bravo host Andy Cohen gets schooled on what a speculum is and were howlingWith the number of Housewives Bravo host Andy Cohen hangs out with, you'd think he would know a thing or two about what happens when they go to the gynecologist, but you'd be wrong!On his December 1 episode of Watch What Happens Live, the 56-year-old host wound up getting a lesson about what a speculum is thanks to Married to Medicine star Dr. Simone Whitmore, who took him back to biology class to give him the skinny on how the medical device works.The moment happened during Cohens last taping for his talk show at the Bravo Fan Fest in Miami. Apart from members of the Married to Medicine cast, some ladies from The Real Housewives of Potomac were also in attendance, one of whom ultimately became the reason for the segment, Decider reports.Cohen introduced a game called Is It Bigger Than Mias Foot? as a fun dig toward RHOP star Mia Thornton, and the object was to determine if whatever Cohen held up was bigger or smaller than her feet.During the game, Cohen held up a speculum, which, for those uneducated, is a tool gynecologists use to look inside the vagina to examine the cervix.When the speculum came up, Whitmore joked that it was around the same size as Thorntons foot, when it is, in fact, much smaller. Still, this prompted a confused Cohen to ask her how the speculum is used.This led to a demonstration from Whitmore, who explained how the speculum entered the vagina and how the woman feels pressure once its opened up inside of her.This prompted a swift, Okay, you learn something new every day, from Cohen, with Thornton joking that he cannot check my cervix. That is where I draw the line.Cohen couldnt agree more.Stream new episodes of Watch What Happens Live Monday through Friday on Peacock.0 Comments 0 Shares 32 Views 0 Reviews
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NEWSISOUT.COMNonbinary hairstylist gives clients the gender-affirming cuts they wantEvery nonbinary and trans persons gender-affirming care is specific to them. It might include certain personal identity changes, such as ones pronouns, name, and gender markers on legal documents; weekly injections of testosterone or estrogen (i.e. hormone therapy); surgeries; and mental health support.Another way for a person to feel more comfortable with who they are and how they present themselves to others is via a gender-affirming haircut. Stylists such asKitt Spata, owner ofYouphoria Studiosin Richmond, Virginia, are committed to meeting clients needs in that regard.I find it boils down to autonomy and being willing to give that to the client. I think thats the biggest thing: being a considerate hairstylist and doing what your clients want, [particularly] with queer hair, said Spata in a video interview with the Bay Area Reporter.Spata, who identifies as queer and nonbinary, opened their salon, located in Richmonds Carytown district, in October 2023 and has been steadfast in their client-centered approach ever since.Im only one person I dont want to assume for anyone. My whole thing is letting people tell me who they are and what they need, they said.TransitionsSpatas been in the hair business for the past six and a half years, and their own experiences in education, others work spaces, and with gender-affirming care have contributed not only to their personhood but also to the thoughtfulness theyve put into their client offerings and studio space.Prior to embarking on a career as a hairstylist, they spent a couple of years pursuing an undergraduate degree at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, a city in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. During their freshman year, they majored in interpersonal communications and minored in media studies, with an interest in content creation and wanting to work for BuzzFeed. They decided to pursue other disciplines during their second year at CNU.I switched at year two to study sculpture and art history with a minor in museum studies because I loved working with my hands, Spata explained.It was also around that time that a significant personal experience transpired: Spata walked into a salon chain in proximity to their campus and walked out, post-cut, with a much shorter style.I did it at a Supercuts across from Christopher Newport, and he [i.e. the stylist] didnt question shit. He was like, Yeah, lets do it. To have that happen, I understand, is rare, but I think it inspired me to be that kind of provider, said Spata.I realized I could combine talking to people all day, working with my hands, not working at a desk all of that. I also saw how affirming it was for me to have my hair cut off and to have the experience go well, they added.My whole thing is letting people tell me who they are and what they need.Kitt SpataThey rerouted to the career direction they felt was a good fit for them, leaving the CNU art classes and lecture halls behind in December 2017 to gain hands-on experience with sheers and razors in salons. The two apprenticeships they did achieved that objective, but Spatas time in those spaces was less than queer-friendly, they said.Neither of them were affirming, and neither of them liked me being trans. Even though they had a trans flag on their front door, they were not willing to do anything to meet me where I was at, Spata said.Spata had been out for about a year at the time and was in therapy; they hadnt started T (testosterone) yet.[T]hey just didnt care, they added, conveying the lack of support they felt as an openly queer person in the salons.With those not-so-great industry experiences under their belt, Spata decided to get in some additional formal education, spending a year and a half at Paul Mitchell The School, a beauty school and salon space in Tysons Corner Center. (The school has closed, as of May 2024.) Post-graduation, they found work in a barbershop located near the Fort Belvoir Army Base; at the time, they had also started hormone therapy.I was getting asked if I was a boy or girl by walk-ins multiple times a week because I was two months on T and very androgynous. I was handed pamphlets a few times by clients. They were Christian, Seek Jesus type things. And I was like, Holy shit. All I did was cut your hair. We didnt talk about me. It was wild, Spata commented.One pamphlet-distributing client sitting in Spatas chair shared with Spata that he was pursuing a degree in religious studies.I was like, Cool. My brother did, too. I was raised Catholic. We literally talked about it, but he still handed me the pamphlet. I was like, Dude, I did nothing but acknowledge and respect you,' said Spata about the incident.The client, though, was undeterred, insisting that Spata needed the religious brochure.I was like, Trust me, Im going to throw it out. It was crazy, Spata recalled.Add the issue of an unsupportive barbershop owner to the what binary gender are you continual line of questioning and homophobia, and Spata was more than ready to head elsewhere not necessarily out of the state for lovers, but at least to a different hub within it: Richmond.New city, new perspectiveIn the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris claimed Virginia, winning its 13 electoral votes (with 51.8%, or 2,227,756 votes as of press time) compared to Republican candidate and President-elect Donald Trump (with 46.6%, or 2,003,384 votes as of press time), according to the Associated Press. Notably, Virginia has been a blue state for the past four presidential elections (Joe Biden, 2020; Hilary Clinton, 2016; Barack Obama, 2012, 2008).If you told high school Kitt that I would still be here at 27, Id 100% be like, What is wrong? Because I never really liked Virginia, they said.Richmond, though, works just fine for them.I moved here three years ago, when I was about eight to 10 months on T, and I found better hair and better people, they said.In the Human Rights Campaigns2024 Municipal Equality Index, Richmond attained 100 out of a possible 100 points on its scorecard. The report, published annually in November, is a nationwide evaluation of municipal law that considers aspects such as a citys non-discrimination laws, the city leaderships commitment to the LGBTQ+ community; LGBTQ+ employee protections, municipal services, and fair enforcement of the law, including the responsible reporting of hate crimes and [law enforcements] engaging with the LGBTQ+ community in a thoughtful and respectful way.The city is home to queer spaces such as Babes of Carytown, a longstanding LGBTQ+ bar, and Diversity Richmond, the nonprofit organization behind the annual VA Pridefest, held in September. Theres also the website, OutRVA, an online resource for the Richmond queer community and visitors.Its really interesting, because Richmond has a horrible history of Confederacy, slavery, all of it, but the city is now very much acknowledging [its history] and progressing, Spata commented.For queer people, we feel safer, because you see people expressing [themselves] in any way they want to. You see corporate people with mullets, stuff like that. People arent afraid to be a little funkier here, they added.Once situated in Richmond, Spata initially set up shop in a couple of salons, including a booth rental in the queer-owned Body Politic Hair Studios. After about two years of working in others spaces, Spata made the official move of their brand Youphoria and their services into a physical location of their own.Spatas Youphoria Studios, located in a multi-room building housing other small businesses, is now among the many boutiques, eateries, and bars located along the Carytown neighborhoods West Cary Street.Its been so much better because its the same amount of rent and I have privacy, and my people can talk to me, and I can talk to my people. And now Im completely under my own name, they shared.A gender-affirming salon networkType in something along the lines of gender-affirming hair places in Google and a top result, other than Reddit discussion forums, will beStrands for Trans, a global registry of 7,500-plus gender-affirming salons and barbershops, founded by Xavier Cruz and JP Gomez. Gay cisgender men, Cruz and Gomez are also the owners ofBarba, a gender-inclusive grooming boutique in New York City.Spata takes part in Strands for Trans, both as a gender-affirming salon owner, with Youphoria Studios listed on the website via a state, city, or ZIP code search, and as a board member.I call them [i.e., Cruz and Gomez] my hair dads. Theyre lovely people. They reached out to me through seeing me tag them [on social media] and stuff, and they asked me to be on their board, said Spata.Cruz and Gomez did not respond to the B.A.R.s request for a comment.The board is primarily made up of trans people, with Spata, whos worked with Strands for Trans for about two years, contributing to the registrys development.Strands for Trans is definitely a needed resource. Its just hard to have something so new and so needed at the same time, because you cant work out the kinks. So thats what were working on: making sure people are as vetted as we want them to be, they said.The aim is to have a standard in place for the salons and barbershops to ensure all places listed are safe, inclusive spaces for those seeking gender-affirming services. Those interested in registering on Strands for Trans have to first go through a training, which Spata helped create. Post-successful training completion, they will be added to the website. It might sound straightforward enough, but there are some complexities to consider.Its really hard because there are salons and there are booth rentals, and someone whos booth rental in a salon could be affirming, but the salon might not be affirming. Theres a lot of nuance and a lot of new situations with how the hair industry is evolving into more salon rental and booth rental situations where the person may not be under that name, business-wise, explained Spata.Once a person finds their local list of gender-affirming salons on Strands for Trans, Spata suggests further researching each listing, whether pulling up official websites or checking out their social media profiles and posts.Meticulous considerationsWhen it comes to Youphoria Studios, the research process involves a simple step: heading to Spatas Instagram profile, with over 27,000 followers, for confirmation of their artistry and preciseness when it comes to gender-affirming cuts.Sometimes I have new clients coming in, giving me the textbook definition of a haircut and being like, I want a drop skin fade from this guard to this guard. And Im like, Word. Lets do it, and I do it, they said.When its time to reveal Spatas work in the mirror, the clients convey their joy and gratitude, but theyre also surprised that Spata cut their hair exactly how they had asked.The next time they come to me, they ask for something a little different. We talk about it, and theyre like, Last time, you gave me exactly what I asked for, and thats amazing. I just didnt expect to get it,' Spata shared.It comes down to them not getting the autonomy [from other stylists]. Its really interesting to see people assume theyre not going to get something. And Im so grateful people see that I did what they asked and not that I did what I wanted, because they would not come back, they said, with a laugh.Spatas considerations of their clients also include texting them pre-appointment pertinent information, such as Youphorias address and parking options, and providing a Google form-based questionnaire in which clients can include their chosen name, pronouns, and accommodation requests, such as no talking or music, facing away from the mirror, and the availability of fidget (i.e. sensory) toys.Their own neurodivergences (ADHD, autism) contribute to their interest in, and ability to meet, clients where theyre at and be open to others experiences, Spata noted.A lot of what I do is sensory work, and hair is one of the biggest sensory icks for people. Definitely gender-wise, I know it can make things so hard, they said.Spata did not disclose details about annual revenue or their number of clients, but online Google reviews attest to clients satisfaction with their gender-affirming cuts and feeling of comfort.Kitt is an amazing person who has been cutting my hair for over a year now. I appreciate how attentive they are to your particular needs, and my favorite thing is that they are always double checking with you about what you want, if something is okay, and ensuring you feel listened to, wrote Melody de Castro Bohannan, who identifies as queer, in their review.Getting my haircut used to be anxiety inducing because I would have to justify my haircut to a stylist, with Kitt there are no assumptions made regarding what my hair should look like and all that matters is what haircut affirms who I am!, they also commented.Another client, Unmai Arokiasamy, shared why they continue to book appointments at Youphoria Studios.Ive gotten my hair cut about three times by Kitt in the last five months and every experience has been so wonderful! Kitt is so open, curious, and creative, and I always feel cared for and taken care of when sitting in their salon. Their space [is] full of beautiful queer art and energy, and we have had lots of fun throughout each haircut. I always feel like a badass when I leave their space and I appreciate the work and engagement they always so willingly give!! wrote Arokiasamy, who told the B.A.R. they identify as Two-Spirit and queer.Caden Martz echoed others sentiments about Spatas client-centering approach.Kitt is an excellent stylist/barber and a genuinely amazing person. Ive been thrilled with all of the haircuts Ive had from them, and have found the entire experience with Kitt relaxing, affirming, and enjoyable. Cant recommend them enough! Really appreciate how they check in to make sure theyre understanding what Im saying, wrote Martz, who is nonbinary, in their review.For Spata, it has been and will continue to be about their clients autonomy and open communication.Hairstylists frequently kind of get wrapped up in the sense that we give people their appearance, but we need to be facilitators, not doing what we want, they said.This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship lab through News is Out. The lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBCUniversal.The post Nonbinary hairstylist gives clients the gender-affirming cuts they want appeared first on News Is Out.0 Comments 0 Shares 90 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COM16 trans kids die in subway station to protest national puberty blocker banTrans kids staged a die-in at Londons busiest train station on Wednesday in protest of the U.K. Labour governments extension of a ban on puberty blockers on the day the ban was set to take effect.One protester described the consequences as devastating for trans youth. Related UKs largest doctors union condemns Cass Reviews attacks on gender-affirming care The infamous medical review has been cited to deny care to trans youth, but doctors say the review was seriously flawed. We are standing out here today because we should not have to die for people to start listening, the activist said. We are standing out here today as a reminder of the strength and hope that flows through our community. 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 A total of 16 young trans people staged the protest at Londons Victoria Station following Labours extension of a ban first implemented by Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks government in May.The Labour governments health secretary, Wes Streeting, extended the ruling after Labour won a landslide victory in Julys general election, elevating party leader Keir Starmer to Prime Minister.Members of Trans Kids Deserve Better arrayed themselves on the floor of the busy transit hub surrounded by cardboard headstones inscribed with their demands and wishes for their future. At a simultaneous demonstration outside the nearby Department of Health and Social Care, a spokesperson for the group said, Today, the extension of the puberty blockers ban comes into force. This cruel decision was made by Wes Streeting, despite having met with trans youth and their families in this very building.Following his meeting with a group of trans youth earlier this month, Streeter declined to reverse the governments decision to extend the ban. The UKs National Health Service has described the effects of puberty blockers as reversible.Trans kids are being bullied by our government under the guise of the flawed and biased Cass Review but we continue to resist through our very existence, the group said in a statement. The Cass Review, a 400-page independent review of medical research on gender-affirming care for youth issued in April, claims there isnt enough data to conclude gender-affirming care is good for trans kids. Sunaks government issued the ban on puberty blockers in the aftermath. Transgender advocates were incensed over the reports conclusions and noted that it excluded numerous studies that demonstrate contradict its central claim.The review, commissioned by Englands National Health Service (NHS), declared that theres insufficient evidence about the risks and benefits of social transitioning, puberty blockers, and hormone replacement therapy including the claim that they reduce suicidality among gender-distressed youths.It is important to note that gender-affirming caresaves lives, and there is plenty of evidence to show for it, wrote American trans journalist Erin Reed at the time of the reports release, citing numerous studies proving that such care significantly reduces suicidality. She added, The largest and most influential medical organizations support trans care.In their request to meet with the Health Secretary in November, Trans Kids Deserve Better said, Puberty blockers give trans children the chance to grow up in a body that they are comfortable in and are life-saving.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 25 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.PRIDE.COM'Drag Race' Miss Congeniality Malaysia Babydoll Foxx calls out fans overlooking mental healthSometimes its not about the drama. Malaysia Babydoll Foxx isnt just calling out one of her fellow queens shes also calling out the fans who are overlooking mental health for tea. The RuPauls Drag Race season 15 Miss Congeniality winner recently took to X, previously Twitter, to let her fans know she is no longer associated in any way, shape, or form with MISERABLE IGNORANT B*TCH, referring to her fellow competitor Mistress Isabelle Brooks. This isnt a joke or a scandal. Please dont ask me any questions about them, Foxx wrote. They are blocked from all my social media platforms as well as my phone. The END!When one commenter suggested that Foxxs feud with Brooks keeps [her] relevant, Foxx hit back: Thats the problem. I dont want to be. I dont post on here or instagram. I wish she stops giving me any attention at all.The queen then used the moment to remind fans that her posts weren't about drama or social media attention, but instead deeply tied to her personal life and mental health things she values more than clout. (@) To those of you thinking my posts are to stay relevant because a new season of Drag Race is coming. Please stop, Foxx wrote. I have been at my lowest and the last thing I need is attention from people who have literally tormented me and Ive expressed it off the appsFoxx revealed that she has "sometimes regretted doing the show" because of the effect the attention has on her well-being, and that she is often hesitant to open up about it publicly since "I cant be vulnerable on these apps because it turns into Im complaining or Im weak.Mental health is very important and I choose peace over any fame and relevance," she continued. "If I could be completely honest sometimes Ive regretted doing the show because how people shame me about everything Ive done on it.Im constantly reminded of my failures and never the triumphs of coming from where Im from and inspiring those who have never seen themselves," Foxx said. "If views and numbers are important to you congratulations. Im not fixated on those things especially if it isnt genuine."0 Comments 0 Shares 24 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMThis government just took a major step towards banning anti-LGBTQ+ hate speechPoland made a landmark move for LGBTQ+ rights after it banned hate speech against sexual orientation and gender in a new set of regulations.Currently, the countrys laws prohibit hate speech on the basis of race, religion, and ethnicity. These provisions do not provide sufficient protection for all minority groups who are particularly vulnerable to discrimination, prejudice and violence, the national justice ministry said. Related Polish state TV anchor issues extraordinary on-air public apology to LGBTQ+ people After years of government persecution, the move was unprecedented. The new regulations aim to more fully implement the constitutional prohibition of discrimination and to meet international recommendations on standards of protection against hate speech and hate crimes, the ministry added. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The United Nations Human Rights Council has previously criticized the countrys lack of hate crime protections for LGBTQ+ individuals.Prime Minister Donald Tusk approved the new legislation. It now moves on to Parliament. If Parliament passes it, President Andrzej Duda will have the option to sign it into law or pass it. He has previously stated that he believes LGBTQ+ individuals are evil.However, Dudas final presidential term ends next year, and the ruling party hopes they can get someone to replace him in time to sign the legislation into law.Bart Straszewski, an LGBTQ+ activist in Poland, told PinkNews, I felt like a second-category citizen, and we were treated like second-category citizens. The government is telling you that you dont deserve equal rights, that you are not creating families, and that you are an agent of the West trying to fight family values or tradition. The atmosphere was hostile. We felt that they didnt want us here, but we still were here, we still were fighting for our country because we are part of it, Straszewski added.Poland previously has not been friendly to LGBTQ+ rights. During the Law and Justice (PiS) partys time in power, the country became one of the most viciously anti-LGBTQ+ countries in Europe. Cities designated themselves LGBT-free zones and government-run media outlets regularly demonized and spread lies about the queer community. Gay reporters were fired from publications as part of the national purge.However, advocates have been working tirelessly to grant protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. A TV anchor apologized this year for his past anti-LGBTQ+ statements and came out in support of the community. Activists also rejoiced when the Polish Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage is not illegal, per Polands Constitution.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 26 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.PRIDE.COMVintage photo of soldiers making out has the internet cackling about their 'friendship kiss'(@) Historians have been known to say that unmarried women who lived together or men who were overtly affectionate were just friends or roommates, but the internet is calling shenanigans!A vintage photo of two U.S. and Soviet soldiers kissing during WWII, labeled as a friendship kiss, is currently going viral after it was recently reposted on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, wonder if they did friendship anal also?While the kiss could have been a socialist fraternal kiss usually three alternating kisses on the cheek or a kiss on the lips for particularly chummy political leaders the overly familiar snog featured in the vintage photo led social media commenters to joke about how historians are always getting it wrong and just how gay the make-out sesh looks.During WWII, homosexuality was classified as a mental illness, and although you rarely hear about LGBTQ+ soldiers during this time period, according to the National WWII Museum, 9,000 American service members were given a blue discharge for being homosexual.Regardless of the sexuality of the men featured in the old photo, the jokes have been coming in fast and furious and we've been kicking up our heels and giggling all day. From quips like The real friends are the anal we did along the way to someone pointing out that they are clearly roommates ask any historian to jokes about friendship handjobs, these comments will have you cackling.Keep scrolling to see the funniest reactions to these allegedly straight soldiers kissing! (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@)0 Comments 0 Shares 24 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.PRIDE.COMMan-fluencer Andrew Tate's 'online university' hilariously hacked to feature trans flagsThe winter holidays are off to a beautiful start following news that far-right influencer Andrew Tate's online "university" was recently infiltrated by hackers with a sense of humor.According to the Daily Dot, the hackers managed to obtain 794,000 usernames, over 324,000 email addresses of former members, and access to both public and private chat servers connected to Tate's "The Real World." They then went on "to upload emojis, delete attachments, crash everyone's clients, and temporarily ban people."Notably, one of the changes the hackers made appeared to be customizing the emoji options seen by users so that the screen read "ANDREW TATE LOVES KISSING FEMBOYS," followed by a variety of other emojis, including LGBTQ flags.Yeah @Gadget44027447 THey security was a bit lose a few days ago. haThis was the legit Emoji screen for like 3 hours pic.twitter.com/SqMVPASVPs David Rock (@Davidrockonline) November 24, 2024 Tate's particular brand of misogyny is so overwhelming that his detractors constantly wonder whether his hatred of women actually translates to a romantic and/or sexual interest in men. (@) Of course, that's a reductive view of sexuality that doesn't actually hold any weight. But there's still a very clear level of amusement in seeing a site that's essentially a "safe space" for incels and misogynists to complain about the "LGBTQ agenda" overtaken, even briefly, by representations of things antithetical to their beloved patriarchy. (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) In response, Tate claimed that his website is "secure," has "never lost names, addresses, credit card details or ANY personal private data in it's history," and that even the "most advanced hackers in the world" have previously been unable to "take us down." (@) And maybe his wording is careful enough to be correct. The website may have been secure at the time he posted that response, online data is copied when it's stolen, so it wouldn't have been "lost" by The Real World, and hackers haven't taken the site offline.They did, however, quite clearly hack his damn site. And, as pointed out by LGBTQ Nation, it isn't even the first time The Real World has been hacked this year.But people who are already paying Tate $49.99 a month for his courses are likely to believe whatever he tells them, regardless of the reality staring them right in the face. (@)0 Comments 0 Shares 32 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.PRIDE.COMMeet Ryan Albert the handsome gay hunk joining the cast of 'Southern Charm'Who doesn't love a Southern gentleman?Ryan Albert is the latest bombshell to join the hit Bravo reality show Southern Charm. As a longtime friend to some of the OG cast members, this hunk is ready for LGBTQ+ fans to resonate with his story."I really feel like this was an opportunity for viewers to see an inside look at a gay marriage in the South. Even my parents will be watching us for the first time. They have chosen not to welcome us into their lives as a married couple, so it was really important for me to have that opportunity," Albert tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Albert's spot on the upcoming season is crucial during these divisive times. Although he's still navigating his relationship with his parents, the star knows his role on the show can help many fans watching from home."Growing up in a small town, I didn't get a lot of expose to the queer community. The only place I saw these things happened to be on television. I hope to give some hope to some of the people watching and to let them know it gets better, because it does."Since he had a bit of a tough time coming out to his family, Albert was geared up for all of the drama heading his way on the new season of Southern Charm."There's nothing that really scares me anymore. Listen, I love some good Southern sweet tea! This was nothing for me. I am a little bit of a pot-stirrer. There is plenty of gossip going around, even after the season."Albert joins Rodrigo Reyes as the second gay man on the show, but sadly, these two get off on the wrong foot."Just because we're both a part of this community does not mean we have to be best friends. That's what makes Southern Charm a great show. These friendships are constantly moving and evolving."Southern Charm premieres Thursday night on Bravo. To see the full interview with Ryan Albert, check out the video at the top of the page.0 Comments 0 Shares 26 Views 0 Reviews
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GAYETY.COSpread Holiday Cheer With this Festive Playlist of Pop Girls + GaysIts time to trim the tree, hang the mistletoe, and crank up the music! Whether youre into campy classics, soulful ballads, or funky beats, this holiday playlist has a little something for everyone. From pop queens to unexpected gems, these songs will keep your holiday spirits high and your playlist fresh.Mariah Carey All I Want For Christmas Is You (1994)The undisputed queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey gave us the ultimate festive bop. This timeless classic is joy, camp, and holiday magic wrapped in one irresistible package.Ariana Grande Santa Tell Me (2014)Arianas modern holiday anthem is the perfect balance of sweetness and sass. Whether youre decorating cookies or dodging exes at a holiday party, Santa Tell Me is here for you.Sabrina Carpenter A Nonsense ChristmasSabrina takes her cheeky hit Nonsense and sprinkles it with holiday cheer. This playful bop is perfect for belting out while wrapping presentsor flirting under the mistletoe. Plus, get ready for more Carpenter Christmas when A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter premieres on Netflix on December 6. Britney Spears My Only Wish (This Year) (2000)Britneys holiday track is a plea for love under the tree, and honestly, who cant relate? Its cute, catchy, and criminally underrateda must for any festive playlist.Lady Gaga Christmas Tree (2008)Leave it to Lady Gaga to serve up a sultry, campy Christmas tune. With lyrics that are just as cheeky as the beat, Christmas Tree is for those who like their holidays with a side of fun.Kelly Clarkson Underneath the Tree (2013)Kellys powerhouse vocals shine in this upbeat festive hit. Its packed with the drama and joy we demand from a great Christmas anthem.Lil Nas X Holiday (2020)Lil Nas X brings futuristic flair to the season with this edgy track. If youre looking to shake up your holiday vibes, this ones a bold and energetic choice.Kesha Holiday RoadKesha takes the classic road trip anthem and transforms it into a holiday jam. Its quirky, fun, and perfect for a festive drive through a winter wonderland.Orville Peck Happy TrailsOrville Pecks smooth baritone brings a cozy, country vibe to the season. This laid-back track is ideal for quiet evenings by the fire with a cup of cocoa.Conan Gray HolidaysFor those introspective holiday moments, Conan Grays heartfelt track captures the bittersweet side of the season. Its equal parts dreamy and emotional.Elton John & Ed Sheeran Merry Christmas (2021)The iconic duo brings heartfelt cheer with this festive ballad. Its warm, nostalgic, and sure to tug at your heartstrings during those cozy holiday nights.Destinys Child 8 Days of Christmas (2001)This festive bop is equal parts glam and groove. Beyonc, Kelly, and Michelle cut through the seasonal chaos with a track thats as iconic as their harmonies.Taylor Swift Christmas Tree Farm (2019)Taylor gives us Hallmark-movie vibes in this cozy ode to childhood nostalgia. Its the ultimate festive fantasy set to music, and were totally here for it.Carly Rae Jepsen Its Not Christmas Till Somebody Cries (2020)Carly Rae keeps it real with this hilarious and relatable tune. Whether its family drama or holiday chaos, this bop reminds us that sometimes the messiest moments are the most memorable.Kacey Musgraves Ribbons and Bows (2016)Kaceys lighthearted track is like a glittering ornament for your playlist. Its flirty, fun, and all about the magic of love during the holidays.Leona Lewis One More Sleep (2013)Leonas powerful vocals make this countdown-to-Christmas bop a seasonal staple. Its joyous, romantic, and full of holiday sparkle.Gwen Stefani You Make It Feel Like Christmas (2017)Gwen brings classic holiday vibes with her playful duet alongside Blake Shelton. Its charming, upbeat, and a perfect soundtrack for trimming the tree.Wrabel First WinterWrabels tender ballad is a heartwarming addition to any playlist. With lyrics about love and longing, this track feels like a soft snowfall on a chilly winter night.Idina Menzel & Billy Porter Ive Got My Love to Keep Me WarmBroadway legends Idina Menzel and Billy Porter bring their vocal chops to this jazzy classic. Its elegant, fun, and sure to add a touch of glamour to your holiday season.So whether youre sipping hot cocoa, dancing around the tree, or surviving family gatherings, this festive playlist has the perfect tune for every holiday moment. Plug in, press play, and let these pop queens and kings sleigh your holiday season! More Stories: Spread Holiday Cheer With this Festive Playlist of Pop Girls + GaysDisneyland Dazzles with Holiday Cheer: Your 2024 Entertainment GuideThe HoliGAY Spirit Is Here! 25 Must-Watch Festive Lesbian MoviesWhy a Canonically Bisexual Fiyero is Just What Wicked NeededMichael Grassi Dives Into Brilliant Minds LGBTQ+ Stories Medical Drama + Budding RomancesThe post Spread Holiday Cheer With this Festive Playlist of Pop Girls + Gays appeared first on Gayety.0 Comments 0 Shares 89 Views 0 Reviews
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GAYETY.CODisneyland Dazzles with Holiday Cheer: Your 2024 Entertainment GuideGet ready to deck the halls, jingle your bells, and embrace the holiday magic! The holidays return to the Disneyland Resort from November 15, 2024, through January 6, 2025, with a dazzling lineup of new shows, returning favorites, and festive fun for all ages. Whether youre a seasoned Disney fan or planning your first magical visit, theres something for everyone to enjoy.Heres your guide to this years cant-miss holiday entertainment at Disneyland Resort.Related | Disney Festival of Holidays 2024: Your Foodie Guide to Disneylands Seasonal TreatsNew Festive FirstsMirabels Gifts of the SeasonWhere: Paradise Gardens Park, Disney California AdventureWhen: Mondays through FridaysStep into a magical holiday celebration with Mirabel and friends from Disneys Encanto! This lively musical fiesta invites families to sing along to beloved tunes from the film while embracing the spirit of togetherness.A Musical Christmas with Mariachi Alegra de Disneyland & Miguel!Where: Buena Vista Street, Disney California AdventureWhen: Monday through Friday eveningsWrap yourself in the heartfelt warmth of this all-new nighttime show! Mariachi Alegra de Disneyland, graceful dancers, and Miguel from Pixars Coco will serenade you with bilingual renditions of holiday classics, including a breathtaking finale with Silent Night.Music, Dancing, and So Much MoreExpanded Live PerformancesWhere: Disney California Adventure ParkWhen: DailyThis years lineup of live entertainment is bigger and better than ever! Groove to mariachi, jazz, reggae, Latin pop, and more across various stages. New acts like Joy, Rangoli Rhythms, and KealiI O Nlani & Daniel Ho join returning favorites, including Blue13 Dance Company and The Mistletoes.Mickeys Happy Holidays and Toy DrummersWhere: Parade route, Disney California Adventure ParkWhen: DailyClap, dance, and cheer as Mickey Mouse and friends lead a lively procession with the infectious beat of the Holiday Toy Drummers. Its a jolly parade you wont want to miss!Santa Claus and Special AppearancesHoliday Fun with Santa and Friends!Where: Fantasyland Theatre, Disneyland ParkWhen: DailySnap photos with Santa Claus and enjoy crafts, sing-alongs, and live music. After Christmas Eve, Santa Goofy will step in to spread post-holiday cheer!Character Meet-and-GreetsSpot Mickey, Minnie, and friends in their holiday finest throughout the resort. Keep your eyes peeled for Mirabel and her Encanto pals at Paradise Gardens gazebo on select days.Nighttime SpectacularsBelieve In Holiday MagicWhere: Disneyland ParkWhen: NightlyWatch the skies light up with this breathtaking fireworks show! With shimmering lights, magical snowfall, and Sleeping Beautys Winter Castle glowing in icy splendor, its pure holiday magic.World of Color Season of LightWhere: Paradise Bay, Disney California AdventureWhen: NightlyThis stunning water show blends scenes from films like Frozen and Inside Out with festive music and dazzling effects. Bonus: Catch a sneak peek of Disneys upcoming Moana 2 before the main event!Even More Holiday MagicA Christmas Fantasy ParadeWhere: Disneyland ParkWhen: DailyFrom dancing gingerbread men to a grand Santa finale, this classic parade captures all the whimsy and wonder of the holidays.Holiday Lighting MomentsWhere: Disneyland and Disney California Adventure ParksWhen: NightlyGather for tree lighting ceremonies on Buena Vista Street or marvel as thousands of lights illuminate its a small world Holiday.Downtown Disney and Hotel CheerThe holiday spirit extends to Downtown Disney and the Disneyland Resort Hotels! Enjoy live music, snowfall, carolers, and even jazz in the elegant Great Hall at Disneys Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.Make the Most of Your VisitTheres so much to see and do, you might need more than one day to soak it all in. Consider staying at one of Disneylands themed hotels, with discounts up to 15% on select stays through December 19, 2024.For the latest schedules, performer details, and holiday foodie guides, visit Disneyland.com or check the Disneyland app.The holidays are callingare you ready to answer with a sprinkle of Disney magic? More Stories: Spread Holiday Cheer With this Festive Playlist of Pop Girls + GaysDisneyland Dazzles with Holiday Cheer: Your 2024 Entertainment GuideThe HoliGAY Spirit Is Here! 25 Must-Watch Festive Lesbian MoviesWhy a Canonically Bisexual Fiyero is Just What Wicked NeededMichael Grassi Dives Into Brilliant Minds LGBTQ+ Stories Medical Drama + Budding RomancesThe post Disneyland Dazzles with Holiday Cheer: Your 2024 Entertainment Guide appeared first on Gayety.0 Comments 0 Shares 92 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMDonald Trump had a plan to end HIV by 2030. His re-election may kill that plan.President Joe Biden marked World AIDS Day yesterday by displaying the AIDS Memorial Quilt on the White House lawn a historic first and placing a massive red ribbon on the White Houses southern portico, an annual tradition since 2007. In his speech, Biden noted the over 40 million people still affected by HIV worldwide and he called on states to repeal their outdated HIV criminalization laws to help reduce anti-HIV stigma. He also noted his administrations efforts to end HIV/AIDS, including his reauthorization of PEPFAR (the Presidents Emergency Plan on AIDS Relief), an African HIV-prevention program; the Food and Drug Administrations relaxed guidelines allowing gay and bi men to donate blood; his protection of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which requires insurers, Medicare and Medicaid coverage to pay for HIV treatments, medications, and preventative drugs like pre-exposure prophylactics (PrEP). Related Experts detail what LGBTQ+ healthcare may look like under Donald Trumps new administration Were just hoping that there are guardrails in place. But HIV advocates worry that these efforts could all be threatened by the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump. 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 The first Trump administration had a mixed record on HIVTrumps four World AIDS Day proclamations never explicitly mentioned gay and bi men, and he allowed the Office of National AIDS Policy (an executive advisory task force) to fall apart by terminating all its members and failing to appoint a new director.In his 2019 State of the Union Address, Trump launched the Ending HIV Epidemic (EHE) Initiative, a $291 million plan to reduce the number of new HIV infections by 75% by 2025 by targeting HIV prevention and treatment in the nations highest-risk areas. This plan included Ready, Set, PrEP, a program to give 200,000 uninsured Americans free annual access to daily PrEP.However, the EHE has fallen far behind its goal. While Biden has continued the plan, between 2019 and 2022, the number of new HIV infections in the U.S. dropped from 35,100 to 31,800, a 9.4% decrease, according to HIV.gov. In 2018, Trump also signed a five-year extension to PEPFAR, an African HIV-prevention program launched by George W. Bush in 2003 that has been hailed as a successful diplomatic and humanitarian effort. PEPFAR provides antiretroviral treatment for 14.6 million people and has been credited with saving over 25 million lives and preventing children of people with HIV from becoming orphans.However, Republicans have begun to target PEPFAR, falsely claiming that its a massive slush fund for promoting abortion and LGBTQ+ advocacy. Additionally, Project 2025, the blueprint for Trumps second presidency, seeks to reinstate the Mexico City Policy, (also known as the global gag rule), an executive order denying any U.S. funding for global health organizations that provide any information about abortions.Slashing PEPFAR and reinstituting the gag rule could force international health providers, particularly ones providing reproductive health services to choose between losing funding of providing emergency sexual healthcare for those key populations in conflict and other crisis situations, according to John Plastow, the executive director of Frontline AIDS, the worlds largest partnership of civil society organizations working to end HIV and AIDS. Trumps pledge to repeal the Affordable Care Act will doom millionsTrump has also repeatedly pledged to repeal the ACA without any plan for its replacement. Doing so would leave an estimated 21.3 million people without any medical coverage. Without the ACA, young adults between the ages of 18 and 26 would no longer be allowed to stay on their parents insurance plan. Additionally, health insurers would be allowed to once again deny coverage to people with HIV and to refuse essential benefits, like specific prescription drugs, labs, and mental health services that provide comprehensive HIV treatment.The ACAs Medicaid expansion in several states covers healthcare costs for an estimated 40% of all Americans living with HIV. During his first presidency, Trump suggested $1.4 trillion in Medicaid cuts over 10 years by allowing states to choose between a lump-sum federal Medicaid payment (also known as a block grant) or a growth cap on their per-capita Medicaid costs. Both would essentially limit the programs ability to cover HIV medication and treatment. This year, Republicans have called for massive budget and staffing cuts in HIV care, according to the Bay Area Reporter, including between $500,000 and $800,000 for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, $214 million for the CDCs HIV prevention programs (including the entire budget of EHE), $190 million from Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, and $15 million from the Health and Human Services Secretarys Minority HIV/AIDS Fund.The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program makes up 12% of the government funding for HIV/AIDS care, and an estimated 52% of all people diagnosed with HIV in the nation utilize the program. Trumps first administration also proposed an 18% cut to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which cite the programs maintenance as one of its highest priorities. Although the funding levels in this bill are far from final and not likely to pass on the House floor, they represent a dangerous move by the House Republican majority to deprioritize support for people living with HIV, women, and people of reproductive age, people of color, low-income individuals, and the LGBTQ community, Ernest Hopkins, senior strategist and adviser of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, told the aforementioned publication. Now that Republicans will have a slim majority in both Houses and Congress, its likely that they will try to advance such budgetary cuts. Slashing their budgets would have a trickle-down effect.If all these people suddenly find themselves without insurance coverage, theyll need to rely on state, city, and private programs to help pay for medication; but these smaller groups cant possibly match the millions in funding provided by the federal government.Some of state and local HIV programs receive financial support from the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), a part of the federal governments Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, which offers services to low-income people living with HIV. But with a rush on ADAP services, patients with HIV may suddenly find themselves on waitlists before they can afford life-saving medication. This is especially concerning considering that people who receive late and inconsistent HIV treatment have worse health outcomes than those who get early and regular care.In November 2019, the Trump administration proposed cutting costs for Medicare the federal medical coverage for people over 65 and those with disabilities by reducing the number of drugs that the program must make available to people with HIV. Doing so would allow insurers to require Medicare beneficiaries to first get advance approval for certain HIV drugs and possibly undergo step therapy, a process of trying less expensive medications before accessing more costly ones.Such medication restrictions could be catastrophic for older HIV patients and Trumps EHE initiative, Bruce Packett, the executive director of the American Academy of HIV Medicine, a group representing doctors who care for patients with HIV, told The New York Times. Older patients with other disabilities and chronic diseases often take other medications, increasing the likelihood of possible negative drug interactions, Packett said. Furthermore, some patients have drug-resistant HIV strains or respond to certain medications differently. As such, doctors need access to quicker access to the full arsenal of medicines to properly treat HIV, he added.Cadena and Marnina Miller, co-directors of the Positive WOmens Action Network-USA, told The Body, We may need to set up some kind of Underground Railroad to get [HIV] meds across states for people who really need them.Elevating anti-LGBTQ+ voices and conspiracy theorists harm those most in need In his first and most recent campaigns, Trump also elevated Republican voices that stoke hostility towards queer men, trans women, and people of color those most at risk of contracting HIV. During his first term, he quietly started firing military servicemembers living with HIV. During his recent campaign, Trump and Republicans lied about legalized Haitian immigrants spreading HIV in Springfield, Ohio, something that public health officials said was untrue.In May 2019, Trump announced a conscience rule pledging legal protection for medical professionals who cite religious beliefs as a pretext for refusing care to LGBTQ+ people. The 2024 Republican platform has repeated this pledge, increasing the likelihood that LGBTQ+ people might not seek HIV testing, medication or treatment for fear of healthcare discrimination.Its also unclear if a Trump administration official or a Republican-appointed judge would try to argue, as one has in the past, that forcing insurers and pharmacists to provide HIV prevention or treatment medications violates their religious consciousness. Project 2025 calls for dismantling large parts of the federal government, including any deemed a waste of taxpayer funds; and Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has denied that HIV causes AIDS, to head the Department of Health. He has called for Dr.Mehmet Oz, a celebrity lifestyle influencer who has peddled quack cures, to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. Trump has also called for Dr.Marty Makary to head the Food and Drug Administration and Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for surgeon general both are frequent Fox News contributors.Collectively, these appointees could dramatically change how these federal agencies operate and help execute Project 2025s plan of purging any officials who try and resist Trumps agenda.Jeremiah Johnson, executive director of PrEP4All, said in a statement to Inside Health Policy that the new Trumop administration will create an uncertain and unpredictable time for federal HIV policy. Will he be the Donald Trump who initiated the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative in 2019, or will he follow House Republican efforts to gut that same essential program? Johnson asked. Will he see himself as a champion of helping to develop and deliver biomedical interventions for infectious disease, as he did with COVID, or will he, with RFK Jr. poised to take a leadership role on healthcare in his administration, turn away from science?And within all of this, how will (advocates) address the HIV-related needs of the communities that we know this administration will attack, including migrants and transgender populations? he asked.Jeremiah Johnson, executive director of the PrEP advocacy group PrEP4All, told The Body, One of the worst things we could do right now is to either completely downplay how dangerous this coming era could beor to overplay it to such a degree that we lose perspective on where we can actually protect ourselves and our community going forward. Cecilia Chung, a transgender advocate living with HIV who is senior adviser at the Transgender Law Center, reminded the aforementioned publication that constituents can still play a key role in the coming administration. In particular, she mentioned the upcoming 2025 AIDSWatch in March, an annual meetup in Washington D.C. in which people living with HIV visit the offices of their elected officials.We should continue to tell our stories and share with people first-person that theres a human impact [to any policy changes], she said.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 33 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMWicked fans thrilled to learn Marissa Bode is in a queer relationshipThe big screen adaptation of Wicked is even queerer than some fans may have realized.The film is based on the long-running, Tony-winning Broadway musical that has fueled a million drag performances with its signature tune, Defying Gravity. Its also based on out author Gregory Maguires 1995 novel, which in turn draws inspiration from the queer classic The Wizard of Oz. And the blockbuster movie also stars out actors Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, and Bowen Yang alongside vocal LGBTQ+ ally Ariana Grande. Related Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo celebrate the Wicked film as beautifully queer Grande and Erivo say it isnt just Glinda and Elphaba that make the land of Oz a celebration of uniqueness. But as U.K. LGBTQ+ outlet PinkNews notes, some fans are just realizing that another cast member is also queer. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Back in early November, well before Wicked hit U.S. theaters, People reported that Marissa Bode had been in a relationship with journalist Lauren Brooks since September 2023. The pair attended the Los Angeles premiere of the film together, with Brooks posting a series of photos of the two at the event on Instagram.Most magical night with my love and my friends at wicked part one premiere in la [sic], Brooks wrote in the posts caption. I AM SO SO SO PROUD OF MARISSA AND ALL OF THE CAST!!!!!!!!! View this post on Instagram A post shared by wren brooks ! (@laurennbrooks)Huuuuge shoutout to my friends, my partner, my dad, my team and my absolutely talented hair and makeup crew, Bode wrote in a separate November 11 post about the premiere featuring some of the same photos.Bode has frequently posted about her relationship, including a Valentines Day tribute earlier this year, and a set of photos of the couple dressed as Chappell Roan and the siren from the queer pop stars Casual video for Halloween.Wicked marks Bodes film debut. In the movie, she plays Nessarose, the sister of Erivos Elphaba and the future Wicked Witch of the East. Like her character, Bode has used a wheelchair since she was 11 years old. As Variety reported in September, she is the first actor who uses a wheelchair in real life to play Nessarose. Im genuinely so honored that its me doing that, Bode told the outlet. Seeing somebody authentically cast like that on screen is just so important, especially in something so cool and so magical as Wicked.Last Friday, Bode criticized some fans for making ableist jokes about her character. It is absolutely OK to not like a fictional character, Bode said in a November 29 TikTok video. But, she called out deeply uncomfortable comments about Nessaroses disability.Disability is not fictional, she said. At the end of the day, me, Marissa, is the person that is still disabled and in a wheelchair. And so, it is simply a low-hanging fruit that too many of you are comfortable taking. @marissa_edob Representation is important but thats not the only thing that will save the disabled community. I need a lot of yall (non-disabled people) to do the work. To dissect and unlearn your own ableism. Listen to disabled people. Follow other disabled people outside of just me. Read up on the disability rights movement/watch the documentary Crip Camp! I understand no one likes feeling like theyre being scolded. But true progress never comes with comfort. And thats ok. #wicked #nessa original sound Marissa These comments arent original, and when these jokes are being made by non-disabled strangers with a punchline of not being able to walk, it very much feels like laughingatrather than laughingwith, she explained. This goes so far beyond me, Marissa, just needing to ignore comments on the internet. These comments do not exist in a vacuum. Aggressive comments of wanting to cause harm and push Nessa out of her wheelchair, or that she deserves her disability, are two very gross and harmful comments that real disabled people, including myself, have heard before.Listen to the people or to the person that it is affecting and how it makes them feel, she continued. Thankfully, Im at a place in my life today where I can recognize these jokes about disability are made out of ignorance. I couldnt say the same about Marissa 10 years ago, and it would have affected younger me a lot more, and Im worried that a younger version of myself is somewhere on the internet and is harmed by these comments.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 35 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMGOP lawmaker says it wouldnt be remotely controversial to ban marriage equality againAnti-LGBTQ+ Michigan state Rep. Josh Schriver (R)said that gay marriage should be illegal again, adding, This is not remotely controversial, nor extreme. Democrats and numerous social media commenters have criticized him for his statement. Earlier this year, he was stripped of his office staff, budget, and committee assignments after sharing a social media post pushing a racist and antisemitic conspiracy theory.To support his point, Schriver used a rape metaphor, writing, 20 years ago, Barack Obama was more conservative on marriage than many Republicans today. America only accepted gay marriage after it was thrusted into her by a perverted Supreme Court ruling. America 2124 doesnt have to be as dysfunctional as America 2024. Related Dana Nessel destroys Donald Trump for claiming to care about domestic violence Domestic violence victims cant survive another Trump presidency, Nessel warned. His claim is inaccurate on several levels. On March 21, 2014, theU.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michiganruled that the states voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.Though the decision was quickly overturned by a federal appeals court, by 2014 the year before the U.S. Supreme Courtlegalized it 35 states and the District of Columbiaalready allowed same-sex marriage, meaning it was hardly thrusted into America in the Supreme Courts 2015 Obergefell decision. 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 Furthermore, a 2023 Gallup poll showed that71%of Americans support same-sex marriage, meaning that Schrivers desire to criminalize would be both controversial and extreme. 20 years ago, Barack Obama was more conservative on marriage than many Republicans today. America only accepted gay marriage after it was thrusted into her by a perverted Supreme Court ruling.America 2124 doesnt have to be as dysfunctional as America 2024.ORDER! ORDER! pic.twitter.com/4kbG0InDbC Rep. Josh Schriver (@JoshuaSchriver) December 2, 2024Please explain how dissolving my marriage, or that of the hundreds of thousands of other same-sex couples living in America, provides a benefit to your constituents or anyone else, gay Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel (D) wrote on X in response to Schrivers post. Youre not interested in helping Michiganders. You want only to hurt those you hate. Shame on you.During the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Nessel told Republicans who wanted to overturn the Supreme Courts same-sex marriage ruling, You can pry this wedding band from my cold, dead, gay hand! She is married to a woman. Please explain how dissolving my marriage, or that of the hundreds of thousands of other same-sex couples living in America, provides a benefit to your constituents or anyone else. Youre not interested in helping Michiganders. You want only to hurt those you hate. Shame on you. https://t.co/fTmiYA8RiC Dana Nessel (@dananessel) December 2, 2024Fellow state Rep. Jason Morgan (D), who is gay, wrote of Schrivers post, This is definitely both controversial and extreme, along with anti-family. I grew up believing Id never be able to get married and Im not going back.A fellow representative is saying my marriage to the man I love should be illegal. This is definitely both controversial and extreme, along with anti-family. I grew up believing I'd never be able to get married and I'm not going back. https://t.co/WrSb46xxgt Jason Morgan (@JasonMorganMI) December 2, 2024 Schriver holds other anti-LGBTQ+ views. In a November 19 post supporting anti-LGBTQ+ book banning, he claimed that parents should know that their children are being shown obscene books in public schools.While discussing gender-affirming care for trans youth in January, he wrote, If we are going to stop this for anyone under 18, why not apply it for anyone over 18? Its harmful across the board and thats something we need to take into consideration in terms of the endgame. Schriver has posted racist and antisemitic content in the pastOn February 6, Schriver used his X account to re-post a meme initially shared by anti-LGBTQ+ conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec. The image, which remains on Schrivers X account, says, The great replacement! and shows a world map largely populated with Black people and small groups of white people clustered in northern America, northern Europe, and southern Australia. The map is not an accurate representation of global racial diversity.The Great Replacement Theory is an antisemitic, anti-immigration, white supremacist conspiracy theory that claims rich Jews want to replace white Americans and Westerners with non-white immigrants and people of color (especially Black people and Muslims) to fundamentally change the nations racial makeup and political culture.Schrivers congressional districtis 90% white. He won nearly 65% of the districts vote in 2022. Michigan House Speaker Joe Tate (D), who is Black,condemned the post two days later, calling it a blatantly racist, deplorable, and a false theory that put Schrivers ignorance on full display and proliferat[ed] obvious hate.On Monday, Tate stripped Schriver of his seats on the House committees for natural resources, environment, tourism and outdoor recreation, as well as his sole office staff member and $132,000 office budget,The Guardianreported. Schriver will still be allowed to vote.I will not allow the Michigan House of Representatives to be a forum for the proliferation of racist, hateful and bigoted speech, Tatesaid in a statement. Representative Schriver has a history of promoting debunked theories and dangerous rhetoric that jeopardizes the safety of Michigan residents and contributes to a hostile and uncomfortable environment for others.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 33 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.PRIDE.COMBreaking: Transmasc adult content creator Apollo Moon dead at 26Apollo Moon, a transmasc adult content creator, died on Monday, December 2. He was 26. Loved ones confirmed the news of Moon's passing to Them. No cause of death has been revealed. Known to family and friends as Forest Harader, his family found out he had been hospitalized on November 27. "As Apollo Moon, he was a prominent and beloved adult content creator within the trans community, which was especially notable as a person of color in a predominantly white space," Them reports. Online tributes have poured in for the content creator. Friends of Moon told the outlet that he was a lover of nature and his experience of being trans. Last week, Moon wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "Being trans brought me so much joy and there was nothing in this world that made me happier than sharing that experience with my community.He later added, I wish I could hug every trans person in the world right now and tell them I love them.A fundraiser on the platform MealTrain has collected $12,680 for Moon's family. "On November 27th the Harader family received the unexpected and devastating news that their son/brother Forest was hospitalized in the ICU on life support. His parents will be taking an extended leave from work and they, along with his sister Risa, can use any and all the support you can give during this difficult time," the family posted on the site.0 Comments 0 Shares 32 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.PRIDE.COMBrian Falduto celebrates going solo for the holidays in latest releaseCountry music crooner Brian Falduto is bringing holiday cheer from a fresh perspective this season with his first original jingle, Christmas Solo. This playful, country-pop tune shines a spotlight on those who find themselves alone during the holidays, reframing solo time as an opportunity for self-love and celebration.Inspired by his single years, Falduto wrote Christmas Solo as a remedy to the seasonal blues that can come from the societal pressure to be partnered during the holidays.Ive spent many years single, and Ive often felt out of place during the holiday season, Falduto explains. The messaging around Christmas is so focused on being together with loved ones. But for many of us, especially those who are single by choice, it can feel isolating. I wanted to create a song that celebrates the beauty of being self-partnered for the holidays and acknowledges that spending Christmas solo can be something joyful.In Christmas Solo, Falduto invites listeners to view the season through a lens of positivity, whether theyre solo by choice or circumstance. Rather than the typical holiday fare focused on romantic love and longing, Faldutos song celebrates the freedom that comes with being single.Why is there no holiday anthem for single people? he asks. Valentines Day and weddings celebrate love and relationships, but singles deserve an anthem, too. I wanted to give singles a chance to embrace the holiday spirit without feeling like somethings missing.Produced by Brett Castro, Christmas Solo blends Faldutos signature country-pop style with a dose of festive cheer. The tracks lively production includes a standout saxophone solo by Nate Hopkins and background vocals by Bronwyn Whittle and Kelsey Martin, giving it a joyous, celebratory vibe reminiscent of holiday pop hits by artists like Mariah Carey and Kelly Clarkson.Its catchy and fun, which was the goal, Falduto says. I wanted it to have that shiny, holiday feel but without the undertone of sadness or bitterness. This is a song for celebrating your own company.Falduto also shares the advantages of a solo Christmas, emphasizing the perks of having a low-key holiday.You dont have to dress up, make small talk, cook, or clean up after guests, he laughs. Spending Christmas solo gives you a rare chance to truly relax, decompress, and reflect on the seasons true meaning, away from all the holiday hustle and bustle.Beyond his music, Falduto connects deeply with the themes in Christmas Solo due to his own experiences navigating the holidays as a queer individual. Reflecting on past seasons, he shares that, while he may not have always been physically alone, he often felt emotionally isolated.The holidays can be a complicated time for the queer community, especially when returning to environments that dont feel fully supportive. Christmas Solo is for everyone who feels out of place this time of year, whether youre physically alone or just feeling like you dont belong.Brian Falduto first gained fame playing the role of Fancy Pants in the Jack Black cult classic film School of Rock. In 2023, he released his first country music song, "Same Old Country Love Song. It was greeted with a flood of positive encouragement and excitement and would become an LGBTQ+ country music anthem.The success of Same Old Country Love Song was extremely validating and encouraging, he recalls. It served as a testament to how many people have felt left out by country music and how much a song like this was clearly needed. Subsequent releases followed including Hottest Guy Here and Big Boys Club, and Brian Faldutos first full-length album, Gay Country (Deluxe Edition).Holiday music fans will find both cheer and comfort in Christmas Solo, especially those who feel left out by traditional Christmas songs. I love holiday music, Falduto says. But so much of it focuses on romantic love or family togetherness. Christmas Solo fills a gap for people who dont fit that mold, who might need a little reminder that its okay to celebrate the season alone.Faldutos holiday wish for his fans: Theres so much going on in the world right now. I hope this song brings a little bit of joy to people. Joy can be a powerful remedy and a form of resistance when things are tough. Lets use it to lift each other up this season.Brian Faldutos Christmas Solo will be available on all streaming platforms on December 2, 2024.Visit BrianFalduto.com. Follow on FB, IG, X and TikTok @BrianFalduto0 Comments 0 Shares 34 Views 0 Reviews
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WWW.LGBTQNATION.COMCop from the Village People threatens to sue anyone who says YMCA is a gay anthemY.M.C.A co-writer Victor Willis says that starting in January, he will sue each and every news organization that falsely refers to Y.M.C.A., either in their headlines or alluded to in the base of the story, that Y.M.C.A. is somehow a gay anthem.Willis, who is straight, co-wrote the song with the bands straight producer Henri Belolo and its gay producer Jacques Morali. He has pushed back against the songs identity as a gay anthem in the past, but the conversation around its meaning has reached new heights in the wake of Donald Trumps obsession with playing the song at rallies and other events. Related Is it actually gay? Heres the true meaning of the song YMCA The bands frontman claimed the hit dance song isnt gay, but his gay bandmates remember things differently. Many have mocked the president-elect the leader of a viciously anti-LGBTQ+ party for unwittingly using a song that so many consider a rallying cry for the LGBTQ+ community. But even he once called the 1978 hit the gay national anthem, saying that he loves to use it because it gets people up and moving. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today In his recent post, Willis offered a lengthy explanation for why the song should not be seen as a gay anthem and also for his decision to embrace Trumps use of it, a reversal from his 2020 request that Trump no longer use any Village People music.The short version is the songs renewed popularity is making Willis a lot of money. He said he originally decided to ask Trump to stop using the song because the number of people complaining to him about it had become a nuisance, though his original request suggests discontent with Trumps threats on the American people. But Willis said he changed his mind because Trump is having a lot of fun with the song and he didnt have the heart to stop him from using it. He added, Y.M.C.A. has benefited greatly from use by the President Elect. For example, Y.M.C.A. was stuck at #2 on the Billboard chart prior to the President Elects use. However, the song finally made it to #1 on a Billboard chart after over 45 years (and held on to #1 for two weeks) due to the President Elects use, which he said has led to big financial benefits. Y.M.C.A. is estimated to gross several million dollars since the President Elects continued use of the song. Therefore, Im glad I allowed the President Elects continued use of Y.M.C.A. And I thank him for choosing to use my song.He then tried to tear down the notion that the song is a gay anthem, explaining that it is damaging to the song and when he wrote the lyrics he had no idea the Y was a gay hangout. And when I say, hang out with all the boys that is simply 1970s black slang for black guys hanging-out together for sports, gambling or whatever. Theres nothing gay about that.He then claimed he doesnt mind if gay people think of it as their anthem but said the true anthem is that it has appeal to people of all strips including President Elect Trump. This is not the first time Willis has threatened to sue news outlets who claim the song is associated with the gay community. Ina September 2020 Facebook post, Willis wrote, I will sue the next media organization, or anyone else, that falsely suggests Y.M.C.A. is somehow about illicit gay sex Get your mind out of the gutter, please! His post was likely an exaggeration as theres no record of him actually suing anyone over it.But as with his most recent post, he also contradicted himself then, saying, Im happy the gay community adopted it as their anthem. I have no qualms with that.Some of his bandmates, however, disagree with the songs original intent.Randy Jones, who performed as Village Peoples cowboy,toldSpinmagazine in 2008that he helped inspire Morali to create the song by taking the producer to a New York City YMCA gym in the late 1970s and having him meet gay adult actors who worked out there.In fact, gay cultural critic Michael Musto believes that the song has been straight-washed.All these years later, the gay subtext is gone, and its a rah-rah crowd-pleaser for the baseball stadium crowd, Musto said, noting the songs popularity at sporting events. It happens. A rallying song for the oppressed turns into a middle-of-the-road spirit-lifter, mainly because the straights like to steal things from the gays, take away all the scary edge, and make it their own.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.0 Comments 0 Shares 35 Views 0 Reviews
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GLAAD.ORGBook Ban Documentary Elevates Student VoicesWhen you think about book bans, which group do you hear the most in the media? Elected officials, from members of Congress all the way down ballot to state superintendents and school board members, probably rank among the top. Those who speak the loudest, provide the greatest shock value, and seek to divide are certainly [...]The post Book Ban Documentary Elevates Student Voices first appeared on GLAAD.0 Comments 0 Shares 93 Views 0 Reviews
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