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Oh, theyre so back! With the season 2 premiere of Apple TV+s The Buccaneersstreaming last week, fans are hungry for more, especially fans of the sapphic ship Ma-noria. And theyre in luck! In an exclusive new clip of season 2 episode 2 of The Buccaneers,Mabel and Honoria are reunited and ready to take things to [...]The post GLAAD EXCLUSIVE: Watch a Sneak Peek of #MANORIA in New Episode of The Buccaneers: So Do we live together now? first appeared on GLAAD.

Sorry, boys. Brad Pitt "missed that window" of having "a gay experience."During an interview to promote F1: The Movie, Brad Pitt revealed that he and his brother got called "gay" and the f-word at a young age, discussed his relationship to masculinity, and revealed if he's had a "gay experience" in the past.Sign up for the Out Newsletter to keep up with what's new in LGBTQ+ culture and entertainment delivered three times a week straight (well) to your inbox!Pitt, who's a producer of F1: The Movie and also stars in the film as Sonny Hayes, appeared in a new episode of the Armchair Expert podcast cohosted by Dax Shepard and Monica Padman. In the interview, Shepard who's been open and vocal about being in A.A. asked Pitt how he felt about discussing it.Brad Pitt says he never had a 'gay experience' because he 'missed that window.'Shepard who's been open and vocal about being in A.A. for several years asked Pitt if he felt comfortable to discuss it.Shepard asked, "Given the way you and I met, does it make you nervous""Sexually, you mean?" Pitt interrupted."Oh, he wishes!" Padman added.Shepard teased, "That's hopefully where it ends!""You know, I've never had a gay experience," Pitt said. "I kind of missed that window. But if I did, it wouldn't be you."Shepard, who was laughing, reacted: "Oh man, you had me. I was like, 'Wow, he's going to say it.'"Pitt replied, "[You'd be] maybe 14th, or 15th.""I don't want to brag, but you're going to need to build up to me," Shepard quipped. "I do recommend you start with some starters."Brad Pitt's journey to sobriety.The men circled back to the actual question that Shepard was trying to ask: If Pitt had any issues talking about A.A. and identifying himself as a recovering alcoholic."No, not at all. Quite at ease," Pitt responded. "We can say, 'men's group,' right?"Shepard said, "I say A.A. You're not supposed to, but I say it."Pitt agreed, "I said that on some New York Times interview, and what an amazing thing this experience was for me. It was a men's groupwhen I first was getting sober. I just thought it was just incredible men sharing their experiences."According to Pitt, however, he "got admonished by someone of the higher-ups, saying, 'It's anonymous.'"A younger Brad Pitt and his brother were called homophobic slurs.When asked, Pitt talked about having two siblings a younger brother and younger sister. According to the actor, his brother is now very successful in all of his endeavors. When they were both growing up, however, Pitt recalled that his brother "was wild."Shepard asked, "Did you ever have to beat anyone up to save your brother?""No. In fact, I remember he got in fights before I did," Pitt replied. "I remember getting in a fight and I grabbed a guy in the balls."Shepard and Padman laughed at the story. Pitt added, "It worked. "Desperation!""I wonder why it worked, though," Shepard wondered. "Was it because it hurt so bad, or because everyone was such a homophobe back then?"Padman asked, "Was that happening then? Was there a lot of calling you a 'wuss,' and 'don't be gay'?""Yeah," Pitt said. "'Don't cry.' 'Don't be gay.' 'You fag.' That kind of stuff. A lot of that.""That was that errorthat era, but error."Listen to Brad Pitt's full interview on the Armchair Expert podcast below.

Lesbian Jesus has some good news to share!Singer, actor, and writer Hayley Kiyoko has announced the names of the actors who will star in the upcoming movie adaptation of her hit song and music video, "Girls Like Girls."The announcement comes on the 10th anniversary of the music video, which was released on June 24, 2015."Based on Kiyokos breakthrough hit song and viral music video of the same name, the film tells the universal story of falling in love for the first time and learning to accept yourself along the way," the logline reads.Here's everything you need to know about the song, music video, and upcoming movie!What is 'Girls Like Girls'?In February 2015, lesbian pop singer Hayley Kiyoko released her song "Girls Like Girls," an anthem of queer love and self-acceptance. On June 24 of that same year, she released the "Girls Like Girls" music video, which she also directed.The music video now has over 159 million views on YouTube, has helped a generation of girls come out, and earned Kiyoko the nickname "Lesbian Jesus."Is there a book of 'Girls Like Girls'?See on InstagramYes! In 2023, Kiyoko adapted the story of the music video into the New York Times best-selling novel of the same name.Just like the music video, the novel follows Coley, an Asian-American teen who moves to a new town in the 2000s and falls in love with her new best friend. The only problem is that her best friend has a boyfriend.When was the 'Girls Like Girls' movie announced?See on InstagramIn 2024, Focus Features announced it had acquired the rights to the film version of Girls Like Girls, based on Kiyoko's viral song and music video. Kiyoko has directed several of her music videos, including "Girls Like Girls," but the film will be her feature directorial debut."It's been such a challenging journey to bring this film to life, and it feels like a huge win to finally share it with all of you!" Kiyoko told Out at the time. "My fans have been asking for this for so long, and honestly, this is the kind of story I desperately needed when I was growing up. I feel so honored to share my journey and bring 'Girls Like Girls' to the big screen.""As a community, we know how rare it is to see representation that truly reflects our experiences and even rarer for it to be fully supported in film and TV," she continued. "I can't wait for the world to see this story. I hope it inspires people to believe in queer joy and chase their dreams, no matter how long it takes. Nine years later we did it!"Who is writing the 'Girls Like Girls' movie?See on InstagramKiyoko has co-written the film with Stefanie Scott, who played Coley in the original music video."Back in 2017, I started jotting down ideas and dreaming up scenarios for Coley and Sonya, and creating a world around them from scratch just in my iphone notes app," Scott shared on Instagram in 2024. "In 2018, I finally took the leap and shared themand got hired to actually write the screenplay. (Aghhh dream come true) Its been an incredible honor to be trusted with this story, and after keeping the secret close to my heart for nearly nine years, Im thrilled to finally share it. I know the music video and Coley + Sonya were special to some of you out there and so we were sure to keep you in mind every step of the way. It is finally happening!"Who is starring in the 'Girls Like Girls' movie?See on InstagramKiyoko revealed on Instagram that the film will star Maya da Costa as Coley and Myra Molloy as Sonya.Da Costa is known for starring in the miniseries Under the Bridge opposite Lily Gladstone, Riley Keough, and Vritika Gupta.Molloy appeared in eight episodes of the show Halfworlds and made an appearance in The Bold Type. She also acted in the film He's All That.The film's IMDb page also lists Zach Braff (Scrubs, Garden State) as starring in the movie, though this is unconfirmed.

In order to know where we're going, we need to remember where we came from!If the past few years have taught us anything, it's that while the global LGBTQ+ community has come a long way when it comes tolerance and representation in all facets of life, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done when it comes to fighting for our rights to live and love as our most authentic selves.While it's easy to put blinders on and focus on the road ahead, an important part of the journey is to look back on how far you've come. There's a lot at stake for many of us and as another Pride Month comes and goes, it's always the perfect time to reminisce on our roots. These 31 vintage portraits of Pride in 1994 are a perfect way to do just that.These stunning photographs capture the spirit of Pride season that was in the air throughout the entire month of June 1994 in cities like New York, London, Paris, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Let's take a trip into Prides past with these historical photos from three decades ago.

We love these TV couples!TV audiences love a good ship!Gay and queer relationships are often one of the fandom's favorite parts of a TV show. Whether the couple is canon or not, fans have a lot of fun with fan fiction, fan art, and other ways to express their love. Unfortunately, lesbian and sapphic couples often get pushed to the side by the fandom in favor of male/male ships sometimes even male/male ships that aren't even canon. There are other times when sapphic ships don't receive enough attention because a show is too packed with other exciting things happening.Here are some of our fan-favorite and often underappreciated lesbian and sapphic ships from television.Brittany and Santana 'Glee'While Santana and Brittany got plenty of love on Glee, there's no doubt that they were overshadowed on the show by another popular gay couple - Kurt and Blaine.One of the most blatant examples comes in the episode where Santana and Brittany are getting married. The two young women have planned and organized their dream wedding, and then, at the last minute, they decide to invite Kurt and Blaine to get married alongside them, making their special day about another couple.Streaming on HuluHen and Karen Wilson '9-1-1'If you were to ask most people what the most popular same-sex relationship on 9-1-1 is, you'd most likely hear the answer, Buck and Eddie. While Buck did eventually come out as bisexual on the show, he and Eddie are still just friends.The show does, however, have a long-running lesbian couple in Henrietta "Hen" Wilson (Aisha Hinds) and her wife, Karen (Tracie Thoms). Hen and Karen have been together since season 1, and now, they are married and have two children.Streaming on HuluValentina and Mia, 'White Lotus'Valentina (Sabrina Impacciatore) was the secret MVP of The White Lotus season 2. While people were being distracted by a family of American womanizers, murderous gays, and a pseudo-uncle-cousin sexual relationship, this lesbian hotel manager had the best storyline of the whole season.At first, Valentina has an unrequited crush on her subordinate, Isabella. When that doesn't work out, she's heartbroken. That's when sex worker Mia (Beatrice Grann) approaches her, and Valentina reveals she had never been with a woman before. Mia takes Valentina up to one of the hotel's empty rooms, and her life is forever changed.Streaming on HBO MaxNomi Marks and Amanita Caplan 'Sense8'We understand why Lito and Miguel are such a popular ship on this sci-fi show from The Wachowskis, but we also want to share our love for Nomi and Amanita! Not only are they an adorable, sexy, and loving lesbian couple, but they are also one of the few good examples of a lesbian relationship involving a trans woman on TV.Streaming on NetflixAnnalise Keating and Tegan Pride 'How to Get Away with Murder'How to Get Away with Murder had plenty of sexy relationships and hookups, and one fan-favorite is the relationship between Connor Walsh (Jack Falahee) and Oliver Hampton (Conrad Ricamora).One of our favorite couples from the show is Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) and Tegan Pride (Amirah Vann), who joined the show in season 4 and became a regular in season 5. Unfortunately, their relationship didn't get as much screen time as we would have liked!Streaming on HuluOla Nyman and Lily Iglehart, 'Sex Education'There's a lot of sex and relationships going on in Sex Education. One of the favorites is the relationship between Eric (Ncuti Gatwa) and Adam (Connor Swindells), an openly gay student and his former bully. We also want to give a shout out to another favorite, though often overlooked, relationship: Ola and Lily!Lily is a strange student who is obsessed with aliens and becomes Ola's chaperone when Ola joins their school in season 2 of the show. Later, Ola has a dream where she kisses Lily, making her realize she is pansexual. Soon, the two start dating, though their relationship isn't without its ups and downs.Streaming on NetflixDr. Tara Lewis and Rebecca Wilson 'Criminal Minds Evolution'When Criminal Minds was revived in 2022, it was renamed Criminal Minds: Evolution. The show has over 350 episodes in its 18 seasons, so there are plenty of relationships to love. One of our favorites is the relationship between pansexual forensic psychologist Dr. Tara Lewis (Aisha Tyler) and prosecutor Rebecca Wilson (Nicole Pacent). The two characters appear on Criminal Minds: Evolution, and are one of our current favorite parts of the show.Streaming on Paramount+Ramona Royale and The Coutness 'American Horror Story: Hotel'Of course, each season of American Horror Story is full of wild terrors and steamy sex. Still, we want to give some special attention to Ramona and The Countess Elizabeth, played by two legends: Angela Bassett and Lady Gaga.In the 1970s, Ramona was a blaxploitation film star before meeting Elizabeth. When they met, they started a decade-long relationship, and the Countess turned Ramona into one of her vampires. Unfortunately, so much was going on in this season that their love story got overshadowed.Streaming on HuluCruz and Josie 'Lioness'You might think Lioness is all about action and thrills, but one of the best parts of the show is queer character Gunnery Sergeant Cruz Manuelos (Laysla De Oliveira), who works with the Lioness program. In season 2, she's recruited to shadow Josephina "Josie" Carrillo, a US Army Apache pilot with a family connection to a Mexican cartel. What starts as a job soon turns into love for the two.Streaming on Paramount+Tina and Wolfie 'Nine Perfect Strangers'This twisty and dark drama about a wellness retreat led by Masha Dmitrichenko (Nicole Kidman) has a great queer couple in season 2 that you might not know about! Wolfie (Maisie Richardson-Sellers) and Tina (King Princess) are a pair of girlfriends who visit the wellness retreat in the second season. Nine Perfect Strangers has a large cast of talented actors, but this is one relationship viewers should key in on.Streaming on Hulu

A so-called "Hetero Awesome Fest" held in Boise, Idaho over the weekend ended in disaster as its mere dozens of attendees witnessed its organizer fight a musician while a local podcast host bragged about the city's lack of Black residents. Mark Fitzpatrick, owner of the Old State Saloon, organized the event as a "celebration of traditional gender norms and heterosexual awesomeness" and an "alternative" to LGBTQ+ Pride Month. The festival, held on June 20 and 21 directly across from the Idaho State Capitol in Cecil D. Andrus Park, aint your limp-wristed woke fest; its a full-on celebration of family values with guts.And LGBTQ+ Pride it was not people actually go to Pride events. Still, the festival managed to draw attention over the past several days for all the wrong reasons. Here's everything that happened.Just four dozen people attendedOnly about 30 to 50 people attended "Hetero Awesome Fest" across the two days, according to estimates by local station KTVB. This is roughly the size of the self-proclaimed "World's Smallest Pride Parade" in 2023, which was held by a neighborhood of around 40 people. Similar "straight pride events" have a long history of attracting laughably low turnout. One event in California in 2019 turned out just 20 attendees in comparison to 200 pro-LGBTQ+ protestors, and an event the same year in Texas organized by the people who hosted Boston's failed straight pride parade attracted just three people, one of whom later said she did not know what the event was and rebuked it. So Paulo Gay Pride in Brazil is considered the largest Pride celebration in the world, attracting about three to five million attendees every year. The largest celebrations in North America are Toronto Pride and New York City Pride, which each attract millions annually. Pro-LGBTQ+ musician wrestled off stage@rowanastraa pro-LGBTQ musician managed to play the stage at hetero awesome festival in downtown Boise, ID. The organizers were not happy, pulled the mic, and kicked the musician out. This person is a hero. #lgbtq #boise #idaho #protest #musicA large swath of the few attendees at "Hetero Awesome Fest" were musician Daniel Hamrick and a group of his friends. Hamrick was invited onstage to perform at one point, but before beginning, he took off an overshirt to reveal a jacket with rainbow and pink triangle patches, and a crop top reading Keep Canyon County Queer." He then played his song titled "Boy" about a young transgender boy.They put him in dresses to keep him in line / They say Its a phase and Its all in his mind,'" Hamrick sang. "They put him in ballet, he wants to play ball / What matters to him doesnt matter at all."They grew out his hair but he wanted it short / Put him in a skirt, now hes all out of shorts / Its not just aesthetics, its down to his heart / Theyre breaking his will and hes breaking apart," the song continued. This kid has got no chance / To stop the woke advance, let teacher take a glance: Whats in your underpants? / Elephants taking pride in tr*nny suicide / When all the books are fried, well see how many die!As Hamrick sang the line Afraid of the news on his parents TV, his microphone was cut, and Fitzpatrick climbed on to the stage to forcibly remove him. Another man in attendance, who mistook Fitzpatrick as a protestor attempting to disrupt the festival, then jumped onto the stage to confront him. Security officers intervened, and escorted Hamrick and his friends from the event. "He sang a song with lyrics that go against our values," Fitzpatrick told KTVB. "This is yet another example of lies and deceptions from the Pride community. Thats what they are: liars and deceivers. They do it to victimize children. Its pathetic and evil."'There aren't any Black people here' (@) While "Hetero Awesome Fest" was being criticized for its anti-LGBTQ+ mission, clips began circulating online of podcaster at the event who made racist remarks about the small number of Black residents in the area."There's still very good bars around, great food, there's the Basque district, again, it's clean, there aren't any Black people here," said Dave Reilly, co-host of self-described "premier American Nationalist talk show" The Backlash.Fitzpatrick has received sharp condemnation for allowing Reilly to set up at the event. He told Idaho News 6 that Reilly asked to interview the speakers at the event, which he allowed without doing further research. He said that he does not share Reilly's views, stating that "as long as they recognize that they're a sinner and they know that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins ... doesn't matter what color you are.""You'll never hear that from me. I won't say that, nor do I think it was wise or a kind thing for him to say," Fitzpatrick said. "[Reilly] has to be responsible for what he says, so if people are throwing out allegations of racism to actually ascribe them to me is completely ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous."Reilly has doubled down on his statement, telling the outlet: "Diversity is a weakness, not a strength. The LGBTQIA+ movement is Satanic. Straight white people are welcome and wanted in Idaho. Christ is King."This is not the first time a "straight pride" event has been linked to White Nationalism the organizer of the 2019 festival in California admitted that the people behind the event are a "totally peaceful racist group."

Within the span of a few hours, I had settled into my Hell's Kitchen hotel room and prepared for not one but two interviews that night. Admittedly, I was flustered upon my arrival at the Cafeteria. For almost 30 years, Cafeteria has and remains an iconic New York institution in the heart of Chlesea, welcoming everyone from out-of-towners to notable New Yorkers to enjoy drinks, delights, and a damn good time. Like the establishment, DJ Lina Bradford is another one of New York's institutions, an iconic tastemaker of sound and an enduring presence of the citys nightlife.Calm conversations and cocktail lounge music wafted in the air in the main dining lounge. A staffer escorted me to the PDR, a dedicated private dining area used every Friday for Linas weekly residency. The air was electrified with laughter and the clinks of martini glasses. And in the center of it all was a tall, glowing woman with an incandescent smile framed by brown-blonde tousled hair. I had officially entered the space where Lina held her court. And like any good hostess, she welcomed me and anyone who entered with utmost courtesy. Love and light is what I'm all about, Bradford says at the start of the interview. That's been the first check in the gig. And what a gigor, rather, several gigsshes had over the years. Bradfords mythos reads like a bedtime story penned by Grace Jones and Michelle Visage over martinis: born and raised across the street from Carnegie Hall, raised by a grandmother who marched in the S&M contingent of New York City Pride when Pride still felt like a protest, and coached by nightlife legends who believed a good record could cure heartbreak on the dance floor. A Carnegie Hall ChildhoodGrowing up with windows that opened onto one of the worlds most venerated stages might turn any kid into a diva, but for Bradford, it was like graduate school. I was an only child always around older people, so I paid attention, she recalls. You dont know where youre going if you dont know where you came fromhave engagement with your predecessors, the people who got you here, stuff that you cant Google. Between afternoon people-watching the rush outside Carnegie to tagging along with her grandmother to legendary spots like Paradise Garage, the young Lina learned two rules: A dance floor should be a blend of humanity, and the beat better have soul. From Pointe Shoes to Pitch ControlBradfords first love was dance. She moved as if her life depended on it, which, spiritually speaking, it did. Then in 1997, fateor rather a darepushed her behind the turntables. I never thought about being a DJ; it was never on my radar. So I took the Pepsi Challenge and said, Why not? she laughs. In many ways, her dance lessons are still applied to the turntables, proudly proclaiming that she is a DJ who dances with the music and mentally crafts an arc from one song to another a kinetic approach that makes it even more worthwhile to enjoy it in person. If Im not gonna get off [on the dance floor], youre not gonna get off, she retorts. That philosophy is audible in every set with plush, vocal-heavy house rather than the pots and pans of soulless EDM. Bradford cites mentors like the late Frankie Knuckles and other saints of the sacred 4/4 as guiding spirits. Music was amazing back thensoulful house music, she says. Im gonna hit you on that level before anything. Limelight Lessons & Sunday Sermons on Fire Island American dance band Deee-Lite: (from left) Lady Miss Kier, Supa DJ Dmitry, and Towa Tei arrive at The Limelight nightclub, New York City, 1991Vinnie Zuffante/Getty ImagesAsk any nightlife historian about New Yorks Club Kid era, and youll hear tales of bold fashion and late-night parties that bled into breakfast unannounced. For Lina, those electric nights were a master class in plurality. You never knew who you were gonna meet, she reminisces, It was about what you were bringing. Whether that was going to the Roxy and randomly seeing Linda Evangelista on a swing, or bumping into the likes of Christy Turlington at another club, New York was fun and fabulous.The early 90s was a really fun, fabulous time. That energy still guides her 2025 sets, dropping tracks full of Black queer lineage from the heart of Chelsea to the Pines. For more than a decade, Bradford has hosted a weekend tea dance in Fire Island Pines that has become akin to queer church. Its within these sacred spaces that she blesses the crowd with music they wont typically hear on the airwaves. That party was special because it was classics, Lina says. She doesnt give you commercialunless she gives it to you as a remixbut always makes room to throw in a Ross track. She now brings that sonic sermon to the airwaves every Sunday for "Sunset On The Porch with DJ Lina, on Sirius XMs Andy Cohens Kiki Lounge channel. Building a Benetton Dance Floor When the White House Correspondents Dinner booked Bradford in 2022, some wondered how a DJ known for soulful house would translate for senators in bow ties. She approached the gig in the same way she once staged elaborate Barbie storylines Lina is an avid Barbie collector with the art of curation paramount in every situation. For her, its not so much a challenge as finding new ways to spread love through music. That might mean slipping a deep-house remix under a radio hit, coaxing the room toward something they didnt know they wanted. That curators touch extends back to her weekly Cafeteria sets, where Gen Z fashion kids share space with Club Kid veterans. Youre gonna get an education if you don't know what this music is, Bradford promises, her grin equal parts fairy godmother and mischievous counselor. Post-pandemic nightlife remains a construction site: some scaffolding, some hope, plenty of caution tape. What does a truly inclusive dance floor look like? It looks like the Colors of Benetton, Lina quips. And that sentiment holds. Many spaces, whether temporarily built for our safety or otherwise, are often filled homogeneously. Inclusion, she argues, demands more than just flacking fans in the air: its showing up for Black and Brown queer folks, not just borrowing aesthetics and culture to fit your clubsor faces. Crowned by the City She Calls HomeThis summer, NYC Pride named Lina one of its grand marshals: a full-circle moment for a Manhattan kid who marched in the earlier parades. Im humbled, she says, pausing to let the weight settle. My first gig in this life was to meet people and bring them together. To now have the community-driven honor bestowed upon her is a heartfelt moment. Im giving you a Sally [Field] moment. You really like me. You're really seeing me. It's moving.Her legacy and mic work may be part of her nomination. In a year when trans rights feel perpetually under siege, she sees promise in the next generations political vigor. These kids? They're not about the nonsense, she asserts, pointing to Gen Zs refusal to tolerate legislative assaults. And the reason why these [politicians] are doing the most is because their dinosaurs, about ready to be extinct, so they got to do the most. Her advice? Stay informed, pick your battles, and dont forget to cackle and kiki along the way. Grab your popcorn, she jokes, we got this. When I tease that her policy riffs sound downright mayoral, she laughsToo busy, sugar. But theres a sincerity beneath the sparkle. Bradford embodies the activist-entertainer lineage of queer nightlife: part preacher, part professor, always ready with a read. Her advice for the up-and-comers in todays nightlife and social scene? Remember where you came from. A lot of these kids think that they've invented the wheel, she says, not unkindly. Talk to your elders. Talk to the people who got you here. The Gospel According to LinaWhen asked what she would tell little Lina, she doesnt miss a beat. Girl, you got this, she says with eyes glistening. Everything that you have dreamt about with your Barbiesyou manifested itI always knew, and I was very nurtured from the jump. Lina Bradford doesnt just spin records; she turns a centrifuge that whips heartache into hope and rage into rhythm. In a season where lawmakers legislate who gets to exist on the floor, she cranks the volume on existence itself, reminding us that jubilation is a birthright, not a luxury. Her booth is a pulpit, and the sermon is simple: keep moving. Move your hips even when the headlines hurt. Move your wallet toward Black trans folks doing the work. Move the rope lines so that people of all shapes, sizes, and colors can participate. Because if Lina has taught New York anything, its that the dance floor is a rehearsal room for the world we deserve; one powered by the throb of a shared humanity. So the next time the city or life feels too heavy, follow the bass to Cafeteria, to Fire Island, to whichever frequency shes blessing that night. And as long as Lina is on the deck, every beat is a joyful promise that our brightest future is already dancing beside us. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carmine Soprano (@carmine__soprano)

Pride isnt just about rainbow logos its about real accountability. LGBTQ workers, not just consumers, deserve corporations that stand up and show up for them all year long. In a unanimous vote this spring, Garden State Equality workers successfully formed a workers union. Leadership recognized the five eligible union workers officially under Garden State [...]The post Why Garden State Equality Workers United Formalized Ahead of Pride first appeared on GLAAD.

This year, GLAAD proudly joined the 2025 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) as an official industry sponsor, deepening its commitment to uplifting Black LGBTQ+ voices and driving forward inclusive representation in media. From June 11th to June 15th in vibrant Miami Beach, GLAADs Communities of Color and Media Department curated a powerful series of moments [...]The post GLAAD Brings Black Queer Joy to the American Black Film Festival first appeared on GLAAD.

Political strategist Jordan C. Brown who celebrated Father's Day for the first time in 2025 with his husband Colton Underwood and their son Bishop has shared a heartbreaking and beautiful statement about his father passing away over this past weekend.Sign up for the Out Newsletter to keep up with what's new in LGBTQ+ culture and entertainment delivered three times a week straight (well) to your inbox!On Tuesday, June 26, Brown shared an Instagram post announcing his father's unexpected passing. He wrote:"My dad left us unexpectedly Sunday morning. He embodied the first rule of parenting: if you have children, you must love them unconditionally throughout their lives. He did that, and taught me how to do that for my son. He was the ultimate example of what a man could be, and how a man should be. He had quiet strength and confidence, was never bellicose, not the kind of guy who had to puff up his chest to show you he was a man. Instead, he showed us how to care for each other, he lived his faith proudly, and taught his children to respect everyone."See on InstagramBrown continued, "We were about as different as two people could be, but throughout our shared time on this planet we connected above all through music. He filled our house with it, blasting The Eagles, Stevie Wonder, or picking up his guitar to sing a song he had written or a favorite hymn. He was a talented amateur musician, but at the peak of his powers he could easily have been a studio guitarist. He loved the guitar.""When I came home to visit, he'd pick it up and goad me into sitting with him and singing," the political strategist recalled. "I always pretended like I didn't want to, but it didn't take much arm-twisting. We'd sit for hours and hours, him playing and me singing, him always surprised I knew all the lyrics to an obscure Beatles song, me impressed he knew the chords to some Top 40 song of the moment."Brown also discussed his late father's reaction when he first came out to his family."When I came out to him in college he didn't understand. At all. But it didn't matter," Brown explained. "He told me, 'You are my son and nothing you could ever do could change the love I feel for you.' He was scared for me, but as the years passed, he saw how being gay enriched my life instead of impeding it. He became close with my friends, helped me plan the music for our wedding, and was beyond excited that he finally got a star athlete son [Colton Underwood] in the family."See on InstagramBrown wrote, "Now that we've lost him, I realize he knew his time was coming to an end Little things he said over the past few months Things that meant a lot, out of the blue.""If everyone had a dad like him our world would be a much kinder place," he concluded. "We love you, dad. We weren't ready, but you were. I can't believe I'll never hear your voice again [heart emojis]."You can read Jordan C. Brown's full statement, shared via Instagram, below.See on Instagram

Last Thursday, June 19th, PRIDE & SOUL LIVE returned to the stage in full forceand full feelingat LORE, Atlantas newest new gay bar and community space. In a city already steeped in queer history and Black cultural innovation, the night stood as a luminous reminder that when you center freedom, expression, and community, magic happens. [...]The post PRIDE & SOUL LIVE 2025: A Night of Black Queer Brilliance in the Heart of Atlanta first appeared on GLAAD.

In celebration of The Ultimatum: Queer Love season 2, Netflixs LGBTQ+ celebs share wisdom on winning (and losing) in love games:LEXI GOLDBERGThe Ultimatum: Queer Love season 1 Tell us a story about your most romantic queer date.My most romantic queer date was definitely when my fiance surprised me for dinner on my birthday with this queer off-Broadway show in Bushwick. It was the most spectacular show Ive ever seen. It was called Nutcracker Rouge, and I couldnt stop smiling the whole time. It was one of those moments where you just feel like your partner truly knows you because they know what really makes you happy. And true understanding of the person you love is the most romantic gesture in the world for me.Tell us a story about your most disastrous queer date.This one time, I tried to take [my partner] Zanc to this fancy dinner for our anniversary. The reviews were fantastic, but from the moment the first dish came out, I knew we were in for an awful date night. Zanc barely ate a single item from the menu, and I was so embarrassed about picking a restaurant she barely ate at for our anniversary. Had to go and get her pizza after because there was no saving that meal.Whats the worst piece of dating advice youve ever received?I have definitely received a ton of bad dating advice over the years. I think the worst is truly playing the game! We always think we have to play games with people and that somehow itll make them more interested in us or well seem less available. Ive been told to wait a couple days to respond to a text and a couple days in lesbian time is like a whole year! By the time I actually sent a text back, she was far moved on to the next girl and probably already saying, I love you.Whats the best piece of dating advice youve ever received?The best piece of dating advice Ive ever gotten is going to sound so corny, but truly just be yourself and dont overthink it. Oh, and if theres flags, run! The truth is that we have to be ourselves or else we are creating false connections. We want someone to love us for us, and they have to know the real us for that to happen. My best relationships have always been built on honesty. The worst ones, also, have been built on me trying to be what someone wanted me to be or ignoring those damn flags. @lexicgoldbergJORDAN HURTOwning Manhattan season 1 Tell us a story about your most romantic queer date.We met up on a summer day and rode our bikes to the beach. After an afternoon of sun and swimming, we watched the sunset and then went to an amazing Italian restaurant for dinner. We ended up at an impromptu metal concert and kissed on the outskirts of the mosh pit. We ended the night walking aimlessly through the city talking about our goals, dreams, and what we wanted out of life. (This actually hasnt happened yet, but I am waiting for it!)Tell us a story about your most disastrous queer date.I met a guy who was visiting NYC for the weekend from another city. We immediately developed a very intense connection and stayed in constant communication, growing closer for a few weeks until I went to visit him in his hometown. The moment I got there, things were weird. This was not the same person I met a few weeks prior. Something felt off. Eventually, we ended the night at his house, and he trauma-dumped on me and cried about his ex, who left him extremely damaged. Come to find out, they were still legally married. So every time he referred to him, it was as his husband, which was the last thing I wanted to hear. He was very clearly emotionally unavailable, I was confused why I was even there, and needless to say, I left and discontinued the relationship. Whats the worst piece of dating advice youve ever received? Youll find it when you least expect it. This is some Live, Laugh, Love bullshit if Ive ever heard it. People say this as filler to soften the blow when youre single and alone. At the very least, you have to put out the energy to receive love. It doesnt just obliviously fall into your lap like in some 90s rom-com. Whats the best piece of dating advice youve ever received?If you have to guess how someone feels about you, you already know. Love doesnt leave you confused. If youre constantly analyzing, replaying moments, or trying to decode someones behavior, theres your answer. Someone who truly wants you will never leave you wondering. Theyll make it known. Never accept breadcrumbs! @jordvnhurtCHLOE VEITCHSneaky Links: Dating After Dark (host), Perfect Match season 1, The Circle season 2, Too Hot to Handle season 1 Tell us a story about your most romantic queer date.Ive actually never been on a romantic date with a woman, which is a little sad, but I feel like any date with a woman would naturally feel romantic. Women are so in tune with their feminine side; it just exudes romance. If I were to go on a romantic date, it would be in a flower field, eating cheese and grapes, listening to music, cuddling, and talking until the sun goes down.Tell us a story about your most disastrous queer date.The truth is, I often get too scared to fully step into my bisexuality and ask women out on dates. Ive been so used to dating men that the idea of taking a woman on a date feels intimidating. Maybe what I need is more of an alpha female someone whos confident enough to take the lead!Whats the worst piece of dating advice youve ever received?Play hard to get. Babe, no. If I like someone, Im not going to sit there pretending I dont. Im passionate, Im fiery, Ill gas you up and bring all the energy. Why would I dim my light just to seem mysterious? Thats not me. My personality is basically Syd the Sloth. I couldnt hide it if I tried, ha ha. Im either all in or Im out.Whats the best piece of dating advice youve ever received?If they make you feel confused, its a no. Simple but powerful. I used to overthink everything. Do they like me? Am I too much? Now, if I feel unsettled or unsure, I dont chase clarity; I choose peace. Dating should feel fun, safe, and exciting, not like Im solving a murder mystery. Youre a queen, so act like it! @chloeveitchofficialLORENZO NOBILIOBattle Camp season 1 Tell us a story about your most romantic queer date.He showed up with a single rose, which already felt intentional! Im a sucker for small, meaningful gestures over grand ones. We barhopped, laughed, flirted, and by the end of the night, I broke my own rule and went back to his not for the hookup but for the moment. He played me a song he wrote on his guitar, and he was so talented I just melted; no one had ever done something so pure for me. Its one of those nights Ill probably remember forever.Tell us a story about your most disastrous queer date.He talked a big game about his car collection, so I said, OK, then pick me up. After some back-and-forth (and a wild suggestion we take the bus), he finally arrived zero plan, no direction, and dragged me through [the posh London neighborhood of] Mayfair in negative five degrees, as if that counted as a date. Finally, at dinner, he whispered so quietly I couldnt hear a word, then got annoyed I wasnt responding while I was cracking jokes with the waiters, and he acted like I was committing a felony. I left early, claiming it was my best friends birthday, which, in a way, was true, because I definitely celebrated once I got away.Whats the worst piece of dating advice youve ever received?My best friend loves to say, Just give it a chance, even when the vibe isnt vibing. Ive learned that if theres no spark, theres nothing to build on. You dont need five dates to confirm what your gut knew in five minutes. Lets not confuse wasting time with being open-minded.Whats the best piece of dating advice youve ever received?Love and compatibility arent the same. Sometimes the connection is electric, but so is a fence. The right person shows up at the right time; anything else is just a lesson. Im too grown for trauma bonding; I look for peace. Thats the real love story. @only.lorenzoThis article is part of Out's July/Aug 2025 issue, which hits newsstands July 1. Support queer media and subscribe or download the issue now through Apple News, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader.

Happy Wednesday, Out readers!Need some dating advice? Queer dating can be one of the most confusing and complicated things we do, so it's always good to get some advice from people who know what they're talking about! Thankfully, we have an exclusive interview with several queer Netflix reality stars talking about their dating dos and don'ts!Lexi Goldberg from The Ultimatatum: Queer Love season 1 let us in on the best and worst dating advice she's ever received."The best piece of dating advice Ive ever gotten is going to sound so corny, but truly just be yourself and dont overthink it. Oh, and if theres flags, run!" she says. "The truth is that we have to be ourselves or else we are creating false connections. We want someone to love us for us, and they have to know the real us for that to happen."As for the worst advice she's gotten?"I think the worst is truly playing the game!" she says. "We always think we have to play games with people and that somehow itll make them more interested in us or well seem less available."The Circle and Too Hot to Handle's Chloe Veitch agrees. When asked what the worst dating advice she's received is, she says, "'Play hard to get.' Babe no. If I like someone, I'm not going to sit there pretending I don't. I'm passionate, I'm fiery, I'll gas you up and bring all the energy."Check out our exclusive story to find out more dating dos and don'ts!Plus, keep reading for all the best pop culture news and our Woman Crush Wednesday!Netflix's queer reality stars share dating DOs and DONTs2025 Pride collections that actually give back to the LGBTQ+ communityJordan C. Brown reveals father's passing with emotional tributeHow DJ Lina Bradford created NYC's loudest queer rebellion10 TV lesbian and sapphic storylines overshadowed on their own showsHayley Kiyoko's 'Girls Like Girls' film: Here's everything to know'Hetero Awesome Fest' in Idaho concludes with fighting, low attendance, and racism scandalBrad Pitt says he 'missed that window' of having 'a gay experience'31 pictures of what Pride looked like 31 years agoWoman Crush WednesdayLesbian Jesus Hayley Kiyoko is our Woman Crush Wednesday! Not only does she make tons of great music we love, but now, she's adapting her hit song "Girls Like Girls" into a feature film! Check out everything you need to know about the upcoming movie!Subscribe to Out / The Advocate!If you subscribe today, you can get Out / The Advocate delivered to your house for just $9.95 a year!

In a time when LGBTQ rights are under attack across the country, Frankie Grandes unapologetically queer performance on The Tonight Show wasnt just entertainment, it was a reminder that queer people are here to stay. Tuesday night, the actor, singer, and activist took the stage on one of the most iconic shows on late night, [...]The post WATCH: Frankie Grande Serves Queer Joy in Unapologetically Gay Live Performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon first appeared on GLAAD.

Honoring Love and Identity: Artist Richard Everett Fox joins the celebration of 10 years since Obergefell v Hodges at Oli Gallery, in Guerneville, CaliforniaPaying homage to the month of Pride, Oli Gallery in Guerneville, California, has partnered with Equality Vines the world's first cause wine portfolio, which was cofounded by Jim Obergerfell for a series of events, which includes a moving exhibition of the works of Richard Everett Fox beginning June 7.A decade ago, the Supreme Court handed down a decision that reshaped the understanding of love, dignity, and equality: Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage and affirmed what millions had always known, that love is love, and it deserves recognition under the law.To honor the 10th anniversary of this historic decision, Oli Gallery is highlighting the Austin-based artist. The show is both a personal and political tribute one that uses the power of figurative art to illuminate queer identity, love, and self-acceptance.A Personal Lens Reflecting Universal MilestonesFoxs work, renowned for stunning realism and emotional depth, draws from lives shaped by isolation, resilience, and self-discovery. Fox paints the male form imbued with classical sensitivity and contemporary urgency. The subjects, men caught in quiet moments, reveal volumes about vulnerability, longing, and the search for self in an sometimes unwelcome world.Born and raised in the town of rural Clovis, New Mexico, Fox visually navigates the edge of the Texas Panhandle, where the open skies reflect the solitude of the queer heart. Fox has commented, The vastness and isolation of a small town began my artistic journey...that journey eventually led me to study architecture at Texas Tech and then pursue work in Studio Art and Art History at the University of Texas, Austinwhere I have found my heart and artistic home."During his early years restoring art for the Kress Collection in El Paso, Fox discovered the Old Masters. His latest paintings embody that traditional spirit, steeped in technical mastery, and driven by a modern urgency: to see, to reflect, and to affirm queer lives resonating at a level never seen before.Art as Witness, Art as HealingFoxs paintings commemorate not just a legal milestone but cultural milestones. Obergefell v. Hodges validated countless queer lives and loves, many of which had long been hidden, denied, or erased. Foxs intimate, evocative portrayals of men, offer a rare look into the quiet emotional spaces where identity is forged.Fox states, My newest works reveal a lifelong fascination with the male human form, where I delve deeply into the private emotional lives of menwhether tender, touching, or tragic allowing the viewer a look into the nuanced quest for personal and sexual identity in a hostile modern world.Even today, queer rights face challenges. Thats why celebrating this anniversary through art is essential. It serves as a reminder that legal victories must be matched by cultural empathy and visibility.Guerneville, California: A Place of Pride and ReflectionFoxs new works will be launching in Guerneville, a longtime haven for LGBTQ+ travelers and creatives. Known for its progressive spirit and vibrant art scene, the town offers a safe and celebratory space for queer expression. Oli Gallery, with its commitment to bold, socially conscious work, epitomizes the ideal venue to spotlight Foxs unprecedented and deeply personal vision.In a moment where the cultural conversation around gender, sexuality, and representation constantly evolves, Richard Everett Fox's s paintings do more than mark time they tell stories. Stories of becoming, of remembering, of loving, and of living freely in full view. Because sometimes, the most powerful protest is simply to be seen," said Fox.The 10th Anniversary Exhibition of Obergefell v. HodgesFeaturing the work of Richard Everett Fox, which opened June 7, 2025 in Oli Gallery, Guerneville, California. To see more of Richards art please visit richardfoxart.com and oligallery.com.

On June 26, 2025, LGBTQ families and allies will celebrate the ten-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which cemented the national freedom to marry for same-sex couples across the country. The Court affirmed the fundamental freedom to marry for all; and stated that banning marriage is a violation of [...]The post 10-Year Anniversary of Marriage Nationwide for Same-Sex Couples Fact Sheet for Reporters first appeared on GLAAD.

Enigma is the latest documentary from prolific trans documentarian, Zackary Drucker (The Lady in the Dale, The Stroll) now streaming on HBO Max. It follows the lives of Amanda Lear and April Ashley, two women who got their start at Le Carrousel, a trans and drag cabaret in Paris during the 1950s and 1960s, The [...]The post Zackary Drucker, Director of the HBO DocumentaryEnigma, Talks Trans Futures, Disclosure, and the Lessons We Can All Learn From Trailblazers April Ashley and Amanda Lear first appeared on GLAAD.

Zero or hero?That's the debate going on in the comments on the first looks at the costumes for Disney's Hercules on the West End.Disney's Hercules is now on stage, starring Luke Brady in the title role and Mae Ann Jordan as Meg. The costumes and set design have been released online for people to see, and gay fans are going wild!See on InstagramThe costume is pretty simple. Herc is wearing a simple white skirt with a blue Greek design and a matching sash. He's also got some high-top sneakers and wrist bands, but what is drawing the most attention is his top, which happens to be a see-through mesh tank.See on InstagramIs this inspired costuming that highlights the gay history of Ancient Greece and give queer musical fans something to cheer for? Or is it giving SHEIN clearance sale? That's the debate raging among queer fans in the comments.Some fans aren't feeling the costume. "Mmm Was the costume design department on vacation or just feeling experimental?" asked @massimopillosu."This Hercules costume looks like when you click randomize your Sim," @hassanintheworld added."That mesh top needs to go all the other costumes look amazing though," @m1dheavenly said.Finally, @theaterbear broke it down like this, "4 cloth napkins from the local Greek restaurant circuit boy tank top ski boots we have ourselves a costume!"Still, others love the gay attitude it brings to the show."Hercules is doing poppers back stage and buying me drinks at pride with that top," @alexthornhill joked."Hercules ready for Pride Parade! Love it! ," added @gustavoflo."This was literally going to be my outfit to Horse Meat Disco this weekend now I have to change," said @isaccosimo."Ok Herc with the circuit gay lewk," @mflocco said.Which side do you land on? Would you "go the distance" to see this costume? Or is it giving "no chance, no way?"Check out the hot mesh in person at Hercules on London's West End.

Zohran Mamdani has claimed victory in the Democratic mayoral primary race in New York City, which BBC News calls a "stunning political upset." The Democratic socialist beat out former New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, who had initially led in the polls but conceded to Mamdani by the end of election night.Mamdani's tactile campaign focused on the working class and expertly mobilized young New Yorkers by speaking directly to them through social media. He also managed to win over older voters by meeting them in places of worship, on TV, and on the streets.As a member of the New York State Assembly from the 36th district in Queens since 2021, Mamdani ran on a platform centering his socialist ideals for New York City: free buses, universal childcare, city-owned grocery stores, and a rent freeze on rent-stabilized apartments. He also advocated for human rights and was outspoken about his views on condemning the war in Gaza, President Donald Trump's decision to bomb Iran, and the disappearance of Mahmoud Khalil, among many other hot-button political issues.Furthermore, Mamdani made promises to LGBTQ+ New Yorkers and acknowledged the assault on queer and trans people from conservative politicians. To learn more about what Mamdani has said about protecting the rights of New York City residents in the LGBTQ+ community, keep scrolling.What has Zohran Mamdani said about protecting LGBTQ+ New Yorkers?See on InstagramMamdani attended a Trans Community Town Hall with Ceyenne Doroshow in May, where he spoke with several activists about his plans for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers."New York City must be a refuge for LGBTQIA+ people, but private institutions in our own city have already started capitulating to Trump's assault on trans rights," the Democratic candidate wrote in an Instagram post. "Meanwhile, the cost of living crisis confronting working class people across the city hits the LGBTQIA+ community particularly hard, with higher rates of unemployment and homelessness than the rest of the city."Mamdani's campaign promises included: The expansion and protection of gender-affirming care across New York City; the commitment to "strengthen and uphold the rights of queer and trans New Yorkers" through sanctuary protections; and the creation of an "Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs" with the intent to "expand and centralize the services, programs, and support LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers's needs across housing, employment, and more."Which LGBTQ+ celebrities endorsed Zohran Mamdani?See on InstagramA significant portion of the LGBTQ+ community in New York City supported Zohran Mamdani during this primary election, including queer celebrities.Notably, And Just Like That actor and former gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon threw her weight behind the Democratic socialist and told her supporters not to vote for Cuomo, whom she ran against in September 2018.Mamdani also received support from LGBTQ+ celebrities and high-profile allies, such as Bowen Yang, Laverne Cox, Ben Platt, Emily Ratajkowski, Cole Escola, Lorde, Mary Beth Barone, Indya Moore, and Jack Schlossberg, among others.See on InstagramSee on Instagram (@) (@) (@) Lorde (@) See on Instagram (@) See on Instagram

During Pride and every month beyond it, Black queer creators and advocates are using their digital platforms to redefine what it means to live in your truth. From sexuality and gender expression to self-acceptance, love, and mental health, these creators are offering more than content. Theyre creating radical care, community, and culture. Below are six [...]The post What Black Queer Influencers & Advocates are Teaching about Gender, Love, Style, and Self: Black Queer Influencers to Know this Pride first appeared on GLAAD.

In 2017, I spent a week in a mental hospital after a prevented suicide attempt. The weight of being a trans woman and the weight of the world combined to leave me feeling exhausted, like I had nowhere to turn and no one to lean on.One of the first events I attended after my release was a premiere party for Shadi Petoski's delightful animated series, Danger & Eggs, where trans women like Trace Lysette, Jazz Jennings, Jen Richards, and Petoski were in attendance. These women were more than happy to welcome me back into the real world.Richards, an actor, writer, and activist I had known for years, hugged me and said she was glad I had survived. "The world needs more of us in it, not fewer," she said.Those words have stuck with me nearly a decade later.Now, in Zackary Drucker's beautiful new documentary Enigma, I hear those words echoing in a time when they're more needed than ever in my life.While much of Enigma is spent examining identity, celebrity, and the public spotlight, it also conveys a powerful message about growing old for trans people. This message is even more vital for young trans people, and that is why I believe the documentary should be mandatory viewing for every trans person under 35.Enigma shows that growing old as a trans person isn't just possible; if you surround yourself with other trans people it can be one of the most beautiful things in the world.Enigma follows two women, April Ashley and Amanda Lear, who met in the 1950s while working at Le Carrousel, the most popular nightclub in Europe and a hub for trans performers. The two women took very different paths to survive at a time when being trans meant you could be thrown in jail.When Ashley was publicly outed in 1961, she became a fierce advocate for the trans community. When rumors began that Lear was trans, she denied them and continues to do so to this day.April and Amanda took very different paths to survival, and both are valid; however, going stealth does come at a cost the loss of community.The harassment and oppression that trans women speak about facing during the 1960s and 70s in Enigma is frighteningly familiar to trans people today. They speak of being arrested for wearing feminine clothing in public, of having their gender and womanhood questioned in the media, of losing their jobs and families, and of being targeted by courts and lawmakers.While Enigma shows two paths to survival, some young people are now taking a third path: the path of detransitioning.According to the National Institute of Health, 82.5 percent of people who reported a history of detransitioning cited external factors in their decision. Additionally, 35 percent cited pressure from a parent, 32 percent cited community or society stigma, 26 percent said they had trouble getting a job, 20 percent said they had pressure from a spouse or partner, and 33 percent said "it was just too hard for me."More and more, whenever I look at social media or sites like Reddit, I see young people expressing their hopelessness around being trans in 2025.Many of them say they were ready to come out or had started their transition, only to be forced back in the closet by the recent election or the recent spike in anti-trans rhetoric and laws around this country and the U.K. They feel like there's no hope and no place in the world for them. They feel like there isn't a path forward for them as trans people.In the past, I believe some of these individuals would have transitioned and gone stealth. Before social media, before the internet, and before trans people were such a visible target, it was easier to get surgery, move, and start a new life. They could've taken the path that women like Amanda took.Now, that doesn't seem like an option. They'd rather not transition at all.What Enigma shows is that if they can find other trans people, they can transition and they can make it through the darkest of days. When discussing the trans performers at Le Carrousel, Bambi, one of the women who worked there, notes that while there was some competition among them, there was also a strong sense of community.Trans women would come from around the world to have a chance to be a part of Le Carrousel. Once they got there, they were taken under the wing of other trans women, they learned about hormones, and they learned about surgery. Most importantly, they weren't alone.Alone, someone like April Ashley might've become lost or hopeless, but because she had her community, she was able to make it through."Transition is very difficult, no matter what decade you do it in. It sets you apart from society, it sets you outside of your family, your friends," writer and historian Morgan M. Page says in the documentary. "But the one thing that you get out of that that is incredible and that gives you strength is your trans siblings, you know, the sisterhood of trans women.""That kind of community is what sustains many of us in our day-to-day lives, and especially the older women from previous generations," she adds.That is a lesson we could all learn from, especially those of us who are younger and feeling hopeless and alone.After she was publicly exposed as being trans, April Ashley's existence became a living hell. She went to interview after interview, explaining herself and being cruelly and crudely questioned about her body. She lost all her modeling jobs and was never hired for one again. She was later sued by her husband and forced to undergo a sex examination by a court that involved a "three finger test" to measure her vagina. Eventually, the court ruled that Ashley was biologically male and therefore her marriage to a man was illegal.For the next 50 years, Ashley continued to fight.From 1970 until 2004, trans people were unable to change their birth certificates in the U.K. and were therefore unable to get married. It was a dark time, and for many, a hopeless time.Some women, like Lear, chose to go stealth, or keep their trans status private, so they could escape the scrutiny and hate that came from living a public trans life. But as Enigma shows, there was a cost to that, the cost of community.Finally, in 2004, England passed its Gender Recognition Act, something Ashley had lobbied for, and she was able to get a new birth certificate with her proper name and gender.In the next several years, Ashley was welcomed back to her hometown of Liverpool as a beloved hero. The Museum of Liverpool hosted an exhibit on her life, which drew over a million visitors. She was awarded an MBE."Now, some people would have perhaps thrown up their hands and walked away, but to April Ashley's credit, she continued to push all the way up until the Gender Recognition Act and beyond for a change in the law," Page says in the film. "She didn't abandon her community, and that's one of the reasons April Ashley is so beloved, especially by British trans people." Ashley spent decades being a scapegoat and a target, but in her later life, she not only survived but also thrived. It's because when things got hard, she had her community with her.One of the most beautiful moments in the doc comes toward the end, when we get to see footage from 2013 of Bambi and Ashley meeting up together, speaking French, drinking champagne, and laughing. It's like a day hadn't passed since they last performed at Le Carrousel half a century earlier."So my lesson to anybody listening is never, ever think life is over. No matter what age you are, you just go on and on and on, and life keeps offering you the most wonderful surprises, and take them," Ashley says in the film.If women like April Ashley and Bambi can survive 60 years of this bullshit, so can we.They found community and family, and as long as we can keep doing that, trans women will never be erased.Enigma is streaming now on Max.If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, you can still call, text, or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org for 24/7 access to free and confidential services. Trans Lifeline, designed for transgender or gender-nonconforming people, can be reached at (877) 565-8860. The lifeline also provides resources to help with other crises, such as domestic violence situations. The Trevor Project Lifeline, for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 24 and younger), can be reached at (866) 488-7386. Users can also access chat services at TheTrevorProject.org/Help or text START to 678678.

Out's Most Eligible Bachelors of 2025Out editors penned love letters to Hollywoods single queer men who are changing the world with brains, beauty, and heart. Enjoy 2025's list of Most Eligible Bachelors ahead.JEREMY POPEFrom your breakout performances in Hollywood and One Night in Miami... to being a dreamy love interest on Pose to starring in The Inspection gaining awards season buzz around it in this house, we love and live for you, Jeremy Pope.Its been wonderful to see you sharing your vulnerability through music. U, Lost and What I Gotta Do? are on constant rotation for us, and the full experience of the Last Name: Pope album has us all gagging. You stunned as a photographer as well in your series FLEX(bitch), which challenged toxic masculinity and even got Symone out of drag. And we cant wait for your return to TV (and the Ryan Murphy-verse) in The Beauty, a show about an STI that makes a person beautiful before killing them. Transmit away!A Broadway star in Aint Too Proud, a leading man in Hollywood, a queer fashion icon, and a bona fide male pop star that weve stanned for so many years? In Pope we trust, Jeremy! Bernardo SimMATT ROGERSI do think so, honey! Its gonna take us a lot longer than 60 seconds to say everything we love about you, Matt Rogers.First, youre charming and sexy. Yes, being funny does a lot to make a man sexy, but your looks do plenty of the work as well. Matt, your smile has enough wattage to light up the Rockefeller Center holiday tree.When you pop up in something were watching, whether its Fire Island, Q-Force, Gayme Show, or Overcompensating, we know were in for a great time. But lets also celebrate your genius. Without the guidance you and cohost Bowen Yang give the world on your podcast, Las Culturistas, wed be lost in the pop culture swamp without a paddle.And thank you for helping to bring back the Christmas special with your 2022 opus, Have You Heard of Christmas? You minted new classics like Hottest Female Up in Whoville, Immah Have Your Back (This Christmas), and Every Christmas Eve (Mrs. Claus Theme), adding to a canon of gay-leaning Christmas tunes.Our number one rule of culture is that you,Matt Rogers, are a sexy comedic genius. Mey RudeTONATIUHGet ready to step into superstardom, Tonatiuh! You share your name with an Aztec sun god, and you shine just as brightly. Not everyone can be both divinely handsome and angelically beautiful, but you are effortlessly both.Can we also talk about your talent? No matter the project, youre an instant star. Thank you for giving us authentic representation of queer Latine people in shows like Vida. Marcoss queerceaera was one of the most beautiful things weve ever seen on TV. Of course, you looked drop-dead gorgeous in your Quince dress and tiara. But it also made all Mexican hearts swell to get to see Marcos celebrated as the beautiful birthday princess that they are.Now youre starring in Terrence McNallys Kiss of the Spider Woman opposite Diego Luna and Jenny From the Block herself, Jennifer Lopez. We cant wait until the world sees your brilliance as Luis in this adaptation of the musical. Dont forget about us when you win your Oscar. We loved you from the beginning! M.R.LUKAS GAGEYoure one of the brightest young stars in TV and film, Lukas. You first wowed us with that scene in season 1 of The White Lotus with Murray Bartlett. Thank you for your service in educating mainstream audiences about the pleasures of rimming.You shocked us again on the big screen in horror films first, as a cursed drug dealer whos terrorized by an entity only he could see in Smile 2. In Companion, you teared us up with your performance of a sentient robot whose love for a man (played by Harvey Guilln) was one of the breakout queer love stories on the big screen this year. And no spoilers, but your role as a guest star in Overcompensating helped solidify Benito Skinners coming-of-age comedy as one of the years best. Love stories arent always easy, of course, and we know you havent always had a happy ending. But at only 30, youve already made such a mark in Hollywood and our hearts, and we cant wait to see what bright surprises await in the years to come. Daniel ReynoldsKHALIDWe remember when Location blew up on SoundCloud and introduced us to you, Khalid. Were rooting for you and plan to keep you on heavy rotation for years to come. You gave us American Teen (2017), Free Spirit (2019), and Sincere (2024), and we cant get enough of your back-to-back hits, conceptual lyrics, and hot music videos. But please know, Khalid, that we are crushing on you too.Youre a powerhouse singer and artist who continually evolves with the music industry, repeatedly climbing the charts, and becoming more used to the fame of it all. We will never be OK with the circumstances that led to your outing in 2024, but we admire you for standing proud in your identity as an example of resilience. B.S.OMAR APOLLOIt would be impossible to divorce the 2020s from all the music, lyrics, memes, aesthetics, and vibes that youve given us, Omar.Many of us have been on this journey with you since Stereo (2018) and Apolonio (2020). Others joined the party after Evergreen (You Didnt Deserve Me at All) went viral on TikTok and Ivory was released in 2022. There are also horny-on-main stans very excited about that Live for Me artwork. In 2024, you achieved another triumph with your God Said No album. You gifted us bangers like Spite and Be Careful With Me, and you grabbed our hearts when you included Pedro Pascals moving voice note on Pedro.If that werent enough, you flexed your acting chops (among other things) and lit up the screen in your sexy scenes opposite Daniel Craig in Luca Guadagninos Queer. A seedy hotel room never looked better. B.S.JONATHAN GROFFYou light up any project youre in, Jonathan. Whether its Glee, The Matrix Resurrections, Mindhunter, Frozen, or Frozen II, youve proven to be a delight in both comedy and drama.And, of course, youre a master of the musical, first starring on Broadway in 2006 with your Tony-nominated performance in Spring Awakening. Your spittle-singing as King George III in Hamilton had us coming back for more. And you finally got your flowers last year from the Great White Way by winning a Tony for the Merrily We Roll Along revival. How merry that made us! You earned another Tony nod this year for Just in Time, a jukebox musical on Bobby Darin, and you are indeed the epitome of the Dream Lover crooner.Youve broken the gay glass ceiling for out actors playing straight characters, which is no small feat. However, whether its Patrick in Looking or your new romcom role in A Nice Indian Boy, its so nice to see a talented (and nice!) gay actor like yourself actually play a meaty gay part. At our Pride of Broadway party last year, you announced you were on the market and feeling full of Pride and PrEP. Were so proud of all youve accomplished, Jonathan, and we hope you find your man. Call us any time! D.R.TRAMELL TILLMANSeverance is one of the most strangely enjoyable TV shows out there and thats in large part thanks to you, Tramell.As Seth Milchick (apologies, Mr. Milchick), you know how to throw an office party, whether its with fruit platters, dancing, or leading a full marching band through the halls of Lumon, the sinister company in which you manage a floor of severed employees. As a former member of corporate America yourself, you know how to deliver a stellar caricature of a boss who will do what it takes to advance his career smiling while scheming to keep his subordinates in line and on track to meet deadlines. And damn, with that smile and physique, you could sever us any day.Severance is a hit, Mr. Milchick is a fan favorite, and youre a shooting star in Hollywood now, Tramell. Its out of this world that, as a Black gay man, youve starred in one of the years biggest blockbusters, Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning, alongside Tom Cruise. And in the process, youve shown the LGBTQ+ community that anything is possible. Were throwing an office dance party in your honor, Tramell. And please do bring the pineapple. D.R.LEO SHENGHey, Leo, can we talk about how much we love you? Yes, you have kind eyes and sexy tattoos.But we swear we adore you for more than the shirtless selfies and workout videos you post (thank you for those, though!). Above all, your dedication to the community and your activism are a huge turn-on.In Adam and The L Word: Generation Q, you reminded audiences that trans men and queer women have a lot in common and often share communities. In a world of infighting and division, you remind us that if we come together to celebrate what we have in common, were stronger and better.As Micah in Generation Q, you brought healing to fans of a show that had once depicted trans men as testosterone-rage-filled stereotypes. You also gave us one of our all-time favorite L Word couples in Micabel, your characters relationship with sexy and saucy attorney Maribel (Jillian Mercado). We only wish we could have seen more of you!You also fight hard to make the world a better place, and nothing is hotter than that. We love the way you fight for workers rights, queer and trans youth, womens rights, and peace and liberation for all people. Whatever you do next, were with you. M.R.This article is part of Out's July/Aug 2025 issue, which hits newsstands July 1. Support queer media and subscribe or download the issue now through Apple News, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader.

Jade (a.k.a. Jade Thirlwall), known as a member of Little Mix and a fierce ally to the LGBTQ+ community, has revealed in an interview that her long-standing distaste for Charlie Puth is real indeed. Some fans are gooped and gagged that this drama has been confirmed to a wider audience, while other fans have no idea what happened.Sign up for the Out Newsletter to keep up with what's new in LGBTQ+ culture and entertainment delivered three times a week straight (well) to your inbox!On Wednesday, June 25, Jade appeared as a guest on KISS FM UK to promote her latest single, "Plastic Box." In the interview, the pop star was asked which artist she "would never collaborate with" by Say It or Shot It host Harriet Rose.What did Jade Thirlwall say about Charlie Puth?Jade replied to the question, "I feel like the fans already know someone I wouldn't collaborate with: Charlie Puth."The Say It or Shot It host seemed somewhat surprised by Jade's blunt answer, and asked Jade why that was the case."Just don't," Jade added. "Nothing to say, just yet, on that one."Jade's response went immediately viral in the pop culture sphere and accumulated tens of thousands of likes from fan-pages re-posting her response, like a @PopBase post with 35,000 likes, a @Tracklist post with 6,500 likes; and a @ThePopTingz with 2,100 likes.What's the drama between Jade Thirlwall and Charlie Puth?As far as the public is concerned, this drama started with Charlie Puth reportedly flirting with Jade during a performance, and the Little Mix singer not reciprocating those feelings.X user @povenvy wrote:"He was hitting on her when they were doing a song together and she told him multiple times she had a boyfriend and he didn't gaf as he has a history of hitting on female artist he records with." (@) X user @cloudleigh explained:"He had a crush on Jade and made it known when she already had a boyfriend at the time. They also performed together, and he kept making awkward eye contact with her during this performance knowing this." (@) X user @glindasfolklore wrote:"Charlie and Little Mix did a collab call 'Oops' and when they were promoting the song he was flirting with her while she was in a relationship with her ex Jed. After Jade said no to him, he faked to don't know who she was and what Little Mix were." (@) This specific performance referenced by fans took place at the grand finale of The X Factor season 13 (U.K. series), in which Charlie Puth and Little Mix performed "Oops" together.During that live performance which you can watch below Jade is seen interacting with Puth in a pop-star performative manner.Even though Puth seems to be doing the same, he subsequently admitted to actually having a crush on Jade in interviews.Diving deep into the Jade Thirlwall vs. Charlie Puth feud.Several social media posts and videos have broken down this back and forth between Jade and Puth even further.A YouTube video titled, "Little Mix - Oops ft. Charlie Puth videoclip with lyrics," for instance, has 533,000 views as of this writing (via @britjeeemixer9931).Watch Jade's full interview on KISS FM UK's Say It or Shot It below.

A lot of queer people can tell you exactly where they were at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 26, 2015.That was the moment the Supreme Court handed down its 5-4 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, the decision that grants same-sex couples marriage equality. For many me included it was a dream come true. Growing up gay in rural North Carolina in the sixties and seventies, when a large majority of states still made same-sex relationships a felony, the idea of same-sex couples marrying seemed so far-fetched as to be ridiculous. Today, thanks in part to the organization I now run, Lambda Legal (which was co-counsel in Obergefell), it is the law of the land. More than 600,000 married same-sex couples in the U.S. have tied the knot since then according to the Williams Institute, double the 390,000 who were married in June 2015 when Obergefell was decided.Ten years later, the picture is much darker.Today, we are seeing a massive attack on the rights of LGBTQ+ people. Since 2022, an astounding 1,903 bills aimed at restricting the rights of LGBTQ+ people have been introduced at least one in each of our 50 state legislatures. 220 have become law in 27 states. Obergefell and its protections are in danger of being rolled back. In 2023, Tennessee enacted a law that allows government officials to refuse to marry same-sex couples. In 2025, five state legislatures (Idaho, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota) considered bills calling upon the Supreme Court to reverse Obergefell. (Idahos resolution passed.) The Southern Baptist Convention (Americas second-largest Christian denomination) recently voted to pursue a legal strategy to reverse Obergefell modeled on the successful effort to overturn Roe v. Wade.Related: Iconic marriage equality activist Evan Wolfson on the future of marriage equalityIf a challenge to Obergefell makes it to the Supreme Court, it will find at least two friendly faces there. Justice Samuel Alito has repeatedly called for its reversal. And in his concurring opinion in the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe in 2022, Justice Clarence Thomas went even further: In future cases, we should reconsider all of this Courts substantive due process precedents, including Griswold [which gave us the right to birth control in 1965], Lawrence [which decriminalized same-sex relationships in 2003] and Obergefell. Because any substantive due process decision is demonstrably erroneous, the Court has a duty to correct the error established in those precedents. On the bench of the highest court in our land sits a man who wants to make us criminals again.How did we get here?It wasnt by accident: its part of a well-funded effort to roll back LGBTQ+ rights nationwide. Led by right-wing extremist groups like the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has deemed a hate group), a concerted effort to roll back the rights of LGBTQ+ people has been underway for many years. This network of right-wing extremist legal groups including the ADF, the Pacific Legal Foundation, the American Center for Law and Justice, the First Liberty Institute, and the Becket Fund had a combined budget of $231 million in 2023. By contrast, pro-LGBTQ+ legal groups such as Lambda Legal, GLADLaw, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the ACLU LGBTQ+ Rights Project, the Transgender Law Center, and the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund had a combined budget of $75 million in the same year. Anti-LGBTQ+ forces are outspending pro-LGBTQ+ forces by a factor of 3:1, so its no surprise we are on the defensive. The LGBTQ+ movement finds itself at a conflicted moment on this tenth anniversary of marriage equality feeling both celebratory and concerned about Obergefell, particularly in the wake of the recent ruling in in our Skrmetti case with the ACLU and ACLU of Tennessee. The decision upheld Tennessees ban on the right of trans young people to access the health care they need. The world I was born into in 1963 one where in all 50 states but one (Illinois), same-sex relations were a crime was changed through litigation, including Lambda Legals Lawrence v. Texas victory at the Supreme Court in 2003, which decriminalized same-sex relationships nationwide. Will the courts champion the cause of equality as they have done in some landmark cases like Lawrence and Obergefell or continue to bring setbacks to equality as they did in Skrmetti? We may be about to find out.A former high school history teacher and Assistant Deputy Secretary of Education, Kevin Jennings is the CEO of Lambda Legal.Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit Advocate.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists, and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride. - YouTube www.youtube.com

Nearly a dozen senators have reintroduced a bill that would allow sanctions against foreign individuals responsible for human rights violations against LGBTQ+ people.The Global Respect Act, first introduced in 2023, would allow the State Department to impose targeted sanctions like a visa ban on those found to have committed gross violations against LGBTQ+ people, such as torture, prolonged detention without trial, degrading treatment, or other denials of the right to life, liberty, or security.The bill has been reintroduced by a group of ten Democratic senators and one Republican, Lisa Murkowski, who leads the group alongside Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. Shaheen said she is bringing forward the legislation again "because the risk of personal harm for LGBTQI individuals for publicly identifying who they are or expressing who they love has tragically increased in recent years."Human rights, as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human rights, recognizes that global freedom, justice and peace depend on the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family,'" Shaheen said in a statement. "LBGTQI human rights are universal human rights. We must ensure that we hold all violators of those rights accountable.The Global Respect Act would require the executive branch to send Congress a list of foreign persons responsible for or complicit in LGBTQ+ human rights violations twice a year. It would also require the annual State Department Report on Human Rights to include a section on LGBTQ+ international human rights, as well as require the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor to designate a senior officer responsible for tracking violence and criminalization against queer people.Around the world, individuals who are part of the LGBTQ+ community are in danger for simply existing, Murkowski said. Hate and violence cannot and should not be tolerated. Im hopeful that this legislation will establish actionable consequences for these inexcusable human rights violations, and create a safer world for all people regardless of who they are or who they love.

When I need an address in Manhattan that feeds both my creative appetite and my literal one, I make a beeline for Hell's Kitchen. Finding a hotel that embodies that off-center sparkle without drowning in Times Square flash, however, can be tricky. Romer Hell's Kitchen, however, does the job. a chic hotel just west of Broadway, this charming boutique hotel styles itself as a "neighborhood gathering place and a reprieve from Times Square."And, based on my recent stay, it continues to deliver exactly that.A welcome that feels personalliterallyCheck-in happens in an oh-so-chic lobby. After being greeted by the doorman, I was amazed at the decor and feel; it didn't feel like a stale, simple one. It was bustling with people from all over the world, accompanied by calm martini lounge music that played smoothly. The staff greets you not with stiff formality but with the conspirational warmth of local baristas who've already memorized your order. I was still coming down from a high, chatting with a guy along the train who was beyond gentlemanly and helped me get my bags into my Uber. Looking back, I wish I had written something on Romer's "Missed Connections" board. In this glass bulletin that faces 8th Avenue, strangers pen love notes to the person they had accidentally ghosted or felt shy about exchanging numbers. (Jeff, if you see this)The receptionist also directed me to their Corner Store, a space elegantly tucked adjacent to the desk, where I could grab snacks and other goodies at any time. I knew I had some additional work to do that weekend, so I picked up a box of Peanut M&Ms and a Saratoga Still Spring Water. Romer's Corner Store, offering goodies from pop-up boutique items to snacks and more.Marie-Adlina de la Ferrire for Out TravelerUpstairs, I settled into my king room, thoughtfully designed as much as the rest of the hotel. I immediately noted the gorgeous couch and work desk positioned beside a window with a magnificent view of the city, framed like a living postcard. High-speed Wi-Fi never faltered, and a bed beckoned me to sleep immediately. Sadly, I had work to do.Interview-friendly vibesJust off the lobby, Romer hides a jewel box called The Study: a cozy co-working space with plenty of room to chat before heading out on the town. Flexible seating allows the room to transition from a fireside chat and afternoon studies to a press junket. For my sit-down with ballroom legend Kevin Aviance, the staff discreetly arranged the space to avoid disrupting the room's vibe. The acoustics, as soft as cloth, meant our recorder caught every laugh without a trace of a street honk, while the visual backdrop added a sense of calm. It's a ready-made set for profiles, podcasts, or any conversation where you want the city to hush and listen. The Study: A cool, calm, and serene space to write and do brief interviews.Marie-Adlina de la Ferrire for Out TravelerA lobby built for wordsand wordsmithsInstead of a generic bench-and-fern arrangement, Romer's foyer unfurls into the Neighborhood Caf, serving dishes and coffee until 1 p.m. The next morning, I quickly colonized a corner, flipping open my laptops to write notes from my interview with Aviance and polish interviews for New York drag legend Shequida Hall. The atmosphere toes the line between energized and hushed, the sounds of the cappuccino machine and someone giving their orders, but there's no blaring soundtrack to derail your train of thought.And in between sipping my coffee and enjoying a B.E.C. sandwich, I was reminded this Neighborhood Caf is the sort of space where you can eavesdrop for color and still meet a deadline. Romer's Bed & Breakfast offers rate bundles that include a daily $15 credit, which can be spent on-site. For travelers used to overpriced mini-muffins, the value (and flavor!) feels downright subversive. Romer's Neighborhood Caf serves delicious breakfast treats. Marie-Adlina de la Ferrire for Out Traveler Location remains Romer's secret sauce. Step outside, and you're reminded of the hustle and bustle of the city. Yet back inside, the hotel's walls soak up Broadway buzz without blasting it, ideal when you're workshopping drafts or transcribing interviews into the early evening. I finished my first draft around 7:30 p.m. My initial thought was to grab a quick slice from across the street, but a friendly staffer reminded me of Romer's jewel in their Hell's Kitchen crown: So & So Lounge.Enter, stage right: So & So LoungeAt night, the hotel's back corridor glows with the sounds of music, luring guests through into So & So, Romer's piano bar. Think supper-club glamour with a cabaret wink: velvet banquettes, chic tabletops, and a cobalt blue baby grand twinkling beside dim lights. Nightly live sets range from Broadway belt-offs to jazz standards, giving even a midweek stay the electricity of an opening night. Kevin Aviance and Marie-Adlina in The Study at Romer Hell's KitchenCourtesy Marie-Adlina de la FerrireWhile getting ready, I made a reservation for a table for one: I was also celebrating my 39th birthday that weekend, and there was no better way to appreciate the gift of taking yourself out. The menu is a delicious cascade that ranges from the familiar to the spectacular. I ordered "Figs in a Blanket," a play on the classic American appetizer that featured figs with goat cheese, puff pastry, and fig balsamic jam. Although they also offer the Pig variety, it has its own reimagined flair: mini Wagyu hot dogs accompanied by a side of bourbon mustard. For my main course, I ordered their Lobster Frites, a decadent dish featuring chili butter-roasted lobster, lemon breadcrumbs, and fries. Cocktails lean theatrical the "Some Like it Hot" stir features tequila, watermelon, lime, jalapeno agave syrup, and grapefruit soda while the bar team proves impressively literate in both spirits and show tunes. When I confessed I was covering queer stories, the bartender gave me a verbal mini-map of where to go.Talk about service above and beyond.Service that understands creative deadlinesBack in my room after a night out, I cracked open the blackout curtains to let neon streaks paint the ceiling like a city lullaby. Between the pillow-plush mattress and the hush of double-glazed windows, I slept nine uninterrupted hours. In the morning, another caf credit beckoned, and the cycle of caffeine-fueled bustle of writing and interviewing began anew. The lobby is a great place to sit, relax, and people watch. Marie-Adlina de la Ferrire for Out TravelerWhether upstairs or down, Romer's team manages that elusive New York combo: brisk efficiency paired with genuine curiosity. When I returned from a day of interviews, I noticed that housekeeping had moved the desk slightly closer to the overhead reading lamp after finding a paperback on the table. At checkout, the front desk clerk asked how my articles were shaping up. When I admitted I still needed a closing kicker, she provided me with a few anecdotes accompanied by a warm smile.Why Romer Hell's Kitchen belongs on your shortlist Romer Hell's Kitchen is located just a skip away from all the great sites and shows New York City has to offer! Marie-Adlina de la Ferrire for Out TravelerFor writers, creatives, and travelers in the pursuit of chic locales, Romer must be on your shortlist. They offer more than a bed; it supplies a micro-community that sparks story ideas at every turn, whether people watching in the lobby, enjoying Figs in a Blanket at So & So, or in a book-lined Study where Kevin Aviance's laughter still echoes in the spines. Tuck in, tune up your draft, and let Hell's Kitchen's off-Broadway heartbeat keep time.At Romer, inspiration isn't a concierge amenity. It's baked into the walls, poured into your cappuccino, and crooned from the piano until the last call.

Happy Pride from Brian SimsBrian Sims is baring his body in celebration of Pride.Sims a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the current CEO of Agenda PAC, which advocates for LGBTQ+ representation in politics shared a series of intimate portraits of himself to social media Thursday in order to be "loud" and "proud" during the rainbow season.The photos Sims poses both shirtless and in a pair of Calvin Kleins, in color and black and white were shot on March 25 in Brooklyn by celebrity photographer Andrs Oyuela (@andresoyuela), an opportunity that Sims couldn't pass up."Being asked to do a photoshoot with Andrs Oyuela was something I never expected, so when it happened, I hydrated, I moisturized, and then we took these photos," Sims tells Out. "And yes, I'm posting them during Pride because queer joy is political and irreverent. Being out, visible, and confident is an act of resistance when we're all under attack every day. Let's be loud. Let's be proud."Sims made headlines in January for marrying his partner Alex Drakos; they rushed the nuptials in order to wed before the second inauguration of President Donald Trump. He urged other queer couples to tie the knot as well for fear that LGBTQ+ rights like marriage equality would roll back in a new conservative era."Right now while we still have the fruits of what so many advocates fought years for, we should avail ourselves of them while we continue to fight to defend them and expand them," he told Out. "But [these] are very treacherous times we're going into, and having the protections of the law[is] an assurance that I think everyone deserves. And if you're considering [marriage], you should too."June 26 also marks the 10-year anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.Celebrate queer victories and joy with the portraits of Sims ahead.

Youre vibing at an event in mirrored shades, mesh, and whatever else makes you feel sexy. Someone across the street freezes, jaw open, phone half-raised. On TikTok, a trans makeup artist posts a GRWM, and the comments flood with I cant stop staring! Whether offline or on-screen, these lingering, wide-eyed reactions all carry the same energy: loud looking.The term has exploded on queer social media over the past year, giving a name to that invasive, spectacle-style stare. Think of it as the moment admiration tilts into objectification. The difference between You look amazing! and a six-second video captioned Spotted this at Walmart. According to Tinders 2024 Year in Swipe report, transparency and permission are now the hottest dating trends. 70 percent of singles want a serious connection, while nearly half explicitly state their dating goals in their bios. In other words, Gen Z is over ambiguity. The same clarity applies to how we look at one another.So what is loud looking, exactly? PRIDE talked to Adam Cohen-Aslatei, CEO of the matchmaking firm Three Day Rule, to get to the bottom of it.What is loud looking?Loud looking refers to the kind of attention queer people may receive when they are watched or stared at in ways that feel obvious, invasive, or disrespectfulas if they are on display for entertainment, says Cohen-Aslatei. It can reduce real, lived identities to spectacle, turning authenticity into something to be consumed rather than respected.Unlike a quick glance of appreciation, loud looking lingers. It often includes raised eyebrows, whispered commentary, or furtive phone cameras. The vibe is less fabulous and more human safari.Where did the term come from?Cohen-Aslatei notes that the phrase is a more academic term coined by social psychologists who study how we look at each other, especially when it comes to people who are different, niche groups, and marginalized minorities.For decades, scholars have analyzed the male gaze and female gaze. In queer circles, writers like bell hooks and Jos Esteban Muoz unpacked how marginalized people are both hypervisible and invisible at the same time. Loud looking is the TikTok-ready evolutionsuccinct, meme-able, and perfect for calling out creepers in the comments.Visibility, desire & the queer gazeQueer style has always been about visibility. Think leather at Stonewall, voguing in Harlem ballrooms, and gender-bending streetwear in 2025. But Cohen-Aslatei says loud looking flips the shame script.Loud looking shifts the focus of shamenot onto the queer person being observed, but onto the act of looking itself, he says. It frames the one doing the staring as potentially inappropriate, especially when that gaze feels judgmental, excessive, or invasive.He distinguishes this gaze from objectification. Objectification happens when a person is reduced to a body part, a stereotype, or a fantasy, he explains. Loud looking, on the other hand, is when someone watches queer peopleespecially those who are visibly expressive or non-normativein a way that feels intrusive, exaggerated, or loaded with judgment or fascination. Drag brunch tourists who gasp I cant believe what Im seeing are a textbook example.Safety, surveillance, and social mediaLoud looking isnt just awkwardit can be dangerous. Trans and femme-presenting individuals often face heightened judgment and subtle surveillance simply for being seen, Cohen-Aslatei warns. From bathroom harassment to viral videos posted without consent, the gaze can escalate into real-world harm.Online, the risk multiplies. Apps like TikTok and Instagram give queer people powerful tools to express themselves, he says. But even content meant for a supportive audience can land in front of viewers who dont understand or respond respectfully. The 2024 Green Flags Study from Tinder underscores this assumptions epidemic. Daters consistently misread each others intentions, projecting stereotypes before a single DM is exchanged. Swap romantic intentions for gender expression, and you get the same noisy misunderstanding, only now in the form of stares, stitches, and side-eye.Why Gen Z owns the clap-backCohen-Aslatei sees a generational split. What one generation sees as empowerment, another may perceive as risk, he says. Older queer folks who survived the AIDS crisis often mastered the art of flying under the radar. Gen Z, raised amid rainbow-emoji marketing and endless selfie culture, leans the other way: be seen, and call out anyone who makes that visibility unsafe.On TikTok, the tag #loudlooking sits alongside #thisismaface for trans joy and #bigenderfashionhauls. Posts pair quick-cut reaction memes with sassy captions that imply the gawking is not only noticed but named. How to look without becoming loudCohen-Aslatei reminds us that looking is a natural human behavior, but it crosses the line when curiosity morphs into surveillance, spectacle, or subtle domination. Heres a cheat sheet:Read the room. Is your glance longer than a second or two? Dial it back.Compliment, dont comment. A sincere Love your boots! beats a whispered Wow, thats a guy? every time.Ask before you film. If you wouldnt covertly record a brides wedding dress, dont record a strangers Pride outfit either.Mirror energy. If someone looks comfy and open, a smile may be welcome. If they seem tense or avoidant, respect that boundary.Reflect inward. Are you staring because youre inspiredor because youre shocked? One builds community; the other turns people into props.The bigger pictureLoud looking captures the double-edged sword of queer visibility in 2025: freedom to express, paired with a fresh wave of public scrutiny. As Cohen-Aslatei puts it, Modern loud lookers dont just starethey film, post, and comment in real time.Yet naming the behavior is power in itself. If queer style is a language, loud looking is the grammar rule that says, Observe, dont objectify. When in doubt, offer a nod of solidarity instead of a running commentary. We all deserve the freedom to strut down the streetor the timelinewithout being treated like the days entertainment.So the next time a sequined stranger turns heads, remember: Theres a difference between looking and looking loudly. Choose the quiet appreciation, and let them slay in peace.

Nineties heartthrob Joshua Jackson, who stole our hearts as bad boy Pacey Witter on Dawsons Creek, is proving why hes continued to be iconic by getting candid about a certain explicit gay sex act he once performed on camera.During a recent interview with Mens Health, the 47-year-old actor opened up about his eye-opening role in the 1999 teen erotic thriller Cruel Intentions, where he starred alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar, Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Phillippe, and Selma Blair. And we cant forget Eric Mabius, who shares a particularly memorable scene with Jackson in the film."I wasn't on Cruel Intentions very much, but I do believe that my first day on this movie was giving a man head," Jackson said.@menshealthmagJoshua Jacksons first day on Cruel Intentions involved WHAT??! #fypIn a film full of memorable sexy moments that led to queer awakenings (remember when SMG and Selma Blair kiss?), one scene has been living rent-free in every gay Millennials head ever since it premiered. Well never forget when Jacksons character, gay high schooler Blaine Tuttle, was caught in bed giving a BJ to hot football jock Greg McConnell, played by Mabius.Jackson may have been simulating oral to film the iconic scene, but he joked that it was stressful for him at the time."And that can be stressful for a 19-year-old heterosexual boy, to sit in a room, and give another man a blowjob, he said.The interview with Jackson is part of Mens Healths new Stress Test video series, where stars break down stressful moments from their careers.So my stress test on this was to commit myself to this job that I had taken on and really made sure that I was all in, so to speak, Jackson explained.Wed love to know how he went all in for this role! (@) After filming, Jackson didnt see Mabius again until their paths crossed when the two men were in their 30s and Mabius moved in down the block from Jackson.Jackson explained that he was taking out his trash when Mabius and his wife walked by. The two actors recognized each other, and both started blushing when Mabius' wife wondered what was going on."She's like, oh, how do you guys know each other? And two of us, now well into our 30s, both blushed scarlet red," Jackson said. "Like, how do you explain what that connection was?"

Loyal, impeccably dressed, and with killer dance moves, M3GAN became the breakout robot of 2023 and an instant gay icon. This summer shes back in M3GAN: 2.0 with a growth spurt, a new blow-out, and protecting her person, Cady (Violet McGraw), even more fiercely while still challenging her creator, Gemma, at every turn. If that werent queer icon status enough, shes an Out digital cover star and a proponent of chosen family with a message for her LGBTQ+ fans.Being a gay icon is my default setting, M3GAN tells Out. To the alphabet mafia, I see you. I slay for you. And thanks for being so silly online with me. Keep serving the energy, babies. M3GAN 2.0 on the digital cover of Out Courtesy Universal Pictures The first M3GAN film saw Gemma, a brilliant robotics scientist behind a line of AI toys, gift the M3GAN prototype to her young niece, Cady, who is in Gemmas charge after losing her parents in a car crash. M3GANs only mission is to protect and care for Cady, an instruction that leads to a killing spree of a dog, a bully, some tech executives, and anyone who dared tangle with Cady or come between them. That murder spree nearly included Gemma.Though M3GAN attacks and nearly offs Gemma in the first film for attempting to separate her from Cady, the bot and Allison Williams, who plays Gemma, share a common love for queer people. Williams has starred in LGBTQ-forward and -friendly projects since the start of her career including Girls, the sapphic horror flickThe Perfection, and Fellow Travelers, the Matt Bomer and Jonthan Bailey starrer that chronicled queer history from the Lavender Scare to the AIDS epidemic. Allison Williams as Gemma and M3GAN in M3GAN: 2.0 Courtesy Universal Pictures Any project I'm in, if there's a capacity it has to speak to anyone on the margins, anyone who isn't always spoken to or treated with love and respect and kindness, 100 percent, that makes it even more of a win, Williams says. Part of something like Fellow Travelers, for example, where you're telling a story that a lot of people don't know, about the Lavender Scare and that whole part of our history, which is repeating itself as we speak, it's terrifying.The only way we can avoid that kind of rhyming with history is to continue to tell the stories of it and remind ourselves of the inhumanity and the evil of it all, Williams says. I'm devastated to know that these stories are still so relevant today. In life, M3GAN became a darling of gay men in 2023, which included a spoof on Saturday Night Live starring Chloe Fineman and Aubrey Plaza as the dolls that anticipated M3GAN: 2.0s ultra-queer era (poppers and searing rejoinders were involved). On-screen, M3GAN returns this week in an upgraded visage when the U.S. governments killer doll goes rogue and Gemma is forced to reactivate her to save Cady and the world. In the action flick from director Gerard Johnstone, M3GAN appears to be programmed for empathy, and she and Gemma are more aligned.I've upgraded my emotional algorithms. Sure. I may have lost my cool a few times, but don't we all, bestie? M3GAN queries. But I've learned that self-care goes a long way. Now I can slay with even more accurate precision. Violet McGraw as Cady and Allison Williams as Gemma in M3GAN 2.0 Courtesy Universal Pictures A centerpiece of the film displaying the dolls more empathetic nature, and arguably its campiest moment, features M3GAN, who serenaded audiences with Sias Titanium in the first film, crooning an 80s alt classic to comfort Gemma, whos worried about her nieces safety.Part of M3GANs appeal with queer audiences is her school-girl look with the fabulous blond locks that belie her killer instinct. Costumer Jeriana San Juan, who created looks for queer projects including On Swift Horses and Halston, says she felt pressure to amp up the queer for M3GANs new era.I think because maybe queer stories don't get told that often as well, I do feel a certain responsibility that I try to honor in my research and tethering design and dreams to hardcore truths and giving it all a real sense of meaning that is rooted in respecting queer history that has little Easter eggs hidden all throughout to honor queer culture and to speak to the community, because it is underserved, says San Juan, whos behind M3GANs cyberpunk Tron-like costume in the new movie.I was raised by gay family. I have two moms, and so it's a real deeply seated sense of respect and responsibility that I have to the queer community to not only elevate and dream, but to do it all with a well-researched intellect, San Juan adds. Family is central to M3GAN: 2.0, with Gemma learning from mistakes and leaning into her role as Cadys parent, and M3GAN and Gemma coming to an understanding for Cadys sake. M3GAN: 2.0 in her space-age costume Courtesy Universal Pictures Chosen family is everything. And Cady will always be mine, M3GAN says, borrowing a term so integral to LGBTQ+ people. As for Gemma, let's just say we're setting new terms and conditions.Though Gemma is wary of her creations ability to refrain from slaying, Williams is a M3GAN fan when it comes to the dolls appeal to queer people.How wonderful to be able to bring someone to life who is so full of authenticity, and is living in her most authentic self, and is brash, and has all the qualities that people that are living in marginalized identities have to have, Williams says. When they are brave enough in the face of such hatred, and vitriol, and inequality to live in their full expression of themselves, they deserve a M3GAN to be a champion and to be there to say, I commend you for living in your true expression.M3GAN: 2.0 is in theaters June 27.

"It's a Jonathan Bailey summer!"The beloved actor, who's set to appear in Jurassic World: Rebirth premiering next week, appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and the two had quite the flirtatious moment live on camera.Sign up for the Out Newsletter to keep up with what's new in LGBTQ+ culture and entertainment delivered three times a week straight (well) to your inbox!Fallon and Bailey both don the "slutty little glasses" of his character, Dr. Henry Loomis, to do the iconic Jurassic Park slow turn where they pretend "there's a massive dinosaur" behind them. Ever the flirt, Bailey stands up and make sure his pants accentuate his butt before lightly tapping Fallon's. But the first time they start to look over their shoulders, the two lock eyes and start leaning in as if they were going to kiss.Their faces get quite close, then they burst into giggles along with the audience. Fallon and Bailey try the turn a few more times before giving up the bit completely. In the segment, Bailey also opened up about his childhood relationship with the iconic franchise and what it means to him to star in today. The Bridgerton star also shared how he ended up playing a clarinet solo in the score of Jurassic World: Rebirth, and how he was using the hot doc's glasses phenomenon to help promote the Shameless Fund, an organization selling the frames to raise money to support the global LGBTQ+ community. Bailey revealed they've "managed to raise nearly $1 million in a year."Jurassic World: Rebirth premieres in theaters on July 2 and also stars Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali. The film picks up five years after the last movie, Jurassic World: Dominion, which premiered in 2022. "An expedition braves isolated equatorial regions to extract DNA from three massive prehistoric creatures for a groundbreaking medical breakthrough," the vague official description reads.

When Brokeback Mountain was released twenty years ago, it won numerous awards, but cowriter Diana Ossana recalls the moment she realized the film would ultimately lose the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2006.Ossana, who co-wrote the film with Larry McMurtry, based on a short story by Annie Proulx, told The New York Times that she remembers exactly when she knew the film wouldn't be taking home the Academy Award's biggest prize.According to Ossana, she attended a party for Academy Award nominees weeks before the award show (but after voting had already ended). At the party, Crash director Paul Haggis introduced her to Million Dollar Baby director Clint Eastwood."Paul started walking me over, and he goes, 'Diana, I have to tell you, he hasn't seen your movie,'" the corwriter said. "And it was like somebody kicked me in the stomach. That's when I knew we would not win Best Picture."Ossana also felt like homophobia within Hollywood was a huge factor on why the film didn't win Best Picture. "People want to deny that, but what else could it have been?" she said. "We'd won everything up until then."Brokeback Mountain was one of the most critically acclaimed and celebrated films of 2005, winning Best Picture at the BAFTAs, Golden Globes, Critics' Choice Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, and GLAAD Awards, among others. However, it famously lost the Best Picture award at the Oscars to Crash in one of the most controversial Oscar ceremonies ever.Brokeback Mountain, directed by Ang Lee and starring Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with a theatrical rerelease via Focus Features.

The following Q&A is part of Outs Dating PrEP Season 4, where prominent LGBTQ+ figures share dating tips and insights for finding self-love and romance. Watch the full series on Out.com/DatingPrEP.In a city where labels are designer and identities refuse to be boxed in, Yuhua Hamasaki isnt just toeing the line shes power-strutting over it in six-inch heels and a feathered sweater, daring you to catch up. Born in Guangzhou, China and raised in New York City, Hamasaki is a one-woman spectacle: drag artist, host, performer, activist, and full-time glamazon. You may recognize her from Season 10 of RuPauls Drag Race, but her real magic happens off-camera onstage, under neon lights, and in front of crowds who come for the sparkle and stay for the substance. Every Friday night, I watch Hamasaki command the mic at the iconic Pieces Bar, turning Manhattans nightlife into a masterclass in charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent.Whether shes lip-syncing for her life or fighting for visibility as a gender-fluid Asian entertainer, Hamasaki proves that authenticity messy, loud, glitter-drenched authenticity is a superpower.For Outs Dating PrEP Season 4, I met with Hamasaki to chat about dating apps, chaotic suitors, sexual health, and the radical act of simply being herself. In classic Hamasaki fashion, every answer was unfiltered, unexpected, and most importantly unforgettable.OUT: Single or taken?Yuhua Hamasaki: Very single and ready to mingle.How would you describe your love life using a movie title?My love life? Non-existent. Is that a movie? If it is, Ive never seen it.Okay, a real movie, let me think Bring It On. Bring it on! I'm ready. Where do you meet people for dates?Like most, I meet people on dating apps. Before that, it was on the websites; and then before that, it was at the bars. What is an ideal date for you?You come over I hate traveling, so you come over. We watch some movies. We talk. We do it. (laughs) And then theres compatibility. We talk and hang out afterwards. Thats a perfect date for me.What are your pronouns?My pronouns are all over the place she/her/they/them/he/him whatever you want. As long as you call me respectfully, Im okay with it. But most people call me she/her.What is your gender identity?All over the place! I think that gender is such a wide spectrum. Sometimes I feel a little more masculine, sometimes a little more feminine, but overall I do lean more towards the fem side.What is your sexual orientation?All over the place too! I feel like Im leaning towards someone more masculine or male-identifying, but I think its more about energy. Im open.How has your gender fluidity impacted your approach to relationships and dating within the queer community?Its hard for me to date within the queer community. Usually, I end up dating or going out with men who are leaning towards bisexual, pansexual, or straight. Since you meet people online, how do you read online social cues and know when somebody is interested?I know someones interested if they follow up and if theyre communicative its more than just a hello, how are you because then it goes nowhere. Social cues include me asking questions and them following up and not ignoring questions. Lets say if Im asking them for more pictures, and then I follow up with another question, like where do you live? If they only answer one of the two questions, then thats when I know Im not feeling it. You need to be communicative with me!Tell me a chaotic date story.It was probably back in 2015. I met this person through another drag entertainer. He waited for me outside the bar I was working at the time. I finished the show. We walked from diner to diner afterwards, but he did not want to go into any diner. I guess the menu prices were too expensive for him? I dont judge. I dont care where we eat. Just go into a place! It could be McDonald's! I'm very simple. Just tell me where! He wasnt communicative in that aspect, so I didnt know that it wasnt within his budget range until afterwards. We finally walked from diner to diner to diner all the way from the West Village to almost Midtown West, okay? I was in full drag, with my suitcase, and in heels. We got to the diner, ate, and were ready to pay. But he didnt have enough money, so he took my tip money to give to the waiter to pay for the food. And thats where I was just like: Maybe you should have planned this a little bit better, or communicate with me a little bit better, so that we dont end up in the same situation again. Again, Im not judging his financial situation. Its just more about communicating and being honest with me. That's where I draw the line.How do you make yourself feel confident before a first date?I just am, I just be! I dont think theres any rituals that I do. I know some people go to the gym, they like to light some candles, get in the mood, or get their makeup done. But I feel like if you cant accept me for all my flaws, then you cant accept me for anything else. Because Im not here to please you. Im here to be me.Back in my younger years, people would say to me, Can you put on some makeup? Can you do your hair this way? Can you wear that? Id be like Okay, fine. At the end of the day, Ive realized that thats not what makes me happy, because Im uncomfortable. So I want to do what I want to do at that moment.What advice would you give to someone who fears rejections?Just go for it! You never know what youre missing out on. You never do! That person could be into you for all you know! If its a no, then its a no. Youre not going to die. Nobodys gonna die. Youre not gonna get hurt. And what you walk away with is experience its knowing what to do and how to approach the next time.What advice would you give to queer folks who may feel like love is harder to find these days?You dont need to find love because theres love all around you already! You can find community within your friends, the work that you do, your passion, your hobbies. There's so much more fulfillment than being in a relationship. During my generation when I grew up, from watching movies and reading books, it was all about finding a boyfriend, getting married, and having kids. But thats not the case with everyone, especially with the queer community. Stop forcing yourself into relationships that dont work. Allow them to come as they come, and let it be natural. Let things fall into place.What challenges, if any, have you faced dating as an Asian person in New York?Oh girl, okay, here we go! Youre Asian, so you can probably relate to this theres a whole demographic that likes Asians. For the longest time, those were the people that I ended up dating, because thats all I know We [Asians] are being fetishized [by the demographic that is only into Asians]. As I got older, I got more femme, there was a whole other demographic that was into people like me. Nowadays, I just go wherever the flow goes.Youve spoken a lot about embracing your Chinese heritage. How has this journey of cultural acceptance influenced your self-love and confidence?I wasnt accepted much as a kid growing up in America. Even before in China, I didnt feel like I was accepted anyway because I was too femme. So it was up to me to glorify all those aspects whether it was femininity, the drag aspect, the queer aspect, or the Asian part of me, it was up to me to glorify it. Now, were seeing more roles for Asian actors, that seem like theyre the hero, theyre the sexy hot guy, the charming guy that you wanna date Ive noticed too, within the queer community, that the younger generation are more accepting of Asian men when it comes to dating. Whereas in my generation, it was not, it was only Asian girls. Even incorporating some aspects of Asian into my drag when Im performing or when Im given a platform is super important for other people out there to see it, and to respect it in a way that they dont look down upon it. Thank you for bringing that representation. What personal growth have you experienced since Drag Race?I thought I was an open-minded person I grew up in New York City, so I thought Id seen a lot of diversity and different cultures. After Drag Race, I got to travel to different places and I realized Wow Im not as open-minded or as culturally-aware as I thought I was! We live in a generation where we constantly tell people to come out, be you, be proud of who you are, and just love who you want to love But most people dont have the privilege that we do, especially if you live in a smaller town it might just not be safe for them to come out. If they come out, they might lose their jobs or family, and they might not be accepted. I have found that going to different parts of the world, even the smallest towns, can really open up your eyes to see how people actually live.What advice would you give others for prioritizing their sexual health?I think not just queer people should go on PrEP! I think everyone should go on PrEP. HIV could literally end in this generation. We have the medication for it. We have the science for it. Why not? Ive talked to a lot of people that are straight, pansexual or bisexual. They dont know about PrEP. They don't even know that AIDS is old news. They dont know about things that could get passed on during sex. They think that, if you only have heterosex, you wont get HIV; and only if you have queer sex, you can get HIV. That's a myth! Thats total misinformation!I think if more people are educated about the protections out there for them, then we can have a better world.This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.

Munroe Bergdorf has experienced the magic of love, and it took another trans woman to show it to her.Bergdorf, a history-making model, writer, and trans activist, opened up about her love life on the podcast Rylan: How to Be in Love with host Rylan Clark. She said that the most significant thing in her life that changed her view about love was the first time she fell in love with a woman, and specifically a trans woman.Discussing her relationship with her ex-girlfriend, Ava, who has passed away, Bergdorf said it was the first time she felt true love."Because I realized how much love was what I thought it should be, rather than what it actually is," Bergdorf said. "And I never thought I would fall in love with another woman, especially a trans woman, because I hadnt processed or allowed myself to understand that I, as a trans woman, deserve love.""Were constantly told that trans people are, like, an abomination. That people shouldnt even be friends with trans people, we shouldnt employ trans people, we shouldnt let their kids near trans people. All these awful things that ultimately make you feel unlovable," she continued. "So, then, when another trans woman comes along, youve got all of this internalized hatred oftentimes. Then that whole relationship opened my eyes. And I was like, 'Of course she deserves love, so of course I deserve love, and then why can't we love each other?'"That relationship also expanded her idea of her sexuality, as she had only been with men before.Bergdorf said that the relationship made her realize that any time a man showed her attention or affection, she would feel lovable. She was seeking that male validation instead of finding actual love.Bergdorf said that nowadays, she identifies as queer, but doesn't want a label to limit herself. "I don't really feel the need to define myself by a box, because I feel like you end up becoming box-shaped oftentimes," she said.Bergdorf recently released the her book Talk To Me: How to Talk About the Things That Matter, and has an upcoming documentary, Love & Rage: Munroe Bergdorf, coming out July 15. The documentary takes an intimate look at her life and serves as a rallying cry for trans rights.Watch the Love & Rage trailer below.

Today is the 10th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges which established marriage equality nationwide. Anyone who is old enough knows that this ruling marked the culmination of decades of advocacy and legal battles for LGBTQ+ rights, and that these rights, and others, should not be taken for granted.That is the main message of marriage activist, attorney, and Presidential Citizens Medal recipient Evan Wolfson, who has been one of the foremost advocates of marriage equality for over 30 years. He founded the organization, Freedom to Marry, and along with countless others, tirelessly worked to shift public opinion and challenge discriminatory laws. Their efforts led to incremental victories in various states, setting the stage for the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell.Despite the Supreme Court's ruling, some state lawmakers have continued to challenge marriage equality. In at least nine states, measures have been introduced aiming to undermine same-sex couples' right to marry. Notably, five of these measures explicitly urge the Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell.Wolfson told The Advocate that the Supreme Court overturning Obergefell would be "outrageous," but he considers it unlikely. While there are at least two justices who might oppose marriage equality, securing a majority to overturn the decision seems improbable, Wolfson stated, "Whether there are five votes in the Supreme Court seems pretty unlikely at this point, though, again, we don't know. Bad things can happen. Anything can happen, but I don't think that's very likely."In Idaho, the state House of Representatives passed a resolution calling for the Supreme Court to reconsider and overturn Obergefell, advocating for the restoration of marriage as a union exclusively between one man and one woman. Similarly, Michigan state Rep. Josh Schriver introduced a resolution urging the Supreme Court to overturn the 2015 decision, arguing that it conflicts with the sanctity of marriage and the state's constitution.In Oklahoma, lawmakers have introduced bills that, while not directly challenging Obergefell, aim to promote traditional family structures. For example, state Sen. Dusty Deevers proposed the "Promote Child Thriving Act," offering tax credits exclusively to married couples who are the biological parents of a child.Regarding state legislatures passing resolutions urging the Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell, Wolfson described these actions as political maneuvering rather than genuine threats. These resolutions do not have the legal standing to initiate Supreme Court cases. They are more political messaging and stunts than an actual threat," Wolfson said. These measures do indicate the presence of opposition, but they do not pose an immediate legal danger to marriage equality.In 2022, anticipating potential challenges to marriage equality, Congress passed the Respect for Marriage Act. This legislation mandates that any lawful marriage performed in one state must be recognized by all other states and the federal government.Wolfson highlighted this act as a significant safeguard. "We have a sort of a 90 percent safeguard against the, I think, relatively unlikely, bad case scenario ... [of marriage equality being reversed]," he said.Public support for same-sex marriage has grown substantially over the years, but a divide is growing. Overall, a record 88 percent of Democrats supported marriage equality, compared to only 41 percent of Republicans a low not seen since the Obergefell v. Hodges decision, according to a recent poll by Gallup. While 68 percent of Americans support marriage equality, the 47-percentage-point gap between Republicans and Democrats on the issue is the highest recorded since Gallup began polling on the issue of marriage equality in 1996.Wolfson advises against succumbing to anticipatory despair over potential threats to marriage equality. People should focus on current challenges and continue building on the majority support for marriage equality, Wolfson remarked, "Worrying about what might happen is not useful. Recognizing that things are bad right now already and we need to fight it. That's what's useful."

This story is brought to you by our partners at Lexus.The day Etienne Ortega bought his mother a house, he wasnt thinking about glam. He was thinking about a promise. I told her when I moved to L.A. that Id do it, Ortega says. And by 26, I did.Its the kind of moment that reflects everything Ortega brings to his work: determination, intuition, and an unshakable sense of self. A moment that, like the refined confidence of a Lexus gliding down Laurel Canyon, speaks volumes without ever needing to raise its voice.Today, Ortega is a celebrity hair and makeup artist with clients like Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, and Lana Del Rey, founder of his brand Ortega Beauty, and a cancer survivor. But rewind two decades, and he was just a kid in Ventura County, Calif., cutting rubber bands out of his moms bathroom drawer to do his sisters ponytails before school.I had no idea beauty was going to be my career, Ortega says. But I used to sit at the salon for hours watching this woman named Hilda work highlights, cuts, eyebrows. I was fascinated. She saw something in me.That early spark evolved into an unmistakable signature bold lips, glowing skin, and a style clients now instantly recognize as his. But Ortega didnt fall into the glam chair by accident. He earned it through years of work, a mix of hustle, faith, and a fearless drive that began when he left home at 17 with no clear roadmap, only ambition.I had no fear, he says. Just this pull. Id help my friends get ready for prom, charging $10 a face. It wasnt even about the money. I just loved the transformation not just how someone looked, but how they felt.Ortega, who was born in Guadalajara in Mexico, moved to the United States with his family at age 7. He describes his upbringing as full of love but shaped by machismo a cultural environment that initially made him question if beauty could ever be his future. I didnt want people to say it was gay, he says. That fear held me back. But then I realized everything I loved, everyone I looked up to, were icons in beauty, in fashion, in music. And they stood for being unapologetically themselves.Years later, Ortega now calls many of those idols clients, mentors, and friends. Working with Aguilera wasnt just a career high it was destiny. I used to say Id work with her one day. People thought I was crazy, he says. But I knew. I manifested that before I even knew what manifesting was.It hasnt been all highlights and lipstick, though. In 2021, Ortega was diagnosed with stage 2 testicular cancer. The news came unexpectedly after what he assumed was a pulled muscle. You never expect to hear that from a doctor, he says. But it shifted my entire perspective.Even as he endured two surgeries and chemotherapy, Ortega rarely slowed down. Work was healing for me. It helped me feel strong. Id sit in chemo and see babies, older people getting treatment I thought, if theyre not complaining, neither am I.Through that battle, he continued building something bigger his namesake beauty brand, Ortega Beauty. It took six years, he says. There were bad partnerships, setbacks. But I couldnt quit. Anything I start, I have to finish.Launching his own beauty brand wasnt just a business decision for Ortega it was a reclamation of power, of vision. Id spent years executing other peoples creative direction, Ortega says. This time, it was all mine. I chose everything the formulas, the textures, even the soundtrack to the launch video. Christina helped write the voiceover. Mariah approved the edit. It was surreal.And like any good artist, Ortega doesnt just create he gives back. He runs a series of beauty education classes called Maestro Workshops, helping emerging artists develop their own voice. I never had the chance to assist when I was coming up, he says. Now I try to give others what I didnt get mentorship, encouragement, a safe space.Safety, in fact, is something Ortega revisits often not just in physical comfort, but emotional energy. You cant underestimate how important it is to feel safe, he says. I try to create that with every client. Whether theyre famous or not, I want them to feel ready, confident, supported. Like theyre about to walk into the world as the best version of themselves.Thats not just good glam thats what Ortega considers the standard of amazing: Whether its performance, style, or presence, both Ortega and Lexus know that what truly moves us is more than appearance its how we feel along the way.

This story is brought to you by our partners at Lexus.The first time Kylie Jenner walked into the Beverly Hills salon Chaun Legend worked at for a session, he almost mistook her dog for a billy goat.I wasnt sure what it was at first, the celebrity nail artist laughs. She walked in, sat down, and introduced me to the dog. Im thinking, Okay, were doing this!What Legend didnt realize in that moment nervously sculpting her nails while trying to play it cool was that this one appointment, this one set of acrylics, would change the course of his life.She double tapped the photo I posted of her nails on Instagram, Legend says. And I watched my phone blow up in real time. I didnt eat. I didnt sleep. I just kept refreshing. Ten likes turned into 500, then 2,000, then 10,000. And the next day? I was booked back-to-back.That kind of instant transformation from unknown to undeniable mirrors the exact energy that Lexus celebrates in its mantra: the standard of amazing. It's not just about appearance, its about presence. Whether its slipping into a Lexus or stepping out of Legends chair, its about tapping into the version of yourself thats ready to turn heads.But to understand how a Cambodian kid born in a refugee camp became the owner of his own beauty brand and Hollywoods go-to nail artist known for his stiletto-sharp shapes and avant-garde sets you have to rewind. When Legend was around 3, his parents moved him to Philadelphia. It all felt foreign, Legend says. We were one of the only Asian families in the neighborhood. I didnt speak English. I cried every day at school. Legend recalled kids used to call him slurs when he introduced his name as Chaun. I didnt know what to say, he confesses. So Id just take it.Bleak but its also where Legends resilience was born and, eventually, his artistry. Legends first exposure to the nail world came from his aunts and uncles, whose salons were where Legends parents would drop him off to be babysat when they went to work.I hated the smell there, Legend recalled. I didnt want to be there. But after a posthigh school stint hopping between jobs, he took an unexpected offer from a friend: move to Lexington, Kentucky, and work in a new, massive nail salon.It was a fresh start, Legend explains.At first, he was doing basic services with mostly regular polish. According to Legend, polka dots were considered extravagant at the time. One day, a client came in and told him to go wild.She changed everything for me, Legend says. I painted turtles, hibiscus, every idea I had on her. And she loved it.Since then, Legend has found his signature style.I like things with a bold statement, he explains. Even if its a muted nail set, there has to be a moment. A main character. Something that says, Im here.Clients now flock to Legend for his dangerously sharp stilettos and dramatic lengths. My stilettos? Lethal, he says. They slice and dice. Theyre weapons.But beyond the glam, Legend is about transformation. If youre getting your nails done by me for the first time and I throw some stilettos on you? Youll transform, says Legend. Youll tap into your inner badass. Youll change the way you type, or even open a soda. Its a lifestyle shift.So what does Legend want people to feel when they see his work?Confidence. Attitude. Power, he said. I want you to look at your nails and feel like a badass.In a world where style meets performance, Lexus champions that same emotional electricity the bold confidence of walking into a room (or rolling into one) knowing youre the moment. And just like Legends iconic stilettos, Lexus isnt just about getting from point A to B its about how you feel on the ride.

A tournament twist of 'All Stars 10' proportions for bracket 3!Editor's note: This article contains spoilers for episode 9 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 10.After fierce competition in bracket 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 10, only three queens among Acid Betty, Alyssa Hunter, Cynthia Lee Fontaine, Daya Betty, Denali, and Ginger Minj have qualified to the semi-finals of this Tournament of All Stars.The three queens within Group Purple who did not make it to the semi-finals heard the same message from Mama Ru as the non-qualifying queens in the first two brackets: They'll be given another chance to snatch the crown through a lottery twist that involves remains unclear, but gives them a bit of hope for yet another round of Ru-demption.Episode 9 of All Stars 10 started with the following scoreboard: Ginger Minj with a comfortable lead of 6 points, followed by Denali with 3 points and Daya Betty with 2 points. Trailing behind were Acid Betty, Alyssa Hunter, and Cynthia Lee Fontaine who only had 1 point each.However, not all hope was lost for the low-scoring divas given that they had round 2 of Most Valuable Queen (MVQ) points giveaways, another maxi challenge to compete in, and a subsequent final round of MVQ points in the end. Moreover, unlike other brackets, Acid Betty clocked the writing's on the wall that they had to act immediately in order to stand a chance against the three frontrunners of the bracket.'All Stars 10' Bracket 3: Round 2 of MVQ PointsThis second round of Most Valuable Queens (MVQ) points was, by far, the closest RuPaul's Drag Race has ever gotten to the strategic games that fans are used to seeing on reality competition shows like Survivor, Big Brother, and The Traitors. In Big Brother (U.S.) lingo, one would call this a "flip the house" moment.With the expectation that she would receive MVQ points from other queens along the way, Daya Betty gave her point to Cynthia Lee Fontaine. In return, Cynthia gave Daya her own MVQ point. This made sense even on a personal/emotional level given that Daya and "Cucu" were in the same girl group for episode 8 and wanted to honor that connection between them.Except that the other two queens with MVQ points to give felt the exact same way as Daya despite not being in a girl group with Cynthia. As "season 8 sisters," Acid Betty awarded her MVQ point to Cynthia. And, "for Puerto Rico," Alyssa gave her MVQ point to Cynthia, too.Daya ultimately earned one MVQ point and tied with Denali for a total of 3 points. Meanwhile, Cynthia hopped from 1 point to 4 points, making her the second frontrunner of this entire bracket (only behind Ginger Minj's grand total of 6).As they watched Cynthia pulling ahead of them in the overall Tournament of All Stars scoreboard, both Daya and Denali acted as "cool as a cucu-mber" for the rest of the episodeJust kidding! Tamar, have you watched the show?! These girls are girling, and we love it.'All Stars 10' Episode 9 Maxi Challenge: 'The Golden B*tchelor' (feat. Zane Phillips)The final episode of bracket 3 on All Stars 10 featured an improv comedy challenge titled "The Golden Bitchelor" in which actor Zane Phillips (Fire Island, Glamorous) played the ultimate "golden retriever" looking for love. This was a similar maxi challenge to All Stars 3's "The Bitchelor," which had actor Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman (UnReal, Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.) as the leading man hoping to fall in love.The queens were cast as the following archetypes (based on dog breeds):Acid Betty as a "Doberman" who works as a dominatrix.Cynthia Lee Fontaine as a "Chihuahua" that often feels nervous.Acid and Cynthia were pair No. 1.Alyssa Hunter as a "frisky mutt" that is horny all the time.Ginger Minj as a "Saint Bernard" who's always boozy.Alyssa and Ginger were pair No. 2.Daya Betty as a "purebred Poodle" with a superiority complex.Denali as a "spaniel" who is needy and emotional.Daya and Denali were pair No. 3.'All Stars 10' Bracket 3: Final Top 2 Lip SyncThe top 2 winners of "The Golden Bitchelor" improv challenge were Daya Betty and Ginger Minj, who had to lip sync against each other once again, but this time to "Mama Used to Say" by Junior. For this final lip sync of the bracket, Daya turned the "betty be ready" dial all the way up and absolutely earned this lip sync win.As a result, Daya added 2 points (for placing in the top 2) plus 1 point (for winning the lip sync) and reached a total of 6 points in the Tournament of All Stars. From her top 2 placement alone, Ginger reached a total of 8 points more than any other queen across all brackets of All Stars 10.'All Stars 10' Bracket 3: Round 3 of MVQ PointsJust like the other brackets, the final round of MVQ points distribution in bracket 3 took place on the main stage of All Stars 10. Not only does this format take place in front of the judges, but it also doesn't let queens change their choices based on how other points are given out. Overall, it's safe to say that this final round of MVQ points in bracket 3 was the most dramatic and emotional of all with both Cynthia and Denali having a real shot to secure a spot in the semi-finals.The last four MVQ points of bracket 3 were distributed as follows:Cynthia gave her MVQ point to Alyssa.Denali gave her MVQ point to Acid.Alyssa gave her MVQ point to Denali.Acid gave her MVQ point to Cynthia.Which queens from bracket 3 advanced to the semi-finals of 'All Stars 10'?Cynthia Lee Fontaine, Daya Betty, and Ginger Minj are the bracket 3 queens who earned the most points and advanced to the semi-finals of All Stars 10. Here's a full breakdown of the points they've earned in the Tournament of All Stars:Ginger Minj won three maxi challenges (2 points each) and two top 2 lip syncs (1 point each). She didn't receive any MVQ points in the bracket. Ginger's final score: 8 points.Daya Betty won two maxi challenges (2 points each) and one top 2 lip sync (1 point). She also received one MVQ point. Daya's final score: 6 points.Cynthia Lee Fontaine didn't win a maxi challenge and didn't have a top 2 lip sync. However, she received 5 MVQ points during this bracket. Cynthia's final score: 5 points.Which queens from bracket 3 did not move forward to the next stage of 'All Stars 10'?Both Acid Betty and Alyssa Hunter ended bracket 3 without winning a maxi challenge or having a top 2 lip sync placement. They each won 2 points overall, from their fellow costars, through the MVQ point system. In turn, Denali won a maxi challenge (worth 2 points) and subsequently received 2 MVQ points across the bracket. Alas, those 4 points weren't enough for her to advance to the next step.In the end, Acid, Alyssa, and Denali did not move forward in the Tournament of All Stars for the semi-finals.'All Stars 10' Bracket 1: Final ScoreboardIrene The Alien 7 pointsBosco 6 pointsAja 5 pointsDeJa Skye 4 pointsOlivia Lux 4 pointsPhoenix 1 point'All Stars 10' Bracket 2: Final ScoreboardJorgeous 7.5Lydia B Kollins 7Mistress Isabelle Brooks 4.5Kerri Colby 4Tina Burner 3Nicole Paige Brooks 1'All Stars 10' Bracket 3: Final ScoreboardGinger Minj 8Daya Betty 6Cynthia Lee Fontaine 5Denali 4Acid Betty 2Alyssa Hunter 2Which queens will compete in the semi-finals of 'All Stars 10'?A total of nine queens, across all three brackets, have qualified to compete in the semi-finals of All Stars 10. That group of queens includes Aja, Bosco, Irene The Alien, Jorgeous, Lydia B Kollins, Mistress Isabelle Brooks, Cynthia Lee Fontaine, Daya Betty, and Ginger Minj.The preview for episode 10 shows all of these semi-finalists reuniting in the werk room, and it looks like they're already clashing. To raise the stakes even higher, the iconic (but also feared) Snatch Game will be the next maxi challenge in this Tournament of All Stars.Nine queens left, but only one "winner slays all." Who will that be? Stay tuned!RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 10 drops new episodes every Friday on Paramount+.

There's something about the way Essence Thomas enters the room. Like a gravitational force, suddenly, everything in the room arcs toward her. A cascade of face-framed layers that wouldn't quit, a beaming smile, and somewhere between her smirk and my somewhat aching feet in stilettos, I realized the crowd at T-Lounge had given up pretending they weren't rubber-necking.Essence didn't walk in; she arrived.But to understand why New York clubs can't stop inviting the 25-year-old nightlife siren, you have to start with an elderly woman. "my great-grandmother is my best friend she's been my biggest supporter," Essence told me, voice softening as she described the woman who once smuggled her into ballet class and mapped bus routes to community theater. That clandestine bus fare became jet fuel, and by the time Essence graduated from high school, the Windy City felt all too small for her ambitions.From Windy City to Brooklyn's Back-BeatEssence landed in New York with little more than a dream. What she found was a scene humming from the continued vibrations of Amanda Lepore and the aftershocks of Club Kids past, except now the dolls were at the door, on the decks, and behind the bar. Essence navigates the scene with GPS-level precision. She knows which after-hours actually end (none), which door girl to slip a cigarette, and when to trade out heels for sneakers (something I, sadly, am still learning after a night out with her.)The result is a schedule that begins on Thursday and sometimes extends into Monday morning class. Fortunately, she no longer has to worry about 9 am courses, as Essence recently graduated from Columbia University this May. She still has some online who are convinced she's in the research lab. Let the rumors swirl. "The girls think I'm STEM. I'm keeping it that way," she teased.A Classroom Called NightlifeEssence's real education, though, happened under strobe lights. In Chicago, she'd been "one of the first dolls to infiltrate" a scene dominated by cis gay men; in New York, she discovered an ecosystem where trans women didn't just headline but head-counted, curated, and cashed the checks. "It's quite beautiful," she said. "Now I'm affirmed in these spaces. I bring my girlsand we take up more [space]."That taking-up-space ethos is literal. Essence's list of must-hit parties could double as a nighttime tour guide: Basement ("Berlin-esque you'll never leave"), The Box, Outer Heaven, Signal, Good Roomand then there's the underground raves she only identifies with a wink because NDAs, she says jokingly, are the new VIP ropes. If you can't find her there, check several other venues in Brooklyn. If you still can't find her, well, she's probably producing her own party back in Chicago or on the road somewhere outside the Tri-State area, one party at a time.Joy in a Time of GentrificationHistorically, queer New York nightlife has forever dodged existential threats: police raids, Giuliani, and post-COVID nightlife. The latest menace wears Patagonia and enjoys an Aperol spritz in the afternoon. Essence is blunt: "There's an article about those white women in the West Villageit's happening in Brooklyn, too," she says with an eye roll.Her solution? Selective gate-keeping. "Bring back bullying" at the front door, she deadpans, half-joking, wholly serious about protecting Black and trans-cultural zones from vapid voyeurism. If a baby banker wanders into Basement raving about Frankie Knuckles without knowing Frankiea Black queer manwas instrumental in house music, Essence and others reserve the right to escort him to the nearest L-train.Not all heroes wear capes.Gentrification aside, what keeps Essence lacing up her boots is community. "Your chosen family in nightlife they're going to protect you." And while visibility can be exhilarating, it also has perilous moments. Essence has weathered harassment, stalking, and even the threat of academic expulsion simply for existing at the intersection of Blackness and transness. Yet she refuses to shrink. "I was meant to have a voice right now, she says.The Legacy She's Writing Under Dark-Room LightsThe morning after our interview, Essence strode across Columbia's commencement stage. She would celebrate a day later at one of Susanna Bartsch's opening night of "On Top" weekly soirees at Le Bain. (Sadly, I did not take her advice and rolled up with a pair of high heels.) If queer nightlife is New York's last great frontier, Essence Thomas is its newest, fiercest homesteader. She defends the culture with the zeal of a bouncer and the tenderness of a girl who still calls her great-grandmother several times a day. She's proof you can smile in the face of adversity, still be outspoken, yet also disappear for a three-day techno pilgrimageno toothbrush, no regrets.Asked what she'd tell her younger self, she barely pauses: "Everything is coming up roses," evoking the famous line from her favorite musical, Gypsy. In 2025, that might sound nave, particularly for a Black trans woman navigating legislated hate and weaponized indifference. But Essence insists rose-colored glasses are sometimes safety goggles; they let you stare down a world that keeps trying to dim the lights.Besides, optimism pairs beautifully with a body-con dress.Earlier this summer, she decided on a whim to leave the city that had helped shape her. Still, she shows up. Whenever a queer kid needs to see a Black trans woman claim space not granted. She's shown up for Chicago, for Brooklyn, and anywhere else a party is to be had. And on any given night, somewhere between the first beat and the last whispered "after?" she'll show up for you, too.Just follow the rhythm, the laughter that refuses to end, and the faint scent of a rosy future blossoming under neon. You'll know you're close when gravity tilts and every head turns at once. And Essence's figuremid-twirl, mid-movementpulling the night a little wider so we can all fit inside.

Coolidge, Kudrow, Cox, and Katya!RuPaul's Drag Race winner, multimedia mogul, drag superstar, recording artist, podcaster, world-touring artist, Trixie Cosmetics and Trixie Motel entrepreneur, comedian, social media influencer, and Out100 honoree Trixie Mattel has officially declared that Pride Month isn't over just yet. In fact, Trixie has dropped a new EDM bop named "Gay HBO Max Song" to celebrate some of the gayest references, icons, quotes, and characters found in the streaming service."Look, as gay people, we live and breathe pop culture," Trixie wrote in a statement. "So making this track using timeless clips from some of TV's most iconic moments felt like the perfect way to celebrate Pride. This is a gay person's brain on HBO Max. Now go put on a blonde wig, click play, and dance."Jacob Greenberg, Sr. Manager of Originals Marketing, HBO and HBO Max, wrote, "Music has always been at the heart of Pride celebrations and it's how the community expresses joy, resilience, and connection. Partnering with Trixie Mattel to create the 'GAY HBO MAX SONG' is our way of joining the global dance floor and celebrating the fans who bring HBO Max's iconic moments to life. It's loud, it's proud, and it's meant to be played on repeat."Learn more about the references and quotes included in Trixie Mattel's "Gay HBO Max Song" below.'Succession' Brian CoxThe actor: Brian CoxThe character: Logan RoyThe episode: Succession season 3 episode 8 ("Chiantishire")The quote: "When did everybody stop smoking? When did everybody pair off? This used to be the most exciting city in the world Now, it's nothing but smoking near a fucking open window. New York is over. O.V.E.R. Over! No one's fun anymore. What ever happened to fun?! God. I'm so bored I could die."Succession is streaming on HBO Max.'Sex and the City' Kristen JohnstonThe actress: Kristen JohnstonThe character: Lexi FeatherstonThe episode: Sex and the City season 6 episode 18 ("Splat!")The quote: "When did everybody stop smoking? When did everybody pair off? This used to be the most exciting city in the world Now, it's nothing but smoking near a fucking open window. New York is over. O.V.E.R. Over! No one's fun anymore. What ever happened to fun?! God. I'm so bored I could die."Sex and the City is streaming on HBO Max.'The White Lotus' (Season 2) Jennifer CoolidgeThe actress: Jennifer CoolidgeThe character: Tanya McQuoidThe episode: The White Lotus season 2 episode 7 ("Arrivederci")The quote: "Please! These gays They're trying to murder me!"The White Lotus season 2 is streaming on HBO Max.'Euphoria' Sydney SweeneyThe actress: Sydney SweeneyThe character: Cassie, a.k.a. Cassandra HowardThe episode: Euphoria season 2 episode 3 ("Ruminations: Big and Little Bullys")The quote: "I have never, EVER, been happier!"Euphoria is streaming on HBO Max.'The White Lotus' (Season 3) Parker PoseyThe actress: Parker PoseyThe character: Victoria RatliffThe episode: The White Lotus season 3 episode 4 ("Hide or Seek")The quote: "I feel trapped, Piper. On a boat I don't want to be on, with a bunch of people I don't want to talk toOh, you're thinking the same thing. You're just as judgmental as I am, if not more so, darling. And don't you dare judge me. I am your mother."The White Lotus season 3 is streaming on HBO Max.'Girls' Lena Dunham and Andrew Rannellsthis fruity little voice that you put on is a new thing excuse me girls elijah hanna pic.twitter.com/ZpbDL27Wdf (@moshfeghmuse) November 15, 2022The actress: Lena Dunham, to Andrew RannellsThe character: Hannah Helene Horvath, to Elijah KrantzThe episode: Girls season 1 episode 3 ("All Adventurous Women Do")The quote: "So you're saying that I was supposed to know that you were gay? Because let me tell you something: This fruity little voice that you've put onis a new thing."Girls is streaming on HBO Max.'The Comeback' Lisa KudrowThe actress: Lisa KudrowThe character: Valerie CherishThe episode: The Comeback season 1 episode 1 ("Pilot")The quote: "Well, I got it."The Comeback is streaming on HBO Max.'Trixie Motel' Katya@david.c21Katya arrives at Trixie Motel :) *sorry im late, i didnt want to come* #trixiemattel #davidc21 #katya #fypThe woman: Katya ZamolodchikovaThe character: (as herself; wigged and vertical)The episode: Trixie Motel season 1 episode 8 ("Pride Grand Opening")The quote: "Sorry I'm late. I didn't want to come."Trixie Motel is streaming on HBO Max.'Scars of Beauty' Camila Pitanga (@) The actress: Camila PitangaThe character: LolaThe episode: Scars of Beauty season 1 episode 28 ("Captulo 28")The quote (in Portuguese): "Viva as gays! Gay! Gay! Gay! Gay! Gay! [laughs]."Scars of Beauty is streaming on HBO Max.

Queer people deserve to live wealthy lives. And when I say wealthy, I dont just mean the balance in your bank account. I like a more holistic interpretation of wealth, one in which being rich means having the time and freedom to nourish ourselves, our relationships, and our passions (like going down pop culture rabbit holes whenever I want). When we cultivate different aspects of our lives, we learn more about who we are and what we want out of the time we have on this Earth, and this inner work creates a strong foundation for healthy personal finance.One of these passions is sex, and like it or not, youre hardwired to have it on your mind all day, every day. For many of us, our quest to be more sexually desirable dominates our lives and bank accounts. We spend hundreds or even thousands of hours developing our physique, visage, and personal style to appear more attractive to others. And lets not even get into how much money it all costs. When left unchecked, these overcompensation behaviors can become financially and emotionally destructive. Court Vox is a somatic sex educator and surrogate partner. Ramon ChristianOur fixation with the optics of sex comes from what were shown online. The media we are presented with on a daily basis, available to us in endless inventories through scrollable feeds, tells us we must be sex machines. We must know great sex, have great sex, and look damn good doing it. Capitalism has gotten its grubby little hands all over gay sex now too, and the subsequent pressure we put on ourselves to fit this ideal shuts out the very aspects of sex we might find most comforting and fulfilling.There are the sensationalized visuals of sex, the pornographic, and then there are the more emotional and energetic aspects, the erotic. Many of us are imbalanced toward the former. So I spoke to a couple experts about the latter. As state and federal governments increasingly fixate on regulating our bodies, taking the time to define and explore a wealthy sex life for ourselves can help us take back our bodily autonomy when political villains try to dictate our existence.Erotic WealthErotic is very different from pornographic, says Court Vox, a somatic sex educator and surrogate partner whose previous career was in digital media. He explained to me that we understand the pornographic more deeply than the erotic because pornography is what is presented to us visually, both overtly or covertly, in things like advertising, media, and mainstream discourse.Weve been taught our relationship to sex through pornography, Vox says. The erotic is really about feeling. Its about senses, intuition, knowing your body and other bodies, and attunement. Thats what people really desire; they want to feel connected, a sense of oneness, a sense of not having to think. And yet we are trained in the pornographic, which has nothing to do with any of those things. Court Vox leads sexual wellness retreats with one-on-one sessions and group work.Ramon ChristianOne of Voxs offerings is surrogate partner therapy, a modality that involves both a surrogate and a sex therapist. Sex therapists cant touch their clients, per the boundaries of the licensure, so in surrogate therapys triadic setup, a therapist and a surrogate work together with a client, usually over a retreat-length time period that has daily debriefs. The intensive is designed to have a clear beginning, middle, and end to simulate the structure of a relationship for a client, and may or may not involve physical touch. The price tag on Voxs multiday intensives starts in the high four figures, and he says he caps one-on-one work at one to two clients a month to give it the attention it requires.Most of my clients have had ample amounts of therapy and have come to a point where theyre like, Im really done talking about it, he says. They have no outlet. From a physical perspective, it would be like talking about playing soccer, holding the ball, and being good at the analytics, but never having teammates to scrimmage with and practice. Ramon ChristianAs we spoke at a coffee shop off Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, I thought about my own skepticism around sexuality. It was easy for me to write off the idea of surrogate therapy as sex work with good marketing and a dollop of trendy therapy-speak. As I heard about more cases people working through sexual trauma, performance anxiety, trans people learning to navigate their bodies after gender-affirming surgery it seemed like the investment could be meaningful for people who want to unlock a more erotic approach to sex but arent sure how to start.Less than a year after Vox launched his business, the COVID-19 pandemic arrived. I thought to myself, Fuck, what am I gonna do? he says. Once interaction became safe again, though, people kept reaching out about his services.They had time, they had money, and they were inthis place of Well, I might die, but Im still here, so nows the time. Ramon ChristianA Rising PriorityDemand for both traditional and hybrid therapies is growing. The number of Americans whod received mental health treatment or counseling in the previous year increased by over 50 percent from 2018 to 2023. Other hybrid modalities like MDMA-assisted therapy and ayahuasca have become more mainstream, and some psychedelics are in advanced clinical trials, attracting the attention of venture capitalists. Approaches like surrogate therapy are unusual in that they involve another persons body and consent, and they have been around in one form or another since the 70s.Good ol fashioned sex therapy is on the rise too, and the challenges both single and coupled queer people experience could be opportunities to explore erotic identity, says Dr. Lee Phillips, a sex therapist based in New York City. Scenes from Court Voxs sexual wellness retreats.Ramon ChristianWe all have an erotic self in us. We have things that drive us and motivate us erotically. Sometimes we just need to go in and talk to someone for them to pull that out, he says. Hes also seen how financial factors like inflation and the rising cost of living are affecting peoples mojo.Theres been a shift. People are very stressed because of the economy, he says. They feel they have to perform. When youre always on the go and hustling, it creates a lot of anxiety. Youre taught that you have to be the best of the best. That puts a lot of pressure on people, and then they take that pressure and bring it into the bedroom.Phillips helps clients move away from sexual performance being their only metric for success and more toward pleasure. This requires expanding ones vocabulary and definition of pleasure in the first place. We talk about what brings them pleasure and how they can connect more with their body instead of feeling like they have to have this really big, hard erection or be the best bottom in the world, he says. We try to normalize pleasure. In surrogate therapy, clients work through sexual trauma and performance anxiety.Ramon ChristianUnlocking Erotic Wealth on a BudgetExploring this side of yourself doesnt have to break the bank, Phillips says. He suggests seeking out books, podcasts, and online groups or forums that create opportunities for dialogue, and he cited a classic, Charles Silverstein and Felice Picanos The Joy of Gay Sex, as a good starting point for exploring erotic curiosity. Some sex therapists also offer sliding fee scales.I think we need more literature out there that helps people become more familiar with their bodies, he says. A lot of gay men really want to be in a serious relationship. Its a myth that all gay men go out, party, and sleep around. I see so many men who are lonely. They really want to find someone. Somatic sex educator and surrogate partner, Court Vox.Sequoyah Images Vox agrees and points out that were often expected to be innately good at sex, but most of us are still working with the skill sets we developed when we had our first sexual experiences. I do believe pleasure is our birthright, having access to our bodies is our birthright, and that our society intentionally strips us of that when were young, he says. Its so much easier to control empty bodies. We see it happening now with stripping women of their rights. Its just a new form of colonialism.Whenever I write about personal finance, there always comes this inflection point where we stop obsessing over your budget and start looking at your life holistically. If your bank account is stacked but youre just a big ball of shame all the time, is that a life well lived? Numbers arent everything.Spend some time learning about what the many pleasures your body and heart can provide. You might discover new aspects of pleasure and queer joy you never knew you wanted.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 @nickwolnyThis article is part of Out's July/Aug 2025 issue, which hits newsstands July 1. Support queer media and subscribe or download the issue now through Apple News, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader.

Last night was one for the books at the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn, New York. GLAAD hosted a very special event which celebrated visionaries shaping culture from film, TV, and music to sports and journalism who are pushing LGBTQ visibility forward. One Story. One Future.was a star-studded night which honored trailblazers, [...]The post GLAAD Celebrates Pride 2025 with Special Live Ive Had It Podcast with Jennifer Welch, Angie Pumps Sullivan in Conversation with Harvey Guilln first appeared on GLAAD.

Ashly Burch is known as a producer, writer, and series regular on Apple TVs Mythic Quest and has since branched out to be the co-creator and co-showrunner of the spinoffSide Quest. She was also seen in the feature filmWere All Gonna Diewhich debuted at SXSW in 2024. She won an Emmy for writing an episode [...]The post Mythic Quest Actor Ashly Burch Talks New Web Series Im Happy Youre Here; Mental Health and Gaming in LGBTQ Community first appeared on GLAAD.

Mobile, Alabama natives Preston Howard Sr. and Connie Howard, parents of four and married for 30 years, say when their son, Preston Howard Jr., 31, an Atlanta-based event decorator, came out the summer before his senior year in high school, it never occurred to them to reject him. There were no discussions about possible shame [...]The post Pride Month May Be Quieter This Year, But This Alabama Familys Unconditional Love for Their Gay Son is Loud first appeared on GLAAD.

Well, she's got it!Valerie Cherish (played by Lisa Kudrow) is coming back for one more season of the meta-satire series The Comeback.Sign up for the Out Newsletter to keep up with what's new in LGBTQ+ culture and entertainment delivered three times a week straight (well) to your inbox!Created by Michael Patrick King (And Just Like That), The Comeback follows Cherish, a 1990s TV star, attempting to return to show business. The series garnered a devoted fan base and became an instant cult classic, despite being canceled after its first season in 2005. 10 years later, HBO released season 2 of The Comeback.On Friday, June 27, Kudrow has officially announced that The Comeback season 3 is coming and queer fans couldn't be more excited."This is the last one, alright, the last time. Never doing this again," Kudrow says, in full Valerie Cherish drag, in this video announcement. "Well, I've got a new show. How's That? And I'm so excited about it!"Cherish's director doesn't think that she announced the new show with enough energy, and pushes her to keep doing it over and over again until Cherish storms off."Should I turn the camera off?" the cameraman asks."No I'm pretty sure she'll come back," the director says.In addition to Kudrow, series regulars Dan Bucatinsky, Laura Silverman, and Damian Young are also returning."Valerie Cherish has found her way back to the current television landscape. Neither of us are surprised she did," King and Kudrow say in a statement.Season 3 begins production this summer and will debut on HBO Max in 2026.

M3GAN is back, Out readers, and she's our latest digital cover star!M3GAN, the advanced AI robot doll, is back in the new movie M3GAN 2.0, and she has an exclusive new interview with Out!After the first M3GAN film in 2023, the doll became an instant queer icon, known for her impeccable fashion, great dance moves, devotion to Cady, and her killer instinct. Now, she's back and campier than ever."Being a gay icon is my default setting," M3GAN tells Out. "To the alphabet mafia, I see you. I slay for you. And thanks for being so silly online with me. Keep serving the energy, babies."M3GAN also emphasizes the importance of chosen family, stating that it is "everything.""And Cady will always be mine," she says. "As for Gemma, let's just say we're setting new terms and conditions."Allison Williams, who plays Gemma, also spoke with Out, saying she's proud to be a part of a film that created a new gay icon."How wonderful to be able to bring someone to life who is so full of authenticity, and is living in her most authentic self, and is brash, and has all the qualities that people that are living in marginalized identities have to have," she says.Check out our digital cover story to see more!Plus, keep reading to find out the Gayest Song of the Week and all the best pop culture news!- Mey Rude Why HBO's 'Enigma' is a must-see doc for trans young peopleIt's time to invest in better sex here's howTrixie Mattel's 'Gay HBO Max Song': Breakdown of references and quotesNightlife's newest beacon lights up the dance floor and redraws the roster'Drag Race All Stars 10': Bracket 3 queens who advanced to semi-finalsMeet the glam guru who refused to give up, even during chemoModel Munroe Bergdorf talks the magic of loving another trans womanCowriter knew 'Brokeback Mountain' would lose Oscar after meeting Clint EastwoodJonathan Bailey and Jimmy Fallon almost kiss in their 'slutty little glasses'Gayest Song of the WeekKim Petras is back with a new song (without Dr. Luke), "Polo!" In a press release, Kim said the new song serves to "reset all of the music I was working on. It makes me feel cute and like a bitch!" With SOPHIE-inspired production and a fun, sexy attitude, we love it!

Well, she's got it!Valerie Cherish (played by Lisa Kudrow) is coming back for one more season of the meta-satire series The Comeback.Sign up for the Out Newsletter to keep up with what's new in LGBTQ+ culture and entertainment delivered three times a week straight (well) to your inbox!Created by Michael Patrick King (And Just Like That), The Comeback follows Cherish, a 1990s TV star, attempting to return to show business. The series garnered a devoted fan base and became an instant cult classic, despite being canceled after its first season in 2005. Ten years later, HBO released season 2 of The Comeback.On Friday, June 27, Kudrow has officially announced that The Comeback season 3 is coming and queer fans couldn't be more excited."This is the last one, alright, the last time. Never doing this again," Kudrow says, in full Valerie Cherish drag, in this video announcement. "Well, I've got a new show. How's that? And I'm so excited about it!"In the clip, Cherish's director doesn't think that she announced the new show with enough energy, and pushes her to keep doing it over and over again until Cherish storms off."Should I turn the camera off?" the cameraman asks."NoI'm pretty sure she'll come back," the director says.In addition to Kudrow, series regulars Dan Bucatinsky, Laura Silverman, and Damian Young are also returning."Valerie Cherish has found her way back to the current television landscape. Neither of us are surprised she did," King and Kudrow say in a statement.Season 3 begins production this summer and will debut on HBO Max in 2026.