Its a scene that might have taken place in a Kiss of the Spider Woman fantasy sequence. Jennifer Lopez, who plays the movie star Ingrid Luna in Bill Condons upcoming musical drama film as well as the dual characters Ingrid portrays in the musical inside-the-musical, Aurora and the Spider Woman reclines on a sofa at the Maybourne, a Beverly Hills hotel. White flowers sit nearby on a table, as members of her team look on.Behind Lopez in a tuxedo is Tonatiuh. His Spider Woman character, a queer window dresser named Luis Molina, mentally escapes the confines of an Argentinian prison by retelling the plot of a film starring his favorite diva. In these sequences, Molina, jailed for public indecency with a man, transforms into Kendall Nesbit to sing and dance alongside Aurora. Hes accompanied in these reveries by Valentin (Diego Luna), his cellmate and a political revolutionary who manifests his own dream doppelgnger as Auroras love interest, Armando (though back in prison, there may be some interest in Molina as well). Love and sacrifice, both found through a kiss, figure in this layered story.The Out shoot was held in June, just days after Lopez took the stage at WorldPride DC, where she performed Kiss of the Spider Woman alongside hits like On the Floor and Lets Get Loud that launched her to global stardom and gay icon status. Its a title she takes seriously. Im so happy to be able to be here to celebrate community, diversity, love, and freedom, she told her fans from the stage. Cue to a cover of George Michaels Freedom! 90, as well as a new track from Lopez, Free, which declares Im free / Free to love whoever I please. JENNIFER in DOLCE & GABBANA Dress, SHIPHRA Jewerly; TONATIUH in BROOKS BROTHERS Shirt and Tuxedo SAIDIAN VINTAGE JEWELS Brooch and Ring, NICKHO REY Earring Vintage Watch from WANNA BUY A WATCH, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN ShoesJohn RussoPerforming at WorldPride was a special experience for Lopez. I was there for no other reason than just to show my support and love and solidarity [during] everything thats going on in our country right now, which is absurd on so many levels not just for the LGBTQ community but for the Latino community, she says. As an artist, you show up in the ways that you can. And when they asked me to do it, I was like, I will absolutely fucking be there.For Lopez, Spider Woman presented another opportunity for musical allyship in a time when the LGBTQ+ community is under renewed political assault particularly trans and gender-nonconforming people of color like Molina. What drew me to this story? First of all, the storys about love, right? Lopez says. Its the one thing in life that is really worth dying for in a way, and thats really the poetry of the movie to me.The story, as first written in Manuel Puigs 1976 novel, was groundbreaking for its themes of queer love and political resistance in the face of an oppressive dictatorship. As a central character, Molina defied cultural norms about gender and sexuality, characteristics that assured the book was widely banned upon its release. (Some modern critics also take issue with the novels tropes and lengthy footnotes categorizing homosexuality as a mental illness.)But the Spider Woman story has evolved with the times while maintaining its cultural resonance. William Hurt won an Oscar for portraying Molina in the 1985 film adaptation. In the theater world, Spider Woman appeared onstage in a 1983 play penned by Puig as well as a Tony-winning 1993 musical scored by John Kander and Fred Ebb, with a book by Terrence McNally. This fall, the film adaptation of this musical will be released in an era when, sadly, a queer Latine creative being banished to a prison is not unheard of in the national news. JENNIFER in ATELIER BISER Lace Top and Choker LAYLA KAISI COLLECTION RingsJohn RussoIt was really a dream come true, Lopez says of starring in Spider Woman. Ive dreamt of doing a musical for so many years. For it to be one that is [a] movie about love and acceptance and community, especially in this time, to me it couldnt have been a better thing to happen.Chita Rivera, idolized by Lopez growing up, originated the role of Aurora in the stage musical, making this part of particular significance to the Hustlers star. To work with [choreographer] Sergio Trujillo, who was in Spider Woman on Broadway, who danced with Chita every night, to have him say things to me like, Dancing with you was like dancing with Chita again it was just amazing.When she arrived on set to sing Kiss of the Spider Woman, which she meticulously prepared, in front of the living legend Kander (Cabaret, Chicago), who was 97 at the time of their meeting, Lopez almost dropped dead, she says. The little girl in me who sat in front of the television watching West Side Story with their mom, dancing around and wishing I could sing and dance and act one day, had become fully realized in that moment, she says with ardor.It was one of the most beautiful moviemaking experiences Ive ever had, and also at a difficult time in my life, but it just filled a part of me that was waiting to kind of come alive for so long, she attests.Tonatiuh, who identifies as nonbinary and uses he/him and they/them pronouns, felt a similar pull to the production directed by Bill Condon (Chicago, Gods and Monsters): I knew the source material because I knew the play beforehand. But when I got the email with the title and the pages, it just felt spiritual. It felt very like I needed to give my full attention to it. JENNIFER in ELISABETTA FRANCHI Corset, SHIPHRA JEWELRY Earrings, ATELIER BISER Perle BraceletJohn RussoTheir journey to the role was anything but ordinary a self-tape audition submitted at the last minute, a whirlwind callback, and a casting process that considered over 900 actors. Ultimately, his persistence paid off. Something about it just wasnt clicking just perfectly, and so I locked myself up in my office, and I kept working and working and working at it until I finally felt I found the through line and the humanity, he says.It was a gift for Tonatiuh to portray Molina alongside the song-and-dance numbers of the Hollywood fantasy counterpart. He recognizes that this range is rarely given to actors who comprise intersectional identities. As a performer, I just always found it so frustrating to get categorized in any one particular box. With this, I was really gifted the ability to play the entire spectrum [of femininity to masculinity], they share.Range takes work, though. We shot basically two movies in a short amount of time. We shot 11 numbers in about 20-something days, which is crazy, they say. Every day was basically its own number, and because we were an independent film, there was no leeway for mistakes. Tonatiuh even lost 45 pounds to portray Molina after portraying a bulkier role in the 2024 Netflix action hit Carry-On. I love being able to transform, if given the opportunity, they share.But the rewards were profound for them (and hopefully, viewers). I think my biggest hope right now is for people who feel like the world is telling them that it isnt for them, I want them to find a home here. Ive been told so much in my career and in my life that who I was was gonna get in the way of the job that I wanted, and my own humanity, my own Two-Spiritness, my own form of expressing myself I had to almost silence it for an industry that doesnt know what to do with it, right? With this I was able to heal some of that with the art. TONATIUH in BROOKS BROTHERS Shirt and Tuxedo, SAIDIAN VINTAGE JEWELS Brooch and Ring, NICKHO REY Earring Vintage Watch from WANNA BUY A WATCH, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN ShoesJohn RussoTonatiuh has had notable roles in Tinseltown before. He shone as Marcos, a gender-nonconforming character who memorably threw a queerceaera on Starzs Vida, as well as a lead gay character on network TV, Antonio Sandoval, on the ABC drama Promised Land. But Spider Woman is a watershed moment in the career of the 30-year-old actor, who has already garnered critical acclaim (and some Oscar buzz) for his performance.Lopez recalls the moment she saw Tonatiuh fully step into the spotlight as her scene partner. I remember sitting there with him I was in my blond wig and smoking my cigarette, and he was sitting there kind of playing with his cigarette. And I said, This is your Selena moment. Its a blessing in your career. And its just beautiful to watch you doing it.Tonatiuh will never forget the impact of that encouragement from Lopez, who was referencing her own career-making role in the 1997 biopic of singer Selena Quintanilla-Prez; she delivered it right before they began filming a big number. He was overcome with so much gratitude. After the scene wrapped, they call cut! and I burst into tears, he recalls.It wasnt the only pinch-me experience for Tonatiuh. There was a moment in the number Where You Are, where Molina asks Ingrid to take him away, to take him to a movie. And she does and sings a song essentially saying, Why do you have to be where you are? Come with me to be a movie star. I just remember, I flew my mom and my stepdad out to see [the scene]. And here I was dancing with Jennifer Lopez and 70 Broadway dancers. Hearing those words, it was just so magical, he shares. JENNIFER in DOLCE & GABBANA Full LookJohn RussoTonatiuh also connected with his co-star Luna (Y Tu Mam Tambin, Milk, Andor) in their intimate prison scenes, which were filmed in order, a Hollywood rarity. Under the pressure of confinement, there is sexual tension that develops between the characters, but there are also moments of male vulnerability that are rarely seen on-screen. The intimacy did build with every single passing scene, with every take, Tonatiuh shares. Diego and I really got an opportunity to just witness each others characters and blend them together naturally. Its hard not to fall in love with someone like him.For Lopez, its this connection between these very different characters that drives the heart of the film. This very intense experience they have of being locked in the cell together and helping each other survive, theyre able to see straight into [the] humanity in one another and fall in love, she shares. To me, that is the real definition of love, where it doesnt matter what somebody looks like or where theyre from or who they are or what background its just looking at a person and seeing their soul. Lopezs history growing up with a beloved lesbian aunt, whose experiences with discrimination inspired Lopez to executive produce the queer show The Fosters made the films themes personal. Referring to a gender-neutral term for a niece or nephew, she also praises her transgender nibling, Brendon Scholl. This film is her love letter to the LGBTQ+ community, whom she counts as her closest friends, fans, and family. (Half of her backup dancers are gay, she estimates, as were two-thirds of a recent crowd at a show.)My whole heart belongs to them and Im smiling from ear to ear just thinking about it, just thinking about the relationship that we have and the love that we have and how important it was for me to do this movie for that community. TONATIUH in BROOKS BROTHERS Shirt and Tuxedo, SAIDIAN VINTAGE JEWELS Brooch and Ring, NICKHO REY Earring Vintage Watch from WANNA BUY A WATCH, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN ShoesJohn RussoAs the films October 10 release approaches, both stars are busy Lopez with a new tour and upcoming Las Vegas residency and Tonatiuh with a new theatrical project; at the time of this June interview, he was preparing to act alongside Amber Heard and Brandon Flynn in Spirit of the People, a play penned by Jeremy O. Harris (Slave Play) about the impact of queer tourism and gentrification in Zipolite, a Mexican community famous for its nude beaches. But both remain focused on the impact Kiss of the Spider Woman can have.Tonatiuh has been in a state of mourning since the Trump administration began its aggressive campaign of mass deportations and detainments of Latine people. There is no difference between me or Jennifer or Diego, who are in this film, from the people who are hardworking and are trying to provide for their families, they say with emotion. Its just been breaking my heart to see their agony and to see people separated from their families. And I think that, especially [for] first-generation people like myself, its activating a sense of fear that we are next. And so I hope that this [film] gives people a space for some catharsis and a little escape and a win.Lopez also has a message for fans who, like Molina, might be listening to her music or gazing at her poster as they seek to escape the worlds worries.Come play with me. Well sing, well dance. Well forget about the troubles of the world for a little while, she says. Thats what Ive always been here for. Thats always been my mission with my music and my performing and my movies is to help people sing and feel and cry if they need to and dance and scream and have a good time. And remember that there is joy in the world, and there is love in the world.This cover story is part of Out's Sept/Oct issue, which hits newsstands August 26. Support queer media and subscribe or download the issue through Apple News, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader starting August 14. talent JENNIFER LOPEZ @jlo and TONATIUH @iamtonatiuhphotographer JOHN RUSSO @johnrussophototech TAS LIMUR @taslimurphoto assistant BRETT ERICKSON @brettericksonphotoproducer J. CHARLES BENIGNO with PHOTOHOUSE PRODUCTIONS @photohouseproductionsjennifers stylist ORETTA CORBELLI @orettacjennifers tailor SUGAR FERRINI @sugar.ferrinijennifers assistant stylist ALLEGRA GARGIULO @jesuisallegra_jennifers makeup artist SCOTT BARNES @scottbarnescosmeticsjennifers hair FRANK GALASSO @frankgalasso1jennifers nails TOM BACHIK @tombachiktonatiuhs stylist SAVANNAH MENDOZA @savannahkmendozatonatiuhs HMU artist SOPHIA PORTER @thesophiaportervideo KEN WALLER @kenwallermediacatering CITY KITCHEN @citykitchenlalocation THE MAYBOURNE BEVERLY HILLS @themaybournebh / maybournebeverlyhills.com JENNIFER LOPEZ in ATELIER BISER Lace Set, LAYLA KAISI COLLECTION Ring; TONATIUH in TODD SNYDER White Tux Jacket, BROOKS BROTHERS Trousers, BUDD LONDON Shirt & Scarf, SAIDIAN VINTAGE JEWELS RingJohn Russo

In the second part of GLAADs Q& A with Dothan, Alabama, meteorologist Bryan Boggiano, Bryan turns the camera on his own story as a person with autism who is also LGBTQ, who also shows up on the air every day as his full authentic self. Hes delivering information and inspiration for others who are different [...]The post Forecast for Fabulous Part 2: All Slay, No Shade: Meteorologist Bryan Boggiano on Being Out, Neurodiverse, and Celebrating Icons in Southeast Alabama first appeared on GLAAD.

Rosala, one of the biggest pop stars in the world, has finally broken her silence in response to Euphoria actress Hunter Schafer disclosing that the two of them dated 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!Specifically, Rosala reacted to an interview from Schafer disclosing he information that the two of them had a five-month relationship in 2019."No, I do not pressure myself," Rosala told Elle when asked about that relationship. "I think of freedom. That's what guides me."The article also noted that Rosala and Schafer "remain friends," which led to Rosala's casting in the third and final season of Euphoria meaning that she'll be costarring with her ex. ed third season of Euphoria.See on InstagramIn case you missed it, Schafer revealed that she dated Rosala in an interview for GQ in April 2022."I have really beautiful friendships with people that I was once romantically involved with," Schafer told GQ, adding that Rosala is "family no matter what."Now, the two actresses will be costars on Euphoria.Rosala revealed in the interview that she also "appreciates the controversial, controlled chaos engendered by the show's writer, director, and producer, Sam Levinson."In term, Levinson really praised Rosala when reached out for comment by Elle. "I love unleashing her on a scene," the Euphoria showrunner wrote. "I let her play with the words, the emotions, in English and Spanish. I never want to tell her what to do first, because her natural instincts are so fascinating, charismatic, and funny. Every scene we shoot, I'm behind the camera smiling."

Alyson Stoner chooses their words carefully. In a world where almost everyone says the first thing that comes to their mind or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, delivers a sanitized PR answer, Stoner is refreshingly honest. This comes through in their writing too; they are not only vulnerable but transparent.After reading their debut memoir, Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything, which was published on August 12, the question that immediately arose for this reader (and interviewer) was: Wait, why didnt they talk about their nonbinary identity in the book? They came out as queer in a Teen Vogue essay published back in 2018, and then, within the past few years, shared that they identify as nonbinary and use they/them pronouns. But they never officially shared the details of discovering their nonbinary identity, which many were expecting to be in the book.I had things drafted, Stoner tells Out over Zoom in mid-July. I realized that there would be people who had never met a single openly queer person in their life, reading this alongside people who would probably already feel quite shocked by all of the other revelations and my journey with gender identity.Stoner, who is now 32, starred in memorable pieces of youth popular culture in the 2000s/2010s, including Camp Rock, Phineas and Ferb, Step Up, and Cheaper by the Dozen, decided it wasn't time to talk about their gender journey just yet so they cut it out."This book really highlights the first quarter of, hopefully, my 100-year-long life, Stoner says. Its unclear where they plan to share this part of their life, maybe a second season of their podcast or a second book. I feel like I could write a whole book on it because once you unpack gender, now you start to deconstruct every construct in society, they say. I was trying to think of everyone who's going to be reading this, and how many things I could tackle in one book before it actually was too much to process. Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything: A Memoir by Alyson StonerCourtesy Macmillan PublishersFor now, theyre taking things one step at a time, starting with unpacking their childhood and young adult years. Stoner is easily one of the most recognizable young actors from the early aughts. Their breakout moment was as one of the child dancers in Missy Elliots Work It music videos, and from there, they went on to appear in a laundry list of major film and TV projects.But having such a long credits list came at a price, and that was all laid out in their memoir. Their writing is immersive, putting readers directly in their shoes as they experienced these memories. They don't shy away from describing the uncomfortable feelings they had to grapple with, the voices in their head that made them question themselves and their self-worth, and challenging themselves on social norms.One of the most difficult ideological stances Stoner reckons with in the novel is their faith. They didn't grow up Christian, but found themselves gravitating towards it in their early years. When their faith didn't align with their queerness, and they were taught to view LGBTQ+ people as "unhealthy" and "immoral," they had to take a deeper look into their beliefs."I recognize that there were other churches that had different values and who showed up for queer folks in very loving and accepting ways. So I never felt the need to throw away faith, spirituality, and contemplation altogether. It was more so, which aspects of these beliefs are rooted in some othering, in an inability to see someone's humanity and value them deeply, and that really opened my eyes to how much fear I had toward queer people at the time." Alyson StonerM.K. Sadler, @mksadler (provided)"I'm so grateful that queerness became very apparent within my own experience, because now I obviously understand that it is the most exquisite expression of humanity and it's ever expansive," they say. "I noticed before my faith practice used to lead to a life of shrinking and exclusion. Now, my faith practice and personal development continually transcend the experience and include."Stoner rarely leaves a stone unturned in the book as they talk through their toughest days as a Disney star being told they were the person considered for starring roles in projects like Hannah Montana (which later went to Miley Cyrus) and Camp Rock (which they would go on to have a role in). But through it all, they talked about how, in their family, the person who was by their side from the beginning was their mom, who'd divorced their dad and remarried, which put distance between them and their dad.Once Stoner's career took off, their mom became heavily involved in their work and later finances. Right before Stoner was set to do a performance, one of their backup dancers told them she hadn't been paid. While looking into the issue, they found out that their business team had mishandled their finances: There were over-the-top gifts for the cast and crew, and their mom had been drawing an annual salary plus multiple $1,000 one-off payments. Alyson StonerM.K. Sadler, @mksadler (provided)Towards the end of the book, readers see Stoner reconnecting and rekindling a relationship with their dad, but they don't mention much about their mother. When asked about who read the book, Stoner answers carefully: "I definitely went over some scenes with my sisters, and wanted to be sure they felt seen and heard accurately, because family dynamics feel one way when you're in the moment. But as you reflect, 10, 15, years later, you realize everyone was having a very different experience of reality."As for their parents, they said their dad has read the book and added, "I've had to make some really complex decisions around how I've gone about the writing process."For now, Stoner seems content to keep the focus on their mental health advocacy work. They're currently completing their certificates to be a mental health coordinator, in addition to three programs that allow them to work on film, TV, and stage productions as a coordinator, and working with SAG-AFTRA to help create better working conditions for performers.They haven't left Disney or the entertainment industry altogether as they reprised their voice acting role as Isabella in the newest season of Phineas and Ferb (ten years after the show went off air) and other voice acting roles, but they're energized to make the entertainment industry a safer place."I was a young kid who loved art, who loved making," they tell Out, mentioning they're open to new opportunities in Hollywood. They added, "But at the moment, I'm most excited about going in and restructuring the system itself so that we can have healthier experiences that invigorates me from head to toe."Semi-Well-Adjusted Despite Literally Everything is now available for purchase through Macmillan Publishers and wherever good books are sold.

In an unexpected turn of events, it seems that singers Lana Del Rey and Ethel Cain are butting heads online. On Thursday, Rey uploaded a snippet of a song off her upcoming album to Instagram and in the song, she can be heard singing, "Ethel Cain hated my Instagram post / Think its cute reenacting my Chicago pose." See on Instagram The lyrics confused her fans, many of whom were confused as to why she mentioned Cain in the first place. But it seemed like others were in on this seemingly long-simmering drama going on between the two singer-songwriters and it looks like a man is at the center of it all.In 2022, Rey took a picture with her ex-boyfriend, Jack Donoghue, outside of the Cook County Jail, and not too soon after, Cain posted a photo of herself with Donoghue. (@) IIn the song, Rey also sings, "The most famous girl at the Waffle House/ I dont regret it/ The most famous girl at the Waffle House." Many people think that this is a nod to a 2022 profile in the New York Times of Cain that was titled, "The Most Famous Girl at the Waffle House." Just a year later, Rey worked a shift at a Waffle House as a publicity stunt that many are now considering to be shade toward Cain's stint at the restaurant chain. (@) After the snippet was uploaded, Cain took to her Instagram stories to say that Rey blocked her on the platform. (@) Rey later cleared some things up in the comments section of @PopBase's Instagram and wrote about why she feels there is bad blood between her and Cain. "I didnt know who Ethel was until a few years ago when someone brought to my attention the disturbing and graphic side-by-side images she would often put up of me next to unflattering creatures and cartoon characters, making constant comments about my weight, I was confused at what she was getting at," the comments read. "Then, when I heard what she was saying behind closed doors from mutual friends and started inserting herself into my personal life, I was definitely disturbed. (@) Their beef seems to date all the way back to 2018 when Cain was posting on the CuriousCat platform and uploaded some racist posts that were recently resurfaced, and she's since apologized for. In 2020, she began to criticize Rey online and in interviews after people had repeatedly compared the two artists.Both of the singers' fans want them to move on from this spat, and everyone is hoping the two will have a Lorde/Charli XCX moment where they work things out on the remix. But, knowing Rey, that doesn't seem likely.

Check out these exciting queer movies!We're more than halfway through 2025, but many of the year's most anticipated movies have yet to come out. And in a year that's already gifted audiences cinematic works like Ponyboi, The Wedding Banquet, Enigma, and Heightened Scrutiny, this, of course, includes plenty of top-notch queer films.Here are the comedies, dramas, romances, and period pieces that you should be sure to check out in the second half of 2025.'Honey Don't!' (August 22)Tricia Cooke and husband Ethan Coen are back with the second film in their "lesbian B-movie trilogy" (following 2024's Drive-Away Dolls), and Margaret Qualley is back with them. This time, Qualley plays Honey O'Donahue, a private investigator in Bakersfield, California. When she's not flirting with a cop played by Aubrey Plaza, Honey is on the case, investigating a suspicious death and a charismatic cult leader played by Chris Evans.'Twinless' (September 5)James Sweeney wrote, directed, and stars opposite Dylan O'Brien in this dark comedy about two young men who form a close connection after meeting in a bereavement group for people who have lost a twin. As their relationship gets more intimate, lies start to build, secrets come out, and things get twisted. And if that weren't intriguing enough, O'Brien plays his own twin.'The Threesome' (September 5)In Chad Hartigan's new romantic comedy, Jonah Hauer-King plays Connor, a lovesick young man who finally secures a date with his longtime crush, Olivia (Zoey Deutch). But Connor's plans for a romantic night out are upended when they meet a woman named Jenny (Ruby Cruz). The three have a threesome, and in a twist, both women end up pregnant. But that doesn't put a stop to the laughs, thanks to a very funny supporting cast featuring Jaboukie Young-White and Josh Segarra.'The History of Sound' (September 12)South African director Oliver Hermanus' The History of Sound is an atmospheric historical romance about two men, Lionel (Paul Mescal) and David (Josh O'Connor), who meet in 1917 at the Boston Conservatory. In 1920, David comes home after being drafted to fight in World War I, and the two travel the country together collecting folk songs and rekindling their moody romance.'Plainclothes' (September 19)Writer and director Carmen Emmi's debut feature film takes place in 1990s New York, where a young and handsome police officer named Lucas (Tom Blyth) is tasked with going to popular gay cruising spots and entrapping men who try to have sex with him. One day, he meets an older man, Andrew (Russell Tovey), and eventually falls in love, which changes everything.'Kiss of the Spider Woman' (October 10)Legendary filmmaker Bill Condon (Chicago) has tackled a new film adaptation of the stage musical by Terrence McNally, John Kander, and Fred Ebb about a political prisoner (Diego Luna) who is forced to share a prison cell with a queer and trans prisoner (Tonatiuh) arrested for public indecency. This throwback to the musicals of Hollywood's Golden Age features brilliant performances by its two leads, as well as Jennifer Lopez, who plays the titular spider woman.'After the Hunt' (October 17)Italian auteur Luca Guadagnino (Challengers) is back with another twisted tale of love and obsession. After the Hunt follows a college professor (Julia Roberts) who must make a difficult decision when one of her favorite students (Ayo Edebiri) accuses her close friend and colleague (Andrew Garfield) of sexual assault.'Peter Hujar's Day' (November 7)Ben Whishaw and Rebecca Hall star in director Ira Sachs' (Passages) tribute to the real-life friendship between photographer Peter Hujar and writer Linda Rosenkrantz. Based on recorded conversations between the creatives, this intimate film follows a day spent together in New York in 1974.'Wicked: For Good' (November 21)The next installment in Jon M. Chu's Wicked double feature comes out later this year, after the first film proved to be a smash hit in 2024. Cynthia Erivo returns as Elphaba and Ariana Grande returns as Glinda to finish out Chu's two-part adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical featuring queer anthems like Defying Gravity. Joining them on their journey back to Oz is Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Marissa Bode, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh, and the rest of the central cast from the first film.

Law Roach is a breath of fresh air on television. From Legendary to RuPaul's Drag Race, he brings helpful feedback and sartorial experience to every program on which he serves as a judge. However, it appears that not everyone is appreciative of his critical eye.The self-proclaimed "image architect" is currently serving as a judge on the most recent season of Project Runway. And since the season began airing, his critiques are being blasted for being mean, harsh, or rude. Most of that has to do with the fact that people are uncomfortable with being uncomfortable and on top of that, Law is an effeminate queer Black man who is not afraid to be abrasive. @leonelaonscreen IM WEAK #projectrunway #lawroach #fyp #foryoupage #tvshow In last weeks episode, the designers presented their looks for the main challenge. When the bottom three contestants looks were brought back (which included RuPaul's Drag Race alum Utica), Law was the most vocal about the quality of craftsmanship that the designers delivered, saying, I did not come to work and get this beautiful glam to look at a bunch of fucking ugly clothes. Im sorry. I am pissed off. Im mad.A Reddit thread posted to the r/ProjectRunway subreddit about Law discussed his inclusion on this season. And while the original poster wrote about how much they loved having him on, almost all of the feedback Laws gotten as a judge has been largely negative. Law as a judge is one of the worst aspects to me. I find him just mean and not funny, one user replied to the thread. Law is making this season a bit unenjoyable for me, another commented.He did have people in his corner, with one person pointing out, Hes real, hes not mean. He tore up one of the twins [one week] and they came back to win the challenge.The delivery of his feedback for the designers was abrasive, but that comes with a deep understanding and appreciation for fashion, along with knowing the capabilities of the contestants. Law also has the rsum to back it up he is the creative mind behind Zendayas most memorable Met Gala and red carpet looks, in addition to styling the one and only Celine Dion. There's also Anne Hathaway, Ariana Grande, Tom Holland, Megan Thee Stallion, Tyla, Dua Lipa, Kerry Washington, Hunter Schaefer, and Lewis Hamilton, to name a few. So to say that his expertise runs deep would be an understatement. @blakfoxx The casting of #LawRoach on #ProjectRunway... PERFECTION I love his take no prisoners attitude to judging. Unapologetic and unfiltered. I'm all in and welcome back to my favorite judge #NinaGarcia There is an exchange between him and Heidi Klum in the season premiere that sums up the cultural moment we are currently in. When the judges were reviewing the episodes top contestants, Law singled out a look that he hated. Hate is such a big word, Klum said to Law. To which he rebutted, No, its not, its only four letters. This is the energy needed on reality television quick-witted, sharp, and confident commentary that counteracts the drab placating we are being inundated with.In popular culture (and more specifically, reality television competition shows), there is a culture of hand-holding that is plaguing the programs we watch. Most, if not all, judges are now afraid of having their critiques clipped and being the center of online discourse. This then leads them to go the safe route being polite and saying they did or didnt like something with a softball criticism to soften the blow. This is not Laws approach, and we thank him for it. He comes in like a bulldozer and doesnt seem to care whether or not a critique hurts your feelings.His judging style is reminiscent of a time on shows from the late 2000s and early 2010s like American Idol and X-Factor, where Simon Cowell made a name for himself as the harshest critic on television. While his criticisms could be harsh, they meant that his praise meant more. If you could impress him, you were golden. But even with the extensive background in fashion and styling, turning out some of the most iconic red carpet looks of all time and becoming one of the most in-demand stylists in Hollywood, that same grace isnt given to Law. If Law were white and/or straight, he would be just as (if not more) revered as Cowell, Gordon Ramsay on Hell's Kitchen, or Paul Hollywood on The Great British Bake Off. And let's be real: While many fans tune into reality competitions for the fashion, cuisine, performances, etc., many also expect the creative, witty, and yes, harsh critique that occurs when contestants flop. (See the splendid supercut of former Project Runway judge Michael Kors.) Competitions may be focused on an art form, but they are also obliged to make good TV, which both contestants and viewers should anticipate.It seems that TV viewers are not used to this level of critique from Law because on RuPauls Drag Race, the judging is meant to be a bit more lighthearted. Yes, the queens are wearing gorgeous looks, but its a different lane of fashion than what Project Runway delivers, which is why Law is exponentially harder on the contestants here than he has been on other judging panels.The indifference plague that is infecting our television screens only has one cure: Law Roach. Judges shouldnt sit on panels if theyre not willing to engage with art critically. No matter what type of art it is: singing, styling, baking, dancing, etc. All art is meant to be critiqued, unraveled, dissected, and unpacked. Its supposed to be loved or hated; indifference is worse than love or hate, and Law is teaching us that criticism, when done right, is uncomfortable yet exhilarating. It's also an art form in and of itself.Moises Mendez II is a staff writer at Out magazine. Follow him on Instagram @moisesfenty.Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit out.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@equalpride.com. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists, and editors, and do not directly represent the views of Out or our parent company, equalpride.

The Biggest Loser was one of the biggest things in reality TV for 18 seasons.The competition show featured a group of contestants battling to lose weight between challenges, temptations, and video cameras. The long-standing series featured Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels as cohosts.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!Nine years after the show went off the air, Netflix is releasing a new documentary about the show, Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser. While promoting the new doc, Harper who also appeared on the third season of The Traitors tells The Guardian he is "really proud" of his time on the show.During the interview with The Guardian, Harper joked about a particular scene concerning Joelle Gwynn. "That Joelle, she just does not like me, does she?" he asked, adding he has "learned to not take things personally."For context, the doc features Gwynn telling Harper, "Fuck you, Bob Harper. Oh, and your little dog too," when recalling a time that Harper screamed at her to "shut the fuck up" after she failed a treadmill exercise.When the idea that the show contributed to anti-fat attitudes was brought up, Harper dismissed it as "stupid.""The trolls that are out there just want to attack in any way, because people are going to have such a strong opinion when it comes to weight loss."Multiple studies have shown that indeed, "anti-fat attitudes increase after brief exposure to weight-loss reality television."When Harper is confronted with the fact that most of the contestants on the show gained their weight back after it ended, he admits that "the success rate overall is very low," adding that "it's really sad, but it's such a reality."He says that he tries "not to have too many regrets" in his life, but does admit that a few things on the show including one moment where he told a contestant it was "good" she threw up because it would help her lose weight were things he "shouldn't have" done."You also have to remember, everyone that came on Loser, we were all adults," he adds."I knew what the show represented to me," Harper says. "I have nothing but a good experience and really good memories."

What began as a discussion about President Donald Trumps unprecedented takeover of the Kennedy Center Honors unraveled into a live-television free-for-all on CNN, veering in minutes from arts programming to slavery, white supremacy, and transgender athletes.On NewsNight, host Abby Phillip opened with the news that Trump had not only handpicked the 2025 honorees, boasting he was 98 percent involved, but would also host the televised ceremony, a sharp break from decades of tradition in which presidents have sat in the balcony as spectators. Usually when the honorees are announced, you dont see the president doing a press conference at the Kennedy Center, Phillip said. Its not a political thing. Its a celebration of American art.Related: Fresh off taking control of D.C. police, Trump announces hell host CBS's Kennedy Center Honors TV broadcastU.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, a gay New York Democrat, called the move the opposite of the Oprah effect, accusing Trump of poisoning what is an iconic and historically bipartisan institution. Democratic strategist Julie Roginsky went further, saying it was part of a larger cultural campaign: Hes literally reviewing parts of American history to make sure it comports with dear leader and what MAGA wants. Earlier in the week, the Trump administration instructed the Smithsonian to conduct a review of its content and make corrections to exhibits that didnt comply with Trumps vision of American excellence.Thats when Jillian Michaels, the lesbian fitness personality who wrote that she was not proud to be LGBTQ+ in a June Daily Mail Pride Month op-ed that railed against leather daddies, drag shows, and corporate stunts, jumped in. Can we address some of those things that are in there? Because have you looked at some of the things that are being reviewed? she asked. (@) Yes. Slavery, Roginsky replied.Hes not whitewashing slavery, Michaels shot back. And you cannot tie imperialism and racism and slavery to just one race, which is pretty much what every single exhibit does.Torres countered: Slavery in America was white supremacy.Less than 2 percent of white Americans owned slaves, Michaels replied, adding that Americans were the first race to try to end slavery. Phillip pressed her on whether she was disputing that slavery in the United States was about race. Every single thing is like, white people bad, and thats just not the truth, Michaels insisted, citing a Cuban migration exhibit she claimed was framed that way.Then, abruptly, Michaels pivoted to the Smithsonians Change Your Game exhibit, a family-friendly installation about sports innovation, to argue against transgender athletes in womens sports. She dismissed the exhibits discussion of gender testing as complex, calling it basic science XX chromosome, XY chromosome.Do you know that when you walk in the front door, the first thing that you see is the gay flag? Michaels had complained earlier in the segment.Related: Drag artists who crashed Donald Trump's first Kennedy Center show want him to know: 'You cant erase us'First of all, we dont have time to litigate all of this, Phillip interjected.Of course we dont, Michaels replied, accusing Phillip of trying to racialize her comments.Just to be clear, you brought up race, Phillip said. This was a conversation about the arts, and you brought up slavery and the question of whether it was about race. The answer is yes. Slavery in the United States is about race.Axios media reporter Sara Fisher eventually steered the conversation back to the Kennedy Center, noting that while Trumps honoree list wasnt the most MAGA ceremony ever, his decision to host and his allies moves to rename the venue marked a new phase in politicizing an institution once considered above the partisan fray.

Luke Macfarlane knows what turns him on!Bros and Platonic star was a guest on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen when he revealed some spicy secrets about his love life.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!Cohen had Rose Byrne, Seth Rogan, and Luke Macfarlane on his show to talk about their series Platonic. During the episode, he had Macfarlane and Byrne play a cheeky game of Pillow Talk. The game features Cohen and the celebs holding a pillow up to their ear and answering questions about their love lives.Cohen started by asking the two who their first celebrity crushes were. "Kylie Minogue," Byrne answered."Controversially, it was Mark Wahlberg," Macfarlane said. Mark Wahlberg for Calvin Klein.Calvin Klein Later, Cohen asked Macfarlane what his "oddest turn on" is."I like sticky-outy ears when people have sticky-outy ears," Macfarlane said, pressing his ears out. "I find it really sexy when a guy has sticky-outty ears.""Big Alfred E. Neuman fan?" Rogan joked."Oh, you do! So like, Russell Tovey?" Cohen offered."Russell Tovey has sticky-outy ears," Macfarlane agreed before smiling and giggling. Russell Tovey in 'The Pass.'Toledo ProductionsCohen's next question for Macfarlane was asking him to describe himself "as a lover in three words.""Listen, touch, kiss," Macfarlane answered after thinking about it for a moment.Finally, Cohen asked him when he last cried."Being in New York City today, I was walking down a street that I remember walking down when I was 19 years old when I first moved here," he said, making a pouty face and drawing "awws" from the audience. "I totally mean that."The second season of Platonic is streaming now on Apple TV+.Watch the full interview featuring Luke Macfarlane on Watch What Happens Live, below.

Netflix's smash hit animated movie KPop Demon Hunters just made pop music history. The film has become a global phenomenon, so much so that the titular song from the film, "Golden" by the fictional girl group Huntr/x just hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite appearing in a streaming film (with a stunning queer allegory, we have to mention), the songs have a stranglehold on TikTok and have even been played at clubs and music festivals. "Golden," sung by songwriters EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI, is a certified banger that marks the first time a girl group has topped the chart in almost exactly 24 years, and the first time a Korean girl group has achieved the feat. - YouTube www.youtube.com You read that right! It's been 24 years since any girl group had the most popular song in the U.S. The last girl group to top the chart wasn't Pussycat Dolls, Fifth Harmony, or even K-pop icons BLACKPINK, but pop/R&B sensation Destiny's Child. The group's last No. 1 was "Bootylicious" in 2001. A cultural moment in its own right, the song (led by Beyonc, of course) sampled Stevie Nicks' "Edge of Seventeen," and the word bootylicious was later added to the dictionary. For a fictional girl group to top the chart 24 years later proves that fans yearn for synchronization, harmonization, and soaring vocals but what does it say about the real-life girl groups of today?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!Girl groups are staples in music across the globe and have been throughout the documented history of music but after oversaturation in the 90s and 2000s, their popularity waned in the U.S. in the 2010s as pop and R&B took a backseat to the rise of hip-hop. "Don't Cha" by the Pussycat Dolls plateaued at the No. 2 spot on the chart. Fifth Harmony was arguably the biggest girl group in the 2010s, but their highest-performing song, "Work From Home," peaked at No. 4.Funnily enough, as traditional pop music began to decline in the 2010s, K-pop's popularity began to rise in the U.S. The tight choreography and refreshing pop melodies felt new and exciting to American audiences. The global takeovers of K-pop groups BTS and BLACKPINK in the late 2010s ushered in a new era of girl and boy groups around the globe. For perhaps the first time in a major way, American audiences began paying attention to Korean groups and they began influencing our culture. All of a sudden, groups like NewJeans, Aespa, TWICE, and ILLIT became a part of our zeitgeist, have their own TikTok trends, are played in clubs and DJ events, and are streamed around the world.Perhaps this made way for the rise of the fictional group Huntr/x. KPop Demon Hunters has become Netflix's most-watched animated movie, with over 180 million views, and has become the second most-watched movie on the platform ever, according to The Washington Post. The film is even heading to theaters for the first time with a sing-along event. K-pop has gone global it's undeniable!But when will that happen for an IRL girl group? - YouTube www.youtube.com Real-life K-pop groups like BLACKPINK and TWICE are still quite popular and seem primed for their breakout singles. We also have budding Western groups like KATSEYE, Flo, and Say Now, who are all rapidly gaining popularity. But will these IRL girl groups have a chance of hitting No. 1?If we had to put money on it, we'd say KATSEYE certainly has what it takes to go all the way. They also have the K-pop influence, as the starring girls were trained under the K-pop hitmaking label HYBE. KATSEYE's breakout performance at Lollapalooza earlier this month proves they have the fans and the star power. Perhaps they just need the breakthrough song... In the meantime, we'll just keep singing "Golden" on repeat.

David Geffen has firmly denied the accusations of financial abuse and "exploitation" made by his estranged husband, Donovan Michaels, filing a response to his ex's lawsuit on Wednesday.The out gay billionaire said in the filing, first obtained by TMZ, that he never agreed to financially support Michaels for life as he claimed in the lawsuit. He also denied Michaels' allegations that he forced him to use drugs and undergo cosmetic procedures, claiming that Michaels did those of his own volition. Geffen, 82, and Michaels, 32, married in 2023 with no prenup. Geffen filed for divorce in April of this year, citing "irreconcilable differences." Michaels filed a response in May requesting spousal support, then later filed a lawsuit in July accusing Geffen of breach of contract and exploitation. Related: David Geffen sued by estranged husband Donovan Michaels, accused of 'exploitation' Geffen said that he initiated the divorce because Michaels was taking advantage of his "good nature and generosity," accusing the younger of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on OnlyFans subscriptions and male prostitutes in the final months of their marriage. Geffen also claimed that Michaels used his money to purchase expensive clothes, vacations, and cosmetic procedures. Michaels said in his lawsuit that Geffen was the one who made him get the cosmetic procedures, claiming that the billionaire would often make back-handed insults and put-downs about his past and lack of sophistication. He accused Geffen of forcing him to get painful laser treatments and dental treatments," but said that he still critiqued every aspect of Michaels appearance and carefully controlled Michaels with respect to all aspects of his body hygiene."Michaels also accused Geffen of requiring sexual access at will, including acts Michaels found degrading," and giving him drugs and alcohol as tools of coercion lowering his resistance and increasing his dependency," which resulted in him developing an addiction.Geffen refuted the claims in his new filing, claiming that Michaels hid his use of ketamine and cocaine from him, and continued to use it even after Geffen offered to pay for addiction treatment. Michaels' lawsuit claimed that Geffen breached an oral agreement between the couple "by denying Michaels full financial support" and demanding that he "immediately vacate the New York residence, which would effectively render Michaels homeless. Geffen refuted this as well, asserting that Michaels is still living in one of his New York apartments for free and receiving monthly payments from him.

Are you ready for this Boots?!See on InstagramNetflix's upcoming LGBTQ+ series, Boots, centers on Cameron Cope (Miles Heizer) and his best friend Ray McAffey (Liam Oh) navigating a tough and volatile environment in the Marine Corps in the 1990s. Cameron happens to be closeted, and goes on to join a "diverse group of recruits" who try to do their best while serving the Marines.Boots is a TV adaptation of The Pink Marine, a memoir written by former US Marine Greg Cope White.Some folks are into that, so we're happy for them.Netflix's official blog, Tudum, describes Boots as a show all about "friendship, resilience, and finding your place in the world even when that world seems determined to keep you in line or leave you behind."Vera Farmiga, the icon that you are.Heizer's character, Cameron, reportedly lives with his "narcissistic mother," Barbara, who is played by Vera Farmiga. A character description notes that "Barbara is a chameleon and someone who's always on the run due to the consequences of her actions but she becomes unmoored when Cameron ships out."Miles Heizer staring right at us."Boots was easily the hardest and most fun thing I've ever been a part of," Heizer told Tudum. "The show is interesting because it manages to find the humor in a very intense experience, which is the only way to live, in my opinion! It's also rare in that it's 50% acting and 50% actually struggling through training and DI screams."We're shipping these two already.Ray the son of a strict Marine father is Cameron's closest and most loyal best friend. The character, played by Oh, "carries the pressure of having to be best at all times," but that becomes a bit harder once he actually gets to boot camp.These two mean business."There really isn't another show like Boots. It's very funny, uplifting, and has a particularly great soundtrack. You'll laugh, you'll cheer, and I'm sorry, but you'll probably cry as well," Heizer warned fans in his interview with Tudum.Is the bus still running?Bald on bald on bald.With an eight-episode run, Boots is a project from series creator and co-showrunner Andy Parker, showrunner Jennifer Cecil, and the late, great Normal Lear credited as an executive producer.Oh, heyyy!Heizer told Tudum, "Due to the group nature of boot camp, we were essentially together all day, every day of filming and got incredibly close. In a way, the show sort of mirrors our real experience of meeting, coming together, and forming a very deep bond by the end. I truly feel a phantom boot camp connection to all of these boys."These boots are made for walking And running.Another standout character is Sgt. Sullivan (Max Parker), who's described as the "consummate elite Recon Marine. He has been decorated for valor on numerous top-secret missions, but struggles to keep his own secret hidden. Haunted by his past, Sullivan sees himself in Cameron and tries to prepare him for the same personal war he'll face beyond boot camp."Judgmental faces from Vera Farmiga? Sign us up.Overall, Boots is being marketed as a one-hour comedic drama with an "irreverent, off-beat take on the coming-of-age story."We can't wait to see it!Boots premieres on October 9 on Netflix.

There are so many types of lesbians these days that it can be hard to keep track of what all of the labels mean. There are everything from butches and studs, high femmes and pillow princesses, to Hey Mamas and lipstick lesbians. The lesbian experience is expansive and diverse, which is why there are so many ways to identify yourself to the rest of the community. But whether you love a label or chafe against them, it can be helpful to know what they all mean. One of the other terms youve probably heard tossed around is chapstick lesbian, but what does it mean, and where did the term come from? So find out all of deets, we talked to Sofie Roos, a bisexual licensed sexologist, relationship therapist, and author at relationship magazine Passionerad, who was able to break it all down for us. What is a chapstick lesbian, and where did the term originate?A chapstick lesbian is someone who lands somewhere in the gray area between masculine and feminine. The clever term describes a sapphic who presents in both masculine and feminine ways so that they dont fit neatly into the butch/femme dichotomy. The lesbian term comes from the stereotype of sapphics who just uses chapstick, which doesn't give them that classic feminine look, but still arent only masculine in their presentation, Roos tells PRIDE. It probably orginiated in the '90s and was popularized by Ellen DeGeneres on her sitcom Ellen when she told fictional parents that she would be a chapstick lesbian.So if a lipstick lesbian is high femme, then a chapstick lesbian is more low maintenance and straddles the line between femme and butch. Roos says there is also a lot of overlap with the terms soft butch, futch, or even stem and stud-fem if you are a Black chapstick lesbian.How does it present?Since chapstick lesbians are a mix of masculine and feminine, it might mean that she like to wear makeup sometimes, but wont go out in high heels and a mini skirt and their vibe tends to be more relaxed that a femme, though this will vary between sapphics.A typical chapstick lesbian can wear big baggy jeans, a tight top, no makeup, messy hair and black boots one day, and the other wear a cute little dress with light makeup, Roos explains. Their look can be a bit androgynous, often in the landscape where you cant tell if the clothes are bought at the men's or women's section, or that they mix between feminine and masculine clothing in one outfit or simply just rocks what the heck they want and doesn't care if it's for men or women, and mix as they please!How is it different than a 'Hey Mamas lesbian?Hey Mamas lesbians and chapstick lesbians are similar but not interchangeable terms. Hey Mamas is someone who like chapstick lesbian doesnt fit completely into the butch stereotype, but they also tend to wear more traditionally masculine clothing and backwards baseball hats and a major feature their knack for picking up women by saying, Hey mama.A chapstick lesbian is often more low-key and casual in their vibe, while a 'hey mamas lesbian tends to be more outgoing and flirty in their approach, Roos says. So even though they can dress similarly, the big difference is in their overall vibe!How is it different from other masc of center lesbians?According to Roos, chapstick lesbians tend to mix masculinity and femininity in a way that feels a bit more soft and girlish as opposed to being overtly masculine. So while many masc of center lesbians are more rebellious and stand out in their masculine expression, a chapstick lesbian comes off as more casual and melts in more with their style, being in the middle land, she says.Who can be a chapstick lesbian? How does gender interact with this identity?This is a sapphic term, meaning that ALL queer women can describe themselves as chapstick lesbians if they feel it describes their vibe and style because being a chapstick lesbian is not only about clothing, even though many think so its also about the attitude thats both girlish and boyish at the same time, Roos explains.But in the end, gender expression is expansive and complicated, so just because the word lesbian is part of the chapstick lesbian label doesnt mean that it cant apply to whoever feels it fits them, regardless of gender identity.

Reality TV star and lesbian icon Gabby Windey and queer pop star Rene Rapp are having the most sapphic conversation ever recorded by getting candid about two hotly debated lesbian topics: scissoring and strap-ons.Rapp appeared on Thursdays episode of Long Winded with Gabby Windey, and the two women didnt hold back when talking about sapphic sex.The chat started with Windey opening up about people questioning her gayness when she first came out, after rising to fame as a contestant on The Bachelor. That was a question I kind of got in the beginning, theyre like, Do you feel gay enough? Im like, Im fully having sex with a girl, what do you mean? Im pretty gay, Windey joked. Youre like, Im literally eating box. Youre questioning whether Im gay enough, this sucks, Rapp commiserated.See on InstagramThen, Windey brought up one of her favorite topics to discuss and one Rapp is not shy about either.Literally. Like Im scissoring, fully, Windey said, bringing up her marriage to comedian Robby Hoffman. I earned it, its not just a front, I married it. Rapp chimed in, This is real. Were real-life scissoring in this bitch.Windey then asked the question on everyones mind and one she asks many of her guests, Do you scissor?Love scissoring, the "Leave Me Alone singer admitted. "Because some people are like noooo, no, no, no, and like are we dense? Of course! Windey said that Hoffman isnt into scissoring, but she loves it, Im always begging to scissor.Unlike Hoffman, Rapp agreed that scissoring is amazing. She even defended the infamous lesbian sex act when she was on the TikTok show Gaydar. Of course, its so fun, she said. "Also, just the thought of being like, Oh no, were scissoring.' Its so sick, its so cool. Like wait, not us scissoring, its kind of cute.Windey agreed, Like I want to bump and grind. It feels animalistic, it feels primal. It just feels like sex.Not one to shy away from personal questions about sex, Windey asked the 25-year-old singer if she uses a strap-on. Yes, its a necessity, dick me down, Rapp proudly declared.See on InstagramWhen Windey asked if Rapp if she or her girlfriend Towa Bird liked to top when strapping, Rapp, who has admitted to being a pillow princess in the past, said she thinks she more of a switch than she actually is.My current girlfriend, shell like out masc me every time. Not that you have to be masc to use a strap, she said.Rapp then mentioned wearing a strap-on in a photo with friends at a gay club, and her love of colorful dildos. Like its silicone and its purple and pink. Like this shit is fun. This is games. We need to be sucking strap in the club more, Rapp said.Robby and I do like the flesh colored ones. Have you ever seen them? We love them, Windey admitted.At first, Rapp doesnt believe, The ones that actually look like skin?Windey continued, We get very realistic kinds. Its so expensive. Yeah, weve invested so much money, but its because she calls me Goldicocks.The Traitors star said she thinks she likes them because shes used to sleeping with men, and Hoffman just happens to like them too. Then, Windey tried to convince a very skeptical Rapp to move away from the brightly colored models and try out a realistic dildo. You can pick skin colors. Theres all kinds. Theres circumcised, not circumcised. Theres big balls, little balls, Windey said.Rapp shrieks and says, That one has to go, no, no, no, no, thats where I draw the line. That scares the shit out of me.Other queer celebs are going to have to try really hard to have a conversation more sapphic than that!

It's that time of year again -- the Out100 approaches! Every year since 1994, Out has compiled a prestigious list of the year's most impactful and influential LGBTQ+ people.And you, our readers, have an important role to play.Help us choose the 2025 Out100 by nominating the changemakers across queer culture -- from music, drag, film, television, theater, sports, politics, business, and fashion. Submit your nominations below before 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24. (Can't see the submission form? Click here.)Out editors will compile a list of finalists for a second round of voting beginning Aug. 25!

Let's be real... country music is so queer.Chris Housman is pushing the gay agenda by being his truly authentic self in his very relatable music.The musician's popular singles such as "Guilty as Sin," "Blueneck," and "Drag Queen" have really resonated with anyone in the LGBTQ+ community raised in a conservative environment."I'm constantly trying to take the country music I grew up on and put a queer perspective on it. I think we need that so bad. It's intimidating and even a little bit scary to tackle something so intense, maybe even controversial," Housman tells PRIDE. See on Instagram Housman is taking things up a notch with his steamy music video for his new single "Hidin' Something," which also stars The Real Housewives of Orange County out star Braunwyn Windham-Burke.In the video, Housman discovers that the man he's been seeing has a secret wife, played by Windham-Burke. Upon this discovery, Housman and Windham-Burke team up to extract their revenge."She was so perfect! She absolutely slayed. It was so fun to watch her in that element. It was really cool that the three of us are queer, depicting this story."The singer is so grateful that many queer people of all ages can relate to his struggles of being gay in a conservative area."I've literally seen people coming out in the comments on music videos of mine. It becomes bigger than the dream of chasing music when it's at that point. I'm so stoked about it, and I feel like I'm just getting started, hopefully."Fans can follow Chris Housman on Instagram here. To see the full interview, check out the video at the top of the page.

This September, Atlanta will host Haus of Move Campa 3-day immersive sync songwriting and music industry development experience designed for Black and Brown trans and queer artists, songwriters, and producers. Taking place September 2628, the camp is a program of the 2AM Ricky M.O.V.E. (Mobilizing Opportunities for Visibility and Empowerment) Initiative and powered by Blaze [...]The post Haus of Move Camp: Building Power & Creativity for Black and Brown LGBTQ+ Artists first appeared on GLAAD.

Donald Trump's takeover of Washington, D.C., isn't just about wielding power over the Metropolitan Police Department. He's also set his sights on taking control of the Kennedy Center Honors.The annual celebration of people who have significantly contributed to American culture is typically a nonpartisan affair. But earlier this year, Trump announced he was taking over the Kennedy Center board of trustees and making himself chairmanciting the center hosting what he referred to as "Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth." And now, he has announced his first list of Kennedy Center Honors recipients, saying that he chose "98 percent" of them and rejected several "woke" options.Trump's honorees include country singer George Strait, Phantom of the Opera star Michael Crawford, actor Sylvester Stallone, the band KISS, and singer Gloria Gaynor.For many, that last name doesn't fit with the others: Gaynor is a Black woman, and her best-known song, "I Will Survive," is considered a gay anthem. But The View cohost Ana Navarro went as far as calling out Gaynor directly via Instagram.See on InstagramIn her post, Navarro recalled meeting Gaynor at a concert in Miami, where the singer gifted her a keychain that played "I Will Survive" when you pressed a button. "Lets just say, during first Trump term, I pressed it til it ran out of batteries," Navarro wrote.She then turned to Gaynor being named among the recipients of this year's Kennedy Center Honors, pointing out that Trump plans to host the ceremony. "Look, the woman is a goddess and deserves all the flowers that come her way. But I wish she wouldnt accept an award from the hands of a man who has attacked the rights and history of women, people of color and LGBTQ. The gay community in particular, helped turn her signature song into an anthem," she wrote. "Trump is a stain on the prestige and significance of the KCH. Dont do it, Gloria!"While "I Will Survive" is one of the all-time definitive gay anthems, Gaynor has historically obfuscated when asked about her allyship. In a 2007 interview with Radio 4 in the U.K., Gaynor was asked about her feelings on being a gay icon and responded with, "I feel good about it because I feel it is a platform for my purpose, which is to bring the love of Christ to all of my fans."When asked if she has a "religious opposition to homosexuality," Gaynor said, "I want to lead them to Christ and what he has for them. I want to lead them to him, I want to lead them to truth." When pressed further, she added, "I want to lead them to Christ, simply, and whatever he has for them."In 2019, Gaynor was asked about those comments in an NPR interview and once again spoke about being guided by her faith. "I'm not against anybody. I just am a full believer that God knows and wants only what's best for each and every one of us and is the only one that can bring it to pass if we rely on him. That is the beginning and end of my thoughts about it," she said.She then emphasized that she has plenty of gay people in her life, including family members and employees, and they all "know that I will go to my grave loving them." However, she also said she agrees "with the word of God from Genesis to Revelations [sic].""So none of what I feel about homosexuality or my faith in God and my absolute belief in the Bible, which I believe to be the word of God, has anything to do with my - has - none of it taints my ability to love them. And I think that is what is important," she said.Gaynor has yet to publicly comment.

This week Elska celebrates its 10-year anniversary. During this time, the project has published over 50 issues, spotlighting local men from LGBTQ+ communities around the world. To commemorate this milestone, a print publication titled Ten Years of Elska: Special Retrospective has been released. Inside, a collection of Elska's favorite stories and portraits has been selected.Matt M., Belfast, Northern Ireland, Issue #31The compendium reects Elskas celebration of honesty and diversity. Instead of models or celebrities, the men featured are beautifully ordinary and appealingly imperfect. And instead of highly edited and polished writing, the texts are real, raw and sometimes random. Alongside tales of coming out in a Mormon town or falling in love on a road trip through Ukraine are a frank account of gender transition, a diatribe against homophobic society in Northern Ireland and even a lusty poem about foreskins.Ekin K. & Emrullah T., Istanbul, Turkey, Issue #6When I originally started Elska, my goal was simply to combine my love of travel, photography and men says Elska editor and chief photographer Liam Campbell. For the rst issue, I ew to Lviv, Ukraine and hoped to meet three or four local guys who I would photograph in the city and then publish some sort of little staple-bound zine. But everything just sort of exploded. I actually met 12 guys there and I ended up doing at-home nude portraits as well as vaguely editorial-style street shoots. Because of all this extra content, I had to expand my project into something more like a book. And then I had the idea to include stories, both my own chronicles about my journeys as well as stories contributed by the men I met, which made the publication grow even larger.Emmett C.R., San, Francisco, CA, USA, Issue# 41I am immensely grateful that Elska resonated so well, which has enabled me to keep going for all these years, continues Liam. I am also proud that Ive been able to do my work in my own way, publishing real rather than sensational stories and presenting images of regular people rather than those who t within the connes of conventional beauty standards. Ive always found ordinary people more compelling, and Im glad, as well as a little surprised, that so many others share my perspective. Because of them, Ive been able to take my project to over 50 cities around the world so far.Jay E., Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, Issue #49Elska's roster includes books made in well-known and lesser-known places, as well as in gay-friendly and not so gay-friendly societies. Cities on every continent of the world except Antarctica have been featured, including: Odesa (Ukraine), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Chisinau (Moldova), Taipei (Taiwan), Tbilisi (Georgia), San Francisco (California), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Cape Town (South Africa), Melbourne (Australia) and Dhaka (Bangladesh). When combined, a total of 827 dierent men have taken part in for Elska, and many more are on the way.Shaman E., Dhaka, Bangladesh, Issue #23Elska print books, including the new Ten Years of Elska: Special Retrospective are sold in select shops around the world and for order online. Also available are e-books, art prints, postcard sets and annual subscriptions, which include six books per year. More information can be found on the Elska website, elskamagazine.com.Faraz A., Mumbai, India, Issue #10See more of Elska's men of the world ahead.Yevhenii P., Odesa, Ukraine, Issue #50Nicholas S., Almaty, Kazakhstan, Issue #42Bruno V., Sao Paulo, Brazil, Issue #33John H., Melbourne, Australia, Issue #48Alonso R.L. & Juanmanuel E.B., Madrid, Spain, Issue #46Romero C., BuenosAires, Argentina, Issue #51Sasha K., Lviv, Ukraine, Issue #1

The Traitors is getting a new spinoff, featuring an all-civilian cast of Faithfuls and Traitors, to air on NBC. Given that NBCUniversal is the same parent company for Peacock and NBC, there is no change of plans regarding the original show featuring reality TV stars which will continue on Peacock. According to a statement, Alan Cumming will also host the new NBC show.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!This unexpected announcement has been launched with open applications for non-famous contestants to join the cast of The Traitors on NBC, even though the new spinoff still has no premiere date on schedule (via The Hollywood Reporter).The first U.S. season of The Traitors on Peacock received mixed reactions due to its cast being made up of both celebrities and civilians which made the stakes feel lopsided between contestants who needed the money for their health and wellbeing in a competition against reality TV stars who didn't necessarily need the money that much.The official casting announcement on the platform for applicants (seen below) reads:"In this brand new version for NBC, you do not have to be a celebrity to play!We are looking for smart, strategic everyday people to compete in the ultimate game of trust, and treachery.Are you a FAITHFUL or are you a TRAITOR?Apply now for a chance of winning up to $250,000!"The spinoff is another production between NBC and Studio Lambert the existing partners of the Peacock series.At the bottom of the announcement, a warning indicates all applicants must be "at least 21 years of age and have a valid passport." Casting announcement for NBC's The Traitors.TheTraitorsUS.com The news of an all-civilian edition of The Traitors airing on broadcast television coincides with increased ratings and audience engagement for CBS reality competition such as Survivor and Big Brother. The latter, airing its 27th season on CBS, has seen a surprising increase in ratings all season long, as reported by Variety.NBC doesn't have any existing IP at the moment to compete with that category of shows, and moving Love Island USA to the broadcast would be a huge risk given that the first three seasons of the dating show didn't meet expectations for CBS, and most dating shows on broadcast TV are currently in a decline. Even the crown jewel of dating shows, The Bachelor franchise, continues to drop viewership, as reported by Collider. The state of Bachelor Nation has only gotten worse this summer, with The U.S. Sun reporting wildly disappointing numbers for the grand premiere of Bachelor In Paradise last month.In contrast, reality competition series on broadcast TV like Big Brother, Survivor, and even The Amazing Race all of which air on CBS continue to maintain an audience, and some of them are even growing in ratings. Netflix has also been mimicking that success with shows like Squid Game: The Challenge and several seasons of The Circle.NBC dominated the reality TV genre for a few years with the introduction of The Voice as an antidote to the formula of shows like American Idol. As of 2025, however, The Voice is the one losing viewers by the season to the point of even reducing its annual output of two seasons per year to only one season per year.This new Traitors spinoff on NBC not involving famous cast members would mimic a show like Big Brother. And, either way, it appears that the company will keep betting on Peacock's The Traitors. The cast of season 4 was recently announced, and a fifth cycle of the show has already been guaranteed to follow.This story is still developing

This week Elska celebrates its 10-year anniversary. During this time, the project has published over 50 issues, spotlighting local men from LGBTQ+ communities around the world. To commemorate this milestone, a print publication titled Ten Years of Elska: Special Retrospective has been released. Inside, a collection of Elska's favorite stories and portraits has been selected.Matt M., Belfast, Northern Ireland, Issue #31The compendium reects Elskas celebration of honesty and diversity. Instead of models or celebrities, the men featured are beautifully ordinary and appealingly imperfect. And instead of highly edited and polished writing, the texts are real, raw and sometimes random. Alongside tales of coming out in a Mormon town or falling in love on a road trip through Ukraine are a frank account of gender transition, a diatribe against homophobic society in Northern Ireland and even a lusty poem about foreskins.Ekin K. & Emrullah T., Istanbul, Turkey, Issue #6When I originally started Elska, my goal was simply to combine my love of travel, photography and men says Elska editor and chief photographer Liam Campbell. For the rst issue, I ew to Lviv, Ukraine and hoped to meet three or four local guys who I would photograph in the city and then publish some sort of little staple-bound zine. But everything just sort of exploded. I actually met 12 guys there and I ended up doing at-home nude portraits as well as vaguely editorial-style street shoots. Because of all this extra content, I had to expand my project into something more like a book. And then I had the idea to include stories, both my own chronicles about my journeys as well as stories contributed by the men I met, which made the publication grow even larger.Emmett C.R., San, Francisco, CA, USA, Issue# 41I am immensely grateful that Elska resonated so well, which has enabled me to keep going for all these years, continues Liam. I am also proud that Ive been able to do my work in my own way, publishing real rather than sensational stories and presenting images of regular people rather than those who t within the connes of conventional beauty standards. Ive always found ordinary people more compelling, and Im glad, as well as a little surprised, that so many others share my perspective. Because of them, Ive been able to take my project to over 50 cities around the world so far.Jay E., Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, Issue #49Elska's roster includes books made in well-known and lesser-known places, as well as in gay-friendly and not so gay-friendly societies. Cities on every continent of the world except Antarctica have been featured, including: Odesa (Ukraine), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Chisinau (Moldova), Taipei (Taiwan), Tbilisi (Georgia), San Francisco (California), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Cape Town (South Africa), Melbourne (Australia) and Dhaka (Bangladesh). When combined, a total of 827 dierent men have taken part in for Elska, and many more are on the way.Shaman E., Dhaka, Bangladesh, Issue #23Elska print books, including the new Ten Years of Elska: Special Retrospective are sold in select shops around the world and for order online. Also available are e-books, art prints, postcard sets and annual subscriptions, which include six books per year. More information can be found on the Elska website, elskamagazine.com.Faraz A., Mumbai, India, Issue #10See more of Elska's men of the world ahead.Yevhenii P., Odesa, Ukraine, Issue #50Nicholas S., Almaty, Kazakhstan, Issue #42Bruno V., Sao Paulo, Brazil, Issue #33John H., Melbourne, Australia, Issue #48Alonso R.L. & Juanmanuel E.B., Madrid, Spain, Issue #46Romero C., BuenosAires, Argentina, Issue #51Sasha K., Lviv, Ukraine, Issue #1

The executives at HBO Max have ripped away so many good things from us, and their most recent offense is ending And Just Like That... too soon. If I had my way, the show would be pried from my cold, dead hands, and I'd devour at minimum six more seasons of this Sex and the City sequel. But just like all good (or not so good) things, they must come to an end, and tonight's victim was AJLT. The studio heads gifted us with 10 episodes this season, making us believe at first that we had a long future to look forward to with these characters. However, the recent announcement that the third season would be the show's last forced us to say goodbye to Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) once again. (@) In a statement posted August 1 to social media, showrunner Michael Patrick King wrote that he, SJP (who also serves as an executive producer), Sarah Aubrey (head of HBO Max Originals), and Casey Bloys (CEO of HBO Max) all decided to end the series with a two-part finale. "SJP and I held off announcing the news until now because we didn't want the word 'final' to overshadow the fun of watching the season," the statement reads. "It's with great gratitude we thank all the viewers who have let these characters into their homes and their hearts over these many years."The series finale aired on HBO Max tonight, and the ending was serviceable. We got each character's storylines wrapped up in a hastily made bow, and the ending you would expect Carrie Bradshaw, AKA "The Woman," chose to bet on herself. But, as Carrie shimmied her way out of frame in her Gramercy Park oasis, I couldn't help but feel two things were missing: Che Diaz (Sara Ramirez) and the unmitigated joy of the chaos that came in the show's first season. Sarah Jessica Parker on 'And Just Like That'Courtesy of HBO MaxThe reason people loved to hate the show was that it was a cringe-fest with all of our favorite characters right in the center, not too dissimilar to AJLT's prequel series, Sex and the City. Carrie was the epitome of chaos as evidenced in this InStyle Magazine op-ed about how entertainingly tumultuous she was in the original series."Shes been dubbed a terrible friend, borderline stalker, and worst of all, cringe," the writer argued. "But all those internet critics miss one important point: Say what you will about her values, but a selfish, neurotic Carrie Bradshaw makes for great TV." And on this note, I agree. Maybe in your middle age, you care more about society's perception of you, but erasing all of the main character's self-assuredness dulls the show.When the show's main characters (sans Samantha, played by Kim Cattrall) graced the streets of New York once again, the writers threw everything at the wall. As many people have noted, the show felt like it was trying to import these ladies directly from 2006 into 2022, and we watched as they stumbled their way through the major cultural shifts we've seen take place over the last 20 years. Sarah Jessica Parker on 'And Just Like That'Courtesy of HBO MaxThe core group of women aged, they made new friends, their relationships were tested time and time again, and they also learned a lot about themselves. Enter Che Diaz, who became Miranda's (Cynthia Nixon) gay sexual awakening in the reboot's first season. Ever since they entered the SATCEU (Sex and the City extended universe), I couldn't stop thinking about them, and I wish they had more time together before falling victim to online vitriol. Everywhere you turned, there was discourse about the annoying nonbinary character on AJLT so much so that you would've thought they slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars.Che was the victim of blatant homophobia, and in the words of the late SATCEU character, Lexi Featherson, "No one's fun anymore. Whatever happened to fun? God, I'm so bored, I could die," except in this case, I'm not falling out of a window 18 stories up. Yeah, they were cringe. Yeah, they weren't the best comedian. Yes, they were kinda awful to Miranda. And were they not funny on Carrie's podcast (remember Carrie podcasting?), also yes! But we all need to remember, fictional queer people can be bad people too, and it's entertaining to watch. Live a little! See on Instagram Alas, we have to say goodbye to this outrageous and confusingly dressed show again. But Parker insists that it's not a goodbye, but a farewell. She's learned not to be final about Carrie and the SATCEU, and I hope this means that if we do get more from these ladies (and nonbinary individuals you too, Rock), they lean more into the camp and less into Carrie's fictional novel journey.Moises Mendez II is a staff writer at Out magazine. Follow him on Instagram @moisesfenty.Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit out.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@equalpride.com. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists, and editors, and do not directly represent the views of Out or our parent company, equalpride.

The Birmingham Black Repertory Theatre Collective (BBRTC), an award-winning Black Queer-led grassroots theatre organization, is thrilled to announce Denim & Diamonds: A Southern Takeover, a one-night-only fundraising concert and gala held on September 17, 2025, at 5:00 PM at The Listening Room in Nashville, TN. Taking place on International Black Theatre Day, this dynamic, music-filled [...]The post Birmingham Black Repertory Theatre Collective Celebrates National Black Theatre Day with Star-Studded Fundraising Gala first appeared on GLAAD.

Peacemaker season 2 is finally being released on HBO Max, and John Cena is coming in hot (James Gunn-s ablazing, if you will) with a new trailer showing that the titular character has a bisexual orgy.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!It's been three and a half years since the season 1 of Peacemaker, starring Cena as the main character, premiered on HBO Max. The series is finally coming back for season 2, and DC Universe (DCU) overseer James Gunn is having a blast with the actor in their promotional appearances for season 2.In one video, Cena and Gunn play a silly little game of would-you-rather. "Alright, you can stop an alien invasion, but you'd have to eliminated one of these," Gunn begins. "A) an alien intruder disguised as a bald eagle; or B) your Tinder date for the night."Cena replies, "I don't think he would eliminate a bald eagle, and if hehad to eliminate a Tinder date, he would just go to Grindr and find another date. The great thing about Peacemaker is that all apps are welcome, all the time." (@) In a new trailer, fans actually see Peacemaker creating some bisexual chaos in season 2. This next batch of episodes is described as Peacemaker "discovering an alternate world where life is everything that he wishes it could be."Gunn wrote all eight episodes of Peacemaker season 2, which has an exciting cast featuring Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Jennifer Holland, Steve Agee, Robert Patrick, Frank Grillo, David Denman, Sol Rodriguez, and Tim Meadows, to name a few.A hilarious conversation between Peacemaker (Cena) and Adrian Chase, a.k.a. Vigilante (Stroma) opens this latest red-band trailer for the HBO Max original series.Adrian walks into Peacemaker's place and see what seems to be over 10 naked bodies lying all around the place. It's clear that Peacemaker just had an orgy with them, and Adrian feels annoyed that he wasn't invited."You don't even seem that into sex," Cena says.Adrian replies, "I'm not into sex because, like a lot of people, it's an opportunity to bond with my best friend."Watch the official red band trailer below.Peacemaker season 2 premieres August 21 on HBO Max.

Get ready for the Kiss of the Spider Woman!Kiss of the Spider Woman stars Jennifer Lopez and Tonatiuh are Out Magazine's latest cover stars, looking like absolute royalty!Kiss of the Spider Woman debuted at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, and when I saw it there, it was my favorite movie of the festival! The film follows Valentin (Diego Luna), a political prisoner in Argentina who is surprised when he's put in a cell with Molina, a queer person arrested for public indecency.The two escape the horrors of prison through the stories Molina tells Valentin about their favorite movie, The Kiss of the Spider Woman. Told through fantasy sequences, the two cellmates imagine themselves as the stars of the Hollywood musical, starring alongside Molina's favorite movie star, Ingrid Luna (Jennifer Lopez).All three stars of the film are superb, and now, Tonatiuah and Lopez talk to Out about their experience making the film!"It was really a dream come true," Lopez says. "I've dreamt of doing a musical for so many years. For it to be one that is [a] movie about love and acceptance and community, especially in this time, to me it couldnt have been a better thing to happen."Tonatiuh, who is nonbinary, says that they loved having a chance to play a character who doesn't fit into easy gender boxes."As a performer, I just always found it so frustrating to get categorized in any one particular box. With this, I was really gifted the ability to play the entire spectrum," they say.Check out our latest cover story to find out more!Keep reading to find out the Gayest Song of the Week and all the best pop culture news!Mey RudePeacemaker has bisexual orgy in S2 John Cena confirms DC hero is biI'll miss the chaos of 'And Just like That...' (and Che Diaz too)New 'The Traitors' spinoff with non-famous players to air on NBCTravel the world with 14 portraits of 'beautifully ordinary' menAna Navarro calls on Gloria Gaynor to reject Trump's Kennedy Center honorNetflix's new gay Marines show 'Boots': Here's what to knowWhat is a chapstick lesbian? The sapphic term explained by an LGBTQ+ sexologist2025 Out100 Readers' Choice: Who is making an impact in culture this year?Gabby Windey and Rene Rapp talk scissoring and strap-ons in the most lesbian conversation everGayest Song of the WeekSmooth-voiced pop singer Khalid is back with a fun, new song, "in plain sight," and we can't stop listening! The track has a great throwback sound and is a perfect late contender for Song of the Summer!

Every year, the U.S. Supreme Court receives an estimated 8,000 requests petitions, or writs of certiorari to take up cases related to a number of constitutional questions affecting Americans and our lives. It only grants a small percentage of those and denies review to the overwhelming majority of cases, allowing lower court decisions [...]The post Whats At Stake at the Supreme Court in 2025-2026: Fast Facts first appeared on GLAAD.

Alt gay X (formerly known as Twitter) is a thriving space for queer people to share their X-rated material. There's a video or a content creator for every niche interest. But after awhile, just posting nude selfies gets repetitive, so the gays spice things up with creative ways to share content.One key tactic is to jump on a trend and the current one is teasing X followers with a preview of a blurred-out private Grindr album. (When you chat with another user on Grindr, you can choose to share your album with them, and before you click on it, the app shows a preview of the first photo blurred out.) (@) The trend found its way outside of alt gay X, and it started to become a meme, with users swapping blurred private parts for various humorous cultural references.Grindr seized on the trend. Shortly after Taylor Swift announced her new album, The Life of a Showgirl, this week, the social team shared a post on X depicting the blurred cover art. "Everybody masc until the life of a showgirl pre pre order drops," the app quipped. (@) (@) (@) (For many of the users engaging the trend, their actual NSFW photos are not hard to find, which adds to the humor of their involvement.) This is not the only time Grindr has trended for uncensored content this month. Recently, Grindr launched a hub called "Grindr Presents," which has original videos, music releases, and editorial pieces. In a statement shared with Out, a spokesperson for Grindr wrote, "In a world where queer voices are increasingly censored and marginalized across platforms, Grindr has created an unapologetically safe space where the community can be themselves, be heard, and be fabulous without fear of suppression." Adding, "With 'Grindr Presents,' the platform is deepening that connection and making Grindr the go-to destination for even more uncensored queer culture, a place where authenticity isn't just welcomed, it's celebrated."

Mr. X-Toon (NSFW artwork at that link), whose gay Disney-inspired porn edits and animations often went viral online, has passed away, according to an online report.Mr. X-Toon's popular animations would depict male Disney characters in romantic pairings like Tarzan and Milo from Atlantis, Kristoff from Frozen and Flynn from Tangled, Hercules and Aladdin, and more. The videos were distinct for their high-quality animation and voice acting as well as large penises with graphic gay sex.Because of his ability to make high-quality gay porn animations featuring popular characters from Disney and other animated films, Mr. X-Toon's videos have gone viral and become a part of internet lore and culture.Now, a post shared by a person claiming to be "a close friend of David," the real name of the animator, says that he died July 25. The cause of death was not disclosed. (@) "I'm Daniel, a close friend of David, widely known as 'mrxtoon' on the internet. He was an extraordinary friend, a brilliant artist, a family man, and a source of joy in our lives," the statement reads. "His artistry was unparalleled, and his dedication to his fans to give more was truly inspiring. He loved his fan, family, and creating art above all else.""Though words can't capture this feeling, I'm heartbroken to share that David passed away on July 25, at 7:30 pm alone in his residency," it continues. "My heart still grieves as I inform his fans and friends of this devastating news. I seek closure in this difficult time. I hope David finds peace in eternity. You'll be deeply missed, bud."Tributes to the animator have poured in online. (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@)

But do you even lift, sis?Whether you're looking for some motivation to start working out again, feeling curious about how celebrities get their bodies to look so good, or just want an excuse to watch male celebs sweating while working on their fitness We totally get it, and we're here to help.A workout list featuring LGBTQ+ stars, plus other male celebs that the gays love to keep up with, can be found below. You better werk (out)!Cheyenne JacksonSee on InstagramDavid Archuleta@davidarchieWorking on them gains #fitness #afraidtoloveDavid BartaSee on InstagramGus KenworthyKameron MichaelsSee on InstagramLuke EvansSee on InstagramLuke MacfarlaneSee on InstagramKit ConnorShaun TAaron Taylor JohnsonSee on InstagramAlan RitchsonBen AffleckChace CrawfordChris HemsworthEnjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.Dan ReynoldsDavid BeckhamSee on InstagramDylan EfronSee on InstagramFrank GrilloGlen PowellGreg TarzanHenry CavillJake GyllenhaalJason MomoaJay EllisSee on InstagramJohn Gaines and Tank@gainsbygaines@Tank said watch out youngsta . #GainsByGaines #tank #younglaKJ ApaKumail NanjianiMichael B. JordanMichael Cimino@nabp_#Recuerdos #onthisday #2023 #michaelcimino #sweetcreature @Michael Cimino @NABPMiles TellerMorgan SpectorSee on InstagramOliver StarkSimu LiuSterling K. BrownTaylor Zakhar PerezSee on InstagramHonorable mention:Taylor Zakhar Perez, Carlos Eric Lopez, Michael Cimino, and Brandon Perea (@) It's just a photo, but what a photo!Tom BradyEnjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.Tom EllisTom HollandSee on InstagramTyler James WilliamsZac Efron

We can't get enough of Dan Levy!Ever since Schitt's Creek went off the air in 2020, fans have been waiting for creator/star Dan Levy's next starring role in a series. Now we know what that next show will be.Levy has announced that his newest series, Big Mistakes, a family crime comedy series, is now in production for Netflix.He shared a post on Instagram showing him working on set with several of the actors from the series. While there's no preview for the show yet, some information has been released.Here's what we know!What is Dan Levy's new show, Big Mistakes, about?Big Mistakes is a family crime comedy that follows "two deeply incapable siblings" played by Dan Levy and Taylor Ortega (Welcome to Flatch), who are blackmailed and forced into the world of organized crime. Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird) also stars as their mother.Who created Big Mistakes?Big Mistakes is a part of Dan Levy's overall deal he signed with Netflix following the runaway success of Schitt's Creek, a CBC series that exploded in popularity after it appeared on the streaming giant. Previously, Levy made the romantic drama Good Grief in 2023. In addition to writing and directing, Levy starred in the film alongside Ruth Negga, Himesh Patel, and Luke Evans. Levy created Big Mistakes with Rachel Sennott (Bottoms), who will also executive produce.Who is starring in Dan Levy's new show?Levy is starring in Big Mistakes along with Taylor Ortega and Laurie Metcalf. Other series regulars include Jack Innanen (Adults), Boran Kuzum, and Abby Quinn. Elizabeth Perkins, Jacob Gutierrez, Joe Barbara, Josh Fadem, and Mark Ivanir will recur.What does Dan Levy say about his new show?"I'm so excited to be bringing this truly chaotic family story to life with Netflix, Levy said in a release from the streamer. "I'm thrilled with the team were building both behind the scenes and in front of the camera. Taylor Ortega is going to become a household name, and its been my lifes mission to get to call Laurie Metcalf 'mother.' Looking forward to getting to share this with everyone."When can you watch Dan Levy's new show?Big Mistakes is currently in production, but Netflix has yet to announce a release date for the series.

"Oh, we knew all along," a phrase I've heard more times than I can count since my grand unveiling at the ripe age of 48. People love saying that. One might have hoped someone would have nudged me a tad sooner. I realize that our journey is ours, but it might have been nice to have someone say, "Hey, are you sure you should be marrying that woman?" But alas, hindsight is 20/20.The universe, it seems, had its own script for me. I always knew I was different, but "feeling" gay remained elusive. Countless opportunities for exploration passed me by; I never took them. Instead, I built a fortress of comfort with my high school sweetheart, eventually leading to marriage. It was love, but not the love. the chaotic unraveling that followed was never the intention. Still, in retrospect, detonation was the only way to wake me up.Thank you, universeI get it now.Leaving my marriage was a descent into darkness. After living as a straight man for 48 years, my life felt quite comfortable. I believed I was fulfilled and had everything I needed. I was a successful, independent creative in the entertainment industry, with a wife, a cute house, dogs, and a fancy car, and I was well-traveled. Yet, I was numba state that no amount of success, accolades, or possessions could fill. There was an emptiness within me, an ache that remained unfulfilled.But the moment I kissed my "queer catalyst," an invisible weight lifted. I had never been so happy in my life. The encounter blindsided me, shattering a comfortable existence in an instant. Suddenly, everything changedthe lights switched on. I saw myself for the first time. A few days later, I separated from my wife, still grappling with confusion and unsure of what this new excitement meant. Is this what "feeling gay" is? Rik and MaximillianCourtesy AuthorLiving your truth is the key. Easy to say, incredibly hard to do. This explains my three decades in a relationship that, while loving, wasn't honest. "Doing the work" begins with a hard truth, followed by even greater challenges, but ultimately, it leads to true love in all its forms. There's a slight suspension of reality to living a queer life, and I've come to realize it's akin to a punk rock anthemrebellious, untamed, gloriously freeform. No script, no societal pressures, an abstract art of life. What better way to be?Now I revel in being gay, every detail of it. Simple pleasures like saying "hi" to fellow gays in the wild ignite pure joy, even a brief, knowing smile. My partner, Rik, snickers at me about it, especially when I'm met with blank stares.Strangely enough, I don't think anyone was happier when I came out than my Grandma. My Uncle Michael died of AIDS in '95. Initially, his coming out was a shock for her, but she rose to the occasion. She became an ally, but he passed soon after. I think I was sort of a second chance for her to be "all-in" from day one. She practically tackled Rik when I brought him home for the first time during COVID. It was magical for me, making me feel like I was exactly where I needed to be.Uncle Michael, the family's shining star, apparently always knew I was gay. I was very close to him, and I'm not gonna lie, I wish he had sat me down for a heart-to-heart. His deterioration from AIDS was shocking; my heart was broken. But now, as a proud gay man, that pain resonates on a much deeper level. On his deathbed, surrounded by family, I had a chance for a private moment with him. Looking back, this would have been the perfect "hey kid, you're gay" moment, but that didn't happen. Instead of some profound revelation, my only real memory was me asking him to come back and haunt me. That's what you get from a closeted 23-year-old obsessed with horror. Still, thank you, Uncle Michael, for paving the way for me to be honest, to love my man, to hold his hand, and to be proud of who I am, just like you were. Mom and MaximillianCourtesy AuthorI was extremely excited for 2020, just three months into embracing my new gay identity, and I was anxious to get out there! Being met with a global pandemic when you feel like a racehorse that was just let out of the gate was very frustrating. I had finally reached the promised land, and now I was shut in the house. I soon realized that this was a great time to learn about who I was becomingor more accurately, discovering who I was all along.The thought of getting on a dating app was utterly foreign to me, but I figured if I couldn't meet people in person, chatting was the next best thing. Two months into the pandemic, I met Rik, and it was magical. With everyday distractions on hold, I fully immersed myself in the brightly colored hues of queer love. Now, five years later, life is playful, filled with laughter and music, mutual admiration, great food, even greater sex, along with shared humor and even shared underwear. Our love is fun, joyful, and real. If that "gay racehorse" was allowed to run wild, we may have never met. The pandemic was a great reminder that what might seem like a roadblock is, in fact, a detour sign. I listened to those signs, and I hit the gay lottery!This joy I now feel only shines because I emerged from profound pain. My elation is hard-earned, forged through lossthe deaths of my two fathers, my brother, my grandparents, my uncle, my incredible gay champion grandma, and countless other family members. I made choices that led to further loss, creating boundaries with unhealthy lovestrained relationships with my birth family, the loss of my childhood love, then wife and best friend, and groups of friends that took sides in the divorce. It's been a lot. But what you do with it all, that's "the work." Doing the work with the help of my warrior of a mother, my North Star, who adopted me at 3 months old, was the gift of my life. photo collage, Rik and MaximillianCourtesy AuthorHere I stand, proud and fulfilled, living authentically. I'm now in love with an incredible man, splitting our time between Los Angeles and the beautiful island of Maui on this new adventure. The harsh sounds brought me to a sweeter symphony, and shedding a comfortable life revealed the raw beauty and relentless power of reinvention. I embraced honesty, trusted the universe, and worked my ass off for this life. I am proud and grateful. I choose aloha, a queer life, and always saying hello to fellow gays in the wild.Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit Out.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists, and editors, and do not directly represent the views of Out or our parent company, equalpride.

If Labubus are a girl's best friend, celebrities like Lady Gaga, Blackpink's Lisa, Marc Jacobs, and Netflix's Wednesday all want them custom made by Marko Monroe. The stylist and Avalon TV star isn't just having a moment he's setting a new standard for fashion's hottest accessory of 2025.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!When we last caught up with Monroe a year ago, he and longtime partner Hunter Crenshaw discussed the grand finale of Avalon TV season 2 that centered on their impromptu Las Vegas wedding. Married life is clearly going well, and it hasn't slowed down these creative powerhouses one bit."Hunter got me a Labubu back in January and I wore it all over the place. On my bag, it never left," Monroe tells Out. "I traveled to Paris with the girls, and it just got really dingy. So I was just bored, took it apart, made a pattern from that, and then changed the fabric and put it back together. That started it."By it, Monroe means getting flooded with commissions and collabs from some of the biggest names in show business. "The orders kept coming in!" he recalls. "And then I was reached out by Netflix. That's when I was like, OK, maybe this can stick around for a little bit longer and isn't just a side hobby. So I just said 'yes,' jumped the gun, and worked my ass off for two weeks."Monroe created custom Labubus for the star-studded cast of Wednesday as the hit Netflix series returned for a second season bringing back Jenna Ortega as the titular character, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams, Luis Guzmn as Gomez Addams, and Isaac Ordonez as Pugsley Addams, among others.But Monroe went above and beyond, of course. "I got to make specific Labubus for the main cast," he explains. "And anyone that was in the Nevermore Academy, I made Labubus for them as well. Those all got sent out, so hopefully we'll be seeing them soon pop up from Jenna Ortega or Catherine Zeta-Jones."Monroe created more than 50 Labubus for the Wednesday project with Netflix. To create so many custom toys all with distinctive features, clothing, hair, and additional stylings Monroe credits the help he received from friends and collaborators like Gigi Goode, Heather Briganti, and Isabelle Marshel.As if the whole endeavor wasn't already ambitious enough, Monroe also partnered with Hollywood 3D Printing to create several 3D printed Thing hands that were added to the custom Labubu toys.When asked if he has any favorites, Monroe highlights the Tim Burton Labubu. "Just the fact that I got to make something for Tim Burton was an insane situation that I was placed in But totally happy to fulfill it!"Another mind-blowing moment for Monroe in his custom Labubu journey was getting to make one for none other than Marc Jacobs."I had found this really cool dead-stock Balenciaga fabric and made [a Labubu with it] for myself," he explains. "And then I though, You know what? I saw Marc Jacobs posting about all of his Labubus. So I reached out to him directly. I [told] him, 'I've got a custom for you if you want it' and sent him a picture. He was like, 'Oh my gosh, I would love.' So I just sent it to him, and that's how that started."This multiverse of Mayhem continued with Monroe getting to create a custom Labubu for Mother Monster herself. "It was crazy because I got to give it to her backstage," Monroe says, referring to one of Lady Gaga's recent concerts in The Mayhem Ball tour. "Gaga came in and audibly screamed when she saw it. She gave me a hug for three minutes. We chatted for 15," he recalls.Monroe recalls how he nervously over-explained the custom Labubu while giving it to Gaga in person. "I was like, 'I made everything removable! You can take off the wig off! And take the outfit off!' I kept showing her," he laughs. "She was like, 'I love it just as it is.'"Monroe praises Gaga for being "so open, and sweet, and genuine" during their interaction. He adds, "We ended up talking about the difference between the Coachella set and this set, and how tight of a storyline the show is now. It was fun to get to talk artistically with her."The in-person delivery of this custom Labubu ended with Monroe helping Gaga put the toy "on that little Kelly bag that she ended up getting photographed in the next day."Lisa, a member of the K-pop girl group Blackpink who made her acting debut as Mook on The White Lotus season 3, was another pop star that Monroe felt very excited to collaborate with."The one I made for Lisa, that's another full circle for me," Monroe says. "She's really the one who started this whole Labubu craze. So having something that I made personally be in her possession is great."Despite having plenty of experience styling artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Lizzo, and his House of Avalon sister Symone, Monroe notes that "the scale shift" of customizing Labubus is one of the hardest parts of the process."It's also a figure that doesn't really have a lot of shape, so it becomes challenging," he observes. Ultimately, though, the toughest part of this process is "having the time to get it all done."After so many eras of trendy toys coming and going, why is the Labubu catching on in such a significant way in 2025?"I think people respond to it because it is sparking a little bit of childlike joy," Monroe says, adding that a Labubu is a "blank canvas of creativity" that reaches a big audience of consumers."A lot of people like to dress them up and extend, and these clothes [create] a mix of high and low," he muses. "Even though it's hard to get a Labubu and there is the craze and the hype of finding a real one versus a fake one it's still accessible. So when you dress them up in these top brands like Chanel, or Prada, or Louis Vuitton, it's bringing in this high-low culture that makes it accessible."Monroe explains, "Someone may not be able to get the Chanel tweed suit, but they can get this Chanel tweed suit for their Labubu. I like that dichotomy of high and low with the Labubu, and I think that's what makes them so popular."To keep up with Marko Monroe, you can follow him on Instagram (@marko_monroe) and TikTok (@the_markomonroe).

With the highly anticipated ending of Netflix's hit show Heartstopper, fans are curious to see how Nick (Kit Connor) and Charlie (Joe Locke) will wrap up their love story in the upcoming movie. Thankfully, an interesting piece of information about the upcoming Heartstopper film was shared in a VMan magazine cover story featuring Louis Partridge an actor who's also known for dating Olivia Rodrigo.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!Partridge, who was interviewed by Connor for VMan, got a glimpse of what fans can expect from his the Heartstopper character Nick in the highly anticipated film."I was doing rugby training today," Connor told Partridge. "[I'm always doing] some kind of throwing myself on the ground. We shot quite a steamy scene yesterday. So again, throwing myself on the ground in a different way." Kit Connor on Heartstopper.NetflixAudiences caught small glimpses of the two filming different scenes across London. However, Alice Oseman author of the Heartstopper graphic novels revealed that the fans will be getting a different ending than they may be expecting.At the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Sunday, Oseman was asked about the upcoming film and the sixth and final volume of the film's source material being published later this year. "Weve just finished shooting the movie; it is based on volume six," they explained. "Its also based on the Nick and Charlie novella." See on Instagram It seems that the last volume of the book will see the story's main protagonists figure out life together as a couple during their last year in high school, and as Nick is getting ready to leave for college.Oseman told the crowd at the festival, "Well, in the film, I have found a different way to approach this problem, and so there is a point in the movie where we slightly diverge from the events of volume six, and it takes a slightly different path to get to the ending." (@) "Which I find really fun and exciting. So, even once you read volume six, there will still be quite a few surprises in the movie waiting for you," Oseman added.

Its a mystery what happens in an actors dressing room right before they take the stage. Every performer has a different ritual, especially when it comes to playing an emotionally taxing role or in the case of Operation Mincemeat roles, plural. The Olivier Award-winning musical comedy, about the covert British military operation to divert Nazi troops from Sicily, where the Allies were planning to invade during World War II, requires boundless energy and nuance for the five actors who play over 80 characters in the production. Role changes are communicated to the audience through minor adjustments to costumes and posture. So how does one prepare to take on multiple personalities in this dizzyingly funny production at Broadways John Golden Theatre?The back of the house at a theater may look familiar to those who live in a pre-war building in New York City. Carpeted stairs, a rickety handrail plastered in layers of paint, and most dreadful of all, a steep climb up multiple flights of stairs. David Cumming and Jak Malone, two of the shows stars, share a dressing room on the top floor. Its a feat that they do the trek so often. The two are having a conversation as this winded writer greets them both. Take your time, catch your breath, Malone says with a hug. Cumming stands from his chair in the middle of powdering his face to usher me into their dressing room. They are half-ready. Malone is in the middle of eating on his side of the room, hair and makeup secured in place, as Cumming carefully applies eyeliner. Claire-Marie Hall, Zo Roberts, David Cumming, Natasha Hodgson, and Jak MaloneJulieta CervantesThe show was written by Natasha Hodgson (who plays Ewen Montagu and others), Zo Roberts (Johnny Bevan and others), Felix Hagan (he doesnt appear in the play), and Cumming, who identifies as queer, and they make up the comedy collective SpitLip. We got together to try our hand, for the first time in our lives, to try and write a commercial piece of theater, Cumming explains. The idea was wed write something good enough that a producer who had a show that they wanted made would then pay us money to make that show. It was Hodgson who introduced the group to an episode from the Stuff You Should Know podcast about a British military operation during World War II called Operation Mincemeat.The group dove into research, dividing the work among themselves, and then theyd meet again to pass it to the left so that everyones work would get torn apart, Cumming says. This is the sixth iteration of the show, so its taken six times to get it almost right. That work paid off. After winning two Olivier Awards (Britains highest award in theater) for Best New Musical and for Malone as Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical in addition to a Tony Award, along with multiple nominations, the show is undoubtedly a success. Operation Mincemeat featured actors in "gender-swapped" roles.Julieta CervantesMalone and Claire-Marie Hall (who plays Jean Leslie and others) joined the production later. The former managed to catch the groups attention by creating some fan art of the members after seeing a SpitLip show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe when he was a drama student. There was an open audition for Operation Mincemeat; he won the cast over and became a part of this ragtag group of comics.Operation Mincemeat made its world premiere in 2019 at the New Diorama Theatre and moved to various venues in London before landing in the West End, where it received critical praise, 74 five-star reviews, and an eventual transfer to Broadway. Since its nascent days, the musical amassed a rabid online following of fans who call themselves mincefluencers.The shows main conceit is that the audience is watching a musical comedy about a somewhat weighty topic with gender-swapped performances. We were worried because [since] we live in a patriarchal, misogynistic society, if you put a man dressed [as] a woman onstage, its automatically seen as a comic role, Cumming says. The members were concerned that having a man in feminine clothing would only provoke laughs even in more serious moments. But once they saw Malone do the productions showstopper, Dear Bill, they knew they had made the right decision. Jak Malone and Zo Roberts perform on stage.Julieta CervantesThe show has changed Malones life in more ways than one. Since performing in Operation Mincemeat, hes become even more interested in the idea of bending gender binaries, he says. Ive always been fascinated by the gender of it all, by my own gender, and how some fabrics make me feel more feminine and what shapes make me feel more masculine, he says. Im the most comfortable in my skin Ive ever been. I feel like my most wonderful blurry-gendered self, and Im really enjoying it and I owe Hester a lot for opening that side of me.His red carpet looks for press events leading up to and at the Tony nominations saw him outfitted in more feminine clothing alongside his longtime partner, Jasmine. Malone shares that his identity has always been a topic of conversation, as society likes to keep people in boxes. His sexuality is never something he wanted to make a judgment call on, he says, but queer is the only label I feel comfortable giving myself.Malone and, it seems, the rest of the cast are still wrapping their heads around just how massive the musical has become, especially after Malones Tony win. But it continues to steal hearts and grow its fan base night after night. Cumming sees why the show has done so well. One of the strongest bits about the show is that its a story about five people convincing 100,000 German troops of something that isnt real, Cumming says. We play the same game as five actors onstage, tricking 800 people a night into believing something enough that isnt real, but it moves them in a certain way. Operation Mincemeat cast members perform onstage.Julieta CervantesThis article is part of Out's Sept/Oct 2025 issue, which hits newsstands August 26. Support queer media and subscribe or download the issue through Apple News, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader starting August 14.

Social media influencers Matt Armato and Beau Ciolino, best known as the gay couple behind @ProbablyThis, have broken up after dating for 12 years and creating content together for 10 years. Upon announcing their breakup with their fans, Armato and Ciolino became targets of a very intense and wild discourse.Armato and Ciolino, who have accumulated 656,000 followers on TikTok and 258,000 followers on Instagram in their joint @ProbablyThis accounts, felt the responsibility of disclosing the breakup with their fans. As a result, they shared a video toward the end of last week explaining the situation."Hmm, we broke up," Armato started.Ciolino laughed at Armato's very blunt way to start the video, adding: "It's been a privilege doing 12 years together as partners, and for 10 years sharing that online with everyone. And I think that, you know, there's so much love between us. [When you] really love someone [you know] when to change the format of the relationship, and we decided to just be best friends."Ciolino acknowledged that it felt both "silly" and "kind of necessary" to share this video updating their fans about this breakup. Armato, however, was a little less enthusiastic about it."This is like the dumbest video I think I could imagine. This belongs in my journal, not out there," Armato explained. He then joked, "But I want you to know I'm single."Ciolino added that they're ending things "on great terms," and still "respect each other so much," and "still have so much love" between them. Ciolino went on to note that they've even "gone on vacation together" during this breakup process and would probably still call Armato for help if he ever needed it."You're gonna pay me," Armato quipped, making Ciolino laugh again.Ultimately, the couple revealed that Armato will continue using their joint TikTok page, whereas Ciolino will keep running their joint Instagram account. They also shared the other person's new standalone social media page on each social network.@probablythisLife update @Beau Felix CiolinoArmato acknowledged this odd situation and said that he'll "take a second to lick my wounds and be like, 'What the fuck just happened?' I'm really grateful to I've had you in my life.""I'm proud of what we've done," Armato concluded, "and I'm proud of what we're doing right now."Ciolino gestured to do a fist bump with Armato, who took a second before joining in, but eventually did. "Beautifully said," Ciolino declared.Since this video was shared on Instagram and TikTok, absolute gay chaos ensued with people reacting to the breakup news.Editor's note: As seen below, Matt Armato has shared an Instagram story responding to the social media posts reacting to their breakup. To see what the online response was, scroll past Armato's new statement.Armato shared a statement via Instagram story reacting to the online discourse. He wrote:"Thank you to everyone who's reached out with care after our breakup announcement. I know the video has sparked a lot of reactions. This is a deeply painful transition, and while I understand why people are speculating about our dynamic, I don't want this to become a pile-on against Beau. He is not a villain, he is a human, and a really beautiful one at that. One large point of criticism has been the gap between our apparent demeanors.Neither of us was confident addressing this publicly but given that we've built our career together as a couple it felt necessary. So what you might see as someone being carelessly giddy I see as nervous posturing-and, sure, a bit of relief. I can't fault him for that. I too am relieved to be moving on. As we said in the video we are still very close and I feel deeply for him. Please know that there are no teams here. I see your compassion and I appreciate it, but if your support for me looks like tearing him down I don't want it." (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@)

The best theater challenges the audience to look inward and pose difficult questions. Drew Droeges newest show, coming to off-Broadway this fall, Messy White Gays, sounds like it will be just that. The title provides a hint for what audiences will be getting themselves into, but theyll most likely be walking away having seen something entirely different.In Messy White Gays, Drew Droegethe sharp-penned and quick-witted diarist of the contemporary homosexualshines a harsh overhead light on the pores of White Gaydom, revealing what happens when throuples crumble, neighbors bicker, and rich and pretty clash with hot and dumb, the shows press release reads. Its Sunday morning in Hells Kitchen. Brecken and Caden have just murdered their boyfriend and stuffed his body into a Jonathan Adler credenza. Unfortunately, theyve also invited friends over for brunch. And theyre out of limes! Feel bad for them!Droeges show is an unflinching look into the seedier underbelly of the queer communitygay men who are nice to your face and gossip about you behind your back; those who uphold the stereotypical ideal body type; and those who are unaware of their internalized racism and fatphobia (among other things). The shows creator sat down with Out Magazine to talk about the shows recently announced cast, the inspiration behind the characters, and the cultural moment at which this show is being presented. Drew DroegeMarc J. Franklin for Messy White GaysOut: How did the idea for Messy White Gays come to be?Drew Droege: When I had done Bright Colors and Bold Patterns, I had written about a play that was before a gay wedding in Palm Springs. Then I did Happy Birthday Doug, which was during a birthday party in Los Angeles. So I always said jokingly, the next play has to be after a gay funeral. I'm grateful that I don't have a significant connection to funerals and the gay community, and I just none of that really resonated with me, but it was banging around in my head.During the pandemic, I was watching a lot of films and at the time, we were having all of this reckoning with the Black Lives Matter movement. I was seeing white gays acting wrong about all of it, and some had good intentions, but a lot of them centered themselves and victimized themselves, or were trying hard to be part of the conversation. I wanted to be part of the conversation as well, but as a creative person, I felt I couldn't write about the brown or Black experience. I can't write about the trans experience But I can write about white gay men and how we can dispose of each other in the gay community, and how privilege is very tricky to recognize in yourself because you think, Oh, I understand oppression because I'm gay, but if you walk through the world as a white man, youre still a white man.So I thought, What if it's a murder instead of a funeral? because a murder feels so much more comedic to me and it sort of all just came out I was angry at our community for feeling like we understood all the complexity of what's going on and what other people are trying to get us to realize. The way that I can handle that, instead of just running out in the street and screaming, is to write a play that is specifically about white people who are all problematic.I think that this show is coming at a particular moment in time because, as a queer person of color who is around white gays often, theres a need to hold the mirror up for them.I think what's trickier writing about racism and privilege is the small stuff that we have within ourselves that we don't recognize, we don't want to recognize, or because we don't want to be racist. We want to be on the right side of history, and so we'd rather say I'm not, instead of going, Oh shit, maybe I am, and maybe I can change that.Ive gone to so many gay parties, and it's all gay white men at the party. Nobody there is, you know, you know, saying anything overtly racist, also maybe no one's acknowledging that this is weird We all think we're good because none of us are MAGA, but it's way more complicated than that. We haven't done the work, were not done because we bought a copy of White Fragility on Amazon. So we wanted to play like that comedically, and hopefully, people can see themselves in that. Drew Droege and costarsMarc J. Franklin for Messy White GaysWhat sort of place do you think satire has in this political moment when conveying this message?I think satire is a beautiful, blistering tool to hold a mirror up to what's happening right now. When we're able to laugh at something, we all collectively, in a room together, recognize what's wrong and the work that we have to do. Otherwise, it's just a polemic. Otherwise, it's just us yelling. I hate going to a movie or a play where I'm just not challenged. Where everything I thought before I walked in, I continued to think when I left. I don't need to clap when I agree with someone. I feel like that's dangerous to comedy when everyone I want to go into a room and have someone on stage go, Trump's awful, and everyone bursts into applause. Obviously, I agree, but who cares? Satire is a great way of making you go, Oh, God, can I laugh at that?You can laugh at anything, if there's a responsible, intelligent approach and that blows my mind because I think now were so scared to laugh at things because people want to be respectful, which is lovely, but if we can find a way to laugh at that, we all are, we're laughing at that behavior. We're not condoning it. We're also saying, Oh, I've maybe been this way, or I've thought this, or this person's way more extreme.When a white guy says, Its just my preference to date other white guys, its just a preference, its not racism. When you say that to in a room full of people and the audience groans, good! Groan, you should feel that ick, whereas sometimes, in real life, people say things like that, and internally, people groan or they say, Yeah, but they mean well.Can you tell me a bit about the casting process? Well, I wrote a part for myself, and that was the easiest part to cast. When I was writing the other characters, I didnt know who they were, but I had these characters in my mind.There is a chorus twink who's constantly on drugs and complaining that he can't get a job on Broadway because he's white. And so I had this role in my mind for someone in his 20s who was just clueless and when I did the reading in LA, the very first reading that I did in LA, I had my friend Pete Zias, hes the funniest person I know and when I wasnt sure about the play, I knew that he would make it funny. Well, two lines in, I knew that Pete had to play the part. It was funnier when it's this person who still thinks that he's a twink and feels that he's this party boy, and it's just that he has not grown up, which is very accurate in the gay community. So Pete has been with the show pretty much, almost from the beginning of its development.We did a workshop last summer at Vassar College and had my friend Aaron Jackson, who I've always been a massive fan of but never got to work with, came in and read the role of Caden, who is an heir and has all the money in the world who posts all the social media things, and maybe never been to a rally that says all the right things and always correcting people. So Aaron nailed it perfectly, and hes such a gifted actor and comedian who is able to play this character with such clarity that it's so funny and pointed in a beautiful way.Then we had our himbo influencer. We have had so many people who were great at reading that, but I've been a fan of Zane Phillips for a long time and loved his work. So we reached out and he could do it, and is interested in doing it, and he's fantastic. We had our central killer role, our alpha, the character Brecken, who has an OnlyFans and is a very key role because he is a sociopath, basically, and we just needed a really great actor. And so our casting director, Ryan Bernard Tymensky, suggested James Cusati-Moyer, whom I had seen in Slave Play and have been a huge fan of since then. He came in and read for it, and he was perfect for the role. When James came in and especially read with Aaron, because there was this couple, their chemistry was off the charts.Yesterday, we all got together for the first time and did a photo shoot, the first time the whole cast had been together, and immediately we gelled. Immediately, we're laughing, making jokes. It was so comfortable. Everyone got it right away. The cast was like, I read this and I just, I got what this is, and they just knew the tone. So we're really looking forward to the party with all these people.

Hello Out readers!Fitness is a big topic in the queer community. Last week on Out.com, we explored two different sides of the fitness coin.On one side, we celebrated 41 male celebs showing off their workout routines. This list includes Cheyenne Jackson, David Archuleta, Gus Kenworthy, Luke Evans, Luke Macfarlane, Kit Connor, and more! If you're a fan of gym gays or you just want some inspiration, make sure to check it out!We also looked at the darker side of the fitness world. Now that Netflix has a new documentary exploring the weight-loss reality competition show, former The Biggest Loser trainer and host Bob Harper has spoken out about his time on the series.Harper says he is "really proud" of his time on the show, and while he has a few regrets, he has "nothing but a good experience and really good memories."When he was confronted with evidence from studies that show The Biggest Loser contributed to anti-fat attitudes, Harper was dismissive, calling the idea "stupid.""The trolls that are out there just want to attack in any way, because people are going to have such a strong opinion when it comes to weight loss," he said.Keep reading to find out our Man Crush Monday and all the best pop culture news!- Mey RudeMr. X-Toon, animator who turned Disney into gay fantasy, has diedHow 'Operation Mincemeat' turned gender-bending history into Broadway goldGay influencer breakup sparks internet chaosFor Gaga, Lisa, and Wednesday, Marko Monroe is the custom Labubu kingFrom straight comfort to queer chaosand why Id do it againEverything we know about Dan Levy's upcoming Netflix show41 male celebs showing off their workout routinesHow blurred Grindr albums and Taylor Swift created a viral trendMan Crush MondayOur Man Crush Monday is pansexual icon Peacemaker! With Peacemaker season 2 coming out on HBO Max August 21, we're getting hyped up! We're especially excited to see the character explore his sexuality more in the second season!

Atlanta doesn't need to shout to make itself known. The capital of Georgia, this dynamic metro of more than six millionincluding around half a million within the city limitsquietly asserts its place at the intersection of history, culture, and creativity. Often described as a Black mecca, Atlanta has long been a center of Black excellence in the South, home to a thriving African American cultural, economic, and political scene. Its LGBTQ+ community is just as vibrant, with one of the largest Pride festivals in the country and a network of queer-owned spaces that fuel the city's creative pulse.It's a hub of higher education, with a dozen colleges including the illustrious HBCUs: Spelman, Clark, and Morehouse. Its also a media powerhouseCNN first hit the airwaves here in 1980, changing how the world consumes news (and, lets be honest, probably spiking our collective anxiety in the process, but I digress). And in a twist that might surprise you, Atlanta has quietly outgrown Hollywood: Tyler Perry Studios, spanning 330 acres, is now the largest film production site in the U.S., surpassing the combined size of Disney, Warner Bros., and Paramount. The Atlanta Midtown skyline at sunset Courtesy Gene Phillips for Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau It's a true culinary city, too, where you can savor Georgia-style BBQ or explore the refined tastes of Michelin-starred restaurants tucked into historic neighborhoods like Grant Park.Atlanta has also played a quiet but pivotal role in LGBTQ+ progress. Its where the Human Rights Campaign opened its first field office outside of D.C., and where the late Coretta Scott King publicly declared support for gay and lesbian rights as early as the 1980slong before it was a safe political stance. That kind of allyship and advocacy still echoes through the citys queer community today.I first visited Atlanta a decade ago, and what struck me then still resonates now: this is a city that refuses to be easily defined. It's sprawling yet green, with nearly half the landscape shaded by oaks, magnolias, and pines. It's industrial and cinematic, steeped in history yet relentlessly forward-looking. And if you give it a little time, it just might challenge what you thought you knew about the South. Getting There Atlanta Pride takes place in October and draws in more than 350,000 attendees to the city each year Courtesy Peter DeMoore Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) is consistently ranked the world's busiest airport by passenger numbers, with direct flights to over 150 U.S. cities and 70 international destinations. Delta Air Lines calls ATL home, so odds are good you'll find a convenient route no matter where you're starting from. And while the airport itself is massive (two terminals, seven concourses, and a train system to navigate it all), it's surprisingly efficient. Downtown Atlanta is located 10 miles north, a 15 to 20-minute drive without traffic, although this is Atlanta, so the likelihood of no traffic is rare.Where to StayLoews Atlanta Hotel Loews Atlanta Hotel in MidtownCourtesy Loews Atlanta Hotel Modern, light-filled, and quietly luxurious, Loews Atlanta Hotel offers a polished but unpretentious base in the heart of Midtown. The soaring lobby feels grand without being stuffy, and the friendly staff makes check-in feel more like a welcome return. Rooms and suitessome with in-room Pelotonsare gorgeously decorated, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing views of Piedmont Park, the downtown skyline, and even Stone Mountain on a clear day. No white refrigerators hereonly sleek, stylish spaces you'll be proud to wake up in. The lobby-level Saltwood Charcuterie & Bar is a highlightno buffet lines, just made-to-order classics like Southern-style grits, avocado toast, cinnamon brioche French toast, and cold-pressed juices. The overall vibe leans effortlessly sexy, thanks to a chic, well-dressed crowd and a layout that encourages lingering.Fitness lovers will appreciate Exhale, the spacious spa and gym where you can hit a full workout or book a body treatment after a day of exploring. The location doesn't miss either: you're within walking distance from Piedmont Park, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, and neighborhood favorites like Fad Irish Pub and Wicked Wolf. Plus, Midtown's MARTA station is just two blocks away. Loews also hosts First Friday Pride nights each month and offers a year-round Pride Package that includes a complimentary suite upgrade (based on availability), a Pride-themed welcome treat, two signature cocktails (or mocktails), and complimentary self-parking. Forth Hotel FORTH Hotel in Historic Old Fourth WardCourtesy FORTH Atlanta | Photo By Matthew Williams Atlantas Historic Fourth Ward just got a serious glow-up. FORTH, the newly opened hotel and social club along the Beltlines Eastside Trail, blends laid-back luxury with a lived-in cool thats already attracting a certain in-the-know crowd. The rooms are spotless and beautifully designed, with blackout curtains, Le Labo toiletries, and that unmistakable new-hotel polishsomething this germaphobe always appreciates. Suites offer extra space to lounge, and the 15,000-square-foot fitness center includes a full spa, sauna, and eucalyptus-scented steam room. I managed to sneak in an early morning deep tissue massage before check-in, and it was genuinely one of the best Ive hadfocused, restorative, and expertly delivered. It set the tone for the rest of the stay. The outdoor pool, lined with sleek loungers and overlooking the Beltline, is ideal for swimming laps or just soaking up the scene with a cocktail in hand. Just like the vibe of the hotel itself, the staff are warm, welcoming, and effortlessly on pointattentive without ever hovering.With several options to choose from, dining here is genuinely worth exploring. Bar Premio is ideal for morning espressos or evening charcuterie with a great wine list, while Elektra delivers Mediterranean-inspired dishes in a coastal-casual setting. For guests interested in a traditional steakhouse experience, Il Premio serves prime cuts alongside housemade pastas, fresh seafood, and an impressive regional wine selection. I highly recommend ending your evenings at Moonlight, the rooftop bar offering panoramic views of Historic Fourth Ward Park and the kind of golden-hour glow that makes it hard to leave. FORTH pulls off that rare mix of being both a relaxing retreat and a local hotspot, without ever feeling like it's trying too hard.What to Do Visit Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park The Final Resting Place of Dr. King and Coretta Scott KingCourtesy Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau One of the core memories from my most recent visit was walking through the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. The Park spans nearly 35 acres and includes the places most closely tied to Dr. Kings life and legacy. Start at the Visitor Center, where exhibits and a short film provide context for his significantly impactful role in the Civil Rights Movement. Then walk over to Ebenezer Baptist Church, where you can listen to some of his sermons and speeches, and visit the reflecting pool and final resting place of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King. His birth home, where he was born and lived during the first 12 years of his life, remains closed for renovations, but you can still view it from the outside. Entry into the Park is free, and so is the insight; thus, give yourself a couple of hours here to take it all in.See Atlanta from Above A Golden-Hour Glide Over Midtown AtlantaCourtesy Prestige HelicoptersFor a different perspective on the city, take to the skies with a helicopter tour from Prestige Helicopters. Their 10-minute King and Queen ride ($75 per person, two-person minimum) is an exciting, accessible way to experience Atlanta from above. You'll glide past two of Atlantas most iconic skyscrapers, nicknamed the King and Queen buildings, and take in sweeping aerial views of Buckhead, Midtown, and beyond. The pilots are friendly and full of facts, without slipping into tour guide mode. If you're looking to take things up a notch, opt for their extended 60-minute Ultimate Tour ($395 per person, two-person minimum), which traces the Chattahoochee River to Lake Lanier before looping back around Stone Mountain, Decatur, and the heart of the city. Whether it's your first helicopter ride or just your first time seeing Atlanta from the air, its a jaw-dropping way to see just how green, sprawling, and stunning Atlanta really is.Visit the World of Coca-Cola Take a colorful walk through Coca-Cola historyCourtesy Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau Even if youre not a soda drinker, the World of Coca-Cola is worth a visit for the sensory experience alone. This highly visual and interactive museum celebrates Atlantas most iconic export, featuring everything from a behind-the-scenes look at its secret formula vault to an 1880s-style soda fountain and the world's smallest bottling line. Their short film at the start of the experience is surprisingly moving, but the overall highlight was getting to sample a selection of Coca-Cola products from around the world. There are over 100 to choose from, though I definitely didnt make it through the full roster. Located in the heart of downtown, its open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m., with general admission priced between $23$26 for adults. Nearby, youll also find the Childrens Museum of Atlanta and Centennial Olympic Park, making it a great destination for families with children. Explore the Atlanta Beltline A vibrant stretch of the Atlanta Beltlines Eastside Trail Courtesy Gene Phillips for Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau What began as a thesis project for a Georgia Tech graduate student has evolved into one of the most transformative urban projects in the country. The Atlanta Beltline is a 22-mile loop of repurposed rail corridors connecting neighborhoods through parks, trails, and public art. While the entire project is impressive, the Eastside Trail was the standout to me, stretching three miles through Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward, and beyond. On any given day, youll see locals jogging, cycling, pushing strollers, or simply taking it all in. Its a prime spot for people-watching, outdoor fitness, and spontaneous art displays. Along the way, youll pass rotating murals, sculpture installations, breweries, and some of the citys best bites. Make a detour into Historic Fourth Ward Park or refuel at Ponce City Market, both just steps off the trail. Take a Tour with ATL CruzersIf you want to get your bearings in Atlanta without breaking a sweat, join one of ATL Cruzers electric car tours. Their 90-minute guided ride covers 12 miles through some of the citys most historic and eclectic neighborhoods, including Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, and Cabbagetown. Youll pass landmarks like the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birth Home, the 1996 Olympic Village, and Centennial Olympic Park. Theres even a moment to pause and reflect at the King Center. This small-group tour is intimate, informative, and surprisingly funguides are locals who keep things light with music, trivia, and plenty of personality. At just $40 for adults, it's a wise way to get the lay of the land (rain or shine) and soak up Atlantas history and culture.Visit the Margaret Mitchell House Margaret Mitchells typewriter, used to draft the manuscript of Gone With the Wind Courtesy Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau Even if youve never read Gone With the Wind or have mixed feelings about its legacy, the Margaret Mitchell House offers a thoughtful look at the authors life and the complicated cultural footprint of her work. Located in Midtown, the museum features the apartment where Mitchell wrote most of her novel and a well-curated exhibit that critically examines how Gone With the Wind has shaped American memory, including its role in perpetuating the Lost Cause mythology. Admission is $18.50 for adults and $14.50 for youth, with free entry for children under 4. Its a quick, informative stop that doesnt shy away from context, making the museum and experience itself feel less like glorification and more like reflection.Where to EatPolitan Row at Colony Square The sleek, central bar anchors Politan Rows chef-driven food hall Courtesy Melissa McAlpine for Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau If youre traveling with friends who can never agree on where to eat, Politan Row at Colony Square in Midtown is the answer. This chef-driven food hall features a diverse lineup of local vendorsthink Latin, Jamaican, Thai, curries, kebabs, pizza, and moreall under one stylish roof. Grab what youre craving, meet back at a communal table, and enjoy the lively vibe. Theres also a central bar for cocktails, plus a tucked-away speakeasy-like lounge if youre in the mood for something a little more intimate. Open daily, its a great go-to for casual bites with plenty of flavor.Plant-Powered Posse The original Slutty Vegan in Edgewood Courtesy Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau Atlantas vegan scene is bold, flavorful, and far from basic. Id already tried Slutty Vegan in NYC, but theres something special about experiencing it where it all began. Their famous One Night Stand burger always lives up to the hype, but I couldnt resist picking up a bottle of their signature Slut Dust, an all-purpose seasoning thats perfect on roasted veggies, potatoes, or just about anything that needs a kick. For something equally satisfying, Caf Sunflower in Buckhead delivers globally inspired vegan comfort food like fried avocado tacos and hearty curry bowls packed with flavor. And at Inman Park, Planta offers a sleeker, more upscale vibe with standout options like firecracker cauliflower wings and a vodka sauce pizza that had me plotting a second visit before Id even finished the first slice.Where to Eat & Drink Atlanta's Gay Bars Courtesy Gene Phillips for Atlanta Convention & Visitors BureauCourtesy Gene Phillips for Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau Atlanta's gay bar scene is as vibrant and varied as the city itselfmore than I had time to fully explore, but here are a few standouts where I had a genuinely good time. First up: Blake's on the Park, an iconic Midtown mainstay with a strong-pour reputation, drag shows that never disappoint, and a friendly, mixed crowd that keeps the energy going seven nights a week. Over in East Atlanta, Mary's is a beloved local dive bar with karaoke, DJs, and an anything-goes spirit. And if you're in the mood for something even more low-key, Friends on Ponce offers pool tables, poker nights, and a no-attitude vibe with some of the friendliest bar staff in town.Cocktails With Character Inside The James Room: A Hidden Gem for Cocktails and Cozy Vibes Courtesy The James Room In a city that knows how to dress up and go out, these three cocktail spots deliver on both style and substance. Make a reservation, skip the sneakers, and prepare for a night that starts with a perfect pour.El Malo is ideal for post-dinner drinks and dancing. With art deco flair, great music, and a sultry, low-lit interior, this bar nails the mood. The cocktails are strong and well-balanced, and the energy picks up as the night goes on. Originally opened as a private members club, 12 Cocktail Bar at Ponce City Market still feels exclusive in the best way. The views are unbeatable, the service is polished, and the drinks? Flawless. Just a heads upits a cashless spot, so make sure you bring a card. The James Room sits just off the Beltline, and inside, its all moody lighting, plush seating, and expertly crafted cocktails. This Black-owned speakeasy makes a killer take on an espresso martini and has a vibe that lands somewhere between a jazz lounge and a very stylish house party.Major Annual Events Atlanta Pride Takes Over Midtown Every October Courtesy Peter DeMoore Be sure to check local listings for exact dates and lineups, but here are a few of Atlantas major annual events worth timing your trip around:Atlanta Jazz Festival (May) Held in leafy Piedmont Park, this free music fest features a stellar lineup of jazz greats and emerging talent. Its an ideal way to kick off your Memorial Day weekend.Atlanta Black Pride Weekend (Labor Day Weekend)One of the most important celebrations of Black LGBTQ+ culture in the world. Expect community panels, high-energy parties, and performances that highlight Black queer excellence.Out on Film (Late SeptemberOctober)A beloved LGBTQ+ film festival now in its 35th year. With screenings, panels, and special guests, its an Oscar-qualifying event that continues to spotlight queer stories from around the globeAtlanta Pride (October)Theres a reason the city's nicknamed Hotlanta, but dont expect rainbow-filled parades in JuneAtlantas Pride celebrations are wisely held in October, when the heat is less intense. With over 350,000 attendees each year, its the largest Pride celebration in the Southeast and one of the biggest in the U.S. The parade through Midtown is the main draw, but the full weekend includes concerts, parties, and a massive festival in Piedmont Park. This years theme is Rooted in Resistance, a nod to the deep activist history of Atlantas LGBTQ+ community. Other Important Information Aerial View of the Rainbow Crosswalk in Midtown Atlanta Courtesy Christopher WatkinsLGBTQ+ rights: Georgia doesn't have statewide nondiscrimination laws for LGBTQ+ people, but Atlanta is known for its progressive stance, with strong local protections and one of the most active queer communities in the South.Traffic: Atlanta traffic has a reputation (think LA congestion with a touch of New York impatience). Luckily, the citys MARTA system can be a real time-saver. With direct access from the airport and lines running through neighborhoods like Midtown, Downtown, and Buckhead, its an efficient, affordable way to hop around town.Weather: The summer heat is no joke, so pack transitional clothing you can easily peel off outside and throw back on once you step into that glorious, full-blast Southern AC. In the winter months, though, daytime temperatures typically range from the low 40s to mid-50s. Cannabis is decriminalized in the city but still not legal statewide. Possession of up to an ounce is punishable by a $75 fine without any jail time.

Alan Cumming is back as the mutant superhero Nightcrawler, and this time, he's loving every minute.Cumming told People that he "just finished" filming the upcoming Marvel movie Avengers: Doomsday earlier this month."I just came back. It was amazing. It was actually really in a sort of ooey, gooey way, it was really healing and really nice to go back to something that it was a terrible experience when I did it the first time." He also said that Doomsday is "a great film.""It was actually really great to go back. And especially, I'm 60 years old. I did not think I would be doing stunts, playing a superhero in my 60s. So that was great," he added. "And everyone was really nice."Cumming also praised the advances in makeup that have been made since his first X-Men film. On Today with Jenna & Friends, Cumming revealed that getting into his Nightcrawler makeup only takes about 90 minutes now."Before all the tattoos were done by hand 'cause they hadn't decided on them before we started filming, and now there are all these little things you tick on," he said. "It's a game-changer."Previously, Cumming has talked about how having to spend five hours in a makeup chair and working with director Bryan Singer made his time filming X2 "miserable." Several men have alleged that Singer sexually assaulted them, and other actors have said he was not pleasant to work with.Cumming is one of many actors who appeared in the Fox X-Men movies who will be making their MCU debut in the upcoming Doomsday film. He will be joined by Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Rebecca Romijn, Kelsey Grammer, and James Marsden. The film also stars Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Paul Rudd, Sebastian Stan, and Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom.

While Ian McKellen has still not officially signed the dotted line to reprise his role as Gandalf in Warner Bros. and New Line Cinemas upcoming The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, he did reveal that Middle-earths gray wizard may have some familiar furry-footed company when he embarks on his next journey.During a Lord of the Rings panel at the For Love of Fantasy event held in London on Sunday, the 86-year-old actor who famously earned a much-deserved Oscar nomination for his powerful portrayal of Gandalf in 2003s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring spilled the beans about a familiar hobbit who will be apart of the next adventure.Hes of course talking about Frodo Baggins, who was played by Elijah Wood in Peter Jacksons original Lord of the Rings trilogy and again in two bookend cameo appearances in The Hobbit trilogy.I hear theres going to be another movie set in Middle-earth, and its going to start filming in May. Its going to be directed by Gollum and its all about Gollum, McKellen told a cheering audience, per Entertainment Weekly. He continued, Ill tell you two secrets about the casting: theres a character in the movie called Frodo, and theres another character called Gandalf. Apart from that, my lips are sealed!To be clear, McKellen did not explicitly state that he is officially returning as Gandalf. And Wood, as of present, is still not officially confirmed to reprise his role as Frodo either. However, Wood was present at the event alongside other Lord of the Rings alum, including Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, and John Rhys-Davies.When McKellen stated that the anticipated film was going to be directed by Gollum, hes of course referring to Andy Serkis, who played the gangly bug-eyed creature in the original trilogy and again in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The movie is being produced by the Oscar-winning trio behind the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, including Jackson and his writing partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. Walsh and Boyens are penning the screenplay, along with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou. Set for a December 2027 release, The Hunt for Gollum is a prequel film that aims to fill the gaps between Bilbo Bagginss encounter with Gollum during the events in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, which begs the question: How exactly does Frodo fit into the story?Fans are already heavily speculating about the character's involvement, with many already assuming that this could be just another extended flashback cameo in the same vein of his appearance in An Unexpected Journey. The film could also perhaps revisit new scenes featuring Frodo interacting with Gandalf after the wizard hastily gives him the ring and tells him to keep it secret, keep it safe on the night of Bilbos 111th birthday. This is the moment Gandalf dashes off to Gondor to research the last-known whereabouts of the One Ring and to hunt for Gollum with the aid of Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), another missing piece the prequel film will heavily explore.However it all fits, fans are thrilled to embark on another Lord of the Rings adventure with Gandal and to go there and back again with McKellen.

BOOTS.See on InstagramNetflix has officially announced that its highly-anticipated Boots series about a closeted gay man played by Miles Heizer undergoing bootcamp at the U.S. Marine Corps is set for a release date of October 9, 2025.In case you didn't know, the queer perspective of Boots runs much deeper than just casting an out gay actor like Heizer (Love, Simon, 13 Reasons Why) to play a gay character. There are several queer people attached to the project in front of and behind the cameras and the inspiration for the Netflix series is as gay as it could be.So buckle up, buttercup! It's time to break down everything you need to know about Netflix's Boots.Is Netflix's Boots inspired by a true story?Yes, Netflix's Boots was inspired by the real-life events from a memoir titled The Pink Marine: One Boy's Journey Through Boot Camp by Greg Cope White. In other words, the author is the real person whose experiences training in the U.S. Marine Corps as a young, closeted gay man inspired the lead character of Boots, Cameron Cope, played by Heizer.The Pink Marine has a few pages of wonderful endorsements from people like Jane Lynch, David Hyde Pierce, Christopher Atkins, Randy Gardner, Jim Beaver, and Dylan Brody, to name a few. The memoir also has a foreword by the late, great storyteller Norman Lear.The memoir is a great book for those who enjoy reading, and there are audiobook versions for those who prefer listening to a story.Miles Heizer plays Cameron Cope.See on InstagramMiles Heizer plays the lead character of Boots, Cameron Cope, who's based on the author of The Pink Marine. The out gay actor is best known for his performances on TV shows like Parenthood and 13 Reasons Why, and in films such as Love, Simon and Nerve.Heizer detailed his coming-out story in an interview, recalling that he was 19 years old at the time. "I had a tragically typical [coming out]. I was scared for a long time, and it took me a while," the actor told L'Officiel. After doing so, "It was an amazing experience and feeling, because it was such a quick turn from being so closeted to so free and being myselfIt was fun to be around people who I could actually relate to."Instagram: @younggothMax Parker as Sgt. SullivanSee on InstagramBritish actor Max Parker is another standout cast member on Boots in the role of Sgt. Sullivan. He's also been an out gay actor for a few years, though Parker's journey to discussing his sexuality wasn't exactly great.Best known for his performance on Emmerdale Farm, Parker started dating his costar Kris Mochrie over the years. Given that Parker's character, Luke Posner, was the older brother of Mochrie's character, Lee Posner, U.K. tabloids pounced at the opportunity to terrorize the actors an experience that Parker discussed with Attitude in 2020."There was literally a page of Kylie Minogue, Kim Kardashian, and me and Kris on the same page," Parker told the publication. "I don't know what newspaper it was, but I knew my grandparents read it, so I was like, I'm gonna to have to tell them.'"By the time he came out on his own terms with Attitude, Parker discussed that he struggled to accept his own sexuality, but added that he was now at a place where he felt "really happy" and "comfortable knowing that I am gay."See on InstagramTo whom it may concern: Parker and Mochrie got engaged in 2022, and recently got married in August 2025.Congratulations to the newlyweds!Instagram: @maxparker____Angus O'Brien as HicksSee on InstagramPrior to being cast as Hicks on Netflix's Boots, Angus O'Brien was known for starring in projects like The Path, Rise, Hightown, and The Kitchen. In 2018, the actor wrote an essay for Teen Vogue discussing his experiences playing a transphobic bully as a queer person himself on NBC's Rise."This was my third time on a professional set and I had a very clear goal for myself: To believe that I belong there," O'Brien wrote in the essay. "That my career wasn't a fluke anymore, and that my hard work and training as an openly queer actor was finally paying o."Instagram: @angusobrien_Other cast members featured on Netflix's Boots.The cast of Boots also includes main-cast actors such as Vera Famiga (Barbara Cope), Liam Oh (Ray McAffey), Cedrick Cooper (Staff Sgt. McKinnon), Ana Ayora (Capt. Fajardo), Dominic Goodman (Nash), Kieron Moore (Slovacek), Nicholas Logan (Sgt. Howitt), Rico Paris (Santos), and Blake Burt (John Bowman), to name a few.Actors credited as "additional cast" include Brandon Tyler Moore (Cody Bowman), Zach Roerig (Sgt. Knox), Anthony Marble (Harlan), Joy Osmanski (Setsuko), Ivan Hoey Jr. (Benjy), Mo Mason (Logan Gould), Jack Kay (Jones), Troy Leigh-Anne Johnson (Alice), Johnathan Nieves (Ochoa), and Brett Dalton (Sgt. Pitowski).What are the differences between the Boots TV show and The Pink Marine book?Like any other adaptation of a memoir into a live-action project, there are many differences between Netflix's Boots TV show and The Pink Marine memoir. A lot of them would be spoilers, but there's one significant change worth noting to fans who venture into this story: The decades that each of them took place in. White's memoir, The Pink Marine, recounts the author's experiences at the U.S. Marine Corps in the 1970s. Netflix's TV adaptation, Boots, starts in 1990.Even though there's a gap of two full decades between them, both stories take place prior to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy introduced in 1994 by President Bill Clinton. The closeted gay character at the center of Boots is taking the same risk as the author of the memoir: It was illegal to be gay in the U.S. armed forces, so LGBTQ+ servicemembers could be asked about their sexualities, or found out, and exposed getting discharged at any given time.Here's why fans had to wait so long for Netflix's Boots (F.K.A. The Corps).Netflix's Boots originally under the working title The Corps was greenlit in May 2023 with a cast that already included actors like Miles Heizer and Vera Farmiga. At the time, Deadline also reported that Andy Parker (Tales of the City, Pantheon) and Norman Lear (All in the Family, Good Times) were attached, and that the series was inspired by Greg Cope White's memoir The Pink Marine: One Boy's Journey Through Boot Camp to Manhood.But here's the tea: Boots reportedly started pre-production on June 7, 2023, and was swiftly impacted by the months-long Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) strikes of 2023 that started just a few weeks later. By the end of that year, Boots executive producer Norman Lear a legendary figure in Hollywood passed away at 101 years old.Greg Cope White shared an emotional statement about the importance of allies during challenging times.With the announcement that Boots is coming soon to Netflix, The Pink Marine author Greg Cope White re-shared an article touting the series as "long-delayed" but dedicated the Instagram post to his actual best friend fictionalized on the show as Ray McAffey, played by actor Liam Oh and highlighting the importance of having those allies during challenging times."Today's Netflix announcement means the world to me but it wouldnt have been possible without my best friend, Dale," the author wrote. "When I was 18, it was illegal for me to enlist in the Marine Corps. Dale put everything on the line to make it happen. He changed the course of my life, he helped me find my courage and write my memoir The Pink Marine."See on InstagramCope added, "Decades later, when we filmed the books adaptation for Netflix, Dale stood beside me again. On set. This series exists because of his belief in me. The Marines taught us 'Semper Fidelis' always faithful. Dale has lived that for me every single day for the past 52 years. That friendship is the heart of my book and the heart of our show."Boots premieres Thursday, October 9 on Netflix.

A transgender National Park ranger claims they were terminated for flying a 55-by-35-foot transgender Pride flag on El Capitan in Yosemite.Shannon Joslin, a biologist and former park ranger, posted on Instagram Monday saying that they were fired from their job as a permanent park ranger last week "for practicing my First Amendment right."See on InstagramJoslin said that they were fired after they hung a large transgender Pride flag from El Capitan, a large rock face in Yosemite National Park in California.In the post, they explained that they raised the flag in their free time, "off-duty, as a private citizen," and that many other protest flags have been displayed on the geographical feature without anyone being punished. Joslin detailed that the flag "flew for a total of two hours in the morning, and then I took it down.""El Capitan has had flags hung on it for decades, and no one has EVER been punished for it. Only me," Joslin wrote. "I was fired by the temporary Deputy Superintendent for 'failing to demonstrate acceptable conduct' in my capacity as a Wildlife Biologist for the park. No part of hanging the flag was done on work time. NOTHING about it had anything to do with my work."Joslin pointed out that they have volunteered overtime hours and worked as a wildland firefighter, a rescue technician, and a first responder, and have never "had negative comments" about their conduct before this incident."Preservation has been my lifes workof Yosemite, the wildlife, the land, recreation, of people's rights and safety, of community and acceptance, and now the Constitutional First Amendment," they said. "I want my rights, and I want my career back.""First of all, this is a direct violation of your First Amendment rights," drag queen and environmental activist Pattie Gonia commented. "To strip you of your position is not only an affront to your personal freedom but an attack on the very values of service, dedication, and community that you embody to the whole Yosemite community. This is about silencing those who oppose injustice, and we must not let that happen."See on InstagramIn a statement to Out, Gonia reiterated that firing SJ Joslin is a direct violation of their First Amendment rights. This unjust action is not just an attack on SJ, but a targeted move by the Trump administration to silence and punish anyone who practices free speech and dares to stand in defiance of the erasure of trans people. SJ is a respected pillar within the Yosemite community, a tireless volunteer who consistently goes above and beyond to aid in search and rescue efforts, ensuring the safety of visitors in one of the countrys most revered national parks. To strip SJ of their position is not only an affront to their personal freedom but an attack on the very values of service, dedication, and community that SJ embodies. This is about silencing those who oppose injustice and we must not let that happen."Gonia was one of the lead organizers of the action to hang the flag in May with Joslin. "We flew the Trans Pride flag in Yosemite to make a statement: Trans people are natural and Trans people are loved," Gonia said in a release at the time. "Let this flag fly higher than hate. We are done being polite about trans people's existence."When the flag was flown, the group Resistance Rangers published an Instagram post saying the banner is "an epic reminder that queer people belong everywhere" and that "nature is for all people.""Within hours, authorities demanded this flag, which did not violate park regulations and was the third protest flag flown on El Cap in recent memory, be removed," the post says. "References to gender and trans people have been scrubbed from NPS.gov. And theyre digging in deeper against any nuanced understanding of our nations history. (A recent secretarial order banned park signs that are negative about either past or living Americans or that fail to emphasize the beauty, grandeur, and abundance of landscapes and other natural features.')""We'll continue to shout from the rooftops, hang flags from our iconic landmarks, and demand that public lands stay in public hands and parks are for everyone," it continues.Under President Donald Trump, the National Park Service has erased pages and information about trans activists like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera from its websites. Signs at the Muir Woods National Monument were also changed to remove historical context about racism and the role women played in the creation of the monument.Out has reached out to Joslin for comment.

Before Troye Sivan was going on world tours and selling out arenas with Charli XCX for their joint tour, he was a young kid with a video camera and a dream. He found himself enmeshed in the YouTube community, collaborating with the biggest content creators at the time: Tyler Oakley, Zoella, Hannah and Mamrie Hart. At the time, he was also starting to spend more time with fellow YouTuber Connor Franta, shortly after Franta abruptly left the YouTube group Our2ndLife (O2L).The two appeared in videos together and hung out often, but it was unclear if they were just friends or more. The internet did as the internet does, and shipped them together. (Note: shipping refers to the internet term where people fantasize that two people are in a relationship.) However, recently, more clues have emerged that there may have been a romance between the two and surprisingly enough, Chappell Roan had something to do with it.Last August, Franta appeared on a podcast called Obsessed with Brooke Averick and talked about his connection to Roan, saying back in 2014, he found her first-ever YouTube video with his "boyfriend at the time" and said, "We found the song, it had like no plays, but her voice was unbelievable, so we started tweeting about it, like: This girl is incredible.' We were like 'She's the next Adele.'" Connor Franta falando em um podcast sobre quando ele e o Troye "descobriram" a Chappell Roan em 2014. (@) Not too soon after the interview, fans dug up an old post from Sivan that he posted in 2014, where he shared a photo of himself with Franta and Roan, with the caption, "Ive had a 16-year-old girl on repeat for two months." Social media users took that as confirmation enough, but the two never addressed the unearthed tweet after fans dug it up. That is until, last week, when Sivan uploaded a photo carousel to Instagram and included a cropped version of the photo of him and Roan, with Franta cropped out. See on Instagram He shared the series of images and added in a comment, "FYI I found that pic online doing my weekly Google of 'Troye Sivan and Chappell Roan', not my crop!!!!!"That then led Franta to post the same photo the next day with Sivan cropped out (along with a different set of photos) and a caption that read, "My good side." See on Instagram The caption hinted at a song that was featured on Sivan's second album, Bloom, called "The Good Side," which is about a breakup that many believed was about his relationship with Franta. In a 2018 interview on the Zane Lowe Show about the song, Sivan explained: "I was going through a breakup. Just the nature of breakups, one person is always going to get the shorter end of the stick," he wrote. "I got lucky, and I think I do have guilt about that. I feel bad about it; if I couldve changed it, I wouldve. But it just happened like that. I left, went on tour, got to see the world, and met someone new really soon afterwards." "Its sort of a letter to that person to express apologies and sympathy and if I could change this at all, I wouldve," he added. "So Im hoping that this song, a couple years down the line, is going to serve as a cathartic experience for the both of us to be like, look, this is the way that things happened and whenever were ready to move on, lets do that.

Bob Mackies imaginative designs have been worn by Hollywoods most glamorous and powerful people for over six decades. A new documentary, Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion, details the extraordinary life and career of a creative genius whos become the gold standard for iridescent, daring, and show-stopping costumes. Mackies work evokes past eras, defies present-day taboos, and inspires future generations to razzle and dazzle as fiercely as possible.Born Robert Gordon Mackie on March 24, 1939, in Monterey Park, California, Mackie recalls how his love of movies inspired his career. Id see actors and say, That doesnt look great on them. Thats not giving them no favors, Mackie says. You have to really be careful what you put people in. You cant make them feel intimidated or uncomfortable as a performer. Mackie has collaborated with Cher for decades.Courtesy of Bob MackieMackie dropped out of college at 22 and started working for Hollywood creatives like Frank Thompson and designers like Jean Louis. A year into his career, Mackie drew the original sketch for the dress Marilyn Monroe wore at President John F. Kennedys 1962 birthday bash. He also worked as an assistant at Paramount Studios to designer Ray Aghayan, who later became his long-term partner.I never think of myself as being in fashion; Im a costume designer in show business, which isnt the same. A costume designer really contributes to the storytelling of a production, Mackie says, which is evidenced through his work. Carol Burnett says in the documentary that Mackie made an estimated 17,000 outfits as the sole costume designer of The Carol Burnett Show for 11 years.In the 1970s, Mackie brought fashion look reveals into the collective consciousness in his collaboration with Cher on her variety shows with her then-husband, Sonny Bono bringing the fun of fashion into peoples homes. Thats the reason I did it, you know, it gives them something, he says. You see performers look one way, and then you see them look another. Its part of the entertainment, really. Mackie was the sole costumer on 'The Carol Burnett Show' for 11 years.Courtesy of Bob MackieCher is someone who just loves to get dressed up and knows she looks good, Mackie says. He teases that the pop star never had to look in the mirror and go, Eh, I dont look so good. She always looked good.The world has reconsidered its relationship with Barbie dolls after Greta Gerwigs 2023 film, but Mackie has been expanding the dolls horizons since the 1980s. Im still grinding out a Barbie doll every now and then. Shes one of the biggest stars in our country right now and has been for many years, he says. Ive done over 60 Barbie dolls in my career as a doll designer.Mackie pushed Mattel over the years for changes to Barbies outfits and in the dolls face and hair, which led to the famous Mackie face sculpt in 1992. Why is an old man like me interested in doing Barbies? he teases. I just thought she didnt have to be a secretary, waitress, or housewife. If she could be anything, she could be the most amazing creature.While the designer is often praised for his lifes work and long-lasting collaborations with Cher, Burnett, and even Elton John, his creations are still firmly in the zeitgeist. Miley Cyrus won her first Grammy Award in 2024 and delivered an exhilarating performance of Flowers during the ceremony all in full Bob Mackie fantasy. How about that! Mackie says. I knew her as a young little girl, a disco kid. And I thought, Well, shes cute, and shes got some kind of a big old voice, which was interesting. And then I got to meet her as an adult, and I thought, Wow, they do grow up! Bernadette Peters and Bob MackieCourtesy of Bob MackieZendaya is another young star whos made headlines for wearing a Mackie original. Her stylist, Law Roach, appears in the Naked Illusion documentary and praises the designers legacy. Isnt he a number? Mackie says about Roach, adding that Zendaya is gorgeous, like a baby Cher, kind of. Shes also someone who could do it all.A regular reference point on RuPauls Drag Race, RuPaul once said, Were all born naked, and the rest is Bob Mackie. In season 13 of the drag reality competition, contestant Kahmora Hall branded herself as Chicagos Mackie Doll and discussed how his work inspired her artistry. I tell Mackie that I asked Hall to send me a question to ask him on her behalf.Oh, I know Kahmora Hall. I met her, Mackie says before I get to the question. We met at The Cher Show in Chicago. She was there in evening clothes, hair done, and everything. She was fantastic. We used to always see if there was anything for sale of my first client ever, Mitzi Gaynor. She could wear Mitzis old dresses, and theyd fit her perfectly. He adds, Every now and then Ill see a big billboard on the street, and theres Kahmora Hall on it advertising God knows what, I dont know. [Laughs] But shes always looking good. An autographed photo of Mackie and Barbra StreisandCourtesy of Bob MackieThen we get to Halls question: Was there ever a moment when you ran out of material, fabric, and/or feathers for a specific look, and you were forced to think of a plan B at the last minute?Mackie replies, Sometimes, yes. Especially when I did so much TV and everything had to be done in a day or two. It was crazy. Wed start on Monday and shoot the whole show on Friday afternoon. You always had to think about what you could do [instead] if you couldnt do [the original].How does it feel for Mackie to still be a source of inspiration for global pop stars like Cyrus, movie stars like Zendaya, and Drag Race queens like Hall? Well, its not for everybody, he responds. But those girls, they really get it. Looking ahead, Mackie explains that hes working on a possible big Vegas show based on his career. Miley Cyrus in a vintage Bob Mackie at the 2024 GrammysKevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording AcademyThat would be fun to do. Ive done a lot of huge Vegas shows in the past, but I havent done one lately, Mackie says. Its always really fun to get an audience reaction to things that I just do naturally.Mackie also shares a message with LGBTQ+ people who are navigating these turbulent times. Just be honest with yourself, he says. Do what you do best. Try to work your life so that it works for you in the best possible way. Sometimes there are ways that just arent the best; try to think about that too.Bob Mackie: Naked Illusions is streaming on Amazon Prime, Google Play, and Apple TV+. This cover story is part of Out's Sept-Oct issue, which hits newsstands August 26. Support queer media and subscribe or download the issue through Apple News, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader starting August 14.

Ricky Martin, who's receiving the first-ever Latin Icon Award at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, has shared a photo of himself working with choreographer and creative director Jamie King. Taking King's work into consideration, we couldn't help but wonder: Are the 2025 VMAs about to be iconic?!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!Martin was chosen to receive the first Latin Icon Award in VMAs history. "26 years after he became the first male Latin artist to win best pop video and won the most awards of the night at the show, Martin will once again take the stage to perform and accept his award," Thania Garcia wrote in a Variety exclusive.After that announcement, the superstar shared a picture in a since-expired Instagram story where he is seen alongside King. "With the one and only Jamie King," Martin wrote. "@vmas GET READY!"That's right: Martin's 2025 VMAs performance is coming to life along with the creative director/choreographer behind Super Bowl Halftime Show performances from Diana Ross (1996), Madonna (2012), and Bruno Mars (2014); tours like Britney Spears's Circus Tour (2011), Rihanna's Loud Tour (2011), Jennifer Lopez's Dance Again World Tour (2012), and Madonna's The Celebration Tour (2023); and two Cirque du Soleil shows in tribute to Michael Jackson. Just to name a few!See on InstagramWhile there was never a question that Martin could deliver a great performance at the VMAs, King's involvement makes it all feel even more exciting. In fact, it was King who choreographed Martin's 1999 Grammy Awards performance that turned him into a household name in the U.S."It's not every day a white grand piano drops from the sky, only to rise up again carrying a crooning Rihanna," Caroline Ryder wrote in a story from 2011 for Variety. "It's not every day that Britney Spears straddles a giant electric guitar, or steers a massive Egyptian barge onto the stage. But then, there's nothing 'every day' about the work of Jamie King, who conceived both Rihanna and Spears' current tours."This year's VMAs will not only air live on MTV, but also on CBS and Paramount+ simultaneously making it clear that the performers and the production itself are going all out for the ceremony.We can't wait to see how this turns out!The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards air September 7 on CBS, Paramount+, and MTV.

This article originally appeared on Stateline , which is part of States Newsroom.Week after week, a teenage Brandon Long sat through counseling sessions that he said framed his identity as a failure.Now an ordained minister in northern Kentucky, Long told Kentucky state lawmakers about the years he spent undergoing therapy designed to rid him of his same-sex attraction.Just imagine yourself being told, session after session, that if you remained as you were, you would be rejected, he said.Long testified in February before a Kentucky House committee against a Republican-sponsored bill that would cancel Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears 2024 executive order that banned a controversial practice known as conversion therapy for minors.Conversion therapy is a catchall term for controversial efforts to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBTQ+ people. Sometimes called reparative therapy, it can range from talk therapy and religious counseling to electrical shocks, pain-inducing aversion therapy and physical isolation.The bill, Long told lawmakers, creates a legal shield for conversion therapy, allowing parents to force their children into a practice condemned by every major medical and mental health organization worldwide.Kentuckys Republican-controlled legislature passed the bill, then overrode the governors veto in March.Conversion therapy has been denounced by major medical organizations including the American Medical Association, American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. They say its ineffective and harmful and puts LGBTQ+ people at risk for depression, substance use, suicide and other mental health issues.More than half of states have banned or restricted the practice for underage patients since California became the first to do so in 2012, according to the Movement Advancement Project, a nonprofit research organization that tracks LGBTQ+-related laws and policies.But political currents are shifting. Conservative majorities in the courts, in state legislatures and at the federal level have reshaped the legal landscape, opening the door for Republican lawmakers and conservative Christian groups to reinstate a practice that has been roundly discredited by the medical community.In March, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case challenging Colorados 2019 conversion therapy ban on freedom of speech grounds. The decision marks a change from 2017, when the court refused to hear a challenge to Californias ban, and 2023, when it declined to hear a challenge to Washingtons ban.The high courts decision, which isnt expected until next year, could reverse or solidify conversion therapy bans across the country.Last month, a Virginia court partially struck down the states 2020 law banning conversion therapy for minors, a win for conservative Christian organizations. GOP lawmakers in Michigan have introduced a bill to repeal the states ban. And Missouris Republican attorney general has filed suit to overturn local conversion therapy bans.On the flip side, in Wisconsin, the state Supreme Court cleared the way earlier this year for the state to permanently ban the practice.The world has changedWhile organized attempts to cure homosexuality have been around for centuries, ex-gay groups that promised to change a persons sexual orientation began gaining ground in the 1990s as policy debates arose over same-sex marriage and gay people serving in the military, said Dr. Jack Drescher, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst in private practice in New York City. He is also a clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University whose research has focused on gender and sexuality.But after Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage in 2004 and more states followed, the influence of conversion therapy proponents waned.As of this year, 23 states and Washington, D.C., prevent licensed health care providers from subjecting minors to conversion therapy, according to an analysis of state laws by the Movement Advancement Project. Four more states restrict the practice, such as by not allowing public funding to go toward conversion therapy services.State laws typically levy fines or discipline the professional licenses of practitioners who try to engage minors in conversion therapy. They dont necessarily prevent clergy or unlicensed counselors from attempting such counseling.The bans are more of a public statement of acceptance of LGBTQ+ people, rather than a commonly used preventive measure, said Drescher.The bans are reinforcements of the belief that if homosexuality is not a mental disorder or disease, theres no reason to pretend you can treat it, and anybody who tries is acting outside the mainstream of science, Drescher told Stateline.The American Medical Association has written model legislation for state lawmakers who want to ban conversion therapy, a reflection of the broad consensus in the medical community that homosexuality and gender nonconformity are not mental illnesses, said R.J. Mills, a representative from the American Medical Association, in a statement to Stateline.In the past, some leading psychiatric and psychological associations were hesitant to support state restrictions because they saw the laws as intrusions into the doctor-patient or therapist-patient relationship, Drescher said.Everybody understands whats at stake now. Dr. Jack Drescher, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst in New York City whose research focuses on gender and sexualityNow, spurred by Trump administration policies that place new restrictions on LGBTQ+ people and the most conservative U.S. Supreme Court in generations, medical organizations are growing more vocal in their opposition to conversion therapy.The world has changed, Drescher said. Everybody understands whats at stake now.Free speech argumentConservative legal firms have filed lawsuits in states such as Colorado, Michigan and Virginia on behalf of Christian counselors who say the laws prevent them from practicing according to their faith-based values. They say the bans should be repealed so practitioners wont face losing their careers over providing services informed by their faith.A Virginia court last month oversaw a consent decree in which Virginia agreed to not fully enforce its 2020 conversion therapy ban and to allow counselors to engage in talk conversion therapy with minors. The plaintiffs in the case were John and Janet Raymond, state-licensed professional counselors in Virginia who were represented by the Founding Freedoms Law Center, an organization that takes on conservative legal causes.The kind of talk therapy now allowed can involve conversation, prayer and sharing of written materials such as religious scriptures, said Josh Hetzler, the Raymonds attorney, during a public news conference following the court decision.With this court order, every counselor in Virginia will now be able to speak freely, truthfully and candidly with clients who are seeking to have those critical conversations about their identity, and to hear faith-based insights from trusted professionals, he said.Conservative legislators also are citing their Christian faith in their attempts to roll back state bans.Michigan state Rep. Josh Schriver, a Republican, filed a package of bills last month aimed at repealing a handful of what he calls anti-Christ laws, including Michigans 2023 ban on conversion therapy for youth.A legislative aide said Schriver wasnt available for an interview, and instead referred Stateline to the recent Substack post he emailed to his constituents.As legislators, were duty-bound to remove statutes that overstep the authority given by our state and federal Constitutions, Schriver said in the post.Long, the Kentucky minister, said the bans are needed because no one enters conversion therapy willingly.The only reason a child would go through it is because a trusted authority in their life a parent, a pastor or a therapist has told them that they are broken and need to be fixed.At least five states have a law or policy prohibiting or deterring local-level ordinances that aim to protect youth from conversion therapy.Some states without such laws are going after municipalities that have banned conversion therapy.Missouri Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey in February sued Jackson County, Missouri, home to Kansas City, challenging the countys 2023 ordinance and Kansas Citys 2019 ordinance, both of which ban licensed counselors from engaging in conversion therapy with minors.Our children have a right to therapy that allows for honest, unrestricted conversations, free from transgender indoctrination, Bailey said in a statement in February. He called the ordinances a dangerous overreach that violate free speech and religious liberty rights.A Republican lossIn at least one state, conservatives have hit a legal roadblock.In Wisconsin, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers administration has been trying since 2020 to enact a statewide conversion therapy ban proposed by the state agency that oversees provider licensing.But the ban has been blocked twice by a Republican-controlled legislative committee.Evers administration sued.The Wisconsin Supreme Court sided with Evers last month, ruling that the state legislative committee was overreaching and couldnt block the rule.Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@stateline.org.Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org.

Aubrey Plaza made her first public appearance since her husband died earlier this year, appearing on Amy Poehler's podcast, Good Hang. It's widely known that the two are close friends since they worked together on the hit sitcom, Parks and Recreation, and Poehler gave her space to talk about her grief. During the episode, Poehler asked Plaza about how she's doing after having such a tough year. "You've had this terrible, terrible, tragic year. You lost your husband, you've been dealing with that, and you've been looking for all different ways in which to feel and find support," Poehler said. "On behalf of all the people who feel like they know you, and the people who do know you, how are you feeling today?"Plaza got quiet and took a second before answering, "Right in this very, very present moment, I feel happy to be with you," she began. "Overall, I'm here and I'm functioning. I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think I'm okay, but it's like a daily struggle, obviously." (@) She went on to explain her grief using the 2025 movie The Gorge starring Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy. "It's like an alien movie or something with Miles Teller. In the movie, there's like a cliff on one side and there's a cliff on the other side, then there's a gorge in between, and it's filled with all these monster people that are trying to get them," she said. "I swear, when I watched it, I was like that feels like what my grief is like or what grief could be like."Plaza explained that her grief feels like "a giant ocean of awfulness that's like right there and I can see it," she continued and said, "Sometimes I just want to dive into it, and just like be in it. Then sometimes I just look at it, and sometimes I try to get away from it. But, it's always there."She finished talking with a lighthearted joke, saying, "Anya Taylor-Joy to me is the example of like the more beautiful you are, the more spaced out your eyes are.

American Idol alum David Archuleta made headlines when he came out as queer in 2021, and he mainly talked about dating men on social media. But in a new interview with People, he shared more details on the expansiveness of his identity while promoting his latest EP, Earthly Delights."For the most part, I date men. But I consider myself queer, so I'm still open to meeting girls. I still do, if it feels right," he told the magazine. "When you're in a group that's already misunderstood, and they fought so hard to be seen and visible and understood themselves, and then you're more nuanced within that minority group, sometimes when you talk about the nuance, people can feel like you're discrediting their experience or invalidating them," he explains. "I'm not trying to do that."Archuleta added, "I feel like with guys, it's easier because, to be honest, I think guys are just culturally and also just hormonally more forward."But he decided to remain private about where he is at currently when it comes to dating, telling the publication, "I don't usually disclose where I'm at in my relationships. I'm very much in my lover boy flirty era, and it's a very fun time for me."The "Crush" singer also spoke more about his decision to leave the Church of Latter-day Saints after he came out. "I used to be really uncomfortable with who I was. I didn't know what to think of myself. And so when people knew who I was, I'm like, 'What does that mean? What do they think of me?'" He explains that his thinking has changed, saying, "Now I'm comfortable in my own skin."That sentiment is clear in the music he is currently putting out as he explores his sexuality for the first time in his life. In an interview with Out earlier this year, Archuleta talked about going through "gay puberty" after coming out. "Its been a sexual awakening. It almost feels like Im going through puberty now rather than as a teenager, adding, I was so afraid [that] if I let too much of [my] sexual feelings come out, then I would turn gay, or I would unleash the monster in me, or I would lose self-control.

Get ready for a return to Palm Beach!The second season of Apple TV+'s Emmy-nominated series Palm Royale is officially coming this fall!Apple TV+ has announced the new season premiere date along with other details about the show's second season.Season two follows Maxine (Kristen Wiig) as she "is left a social pariah after a scandalous public breakdown. She'll have to draw on her deep well of cleverness and cunning to prove once and for all that not only does she belong, but she just might have what it takes to rule this town. Along the way, she will uncover untold truths and finally understand what this town is truly built on... secrets, lies, and the occasional felony."Showrunner and creator Abe Sylvia spoke to Glamour about what fans can expect from the upcoming season."It's bigger; it's a wild ride. Maxine is going through a personal revolution that I think aligns perfectly with the dawn of 1970s consciousness," Sylvia said. "She becomes a more radical version of herself in her quest to belong. She's like, 'I'm just going to knock everything down and be a bull in a china shop to be accepted.'"Cast members Wiig, Laura Dern, Allison Janney, Leslie Bigg, Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Amber Chardae Robinson, Kaia Gerber, and Carol Burnett are all returning for season two, and Sylvia teases some big-name guest stars.He said season two guest stars are "going to make our fans throw their shoes at the television with excitement." He also teases "an aperitif, a dessert, a main course, and many cocktails with our guest stars."Sylvia also teased that the show's signature fashion will continue to make statements in season two."We have two episodes later in the season that will flip the style on its head, and that's all I'll say," he said. "Just when you thought you'd seen all these ladies can do"Palm Royale returns for season two on Wednesday, November 12 on Apple TV+. After the season two premiere, one episode will drop weekly on the streamer. The tenth and final episode of season two will air on January 14, 2026.Keep scrolling to see more first looks from the upcoming season!