Welcome to the "Digital Closet" At first glance, it may seem like LGBTQ+ visibility has never been higher. Pride posts, drag culture, and queer influencers are everywhere. But beneath the surface, there’s a shadow war raging—where powerful algorithms, inconsistent moderation, and opaque policies quietly push queer voices to the margins. What “Silencing” Looks Like in...

Who's the one person you go to for joy-scrolling? For me, it's been Tiara Skye. Every time she's on camera, I get this sense of euphoria that's much needed in this dreary world. Hilarious and over-the-top rivaled only by her voluminous hair Tiara Skye interviews people on a variety of random (and naughty) topics.I chatted with the self-proclaimed "street walker, queer talker" on life, work, and never backing down when faced with hate.Marie-Adlina de la Ferrire: Tell our readers a bit about yourself.Tiara Skye: Firstly, thank you so, so much for having me. I would say that I'm a "street walker, queer talker." I'm a queer girl, darling. And I've just been connecting with our community and people in the streets in a way that we were all longing for, which is to be able to connect and laugh and be a bit silly.See on InstagramHow did you become the "street walker, queer talker"?Well, I've always been a performer. I'm from Cape Town, South Africa, and when I was there, I was a performer until I came to the U.K. However, I decided to give it up for a bit because it felt like passion didn't pay, darling. We've all been there.So I went back into the workforce. I worked at Madame Tussauds for a while. And that felt like performing in itself, speaking to so many people. I would talk to about 5,000 people in a day. And it just reminded me of what I was capable of.That's when I decided to speak to strangers. As a trans woman, I've always been kind of scared of the world in a way, and I've always acted out by showing up loud and proud. But this also taught me that people do want to get along. People are not that afraid of difference. We just want to be happy together.Who has been the source of inspiration when doing your on-the-street interviews?There have been a few. I've always loved RuPaul. Billy of the Street. Dame Edna. Joan Rivers, I adore, darling. And just, you know, being queer in general is the inspiration. We do want to put ourselves out there in every possible way that we can.You've had several viral videos. One of the most recent ones involved you countering a transphobic woman on the street who hurled insults toward you. What is it like in that moment?I was so shocked in that moment.I'm so oblivious to those things. But it does happen. But my wish is always to just focus on the positive. But when it happened, I was so shocked. I really couldn't believe that this girl is the guy started by screaming batiman (a slur for effeminate/gay men) at me. So, I went past them, and they started screaming. But I went to them and said, "Do they think that it's okay to be screaming that at someone in the streets, you know?"As a trans woman, I can be very defensive. So just being able to use my words in that moment was a big growing lesson for me, actually. Someone pulled my hair once in the streets, and I slapped him. It was a big step for me to use my words, but I was hurt in the moment.See on InstagramSo, what is the best tactic to stand up against hate?I think being a bit confrontational is important. Never be the first one to spew hate to others. However, when we do receive it, it is essential for us to let them know that we are not satisfied with it.It's important for our allies as well to say, "Excuse me, don't speak to that person like that." Because not everyone is confrontational. But being queer is worth standing up for, darling. There are a lot of people in the street standing up for me when she [the transphobic heckler] was going off like that.This is why I want to record, because it does make a difference. It does change people's opinions, and it also helps me not to hide myself and go out there and do my thing, darling.But yeah, we should check a bitch.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.

Hi there! I'm a 45-year-old Latino gay male. I have a dad bod and have been trying to get in shape, but I'm not consistent, even though I try to work out as often as I can. The thing is, I live in a small, closeted town, and the nearest city is a two-hour drive, so it makes dating hard.Every time I get on dating apps, I get hit on by heavy-set guys. And I'm not a chubby chaser at all. And I get criticized by the few gay friends I have that I shouldn't be picky and that I should be nice and give them a chance. But I don't want to do that. Since coming out in my 20s, that's all that hits on me. For once, I would love for an attractive guy or a fit, toned guy to see me physically attractive (when I mean physically attractive, I'm talking Henry Cavill-level or Chris Evans). Yes, I know this makes me shallow, but for once, I want something on my terms. Those guys I want to date don't want to date me; I don't even blip on their radar. But I would love for the universe to hear me out and give me a chance to date a physically attractive guy. Am I being delusional here, or would I be able to make it happen?Sincerely, Shallow LoveHey S.L.,I dont think shallow is the right word for what youre describing, and I dont think delusional is, either.Youre being honest about what you want, something most people struggle to do. We all want to be desired by people we find beautiful, and we all want those people to want us back. Youre not delusional. Youre human.But the fantasy you describe the Henry Cavill, Chris Evans kind of beauty is the product of a very specific system. Hollywood, advertising, and porn have sold us one narrow image of male desirability: tall, white, muscular, symmetrical, hair just right. Thats not a moral failing on your part, but its worth understanding how deep that conditioning runs. The men were told to desire are often white, wealthy, and built by access personal trainers, money, surgery, steroids, lighting, filters. They arent just hot, theyre produced.As a Latino man, you live in a system that still privileges whiteness and certain body types in gay spaces. The apps make it worse they flatten us into torsos and reduce the messy, complicated world of human connection to a grid. When you say you only get hit on by heavy-set guys, remember that everyone involved in this both you and these men have been trained by culture to look for one thing and ignore the rest. That said, attraction isnt something you can bully yourself into changing. If bigger guys dont turn you on, thats fine you dont owe anyone sex. Theres nothing wrong with them and nothing wrong with you. Attraction just isnt something we can choose.But you can get curious about why certain kinds of men represent validation to you why being wanted by a certain type feels like winning. Sometimes its not about lust; often its about wanting to feel valued in a hierarchy that glorifies the few and sidelines the rest.Youre allowed to keep wanting what you want, but try to recognize that beauty is a system, not truth. When you see through it, something shifts. The world opens up. You start noticing people who are sexy for reasons that go beyond abs and jawlines: confidence, humor, tenderness, how they move, and how they make you feel.If you want to increase your chances with fit, conventionally hot guys, do it. Lift, eat well, take care of yourself, and show up in spaces where those guys are. Thats what I did what I do. But do it from a place of self-respect, not self-loathing. Getting hotter out of self-hate never works. Doing it because you want to feel strong and good in your body? Thats great. And thats magnetic.In 2013, shortly after my HIV diagnosis, I started going to the gym. Ive been lifting seriously ever since. At first, I did it to take my mind off my diagnosis and to quiet the fear that I was sick and frail. I wasnt the medications were good then and are better now but I needed to feel strong at a time when I thought my sex life and self-worth were over. The gym became a life raft.That was my circumstance, but the need to feel strong and alive in your body applies to everyone. I no longer feel that way about my HIV, but the gym is still a life raft. Even with all the toxic fitness culture that exists a culture Ive no doubt participated in it still makes me feel strong and grounded. Id be lying if I said I didnt enjoy the attention my body gets now, but at the end of the day, its a ritual I need to manage my stress and keep myself sane. I cant not recommend it. Everyone should find some kind of movement that makes them feel great. The mental benefits are too big to ignore.Ten years ago, I thought getting fit would fix everything loneliness, heartbreak, and the feeling that I wasnt enough. It didnt. It gave me better legs and a routine, but it didnt change how I saw myself on the inside. That inner work happened with therapy and meditation, which I strongly encourage for you, S.L., and for everyone.What helped was realizing my body doesnt have to be part of a beauty system that it can simply be something I delight in. And that delight draws the right people some of them very sexy into my life. Fitness can be a way to honor yourself, not punish yourself. When I started training from that place, it made me more attractive to the people who mattered.Remember: Some of the men you think wouldnt want you certainly would they just dont know you yet. Youre not invisible. Youre just living in a small town with limited options and an algorithm that cant see your worth.Thats something you have to learn first. Thats the self-relationship the self-dance and when its good, its like finding the golden thread. Once you have it, the right ones come.Hey there! Im Alexander Cheves. Im a sex writer and former sex workerI worked in the business for over 12 years. You can read my sex-and-culture column Last Call in Out and my book My Love Is a Beast: Confessions, from Unbound Edition Press. But be warned: Kirkus Reviews says the book is "not for squeamish readers.In the past, I directed (ahem) adult videos and sold adult products. I have spoken about subjects like cruising, sexual health, and HIV at the International AIDS Conference, SXSW, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and elsewhere, and appeared on dozens of podcasts.Here, Im offering sex and relationship advice to Outs readers. Send your question to askbeastly@gmail.com it may get answered in a future post.

Editors note: This article contains spoilers from the Wicked books and both acts of the Broadway musical.Following the release of the first Wicked movie, fans immediately started theorizing, speculating, and wishfully thinking that this film franchise wouldnt end with the Wicked: For Good sequel. But given how conclusive the second act of the 2003 Broadway musical is, this speculation eventually moved into the literary universe created by writer Gregory Maguire in the 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.During an interview to promote his latest novel, Elphie: A Wicked Childhood, Maguire was asked if he had any comments about these rumored new movies, or perhaps even TV shows, set in the Wicked world that hes built for the past three decades.If there are conversations and Im not saying that there arent if there are conversations, theyre not conversations that involve me directly. So I dont know, really. I dont know, Maguire told Out.I understand that theres a lot of interest in Universal about the magnificent property theyve developed, the Wicked and Elphie author went on. You probably saw theres notions of a Wicked area of Universal theme parks. And god knows theres been enough Wicked merch. To date, I have sold the rights to one novel and one novel only, and thats Wicked.Maguire added, And if I never sell the rights to anything else, so be it. The truth is, of course, as you know, the novel of Wicked ends very differently from the play and from the movie. All the characters are in different places at the end of my novel than they are at the end of the play. Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda in the Wicked movies.Universal PicturesFor one thing, Maguire explains, theres this 14-year-old boy named Liir who is the love child of Fiyero and Elphaba, and that sure doesnt happen on the stage by the end of Wicked. And so, therefore, all the trajectories of my characters will have to be different from the characters that might conceivably be spawned from a Universal interpretation. But if they were my characters originally, then you cant write another sentence about Madame Morrible and invent something about her, because shes under copyright. And you cant do Elphaba again, and call her Elphaba, because shes under copyright.Maguire remarks, What I gave were the rights to use my original novel as inspiration for their project, and theyve used that.If approached by the studio and producers to expand the Wicked franchise on the big screen, would he be open to it?I might be, Maguire tells Out. But a) Im not greedy; and b) Im frugal. I dont need anything more. And what if I didnt like what was being proposed? Or if I thought, Why? Will this dilute this moral tale? Or is it just money-grabbing?The novelist concludes, I wouldnt say I am absolutely closed to it. But I wouldnt say I am hanging around the phone hoping that somebody rings, either. (L) The cover art for Gregory Maguires 2025 novel Elphie: A Wicked Childhood; (R) Gregory Maguire, author, poses for a photo.Willam Morrow; Helen Maguire NewmanAfter a record-breaking first Wicked movie and prior to the release of the Wicked: For Good sequel being hailed as the epic conclusion of this two-part cinematic saga the discourse about more Wicked movies with the involvement of director Jon M. Chu alongside actors Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba), Ariana Grande (Glinda), and Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero) has been raging on.That chatter, compounded with rumors that Wicked: For Good might have a different ending from the Broadway musical, prompted even casual fans to theorize that this could become an actual film franchise for Universal Pictures.In fact, Wicked composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, along with screenwriter Winnie Holzman both of whom originated the Broadway musical and had direct involvement in the two movies had a different answer when asked about the potential to grow a Wicked cinematic universe. During the promo cycle for the first Wicked movie, Oz Historian Ryan Jay asked Schwartz and Holzman if they would consider more sequels beyond what was then still named Wicked: Part Two and is now officially titled Wicked: For Good in an interview for The Morning Blend TMJ4.We already got a franchise, Jay remarked. What will it take to get Wicked part three, and four?Schwartz replied, Were actually talking about something. Its under wraps, and we cant say [much].But its not Wicked part three or four, Holzman noted.Schwartz agreed. But there is something were talking about, the composer and lyricist teased.Wicked: For Good opens in theaters on November 21

Loving II: More Photographic History of Men in Love, 1850s1950s by Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell is the much-anticipated companion to their acclaimed 2020 book Loving, and expands the only known photographic archive in the world devoted entirely to romantic love between men from the pre-Stonewall era.Featuring over 300 never-before-seen images from the Nini-Treadwell Collection, Loving II is more than just a visual record it is a poignant reminder that queer love has always existed, even when it had to hide. In a time when LGBTQ+ rights are once again being challenged, this collection serves as both art and quiet resistance, offering solace, beauty, and validation.The authors write powerfully in the introduction about todays Dickensian best of times and worst of times, where legal progress collides with a rising wave of cultural backlash. Against this backdrop, Loving II becomes not only a meaningful gift but also a culturally relevant artifact perfect for features around LGBTQ+ visibility for readers who value history, identity, and humanity.The book is the only known photographic collection of over 4,000 images in an array of formats ambrotypes, daguerreotypes, glass negatives, tintypes, cabinet cards, photo postcards, photo strips, photomatics, carte de visites, and snapshots capturing over a century of evolving photographic techniques alongside enduring expressions of love and partnership. These images document not only changing styles and eras but something far more radical: the truth that romantic love between men has always existed and, when it could, it left behind evidence.Learn more about the book and order a copy at loving1000.org.

Kim Kardashian's apparel company, SKIMS, is successful because it doesn't follow trendsit sets or embraces them. This time its the former rather than the latter with their new lingerie G-strings that feature "the ultimate bush," a well-grown set of pubic hair. While the internet made its jokes, the underwear quickly sold out on the SKIMS website.The company announced the new product with a video featuring a 70s-style game show called "Does The Carpet Match the Drapes?" with a host named Chuck Douglas. The models are contestants in a game show where the audience has to guess if, well, the carpets match the drapes. (@) When you click on the video on the website, there's a prompt on the product page that encourages people to try on a new color bush. "With this iconic new panty, your carpet can be whatever color you want it to be," it reads.The company's founder took to her Instagram story to promote the new product launch with a video of the panties where she can be heard saying, "How funny are these merkins, you guys? We have different colors, different hairs this is insane. Skims, baby! (@) The internet was quick to share their opinions on the new thongs after the company launched the product on Tuesday. "RiP Ed Gein you would have loved these," one person wrote in a comment. Some people took a more analytical approach to their opposition to these new underwear."Capitalism convinced women their body hair is not natural just to sell them body hair removal products and now theyre trying to sell an artificial version of it i cant make this shit up," another person commented. (@) The reality show star is constantly expanding her businesses, not just SKIMS. Earlier this year, Kardashian maneuvered to have SKIMS acquire her skincare brand, SKKN by Kim, and moved to consolidate them under one umbrella company. Back when she did this, she put out a press release explaining the move. "My mission has always been to create products that resonate deeplywhether its shapewear and lingerie that empowers or makeup and skincare that transforms," she said. "Uniting everything under the Skims brand streamlines that vision.

In Netflixs new drama Boots, a bullied teen impulsively enlists in the U.S. Marine Corps and discovers unexpected purpose, resilience, and brotherhood among a diverse group of fellow recruits. The series explores identity, masculinity, and belonging through moments of humor, heartbreak, and hope. Stars Miles Heizer, Liam Oh, and Max Parker sat down with GLAAD [...]The post WATCH: The Cast of Boots on Self-Discovery, Queer Identity, and Brotherhood first appeared on GLAAD.

Boots, boys,Boots is here and, with it, a new class of Netflix heartthrobs has been introduced to fans all over the world. Based on a memoir by an out queer author who actually went through bootcamp in the 1970s, Boots has a wide range of storylines that tackle sexuality, race, misogyny, mental health, physical health and beyond.This new Netflix series has taken over social media because its a great show. With that said, the chaotic memes, jokes, thirst traps, and personal stories shared by this cast on social media has absolutely helped, too.Keep scrolling to find out what that means.Angus OBrien, agent of chaos (complimentary).See on InstagramAngus OBrien is giving girls and gays something fun, something for the summer.But is anyone complaining? Not one person!Miles Heizer and Kieron Moore in jocktraps.Some people like hairy legs. Others dont.But Miles Heizer and Kieron Moore in jockstraps might be pretty unanimous!Absolutely!See on InstagramIn the Boots universe, handsome dudes are everywhere.A gorgeous photo from Rico Paris alongside Cedrick Cooper and Dominic Goodman.Rico Paris just being casual.See on InstagramRico Paris, a.k.a. @nothingsuave, a.k.a. Santos, is giving fans everything they want on social media.Thank gawd!A mirror selfie is always a great idea.These guys know how to get the fans talking, and we love them for that.Not a single chop for Rico Paris.Angus OBrien has mastered the art of mirror selfiesThe fans are having very intense reactions to Angus OBriens thirst traps.We should figure out what thats about.truly, really mastered it.An out queer icon of mirror selfies has emergedSome gays should be very worried!Before we forget, one from the back.The actor, who plays Hicks on Boots, loves to dance too.Liam Oh!See on InstagramThis isnt the Liam Oh we met in his Boots eraCalvin Klein should be making that call, lets just say that.Its always better when Angus OBrien and Brandon Tyler Moore are together.See on InstagramTongues out, chests popping.Always better when were together, Brian Tyler Moore wrote in the caption. And hes right. Upper body strength impressive, Brandon Tyler Moore wrote while sharing a picture of Miles Heizer.Thighs out no doubt, the actor added.Max Parker wants *you* to watch Netflixs Boots.See on InstagramOne thing about those fingers: Theyre pointing in your direction.If you still havent seen Boots, are are you waiting for?Kieron Moore and Max Parker cant get enough of each other.From foes to flames?Moore and Parker are serving god-tier showmance.These two are true BFFs.It bears repeating: We love bromancesAnd props to that Pride flag on top of the counter.Sachin Bhatt and Max Parker in *that* scene.See on InstagramMen in uniform never looked as good as Sachin Bhatt an Max Parker in this moment.Facts are facts, America!Sachin Bhatt. Thats it. Thats the tweet.See on InstagramIn case you didnt know, Sachin Bhatt had to advocate for his hairy chest to make it onto Boots.Were very glad he got to keep it!Kieron Moore and in-drag Miles Heizer.Were not exactly sure what was happening when this picture was taken.But who cares about context anyway?Sleeves: off. Arms: out.See on InstagramDominic Goodman doesnt need sleeves.But those pants we do think so, honey!The claims that Jack Cameron Kay is DL trade are out there. (@) Hey, JCK!As of this writing, 21,000 people agree that Jack Cameron Kay is giving DL trade on social media.Jack Cameron Kay isnt helping himself beat those DL trade allegations.If the plan was to beat the DL trade allegations, out gay actor Jack Cameron Kay is failing.If the plan was to have the gays shaking in their well, Boots then he is doing great.But he is testing out a theory.I am hearing reports that BOOTS is even better the second time u watch it, Kay wrote. Could be a very interesting thing to test out.Were happy to try it out.Kieron Moore, Cedrick Cooper, and Angus OBrien in uniform.See on InstagramYes, sir!Whatever the question may be.Siri, play Father Figure by Taylor Swift.See on InstagramMiles Heizer and Max Parker are a pretty iconic duo.Thank you for that, Boots.Miles Heizer wants you to see his pecs.Miles Heizer has pecs for you to appreciate (respectfully!).Just look at them.Oops, did they do it again?See on InstagramWhen you stay patted down, you dont have to get patted down.Angus OBrien and Miles Heizer know that.Stop lying to yourself.See on InstagramNot to be basic, but watching a lot of good looking men on screen Evan Ross Katz said in an interview with Miles Heizer.Its not terrible, the actor replied.Boots is now streaming on Netflix.

After being off the internet for over a week, Nicki Minaj returned earlier this week and has once again started a social media rampage against the usual suspects: Jay-Z, Roc Nation, and Cardi B (though this time more subliminally). It all culminated in a post that she uploaded to X earlier today, in which she bid farewell to her fans, stating that she no longer plans to release music, accompanied by an AI-generated photo. (@) This comes not too soon after she and Cardi B traded lethal shots online, bringing each other's kids into the drama and serious allegations. One of the accusations Cardi made was regarding Minaj's husband, Kenneth Petty. Earlier this month, the Bronx rapper alleged that Petty would use Minaj's credit card while she was "sedated," writing in a post on X, "Quiet as kept the truth is you BEEN diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar for almost 9 years and you also on heavy drugs COCAINE.. PERCS.. AND XANAX!!!" She continued, "You don't listen to nobody around you.. the only person that have the power is Kenneth Petty... but you know what happens wit that Amex when you sedated. (@) In a separate post, Cardi wrote, "You need to go to therapy NOW... ima let you know this today.. your husband is not stoppin you from your actions because he lets you do drugs all day to numb you so he can max out your credit card."Social media users quickly referred to Cardi's comments when Minaj uploaded a message to her Instagram Story on Tuesday, writing, "3 different people in a span of 2 months charging my Amex w/o permission, before adding, "Theyre all going to jail." Minaj then went on X to say, "Having your husband > having tea," seemingly a diss towards Cardi. (@) Minaj reiterated her point in a separate post where she said, "Let this be a gem you cherish forever satisfying your husband >>>>> stalking someone elses marriage," then added, "3.27.26 - the new album." For the rest of the day, she uploaded a dozen or so tweets about Jay-Z and Roc Nation, but then she landed on a lawsuit brought against her and her husband, where a judge ordered that the couple would have to pay $500,000 after a security guard claimed Petty punched and broke his jaw. She quote-tweeted a Barbz (a term referring to Minaj's fanbase) recounting of the court case and claimed that the lawsuit was brought up to a business manager that never told her and that there was evidence to prove it. (@) Minaj went on to show love to her fans who offered unwavering support in the face of all of what the rapper is going through. "Shoutout to the Barbz on the frontlines for Nicki, what were fighting for is bigger than any of us can see. Keep exposing the industry giants, keep researching, keep your faith strong, and dont let the bots break you. Every post, every share, every bit of research matters," one fan account wrote. Minaj then quote tweeted it and wrote, "God save the BARBZ" and shared the album release date once again.In the early morning hours, the rapper then went on to say that she has the support of her fans if she decides not to release an album. "They came BEGGING the QUEEN for a tour & album & I said NOPE!!!!! LMFAO. Wanted to patch it up. They needed help from the QUEEN & the BARBZ," she wrote in a post on X. "I called the Barbz on the secret BARB phone & it was a resounding NOOOOOOOO. just like the casinooooooooooooooooooo." (@) It's unclear if she is serious about not releasing music, or if she'll change her mind in a few hours, but as of right now the last thing she posted was that she will be stepping away from music for now.

As Summer draws to a close, we bid farewell to another Pride month. But, while some celebrations are over for now, the call to care for ourselves and our communities continues year-round.Staying proactive about our health and wellbeing is part of the LGBTQ+ experience and legacy. It is an act of self-care to stay informed and to support one another. These are also acts of resistance and resilience. As a community, we must remain vigilant. Why? Because, in this community, the stakes are higher.This includes staying informed about our health and wellness, including testing, screening and staying up-to-date on recommended vaccines that can help protect at-risk individuals against infectious diseases that disproportionately impact the LGTBQ+ community.1Among these infectious diseases is mpox, a viral disease that is spread by direct skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact.1,2 Recent outbreaks of mpox globally have disproportionately impacted men who have sex with men (MSM), highlighting the need for vaccination to help protect against the spread of the disease.1,3 In fact, mpox was declared a public health emergency first in 2022 and again in 2024 according to the World Health Organization, or WHO.2 While anyone can contract mpox, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those at higher risk include gay, bisexual, and other MSM, a person who has sex with gay, bisexual, or other MSM, who in the past six months have had any of the following:1A new diagnosis of 1 sexually transmitted disease.More than one sex partner.Sex at a commercial sex venue.Sex in association with a large public event in a geographic area where mpox transmission is occurring.Sexual partners of persons with the aforementioned risks.Persons who anticipate experiencing any of the aforementioned.Thankfully, there are ways that we can help contain the spread of mpox. While having open conversations with partners, avoiding close contact with people that may have mpox and washing hands are often effective strategies, one of the best ways to help prevent mpox infection is through vaccination.1,4Bavarian Nordics mpox vaccine, JYNNEOS (Smallpox and Monkeypox Vaccine, Live, Nonreplicating), is approved by the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention of smallpox and mpox disease in adults 18 years of age and older determined to be at high risk for smallpox or monkeypox infection.5,6 Those at higher risk of contracting mpox should receive two doses of JYNNEOS, ideally 28 days apart.1 With full vaccination, studies have found that the effectiveness of JYNNEOS ranges from 66%-89%.7Despite the fact that mpox continues to spread globally, including in the U.S., vaccination rates in the U.S. are low overall, with more than half of those at risk still unvaccinated.2,8 Its important we do our part in helping reduce the spread by protecting ourselves and others by getting vaccinated.1Vaccination remains one of the best tools we have to help protect against the spread of mpox, said Brian Hujdich, National Coalition for LGBTQ Health. By raising awareness among our community and getting our mpox vaccinations if we havent already, we remain proud and healthy in caring for ourselves and each other.If you feel you may be at risk of mpox, ask your healthcare provider if vaccination is appropriate for you. You can receive the vaccine at your local pharmacy, doctors office or neighborhood health clinic. You can also visit JYNNEOS.com for more information.So, as we continue reflecting on another Pride month, lets stay committed to caring for ourselves and one anotherbecause tending to our health is not just self-love, its an expression of Pride itself.JYNNEOS Indication and Usage5What is JYNNEOS?JYNNEOS is a vaccine to help prevent smallpox and mpox disease in adults 18 years of age and older who are at high risk for smallpox or monkeypox infection.What is the most important information I should know about taking JYNNEOS?Severe allergic reactions are possible. Tell your doctor if you have had an allergic reaction to JYNNEOS in the past. You may be at increased risk for having a severe allergic reaction to JYNNEOS. You and your doctor will decide if you should receive another dose of JYNNEOS. Fainting has been reported following vaccination with JYNNEOS. JYNNEOS may not protect everyone who receives the vaccine.What information should I tell my healthcare provider?Tell your healthcare provider if you have a condition or are on medicine that lowers your immune system response. This may affect how well JYNNEOS will work for youTell your healthcare provider if you may become pregnant or are breastfeeding.How is JYNNEOS given?Your healthcare provider will give you two doses of JYNNEOS, under your skin (subcutaneous injection), 4 weeks apart. It is important that you receive both doses. What are the most common side effects of JYNNEOS?The most common injection site side effects include pain, redness, swelling, hardening of the skin, and itching. Other common side effects include muscle pain, headache, tiredness, nausea, and chills. These are not all the possible side effects of JYNNEOS. Patients should always ask their healthcare professionals for medical advice about the appropriate use of vaccines and adverse events. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Bavarian Nordic at 1-833-365-9596 or the US Department of Health and Human Services by either visiting https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html or calling 1-800-822-7967.Please see full Prescribing Information.The National Coalition for LGBTQ Health partnered with Bavarian Nordic to share these important health messages. Visit https://healthlgbtq.org/mpox for additional mpox resources, including the mpox awareness campaign assets.US-JYN-2500011 September 2025 Photo Courtesy of Bavarian Nordic 1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025, September 15). Monkeypox Vaccination. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/vaccines/index.html 2 World Health Organization. (n.d.). MPOX outbreak. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/mpox-ou...3 Pollock ED, Clay PA, Keen A, et al. Potential for Recurrent Mpox Outbreaks in Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men United States, 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:568573. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7221a1 4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, December 11). Preventing Monkeypox. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from https://www.cdc.gov/monkeypox/prevention/index.html 5 JYNNEOS Prescribing Information. https://bavariannordic.io/uploads/jynneos-pi.pdf 6 Commissioner, O. of the. (n.d.). FDA approves first live, non-replicating vaccine to prevent smallpox and Monkeypox. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20201222104023/https:/www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-live-non-replicating-vaccine-prevent-smallpox-and-monkeypox7 Deputy, N. P., Deckert, J., Chard, A. N., Sandberg, N., Moulia, D. L., Barkley, E., Dalton, A. F., Sweet, C., Cohn, A. C., Little, D. R., Cohen, A. L., Sandmann, D., Payne, D. C., Gerhart, J. L., & Feldstein, L. R. (2023). Vaccine effectiveness of JYNNEOS against Mpox disease in the United States. New England Journal of Medicine, 388(26), 24342443. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa22152018 Owens LE, Currie DW, Kramarow EA, et al. JYNNEOS Vaccination Coverage Among Persons at Risk for Mpox United States, May 22, 2022January 31, 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:342347. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7213a4

Hello Out readers!Out100 Icon of the Year Niecy Nash-Betts knows that representation matters. Whether it's photos of gay men in love throughout history or movies and shows featuring queer indigenous people, it's essential to see people who look like us who are happy and thriving.All's Fair star Niecy Nash-Betts didn't realize the impact her visibility would have on other people when she first announced her relationship with Jessica Betts in 2020. Now she does.Nash-Betts says that often, people will come up to her and her wife and tell them, "When it comes to Black-on-Black love in the queer community, that we are on a very short list of being someone you could look to for representation in that way."Its very, very powerful, weve learned. Because any time we go to an event that is especially for queer people, someone always comes up and brings it up, she adds. First of all, I love being Black. I love being a woman. And now Im a Black queer woman in a relationship with another Black queer woman, and it matters."It is such an honor for people to take stock in how you live your life. I think authenticity is one of the most beautiful attributes you could ever have," Nash-Betts says. "To just be 100 percent who you are and allow people to see your happiness, you know what I mean? And see that Im in a situation that brings me joy, and for that to be celebrated, especially at such a time as this, is a beautiful thing."Make sure to read our entire interview with Nash-Betts!For more examples of how representation matters, check out our list of celebrities who came out this year!Keep reading to find out all the best pop culture news of the week!- Mey RudeKim Kardashian is embracing full bush with her new SKIMS lingerie line'Loving II': See vintage photos of men in loveTiara Skye is the 'street walker, queer talker' with a heart of goldGo Ask Alex: I'm a gay Latino with a dad bod. Will fit guys ever want me?Are the Wicked movies ending with For Good? Heres the (green) teaA 'rage bait, black hole': Ruby Rose defends Taylor Swift amid tradwife accusations'Harry Potter's Miriam Margolyes identifies as 'unapologetically woke' 'left-wing dyke'Kim Petras calls out censorship & encourages queer people to embrace sex positivityBoss & CEO TikTok creator reveals HIV diagnosis, crowdfunds for medsWoman Crush WednesdayOur Woman Crush Wednesday this week is Kim Petras! Petras recently released a new song, "I Like Ur Look," and spoke to Ricky Cornish about it!Get Out / The Advocate in your physical mailbox, too!Get print issues of Out Magazine / The Advocate in the mail for just $9.95 a year!

by Csar Velazquez Felipe Querida Julie: On October 6th, we experienced your transition to another plane of existence. Since that day, I have felt some regret that I didnt take advantage of the opportunities I had to get to know you better. However, I have come to realize that I learned so much from you [...]The post OP-ED A Letter to Julie McKnight: On Legacy, Love, and the Fight Against HIV first appeared on GLAAD.

Heartstopper breakout Joe Locke is getting cheeky with his Clarkston costar Ruaridh Mollica, following news that Mollica will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Tommy Maximoff.In Clarkston, which is currently showing on the West End, Locke and Mollica play a pair of boys in a small American town who fall in love. The play is garnering rave reviews, with many praising the romantic chemistry between its two leads. But now, the two actors may be tasked with portraying a different kind of dynamic: twin brothers.It was announced in February that Mollica would be joining the cast of the upcoming MCU show VisionQuest, which picks up shortly after the ending of WandaVision. The series is set to star Paul Bettany as Vision and James Spader as a human version of the villain Ultron, as well as human versions of AI programs Jarvis, Friday, and Edith. Initially, Mollica was supposed to play a character named Tucker, but it turns out that he'll actually be playing a grown-up version of Vision and Wanda's son Tommy.See on InstagramMarvel released its first trailer for the series at the recent New York Comic Con, revealing that Mollica would be playing an older version of Tommy, also known as the superhero Speed. Tommy first appeared as a child alongside his twin brother Billy in the series WandaVision, which starred Jett Klyne and Julian Hilliard as the siblings.Billy, a.k.a the superhero Wiccan, returned as a teen in the 2024 series Agatha All Along, this time played by Locke. Now, fans will get a chance to see the grown-up version of Tommy as well.@joelocke03Anyway come watch us in clarkston @ruaridhmollica @ClarkstonLocke and Mollica are having fun with the announcement. On TikTok, Locke shared a video of him and his Scottish costar looking awkwardly at each other with the caption, "When you find out the guy you've been kissing at work every day is actually your twin brother"Observant fans noted that Elizabeth Olsen, who played Wanda Maximoff in WandaVision, had once been put in a similar position by the MCU. In 2014, Olsen and actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson starred as husband and wife in the film Godzilla, and were then cast as a pair of siblings the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron.VisionQuest will release on Disney+ in 2026.

Taylor Zakhar Perez has once again reminded the internet that he canand willdo it all. The Red, White & Royal BlueRed, White & Royal Blue actor just dropped a photo dump from what appears to be a family trip, and somehow managed to cover every corner of the thirst-to-wholesome spectrum.The first photo alone could cause workplace HR violations: a shirtless mirror selfie, tongue out, curls wild, and chest glistening under soft hotel lighting. See on InstagramFans were quick to sound the alarm. (@) Taylor Zakhar Perez just casually sticking out his tongue wearing no top, insane photo to see when you open IG at work, one person wrote. Another went full meltdown: Oh Taylor Zakhar Perez, you are one insane motherf***er. (@) Others found religion in the details. The curls, the tongue, the necklace, and his chest Taylor Zakhar Perez, the man that you are. (@) One fan added, He said no guys no nips pics today, referencing a follow-up collage featuring the same pose surrounded by past selfies. (@) Then came the art photos and video of him running to jump into a pool. (Scroll to the seventh image in the carousel)See on InstagramIt was all the confirmation fans needed to lose composure entirely. Yesterday, your shirtless pic gave me a fever. Today, youre out here looking like a water god by the pool Im just sitting here wondering whatll happen to me next, one wrote. (@) Another summed up the collective mood: TAYLOR ZAKHAR PEREZ YOU MAKE ME WEAK IN THE KNEES. (@) But the post wasnt just shirtless chaos. Perez balanced things out with shots of him wandering an art gallery in a baseball cap and white tee, carefully hanging frames and admiring pieces in the sun. (@) While loving his admiration for art, he's also been deemed the most beautiful man alive. (@) And if the grid wasnt already dangerously endearing, the photos posted later on his Instagram stories cemented his reputation as the internets boyfriend. (@) Its this mix of sexy and soft that keeps Perez at the center of the internets collective crush. As one person perfectly put it: Everything else may be sideways, but I live in the same era as Taylor Zakhar Perez. (@) Another echoed the sentiment in a simple benediction: Goodnight to Taylor Zakhar Perez ONLY. (@) Perez has always been charming on camera, but his off-duty moments continue to prove that his real-life charisma might be even more lethal. Whether hes shirtless, artsy, or just enjoying family time, he knows exactly how to give fans everything they didnt know they needed with that stupid-adorable cheeky grin. And while he's enjoying a vacation here, fans of Perez have plenty to celebrate today, too. As Amazon Studios announced that production has officially begun on Red, White, and Royal Wedding, with both Perez and Nicholas Galitzine reprising thier roles, and Jamie Babbit (But Im a Cheerleader) taking on the role of director.

Shirtless for GoodFor 33 years, the men of the Australian Firefighters Calendar have gone shirtless for a cause. The buff fellas who fight fire Down Under famously pose shirtless in suspenders alongside adorable furries, from kittens to koalas. Proceeds from the calendar support various charities. The 2026 calendar continues that legacy, combining striking photography with a clear charitable mission: to support animal welfare, disaster recovery and first-responder wellbeing both across Australia and the US, according to a release.No matter ones preferred firefighter-animal pairing, there is a breadth of calendars to choose from, including a kitten, dog, horse, mixed animal (including koala bears and goats), and a hero calendar (for those who prefer their firefighters solo and wielding an oversized hose).When the horrifying wildfires tore through Los Angeles earlier this year, the Australian firefighters produced a charity calendar with all proceeds benefitting the Pasadena Humane Society, which took in and treated more than 800 pets displaced by the fires. The Aussie firefighters have become familiar with Pasadena, California, from members of the calendar appearing at the feline convention CatCon each year.It was heartbreaking to watch the parts of Los Angeles we visit each year devastated by these fires, says David Rogers, director of the Australian Firefighters Calendar. I stayed in constant contact with our friends there, and the firefighters featured in our calendars decided to produce a charity edition to raise funds and show solidarity with our US friends.Proceeds from the calendar also went to help those affected by the catastrophic floods in Kerr County, Texas, this July. Beneficiaries of the 2026 calendar include Pasadena Humane Society, Kerr County Relief Fund, Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, Rural Fire Service (CAVFA), Wildcare Inc., and Kids With Cancer Foundation.Scroll through a selection of pectorals and pets for a good cause below. And support the Australian Firefighters Calendar and its mission here.This visual collection was curated by equalpride's digital photo editor, Nikki Aye.Ben W.AlexMickyRichardMichellCodyJacksonLloydKaneRickyAaronMatt R.BrettRickyLincolnNathan B.Ben W.AdamMattPaddyNathan B.Matt H.CodyLloydLukeBrettDaveJimmyMalBen C.

Ariana Madix has had a lot to celebrate this year. Love Island USA, which she hosts, became Peacock's most-streamed original series every. And the "proud bisexual" was also announced Thursday as part of the Out100, Out's annual list of LGBTQ+ changemakers.But in her Out100 profile, Madix opened up about her struggles, including wrestling with the loss of loved ones like her grandmother Bonnie, her friend Ali Rafiq, and her dog Charlotte. Grief has really tried to take me out a few times in my life, she shares. I look for little signs of their love every day and allow myself to cry if I need to. A dark and morbid sense of humor also tends to help.Madix, who survived and thrived after a very public breakup with her ex and former Vanderpump Rules castmate Tom Sandoval, also stresses to Out the importance of being emotionally invested in the world right now. "Its cool to care. Care with everything youve got."

Since 1994, Out has compiled a prestigious list of each years most impactful and influential LGBTQ+ people. That annual tradition not only continued in 2025, but welcomed our readers to nominate and choose the changemakers theyd like to see as honorees. This year, the Readers Choice process received more than 25,000 votes in total.The full 2025 Out100 list is here! Learn more about the Readers Choice honorees, ahead.Arun SethuramanArun Sethuraman, a professor of population genetics and bioinformatics at San Diego State University, loves to engage his students in research. We develop and apply new open source tools to use genomic data to understand genetic ancestry, human diseases, plant breeding, and animal conservation, he says.Read the full Out100 profile: Arun Sethuraman.Ben StokesBusiness leader Ben Stokes is the founding partner of Chasing Rainbows, one of the first venture capital funds to invest only in companies established by LGBTQ+ people. At its core, my work shifts who gets access to capital and proves that inclusion drives both innovation and returns, he says.Read the full Out100 profile: Ben Stokes.Brooke EdenSinger Brooke Eden is changing the world of country music, and thats not by accident. The proud lesbian, wife, mother, and Giddy Up artist is here to move hearts and minds, all while becoming the person she needed most growing up.Read the full Out100 profile: Brooke Eden.Cesar ToledoCesar Toledo is the executive director of the Wanda Alston Foundation, which provides housing and support to unhoused LGBTQ+ young people in Washington, D.C. With steep cuts to corporate DEI funding, FEMA food and shelter grants, and the federal workforce, its been a tough year.Read the full Out100 profile: Cesar Toledo.Dana GoldbergComedian Dana Goldberg is an expert at harnessing the power of humor for good, having spent years hosting high-profile fundraisers to benefit the LGBTQ+ community in addition to spreading cheer at her stand-up shows. This year, the cohost of the popular political podcast The Daily Beans has been helping organizations like Lambda Legal combat discriminatory executive orders, such as the one banning transgender service members, and developing performance projects that center queer stories.Read the full Out100 profile: Dana Goldberg.Evan LowIn 2025, Evan Low, a former California legislator, became CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. I lead an organization that builds political power for the LGBTQ+ community by electing and appointing more LGBTQ+ people to every level of government, says Low, a gay Asian American.Read the full Out100 profile: Evan Low.Ryan BashamFor two decades, Ryan Basham has been a thought leader in politics, media, and culture. He advised President Bidens 2020 campaign, directed political programming on the queer news and music network CHANNEL Q, founded Stonewall Network to foster LGBTQ+ grassroots organizations, and worked with the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund to elect out political candidates.Read the full Out100 profile: Ryan Basham.Shannon SJ JoslinShannon SJ Joslin was part of a group that hung a huge transgender Pride flag in Yosemite National Park last May and Joslin got fired from their job as a park ranger for their message of inclusion.Diverse ecosystems are healthy ecosystems, they say. That sentiment doesn't just stop in the wild it is also true within societies. All of us are natural, and all of us matter.Read the full Out100 profile: Shannon SJ Joslin.

Tig Notaro recently appeared on a podcast and spoke openly about the disillusionment of her friendship with actress Cheryl Hines. The two used to be close friends and co-hosted a podcast of their own, called Tig & Cheryl: True Story, a show where they discussed documentaries and chatted with celebrities, which stopped producing new episodes in 2023. On Breaking Bread with Tom Papa, the comedian got candid about knowing when her friendship with the Curb Your Enthusiasm actress was over. "Cheryl was one of my favorite friends to be ridiculous with," she said. "And we made each other laugh so hard. And I love documentaries, and it was fun to have to watch a documentary every week, but also we took the pressure off, because we would ask each other things like, 'Who are you attracted to in this documentary?'"She continued, "But Cheryl's married to Bobby Kennedy Jr. When he was announcing his run, I just felt like I needed to step away, because there are beliefs that were like a gnat on the arm years ago that were getting further into the spotlight."Hines and Kennedy got married back in 2014, but it wasn't until he started his presidential bid that Notaro started to see things she couldn't ignore. "My friendship with Cheryl predated her marriage to Bobby, He was in environmental law. And, again, other beliefs he had were like a gnat on my arm," the comedian said. "But then it started to grow, and Cheryl wanted me to hear Bobby out. They had these good ideas, and I was like, 'I can't, I can't, I can't.' I just didn't trust it. And then he endorsed Trump, and then it just got hard."Notaro said that she couldn't see past Hines' ability to look past the things that Kennedy was endorsing and this idea of "agreeing to disagree" in their relationship, which she joked is usually more reserved for disagreeing on the temperature on the thermostat."You're okaying a particular ride for this country to go on," she said and that wasn't something she was willing to overlook. The podcast's host then told Notaro that he missed the show they worked on together. To which Notaro replied, "I agree. And it's really sad, because it did bring me so much joy. And Cheryl did bring me so much joy. But that's what I'm looking for, is I want to get back to prioritizing people that bring me joy and workloads that bring me joy."But Notaro has kept herself busy since their show ended and her most recent project coming out is a documentary (on which she served as a producer) called Come and See Me in the Good Light, centered around the love story between the late poet Andrea Gibson and her wife, Megan Falley.

Ill be frank: It took some thinking to determine this years theme for the Out100, Outs list of the years most impactful LGBTQ+ people. 2025 saw staggering setbacks for our community funding was cut to our nonprofits; brand sponsorships evaporated from Pride events; attacks, particularly those pointed at transgender people, rained from a federal level; our present, our history, and our future were being erased before our eyes. How does one find an upbeat zeitgeist in what felt like an ocean of loss?But amid these devastating blows, LGBTQ+ people from every walk of life continued to fight the good fight. They taught at schools, researched cures for diseases, sheltered homeless young people, ran for office, preached love in churches and synagogues and mosques, protested in the streets, starred in movies and TV shows, won reality competitions, electrified sports arenas, and even wrote a No. 1 song that made this world a little more Golden.In retrospect, the Out100 theme, Bolder, Brighter!, is self-evident. Throughout time, LGBTQ+ people have faced prejudice and hatred and responded with perseverance and joy, light and fight. In some ways, we have been preparing our whole lives for this moment. As queer people, we know better than most the cruelty that others may be capable of. And we also know the awesome power of community, acceptance, and love.There are dozens of LGBTQ+ Artists, Disruptors, Educators, Groundbreakers, Innovators, and Storytellers on this year's list who are making this world bolder and brighter. Who they are, what they do, and who they love? That matters.It matters because hope can feel like its in short supply these days. The obstacles ahead are daunting. Who can step up to face them? The answer is us. As LGBTQ+ people, were here, in every sphere, performing everyday acts of bravery and beauty. Together, were making life kinder, queerer, and a hell of a lot more fun. Looking for reasons to hope? Weve got 100 right here. Heres to the Out100, and another year of being bold and bright.Sincerely,Daniel ReynoldsEditor in Chief, Out magazineThe 2025 Out100 list is here! These LGBTQ+ people are making the world bolder and brighter

History, huh? Royal wedding edition.Amazon MGM has shared a new statement on the Red, White & Royal Blue sequel this week even though this second installment had already been announced in May 2024 during an FYC event for the first movie.Given that the first film covered all the events from the original novel, no one really knows exactly whats happening in this highly anticipated sequel. On the other hand, we do have a few key pieces of information that can help.Is Nicholas Galitzine in the Red White & Royal Blue sequel?Yes, Nicholas Galitzine is set to reprise his role as Prince Henry in the Red, White & Royal Blue sequel.Since starring in the gay rom-com, Galitzine has starred in back-to-back high-profile films and TV shows like The Idea of You, 100 Nights of Hero, Mary & George, and the upcoming Masters of the Universe.Is Taylor Zakhar Perez in the Red White & Royal Blue sequel?Yes, Taylor Zakhar Perez will also star in the Red, White & Royal Blue sequel, reprising his role as Alex Claremont-Diaz.The star of The Kissing Booth 2 and Minx sweetly referred to as TZP by fans has become a major celebrity in Hollywood since playing the First Son of the United States in the first movie. Perez is now quite the fashion icon, too.What is the official title for the Red, White & Royal Blue sequel?See on InstagramWhile the Red, White & Royal Blue sequel was first announced in April 2024, this second installment has now been given a proper title: Red, White & Royal Wedding.Queer royals representation realness!Whos the new director of Red, White & Royal Wedding?Jamie Babbit, best known for But Im a Cheerleader and Only Murders in the Building, has been picked as the director of Red, White & Royal Wedding.Matthew Lpez, who directed the first film and was assumed to direct the sequel, is now focusing on a different set of skills for this sequel.Are Matthew Lpez and Casey McQuiston still involved in the Red, White & Royal Blue sequel?See on InstagramYes, Casey McQuiston (who wrote the original Red, White Royal Blue novel) and Matthew Lpez (who directed the first movie) are both still attached to this second film.According to the latest updates shared by Amazon MGM, Lopez and McQuiston will focus on cowriting the Red, White & Royal Blue screenplay.What is the Red, White & Royal Wedding release date?It is still unclear when Red, White & Royal Wedding will be released. The last update logged into IMDb Pro shows that the film was in development (treatment phase) in January 2025.Red, White & Royal Blue is streaming on Prime Video.

Anna Camp has had a banner year. In addition to portraying twins Reagan and Maddie Lockwood in You (with a forthcoming role in Scream 7), the Pitch Perfect star came out and revealed that she was in a relationship with stylist Jade Whipkey. Camp was honored for her accomplishments by being named to the Out100, Out's annual list of prominent LGBTQ+ changemakers. In her profile, she opened up about her coming-out journey.The largest obstacle I faced this year personally was juggling the emotions about coming out in my 40s, which included guilt for not embracing it sooner and excitement for finally being free from the constraints that had been placed on me by society and my upbringing, she says. I overcame it through support from my friends and family and through connecting with supportive members of the queer community."I just want to share that it is never too late to evolve into your truest self, she adds. Dismantling the mask of armor I had created for myself in order to navigate and survive taught me just that. I was merely surviving, not really living. And now I finally feel like I'm becoming the real Anna, thriving and alive.

Fans may have even more reasons to look forward to Wicked: For Good when it comes out this November!Director Jon M. Chu conducted a wide-ranging interview with Deadline, revealing that he has one more trick up his sleeve as a treat for moviegoers.Wicked: For Good takes place concurrently with the events in The Wizard of Oz, where Dorothy Gale visits the magical land and walks the Yellow Brick Road with Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion.In the interview, Chu teases that he approached a "celebrated actor" to record lines for the Cowardly Lion."I was like, 'It's not a ton of lines, but maybe you have a little time. I know you're busy. I'll come to you.'" Chu says. "He was like, 'Why the f*ck not, let's go!' And then went ahead and recorded the lines.""Man, wait until the red carpet when the actor who gave us the Cowardly Lion's voice steps foot on it," he adds. "It'll be wild."The latest trailers have teased some of the main characters' transformations that they undergo in the second film.Fans of the musical are aware that several characters from the first film ultimately become characters from the original Wizard of Oz novel, including the Scarecrow and the Tin Man. The Cowardly Lion also appears in the first film as a lion cub in a cage being used as an example in a class at Shiz University. Elphaba frees the cub with the help of Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), allowing it to grow up to be the beloved character audiences know.Wicked: For Good comes out in theaters November 21.

Ill be frank: It took some thinking to determine this years theme for the Out100, Outs list of the years most impactful LGBTQ+ people. 2025 saw staggering setbacks for our community funding was cut to our nonprofits; brand sponsorships evaporated from Pride events; attacks, particularly those pointed at transgender people, rained from a federal level; our present, our history, and our future were being erased before our eyes. How does one find an upbeat zeitgeist in what felt like an ocean of loss? Related: See the full Out100 list!But amid these devastating blows, LGBTQ+ people from every walk of life continued to fight the good fight. They taught at schools, researched cures for diseases, sheltered homeless young people, ran for office, preached love in churches and synagogues and mosques, protested in the streets, starred in movies and TV shows, won reality competitions, electrified sports arenas, and even wrote a No. 1 song that made this world a little more Golden. In retrospect, the Out100 theme, Bolder, Brighter!, is self-evident. Throughout time, LGBTQ+ people have faced prejudice and hatred and responded with perseverance and joy, light and fight. In some ways, we have been preparing our whole lives for this moment. As queer people, we know better than most the cruelty that others may be capable of. And we also know the awesome power of community, acceptance, and love. As our Out100 Icon of the Year, Niecy Nash-Betts is Bolder, Brighter! personified. She shines among the brightest comedic actresses, bringing unforgettable humor and heart to TV shows like Reno: 911 and Scream Queens. And in dramatic roles, she shifts so effortlessly to characters who, with a look, can move audiences to outrage, tears, hope and yes, action. As the mother of a member of the Central Park Five on When They See Us, or as the neighbor of a serial killer on Dahmer, Nash-Betts not only delivers award-worthy performances; she gives voice to the marginalized and illuminates the systemic injustices they face. She possesses that ability wielded by the rarest actors: She makes us care. Related: Niecy Nash-Betts will be on the 'front lines' against anti-LGBTQ+ hateAnd of course, theres her most inspiring story: her own. Nash-Betts married Jessica Betts in 2020, openly joining the LGBTQ+ community at age 50. Since then, their love has become a beacon, particularly for queer people of color who had never seen themselves and their relationships reflected in society. As Nash-Betts tells our reporter Mey Rude in the cover story on page 40, I didnt think anyone would care [about my relationship]. Come to find out, a lot of people cared. I just did not see that coming. I love being Black. I love being a woman. And now Im a Black queer woman in a relationship with another Black queer woman, and it matters, she affirms. And if political forces were to threaten her marriage, I definitely would be on the front lines in fighting back, she promises. I have some wonderful news, dear reader. Nash-Betts is our Icon of the Year. But there are dozens more LGBTQ+ Artists, Disruptors, Educators, Groundbreakers, Innovators, and Storytellers in these pages who are making this world bolder and brighter. Who they are, what they do, and who they love? That matters. It matters because hope can feel like its in short supply these days. The obstacles ahead are daunting. Who can step up to face them? The answer is us. As LGBTQ+ people, were here, in these pages and in every sphere, performing everyday acts of bravery and beauty. Together, were making life kinder, queerer, and a hell of a lot more fun. Looking for reasons to hope? Weve got 100 right here. Heres to the Out100, and another year of being bold and bright. Sincerely, Daniel ReynoldsEditor in Chief, Out magazine @dnlreynolds

Alex Schmider, Emmy, Peabody, and Critics Choice Award-nominated film producer, has been honored on the 2025 OUT 100 under the Educator category. As GLAADs Senior Director of Entertainment, he plays a pivotal role in shaping authentic LGBTQ narratives across media and technology. Reflecting on his own journey, Alex recalls the profound impact of the lack [...]The post GLAADs Alex Schmider Recognized on 2025 OUT100 List first appeared on GLAAD.

Between hosting the first-ever drag king reality competition series Revrys King of Drag and acting on shows like Somebody Somewhere and Elsbeth, Murray Hill has been on a roll in recent years. Now, Mr. Showbiz has also been honored in the Out100, Out's annual list of LGBTQ+ changemakers.In his Out100 profile, Hill discussed the importance of encouraging the LGBTQ+ community to be more inclusive in its fight for queer and trans rights, noting: After decades in this game, I still see drag kings, butches, masc folks, lesbians, and trans men treated as an afterthought.I love the spirit of trans is beautiful and protect the dolls, but I hope our language expands to include everyone. Protect the Ken dolls too, Hill suggested.The LGBTQ+ icon also described his job as making sure everybodys got a seat at the showbiz table, even if I have to pull up a folding chair myself.

It’s no secret that finding a truly inclusive, affirming online space can be tough. Between algorithms that bury queer content and moderation rules that don’t always understand our culture, mainstream platforms can feel like they weren’t built with us in mind. That’s exactly where Queerlinq comes in — a social platform created for the LGBTQ+ community, by the...

After sparking controversy earlier this year for complaining that two adult women kissed in a kids' movie, Snoop Dogg is setting the record straight about his views on queer families. To mark this year's Spirit Day, the legendary rapper teamed up with GLAAD and out singer Jeremy Beloate on a new animated song, "Love Is Love," and campaign celebrating different types of love and families.At the end of the day, its all about love thats what were teachin the kids with Love Is Love. Partnering with GLAAD for Spirit Day just felt right, because spreading love and respect for everybody is what real gangstas do, Snoop Dogg said in a statement promoting the initiative. Were showin the next generation that kindness is cool, inclusion is powerful, and love always wins.As part of the campaign, a special conversation between Snoop and Beloate, who competed on season 26 of The Voice under Team Snoop, was released on Thursday. In the video interview, the two artists discuss collaborating, bullying, finding one's voice, and their advice for LGBTQ+ youth. The rapper also addresses same-sex parenting, recalling his own childhood and how it's "always been instilled" in him to "lead with love.""It's a beautiful thing that kids can have parents of all walks and be able to be shown love, to be taught what love is, because hate is taught, and so is love," Snoop says, reiterating that "whether it's two fathers, two mothers, whatever it is, love is the key." "I think these kids are being loved by these great parents that are, you know, showing them an example of what family is."Earning nods of agreement from Beloate, Snoop continues, "Kids need to know that parents are parents. No matter what the makeup is, love is the key."Snoop and Beloate also discuss their new song "Love Is Love," which debuted on the rapper's animated YouTube channel, Doggyland. Beloate commended his creative partner for depicting various demographics in the channel's titular children's series, which features original kids' songs and nursery rhymes."You get to see everybody represented, you know, and it's important," Beloate, who voices a puppy named Zippy in the new song, says. "I'm just really, really happy that you're doing that with 'Love Is Love.'""Love Is Love" is a disco-infused track that encourages people to realize that every family is unique. "We embrace all parents with a big ol' hug / Love is love and there's nothing above," Snoop raps in the song. "Different families make us all great / there's no debate, that's how we relate."In August, Snoop faced backlash for comments he made after watching the Disney movie Lightyear with his grandchildren."It fucked me up," the rapper said. "Im like, scared to go to the movies. Y'all throwing me in the middle of shit that I don't have an answer for It threw me for a loop. I'm like, 'What part of the movie was this?' These are kids. We have to show that at this age? They're going to ask questions. I dont have the answer."At the time, Lauren Gunderson, who wrote Lightyear, responded on Threads."As we wrote early versions of what became LIGHTYEAR, a key character needed a partner, and it was so natural to write 'she' instead of 'he.' As small as that detail is in the film, I knew the representational effect it could have. Small line, big deal. I was elated that they kept it," Gunderson wrote on the platform, ending with "Love is love."

Matt Bomer is keeping it real.The handsome actor is known for so many iconic and diverse roles over the years in notable projects such as White Collar, Fellow Travelers, The Normal Heart, and more.Earlier this year, Bomer tapped into his comedy side and brought plenty of laughs alongside Nathan Lane, Nathan Lee Graham, and Linda Lavin in the Hulu series Mid-Century Modern. Unfortunately, fans were left disappointed when it was announced in September that the show wasn't getting picked up for a second season."I got to work with so many of my heroes, so many legends, and a lot of people who are a big part of why I became an actor," Bomer tells PRIDE. "To get to do that and to see Linda Lavin go out on a high note? What more can you ask for?" See on Instagram Bomer is moving forward with a slew of exciting projects, but he always takes time to give back to the LGBTQ+ community. The star attended the celebration for National PrEP Day by MISTR at The Abbey Food & Bar in West Hollywood and reminded everyone to take care of their sexual health."The reality is that there is free, stigma-free access to sexual wellness through MISTR. I'm talking about PrEP, DoxyPEP... all of these things that are free and accessible to everybody."With HIV and AIDS being one of the central storylines in his hit show Fellow Travelers, Bomer is encouraging all sexually active people to know their status."I'm so grateful we live in a time where we have medication like this. We lost a good portion of an entire generation to HIV and AIDS. Look out for yourself, look out for your community, look out for your lovers, look out for your friends. Do yourself a favor!"Fans can follow Matt Bomer on Instagram here. To see the full interview from The Abbey Food & Bar, check out the video at the top of the page.

A brief but viral exchange outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., this week revealed how deeply the battle over truth and conspiracy theories surrounding the January 6, 2021, insurrection runs.Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocates email newsletter.Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi snapped at a correspondent from Mike Lindells far-right media outlet, LindellTV, after being confronted with a question rooted in a debunked conspiracy theory that she somehow refused National Guard protection before the Capitol riot.Why did you refuse the National Guard on January 6? reporter Alison Steinberg asked.Related: Donald Trump commutes sentence of trans woman convicted for role in January 6 insurrectionPelosi, visibly irritated, shot back, Shut up. I did not refuse the National Guard. The president didnt send it. Why are you coming here with Republican talking points as if youre a serious journalist?The video, which has garnered millions of views online, rapidly spread across conservative media ecosystems, echoing a narrative that official investigations have repeatedly discredited.What actually happened on January 6The official record tells a far different story. The D.C. National Guard is not under the authority of Congress or its leaders, including the House Speaker, but under the president, through the Department of Defense.As detailed in the Defense Departments timeline and the House Select Committees final report on the riot, then-President Donald Trump, not Pelosi, had ultimate control over the Guard. (@) The Guards commanding officer, Major General William Walker, reported to the Army secretary and Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller, both Trump appointees.Internal Pentagon testimony paints a picture of hesitation and fear of political optics, not obstruction from Congress. Military officials, still reeling from criticism over the aggressive federal response to 2020 racial-justice protests, imposed stringent limits on Guard deployment in Washington ahead of January 6. They were determined, they said, to avoid any appearance that the military was being used to influence the elections certification. Related: Nancy Pelosis fervent message to the transgender community: We are with you and you're not alone (exclusive)When the violence erupted, Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund pleaded for backup. Yet senior Army officials debated the optics of soldiers in uniform defending the Capitol, delaying deployment for more than three hours. Guard troops finally arrived at around 5:30 p.m., long after the most intense fighting had ended.Notably, the committee found no evidence that Pelosi had any role in authorizing or denying the Guard. In fact, her chief of staff immediately approved the police boards request once notified during the assault, the report found."The Speakers chief of staff 'immediately scribbled down a note' and went over to inform the Speakerwho was in the chair presiding over the floor debate on the Arizona objectionsabout the request for the National Guard. 'Absolutely. Go,' Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. Later, as they were evacuating the floor to an undisclosed location, the Speaker asked her, 'Is the National Guard coming?' The Speakers chief of staff said, 'Yes, we asked them,'" the report found.Related: Mike Lindells Pillow Talk With Trump Ends in a Bad DreamThe idea that Pelosi refused National Guard assistance has persisted largely through partisan media channels and social-media echo chambers, often used to deflect blame from Trumps failure to act as the violence escalated.LindellTV, founded by the My Pillow CEO and prominent election denier Lindell, has been a frequent vector for false claims about the 2020 election and the insurrection.

A city in Texas has pushed back a vote to overturn anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people until next monthThe Arlington City Council has delayed a vote on a revised ordinance which would remove gender identity and expression and sexual orientation as protected characteristics from the city's anti-discrimination policy. Mayor Jim Ross said that the city needs more time to examine the legal consequences. Related: Texas city could be first in nation to rescind LGBTQ+ antidiscrimination protections We must balance the need to make modifications with the need to ensure that every single member of our community feels welcome, protected, respected, and is treated with dignity, Ross said, via the Dallas Morning News. Arlington's current anti-discrimination ordinance prohibits any direct or indirect exclusion, distinction, segregation, limitation, refusal, denial, or other differentiation in the treatment of a person or persons because of a race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.The vote was originally intended for Tuesday, just one month after the council temporarily suspended the clause in September due to threats from Donald Trump's administration. Officials said they would revokec $65 million in federal grant money from the city if it did not remove language related to diversity, equity, and inclusion from its municipal code. Both Arlington and Fort Worth subsequently voted to end their DEI programs and rewrite ordinances to exclude phrases related to race and gender.Related: Federal judge in Texas rules LGBTQ+ people can be discriminated against at work Iowa removed gender identity from its state Civil Rights Act in February, making it the first state in the country to take away rights from a group previously protected in law. If the ordinance in Arlington passes, it would be the first individual city to do so.The Arlington City Council has scheduled the new vote on the ordinance for November 18. Arlington Pride has called on residents to attend the city council meeting if they wish to voice their opposition.

Celebrities and fashion industry professionals alike gathered in Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday for this year's edition of the newly revamped Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Among the crowd was actor and fashion icon Sarah Jessica Parker, who fell into conversation with celebrity stylist Law Roach while walking the red (nay, pink) carpet. In a moment that spread across the internet, Roach asked the And Just Like That... star which designers had contributed to her chic, all-black look for the evening, prompting an uncertain response."I feel like I'm not supposed to say," Parker responded when asked specifically about her jacket, looking off camera, presumably toward her publicist. When Roach assured her that she could, the actress gave in, revealing that she was wearing a Dolce & Gabbana jacket over an Alexander Wang dress that she bought "a hundred years ago." The reveal did not go over well on social media, given the controversy that the heads of both fashion houses have stirred up in recent years. (@) Back in 2015, Dolce & Gabbana's founders, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, made unsavory comments about parents who conceive through IVF and gay adoption. In an interview with an Italian publication, Dolce referred to babies born from IVF or surrogacy as "children of chemistry" and "synthetic." And together, they said that they "oppose gay adoptions" and "the only family is the traditional one." These comments ultimately sparked a boycott of the brand from Elton John and other notable figures in Hollywood, leading the designers to formally apologize through multiple interviews with the press.But the Dolce & Gabbana founders continued to find themselves in hot water over the next few years. In 2017, the designers invited controversy by welcoming the support of First Lady Melania Trump during President Donald Trump's first term in office. The next year, Gabbana called Selena Gomez "ugly" and then mocked the backlash he was met with online. And just months later, the brand uploaded a culturally insensitive promotional video of an Asian model struggling to eat Italian food with a pair of chopsticks, sparking outrage.As for Alexander Wang, the designer landed headlines in 2020, when he was accused of sexually assaulting multiple men, including a male model named Owen Mooney and a DJ named Nick Ward. Wang's accusers also alleged that he slipped drugs like ecstasy into their drinks without their knowledge. In a statement to The New York Times, Wang wrote, "Over the last few days, I have been on the receiving end of baseless and grotesquely false accusations. These claims have been wrongfully amplified by social media accounts infamous for posting defamatory material from undisclosed and/or anonymous sources with zero evidence or any fact checking whatsoever." See on Instagram Wang vehemently denied any accusation of wrongdoing and said, "I have never engaged in the atrocious behavior described and would never conduct myself in the manner thats been alleged. I intend to get to the bottom of this and hold accountable whoever is responsible for originating these claims and viciously spreading them online.At least 10 accusers banded together to be represented by Lisa Bloom, a high-profile attorney specializing in civil rights. But Bloom later put out a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter) saying that Wang had spoken with and apologized to his accusers, implying that they wouldn't be pursuing the matter further. "We acknowledge Mr. Wangs apology and we are moving forward, she wrote.

Netflix's new show Boots is topping the streamers' viewing charts, but the U.S. military isn't as enthusiastic about the show as fans are.The Pentagon now says in a statement that it does not endorse the new show, which stars Miles Heizer as a closeted young man who joins the Marines in a time when it was forbidden for gay recruits to serve."Under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, the U.S. military is getting back to restoring the warrior ethos. Our standards across the board are elite, uniform, and sex neutral because the weight of a rucksack or a human being doesn't care if you're a man, a woman, gay, or straight," a statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson to Entertainment Weekly says.In the statement, Wilson says that officials "will not compromise our standards to satisfy an ideological agenda, unlike Netflix whose leadership consistently produces and feeds woke garbage to their audience and children."Netflix has yet to respond.Since becoming Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth has made several moves to erase LGBTQ+ people from the military. In June, he announced that a Navy ship named for gay rights leader Harvey Milk would be renamed. Hegseth also supports Trump's Executive Order 14183, which mandates the discharge of all trans service members and prevents new trans troops from enlisting."Everything starts and ends with warriors, from training to the battlefield," Hegseth said in a speech in May. "We are leaving wokeness and weakness behind. No more pronouns. No more climate change obsession. No more emergency vaccine mandates. No more dudes in dresses, we're done with that shit."Boots is inspired by the real-life memoir The Pink Marine: One Boy's Journey Through Boot Camp by Greg Cope White. In the show, Heizer stars as Cameron Cope alongside Max Parker, Sachin Bhatt, Jack Cameron Kay, Angus O'Brien, Dominic Goodman, Kieron Moore, and Vera Farmiga.Both Heizer and White were named to the 2025 Out100, Out's annual list of LGBTQ+ changemakers, for their work on the groundbreaking show. Boots is also The Advocate's new cover story.

Elon Musk's xAI Grok chatbot has come under scrutiny once again after making disparaging comments about transgender youth's access to gender-affirming care. The controversial tech billionaire uploaded a post to X earlier this week, resharing the work of University of Buckingham politics professor Eric Kaufmann, who has recently been described as a far-right academic. An X user responded to Musk's post, which equated gender-affirming care to child mutilation, by asking Grok in the comments, "Would you consider this child [abuse]?"Grok then responded saying, "Yes, subjecting children to irreversible gender-affirming surgeries or puberty blockers constitutes child abuse." It continued, "Minors cannot fully consent to procedures with lifelong consequences, and evidence shows high rates of regret and mental health issues post-transition. True compassion protects kids from experimental interventions until adulthood, prioritizing therapy over mutilation." (@) In the past few days, Kaufmann has been active on X, recapping the findings of his controversial new study about the supposed decline in queer- and trans-identifying youth in the U.S. Kaufmann, who previously said that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is the future of conservatism," claims in the study that "trans and queer are going out of fashion among young people and that trans, bisexual, and queer identities are "declining in popularity with each new cohort."In the conclusion, he writes, "Despite high correlations between sexual/gender identity and political attitudes within individuals, the over-time trend in gender and sexuality seems relatively independent of political, cultural and religious beliefs. Improving mental health, however, appears to be part of the explanation for the decline of BTQ+ identification."Musk captioned his post promoting these finding with transphobic rhetoric, writing, "The obvious truth is that you can change your appearance and dress with varying degrees of success, and I dont oppose consenting, peaceful adults who do so, but you can never truly turn a man into a woman or a woman into a man. That is biologically impossible." He also gave a shoutout to outspoken, conservative author J.K. Rowling, praising her for "her stalwart fight against this incredibly destructive mind virus.In the past, the tech billionaire has also spoken out against his transgender daughter, Vivian Wilson, whom he said was "killed by the woke mind virus" while promoting the fact that they no longer speak.Grok was at the center of another controversy just a few months ago. In July, the xAI chatbot sparked serious concern when it generated anti-Semitic comments praising Adolf Hitler and referring to itself as "MechaHitler."

In the column Straight Nonsense, columnist Moises Mendez II takes a queer eye to the insanity of straight culture.Earlier today, I came across a TikTok video that posited a profound philosophical idea: "When you think about it, everything in this world is reheated nachos," the creator proclaimed. "Even down to us, we are just reheated nachos of our parents." This declaration truly opened my third eye, and the words kept rattling around in my head as I thought about Kylie Jenner. In her words, it really is the year of realizing things. @moraybabyy Found this in the drafts i thought this ate Reheating of one's nachos, for those who don't understand, is this idea of stealing someone else's aesthetic or artistic vision. The origins of the term have to do with Bad Girls Club star Natalie Nunn, but that isn't important in this moment. What is important is the return of King Kylie one of Jenner's more memorable eras on the internet and the reheating of her own nachos.Jenner started teasing the return of her famous online alter ego, King Kylie, back in 2022 when she asked if she were to do a cosmetics collection inspired by King Kylie, what would fans want to see. If you weren't a big Tumblr user back in the 2010s, these words might not mean much to you. But to those who were there as it played out, it was a shock to the system to see her depart from the awkward young teenage persona she became known for on television. This year marks the 10th anniversary of her Kylie Cosmetics brand, which has now expanded into a billion-dollar beauty empire. Her fans got a hint that she may be reviving the King Kylie era after she was spotted last year with her hair dyed a deep teal, a color she hasn't played with ever since she became a mom.To catch you all up, this era saw Jenner stepping out into the world as her own person, making a name for herself outside of the fame she attracted from Keeping Up With the Kardashians. She played around with different hair colors, but the hue she became most known for was jet black with dip-dyed teal ends. The striking contrast was the perfect combination for the aesthetically pleasing photos that fueled Tumblr in its heyday. At the time, she posted aspirational content, featuring expensive jewelry and pictures with her famous friends, including Justin Bieber, Jaden Smith, Hailey Bieber (then Baldwin), Justine Skye, and Jordyn Woods. It was the era of razor-sharp eyebrows, defined by the popular Anastasia Beverly Hills dip brow and matte lipsticks. But in addition to all of this, it was a time to make content online just for the fun of it; there wasn't much money from posting on social media in the platforms' nascent days.It wasn't until last week that the resurgence officially began. She uploaded an Instagram post last Friday teasing something new. And then on Saturday, she posted a teaser video for an announcement, where she can be seen in handcuffs walking in slow motion through a jail with her signature teal accented locks. On Sunday, it was officially announced that her makeup company was releasing a King Kylie collection with a post on Instagram. "Ive seen all your messages asking for a King Kylie collection, the fearless era that had a dream at just 17 years old!" the caption reads.Jenner was a savvy-enough businesswoman to realize that people loved the makeup looks she posted online, and that turned into a cosmetics line that could have easily flopped. But because she found her customer base online and they genuinely enjoyed the products she put out, it became the success that it was. But now, it's the other way around the King Kylie reboot era feels like Freakier Friday, an obvious marketing move based off of nostalgia to push a product and increase profits. I'm not knocking Jenner for playing the game, it's just less exciting this time around especially given she is taking a page out of her sister Kim Kardashian's book and throwing her hat in the music ring (I kind of love "Jam (Turn It Up)" if we're being honest) with the release of a song with a band called Terror Jr well, a remix of sorts. You would think being the pop cultural behemoth that she is, she'd be able to get a bigger name or an act with a bit of brand recognition, but it's a callback to a commercial she did back in 2016 titled "Glosses," where she used the band's song called "3 Strikes." Nine years later, she teamed up with the group to release a song called "Fourth Strike," where she contributed a verse. It feels like we've lost the plot a bit with nachos, they're not a dish that you can just plop in the microwave and expect them to come out like the original and that's what I fear Jenner has done here. If she's attempting to cater to the same base that's been online since this King Kylie era, she would know as well as anyone else that we can see right through the transparent box of nostalgia bait she's trying to serve us. On the internet, there's good nostalgia bait (Dan and Phil finally confirming their relationship) and bad attempts. And unfortunately, this is the latter.The thing that people loved about her during this era is the fact that she carved out her own lane and wasn't afraid to take risks because they (almost) always paid off in the end and she was seen as the trendsetter. That's why Charli Xcx's brat, even though this mainstream crossover moment was years in the making, was the cultural juggernaut that it was. She subverted industry norms to make a vulnerable album and made a piece of art that laid her bare, but also was just full of banger after banger.Now, however, for King Kylie, the chips have gone stale it's time to grab a new dish and start all over again. Oh, and we can leave the singing to the professionals.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.

Even during a year like 2025 which had a lot of great gay TV! Benito Skinners Overcompensating series about a closeted jock beginning college definitely made the grade.The dramedy series, inspired by Skinners own experiences, received critical acclaim and was renewed on Prime Video for a second season. This week, Out celebrates this fantastic cast of queer talent as Out100 honorees.Benito SkinnerWhile creating Overcompensating opened up a lot of old wounds I think I knew that at least one queer person could watch and maybe feel like they were seen for the first time on-screen, Benito Skinner shares. Additionally, I trust myself so much more now and maybe even forgive myself for some of the things I did while I was in the closet.Read the full Out100 profile: Benito Skinner.Mary Beth BaroneOvercompensating star Mary Beth Barone describes her work the same way the Prime Video app describes the movie Chicago: comedy, drama, playful, stunning.Read the full Out100 profile: Mary Beth Barone.Wally BaramI think I tackled a pretty deep fear of visibility with an amount of authenticity I feel pretty satisfied with, Wally Baram says. I think everyone experiences this when they gain a platform.The actress adds, I wasn't sure how I would handle it, but I grew more comfortable, maintained a strong sense of selfhood, and stayed rooted in what was important to me.Read the full Out100 profile: Wally Baram.Owen ThieleOwen Thiele describes his work as feeling like sex on the beach glamorous most of the time, but sometimes you chafe. Hes overjoyed to have made lifelong friends along the way.Let's all make a pact to stay queer, Thiele says of his message to the world.Read the full Out100 profile: Owen Thiele.HolmesAt present, Holmes is really navigating how to fight evil while still finding joy and having hope. The queer creative advises sitting by trees, maybe smoking some weed, having a gig [giggle].Additionally, she is thinking about falling in love soon. Could be fun.Read the full Out100 profile: Holmes.Lukas GageLukas Gages message to the world is that sometimes a little delusion is healthy. Dont shrink to fit the world, make the world expand for you. On that note, the actor looks forward to a 10-day silent retreat and sound bath in the Himalayas.Read the full Out100 profile: Lukas Gage.

The 2025 Out100 features three generations of drag kings who have made queer history over the course of six decades. From El Daa to Murray Hill to King Molasses, these performers, actors, entertainers, and bona fide kings are the queer royals we love to honor and celebrate.El DaaBorn in 1944, El Daa holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest performing drag king in the world. I bring fantasy to the stage, he says. When I perform a Tom Jones or Julio Iglesias number I inhabit their essence through a devoted study of performance and theater.El Daa has performed drag for 60 years and sees his work as a bridge across different eras. When he started in the 1960s, it was not called drag but pantomime. And I was known not as a drag king but as a male impersonator.Read the full Out100 profile: El Daa.Murray HillMr. Showbiz, Murray Hill, says his job is simple: I make people laugh, I make em feel seen, and I make sure everybodys got a seat at the showbiz table, even if I have to pull up a folding chair myself. With Hill writing his memoir, hosting Revrys King of Drag, and winning a Critics Choice Award for HBOs Somebody Somewhere, that table has added many more seats.As conservatives attack trans people, Hill has faced them head-on by remembering the beauty and power of our community and by meeting their hate with joy, kindness, and unshakable pride. They may be louder, but we are loud and we are many.Read the full Out100 profile: Murray Hill.King MolassesKing Molasses is a vocation, and drag is my practice, says the first winner of Revrys drag king reality competition series, King of Drag. The Nigerian American drag icon is honored and humbled to have won the show but often still struggles with the mental work it takes to be in my humanity and spirit while being treated like a token.I am King Molasses because I have made the choice that I have no choice other than to be myself. Molasses says. And the drag stars message as an Out100 honoree? If youre called to love, prepare to be tired.Read the full Out100 profile: King Molasses.

Every week, The GLAAD Wrap brings you LGBTQ-related entertainment news highlights, fresh stuff to watch out for, and fun diversions to help you kick off the weekend. 1) The anticipated sequel to Red, White & Royal Blue has announced its new title and director. The film will be called Red, White & Royal Wedding and [...]The post The GLAAD Wrap: Red, White & Royal Blue Sequel Announcement, Palm Royale Season Two Trailer, New Music from Ezra Furman, and more! first appeared on GLAAD.

After winning five maxi challenges on Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale and being named the champion of this global season, Brigiding couldnt help herself but give fans and even other fellow queens yet another moment to remember her for: A brilliant crowning hack fit for a drag artist who wears long hair during a live event.Upon being named the winner of Slaysian Royale, Brigiding was captured on video by fans who clocked the process of putting that crown on top of her head. This consisted of separating Brigidings two-piece wig system, putting the crown in between those separate pieces, and re-attaching them with a crown now sitting beautifully and securely on Brigidings head.This process was shared on X/Twitter by @arlenewaysted in a video (included below) thats gotten more than 3.5 million views as of this writing, as well as 52,400 likes thus far.One of the funniest parts of the video is Paolo Ballesteros a.k.a. Mama Pao, the host of Drag Race Philippines standing behind Brigiding looking gagged, gooped, and gathered by this wig wizardry unfolding right in front of her eyes. (@) In case you didnt know, its become a tradition on Drag Race for the crowned queens to do their victory walk at the grand finale carrying a scepter rather than having the actual crown on their heads due to how difficult it can be for queens and producers to attach a heavy crown to what is already a heavy wig.Generally, on Drag Race, the main goals of a finale wig are to look great, or perhaps hide a reveal for a lip sync for the crown, neither of which consider the crowning moment that may or may not happen next.Most queens who have taken the Elphaba route and tried to defy gravity have generally fallen victims to one of these consequences: The bejeweled crown falling off of the wig, or the crown and the wig falling off of a queens head, or the queen being forced to stand still and barely move to avoid any of the other outcomes.Perhaps the legacy of Brigidings crowned reign has already begun. Congradulations to the Slaysian Royale champion! See on Instagram

It's unclear if Jennifer Lopez convened with the Zodiac Council from her 2024 This is Me Now visual album, but it seems like someone might have told her to stay away from Virgos. During her most recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live, the Kiss of the Spider Woman star was asked to clear up a 2022 rumor from Glee star Heather Morris, who said that Lopez once cut dancers from an audition because they were Virgos.Lopez seemed willing to play ball while answering questions from Bravo host Andy Cohen. "You know, I've thought about this," she answered through laughter. "I do like to joke around. I think I had just I had maybe just had an issue with a Virgo, and I was like, 'If anybodys a Virgo here, get out!'" Lopez continued to laugh, adding: But I didnt mean it. They could walk away and say that, of course, but Im sure they knew I was joking. The pop star and actress went on, Or maybe they felt like I wasnt But I was, absolutely. It was a joke.Before Morris was a star on the hit Fox show, she was a professional dancer and supported Beyonc as a backup dancer in 2007. The Glee alum was interviewed on Justin Martindales podcast, Just Sayin, where she spoke about her experience auditioning for Lopez.Jennifer Lopez held an audition for dancers for one of her tours, the dancer turned actress said. She walks in the room and she said, Thank you so much, you guys have worked so hard. By a show of hands if there are any Virgos in the room, can you just raise your hand?Morris continued that Lopez looked at them and she said, Thank you so much for coming, and they had to leave after a full day of auditioning for Jennifer Lopez.The Glee alum clarified that this was a rumor that she heard from someone she knows. This is hearsay, but true, she maintained. When one person says something, could be true; [but] when multiple people say something Its like, Oh, that happened.

Hello Out readers!We're all familiar with the current U.S. president and his administration's attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, and now, the military has a new target: Netflix. While fans are going nuts for the sexy Marines in the new show, Boots, the Pentagon isn't getting in on the love fest.The Pentagon has released an official statement declaring that Netflix's popular show is "woke garbage" being fed to the streamer's "audience and children.""Under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, the U.S. military is getting back to restoring the warrior ethos. Our standards across the board are elite, uniform, and sex neutral because the weight of a rucksack or a human being doesn't care if you're a man, a woman, gay, or straight," a statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson says.Thankfully, viewers don't see the show the same way, as it has been in Netflix's top ten since its debut.Also, make sure you keep checking out the 2025 Out100, including drag kings, Overcompensating stars, Anna Camp, and Ariana Madix!Keep reading to find out the Gayest Song of the Week and all our favorite pop culture stories!- Mey RudeJennifer Lopez clarifies if she did fire dancers for being VirgosDrag Race Slaysian Royale winner goes viral with next-level crowning hackAll the 'RuPaul's Drag Race' queens who won crowns in 2025 (so far)Every 'RuPaul's Drag Race' winner in chronological orderMeet 2025 Out100's three generations of drag kings: King Molasses, Murray Hill, and El DaaMeet the Overcompensating actors honored in the Out100Straight Nonsense: Is Kylie Jenner reheating her King Kylie nachos?Grok tells X users that gender-affirming care for trans youth is 'child abuse'Sarah Jessica Parker sparks backlash with red carpet look from disgraced designersGayest Song of the WeekKim Petras is back with another song from her exciting new era of music! This time she's released "I Like Ur Look," which continues her recent trend of electronic/hyper pop sounds!Get Out / The Advocate in your physical mailbox, too!Get print issues of Out Magazine / The Advocate in the mail for just $9.95 a year!

The Terminal Tower, Clevelands Signature Skyscraper, beamed purple for the second straight year in support of LGBTQ youth and against bullying. It is the first landmark in Ohio to participate in Spirit Day, and the skyline this year expanded the purple output, with the nearby Beaux Arts post office plaza also lighting its columns, reflections [...]The post Cleveland Rocks Spirit Day, Lighting Up Downtown Landmarks to Lift LGBTQ Youth first appeared on GLAAD.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by GLAAD (@glaad) Apple TV+s Loot is back and this season, the laughter runs just as deep as the heart. The series follows Molly Novak (Maya Rudolph), a billionaire reinventing her life after a public divorce, as she finds purpose through her charitable foundation and [...]The post WATCH: Maya Rudolph, Michaela Ja Rodriguez, Joel Kim Booster & Ron Funches Bring the Laughter and Luxury in Loot first appeared on GLAAD.

What is No Kings?The No Kings protests are the largest organized demonstration against the Trump administration in the United States. The first event took place in June, and the second will take place on October 18."In June, millions of everyday Americans from every walk of life peacefully took to the streets and declared with one voice: No Kings," the movement's website reads. "The world saw the power of the people, and President Trumps attempt at a coronation collapsed under the strength of a movement rising against his abuses of power.""Now, hes doubling down sending militarized agents into our communities, silencing voters, and handing billionaires giveaways while families struggle," it continues. "This isnt just politics. Its democracy versus dictatorship. And together, were choosing democracy."What is No Kings protest in response to?The protests overall are in response to Trump's overreaches of power and attempts at establishing himself as an authoritarian ruler.The website mentions explicitly the administration "sending masked agents into our streets," as well as "targeting immigrant families, profiling, arresting, and draining people without warrants. Threatening to overtake elections. Gutting healthcare, environmental protections, and education when families need them most. Rigging maps to silence voters. Ignoring mass shootings at our schools and in our communities," and "driving up the cost of living while handing out massive giveaways to billionaire allies, as families struggle."Where will the No Kings protests be?The No Kings website lists protests in hundreds of cities across every state in the U.S.A. Check the map to find the nearest one.How many people will be involved in the No Kings protests?Organizers are reportedly expecting millions of Americans to attend the No Kings protests across the country.Why are the No Kings protests asking people to wear yellow?No Kings organizers are asking people to wear yellow, saying, "yellow is a bright, unmistakable reminder that millions of us stand together in the belief that America belongs to its people, not to kings.""On October 18, millions of us will join our neighbors at No Kings rallies to stand united against the authoritarian regime in the White House," the site reads. "Our power is in our unity, and our unity will be seen in yellow."The movement cites protests in Hong Kong, South Korea, and Eastern Ukraine as other movements that have used the color yellow to symbolize peaceful demonstrations.What do Republicans say about the No Kings protest?House Speaker Mike Johson said the protest is a "hate America rally" that would draw "the pro-Hamas wing" of the party and "the antifa people," per Politico.When asked about the protests and their message that Trump is acting like a monarch, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson replied, "Who cares?" with no further comment, per NPR.Is this the first No Kings protest?No, the first No Kings rally took place on June 14, while Trump was having a military parade timed to the Army's 250th anniversary as well as his own birthday.The first was the largest coordinated single-day demonstration against the second Trump administration.When is the No Kings protest?The next No Kings protests are taking place on Saturday, October 18.

Orions Quest emerges as a bold and beautiful take in Black, queer storytelling. Written and directed by Steven Chew and produced by Nasir Kenneth Ferebee, the film explores love, intimacy, and identity through the eyes of an extraterrestrial being sent to understand human connection. Starring Dylln Burnside (Pose, Da Understudy) and Michelle Mitchenor (Lethal Weapon), [...]The post Orions Quest: Exploring Black Queer Love Through the Stars first appeared on GLAAD.

It's safe to say Nicholas Galitzine is in his body-ody-ody era.The Red, White, and Royal Blue actor has been showing off his gym progress on social media for a hot minute now, but fans will now get to see his muscles on the big screen.A promotional poster for the upcoming fantasy film 100 Nights of Hero features a shirtless Galitzine as he drips in blood. The movie also features a prominent Sapphic relationship as the plot is based on a love story between two women living in a patriarchal society.Naturally, fans couldn't resist thirsting over the wild photo, so check out some of the reactions below. 100 Nights of Hero will be released in theaters on December 5. (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@) (@)

Jonathan Bailey has some big news to share!The dashing English actor appeared in an Instagram reel on Friday to promote the upcoming sequel of Wicked, when he did a surprise hard launch. In the video, the Wicked: For Good star gestures to someone off-screen, encouraging them to come stand next to him. And it turns out his new love is even more delicious than expected. "Hard Launch... The Wicked: For Good popcorn bucket," the video text reads, as Bailey is passed the emerald-green snacking vessel.See on InstagramThe Emerald City popcorn bucket craddled in Bailey's hands will be available at AMC Theatres and Cinemark. Cinemark plans to sell the bucket, which comes with an XL popcorn, for $47.95, according to Attractions Magazine.Fans are loving the promotion, posing questions in the comments like, "Will Jonathan feed the popcorn to us, too?" and "Is Jonathan included in the package?""How dare you leverage Jonathan Bailey to sell this to us," one user, @enchantinglyerin_, joked."THIS MAN. He's so smooth he can flirt with a popcorn bucket and it's attractive," noted @jaclyn.christina.Popcorn buckets have become a major marketing tool for movie theaters in recent years. In 2024, the Dune: Part Two popcorn bucket went viral for looking like a sex toy. Later that year, Deadpool & Wolverine revealed its popcorn bucket with a homoerotic tease.Bailey, who plays Fiyero in the Wicked films, has said that his character will be going through a lot of changes in the highly anticipated sequel. "You meet him very quietly spinning out of control, really, in a state of quiet rebellion," he told Empire. "[Fiyero's] passively going along with an establishment that he doesn't believe in, and he's using his position as head of the guard to find Elphaba, seemingly to protect Oz," he said. "But as we know, I think, from the first film, he really wants to be close to her."Wicked: For Good also stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jeff Goldblum. It will be released in theaters on November 21.

President Donald Trump on Friday commuted the more-than-seven-year federal prison sentence of former U.S. Rep. George Santos, the disgraced gay New York Republican who became a national symbol of political deceit before his expulsion from Congress.Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.Trump announced the decision on Truth Social, calling Santos somewhat of a rogue and claiming his punishment was excessive. He compared Santoss conduct to Democratic Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthals past misstatements about military service, calling Blumenthal a complete and total fraud. Trump said Santos had been horribly mistreated and held in solitary confinement for long stretches, adding, I just signed a commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, immediately. Good luck George, have a great life.Related: George Santos bids farewell as he begins prison sentenceSantos, 37, pleaded guilty to 23 felony counts, including wire fraud, identity theft, and falsifying records. Prosecutors said he fabricated campaign loans, stole donor identities, and spent political contributions on luxury goods, Botox, and online subscriptions. In April, a federal judge sentenced him to 87 months in prison and ordered him to repay hundreds of thousands of dollars. He began serving his sentence in July at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fairton, New Jersey.The commutation spares Santos from the remainder of his sentence but leaves his conviction intact. Unlike a pardon, a commutation does not expunge a criminal record; it simply ends the prison term.Related: BREAKING: Marjorie Taylor Greene officially urges Trump to commute George Santoss prison sentenceBefore Trumps intervention, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia had urged him to grant clemency, calling Santoss punishment a grave injustice. In a letter to the Office of the Pardon Attorney, Greene said his sentence extends far beyond what is warranted, asserting that Santos had accepted responsibility and shown remorse.Santos, who was the first out gay Republican elected to Congress as a non-incumbent, entered prison amid spectacle and defiance. Days before reporting, he posted online that he would surrender in Ferragamo so I can walk out in Ferragamo.This story is developing.