After more than 30 years in the music business, singing legend and queer icon, Kylie Minogue, has released what many call one of the best albums of her career. The album, Disco, is getting rave reviews and already has numerous singles that have fans going crazy. The album’s lead single, “Say Something” has already been viewed more than 6.3 million times on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l73FJBnjp28 Upon the album’s release, Billboard called it “a glittery throwback to the glorious dancefloors of Studio 54, when Donna Summer was queen and Chic was giving us good times.” Minogue has also long been an ally to…
Author: Keith Langston
Nevada has just become the first state to recognized same-sex marriage in their constitution. According to NBC News, Question 2 on Nevada ballots asked voters whether they support an amendment recognizing marriage “as between couples regardless of gender.” Nevada voters overwhelmingly supported the measure, with 88% voting yes. According to NBC Las Vegas, the first same-sex couples were married in the state back in 2014 (which, really wasn’t that long ago) and they also pointed out that Las Vegas is the marriage capital of the entire world, so it’s only fitting that the state recognizes marriage in the most inclusive…
Axel Hotels is launching a new contest that could take you around the world. If you book hotel stays through their website between November 1st, 2020 and April 1st, 2021, you’ll be entered to win a very unique prize… Each month, for 7 months, a winner will be named. This person (along with a plus one) will get a 5-night stay in seven Axel hotels around the world. That’s 5 nights in Barcelona, Madrid, Miami, Berlin, Ibiza, San Sebastian, and Maspalomas. Walk the beaches of San Sebastian, experience the delicious Cuban food of Miami, marvel at the architecture in Barcelona,…
During Tuesday’s historic election, Delaware elected Sarah McBride to the state’s senate, which, according to NBC, makes McBride the first and only trans person to serve in a state senate anywhere in the country. This new position will also make McBride the highest-ranking trans politician in the country. An ABC affiliate in Deleware quoted McBride as saying, “I hope tonight shows an LGBTQ kid that our democracy is big enough for them, too. As Delaware continues to face the Covid crisis, it’s time to get to work to invest in the policies that will make a difference for working families.”…
A new ad that was posted to YouTube by Congressman Eric Swalwell features the hit Taylor Swift song, Only the Young. The ad, which according to Rolling Stone, had Swift’s full permission to use the song, features prominent moments that have shaped the last four years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VO2_KG6g-Q&feature=emb_logo It shows moments from the COVID pandemic, the #MeToo movement, ICE raids, the Black Lives Matter protests, the Women’s March, the wildfires that have deviated California, attacks on the USPS, the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and more. The ad asks younger viewers what kind of country they want to live in and…
Singer, actor, activist, and living legend, Lady Gaga, has just launched a new video on YouTube to help inspire everyone around the country to vote this year. As she makes clear in the video, 2020 is a pivotal election that will change the course of this country forever. Where you stand on issues right now will define how this country continues, not only for you and your loved ones, but for generations to come. And, in natural Lady Gaga style, she does the entire video while making countless wardrobe changes. She dons her pink hat from the Joanne album, the…
Liquor brand Jägermeister has heralded a campaign throughout the pandemic called the Save the Night Initiative, which has been dedicated to helping keep local bars open during the pandemic. And upon hearing the news that only 15 lesbian bars remain in the US (and that the pandemic is seriously threatening their livelihood), Jägermeister has vowed to extend their campaign by including the Lesbian Bar Project to the lineup. The project is dedicated to educating people about the importance of lesbian bars, preserving their history, and fighting to keep the last remaining ones open for future generations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qW2db4HuqA&feature=emb_logo The campaign released…
Rakuten Viki is the premiere US streaming service featuring Asian content. And an emerging popular genre in Asian media is “boy love” or “BL”, which are series that centers around a gay love story. From dramas to romantic comedies, here are seven of Rakuten Viki’s best BL series: Where Your Eyes Linger (Korea)- Han Tae Joo (Han Gi Chan) is an 18-year-old high school student and is the sole heir of the TB Group – a family-run business conglomerate. His strict parents keep him under surveillance 24 hours a day, and he feels both bored and oppressed by their reluctance to let…
Netflix is bringing the hilarious 2018 Broadway musical comedy, The Prom, to homes across America this December with their film adaptation. The movie is set to premiere on December 11th. The story follows Emma Nolan, a teenager in Indiana, who has just been barred from attending prom with her girlfriend. Meanwhile, in New York, two Broadway stars have just launched a new musical that has turned out to be an epic flop. After hearing about the controversy of a lesbian student at an Indiana high school, they decide to put on a show stopping publicity stunt and head to Indiana…
Each year before Halloween, actress, singer, and comedian Bette Midler holds her yearly Hulaween party. This year, because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the event will be taking place online. However, that also means that it’s now open to everyone across the country! This year’s theme will be In Search of the Sanderson Sisters: A Hocus Pocus Hulaween Takeover, and it will take place on October 30th at 8 pm. (and yes, all three sisters, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy will be reunited for one night only!) Midler shared a photo of the three shooting a segment for the…
We’ve previously reported on the rise of “LGBT FREE” areas of Poland, where citizens, politicians, and the Catholic Church, have deemed queerness to be a threat to society. Sadly, according to the BBC, about 1/3 of the nation now declares itself to be LGBT free, which means that LGBTQ people aren’t welcomed there, and things like education and outreach will not be tolerated. The backbone of this movement is complicated, but comes down to three main things: 1.) Xenophobia – Many in Poland believe that “LGBT ideology” comes from “The West”, and is a scourge against Poland. This is blatant…
Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon were two of the world’s first leading LGBTQ pioneers. The two women founded the first lesbian rights group, The Daughters of Bilitis, back in the 50s, and went on to run the lesbian newsletter The Ladder. After Phyllis Lyon’s death earlier this year, their historic San Fransisco home went up for sale. It was then that District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman introduced a resolution to designate the former home a local historic landmark. LGBTQ activists from the country have stood up and demanded that their home be preserved (it sits on a very prime plot…
OREO has just launched a new campaign in support of the LGBTQ community during LGBTQ History Month. According to Delish, OREO and PFLAG partnered up to create a campaign that would inspire parents to feel proud of their LGBTQ children and loved ones. To launch the campaign, OREO released a new short film, called Proud Parent. Without revealing too much, the film explores the relationship between a daughter and her father. You can watch it below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpfLklSG2dQ On top of the new film, OREO has also created a limited-edition collection of rainbow cookies. However, these cookies will not be sold…
Actor, singer, and queer legend, Alan Cumming is launching a new series of online cabaret shows starting October 14th on the streaming platform, Stellar. His online cabaret venue Club Cumming will be hosting a cavalcade of talented performers, like Sharon Needles, Judy Gold, Catherine Cohen, and more. Performance highlights include: Cabernet Cabaret, with Cat Cohen – a night of comedy and music. Bette, Bathhouse, and Beyond – A hilarious reproduction of Bette Midler’s notorious 1971 concert at the gay Continental Baths on New York City’s Upper West Side. Mask It or Casket – A special Halloween variety show by RuPaul’s…
In a new video called If Donald Got Fired internet celebrity Randy Rainbow held a debate for Donald Trump and Joe Biden, with the help of his special guest, Patti LuPone. As the debate breaks down into chaos, Rainbow and LuPone break out into song, condemning Trump’s legacy as president and wishing America could go back to the way it used to be. The video mocks Trump’s inability to hold a debate, his horrible tweeting, his campaign’s rampant spread of fake news, and more. Ultimately, the video asks viewers, haven’t you had enough of this administration? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AoY6RRfMZM&feature=emb_logo The video, which…
Martin Jenkins used to play professional football for the Seattle Seahawks. After that, he entered into a career of politics and law, serving as a prosecutor and judge. He now serves under California Governor Gavin Newsom as the Judicial Appointments Secretary, and he’s just been nominated to the California Supreme Court, making him the first gay black man to ever be nominated. According to CNN, at a press conference, Jenkins stated, “I am truly humbled and honored to be asked by the Governor to continue serving the people of California on the Supreme Court. If confirmed, I will serve with…
The alt-right hate group “The Proud Boys” have been fueled by Trump’s hateful words, especially after his call to “stand by” at the first presidential debate. However, Star Trek actor and social media guru George Takei had a brilliant idea for Twitter, posting this: “What if gay guys took pictures of themselves making out with each other or doing very gay things, then tagged themselves with #ProudBoys. I bet it would mess them up real bad. #ReclaimingMyShine” From there, the LGBTQ community took to Twitter and went wild posting everything from photos of their weddings, to their spouses, hilarious…
In yet another blow to civil rights during the Trump era, members of the Supreme Court are now declaring that gay marriage is an attack on “religious liberty” and is “hurting people’s lives”. The anti-gay opinions came from justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. after the court declined to hear the case of Kentucky clerk Kim Davis (who was famously jailed for refusing to do her job after gay marriage was legalized.) While the two supported not hearing Davis’ case, they followed up by stating, “Davis may have been one of the first victims of this court’s cavalier…
On October 9th, Academy Award-nominated director, Leslie Iwerks, will release her new short documentary, Selling Lies. The film, which was an Official Selection at 11 film festivals, looks at 2016’s rampant spread of fake news through social media and the people of Macedonia who produced the content. The movie is a shocking yet sobering experience. It’s angering to know that people from other countries were directly manipulating America’s election in order to make a profit. However, the film also digs into other aspects that we as Americans need to think about, such as the fact that much of the “information”…
A political action group made up of artists has decided to cover Cleveland with billboards featuring Trump quotes prior to tonight’s debates. The billboards are part of the Remember What They Did, #VoteThemOut campaign, aimed at getting Americans to remember the atrocities of the Trump administration. https://twitter.com/KaylaEpstein/status/1310961312298676224 Some of the billboards feature Trump’s notorious comments about the COVID-19 pandemic, including “…that’s going to sort of just disappear, I hope.” Others remind residents of his comments during the BLM uprising in June, where he stated, “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.” Another, a projection onto the side of a building,…
LGBTQ tennis legend, Lisa Raymond, has been nominated for this year’s round of admittees to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. Raymond holds six major titles in women’s doubles, and five in mixed doubles. She also took home a Bronze Medal at the 2012 London Olympics, along with her playing partner Mike Bryan. Raymond even ranked as the #1 doubles player for 137 consecutive weeks. Other members who have been nominated include Lleyton Hewitt, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Jonas Björkman, and Sergi Bruguera. https://twitter.com/TennisHalloFame/status/1308120860881047552 ITHF President Stan Smith. “All five Player Category candidates have achieved incredible results…
In the early 90s, photographers Saul Bromberger and Sandra Hoover began documenting life at Seattle’s Bailey-Boushay House. Bailey-Boushay was a hospice care facility for AIDS patients, the first of its kind in the nation. What they discovered was the reality of a devastating pandemic that was being largely overlooked by mainstream society. But, they also discovered hope and community. The two found that close bonds, support, and friendship was being formed between the residents of the house. Now, on September 24th at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT, the two will be taking part in a new monthly series that…
To celebrate Gay Pride Week in the Finnish capital of Helsinki, Burger King has launched a new ad that features The King and Ronald McDonald kissing. A caption of the bottom of the ad reads, “Love Conquers All.” The head of Burger King’s Finnish marketing divison, Kaisa Kasila, stated, “Burger King has always stood for equality, love and everyone’s right to be just the way they are.” The ad was designed to show that The King is even willing to show love to his biggest competitor, Ronald McDonald. https://twitter.com/fer_machado123/status/1304040445866053635 Fer Machado, the Marketing Director for RBI (the company that runs…
The Trevor Project has long been known as a group that’s dedicated to helping LGBTQ youth and young adults. To help raise awareness of acceptance and diversity during September’s Suicide Prevention Month, the organization has created fun outfits in their signature orange color, accented by the rainbow flag design for Animal Crossing players. According to Mashable, The Trevor Project’s lead designer, Jonathan Silberman, stated, “Our research has found that LGBTQ young people who have a space where they feel affirmed in their identity are significantly less likely to attempt suicide. All of these factors contributed to our decision to design…
Ryan Murphy revealed that the cast of his upcoming Netflix film, The Prom, had reunited during the COVID pandemic to finish shooting the movie. He also said that it’s slated for release at Christmastime. The movie is based on the 2016 musical of the same name and follows a group of fading Broadway stars who decide to revamp their careers through an ill-planned publicity stunt. The group decides to head to a small town prom where drama is brewing over a female student who wants to take her girlfriend to prom. The Prom opened in Atlanta before heading to Broadway…
Hey, Chicagoans and visitors to the Second City! Are you looking for a great way to get outside, get some exercise, experience the beauty of your city. and help others? Take part in Chicago’s AIDS Run and Walk! In order to promote social distancing, the event will be taking place in various parts of the city throughout the week beginning September 28th. Event locations include Hyde Park, The Loop, and Lakeview, among others. There are numerous ways to take part – You can walk, run a 5k or 10k, support a participating team, or even simply by sharing the news…
The village of Cap d’Agde in the South of France, the world’s largest naturist colony, has been connected to almost 150 cases of COVID-19, with many more probable cases on the way. During an investigation into a cluster of coronvirus cases, medical professionals realized they all stemmed back to the nudist village. CNN reports that during a test of 490 people, 95 came back positive. That’s 1 in 5 people testing positive. There’s still 310 tests awaiting results, so the number of positive cases is estimated to increase. The village has year-round residents, and visitors can stay in hotels, campgrounds,…
The South China Morning Post has reported that the organization that puts on Shanghai’s long-running pride celebration has declared that they were immediately halting any future events, without giving any explanation. The announcement was made on the popular Chinese social media app, WeChat. Shanghai Pride formed back in 2009, and was initially a small gathering, but has since grown into one of the largest pride celebrations in all of Asia. They even managed to hold in-person events this summer, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. While China decriminalized homosexuality in 1997 and removed it from the list of mental illnesses in 2001,…
The first issue of the new zine 86 Logic has just been released and aims at helping local restaurants, cafes, and bars struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. 86 Logic gets its name from the restaurant phrase “86”, meaning, to run out of something. The publication is created by artists who work in, or got their start in the service industry. It’s filled with short stories, poems, essays, photos, and even comics, all celebrating (and hilariously commiserating) with anyone who has ever been a dishwasher, waiter, or busboy, waiting for their big break. Contributors to the magazine are men and women…
On Friday, August 7th, the 11th District Court in Florida handed down their 2-1 decision in-favor of a transgender student, stating that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 includes protections against discrimination based on gender identity. Back in 2018, then-high school student, Drew Adams, won a landmark case against the St. John’s County school board, stating that transgender students should be allowed to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. At the time, it was a monumental victory for civil rights. However, in 2019, the school board appealed the case. During the trials, Adams had help from Lambda…