The Supreme Court of the United States voted 6 to 3 today to allow discrimination against LGBTQ people based on religous beliefs and the right to “free speech.” According to USA Today: In a case that could have profound implications for when businesses may turn away customers, a Colorado website designer argued a state anti-discrimination law couldn’t be used to compel her to develop same-sex wedding sites. It is the latest in a series of cases to reach the court pitting business owners against LGBTQ customers. In a scathing dissent that she read from the bench, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the case…
Author: Robert
Kenneth Anger, the visionary filmaker and author of Hollywood Babylon, inspired, outraged, and entertained generations of people around the world. According to the Sprueth Magers gallery that represented him: Through his kaleidoscopic films, which combine sumptuous visuals, popular music soundtracks, and a focus on queer themes and narratives, Anger laid the groundwork for the avant-garde art scenes of the later twentieth century, as well as for the visual languages of contemporary queer and youth culture. His earliest works, such as the 1947 black-and-white ecstatic short, Fireworks, established Anger as an enfant terrible of the filmmaking underground. In his works of…
All American’s need to speak out and show their support for the people of Florida. Parents and their children in that state are now under attack by Governor DeSantis and extreme anti-American republicans who will pass any law, no matter how harmful, or unconstitutional, to promote their authoritarian agenda. According to Crooks & Liars, “Instead of making sure Florida kids have more health insurance or are safe from gun violence, Gov. DeSantis just made them subject to legal kidnapping.” They went on to report: The new law will allow the state to take custody of a child if they have been “subjected…
France and Germany have joined 13 other countries in the European Union that are suing Hungary over a 2021 anti-LGBTQ+ law. The suit, brought by the European Commission, challenges the Hungarian law which discriminates against people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated: “We stand by the side of the #LGBTQI community. The common values of the EU are the DNA of our free & open society. Diversity is our strength.” Pierre Karleskind, a French member of the European Parliament said: France and Germany join the Commission, together with about…
Award-winning actress, singer and two-time RuPaul’s Drag Race winner, Jinkx Monsoon will appear in a major role in the new series of Doctor Who. Jinkx joins Doctor Who after completing her sell out run on Broadway, where she made her highly-anticipated debut as Matron ‘Mama’ Morton in Broadway’s longest-running show, Chicago. Her run on Broadway was a historic moment for the LGBTQ+ community, as she became the first drag queen to play the role of Mama Morton, breaking box office records in her extended 8-week run. Russell T Davies, Showrunner said: “In a galaxy of comets and supernovas, here comes…
President Biden issued a proclamation today in honor of trans people on Transgender Day of Visibility. Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates the joy, strength, and absolute courage of some of the bravest people I know — people who have too often had to put their jobs, relationships, and lives on the line just to be their true selves. Today, we show millions of transgender and nonbinary Americans that we see them, they belong, and they should be treated with dignity and respect. Their courage has given countless others strength, but no one should have to be brave just…
At a time when hateful Republicans around the country are demonizing trans people, and passing laws that put their fellow citizens’ lives at risk, a brave woman in Nebraska is saying enough is enough. That heroic woman is democratic State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, who is determined to stop a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for trans youth. According to LGBTQ Nation: When the bill advanced out of committee, she vowed to filibuster every bill proposed in the unicameral legislature this year until the anti-trans bill is off the table. “If this Legislature collectively decides that legislating hate against children…
A recently released book brings to light the passionate, lifelong love affair between Rose Cleveland, the sister of President Grover Cleveland, and Evangeline Simpson, a wealthy widow who was known for her humanitarian work with the American Red Cross during the First World War. According to the NY Daily News: The new book published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press, “Precious and Adored, The Love Letters of Rose Cleveland and Evangeline Simpson Whipple, 1890–1918″ contains the captivating correspondence between the two women that started in the late 1800s. It recreates “the story of one of the most remarkable love relationships between…
Pope Francis called laws that criminalize same-sex relationships “unjust,” stating that “being homosexual is not a crime.” In an interview with the Associated Press today, the Pope also called for the Roman Catholic Church to play an active role in opposing and repealing those laws. He emphasized that some bishops who advocate for laws that criminalize LGBTQ people and discriminate against the LGBTQ community must undergo “a process of conversion,” and welcome LGBTQ people into the church. Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President & CEO, said Pope Francis’ declaration is an explicit call to keep the momentum for LGBTQ decriminalization and…
Our choice for Cocktail Music this week is the song “Gonna Be You” from 80 FOR BRADY. An all-star cast of iconic singers including Dolly Parton, Belinda Carlisle, Cyndi Lauper, and Gloria Estefan release the new single “Gonna Be You” from the Paramount Pictures film 80 FOR BRADY. The song “Gonna Be You” (R.A.F/BMG) is written by Honorary Oscar®, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning songwriter Diane Warren and produced by Damon Elliott. Stream, download and share the song by clicking HERE. https://youtu.be/AeNkqcgfjMg
The National Center for Transgender Equality has released its 2022 Remembrance Report to honor the 47 known transgender people killed since November 2021. The information in this report has been compiled from a variety of sources, including national and local news outlets; national, state, and local LGBTQ+ organizations; and social media posts. “Transgender Day of Remembrance is a difficult day for our community as we continue to experience violence and discrimination,” said Alexis Vida Rangel, policy counsel for the National Center for Transgender Equality. “This report honors the vibrant lives of our trans siblings. We are not just statistics. We matter.” This report is,…
Virgin Atlantic is leading the way as a progressive company with its new gender identity policy. From now on all flight attendants, pilots, and ground workers will be able to dress however they identify. According to the Washington Post: Starting immediately, employees will be able to “wear the clothing that expresses how they identify or present themselves.” The airline also started offering optional pronoun badges for staff members and customers, and updated its ticketing system to better accommodate people who have selected gender-neutral options on their passports. “At Virgin Atlantic, we believe that everyone can take on the world, no…
In an historic vote, the people of Cuba have voted to allow same-sex marriage. The meausure was approved by 66.9% of the voters and includes provisions to protect people from gender-based violence. The measure had been approved by Cuba’s Parliament, the National Assembly, after years of debate about gay marriage. A major supporter of the measure was Mariela Castro, daughter of former President Raul Castro and niece of his brother Fidel. President Miguel Díaz-Canel promoted passage of the new law which, in addition to approving same-sex marriage, will allow gay couples to adopt and increase the rights of women, the…
Queer Maximalism x Machine Dazzle is the first solo exhibition dedicated to the genre-defying artist Matthew Flower, better known as Machine Dazzle. A provocateur commanding an expanding repertoire of stagecraft, design, performance, and music, Machine Dazzle is a virtuoso practitioner of queer maximalism’s aesthetic language of gay liberation. https://vimeo.com/748056607 The exhibition brings together more than 80 of the artist’s creations for stage, spectacles, and street theater, alongside a variety of environments, ephemera, material samples, photography, and video. Together they chronicle the metamorphosis of Flower, a closeted suburban kid from Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, into “Machine Dazzle,” the queer experimental theater genius. On…
The Campaign for Southern Equality has released a statement about the latest attack on LGBTQ rights in Texas. Read it, them make sure to vote in the upcoming elections. Today U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor ruled in Braidwood Management v. Becerra against a provision of the Affordable Care Act that requires employers to provide insurance coverage for PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis), a medication that prevents the transmission of HIV. The judge ruled that the ACA mandate violates employers’ rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Read the ruling in the case (courtesy of Chris Geidner) here. Ivy Hill (they/them pronouns), Community…
“I love Las Vegas because it always has something going on,” says entrepreneur Eduardo Cordova who changed Las Vegas’ gay nightlife forever when he opened his award-winning LGBTQ lounge, The Garden. Eduardo saw that, while Las Vegas was a spectacular city for nightlife, it was missing one thing: an upscale venue for LGBTQ visitors and residents alike. Part playful and part opulent, The Garden has been wowing visitors and locals for years, cementing itself as one of Vegas’ top spots. They serve signature cocktails like The Cher, which combines Empress gin, fresh lemon, passionfruit, and pineapple juice, before being topped…
Protecting LGBTQ rights dosen’t come easy in the USA, but the town of Eureka Springs, Arkansas showed their support in February, 2015 by passing a non-discrimination ordinace. You may think that was enough to change things, but opposition from the Christian right continues. Jordan Klepper visited Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where some “Christians” are continuing their fight to discriminate against the LGBTQ community. This video from The Daily Show With Trevor Noah highlights what the town’s people had to say. To learn more about the wonderful town of Eureka Springs, check out “Ask a Local: Eureka Springs.”
Amy Schneider, an engineering manager from Oakland, California, became a Jeopardy! champion this week. As we watched her compete, we celebrated her knowledge and skill, as well as the fact that she is the first trans woman to win during Transgenger Awareness Week. Schneider was thrilled at her win, but she emphasized that she is not the first transgender woman to win on Jeopardy! “FYI, I am not the first out trans person to appear on Jeopardy (a few friends have asked),” she wrote. “There have been a handful before, including one, Kate Freeman, who was the first out trans champion on…
In an historic vote today, the people of Switzerland overwhelmingly approved marriage equality! Nearly two-thirds of voters supported the measure in a national referendum, and it won a majority in each of Switzerland’s 26 cantons. The measure will also allow same-sex couples to adopt unrelated children and married lesbian couples to access sperm donation. Congratuations to the people Switzerland!
Lil Nas X shares a letter to his younger, closeted self below that looks at the challenging process of coming out, and what he is now trying to express about being gay in his just released new single, “Montero (Call Me By Your Name).” Read the letter, watch the provocative video, and congratulate Lil Nas X for coming out and sharing his thoughts and feelings with others. https://youtu.be/6swmTBVI83k
The Democratic National Convention has featured many moving and memorable speaches and performances. One of our favorites was Billy Porter performing “For What It’s Worth” with Stephen Stills. This powerful song was written in 1966, and it is still very relevant to the struggle for equality today in the USA.
Film lovers everywhere are mourning the death of director Joel Schumacher who died in New York on Monday at the age of 80. Schumacher’s films included The Lost Boys (1987), The Client (1994), A Time to Kill (1996), Flatliners (1990) and Dying Young (1991), both starring Julia Roberts, and Falling Down (1993), with Michael Douglas. According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Schumacher had an uncanny ability to recognize young talent, and he cast members of “The Brat Pack” — including Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy — in St. Elmo’s Fire (1985). He also boosted the careers of other young actors like Roberts, Kiefer Sutherland, Matthew…
We heard Barbra Streisand and James Corden singing “Enough is Enough” the other night on Carpool Karaoke and we thought: Call Joe Biden and tell him this is our choice for one of his campaign songs! Take a look at the video, read the lyrics, and let us know what you think. via YouTube Cutter If you’ve had enough, don’t put up with his stuff, don’t you do it If you’ve had your fill, get the check pay the bill, you can do it Tell him to just get out Nothing left to talk about Pack his raincoat show him…
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday that federal law prohibits discrimination against workers for being LGBTQ. The ruling affirms long-sought federal protections for LGBTQ people in the workplace. The 6-3 decision, states that anti-LGBTQ discrimination is a form of sex discrimination, thus prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. “An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex,” Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch stated. “Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in the decision, exactly what…
Join us as we travel from the East Coast to the West Coast and Hawaii to Alaska in search of the best cocktails in the USA. Each of this country’s 50 states is home to amazing art, culture, history, and libations. So join us in a drink or two, and then feel to create these signature cocktails at home for your family and friends. Happy World Cocktail Day! THE BLUE HAWAIIAN What is better to drink in the beautiful state of Hawaii than a Blue Hawaiian? The answer is nothing. It was first created at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki by…
The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus has released a virtual performance featuring 150 members singing together, each from their own homes. The group performs “Truly Brave,” a brilliant and moving mashup of Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors” and Sara Bareilles’ “Brave.” “SFGMC’s first virtual chorus performance is dedicated to the ‘Truly Brave’ healthcare workers and first responders on the frontlines of COVID-19,” the chorus posted with the video. “You are our heroes.” Thank you San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus for honoring the people who are helping others during this pandemic. https://youtu.be/ZZLAaCZVV2g
Legendary playwright Terrence McNally has died at the age of 81 due to complications from COVID-19. He was 81 years old and living in Sarasota, Florida, at the time. McNally was a lung cancer survivor and lived with chronic inflammatory lung disease. McNally’s first Broadway credit was the short-lived adaptation of The Lady of Camellias, which lasted 15 performances in 1963, but the prolific writer went on to win five Tony Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. Other Tony Award-winning productions include Kiss of the Spider Woman (Best Book of a Musical, 1993), Love! Valour! Compassion! (Best Play, 1995), Master Class (Best Play, 1996), Ragtime (Best Book…
We are all trying the best we can to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. For everyone who is quarantined at home, laughter may prove to be the best medicine. Here’s a segment from SpongeBob SquarePants that we saw the other day that made us laugh. We found it very relevant to what we are all going through now. What do you think? https://youtu.be/eUctdVLABgM
In the most reprehensible manner possible, the United States Senate has voted to cover-up the high crimes and misdemeanors of Donald Trump as outlined in the articles of impeachment. In a blatant disregard of the American Constitution and the will of the people, no witnesses will be called to testify before the senate. Make no mistake, these sentors will do anything to retain their power, regardless of the consequences for the American people. It is time to hold them accountable for their actions. The senators responsible for this miscarriage of justice can be contacted here.
Chicago is one of the most exciting and fascinating cities in the USA. People from around the world come here to experience and enjoy the food, arts and culture, architecture, sports, and Midwestern hospitality. As someone who has lived in Chicago, I’m here to tell you about some of the best things to do during your next trip. By Keith David Langston EXPLORE LINCOLN PARK Lincoln Park is the neighborhood located directly above downtown Chicago. To get there, hop on the Red, Brown, or Purple lines to any station from Fullerton to Belmont. The neighborhood is awesome because it’s…