One of the most anticipated films of the holiday season is West Side Story. The Disney-backed, Spielberg-directed powerhouse is already getting massive Oscar buzz. However, in the Arab world, the movie has caused intense backlash and has since been banned in numerous countries. The nations of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait have all banned the new adaptation of West Side Story from screening due to its portrayal of a transgender character. The character in question is Anybodys. In the original film, Anybodys was a tomboy who often hung around the Jets. In more recent years, as…
Author: Keith Langston
NBC’s streaming service, Peacock, has premiered the documentary Right to Try, which centers around the fight to cure HIV. The movie, which was produced by Academy Award-winning actress, Octavia Spencer, follows longtime casting director, Jeffrey Drew, who shares his experiences taking part in experimental HIV treatments, all with the hopes of finding a cure for AIDS. According to Variety, Octavia Spencer said of the film, “We are thrilled our film Right to Try will be seen on Peacock. Though Jeffrey Drew’s heroic journey is singular, his story is universal. This is an important film and with Peacock, we have a…
Chile has just become the 31st country to legalize same-sex marriage, enabling its 18 million residents to love freely. The bill, however, contained much more than just marriage equality. Chile has enacted more parenting and adoption rights for same-sex couples, as well as access to reproductive procedures for the LGBTQ community. The bill was passed overwhelmingly by both sides of the political spectrum, passing with a vote of 82 – 20. According to the BBC, even the country’s right-wing president, Sebastian Pinera, supported the bill, stating, “I think we should deepen the value of freedom, including the freedom to love…
MAC Cosmetics is one of the most prominent names in the cosmetic industry, known for its bold colors and edgy appeal. In 1994, MAC launched Viva Glam, a rotating selection of cosmetics where 100% of profits go directly towards nonprofits that help women, the LGBTQ community, and those who are living with HIV/AIDS, including organizations like Broadway Cares. This year’s collection, Viva Glam x Keith Haring takes inspiration from the bright, bold primary colors that Keith Haring was known for in his famed artworks. The highlights of the collection are the electrifying lipsticks that can give any look a beautiful…
On the state level, 2021 has been a devastating year for the LGBTQ community, with numerous bigoted laws being passed around the nation, many of which specifically target the trans community. However, on the city level, progress has actually been made. In fact, according to the Equality Index, a yearly survey conducted by the Human Rights Campaign and The Equality Federation, a record-breaking 110 cities achieved the index’s top score of 100. Cities earning the top marks include Cleveland, Ohio; St. Louis, Missouri; Hoboken, New Jersey; Lexington, Kentucky, and more. The Equality Index looks at municipality-level laws, policies, public services,…
Every year, World AIDS Day is observed on December 1st. It’s a day to remember the lives lost to the virus, as well as to raise awareness of new treatments and to help remove the stigma around those who are living with HIV/AIDS. For those looking to get involved and who want to help, there are events taking place around the globe (as well as online). Beloit, Wisconsin The small town of Beloit, Wisconsin, home to the prestigious Beloit College, will be hosting an event at the local public library at 7pm. The event, titled Pandemics: The Fight Against AIDS…
Norway’s postal service is celebrating 50 years since the nation decriminalized same-sex relationships with a new ad featuring Santa Claus. The ad, titled “When Harry Met Santa” (a play on When Harry Met Sally) starts off with Harry, a man who catches a glimpse of Santa one year. It’s clearly love at first sight, and year after year, Harry eagerly awaits the arrival of Santa every Christmas Eve. The ad finishes with Santa finally being able to spend a night with Harry, thanks to Posten (the postal service) taking care of delivering presents. The video finishes with a long kiss…
A recent investigation by the UK-based organization, openDemocracy, found that there are numerous anti-LGBTQ groups on AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is the charity arm of Amazon.com which allows customers to choose from a variety of nonprofits from which a portion of Amazon sale profits goes toward. According to LGBTQ Nation, bigoted groups making money on AmazonSmile include the American Family Association and The Family Leader, which once said that homosexuality is a public health risk. Beyond that, Mother Jones did an investigation that uncovered a wide range of harmful groups profiting off of AmazonSmile, including multiple anti-vaccination groups, and various hate groups…
A new organically-made soda brand, Mixwell, isn’t shying away from showing its values. In their new ad, they blatantly make fun of the MAGA crowd by starting their commercial with a burly man in a truck complaining about needing to make America more manly again. The ad finishes by revealing that the man has a husband, and the two then embrace for a long kiss. The spot concludes with the words “If Real Freedom Offends You, Please Don’t Buy Mixwell.” The ad is quick, witty, fearless, and completely hilarious. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7esCe-LhtSY&t=60s The commercial very clearly mocks Trump-era America, which has…
According to the HRC, 2021 has now become the deadliest year on record for trans and non-binary people with 45 murders.The past two years have been hard on the LGBTQ community, especially for trans individuals and queer people of color. The pandemic created unique challenges for the LGBTQ community, often resulting in higher numbers of unemployment and poverty. In 2021, the new wave of anti-trans bills across the nation has incited a rash of hatred and fear of the trans community, leading to increased violence against them. In a statement, the HRC stated “This year, the transgender community has faced…
The Stephen Petronio Company was founded in 1984 by choreographer Stephen Petronio to showcase and celebrate dance, as well as to provide a platform for broader and more diverse voices in art. The dance company is teaming up with New York’s famous experimental dance center, La MaMa, to premiere Petronio’s Punk Picks and Other Delights from November 18-21, 2021. The show revives a series of iconic solos and duets from Petronio’s formative days in the East Village, featuring collaborations from the ’80s and ’90s. The program includes solos from Full Half Wrong (1993), Stephen’s version of Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of…
Peanut butter lovers, especially those in Canada where Kraft is the dominant peanut butter brand, know Kraft’s two teddy bear peanut butter mascots, Crunchy and Smoothie. And to celebrate Transgender Awareness Week, the brand has launched a special edition kids book that helps families and children learn about the importance of pronoun usage. Transgender Awareness Week is currently underway, running from November 13th-19th, and leads up to Transgender Day of Remembrance, which is on November 20th. According to GLAAD, Transgender Awareness Week is “a week when transgender people and their allies take action to bring attention to the community by…
T.J. Osborne, one half of the hit country duo, the Brothers Osborne, has been making waves in the country music industry this year since coming out in February. Since then, he’s become an advocate for equality as well as standing as an example that LGBTQ people can achieve their dreams, no matter what they are. Last night at the annual Country Music Awards, the Brothers Osborne won the award for Vocal Duo of the Year – marking the fourth time the Osbornes have taken home that award. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcxLVx8wYoI Upon hearing of their win, the two brothers hugged each other, and…
Today, on a newly-released episode of Ancestry’s YouTube series, Two Lies and a Leaf, former *NSYNC member Lance Bass discovered that he is actually related to pop icon Britney Spears. The show makes contestants guess facts about their past heritage and family lineage, all of which have been uncovered by the expert historians at Ancestry.com. In the newest episode, Lance Bass battles it out against his husband, Michael Turchin. In the game’s final question it’s revealed that Bass is actually related to one of three famous musicians: Faith Hill, Britney Spears, or Elvis. Both Bass and Turchin had to guess…
Believe Out Loud is one of the largest digital spaces for religious LGBTQ+ people in the world. The organization works internationally to provide services and a sense of community to LGBTQ people of faith and their allies. Among the long list of services and activities provided by Believe Out Loud, participants can attend live-streamed affirming religious services, digital social events, and they can also find information on mental health and community justice resources. Recently, Believe Out Loud was acquired by the Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ. Located in Dallas, the Cathedral of Hope is one of the largest…
Earlier this year, it was announced that Hulu is rebooting the horror cult classic, Hellraiser. Originally released in 1987, the movie was written and directed by LGBTQ filmmaker, Clive Barker, who adapted it from his novella, The Hellbound Heart. The story tells the tale of the Cenobites, a group of multidimensional beings who blend together pleasure and pain, usually leading to disastrous consequences to whomever they encounter. The story is inherently queer, as it was inspired by Barker’s youth spent as a male hustler, and also his visits to BDSM bars, where he saw both pleasure and pain being interwoven…
Scapegoating is the typical M.O. for many politicians who wish to remain in power without actually helping their constituents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, and after the January 6 riots, Republicans have been very busy doing everything they can to not address those issues. Instead, they’ve found an easy victim to blame for the world’s problems: trans people, with a focus on trans women and girls in particular. The excuses they’ve been throwing around sound more like fearmongering, stating that trans women in women’s bathrooms would result in “Peeping Toms” and that trans girls playing on girls’ sports teams would actually…
Twenty years ago, back in 2001, the Netherlands became the first nation in the world to legalize gay marriage. Since then, the country has paved the way for LGBTQ rights globally, cementing itself as one of the most forward-thinking nations on the planet. Now, the Dutch have made another groundbreaking declaration: Royals can marry partners of the same sex and remain in succession for the crown. According to NBC News, Mark Rutte, the nation’s Prime Minister, stated, “The government believes that the heir can also marry a person of the same sex…The cabinet, therefore, does not see that an heir…
Elton John has been dominating the music industry for decades now and has released 27 Top 10 hits on Billboard’s Hot 100 list and 40 charting songs on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary list. He’s easily one of the most talented musicians of all time. During the pandemic, forced to cancel his tour, Elton John decided to record a new album, this time collaborating with other musicians of different genders, ages, and musical traditions. The album, The Lockdown Sessions, features 16 tracks, all of which include Elton John collaborating with other artists, including Nicki Minaj, Yo-Yo Ma, Eddie Vedder, Stevie Nicks, Lil…
A new streaming service called Documentary+ is offering tons of nonfiction content, completely for free. The streaming service is available through its website, its mobile app, and on Apple TV, Amazon, and Roku. The streamer contains a number of famous and highly praised documentaries, including The Aristocrats, Confessions of a Superhero, and The Nightmare, among many others. They’ve also released a whole lineup of LGBTQ films that can easily be found in their Pride category. Highlights include Hit So Hard, which follows the life and struggles of Hole’s drummer Patty Schemel, who is openly a lesbian, and Southwest of Salem,…
Netflix recently released the Dave Chappelle stand-up special, The Closer, in which the comedian mocked trans women and the LGBTQ community as a whole (a topic he’s brought up in numerous specials now). Netflix has stood by the comedian and says they support his right to free speech and won’t take action. For many Netflix employees, this was the final straw. Now, employees will stage a walkout on Tuesday, October 20th to show Netflix how serious they are about their concerns for Chappelle’s stand-up film. Now, Bloomberg has revealed that employees had actually made internal concerns about The Closer before…
Famed designer, Jean Paul Gaultier, can add a new title to his resume, that of a museum curator. With his new exhibit, CinéMode at the Cinémathèque Française museum in Paris, France. Gaultier has long been a fan of film, loving their stories, soundtracks, cinematography, and of course, the costumes. In fact, Gaultier himself has done costuming for numerous big-budget films, such as The City of Lost Children and The Fifth Element, among others. His new exhibit celebrates the movies that have influenced him, the films he’s been a part of, and cinematic experiences that changed Hollywood forever. Just a few of…
As almost everyone has heard by now, Dave Chappelle recently released a new stand-up special on Netflix called The Closer. During his routine, Chappelle blasted the LGBTQ community numerous times. Throughout the special, he made comments such as: ~ Claiming he was on “team TERF” (meaning feminists who reject that trans women are women). ~ He said “gender is a fact” and that trans women have fake vaginas. He went on a diatribe about how trans women’s vaginas are “Beyond Pussy” and “Impossible Pussy,” mocking their bodies by comparing them to brands of meat alternatives. ~ He went on to…
According to the US Mint, the American Women Quarters Program is, “a four-year program that celebrates the accomplishments and contributions made by women to the development and history of our country.” It will run for four years, celebrating a new group of women each year. 2022 will be the inaugural launch of the campaign, and the original lineup of women selected to be honored are: Maya Angelou – celebrated writer, performer, and social activist Dr. Sally Ride – physicist, astronaut, educator, and the first American woman in space Wilma Mankiller – first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation Nina…
The University of Michigan is renowned for being one of the most prominent universities in the country. The school is also known for being located in the forward-thinking and progressive college town of Ann Arbor, which is consistently regarded as one of the best destinations in all of Michigan. Now, the school has shown off its commitment to diversity and inclusivity with a special halftime show during a game against Rutgers that celebrated the 50th anniversary of the school’s Spectrum Center, a community space for U of M’s LGBTQ+ student body. The center also puts on events and hosts lectures…
The Stonewall National Museum and Archives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is believed to be the largest LGBTQ library in the world. The archive is made up of more than six million pages of LGBTQ history. If all the books were stacked up on top of each other, they would equal the height of two Empire State Buildings. However, the Stonewall National Museum and Archives also understands the critical need to enter the digital age and create an online database that can be accessed by anyone, anywhere. Hence how the new In Plain Sight exhibit was born. https://www.stonewallnma.orgThe digital exhibit can…
A few days ago, Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney did an interview with 60 Minutes. Throughout the segment, many difficult topics were discussed, including Trump’s control over the Republican party, the January 6 insurrection, and Afghanistan. However, in one remarkable moment of the interview, host Lesley Stahl asked Cheney, “How do you defend what you did?” in reference to the fact that Cheney was still vocally against same-sex marriage in 2013, despite having a gay sister. Shockingly, Cheney immediately responded with, “I was wrong.” She then went on to say, “I was wrong. I love my sister very much. I love…
Scotland has just announced that teaching LGBTQ+ history will become compulsory in the country’s curriculum for schools. The move makes Scotland the first country in the world to do so. According to The Scotsman, the decision was made to help young LGBTQ people, who experience high rates of bullying and neglect, which can have long-term impacts on their lives. Upon hearing the news, Jordan Daly, the co-founder of Time for Inclusive Education, stated, “this work will empower young people and provide them with an opportunity I didn’t have at school: to feel valued, confident, and proud of who they are.”…
Italy is a very welcoming and friendly country, and even better, they’ve just launched a new website, QueerVadis, which helps English-speaking travelers and ex-pats learn more about the dynamic and historic nation and its welcoming spaces for queer visitors and locals. QuuerVadis offers feature articles, travel ideas, and even news about current events and notable LGBTQ Italian residents. it’s not only a great way for queer travelers to discover the best and most accepting places in Italy, but it’s also an excellent way for them to feel more comfortable before visiting. Articles like Venice’s LGBTQ+ History and Picture-Perfect Italian Beaches…
Earlier this year, famed musician k.d. lang released an album of remixes titled, Makeover. The album soared to #1 on the electronic charts and even spawned two #1 singles on the dance music charts. it was an impressive record that even led NPR to call lang “an immortal voice” in the music world. Now, k.d. lang is back with another remix, this time with the help of DJ and producer, Tracy Young. The song, Constant Craving – Fashionably Late Remix, is a remixed version of her 1992 hit single, Constant Craving. Upon its original release, the single peaked at #2…