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Have Mae Martin and Parvati Shallow called it quits? A recent update isnt leaving fans hopeful for the state of this particular love story.Shallow recently spoke with People about her experiences dating following her 2021 divorce from fellow former Survivor contestant, John Fincher."Its been really tricky," she said. "I feel like I can succeed everywhere else, but dating is always throwing little wrenches in my plans."The reality TV star began dating Martin in March 2023. They went public with their relationship at the end of the year, and refuted rumors that they had broken up in summer 2024. (@) But fans have wondered whether something may have shifted in recent months, and Shallow seemed to confirm as much when she referred to their relationship as "an in flux situation.""Ive been through trying to fit myself into the structures of society and the definitions of dating and the definitions of relationships, and Im like, do I want to do that? Or do I want to just take a big ball of clay and make it into what I want?" she told People. "Im traveling so much and having these really fun, amazing adventures, so Im in this place of asking myself, what do I really want?"Both Martin and Shallow have kept busy when it comes to their respective careers. Martin recently announced the upcoming release of an "earnest music album" titled Im A TV, while Shallow has a memoir, Nice Girls Dont Win, scheduled for publication in July.

Brianna Chickenfry LaPaglia may have decided that she never wants to date men again after her infamously bad breakup with Zach Bryan, but now she says she might be on her way to being fully lesbian.On Wednesdays episode of the BFFs podcast, the 28-year-old social media star told her cohost Josh Richards that shes not interested in having a boyfriend, like, ever again.When Richards asked if that meant shed ever switch over to the girlfriend lane, LaPaglia responded, Maybe, Page Six reports.She admitted that not only is she thinking about dating women in the future, but shes had same-sex encounters in the past. Everyones saying Im a lesbian, which is fine. Ive dabbled for sure. Im thinking maybe girls is my play, the former Barstool Sports personality said.I think that theyre better, so maybe I really am fully a lesbian, so maybe thats why none of my relationships with men have worked out, LaPaglia continued. But I dont know. Time will tell.She even joked later in the episode that shes gonna have a girlfriend too soon, much like her cohost, who is dating TikTok star Gabi Moura.See on InstagramI love love, LaPaglia said.This admission comes in the wake of LaPaglia who first gained popularity for her unfiltered Barstool Sports podcasts making headlines after releasing a bombshell episode of BFFs where she detailed Bryans alleged emotional abuse while they were dating.LaPaglia may be well on her way to being full lesbian, but this isnt the first time shes spoken about her attraction to women. Two years ago, she came out as bisexual on the One Night With Steiny podcast, where she said her boyfriend at the time would get upset anytime she wanted to hook up with women.Sometimes I just, like, want to hook up with a girl and hell get mad, she said at the time, according to Page Six. Hell get more mad if I hook up with a girl than a guy.

One thing about Dom King? He's going to create some hot content.In fact, the model just added another trophy to his shelf of accolades by winning the award for Favorite Porn Star Creator at the 2025 GayVN Awards.It's no surprise King won the fan voted award since his videos are not only super sexy, but they also play up his strengths as a dominant top."I like a smaller guy that I can toss around! Flexibility is the sexiest thing in bed. Spread those legs open and do the splits," King tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Dom King loves to exert his power while filming his raunchy scenes, but the star also isn't afraid to reference pop culture in his movies.The creator is an avid Real Housewives fan, so he loves including iconic lines that have made Bravo a pop culture phenomenon."Porn needs to reference pop culture more. People can find that relatable! [I'd love to recreate] the Amsterdam dinner with Lisa Rinna and Kim Richards. Eat some bread and calm down! Let's not talk about the husband."Fans can keep up with Dom King by following him on Instagram here. To see the full interview, check out the video at the top of the page.

Alaskais back! TheRuPauls Drag Racealum andAll Starswinner is set to return to the role of Kitty Galloway in DRAG: The Musical beginning February 8 after her fellow All Starsqueen JIMBO bows out on February 7. The news comes after the Off-Broadway production was announced as a recipient of a 36th GLAAD Media Awards Special Recognition [...]The post DRAG: The Musical Gets Extension to Summer 2025 as Alaska Announces Return to Show first appeared on GLAAD.

A judge in Nassau County, N.Y., has declined to block enforcement of the countys anti-transgender sports law while a suit against it continues.The Nassau County Supreme Court Tuesday denied the New York Civil Liberties Unions request for a preliminary injunction that would have kept the law from being enforced. (In New York State, the name Supreme Court does not connote the highest court; the highest court in the state is the Court of Appeal.)The Court has reviewed the Plaintiffs arguments and does not find that Local Law 121-24 excludes transgender women and girls from the public facilities based on their gender identity and the Plaintiffs have not shown discrimination under the Human Rights Law and the Civil Rights Law, Judge Bruce Cozzens wrote, according to multiple media outlets. Trans women can still play in coed leagues, he said.There can be no question (even without discovery) that a biological male regardless of transitioning would be possessed of greater athleticism and speed, strength, muscle mass, stronger hearts and greater bone density," Cozzens added. "The goal of the local law is to provide a safe environment for individuals who are born female to play." Scientists and activists have disputed the idea that trans women have an inherent advantage.Last year, a court struck down an executive order from County Executive Bruce Blakeman barring trans girls and women from competing on female teams that use county facilities, ruling that Blakeman did not have the authority to set the policy. The Nassau County Legislature responded by passing a law with the same effect.The NYCLU sued on behalf of the Long Island Roller Rebels, a womens roller derby league that welcomes trans women and therefore cant use county-run sites. The Roller Rebels had also been part of the lawsuit that saw the executive order struck down. Nassau County is located on the western part of Long Island.We are disappointed but undaunted by todays decision, and we are taking all the necessary steps to appeal, Gabriella Larios, staff attorney at the NYCLU, said in a press release. This decision is an outlier among the many courts to have considered the same question. It is also inconsistent with long-standing state law, which makes clear that Nassaus ban unlawfully discriminates against transgender girls and women, as well as the teams that welcome them. This ban leaves a lasting stain on the Countys government and legislature, which have been relentless in their efforts to shut trans people out of sports.At a time of rising anti-LGBTQ+ hate and violence across the country, keeping this ban intact is not only cruel, but it is also dangerous, added Curly Fry, president of the Roller Rebels. This harmful legislation sends the message that trans people dont belong in Nassau County. Trans people belong everywhere including in sports. We hope that New Yorks courts will ultimately strike down this unlawful ban and acknowledge it for what it is transphobic and unjust.Dr. David Kilmnick, president and founder of the LGBT Network, also denounced the courts ruling, calling it a travesty of justice, News 12 Long Island reports. This decision disregards the principles of inclusion, equality, and fairness that New York states Human Rights Law seeks to uphold," Kilmnick said.

(@) Fox News host Jesse Watters is being roasted after he made waves this week when he tried to make fun of former second husband Doug Emhoff for running a normal errand.On Fox News Live, the 46-year-old conservative commentator was critical of a clip showing Emhoff who he called Dougie Fresh going grocery shopping with wife Kamala Harris. What kind of husband goes grocery shopping with his wife? Watters asked.This isnt the first time Watters has been in hot water for comments about masculinity. During Harris campaign, he said he couldnt understand why any man would vote Democrat and claimed a man voting for Harris is actually trans. I heard the scientists say the other day that when a man votes for a woman, he actually transitions into a woman, he said at the time.People on X (formerly Twitter) were quick to slam Watters for being weird and misogynistic and called him out for his outdated view of masculinity. Someone also quipped that Watters wife wont let him go grocery shopping because she has to get away from his ass, while other people pointed out that he shouldnt be talking about anyones marriage, considering he admitted on air to slashing his wifes tires to coerce her into dating him.Keep scrolling to see the funniest reactions to Watters old-fashioned grocery shopping comment! (@) "A reminder that @JesseBWatters first marriage ended when he let out the air from one of his producers tires so shed ask him for a ride and they subsequently had an affair. So, pretty much the worse source of family advice imaginable if you even slightly care about morals." (@) "Jesse Waters is a weird cunt" (@) "How anyone can listen to @JesseBWatters for more than 10 consecutive seconds and not want to cut their own ears off or knock themselves unconscious I will never know. Hes the smarmiest cringiest and most staggeringly clueless person to ever walk upon the earth and I hate him." (@) "Jesse Waters is the biggest clown on TV." (@) "Jesse Waters is so fucking weird and misogynistic" (@) "What Jesse Watters doesnt tell you if that his wife wont let him go grocery shopping because she has to get away from his ass." (@) "Wait until they found out some of us go grocery shopping by ourselves for our families" (@) "Hey Neckbeards: If you think grocery shopping with your wife is unmanly? Feel free to do it by yourself." (@) "I've heard a lot of weird misogynist snowflake bullshit before, but being offended by a man going grocery shopping with his wife is a new one. At this point, I'm surprised Jesse Watters's mother speaks to him at all." (@) "Jesse is insufferable. goddamn, does anyone watch that guy speak words?" (@) "I legit dont know if theres a bigger loser on this planet than Jesse Waters" (@) "While Trump is destroying our country, Jesse Waters is more concerned about Kamalas husband grocery shopping with her?" (@) "Watching Jesse Waters makes you a worse husband." (@) "Mind you @JesseBWatters had an affair with a producer on his show. Considering youre a cheating piece of shit. A good husband goes to the grocery story with his wife. Hope that helps" (@) "Jesse Waters has a seriously warped idea of what masculinity is." (@) "Who is the woman that debased herself enough to marry Jesse Waters?" (@) "Jesse Waters is so gay, he thinks straight guys think it's gay to buy groceries." (@) "Jesse Waters is such a tool." (@) "Jesse Waters is an asshole. Every time he opens his mouth, shit comes out." (@) "For the record, my Wife and I go grocery shopping together all the time. We have done so for the seven blissful years of our marriage, and we enjoy it. I thought right wingers were all about happy marriages? Oh wait, it's about CONTROL, isn't it?"

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) issued a public apology on Thursday after a reported mix-up in a U.S. Capitol restroom led to her accusing a cisgender woman of being transgender. The incident, which was first reported by The Daily Beast, occurred after Boebert allegedly confronted the woman and told her, You shouldnt be here, mistaking her for Rep. Sarah McBride (D-DE), a transgender member of Congress.According to an anonymous Republican source, Boebert was under the impression that McBride was in the womens restroom and called on Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), a known opponent of transgender-inclusive policies, to address the situation. Mace, who has been vocal in her criticism of policies allowing transgender people to use restrooms consistent with their gender identity, reportedly stormed in to the restroom. However, both Boebert and Mace quickly realized that the woman in question was not McBride, but a cisgender individual.Boebert later acknowledged her mistake, offering an apology and clarifying that it was a case of mistaken identity. I made an error regarding a mistaken identity, she said in a statement. I apologized, learned a lesson, and it wont happen again.This incident unfolded as Boebert was reportedly upset by the presence of a man in the womens restroom, a claim that turned out to be unfounded. Boebert later told Bloomberg News reporter Billy House, There was a rumor there was [a man in the bathroom], but it wasnt true.House, who was present at the scene, described the events in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter). He recounted how Boebert emerged from the Capitol restroom during a vote series, visibly upset and complaining to nearby security personnel about the supposed presence of a man in the womens bathroom. House remained near the scene and witnessed several women leaving the restroom, including the woman Boebert had initially accused of being McBride.Shortly afterward, Boebert returned to the restroom, this time accompanied by Rep. Mace. The two entered the restroom but quickly exited, realizing the situation was not as Boebert had originally claimed.Who would dare leave this scene now? Not me, House wrote, recounting the unusual scene. But alas, just seconds after this duo entered the bathroom, they come back out and went back quietly to the floor. A bit of bathroom vigilantism?After the situation calmed, House approached Boebert for an explanation. She admitted her mistake, saying that it was a case of mistaken identity. I later asked Boebert what this was all about, noting I had heard her complain there was a guy in there. To her credit, she acknowledged it was a mistake, House wrote.Boebert, a frequent critic of transgender rights, has made controversial statements in the past regarding transgender issues. She has been outspoken in her opposition to trans-inclusive policies in schools, claiming such policies radicalize students and contribute to mental health issues, including school shootings. Her stance on transgender issues has often put her at odds with more progressive lawmakers, particularly those who advocate for the rights of transgender individuals.This incident is not the first time Boebert has been involved in a restroom-related controversy. In January 2023, Boebert reportedly engaged in a heated argument with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) in a Capitol womens restroom. Both women are known for their vocal opposition to transgender rights, and the altercation between them further highlighted the tensions surrounding this issue within the Republican Party.While Boeberts recent apology may quell some immediate fallout, the incident has once again drawn attention to the contentious debate over transgender rights in the U.S. Capitol and beyond. The situation also underscores the ongoing cultural and political divide over issues of gender identity and inclusion.As lawmakers continue to grapple with these sensitive issues, Boeberts public apology signals a moment of reflection on her part. However, it remains to be seen whether this incident will affect her stance on transgender rights in the future.For now, Boeberts remarks serve as a reminder of the complexities surrounding gender identity and the importance of respectful dialogue on such matters. Despite her apology, the controversy is likely to persist, especially given the polarized nature of the debate.The post Rep. Lauren Boebert Apologizes After Mistakenly Accusing Woman of Being Transgender in Capitol Restroom appeared first on Gayety.

Every week, The GLAAD Wrap brings you LGBTQ-related entertainment news highlights, fresh stuff to watch out for, and fun diversions to help you kick off the weekend. 1.) NEONs haunting psychological thriller Presence hit theaters today! Featuring Julia Fox, the Steven Sodenbergh pic flips the haunted house genre on its head. The film follows a [...]The post The GLAAD Wrap: Presence in Theaters, Trailers for Opus and Yellowjackets, New Music by Anna Shoemaker and More! first appeared on GLAAD.

We cant stop watching these steamy sapphic scenes!If youre looking for Sapphic films, dont sleep on Tubi!Sure you can find sexy lesbian films on Netflix and Hulu, too, but this free streaming service (with ads) has a massive catalog of movies and TV and there is no shortage of LGBTQ+ entertainment. And most importantly some of our favorite steamy lesbian sex scenes. There are award winners like Carol, beloved lesbian classics like But Im A Cheerleader, and plenty of hidden gems like Ma Belle, My Beauty, and Lizzie. Oh, and because we live for a cult classic, Embrace of the Vampire is on this list, too. But thats not all, keep scrolling for some of the sexiest WLW scenes you can stream right now. A Woman Like EveOld-school lesbians! This Dutch film from 1979 follows a stressed-out mother who meets and falls for a lesbian while on vacation in France. Sapphic steaminess ensues.Watch A Woman Like Eve here But Im a CheerleaderThis hilarious and heartwarming film follows a naive teen who is sent away to a *checks notes* conversion camp. No, but seriously this is a feel-good movie we swear! While the sex scene may not be the most explicit it remains a forever lezzie fave thanks to the chemistry between Natasha Lyonne and Clea DuVall.Watch But Im a Cheerleader here I Cant Think StraightTala is all set to marry her fiance when she meets Leyla and discovers an undeniable attraction that turns her whole life upside down. If you enjoy Lisa Ray and Sheetal Sheths chemistry here then good news, they also play Sapphics in The World Unseen.Watch I Cant Think Straight here LizzieBased on the true story of Lizzie Borden the film follows young Lizzie(Chlo Sevigny) and her budding romance with her maid (Kristen Stewart) and its bloody aftermath. We dont know how to say this any more clearly: Kristen Stewart and Chlo Sevigny.Watch Lizzie here Kiss MeFalling for someone at a wedding happens but when they are about to become your sister-in-law, well thats a bit tricker. Still, when you know, you know, and what we know is that this movie is HOT.Watch Kiss Me here Petit MalThis film follows a Sapphic throuple navigating relationship drama its an actually a really great watch, and not just for the drug fuel threesome scene. But that doesnt hurt.Watch Petit Mal here The Carmilla MovieWe have an undying love for lesbian vampires. While this film may be a bit, um, camp, it's also super queer and we cant help but kind of love all of it (but especially the steamy parts).WatchThe Carmilla Movie here The Final GirlThis film which follows a group of lesbian women with intertwined romantic lives is the one to turn to for, um, more explicit scenes of women loving on women.Watch The Final Girl hereCarolOn the other end of the spectrum is Carol, which was based on a Patricia Highsmith novel that follows a socialite housewifes passionate love affair with a young shop clerk and blends eroticism with a profoundly moving love story.Watch Carol here Ma Belle, My BeautyWhen exes accidentally run into one another their connection reignites (along with their jealousy). The chemistry is powerful so really what happens next feels pretty inevitable and hot.Watch Ma Belle, My Beauty here Embrace of the VampireAlyssa Milano stars as a young co-ed being seduced by a vampire in her dreams. Why is it here on this list? Well for one very steamy photography scene with Charlotte Lewis.Watch Embrace of the Vampire here Purple SeaSet in the 19th century this romantic lesbian drama follows a young lesbian named Angela who disguises herself as a man to continue her romance with Sara. There can literally never be too many sexy lesbian period dramas!Watch Purple Sea here

Queer actress and pop star Rene Rapp is making sapphics on TikTok feral after a video of her dancing went viral on the app.A video clip of the 25-year-old Poison Poison singer shaking her booty on stage during a concert is currently making the round on TikTok and has inspired comments so thirsty theyll make you blush.The clip is edited together with gay icon George Michaels song Father Figure, part of a trend on the popular app that started after Harris Dickinson danced to it in the Nicole Kidman movie Babygirl.Rapp is wearing baggy jeans shorts and a white tee in the video, which has already racked up more than 730,000 views, and twerking with her tongue stuck out in a way that is driving queer women wild.@dylanminnettesbestieshake your- | @rene #reneerapp #fatherfigureRaw. Next question, one person wrote in the comments, while other people confessed to watching the video over and over again.Y is this video four hours long, someone commented, and another person asked, How many times have I watched this? Yes.Other people admitted the dance was making them think very NSFW thoughts, How is this so perfectly timed? I have NOTHING appropriate to say. Someone also pointed just how lucky Rapps girlfriend, Towa Bird, is. Towa bird Im jealous of you, they wrote.But if you thought it was only queer women who were obsessed with Rapps sexy dancing, think again. Straight women were also in the comments questioning their sexuality, with one person asking, Am I straight?While the sexy clip is edited together with Father Figure, eagle-eyed fans quickly recognized that this was from a concert where Rapp was singing Willow from her album Snow Angel which was released in 2023.Regardless of what song shes actually singing, the clip is hawt enough to make any sapphic run to buy tickets to Rapps next concert!

Actress and activist TS Madison has strongly criticized President Donald Trumps recent executive order, which mandates that transgender prisoners be housed in facilities that do not align with their gender identity. The order, signed this week, stipulates that federal agencies must recognize only two genders male and female and bars federal funding for medical treatments aimed at altering an inmates gender expression. Madison, who is transgender, has called the order an attack on everybody, warning that it goes beyond affecting just transgender individuals.In an interview with TMZ, Madison, best known for her work on The TS Madison Experience, voiced her outrage over the executive order. You can put legal sanctions on anything, but you can never ever change anybodys identity, she said. You have the right to identify exactly however you choose to identify, always.Madison, who made history as the first Black transgender woman to star in and executive produce her own reality series, went on to emphasize that the order was not solely about transgender rights but a broader attack on marginalized groups. Trump may think he can legislate our identities away, but thats not how this works. Weve always existed, and were not going anywhere, Madison stated firmly.The new executive order has reignited concern among advocates for the safety and rights of transgender prisoners. The issue has gained heightened attention recently, as experts and activists warn that housing transgender individuals in facilities that do not align with their gender identity increases their vulnerability to violence and sexual assault. Transgender prisoners are already at an elevated risk of abuse, with reports indicating that more than half of the trans prison population has been sexually assaulted while incarcerated.The executive order further strips protections for transgender individuals by removing their inclusion in the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) guidelines, which were designed to protect all prisoners from sexual violence. Julie Abbate, the advocacy director at Just Detention International, a nonprofit focused on ending sexual abuse in prisons, called the order life-threatening for transgender prisoners. She told The Appeal that it has immediate consequences on the safety and well-being of transgender individuals, both physically and socially.People will die, Abbate said. Its unconscionable that the President of the United States has issued this order. Its just unconscionable in its cruelty.According to the Vera Institute of Justice, 31% of transgender prisoners report feeling unsafe in prison, with a significant percentage also experiencing sexual violence. The shift in policy under the Trump administration could worsen these dire conditions, advocates fear.This isnt the first time Trump has attempted to undermine protections for transgender individuals in the prison system. In 2018, the administration rolled back guidelines that recommended housing transgender prisoners in accordance with their gender identity. However, the latest executive order goes further, making these policies legally binding and difficult to reverse without a significant legal challenge.In addition to the prison policies, the executive order aims to eliminate what the administration terms gender ideology from federal agencies, instructing them to remove any statements, policies, or regulations that promote the inclusion of gender identity. It also bars the use of federal funds to support initiatives that advance gender-related causes, effectively erasing the recognition of transgender rights from federal governance.Experts have pointed out that this executive order violates legal precedents that protect transgender rights. However, it is expected to have widespread consequences until it can be successfully challenged in the courts.During his presidential campaign, Trump made numerous disparaging remarks about transgender issues, including claiming that Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice-presidential candidate, supported transgender operations on illegal aliens in prison. His administration has consistently implemented policies that critics argue target transgender people and roll back their hard-won rights.The latest executive order is seen by many as part of a larger, concerted effort by the Trump administration to marginalize transgender individuals and erase their presence from public policy. As the order now stands, it remains a highly contentious measure that has sparked fierce opposition from LGBTQ+ advocates, civil rights organizations, and lawmakers across the country.In response to the order, Madison and other advocates are calling for widespread resistance, emphasizing the need for continued activism and legal challenges. As Madison put it: Weve always existed, and were not going anywhere.While the full legal implications of Trumps latest actions remain to be seen, it is clear that this executive order will add fuel to the ongoing debate over transgender rights in the U.S. As the transgender community faces heightened threats to their safety and identity, the push for legal protections and recognition is expected to intensify in the months to come.The post TS Madison Speaks Out Against Trumps Executive Order Impacting Transgender Prisoners appeared first on Gayety.

Amidst the contentious political happenings in the United States, Adam Lambert is drawing praise for the way he handled an uncomfortable moment during a recent Broadway performance.Since last fall, the American Idol alum has been taking on the role of the Emcee in Cabaret. For those unfamiliar with the musical, it centers on nightclub performers during the Nazis rise to power in Berlin.One particular performance within the show sees the Emcee dancing with a gorilla and singing about how much he loves her despite society not approving of their relationship. Its aimed at the audience of the fictional nightclub, and ends with a joke meant to appeal to the growing antisemitic sentiment among them."I understand your objection," he sings. "I grant you, the problems not small / But if you could see her through my eyes / She wouldnt look Jewish at all."According to attendees, a number of audience members at Wednesdays matinee performance of the show burst into laughter before Lambert could even finish the line. Playwright David Rigano recounted the moment in an open letter to the actor shared across social media."As I was shaking my head that we live in a world that didnt get the point of that joke, you turned to them and - without dropping character, without dropping the accent - said, 'No. This is not comedy. Pay attention,'" he wrote.See on InstagramIn a subsequent video reacting to his post going viral, Rigano further explained that, as a big Cabaret fan, hes accustomed to that moment drawing "shocked or uncomfortable chuckles as the realization sets in," but stressed this was different."This was just straight up laughter. And he turned his head, he looked at them, and then the laughter grew stronger, as if they thought he was doing a bit," he explained. "I do not think that this was malicious laughter. I do not think that this was antisemitic laughter. But I do think it was complacent laughter by people who werent really getting the point of what the commentary was."After Riganos initial post went viral, Lambert shared it to his Instagram stories, followed by a screenshot of a comment he left in response."I really consider it a privilege to be working with such a gifted cast and creative team on a show that has so much to say about what is happening RIGHT NOW," he wrote. "Its been relevant since it premiered in the late '60s and I HOPE audiences walk away THINKING and feeling empathy towards how marginalized groups can be scapegoated as a political strategy." (@) If the actor didnt miss a beat in his on-stage reaction to the audiences laughter, it would seem one reason for that is because it wasnt the first time it had happened. At least one person in Riganos Instagram comments drew attention to a reddit post from nearly two weeks prior about the same moment in Cabaret during a different performance."People laughed And it was like time stopped," they recalled. "Because it was so clearly not funny. And Adam Lambert plays it very seriously and with such beautiful nuance that it is so obviously not a funny moment."Although the specifics of what Lambert apparently said to the audience at that time differed somewhat, the sentiment remained the same. The redditor noted that some attendees were "taking every opportunity to laugh at any mention of Jews," but that after Lambert stopped and drew attention to it, the crowd grew so quiet "you could hear a pin drop on the moon.""I was sick in my seat for the rest of the show," they added. "I cried for ages after the show was over because it is just so painful to confront the reality of the world we live in now."Lambert will continue performing as Cabaret's Emcee on Broadway until Orville Peck takes over the role on March 31.

With the 2025 Grammy Awards just around the corner, excitement is building as the Recording Academy has announced the first wave of performers set to take the stage. The annual ceremony, which will take place on Sunday, February 2, will shine a spotlight on some of the biggest names in music, with a particular focus on the growing influence of queer artists across genres.Leading the nominations this year is Beyonc, who has earned an impressive 11 nods, making her the most-nominated artist of the year. However, its not just Beyonc making waves; the 2025 Grammys are shaping up to be a landmark year for queer representation, with artists such as Chappell Roan, Doechii, Troye Sivan, Billie Eilish, Willow, Clairo, Kaytranada, Kehlani, and Anitta all receiving nominations. Notably, Chappell Roan and Billie Eilish are both up for the prestigious categories of Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year.In addition to the nominations, several of these queer artists will take center stage during the ceremony, performing their nominated tracks and celebrating the diverse range of voices in todays music industry. The Grammys will also include a special segment dedicated to raising funds for Los Angeles wildfire relief, adding a philanthropic element to the star-studded event.Heres a closer look at some of the performers already announced for the 2025 Grammys:Chappell RoanChappell Roan, the Oklahoma-born pop singer-songwriter, is having a breakout year. The artist, who has received six nominations, is up for Best New Artist, as well as Album, Record, and Song of the Year. Her single Good Luck, Babe! is in the running for three awards, and Roan is widely anticipated to perform the track during the ceremony. With her unique blend of pop, country, and indie influences, Roan is poised to make a major statement on the Grammy stage.DoechiiRising star Doechii is a first-time nominee at the 2025 Grammys. With four nominations under her belt, including Best New Artist, Doechii has quickly become a name to watch. The Florida-born rapper and singer is known for her dynamic sound and bold visuals, and her recent single Denial Is a River has earned significant attention. Fans are hoping to see a live performance of the track during the ceremony, which would mark a major moment in her rapidly growing career.Doechii at the 2023 BET Awards Arrivals at the Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, CABillie EilishBillie Eilish continues her Grammy dominance, having earned seven nominations this year, bringing her career total to an impressive 32 nods, with nine wins to her name. Among her nominations are Record and Song of the Year for Birds of a Feather, one of the standout tracks from her latest album. Eilish has been known to surprise audiences with unexpected collaborations, and its possible that she could join forces with Charli XCX for a performance of their nominated song Guess, which has also earned recognition in several categories.Charli XCXCharli XCX is another major contender at the 2025 Grammys, with eight nominations for her album Brat. The British pop icon has been a force in experimental pop for years, and this years nominations highlight her versatility. Her tracks 360, Von Dutch, Guess, and Apple are all up for awards, and its expected that Charli XCX will bring her signature avant-garde style to the Grammy stage during a highly anticipated performance.Charli XCX attends The Fashion Awards 2023 at The Royal Albert Hall in London, England.Sabrina CarpenterSabrina Carpenter, a first-time nominee at this years Grammys, has earned six nominations for her songs Espresso and Please Please Please from her album Short n Sweet. Known for her versatile vocal ability and her transition from Disney star to mainstream pop artist, Carpenter is a rising star in the industry. Fans are eager to see what shell bring to the Grammy stage, especially with such a strong showing in this years nominations.RayeBritish singer-songwriter Raye has earned her spot among the six nominees for Best New Artist. The artist, who has worked with global superstars like Beyonc and David Guetta, is gaining recognition for her unique sound that blends pop, R&B, and electronic influences. Rayes performance at the 2025 Grammys is expected to showcase her talent and further solidify her place in the music industry.ShakiraLatin music icon Shakira is back at the Grammys with seven nominations, including Best Latin Pop Album for her album Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran. Known for her global appeal and infectious rhythms, Shakira has long been a fixture at the Grammys, having won three times in the past. This years nominations highlight her continued relevance in the industry, and her performance is sure to be a highlight of the evening.Benson BooneRising pop artist Benson Boone is up for Best New Artist at the 2025 Grammys. The acrobatic singer, known for his Freddie Mercury-inspired performances, has gained a dedicated following with his powerful vocals and engaging stage presence. Boones Grammy performance could be his big moment to capture the attention of a global audience.Teddy SwimsAnother artist vying for Best New Artist is Teddy Swims, a soulful singer-songwriter known for his smooth vocals and heartfelt lyrics. Swims has gained recognition for his unique blend of soul, R&B, and pop influences, and his Grammy performance will likely showcase his ability to move audiences with his emotional delivery.Looking AheadThe 2025 Grammys promise to be a historic night, with a diverse range of queer artists leading the charge in categories like Best New Artist, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. These performers not only represent a new era in the music industry but also demonstrate the growing visibility of LGBTQ+ voices in mainstream entertainment.As the Grammys approach, fans are eagerly awaiting more performer announcements, and with so many queer artists nominated, the 2025 ceremony is poised to be a night of celebration and empowerment for the LGBTQ+ community.2025 Grammys: First Slate of Performers Announced, Featuring a Diverse Lineup of Queer ArtistsSecretary of State Marco Rubio Orders Suspension of X Gender Marker in U.S. Passport ApplicationsTS Madison Speaks Out Against Trumps Executive Order Impacting Transgender PrisonersRep. Lauren Boebert Apologizes After Mistakenly Accusing Woman of Being Transgender in Capitol RestroomAlan Cumming Speaks Out on Current Anti-Trans Politics: Its Not About ToiletsThe post 2025 Grammys: First Slate of Performers Announced, Featuring a Diverse Lineup of Queer Artists appeared first on Gayety.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has directed the State Department to halt the processing of passport applications that request an X gender marker, a designation used by many transgender and non-binary individuals. The new directive, announced Thursday, January 23, marks a significant shift in U.S. policy regarding gender markers on official documents.Rubios decision follows the signing of a controversial executive order by former President Donald Trump, which asserts that the U.S. government recognizes only two sexes: male and female. The order mandates that all federal documents, including passports, reflect an individuals biological sex, which is defined strictly as either male or female.In an email obtained by The Guardian, Rubio stated: The policy of the United States is that an individuals sex is not changeable. He instructed the State Department to suspend any application requesting an X sex marker and to suspend any application where the applicant is seeking to change their sex marker to align with the executive orders definition.While existing passports with X gender markers remain valid, future applications and renewals may encounter significant delays or denials under the new policy. This policy change will primarily affect transgender and non-binary U.S. citizens, who have used the X option as a way to reflect their gender identity more accurately.Legislation Reflects Broader Anti-Trans MovementThe policy comes as part of the broader legislative push led by the Trump administration to limit recognition of gender diversity. The executive order, titled Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government, requires that identification documents, including passports and visas, display a persons biological sex as either male or female. The orders language includes definitions of male and female that are based solely on reproductive biology, with female described as someone who produces the larger reproductive cell (egg), and male as someone who produces the smaller reproductive cell (sperm).However, this language has been widely criticized by medical professionals and transgender advocates, who argue that it fails to account for the complexities of sex and gender identity. U.S. Representative Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender state legislator in the U.S., pointed out a glaring flaw in the executive orders wording.Speaking with The Independent, McBride, who is transgender, humorously quipped, Trump just declared everyone a woman from conception based on the language of the executive order. McBrides comment highlights the scientific inaccuracy of the orders biological definitions, as embryos, regardless of their sex chromosomes, initially develop along female biological pathways until later differentiation occurs.Impact on Non-Binary IndividualsThe new policy will have a direct impact on non-binary individuals, a group that has faced increasing challenges in gaining official recognition for their gender identity. According to estimates from the Williams Institute at UCLAs School of Law, approximately 16,700 non-binary people in the U.S. request a passport with an X gender marker each year. This represents 1.4% of the non-binary population, which is estimated to include around 1.2 million adults in the United States.Non-binary individuals, who do not identify strictly as male or female, often face significant barriers when it comes to official documentation. The X marker, introduced in 2021 as a gender-neutral option on U.S. passports, was seen as a step toward greater inclusivity and recognition of gender diversity. However, with Rubios directive, many non-binary Americans could now be forced to choose between inaccurately identifying as male or female or risking having no gender marker at all on their passport.The Legal and Social BacklashThe move has drawn sharp criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates and legal experts who argue that it is a direct violation of transgender rights and sets back progress on gender inclusivity. Experts have also pointed out that this policy contradicts the principles of gender autonomy and self-identification that have been increasingly recognized by legal systems around the world.This policy ignores the lived realities of millions of transgender and non-binary people, said one advocacy group. It undermines the right to self-identify and could have serious consequences for those trying to travel, access healthcare, or engage in any activity where legal documents are required.As of now, the decision to suspend applications for passports with X gender markers is likely to face legal challenges. Advocates have promised to fight the policy in court, arguing that it is discriminatory and unconstitutional. The move also aligns with other actions taken by the Trump administration to roll back protections for transgender individuals, including efforts to ban transgender people from serving in the military and efforts to restrict access to gender-affirming healthcare.For now, the future of gender markers on U.S. passports remains uncertain. While existing passports with the X marker remain valid, those who wish to renew their passports or apply for new ones may find themselves facing bureaucratic hurdles or forced to make an uncomfortable choice between male and female categories.As the U.S. continues to debate issues of gender identity, equality, and legal recognition, the implications of this policy will likely extend far beyond the realm of passport applications. For many in the transgender and non-binary communities, the latest move by Secretary Rubio represents a significant setback in the ongoing fight for gender recognition and inclusivity.With legal challenges on the horizon, the outcome of this policy change may ultimately depend on the courts, but for now, advocates are determined to push back against what they see as a direct attack on the rights of transgender and non-binary Americans.The post Secretary of State Marco Rubio Orders Suspension of X Gender Marker in U.S. Passport Applications appeared first on Gayety.

The first week of President Trumps second administration was marked by a wave of attacks against LGBTQ and other marginalized communities, and the start of a fierce resistance to support all Americans and the rule of law. One of Pres. Trumps executive orders has already been successfully challenged in court as unconstitutional. Another, targeting Diversity, [...]The post RECAP: Reality Check of President Trumps Week 1 Executive Orders, Unsafe Actions, and Path Forward first appeared on GLAAD.

Joey Mills has no signs of slowing down.The popular twink is approaching nearly ten years as an adult performer, but in many ways, he's still just getting started. At this year's GayVN Awards, Mills was nominated for a sexy bukkake scene, which is currently his favorite type of steamy content to film."[I love filming] a bukkake! They're easy and fast. I'm nominated for it this year, so apparently they play well too," Mills tells PRIDE. See on Instagram After countless amounts of sexy movies created over the years, the star is ready to dive into the raunchier side of the porn industry."I just want to film more kink content. I'm good at spicy [and BDSM], you know? We're milking this sh*t dry! Until the checks stop cashing, I'll be here."The fan-favorite model has also expanded his empire beyond adult content by starring in the hit OUTtv show X-Rated: NYC alongside Dante Colle, Max Konnor, and Boomer Banks.Even though he's broken boundaries for twinks in porn, the star still hasn't received the top honor from the GayVN Awards."The Performer of the Year from GayVN is the only award that I actually really still want that I haven't got yet. It would mean the world. Let's hope I get it!"Fans can follow Joey Mills on Instagram here. To see the full interview on the GayVN Awards red carpet, check out the video at the top of the page.

Peacock... give Kim Chi a call!The legendary finalist from the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race has proven to be one of the wittiest and smartest queens to compete on the main stage, but fans shouldn't expect to see her on a season of All Stars in the near future."Never say never! At this point, I don't know if I have an interest in competing with my drag anymore. There's other shows I would love to go on. Traitors, call me! I'd be so good on that show," Chi tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Kim Chi sounds like a match made in heaven for The Traitors. The million dollar question though... would Kim Chi want to be a traitor or faithful?"I would love to be a faithful that gets recruited to be a traitor. I love social deduction games. I'm very nerdy. There's a game called Blood on the Clocktower, which is basically Traitors, but much more intense. I'm very good at these games."Another popular reality TV show seems like the next best thing to add to Chi's ever-growing rsum. Not only has the star taken over the makeup world with KimChi Chic Beauty, but she's also partnering with Sundae School/Sundae Flowers on their limited-edition new cannabis gummy Kimchi Yuzu."I've been a THC user since I was 18! Sundae School is a really cool brand. They're Asian owned and employ mostly queer women. I fully support their mission in everything they do."Corinne Ang, representative for Sundae School, shared the company's mutual excitement to work with the Drag Race star."We really wanted to work with Kim Chi to service the community. She has an amazing platform and she's very aligned with our brand. We wanted to do something special that was distinctively Korean. It's all about celebrating individuality," Ang says.Fans can learn more about Sundae School, visit the official website here. To see the full interview with Kim Chi, check out the video at the top of the page.

The Kelly Clarkson Show has been an absolute delight since it first premiered in 2019. And although Clarkson's bubbly personality and natural rapport with her guests make up the bulk of each episode, it's also been a brilliant opportunity for her to showcase the powerhouse vocals that launched her to fame and made American Idol one of the most iconic reality TV shows ever.In each episode, the "Since U Been Gone" singer opens with a segment of "Kellyoke," which generally consists of her take on a song from another artist, or occasionally even one of her own. That's a whole lot of songs, so it stands to reason that there would be some great LGBTQ+ artists getting their music covered by Clarkson every now and then.It actually happens a lot more often than one might think. But we've pulled just a 36-song sample of Clarkson lending her voices to songs by specifically Sapphic artists to get you started tumbling down the Kellyoke rabbit hole.1. 'Red Wine Supernova' by Chappell RoanShe also covered "Pink Pony Club" and did a duet of "Good Luck, Babe!" with Miranda Lambert.2. 'Flowers' by Miley Cyrus"Edge of Midnight," "Jaded," and "Used to Be Young" are just a few of the other Cyrus songs Clarkson has covered.3. 'Eras of Us' by FletcherBut don't skip out on Clarkson's cover of "Becky's So Hot" either!4. 'Stay High' by Brittany HowardAs a little bonus, this one even features Brittany Howard!5. 'Big Time' by LP"Lost on You" also got a shout.6. 'Bulletproof' by La RouxIt's giving Pitch Perfect.7. 'All of Me' by Billie HolidayA genuine classic.8. 'What Was I Made For' by Billie EilishSee also: "Happier Than Ever," "lovely," and "idontwannabeyouanymore."9. 'The Bones' by Maren MorrisMorris's songs have gotten a few features on the show over the years, including "RSVP" and "Rich."10. 'Shes On My Mind' by Romy"She's on my mind every hour of every day,The things we could do, oh, it takes my breath away,And I lose control, think I'd follow her onto the edge,But she says she's only a friend, only a friend."11. 'Black Horse and a Cheery Tree' by KT TunstallTunstall's song was famously covered by another American Idol, Katharine McPhee, during her time on the show.12. 'Son of a Preacher Man' by Dusty SpringfieldThe lyrics are very straight, but it still counts!13. 'Dear Insecurity' by Brandy ClarkAnother time Clarkson was joined on stage by the original performer!14. 'Closer' by Tegan and SaraOne of the most iconic Tegan and Sara songs; you love to see it.15. 'Ghost' by Indigo GirlsBring back Lilith Fair!16. 'Apologies' by Grace Potter & the NocturnalsPotter has performed on The Kelly Clarkson Show herself as well.17. 'Make Me Feel' by Janelle MoneHey, remember that time Mone and Clarkson did a song together for the movie Ugly Dolls? 18. 'Nothing Matters' by The Last Dinner PartyOkay, now recreate the music video.19. 'Graveyard' by HalseyHonestly, it's surprising Clarkson hasn't covered Halsey more often on the show. Future goals?20. 'Stayaway' by MUNAAnd MUNA returned the favor when they covered "Since U Been Gone" in Los Angeles not long after.21. 'Running with the Wolves' by AuroraClarkson has also gushed about her love for Aurora and covered another one of her songs, "Cure for Me."22. 'breathe again' by Joy Oladokun"KELLY CLARKSON IS SINGING A SONG I WROTE ABOUT MY ANXIETY THIS IS NOT A DRILL," Oladokun wrote after the show. "i'm gonna throw up this is so cool."23. 'I'm the Only One' by Melissa EtheridgeThe two once performed live together back in 2009.24. 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' by Whitney HoustonUnsurprisingly, Clarkson has covered a number of Houston's songs, including "Run to You" and "How Will I Know." She also tackled "I Will Always Love You" at the 57th Academy of Country Music Awards in 2022.25. 'Always Remember Us This Way' by Lady Gaga"Bad Romance" was actually one of the first songs Clarkson covered on the show.26. 'Yours' by Now, NowKind of a deep cut for indie music fans, but a great one.27. 'You Dont Know Me' by Jann Arden"You give your hand to me, and then you say goodbye,I watch you walk away beside the lucky guy,Oh, you will never know the one who loves you so,'Cause you don't know me."28. 'Sit Still, Look Pretty' by DayaDaya hadn't publicly come out yet when she released this song talking about "pretending that I need a boy," but life comes at you fast!29. 'Vogue' by MadonnaWant more of Clarkson covering Madonna? Try "Express Yourself" or "Borderline."30. 'Ironic' by Alanis MorissetteMorissette has gotten a few covers from Clarkson, but their multiple duets starting with "Hand in My Pocket" might be the highlight here.31. 'Confident' by Demi LovatoLovato has covered Clarkson's music on several occasions, too, and once said that collaborating with her is a "life goal."32. 'Piece of My Heart' by Janis JoplinNow she just needs Emily Blunt to lip sync to it.33. 'The Story' by Brandi CarlileYou can also watch Clarkson and Carlile team up to cover The Civil Wars' "Poison & Wine."34. 'Give Me One Reason' by Tracy ChapmanThis is actually one Clarkson has covered a few times over the years.35. 'Chandelier' by Sia"Breathe Me" and "Bird Set Free" also got the Kelly Clarkson treatment.36. 'Nothing Compares 2 U' by Sinad OConnorApparently Clarkson performed O'Connor's iconic song by request of Ruby Rose's mom.

In 2016, Peter Boykin founded Gays For Trump, an organization created to get out the vote for gay Trump supporters. Boykins group was more prominent during Trumps 2016 presidential run when they created social media campaigns and organized events like the WAKE UP! party at the 2016 Republican National Convention to celebrate Trump's nomination. In Boykins first interview since Trumps inauguration, he spoke with Uncloseted Media about infighting among LGBTQ Trump supporters, why he believes the President is talking to the wrong people when it comes to queer and trans issues, and why he remains a staunch advocate for Trump today. Subscribe nowWatch the full interview above or read the transcript here:Spencer Macnaughton: Today. I'm here with Peter Boykin, founder and president of Gays for Trump and a conservative commentator. He also ran in the North Carolina lieutenant gubernatorial election in 2024, and he founded the conservative news site Go Right News. Peter, thank you so much for speaking with Uncloseted Media today.Peter Boykin: Thank you. Thanks for having me.SM: I know that a lot of folks watching may have never even heard of Gays for Trump before. Can you just give a little background on what it is, how and why you founded it and its history up until now?PB: So Gays for Trump is a support group for individuals in the LGBT community, even straights, who support Donald Trump. I'm a Republican, but people of all policies, all ideas, as long as you support Donald Trump. We welcome people to have a dialogue about what's going on, and that includes some self-doubt about some of the things. You don't have to be in lockstep with the Republican Party. You can be worried about things. But me and my husband, of [many] years, we saw Donald Trump. We like Donald Trump when he was coming down the escalator. We liked him beforehand. We watched The Apprentice and we were excited that he finally was running for president and we felt that it could bring change. A more moderate type approach to our government, somebody who kind of understood things. And so we were happy to finally have somebody that we were excited to vote for.SM: And how many members do you have and what type of advocacy or things do you guys do as an organization?PB: With social media, it's kind of hard to place exactly how many members. I do know that in just one of my Facebook groups, there's over 3000-4000 individuals. We could have had a whole lot more but we're very strict on making sure that the people that come through can be verified as legit and not bots. I do have another group that's got another 3000, there might be some overflow. I have seen through the years more and more other groups created.SM: Obviously there's an elephant in the room. The vast majority of LGBTQ people did vote against Trump and for Harris this year, he and the GOP spent more than $215 million on anti-trans ads. And in his first week since he was inaugurated on Monday, he's issued executive orders that state that there are only two genders in the eyes of the federal government, he's rolled back DEI programs and he has issued another order that has cleared the way for a ban on trans people from military service. A lot of people would look at you and say, How can you create an organization called Gays for Trump? How can you stand with him when he's doing all this? What would your response be to all of that?PB: Theres people in our group, that I disagree with on the transgender issue. They feel like they want nothing to do with transgenders. I still look at people as having allyship, but I've discussed this issue multiple times about the military situation. [If] youre biological male, they're going to throw you with the women? This makes no sense.SM: Why doesn't that make sense?PB: You as a transgender want your liberties, right? And in this country, it's about you having your liberties, but it's also about other people having their liberties as well. So if your liberties invade other individuals' liberties, who's getting the liberty? So when you're a transgender male and you want to be thrown into a barrack of females who will feel uncomfortable [with a] biological male with them, you are taking away their rights.SM: What actually makes people so uncomfortable with having transwomen with cisgender women in the military? I just don't fully understand the argument.PB: I think the main point you're talking about is boot camp where people are naked in front of people. It's the same problem with women's sports and other things like that, when it comes down to locker rooms and nudity and things like that.SM: You and I, as non-trans gay men, because the argument is that trans women might be creeping on other women, as gay men who are attracted to other naked gay men, should we have the right to be changing in front of other men or should we be in a separate category too? Because I think about that argument and think it's a slippery slope when it comes to people with same-sex attraction.PB: It is a slippery slope. I still feel like even in school I believe that people should have the right to privacy for their bathrooms and showers and things like that. So maybe they'd have to do that. I'm not sure how they do it in the military now. I don't know if people use the open shower system or do they get individual shower systems. Yes, you might have lesbians in there who might want to get with other lesbians. You don't exactly fix the issue.SM: Obviously, the military is one thing. But he declared that there are only two genders and those are the genders that you're assigned at birth and then also stripped away DEI programs. And there were many things that upset many LGBTQ people in this country. Did any of that frustrate you or did you think that's a good thing that happened? All of this are the moves in the right direction?PB: I don't believe that the whole gender thing should have been something that should have been mentioned in the administration's inauguration speech. I do not think that's important. I think that is actually going overboard.SM: My question, if I'm being honest, is why does he care so much? Thirty years ago I worry that a government would have come for my rights as a gay man. Trans people right now are the biggest underdogs in society. They're the most marginalized group. So what's the point of spending $215 million on anti-trans attack ads, five times more than he did on the economy? When these groups of folks are really marginalized and hurting and scared in many ways.PB: Well, it's sad because the base, especially here in North Carolina, they'll yip and cheer when you talk about transgender issues because they don't understand them. They won't understand them. You have straight white males and other people basically trying to describe the things. They're hearing, misinformation from the media, etc. I don't think Donald Trump really cares, butSM: Well, why spend $215 million? He does care.PB: Honestly, because hes trying to win a race. When you go back two years ago, Donald Trump came to our North Carolina state convention. At the state convention, when he talked about transgender sports and transgenders, everybody got up and clapped and standing ovation and Donald Trump told them, right then, he said, I see all this enthusiasm out here. I wish you actually had enthusiasm for the things that actually matter. He literally called them out. Since he was wrongfully not put in, in 20201, from that period until this election, I have seen groups that were embracing Gays for Trump, embracing conservative gays, turn tail on the gay community and trash the gay community and start bringing this whole transgender mess up constantly and using that as a major point. That point has become a major point, like abortion or the [Mexico/U.S. border] wall, which is ridiculous. Bringing out the social conservative B.S. in our party, that really doesn't work, that's holding us back. And it doesn't help when a national Log Cabin group that basically gatekeeps, puts out misinformation. And you have a group called Gays Against Groomers, who was supposed to be about keeping gay people from being pedophiles or going against pedophiles. But then they use this attack on drag queens and transgenders and drag queen story hour. And getting people who don't know confused with what a drag queen is and what a transgender is and getting it all confused. Those groups are doing exactly what people kept complaining that Gays for Trump was trying to do.2Uncloseted Media is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.SM: That's really interesting that you bring that up. So for folks who aren't watching, explain what the Log Cabin Republicans are and talk to me a little bit about what they did in the 2024 election cycle to try and get Trump elected. What do you agree with and what do you disagree with?PB: They were founded in 1977. They were supposed to be the largest gay conservative, basically men's group. They're mostly rich, white, gay males. They have little fancy tea parties that I cant afford to go to. They're not about grassroots. They try to speak for the whole conservative gay community. They have the money, they have the power and yes, they did work towards some of our rights but also, at the same time, we wouldn't get there without the left groups as well working towards our rights. Previously, they had a president named Gregory. He was really good and he actually had transgenders and other people included into the Log Cabin. When they brought this Charles Moran guy in, he completely blacklisted Gays for Trump, wont have nothing to do with me. They wont have nothing to do with my organization and want nothing to do with grassroots and I feel like I'm blacklisted from that community. They'll claim that we don't need to have Pride anymore, we don't need to celebrate Pride and that we already have all of our rights. Which is complete B.S..SM: Why do you think they don't like you guys?PB: I think it's because they don't like how much we have done with little money. I have done a lot with no money. And they are in that political establishment mindset that anything you've got to do, you've got to raise money. They're more about raising money than actually doing something. They don't care if they bury the gay community. They don't care if we have rights. Hell, next thing I know, they'll probably be preaching to us to take away our right to marry. Like they truly are doing everything that I have been accused of by so many people on the left, that I've started to talk to people on the left going, Look, I agree with you, weve got a lot of problems in the Republican Party. The point of the Log Cabin was inclusion from within. And I am the only one, our group is the only one, that are doing the inclusion from within. We make a voice in our community and try to establish that there is a giant difference between the so-called leftist gays and the right-wing gays. We're standing up to say, no, we deserve our Pride just like anybody else, we deserve our rights like anybody else, but we're not what you've been told. Not everybodys reading to children and twerking and stuff. There's nothing wrong with a drag queen reading to a child.SM: Obviously, as the president of Gays for Trump, you're seen by many as an expert in this field. What kind of expertise and background do you have working with trans kids, talking to trans kids? Have you met a lot of them? Have you interacted with them?PB: I don't call kids, trans kids. To me, if you haven't gone through puberty, you're not a trans kid or anything. You might be a queer kid because you are gender-bendy, you are exploring your gender expression but I don't believe in the phrase trans kids. You're not transitioning. You shouldn't be transitioning until you've actually gone through puberty. I think that absolutely, if you feel differently, you should have counseling, you should be able to learn things, you should have the right to have a safe spot at school, to be able to talk to a counselor. I worry about some of the bills that claim that they don't want transgenders in school, that don't want your children talking to transgenders, which makes me worried. Does that mean now we're not going to have gay clubs in school? Are transgender teachers not going to be able to be in school? Are gay teachers not going to be allowed in school? Where do we draw the line? And I don't agree with it.SM: What would you say to Donald Trump? Because a lot of trans people are actually losing their rights right now because of executive ordersPB: I would like to be able to talk to him. I would like to have our voice be able to talk to Donald Trump, other than these Log Cabin and Gays Against Groomers. The wrong people are talking to him and I think he needs to understand and he needs to go back to [what] he was feeling before and maybe he'll get off this a little bit, considering he has now won. But somebody needs to tell him, Look, anybody going around saying there's two genders, you sound like an idiot. And there's plenty of people. I love Donald Trump to death, I go by the 80/20 [rule], and Donald Trump is wrong about that issue. He's right about so [many] other things but the social conservatism part of the Republican Party is a big problem. And if the Republican Party does not understand that they need to get away from the social conservatism and move toward the moderate part, which is the reason why Donald Trump got elected. The reason why people like Donald Trump was because he wasnt a social conservative. He really needs to get the hell away from this social conservative crap that they've been doing lately and I'm really surprised that they have done so much on this transgender issue.SM: Because it's a borderline human rights abuse, from my perspective, no?PB: I'm not for our government getting into so much business and trying to make these declarations. Im also worried, there's some accounts of trying to get rid of the affirmative action because people have gotten that confused. Because if you read LBJs affirmative action it was about giving people a fair shake and it had to do with merit.SM: Getting rid of affirmative action and DEI does help folks maybe in your position who aren't as privileged. Who might not have as many resources as some of the folks you referenced in the Log Cabin Republicans, for example.PB: I think the affirmative action is important. I think that some people have used it and thought that means that they need to hire people [who are] diverse just to hire people who are diverse. But getting rid of affirmative action is kind of doing the opposite. It should be diversity, not equality. Not equity, equality. Diversity. Equality. Inclusion. Not equity. Equity is trying to say that just because somebody is a color or gay or whatever, that they're just on equal ground to somebody else, even though they don't have the knowledge or experience. You're hiring somebody just because of their color or their whatever, but not looking at their qualities. It's more about the merit-based. They should be looking at people no matter what color they are, or creed or religion or anything, and hiring the best person for the job.SM: A lot of people have said, well, Trump has never said anything anti- gay. He's not going to touch same-sex marriage. But when you look at his cabinet, it is a little alarming when you check the track records of some of these people. Let me read you a few things: Trump's Attorney General, Pam Bondi, has opposed Florida recognizing same-sex marriages performed in another state. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has said in the past that, The movement to legitimize the homosexual lifestyle and homosexual marriages is strong and must be vigorously opposed. And other cabinet members, like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and head of Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, have aggressively opposed same-sex marriage. Does that concern you at all? Because that has nothing to do with the TQ that has to do with gay and lesbian and bisexual rights.PB: The Supreme Court has made the decision. It is now also the law of the land. It is a law. It is not changing. No matter how much these people, those individuals, didn't like it3 they're going to have to deal with it. It's not changing. And unfortunately, you're going to find a lot of those individuals in the Republican Party right now that felt like that. But [its] people like myself and people in my group that need to stand up. We have to change our party to be more of an inclusive party and start getting rid of the old regime that believed like that and start living in the 21st century and wake up and realize that that social conservative stuff is not going to work. And I know that things are changing. There's more people that have families that have gay people and relatives that have gay people. And I've seen plenty of Republicans who post under there going, I did not vote for that. I voted for this. We voted for Trump because of this. But [thats not to] say we're going to go and turn towards the Democrat Party, because at the end of the day, we have to weigh which policies are good and which policies are bad and I've laid out those on Gays for Trump about the policies that do help the LGBT community. Unfortunately, some things are bad, but we have to not give up and we have to fight against that.SM: In Idaho two weeks ago, they introduced a resolution to re-evaluate Obergefell and overturn same-sex marriage, leaving it up to the states. There are similar resolutions being drafted in five other states and it's following a very similar playbook to how Roe v. Wade was eventually overturned. Does that concern you at all?PB: No. It's been signed. It's been sealed. It's been decided on the Supreme Court. There is absolutely no reason for them to try to switch it and in most of the cases, when these people bring it up, they bring up their only merit based on religion. Our First Amendment has us the right to separation of church and state, freedom from religion and freedom of religion and if your only status is you don't like gay marriage just because of a religious [view], then it doesn't fly. So I'm not worried about it. That's what they base it on: religion, and we are not a Christian nation. We are a nation of all religions and we're not a theocracy. We are a constitutional republic/democracy.Subscribe nowSM: I think a lot of people were saying the same thing about Roe v. Wade before it was overturned but I hear you. Trump has rolled back a lot of protections for transgender people. He has appointed a bunch of Cabinet members who are explicitly opposed to the legalization of same-sex marriage. If you could speak to Trump right now in this critical moment, as he has four years to lead this nation, what would you say to him as it relates to how he approaches LGBTQ issues over the course of this next term?PB: I think he needs to talk to more people. He needs to talk to more sources. He doesn't have to openly cause a rift, but he needs to understand that everything he does, it's great, you can Make America Great Again, but if you continue down this path of letting the Republican Party stay socially conservative the way they are and keep doing what they're doing, they're going to lose. They're going to lose, the Democrats will win and they will destroy America. And at the end of the day, if we don't get candidates like Donald Trump in the future, were doomed, we are doomed.SM: And tell me a little bit more about your own coming out story. When did you realize you were gay? How old were you?PB: Probably seven. Watching whats that video? Take On Me, little sweaty British guy was beating against the wall. You know.SM: I dont remember it, but I got it. I understand, I have a comparative experience I'm sure. Having known that since you were seven, and I know for any kid it's not easy to understand that you might be a little different, there are a ton of LGBTQ kids right now across this country who are really scared. 41% of LGBTQ kids seriously considered suicide in the last year and it's arguably getting worse with these new rollbacks. What would your message be to LGBTQ kids right now who are really scared?PB: Well, they need to find counseling and they need find people to talk to and try to find people to talk to. I try to look at things at different angles and do a whole picture of the story. I try not to overreact, I try to look into the bills and yes, if there's something important, they need to take that energy to try to make change and protest. It does not do any good for them to hurt themselves. Self-harm is not ever an answer.SM: And last question for those kids who say, Peter, I'm really scared, Trump is rolling back my rights, you're the president of Gays for Trump, how can you feel this way? What do you say to them?PB: Im would say we can always talk. They need to talk to individuals who are outside of their range. We have so much diverse feelings and opinions, and if theyre going to talk to me, I'm going to talk to them as best as I can. And I'm here, even though they don't think I am. Yes, I do worry about some things changing but we also got to worry that those individuals, once Trump is gone, it could get a lot worse. If we don't do something or try to reach outAgain, it's all about inclusion from within. You can yell on the street all day long, but unless you got a foot in the boardroom, you're not going to make any changes. So we've got to get our voice out there in the proper way.SM: Thank you so much for coming on. We really appreciate it. Your perspective is obviously different and at the same time valuable because it's important to understand where all folks across the entire country are coming from and how and why they feel the way they do. So, thank you.PB: Thank you.If objective, nonpartisan, rigorous, LGBTQ-focused journalism is important to you, please consider making a tax-deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor, Resource Impact, by clicking this button:Donate to Uncloseted Media1Trumps drumbeat of lies about the 2020 election keeps getting louder. Here are the facts. (AP)2The Log Cabin Republicans did not respond to Uncloseted Medias request for comment on Peter Boykins remarks.3The Pete Hegseth quote included in the question was not directly from Hegseth himself. Rather, while Hegseth served as publisher of Princetons conservative campus newspaper, The Princeton Tory, an editors note titled The Rant outlined the publications anti-gay views and included the said quote.

Fascism, a term loaded with historical and emotional weight, has been a contentious subject in American political discourse. Traditionally associated with far-right authoritarian regimes in Europe, the concept has occasionally surfaced in discussions about American politics, particularly within the Republican Party. This article explores the historical and contextual relationship between...

Gage Skidmore / Official Photo / Official Photo / Official Photo / Gage Skidmore / Senator Ted Cruz / Official Photo / Gage Skidmore / Official Photo. Design by Sam Donndelinger. Subscribe nowMarco RubioTrump Administration Position: Secretary of StateStatus: Confirmed, 1/21/2024Mark Rubio Official Photos.Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives2006In an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat, Marco Rubio describes his opposition for gay adoption in Florida. Kids should not be forced to be part of some social experiment, he tells the paper.United States SenatorMarch 2013During a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Rubio tells the crowd, "Just because I believe that states should have the right to define marriage in the traditional way does not make me a bigot.December 2015In an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network during his presidential run, Rubio saysif electedhe would appoint anti-gay-marriage justices to the Supreme Court, roll back Obama-era executive actions that protect LGBTQ people and undo laws that protect trans peoples right to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity.February 2016At a campaign rally in New Hampshire, Rubio says, Marriage should be between one man and one woman.August 2016Rubio is under fire by LGBTQ advocacy groups for speaking with the Anti-Gay Florida Renewal group.August 2017Two months after the Pulse nightclub shooting that left 49 people dead, Rubio asks evangelicals to show compassion to LGBTQ people. "I want to be clear with you: Abandoning judgment and loving our LGBT neighbors is not a betrayal of what the Bible teaches. It is a fulfillment of it," he says.March 2022Rubio defends Floridas so-called Dont Say Gay bill, which bans teachings of anything related to LGBTQ issues in pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade classrooms. Raising kids is the job of parents and families, not schools. And so thats what that bill does, he says.June 2022Ahead of a Drag Queen Story Time set to be hosted by the United States Air Force Base, Rubio sends a letter requesting its cancellation. Decisions over children and their bodies should be left to moms and dads serving our nation, not mediated through publicly funded propaganda on U.S. Air Force bases The last thing parents serving their nation overseas should be worried about is whether their children are being exposed to sexually charged content." The event is ultimately cancelled largely because of pressure from Rubio.September 2022An ad for Rubios Senate reelection campaign features a video of a drag performer reading to children, overlaid by Rubio saying, The radical left will destroy children if we dont stop them They indoctrinate children, try to turn boys into girls.October 2022Rubio receives a 0/100 score on the Human Rights Campaigns Congressional Scorecard.Sen. Marco Rubio is one of the most anti-LGBTQ politicians in America and a threat to every LGBTQ person in Florida, says Human Rights Campaign National Campaign Director Geoff Wetrosky.November 2022Rubio votes against the Respect for Marriage Act, a law that codifies same-sex marriages. The law was introduced by President Biden amid worries that the conservative majority on the Supreme Court that took away the right to abortion will target same-sex marriage in the future.January 2025Following an executive order signed by Trump that declares there are only two genders, newly confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructs his staff to freeze all passport applications with X sex markers and changes to gender identity. The policy of the United States is that an individuals sex is not changeable, an email from the State Department read. Sex and not gender shall be used in official documents. The policy affects both current and future passport applications.RFK Jr.Trump Administration Position: Health and Human Services SecretaryStatus: Not yet confirmed. First confirmation hearing set for 1/29/2024Photo by Gage Skidmore.Environmental LawyerJanuary 2011RFK Jr. takes part in the Human Rights Campaigns New Yorkers for Marriage Equality video series. RJK Jr. says, This is the last vestige of institutionalized bigotry thats left in this country, and we need to get rid of it.June 29, 2023RFK Jr. defends his support for LGBTQ rights at a town hall meeting in Charleston, South Carolina: I dont agree with anybody who says we shouldnt respect gay rights, he says. If youre an American, you have those rights, and everybody should respect them, and Im going to do everything I can to make sure those are protected, and I always have, my whole life.June 2023On right-wing media commentator Jordan Petersons podcast, RFK Jr. discusses endocrine disruptors in the water being the potential cause of young people becoming trans. I think a lot of the problems we see in kids, and particularly boys, its probably underappreciated how much of that is coming from chemical exposures, including a lot of sexual dysphoria Theyre swimming through a soup of toxic chemicals today. And many of those are endocrine disruptors.On Joe Rogans podcast, RFK Jr. suggests that poppers could be the cause of the transmission of AIDS. He promotes a Peter H. Duesberg theory, who is a prominent AIDS denialist. HIV was a kind of free rider that was also associated with overlapping lifestyle exposures, RFK Jr. tells Rogan. In reference to Duesberg and other AIDS denialists, RFK Jr. says, They argued that the initial signals of AIDS, Kaposis sarcoma and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, were both strongly linked to amyl nitrite poppers a popular drug among promiscuous gays.July 2023RFK Jr. says in an interview with Fox Carolina News, I think anyone who is transgender should be respected. But I also think parents should have the final say.Democratic representative from Virginia, Gerald E. Connolly, holds a hearing to discuss RFK Jr.s beliefs that are vile, disgusting, racist, bigoted, antisemitic, anti-gay, anti-science and riddled with conspiracy theories. By promoting Mr. Kennedy, Republicans are deliberately providing a platform to amplify hate speech.May 2024At a campaign rally in Austin, Texas, RFK Jr. opposes gender-affirming care and backs a ban on certain treatments for minors, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy.Subscribe for LGBTQ-focused, accountability journalism.Pete HegsethTrump Administration Position: Defense SecretaryStatus: Confirmed, 1/24/2024Pete Hegseth Official Photo.Early LifeApril 2002While Pete Hegseth serves as publisher of Princetons conservative campus newspaper, The Princeton Tory, an editors note titled The Rant outlines the publications anti-gay views. The movement to legitimize the homosexual lifestyle and homosexual marriages is strong and must be vigorously opposed Homosexuals themselves should not be demonized; however, their lifestyle deserves absolutely no special legal status.Pete Hegseths Notes from the Publisher via The Princeton TorySeptember 2002The Princeton Tory ranters express concerns about newspaper coverage of gay weddings. At what point does the paper deem a relationship unfit for publication? What if we loved our sister and wanted to marry her? Or maybe two women at the same time? A 13-year-old? The family dog?Political Commentator for Fox NewsJune 4, 2024In his book, The War on Warriors, Hegseth criticizes the repeal of Dont Ask Dont Tell. He also writes unfavorably about gay people serving in the military, arguing that their inclusion reflects a Marxist agenda that prioritizes social justice over combat readiness: Not because I have a newfound ax to grind with gay Americans But because I navely believed thats what ending Dont Ask Dont Tell was all about. Once again, our good faith was used against us. The Left never gives an inch and always takes a mile.Jan. 14, 2025During Hegseths Senate confirmation hearing, Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand grills him about his contentious views about gays serving in the military. Gillibrand also condemns Hegseths suggestion that addressing LGBTQ inclusion undermines the military. To denigrate LGBTQ service members is a mistake, she says.In response, Hegseth says, Senator, as the President has stated, I dont disagree with the overturn of Dont Ask, Dont Tell.Pam BondiTrump Administration Position: Attorney GeneralStatus: Not yet confirmedOfficial Photo Attorney General Pam Bondi.ProsecutorAugust 2010At a forum sponsored by the anti-LGBTQ Christian Family Coalition, Pam Bondi pledges to oppose gay marriage as attorney general of Florida. In an email to Politifact clarifying her position, Bondi says, As Floridas next attorney general, I will vigorously defend [the] law banning gay adoption in our state.Attorney General of FloridaMay 2014Bondi submits a request to a federal judge asking for a marriage equality case, which would allow same-sex Floridians the right to marry, to be thrown out. She says forcing Florida to recognize same-sex marriages would impose public harm and create significant problems for the states pension and health insurance program.August 2014Bondi files a motion to freeze an appeal by six same-sex couples challenging Floridas ban on gay marriage.December 2014Tampa Bay Times, Floridas largest daily newspaper, names Bondi loser of the year and compares her to a modern-day Anita Bryant because of her relentless defense of Florida's gay marriage ban.June 2016Bondi oversees the investigation of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, where 49 people were murdered. In an interview with Anderson Cooper, Bondi says, People right now who are partners, who arent married, officially, arent able to get information. So we are trying to assist them in getting information. In response, Cooper challenges Bondi: Had there been no gay marriage you do realize that boyfriends and girlfriends of the dead would not be able to get information and would not be able to probably get a visit in the hospital here. Isnt there a sick irony in that?October 2017In an ideological pivot, Bondi backs the Florida Competitive Workforce Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. I havent read the bill, but of course, its something that I would support, she says. Three years later, the bill dies.Private Citizen, Registered Foreign Agent and Lobbyist for the Qatari Embassy Bondi attending AFPI conference. Office of Representative Mike Johnson.August 2023In a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity, Bondi compares LGBTQ youth who are out at school but not to their parents to hiding that they were sexually abused or that they are struggling with heroin addiction.U.S. Attorney General NomineeJanuary 2025During her Senate Confirmation hearing to become President Trumps attorney general, Democratic Senator Adam Schiff asks Bondi if she will defend and respect marriage equality. I will respect the law. Absolutely, she says.Kristi NoemTrump Administration Position: Secretary of Homeland SecurityStatus: Confirmed, 1/25/2024Kristi Noem Official Photo.South Dakota House Representative June 2015In reaction to Hodges v Obergfell, Kristi Noem releases a statement saying she disagrees with the ruling and that she believes marriage is a special bond between a man and a woman. In 2022, she doubles down during a roundtable discussion with Young Americas Foundation. [I have] never supported gay marriage. A lot of my faith has to do with that.Screenshot via Young Americas Foundation.Governor of South DakotaMarch 2021Noem supports HB 1217, a bill that would bar transgender girls and women from playing on female sports teams. However, she later vetoes the bill, fearing a legal battle with the NCAA. The NCAA is a private association. That means they can do what they want to do. And even though I fundamentally disagree with them when it comes to this issue, if South Dakota passes a law thats against their policy, they will likely take punitive action against us.In response to backlash from her veto, Noem signs two executive orders that ban transgender girls and women from participating on womens sports teams in public high schools and colleges across South Dakota.Also in March, Noem signs the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which allows discrimination against LGBTQ people on the grounds of religious beliefs.February 2022Noem signs an anti-trans bill into law that effectively bans transgender students from playing on the sports team that matches their gender identity.February 2023Noem signs HB 1080, which bans age-appropriate and medically necessary gender-affirming care for youth in South Dakota, into law.February 2024The Transformation Project, a trans advocacy organization that was working on a government project in South Dakota, comes to a legal settlement with Noem and her health secretary after the state had unfairly terminated a contract with them based on what they called national politics. South Dakota publicly apologizes and pays $300,000 to the trans advocates.Subscribe nowLinda McMahonTrump Administration Position: Secretary of EducationStatus: Not yet confirmedLinda McMahon Offical Photo.WWE President and CEO1980-2009Linda McMahon, who co-founded the WWE with her husband Vince McMahon, pushes several homophobic and transphobic storylines on their programs, some of which include queer-coded fighters who perpetuate stereotypes that gay men are predatory and other wrestlers who shout transphobic slurs.Senate Candidate 2010While running to become a Republican senator in Connecticut, McMahon supports the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law that denies same-sex couples the benefits and recognition given to heterosexual couples.October 2012On the campaign trail, McMahon flips and says, I absolutely support Americas law for same-sex marriage. She claims her position on the issue has been evolving.Photo by Michael Vadon.PAC Leader September 2021McMahon serves as the head of the America First Policy Institute, which penned the America First Agenda, a competing version of the Heritage Foundations Project 2025. On its site, the institute publishes articles denouncing trans rights, including one titled Radical Gender Ideology is Transforming American Society, and AFPI is Fighting Back.March 2024McMahon writes a Fox News Op-Ed criticizing President Bidens proposed diversity, equity and inclusion mandates.U.S. Secretary of Education NomineeNovember 2024The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, GLSEN, releases a statement in response to McMahons nomination for Education Secretary: McMahons lack of expertise in education, paired with Trumps focus on so-called parents rights and school choice, signals a continued push to strip critical protections for LGBTQ+ students and historically marginalized communities.Scott BessentTrump Administration Position: Treasury SecretaryStatus: Not yet confirmed. Final vote set for 1/27/2024Photo by Senator Ted Cruz.Early Life1995At 17, Bessent wants to attend the U.S. Naval Academy after his father faces financial hardship. However, Bessent is unwilling to lie about his sexual orientation, so he is not allowed to enroll in the program because it is still following Dont Ask, Dont Tell laws.1990s-2000sBessent sits on the board of Gods Love We Deliver, a nonprofit founded in the 1980s that helps deliver meals to people with HIV/AIDS. (Exact dates not known)Bessent openly supports the Elton John AIDS Foundation. (Exact dates not known)U.S. Treasury Department NomineeNov. 24, 2024Trump nominates Bessent to lead the U.S. Treasury Department, making him the first openly LGBTQ person nominated for the position and putting him on track to make history as the nation's highest-ever ranking LGBTQ official.Jan. 21, 2025Bessents nomination advances past a key Senate committee, teeing up his likely confirmation with a full floor vote in the coming days.Susie WilesTrump Administration Position: Chief of StaffStatus: Assumed Office 1/20/2024 (Not Required to Face Confirmation)Susie Wiles Official Photo.Campaigner Susie Wiles1980Susie Wiles works as a scheduler for Ronald Reagans presidential campaign. The Reagan administration would go on to be hostile towards LGBTQ people during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, in which 89,343 Americans died from the virus during his presidency.2018Wiles helps run Ron DeSantis gubernatorial campaign. The DeSantis administration would go on to pass a bevy of anti-LGBTQ legislation, including the infamous so-called Dont Say Gay law.Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz.PAC Leader Wiles September 2022As CEO of Donald Trumps Save America political action committee, Wiles oversees a $1 million donation to the America First Policy Institute, a group that has published numerous anti-trans articles and policy proposals.2024Former mayor of Jacksonville, John Delaney, says in an interview, [Wiles] would be what Id call left on LGBT+ issues, and I cant believe she would necessarily agree naturally with Donald Trump on immigration, but thats more me speculating.Additional reporting by Sam Donndelinger. If objective, nonpartisan, rigorous, LGBTQ-focused journalism is important to you, please consider making a tax-deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor, Resource Impact, by clicking this button:Donate to Uncloseted Media

In an era dominated by social media giants like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, niche social platforms like Queerlinq are quietly revolutionizing how people connect, share, and engage. While mainstream platforms have their merits, niche social networks are gaining popularity by addressing gaps and offering features tailored to specific communities. Here’s why platforms like...

LGBTQ activists in New Jersey say theyre fortunate to live in New Jersey as the new administration kicks-off its term by attacking the transgender community and diversity initiatives. Advocates at Garden State Equality say New Jersey sets a standard for legal equality that can inspire states throughout the country. As part of its education and [...]The post New Jersey LGBTQ Advocates from Garden State Equality Say Theyll Continue to Pushback with Facts first appeared on GLAAD.

In July 2023 the world became a less funny, less quirky, and less queer place when Paul Rubens, best known for creating the character Pee-wee Herman, passed away at the age of 70, leaving behind an enduring legacy of queer acceptance.While during his life Ruebens never openly discussed his sexuality, he finally shared his truth posthumously in the documentary Pee-wee as Himself . But for anyone paying attention the signs he was family have been there in his work all along there was an undeniable queerness imbued in the characters and the setting that made a huge impact on LGBTQ+ kids and adults.Not only was the show full of campy characters and colorful over-the-top set design, but Pee-wee himself was often read as either an asexual man-child or an effete, gay man. The way that masculinity was portrayed on the show was transgressive especially in the '80s when the character first graced our screens.Everything about Pee-wee's Playhouse was unquestionably gay without ever saying the words out loud. From the campy comedy to queer guest stars to Pee-wee even cross-dressing in Pee-Wees Big Adventure, the show has left an imprint on queer culture that cant be overstated.So lets celebrate the life and work of Paul Rubens and take a look back at the ten queerest moments from his career as Pee-wee Herman.Jambi the GenieJambi the Genie, portrayed by the late John Paragon, usually appeared once per episode to grant Pee-wee a wish. The blue-faced genie is considered to be a drag queen by most and if you peep the make-up and styling we can see why!'Pee-wee Playhouse Christmas Special' Guest Stars1988s Pee-Wees Playhouse Christmas Special included a list of guests full of gay icons like Cher, Grace Jones, Little Richards, Joan Rivers, Whoopi Goldberg, Zsa Zsa Gabor and even k.d. lang.The Never-Ending Fruit CakesDuring Pee-Wees Playhouse Christmas Special, Pee-wee receives a fruitcake from every guest that comes through his door and eventually admits to using them to add a new room onto the Playhouse. We are then treated to a glimpse of the muscular construction workers, one of whom is wearing a tank top and the other is shirtless the queerness is really right there on the surface once you start to look.Miss YvonneMiss Yvonne was a frequent guest at the Playhouse whose '50s aesthetic was so campy she would have looked at home in a John Waters filmCrossdressing in 'Pee-wee's Big Adventure'In the movie Pee-Wees Big Adventure, Pee-wee crossdresses ignorer to elude the cops.The Time Pee-wee Marries A Fruit SaladOn one episode of Pee-wees Playhouse, Pee-wee marries a fruit salad as a play on the frequent if you love X so much, why dont you marry it joke very subtle!The Show's Adult JokesAdult jokes were peppered throughout the show, often with queer overtones. Like on the short-lived HBOs The Pee-Wee Herman Show when Jambi the Genie who is a disembodied head receives hands in the mail and says, Ive had something Ive wanted to do for a long time.The Hot LifeguardRoland Rodriguez plays a lifeguard on Pee-wee's Playhouse who shows off his chiseled physique while wearing short shorts and at one point appears in nothing but tiny gold shorts and gold bow-tie it's hard to get gayer than that!The 'Magic Mike' JokeIn Pee-wee's Big Holiday we get yet another example of a quip that adults would enjoy, but would sail right over kids heads, when Joe Manganiello asks Pee-wee if hes seen Magic Mike. Pee-wee responds, Ha! Youd think so, but no.The Queer-Coded Ending Of 'Pee-wee's Big Holiday'In 2016 Rubens appeared in his final feature-length role as Pee-wee Herman in Pee-wee's Big Holiday. In it, Pee-wee meets Joe Manganiello (as himself) and then leaves his small town to travel to New York to celebrate Joe's birthday. The whole film is often read as a coming out story, but it's really the end of the movie that sells it for us. Pee-wee and Joe exchange friendship bracelets and then ride off into the sunset together on Joe's motorcycle. So sweet!

Writer-director Carmen Emmi's feature debut, Plainclothes, tells the story of an undercover cop who's assigned to lure and arrest gay men. Upon meeting a particularly irresistible target, however, the closeted cop can no longer resist his suppressed sexual urges.Tom Blyth (Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) and Russell Tovey (Kevin Matheson on HBO's Looking) play the two main characters in Plainclothes, which is set in 1990s New York.The movie follows a cop named Lucas (Blyth) performing bait-and-catch missions to arrest gay men for lewd conduct. But upon meeting Andrew (Tovey), it is Lucas who is arrested by the palpable sexual tension between him and his target.Plainclothes, which is expected to have a wide release later this year, just had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. To give fans a taste of what's to come, the movie's official Instagram account shared a titillating clip of Blyth and Tovey engaging in some casual bathroom cruising with each other.See on InstagramThe first set of reviews for Plainclothes have been very positive, such as high praise from IndieWire's Ryan Lattanzio noting that Lucas is "the most emotionally (and physically) naked performance yet from rising British star Tom Blyth."In an interview with Vanity Fair, Tovey discussed the many closeted men he's gotten to play throughout his career, recalling that he also struggled to accept his sexuality when he was young. "That feeling was so visceral and overwhelming as a kid, that there's something in exorcising it when I'm playing these roles," he said.The cast of Plainclothes also includes actors like Christian Cooke (Ron), Amy Forsyth (Emily), Maria Dizzia (Marie), John Bedford Lloyd (Lt. Sollars), Gabe Fazio (Uncle Paul), and Sam Asa Brownstein (Christian).Plainclothes, which recently had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, is set to wide release later this year.See on Instagram

In a documentary that premiered this week at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, Paul Reubens comes out posthumously after keeping his sexual orientation private for his entire career.Reubens died in 2023 from cancer at 70 after keeping the illness a secret for several years.The new documentary Pee-wee as Himself sees the comic open up about being in a romantic relationship with a man named Guy, according to the New York Post. It was in fact Guys voice and behavior that influenced the character of Pee-wee Herman.Reubens was known for playing the quirky, innocent character on the Saturday morning show Pee-wees Playhouse, which ran from 1986 to 1990, and in several movies, including Pee-wees Big Adventure and Big Top Pee-wee. He took the character to Broadway in The Pee-wee Herman Show in 2010-2011. He appeared in guest roles on many TV series and lent his voice to numerous animated characters.I was out of the closet, and then I went back in the closet, Reubens says in the documentary. I wasnt pursuing the Paul Reubens career; I was pursuing the Pee-wee Herman career.The film, which will eventually air on HBO, according to the Post covers the actors decades-long career. Its director, Matt Wolf, spent hours with Reubens and spoke with him about his work and also his sex scandals.Reubens's reputation was tarnished somewhat when he was arrested on an indecent exposure charge for masturbating in an adult theater in Florida in 1991. He entered a plea of no contest and had to pay a small fine and do community service. Then in 2001, he was arrested in Los Angeles on charges of possessing child pornography. He said, however, that the images in his collection were not of children but of adults in physique poses such as those used in mid-century magazines that were popular with gay men. He agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor obscenity charge, pay a $100 fine, and register with the police for three years.More than anything, the reason I wanted to make a documentary was for people to see who I really am, and how painful and dreadful it was to be labeled something I wasnt, Reubens says in the documentary, the Post reports. To be labeled a pariah; to have people be scared of you, or untrusting.In speaking about his relationship with Guy, who was from Echo Park in Los Angeles, Reubens said Guy would say things like Mmmm! Buttery in a Yoda-like brogue the outlet reports.Its a vocal style the character Pee-wee Herman used.Reubens shares in the film about visiting Guy in the hospital as Guy was dying due to complications from AIDS.While he had secret relationships, Reubens says his career became his focus but he also internalized a lot of homophobia.I was secretive about my sexuality even to my friends [out of] self-hatred or self-preservation, he says. I was conflicted about sexuality. But fame was way more complicated.The subject of the obscenity charge led to Reubens to stop cooperating with Wolf and the film team when it was brought up, according to the outlet. Eventually, he sent a final audio recording to Wolf to help complete the film.Reubens was born in Peekskill, N.Y., and grew up in Sarasota, Fla. He began his career in comedy with the Groundlings troupe in Los Angeles, then created a stage show in L.A. as the Pee-wee Herman character. Titled The Pee-wee Herman Show, it ran for five months and was taped for an HBO special that aired in 1981, bringing Reubens national fame. He became a popular guest on Late Night With David Letterman and appeared at comedy clubs around the country. In 1985, Pee-wee's Big Adventure was released and added to his fan following.Outside of the Herman character, Reubens played guest roles on many TV series, including Murphy Brown, The Blacklist, and What We Do in the Shadows.When he revived his stage show in Los Angeles prior to a Broadway run, he spoke to The Advocate in character as Pee-wee. The interviewer noted that he once married a bowl of fruit salad on Pee-wee's Playhouse, and then asked if Herman supported marriage equality, not yet the law of the land at that time (it being 2010), and Herman said he did.

One of the oldest tricks in the right-wing homophobic playbook is to call anything remotely feminine gay. Having emotions? Gay. Having personal style? Gay. Having female friends? Gay. If there is one thing you can count on Republicans for, its loudly proclaiming, No homo!But with the rise of the MAGA movement, the things they claim are gay have only gotten more bizarre. Now, a man having sex with a woman can somehow be spun into homosexuality by people who seem desperate to hold onto a wildly outdated version of masculinity to the point where their arguments become nonsensical.Conservatives have always delighted in using gay as an insult. At this point, its a cliche. As anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric has skyrocketed in recent years, and the person holding the highest office in the land makes his disdain for the queer community loud and clear, its important to call these things outand maybe laugh at MAGA a little in the process. Hey, were only human!Giving your wife orgasms, not babies? That's gay. (@) When political commentator Luke Beasley interviewed a right-wing couple on his YouTube show The Grudge, he was surprised when the husband, MAGA influencer Josiah Moody, said having sex with his wife with the goal of an orgasm and not reproduction is actually gay sex.As soon as were together, its like no birth control, no nothing, because Im not going to have gay sex, Moody explained. Gay sex is more than just another man and a man, its just the idea of looking at sex as such a materialistic thing and just like, Oh well, we just have an orgasm, and thats fun or whatever.Wearing a face mask? That's gay. (@) At the height of the pandemic, right-wing commentator Tomi Lahren labeled mask-wearing as gay while people were dying left and right from COVID-19. Apparently, wanting to protect yourself and your community from a highly communicable disease is super gay.Are you Tim Walz? That's gay. (@) During the presidential campaign, Fox News host Jesse Watters analyzed Democratic VP nominee Tim Walzs body language and deemed it too feminine. Watters claimed Walz waving profusely was unsettling because men should not move this way.He then took things a step forward when he compared the way Walz hugged his wife to how he hugged Kamala Harris husband, Doug Emhoff, clearly insinuating that Walz was gay for the presidential candidates hubby.Does sex with a woman feel good? That's gay. (@) Last year, before conservative alpha male influencer Andrew Tate was put under house arrest for allegations of sex trafficking minors and money laundering, he took to X (then Twitter) to announce to the world that he thinks that men who are having sex for pleasure and have less than five kids are actually gay.Sex is for making children, he wrote. Any man who has sex with women because it feels good is gay. Oh my pee pee feels good this is great! In fact if you are 40 with less than 5 children you're probably gay. All that feel-good pee pee sex and hardly any genetic legacy?Are you attracted to strong women? That's gay. (@) A right-wing man on X made a perfectly logical argument when he posted that being attracted to a strong woman is peak homosexual behavior. Wanting a strong woman is a sign of homosexuality, @hxtman_ wrote. Any masculine man was a submissive woman.Thats what it always seems to come back to. Not just a hatred of homosexuality but a hatred of independent women too.

The Sundance Film Festival is underway and in addition to the numerous LGBTQ titles in the lineup, GLAAD will be co-hosting the second Cheers Queers event alongside NewFest and Frameline. On January 23, director Matt Wolf had the world premiere of his two-part HBO documentary Pee wee As Himselfat the Ray Theater in Park City. [...]The post Pee-wee as Himself Premieres at Sundance, Director Matt Wolf Says Paul Reubens Was Ready To Come Out first appeared on GLAAD.

Its been a week since President Donald Trump was inaugurated, but hes already begun implementing his mass deportation plan, removed HIV resources from federal websites, ended efforts to lower prescription drug costs, signed an executive order stating that the federal agencies will recognize only two sexes, male and female, AND he hasnt lowered the price of eggs.Now, his die-hard MAGA supporters are starting to regret their devotion to a politician who theyre realizing doesnt have their best interests at heart. As the internet would say, this is what happens when you eff around and find out!Between Black MAGA supporters realizing their party is actually racist, gay Trump voters being disappointed when the queer community wants nothing to do with them, and people waking up to the fact that their lives are going to be materially worse under a Trump presidency, they are only now becoming aware of the giant mistake they made.Trump supporters are not only starting to voice their disappointment on social media but are realizing there are real consequences to their votes. One woman lost her job after posting a TikTok video doing a Nazi salute, a man boasted that he bought a new sports car with his Trump-loving daughters inheritance, a Trump voters undocumented husband got deported, and a teacher who invited ICE to raid his school is being investigated by the school district.Keep scrolling to experience the schadenfreude of watching MAGA realize the chickens have come home to roost! (@) A TikToker who voted for Trump was devastated to learn that he's going through with his promise to have Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) start rounding up and mass deporting immigrants because now people she knows are afraid to go to work. "I hate that I voted for him," she laments. (@) Laura Smith, a Pennsylvania MAGA supporter, had to resign from her positions on the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors and the Montgomery County Public Library after coming under fire for posting a TikTok video doing a Nazi salute after Elon Musk made the same gesture at the inauguration. (@) A man posted that he spent the money he'd saved for his daughter's inheritance after finding out she voted for Trump. "This the new Corvette I bought with my daughters inheritance when she voted for Trump," he wrote. (@) Indiana resident Helen Beristain voted for Trump and was convinced that he would split up families with his mass deportation plan was shocked when her husband was deported and sent back to Mexico. (@) "This article states that Jason Buchanan of Ft. Worth, TX got FAFOd." A substitute teacher in Texas is now under investigation after taking to X (formerly Twitter) to urge ICE to raid his school because many of his students "don't even speak English." (@) Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a vocal Trump ally who represents a majority Hispanic Florida district, sent a letter to Homeland Security requesting they exempt people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela from Trump's mass deportation plans and ICE raids because they were allowed to enter the U.S. by President Joe Bidens administration under a humanitarian parole program. (@) "I no longer trust Donald Trump, nor anyone surrounding him. Hes a one-termer, and hes going to do what he wants, not what MAGA 'demands.' MAGA is dead, you just dont know it yet. Stop genuflecting," a Trump voter wrote on X after the election. (@) "Donald Trump is now reposting Elon Musks pro-immigration sentiments. So, were talking about more immigrants before mass deportations even start? This is NOT what we voted for," a Trump supporter wrote on X after becoming angry that Trump was supporting H1-B visas after Musk expressed his love of them. (@) After feeling like her X account was being unfairly targeted after she was critical of Musk, far-right Trump supporter Laura Loomer was angry that "some of the biggest accounts who helped get Trump elected have now been demonetized and unverified." (@) The Boston College Republicans wrote an op-ed after the presidential election where they claimed there were "escalating attacks on conservative students" and wanted protections against "hate speech."

It has been a whirlwind of a week since Donald Trumps return to the White House, which, as promised is proving to be oligarchy-central.Among the many executive orders signed was the Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing action, which claims the Biden Administration forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs, going by the name diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).Unfortunately, companies including Meta, Amazon, Walmart, McDonalds, Target, Lowes, and many more complied and removed these programs.Fortunately, other brands, like Costco and Ben & Jerry's are not backing down from their programs, nor are they intimidated by Trumps salesman tactics and threats. (@) Over the weekend, the progressive ice cream Ben & Jerry's came under fire from all the MAGA-hats for doubling down on their DEI programs and maintaining their status as an ally for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities.See on InstagramBefore the video, the company released a statement stating that while the election may be over, the work isnt. Theyve partnered with the ACLU, the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), Black Votes Matter, and also have a page dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights and resources.They even took part in the most recent People's March in Washington DC:See on InstagramWith all that in mind, it shouldnt come as a shock that they posted a video in response to people telling them to stick to ice cream.To which Ben & Jerry's responded: We use our power, our privilege, our platform, and our relationship with our fans to advocate for progressive social change, they said in a video posted to their official TikTok. So no, were not just gonna stick to ice cream.They went on to reiterate they would not stop fighting laws that restrict trans rights, ban books, and roll back abortion protections, and that part of their DNA has been caring for and helping these marginalized communities and that we must "dismantle white supremacy."As with Costco and any other company brave enough to stand up for whats right, MAGA is calling for a boycott of Ben & Jerrys.During all of this chaos, its a positive sign that some companies are sticking to what they believe.Check out the video below, and keep scrolling for some other reactions.@benandjerrysWeve spent 46 years fighting for a more just world for ALL and year 47 will be no different. Your voice matters more now than ever. Sign up to join the movement and take action with us and our partners at the link in our bio. #benandjerrys #justice"Weve spent 46 years fighting for a more just world for ALL and year 47 will be no different. Your voice matters more now than ever." (@) "This is the latest Ben & Jerrys video that has folks talking and MAGA losing their shit! We need to support @benandjerrys yall, because we dont ever want them to stick to just the ice cream." (@) "Not some of the grocery stores locking up the Ben & Jerrys ice cream smh. I hope Ben nem see that shit & get to suing. That has to be a violation of contract." (@) "Man I need to go buy more Ben and Jerry's." (@) "So maga is going to boycott Ben & Jerrys for what ? Because B&J stand up for whats right ? No one cares if the maggots stop eating ice cream. Its more for the democrats!" (@) "Well, I really doubt many MAGAs were buying Ben & Jerrys anyway, and sane people will remain loyal." (@) "My dad told me a story when Ben and Jerry had just started their business and were selling ice cream samples at one of my (black) grandfather's country music concerts in the 1980s. Said they were some of the nicest two people he'd ever met. Nice to see them on this list." (@) "Stores are locking up Ben & Jerrys ice cream so it cant be sold because they took a stand against the government. Wow." (@) "Ben & Jerrys always been the best ice cream!!! I LOVE THIS" (@) "I love this, and support all corporations that fight against fascism. Good on Ben and Jerry's." (@) "As someone who is lactose intolerant I will be eating more Ben & Jerry's" (@) "I am not an ice cream girl but I will be I also hear that stores are making it harder to buy B&J by locking the shelves and things. Go get yall some Ben and Jerrys they are standing for everyones rights."

After months of anticipation, Lady Gaga has officially revealed the title and release date of her highly awaited new album. Titled Mayhem, the album will be released on March 7, 2025. This marks Gagas first full pop album since 2020s Chromatica, following her previous jazz-infused Joker: Folie Deux album, Harlequin, which she released in September 2023.Gaga, known for her dramatic flair and surprise reveals, chose an unconventional route to announce Mayhem. Rather than using a press release or a social media post, the pop superstar made the announcement by purchasing billboards in prominent locations in New York and Las Vegas, which went up early this morning. The bold move added to the growing excitement surrounding her return to pop music.Mayhem Details: Producers, Singles, and MoreIn a follow-up press release, Lady Gaga shared more details about Mayhem, including the albums tracklist and production. The album will feature 14 songs and is executive produced by Lady Gaga herself, alongside Michael Polansky and Andrew Watt. Production duties are handled by Gaga, Watt, Cirkut, and Gesaffelstein.Gaga also teased the release of the albums third single, which is set to drop on February 2, 2025. The yet-to-be-named track will make its debut during a commercial break at the 2025 Grammy Awards, giving fans an added layer of excitement leading up to the ceremony. While the full tracklist has not been revealed yet, Gagas fans are eagerly awaiting more details as the release date approaches.Lady Gaga attends the UK Premiere of Joker Folie Deux at the Cineworld Leicester Square in London, England. Photo: Fred DuvalIn her statement, Gaga explained the emotional and creative process behind Mayhem, saying, The album started as me facing my fear of returning to the pop music my earliest fans loved. She likened the making of the album to reassembling a shattered mirror: even if you cant put the pieces back together perfectly, you can create something beautiful and whole in its own new way.Mayhem Singles: Die With A Smile and DiseaseLeading up to the release of Mayhem, Lady Gaga has already dropped a couple of singles that will appear on the album. In August 2023, she released Die With A Smile, a duet with Bruno Mars, which quickly became a commercial hit. The song topped the charts in the U.S. and is currently holding the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. As of the latest chart updates, its expected to remain at the top, further fueling anticipation for Mayhem.In October, Gaga followed up with a solo track, Disease, a dance-pop anthem that gained some traction but did not have the same commercial success as Die With A Smile. Despite this, both singles are set to be part of Mayhem, contributing to the diverse mix of sounds that fans can expect from the album.Additionally, Gaga made an unexpected appearance in the video for Bruno Mars new collaboration with rapper Sexyy Red, titled Fat Juicy & Wet, further keeping her name in the spotlight ahead of the Mayhem release.What to Expect from MayhemWith Mayhem, Lady Gaga seems to be returning to her pop roots, aiming to satisfy the expectations of her earliest fans while also exploring new creative directions. After a brief foray into jazz with Harlequin and the cinematic Joker: Folie Deux soundtrack, Gaga is returning to the genre that first made her a global superstar.While the albums full tracklist and third single are still under wraps, Gagas commitment to pushing boundaries is evident in her comments and the buzz surrounding her comeback. As her previous albums have shown, Gaga is never one to play it safe, and Mayhem is shaping up to be yet another genre-defying moment in her career.Pre-order and Release InformationMayhem will be available on March 7, 2025, under Interscope Records. Fans can pre-order the album now to secure their copy ahead of its release. With her unique promotional strategies and continued success with her singles, Lady Gagas new album is poised to make a huge impact on the charts and pop culture.As March 7 approaches, its clear that Mayhem will be one of the most talked-about albums of the year. With its blend of pop, dance, and Gagas signature theatricality, fans are eager to see how shell continue to evolve while delivering the hits that have made her a household name.Stay tuned for more updates and surprises from Lady Gaga as the release date nears.Mayhem drops on March 7, 2025. Pre-order now on major streaming platforms and digital stores.Lady Gaga Announces New Album Mayhem Set for March Release2025 Grammys: First Slate of Performers Announced, Featuring a Diverse Lineup of Queer ArtistsSecretary of State Marco Rubio Orders Suspension of X Gender Marker in U.S. Passport ApplicationsTS Madison Speaks Out Against Trumps Executive Order Impacting Transgender PrisonersRep. Lauren Boebert Apologizes After Mistakenly Accusing Woman of Being Transgender in Capitol RestroomThe post Lady Gaga Announces New Album Mayhem Set for March Release appeared first on Gayety.

Last October, Grindr announced a new feature: an AI wingman to interact with users like a chatbot and help them find matches. Grindrs CEO, George Arison, told The Wall Street Journal that over 10,000 users will be testing the wingman by the end of this year, and it will be available to all users over 14 million by 2027. It will track users favorite matches and, from this data, suggest other profiles. To do this, Grindr made a 2023 deal with an AI company called Ex-human, aiming to create a chatbot trained in romantic conversation that would sound more gay than chatbots of the past. I can just picture it: Hey girl, this guy is 3,921 feet away, a top, and likes fisting. Shantay, you stay. All this feels very strange to me. Ive never done well on the apps. A friend real, not a bot helped me realize the problem: My photos dont match my in-person energy, so guys always expect someone different. Its the tattoos, my friend said. Even so, after a recent breakup, I went back to Grindr, like returning to a toxic lover I swore off. When I logged back in, I saw there were now two premium membership tiers instead of one: The more expensive one cost the equivalent of a gym membership. At this point in culture, Grindr doesnt need explaining its cultural impact extends well beyond queer men. In 2022, Vice called it a 24/7 merry-go-round of sex in your immediate locale.When Rolling Stone reported in 2023 that Grindr users had voted on Beyonc as Mother of the Year, the magazine didnt say votes came from Grindr users but rather the gays the app is so synonymous with gay men that it now representative of us. With its strangely menacing hockey-mask icon and now-iconic bubbling notification sound, the app has been a lightning rod of controversy lately. Grindr has sold user location data through ad networks for years, and the company is currently in a lawsuit in the U.K. for revealing its users HIV status. In Toronto and the U.K., serial killers used Grindr to lure their victims, and in several countries with antigay laws, police have used the app to find, arrest, and abuse gay and queer men. But hey, its OK, because now theres an AI wingman. Instagram must have noticed I was newly single because I quickly saw ads for Feeld a kink- and queer-friendly app that came out in 2014, and a much newer app, Collective, which came out this year. I downloaded both. Lets try em all! Feeld and Collective are competing in a crowded field of at least 50 major dating and sex apps, including the gay ones, with more surely on the way. Feeld is an app for progressive, self-aware nontraditionalists: nonmonogamous, kinky, polyamorous, or generally playful folk who want to play with others. It feels a little precious, with an almost comical abundance of labels to categorize myself with: I struggled to decide if I was homoflexible, hetero-curious, pansexual, sexually fluid, or just gay.The growth marketing lead at Feeld, Caolan Howe, told me the backstory. Feeld was created by Ana and Dimo (he did not give last names, but I found them: Bulgarian-born designer Dimo Trifonov and his girlfriend Ana Kirova). In 2014, Ana confessed to Dimo that she had feelings for a woman. Rather than ending their relationship, it was the beginning of Feeld, which was designed to be a space where like-minded people can challenge norms around gender, sexuality, and dating. Its an independent, ad-free business, Howe said. All revenue from memberships cycles back into evolving the product. He added that the people who monitor the apps user base find our members are looking for personal growth over growth in the context of traditional relationships. Feeld is very queer-friendly but not just for queer people. Collective is just for us. Launched just this year, its growing but still small small enough that I managed to chat with founder Callum Smith on the app itself. (When I asked him about this piece, he said, We dont do any press coverage yet, but Im trying to figure out how to change that!) The app is a mix of Tumblr and Instagram with some of the profile-matching and chat elements of Tinder, Feeld, and others. After a short time on it, I saw it as more of a microblogging platform with some chat features thrown in. Its super queer and cool, but I dont imagine ever finding sex or love on it. And thats by design. Collective is not a hookup app or another platform to build a following, Smith said. Its focus is on meeting new people. His manifesto on the info page mentions the alarming data around queer loneliness and depression. Like me, Smith grew up in a small town with one traffic light and more churches than people. Feeling isolated was part of his queer reality and mine so years later, he made an app-based community space for people who live far from the nearest gay bar. Its an honorable mission its essentially the same mission that made me start writing that leaves me feeling dissatisfied.After all, there is something to the classic queer experience of hopping on a bus and going to the closest big-city gay bar. That cant be replaced online or on-app, because profiles arent people. A bar, a club, or even a gay coffee shop thats real. Thats human. After trying these new contenders, I still felt ready to give up apps for good. Instagram must have sensed this too because soon I saw an ad for a book by queer author Leo Herrera someone whose name I had heard around New York but never met. Published in October, the book is called (analog) Cruising a slim, baby-pink guide to cruising the old-school way. It is an ode to lost cruising spaces and a love letter to those that remain. Herrera mixes funny (and hot) stories from his life with useful, actionable tips on how to cruise in bars, in bathhouses, on the street, and so on. The book is filled with gems like this: If you listen closely, the most common words in a cruising area tend to be thank you. If someone gifts you an orgasm, express gratitude! Even if youll never see them again or cant even see them now.And this: Pleasure is not binary. It exists alongside fear, sadness, and politics. That is the history of Queer pleasure. We tend to tell one side of our history of riots and martyrs but ignore how much sex is a root of that liberation. He also expresses my problem with apps better than I ever could: Everyone on the apps arrived for a different party. There was no way to gauge interest whether someone was just bored and horny, looking for a little connection to jerk off, or really wanted to meet up. Communication was instant or chats were over the span of days. After all these years, there seemed to be no common etiquette. After reading this, I had to talk to this guy. First, I asked him why he wrote it. Ive never heard a gay man say they love Grindr, whereas Ive heard thousands of times that someone picked up a guy at a bar and had a great time, Herrera said. I only do analog cruising, and as I got older, I realized this wasnt second nature to a generation of people who grew up only using apps for sex.He stressed that his book was not the first guide of its kind it followed a long line of cruising guides and articles in the 70s and 80s but he hoped it would make a difference now because of what he perceived as community-wide app fatigue. Most of the book is dedicated to tips on analog cruising only the epilogue mentions the apps. But the epilogue is so fiery and well-written that it makes the whole book a kind of treatise against them. Herrera stressed that apps are still useful for trans folks, disabled folks, those who live in remote areas, and people who have difficulty disclosing their HIV status. But Herrera has chosen to reject apps. What we know now about privacy and social media addiction also went into this decision, he said.I pressed him on this: Surely it was inevitable that queer dating would go digital? One of the earliest uses of the internet was to replace newspaper classifieds. Oh, definitely, Herrera said. I came out on websites like gay.com and planetout.com. Queers have always used the most advanced technology to communicate. But social media supercharged it, and Grindr is a social media platform. Now we know the limits and dangers of social media. Herrera even met a past boyfriend on Scruff, so he could admit that surprises do happen on apps. But now there are shareholders involved, he said. These apps must grow from our data, and thats the most sensitive data queer people have. After talking to him, I sat for a moment, then deleted each profile, canceled every subscription, and removed the apps from my phone. I was better in person. Maybe everyone else was, too.Alexander Cheves is a writer, sex educator, and author of My Love Is a Beast: Confessions from Unbound Edition Press. @badalexchevesNeed dating advice? Email your question to Cheves at askbeastly@gmail.com you may get an answer in a future column!This article is part of the Out January/February issue, which hits newsstands February 4. Support queer media and subscribe or download the issue through Apple News, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader starting January 23.

How each astrological sign reacts to being ghostedEven with our phones practically attached to our souls, it's still so easy to ghost someone if you're not into them. Is it a cool thing to do? In most cases probably not, but who likes confrontation? While being the ghoster may be more painless, being on the other end of this disappearing act can be really painful or at the very least very confusing. Some folks roll with those emotions better than others, and depending on your astrological sign, some take it very badly (yes, Scorpio we are looking at you.) So, if you're on the verge of going full ghost on someone, here's what you can expect on how they will react, based on their astrological sign. (We've even included pictures of some of our favorite celebs who represent each sign!)1. AquariusAs always Aquarius is a bit unpredictable. On the one hand, their independent spirit keeps them from getting attached really quickly, but on the other, their fierce loyalty and honesty mean they find this kind of behavior especially shady. Most likely they won't show you how they are feeling at first. But after the initial coolness within a day or two, these water-bearers are going to show their true colors, flip the eff out, and live Tweet an orgy as a form of revenge. 2. PiscesEmotional Pisces will handle being ghosted just as you expect... emotionally. A Pisces will take a bath and cry if you ghost them and they like you. They might not come out for an entire day. However, Pisces are usually dating 8,000 people at once, so if you ghost them and they're not into you, they might not even notice. 3. AriesAn Aries, which are cute and powerful little rams, will headbutt the hell out of you metaphorically if you ghost them. Of course, you may not know that they are doing this, as they'll keep a confident and cool demeanor. But behind closed doors, they are hexing you and planning ways to get back your attention. As my friend, astrologer, and Aries Annabel Gat taught me, the only way to get rid of an Aries is to act pathetic and clingy. 4. TaurusA Taurus will continue to stubbornly text you after being ghosted if they don't want you to leave them. When they eventually accept their fate they will curl up on their comfy couch and eat lots of snacks to make themselves feel better. 5. GeminiA Gemini will go on a social media rant about you if you ghost them. Despite their independent nature, their sign is marked by the twins, so they are always looking for their partner. Eventually, however, they will move on to another lover and continue their plans of world domination. 6. CancerA Cancer loves the home and family and does not do well when such walls come crumbling down. If you ghost them, these little crabs will fall even more deeply in love with you, and come back again and again, as Cancers love nostalgia and the past. 7. LeoLeos are powerful, prideful, lions. However, this can work in your favor if you want to ghost them. They likely will be too proud to admit you hurt them or come after you. Instead, they'll lick their wounds and sulk in silence. And of course, post some hot selfies. 8. VirgoVirgos are organized and meticulous. They like things in order and they want answers. If you ghost them, they will likely demand an explanation, and text you on a schedule until you give them one. Then they will keep a log of it, and adjust their dating behavior accordingly so it doesn't happen to them again.9. LibraA Libra might not even notice if you ghost them, as they always have multiple sidepieces. Can you even ghost Libras? They usually ghost you.10. ScorpioScorpios require honesty and communication, and nothing makes them raise their stingers like feeling played and left in the dark. They will hunt you down and demand an explanation, and then plot your demise. Even if they act chill about it, they will never forget nor forgive you. If you ghosted a Scorpio, you're probably hexed.11. SagittariusA Sagittarius might be glad that you ghosted them because you were getting on their nerves anyways. However, they will send you a text or an email pretending like it was their idea to end it to make sure that they keep the power. 12. CapricornA devilish Capricorn will ghost you right back. They will become silent. They will get into your head. They'll have you thinking, "Wait, did I ghost them, or did they ghost me? Maybe I should text them to double-check what's going on." And then you'll end up dating again, sorry.

Housing insecurity. Food insecurity. Substance use disorder. These are just a few challenges some in the LGBTQ+ community face that lead them down the path of using tobacco and e-cigarette products.To help,the country needs more research on whatLGBTQ+-specific counseling and therapies work, Temple University pulmonary critical care doctor Jamie Garfield said.If youre going to convince someone why its really important to quit smoking, you have to first meet them where they are, Garfield said. Understanding why they smoke to begin with, what kind of stress they have in their lives, and how can you overcome those. If we dontits really difficult to make robust conclusions about what intervention is going to help or not help.About 38% of gay, lesbian and bisexual people have tried an electronic cigarette, compared to 16.5% of heterosexual people, according to a November report released by the surgeon generals office. The data was collected between 2019-2021.Nearly half of those who identify as bisexual have tried an electronic cigarette, which includes vape and hookah pens.These numbers increase when examining specific intersectionalities. A 2024 study from the Truth Initiative shows that non-binary people (54%) and trans people (43%) have tried e-cigarettes at the highest rates.If youre going to convince someone why its really important to quit smoking, you have to first meet them where they are. Jamie GarfieldThough some vape as a way to quit smoking cigarettes, the effects on the body are still damaging. E-cigarettes contain nicotine, an addictive chemical present in tobacco products like cigarettes.Garfield, who is also an American Lung Association spokesperson, said it can increase heart rate, blood pressure, the risk of stroke and cause issues with memory. Vaping can also complicate pregnancies and harm the developing fetus.So why is vaping so prominent in the LGBTQ+ community? Where theres money, theres influence.Garfield said big tobacco companies prey on the stresses of the LGBTQ+ community, including the oppression and insecurities mentioned earlier. Some companies have funded Pride parades, and some have even donated millions of dollars to HIV research during the height of the AIDS epidemicto distract from the health risks of smoking.The whole intention there is just to get themselves in front of a vulnerable community to create the next generation of tobacco-addicted youth, and it works, Garfield said.Garfield also noted the increased use of tobacco and nicotine products in pop culture, including films and social media, that make +Q people feel validated.Its obviously a strategic algorithmic approach to identify a cohort of kids who are likely to pick up tobacco products and target them, Garfield said.One solution Garfield pointed to is enacting a flavoring ban. This idea has bounced around in state and federal legislation, but hasnt launched to a widespread effect. Vaping products offer cartridges flavored to different fruits or cotton candy. Menthol, which has a minty and cooling effect and flavors a variety of tobacco products, appeals to those who want to smoke but dont want the cigarette smell.Flavoring increases the addictiveness of smoking because it makes products taste better. For example, someone who would find it difficult to smoke their first cigarette will have an easier time with a menthol product.Garfield said menthol products like Newport and Kool have a history of marketing directly to both the African-American and LGBTQ+ community.Since the popularity of e-cigarettes is relatively new, Garfield said we need more studies on addiction and how it affects specific intersectionalities. There are no FDA-approved therapies for e-cigarette addiction, she said, which leaves many vulnerable communities in the dust.Collecting this life-saving data will only come from researchers and healthcare providers building trustworthy relationships, Garfield said.Any treatment directed toward this community has to be sensitive, Garfield said. If were looking at large population data sets and asking everyone, What is your sexual orientation, what is your gender identity, we have to make sure that information is protected and that its not going to be easy totarget them for something that is not in their best interest.The post LGBTQ people vape at high rates. Heres why. appeared first on News Is Out.

Whew! Another week, another incredible episode of For the Love of DILFs packed with steamy romance and so many twists and turns! Is Dr. DILF an evil genius? We say so.Last week, the competition narrowed down to its top three couples thanks to Davids (and the other eliminated Daddys and Himbos) shocking return to judge the Romeo and Juliet contest. As it turns out, all was not well in Verona because David had revenge on his mind and he successfully sent Nicholas and Timmy packing.But thats not all: that couple also came back to eliminate one more couple, and newbie couple Patrick and Adonis were invited back to the hotel. Honestly, we would live to see what is going down there! Spin-off idea? Dr. DILF, are you listening?This week, the remaining couples Tony and Jay, Victor and Dani, and Robert and Samuel were all basking in their success in making it this far. Its a sweet moment of friendship as they all discuss their connections, what theyve overcome, and the friendships theyve made along the way.But remember, this is a competition, so the action heats up again with one more challenge. This time its a combination of a photo shoot with Bob of Scotland and an interview with PRIDE to find out which couples love stories are forever, and which couples are in it for right now. Who will it be? Well, youre just going to have to watch and see.For the Love of DILFs is streaming now on OUTtv. And scroll back to the top to watch the first 10 minutes of season 3 episode 9 now.

Im in my 40s and sometimes date men who are in their 20s. When theres a big income gap, Im willing to foot the bill for both of us to do the things I enjoy and have a good time. But I cant tell if hes actually into meor just into my money. How do I figure it out? As we age, we discover how we prefer to spend our time and aspire to do those things more often. Thats how it is for me, at least; people will have to pry this Six Flags flash pass from my cold, dead hands, because if going to Magic Mountain means well be waiting in lines all day, then Im not going.A VIP ticket at twice the price is worth it to me (personal finance pundits are aghast right now), because shouldnt part of accruing wealth include using it to live a happy queer life? I think so. As time goes on, we naturally get more stubborn about how we spend our money and attention, and that conviction can lead to friction when a new special someone enters your life.Your concern that he might be more interested in financial security than emotional intimacy is valid. You want to have a good time and bring him along, but you also dont want to feel like hes using you as an ATM, particularly if youve busted your ass for years (or decades) to get to where you are now. Age-gap relationships might also mean partners have different financial priorities and expectations because theyre navigating different phases of life. You want to set clear boundaries but not seem so uptight about sharing resources that you scare the handsome fella off.The most immediate solution is to get a little vulnerable and share your anxiety with him directly. If youre still getting to know each other, frame this conversation as being about the dynamic in general, rather than specifically about you and him. That way, it doesnt feel like a personal attack. Decide if you want the dynamic to veer away from sugar daddy and toward breadwinner, then communicate those goals so that the two of you can brainstorm about it together. If hes interested in you more than your wallet, your vulnerability will signal confidence, which is sexy. If hes only in it for the free trips, his disengagement will tell you what you need to know.WATCH FOR RED FLAGSLook out for other indirect signs that indicate someone is more interested in winning over your wallet than your heart. Notice if your conversations frequently turn to money, luxury, or career success and to who usually takes the conversations there (tea: It might be you). Also notice what topics are avoided. When you try to bring up your family or feelings, does he lean in or tune out?Pay attention not to his interest in the money stuff itself but to whether he cares about it because you care about it. If he sees that its important to you and is attentive to that, thats a plus in my book. If he shrugs it off, leaving the topic unaddressed, it could snowball into resentment or a bigger problem as things progress.You might have to take the lead here. If talking about emotions or other sticky subjects is uncomfortable for him, initiate more at the start and model the conversation without puppeteering its direction. This can help cultivate honesty and trust while getting the answers you seek.SET BOUNDARIES FOR FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCEIf you want to be generous and treat him to a good time, do that wholeheartedly and without expecting reciprocation. Establish clear boundaries and communication early on when youre dating someone. This will help avoid assumptions or implications that youre willing to be a main source of his financial support before actually being in a relationship container.Keep some financial separation and incorporate dates that match your dates budget, not just your own. If you cant have a good time without big expenditures in the picture, thats about you, not him. It might be worth doing a little self-study to explore why that is. When he suggests a coffee shop instead of a high-end restaurant, embrace it rather than reverting to your agenda; these moments create opportunities for intimate connection, and theyll help you determine whether your date prefers your company over your credit card.Be open about your financial philosophy. Discuss how you view money, sharing resources, and building a future with someone. A partner interested in you rather than what you can buy them will engage meaningfully in these conversations.FIND BALANCEFor us personal finance people who love nothing more than answering a question with an abacus, the go-to money advice for couples is to split expenses in proportion to income. If you make $100,000 and he makes $50,000, you pay two-thirds of the expenses, and he pays the other third. That way you harmoniously skip off into the sunset together.While this rule can work for long-term relationships, it tends to fall apart when dating because people are sensitive about sharing what they earn and can accommodate, so there isnt that same foundation of trust yet. Be proactive and set the balance on the fly; the healthiest relationships, regardless of income differences, involve both partners contributing in meaningful ways, and these contributions might not be financial. They could be emotional support, practical help, or simply making your life richer through their presence.REFLECT ON YOUR DEFINITION OF WEALTHOur society is work-obsessed. For some, an outcome of this focus is that by midlife youve reached financial success, but at the expense of being time-poor or malnourished in other areas. If you date someone navigating a different money situation, the imbalance could bubble to the surface, which can feel confronting if youre a workaholic.Youre cranking on the monetary wealth. Now, how is your relational wealth going? Or maybe your physical health, spiritual wealth, or sense of purpose? It can feel scary to relax the thought patterns and systems of success that have gotten you to where you are now, but doing so might unlock new categories of nourishment you didnt realize you needed. Vibe on this idea of holistic wealth feeling fulfilled in all the areas of your life, not just your bank account and it will help ensure you have no regrets later in life.Do you like him? Do you feel valued and appreciated? Is the relationship contributing to your social and relational wealth while also not being detrimental to your monetary wealth? If the answers to all of those questions are yes, it seems like a green light to me. Remember that finding a genuine connection takes time, and theres no shame in protecting yourself while remaining open to love.By maintaining healthy boundaries while also leading with heart, youre more likely to find partners who value you for who you are, not what you can provide, while also having a good time.Nick Wolny is Out magazines finance columnist. He writes Financialicious, a personal finance newsletter tailored toward queer readers, and is working on his first book, Money Proud, which releases later this year. NickWolny.com @nickwolnyHave a burning money question? Call or text the Financialicious hotline at (323) 207-9969 your question might get answered.

Selena Gomez is facing backlash online after posting an emotional video reacting to the current U.S. administrations attempts to deport undocumented immigrants en masse."Im so sorry. All my people are getting attacked. The children. I dont understand," she said in a since-deleted video shared to Instagram Stories. "Im so sorry. I wish I could do something, but I cant. I dont know what to do. Ill try everything, I promise." (@) It didnt take long for MAGA loyalists who are cheering on the deportations and all the fear and hatred that theyve generated to use this opportunity to target Gomez for speaking up. (@) "Selena Gomez cried that her people are being deported. Considering that only illegal aliens are being deported, Trump should take her statement as a confession that shes in the country illegally and deport her back to Mexico just to be safe." (@) "US Senate candidate Sam Parker tweeted threatening to deport American born Selena Gomez." (@) "I am not related to selena Gomez. Deport all the illegals, even if they fake cry. I didnt see her fake crying for the 300,000 missing children or hosting illegals in her mansions. Justin Bieber dodged a bullet." (@) "Tom Homan responds to @selenagomez : We've arrested public safety and national security threats. We will conduct this operation without apology; it's for the good of the nation. No apologies. We are moving forward!"Its worth noting that Republicans havent been the only ones piling on the singer for her tearful post. Despite the fact that shes previously been criticized for declining to speak up on issues via social media, speaking up has also brought accusations that shes making everything all about her. (@) However, as a number of Gomezs fans pointed out on X, it doesnt take much digging to understand why immigration is an issue close to her heart. (@) Ultimately, the backlash was enough of an onslaught that Gomez deleted the video, replacing it with a post that just says, "Apparently its not ok to show empathy for people."

Drake Von is one of the biggest names in adult entertainment, but he's just getting started.The Men.com exclusive model has filmed countless amounts of sexy videos over the years, but the star dished on his favorite raunchy films to create while attending the 2025 GayVN Awards."I definitely would have to say threesome scenes. If you get tired and need a break, then you can just let the other person take over while you just relax and get worshipped," Von tells PRIDE. See on Instagram While Von's favorite scenes may involve a couple other people, his fans recently loved his bottoming debut with Joey Mills. Could another submissive movie be in the works?"We'll see! It's been such a great year for me. I'm hoping to film overseas. I haven't done that yet. That would be a lot of fun. I am living in the moment right now. I do not see an end. As of right now, I'm just going to keep pushing."Fans can keep up with Drake Von by following him on Instagram here. To see the full interview, check out the video at the top of the page.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk may have scored a position in President Donald Trumps administration after donating $277 million to his presidential campaign, but the tech billionaire still isnt getting a coveted spot in the White House, instead hes being relegated to an office down the block.Musk will be heading up Trumps new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but Newsweek reported that when Trump signed an executive order establishing DOGE as a temporary agency within the Executive Office of the President, he told the press that Musk wouldnt get an office close to the Oval Office.No. Hes getting an office for about 20 people that we're hiring to make sure that these [savings] get implemented, Trump said.Then, on Sunday, political analyst Dominic Michael Tripi reported that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles who Trump nicknamed the Ice Maiden" denied Musk access to Trump and a spot in the West Wing. "Susie Wiles has reportedly limited Elon Musk's direct access to the President, he wrote on X. Axios also reported that Wiles wants to create a drama-free zone and doesnt have the patience for drama queens. I don't welcome people who want to work solo or be a star," Wiles said. "My team and I will not tolerate backbiting, second-guessing inappropriately, or drama. These are counterproductive to the mission.Now that Musk, who has been glued to the presidents side since the election, has been denied an office in the White House, the internet cant stop trolling the tech mogul. From people joking that his office is just a Porta Potty in a back alley to people laughing that Musk will likely have to report directly to Wiles, the jokes will keep you laughing.Keep scrolling to see the funniest reactions to Elon Musks exile! (@) "Elon Musks new office across the street from the White House." (@) "Donald Trump's Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles, has refused to give Elon Musk an office in the West Wing, sticking DOGE in the Eisenhower building, which is across the road from the White House. She's also making him report to her." (@) "Well well well, musk got kicked out of the White House! They cant stand him because he thinks he pulls all the strings and makes trump look weak and sick. He was refused to be granted an office in the west wing that was promised to him." (@) "Susie Wiles, Trump's Chief of Staff, stopped Elon Musk from establishing a permanent base in the West Wing of the White House. It's sad when you can buy a presidency, but not a seat at the table." (@) "Elon Musk has been booted from the White House and lost his direct access to Donald Trump!" (@) "bit of a nightmare weekend for poor old Elon Musk - no office in the White House - Trump praising Starmer - everyone calling Teslas #SwastiCars" (@) "After paying $277 million to get Trump elected, guess who's been denied his 'presidential office.'" (@) "Well, I'd say this is a spot of #GoodNews. 'Ice maiden' Susie Wiles, trump's chief of staff, has blocked Elon Musk from having an office in the White House. He's supposedly getting an office in a nearby separate building." (@) "Trump signs an order creating the Department of Governmental Efficiency Doocy: Is Elon Musk getting a West Wing office? Trump: No." (@) "Lol Elon musk got kicked out of the white house and his office is now in a different building across the street"

Joella is that girl. Despite being a known icon of the local LA drag scene, last weeks episode of Drag Race saw the queen sashay away from the competition and forever into our hearts, with a quilted look that was instantly iconic. That moment exemplifies exactly why Joella was a total scene-stealer this season. Pure camp, pure delusion, and utterly unforgettable. In just four episodes Joella served as a reminder of why Drag Race remains essential viewing 17 seasons later. Her mixture of confidence, emotional outbursts, and quotable commentary is pure gay culture.She didnt just win the hearts of the fans, but those of her fellow Drag Race alumni. Everyone from Raven and Raja, to Bob the Drag Queen and Monet X Change, to Alaska and Naomi Smalls have sung this queens praises. After all, it does take nerve, which Joella has in spades. Need proof of that? Just look at how she read her sisters, not just in confessionals, but directly to their faces. Miss Congeniality? I dont think. But breakout star? Why yes! Her approach was a throwback to early seasons of the show where the queens were not afraid to be candidly catty and when, if you werent watching Untucked, you really were missing half the story.PRIDE caught up with Joella to talk about her time on the show and how shes feeling about the fan reaction. A surprisingly self-aware queen, Joella revealed how vulnerable watching her now infamous monologue makes her feel and why she feared she would be misunderstood before the show aired. But of course, thats not all. Joella also dished up plenty of shade and explained why keeping it catty is how she finds and honors her drag tribe.See on InstagramPRIDE: How are you feeling about your time on Drag Race?JOELLA: Its honestly insane. Because I just didnt think that my reaction would be this big. I didnt think that I would have this many moments to shine on screen. Im extremely grateful to the Drag Race team for allowing me to really just shine so much on TV. Im also just extremely grateful to the fans for doing a complete 180 on me. Because, oh my god, girl, I was really worried. When promos dropped, I was like, Oh god, the fans are not liking me one bit. Then as the show went on, it was like a curse was lifted because now everyone is, like, obsessed. For the right or wrong reasons, I dont know, but at the end of the day, it was a complete 180. Its a known fact that you are the slaysian queen of Los Angeles and iconic in the local scene! How has the local scene reacted to your time on Drag Race? Listen, so when I say Im a local icon, Im not talking about, like all of LA. Im talking about the local drag scene in LA. I was very well-known in the local drag scene. Ive seen their posts and their stories and I think everybodys just getting a good laugh out of it. Something that everyone loves about me is my personality and the fact that I carry that delusional drag queen persona and vibe.See on InstagramI love it! I think you should embrace the title and not walk it back one inch! There are moments in Drag Race where you can see as it is happening that, Oh, this is a part of Drag Race herstory, this will be quoted forever and your local drag scene moment was exactly that. I know you were in your feelings at that moment but now how do you feel about it?Its so funny, but actually, whenever I see a video of it, I cant watch it back, because it was actually the most traumatic moment of my life when I was giving that monologue. When I watch it back, especially with the way people are reacting to it... I cant watch this. But I do understand how funny it is. Girl, if I saw another girl through this, oh, my god, I would have it on repeat. It would be so hilarious. But I think, because its me, I just cant. Girl, when that was happening my whole entire world was falling apart. That was the moment I realized that I probably was not going to do as well in Drag Race as I wanted to.Theres winning the crown, and then theres being the most memorable part of the season. It was giving Melinda Verga, and she may not have won the crown but people live for her!I started watching that season [of Canadas Drag Race] because of her, because of that moment. Honestly, that was kind of my mindset. I was like, Im about to have this mental breakdown, and Im gonna allow myself to have this mental breakdown in front of America. Im not going to be in the background. In the [design] challenge when we were in the Werk Room making our outfits, I was just thinking, whatever you do, dont hide. I feel like Lucky [Starzzz] was kind of hiding behind the table and trying not to be seen. I would walk up to the cameras and just start looking around. I was like, Im giving them clips to use in a storyline and putting me somewhere because I need to be in the story no matter how bad or good I do on Drag Race.See on InstagramThat is just, honestly, really smart. And it paid off, you really were front and center. The other thing I love about you is that you are not afraid to be outspoken. Like Acacia Forgot was not ready for that read, Lana JaRea was not ready for you to keep it 100 with her. Where does that shady confidence come from?Ive always just loved being honest. When I care about people, Im honest with them. Sometimes I do withhold the truth from people that I feel cant handle it, but I really thought Lana could handle it.That cutthroat-ness of my judgment of drag, and the way I talk about drag, kind of comes from my drag mom [Reina] and a lot of drag queens. Girl, when we call each other on the phone and were talking behind closed doors, that is exactly how we talk. And if a drag queen tells you that they dont talk like that behind closed doors, they are fucking lying, or they really dont do drag. Its a catty mess. When I watch Untucked and I see those queens that give me that catty mess, oh, my god, the way my soul just connects with the TV. Im like, these are my girls. This is why I do drag. This is me. This is my tribe. I knew I had to give my tribe the entertainment... and I needed to revive Untucked because, oh my god, Untucked was so fucking boring for so long, and I knew when I got on that I had to become the Drag Race girl that Ive always wanted to see on the show.See on InstagramSee, this is exactly what Im talking about. I knew I would ask you that question, and you would keep it 100 and I love it! So, whats next for Joella?There are many things in the works. I will just say, keep up with me on @TheJoellaDynasty on Instagram for all my life updates, period.

Jeremy Allen White is set to star in and executive produce a new limited series adaptation of Andr Acimans novel Enigma Variations for Netflix, Variety has confirmed. The project is currently in development at the streaming giant, marking the second onscreen adaptation of one of Acimans works following the success of Call Me by Your Name, which was adapted into an Oscar-nominated film in 2017.Enigma Variations explores the complex and often unrequited nature of love, charting the life of Paul, a man whose emotional attachments and passions span across his lifetime, from adolescence to adulthood. White will take on the lead role of Paul, a character whose relationships and desires remain intense and unfulfilled despite the passage of time.A Story of Love and Desire Across TimeThe official description of Acimans Enigma Variations highlights Pauls journey through various stages of life, marked by a series of poignant and transient love affairs. Whether its a boyhood crush on his parents cabinetmaker in southern Italy, a long-standing unrequited love for a woman he meets repeatedly over the years, or anonymous encounters with men during his college years, Pauls loves remain elusive and consuming. Set against the backdrop of locations such as New England, Central Park, and New York City, the novel explores themes of identity, desire, and self-discovery.The narrative reflects the tension between hope and denial, as Paul navigates the complexities of his own desires, regrets, and dreams. Ultimately, Enigma Variations explores the universal quest for love and understanding, even as the characters remain enigmas to themselves and to others.Acimans Literary Legacy ContinuesThis adaptation follows the massive success of Call Me by Your Name, Acimans 2007 novel that was adapted into a film directed by Luca Guadagnino. The film, which starred Timothe Chalamet and Armie Hammer, was widely praised and received four Oscar nominations, with James Ivory winning the award for Best Adapted Screenplay.With Enigma Variations, Netflix aims to bring another of Acimans beloved works to the screen, continuing the momentum established by Call Me by Your Name. While the film adaptation of Call Me by Your Name explored themes of passion and identity within a summer romance, Enigma Variations promises to delve deeper into the nuances of long-term desire and the complexity of human relationships.Key Talent Behind the SeriesAmanda Kate Shuman, known for her work on the Amazon series The Wheel of Time, will serve as the writer, executive producer, and showrunner for Enigma Variations. Shumans extensive experience in the world of television includes contributions to shows like Berlin Station, The Blacklist, and Chuck, making her an ideal candidate to lead this emotionally charged project.Oliver Hermanus, a director known for his work on films such as Beauty and Living, will direct and executive produce the series. Hermanus has built a reputation for his ability to tackle complex emotional narratives and will bring his experience to bear on Acimans intricate exploration of love and longing. Hermanus has also recently directed multiple episodes of the Sky Atlantic-Starz series Mary & George and is currently finishing the film The History of Sound, starring Josh OConnor and Paul Mescal.Aciman will executive produce the series alongside White, with Media Res producing. White, known for his role on the hit FX series The Bear and his long-running portrayal of Lip Gallagher on Shameless, is no stranger to complex, multi-layered characters. His work has earned him multiple Emmy and Golden Globe awards, and his involvement in Enigma Variations adds significant star power to the series.The Talent Behind the ProjectJeremy Allen Whites performance in The Bear has garnered widespread acclaim, with the actor recently winning two Emmys and three Golden Globes for his portrayal of Carmy Berzatto. Whites addition to the cast of Enigma Variations has generated considerable excitement, with many anticipating his take on Paul, a character whose emotional depth and vulnerabilities align well with Whites range as an actor. In addition to his work on The Bear, White has a diverse filmography, including roles in The Iron Claw and upcoming projects such as Deliver Me from Nowhere, a biopic about Bruce Springsteen, and The Mandalorian series.Amanda Kate Shumans experience as a writer and executive producer on The Wheel of Time has cemented her as a leading talent in the industry, particularly in the realm of high-concept, fantasy-based television. Her previous work on The Blacklist and Berlin Station shows her ability to craft compelling narratives across a variety of genres, making her well-suited to handle the emotionally complex material of Enigma Variations.Oliver Hermanus, who has directed a range of powerful films, brings his expertise in character-driven stories to this project. His recent film Living, starring Bill Nighy, has been lauded for its poignant exploration of life and regret, themes that align closely with the emotional currents of Enigma Variations. Hermanuss ability to handle delicate, introspective narratives makes him an excellent choice to bring Acimans novel to life.Media Res and Netflixs PartnershipEnigma Variations marks the second collaboration between Media Res and Netflix, following the announcement in September 2024 of Thumblite, a corporate thriller series starring Rosamund Pike. Media Res is known for producing high-quality content, including the acclaimed series The Morning Show and Pachinko for Apple TV+. The production company has developed a strong reputation for delivering both critically acclaimed dramas and commercial successes, and their involvement in Enigma Variations adds further credibility to the project.As Netflix continues to expand its library of original content, the adaptation of Enigma Variations promises to be a significant addition. With an all-star cast and a talented creative team behind the scenes, the series is poised to captivate audiences with its exploration of love, desire, and the enigmatic nature of human connections. As production moves forward, fans of Acimans work and new viewers alike are eagerly anticipating this intimate and compelling series.Stay tuned for more updates on Enigma Variations as it progresses toward its eventual release on Netflix.The post Jeremy Allen White to Star in Netflix Limited Series Adaptation of Andr Acimans Enigma Variations appeared first on Gayety.

Former President Donald Trump is expected to sign two major executive orders on Monday aimed at restricting transgender military service and rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the U.S. military. The orders are part of Trumps ongoing efforts to reverse policies introduced during the Biden administration, including expanding rights for transgender service members and promoting diversity within the armed forces.The executive orders will reinstate a controversial policy from Trumps first term that prohibited transgender people from enlisting in the military and rescind an order signed by President Joe Biden that allowed trans individuals to join the military. Bidens 2021 order also ensured that transgender service members already in uniform could receive coverage for transition-related medical care.Key Details of Trumps Executive OrdersAccording to a White House document detailing the upcoming orders, the new policies will prioritize military readiness and lethality by updating the Department of Defenses medical standards. The executive orders will also include several measures aimed at limiting transgender inclusion, including:A ban on transgender individuals enlisting in the military.The end of gender-specific pronouns in military settings, replacing them with invented and identification-based pronouns.Prohibiting people assigned male at birth from using womens sleeping, changing, or bathing facilities.A ban on coverage for transition-related medical care under the militarys health care program, Tricare, for currently enlisted service members and their families.While the new restrictions will not immediately eject transgender service members from the military, it remains unclear how these orders will affect those already receiving transition-related care through Tricare. Furthermore, Bidens December 2023 defense bill already blocked gender-affirming care for transgender children of service members, an issue that has sparked continued debate.Impact of Previous Transgender Military RestrictionsThe executive orders signed by Trump on Monday will largely mirror the transgender military restrictions he introduced in 2017. Under those guidelines, transgender service members were divided into two categories: exempt and nonexempt. Exempt members were those who had already come out as transgender before the restriction and could continue serving openly, while nonexempt members were required to serve in their birth-assigned gender and were prohibited from receiving any transition-related care. The policy also completely banned transgender people from enlisting in the military.Although Trumps administration argued that the 2017 policy was not a trans military ban, as it allowed for limited waivers, only one waiver was publicly reported during the four years it was in effect.The White House document supporting the new orders justifies the policy by claiming that transition-related surgeries, which often require long recovery times and substantial medical care, make transgender service members unfit for military duties such as deployment. The document also criticizes Bidens repeal of Trumps restrictions, claiming that the previous administrations policy led to millions of dollars in taxpayer spending on transition-related surgeries and care.Militarys Current Transgender Service Members and CostsEstimates on the number of transgender individuals currently serving in the U.S. military vary. A 2014 report by the Williams Institute at UCLA estimated that about 15,500 transgender people were in the military, while a 2016 Rand Corporation study put the number at 10,790, though it noted the figure could be as low as 2,150. The Department of Defense does not publicly report exact figures on the number of transgender service members.A recent report from the Congressional Research Service revealed that between 2016 and 2021, the Defense Department spent approximately $15 million on transition-related care for 1,892 active-duty service members, including $11.5 million on psychotherapy and $3.1 million on surgeries.Reaction from Transgender Service MembersTransgender service members have expressed concern over the potential reinstatement of these restrictions. Emily Shilling, a Navy commander and president of SPARTA, a transgender military advocacy group, came out as a transgender woman in 2019, shortly after Trumps initial restrictions were enacted. Under those rules, she was required to serve in alignment with her birth-assigned gender.I want to keep using the skills this nation invested in me as a fighter pilot and leader, said Shilling, who has served in the military since 2005. Since coming out as transgender, Ive served with distinction, earning a promotion with distinction as the top officer in my community. My country has given me so much, serving it has been my lifes greatest honor.Shilling added that she and other transgender service members simply want to continue serving their country without fear of discrimination or exclusion.Trumps Focus on DEI and Military CurriculumIn addition to the transgender military restrictions, Trump is expected to sign another executive order aimed at curbing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the military. This order will mandate the disbanding of DEI offices within the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security, as well as a review of service academy curricula to ensure the elimination of radical DEI and gender ideologies.In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote, No more DEI at @DeptofDefense and warned that any department personnel who failed to comply with the new directive would be removed.This executive order is part of Trumps broader agenda to dismantle Biden-era initiatives on diversity and gender rights. Shortly after his inauguration, Trump issued several executive orders, including one that recognized only two genders, male and female, and another that ended DEI programs in federal agencies. As part of this push, the State Department recently suspended all passport applications requesting changes to gender markers.As Trump prepares to sign these orders, the ongoing debate over transgender rights and diversity initiatives in the military is set to intensify. With transgender service members facing uncertainty and LGBTQ+ advocates mobilizing against the restrictions, the future of these policies remains unclear. Trumps executive orders, which reflect his commitment to rolling back Biden-era policies, signal a major shift in how the U.S. military will approach transgender service and diversity in the years to come.Jeremy Allen White to Star in Netflix Limited Series Adaptation of Andr Acimans Enigma VariationsBehind Donald Trumps Executive Orders Banning Transgender Military Service and Cracking Down on Diversity InitiativesLady Gaga Announces New Album Mayhem Set for March Release2025 Grammys: First Slate of Performers Announced, Featuring a Diverse Lineup of Queer ArtistsSecretary of State Marco Rubio Orders Suspension of X Gender Marker in U.S. Passport ApplicationsThe post Behind Donald Trumps Executive Orders Banning Transgender Military Service and Cracking Down on Diversity Initiatives appeared first on Gayety.

Since it was such a blast last year, we decided to do it again. The Real Housewives of Salt Lake Citys Meredith Marks welcomed GLAAD into her boutique on Main Street in Park City, Utah to celebrate the LGBTQ community during the Sundance Film Festival. Guests included GLAADs VP of Communications & Talent [...]The post GLAAD at Sundance 2025: RHOSLCs Meredith Marks Celebrates LGBTQ Community at Film Festival first appeared on GLAAD.

Youve probably had a crush on Jeremy Allen White since he was wearing tank tops on Shameless, but now your queer dreams are coming true because hes set to star in an upcoming bisexual romance.Hell not only be starring as bisexual man Paul in Enigma Variations but will also executive produce the limited series for Netflix, Deadline reports.According to the official synopsis, Enigma Variations charts the life of a man named Paul, whose loves remain as consuming and as covetous throughout his adulthood as they were in his adolescence. Whether the setting is southern Italy, where as a boy he has a crush on his parents cabinetmaker, or a snowbound campus in New England, where his enduring passion for a girl hell meet again and again over the years is punctuated by anonymous encounters with men whether hes on a tennis court in Central Park or on a New York sidewalk in early spring. Pauls attachments are ungraspable, transient, and forever underwritten by raw desire. Ahead of every step Paul takes, his hopes, denials, fears, and regrets are always ready to lay their traps. Yet the dream of love lingers. We may not always know what we want. We may remain enigmas to ourselves and to others. But sooner or later, we discover who weve always known we were.Enigma Variations is an adaptation of a novel of the same name by Andr Aciman, who also wrote the book the gay coming of age romance Call Me by Your Name was based on.Oliver Hermanus is also attached to direct. This wont be the only gay romance hes working on this year, his Paul Mescal and Josh OConnor gay period piece History of Sound is set to be released in 2025. Not only is White currently working on the fourth season of The Bear for which he has won two Emmys and three Golden Globes to date but hes also starring in the upcoming Bruce Springsteen biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere and the Star Wars movie The Mandelorian & Grogu.

Sapphic sex can be hot, magical, and completely unforgettable, but its also hard work!Between remembering when to breathe when youre getting to work downstairs, your tongue cramping, your wrist starting to hurt, or losing stamina when youre scissoring or strapping, there are just as many ways sex can go wrong as it can go deliciously right. But never fear because lesbians are as generous with their sex advice tips as they are as lovers. So whether youre a baby dyke, a late-in-life lesbian, or someone just looking to up your bedroom game, there are plenty of ways to increase your stamina so you can go for longer without huffing and puffing like youre at the gym. This way, when youre girlfriend says, Right there, dont stop! you can keep going until shes had multiple orgasms instead of having to tap out early from exhaustion.OralIf your jaw starts aching and your tongue cramps before shes even tripping down your chin, it may be time to employ a unique technique to push past the discomfort to get your girl that O. According to Autostraddle, the key is to distract your brain with reciprocal inhibition. The idea is to contract a different muscle when you start to get a cramp. So when youre tongue starts to hurt, move your leg, arm, or finger repeatedly without having to stop eating her out. The motion will distract your brain and let you keep going all night long.FingeringSee on InstagramLizzy Bristow aka Body by Daddy on social media is a queer fitness influencer who is known for her fitness routines that help people with body dysmorphia, but she also has tips for workout that will keep you from getting tired or having pain during sex.If you feel the need to ice your wrists after fingering your partner, Bristol has the workout for you. Take two small weighted plates if youre at the gym or a hammer if you work out at home, and hold it in your hand while youre sitting and balancing your elbow on your thigh. Then, just let your wrist drop and lift it back up. Simple!StrappingSee on InstagramBristow has even more tips when it comes to building a body strong enough to use a strap-on without your muscles getting too worn out. She's come up with a beginner's workout for building a body that will allow you to be on top without a problem. She recommends a combination of planks, glute bridges, negative push-ups, and crunches to get you into tip-top strapping shape!ScissoringYes, scissoring is real, and some sapphics love it. But there are two problems: leg cramps and too much friction. The solution? According to Quinn the audio erotic app a stretching routine before you fall into bed with someone will ensure you don't get a pesky cramp halfway through, and lots of lube will keep everything slippery so you don't have painful friction.

Demi Lovato, the non-binary pop star, has issued a heartfelt statement in response to former President Donald Trumps recent anti-trans executive order. The order, signed on January 20 as Trump began his second term in office, has been widely criticized as a direct attack on LGBTQ+ rights. It stipulates that the U.S. will recognize only male and female genders, labeling them as unchangeable, a move that has sparked outrage from activists and members of the transgender and non-binary communities.In a powerful show of solidarity, Lovato took to Instagram to share a message of support for LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly those who are trans and non-binary, following the signing of the controversial executive order.Lovatos Message of SolidarityLovato, who came out as non-binary in May 2021 and has since used they/them pronouns, shared an emotional post to reassure their followers. If you are trans or non-binary like me, please know that I see you, I feel you, I am with you. You are validated, you are loved, and you are not alone, they wrote on their Instagram Story. No one can take away our identities and no one can tell us who we are or arent. We will get thru this. I love you.The message was a reminder to Lovatos followers that despite the challenges posed by such policies, their identities remain valid and protected. Lovatos words resonated deeply with the LGBTQ+ community, especially those who felt targeted by the executive order, which many consider a setback for transgender rights.Backlash to Trumps Executive OrderTrumps executive order is seen by many as part of a broader political agenda to erase the legal recognition of non-binary and gender-nonconforming individuals. The order seeks to eliminate protections for transgender people and mandates that only the binary genders of male and female be recognized by the U.S. government, undermining the legitimacy of identities that exist outside of this framework. Critics, including LGBTQ+ advocates and activists, have denounced the order as harmful and discriminatory, particularly for trans and non-binary individuals who have fought for years to have their gender identities legally recognized.Demi Lovatos statement, which offered a message of reassurance and unity, comes at a time when many within the LGBTQ+ community are grappling with the potential ramifications of such policies. Lovatos visibility as a non-binary public figure continues to be an essential part of the ongoing fight for equality and acceptance.Lovatos Advocacy and JourneyThis is not the first time Lovato has spoken out in support of the LGBTQ+ community. Since coming out as non-binary in 2021, Lovato has used their platform to raise awareness about issues affecting gender-nonconforming individuals, including the struggles faced by transgender people in the U.S. Their candidness about their own gender identity and experiences has helped normalize discussions around gender fluidity, especially within the pop music industry.In a separate interview with GQ magazine in June 2023, Lovato opened up about their decision to re-adopt she/her pronouns alongside they/them. I constantly had to educate people and explain why I identified with those pronouns, Lovato shared. It was absolutely exhausting. I just got tired. But for that very reason, I know that it is important to continue spreading the word. At the time, Lovato explained that the choice was not an abandonment of their non-binary identity but rather a personal decision to ease some of the burdens of constant explanation.As of now, Lovatos Instagram bio lists their pronouns as they/them/she/her, reflecting their fluid approach to gender identity.Support from Other LGBTQ+ FiguresLovatos statement is part of a larger wave of defiance against Trumps executive order, with many other public figures also voicing their opposition. Michelle Visage, a judge on RuPauls Drag Race, took to social media to express her own outrage. You will not erase my child, Visage wrote in a defiant post, standing firm in her commitment to supporting transgender and non-binary individuals.Visages post highlights the broader pushback from within the LGBTQ+ community, which has rallied around Lovatos message of love and resilience. The response to the executive order reflects the growing strength and solidarity within the community, as well as the shared commitment to protecting the rights of all individuals, regardless of gender identity.Lovatos Upcoming WorkOutside of their activism, Demi Lovato continues to make waves in the music industry. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the release of new music, with reports circulating about a potential new track titled Breathe, which is said to feature RuPauls Drag Race UK star Bimini. Lovatos influence extends beyond their musical talent, as they continue to use their platform to advocate for greater inclusion and understanding of LGBTQ+ issues.Lovatos ongoing commitment to authenticity and advocacy has made them an important figure for many in the LGBTQ+ community, and their words of support in the wake of Trumps executive order are yet another example of how they use their platform to uplift and empower others.Demi Lovatos response to Donald Trumps anti-trans executive order is a powerful reminder of the importance of visibility, solidarity, and support within the LGBTQ+ community. As one of the few high-profile non-binary celebrities, Lovatos message holds particular significance, offering reassurance to those who may feel vulnerable or marginalized. In a time when the rights of trans and non-binary individuals are under threat, Lovatos words serve as both a comforting affirmation and a call to action.With more LGBTQ+ figures, including Michelle Visage, speaking out in opposition to the executive order, the fight for equal rights continues, and Lovatos commitment to this cause remains unwavering. As the LGBTQ+ community faces these challenges, it is clear that Lovato and others will continue to stand in solidarity and fight for the recognition and rights of all individuals, regardless of their gender identity.The post Demi Lovato Responds to Trumps Anti-Trans Executive Order with Powerful Message of Support appeared first on Gayety.

On Monday night, President Donald Trump signed the Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness executive order, effectively banning transgender people from serving in the military. Trump has done this before during his first administration, an order which was reversed by the Biden administration. Now once again, the militarys estimated 15,000 trans troops are once again facing losing careers, benefits and communities.The executive order comes at the end of a week filled with sweeping actions by Trump, including pardoning some 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants, ending the federal death penalty moratorium and declaring there are only two sexes, male and female. This is in addition to immigration raids taking part across the country.The Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness states the Armed Forces have been afflicted with radical gender ideology to appease activists unconcerned with the requirements of military service like physical and mental health, selflessness, and unit cohesion.The order states that in addition to those undergoing gender affirming care, the mere act of being trans conflicts with a soldiers commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in ones personal life. A mans assertion that he is a woman, and his requirement that others honor this falsehood, is not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.In response to the order, the Human Rights Campaign and Lambda Legal announced in a joint press release their intentions to sue the Trump administration.Our military service members, including thousands of transgender troops, wear the same uniform, take the same oath, and meet the same rigorous standards. They are heroes who put their lives on the line to protect our countryand we owe them all a debt of gratitude, said Sarah Warbelow, Human Rights Campaign Vice President of Legal.PFLAG National issued the following statement in regards to the ban.Every person who has the courage, the fortitude, and the skill to choose to wear the uniform in service of our country demands our respect and our gratitude, said PFLAG National CEO Brian K. Bond. Last nights action to put transgender service members in the closet revisits the failed military policy of Dont Ask, Dont Tell and demonstrates the extent of the presidents disdain for those who serve. Our nation owes transgender members of the military, Coast Guard, and their families the same solemn duty as every service member: to ensure their ability to patriotically serve is not hampered by politics or personal agenda. PFLAG continues to fight for the right for every transgender service member to serve openly, as we have for decades.SPARTA Pride, Community of Transgender Americans Serving In The Military, also issued a statement.Transgender service members currently fill critical roles in combat arms, aviation, nuclear engineering, law enforcement, and military intelligence, many requiring years of specialized training and expertise. Transgender troops have deployed to combat zones, served in high- stakes missions, and demonstrated their ability to strengthen unit cohesion and morale.While some transgender troops do have surgery, the recovery time and cost is minimal, and is scheduled so as not to impact deployments or mission readiness (all of which is similar to a non-emergent minor knee surgery). The readiness and physical capabilities of transgender service members is not different from that of other service members.Former service member and LGBTQ+ advocate Charlotte Clymer took to Bluesky to share her thoughts on the trans military ban, which is expected to begin implementation in the next 30-60 days.Removing trans people from our military will only weaken our national security, erasing billions in personnel development and expertise, significantly harming our militarys recruitment and retention efforts, and ultimately making our country less prepared against threats, said Clymer. It will make us less safe.The post Trump signs executive order effectively banning trans people from serving appeared first on News Is Out.

I wear my Dear Black Gay Men (DBGM) merch everywhere I go. It's something I created and was excited to share with the world. But here's the thingit wasn't always easy for me. When we developed it, I was resistant to wearing something that said "gay" so boldly anywhere that wasn't a homogenous gay space, especially being based in the South. But how could I be the brand ambassador if I wasn't willing to wear the brand? I had been out for decades now, speaking loudly and proudly about being a gay man on my platforms. But something felt incredibly vulnerable, having my identity seen outside the environments I had control of. Learning to step into that discomfort was a process. For weeks, maybe months, I had to force myself to wear the DBGM words in everyday scenarios. Going to the gym, the store, and running errands. I could feel the looks as people tried to process what this merch was trying to say. I felt the weight of people's stares as they tried to make sense of the words, especially because "Dear Black Gay Men" is an intentionally unfinished statement. I began to realize there was safety in blending into the background. For most, it is possible to obscure our sexuality to feel safe or even welcomed. Still, I pushed myself to invite stares and whatever emotions came with it. Most looks were slight disgust, which I absolutely felt. Other less invasive looks were trying to figure out what exactly I was trying to say with these pieces. Both reactions lingered in ways I could feel down to my bones, but I continued to bury these fears and chose to ignore the stares. Then, on January 20, 2025, discomfort became much sharper. The newly sworn-in president of the (dis)United States of America, during his inauguration address, effectively erased a whole population of people with five words, "there are only two genders."Upon hearing this, my first thought went immediately to my friend Hope Giselle. Hope, a Black trans activist and author, is a force. I watched her work tirelessly to improve the lives of trans, gender non-conforming, and women across the country. I've heard her stories of protest and struggle. She's put herself on the line countless times, sharing her struggles and triumphs on social media while never backing down. And with a single sentence, the president essentially erased her, her work, and her identity. It hurt me, but I could only imagine how much more it hurt her and all the men, women, and gender non-conforming folks who were left scared for their futures and the consequences to come from this declaration of invalidation.Two days later, I got ready to head to Las Vegas for this year's Creating Change Conference, a gathering meant to bring together the nation's foremost political leaders, changemakers, and citizens in the LGBTQ+ movement. It was cold, so I wore my favorite DBGM hat and hoodie. I'd done the work to think of this merch as any other shirt and hat in my closet. Only this time, walking through the airport, I felt the invasive sting of onlookers just like I did months ago. It wasn't curiosity and disbelief. It felt like hostility.My hoodie, hat, and I were an affront to a few. The woman in 31D glanced up from Fox News to glare at me; the lady at the terminal turned her face up at me eating my blueberry muffin, and the gate agent looked in shock as if I had a target on my chest. It was as if my hat and hoodie were suddenly an agitator meant to stoke anger. 47 made a statement about gendera topic that so many cisgender queer and gay men feel separate from. He overtly declared war on gender, yet it was a dog whistle with impacts on our entire LGBTQ+ community. I am feeling its cultural sting in real-time. tk captiontk Courtesy AuthorReflecting on the Uber to the hotel, I recalled a conversation I had on a podcast with fellow creators where I listened, exasperated, as cisgender men confidently and disrespectfully misgendered trans women. They created offensive standards of womanhood by claiming trans women must be "passable" or "pretty." They could not understand how offensive and harmful their language was and how it exacerbated the division within queer culture between Black cis and trans, gender non-conforming folks. I sat there hearing my friend Hope Giselle saying in my head, "trans erasure from another Black butch queen."I hear that voice again now.When cis queer men choose apathy toward trans and gender-expansive folks, we align with the oppressor. By failing to stand in solidarity, we create division within our communities. A division those in power ruthlessly exploit. 47's words don't just erase trans identities. They erase all of us. His message of exclusion becomes culture. Culture trickles down to me, to you, to us. It's in the looks, the microaggressions, the broad strokes of prejudice we feel in daily interactions. His war on gender attacks me as a gay Black man just as much as it attacks my trans siblings.Our liberation is entwined.The work I did to make myself comfortable in discomfort is even more crucial, and I know it is something I have to keep pushing forward with. The looks I received remind me how we must all be present and vocal. My team member on DBGM, John, reminds us at every meeting and every show that being Black and gay (or queer, or trans, or all the identities that gay touches) is an innately political act of resistance. Until now, I have given him lip service and acknowledgment. But now I see the importance of his words. Every single day we exist and thrive is a statement in the face of forces that want us erased. I'm blessed to have Hopes and Johns in my life to open my eyes and push me toward these realizations. And the truth I have discovered is this: Any day I fail to fight alongside our trans kin is a day I choose my oppressor's side. And that battle plays out in the mundanethe way we hold space for each other, the discomfort we're willing to endure, and the stares we're brave enough to meet wearing a hoodie and hat that says "Dear Black Gay Men." Our mere existence is resistance. There's no neutral ground. How will you show up to fight today?Jai the Gentleman is the host and founder 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. Jai amplifies the voices and experiences of Black gay men through raw, authentic content and conversations free from taboo, and his national platform has become a trusted space where no topic is off-limits.

Fans of Agatha All Along are in for a disappointing update, according to Patti LuPone.Ever since the witchy Kathryn Hahn-led Marvel series grabbed gays by the throat last fall, weve all been waiting with bated breath to find out if theres any chance for a season two.But LuPone, who played Lilia, recently dished on why thats unlikely to happen.Speaking with Andy Cohen during an episode of his Sirius XM podcast, she explained that she once had high hopes for a season two herself. Creator Jac Schaeffer dashed those hopes when she gave LuPone a heads up that her character, Lilia, wasnt going to make it off the Witches Road alive. But even if she had, a continuation of Agatha All Along didnt seem to be on the table."[Schaffer] said, 'I dont do second seasons,"" LuPone recalled. She said, 'They wanted me to do a second season of WandaVision and I didnt.' She said, 'Theres too much to write,' so she does one-offs."Now, obviously this isnt a definitive answer. Schaeffer may have changed her mind after the fan response to the beloved series, or Marvel and Disney could decide to carry on without her. But it certainly isnt giving way to optimism, especially considering Schaeffers own public remarks about continuing the show have been notably vague."With this show, we wanted to tell a complete story, and I hope that we did," she told Decider back in October. "But a fan and as an admirer, I believe that there is so much more story to tell about all of these characters."At the time, fans hoped that meant she saw a future for season two. But knowing that Marvel loves tossing characters between various parts of its cinematic and TV universe and that weve already heard Agatha herself will be returning to the MCU in general, Schaeffers statement feels less meaningful.Its undoubtedly a disappointing update to fans of the series, many of whom seemed to come to Agatha All Along for this specific combination of characters and story rather than an interest in the broader MCU. And considering one of the praises for Agatha was that it felt like a return to episodic storytelling within the confines of streaming, which often tops out at 8-10 episodes per season, hearing that Schaeffer may not be interested in that feels like an added blow to TV fans. (@) But without any official announcement, theres always going to be some kernel of hope to cling to all the same.